The days continued as the Merry and the Pearl sailed on through a rainstorm together. The Straw Hats worked together to make sure the bilges on both ships remained dry. Days like this tended to be days for board games for the crew. Draco had a strict rule about no gambling below deck or in the cabin, though gambling on deck was permissible. Board games, however, were permitted anywhere on the ship.
"So how long have you two been on this game campaign?" Robin asked.
"Since just before we started our journey. Luckily the game is set up so you can save progress in a campaign." Ben said.
Boss came in. "We're coming up to an island just off the port. Shall we dock, Captain?"
"Might as well. We can pick this up afterward."
The rain started to let up just as the crew reached the island. Nami noticed how drenched Vivi, Carue, Mifune, and Amingo were.
"You guys sure don't have a problem staying out in the rain."
"When you live in a desert country, you learn to handle any rainstorm that comes about," Vivi said.
"And the rain does so well for the skin!" Amingo said in content. "It also helps me think of a new song!"
The crew disembarked at the local town. Luckily the town was aware of the Straw Hats thanks to the We Are broadcast, so no one batted an eye at this particular pirate ship docking.
"Good to reach an inhabited island every once in a while. We do need to restock, after all." N'Doul said.
"Hey, guys, look at this!" Luffy said, gesturing to a poster announcing a fireworks festival.
"Wow! I've never seen fireworks before!" Vivi said excitedly.
"Looks like we picked the right time to arrive. We're just in time for their annual festival!" Carue noted.
"Ah, rat sounds like run. I wonder what it roud be rike to shoot off fireworks rike that." Lassoo said.
"Indeed!" Choi laughed. "And I'm always down to see if they've got good food and drink as well!"
"You people must be new in town," A middle-aged man named Kadoyan said as he approached. "Our festival is four hundred years old. Not the first time a friendly pirate crew has visited for it either, though yours is probably the most famous so far. Especially with that live show you always broadcast."
"Good to know no one's going to try and turn us in for bounties," Draco said.
"Glad to see not every place is antagonistic toward pirates on sight..." Double-D sighed in relief.
"We make more than enough money without that. Besides, calling in the Marines now would only disrupt the festival. As you can see from the poster it's being held tonight." Kadoyan said.
"It's pretty mind-boggling to think this festival has been going on for four hundred years," Usopp said.
"Yeah, that's older than the festival my hometown holds every year!" Hilda added.
"Do you see that mountain up there?" Kadoyan said, pointing to the said mountain. "The family that lives next to it has been making the fireworks for the festival for generations. Right now the only ones living there are an old man and his granddaughter. Said granddaughter is also his apprentice."
"What about her parents?" Sonson asked. "Did they decide not to take up the trade?"
"No, they did. Unfortunately, they wound up killed during an accident last year. That can happen when handling fireworks." Kadoyan explained sadly. "So now it's just the two of them, spending all year making fireworks just for this one day."
"Wow, those must be some amazing fireworks," Usopp said.
"Why would it take so long to make fireworks?" Luffy wondered.
Nami shrugged. "You got me."
-OP-
Interested in finding out how the family made fireworks, Usopp, Kaya, Kirby, Hilda, Rosa, the Eds, Calvin, Hobbes, and Lassoo decided to head up and visit. They soon met an old man sitting outside the house.
"Greetings, I'm Boss Odama, the pyrotechnist. What brings you to my home?"
"We were hoping to learn how to make fireworks. Lassoo here wants to be able to launch them." Usopp explained.
"Don't mind him. He used to be just an ordinary bazooka...then he got turned into a dog by some weird Devil Fruit science experiment." Calvin added.
"It wasn't just some weird science experiment!" Double-D scolded. "It was a test concocted by the legendary Dr. Vegapunk!"
Odama nodded. "Come inside, everyone. I'll see what we're working with."
Everyone entered and was amazed at the sight of a large firework shell sitting right inside the threshold.
"Kodama! We have guests."
Lassoo suddenly found himself being picked up by a young girl.
"Ruh-Roh!"
"Interesting...Specially modified to fire multiple artillery types." The girl, Kodama, said. "Where do you load ammo?"
"Ah, I ractually generate my own ranks to my Devil Fruit. So I ron't need to reroad." Lassoo explained.
"Well, he was a gun first before becoming a dog..." Hobbes noted. "Thank goodness we don't have to load it in THAT way."
The Straw Hats all shuddered at imagining that. Well, except Robin; she just shrugged.
"Rank goodness for rat!" Lassoo agreed.
