Chapter 26: The Kingless Kingdom

Good news, everyone! I'm feeling good and have an announcement to make! I've recently started thinking about Omakes that I could add onto the ends of some chapters, keep the creative juices flowing, you know? So, if any of y'all have an Omake you want to see, drop a review or a PM and I'll see if I can come up with something. Sound good?

The deal this time is 11 Reviews. Is that manageable? I hope so. This a long chapter.

Chapter 26:

The Kingless Kingdom

The man, who had introduced himself as Dalton, led Amy, Vivi, Luffy carrying Gin, Sanji carrying Carue, and Coby carrying Grace into town. Usopp, Zoro, and Nami had decided to stay on the ship. As they walked, Sanji noticed that Amy kept sending angry looks at Coby every time he shifted his hands to keep Grace supported on his back.

"I'm sorry to inform you of this," Dalton sighed, "but this entire island has only one doctor, and not many people give her that title."

"What do they call her then?" Vivi asked.

"A witch," Dalton answered. "You see, all of the official doctors were forced to leave the island several months ago, leaving only her. She took up residence in the abandoned castle on top of the mountain ahead of us, but no normal person could get there. She comes down when she feels like it, finds some patients, and, when they're healed, takes whatever she wants as payment."

"She sounds like a pirate to me," Luffy stated, shifting an unconscious Gin so he could walk easier. "Where did all the other doctors go?"

"The king banished them so the citizens would be forced to come to him for medical treatment."

"That's tyranny!" Coby cried.

"That was not the worst thing he did. You see, Wapol, the previous king, was the first to flee when the kingdom was besieged by a group of five pirates led by a man who called himself Blackbeard. His leaving left the country destroyed, with no king and no doctors."

"That's horrible!" Vivi exclaimed. "No true king would put himself over his people!"

"Did you say Waffle?" Luffy asked.

"No, Wapol," Coby corrected.

"Yeah, Waffle. That's what I said."

"Nevermind," Coby sighed. They'd arrived at a town that Dalton said was called Big Horn. He invited them to stay at his home and the group of pirates agreed. Dalton lived in a little cottage near the edge of town, the only decoration on the walls being two crossed swords and a shield over his fireplace. The muscular man started a fire to heat the space. Pretty soon, flames roared as they dispersed the cold. Grace was tucked into the only bed while Carue sat by the fire and Gin in a chair (he flat out refused to even acknowledge that he was sick; his pride wouldn't allow it).

"Thank you for letting us stay here," Vivi thanked with a bow.

"It's no problem," Dalton replied. "Although, really. A crew your size and not one person has any medical experience? That's just suicide."

"We thought we'd just pick up a doctor when we found one," Luffy explained, "but the old guy with the giant whale didn't want to come with us."

While confused about who the "old guy with the giant whale" was, Dalton did not question the explanation.

"When will that witch doctor get here?" Luffy asked.

"I don't know," Dalton answered truthfully. "As I said, she comes down when she feels like it."

"That won't do!" Amy yelled. "By that time, my little sister could be dead!"

"Mr. Dalton," Coby said respectively. "You said the doctor lives on top of the mountain, correct?" Dalton nodded. "Then what if we went to her?"

"You can't do that," the native responded. "That mountain is far too steep. And the lapans would rip you apart before you could even get there."

"That's a risk we'll have to take," Luffy said seriously. "Vivi, Amy, please stay here. Coby, Sanji, and I can carry them up the mountain."

"But Luffy-!" Vivi began.

"No buts," Luffy cut her off. "We're going and that's final. Let's go!"

"Yes, Captain Luffy." Coby moved to help Grace out of the bed, but Amy smacked him away. He stared her down. "What was that for?"

The woman ignored him. "Luffy, please. I can carry Grace. Leave the kid here."

"I'm faster that you are," Coby argued. "You can't use your powers and carry Grace at the same time. I can."

"Alright," Luffy intervened. "I'm taking Coby." Amy moved to protest, but before she could, he continued. "He can carry both Grace and Gin in his Dino Mode, so I can fight if I have to and Sanji doesn't use his arms for fighting anyway, so he can carry Carue."

"I... Fine," the blonde yielded with an angry glance at the rosette.

"You have Devil Fruit powers?" Dalton asked.

