The Three Kuja Pirates proceeded to cross the bridge to Ape Mountain, each step as careful and weary as possible atop each wooden board. With the slightest sound of creaking and cracking of the boards, Sweat Peat and Alphelandra gasped as they paused quickly. Once reassured that the bridge was still standing, they continued across. Marguerite gripped the ropes tightly off to each side of the bridge. Even the old and withering ropes holding the bridge together could not be looked at without the terrifying thought of snapping at any moment.
Marguerite shook her head, ridding her mind of the thought that froze her in fear. She looked on ahead, continuing across without a second thought of the peril they were in. She turned back at Sweat Pea and Alphelandra.
"Keep going, we're almost there," She told them.
Marguerite's heart pounded in her chest, but she steeled herself, forcing the fear back down. She couldn't afford to be scared. The Empress was depending on them. "We've crossed worse," she muttered under her breath, urging herself to believe it. Her grip on the rope tightened until her knuckles whitened, her eyes flicking back to check on Sweat Pea and Alphelandra, who were pale but moving. They couldn't stop now. Not when they were so close.
A sudden gust of wind swept the bridge, shaking it back and forth. The three Kuja Pirates quickly paused, grabbing the ropes as the Bridge shook beneath them.
"Wow," They wailed in panic.
"Hang on," Marguerite exclaimed.
The three Kuja Pirates continued to change on for dear life as the Bridge continued to quake within the winds.
For the Kuja Pirates, the jungle felt alive in the worst way—eyes glinted from the dark underbrush, animal calls echoed from unseen corners, and vines seemed to creep closer every time they blinked. The jungle was thick with a sense of watchful presence as if it was breathing around them. But for Robin, the jungle was her ally, each rustling leaf and shifting shadow a familiar friend. The canopy whispered secrets, the roots guarded hidden paths, and the rhythm of the leaves was a song only she understood.
Reaching the jungle's edge near the ravine, Robin swung up effortlessly into the canopy, perching herself with a clear view of the terrain below. Moments later, Tookie fluttered beside her, his wings flapping in urgency as he landed with a distressed squeak.
"Tookie, Tookie," he chirped, his eyes wide with alarm.
Robin cocked her head at her loyal majordomo. "What is it, Tookie? Do you see them?"
Tookie nodded, his beak pointing toward the narrow rope bridge spanning the ravine. Robin followed his gaze and spotted three distinct figures clinging tightly to the ropes as they swayed with each gust of wind. Her sharp eyes scanned their silhouettes, taking in their stances, weapons, and alert expressions. A sudden realization struck her as she focused on their stance and build.
"Women…" she murmured, her surprise shifting to recognition. "Kuja Pirates."
The name rang in her mind, conjuring stories Ape had shared of the fierce Amazon warriors of Amazon Lily. Known for their unmatched skill and loyalty to their Empress, they were a formidable force, and even the Navy hesitated to cross. Robin narrowed her gaze. "What would they want here in Bakuvvu?"
Tookie chirped in confusion and concern, sensing Robin's growing unease.
Robin's thoughts raced. She had learned from Ape about the factions and alliances sailing the seas, all vying for dominance in the Great Pirate Era. But none had dared approach Bakuvvu—not the Navy, not the infamous pirate crews, and certainly not any mercenaries. Bakuvvu was secluded, forgotten by time, a haven for her and the jungle's creatures.
But anyone who dared disrupt that peace would face her full strength. She had already lost one home and wasn't about to lose another.
"So... the Kujas think they can just walk in and take what they want from my jungle," she muttered, hands resting firmly on her hips, her eyes fierce with resolve.
Tookie tilted his head, chirping in concern.
"Oh, don't worry, I won't kill them," Robin said calmly. "That would only attract more attention to Bakuvvu. But they're not going to find what they're looking for."
Tookie relaxed a bit but still looked at her, puzzled.
Robin crouched lower on the branch, her keen eyes analyzing the pirates' movements. Violence would be the easy answer, but Ape had taught her another path—control was the true mark of power. She smirked, her mind already forming a plan. She would make it clear they weren't welcome here without risking the delicate balance of her secluded paradise.
