Disclaimer: I do not own the rights to characters from the Super Mario or One Piece franchises.
Omake: Making Waves
Somewhere in the New World
We see five people sitting around a table with a transponder snail in the center and various bounty posters spread on it.
"You are sure the reports are correct? There's no chance that these claims are exaggerated?" A heavy male voice asked.
"Y-Y-Yes, sir! These are reports from the Marines and our agents stationed around the area." A terrified voice on the other end of the transponder snail answered.
"And what of the reports from the village in the East Blue? Are they also accurate?" A female voice asked.
"Those are the reports from what we had recovered from the Marines stationed there, as we had no agents in the area at the time."
"Even if the agents we have stationed there can't confirm it, the fact that this rookie has such a large bounty adds credibility to the reports, perorin~," A somewhat muffled voice said.
"Hmm, true. Make sure to keep an eye on this rookie. And find more information about these stars he is after." The heavy male voice ordered.
"Yes, sir!" The snail said before it made a clicking sound and went limp.
This left the five individuals to ponder on the information they had. One was a tall, muscular man with short pink hair and crimson eyes, wearing a massive light feather scarf. The second individual was a woman with extremely long legs and long, wavy white hair covering one of her eyes. The third was a broad man with black hair tied into a bun and wearing a yellow sweater with the word 'snack' on it. The fourth was a muscular man with pink eyes and purple hair tied into a long, baguette-like bun. The fifth member was a tall, slim man with brown eyes, a pointed nose, pink lips, and a large top hat decorated with lollipops. His most notable feature, however, was his enormous tongue that protruded out of his mouth.
"How interesting. He has such a large bounty but is still in paradise. It makes you wonder how strong he is." The female said aloud.
"Pah! I doubt he's that strong. Just look at him! It must be those stars he's after. That's the only reason he has such a high bounty." The man with purple hair said.
"I agree with Brother Cracker. The reports from our agents monitoring the Marines' scientific division state these stars have limitless power. If the reports are true, then there is almost nothing you can't do with these stars." The broad man said.
"If you know how to use them, Brother Snack. Those same reports state that Vegapunk, the most renowned scientist in the world, has yet to uncover their secrets. Only unlocking the ability to enhance the skills and power of an individual significantly." The female added.
"Still, the reports from the Marines stationed at that village in the East Blue stated that Arlong the Saw turned himself into a giant. And Red Cap Mario was still able to beat him." The pink-haired man said.
"And? Is that supposed to be impressive? Arlong was a weak pirate. You, Brother Katakuri, would have been able to defeat him as well and with even more ease." The purple-haired man said.
"Even if that's true, we shouldn't underestimate Red Cap. The Navy doesn't hand out bounties this high like candy, perorin~." The man with the large tongue said.
The purple-haired man grunted while the broad man looked at the rest of the bounty posters.
"We should also be wary of his other companions, Brother Perospero."
The man with the giant tongue, now identified as Perospero, looked at the other bounty posters.
"Yes. Tell me, perorin~, do you think it's true? Do you believe Red Cap and his allies are from another world?" Perospero asked his siblings.
"Maybe. It would explain why the Navy placed high bounties on Red Cap and his allies." The female said as she picked up the poster. "But it's strange. If they are from another world, why do they look so human? I always assumed life from the stars would be stranger than anything found on this planet."
"Truth can be stranger than fiction, Sister Smoothie. We can't judge his strength based on his looks. Appearances can often be deceiving." Katakuri said.
"I still believe the Navy is making a big deal out of nothing, but if those stars can turn someone into a giant, Mama will want them." Cracker said.
"True. So, how will we retrieve them?" Snack asked.
"From what our agents have reported, it appears that Red Cap and his brother have one star each," Smoothie explained.
"So we should attack them both to get two stars. We should also bring them both back alive. If they are truly from another world, Mama will also want to acquire them." Snack said.
"While that's true, we should avoid Red Cap's brother. Our agents have reported him traveling with Fire Fist Ace, perorin~" Perospero explained.
Snack grunted while Cracker scowled at this revelation.
"Tsk! So he's allied with White Beard?"
"We're unsure if he's allied with White Beard, Cracker. But attacking Red Cap's brother while he's traveling with Fire Fist would be enough reason for the White Beard Pirates to seek war with us. And that must be avoided, perorin~"
"And what about Red Cap?" Katakuri asked.
