"This place is crazy!" Nami called out.
It had barely been a day since the Straw Hat Pirates had left Twin Capes and the weather had changed from bright and sunny to cold and snowy. Hilda was shoveling snow off the deck while Axol and Ruby stayed near the brig and kept warm.
"I tried to warn you earlier. When you enter the Grand Line, you leave your common sense outside." Draco said, creating embers of purple flames to keep the cabins warm.
"Luckily the Merry was installed with heaters," Kaya said, making a snowman with Kirby.
"Still, I didn't think the Grand Line could change the weather so quickly and drastically," Usopp noted.
"And this is tame compared to the storm season. We lucked out entering the Grand Line during one of its calmer periods. After all, this is just a surprise snowfall." Draco said. "Later in the year, we could have been hit by a blizzard instead."
Down in the brig, Mr. 9 couldn't help but smirk at Mr. 13 and Miss Friday. The duo had been shivering in fear for the last few hours due to Sanji, Noire, and Carmen making regular threats to make them the special of the day if they tried to escape.
"They're not so scary when the shoe's on the other foot. But I wonder what they did with Miss Wednesday."
As it happened, Vivi was up in the cabin, shivering harder than Nami.
"You okay?" Heart asked. "We do have the heater going."
"I'm from a desert region. I'm not as used to the cold." Vivi explained.
"Well, you might be warming up real fast. I just felt a change in the weather. Again..." Nami said, muttering the last part.
Sure enough, the snow flurry had given way to a lightning storm. Gin and Nojiko quickly raised the lightning rod installed into the mast.
"Your home region is crazy, Draco!" Sonson exclaimed.
Draco smiled fondly. "Yeah, but it's worth it to be back. I've experienced both the worst and best of the Grand Line touring it with Dad."
The whole time he'd taken the helm. As one of only three Grand Line natives on the crew, Nami felt he was best qualified for steering the Going Merry through the turbulent waters. He double-checked the Log Pose and Eternal Pose to make sure they were heading right.
"We should be hitting Whiskey Peak before long."
"I feel like we changed course several times during this trip. Are you sure we're heading right?" Nojiko asked.
"The Grand Line doesn't work like the rest of the world. Seasons, currents, winds, all of it can change in an instant." Vivi said. "The Log Pose is the only thing that never changes. It's the only thing you can trust when navigating these waters."
As if to prove her point, the weather suddenly turned calm before giving way to a fierce spring gale.
"I'm gonna have my work cut out for me if I want to draw a map of this place..." Nami lamented.
"Storm incoming!" Usopp called out.
"How does anyone live out here again?!" Hilda asked.
"You get used to it," Axol quipped with a flat look on his face. "Trust me, it gets worse below the waves."
Sanji, Noire, and Carmen soon came out with a large plate of rice balls for everyone.
"Lunch is ready! Eat up to keep your strength!"
Carmen handed a plate of fried chicken to Gin.
"Take this down to the brig for Mr. 9."
Gin nodded. "I take it the chicken is to intimidate the vulture."
Eddy laughed. "Way to stick it to that rat with wings!"
"I take it Eddy doesn't like birds?" Kuina asked, arching an eyebrow.
"Let's just say he's had bad experiences with them." Double-D clarified.
Meanwhile, Gottfried was listening to everything the otter and vulture were talking about and his eyes narrowed at what he heard.
"I'm gonna have to let the rest of the gang know about this."
Eventually, the weather finally calmed down for a stretch. Hilda let out a sigh of content as she stretched out her arms, which also let her belly shine in the sunny light, the pale fat flesh glistening almost majestically.
"By the way, earlier you were being addressed as Miss Wednesday. And your partner calls himself Mr. 9. Something about those names has been bugging me." Zoro said to Vivi. "Like something I'd heard before."
Kuina nodded. "Now Draco knows you, so I get the feeling you're trustworthy. But as the crew's First and Third Mates, we can't stand by if you inadvertently cause harm to us."
"Land ho!" Usopp called out. "Whiskey Peak dead ahead!"
"Now might be a good time to let Mr. 9 out. Let's just say certain people on that island will be more on guard if they think you're onto them." Vivi advised.
"Better keep the otter and vulture locked up. They'll cause more of a ruckus free." Gottfried said.
"Yes, please! Those guys are scary!" Vivi agreed. "I have never been more afraid of native desert dwellers or friendly sea mammals!"