"Yeah," Luffy answered. "Three of us here. Me, Coby, and Amy."

"Uh, Captain?" Coby questioned. "Shouldn't we get going?"

"Yep. Sorry. Got sidetracked. Now let's go." The two sick humans were helped out of the hut while the cook lifted the ill duck onto his shoulder and exited. Dalton followed them out to a sight he never thought he'd see.

There was a dinosaur, in clothes, standing in front of his home. Vivi was helping Luffy secure Coby's swords to his back, so, with the boy nowhere to be seen, Dalton concluded that the triceratops was the pink-haired boy using whatever Devil Fruit power he had. Coby knelt, allowing the others to rest Gin on the back of his neck and Grace between Gin and Coby's crown so she could be supported on both sides.

"Now listen here, you little punk," Amy growled, glaring at the large, three-horned Devil Fruit user. "If my little sister dies, I will blame you and kill you. Slowly and very painfully. Understood?"

"Grace is my friend," Coby shot back. "No friend of mine is dying on my watch."

"Beware the lapans," Dalton warned before they could leave. "They are carnivorous rabbits that live on the mountain. They are easily provoked and will attack non-stop."

"Trust me," Sanji waved off. "We aren't scared of a couple of bunnies." He, Luffy, and Coby took off at a run (or in Coby's case, a gallop) toward the tallest drum-shaped mountain. Dalton sighed.

"Don't worry," Vivi soothed. "They know what they're doing. If it's too help a friend, Luffy will do anything and everything to make them smile."

It was blizzarding around the Drum Rockies, the falling snow making it hard to see. Coby shivered, his now somewhat-cold-blooded nature making him a little less immune to the cold. Nevertheless, he trudged on. Sanji and Luffy had struck up a conversation to try to make the trip easier.

"Luffy," Sanji said. "Did you know that women from winter islands have snow-white skin as soft as silk?"

"Why is that?" Luffy asked.

"Well, people rub their skin when they're cold, right? Since they're always cold, the women's skin has become silky smooth from rubbing it so much."

"That doesn't explain why it's snow-white."

"That's from the falling snow. Since the snow is always landing on them, it bleaches their skin the same color."

"Your stupid, Sanji," Luffy laughed with a smile.

"I am not, you rubber-brained moron!" He went to kick his captain, but a medium-sized white rabbit with razor-sharp teeth got in the way. Sanji's kick blasted the animal away. "Ah. Oops."

"That must have been one of the lapans Dalton warned us about," Coby analyzed. They continued forward until there was a break in the trees. In front of them stood a herd... troop?... gaggle?... whatever of lapans. Each was the size of a gorilla, but with the form of a white rabbit with the exception of their red eyes and sharp teeth.

"That doesn't look good," Luffy commented.

"Run!" Sanji yelled. The three took off, trying to flee from the hoard of lapans that gave chase. They were as agile as bunnies and more accustomed to the snow than the pirates, so the monstrous rabbits started catching up. Coby ran ahead as Luffy and Sanji beat them away.

But it wasn't working. As more and more caught up, the beasts began pressing in on the trio and their sick companions. The three were corralled into another clearing. Most of the lapans were already there. The animals began jumping, causing large tremors as they hit the ground.

"What are they doing?" Coby asked worridly.

"They're gonna cause an avalanche!" Sanji shouted as snow shifted further up the mountain. They ran again, but this time, the lapans did not follow. Their purpose was done and the snow was falling.

"Quick!" Sanji called, pointing to a bolder jutting out of the surrounding landscape. "We have to get to higher ground! Get on the rock!"

"No!" Coby argued. "Get in front of it; the snow would just go over it! We need to get in front!"

"If this doesn't work, I'm gonna kill you!"

"Why is everyone threatening me?"

"Not now!" Luffy yelled. The group of six reached the boulder and crouched on the opposite side of the approaching snow, Coby changing back to his human form to save space. The snow reached them, but Coby's argument had been sound. The avalanche parted around the large rock and flowed over, yet the five humans and one duck stayed safe in their little bubble. The snow continued to rage down for several long minutes during which time the group had huddled for warmth and Coby had shed his jacket to give it to a shivering Grace. Once the snow had stopped, the avalanche had lost enough momentum that the snow going over the boulder landed on the group, covering them in a one-inch layer of fine powder.