"He's traveling with Straw Hat Luffy. Reports say he's joined Straw Hat's crew, as unbelievable as that sounds, perorin~"
"Hmm, that does sound unbelievable," Smoothie said while furrowing her brows. "Why would he serve under a captain with a bounty so much lower than his?"
"Who knows? But, our safest bet of getting a star is by taking it from Red Cap since the Navy is guarding the stars they have with their best fighters." Cracker said.
"I agree. And what about that other person? The one who covered Alabasta in that dark substance?" Katakuri asked.
"Ah, this 'Cursa' person who claims to be a god? We have some of our officers chasing her, perorin~"
"And who is it? And who's getting Red Cap?" Cracker asked.
"Tomage, Pekoms, and Bobbin are close to where Red Cap was seen last. They will be tasked with capturing him and his star, perorin~ As for Cursa, we have sent Amande and Effilee to retrieve her, perorin~"
"Oh, Amande left? Who's covering her position as Minister of Nuts?" Snack asked.
"Don't worry; Mondee has agreed to watch over Nuts Island while Amande is out," Smoothie answered.
"Why did Amande leave?" Cracker asked.
"She said she was bored and needed a little excitement. She hasn't been on a mission in a while and jumped at the chance to go back out to sea."
Cracker just snickered at Smoothie's explanation, understanding his sister's feelings. He, too, would go crazy if he didn't get some 'exercise' every once in a while.
"Hold on." Katakuri said, getting everyone's attention. "What about the Navy's report of obtaining an important item from Red Cap in Alabasta?"
"Oh, it's best to leave it alone, perorin~ They have Vice Admiral Garp and Admiral Aokiji escorting the ship carrying the item to Vegapunk, perorin~," Perospero answered.
"Hmm, then it's too risky to try and steal it," Katakuri said as he crossed his arms.
"Yes. For now, it's best to go after Red Cap and Cursa." Smoothie said, with everyone nodding in agreement.
Meanwhile, somewhere out at sea
We see a group of ships sailing the seas of the New World. Inside are many pirates dressed like punk Viking hybrids. They wore fur capes, black shoulder pads, and horns growing from their heads. Their leader was inside the main cabin of the largest ship. A giant of a man wearing a metallic jaw mask, his blond hair tied into a ponytail braid combo, and two large horns coming from the sides of his head. He was speaking into a transponder snail while holding Mario's bounty poster.
"Do you understand your orders?" He asked into the transponder snail.
"But, he's just a rookie. Why do we have to bother with him?" Someone asked from the transponder snail.
This angered the large man.
"Are you questioning your orders!?" He yelled.
"Ack! No! Of course not, Jack-sama! We're just confused as to why this rookie has caught Kaidou-sama's interest. He hasn't even left paradise yet!"
This seemed to calm the now-named Jack down.
"True, but he's already amassed a bounty of two billion belli."
"WHAT!?" The man on the other end yelled, and many other shouts and cries of shock followed him.
"Yes, and rumor says he has a powerful artifact on his person. That is why Kaidou-sama is interested in him. So you are to capture him and his friends alive. If you have to kill the Straw Hats, fine, but Red Cap and the other rookies with high bounties must be brought to Kaidou-sama. Understood?" Jack asked.
"Yes, Jack-sama. We won't fail!"
"You had better not. For your sake."
There was an audible gulp before Jack hung up the transceiver. He sat down on his chair and pondered on something before turning to one of his subordinates.
"Hey."
"Yes, Jack-sama?"
"Do you think we can steal the precious cargo the Navy acquired from Red Cap?"
"Uh, um, well..."
"Be honest."
"Uh... Well, if the other calamities were with us, then I'd say we'd have a good chance of success. But if it's just us, we don't stand a chance against Vice Admiral Garp and Admiral Aokiji."
"Huh? Are you saying I'm weak!?" Jack asked as he glared at the subordinate.
"N-N-No sir! Not at all! It's just that Garp went toe-to-toe with Gol D. Roger, the king of the pirates, in his prime, and Aokiji is one of the three admirals, the Navy's strongest fighters. They're monsters that have defeated entire armies of pirates by themselves. It would be suicidal to try and fight them unprepared."
"Hmm, I suppose you're right."
The subordinate let out a sigh of relief before Jack backhanded him into the wall.
