AN: Hello you wonderful people! I've got an amazing new chapter for you all today so please leave those reviews and all that jazz.
Chains Chapter 12
The Trials of Clockwork Island
"..and that's basically all we know for sure about the future notes," Vebulus finished, having informed Sabo, Dragon, and Alvida about what he and Aaron knew about the notes. This of course had necessitated them revealing that they had come from another world, which the three had taken surprisingly well.
"Interesting, and you're certain that the Rainbow Mist is what allowed you to receive these future notes?" Dragon asked, rubbing his chin thoughtfully. Unlike everyone else, who had changed into more casual outfits that fit the tropical beach weather, he was still dressed in his full outfit, cloak and all. Even Sabo had at least taken off his hat and trenchcoat.
After the crew sailed away from Loguetown they had spent a couple of hours traveling to a nearby island, where they were taking full advantage of the change in weather to relax while Aaron and Vebulus explained things to their new crewmate and the revolutionaries.
"As certain as we can be."
"I still find it hard to believe that all of this could even be possible. I mean, I've heard rumors about how crazy the Grand Line could be but your story blows those out of the water," Alvida sighed. Outside of a few questions she had been mostly silent, seeming to be largely overwhelmed by the explanation.
"Not the craziest tale I've heard but it's definitely in the top 10." As one four heads swiveled towards Dragon as if asking if he was serious.
Dragon just smiled.
"You know, I shouldn't be surprised, you live in the Grand Line," Aaron sighed.
"Veb~ Come oil my back," Nami purred from where she was laying down on a beach towel, dressed in a red bikini with the straps that held up the top currently undone.
Vebulus's face went red as he glanced over, movements a bit unsteady as he got to his feet. Taking the bottle of oil from Nami he squirted some onto her back before starting to spread the oil. It didn't take long for him to develop a steady rhythm much to Nami's pleasure, even with Sanji glaring at him.
Thankfully the glare didn't last long as Sanji swept over to Alvida, a chilled fruit drink in his hand. Alvida accepted the drink with a smile and a wink. Little hearts flew off from Sanji's head as he swooned. Aaron experimentally reached over to poke one of the hearts, blinking in surprise when the heart popped like a bubble.
"Guys. Hey guys? Is the Going Merry supposed to be leaving without us?" Luffy asked innocently, pointing at the slowly retreating form of the ship.
"WHAT?!" Heads jerked around as multiple people turned to find that yes the Going Merry was steadily moving away from them and the island they were on.
There was a mad scramble as most of the crew, sans Nami who was still topless, rushed to the water's edge in an attempt to do something. Luffy stretched out an arm to try and grab onto the ship even as Vebulus launched a chain to try and do the same thing. Both attempts fell short, Luffy's fingers brushing the railing but not enough for him to get a grip while Vebulus's chain didn't make it even half the distance.
"Aaron! Fly!"
"R..right!" Aaron started in surprise at Nami's yell. Quickly shifting into his hybrid Zoan form he leaped into the air, each beat of his wings carrying him higher as he soared across the water in pursuit of the ship.
In less than a minute Aaron drew level with the Going Merry and finally caught sight of the thieves. The first was a kid in subdued colored clothes wearing a knit beanie, the second was an older man in a green coat who was partially concealed by the doorway he was standing in.
The kid shouted in surprise and pointed at Aaron which caused the older man to curse and reach into his coat. When his hand emerged from the coat it was with a pistol, hammer already cocked back, held in his grip. A pistol that he aimed at Aaron.
Reacting almost on instinct, Aaron dove down, belly skimming across the waves just before the pistol fired. He could hear more cursing from the deck but when he attempted to gain altitude to once again attempt to land the man was waiting for him. The bang of the gun seemed impossibly loud to Aaron, even as a burning line of pain erupted across his back. He fell back with the realization that either the man had missed him on purpose or he had gotten extremely lucky. Either way it probably wasn't a good idea to try and tempt fate any further.
Aaron flew back to the beach to find Vebulus staring mournfully in the direction that the Merry had vanished, Dragon gone, Luffy laughing, and Sabo getting consolingly patted on the back by Nami and Usopp. An expression that was usually only reserved for Luffy's most insane antics plastered across his face.
