Lapanui and his friends were back at their hideout, a wrecked Marine Warship, keeping an eye out for Luffy and his crew. Lapanui was in the crow's nest, while the others were below deck either cleaning, keeping their hideout in check, or keeping a close eye on their prisoner, a Whetton pirate named Ian. Ian had been on the ship with them when it disappeared into the mist and tried to boss them around, but they turned on him for his cowardice, greed, and poor leadership.
"We've got a problem!" Lapanui's voice called out. All of the kids had run up onto deck to see that the Straw Hat's ship was sailing towards them. "How'd they find us?" he asked himself.
"HEY!" Luffy called out to them with a wave. "I know you're in there! Come on out! We're not here to fight!"
"As if I'd believe that!" Lapanui yelled as he jumped to the lower railings of the warship just as his friends all came out of the ship. "I don't know how you found our hideout, but it was a big mistake! This is a warship, and the cannons are functional! Leave, or we'll blast you out of the water!" Lapanui threatened, causing Vivi to glare at them nervously
"Luffy! Maybe we should just leave!" Grace said in a panic.
"Why?" Luffy asked.
"It might be wise to go in case he's not bluffing about those cannons." Vivi said.
"Where can we go? We're stuck in here." Luffy stated as Lapanui glared down at them while Henzo and Robin walked out onto deck.
"Where are we?" Henzo asked.
"There hideout." Luffy said as Lapanui jumped onto their ship with a sword in his hand.
"You bastards!" Lapanui said as he ran towards them, only for Zoro to knock the blade out of his hand with his katana.
"Lapanui." Henzo said. "We're not here to cause trouble."
"Shut up!" Lapanui yelled.
"It's true." Robin said. "All we came here for is to ask you how to leave Ape's Concert."
"Why?" Lapanui asked before he smirked and wagged his finger at her. "You guys will just take every scrap of treasure and then leave us behind, right?"
"That's completely wrong, Lapanui." Henzo said. "They wouldn't do something like that."
"As if I'd take the word of an adult!" Lapanui yelled. "All they want is the treasure!"
"Maybe Nami does, but all I want is to get out of here." Grace said.
"Hey guys!" Usopp called as he ran up with food in both hands and on his head, making Luffy drool. "Usopp's Special Lunch is ready!"
"Food!" Luffy called before he ran over and started eating.
"You guys hungry?" Usopp asked as he looked at Lapanui.
"Probably won't be very good." Zoro said with a smirk.
"Who asked you?" Usopp asked while Luffy ate at a quick pace. "Will you slow down Luffy?"
"Not as good as Sanji's, but still good." Luffy said with a mouth full of food.
"Your friends look hungry as well." Robin said with a smile. Lapanui looked up at the ship to see his friends looking at them over the railing.
"You guys hungry? Come on down!" Usopp called up with a smile.
"You sure?" Pukau asked before they all smiled and jumped down.
"Hey, wait! Hold on!" Lapanui yelled as they ran past him. "Have you forgotten your pride as Pumpkin Pirates?!"
"Pride will not fill your stomach." Henzo said before Lapanui turned and just leaned against the railing. He just glared at the Straw Hats while everyone was eating and talking. They soon began to introduce themselves, but stopped when Vivi told them who she was.
"No way! You're really a Princess!" Isoka asked.
"Yes. My father is the King of Alabasta." Vivi said.
"Why would a Princess leave her own country to be a pirate?" Longo asked.
"I have my reasons, but mostly because my friends saved my country from a Warlord." Vivi said before her smile faded away. "Though I'm afraid I may have to return home."
"Huh?" asked Luffy and the other Straw Hats.
"What are you talking about Vivi?" Usopp asked.
"I messed up." she said. "Remember when I went to confront the Mayor about those ridiculous taxes?" Her friends nodded. "It was a trap. I overlooked the fact that my abduction might be in the papers and they found out. Now they want me to stay so they can contact my country and turn me over for a reward."
"What?!" they yelled as Vivi started to tear up.
"And if I refuse, they'll tell the Marines that I joined up willingly." she said. "My country may suffer from my decision! I don't know what to do!"
"Sounds like an asshole." Zoro said.
"I don't remember the mayor being that way." Akibi said while the others nodded.
"That's because it's not the mayor you all knew." Henzo said before he fell to his knees. They all looked at him as he hung his head. "Lapanui! Everyone! Forgive me!" All of them were now staring as Henzo cried.
