Coco: Good morning, everyone~ I hope you are all doing well and excited for another new chapter. We're almost done with the Drum Island Arc. Just one more chapter and we'll be moving onto Alabasta, which means Ace will be entering the story! I am so excited to write him and Wren together again XD Their interactions never fail to bring a smile to my face.
But more on that later. Let's get through this arc first before we reach the fun part. Now, let's get started~!
Wren hummed a tune to herself as she sat in a windowsill overlooking the snowy scenery of the island. She wanted to be left alone for a bit as they were waiting for Nami to be well enough to leave. Wren, herself, had only recently stopped taking those herb fluid mixed IVs that her father had left behind with Dr. Kureha. Apparently, during his search for her, he had stumbled across this island and met Chopper and Dr. Kureha, who had recently taken the reindeer under her wing.
'We need to leave as soon as possible,' Wren thought as she watched the snowfall.
Not only was all this snow worsening her mood, but they had little time to waste.
'Unfortunately, we also can't risk Nami relapsing by ending her treatment early…not when this crew is missing a doctor.' Wren thought.
It only seemed common sense for anyone who planned to sail the seas to have a doctor of some sort on their ship. Wren was both impressed and utterly flabbergasted that Luffy and his crew has made it this far without a doctor.
'They'll need to remedy that soon or the next time something like this happens, they might not be as lucky to find a doctor to help them,' Wren thought.
She came out of her musing when she heard Chopper's voice echoing through the halls as he was screaming. She looked in the direction the sound seemed to be originating from with a deadpanned expression on her face.
'He's still at it, is he?' Wren mentally sighed.
At some point, Luffy chasing after Chopper to eat the poor reindeer had evolved into something else. Now the young captain chased after the reindeer in the hope of recruiting Chopper to the crew. And while Wren thought Chopper would be a good fit for Luffy's ragtag bunch, the reindeer didn't seem to think the same.
"You would think after so many rejections that Luffy would give up," Wren said out loud.
Though as soon as the words left her lips, she knew they were foolish. With the time that she's known Luffy, she has learned quite quickly that the boy can be stubborn. Especially when it came to getting what he wants.
'Typical pirate,' Wren mentally snorted.
She then stood up from the windowsill when she heard the screaming only getting louder. She went walking up the steps just as Chopper went rushing by her. She blinked as the tiny, furball tripped over his own feet and went tumbling down the stairs.
"Oh dear," Wren murmured.
She waved her hand, which caused the wind twirling around them to change course. It wrapped around Chopper, who gasped and clutched the beaker he had in his hooves closer to his chest, to gently placed him on his feet. He looked up at Wren as she was looking down at him with a quirked brow.
"Are you alright?" She questioned.
Chopper slowly nodded his head then stiffened when Luffy, who came running down the steps, came into view.
"I think you're the funniest guy I know!" Luffy exclaimed as he laughed. "Oh yeah, we're going to be great friends."
Wren, who seemed to be getting fed up with the younger teen, sighed and shook her head. She turned to look at Luffy who stood a few steps above her. She placed her hands on her hips as she fixed Luffy with a stern look.
"Luffy, I think you've tormented him enough." Wren said. "Why don't you leave Chopper be?"
"No, he's going to be our friend and join our crew!" Luffy said stubbornly as he puffed up his cheeks.
Wren gave the boy a look as she resisted the urge to pinch the bridge of her nose. She felt a headache starting to form.
"My time on your crew is only temporary for the time being, remember?" Wren reminded Luffy. "Nothing is official. Besides, you cannot force Chopper or anyone else on your crew."
Though she supposed those words were a lie. After all, pirates take whatever they want whenever they want. That included people. However, she didn't see Luffy as the type to use the same tactics as other pirates do.
'No, he's just too stubborn to give up.' Wren thought.
"Not listening~" Said boy sang childishly.
As Chopper looked at Luffy in disbelief for his childish behavior, Wren gave him an exasperated look.
"Please try to act your age," she all but begged.
Despite her pleading tone, Luffy ignored her as he quickly continued to chase Chopper. Said reindeer screamed as he hurriedly ran away from the straw-hatted boy. Wren watched them leave as she momentarily debated going after them to stop Luffy.