"What'd I miss?"
What he'd missed as it turned out was Dragon temporarily dumping Sabo with them for an unknown amount of time, claiming that his second in command could use the vacation, and to reconnect with Luffy after all these years.
As he was transforming back into his base form, Aaron discovered, much to his surprise, that the wound he had received only minutes ago was already partially healed. He also happened to feel just a bit stronger and more able in general. He suspected that he had leveled up but with the binder having been left on the Merry he couldn't check to confirm that fact. He was chalking the healing up to some theories about Zoans he'd run across over the years though.
The missing binder wasn't a problem exclusive to just him though, the whole crew was missing most of their equipment and clothes. They had a little bit of money thanks to the fact that Vebulus had kept his wallet with him, and Alvida at least was still armed as she always brought her mace with her, but that was the end to the bright spots.
Much to the crew's dismay, and confusion because really, it had turned out that the only place on the island that was open and had clothes was a rental store for wedding ceremonies. The crew took what they could get however which led to their current outfits, all except for Luffy who was still dressed in his normal outfit, since it had already been perfect for the weather.
Nami and Alvida were wearing wedding dresses. Vebulus and Aaron were dressed as grooms in black tuxedos. Sanji and Sabo were the best men in white tuxedos. Usopp was dressed as a priest. Zoro was also dressed as a groom but in the Japanese style. There was probably a joke there somewhere but nobody was in the mood to think of one.
Then there was their transportation.
"Nope. I don't care how much we squeeze together or stack ourselves, there is no way we can all fit on this paddle boat," Vebulus stated as the group of 9 people all stared at the swan shaped, two seat, paddle boat.
"We don't really have a choice," Nami responded despondently.
"Well," Aaron began as he glanced over at the nearby jungle, "we could always build a raft to drag behind it."
"That's not a bad idea actually. I know me and Lu have some experience with making things and since we don't need it to do much more than float." Sabo said thoughtfully.
"I can help as well," Usopp chimed in.
"Oh, I know! We can build a houseboat! We just need one of the buildings from the village."
Everyone turned to stare at Luffy.
"Why in the world would we need a building to build a houseboat?" Nami asked with dread.
"So you can use it as the houseboat of course. It's really easy as well, all you need to do is get a good grip on the foundation before you rip it free."
Silence greeted that statement only to finally be broken by Aaron.
"Luffy, who taught you how to do this?"
"Gramps of course!"
"That explains so much." Aaron quietly muttered at the same time as Vebulus added.
"I swear if that man got a note from the future as well.."
The moment he finished speaking Vebulus blinked and then looked around slowly. First at the group, then at the village, then finally at the swan shaped boat. A light bulb went off above his head.
"So ordinarily I wouldn't suggest something like this but desperate times and all. But since we were just talking about breaking a house anyways, why don't we see if we can find better clothes."
Everyone blinked, and heads turned slowly towards the village.
"We are pirates.." Zoro said slowly.
"And the place does seem to be mostly empty…" As Usopp spoke he took a step towards the village before glancing at the rest of the group. Then everyone was running, or in Aaron's case flying, to get to the nearest buildings first.
"A week, a whole week and not even a hint of where Merry could have been taken," Vebulus groaned while he stared out at the ocean around them.
It was a frustration shared by everyone currently sprawled out on the raft that they had 'procured' from the village. The technique that Luffy had learned from Garp went as follows.
Find a small house, preferably one that was only a single story.
Smash off everything of the house above about a foot and a half from the foundation.
?
Use your new raft to get to wherever you need to be.
The fact that this ridiculous technique worked had involved more than a few hands thrown up in exasperation before everyone had silently decided that they didn't care enough to question it further. Though that might have partly been the frustration at finding the houses totally empty of even a scrap of clothing. Which had made sense once it was learned that the island was a common tourist destination, or at least it had been until recently.
"You're taking Merry being missing surprisingly well, Veb. Usually when something is going to happen to the ship you freak out and get all crazy."
Vebulus stared blankly at Usopp with his head tilted questioningly to the side. "I do?"
"Yeah, you were really scary with me and Johnny."
"Plus, there was that whole thing with Mihawk when I stole Merry."
Vebulus turned to look first at Luffy and then at Nami as they spoke, still with that blank expression on his face.