"What's wrong with you?" Lapanui asked, though his tone said he didn't care.
"The current Mayor of Ruluka, the man who I've had to work under for the last 50 years...Is the same man that burned our home 50 years ago! Whetton!" The children gasped in shock and horror while Lapanui's eyes glared at Henzo.
"Did you just say Whetton?!" he growled as he grabbed Whetton by his lab coat collar. "If what you said is true, then you're not the Henzo we know! The Henzo we know wouldn't follow that man Whetton like a dog! You...You're nothing but a traitor!" he shouted as he pushed Henzo, who landed on his back.
"And your a moron." Luffy said.
"What'd you say?!" Lapanui yelled, earning a glare from Luffy.
"Luffy's right." Usopp said. "Henzo may have worked under Whetton, but it was the only way the old man could achieve his goal. And that was to find his friends. You guys!" Lapanui's glare remained, but his friends eyes softened at Henzo. "The whole town insulted him and slandered his name, but he didn't care. He spent those fifty years working for Whetton for the chance to reunite with his friends. He's no traitor!"
"Even if you say that, what happened to us was only days ago!" Lapanui yelled. "You think we can forget how much pain that Whetton put us through?! And yet he goes and works for him?!"
"Sometimes we work under those we hate to protect those we care for most." Vivi said. Now it was Lapanui's turn to look at Henzo with a softened expression.
"Why would he do all that?" Isoka asked.
"Isn't it obvious?" Usopp asked. "To save all of you."
"Nevermind that." Henzo said as he stood up. "It has nothing to do with them." He then walked right up to Lapanui before saying, "Hit me, Lapanui! Forget about shame and pride! I've lived under Whetton's rule, working under him. Go ahead and punch me! Go on! Hit me!" he yelled as Lapanui trembled before grabbing him by his lab coat and raising his fist. He kept trembling as he glared at Henzo, even with his eyes welling up before they fell and he cried.
"WHY?! How could 50 years have gone by?! I can't do it! Even after what you did, I just can't hit you!" he said as he, his friends, Henzo, Usopp, and Vivi cried.
"Geez, bunch of softies." Zoro said with a smile.
"See? You guys are still friends, even after 50 years." Usopp said.
"Henzo!" Lapanui said with a teary smile.
"Lapanui!" Henzo said with an equally teary smile as they both reached out to shake each others hand. Just before they could shake, the waves began to get a little choppy and everyone on board did their best to stay on their feet.
"What's happening?!" Usopp yelled as something huge came towards them.
"What's that?" Zoro yelled before Henzo gasped.
"It's the Rainbow Tower!" Henzo cried out. "Whetton's coming with his garrison!"
"Guys! Get ready to fight!" Lapanui called out. They looked at him as he stood on the railing. "Whetton burned our town, took over what was left standing, and made our friend Henzo work under him for 50 years! We're NOT gonna let that bastard do what he wants anymore!" The kids all grew smiles before nodding.
"Mind a little help?" Luffy asked. The kids looked to see Luffy cracking his knuckles while the others got out their weapons. "I don't like that Whetton guy either. He's a disgrace of a pirate."
"Fine, but save Whetton for me." Lapanui said as the pumpkin opened up and a ramp fell into the water. Everyone was glaring at the tower entrance expecting Whetton, but what they got wasn't what they were expecting.
"Luffy!" Nami called as she ran up onto the ramp.
"Nami?" Vivi said as the others looked at her.
"She a friend of yours?" Lapanui asked.
"Yeah." Grace said before the sound of a duck quacking could be heard.
"Is that..." Vivi said before Carue came running out of the long tube. He practically flew out before his legs ran in place for a few moments, then fell into the water. "Carue?!"
"Hang on Brother Duck!" Johnny and Yosaku yelled as they ran past Nami and jumped in to help Carue.
"I thought you said Whetton was coming." Zoro said as the others soon came.
"Are you ladies alright?!" Sanji yelled before he spotted Robin and Vivi. "Robin-chwan~! Vivi-swan~!" he yelled in love mode.
"What about the rest of us?" Usopp yelled back.
"...Hi."
"THAT'S ALL YOU GOTTA SAY?!" Usopp yelled.
"Nevermind all that." Nami said before turning towards the Going Merry. "Luffy! That Mayor and his men are on the way to steal the treasure! Make sure they don't get a single berry!"
"I thought you said you weren't here for the treasure?" Lapanui said as he looked at Robin.