"I don't need the stress," Wren finally decided as she turned in the opposite direction.
She had her fill of babysitting after doing it for several years on Doflamingo's crew.
—FLASHBACK—
"But, Corazon-sama, he needs meee~" Baby 5 cried as Wren, who had her face covered by a mask, was dragging her away. "He said so himself! He wants to marry me!"
The one she was crying about was a man—he was more like a boy—who had proposed to her. This wasn't uncommon occurrence. Baby 5 frequently earned proposals from the men of Dressrosa who knew how easily Baby 5 would say yes to them. However, none of those men had good intentions. And more than that, Doflamingo wouldn't allow any of the women of the crew to run off and just marry anyone.
"Forget about that boy," Wren told the older woman sternly. "If you don't, you and I both know that Doffy-sama will have him killed."
Baby 5 just continued to cry and beg Wren to let her go, but the younger girl ignored her.
'How is she the older one?' Wren thought in annoyance.
—break—
Wren held back a curse as she pinched the bridge of her nose. In front of her, Dellinger and Lorelei were huddled together as they sat cowering in the corner. Behind Wren was a broken vase. A one-of-a-kind vase made by a favorite artisan of Doflamingo's. An artisan who retired years ago, which meant there would be no replacing what they had just broke.
"How many times have you been told to take your squabbles outside?" Wren questioned as she tapped her foot against the floor in aggravation. "Do you realize how upset Doffy-sama is going to be once he returns to see this?"
"We're sorry, big sis!" Dellinger cried.
"Yeah, we're really sorry." Lorelei added. "Please, you've got to help us!"
Dellinger nodded along with Lorelei's words as they both moved forward to grasp Wren around the legs. The older teen let an exasperated breath out between her lips.
'And just how do they expect me to help them out of this mess?' Wren asked herself. 'It's not like I can hide the evidence and just pray Doflamingo doesn't notice.'
—break—
"You took things too far again, Gladius," Wren deadpanned as she looked at the bloody mess in front of her. "We weren't supposed to leave a mess. How are we meant to clean this up in the short time we have?"
Gladius, who was over in the corner taking deep breaths to try and calm his nerves, flinched.
"It isn't my fault!" Gladius snapped. "Those idiots should have listened the first time! Why did they have to be so weak? I'm still pissed and need something to fight!"
As he went about destroying more of the building, Wren sighed as she turned away. She began walking out of the building as its structure shook and crumbled with every explosion.
'I'm surrounded by children,' Wren thought forlornly.
—END OF FLASHBACK—
Her former crewmates certainly put her through a lot of trouble. However…there were a few of them that she missed. Though she's been working for nearly a decade now to take down Doflamingo and all his allies, she had still grown slightly attached. How could she not after spending almost her entire life with the same people…
—FLASHBACK—
"Big sis, happy birthday!" Lorelei and Dellinger said in unison as they held up gifts to her.
Wren, who was sat in the center of one of the large parlors surrounded by the family and party decorations, thanked to the two for the gifts with a polite smile.
"We hope you like your gifts!" Lorelei said with a large smile on her face.
Dellinger nodded in agreement as Giolla took the chance to place a party hat on top of the birthday girl's head. Wren gave the older woman a look of exasperation but left the hat in place.
"Open my first!" Dellinger insisted.
"No, mine!" Lorelei argued.
As the two fought over whose gift should be opened first, a hand was placed on Wren's shoulder. She looked up as Baby 5 beamed down at her and placed a gift in her lap.
"I made this." She said. "I hope you like it."
Wren thanked the older female while opening the brightly wrapped box to see a beautifully made dress inside. It was her favorite color with a turtle neckline and modest length skirt, which is what she prefers. It also had quarter sleeves and white hearts sewn across the skirt.
"It's beautiful." Wren said amazed with the detail. "Thank you again, Baby 5."
Baby 5's smile grew even wider if possible as Dellinger and Lorelei complained in the background about Baby 5 jumping the line.
"Okay, you two, that's enough." Pink told the two. "Let the birthday girl have one day in peace."
"Yeah, shut it!" Gladius snapped.
