Despite her fellow Kuja Pirates being in potential mortal peril, Gloriosa remained seated on the beaches of the Bakuvvu, unmoved by the crashing waves along the shore or the jungle's dense, shadowed expanse before her. With her head bowed and her eyes shut tightly, she gripped her snake-headed staff with both hands, her expression a mask of stoic resolve. She continued to wait, whether for their triumphant return or confirmation of their demise.
Though peril lurked in the jungle's depths, Gloriosa was far from concerned. Over the years, countless sisters had ventured into the Bakuvvu searching for the elusive deed to Ape Mountain, only to disappear without a trace. The fate of Marguerite and the others seemed no different—a sobering inevitability in Gloriosa's mind.
Yet, her thoughts were interrupted by a distant sound—soft at first, like a faint whisper carried on the wind. Gloriosa's sharp instincts stirred, and her gaze lifted toward the jungle ahead. It was a voice, unmistakably female, but its tone and cadence were unfamiliar. It wasn't the excitable chatter of Marguerite or the others. This voice was different.
"Hmm... That sound again," she murmured, narrowing her eyes. "Could it be the others?"
But doubt clouded her thoughts. The voice was too close and distinct to belong to her companions, lost deep within the jungle. A chill of realization crept over her. "It certainly doesn't sound like those girls at all," she muttered, her grip tightening on her staff. "A woman's voice... but how? Could there be someone else on this island?"
Her eyes drifted to the derelict boat resting on the beach, its weathered frame partially buried in the sand. Though old and crumbling, it bore the unmistakable signs of having once carried passengers. Judging by its condition, it couldn't have been abandoned too long ago. Whoever had arrived on these shores could still be somewhere on the island.
Gloriosa's attention shifted back to the jungle, her curiosity thoroughly piqued. Whoever this mysterious voice belonged to, they were close—too close for comfort. With a furrowed brow, she rose slowly from her seat, her senses on high alert.
"Perhaps this stranger holds answers," she muttered, her resolve hardening as she stepped toward the jungle's edge, the unknown beckoning her forward.
Marquette, Aphelandra, and Sweat Pea stirred groggily, their senses slowly returning. The Mangu's hypnotic influence over them had faded, leaving them disoriented but free. Marquette groaned, clutching her pounding head as she tried to sit up. Nearby, Aphelandra and Sweat Pea began to stir, their movements sluggish.
"Wha—what happened?" Sweat Pea muttered, her voice heavy with confusion.
"My head... feels like it got trampled by a herd of elephants," Marquette murmured, rubbing her temples.
Aphelandra glanced around, her gaze darting between the dense foliage and her companions. "Where are we?"
Marquette shook her head to clear the fog clouding her thoughts. She blinked, her vision sharpening as she realized they were back in the jungle. Yet how they had gotten there remained a mystery. The last thing she remembered was exploring one of the ancient temples within the ruins. Beyond that, her memory was a frustrating blur.
But their disorientation was quickly replaced by alarm when they noticed a constricting sensation around their bodies. Marquette looked down, her eyes widening. They were bound tightly in vines, their movements restricted.
"Wait, how did we get all tied up like this?" Marquette demanded, twisting against the restraints.
"Yeah, and where did these vines come from?" Sweat Pea added, her voice rising in panic.
The three of them struggled against their bindings, but the vines held firm, refusing to yield. Sweat dripped down their foreheads as their efforts grew more frantic.
"These vines are strong... who did this?" Aphelandra muttered, her tone edged with frustration.
A calm, unfamiliar voice cut through the air. "Sorry, but you're strangers in my jungle. I had to make sure none of you were a threat."
The Kuja Pirates froze, their eyes darting toward each other in alarm. That voice was unfamiliar—it hadn't come from any of them.
"Who said that?" Aphelandra demanded, her tone sharp.
Their gazes shot to a nearby tree, and as their eyes climbed toward the canopy, they spotted a figure perched gracefully on a branch. At first glance, she could have passed for an Amazonian. Her raven-black hair cascaded over her shoulders, and her attire, a fur bikini, bore a striking resemblance to their own. But what caught their attention most was how she carried herself—like a predator surveying her territory. Coiled around her body were their familiar boas, which seemed surprisingly at ease in her presence.
The woman smirked, her sharp eyes gleaming with authority. "Now that you're awake," she began, her tone calm yet commanding, "perhaps you can tell me what you're doing in my jungle."
The three pirates exchanged wary glances, realizing they had been ensnared by someone as much a part of this jungle as the trees and vines themselves.
"Who is that? Another Amazonian?" Aphelandra asked her voice a mixture of confusion and suspicion.
Marquette shook her head, her brow furrowed as she studied the mysterious woman perched above them. "I don't think so," she murmured, then raised her voice to address the stranger. "Hey, who are you? Let us go!"
The woman didn't flinch at Marquette's demand. Instead, she shook her head with an air of calm authority. The jungle fell into an eerie silence, broken only by the sudden, thunderous blast of an elephant's trumpet. The sound reverberated through the trees, sending birds scattering into the sky. Marquette, Aphlandra, and Sweat Pea froze, their eyes widening as the massive shadow loomed over them.
A towering elephant emerged from the foliage, its form majestic and imposing, with tusks that gleamed like ivory blades in the dappled sunlight. Its intelligent eyes bore down on them, a mix of curiosity and quiet authority evident in its gaze.
The pirates gasped, their earlier confidence giving way to awe and fear. "What is that?" Sweat Pea whispered, her voice barely audible as her gaze locked onto the colossal creature.