"Nami's another story." Grace said just as the conveyor belt built into the tube began moving, nearly knocking the crew on it out into the sea.
"He's coming! We have to stop them!" Henzo cried out while Luffy's crew got ready for a fight. Carue was helped onto the ramp before he began hysterically quacking at Vivi.
"What's wrong Carue?" Vivi asked.
"He's saying that we've got a problem!" Chopper yelled. "That Mayor guy wants all the treasure from this place, AND your country Vivi!"
"What?!" yelled Vivi while the others on the ship looked shocked.
"How would he do that?" Usopp asked. "He's not as powerful as Crocodile."
"He plans on forcing you to marry his grandson, or he'll out us all to the marines!" Nojiko yelled.
"Don't worry Vivi my love!" Sanji yelled. "I'll protect you!"
"Then help us fight these guys." Gin said as he looked back to see boats full of people closing in fast.
"This is bad!" Usopp said. "What'll we do?!"
"Luffy." Vivi said with her eyes shadowed over. "Get me over there."
"Huh?" Luffy said in confusion.
Whetton's thugs were closing riding in little rafts that were being carried down the conveyor belt, ready to loot every ship they could. They saw the entrace coming into view before they all screamed in panic and their eyes bugged out of their sockets. Blocking the path into Ape's Concert was a massive blue wall with giant spikes sticking out of it. The men panicked before bailing out of the ship, followed by the men in the other boats, before their ships were punctured by the spikes and began piling up against the barrier.
"What is that thing?!" one of them yelled while a small bit of the wall dissolved and showed Vivi and Alvida's faces on the other side.
"Sorry boys, but Ape's Concert is closed to the public." Alvida said.
"Come back tomorrow." Vivi said with a wave before she placed more hardened candy syrup over the hole.
"Nice job, Vivi." Nojiko said while Vivi sat down.
"Thanks." she said. "I saw Mr. 3 use his powers like this before, so I thought I'd try it out here."
"But it won't last forever." Nami said before turning to the others, berry symbols in her eyes. "Alright guys! Gather up as much treasure as you can and bring it to the ship!"
"You're still going on about that?!" Nojiko yelled as she slapped the back of Nami's head.
"Luffy!" Lapanui said. "Ape's Concert and everything in it is the property of the Pumpkin Pirates!"
"I know that." Luffy said with a smile.
"Good! Which is why we're not giving you guys any more than half!" Lapanui said. Luffy and the others both on and off the ship looked at Lapanui, who smiled back at Luffy. "Call it a gift for helping the Pumpkin Pirates reunite." The other kids nodded in agreement, Henzo smiled, Luffy only grinned while Nami began jumping in joy.
"I LOVE THESE LITTLE GUYS!" Nami said. "Alright, load the ship up!" Luffy and his crew jumped to it and began loading up whatever they could find from the other ships, with Luffy using his rubber powers to stretch and jump around, greatly helping out with loading the ship. They also helped Ian, who was stuck in the warship's stockade, onto the deck of the Going Merry, though they tied him up.
-Outside the barrier-
"What's going on here?!" Whetton yelled as he, Reik, and Phillip jointed his men at the end of the line. "Why are all these ships wrecked?! Where'd those spikes come from?!"
"Mayor Whetton! We're sorry sir, but we can't get in! This strange wall of spikes came out of nowhere and our ships plowed right into it!"
"Salvage whatever ships you can!" Whetton roared as he got into his Flame-Suit. The men did as they were told and got whatever working boats they could find out of the way before Whetton blasted flames at the wall, which worked in slowly melting away the candy wall. "Now GO! And bring back all the treasure!"
"Yes sir!" they said before they sailed out, only for all the men on the boats to pass out.
"Hands off my friend's turf!" Whetton and his men looked to see Luffy standing there glaring at them all.
"What did you do?! How dare you stand in my way!" Whetton yelled. "Ape's Concert, and all it's riches, belongs to me!" he yelled before Luffy threw Ian at Reik and Whetton, knocking them into Whetton's goons who were managing the pressure system for his suit. Luffy then stretched over and grabbed Whetton before pulling him back so hard, he slipped out of his suit before landing on the deck, which was now covered in treasure. Whetton was slowly getting up before he saw six pairs of feet before him. He looked up at Lapanui, Henzo, and all the other Pumpkin Pirates, who were all glaring down at him, weapons in their hands. "What?!"