The crew got their first look at Whiskey Peak, the island looking like it was made of cacti.
"Now there's a funny-looking island," Sanji noted.
"Is this going to be common in the Grand Line?" Hilda asked.
"No, most islands are typical for the rest of the world," Draco assured.
"There's a river at the front. We can go inland by ship." Nami noted.
"We're not going to find monsters on this island, are we?" Usopp asked nervously.
"Not on this one. An Eternal Pose is only made for islands that are safe to have ports and cities on." Ben said. "Many islands will have dangerous beasties the likes of which you've never seen, but Whiskey Peak is one of the safer islands. We picked a good one to start on."
"How do you know about this?" Draco asked. "I found you in the East Blue."
Ben smirked. "I've got a lot of secrets, mate."
"Once we land on the island we have to wait until the Log Pose records the new magnetic field before we go to the next island," Nojiko said.
"That doesn't sound too bad..." Melony said.
Suddenly, a thick fog started to settle in, prompting Heart to reach into her Treasure Gate and pull out an ornate fog light.
"We've got company."
"I can hear lots of breathing. The natives have spotted us." Gottfried said. "They're gettin' all shifty-eyed with us."
"Funny, that didn't happen last time I was here," Draco noted.
"Time changes all things, Draco," Vivi pointed out.
As the ship approached the port, the crew could hear an odd sound. It was the sound of cheering. To most of the crew's shock, the entire town was cheering at their arrival.
"Now this is more what I expected. Whiskey Peak is known as a town that loves pirates." Draco admitted. "They come through all the time bringing great business with them. Pirates in this town are actually hailed as heroes."
"For real?!" Luffy asked. "That's awesome!"
Eddy smirked. "Well, look at that, boys! Haven't even started as members of this crew and already we're celebrities!"
The crew disembarked and were greeted by a tall man with curled hair that Vivi seemed to recognize.
"Welcom-*cough* Ma-ma-ma... Welcome to Whiskey Peak. I am Igarrapoi, the mayor of this settlement."
Draco raised an eyebrow. He knew this man but by a completely different name. The fact that 'Igarrapoi' seemed to stiffen when he noticed Draco confirmed his suspicions.
"First Vivi, now Igaram? What the heck is going on here?"
"I'm Monkey D. Luffy! Nice to meet you!" Luffy greeted.
Igarrapoi's eyes widened when he heard that name before quickly clearing his throat.
"Whiskey Peak is a town that thrives on making liquor and music. Hospitality is our pride and joy. Our liquor is as bountiful as the seawater. We'd love to throw you a party so that we might hear your tales of-*cough* Ma-ma-ma... Your tales of adventure."
"We have a few days to kill. As I recall, it takes five days for the Log Pose to record Whiskey Peak's magnetic field." Draco said.
"WOO-HOO! PARTY TIME!" Usopp, Luffy, Sanji, Sonson, Hilda, Ed, and Eddy called out together.
-OP-
The party lasted well into the night, with plenty of food, drink, and music. Usopp entertained the children with his tall tales with Kaya also joining in, Sonson and Kirby pantomiming some of the 'events' with them. The Eds and Ruby were dancing like there was no tomorrow and drawing a crowd in the process.
Kuina was minding her own business when she noticed a mysterious individual also seemingly sitting by his lonesome. He wore samurai-esque armor that looked both lightweight and sturdy and also wore a mask that covered his mouth and nose. He had smooth silver hair with bangs swept to one side which covered one of his eyes, the one that was exposed looking heavily scarred.
But what most caught her attention was the seven, yes, seven items on his back: One was wrapped up in bandages, another looked like a sewing needle while another a giant knife, one an axe-mace combination, two sabers and finally, what looked like a hilt attached to a couple thousand paper tags.
"Its rude to stare, you know."
Kuina recomposed herself.
"Sorry, sorry. Just…Something about you seems familiar."
The man turned and smiled under his bandages.
"Well, I see you're a swordswoman, so…." He extended a hand. "Nobunaga D. Mifune, traveling swordsman."
"Kuina Shimotuski." The girl smiled, returning the gesture.
"Kuina of the Pirate Hunter Duo?" Mifune asked, sipping his drink.
"Former Pirate Hunter duo. Me and Zoro are part of the Straw Hats Pirates."