"But I still don't like it! Admitting to being weak like this!"
"But, Jack-sama, even if we were to win somehow, that would get the Navy to send out the remaining two admirals after us. We would stand no chance against them without the other two calamities." Another female subordinate said.
"Fine, we'll ignore it for now and continue our mission. All ships, full speed ahead! And someone clean that up!" Jack ordered, pointing to the unconscious pirate.
"Yes, Jack-sama!" The rest of the pirates yelled.
They all went to their posts while one of them dragged the unconscious pirate to the medical room.
At another location at sea
We see a group of marine ships sailing the seas. The vessel leading them has a bulldog figurehead. On the deck of the lead boat are two figures, one standing and the other lying in a chair. One is a muscular older man with gray hair, a beard, and a scar over his left eye. The other is a younger man who is tall and slim but still muscular, with black curly hair and a sleeping mask over his eyes.
"Hey, Kuzan." The older man called out.
"Hmm? Yes, Garp?" Kuzan said as he lifted the sleeping mask.
"What do you think of Smoker's reports? Do you think they're true?"
"I've never known Smoker to lie or exaggerate anything in his reports, so I believe his reports are as accurate as possible."
"Then you believe this Red Cap is from another world. And that his strength can rival you and your fellow admirals?"
Aokiji thought about this for a bit before answering Garp.
"I can't say for sure until I face him, Garp. But the power of the artifacts he has is confirmed. Vegapunk's experiment proved it."
"Oh yeah. Man, I wish I was there to see it!"
They discussed the experiment Vegapunk conducted soon after discovering the Power Star's power-up function. He had a vice admiral face a recruit in a sparring match while the Power Star powered up the recruit. The results were shocking. The vice admiral, trained in haki and Rokushiki, was utterly outmatched by a recruit fresh out of boot camp. The results got the attention of the Five Elders, and they ordered Vegapunk to prioritize his research on the Power Star.
"With that kind of power, it makes sense why Red Cap got such a high bounty."
"So you don't think he's strong then?"
Garp asked Aokiji.
"I never said that. Possessing one of these stars in the first place would earn him a high bounty. As for his strength, I will judge if he's strong once I meet him."
"Ha! Not if I meet him first!"
Garp shouted as he laughed boisterously. While this was happening, two young recruits watched the Admiral and Vice Admiral from the door leading inside the ship.
"Wow. Both the Admiral and the Vice Admiral are interested in Red Cap."
One of the recruits with pink hair and glasses said.
"I know. I don't think any pirate has gotten them this excited. Not even the emperors."
Another recruit with blond hair said. These two were Coby and Helmeppo, two young boys being trained by Garp to become Marines.
"Luffy, just what kind of ally did you make?" Coby said to himself.
"Oh boy, I wonder what that stuff is. It must be important if it requires all these ships and both a Vice Admiral and an Admiral to escort it." Helmeppo said aloud. He still remembered seeing the small jar they were guarding. He didn't understand what it was, but the seriousness with which Admiral Aokiji treated it meant it was necessary.
"Hey, do you think the rumors about Red Cap are true?"
"Huh? What do you mean?"
Coby asked Helmeppo.
"You know. The rumors that say he's from another world."
"Oh, come on. There's no way that's true. Right?"
"I don't know, Coby. I mean, look at his bounty. He's not even in the New World yet, and he already has a bounty that can rival the four emperors. Him being an alien would explain his abnormal strength."
Coby tried to think of a counterargument but couldn't develop one. As strange as it was, Red Cap being from another world would explain a lot, like why he's so strong, why the stars he's collecting hold so much power, and why the World Government is treating this small jar of substance collected from Red Cap as a national treasure.
"Wow. If that's true, then how in the world did Luffy get an alien on his crew!?" Coby shouted.
"SHUSH! We're not supposed to be..."
"Hey! What the hell are you two doing!?" Garp shouted at the two.
"Ah! Um, nothing, sir!" Coby and Helmeppo said while saluting.
"Nothing!?" Garp asked as he approached the two. "Well then, that means you need some training to keep you busy!"
Coby and Helmeppo could only gawk in horror at this statement. Garp grabbed the two and dragged them to the training room his men set up earlier. Aokiji just watched this before shrugging and laying back down in his chair.
"Oh well, shouldn't have been eavesdropping."
