DISCLAIMER: I OWN NOTHING, EXCEPT RAGNAR AND ALL VIKINGS IN THIS STORY! ONE PIECE BELONGS TO EICHIRO ODA, VIZ MANGA, TOEI ANIMATION AND FUNIMATION ENTERTAINMENT/CRUNCHYROLL LLC
Chapter 23: Protect Baratie! The Great Pirate, Red-Leg Zeff!
Silence fell over the restaurant. Every single chef was dumbfounded that the head chef would dare comply with Don Krieg's orders. What reason would he have to feed the men who would come here and slaughter them all. Even more incredulous was Krieg's stunned face. There was hardly anything that was able to shock him, it seemed, except for what he just heard the chefs call this peg-legged old coot. Yet Zeff just turned around and started walking back.
"What are you doing, boss?!" One chef asked, "You're not serious are ya!?"
"If those pirates get their strength back, the Baratie will be completely overrun!"
"True, that would happen…if they still had the strength and will to fight," replied Zeff, further shocking everyone, save for Luffy. Then he asked Krieg, "Tell me something, did your will survive the taste of defeat?"
Krieg couldn't even reply, but the look on his face said it all. He only stared at Zeff as if the head chef had gone raving mad. Yet it was the rest of the kitchen staff who were even more shocked. What did their boss just say?!
"Unbelievable…!"
"The mighty Don Krieg himself was defeated!?"
"Not even he could conquer it!" Carne muttered, "His mighty pirate fleet couldn't survive the Grand Line!" Gin only further hung his head in shame at those words. Yet Luffy only stared on in silence. Gin's ashamed look said it all. Yet Krieg still couldn't believe who he was looking down.
"It really is you, isn't it? You're Red-Leg Zeff!" He asked Zeff, before regaining his composure, "So, after all these years, you're still alive! The unrivaled captain of the Cook Pirates who was also their ship's cook."
"Yes, that's right. I'm still alive," replied Zeff, essentially confirming Krieg's suspicions, "But that aside, why are you so fixated on my past? I haven't been a pirate for many years now; I chose the life of a cook." Hearing this, Krieg only laughed.
"You chose this life, huh? Yeah right!" He chuckled, "You had no other choice, old man. You chose to become a cook because that's the only thing you can ever be now. Back then, he was known the world over. Red-Leg Zeff was a master of lethal kicks who never used his hands in battle. It was said that with his fearsome legs, he could crush bedrock into sand, and leave footprints in solid steel. He earned the name 'Red-Leg' in reference to his boots, which became drenched in the blood of his enemies, as he kicked them down." Krieg's story even shocked Luffy. Sanji did say that the head chef was a pirate once, but he left out the part about Zeff being a captain. "You know, I'm truly sorry to hear that you lost that right leg of yours. I heard that rumor some years ago. How unfortunate for you to have an accident at sea. Now that you lost your greatest weapon, you're defenseless. Completely unable to fight!"
"I don't see any reason to fight anymore. I'm a cook!" Zeff proclaimed, "As long as I have my two hands for that, I'll be just fine. But enough chatter, cut to the chase. What do you want from me?"
"Red Leg. You're one of the few men who's sailed through the treacherous waters of the Grand Line and returned unharmed," Krieg sneered, "Even I am telling the truth when I say that I'm impressed. As such, you must have a logbook detailing your tactics – an entire year of the voyage you made there. Hand it over! Now!"
"Whoa! No way, you've been to the Grand Line too, Pops?" Luffy asked, amazed by what he heard. Zeff only nodded to Luffy but turned his attention back to Krieg.
"So, you want my logbook, do you?" He asked, "You're right, I do indeed have a record of my travels. But I will never hand it over to you!" Krieg's face only soured to a frown, "You ignorant brute! That logbook is sacred to me! It's the pride of my crew; my comrades. It's far too precious to hand over to the likes of you."