Robin stepped forward, placing a hand on the elephant's side, her touch calm and assured. "This is Shep," she said, her voice carrying both pride and affection. "He's one of my most trusted companions."
The Kuja Pirates exchanged uneasy glances, the sight of the Jungle Queen's calm dominance over such a powerful beast only deepening their unease. It wasn't just the elephant that commanded their attention—it was the woman who stood at its side, utterly in control of the jungle and everything in it.
Shep let out another trumpet, a sound that seemed to shake the very ground beneath their feet. The pirates flinched, their bindings creaking as they instinctively tried to recoil. Robin smirked, stepping closer. "You see," she said, her voice smooth, "you're not the only ones with a strong will in this jungle. You'd do well to remember that."
The pirates were silent, their earlier bravado fully eclipsed by the realization that they were utterly at the mercy of the Jungle Queen—and her formidable kingdom. "Sorry, but I'm afraid none of you are in any position to make demands," she replied, her tone firm and unwavering. "I'm the one asking the questions. Now, tell me—what are you doing in my jungle?"
"Your jungle?" Marquette echoed, her tone skeptical as she exchanged glances with her companions.
Robin nodded, her piercing gaze unwavering as she leaned slightly forward, her posture exuding dominance. "That's right," she said evenly. "This is my jungle, my kingdom. And I do not tolerate intruders."
The Kuja Pirates stiffened, realizing the gravity of their situation. Marquette narrowed her eyes, her defiance flickering despite their predicament. "We're not here to cause trouble," she began cautiously. "We're looking for something—"
Robin raised a hand to silence her, her expression unchanging. "What you're looking for doesn't concern me," she interrupted. "What matters is that you've trespassed into my domain. And if you value your freedom, you'll cooperate."
The commanding presence of the Jungle Queen left the Kuja Pirates momentarily speechless. Marquette, however, straightened slightly against her bindings, her voice tinged with suspicion. "Who exactly are you, anyway?"
Robin's smirk deepened. "I'm the one who ensures this jungle remains untouched by outsiders," she said, her voice smooth yet resolute. "And if you want to leave here in one piece, you'll start talking."
"Look, we're not here to cause any trouble for the animals," Marquette insisted, her tone earnest but firm. "We're looking for the deed."
Robin's expression hardened at the mention of the deed, her sharp eyes narrowing. "Deed? What deed?" she asked, her voice calm yet tinged with suspicion.
"The deed to Ape Mountain," Aphlandra explained, glancing at her companions for support. "We were sent here to retrieve it for our Empress, Boa Hancock."
For a moment, Robin felt a flicker of unease—an imagined challenge to her reign over the jungle. But she quickly pushed it aside, her face betraying none of the storm within. These outsiders could never rival her dominion over Bakuvvu. Still, the idea of them carrying a relic that could imply ownership of her home was enough to spark her defiance. Robin maintained her composure, her gaze unwavering.
"I'm afraid I don't know what you're talking about," she said smoothly. "There is no deed."
"You expect us to believe that?" Marquette challenged, her voice edged with skepticism.
Robin smirked, raising a hand to stroke the head of one of the boas coiled around her. The snake hissed softly, its body quivering under her touch as if affirming her command over all that surrounded her.
"Think about it," Robin said, her voice measured. "This island has been untouched by civilization for centuries. The only inhabitants are the primitive tribes to the east, and they certainly lack the means to create something as sophisticated as a deed. Those who once lived here and might have crafted such things are long gone, along with their creations."
Marquette faltered, exchanging uncertain glances with Aphlandra and Sweat Pea. Robin's words gnawed at their resolve. The notion of a deed seemed incongruous with an island dominated by wild jungle and simple tribes. And hadn't all previous missions failed to recover anything?
"Huh, she has a point," Sweat Pea muttered, hesitantly breaking the silence.
Marquette clenched her fists, her defiance flickering. "But… how do we know she's telling the truth?" she said, her voice wavering.
Robin's smirk widened. Her confidence and the truth she held were eroding their resistance. "Think carefully," she said, stepping gracefully down from the tree, landing with the agility of a jungle cat. "You've heard the stories—of those who came before you and never returned. Do you think a deed kept them here? Or perhaps something more sinister?"
The Kuja Pirates exchanged uneasy glances, the weight of Robin's words settling over them. Marquette hesitated, then lowered her gaze in reluctant acknowledgment. "What are you saying?" she finally asked.
Robin straightened, her presence commanding. "The only thing you would've found in those ruins is a cursed relic—one that would enslave you to its will," she said, her voice steady. "If it weren't for me, you'd all still be enthralled, bound to the whims of the Mangu."
The three stared at her in stunned silence, their disbelief and gratitude warring.
"You… you helped us?" Aphlandra asked, her voice soft with a mix of awe and uncertainty.
Robin smiled gently, nodding. "I did. Not because I trust you, but because no one—pirate or not—deserves to be enslaved to that thing."
Her words hung in the air, heavy with truth and a quiet warning. The Kuja Pirates remained bound but subdued, their hostility replaced by something closer to respect. For the first time, they saw the Jungle Queen not as a foe but a protector of a world they barely understood.
"Well, do you mind letting us go?" Marquette asked curiously.
Robin nodded for a moment.
"I suppose so," Robin said, gazing at Shep.
"Shep?"
Shep stomped up to the three bounded Pirates, taking hold of the vines with his trunk. With a slight tug, the vines snapped and came undone. The three stood up with a slight gasp of relief.
"Thanks," Marquette said.
Robin smiled, closing her eyes as she nodded.