Chapter 3

Troubled Waters

"A wandering island?" Nami looked down at her wrist, "The log pose isn't even responding!"

"That's right," Brook nodded, "That's because this island came from far away in the West Blue."

"How in the Maker's name are you supposed to move an island this far out at sea?" Maxwell asked. West Blue was on the other side of the Red Line. How was this island supposed to have gotten over Reverse Mountain!?

"I have no idea. But today was a lucky day!" Brook exclaimed. "Not only was I able to meet new people, but my heart's desire was fulfilled! Yohoho!" Brook then leapt up on top of cabin, where they had their gardening area.

Maxwell then stumbled, realizing the waves were rocking their ships. The Thousand Sunny, and Brook's ghost ship, were slowly being turned around. What had happened to the anchors? "How are we getting turned around!?"

Then the crew heard another whoosh of the skeleton jumping. This time they barely caught a glimpse of him as they came around the corner. Brook had jumped all the way from the garden to Sunny's mane in one leap. "Wow! His body is so light!" Maxwell thought he heard Sanji say.

Brook then turned around and lifted his top hat, "Yohohoho! That's right! As light as these dead bones! Please try to break through the gate and escape! Do not even think about lowering your anchor at this island!"

"Did you have them brought up!?" Maxwell shouted at the skeleton.

"No. I did not. But I'm so glad that I met you all today! Thank you for the meal, it was most delicious! If it is fated, we'll meet again on some other sea! I'll never forget you!" Brook then jumped off Sunny's figurehead.

"Hey! Wait Brook!" "You're a Devil Fruit user!" "What are you thinking jumping into the sea!"

The crew rushed towards the bow to quickly see if they could see Brook before he drowned. They'd have to rescue him in that case. And bone doesn't float in water.

Yet, when they looked down, all they saw was white wash.

"Yohohoho!" "HE CAN RUN ON TOP OF THE SEA!?" "Wow! Incredible!"

Maxwell could not believe his eyes. A skeleton was walking on water! The waves had calmed down, but Brook was running on top of the water! …Well, Maxwell couldn't exactly describe it as running. Brooks legs were just going so fast it was kicking up water in it's wake. Sort of like the water wheel paddles they had in Channel 0. And they could only watch as Brook disappeared into a fog bank, right towards Thriller Bark.

"A-Anyways, let's do as he told us, Luffy!" Nami was the first to speak up.

"R-Right! We don't know what will happen, but this island is definitely dangerous!" Usopp agreed with their navigator.

"Hm?" Luffy tuned around to face them, "Did you say something?" Luffy had this giant grin on his face.

"Oh great…!" Maxwell knew than grin. Luffy smelled adventure.

"YOU WANT TO GO!?" Usopp, Chopper, and Nami all exclaimed.

"HECK YEAH!" Luffy cheered, "It's a ghost island! That means we can go catch ghosts!"

"Waitwaitwait—! What do you mean ghost island!?" Usopp exclaimed. He didn't want to see any more ghost!

"Hey, hey! Where's that ghost from before!? Is it still on the ship!?" Chopper looked around.

"Are you talking about Brook or the spirit that appeared in our kitchen?" Maxwell asked. The mage already had his staff drawn, using it like a walking stick, and was busy observing the island.

"Probably both," responded Zoro. "They probably both went to that island… They might actually live there."

"Either way, we're trapped," said Robin.

"What do you mean?" Luffy asked their archeologist.

"You remember that giant vibration from before?" Luffy nods looking at Robin, "Then we were probably eaten by that mouth."

"Eaten?"

Robin pointed towards one of the giant gears in the mist, "It's hard to see due to the fog, but it seems as if the walls attached to that gate are surrounding the island. Meaning, our ship is now confined by the walls that surround this island…"

"I see…" Usopp nodded, "That's why the skeleton told us to get out of here asap!"

"That means this island is artificially wandering around at sea…!? What for…?" Nami asked.

"If the 'island' keeps on moving, we probably shouldn't anchor here anymore, since we're in the middle of the ocean. OW~!" Franky did a pose, pointing his left arm to an imaginary corner, and hand on his hip.

"H-Hey! Why would you even want to anchor here!? We've got to escape! We have to get out now, or we'll be cursed!" Usopp said urgently.