"I vaguely recall doing something but not what. Anyways, I just get this sense that the Merry isn't in danger right now."
His answer just raised more questions but nobody seemed to be sure what else to ask.
Aaron, who had been on lookout, landed on the raft just then, already in mid-shift back to his human form as words tumbled from his mouth.
"Two things, first there looks like a kid drowning just beyond the next set of rocks but I'm 99% certain it's a trap, heh. Second, I just realized this must be one of the movies!"
"Shit."
"Why didn't either of you remember this before now?!" Nami stretched.
"I never saw it."
"I saw it years ago and only just remembered."
Were Vebulus and Aaron's response.
"Uhhh so what does that mean exactly?" Usopp asked with a raised hand.
"Neither of us knows what's going to happen." Aaron responded with a wry smile.
"That just makes it even more of an adventure! Right Sabo!"
Sabo shook his head as he shrugged. "Far be it for me to disagree, Lu."
While the group had been talking they had also been making steady progress forward, enough that they had rounded the rock and come into sight of the child frantically trying to keep his head above water.
"Hey kid! Grab onto my chain!" As he spoke Vebulus flung a chain out over the water, a large ring at one end for the kid to grab onto.
"Oh c'mon! You can't just ruin a perfectly good trap by being sensible!" The kid shouted as he stopped pretending to drown and stood up on a stretch of stone hidden by the wave.
"We're sooo sorry for not falling for your very obvious trap and instead doing the sensible thing." Nami responded with a roll of her eyes, sarcasm dripping from every word. She looked somewhat amused though
"It was a trap?!" Slaps rang out as the majority of the group facepalmed in exasperation at Luffy's obliviousness. Sabo wheezed with laughter as he struggled to remain on his feet.
"It seems we've been seen through, Akisu." The older man shouted as the boat he was on floated into view, a crane and fishing net attached to it.
"That just means that-" the older man started as both of them leaped up, somersaulted, and finally landed. The kid balancing on a pile of treasure chests with the older man on the deck before him.
"-that they are worthy targets for," the kid continued.
"Borodo! Akisu!" First the apparently Borodo then Akisu shouted before at the same time shouting.
"Together we're the Thief Brothers!"
"Not to interrupt an excellent performance but I'm pretty sure that the two of you are the ones that stole our ship." Aaron said as his face elongated into a beak, feathers creeping down his arms as his fingers turned to talons.
"Oh did they?" There was an ominous rattle as chains sprouted and then curled around Vebulus's body. Each end was capped with a sharp spike that twitched in time to the movement of the rest of the chains. It was a slightly intimidating display that had Usopp, Alvida, and Sabo all edging away from him.
"Okay look, maybe we did steal your ship." Borodo started only to pause as the spiked end of a chain slammed into the deck by his foot.
"Okay! We did steal your ship!" He quickly corrected before continuing. "But we needed to because the pair of us need you as distractions so that we can steal the famous Diamond Clock!"
"Oh! I've heard of it, it's supposed to be a really famous clock that thieves all over have wanted to get their hands on. But no one's ever managed to steal it." From the fact that her eyes were berri signs and that she was practically drooling it was very obvious that Nami might be thinking about changing that.
"The reason that no one's ever stolen it is because the island that it's supposed to be on is ruled by the Trump Family Pirates." Alvida mentioned offhandedly.
WHAM!
"Vebulus! Aaron!" The crew shouted as the two travelers from another world face planted the floor.
"That…oh god!" Vebulus managed to get out through his laughter, words muffled as he spoke directly into the floor.
"It's… Hahaha! My sides!" Aaron wheezed as he rolled onto his back, clutching at his sides.
Steadfastly ignoring the pair's mirth, Nami jumped from the raft to the deck of the other ship. Which was extra impressive since she was still wearing the white wedding dress. Startled Akisu lost his balance atop the pile of treasure chests and slipped back even as the pile fell forward. The lids of the chest fell open, releasing an avalanche of pretty but ultimately worthless trinkets and junk.
"I'm okay!" Akisu shouted from where he had fallen.
"What a fine collection of junk you've stolen. Doesn't fill me with confidence about your thieving skills." As she spoke, Nami nudged some of the junk around with her foot, ignoring the scuffs of dirt that got on her white heels.
