Chapter 12: Are you up for a deal with the devil?
"So? You happy with the gift?" I look at them with a smirk.
"Why did you bring him back?" Dalton looks at me with a questioning gaze.
"You really ask? It's a sign of our good will handing him over powerlessly on a silver platter… Or stick in this case." I joke a bit to ease the situation.
"And how did you know about it while running across him?" Dalton is still wary.
"Jesus, haven't you heard the phrase 'Don't look into the mouth of a gifted horse'? Our captain will beat him up later and then you can drown him in the sea for all I care. Just want my seastone baton sealing his powers back after. Do we have a deal?" I offer my hand.
Dalton stares at it before firmly shaking it.
"As long as you cause no heavoc and we get rid of him, we have a deal." Dalton
"Unless you attack us again without reason, we don't plan on causing it. Guys, come down with the girls! We need to go fast!" I yell at the ship.
"Daddy! You okay?" Annie jumps down the ship and is caught by me.
Much to the surprise of villagers.
"You have a kid??" Dalton asks weirdly.
"Not my biological one, but yea. Sorry for the show of power, but I am really cranky right now since my girl is one of the sick. Didn't feel like wasting time negotiating with people who hate us because we are pirates." I explain it to him as the crew lays down a boarding board and comes over.
The ones coming down are Sanji who is reluctantly carrying Wapol, Luffy, Usopp, Braum with the two girls laying cocooned up in sheets on top of his shield and Vivi with them looking after them. Zoro, Marianne and Carue stay on the ship.
"So this is everybody?" Dalton looks over the group.
"Yes this is everybody!" Luffy smiles.
Dalton gives him a weird look.
"This is our captain Monkey D Luffy." I quickly inform him so he doesn't piss off Luffy.
Dalton just gives me a weird look before starting to lead us to the village.
...
"By the way, what is the name of the country?" Sanji asks on the way to the village.
"This country has no name." Dalton
"A country without a name? Haven't heard of such a thing…" Vivi looks weirdly.
"Because there isn't. This is the Drum kingdom, but not anymore after today. That fat idiot is the king and we will be executing him by today." I point at Wapol.
"EEEEH? We are executing a king?!" Usopp
"B-but! Wouldn't that cause a lot of chaos?!" Vivi
"AAAH! A bear! Everybody play dead!" Usopp screams.
"That's just a hiking bear. They are not dangerous at all. Don't forget to bow, it's a mountaineer tradition." Dalton explains.
We all bow to the bear in greeting as it greets back.
"And Vivi. It wouldn't cause any chaos. We will take the blame if we have to so that the people can do their own thing without fear." I explain to Vivi.
Dalton and the villagers look surprised at my proclamation.
"Huh? But he is their king, was he that bad?" Vivi
"Yes… He was a tyrant who did what he wanted. This country used to be the home of many doctors, but they fled from under his rule leaving only the witch- doctor Kureha. Recently some pirates attacked our kingdom, but instead of acting like the king, he took his whole army and followers and escaped into the sea, leaving us to fend for ourselves. Those pirates left at one point at this is what is left of our country." Dalton explained with hate in his eyes as he looked at Wapol.
"HOW CAN A KING DO SUCH A THING?! …. It's despicable for a king to abandon his people..." Vivi looks royally pissed off.
"You see Vivi, not all rulers are good and just. Some need to be replaced, but that's not the case with you. So when we are done, we are going straight to Alabasta to take care of Sandyass. That's alright with you?" Lynx
"Hahaha! We will beat that Sandyass!" Luffy
"We move like a herd. Take care of our friends and march forward to the future together hahaha!" Braum
"Yes, for friends it's worth it…" Vivi glances at Nami and Mikita.
"Hm? What do you mean it's not so in her case?" Dalton
"Well this girl here is actually the princess of Alabasta. We are helping her get back home and stop a revolution caused by a power hungry bastard." Lynx
"So you are a princess… Don't expect any favorable treatment from us." Dalton
"I wasn't expecting any. Just want fair help for my friends." Vivi
Dalton stares at us before focusing forward again.