The three able-bodied humans pulled themselves and their charges out of the powder before continuing their journey up the mountainside. As they moved upward, they came across what appeared to be a baby lapan trying to dig a bigger lapan, probably a parent, out of the snow. Evidently, causing the avalanche had backfired. Luffy, being the happy, helpful bundle of energy he was, hopped over and pulled the large snow rabbit out of its confinement. With that done, they continued on their way.

"Zoro?" Usopp questioned, looking down at the shirtless swordsman from the crow's nest. "What the Hell are you doing?"

"Going swimming."

"Uh, why? You do know it's, like, negative ten degrees, right?"

"A little ice water never killed anyone," Zoro answered before diving into the freezing river. Usopp shook his head and continued his duty of keeping watch. They'd find him again. Probably.

Several minutes later, a dot on the horizon started growing. Through his goggles, Usopp was able to make out the outline of a familiar ship.

"Oi!" he shouted, the call pulling the navigator out of her cabin. "Nami! Ship in the distance! I think it's that Waffle guy! Should we move the Merry?"

"Yeah!" she called back. "We don't want him to start eating the ship again! After that, we'll head into town and try to contact the others!" She paused. "Remind me to get some baby den-dens in Alabasta; God knows we need to set up a way to contact Luffy!"

"Aye!" The two set about moving the ship inward. It wouldn't do for the tyrant to find and eat them.

Vivi and Amy had continued their conversation with Dalton about the island and its history, but they were in a sled on their way to one of the neighboring villages after hearing word that the witchdoctor was there rather than in the castle she called home.

"So this island used to be Drum Kingdom?" Vivi asked. "And it's king was a tyrant that banished all but 20 doctors?"

"That's correct," Dalton sighed. "He was a disgrace. Nothing like his father who had been a just and kind man."

"Sounds like you knew him pretty well," Amy observed.

"I used to be captain of the king's guard, but that is a position I gave up a long time ago. A position I gave up during Wapol's reign."

"Why does that name sound familiar?" Vivi wondered before it came to her. "Wait! That was the guy who attacked our ship yesterday!"

"You met Wapol and survived?" Dalton asked the same time Amy said, "What attack?"

"You were caring for Grace at the time," Vivi explained, "but didn't you notice the railing on the ship? How it had been torn away? The leader of the group that boarded us, who I think was Wapol, got hungry and literally ate it."

"You expect me to believe that, Ms. Wednesday?"

"That would be the powers of the Chomp-Chomp Devil Fruit," Dalton said. "That was Wapol that attacked you. Do you know what he wanted?"

"He asked if we had an eternal pose to Drum Kingdom," Vivi answered.

"No," Dalton's face paled. "If he asked for a pose to Drum Kingdom... This is not good. He's trying to return. If he comes back now, while the country is so unstable... Here!" Dalton thrusted the reigns into Vivi's hands. "The village is straight ahead." The former guard jumped out of the sled and hit the ground running as a bison. He took off toward the shore.

Little did he know that the king was almost home...

End of Chapter 26

Omake

High Seas Hijinks:

Dinosauric Disasters

(Takes place after the events of Little Garden)

"Goddamnit! Not again!" Coby swore violently, once again trying to pull one of his new horns out of a tree. Much of the crew sat to the side, laughing at him while waiting for Sanji to finish cooking the banquet that Luffy had requested. Even Vivi, who had insisted that the crew not laugh at the boy for the first few times he'd gotten stuck, was hard pressed not to burst into a fit of giggles herself.

"This isn't funny!" Coby whined, his hands pressed against the tree he was stuck in. The rosette was trying to change only his eyes using his new Devil Fruit powers, but we wasn't having as much luck as he had been hoping for. For the third time in a row, Coby had gotten one of his upper horns lodged into the wood. Growling, the boy picked his feet up and shoved them against the tree, only for his powers to fail and the horns to shrink back into his head. Coby tumbled to the ground, causing another round of laughter.

"Sorry, Shrimp," Zoro chuckled. "You know we'd help, but none of us are Zoan types."

"Yeah, yeah," Coby waved off with an irritated grunt. Screwing his eyes shut, the boy, once more, tried to concentrate his powers on his eyes alone. His face tingled for a second before more laughter reached his ears. "How bad is it?" Coby asked without opening his eyes.