—END OF FLASHBACK—
'Dellinger…Lorelei…I watched them grow from infants to teenagers,' Wren thought. 'Baby 5 has always been kind to me and we spent hours together…Gladius was always there for me whenever he thought I was upset, and Pink never missed an opportunity to have tea together.'
Wren shook her head to push aside such thoughts as she continued to walk through the castle.
'I have other things to concern myself with than old memories,' Wren told herself.
"Wren-chwan~"
Wren paused and turned her head when she saw Sanji twirling in her direction. She deadpanned at his odd behavior as he came to a stop in front of her.
"Is there anything I can help you with, Sanji?" Wren questioned.
"I made you something to eat, my dear." Sanji said as he held out a tray of food that Wren hadn't noticed before. "We need both you and Nami-san back to full strength, so I made sure to make you both something nutritious."
Wren though touched by the gesture grimaced slightly at the food that Sanji had prepared. She had no doubt it was well prepared. However, there was one problem with it…most of the dishes seemed to have been made with meat.
'I've only been eating light snacks since joining the crew, so I suppose my preferred choice of food has never come up,' Wren thought. 'However, it's wrong to waste food…and he had taken the time to make me something…'
However, the thought of eating meat didn't set right with Wren who has been vegetarian most of her life.
"Is there something wrong, Wren-chan?" Sanji asked sounding concerned. "Do you not feel well enough to eat? Or is the food not to your liking?"
"…I'm sorry, Sanji," Wren said sincerely. "I'm sure it tastes delicious…but you see…I don't eat meat."
At first, she thought Sanji might be upset that he wasted the effort in making her something she wouldn't eat. However, she was surprised when he smiled.
"I see," Sanji said. "I'm sorry that I didn't notice sooner, Wren-chan. But don't worry I'll have something vegetarian made for you right away, my dear."
"You don't have to bother yourself," Wren tried to tell him. "I'm not all that hungry."
However, her stomach in that moment decided to betray her as it let out a small grumbling sound. It grew incredibly quiet as Wren stared down at her stomach appalled by the noise it made. Her cheeks then warmed and turned a dark red when Sanji chuckled.
"I believe your body is telling you different, Wren-chan." Sanji told her. "With what Dr. Kureha has in her kitchen, I'm sure I can make you a warming vegetable soup."
Trying to save face, Wren cleared her throat as she turned away from Sanji with her arms crossed over her chest.
"I suppose vegetable soup does sound nice." Wren said. "Though I apologize that you had to waste your time making that first meal for me when I cannot eat it."
Sanji's smile widened as he looked down at the blushing woman who was too embarrassed to meet his gaze.
"I'll get started on it immediately." Sanji assured her. "And there's no need to apologize, Wren-chan. Luffy will make sure this doesn't go to waste."
Wren just hummed in response as she was mentally just wishing he'd leave already. She was still appalled by her body for making such loud, rude noises. Sanji then excused himself while muttering how cute Wren looked when blushing. This of course, only brought a deeper shade of red to the young woman's cheeks.
'Stop with this nonsense already,' Wren thought as she placed her hands on her cheeks, willing them to stop blushing. 'I almost regret not following after Luffy and Chopper when I had the chance.'
Chopper huffed as continued to run from Luffy who was around the corner of another hallway.
"Gotta hide." Chopper said. "Gotta hide."
He saw one of the doors down the hall slightly ajar, so thinking quickly, he ducked inside the room. He was quick to shut the door. He placed his ear against the door and listened closely for a few tense moments. When he heard Luffy, who was still shouting for him to stop running, run by the door, he let out a sigh of relief.
"Good, I think I lost him." Chopper said.
He turned around and stiffened when seeing that he wasn't alone in the room. Sitting in the window seat in the room was Wren. She had her legs crossed and pulled close to her with her arms wrapped around them and her chin resting on her knee. There was a tray with an empty bowl and small plate with breadcrumbs resting on the table beside her, which meant she must have just finished eating.
She hadn't turned at his entrance as kept her gaze out the window. He looked between her and the door as he wondered if he should leave. Though he supposed he was safer in here than out there running from Luffy. On the other hand, being around Wren did make him a bit uncomfortable as he wasn't sure how to act around her.
'She isn't anything like how Dr. Vladimir describes her,' Chopper thought.