…
"There are some strange animals walking around here…" Luffy is staring at some ibexes and hairy hippos.
"Nami! Mikita! We're in a village! With people! We made it!!" Sanji yells happily towards the top of Braum's shield.
"Thank you everyone! Except the ones on guard duty, you can all go back to work." Dalton
"You will be alright Dalton? They are pirates." The villagers eye me mostly.
"I don't think they mean us any harm. I can feel it in my gut!" Dalton.
'Well yea, if I wanted to hurt anyone, you would be in the bottom of the ravine I made back there.' I roll my eyes, since the villagers besides Dalton still haven't figured it out.
"They are not real soldiers?" Vivi
"They are all civilians. Please come to my house." Dalton
"Hey Luffy! Look, another hiking bear!" Usopp
"Again?!" Luffy
They bow to a very phat and large woman walking around with her groceries.
"Dalton, I heard there are pirates here! Are you alright?" Phat woman
"Yes everything is fine, don't worry!" Dalton reassures everybody watching.
"Dalton, I am looking forward to the elections in 2 days. Everyone says they are voting for you!" Random villager.
"Oh no! Not me! I'm not worthy!" Dalton raises his hands to deny it.
"You are the only one fit as far as I can see. You have leadership and an actual head on your shoulders. As long as you act fairly, it's the best option for everybody." I walk past Dalton carrying Mikita into the house.
Dalton stares at my back and follows after everybody enters besides Braum who is guarding Wapol, plus Usopp and Luffy that are playing in the snow.
…
"Put them on the beds over there for now. I'll get the room warmed up. Let me formally introduce myself. My name is Dalton and I am the protector of this island. Forgive us the hostile reception." Dalton
We put the two in the beds and listen.
"It's over. Rather tell us about the witch." Vivi
"Hm? Doesn't your friend there know her? He did call her Dr. Kureha." Dalton looks at me.
"I have heard of her reputation and her healing skills. Only she can cure these diseases in close proximity." I make sure that Mikita is tucked in well before walking to Nami.
"What?! She has 42°C?! (107°F) You said you know which disease it is?" Dalton looks at me.
"I don't know it exactly, just know what caused it and what type it is. But anyway, is Dr. Kureha currently up in the castle or in a neighboring village?" Lynx
���I don't know. She comes when she likes." Dalton
"Then tell me where she normally lands down. She has a cable car there somewhere." Lynx
"How do you know that? Everybody is saying the woman floats down from the castle." Dalton
"Dude! How did that fat hippo get up there otherwise? He ain't walking up there!" Lynx
"... That's a fair point. But sadly, I don't know where it is." Dalton
"... I ain't losing any more time here! Vivi, look after Mikita. I'll go up the mountain with Nami and summon Mikita afterwards." I grab Nami and load her on my back.
"Whoa! Where do you think you are going with Nami?!" Sanji gets in my way.
"What? I need to be quick and get her up the castle!" Lynx
"Why can't you just use your powers and go alone to summon both of them up?" Sanji
"Because SOMEONE couldn't take out the guys on Little garden and I had to use the only available Soul energy left in me to summon Annie! How else could have I melted the giant wax cake?" Lynx
"Then why don't you unsummon someone and use some of that energy on Nami?! Like the dwarf or Brau-?" Sanji
*BOOOOM!!!*
Sanji crashes through the door into the snowmen Luffy and Usopp made, then is caught by Braum.
"I got you friend!" Braum
"OOOF!" Usopp is buried in the snow.
"AH MY SNOWMAN!!! What the hell guys?!" Luffy yells only to see me come out with a fist in front of me, carrying Nami on my back and veins bulging on my forehead.
"DON'T YOU EVER SAY SOMETHING LIKE THAT AGAIN!!! I may not be able to re-summon them if I cancel the connection and I will not, I repeat I WILL NOT RISK ANY OF MY CURRENT SUMMONS!" I scream at Sanji.