"But how did our anchors get weighed in the first place?" Maxwell asked, "Franky, didn't you add some secret emergency mechanism or something?" They had all been sitting in the middle of the ocean until Thriller Bark appeared. Even if they had drifted in the current, some sort of knocking sound should have been heard.

"Hm… I didn't add anything special…" Franky scratched his chin. Then their shipwright grinned a teasing grin, "Maybe it was that ghost who did it?"

"DON'T EVEN JOKE ABOUT THAT!" Usopp yelled at the cyborg.

Maxwell hummed, scratching his own beard in thought. It made sense in a way. That ghost had been their only intruder so far. And Brook had been with them the whole time. Still, that begged the question; Why was the spirit outside the Fade?

"Listen, guys. I…" Nami then started to hug herself and shiver, "I seem to have contracted the Ican'tgoontheisland disease."

"ME TOO! I HAVE IT TOO!" Chopper wailed, while also muttering "Ghosts are scary," over and over.

"Alright! Take the ship to that island!" Luffy had gone and came back with a bug net and a cage with a shoulder strap. He was hold the net like a walking stick.

"Did you contract the Alwaysreadyforadventure disease or something!?" Usopp snapped at their captain.

The sniper then began to plead with Luffy, "Just think it over, Luffy! Look at it! That creepy building on top of the hill looks like a real haunted mansion! You're underestimating the evil spirits that haunt this place!"

"What are you talking about?" Luffy brushed at his friends concerns, "I'm taking all the necessary precautions possible."

Maxwel raised an eyebrow at his captain, "Oh this is going to be good..." What crazy idea had Luffy come up with this time?

Luffy lifted up the cage at his own hip, "I'll catch that ghost from earlier and feed it."

"YOU'RE NOT TAKING THIS SERIOUSLY!" Usopp yelled at Luffy. Maxwell could only shake his head. You can't catch a spirit with cage and bug net.

"Besides, we got to get our precious nakama back," said Luffy. He then called up to the kitchen, "Sanji! Get me a pirate bento!" The chef had already went up to kitchen after seeing Luffy's smiling face.

"Our precious nakama—?" Usopp then realized who Luffy was talking about, "I OBJECT! If that skeleton joins our crew, I'll be too afraid to sleep at night!"

"You do realize you share a ship with three demons that can see your dreams, right?" Mordred's eyes flickered as he asked the sniper.

"YOU CAN SEE MY DREAMS!?" Usopp jumped away flinching from Maxwell. The mage just rolled his eyes. Sunny's domain in the Fade revolved around the hearts and minds of their crew. So it wasn't a stretch for Mordred, Mineive, and Salem could explore the others' dreamscapes. Not that they would. They all knew to keep a respectful distance.

"The bento is ready," Robin called out. She exited the kitchen with Sanji, holding up the wrapped up lunchbox.

"Luffy! Franky! Make sure to protect Robin while you're out there," Sanji told his crewmates.

Luffy just cheered and Franky stretched, ignoring the chef. "Exploring an unknown island sure is exciting."

Nami looked taken aback, "Franky, Robin, you're going too!?"

"So am I," Maxwell told their navigator. "Since there are spirits on that island, I sort of feel obligated to find out why they are here. Both as a mage of the Circle… and to sate my own curiosity." Maxwell eyes had subconsciously been drawn to their archeologist when he said that last part.

Robin had grinned, "…I just love the thrill."

"Great!" Franky cheered, "Now then, we'll be using a small boat to land. But, there's still something special that I haven't shown you guys yet." The crew all looked at him. "The Soldier Dock System: Channel #2!"

"Channel 2?" Maxwell asked the cyborg, "…Right! You said you had multiple channels installed on the ship."

"Correct-o-mundo!" Franky grinned. He had gone up to the helm and activated the mechanism, "This system has five channels. There are the two 0's. 1, 2, 3, and 4! Each dock has a different function!"

"You showed us the paddle wheels of '0,' then numbers '1' and '3.' But you told us '2' and '4' were still empty." Usopp pointed out.

Maxwell almost chuckled, remembering when Franky had showed them Channel #1. Franky had dedicated Channel 1 to Nami's Waver. The single person boat that was near impossible ride. It could glide across the seas like a rocket, and so far only Nami had been able to ride it. They had found that waver while trying to find a way up to Skypiea.