She crossed her arms, closed her eyes, and took a deep breath, summoning the familiar energy within her.
"Mil Fleur!"
In a blink, a row of spectral arms appeared from the thick posts on the far side of the bridge, gripping the ropes tightly. The Kuja Pirates froze, their bodies tensing as they spotted the ghostly hands, unsure of their intentions. Marguerite, the leader, narrowed her eyes, her grip on her weapon tightening as she prepared for a fight.
Robin watched closely from above, her eyes narrowing as she observed their reactions, sizing up her opponents. They were wary, sharp, and disciplined—traits she admired. But this jungle was her domain, and they would learn it soon enough.
With a subtle movement, the spectral hands gave the ropes a slight shake, sending an eerie shiver through the bridge. The Kuja Pirates' eyes darted around, their stance growing tense, their focus split between the mysterious arms and the swaying bridge beneath them.
Robin smirked, satisfied with the unease settling over them. She would let them feel the weight of the jungle's presence, the strength of a land that needed no gold or jewels to make it valuable. In her domain, they were mere intruders, and they would learn that this place, this sanctuary, was not to be trifled with.
"Alright, Kuja Pirates," she whispered to herself. "Welcome to Bakuvvu. Let's see if you're as fierce as they say."
Two ghostly arms sprouted from the wooden posts at the far end of the bridge, their ethereal fingers curling around a jagged rock. With a deliberate, silent precision, they began to see the ropes holding the bridge together. The vibrations crept through the ropes and planks, sending unsettling tremors underfoot. Marguerite, Alphelandra, and Sweat Pea paused, their gazes snapping to the shifting arms at the bridge's other end.
"What... are those?" Sweat Pea whispered, eyes wide with alarm as she clung to the swaying ropes.
"I don't know, but whatever they are—they're cutting the ropes!" Marguerite barked, her voice taut with urgency. "Hurry! We need to get across now!"
The three Kuja Pirates launched into a desperate sprint across the creaking bridge, ignoring the deep canyon yawning below them. Each hurried step sent the rickety boards groaning and splintering beneath their weight. The ropes twisted in the wind, adding an unstable sway that threatened to pitch them into the abyss.
One board gave way beneath Alphelandra's foot with a sickening crack, and she plunged downward, barely catching hold of the side ropes. Her fingers clutched the fraying strands, her legs dangling over the empty void. "Alphelandra!" Sweat Pea gasped, lunging to grab her arm and hauling her back onto the bridge. Panting with relief, Alphelandra scrambled up, and the two sprinted after Marguerite, who was nearly at the other side.
As they reached the far end, the final strands of the bridge gave out with a violent snap, sending it swinging wildly against the canyon wall. The three Amazons barely had time to catch their breath as they watched the bridge splinter and fall, crashing into the ravine below.
The spectral arms dissolved into flower petals, scattering on the wind. Marguerite and her companions stood wide-eyed, catching their breath as they peered over the ravine's edge, the bridge's remains barely visible far below.
"What...what were those?" Alphelandra asked, her voice unsteady. Her gaze darted to Marguerite, who shook her head, confusion etched across her face.
"This jungle just keeps getting stranger the deeper we go," Marguerite muttered, trying to steady her breathing. She glanced into the dense foliage ahead, the rustling leaves and shadows feeling more ominous than before. "Whoever—or whatever—that was, they're trying to stop us from reaching the ruins."
Alphelandra and Sweat Pea exchanged wary looks, then turned their gazes forward, resolve hardening in their expressions. This was more than they'd bargained for, but they were determined to press on for their Empress and the deed they sought.
Robin lowered her arms, letting them fall to her sides, a hint of irritation flashing in her eyes. Her initial attempt to scare off the intruders hadn't worked as planned. Any ordinary trespassers would have run at the sight of spectral arms cutting through the ropes, but these intruders—the Kuja Pirates—had made it across the bridge unfazed.
"Hmph. So, they're tougher than they look," Robin muttered, her eyes narrowing in renewed focus.
Beside her, Tookie squealed in surprise, tilting his head as if to ask what she would do next.
"Seems they're more resilient than I gave them credit for," Robin remarked with a thoughtful frown, glancing down at her loyal majordomo.