—FLASHBACK—
"Isn't she precious?" Vladimir asked as he showed Chopper a picture of his daughter.
Chopper, who had been living with Dr. Kureha for two years now as her student, looked at the picture closely to see a smiling young girl with a full head of reddish-purple curls and bright red eyes.
"She'd be much older now," Vladimir continued. "But I'm sure she's turned out to be a beautiful young woman."
Chopper blinked curiously as he carefully handed the picture back to Vladimir who placed it in his breast pocket.
"What kind of person is she, Dr. Vladimir?" Chopper asked the man.
A gentle yet sad smile pulled across Vladimir's face. It was an expression that Tallulah mirrored.
"I cannot attest to the kind of person she is now," Vladimir began slowly. "I haven't seen her in so long, but my little girl…she was the sweetest most loving person I've ever met in my life. Made friends with almost everyone she's ever met…Never held grudges against those who shunned her for being different. And she was such an adventurous spirit. It was so hard to keep her around the house. She always wanted to be out…exploring…playing."
Vladimir's smile dipped the longer he spoke about his daughter, which had his familiar reaching out to pat his cheek. Chopper's ears turned down.
"I'm sorry, Dr. Vladimir." Chopper said. "I didn't mean to cause you any pain."
Vladimir gave a watery chuckle as he reached out to pat Chopper on the back.
"No reason to apologize." Vladimir assured him. "You know, I believe you and Wren would make very good friends, Chopper. You two have a lot in common. Wren also went through rejection growing up for being different just like you. If anyone can understand that pain, it would be her…but even still, she always remained such a happy child."
Chopper perked up at his words. It wasn't often Chopper thought he could make a friend. He had Dr. Hiriluk and then Dr. Kureha who took him in and cared for him. And while he had been wary of Vladimir and Tallulah and Nana, who arrived on Drum Island two months ago, at first, he's grown close to them. And if Dr. Vladimir said he could be friends with his daughter, then Chopper believed him, and Chopper was excited to maybe meet her someday.
—END OF FLASHBACK—
'Dr. Vladimir had said she had been taken away…kidnapped.' Chopper thought as he studied the woman. 'Maybe that's why she's different.'
Either way, she was the opposite of who she used to be. This woman was closed off from those around her. She even had a melancholy air about her. She wasn't the same as the friendly and open girl that Vladimir described.
"Did you finally escape Luffy?"
Her voice caused Chopper to jump in fright as a small squeak left from between his lips. She still didn't turn around as she addressed him, but her gaze did flicker in his direction before looking back out the window.
"Um…yes." Chopper said nodding. "If I'm bothering you…I can leave."
"You're not bothering me," Wren assured him. "Though I might not be the best of company. I'm afraid I've been very lost in my thoughts since coming to this island."
Chopper tilted his head curiously at her words as he took a few cautious steps towards her. He slowly moved to sit on the other end of the window seat, so he was facing Wren. For a moment neither of them spoke.
"Luffy means well…or at least I believe he does." Wren broke the silence. "Though I'm sure being chased around by him doesn't make the best of impressions."
Chopper frowned just thinking about all the running he's had to do today to try and get away from the persistent pirate.
"He really wants to be friends with you," Wren continued.
Chopper hummed as he turned his eyes to look out the window as well. For a long moment, the pair watched the snowfall in comfortable silence.
"…why though?" Chopper finally asked. "I'm not even human. Reindeers aren't supposed to be pirates…or be friends with humans."
"Being different doesn't mean you're meant to be alone," Wren replied. "You're allowed to have friends and live your life how you want just like anyone else. There is no one in this world who has the authority to say otherwise…though unfortunately, there are those who believe differently. And it is usually those kinds of people who are in positions of power. Like this island's former king for example."
Chopper made a face at the mention of Wapol whom he never wished to see ever again.
"Luffy and his crew aren't like Wapol." Wren told Chopper. "Or like those people who attacked you. I haven't known them long, but I believe that much at least."
"Doctor said those people were just afraid and not to hate them," Chopper murmured softly.
"That is good advice." Wren said.
She sounded sincere when she spoke, but Chopper felt as if Wren hated those who took her when she was a child. Though he supposed their two experiences were different in some ways.