"Well, in that case, I'll just take it myself!" Krieg declared, "I'm not ashamed to admit that even I was defeated by the Grand Line. Even so, I refuse to abandon it! I am Don Krieg! Ultimately, it's just another sea. I had enough weapons, men and ambition! What I lacked, however, was information. I just didn't know enough about that sea, but that will change! Once your logbook is in my possession, I'll assemble another pirate fleet, and seize the legendary One Piece! And then, I will stand tall as sole master of this Great Pirate Era!"
Upon hearing Krieg's monologuing, Luffy was furious. Who was this honorless cur who dared try to steal away his dream? How could someone like Krieg declare his ambition to claim the One Piece when he barely made it out of the Grand Line alive!? The boy simply would have none of it!
"Now hold on just a damn second!" He shouted, standing before Krieg, "I'm the man who's gonna be King of the Pirates! You don't even deserve that title! You tried to sail the Grand Line, and look where it got you! Having that logbook won't change a damn thing!"
Luffy's declaration shocked every member of the kitchen staff, including Sanji. Was this guy really serious? He was staring down Don Krieg head on! He either had nerves of steel or a death wish.
"You can't be serious!?" Patty uttered out, "That's insane kid!"
"No way! Not when it comes to this," Luffy replied, grinning confidently.
"Do you realize what you're saying, boy?" Krieg asked Luffy, "I won't stand for such ignorant stupidity in my presence."
"Regardless, I'm just stating the obvious," Luffy told him.
"You think this is a game?"
"Oh, I'm dead serious. I am gonna conquer the Grand Line!"
"YOU ABSOLUTE NUMSKULL!" Krieg finally bellowed, evidently fed up with Luffy's determination, "It's true that we didn't have the information we needed, but my fleet of five-thousand men was just annihilated in a week, you brat! That sea is a living hell on earth!"
"What!? One week!?"
"Don Krieg's fleet was sunk in just seven days!?"
"Is this for real?"
"Sadly for you, I don't find your smartass remarks amusing," Krieg told Luffy, "If you continue this foolish behavior, then I'll take the pleasure of killing you here and now."
"You're welcome to try!" Luffy replied, readying himself for a fight.
"Trust me, I have every right to do so," Krieg yelled, "I will take great pleasure in sending you to an early grave, you arrogant little shit!" The two pauldrons on his shoulders, spun and opened up, revealing the two mini-cannons from earlier, and they were aimed straight at Luffy. All the staff of the Baratie were startled. The boy would surely be killed!
Yet at that moment, from outside, a horn sounded shrill and long, catching Krieg's attention. It was only a brief moment, but it was just what was needed. As the blaring faded, it was followed by the sharp whizzing of the air, followed by a ding, causing Krieg to stumble back. Everyone saw that an arrow struck him right in the chest, and was embedded in his armor. It stuck into the cuirass, but did not pierce it. Luffy turned behind him and only smiled. Zoro, Nami, Ragnar and Usopp were behind him, ready for battle. Although Usopp was still scared shitless by the way his knees were about to buckle beneath him.
"What's going on, Luffy?" Zoro asked, "You need a hand?"
"If you don't need any help, then that's fine too!" Usopp stuttered.
"But we'll help any way we can," added Nami, putting on a brave face in spite of being terrified out of her mind.
"Oh, hey guys!" Luffy told his crewmates, "I appreciate the offer, but I think I can handle this bozo."
"Oh…t-too bad!" Usopp stammered, "B-But if you say you don't need any help…" He did not finish, Zoro used one of his swords to knock him on his ass. "What the hell was that for, Zoro!?"
"Shut up already, you weirdo!" Zoro grumbled.
"You're staying right here, Usopp," Ragnar told the cowardly archer, blocking any path of retreat with his shield, "Even if Luffy can take Krieg on himself, we can still help out in other regards." The sight of perceived disunity among Luffy's crew only caused Krieg to laugh in amusement.
"Are those four your crew?" Krieg asked, "That's a pretty small group you have there, boy."
"Make that five," Luffy continued, indicating Sanji, "I've got one more!"