"Ah, right. Thought I heard something like that." Mifune realized. "…Gotta be some kind of pirate to get you and three swords to join."
"Oh, Luffy and the rest of us are Peace Main style pirates. Not Morganeers like so many." Kuina explained, which made Mifune raise an eye-brow. "Oh right. Most don't know or care, but there are two types of pirates; Morganeer pirates are the ones everyone thinks of and most are. Peace Mains are more like us Straw Hats, the Whitebeards and Red Hair pirates; more adventurers than anything else."
She inwardly thanked Draco and Ben for explaining that to her and the others, before her eyes returned to Mifune's assorted blades.
"Forgive me for prying, but…"
"Oh yeah, I can use all of them." Mifune explained. "And thank you for not asking me if…."
"Oh that joke has been done to death, no worries." Kuina noted. "If in you don't mind? They seem familiar."
"Good." Mifune said, his tone curt and hot, before he recomposed himself. "Sorry. Sorry, just…they all belonged to my mentors and…Well, thanks to a certain Warlord no one gives their memory just rewards."
Kuina glared at that and also postulated: Which warlord had the kind of power and personality to do that? Unlikely to be Mihawk or Jinbei..maybe the Pirate Empress?
"But you got a good eye or at least were told stories of us." Mifune mused. "To recongize the seven swords of the Mist."
Kuina's eyes widened as memories of her father telling her and Zoro stories rushed to the forefront of her mind as she recited her father's words.
"THE seven swords?! Made by a mad blacksmith in the core of the Red Line?! Each with a Devil fruit like power ?! Who could only be wielded by the most battle-hungry yet honorable souls who could topple kingdoms?!"
"The very same." Mifune smirked.
OP
Meanwhile, Draco, Zoro, Nami, Gin, Nojiko, Heart, and Rolf were enjoying the drinks provided to them
"Please enjoy some of our finest wine," Igarrapoi offered. "It's a special dri-*cough* Ma-ma-ma... A special drink made from prime grapes. The taste is pure wine without the alcohol."
"Well, I usually prefer soda to liquor, but I'm not opposed to drinking with friends and family." Draco chuckled.
"This is some damn fine wine though." Heart chuckled as she took a sip.
"We had an excellent harvest this year, so there's plenty to go around," Igarrapoi said. "To celebrate, we'll have our usual toast competition! Basically, you continue to toast and the last one standing is the winner."
"So it's a drinking game," Nojiko said. "Let me guess... No pauses, no spills."
"And no regurgitation," Igarrapoi confirmed. "The prize is 100,000 Berris!"
"Pour it out!" Nami declared.
"We still have plenty of money from the East Blue!" Zoro pointed out.
"Rolf shall accept this challenge, which you all shall regret, as Rolf has what Nana calls the Belly of a Lead Iron Ox!" Rolf smirked.
Nearby, Luffy and Hilda were wolfing down plate after plate of food, eating so much that Sanji, Noire, and Carmen had to take over for the cooks, who had passed out. Melony was somehow sleeping through all the merry-making while Axol was laser-focused on drawing his manga, using the events around him to inspire the events he was currently writing.
And atop one of the buildings, Ben and Penny hovered in the air, their respective wings manifested as they observed their friends having fun. Ben shyly inched his hand ever closer to Penny's, retreating when he saw her gazing, but then beaming when she took the hand into her own and then rested her head on his shoulder. With a content smile, Ben placed his head on top of Penny's as they started to gently land and rest on the roof.
"Would you two like a light snack?"
Ben and Penny spied a girl in a pink kimono with short brown offering them each a cup of tea and some dango.
"Thank you!" Penny beamed as she took one of the sticks and savored the flavor. Ben smiled and took his own stick
"Many thanks, lil…?"
"Fuu." The girl smiled. "Just Fuu. And sorry about the startle. Just…well, you remind me of someone and…"
Ben rose an eyebrow and smiled
"You love this person?"
Fuu blushed but didn't deny.
"He's out here, probably drinking a bar out of house."
"Sounds like Zoro." Penny mused, Ben chuckling,
"Well, speaking of bars, is there one nearby with rum?" Ben asked. "The tea and dango were divine, but I need me a drop of rum to really chill."
Fuu smiled and pointed downwards, then widened her eyes.
"MIFUNE!"
She then hurried down to stop a young man with several swords on his back as he stumbled out of the bar, swinging the largest sword at a sleezy looking fellow.