"…Is he really different…Straw Hat?" Chopper asked unsurely.
"Yes," Wren replied simply.
Chopper mulled over this information as Wren stretched out her legs beside him as she moved to lean back into the pillows around the window seat.
'Is it really okay?' He thought. 'Can a reindeer like me really be a pirate?'
Chopper didn't have time to give it much more thought as Luffy came bursting into the room.
"There you are, reindeer!" Luffy said. "Be my friend already!"
The only response Luffy received was Chopper's screams as the reindeer took off running. He managed to slip under Luffy and soon the chase began again.
"With how persistent he is, I dread the time where I might try to part ways with these rookies," Wren muttered to herself.
She went to get up and finally put an end to this game of chase by making the two sit and talk because all this running and screaming was getting old. However, just as she went to leave the room, she sensed something coming closer to the castle. No…not something. She could sense people—four to be exact and two animals.
"It's Wapol and the others." Wren realized.
Just thinking of the man who managed to land a hit on her had Wren's lips turning down. She had a score to settle with that one. Normally, she wouldn't bother with people who she didn't see as worth her time. However, she promised him that she would deal with him later for his transgressions against her. She wasn't the type to make a threat without following it through. She couldn't let people start believing she was all words and no action.
'I need a coat,' she thought since hers was ruined.
Not only that but this top that Dr. Kureha had given her wasn't as thick as her wool dress had been. She had more tolerance to the cold than her companions due to growing up in the usually chilly North Blue. However, it was way below zero here and that was too much for even her. Hence why she needed a coat or at least a warmer top.
'I wonder if Dr. Kureha would mind if I borrowed some clothes,' Wren thought. 'I suppose the pirate way is take what you can. I can apologize later and return whatever I borrow.'
With that in mind, Wren went on a hunt for something warm to ear, so she could join Luffy and Sanji who she could sense heading outside to greet their guests.
'Much better,' Wren thought as she finished zipping up her borrowed coat.
The coat she had taken from the older woman's closet was purple like most of her wardrobe. However, this one wasn't leather, and it was made of wool. It had six large, white buttons across the front with the coat fastening on the right side. The coat fell to her hips and the hood was large with faux white fur. Finally on the back of the coat there were four pink petals in a cross pattern.
'Now, I need to check on the others and deal with that man,' Wren thought.
As she thought that, she heard what sounded like cannon fire from outside the castle. She frowned in concern before she used magic to leap herself to the outside of the castle. The snow crunched under her feet as she arrived in time to see Chopper attacking Wapol whose appearance had changed.
'What's with that form?' Wren thought before she noticed his two henchmen had somehow been fused together. 'And what is with that ridiculous union?'
It seemed as if she had missed quite a bit as she was looking for something to wear. She turned her attention back to the fight to see Chopper, who had Wapol by the collar of his shirt, halt in his attack. Wren's brow quirked as she was wondering why the reindeer wasn't fighting.
"I…I won't hurt you if you just leave this country forever!" Chopper said.
"Chopper, what are you doing?!" Dr. Kureha demanded. "Even if he does promise that, you can't trust a word that despot says!"
Chopper turned his head looking so torn at what to do. At his moment of hesitation, Wapol, who grinned maliciously, took advantage of Chopper's kindness and attacked. He fired the cannon—that had once been his arm—at Chopper's head pointblank.
"Chopper!" Kureha screamed fearing for her adoptive son's life as the smoke from the cannon fire obscured her view of him.
For one long, tense moment, Dr. Kureha feared the worst. However, her fears were put to rest as Wren suddenly walked out from behind Wapol carrying Chopper, who was in his original small form, under her arm.
"No reason to worry," Wren assured the woman. "He's fine."
Sanji and Chopper looked in shock at the woman as they wondered just where she had come from. Dr. Kureha's shoulders sagged in relief when seeing Chopper was okay even if a bit confused about what happened. Wapol and his group, who hadn't noticed Wren step out of the castle, gapped at the sight of her.
"Y…you!" Wapol shouted. "How are you still alive?! Big Bro's poison should have killed you!"