"I've waited 50 years for this!" Henzo said before he smacked Whetton with a club, which was followed by his friends as they all had their revenge on Whetton.
-20 minutes later-
Whetton was beaten, bleeding, tied up with his family, gang, and Ian, and unconscious while the Pumpkin Pirates were breathing heavily, satisfied at getting back at Whetton.
"Hey guys!" Luffy yelled as he jumped onto the deck. "How do we get out of here?"
"Don't worry." Henzo said. "I never intended to keep Ape's Concert and Ruluka Island connected forever. A simple flip of a switch and the Rainbow Tower will retract."
"We'll tie this ship against the end and have it pulled out with the tower." Lapanui said.
"That's good." They turned to see Nojiko walking towards them. "It's about time we leave. Nami's starting to drool like you do Luffy whenever you're around food. Plus, if we load anymore, we might sink at this rate."
"Right." Luffy said as he looked at his crew, which were either loading up treasure, or swimming in it. "Alright everyone! We're leaving!"
"AYE!" they called back before they put Whetton and his men inside the tiny boats, tied them to the ship, then tied the Going Merry to the end of the Rainbow Tower.
"I'll go set the tower to retract." Henzo called out from the ramp, which Luffy had helped him to with his powers. "I'll see you guys when you get back!" He then stepped on the conveyor belt that was moving out the Pumpkin Pirates share of the treasure, which was heading towards Ruluka.
"Alright everyone!" Nojiko called, seeing as how Nami was in a cash coma. "Get ready to say goodbye to Ape's Concert!"
"RIGHT!" her friends yelled back.
"Luffy." Lapanui said. Luffy looked back at him with a grim smile. "Pass on a message for Henzo."
-With Henzo-
Henzo was waiting for the last bit of treasure to drop off the conveyor belt before he flipped the switch and had the tower retract, slowly pulling it out of the Rainbow Mist. Henzo watched as the end slowly came into view, pulling along Luffy's ship and Whetton's thugs behind them on smaller ships.
"Back under the blue sky." Usopp said as they detached the ship from the tower and sailed into the harbor. They brought Whetton and his goons onto land while Henzo looked for his friends.
"Lapanui!" he called out. "Isoka! Longo! Akibi! Pukau! Where are you guys?"
"Henzo." Luffy said, gaining his attention. "Lapanui and the others stayed inside."
"W-What?!" Henzo yelled as a distant rumbling could be heard coming from the mist before it faded away. Henzo stared in horror before Luffy spoke. "They said not to worry. They decided to destroy that warship, so that Ape's Concert would be sealed for good."
"But...we were finally together again!" Henzo said before cannonfire rang out, making them all look at a couple of marine ships that had arrived.
"It's the same Marines that were chasing us before!" Valerie yelled as a tall Marine with sandy blonde hair approached them all.
"Thank God you marines showed up!" Phillip yelled. "These pirates attacked our town, beat up the Mayor, and are holding us hostage! And the Princess there isn't a hostage! She's a member of their crew!" Vivi and the others began to sweat at Phillip's words while the Marine looked at them all behind his sunglasses.
"And what proof do you have that she's their crewmate?" he asked.
"What?" Phillip asked.
"She's not tied up like the rest of us!" Reik yelled.
"I doubt they need to, seeing as how they vastly outnumber her and her duck." said the marine. "Still, regardless of whether or not she is with them of her own free will, we as the marines will do our duty of taking wanted men in, and confiscating all unclaimed treasure." The Straw Hats looked ready to fight before the marine said, "Get Pirate Whetton and his men onto the ship!" The Straw Hats blinked before they heard Whetton growl.
"You Marine punks!" he snarled. "I'm the Mayor of this city! Not some crummy pirate! What proof do you have that I've commited acts of piracy!" he demanded before the marine flicked his head with his finger, making him and the men he was tied up with fly a few feet.
"It...It can't be!" Henzo said as the marine removed his glasses and smiled. He may have aged and had some wrinkles, but he was the spitting image of Lapanui. "Lapanui?!"
"What?! Brother Lapanui?!" Johnny and Yosaku yelled while the others stared at him.
"Didn't Luffy give you our message?" asked the aged Isoka while they arrested Whetton and his group.
"Isoka! Everyone!" Henzo said.
"How'd you all get out?" Gin asked. Lapanui then explained that when the ship blew up, they were blasted out and the world of 50 years ago. They were later rescued by marines, which they shortly joined after and spent time getting stronger to combat Whetton's strength.