On a ship with the figurehead of a red dragon
We see a group of pirates partying on the deck of the ship. The reason? Luffy. These are the Red Haired Pirates. The same pirates Luffy hung out with when he was a child. They are led by his childhood hero, Shanks, who gave Luffy his straw hat and goal to become king of the pirates.
"To Luffy!"
One of the men shouted.
"Who would've guessed Luffy would have a one hundred million bounty by now." A man who looked like Usopp said.
"He's making his way through the Grand Line faster than we expected." A man smoking a cigarette and who had an aura of wisdom said while looking at Luffy's bounty poster. He then looked at a second one. "I'm more surprised that he has a crewmate worth two billion following him. How the hell did he pull that off?"
"Man, look at that nose! And how fat,"
"Hey!" a large, round man shouted as he used his belly to bounce the other man, mocking Mario, to the ground. "Don't underestimate chubby people! He has one of the highest bounties in the world while still in paradise. And look at that stache! That's a Man's Stache!"
"True. What kind of products and grooming care does he use to get it?"
While the crew gossiped about this, Shanks examined Luffy's and Mario's bounty posters by himself at the front of the ship.
"The direction of this era was already shifting, and your appearance has only hastened its process. What other changes will you bring, Red Cap?" Shanks said in a severe tone. He then looked at Luffy's bounty poster and smiled. "Still, you must have great charisma or luck to have someone like him follow you. Good job, Luffy."
"Hey, Captain!" The round man called out.
"Yeah, what's up?"
"Have you heard the rumors about Red Cap? The old anchor got one over us if he has a real alien on his crew."
"I guess so, Lucky. Still, he's got a long way to go before reaching the New World. Now, someone, hand me a drink! It's time to get this celebration started right."
The crew cheered and continued to party.
Mario's presence has caught the interest of two emperors and the World Government. What will fate have in store for our hero and his allies? We can only hope they have the strength and determination to face the new challenges on the horizon.
Omake: Into a New World
A few days ago
We find ourselves in a bustling port town. Many people are going about their day when we see an interesting sight.
"Sorry! Excuse me!" A woman said as she rushed by some people. "Sorry! I'm late!"
The small woman, who resembled a pink walking mushroom, carried a bag while running by the crowd.
"Hey, Goombella! What's the rush?" Someone asked.
"I'm late for an important meeting! Got to get there quickly!" She answered.
This was Goombella, a Goomba who was a student at the University of Goom and a friend of Mario who had accompanied him on one of his many adventures. This was the town of Rogueport, a place with a mysterious and dangerous history that was once the center of a grand adventure. Goombella continued running until she made it to Professor Frankly's house. He was out at the moment and was lending it to Goombella to use.
"Sorry, I'm late, everyone! Getting these took longer than I thought." Goombella said as she entered the home.
"I'd assume so. They are sacred artifacts, after all. It would be best if you had taken some of us to help you." Another Goomba wearing a blue cap said. This was Goombario. A Goomba who was also friends with Mario and had accompanied him on an adventure.
"I didn't think getting these back would be so tedious. I mean, I was with Mario when we used them to defeat the Shadow Queen. You'd think that would earn me some trust in handling them."
"Well, they are potent artifacts that the Shadow Queen created. It would make sense that the museum would be so protective of them." A shadow woman said. This was Vivian. A shadow woman who Mario helped before she joined him in his quest.
"But, Vivian! We were there with Mario when he beat the Shadow Queen! Pennington should trust us!" Goombella complained.
Pennington was a penguin detective who met Mario and his friends during their quest to gather the Crystal Stars. He also owns the Poshley Sanctum, which he converted into a museum honoring the adventures Mario and his friends had to stop the Shadow Queen. At the request of many, he added a vault to house and protect the Crystal Stars. Speaking of which, Goombella opens the sac she had, revealing the Crystal Stars.
"Anyways, let's get started, everyone!" Goombella shouted.
In the room were many of the allies Mario had made during his adventures. Goombario, Kooper, Bombette, Parakarry, Bow, Watt, Sushie, Lackilester, or Spike, as he calls himself, Koops, Madame Flurrie, Gonzalez Jr., Vivian, Admiral Bobbery, and Ms. Mowz. They had all gathered for a critical task: To make a wedding gift for Mario and Peach.