Wren blinked boredly up at the large man as his pink-haired brother was glaring at her heatedly. Before Wren could decide whether to grace Wapol with an answer or not, a shout came from the top of the castle. Wren looked up as did everyone else to see Luffy on top of the tallest tower.
"Hey, Big Mouth!" Luffy called down.
Wren tilted her head when seeing that Luffy was holding a broken post that had a Jolly Roger—one that Wren didn't recognize—tied to it. Despite having a few holes and looking a bit worse for wear, it billowed proudly in the wind.
"Straw Hat!" Wapol shouted angrily.
"You guys weren't real pirates." Luffy said. "You were just fake ones, weren't you?! That's why you don't understand what flying a pirate flag means because you were just a bunch of fakes who didn't risk your lives!"
From his place under Wren's arm, Chopper stared up in awe at Luffy who stood defiantly before Wapol.
"What a pirate flag means, Straw Hat?!" Wapol scoffed with a laugh. "Don't make me laugh. Flags have no meaning."
"If you think that, you're dumber than you look!" Luffy retorted causing Wapol to gasp in surprise and in anger. "Listen, pirate flags stand for something, Big Mouth. They're not raised as some kind of joke!"
Wren, who placed Chopper back on his feet, watched Luffy with an unreadable expression.
"Moron!" Wapol shouted back. "The only joke is that I've let you live as long as I have. Since you dared put that flag back after I knocked it down, it's time I delivered the punchline!"
Wapol raised his arm and fired another shot from his arm cannon, which had Chopper and Dr. Kureha stiffening in worry.
"Hey, you, look out!" Chopper shouted.
Luffy grinned broadly, not looking worried in the slightest as he waited for Wapol's attack.
"Do your worst," Luffy said as he made no move to dodge. "You can't break this flag."
The cannonball hit and smoke covered both Luffy and the flag making it impossible to see either.
"Luffy!" Sanji called out in worry.
"Was he hit?" Kureha asked.
"He was blown to pieces!" Wapol said gleefully as he laughed.
However, he was proven wrong when the smoke cleared and Luffy stood tall with the flag being held high in his hand. Both looked a little worse for wear, but they were still in one piece.
"I told you," Luffy said cutting off Wapol's laughter. "You can't break it. I have no idea who this pirate flag originally belonged to, but it doesn't matter. A pirate flag is someone's pledge to risk their life. It's not something to laugh at. It's something you jackasses will never understand in a million years!"
His words roared through the air like thunder, which shook Wapol and his men to their very cores. Even Wren's gaze widened momentarily as Luffy's strong conviction seemed to shake the earth itself.
"It won't break—ever," Luffy told them. "Because the skull on it is a symbol of faith!"
'This boy…is something else,' Wren thought.
Chopper stared up at Luffy in amazement as he stood tall upon the castle tower.
'Doctor…so this is a pirate,' Chopper thought.
"Hey, Reindeer," Luffy called down to Chopper. "I'm going to kick these guy's butts for showing your friend's flag disrespect. You in?"
Chopper's eyes widened as he looked between Luffy and Wapol. Said former king let out a shout of anger as he glared up at Luffy.
"You idiot!" Wapol shouted. "You just don't get it, do you?! Alright, since you feel so strongly about that flag, I'll destroy you long with it!"
Wapol took aim once more to fire at Luff, however, the pink-haired man but intervened as he jumped forward to attack. He went to attack Luffy, but before he could the sound of wailing entered the air, and some kind of slashing force knocked him clear back to the ground.
"Now, now, don't be so hasty," Wren, who was now wielding her rapier, said. "I have unfinished business with you, and Luffy is currently busy dealing with the walking, talking house over there."
She gestured vaguely over to Wapol as the pink-haired man narrowed his eyes at Wren.
"You shouldn't even be walking right now, woman." The man said. "Let alone alive. My spores are deadly to all those who encounter them!"
"If I were human, I'm sure that statement would be true." Wren said. "However, unfortunately for you, you've crossed paths with a monster."
She smirked when she said this with her head tilted to the side. Her hair shadowed her face causing her visible eye to glow an eerie red.
"You don't scare me, woman!" The man said.
"That's good to hear," Wren said as she started walking forward. "If you were too frightened to fight then this wouldn't be very entertaining for me."