Franky had taken it apart and rebuilt the vehicle, adding in a few improvements. The waver now had a white rocking horse motif on the steering. Franky claimed to have made it more controlable, and the haul was made wider and more stable. Maxwell didn't mind it, he actually liked the equestrian design. Nami had nearly clobbered Franky for it, shouting profanities while Maxwell held her back.

It wasn't the fact that Franky had improved it that upset Nami. It was that Franky did it without her permission that set the woman off... At least she only left him with a bloody nose and not a cracked cranium.

Franky just laughed, "Uhahaha! They're so special that I kept them secret. You don't want to land in it? Just go down and try riding it first!"

"Alright! Bring it on! Come on Chop!" Usopp rushed inside to find the dock. Chopper followed in after him, dragging Nami along. If it was anything like the submarine Franky had built in Channel #3, she at least should have the chance to enjoy it.

As soon as the hanger switched to #2, Franky announced, "Soldier Dock Sysyem: Channel 2!" The whole crew decided to watch to see what would come out. Luffy was particularly excited as the garage door opened.

"Set sail! Shopping Boat—! MINI MERRY II~!"

Maxwell watched, stunned, as a small paddle boat emerged from the Sunny's haul. The bow of the small boat looked exactly like the Going Merry's, with her horned sheep figurehead at the prow. The stern however was a puffing smokestack engine with the obvious paddle wheels. In the boat weere four padded seats, with Nami at the steering wheel.

"It's Merry! Merry reincarnated as a boat!" Usopp was standing in the back, his fists in the air as he cried for joy.

"I never thought you would be hiding such a nice little present! Thank you Franky!" Nami waved back at the ship.

"WUOOOOH! MERRY~!" Chopper was crying while holding the Mini Merry's neck. "It's small! But we can ride again~!"

Zoro had smiled, "That's a nice gesture, Franky."

Sanji had leaned against the rails, watching them go, "If that's our shopping boat, I don't mind shopping any longer."

"Let me ride it! Let me ride it! Hurry!"

Franky just grinned at Luffy's excitement, "Just wait a moment. We'll ride in it soon enough. Just let them have some fun for now."

However, Franky then noticed that Maxwell had stepped away from the edge. His back turned from the railing. "…Oi, Max. You alright?"

"Hm?" Maxwell realized Franky was looking at him and coughed into a fist, "Yeah, yeah... I'll be alright. Sorry... It's just…" Maxwell looked back at where the Mini Merry was sailing, "I wasn't expecting you to make such a… boat. It looks great."

Franky frowned, seeing the saddened look on the mage's face. The cyborg knew Maxwell had a history with that ship. It was his job to steer the Going Merry when they were out at sea. He knew that ship better than anyone.

It was more than just a ship to him. More than just a miracle. It was a living, breathing, being that Maxwell had interacted with, sailed with, and even talked with. Her klabauterman had even saved his life, all their lives, before she had to be put to rest. To see another version of her now…

"…Look man, I change the figurehead if it's offending—"

"NO! No…" Maxwell interrupted the cyborg. "It's alright," he gave Franky a weak smile, "Merry would have wanted to continue carrying us, no matter what form she took…"

Maxwell looked around the Thousand Sunny, "…It's not Merry. It'll never be Merry. But this ship… This ship is a whole dedication to Merry's memory. What she did. What she wanted to do…" Maxwell nodded to himself, "What you made was a precious thing, Franky. Thank you."

"…Aw, now you're just buttering me up!" Franky put on his shades and turned back to the crew, "I've shown you all '1' and '3' before, so now, all the systems are ready! Channel #0! The Assistance Paddle-Wheel! Channel #1! The one person waver: White Hobby Horse I! Channel #2! The four people shopping boat: Mini Merry II! Channel #3! The scouting submarine: Shark Submerge III!"

Franky crossed his arms, "Channel #4 is still empty, but depending on the needs during our journey, I might put some weapons in it. For now, that's it for the Soldier Dock System! Each channel can be considered as a supporting soldier for our mother ship, the Thousand Sunny."

Luffy laughed, patting Franky on the back, "I love the way you think, Franky!"

"Yeah, I'm the best there is this week. Nmmmm… SUPER!" Franky then did his signature SUPER pose, with the tops of his forearms pressed together, and angling his whole body to the side.

