The crew's excitement was palpable as the Going Merry sailed towards Drum Island. Luffy's revelation about his knowledge of the future had left them all reeling but also filled with anticipation for what lay ahead.
In the galley, Robin, Sanji, Nami, Vivi, and Usopp huddled around the table, their faces serious. Zoro was napping in the corner, his snores punctuating the tense atmosphere.
"We need to be prepared," Nami said, her brow furrowed. "If Luffy almost died twice fighting Crocodile in the future he saw, we can't take any chances."
Robin nodded, her fingers laced together. "Indeed. Crocodile is not an opponent to be underestimated. His Devil Fruit ability makes him particularly dangerous in a desert environment."
Sanji took a drag from his cigarette, "At least we have an advantage now. Luffy taught us about Haki, which means we can actually hit that sand bastard."
"True," Nami agreed. "Though it's still amazing how Luffy can use all three types so well. That Conqueror's Haki is something else."
"Fufufu," Robin chuckled. "And both Cook-san and Swordsman-san have shown an aptitude for Armament and Observation Haki, even if it's just the basics."
Sanji's visible eye gleamed with pride. "Thanks to Luffy's training, I can at least coat my legs with Armament now. Not for long, but it should be enough to land some solid hits on Crocodile."
A loud snore from Zoro made them all turn. The swordsman shifted slightly, his hand unconsciously gripping his white katana.
"That moss-head may be sleeping, but he's been practicing too," Sanji admitted grudgingly.
"Yesterday I saw him cutting leaves blindfolded - training his Observation Haki."
Usopp gulped nervously. "I still can't believe how strong you guys are getting. Meanwhile, I can barely sense anything with Observation Haki..."
"Don't worry, Long Nose-kun," Robin smiled. "Everyone develops at their own pace. Besides, your sniping skills combined with Observation Haki could be quite formidable once mastered."
"Still," Vivi interjected, bringing them back to the matter at hand, "we need more information about Crocodile's operations. Robin-san, what else can you tell us?"
Robin leaned forward, her expression grave. "I've known some troubling information about Crocodile's plans. He intended to use Mr. 2's ability to create further discord between the royal army and the rebels. Moreover, he has infiltrated both sides, using his agents to fan the flames of conflict."
The crew listened intently as Robin continued, "The most alarming part is his contingency plan. If all else fails, he's prepared to detonate explosives in the clock towers of both Alubarna and Nanohana. However, I don't know who he's assigned to this task, as he hadn't made that decision when I left."
"That's not all," she added grimly. "He still has formidable agents at his disposal: Mr. 1 and his Miss Doublefinger, Mr. 4 and his Miss Merry Christmas, as well as numerous other Baroque Works operatives."
Sanji frowned, "And now that you've betrayed him, he'll likely accelerate his plans."
Robin nodded, "Precisely. Without Mr. 2's ability, his plan becomes more challenging, but he's resourceful and dangerous."
Nami stood up, determination in her eyes. "Then we need to act fast. We should find this doctor Luffy mentioned and leave for Alabasta immediately."
"Agreed," Vivi said, her voice filled with worry for her country. "Every moment counts now."
Nami turned to Robin, "Robin, how much does Luffy actually know about the future? And why didn't that idiot tell us earlier?"
Robin chuckled, "From what he told me, he just woke up one day before sailing with memories. As for why he didn't tell anyone..." She shrugged. "He said it was more fun this way."
"FUN?!" everyone shouted.
"Yep," Robin confirmed. "He just does whatever he wants with this knowledge. If he thinks something will be fun to change, he changes it. If he thinks someone needs help, he helps. That's all there is to it."
"That's... that's so Luffy," Usopp groaned, face-palming.
"No deep thinking, no careful planning," Nami sighed. "Just Luffy being Luffy."
Sanji lit another cigarette. "Well, what did we expect? Even with future knowledge, he's still our simple-minded captain."
They all nodded, knowing this was exactly how Luffy would handle having future knowledge - in the most straightforward, Luffy-like way possible.
Nami, frustrated with the lack of clear answers, decided to go straight to the source. She marched over to where Luffy was napping next to Karoo and shook him awake. She then kicked Zoro awake for good measure.
"Luffy! Wake up, you idiot! We need answers!" Nami demanded.
Luffy yawned and rubbed his eyes. "Huh? What's up, Nami?"