"I'll have you know that me and Akisu are the best thieves in the business!"
"Yeah, in the business!"
"Mmmhmm," Nami hummed noncommittally, "anyways since you want us to be your distraction for stealing the clock it's only fair that we get a share of the loot. I'm thinking 70/30 with the 70% going to me of course."
"Now wait just a minute there!" Borodo sputtered.
Back over where the rest of the Strawhats were, Aaron and Vebulus had mostly gotten over their bout of hysterics, however occasionally one of them would be struck by a burst of giggles that would set the other one off again.
"Are you okay?" Usopp asked as he leaned over Aaron. Concern on his face.
Aaron made a noise like a deflating balloon as he held up a shaking thumb.
"Well, well, well. What do we have here, a bunch of unperceptive fools." A sultry voice purred.
Several cries of surprise answered that question as the Strawhats and the Thief Brothers registered the dozen or so ships that had snuck up unnoticed. Each one flying the flag of the Trump Family Pirates, manned by men wearing shirts that looked like playing cards, even down to the numbers and suits.
The lead ship, and the one the voice had come from, was not only twice as large as the other ships but it was also four times as gaudy. It even came with what looked like a hot tub on the head of the bear shaped figurehead. A hot tub which had the naked upper body of the blonde haired Honey Queen currently looking down at them over the rim of the tub. Arms crossed in front of her breasts, with her chin resting on them.
"That's one sexy lady!" Sanji shouted, his visible eye shaped like a heart. He was the only member of the group that seemed to be taking in the view. Aaron had taken one look before muttering. "Eh, I've seen better."
Hand resting on his hat, Luffy stepped forward, head tilted back as he glared up at Honey Queen.
"Hey, give us back our ship!"
Honey Queen half rose from where she had been laying, an arm covering her breasts while she rested the other on the edge of the tub, as she leaned forward to get a better look at Luffy. "Your ship? Never seen it."
"Like hell you haven't!" Nami shouted up at the blonde.
Honey Queen leered as she glanced over at Nami. Eyes drinking in the sight of the wedding dress. Naked desire blatant enough that Nami took a half step back.
"Alright! Time for a riddle!" A pudgy, almost spherical, Boo Jack shouted as he bounced from the main deck of the ship to land on the nose of the bear figurehead. The display might have appeared threatening if his face had been a bit less porcine.
"Did these idiots really just forget that I admitted to stealing their ship?" Borodo whispered to Akisu as the back and forth between the Trump Pirates and the Strawhats played out. Akisu shrugged casually only to freeze when a shadow fell over the pair.
"They might have but I didn't." The pair turned their heads to find Vebulus looming threateningly over them, him and the rest of the Strawhats having crossed over to the Thief Brothers ship largely unnoticed while everyone had been talking. Borodo and Akisu whimpered.
"First riddle! Who will become the greatest pirate in the world, the king of pirates?" Boo Jack continued theatrically, hamming(ha) it up for the audience.
"C'mon now Boo Jack. That one's way too easy. The answer is obviously-" Honey Queen started to respond before Luffy cut her off.
"Me!"
"Bzzzzz wrong! The answer is our boss, the mighty Bear King." If he was annoyed by Luffy's answer Boo Jack didn't show it.
"Pretty sure that's not going to be the case." Sabo casually added, having largely been content to hang back and watch the chaos. Aaron nodded in agreement before offering his two cents.
"That wasn't even a riddle. But what else can you expect from mooks."
A vein ticked on Boo Jack's temple. The statements had apparently gotten under his skin and his next words came out with a snark of anger.
"Mocking the Trump Pirates, eh!?"
"Yes!" Vebulus and Aaron shouted back at Boo Jack, whose face was steadily becoming more and more red.
"Well then, it seems we'll have to explain it to them. How terrifying the Trump Pirates can be. Get them men!"
"Yes Honey-sama!"
Playing card suited and numbered pirates swarmed down from the Trump ships decks, some by ropes cast over the side, others by the lowering of half a dozen small dinghies. Then there were the ones that used the ropes to swing across the gap between the ships, meaning that they ended up being the first wave of attackers to arrive.