The man's glare darkened at her mocking words as his hands clenched into fists at his side. As he stepped forward to face her, Sanji watched in concern.
"Wren-chan, don't fight him!" Sanji said as he started hurrying over. "You're still recover—ARGH!"
Wren turned her head at the sound of Sanji's spine snapping with a deadpanned expression on her face. He was worried about her injuries and his back literally just gave out.
"You should probably worry more about yourself, Sanji," Wren said as Dr. Kureha forced him to remain on the ground by planting her boot into his back.
"I won't stop you," Dr. Kureha said to Wren. "However, you should know that this man is on a different level than his brother. Musshuru has eaten the Noko-Noko no Mi and twenty years ago he nearly annihilated this entire country with his poison spores."
Wren hummed at this information as she tossed her sword up into the air. As it spun up in the air, she tied her hair back into a ponytail.
"I see," Wren said. "That's quite the frightening power you have, Musshuru-san."
She then grabbed her sword as it came down to her awaiting hand. She twirled the handle between her fingers with well-practiced ease as she studied Musshuru.
"I must ask," Wren began. "Why annihilate your home kingdom?"
A cruel smirk slowly spread across the tall man's face as a low chuckle left between his lips.
"Why not do it?" Musshuru questioned. "I have the power to do what I want with the lives of the people of this country. I was bored and needed amusement. What better way than to play with the lives of the people?"
"The people of this country are ours to do with!" Wapol agreed with his brother. "We are superior to the citizens of this country. We are superior to you! And we're going to show you just how out matched you are!"
Musshuru laughed in agreement before he rushed towards Wren who sighed and looked unimpressed at the two brothers. Musshuru, whose arm was covered in poisonous spores, threw his fist forward. He was surprised when Wren caught his fist with her bare hand.
He blinked when he could have sworn that her hand was covered in some kind of black substance. However, before he could be certain, Wren, who released his fist, hit him in the chest with the hilt of her sword. The wind was knocked from him as he was sent back several feet. As he tried to catch his breath, Wren flexed the fingers in her hand.
"You brothers are real pieces of work," Wren said keeping her tone casual before calling up to the straw-hatted by. "Luffy, I will be taking care of this one. I trust there are no objections."
"Nope!" Luffy said then held up his fist as he grinned. "Give him hell, Wren!"
Wren's reply was a sardonic smirk towards her opponent who didn't look as confident as he had before.
"Certainly." Wren said. "Leave everything to me."
She then appeared at Musshuru's side while grabbing a fistful of his cloak.
"Let's take this elsewhere, so we're not in the way, shall we?" She suggested.
Before he could even blink or grasp what was happening, she and him disappeared into thin air. The only sign that they had even been there were their footprints in the snow. However, those prints were quickly disappearing as the snowflakes continued to fall from the sky and cover the ground.
Musshuru stumbled as his feet hit the snow-covered ground. He whirled around to glare at Wren.
"Now, this is better," Wren said. "No one around to interfere or see what I'm about to do."
Wren would hate to scare off her new companions with how…messy she tends to fight when she's in a bit of a mood. Musshuru, who had apparently gotten over his earlier moment of fear, scoffed at her words.
"Woman, I don't think you know just who you're dealing with," Musshuru said who had gotten over his earlier shock at Wren's ability to nullify his attack with that weird black substance on her hand. "Not that is matters. I'm going to have fun with you."
He said this with a sinister grin before launching himself forward. He threw out his arm, which was now spinning rapidly towards Wren.
"Spin Drill!" Musshuru shouted as he aimed at Wren's chest.
Wren blocked his attack with her blade before pushing him back. He wasn't done, however, as while he was in the air, he sent a volley of attacks at her.
"Shade Dance!" He called out as needle-like, purple-colored shades of light came raining down at Wren from his hair.
Wren deflected the attacks with her blade and the longer she remained untouched the angrier Musshuru became. He didn't slow down on his attacks, however. He threw out a few punches and kicks that Wren dodged or deflected.
'Why can't I land a hit?!' He thought in frustration. 'No one should be this efficient at evading attacks! No matter who they are!'
Wren finally gave a sigh, which had Musshuru faltering for a moment as he landed a few feet away from her.