"Good, let us begin. But first, why did you want the Crystal Stars?" Bobbery asked.
"I was thinking we could use them to make the gift for Mario and Peach," Goombella answered.
"Um, I'm not sure that's a good idea," Koops said.
"I agree. Won't Pennington ask for them back?" Kooper added.
"I'm not saying to add the Crystal Stars to the gift. We could use them to make fakes we could use instead." Goombella answered.
"Oh, just like the belt in the Glitz Pits!" Junior said.
"Exactly!"
"Um, not to discount your idea, Goombella, but doesn't Pennington already have a fake of the Garnet Star? And then there's the fake Gold Star in the Glitz Pits. It might have been unnecessary to gather the Crystal Stars." Ms. Mowz said.
"Yes, there are those fakes, but that's it. I asked both Pennington and Jolene about making more fakes, but they both need the other Crystal Stars to make fakes of them. Unfortunately, they are both busy managing the Glitz Pits and the Museum of Mario." Goombella answered.
"Yeah. Jolene and Prince Mush have been busy with all the new fighters entering the ring." Junior added.
"The new museum inspired them to enter. I've seen it myself. Pennington did a great job with the exhibits." Flurrie added.
"Oh, wow! I should visit sometime. I'm sure Koopie and Dad would like to see it. If only I could get some time off." Koops said.
"You've been running yourself ragged running that town, my boy. You should take some time off to visit the museum and attend Mario's wedding." Bobbery suggested.
"But..."
"No buts! Even the greatest warriors and leaders need rest! Otherwise, they run themselves ragged. You can't run Petalburg if you're too tired to keep your eyes open. And you should spend time with your family and loved ones while you can. Trust me on this. I know what I'm talking about."
Koops thought about this and nodded.
"You're right, Bobbery. I will take some time off the next chance I get."
While they were talking about this, Sushie was thinking about her problem.
"That's nice. In my case, I have too much time off." She said.
"Still looking for another job after all the Yoshis grew up?" Parakerry asked.
"Yep. I actually miss those little munchkins and all their antics."
"Why don't you go the Great Tree? I hear the Punis need a babysitter." Bombette asked.
"Are you kidding!? If I did, I would have the same problem as Koops. I can't watch over that many kids by myself." Sushie exclaimed.
Everyone began laughing at the fun they were having. But Goombella coughed to get everyone's attention.
"Alright, alright. That's enough goofing around. I brought the Crystal Stars so we can make the fakes since Jolene and Pennington are busy. They gave me instructions on how to do it." Goombella explained as she pulled out the instructions written by Pennington and Jolene.
"It's not too hard, is it?" Watt asked.
"Not at all. And with all of us working together, we should finish this quickly. So..."
Goombella was about to continue, but a warp pipe appeared in the middle of the room.
"Huh? Are we expecting company?" Bow asked.
"Not that I know of. Professor Frankly isn't supposed to be back until late evening." Goombella answered.
The group waited to see who would come out, but no one did. Cautiously, they approached the warp pipe to see what was going on.
"Hmm, do you think it was sent here by mistake?" Lackilester asked.
"Maybe, Lacki- I mean, Spike," Kooper answered.
As the group pondered why the pipe was here, it activated. No one noticed the pipe shaking and began to suck everything in.
"Huh? What the? ...! Crud! It's sucking us in!" Gonzalez Jr. shouted.
Everyone noticed the pipe pulling them all in and tried to fight against it. Unfortunately, the pull was too strong, and everyone was sucked into the pipe. Once they were sucked in, they found themselves in a void being sent to who knows where.
"What happened!? Where are we going!?" Koops asked.
"I wish I knew!" Kooper asked.
Everyone continued to fall through the void until Goombario noticed something.
"Oh no! The Crystal Stars!"
Everyone looked to see that the Crystal Stars were swallowed up as well.
"Quick! Grab them!" Bobbery said.
Everyone reached out to try and grab the Crystal Stars, but they began to react to the energy in the void. Soon, the Crystal Stars released a wave of energy that struck all in the void and began to change them. Many began to twist and turn as their bodies changed. Goombario saw that the Crystal Stars were about to scatter, so he reached out with... his hand!?
"When did I have hands!?" He thought.