"Kodama, did you make sure to contact the launch team?" Odama asked.
"They'll be here shortly."
Odama nodded. "Good, .ake sure the mortars and wagon are ready. I'll tend to our guests."
Kodama put down Lassoo and headed out.
"She sure has a chip off her shoulder." Eddy noted.
"For a slimey girl..." Calvin muttered.
"She's a bit conceited, thinking she's as good as me, but she is skilled for her age, no denying that. She understands the most fundamental part of fireworks. That they're unfinished until they become a beautiful blossom in the sky." Odama said. "That holds true for all our products in the warehouse. And this beauty as well."
He pointed to the large fireworks shell.
"Whoa nelly!" Hilda exclaimed. "That's a real gorgeous one right there!"
"Must make a big boom!" Rosa added.
"Can't wait to see what that'll be like when it goes off," Usopp said.
"Well, you might not get the chance. We tried an identical one last year. Which sadly resulted in the death of my son and his wife... They were both dedicated to the craft, and I lost a month of work mourning them." Odama sadly said as he then noticed the rain starting up again. "Ah, blasted weather. Well, it'll let up before tonight. The wind's picking up from the east."
-OP-
Later the group watched Kodama as she packed up the equipment with a grin.
"You guys want to know something? We used to be able to fire 200-gauge shells like the one inside, but at some point, the tradition was broken."
"Gee, I wonder what caused that," Kaya said.
"Did they consider it too dangerous?" Double-D asked.
"I don't know, but Mama and Papa dreamed of bringing that skill back. And I want to finish that dream." Kodama said.
"Why tell us this?" Usopp asked.
"Because you're likely to keep Grandpa occupied with his modifications," Kodama said with a smirk, pointing to Lassoo.
Usopp noticed the tall tower attached to the house, with a flag out to check the wind.
"Hmm... Maybe we don't have to..."
"I think we all just thunk!" Ed smiled.
"See? Even Ed is thinking what we're thinking!" Eddy grinned.
-OP-
That night, the crew all gathered for the festival. Odama had finished helping Usopp modify Lasso to be able to fire out fireworks at will, bringing great cheers from the crowd. The 200-gauge was dragged out of the storehouse using a makeshift pulley made from a cartwheel. It was loaded into the tower, which was actually a launch platform designed to fire 200-gauge shells.
"I had no idea this launch platform existed," Odama admitted. "I wonder how long the tower was sealed up like that. If only we'd known about this a year ago..."
"And it turns out all the graves had instructions for this as well,. I'm amazed no one deciphered them." Usopp noted.
Odama sighed regretfully. "We foolishly adhered to letting the dead rest peacefully. But sometimes they want to be heard from beyond."
He tapped his pipe into the special chute before getting clear. The 200-gauge shot into the sky. Kodama's eyes lit up in amazement as the shell exploded in a magnificent blossom. The whole crowd stood in stunned silence for a few seconds, before erupting in loud cheers.
"Mama and Papa's shell...it actually went off. It actually got finished."
Tears of joy welled up in her eyes as she cheered for her parents' amazing work. All in all, it was an amazing end to a beautiful night.
"Poyo?"
Kodama turned to see Kirby reaching to hug her from Kaya's arms. He then leapt from them and hugged the girl, his tiny stubby arms clearing her tears. Kodama melted into the living marshmallow boy's embrace.
Kaya found herself fighting back tears of pride in her boy, but smiled as Usop took her into a hug.
"He's practically compassion and love personified."
-OP-
The next day, Eddy was playing dice with Double-D and Ed to pass the time. The Going Merry was up ahead so it was just Ben, Penny, the Eds, Mifune, Fuu, Calvin, Hobbes, Hilda, Rosa, and Luna together on the Black Pearl.
"Mind if we join in, boys?"
Hilda, Rosa, and Luna came in as well, Double-D smiling politely.
"Not at all. It's good to have more company."
As the six played, Eddy chuckled.
"Remind me of the scams we used to do back home."
"Oh, this should be good." Luna smirked. "Rolf's mentioned a few, but to hear it from your side of the story?"
"Details! Details! Details!" Rosa and Hilda chanted,
"Details! Details! Details!" A familiar shrill voice repeated.
"Gottfried?!" The Eds and girls asked. "When did you get here?"
"About three minutes ago." The sentient snail said. "Now, start talking bubs!"