"I cannot believe someone like you managed to land a hit on me," Wren said sounding genuinely confused. "Your attacks at mediocre at best and you're so…predictable."
As she assumed, Musshuru's face turned red in anger at her words. She could practically see the steam streaming out his ears.
"Don't be so cocky!" Musshuru told Wren. "I'm not done yet! Now take this: Snow Spore!"
Musshuru sent a wave of dark spores at Wren who didn't even try to dodge as she raised her hand.
'Combust and burn,' Wren mentally murmured the small spell.
She felt her hand heat before a burst of flames came forth and swallowed up the spores to burn them to harmless ash. Musshuru looked at Wren as she was flexing her fingers.
'My magic does feel a bit off now that I'm paying closer attention to it,' Wren thought. 'I've noticed it since coming this this island. Just now, it wavered for a second before finally doing as I wanted.'
This was displeasing to say the least. However, she supposed she shouldn't be surprised. Despite trying to accept Luffy and the others behind her wall, there was still obvious work to do.
"Just what the hell are you?" Musshuru asked. "A devil fruit user?"
Wren, who came out of her thoughts, turned her attention back to Musshuru.
"No, I'm not." Wren replied. "I wasn't exaggerating earlier when I told you that you unluckily crossed paths with a monster."
Then without warning Wren appeared beside him while bringing her blade down. At first, Musshuru didn't realize what happened. His mind not quite keeping up with his body as he looked down to see his arm was on the ground at his side. The snow around it was turning red due to the blood pouring from the wound. He cried out in pain once the shock wore off as he fell to the ground. He looked up at Wren with wide, fearful eyes as he tried to crawl away from her.
"My most sincere apologies," Wren told him though her apathetic tone betrayed her sincerity. "I'm supposed to be turning over a new leaf, you know…so, I really should stop playing with my prey. It's too cruel. However, I'm afraid there is one thing I'm not quite ready to stop doing…"
Musshuru barely managed a whimper as the blood loss was making him feel weak and dizzy. Despite this, he tried to keep moving to put distance between him and Wren. Said woman started walking towards him. And with every step, Musshuru flinched as the snow crunched underneath her feet.
"Leaving you alive could cause problems for me in the future if you get the foolish idea to come after me for revenge." Wren continued. "Meaning, I must hold to my policy of not leaving my enemies alive, you understand, yes?"
Musshuru turned pale with his entire body shaking. He's never been so afraid in his entire life. He's always been strong enough to handle anyone who crossed his path.
'But this woman,' he thought as he felt his heart hammering away in his chest. '…this woman…No, this monster…I never stood a chance against her.'
"I highly doubt scum like you will be missed," Wren said as she dropped the pleasant façade.
Musshuru flinched as Wren raised her sword, and with one fell swoop, Musshuru's head was removed from the rest of his body. It fell to the snow with a sickening thud as his body slumped backwards into the snow. Wren looked down at the crumbled form with a listless expression as more of the snow turned red at her feet.
"Farewell, Prince of the Kingdom Formerly Known as Drum," Wren gave a brief sendoff to her fallen opponent.
She then dropped her sword with it sinking down into her shadow out of sight. She then snapped her fingers with a seed popping out of thin air.
"Now, for one final piece of business," she said.
Coco: And that's the end of this chapter! I wonder what Wren could be doing with that seed. Will the answer be revealed in the next chapter? Who knows? XD
Though before posting the next chapter for this story, I will be posting the first chapter to my little side story/one shot book. I thought it might be fun to start out with Havel and show his experience during this entire ordeal XD And if it goes well, I'll make it like a running series. Like a look at what Havel gets up to when he's away from Wren/left up to his own devices. We'll also learn more of Havel's past through this miniseries and I hope you enjoy them.
There's no CLC today. I haven't prepared one of those in a while and like I previously mentioned they won't be at the end of every chapter anymore. The next one probably won't be posted until Lorelei's debut, which will be in another chapter or so.
Anyway, I hope you enjoyed this chapter.
And as always, be sure to keep being your beautiful, amazing selves and stay safe out there. Also, I'd like to wish a Happy Thanksgiving to all who celebrate it, and I wish and hope you all have a wonderful day with family and friends. Until next time~