But he couldn't dwell on this revelation anymore as everyone was pulled into the other side and scattered along with the rest of the group. Another group from the Mario world has been sent into the world of One Piece thanks to the effects of the Power Stars. But what about the reverse?
On Dinosaur Island
We come across a forest covered by mist. This is the Forest of Illusion. A mysterious forest that is easy to get lost in. With many twists and turns and hidden passageways.
*Crash!*
It is home to many species. Such as Koopas, Goombas, Para-Goombas, and Wigglers.
*Bam!*
The Wigglers are especially dangerous because they are deceptively benign. They are docile until angered and can be challenging to defeat. And each failed attack against them only angers them more, increasing their strength and speed.
*Rumble!*
A fact that our unfortunate group of travelers have learned the hard way.
"AAAAAAAAHHHH!"
We see a group of three running through the woods—an angry and large Wiggler chasing after them. The group was a trio of anthropomorphic animal people—a dog woman with tan fur and orange hair. A rabbit woman with white fur and blonde hair. And finally, a large feline man with spotted fur, white ears, and long, wavy blonde hair.
"Wanda, Carrot, don't stop! Just keep running!" The feline man yelled.
"Right!"
"Wasn't thinking about stopping, Pedro!"
Carrot, the rabbit woman, and Wanda, the dog woman, responded. These were Minks, a race of anthropomorphic animal people who lived on Zunesha, a giant elephant that carries the Mink tribe on its back in the New World.
At an earlier time
Back in their world, a strange green pipe appeared in their city's middle. Worried about Zunesha's health, the three investigated the pipe, only to be pulled into it by an unknown force. The pipe then vanished, leaving the rest of the Minks to wonder about the fate of their friends.
The three then arrived in the Forest of Illusion. They tried to find their way out but were constantly thwarted by the forest's many secrets. As they were exploring the forest, they came upon a garden of flowers. Enchanted by their beauty, Carrot picked out a bouquet, unknowingly angering the garden owner. The group was surprised when a giant yellow caterpillar attacked them.
"What the!? What is that!?" Pedro asked in shock.
"My garden! How dare you!?" The Wiggler shouted.
"These flowers belonged to you? We're sorry." Wanda said.
"Sorry, but they were so pretty! I couldn't resist!" Carrot explained.
"Oh?" The Wiggler calmed down after hearing this. "Well, I'm glad you liked my flowers. But please, don't pick them. They are not ready yet. If you want some, you can buy them from my shop once they're for sale."
The trio breathed a sigh of relief.
"We thank you for your understanding. We will take our leave now." Pedro said with a bow.
The group turned to leave, but,
*Crunch!*
Pedro looked down to see he had stepped on a flower. The group turned back in fear.
"My flowers. YOU JERKS!"
The Wriggler had become enraged again. His yellow skin turned bright red, and steam bellowed from his nostrils. He charged at the group, and they jumped away to avoid him.
"Pedro!" Wanda and Carrot yelled.
"I didn't see the flower! Damn it! Looks like we'll have to fight."
Pedro and the others got into a fighting stance. When the Wriggle approached, the three leaped forward and unleashed attacks coated with electricity. Minks have the natural ability to produce electricity from their bodies. The three struck the Wriggler, hoping to stun him. It seemed to work as the Wriggler came to a stop.
"I'm sorry it had to come to this," Pedro said.
The three relaxed but tensed again when the Wriggler turned around to face them.
"First, you crush my flowers, and then you attack me!? Get out... GET OUT OF THE FOREST!"
The Wriggler rushed forward again but was faster now. The three dodged again and counterattacked some more. But it didn't work. It only seemed to make the Wriggler more angry and faster. Soon, they were barely able to dodge the attacks.
"Pedro, what do we do!?"
"Nothing is working on him. We're only making him angrier!"
Carrot and Wanda said. Pedro thought about it and came to one conclusion.
"We should take it's advice. Let's get out of here!"
Wanda and Carrot nodded in agreement and ran with Pedro. But the Wriggler wasn't done with them yet.
"You think you can get off that easy!? It's time for your punishment!"
The Wriggler gave chase and was relentless. The three could only run in fear as the angry Wriggler was in hot pursuit. Will our three Mink travelers survive the dangers of this strange world? Let's hope they can.