So, Eddy and Double D began to spin yards upon yards of stories: Fake fairs, tests to help their fellow kids grow…and the one scam that had apparently gone so bad, they'd taken to the sea
"Well, I'm certain you girls must have stories of your own." Double D noted. This surprised the three girls, who began to contemplate.
"Honestly? Not much to tell before I got my Devil fruit." Hilda admitted. "Dad did teach me how to fight and made sure I always had a full belly until he died."
"Same for me, honestly." Rosa admitted. "…Only mom was killed by Pirates, so I did whatever I had to until Baroque works."
Hilda moved to hug and comfort her sister.
"Mood too sad!" Ed shouted. "DEVIL FRUIT STORIES, PLEASE!"
This got some smiles from the girls, snail and buddies.
"I got my Devil fruit from THE Bryndi World…Oda rest his soul…"
All gave a moment of silence to the great pirate.
"Where did you get yours, Rosa?" Hilda asked her sister.
"Oh, pretty sure Mifune and I accidentally killed the last user." Rosa said bluntly, as if it was no big deal. "He didn't understand the concept of 'no touchie', was drunk off his butt, a little too close to a construction sight and….Let me just say that it should've been mortifying, but it was downright hilarious. And then we saw a Devil fruit in a closed fruit stand, snatched it and…I was tired-hungry."
A hush fell over the group.
"…You…Just found a Devil fruit?" Eddy asked. "…Lucky you."
"That how it works apparently." Luna said. "Draco says that when a Devil fruit user dies, the power reincarnates in the bearest available fruit."
"Was mostly just me and granny until Chopper came along." Luna explained. "…I don't know much about my folks. Probably abandoned me, cause I remember already having Blue skin as a kid
"Heard that my Devil Fruit used to belong to a member of the Marines fore he died,"
"Yeah, Very Berry." Hilda said. "And yes, that was his name. I met him once; full of himself…..he used it allowed him to split into a swarm of bouncy spheres. "
"Don't know why mine turned me into a giant blueberry." Luna noted.
"Indeed, that is curious..." Double-D noted.
"Did anybody sing a song when you first turned into a blueberry?" Ed asked.
"Ugh, don't remind me," Luna grumbled. "The kids in the village kept singing this ridiculous song."
She then smirked
"Well…at least until grandma, Chopper and I kicked their asses. And then healed them,"
Eddy whistled.
"Shame we only met now; you'd have done fine were we grew up."
Luna smirked and, to the shock of many, stroked Eddy's chin.
"Really? As a bodyguard or show?"
"Whichever you prefer." Eddy smirked.
This made Ed and Double D balk.
"WHO ARE YOU AND WHAT HAVE YOU DONE WITH EDDY?!" Ed demanded, lifting and shaking Eddy violently.
"Knock it off, ya lummox!" The shortest boy simply snapped before bonked Ed on the head and motioned Luna to follow him as they 'discussed' ideas.
"….Context?' Hilda asked.
"Eddy's NEVER LET someone choose their role!" Double D explained to her and Rosa.
"….I ship it." Rosa beamed. "Two scammers, one just a little more honest and or sneaky…"
"Plus she can be all the blue from his bruises!" Ed mused, getting a cackle with Rosa as they began to to make as may jokes as they could.
Hilda and Double-D just sighed
"Do you wish to continue playing?" Double D asked.
"Only if we move into somewhere else. I love Rosa and I know you care for Ed and Eddy, but…"
"No, no. Understood…..My room or yours?"
Hilda covered her mouth and blushed, as Gottfried smirk.
"Well, well, well! The intelluctaual's a horn dog, eh?"
The smartest Ed reflected on what he'd done and then tensed and blushed.
"Oh my!" Double D gasped. "I-I-assure you, I meant no….! Not that you're not lovely, quite the opposite…EDDWARD WHY DO YOU KEEP TALK…?!"
Hild chuckled, smirked and hoisted Edd under her arms as she marched to her room….and left Gottfried outside.
"Hey!" He suddenly realized. "Hey! HEY! YOU TWO BETTER NOT DO ANYTHING LIKE LUFFY AND NAMI! OR MIFUNE AND FUU!...OR SANJI AND NOIRE!...POSSIBLY DRACO AND VIVI AND BEN AND PENNY TOO!"
He went ignored, but was grateful nothing like that came about….Yet.
TO BE CONTINUED…
Knightmare Lord A/N:
That's it for the little mini fillers! We're setting up the Sky Island Saga next and you're gonna love what we have in store!
But first, there are a few islands the Straw Hats will be visiting beforehand based on the anime filler arcs! Coming up first...GOAT ISLAND!