"Daddy, are you okay? You are angry!" Annie grabs my pants and looks at me up.
"It's okay Annie. Sorry for the door, he just pissed me off grandly. I'll pay for it." I rub Annie's head, turn around and apologize to Dalton.
"I have no idea what you were talking about, but since you are that mad, it must be something important." Dalton raises his hands to show that he doesn't care that much.
"Luffy! I need you to do that Rocket launch for me and Nami up that mountain." I start to breathe deeply to calm myself as I talk to Luffy.
"Okaay?? But what happened with you and Sanji?" Luffy looks confused.
"Yea, we haven't seen you that pissed… Ever!" Usopp
"Ask him yourself later. I need to get up there now." Lynx
Sanji rubs the bruise on his cheek, turns around and lights a cigarette incensed.
"What about Mikita?" Luffy
"I will just summon her up. I don't have a slot for Nami to be part of my summons anymore, so I need to take her with me. Usopp, you use a slingshot. Help us find a good place for Luffy to sling us up there." Lynx
"Okay, leave it to me! The mighty sharpshooter Usopp!" Usopp
Turning to Annie I pat her head.
"Annie, I got a special mission for you. Help uncle Braum to guard the fat hippo. If he wakes up and tries anything, use him as target practice. But not too hot flames. The chains need to say on him, okay?"
"I'll get a turn to play with him? Ashes, ashes, he will fall down?" She makes a little sadistic grin.
"Suuuure, hahaha." I laugh as I leave Annie to stare at Wapol for any kind of movement.
"Let's go already! Next time It's my turn!" Luffy
"After you launch me up, you can come after. There is something fun you should see." Lynx
…
"Are you ready?" Usopp
"I'm ready!" Luffy has his arms and legs hooked on some raised rocks.
"I am ready!" I am sitting on Luffy with Nami on my back.
Usopp makes his last minute adjustments and lets go.
"Gomu gomu no ROCKET LAUNCH!!!" Luffy makes all his limbs contract and launches the two of us into the air.
I make my weight minimal so the only weight causing trouble is Nami.
"Incinerate- continuous!" With my arms facing down I continually burst out the flame to boost us for about 40 seconds just enough to send us high above the mountain.
Quickly increasing my weight, I start to adjust my descent. Approaching the ground at the front gate, I decrease my weight again and use the remaining mana for one last incinerate to slow the impact.
*Thump*
"Well that was a fun ride, heh. Now the entrance… Ah it's open!" Walking through the giant doors I make my way inside.
"Dr. Kurehaaaa!!! Are you here?! I have patients for youuuu!!!" I scream into the hallways of the castle.
Turning a corner I see Chopper peeping us the wrong way.
"Ah, you are Kureha's assistant, right? Can you be so kind and lead me to her? I have very sick friends that need immediate treatment." Lynx
"Eep! … How bad is it?" He hides further in but asks.
"Treatment or death in a few days. Just this one's fever is 42 degrees the last time we measured." Lynx
"WHAT?! FOLLOW ME IMMEDIATELY." Chopper starts running up the stairs with me following.
…
"Doctor Kureha! Doctor Kureha! Emergency treatment!" Chopper runs into the room in panic.
"What? Someone came up the mountain after I was down already?" Kureha looks confused.
"Hello! I hope I am not disturbing you too much, but I would like some help." I walk inside and show Nami.
"What is wrong with her? Kek kek, did she fall asleep in the cold?" Kureha
"Actually no." I go forward and put Nami on the table.
Summoning Mikita next, I put her down next to Nami. My show of power made the two become serious.
"You are not from anywhere here, kek?" Kureha
"Nope, we are pirates. We just got here from Little garden and I think these two picked up an ancient disease from bug bites. We rushed here since I know you are the only option of survival for the two." I briefly explained to Chopper and Kureha.
"Hoh? You got here something really nasty! Kek kek kek! Chopper, we need to treat them soon! Blondie is more critical than the ginger, go! You just wait here while I treat them!" Kureha
"On my way doctor!" Chopper transforms into a bigger human form and carries the girls away.