"But why did you-" Henzo said.
"That place seperated you from us. We wanted to make sure it never happened again to anyone else." Isoka said.
I may wear this Marine uniform, but I'm a Pumpkin Pirate through and through." Lapanui said. "Henzo. You're nakama. Now and forever!" he said with a smile.
"Lapanui!" Henzo said as tears fell from his eyes while the Straw Hats all smiled.
"Now then." Lapanui said as he looked the Straw Hats dead in the eye. "As Marines, we hereby place the Luffy pirates under arrest!"
"What?!" they all yelled.
"You jerk! I gave you guys lunch!" Usopp yelled as he hid behind Zoro.
"As Marines, it's our duty to bring all wanted men in. But," he then dropped his tough guy act and began shouting in panic. "THIS IS A DISASTER! WE HAVE TO TAKE IN WHETTON AND HIS MEN, ALONG WITH ALL THE TREASURE THAT WAS FOUND AT THE HARBOR! BUT IF WE DO THAT, THE LUFFY PIRATES MIGHT GET AWAY, AND THEY STILL HAVE PRINCESS VIVI OF ALABASTA HOSTAGE! IF WE MAKE A ROUND TRIP, WHICH MAY LAST TWO DAYS, THEY MIGHT ESCAPE BEFORE WE MAKE IT BACK! AGGGH! I HATE THIS! I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO!" He then ran off while the Straw Hats all just stared at him deadpanned.
"You did that on purpose." they said before they all got on board and sailed away.
"My friends are back." Henzo said as he watched them leave. "All thanks to you Luffy. Now my research is done as well."
"Are you kidding?" Henzo turned to see the townsfolk had gathered around him with smiles on their faces. "What if that mist comes back? We can't do anything about it."
"We need you to whip something up for us if that happens." Henzo looked at them all before smiling.
"I'll take care of it." he said as the Straw Hats sailed away, with Lapanui and his friends saluting them as they passed by.
"So, we helped a group of friends reunited." Alvida said.
"Stopped a crazed tyrant." Gin added.
"Liberated an island." Vivi said.
"And gained a little profit." Grace added.
"Not a bad way to spend a day." Nojiko said as they all looked at the treasure that was on the deck.
"How are we gonna fit all this inside the ship?" Valeria asked.
"We'll think of something." Luffy said as they all began to slowly move the treasure below deck, taking it anywhere it would fit.
"Hey, anyone seen Nami?" Sanji asked.
"I don't know, but I found her sandals." Chopper said as he held up Nami's footwear.
"Here's her shirt!" Johnny said as he saw it hanging on a jeweled sword.
"Her skirt's over here!" Yosaku said as he moved some gold off of the clothing.
"Quack!" Carue said as he had a bra and a pair of panties hanging from his bill.
"Found her!" Luffy called as he moved a pile of loot aside. He saw Nami laying under the treasure, drool on her lips, stars in her eyes, her face red, and completely nude. "She's naked!"
"WHAT?!" the crew yelled as most of them rushed to see, while Zoro and Robin just watched the chaos unfold.
"NAMI-SWAN~~~~!"
"DON'T YOU LOOK AT MY SISTER WHILE SHE'S LIKE THIS!"
"ALRIGHT BIG SIS!"
"Isn't that uncomfortable?"
"HAHAHAHAHA!"
-The next day-
The Going Merry was sailing along as the crew were scattered about the deck, with Luffy sitting on the figurehead. Nami had calmed down enough, but still had a smile on her face at the thought of all the loot they got.
"So, how much do we have now?" Nojiko asked.
"We...have...I can't believe it! 3 billion berries! KYAAA!" Nami screamed in joy.
"We should throw a party next island we stop at!" Johnny suggested.
"Next Island we stop at, we should just buy!" Yosaku said.
"I'm up for a party." Gin said.
"Alright. We party!" Luffy suggested before something strange started falling from the sky.
"What is this? Rain?" Zoro asked as he was lifting weights.
"Doesn't look like it." Usopp said as they all began looking towards the sky.
"That's weird." Sanji said. "That looks like a..." Everyone's jaws dropped in horror, Luffy's being in excitement, as a massive broken galleon fell from the sky.
"EEEEEEHHHHHHHH?!"
A/N: I have no clue how much treasure was in there, but I do know that I saw a lot. I'm glad to announce that the Rainbow Mist Arc is complete. So, what did you all think?