"I told you, I'm not part of your crew!" Sanji yelled. Yet Zoro, Nami and Ragnar all knew that when Luffy set his sights on someone joining the crew, he wouldn't rest until they agreed. The Straw Hats and the Baratie cooks only prepared for what they thought was coming. Yet much to their relief, Krieg's pauldrons returned to protect his shoulders.
"I'll deal with you and your ragtag band of followers later. Right now, I have a hundred hungry mouths to feed," he told Luffy, picking up the sack of food Zeff prepared and slinging it over his shoulder as he looked to the kitchen staff, "Those of you who do not wish to die may leave now, and your lives will be spared. The only things I'm after are the logbook and this ship. However, if you wish to stay and die, I have no problem burying every last one of you at sea!"
"Then you are truly a fool!" Ragnar told him, "We Vikings do not fear death in battle, Krieg, we welcome it, and the glory it brings!"
"Good, then you'll be meeting your Gods soon enough," Krieg replied, and walked out with the food behind him, leaving everyone on edge for the battle that was inevitably to come.
Back aboard the Merry, Johnny and Yosaku watched from the aft castle at the restaurant. They both had no clue as to what was going on, but they could hear nothing but the waves against the ship.
"It just got really quiet all of a sudden," Yosaku muttered.
"If Big Bro Zoro is in there, then everything should be fine," said Johnny.
"Yeah, I know, but what if it's not?"
"Hmmm…good point," Johnny muttered, picking up a round shield, "Good thing Big Bro Ragnar gave us these spare shields. Anyway, if something bad does happen, we should help 'em out anyway."
Back at the Baratie, Gin only sat on his knees, clutching his fractured shoulder, hanging his head in further shame. He only wanted to provide food and water for his captain and his crew, but thanks to him, he started a naval battle, and he knew it. All the chefs at the Baratie were glaring daggers at him, except for Sanji and Zeff.
"I'm so sorry, Sanji. I didn't think it would come to this," Gin apologized.
"You have nothing to be ashamed of, sailor," said Zeff, shocking every member of the staff, "Every cook in this restaurant did what they felt was right. That's all there is to say."
"But boss! Why are you defending Sanji!?" Patty asked in disbelief, "This whole mess is his fault!"
"Yeah, he's right! Sanji's responsible for this whole damn mess!"
"YOU FOOLS DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT!" Zeff yelled at them, silencing them all, "None of you men know what it means to truly be on the brink of starvation, to have no food or water on the open seas. There is no way you can understand what a truly terrifying prospect that is! It's the most impossible situation a man can face."
"W-What are you talking about, Chef Zeff?" Patty asked, lowering his trident.
"There's one clear difference between all of you and Sanji, and he knows it well" the head chef explained, causing them all to question each other. What did Sanji know that they didn't? Yet Zeff continued on, "If all you're gonna do is stand around and complain, then leave and never come back."
"I don't know about you guys, but I am staying right here!" Patty declared, raising his trident with pride, "I'd never be able to live with myself if I accepted defeat."
"I'm staying too!" Another chef declared, "After all, this is our restaurant, isn't it?" Hearing their comrades' resolve, the other chefs knew they had to fight to the very end to ensure Krieg's men didn't set one foot in this place.
Gin only gawked at this army of chefs, five pirates and a Viking and was in disbelief at what he saw. How could they face the likes of a man such as Don Krieg!? Even with a hundred men, those pirates were still considered dangerous.
"What are you doing!? Are you all out of your minds!? You saw how powerful my captain is, right!?" Gin asked.
"Hey Gin! Listen well, because I'm only gonna say this once," said Sanji, as he stood on the legs of one of the tables, "Feeding someone who's hungry is my sacred royal duty as a chef, but…" he then flipped the table onto its legs and placed his left leg on it, "…now that your crew is well-fed, I have no further obligation to them. I can beat every last one of them to a bloody pulp with a clean conscience. If any of them tries to set foot in this place, then I won't hesitate to kill them without losing a wink of sleep. Understand?" Upon seeing how serious Sanji was, Gin only knelt in silence, gulping out of utter shock.
