A/N: Hope you all enjoyed the last chapter. Now, since the fruit was called Candy-Candy, I'm gonna try and tweak it later on. For now, here's the chapter.
The Straw Hats were currently being chased by four Marine ships that were firing warning shots at them. Most of the Straw Hat men were rowing the ship, the women were looking concerned, Luffy was lying on the deck groaning in hunger, and Johnny and Yosaku were once again acting like they would kill Vivi and Carue, who were both tied up and in plain sight.
"How long do you think this ploy will work?" Gin grunted as he rowed an oar alongside Chopper.
"Doesn't matter!" Nami shouted. "As long as it keeps them from sinking us, then we keep using this tactic!"
"Sorry guys." Vivi said. "Maybe I should've stayed in Alabasta after all."
"No use complaining about it now Big Sis." Johnny said without looking at her, hoping not to give their secret away to the marines.
"Besides, you can't get this kind of adventure unless you're out at sea." Yosaku added before one of the marine ships.
"Are they attacking their own ships?" Alvida asked as they all stared in shock before Usopp started laughing.
"Just as I planned!" he boasted.
"What plan?" Zoro asked in a bored tone while Gin just glared at Usopp like he was an annoying fly.
"Quickly!" Nami shouted. "Let's get out of here! Hurry!" The Going Merry sailed off while the other Marine ships went to help those that were on the sinking Marine ship. After a few tense moments, the marines were out of sight and the crew dropped the act and released Vivi. The crew was sailing on through rocky waters while keeping a lookout for any ships that might be close by before Chopper cried out that he spotted a harbor and a lighthouse in the distance.
"A harbor?! Where?" Luffy yelled as he looked ahead from his favorite seat on top of the figurehead. He grinned when he saw the town and began chanting about food while the others sailed the ship towards the rocky shallows to disembark. Zoro stayed on to sleep, Grace stayed on to paint, and everyone else slowly got off to go and see the town or gather supplies.
"Wait, that's not a lighthouse." Chopper said after looking closely at the tower.
"Whatever it is, it's huge!" Usopp said as they began walking and talking along the shallow rocks before a patrolman spotted them up the hill.
"Halt! All of you!" he shouted, getting their attention as he walked towards them all. "If you wish to anchor at Ruluka Island's harbor, even in the rocky shallows, then you must first pay a harbor tax!"
"A harbor tax?" Chopper asked in confusion.
"It means we gotta pay to leave the ship here." Usopp explained.
"What kind of stupid tax is that?" Gin said.
"Why should we have to pay to leave our ship here anyway?" Nami demanded.
"Because it's your duty!" said the patrolman as he pointed his gun at them. "Now are you gonna pay or not?"
"Hey," Sanji said as he stepped in the way. "Do not point that thing at a lady."
"What'd you say?" growled the patrolman. Luffy looked ready to just run, but someone else reacted first.
"Wait a minute!" Vivi said as she stepped in front of Sanji before she faced the patrolman. "Excuse me, but exactly how much is this harbor tax going to cost us?" she asked.
"Hmm." said the patrolman as he slightly lowered his gun and looked at their ship. "For a ship that size, the amount comes to a small tax of 500 berries."
"Is that all?" Nojiko asked. "We can pay that."
"Nojiko!" Nami whined.
"We got 800,000,000 berries in the ship." Nojiko whispered to her. "Now's not the time to be stingy." Nami sighed at her sister's logic and pulled out the correct amount of money before handing it to the patrolman.
"There's your stupid tax." she grumbled. The patrolman smiled before easing his stance.
"Then I officially welcome you all to Ruluka Island." he said before turning and walking away. "Have a nice day."
"See? No need for any violence." Vivi said.
"Ahh~, Vivi-swan has a heart of gold!" Sanji swooned before they heard an old voice shouting down at them. They all looked up to see an old man with strange gear on his head and back staring down at them.
"I have a question for you all." he said.
"What are you?" Valerie asked.
"Looks like a one man freak show." Gin suggested.
"That's not it, and I'm a human, so don't call me a 'what'!" he shouted before he removed his goggles and looked at them. "Did any of you see the Rainbow Mist on your way here?" he asked. Robin's eyes widened for a moment as the others asked what he was talking about. "Forget it. A bunch of morons." he said to himself.
"THAT'S FREAKING RUDE!" the men shouted before Robin stopped them by holding a hand up.
"Could you perhaps explain what it is you're talking about?" Robin asked. The old man just stared down at them before turning away.
"Follow me." he said as he walked away. "There's a nearby restaurant. We'll talk there."
"You guys can talk to him." Nami said as she walked off. "I'm going to get some paper for my maps."
"I'll accompany you, Nami-swan!" Sanji sang.
"Wait for me!" Chopper said as he followed them.
"I'll come too." Nojiko said. 'Someone's gotta remind her that we're not broke anymore so she doesn't get us into trouble with her bargaining.' she thought. While the four of them were wakling off, the others decided to follow the old man to hear about the Rainbow Mist.