"Yes, tell me immediately if there is something wrong." I sit down on a chair and wait nervously.
…
Night descends and after about 4 hours Kureha comes into the room with some whiskey.
"Come, they have been taken care of. You can see them."
She leads me into a room with two beds, filled with the sleeping girls. Rushing past her I quickly stand besides the beds and checking for any abnormality in their breathing.
"Are you a doctor or why are you checking the basic health of the girls in my presence? Kek kek kek!" Kureha laughs.
"Sorry, I… Was just very worried about them… And scared…" After checking, I collapse down on the floor from having my worries released.
"You picked up two really nasty things there in Little garden.
The orange head got bitten by a Keschia. It's an infectious tick and releases virulent bacteria with it's bite. It causes the victims fever to never drop below 40 degrees (104F). The bacteria kills the victim in five days earning it the name, the five day disease. You came here in about two days am I right?
The blondie… She was bitten by a viper mosquito. She has blood malaria caused by a special plasmodium parasite that lives in these mosquitos. The parasite infects blood cells making them explode into more parasites until there are no blood cells to carry oxygen… The cycle of infection is fast, a person lasts about 3 days after the bite. So if you were one more day late, she would be dead." Kureha drinks from the bottle.
Gazing up at her in disbelief, I jump and hug her legs.
"THANK YOU THANK YOU!!!" Nothing else could express my relief knowing that using Robin to get the eternal pose was what kept Mikita alive.
"OY GET OFF ME!" Kuroha kicks me away only for me to start laughing from happiness.
"Kek, you got lucky boy! Now… about the payment! Luckily for you I kept Keschia shots just in case and hers hasn't developed that much. The blood malaria was in the later stages so she needs to rest a lot and replenish her erythrocytes that were destroyed during the treatment of the parasite. As you are pirates, it brings the grand total to… 500 million berries! Kek kek kek kek!" She laughs at the price.
"... I have something to trade that you might like." I start to negotiate.
"Kek, what could compare to 500 million berries?" Kureha grins at me, waiting to hear what I have to say.
"This castle and a defeated Wapol! Imprisoned in chains and seastone, so he can't use his powers. His crew was defeated and raided. He is now humiliated and unconscious waiting in the Bighorn village to be handed over. Good enough deal?" I grin at the old lady.
'Damn the old witch is old and greedy, but she is one of the most fun and knowledgeable people in One piece. I loved her in the series!' Lynx
She drops the whiskey bottle and looks at me disbelievingly.
"WHAT?! YOU DEFEATED WAPOL?!" Chopper screams from the hallway.
"Yes. He is rightfully the king so this castle is his officially. I'm trading his life and his 'ownership' of the castle to you for the treatment. We will even make sure that the islanders kill him and we will take all the blame for killing the king. How is that for a trade?" Lynx
"Kek kek kek kek! The castle was mine when he abandoned it, so why do you think you can trade it to me?" Kureha chuckles at my offer.
"Well, you occupied it illegally. As long as that bastard is alive, he is the rightful owner and he can get the navy to help him retake his 'rightful' place, he would only have to promise some benefits. Now with him out of the picture, it will be free for the taking. So I am giving the legal ownership of the castle to you. It's a good offer is it not? No stupid king coming back to 'reclaim' the island nor a navy coming to help him or even declaring you rebels and overtaking the island themselves. Hahahaha." Lynx
We stare at each other chuckling for a good while as if it was a chuckling contest.
"So do we have a deal then?" I extend my hand like a demon making a deal.
"Kek kek kek, their words will finally hold true about me being a witch. I'm making a deal with the devil! Kek kek kek kek kek!!!" She laughs and grabs my hand.
"It's a deal!" Kureha
CREATORS' THOUGHTS 
Natsujan
Natsujan Lmao, it's kinda funny when I have to re-read whole arcs over and over to make a chapter because of Lynx changing the course of the story xD
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