A.n I own nothing.

The poll for the Ryu-Ryu no Mi is still open, our current standing is:

Votes for Malik - 1

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Votes for Adewale - 1

For information on this poll please see the A.N section in Ch8; Send your vote in a P.M or Review.

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Zoro was cold, no he was freezing. He'd been walking through the snow for the last couple of hours. Luffy had left him to guard the ship and he had been, but he got bored and decided to do some mental training by diving into the freezing cold ocean and taking a swim.

It had been a good idea in theory but as usual something went wrong and he had gotten lost, so he'd been wandering around with only his underwear on. He'd bumped into an old lady on a sled pulled by a reindeer and asked her for a ride; but she had declined saying "No shirt, No service," and left him there.

Zoro had herd the avalanche and ignored it. Finally after hours of walking he heard someone yelling, hoping to get directions and maybe some clothes he headed towards the voice. When he emerged from the trees he did not like what he saw.

Dead bodies littered the ground and blood stained snow was everywhere. There was a group of people that looked like they were from a nearby village and they were staring at a man in a top hat talking to a very familiar little boy.

Zoro recognised the boy as Connor and he did not like how close the man was to him, it was then that he noticed the bruises on the boy's face. Zoro's eyes narrowed in anger at the man, he instantly forgot the cold and marched over to the man.

Connor tilted his head and saw an almost naked Zoro coming his way, he quickly turned around. Jacob confused by the boys' action looked behind him and a very large grin appeared on his face.

"Is that a hidden blade in your pants? Or are you just happy to see me?" Jacob asked, trying very hard not to laugh.

Zoro was not amused, in fact that statement made him angrier.

"Say your prayers," Zoro threatened and cracked his knuckles.

Jacob looked up to the sky "It's not really my bed time and I don't want to bother the big guy during the day,"

"Well tough luck, I'm going to make you pay for what you've done," Zoro said dangerously.

"Oh are you part of that group?" Jacob said and gestured to the bodies in the snow "Because I think you might be out of a job,"

"I think he's angry about my bruised face," Connor interrupted.

"Oh that's a relief," Jacob sighed "I was really worried I'd got him fired or something. Well if you're looking for the culprit it's that teen over there,"

Jacob pointed to the still crying teen and Zoro followed his gaze.

"Seriously? You think I'm just going to believe that it was him and not you," Zoro accused.

"Yes well I already scared him and he may have wet himself so do go easy on him,"

Zoro eyed Jacob suspiciously and turned his attention too Connor; who had yet to turn around.

"Connor, tell me the truth. Who gave you those bruises?" Zoro ordered.

"That teen, he was blaming us for his misfortune. Jacob stopped him," Connor answered.

Zoro sighed, he knew Connor could not lie to him and he had ordered the boy to tell the truth, so it must be true the man in front of him was innocent. Zoro went over to the boys' father and gave him a lecture on bulling; when he was done he threatened the teen with disembowelment; just to scare him. Zoro also grabbed one of the coats off the dead soldiers and put it on before going back to Connor.

He introduced himself to Jacob and apologised for threatening him, Jacob brushed it off and told him what happened to the soldiers. Zoros face paled as he learnt that it was him and Evie that had done this, he feared what would have happened to Connor had he not come along.

"So why are you out here and not with Evie?" Zoro asked.

"Well I was with her but then we found this guy who was barely alive and the doctors on that ship weren't co-operating, so Evie threatened them and insulted their mothers before they agreed to treat the injured man,"

"Was it Dalton?" Connor asked.

"I think that was the name, yes," Jacob answered.

"I hope he's okay?"

"He'll be fine," Jacob reassured him.

As it turns out Dalton was fine because about 20 minutes later he and Evie emerged from the ship. Evie was supporting him as he limped down the gangplank, some of the villagers rushed to help him and Evie went over to her brother.

"He won't rest; he says he has to finish Wapol. He's as stubborn as you Jacob," Evie claimed.

Jacobs face lit up like he'd gotten his Christmas presents early.

"Wonderful, then I shall escort him to the castle," Jacob proclaimed.

Evie sighed and agreed to go with him.

"We should go too, so we can check on Nami," Connor suggested to Zoro.

