Chapter 17

Underground Village

The Thousand Sunny had arrived at Dante's Freezer, as the Straw Hats docked the ship. It was a cold, snowy place, so they had put on coats to pack warm.

"Wow, it sure is really cold. I get why they call it Dante's Freezer," Nami said.

"Whoa, that place has a massive stronghold!" Usopp exclaimed. "Who built this?!"

"Well, it's not built by the snow leopards, for one thing," Barlin said.

"Are you really sure some of the tribe might still be alive, Barlin?" Hunter asked.

"I'm not sure, but the possibility of those that are still alive exists."

"It's all about having faith," Spyro said.

"He's right, Barlin," Raymond said. "If you wanna look for any survivors, I'll support you."

"Yeah, I would too, though it's just hard to assume much," Sparx said, only he received a cold stare from Cynder.

"I don't get you sometimes, Sparx," said Cynder.

"Hey, I'm with you if you're looking for survivors," Luffy said. "You can count on me!"

"Hey, don't leave us out of it," Usopp said.

Barlin looked at the group. Then he grinned. "Thank you all so much."

"Do you know where your tribe built your village, Barlin-san?" Brook asked.

"Yes, it's a hidden village underground. I know where to find the entrance."

"An underground village? Now there's something to behold," Sparx said.

Cynder looked at the stronghold, as she sighed, thinking about how she had Volteer captive during her time as Malefor's servant. Spyro put his paw on her shoulder to comfort her, as she look at him and smiled.

Luffy's stomach growled. "Man, I'm hungry..." he whined.

Usopp shoved him as he yelled, "Wasn't it your fault for eating all that food on the way here?!"

"Is he like that when it comes to food?" Raymond asked.

"Welcome to my world," Sanji said, smoking his cigarette.

The group entered through the gate, as they went down the stronghold. They traveled through the path, passing through arches. Barlin had been busy looking at his philosopher's stone necklace, wondering what power it has within. But another part of him wondered if at least a few of his tribe is still alive, somewhere.

"Barlin, are you okay?" Spyro asked.

"Hm? Oh, yes, I was just thinking," Barlin said. "I had wondered about what secrets lie within the philosopher's stone, but at the same time, I can't wondering if at least a few of my tribe is still alive, somewhere. I just needed answers."

Spyro said nothing, as he can understand Barlin's determination.

"Where is that cavern anyway? Do you know where to find it?" Raymond asked.

"It's close," Barlin said. "The only trouble is, I can't remember where the door was."

"Oh, that's just great!" Usopp complained. "We came all the way here with a leopard who knows where to find the village, only to realize he can't remember where the door is! Makes me so mad I wanna punch the snow!" And he did just that, but when he punched the snow, he hit something hard buried in the snow. His eyes widen, and then he screamed so loud, holding his hurt hand, and the snow collapsed, revealing a large stone door.

"Ah, here it is," Barlin smiled. "The snow must have buried the door for all those years."

"Well, would you look at that," Sparx said. "All it took was that punch to reveal a hidden secret."

"Nice going, Usopp," said Zoro sarcastically.

"How was I to know that door's hidden in the snow?!" Usopp cried.

"So how can we open it?" Nami asked.

Luffy cracked his knuckles with a grin. "I can break it down. Gum-Gum..."

Nami banged Luffy on the head with her Clima-Tact, as it left a big bump on his head. "Not with your punching, you numbskull!"

"Well, maybe we could chisel it to pieces," Sparx said, "or perhaps we could use dragon powers to bust it open..." He then saw Barlin and Hunter pulling the door open. "...or that can work."

"Well, let's have a look down there," Spyro said.

The group entered the cavern as they walked down the tunnel. The cavern started to get darker and darker, so Barlin's scepter glowed to show the way.

"There, that's better. My scepter has magic light to show the way, like a torch," Barlin said.

"Oh, so you're part sorcerer, mostly alchemist," Zoro said.

"No, I'm all alchemist. Sometimes light can be casted by alchemist. My father made this scepter using wood and fire, even metal, as its light only glows in the dark like this tunnel. It's basically alchemy magic."

They continue walking down the tunnel and approached a giant door, as they were in awe from the sight, the stone design, and the markings.

Barlin approached the door. "All those years... I am finally returning home," he said.

"How is he gonna open that door, let alone a big one like this?" Sparx asked.

Barlin closed his eyes and placed his paw on a paw print on the door. The markings began to glow, as the door slowly began to open, as everyone gasped.

"I guess that answers the question," Robin said. "I assume that was magic or alchemy?"

"Both," Barlin said. "That paw print on the door is the key to opening it, when our ancestors made this very door."

"Man, alchemy must be so cool!" Luffy exclaimed.

"Slow critic," Usopp said, waving his hand.