"Tookie, Tookie?" Tookie chirped, his gaze darting nervously toward the pirates' direction.
Robin took a slow, calming breath, shifting from frustration to resolve. She knew this jungle better than anyone. If they had crossed the bridge, there was only one place they could be headed—the ruins. The hidden, ancient secrets they protected were far too dangerous for any outsider's hands.
"There's only one path they'd take from here," Robin murmured. "The ruins."
She gave Tookie a reassuring nod. "Come on. I know a way to get there first."
With a swift, decisive motion, Robin grabbed the nearest vine, launching herself into the jungle with practiced grace. Tookie followed, flapping close behind, their path cutting swiftly through the dense foliage. Robin's determination pulsed with each swing, her mind already racing with strategies to confront the pirates before they reached the heart of her jungle sanctuary.
Unbeknownst to the Jungle Queen, Marguerite's sharp eyes caught a flicker of movement within the dense canopy across the ravine. A shadowy figure moved gracefully among the high branches, almost blending into the leaves—almost, but not entirely. Marguerite's suspicions deepened; it was now clear that someone, or something, was intent on keeping them from reaching their goal.
She turned back to Alphelandra and Sweat Pea, her expression hardening.
"Come on," she said, her voice low but urgent. "We need to keep moving. Whoever's watching us isn't going to make this easy. The sooner we find those ruins, the sooner we get off this island."
Alphelandra and Sweat Pea exchanged wary glances, understanding the urgency in Marguerite's tone. They adjusted their weapons, readying themselves as they pressed forward, the jungle closing in tighter with each step. The thick canopy above seemed to murmur with secrets, and though they couldn't see her, they felt the watchful eyes of the Jungle Queen tracking their every move.
The three members of the Kuja Pirates pressed further into the shadowy depths of Ape Mountain's jungle, their Boa weapons ready in hand, each transforming smoothly into bows at a moment's notice. Every rustle and shadow felt like a potential threat, but their focus remained fixed on the path ahead—and the figure they suspected was tracking their every step. Despite the tension, Marguerite's gaze remained locked on the ancient map she held, her fingers tracing its faded lines as if the route was fragile.
The deed to Ape Mountain wasn't merely a slip of parchment. Whoever possessed it would command an ancient power, something the Empress desired to secure their strength within the Grand Line. This deed, Marguerite knew, was more than any treasure of gold or jewels—it was leverage, a secret that could tilt the balance of power. She could feel the weight of her responsibility pressing her forward through the dense and stifling jungle.
They arrived just as the sun began to dip behind the mountain, casting an eerie glow over the terrain. The ruins rose before them, concealed by layers of jungle overgrowth and half-devoured by time. Marguerite's heart skipped as she glanced at the map, confirming what she had suspected—the structure before them perfectly matched the sketched lines. Breathless, she glanced at her companions.
"This is it," she said, her voice barely a whisper as anticipation tinged her words. "We found it. The lost city of Bakuvvu."
The ruins of Bakuvvu sprawled before them like the bleached bones of a forgotten beast, the remains of an ancient world barely holding its ground against the encroaching jungle. Thick as ropes, vines twisted up the crumbling stone walls, and moss blanketed the ground like a soft shroud. The scent of damp earth and the faint sweetness of decaying foliage make the air feel thick with secrets and ancient power.
Marguerite hesitated at the city's edge, her boots sinking slightly into the moss-covered stones. The ruins seemed to breathe with a life of their own, shadows shifting in the fading light. Somewhere within these walls lay the deed that could change their lives, the answer to the Empress's ambitions. It wasn't just treasure they sought—it was legacy, something that no one else could claim.
Steeling herself, she took a step forward, the crunch of her boots muffled by the dampness of the moss. She raised her hand, motioning for Alphelandra and Sweat Pea to follow, their eyes widening as they took in the sprawling ruins.
"Let's keep our guard up," Marguerite murmured, gripping her bow tightly. "Something tells me we're not alone here."
As the three pirates moved deeper into the heart of the ancient city, they could feel the jungle's breath all around them—a heavy, silent warning. They would find what they came for, but Bakuvvu was unwilling to relinquish its secrets without a fight.