-Later in the Restaurant-
Everyone had found a seat and were now waiting for the old man to tell them about the mist.
"Seconds please!" Luffy shouted.
"One Special coming up." said the owner.
"Seconds for me as well." said the old man.
"Here you are." he said before he said, "You better have money."
"It's on him." he said as he pointed at Usopp.
"Why me?!" Usopp snapped.
"I'm gonna explain the Rainbow Mist to you. It's only obvious that you pay." he said.
"I didn't even want to know!" Usopp yelled as the old man drank some water.
"My name is Henzo." he said. "A brilliant genius scientist studying the Rainbow Mist." he said, with Usopp claiming that only idiots claim that they're geniuses.
"Mr. Henzo." Robin said.
"Call me Professor." he said, making Usopp slap his chest in annoyance while Robin presented him a book.
"Have you heard of this book?" she asked as Henzo's eyes widened at the cover before he started looking through it.
"Oh yeah. The Rainbow Mist is that book you've been reading Bis Sis Robin." Yosaku said.
"You mean that mist is actually real?" Johnny asked.
"The book was written over 40 years ago, and the author is unknown." Robin said. "According to the book, the Rainbow Mist is home to The Land of the Gods, or the Golden City, El Dorado."
"That's nothing but a legend." Henzo said as he looked at them. "Many adventurers have traveled here seeking the Rainbow Mist because of those legends. But no one has returned, not even my dear friends."
"You're friends disappeared into the mist as well?" Usopp asked before the owner put a plate of spaghetti on their table.
"Ignore his babbling." said the owner. "This guy's nothing more than a crack pot."
"Crack pot?" Johnny said.
"What do you mean?" Yosaku asked.
"He's nothing more than Mayor Whetton's dog." said the owner.
"A dog?" Gin asked as Luffy stayed quiet while other patrons began to belittle Henzo. Thoughts of when he lost his friends came to his mind, knowing what it was like for Henzo when he lost his friends. Everyone stopped talking as the sounds of drumming could be heard.
"Oh shit! The Collection Party's coming!"
"Quick! Eat fast!" The Straw Hats only watched in confusion as everyone began to shovel their food into their mouths quickly before the doors opened up to a group of people dressed identically as the patrolman from before, with their leader standing ahead of the group.
"Well, well, fair citizens. Having a nice meal?" he asked before he walked in. He stopped when he saw someone holding a mug of beer and smiled. "That's some fine beer that you're drinking. When you drink, you must pay a drinking tax." he said as two patrolman came up behind the man and restrained him.
'What kind of dumb tax is that?' Vivi thought, already hating these men for stupid laws such as this.
"Wait! Hold on!" the man begged. "The money in my wallet's for my wife and kids!"
"Taxes are the obligation of every citizen." said the leader as the patrolman handed him the man's wallet. "Those who do not fulfill this obligation have no right to live in this town."
"Who's this jackass?" Usopp muttered.
"Mayor Whetton's son, Phillip." whispered the owner. "He's an annoying bastard that taxes every little thing we do." All the Straw Hats looked at the guy either with stone faces, or in disgust. Vivi's eyes were shadowed over, thinking that those who rule should not use their power in such ways.
"Well, Well, if it isn't Professor Henzo." Phillip said as he spotted him. "My father's been looking for you. He's curious as to how your research on the Rainbow Mist is coming along."
"Same as usual." Henzo answered in a bored tone. "Seeing as how we don't know when or where the mist will appear."
"Pity. The taxes from all these citizens is what we use to fund your research." Phillip said. "The Rainbow Tower that's being constructed is also being funded by those same taxes. Need I remind you that the longer you take, the more trouble that you put these citizens through? Now then, I'll take my leave." he said before he started walking towards the door. He stopped and turned around before grinning again and looking at Luffy. "Well, well, that's a very large serving of spaghetti you're eating!"
"I was hungry." Luffy said.
"Don't tell me." Gin said before Phillip grinned.
"Those who eat large servings must pay a large serving tax." Phillip said.
"He'll pay." Luffy said as he pointed at Usopp.
"Why me?!" Usopp yelled.
"Because Nami won't let me have any money." Luffy said.
"Tch. Fine!" Usopp huffed as he pulled out his wallet. He fiddled with it to get it open before Vivi grabbed his wrist. "Huh?"
"Something wrong Big Sis Vivi?" Johnny asked.
'Vivi?' Phillip thought as Vivi had her head down before she stood.
"I cannot stand by and watch those with power abuse it." she said before she glared at Phillip. "I don't know this Whetton person, but all these taxes are completely ridiculous!"
"Miss! Please!" whispered the owner.
"Just pay him! He'll slap on a Defying Authority Tax!" said one of the customers. The Straw Hats were looking at Vivi, some with a smile for her courage, while the rest of the restaurant were looking scaref stiff at her attitude towards Phillip. Phillip glared at her before a small smile came to his lips.