"It's not that bad," Vivi tried to lie. Coby opened his eyes and took the mirror that Nami offered with a smirk. His eyes had changed... along with the rest of his face. With a groan, Coby's head dropped into his palms and he sat against the tree. Slowly, his face shifted beck to its normal look. Their entertainment over for the time being, the rest of the group split off to do their own things.

"I feel like I'll never get this right," Coby whined to himself.

"Cheer up, Coby," Gin insisted, sitting beside him. "You've only been trying for half an hour."

"But I'm not getting anywhere!"

"Sure you are," the former Krieg pirate rebuffed. "You've stopped doing full transformations; only parts of you are changing. That's a start."

"But I'm not fast enough," Coby muttered. "I won't be able to help sail the Merry if I can't see."

"Learning is a process, Little Man," Gin responded. "Do you think I just picked up my tonfa and started fighting? I hurt myself so much that I'd come back home covered in bruises and my old man would ask if I'd been playing in the coal mines (1)."

Coby turned his gaze to the blob of color that Gin's voice was coming from. "Really?"

"Hell yeah," Gin nodded. At least, Coby thought he nodded. "I was 16 then. Took me almost a month before I stopped hitting myself. Compared to Younger Me, you're like a genius."

"I..." Coby paused. "Thanks, Gin."

"No problem, Little Man," Gin smirked. "You've got more company coming this way, so I'll go keep everyone else occupied." Gin stood with a grunt and Coby heard him call out "Hey, Amy! Got any good sadist stories?" He walked away, only for his spot to be filled again afterwards.

"Hey," Grace greeted, falling into Gin's vacated seat. "You doing ok?"

"Yeah," Coby sighed. "This is just harder than I thought it would be, you know?"

"Not really," the painter admitted. "I do remember Amy complaining after she got her powers about a year ago, though. She and Mr. 5, who was Mr. 14 at the time, had attacked a group of pirates that stopped at one of the early islands called Wesley Isle (1). She told me that the pirates had been celebrating after raiding a Marine base that morning and that they'd found two Devil Fruits in the vaults and were planning on eating them that night. Amy snuck- Ow!"

"You ok?" Coby twisted around, but his terrible eyesight didn't allow him to see what had happened.

"Yeah, I'm fine," Grace waved off. "Just a bug bite. Now where was I?"

"Amy raiding pirates."

"Right. Anyway, Amy snuck in and stole the Devil Fruits, she and Mr. 5 eating them instead." The girl cracked a smile. "Her powers fluctuated for a week and we had to replace her bed twice because her mass would increase in the middle of the night."

Coby couldn't help it; he snorted out a laugh that left tears in his eyes, Grace's laughter joining his a second afterward and the two were left gasping for air. With a sigh, Coby turned to the multicolored blob that was Grace and thanked her. She stood and offered him a hand which he took before standing.

"I needed that," Coby said, stepping away from the tree. "I guess I should get back to work."

"Here," Grace offered, pulling out her palette. Carefully, she smeared paint around Coby's eye in about the shape of his old lenses. "Now you have an area to focus on."

"I don't think you needed to do that," Coby deadpanned. "I think I know where my eyes are."

"I know." Grace walked away, the blob Coby saw her as growing smaller before his vision was filled with a bouncing blob that Coby suspected was his captain.

"You look funny, Coby!" Luffy laughed. "Any more progress?"

"Let me check," the rosette responded, catching some of Luffy's infectious energy. A few seconds later, the boy's face twisted, his forehead elongating, his eyes changing, and his third horn growing from his nose. Luffy swam into view.

"You're mouth didn't change that time!" the rubber-man pointed out with a smile. "You're almost there!"

"My beautiful mademoiselles!" Sanji's voice carried over to the Devil Fruit users. "You're Dinosaur a la Carne is has been cooked with the flames of my love! Hey, Shitheads! Come get your meat!"

"Food!" Luffy yelled, becoming a blur headed in the direction of the table.

"Well," Coby mused, not noticing his forehead receding back into place. "I guess I can continue after dinner. Hey, Captain Luffy! Save some for the rest of us!" He bolted after the rubber-man, completely forgetting the paint on his face.

Fin

1: This is not Canon. Don't quote me.

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-SwordOfTheGods