"You're a real headcase, Sanji," said Patty, "Giving him free food, then threatening to kill him?"
"Can it, Patty," Sanji grumbled.
"See guys? Isn't he awesome?" Luffy asked his crewmates.
"We'll get along well, he and I," Ragnar replied, "He's a real broga, that one."
"WHO CARES HOW AWESOME HE IS!" Usopp screamed, "WE GOTTA GET OUTTA HERE RIGHT NOW!"
"Easy there, Luffy," Zoro replied, "It is Don Krieg, but he's in pretty bad shape."
"Zoro's got a point," said Nami, "I'd be lying if I said I wasn't scared, but we faced Buggy and Captain Kuro. If we can take on those guys, then we can face Krieg too." Luffy only smiled at his crew, knowing that he had their support. Then he turned to Gin.
"Gin, you told me didn't know anything about the Grand Line, right?" He asked, "I thought you went there, didn't you?"
"It's true I did go there, but nothing doesn't make sense anymore," said Gin, recalling those horrific events that drove him and his crew here, "What happened to us on the last day there in that cursed sea…I can't tell if it was a nightmare, or reality…" His mind instantly flashed back to that fateful week, he saw it all unfold so fast…fifty warships sailed into a stormy sea…and before them sailed one measly little raft…eyes piercing at him in the darkness as his face dripped with sweat, and lightning revealing the sad graveyard of Don Krieg's once proud fleet rotting at the bottom of the Grand Line! "I saw things that I just can't fathom to comprehend! Deep down, I know it should be impossible…for that entire fleet…fifty ships…were completely wrecked by a single man!"
Everyone was totally aghast at his description. Even Zoro widened his eyes in sheer disbelief, completely drowning out Usopp's screaming. Nami looked on at Gin as if he was insane. Yet Ragnar was just truly surprised.
"WHAT!?" Everyone shouted in unison.
"Hold on! How could one man destroy an entire fleet!?" Nami asked, skeptical of this feat, "That's just not possible!"
"It all happened so fast," Gin explained, "The very moment that this man appeared, he systematically attacked our ships, one after the other!" He could still see the ship's graveyard as the sound of thunder rang through his head once more, "If that storm hadn't come when it did, that bastard would've destroyed the Dreadnought Sabre as well! I didn't even know if any one of the other ships managed to escape…it's all just like a fevered dream etched into my memory! I just wish I could forget them…those eyes…they were like a hawk's: sharp and vicious. His stare alone was like the cold hand of death itself!"
Zoro couldn't believe what he heard from Gin. His eyes went wide as his heart beat faster.
'What did he just say!?' he thought, trembling at the very description. There was only one man who matched that description.
"Well then, that can only be the one known as Hawkeye," said Zeff, "Your description of his heartless gaze isn't proof of who he is, but the way he was able to easily destroy your fleet confirms without a doubt that it was him."
"Hawkeye Mihawk!" Zoro muttered.
"You know this guy, Zoro?" Luffy asked.
"Remember how I told you and Ragnar that I went to sea in search of one man?" Zoro asked his captain, "He's the man I've been looking for. Hawkeye is the sole reason I set out to sea."
"Hold on! Zoro, that guy must be way out of your league!" Nami protested, "If he can destroy fifty ships, there's no telling what that he'll do to people."
"Could he have had some kinda grudge against you guys?" Sanji asked Gin.
"We didn't do so much as a thing to provoke him!" Gin replied.
"Perhaps you disturbed him during a nap?" Zeff asked.
"Are you nuts!? Why would he destroy our entire fleet for something so trivial!" Gin yelled.
"There's no need for that tone, just simply giving an example," Zeff explained, then turned to the Straw Hats, "I thought you might want some friendly advice on what kind of place the Grand Line is."
"And w-w-what k-k-kind of place…is it?" Usopp asked, shaking with fear.
"He probably means anything is possible there," Zoro explained, much to the archer's dismay.