"Why would Nami be at this castle?" Zoro asked.

"That's where the doctor lives, she's the only one on the Island," Connor explained.

"Right, better get going then," Zoro said and walked off in the direction of the Merry.

"Zoro," Connor called out to him "the castles that way," he said and pointed in the diction of the big Drum shaped mountains.

The entire village wanted to get rid of Wapol and quite a few of the village men volunteered to fight the former king. Dalton tried to object but the villagers were quite admit about coming and it was not like he could stop them. Jacob offered to kill Wapol for them but Dalton hoped that it was unnecessary.

The group made their way back to the out skirts of Big Horn and met up with Usopp and Vivi. Apparently the two had heard about the avalanche and had come straight back, when they arrived they couldn't find anybody and were worried. Evie introduced her brother and Jacob was not thrilled to be in the presence of pirates but he kept his opinions to himself.

Dalton led the group to a hidden rope way with a pedal powered gondolier attached to it. Apparently this was the quickest way up to the Castle.

"Why didn't you tell Luffy that this was here?" Vivi and Usopp yelled at him.

"Because I promised that I'd keep it a secret," Dalton claimed.

The villagers, Dalton, Jacob, Evie, Vivi Connor Usopp and Zoro all got in and Zoro made Usopp do the pedalling. On the way up Vivi noticed how exhausted Dalton was; it was clear that he was too injured to fight.

"What happened after we left?" Vivi asked him.

"Wapol happened, he killed all the men on watch," Dalton said angrily "One made it back to my house and told me he was back, so I went and challenged him,"

"Didn't quite work out did it?" Jacob commented lightly and Evie slapped him over the head.

Dalton sent the man a glare "No it didn't, I thought I could beat him with my devil fruit powers but…I was no match for him,"

"Hold on you've eaten a devil fruit, which one?" Jacob asked.

"The Ox-Ox no Mi Mode: Bison. Why do you ask, have you eaten one too?"

"Me no, but my sister has,"

Dalton addressed Evie "Then you should be careful that you don't become a devil yourself,"

"Too late for that," Jacob joked, Evie slapped him again.

'So that's how she kept disappearing from sight,' Zoro thought.

"Evie what's your fruit?" Connor asked curiously.

"I ate the Camo-Camo no Mi; it lets me blend perfectly in with my surroundings. Want to see,"

"Yeah," Connor said excitedly.

Evie put her hand on the wall of the gondolier and it disappeared. Everyone stared in awe.

"Can you turn invisible?" Zoro asked concerned.

"No that's a different fruit, I just blend in with my surroundings," Evie said. She moved her hand slowly through the air and everyone could see the texture change as she moved it. Evie then willed her hand to appear as normal and it did.

"That's pretty impressive," Dalton admitted.

"I can also hide objects that I touch," suddenly Evie's weapon arsenal came into view "like the weapons I've had on me this entire time," she claimed.

Dalton's eyes widened, he'd searched them when they came on the Island and hadn't found any weapons, but this woman had used her power to hide them and he hadn't noticed.

"You had weapons this whole time? What about your captains order not to bring them on the Island,"

"I'm not part of that crew, so I don't have to follow it," Evie claimed

"It's true we're just giving her a lift," Zoro confirmed.

"Weapons and devil fruits: never leave home without them," Jacob added.

Suddenly Dalton clutched his chest in pain; he bent over and coughed up blood. This frightened everyone and Vivi tried to persuade him not to fight Wapol. But Dalton refused to listen and pulled out some Dynamite.

"Listen everyone, when we get to the castle just leave me there and go back down the mountain," Dalton ordered.

"Dalton, what are you planning on doing?" a villager asked.

"I'll blow up the castle with Wapol and his men inside,"

"But Nami, Luffy and our third rate cook are in there!" Zoro yelled back.

"I'm sorry for your loss but I have no choice," Dalton said grimly.

Jacob clapped his hands slowly and everyone one in the gondola stared at him as he approached Dalton.

"Bravo my good man bravo," Jacob said.

"Are you mocking me?" Dalton growled.