Omake: New Players
At Impel Down
We find ourselves at Impel Down, the most secure prison in the world, where pirates are sent after capture. Each level hosts different torture methods, and the prisoners are sent to a level depending on how dangerous they are. The most dangerous are sent to the bottom floor. Here, we see a familiar face, Crocodile. He has been locked here ever since his defeat at the hands of Mario and the Straw Hats.
But something was different about him. He just stared off into space. He was not responding to anyone or anything. It was as if his mind was gone, and an empty shell was left. Many doctors theorized that this was a side effect of the Darkmess infusion he underwent. OH, if only they knew the truth.
In a forest
We see Crocodile leaning against a tree and catching his breath, now dressed in his usual attire.
"Damn that, Cursa! Not only did she steal my will, but now, thanks to her, my mind and soul are trapped in this hell!?" He said to himself.
Thanks to Cursa's mind control, Crocodile's mind and spirit were disconnected from his body. Usually, he would be trapped in his body, struggling to regain control and shake off the effects of Cursa's Darkmess. But thanks to a particular 'god' watching the events from his realm, he was interested in Crocodile and took the chance to drag him back to his domain.
Crocodile quickly learned that the being who had captured him had complete control over the world he was in now. It made the rules, one of which was that Crocodile couldn't fight against it. If he did, there would be severe consequences. Now, Crocodile was a veteran pirate who faced strong individuals such as Whitebeard and Kaido. But this thing dwarfed them both in strength and intimidation. He had never felt such fear in his life. It was a god, a dark and malicious god.
The god made him an offer. If he played his games and won, he would return Crocodile to his body. Lose and Crocodile was his plaything for eternity.
Crocodile didn't have a choice and agreed to the god's terms. Crocodile was then sent to a world where he was chased by a giant that resembled Red Cap. He tried to use his devil fruit, but the god had disabled it, forcing Crocodile to run. Luckily, he made it to the warp pipe and entered the next game.
"Can you shut up, human!? It's bad enough I have to deal with the cowardly rat. I don't need to deal with your complaining as well." Arlong said in a hushed tone.
Yes, Arlong the Saw was there as well. The pirate that Red Cap had killed. This only furthers Crocodile's belief that he is in hell. In front of them was Nezumi, the Marine Captain who aided Arlong in hiding his misdeeds, and he was cowering in fear and tears.
After Mario had defeated Nezumi and his men back at Cocoyashi Village, he and his men were tasked with finding more information on Red Cap. Nezumi hated this but couldn't refuse his orders. He and his unit searched until they found a strange device with an even stranger cartridge. The cartridge had Mario's name scrawled on it with blood. Nezumi believed it might contain the secret to Mario's strength and inserted it into the device. The screen connected to the device turned on, but it appeared to be some childish game.
This angered Nezumi, and he was about to throw the whole thing into the ocean, but something strange happened. The screen began to glitch, and its music became distorted. He and his men got closer to the screen, and that is when a monstrous hand came out and pulled them all into it. Nezumi prayed that someone would notice his absence and send help, never knowing the device destroyed itself once Nezumi and his unit were pulled inside.
"This wasn't supposed to happen. I'm not supposed to be here. Please, I want to get out." Nezumi said while sobbing.
The two pirates were about to scold him, but,
"I can hear you."
A raspy voice echoed through the woods. The trio shut up and covered their mouths, hoping they would not be found.
"The rapid beating of your hearts. I can also smell your fear. It makes it easy to find you."
This terrified the trio, and Nezumi broke down.
"I don't want to play anymore! I don't want to be here! I want to go home!" Nezumi screamed.
The two pirates were angered by his breakdown and were about to tell him to shut up. But were silenced when they saw what was above him. Nezumi was still staring at the ground when he felt it. The dripping of warm liquid on his hands. It was saliva.
"No... Please..."
Nezumi barely had time to look up when,
*CHOMP!*
Half his head was bitten off by the creature hunting them. Crocodile and Arlong took this chance to run while the creature feasted on Nezumi's corpse. The beast looked like Mario but with large, soulless eyes and disgusting yellow teeth. It ate Nezumi just like it ate his men and Arlong's crew.
"Mmm, delicious! I hope the prime continues to explore new worlds. I enjoy these new flavors." The creature said as he continued his feast.
That's the end of the chapter. I hope you enjoyed it. Feel free to leave a review, and if you would like to support me, please consider donating to my pa - tr - eo - n. Once again, thank you, and have a nice day.