"A sea where heroes are born," noted Ragnar, "Oh, I'm definitely looking forward to seeing it with my own eyes now!"
"Hey Luffy! Do we really have to go there!?" Usopp asked his captain. Yet Luffy only stood there shaking. Nobody could tell what he was feeling right now.
"Luffy? Are you okay?" Nami asked. Yet her fears were put to ease when she saw that enthusiastic smile on her captain's face.
"THAT'S SO AWESOME!" He exclaimed, clearly pumped for the thought of exploring that vast ocean, "THIS IS GONNA BE SUCH A BLAST!"
"DO YOU UNDERSTAND THE CONCEPT OF DANGER!?" Usopp yelled.
"Hardly, Usopp. Once he sets his sights on a goal, he will not rest," said Ragnar, grinning just as happily, "This will be a saga for the ages! And we will return from that sea as heroes."
"I'll admit, I'm downright terrified," said Nami, "But I'll be willing to face my fears if it means helping my friends."
"Finally, my life's goal will be accomplished on the Grand Line," Zoro muttered, "My rival's out there on that vast ocean, and I'm gonna find him."
"Are you that stupid?" Sanji asked the swordsman, "It's idiots like you guys that end up dead."
"That may be true, but lay off the name-calling," said Zoro, "I devoted my entire life to becoming the World's Greatest Swordsman. I made my choice, so I'm the only one who gets to call myself stupid."
"What morons," Sanji muttered, only to find Nami's spear pointed right at him, while she herself was glaring at him like a demon.
"Don't you dare mock my captain for following his dream," she growled, horrifying pretty much everyone. A woman dared to threaten Sanji! That was pretty much unheard of at this point.
"My deepest apologies, mademoiselle," he said quickly, trying to put on a brave face since he wasn't expecting her to react so defensive for Luffy.
"My friends are right, Sanji," Luffy declared, cracking his knuckles with a confident grin, "We are gonna make it to the Grand Line, find the One Piece, and I am gonna become King of the Pirates! But for now, we'll need to finish Krieg. I can't let anyone get in the way of my ambitions."
Seeing the crew's determination, Zeff couldn't help but smile at the young boy. He was setting his sights on his life's goal, and he admired that.
"ENOUGH!" Patty yelled, "Do any of you understand the reality of our current situation!? That enormous galleon moored in front of our restaurant is none other than Don Krieg's flagship! So, let's check back into the present and deal with this!"
Back aboard the Dreadnought Sabre, Don Krieg's men eagerly ate and drank as much as they could, some of them even fighting over whose turn it was to get water from the barrel. Yet as they finished their feast, they all cheered in celebration.
"WE'RE SAVED!" they cheered, but then they all turned as their captain smiled at them.
"That's right boys," he said with a devious grin, "And I'm glad you all made it, because I'll need a healthy crew to go back to the Grand Line." The very sound of what their captain instructed caused them to stand frozen in fear. He wanted them to go back to where they almost died!?
"Sir? Why are we going back there?" One pirate asked, only for Krieg to shoot him dead in the chest.
"Are there any other objections?" Krieg then asked, only for his men to force themselves to cheer at the prospect of sailing to their doom once more. Krieg then stood and addressed them of their situation, "First, we need to commandeer that floating restaurant, then we abandon the Dreadnought Sabre before she sinks to the bottom of the East Blue. Don't worry about our enemies. They're just a bunch of prissy cooks, four idiotic kids and a Viking. It won't take much to beat them." Then he looked to the Baratie and declared, "Now! Attack with all you have!"
Inside the Baratie, the chefs and the Straw Hats saw the charge of Krieg's men and formed for battle. Nami and Ragnar interlocked their shields together as if on instinct, while Usopp nocked an arrow into his bow. Whatever the outcome, this battle was to decide the fate of the Baratie…and so they braced themselves for the coming attack…but then…
All at once, all of Krieg's men paused, the wind having blown past by them suddenly, and then quick as a flash, the Dreadnought Sabre was cleaved into three.