"No, not at all. I think your plan is brilliant, sacrifice yourself so that others may live in freedom and peace. Go down in this Islands history as a martyr and a savior, it truly is a good plan. Except there's one thing wrong with it,"

"What's that?" Dalton asked.

Jacob suddenly punched Dalton in the gut and Dalton coughed once before falling unconscious.

"You'll sleep right through it," Jacob said dryly. He then took the dynamite and threw it out of the gondolier.

The villages stared at Jacob in shock, horror and disbelief. Their one chance at peace had just been knocked out and thrown out the window. Zoro eyed Jacob suspiciously, he didn't trust the man hell he didn't trust Evie; he noticed some unknown emotion in his eyes. It wasn't fear anger or hate, it was something else.

The villagers were about to start yelling at Jacob when a loud explosion was herd, and something fat and shiny flew passed them.

They reached the top of the mountain a few minutes later and the straw hats plus the Frye twins were the first ones out and ran to the castle. Suddenly something very loud was headed straight toward them and crashed into them, whatever it was caused Zoro, Usopp and Connor to be buried in snow.

"Oh it's you guys," Luffy said, he was wearing Evie's' coat.

"LUFFY WHAT THE HELL WAS THAT FOR?" Zoro yelled at him, coming out of the snow.

"WHY THE F*** ARE YOU WEARING MY SISTERS COAT?" Jacob demanded.

Connor and Usopp both unburied themselves to find Jacob threatening Luffy and demanding he give the coat back to Evie.

"Why are you yelling at me?" Luffy asked innocently "And who are you?"

"LISTEN YOU PIRATE SCUM YOU TELL ME WHY YOU'RE WEARING EVIE'S COAT RIGHT NOW AND I WON'T GUT YOU LIKE A FISH!," Jacob angrily demanded.

"Why? Because it's cold," Luffy pointed out.

Jacobs eye twitched at the answer, he was about to go through with his threat when Evie stopped him.

"Knock it off Jacob," Evie said.

"But sis…"

"I lent it to him," Evie claimed.

"Oh, really?"

"Yup," Luffy confirmed "I'll give it back just as soon as Nami's well,"

"Oh…um…sorry. Man I feel like such an ass now,"

"When are you not an ass?" Evie asked.

"Oi YOU BRATS," an old voice yelled.

They all looked over to see an old woman with long silver hair approach them.

She wore pants with a pink design on the left leg and a blazer with a yellow line along the shoulders, a white shirt with a pink cherry blossom on the front and green sleeves. She also wore sunglasses.

"If you've got injured bring them inside," she demanded and walked into the castle.

Zoro signed and went to get the unconscious Dalton. While Luffy excitedly told Usopp and Connor about the new Nakama he'd found, he pointed at a tiny reindeer with a pink top hat and blue nose, he was standing on his hind legs. The reindeer was watching them with a mix of fear and curiosity.

"AAHHHHH, MONSTER!" Usopp yelled.

This of course scared the Reindeer into running off and Luffy predicatively began chasing after it, demanding that he join his crew.

Connor followed Vivi into the Castle; they were both looking for Nami. Dr. Kureha had given them directions to the room she was in and when they got there Nami was sitting up in bed looking out the window.

The room had a lit fireplace, a small basin, a couple of couches and the walls were lined with bookshelves filled with various medical books. Nami smiled when she saw them.

"Hey guys, what's up?" Nami asked.

"Nami, you're okay," Vivi said happily and ran over.

"Yup, my fever is completely gone," Nami said reassuringly.

"That's a relief," Vivi claimed.

Nami noticed Connor was fidgeting behind Vivi.

"Hey Connor, you okay back there?" Nami asked concerned.

"Y…Y…Your…not going to die right?" Connor asked softly.

"Nope, at least not for a while," Nami said.

"Ca…Can I hug you?" he asked.

Nami was taken back in surprise; she thought Connor wouldn't want to be anywhere near her and after what he had told the crew of his past, let alone have any kind of physical interaction. Also the fact that it seemed the boy was very worried about her was touching.

"Sure come here," Nami said and opened her arms.

Connor instantly climbed on her bed and gave her a big hug.

"Don't ever get that sick again," Connor begged.

"Okay I won't, I promise," Nami agreed and gently stroked the boys head.