Maxwell smiled despite himself. Franky deserved every credit for making this ship. He was an incredible mechanic and engineer, and Maxwell didn't understand half of what he did. The sub and the waver were incredible vehicles, but the Mini Merry was a masterpiece. They now had a physical reminder of their old friend... One Maxwell was suddenly eager to ride. They were very lucky to have Franky onboard.

"Hm…" Maxwell then heard Sanji hum, "I wonder what's taking Nami and the others so long?" The chef was looking out at the waters between them and Thriller Bark.

Then they heard a "thunk."

Then a scream.

"KYAAAAAAAAAAAA!"

"Na—NAMI!" Sanji called out in worry, "What's going on!?" The rest of the crew joined Sanji at the port side.

Zoro stood at the port quarter, "What happened? I can't see a thing because of this fog."

"It came from the island," Robin pointed out.

"Yes, but weren't they all terrified of going there?" Maxwell asked.

"Hey! You guys!" Luffy tried calling out to the island, "Hurry up and let me ride Merry!"

Sanji cuffed him over the head, "What are you saying! You should be worried Nami!"

"And you?" Franky looked at the chef, "Shouldn't you worry about the other two as well?"

"That scream just now…" Robin cupped her cheek, "We're they cursed or killed by ghosts…?"

Zoro just looked at her weirdly, "Hey, don't jinx it."

All of a sudden, one of Sunny's lion paw anchors dropped into the water.

"Eh!?" "The anchor just dropped!"

"What!?" Maxwell was immediately on alert, holding his staff in a combat stance. Meanwhile, the crew fell into speculation.

"No one touched it though!" "…There's no way the cog wheel could be loose, it's brand new…!" "Anyways, let's weigh anchor again, or the ship will lose its balance!"

Then, all of a sudden, a hatch open in the main deck's lawn.

"Huh? The hatch opened by itself!?" Luffy was confused, "Did anyone touch it?"

"No… No one was even near it," said Sanji. Now everyone was alert. Zoro had a hand on his katanas. Maxwell was eyeing the deck to watch for any threats. Robin was watching the manhole suspiciously. That hatch lead directly to the lower levels within the ship. Including the anchor mechanism.

"Hrm?" Luffy then felt something on his cheeks. "Nmm?" His cheeks were being stretched out, showing his teeth, like his lips were some rubber band.

Sanji was not impressed. "Hey, Luffy! Why are you joking around at a time like this!?"

Luffy put his hands out in front of him, trying to placate the chef. His words were garbled with his stretched out mouth, "Noh, iss noh hat! Ahm nah huhing anyhin!"

Maxwell looked at Luffy oddly, while Sanji continued berating Luffy. Then the mage called out to his familiars, mentally, "Mordred. Salem. You two sense anything?"

"…Nothing on this side." Mordred replied, his words echoing in Maxwell's head. He didn't speak through his medium, just like Maxwell wanted. "Whatever's going on, it's no spirit."

Maxwell kept watching was Luffy's lips smacked back into himself. Then his captain fell over like he had been kicked in the back.

"Someone is manipulating the Fade though," Salem replied. His book just as silent. "Wisps of mana are coalescing around somewhere. But they keep disappearing…"

There was a growl…

"Invisibility!" Mineive shouted in the mage's mind. She then warned him, "Maxwell! Zoro!"

Maxwell's eyes dilated as he saw the sword being drawn—without a hand! "Shit!"

The mage didn't even wait. He swing his staff and fired an arcane bolt at where he guessed the body was. Just as Zoro's katana was about to be thrown, levitating in the area, the sword suddenly dropped.

"Everyone! We've been boarded!" Maxwell shouted at the crew. "Someone invisible is on the ship!"

"Invisible!?" Sanji was suddenly alarmed. His cigarette had burnt to ashes from the sudden breath intake.

"What!? Are you serious?" Franky asked the mage.

"Don't question it!" Zoro barked at the cyborg. He had already picked up his fallen katana and wielded it, ready to fight.

Mage and swordsman were already back to back. Sanji faces held a look of fury, and his leg was already smoking. Even Luffy was on a look out, hand on his hat, having jumped up into a crouch.

Franky held his forearm, ready to deploy the his wrist shooters, "What do you think? A Devil Fruit user or something…?"

"It better not be…!" Sanji seethed.

"I did feel something touching me," Luffy replied.

"Then there was that bestial growl…" Robin pointed out.