"WHAT'S GOING ON!?" Krieg asked in terror.
"Don Krieg! Our flagship! She's been cut!" One pirate screamed.
"SHE WAS CUT!? WHAT DO YOU MEAN BY THAT!? SOMETHING SLICED UP OUR SHIP!? IT CAN'T BE! THAT'S IMPOSSIBLE!"
The waves created from the impact buckled against the Baratie, shaking everyone off balance.
"Raise the anchor! We need to get out before we sink along with them!" Zeff shouted.
"What just happened!?" Ragnar asked.
"I have no idea, but if this keeps up…!" Nami began, only for a thought to strike her, "The Merry!"
"Wait! Johnny and Yosaku are still aboard our ship!" Zoro uttered in fear.
"I hope it's not too late!" Usopp muttered.
The Straw Hats all rushed out with the chefs and witnessed the impossible: the Dreadnought Sabre was slashed into three parts, like a knife through butter!
"That can't be real!" Nami muttered out loud, grasping her spear and shield tightly.
"Out there! Look!" Ragnar shouted. He was not looking at the wrecked ship, but at something nearby it. Everyone turned, and saw a lone black boat shaped like a casket, and two large candles stood atop it, their wicks burning with a bright green flame. At the center of the boat was a cruciform mast with black sails, and there sitting in a lone seat was a flamboyantly dressed individual. He was a man of about 41, tall and well built with a short black beard on his face.
This stranger wore a cavalier hat with a plumed feather atop his head, while he wore a long red and black ornate velvet coat open chested with floral patterns on the sleeves. Light purple trousers covered his legs, held in place by an ornate belt and were tucked in by large boots on his legs. A crucifix rosary hung around his neck, but by far what everyone instantly noticed were his eyes – yellow and just like a hawk's!
"That man is…!" Zeff muttered, shocked even by this man's appearance.
"No…! That bastard! He followed us all the way here!" Krieg shouted in disbelief as he held onto the stern of his ship for dear life. Yet Zoro only froze, as if he'd seen a ghost, his heart pounding loudly in his chest.
"I…I can't believe it…" Zoro muttered, "It's him! He's here…! It's Hawkeye!"
A/N: Here we go, setting up for one of the most seminal battles in the lore! I hope you guys are ready for this!
In the meantime, however, it's time for some Viking lore that I forgot to mention in the last chapter. Ragnar mentioned that he would pay for the crew's meals in hacksilver. Now, some of you may be wondering, what is hacksilver?
Well, during the Viking Age, hacksilver referred to fragments of silver armbands. These were used by the Vikings, not as jewelry, but as currency. Bits were hacked off, as required, then weighed on a scale and then spent, just like coins. In fact, the ruble - the basic Russian unit of currency gets its name from the Russian word 'rubit', meaning "to chop", another clear reference to hacksilver. This brings us to an important source I used for research in this story.
Now, the Vikings were not a literary culture, and as such, much of the written evidence for them comes from Christians, who did their best to demonize the Norsemen, as they were on the receiving end of these attacks. Another source is the Sagas, which also include pieces of mythology as well as actual history, but there is also a non-Christian source on the Vikings, which are the writings of Ahmad ibn-Fadlan, a 10th century qadi, or Islamic scholar, who wrote about the Rus' Vikings during his travels along the Volga River.
If you've seen the movie The 13th Warrior, that movie is loosely based off of his written accounts of what Ibn Fadlan saw during his travels. His writings, while slightly biased, are also what I would consider more trustworthy than what the Christian sources say about the Vikings, as Ibn Fadlan provides us with a detailed account of the Rus' Vikings' culture, society, and daily life. But, you definitely want to take some of this with a grain of salt. For instance, one section has Ibn Fadlan state of just how disgusting the Rus' were in his eyes, when in reality we have archaeological evidence which tells us that the Vikings took great pride in grooming and their appearances. Still, I highly recommend reading it, though.
Anyway, stay tuned for the next chapter!