The group then walked in, and everyone gasped at the sight. They were looking at a village with huts, as most were damaged from the invasion by Gaul's apes. Only a few torches were lit. Barlin felt terrible at the sight of this. He was an awe to see his village for the first time in years, but the disaster had reminded him of what he had lost from the invasion, his kind, his father... even his home. His eyes tear up, and he covered his eyes.

"My home..." Barlin sniffled. "My beautiful home..."

"I'm sorry, Barlin," said Spyro.

"It's probably best we look around, see if we can find anything," Robin said.

"My thoughts exactly," Sanji said. "This is giving me the creeps."

"You're not afraid of a village like this, are you?" Zoro said.

"Not that it matters you, moss head." Then Sanji started crying with a tearful face. "I just don't want anything bad happening to Robin or Nami-swan...!"

"Well, there's not a lot of torches down here, so let's light up," Franky said, and his nipples glowed bright. "Franky Nipple Lights!"

"You're so gross, Franky!" Usopp yelled, smacking Franky's chest.

The Straw Hat Pirates split up in groups to search the village. Luffy went with Raymond, Spyro, Sparx, and Cynder, as they explored the area. Nami and Robin went to check the broken huts, as Sanji, Franky, Brook, Chopper, Usopp and Hunter check for any survivors. Zoro, on the other hand, wandered around, as he ended up at a dead end.

Barlin went towards a large hut, his father's hut, and walked inside. Though he was amazed it was still intact, it nonetheless hurts him from the day he lost him in the attack. He wiped a tear from his eye, and he looked around. He came across a chest and opened it. He looked inside, and he saw a helmet made with gold and silver, with copper horns on the sides. "Oh," he gasped. "This is my father's helmet." He then noticed a note inside it when he checked, and he pulled it out. He unrolled it, and he saw it was a message.

"My son Barlin, if you find my message in the helmet, that means I am gone. I was so proud of you, how far you've grown, the alchemy you've mastered. I feared our tribe would be no match for Gaul, let alone the Dark Master himself. I regret not helping you get much stronger, but then I realized you can get stronger on your own, and I knew you'd make it to one day become a great alchemist like I was. I hope that one day you will reunite with the remaining snow leopards that might still be alive, somewhere safe, and perhaps become a great leader. Be brave, and stay strong, my son."

Barlin's eyes tear up after he finished reading the note. "Father," he sniffled. "Thank you. I won't let you down." Then he looked at his helmet, and then he placed it on his head. It was a perfect fit.

With Nami and Robin, they had checked the huts and found nothing interesting. That was, until Robin noticed a weapon, as she picked it up. It was a dagger made of stone with a handle made of bone, tied by twine. "The snow leopards must've made stone weapons like this dagger," she said.

"How can they cave anything if there isn't much stone?" Nami asked.

"Stone can be buried in snow, if you dig snow for it."

"Point taken."

Meanwhile, Luffy and the others were checking the village.

"I never went to an underground village like this before," Spyro said. "This is strange."

"Yeah, it's my first time here as well," Cynder said.

"So Luffy, this Shanks the pirate," Raymond said, "what was he like?"

"Oh, he was my hero when I was a kid," Luffy said, as he took his hat off. "This was his hat that he left me. And I treasure it, with a promise to return it to him for when I become King of the Pirates."

"I see. He must be some legendary pirate."

Luffy placed his hat on. "That's the beauty of being a pirate."

With Sanji's group, they were exploring the village, when they stumbled upon a tunnel.

"I wonder where does that tunnel go?" Brook asked.

"Who knows?" Sanji asked.

"Looks pretty dark in there," Chopper said.

"I can light us the way," Franky said.

"Only you could do that," Usopp scowled.

So they walked inside the tunnel, with Usopp in the lead. He held his Kuro Kabuto in case of any enemies, and Hunter held his bow and arrow for anything. As they walked on, they entered a small cave, but it was dark.

"See anything?" Hunter asked.

"No, not even with Franky's glowing nipples," Usopp huffed.

But then suddenly, Usopp saw a snow leopard's face in the dark. He screamed, almost dropping the Kuro Kabuto as it bounced on his hands from his panicking. He aimed, but he lost balance and fell backwards, crashing on the ground. He had tossed his Kuro Kabuto, as it fell and hit Sanji on the head.

"Ow! Usopp, what are you...?!" Sanji scolded, but stopped when he saw the snow leopard. "Oh, who's this?"

The group get to see it was a snow leopard in ragged clothes, with scars on his arms, and broken shackles on his wrists and ankles.

"A snow leopard," Hunter said.

"He must be hurt," Chopper said. He went around Usopp still lying on the ground and approached the snow leopard. "He must have been through a lot, judging by the shackles. We gotta help him."