Maxwell summoned a few glyphs on the lawn. Fire and Ice Mines, to limit their intruders movements. Then Maxwell used a Lightning Cage spell in another corner of the deck.

The crew stood in a circle trying to look for any clue of the invisible man.

…

…

…

"Grr!" Sanji then growled, jumping onto the ship's railing, "Shit! This place is weird, but I'm more worried about Nami and the others. I'll leave the ship to you guys! I'm going to swim to the island and save them!"

"Sanji—Wait!" Maxwell tried to call out, but the chef had already jumped.

But then the chef seemed to lose his momentum mid-jump, and the Sanji fell face flat against the Sunny's haul. "*Hogeh!*"

"EH!? HOW LAME!" Zoro, Luffy, and Franky complained about the chef's performance. Then Sanji was suddenly floating upside-down, like he was being held by his legs.

"Sanji's floating!" Luffy called out in amazement.

"It's the invisible—Oof!" Maxwell had tried to call out an attack. However, Max was interrupted when Sanji suddenly flew into him. The two rolled on the grass from their collision. They only stopped when they crashed into the railing on the other side.

"Max! Sanji!"

"…I'm alright!" Maxwell wheezed as he tried to sit up. Sanji had hit him right in the diaphragm, "…Ow…!"

"…What was that just now, dammit…!" Sanji cursed, nursing his forehead. There was a little blood trickling down from his hairline.

Zoro just looked at the chef, "…You said 'Hogeh.'"

"SHUT UP!" Sanji yelled at the three-sword swordsman. "How would you like to try it!"

"…They don't want us to leave the ship…!?" Franky grimaced.

Zoro sheathed his sword for an Iai draw, "I don't get it… I they wanted to kill us they could attack us, or something."

"Ah!" Robin had let out a distressed sound. She looked like she was being held still. Her arms tucked against her back. Robin had grown a few extra arms, like she was trying to get out of that hold. Not to mention the sudden licking sound, and saliva that appeared travelling up he collarbone.

That sight enraged Maxwell.

"THAT'S IT!" Maxwell immediately waved a hand and cast Dispel around Robin.

The spell had dispersed Robin's extra limbs, but it had also revealed the appearance of their invisible interloper. A man with long blonde hair, a bulbous white white, and a trench coat. He also had a lion's muzzle stitched to his face, and looked confused when he realized he was visible.

"YOU BASTARD!" Sanji lunged at the man with a flaming kick.

"Oh shit—!" The man had disappeared again, throwing away Robin as he made his escape. Sanji's kick had missed, but one off the Fire Mine's went off. There was a definite yelp, but even after that there was no other indication of their intruder…

At least Robin was free.

Maxwell drew to the archeologist's side and helped her up, "You alright Robin?"

She wiped away some leftover drool that was still on her cheek, "I'm fine."

"Could that have been some beast ghost?" asked Luffy. Maxwell only glared at Luffy for the oblivious question. That was no ghost!

Suddenly the their ship shifted again. Maxwell and Robin were in the middle of standing up when they stumbled. The mage had fallen forward with Robin pinned beneath him. He noticed how blue Robin's eyes were…

"HEY MAX! YOU BASTARD—ARE YOU TRYING TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF ROBIN!?" Sanji yelled at the mage.

Maxwell's face went red, realizing what kind of position he was in. It was made worse by Robin's challenging smile. However, the mage was able to sputter out, "W-W-What the hell are you talking about, Sanji!?" and got off of his crewmate.

Franky meanwhile had looked out at the ocean, "Look! Waves! Artificial waves from inside these walls! The ship's starting to drift!" The waves were tall, but they weren't cresting so they could crash into each other. The current was dragging them along in this mote, counter-clockwise.

"Hey, Hogeh,' raise the anchor so we can control the ship!" Zoro had already running towards the helm.

"WHO ARE YOU CALLING 'HOGEH,' PUNK!?" Sanji yelled at the swordsman. However, the chef suddenly realized something, "Hold on! We can't just leave Nami and the others!"

"Usopp! Chopper! Say something!" Luffy then turned to Franky, "Hey, Franky, can't we use some secret weapon or something!?"

"Hm… Well, I guess we could use the surprise swimming pool I planned to install. We are in a whirlpool."

"HOW IS THAT SUPPOSED TO HELP!?" The rest of the men yelled at Franky. It sounded fun—but their ship was now stuck in the current around this mysterious haunted island.