"Right, take them down! I'll be back here cheering you on." Borodo shouted from where he was taking cover behind everyone else with Akisu at his side.
"Well at least this can serve as a nice warm up."
"It would be easier if I had my swords."
"No point complaining about it now Zoro! Shackles!"
Despite the seriousness of the situation neither Vebulus nor Zoro seemed all that concerned about the pirates that rushed towards them. Zoro had grabbed a nearby oar and using it as he would a sword sent a number of the charging pirates flying.
Vebulus had meanwhile swung his arms out, sending multiple pairs of chain shackles whirling outwards from himself. The pairs that didn't knock pirates down or knock them out, bound arms together so that they would be easy prey for everyone else.
"New move Veb?" Aaron asked as he dodged past several attacking pirates, putting them into the perfect position to get knocked down like dominos by one of Luffy's Gum-Gum Pistols.
"Eh, more of a variant move. Just seemed like a good time to try it out." More shackles shot from Vebulus even as he replied to Aaron. Each shackle latched onto an arm of one Trump Pirate and then the arm of a different one, creating a long chain of bound together minions.
"Could use some work. Poitrine Shoot!" Despite the lack of proper protective footwear, Sanji's kick was still powerful enough to knock the middle pirate of Vebulus's impromptu chain over the side. An act that dragged the rest of them into the water as well.
"I just knew these guys would be strong! But they're doing even better than expected." Borodo whispered to Akisu, who nodded back in open mouthed surprise.
"Here I come!" Several heads looked up as Boo Jack jumped from the figure head and curled into a furry ball. A ball that sprouted spikes just before he slammed down onto the cabin of Borodo's ship. The boat heaved from the impact, the few Trump Pirates that had been left sent flying over the sides. None of the Strawhats, Borodo, or Akisu however suffered a similar fate.
"That's my Boo Jack!" The still naked Honey Queen shouted down from her hot tub perch. Boo Jack, whether in response to the shout or because he had always planned too, started rolling forward crushing everything in his path beneath his spiked ball form.
"I suppose as a member of this insanity I should show you all what a reborn Alvida is capable of. Slip-Slip Olay!"
Alvida stepped into Boo Jack's path with a complete lack of hesitation, iron mace held loosely in her left hand. Adopting a pose that would make professional baseball players envious she hefted the mace higher before she swung it forward with an explosive crack.
There was a brief moment where one could see the surprise on Boo Jack's face as it distorted from the impact before he was sent careening backwards. Right through the hull of the Trump Pirates ship, the sound of breaking wood and the screams of crewmen that happened to be in the way marked his progress through the ship.
Impressed, Zoro let out a low whistle, while Vebulus mouthed a brief prayer to the spirit of the other ship for the damage. He then offered another quick prayer for the ship they were on as a wave of pinkish liquid blocked out the sun.
"Impressive, you and the redhead will make excellent brides for Bear King!" Honey Queen shouted down at them. She was still naked but now her upper body was the same pinkish liquid as the wave, the lower half of her body was likely the same but it was impossible to tell since it was merged with the rest of the liquid that crashed down on the Strawhats.
"That… sucked." A brief spout of pinkish liquid preceded Vebulus's words as he worked to clear the last bits of Honey Queen's attack from his airways.
He wasn't the only one laying on his back on what remained of the Thief Brothers ship. Luffy, Zoro, Usopp, Aaron, Sabo, Borodo, and Akisu were all in a similar state. In fact there was only one person that had managed to remain on their feet.
"Nami-swan! Alvida-hime!" Sanji cried to the uncaring sky and waves.
"What… was…. that?!" Usopp managed to get out between a series of powerful coughs. Ones that lifted him part way off the deck each time.
"That was a Logia Devil Fruit. Literally makes the person that eats it into a natural element like smoke, fire, sand, or lightning. Basically impossible to hurt except in specific instances, or if Sabo can teach us Haki." Aaron replied as he first sat up, then got to his feet.
"I can teach you the basics, if you've got six weeks to spare."
Groans greeted this announcement as Sabo helped first Aaron and then Vebulus to their feet. Luffy bounced up at the same moment with a serious expression on his face.
"No time for that now. We have to get Nami, Alvida, and Merry back. Borodo, which way is Clockwork Island?"