Zoro walked in and his jaw dropped at the scene, Nami sent him a look that said 'Don't you dare ruin this,'

Zoro smiled and sat in on of the couches 'maybe there's still hope for the kid,' he thought.

They sat there for a while until Usopp came in and after a quick hello to Nami he dragged Connor outside to play in the snow.

It was late that night and Jacob was wandering through the castle halls, he was looking for Evie. She had disappeared after dinner, during dinner Dr. Kureha had told the rest of the straw hats and the villages about Luffy's fight with Wapol; the straw hats were not surprised that Luffy won.

Jacob decided to cheek the room with the straw hats navigator and found Evie asleep on one of the couches. She was in a sitting position and Connor was lying on the rest of the couch, he was using Evie's leg as a pillow.

Jacob was quite shocked at the scene, not only was it adorable but his sister was sleeping peacefully. Jacob knew Evie never slept in places or in the presence of people she didn't trust, he was the same; and here she was sleeping in the presence of pirates.

'Just who is this crew?' Jacob wondered and put a couple more logs on the small fire. He then noticed that Dalton was also in the room but in a second bed. Dalton had been treated and moved into Namis room. Nami had tried to bribe Dr. Kureha out of paying for her treatment and being released early with a key she'd stolen from Wapol. But the old witch was very clear that Nami needed rest for two more days and took the key from her claiming it as payment.

Jacob lay down on the other couch but he didn't go to sleep, just because Evie trusted these pirates didn't mean he was going to.

The reindeer was sitting alone on the top of the castle; he was staring at the moon. He knew he should be resting but it had just been such a busy day that he could not sleep. Luffy had chased him around the castle all afternoon, demanding he join his crew and Sanji had wanted to cook him.

The reindeer looked over at the pirate flag blowing in the wind, it was a skull and cross bones with pink flower petals painted on it. It belonged to his adoptive father and the man who had inspired him to become a doctor. His father wasn't really a pirate but he did believe in the courage and the conviction that came with the flag; so he made his own to help realise his dream.

His father had believed that the country was sick and the people's hearts were infected by this sickness. His father claimed to have found a way to cure the country completely but had been murdered by Wapol before he'd had the chance to prove it.

The reindeer was brought out of his memories when he heard the sound of people walking in the snow; he peeked over the edge to see the pirate crew leaving the castle. He hadn't realised how much time had passed, it would be dawn in an hour or two, and then he realised that the pirates were leaving. He watched them enviously, the truth was he wanted to go with them, but he couldn't. Luffy was yelling for Chopper to come out of hiding, the reindeer climbed down and approached them.

"Give it up Luffy, we need to leave," Usopp said.

"No, we can't leave without him," Luffy claimed.

"If he doesn't want to be a pirate, then that's his decision,"

"But I want him to be one," Luffy argued back.

"Umm…excuse me," a small voice from behind the group said.

The pirates turned and saw the reindeer standing there.

"Chopper? What's he doing up at this hour?" Nami wondered.

"Hey I'm so glad you're coming with us," Luffy said happily.

"Actually I came to say good bye," Chopper said sadly.

"Why?"

"I'm grateful for your help today and I want to go with you, I really do but…" Chopper said hesitantly.

"Sure you can it'll be fun," Luffy encouraged.

"I CAN'T COME BECAUSE I'M A MONSTER. I HAVE ANTLERS, HOVES AND A BLUE NOSE," he yelled out "I can't join a crew of humans, so I'll stay here. But if you ever fell like coming back…"

"SHUT UP," Luffy yelled out "AND LET'S GOOOO!"

Chopper burst into tears and nodded in agreement, he ran back inside to find Dr. Kureha and tell her the good news.

"So yelling shut up at people is your recruitment speech is it?" Jacob asked, approaching the pirates with his sister by his side. Evie had her coat back on.

"What are you guys doing here?" Vivi asked.

"Your giving me a lift, remember?" Evie confirmed.

"Yeah but seeing as your brother is here, we thought that you would go with him," Usopp said.

"Oh I'm coming too, I'll just tie my smaller boat to yours," Jacob announced.

"You're coming too?" Nami asked.