"…I like them." Penny smiled, then offered Ben a hand as her wings remanifested. "Shall we?"
OP
Meanwhile, the villagers were shocked as Draco, Zoro, Nami, Gin, Nojiko, Heart, and Rolf already had over 10 mugs finished. Draco and Rolf had just finished their fifteenth and were still getting more.
"It's the giants that go swimming...With large, curly-haired women..." Igarrapoi sang in a drunken daze before belching.
"Rolf feels something..." Rolf spoke up as he looked at his hand. "A tingling in the fingers like the worms that eat through Papa's soil...the alcohol is affecting Rolf now."
"Ha! He can't ho-*cough* Ma-ma-ma... He can't hold his liquor!" Igarrapoi called out before his eyes suddenly crossed and he creaked over like a plank of wood before passing out.
Rolf just smirked as he and Draco shared a toast before the latter backed out, declaring the Son of the Shepard the final winner as the crowd cheered and handed him the cash prize.
"You really do have the belly of an Ox made of lead and iron..." Gin groaned, staving off the alcohol-induced daze he was in.
-OP-
Later that night, Vivi found Igarrapoi and dragged him into a nearby room.
"You okay, Igaram?"
Igarrapoi, or rather Igaram, groaned as he nodded.
"That young man had far more alcohol tolerance than I thought. How did your mission with Mr. 9 go?"
Vivi shook her head. "Flopped. But those pirates captured the Unluckies, so it doesn't look like it will get reported."
"Truly? That could buy us needed time. But I had no idea we'd run into Young Draco again after so many years. The young lad's rea-*cough* Ma-ma-ma... Really grown up, hasn't he?"
"Yeah, he has..." Vivi noted with a blush. "Well, the party's starting to wind down now but I have a feeling those Straw Hats are onto the secret of this town."
Igaram got up and headed back to the bar, where it seemed most of the Straw Hats had fallen asleep. Two nuns approached, one with a surprisingly muscular build and the other who looked quite fat, almost as big and round as Hilda with a soft face and brown hair tied up in two sock buns over her ears.
"They finally got worn out, Mr. 8. It practically took forever." The muscular nun said. "Even with the alcohol and sleeping agents we added to the mix, they stubbornly kept on going."
The muscular nun removed her habit, revealing a one-piece dress with a short skirt. The chubby nun also removed hers, revealing she was wearing a pink and white visor on her head, as well as a salmon pink tank top tied with a bow around her neck like a bikini top, under a white raglan slim fit top with ice blue elbow-length sleeves and a fully salmon pink semi-Poké Ball logo printed on the chest area. On her bottom half, she wore frilly flared mustard yellow short shorts over black lycra leggings with salmon pink socks and hi-top shoes.
"We should have beaten them at the harbor and taken their food. We're already running short." The muscular woman, Miss Monday, huffed.
"That seems kinda mean though..." The chubby girl frowned.
"You know this job isn't a place for nice people, Miss Happy Halloween," Mifune said as he and Fuu came over. "Or should I say Rosa?"
Rosa's chubby cheeks pouted as Fuu and Vivi just giggled at how adorable she looked while Mifune smirked behind his mask.
"Not to worry. I was able to check them against the wanted posters we have." Igaram assured as he showed the wanted posters for the four captains, Gin, and Heart.
"Incredible. They looked like such weaklings." Miss Monday said.
"Never judge a book by its cover, Miss Monday," Mifune said.
"Are we sure we should be going through the ship to raid them?" Mr. 9 asked. "I mean... The Unluckies are locked up there, and the boss would need to make sure they can keep doing the covert reports."
"The boss made it clear that any of us are expendable, even the Unluckies. If they've been compromised, there's no reason to free them." Igaram noted.
Miss Monday and Mister 9 sighed in relief, hugging each other out of joy.
"We might finally be free!"
"Miss Monday, I've always loved you!"
"Well, ain't this a touching scene."
The group whirled around and noticed the Straw Hats were still wide awake and staring them down. The one who had spoken happened to be Ben.
"Wow, you must be light sleepers," Mifune noted calmly, despite the look of surprise in his eyes.
"But how?! I made those sleeping drugs myself with the most potent doses imaginable!" Fuu exclaimed.
"Rolf could taste the drugs of sleepiness in his liquor easily!" Rolf boasted. "You need to wake up pretty early in the morning to squeeze an orange rind in the eye of Rolf!"