"Well, well, seems that we have a brave one here." he said. Some of the patrolman looked ready to assist, making some of the Straw Hats slowly reach for their weapons. "If you have a complaint, then why not speak about it directly to my father, Mayor Whetton."
"Fine!" Vivi said as she released Usopp's arm.
"We'll escort you." Phillip said before he, his men, Carue, and Vivi all left.
"That's weird." one of the customers said. "Usually, he'd have taxed someone who spoke that way for a few million berries."
"She's lucky." another said. Some of the Straw Hats didn't seem to agree as they were frowning as they stared in the direction they all left. Henzo and the rest of the Straw Hats stepped out and were now looking at where Vivi was going.
"Now that you've seen it for yourselves, steer clear of Henzo." said the owner. "Otherwise, you'll just get spurned by the whole town."
"Thank you for the warning." Robin said. "But I'm not the one who makes that decision. Our Captain is." she said as she looked at Luffy, who was staring out at the sea.
"Hey, Luffy." Alvida said. "A few of us are gonna look around town. Try not to get into too much trouble." she said before she, Gin, Valerie, Johnny, and Yosaku left down one way.
"Later." Luffy yelled with a wave.
-With Nami's group-
Nami, Sanji, Nojiko, and Chopper were walking along inside the town, with Sanji holding some shopping bags, Chopper carrying various objects while in his Walking Point, Nojiko having only one bag in each hand, and Nami looking around with a smile.
"How much more shopping are you going to do Nami?" Chopper asked.
"What? I still need some drafting paper." she said.
"And all those other stops we made for all this stuff?" Nojiko teased, though she was also smiling at the shopping.
"If it makes the ladies happy, then shop all you want my dears~!" Sanji swooned as they kept on walking before he spotted something in the distance. "Huh? What's that?"
"What's what?" Nojiko asked as they all followed his gaze to see a group of people in the distance walking through town. "What a second. Is that Vivi and Carue?"
"Vivi-chwan?!" Sanji said with hearts in his eyes.
"Where's she going?" Chopper asked.
"Hey, look ahead." Nami said. All of them looked to see Valerie, Alvida, Gin, Johnny, and Yosaku walking in the same direction that Vivi was going without being seen.
"Something's up." Nojiko said.
"You don't think Vivi's in trouble, do you?" Chopper said in worry.
"Not as much trouble as those assholes will be if they harm one hair on her head." Sanji growled.
"Sorry Nami, but our shopping spree just ended." said Nojiko as she gave her bags to Sanji, who gladly took them before running after her.
"Be careful Sanji." Nami called.
"You're worried about me, Nami-swan~!" Sanji said with hearts in his eyes.
"No. I'm worried about those." she said as she ran and pointed at the shopping bags he was holding.
'Is she serious?!' Chopper thought as they ran on.
-With Vivi-
Vivi was riding on Carue as the Tax Collection Party lead her to a large mansion that overlooked the entire town.
"This is my father's home." Phillip said as he opened the door for her, putting on a polite act. "After you Miss."
"Thank you." Vivi said as she dismounted Carue and walked towards the door. Carue tried to follow, but a few men stood in his way.
"My father doesn't like pets. No offense." Phillip said.
"Don't worry Carue. I won't be long." she said as she walked inside. She was greeted by a fancy house filled with many luxuries and grand furniture before looking up towards the staircase to see an elderly man with a cane and nice clothes walking down the stairs.
"I'm guessing that's the Mayor?" Vivi asked.
"Yes. That's my father, Mayor Whetton." he said.
"What is the meaning of this Phillip?!" Whetton snapped in a raspy voice as soon as he saw Vivi. "You better have a good reason for bringing whoever she is inside my home!"
"Of course I do father." Phillip said before Whetton bonked him on the head with his cane.
"You will address me as Mayor Whetton at all times." snapped Whetton before he put his cane back down on the floor. "Now, who is this?!" Vivi watched as Phillip whispered something into Whetton's ear, who was listening to every word before his eyes widened. "Are you sure?"
"Yes Fa- er, Mayor Whetton." Phillip said. Whetton looked at Vivi before he smiled at her.
"I see." he said before approaching her. "Well then, since you're here, let me introduce myself. I am Whetton, Mayor of Ruluka Island. Welcome to my home."
"Hello, Mayor Whetton." Vivi said in a calm tone. "I apologize for this sudden visit, but I have an issue with all these taxes I've been hearing about."
"Ah. Someone from another island then." Whetton said. "Don't worry my dear. I believe that we can resolve the issue about these taxes before the ship gets here."
"What ship?" Vivi asked in confusion.
"Why, the ship that'll be here to return you safely home," he said before a dark grin came to his face. "Princess Vivi."
A/N: BUM BUM BUUUUUUM! So, what do you all think of the changes I made? Something to let the newer members fight.