"Yup, I'm not leaving you pirates alone with my sister. What kind of brother would I be if I did?"

"Well, I'm fine with it," Luffy said.

"Great, so let me just give you all this warning. If anyone touches my sister I'll break every bone in their body," Jacob said with a smile.

Sanji shivered at the threat, something told him that Jacob would do it too.

Just then Chopper came running out of the castle pulling a sleigh.

"Get on, quick," he cried urgently.

The group looked behind him and their faces turned too fright, behind Chopper was Dr. Kureha and she was throwing all kinds of sharp pointed weapons at Chopper. The straw hats didn't argue and jumped in the sleigh and Chopper ran down the ropeway.

Dr. Kureha had unfortunately woken everyone in the castle up, including Dalton; they had come to see what all the noise was about.

"One of my pets ran away," Dr. Kureha explained, she walked over to where a line of cannons were out in the snow.

The cannons were all aimed Skyward, Dr. Kureha ordered one of the villagers to fire the first four, he did as he was told and loud bangs sounded through the night. It woke the villages up and they all came out of their houses expecting a barrage of cannon balls.

"That should be enough to get everyone's attention," Dr. Kureha said "Now fire the rest,"

The villagers did what they were told.

Chopper, the Frye twins and the straw hat pirates were almost at the Merry when the first Cannon firing sound was herd. Chopper had stopped the sled and locked back at the castle, in concern; but then several more cannons could be herd firing and then the sound ceased.

"Should we go back," Usopp whispered to Zoro.

But before anyone could answer him a miracle happened, the night sky turned bright pink and the mountain that they had just left lit up, it was breathtakingly beautiful.

The straw hats were amazed and watched it for a few minutes, but Chopper broke down and cried in pure happiness. Evie caught some pink snow in her hand and it melted leaving behind trace of pink dirt.

When Chopper had stopped crying they continued onto the Merry, once they were on board and Jacobs boat had been securely attached they set sail. Sanji brought out various bottles of wine and some food claiming that it was the perfect atmosphere for a picnic.

As the Merry sailed away Chopper sat on the back railing watching the fake cherry blossoms bloom. He was joined by both Evie and Jacob.

"You know from this distance, it looks like a giant Sakura tree," Jacob pointed out.

"Your right, it does," Evie responded.

"You know what sis; I think that they're going to be just fine,"

"I think your right," Evie agreed "Sakura…it's a good name for a new kingdom,"

A few minutes later Chopper and the twins went to join the others in the picnic.

Back at the castle Dr. Kureha was watching the Merry sail away with her former assistant and pupil. Dalton approached her.

"So this was what he was trying to achieve," he stated.

"Yup, he finished it right before he died and left a sample of the formula with me," Dr. Kureha confirmed.

"How does it work?"

"Well without ruining the moment and getting technical. You shoot the pink dust into the atmosphere and it dyes the falling snow bright pink,"

Dalton nodded, with Wapol finally gone for good and the election of a new king a few days away it seemed like an appropriate time to use the dust.

"He knew you know, that the country was sick and this would cure it,"

"Dalton, Dalton," a villager called.

Dalton looked over to a villager who was running over to him.

"You need to get back to bed," the villager said.

Dalton nodded and went with the villager but he was stopped by Dr. Kureha.

"Dalton about my fee for your treatment. This kingdom needs a new name; if you become king I want you to change it,"

"To what?"

"I have some ideas, but I'll tell you if you win the election,"

Dalton nodded and went back inside; Dr. Kureha turned and looked at the old pirate flag on top of the castle. Chopper had hung it up there years ago as a memorial to his late father.

"Well he's gone and with the knowledge I've given him he should be all right. Are you happy now? You old Quack?" Dr. Kureha asked the flag.

The flag started fluttering in the wind, it was pointing in the direction of the merry.

Dr. Kureha smirked, "That's what I thought," she said and went back inside the castle.

The Camo-Camo friut placed third in the fan-made devil fruits competition, it was created by lionkingd15.

This fruit was initially going to be given to Arno, however after playing through Syndicate Evie's last unlock-able ability was to blend into her surroundings to avoid detection. So it was given to her instead, this fruit was the perfect match for her stealth and infiltration skills.