"After all that eating, I needed time to digest," Hilda said, patting her belly.
"And Kirby can handle anything." Kaya giggled, patting her son on the head.
"So this is interesting. The last time I was at Whiskey Peak, it wasn't a nest of bounty hunters." Draco noted. "Looks like time really does change everything."
Usopp finished counting. "Only a hundred? Man, the odds are stacked way too much in our favor. How am I going to prove myself as a brave warrior of the sea fighting so many weaklings?"
"That's Baroque Works for you. They always seem to go for quantity over quality." Zoro said.
Vivi and Igaram gasped in shock while Mifune looked legitimately impressed.
"How in the world did he find out the name?!" Vivi whispered to Igaram. "Not even Draco knows them!"
"Wait, Zoro, how do you know who these guys are?" Nami asked.
"Baroque Works is a new name, even for me," Ben added.
"They probably started up sometime after you were sent to the East Blue. But back during my and Kuina's bounty hunter days, a couple of Baroque Works members tried recruiting us. But we rejected the offer since it clashed with our own goals." Zoro explained.
"Employees don't know each other's identities, only going by code names. The lower members, called Billions and Millions, have random code names, while the higher-ranked officers have a theme. Numbers for the men and days and holidays for the women." Kuina added. "As for their boss, no one knows who or where they are, not even the employees. They just carry out orders as instructed."
"Well, this is unfortunate. Anyone who knows our secrets must be killed. Another gravestone to be added to the Cactus Rocks of Cactus Island." Igaram said as he looked over to said rocks, which were indeed covered in grave markers. Most of them belonged to dead Baroque Works members.
"Well don't go informing the undertaker just yet. After all, you need to be strong enough to kill us first." Sanji smirked.
In a flash, the Straw Hats all disappeared from sight. Mifune couldn't help but be impressed by their speed.
"Hold on...that girl..." Rosa noted to herself, having recognized Hilda earlier. "It has to be her...I'm sure of it!"
"No time to muse now, Rosa!" Fuu said urgently. "We gotta get ready!"
"People of the world, get ready! This is We Are, broadcasting live from Whiskey Peak!" Gottfried called out.
"What's going on?" Mr. 9 asked in confusion.
-OP-
Inside his den, Sir Crocodile, one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea, chuckled.
"This ought to be very entertaining."
He knew the Straw Hats were about to face down, and likely annihilate, the group of Millions stationed on Cactus Island, but they were expendable. A minor setback like this shouldn't do anything to disrupt what he had planned.
"The first big battle of the Straw Hat Pirates is about to begin!" Gottfried called out. "As they face off against the secretive organization; Baroque Works!"
Crocodile instantly choked on his whiskey in shock as he nearly fell out of his seat, unable to believe what he was hearing.
"How the hell do they know the name of my organization?! Just what are the Unluckies doing?!"
-OP-
Mifune simply narrowed his eyes as he drew out one of his seven swords; Kubikiribōchō, the Decapitating Carving Knife.
"Looks like we're in for a swell battle...I'll go looking for Zoro and Kuina, there's something about them that I need to test out..."
"I'm going after Hilda!" Rosa said. "Fuu, back me up!"
"Got it!"
"Good luck, all of you," Igaram said. "I have a feeling you'll need it..."
Knightmare Lord A/N:
The Straw Hats have arrived at Whiskey Peak but it seems they've run into Baroque Works! We also have a mysterious swordsman named Nobunaga D. Mifune, who is an OC that RisingPluto 66 BKA has allowed me to use with his permission. And he's got the Seven Swords of the Mist from Naruto!
We also have Rosa from Pokemon Black & White 2 as well as Fuu from Samurai Champloo. If you want to know how fat Rosa is, look up Heavy Thoughts by Jeetdoh for a visual.
Anyway, what do you have to say about this chapter, Mrotrax?
Mrotrax A/N:
Sorry for the delay! Work has been hell and I've been job hunting.
I went to Early One Piece for the two types of pirates Kuina mentioned but otherwise, my input was Mifune's intro and Ben and Penny's moment. Hope I did good on those!
And no need to worry about Crocodile being completely whimpified; next chapter we'll see that he has a secret weapon, one that could easily rival the Anicent Weapons and even Nika himself…given time.
See you soon!