"How exactly did you get these memories?"
Luffy scratched his head, thinking. "Oh, that? It didn't seem that important. But okay!" He sat up, cross-legged. "About two days before I set sail, my head started hurting really bad while training. Then I saw all this stuff from the future, and there was this weird voice in my ear saying stuff like 'Join him,' 'Together,' and something about changing the world."
"GHOST!" Usopp screamed, hiding behind Sanji.
Nami's face paled. "V-voice? What kind of voice?"
Zoro, Sanji, and Robin looked at Luffy seriously, their expressions a mix of concern and curiosity.
Luffy continued, "Yeah, I refused, but that voice got really pushy! Started showing me all these sad memories..." His usual grin faltered slightly. "Stuff about Ace, Sabo, and bad things happening to you guys."
The crew tensed at seeing their captain's rare serious expression.
"But," Luffy's smile returned, stronger than ever, "I remembered all the good times with my brothers, and how much I trust in my crew! So I just got really angry and screamed at the voice to GET OUT!" He punched the air for emphasis.
"That sounds like Conqueror's Haki," Robin observed thoughtfully. "Your willpower was strong enough to reject whatever was trying to influence you."
Vivi, who had been quietly listening, moved closer to Luffy with concern in her eyes. "Luffy-san, are you okay? That must have been really difficult to experience."
"Shishishi! I'm fine!" Luffy grinned, patting his stomach. "Actually, I'm hungry! Sanji, meat!"
Suddenly, Luffy perked up, hitting his fist against his palm. "Oh yeah! I forgot something really important to tell you guys!"
The crew leaned in, curious about what their captain had remembered.
"Hmmmm..." Luffy's face started turning red, smoke literally coming from his ears as he concentrated hard.
"OH YES!" He jumped up excitedly. "Remember when I told you about Haki and how you need it in the Grand Line?"
Everyone nodded, while Sanji poked his head out of the kitchen to listen.
"Well," Luffy continued, his words tumbling out in typical Luffy fashion, "Haki is SUPER important! Like, really, really important! If you wanna stand on top of the world, or become the Pirate King - that's me, shishishi - or the greatest swordsman in the world - that's Zoro - you NEED Haki!"
"Get to the point, Luffy," Nami sighed, though she was clearly interested.
"The point is..." Luffy crossed his arms, trying to look serious but failing miserably, "Haki is the most important thing! It's like a superpower that makes you super strong! Without it, we can't reach our dreams!"
"So what you're saying," Robin interpreted with an amused smile, "is that we should all learn Haki?"
"YES!" Luffy beamed, glad someone understood. "That's exactly what I'm saying! We all need to get stronger with Haki!"
Nami suddenly stood up, her fist clenched. With a swift motion, she bonked Luffy on the head, leaving a comical bump.
"Zoro watched from the side, a knowing smirk on his face. "Captain's right. We've been taking it easy with Haki training lately."
"Speak for yourself, moss-head," Sanji retorted, demonstrating by coating his leg in black armament."
"Ow! Nami, what was that for?" Luffy whined, rubbing his head.
"You idiot!" Nami yelled, her eyes blazing. "Why didn't you tell us how important Haki was earlier? I've been slacking off on training it!"
Luffy just grinned sheepishly, "Shishishi, sorry Nami! I forgot!"
Meanwhile, Vivi, who had been listening intently, spoke up with a concerned look on her face. "Luffy-san, is it really okay to share all this information with me? I mean, I'm just a princess who'll be leaving after we save Alabasta..."
Luffy turned to Vivi, his expression suddenly serious. "Of course, it's okay, Vivi! You're our nakama!"
The crew watched as Luffy's face broke into his signature wide grin. "And who said anything about you leaving? You don't have to go back if you don't want to. You can keep sailing with us!"
Vivi's eyes widened in surprise. "But... my kingdom..."
"Your dad can handle it, right?" Luffy said confidently. "Besides, you'll be a stronger leader if you see more of the world! So stay with us, Vivi! Be a pirate AND a princess!"
The rest of the crew smiled, nodding in agreement. Vivi felt tears welling up in her eyes, touched by Luffy's words and the crew's acceptance.
"I... I'll think about it," she said softly, a small smile forming on her lips.
"Yosh!" Luffy cheered. "Now, let's eat and then start Haki training!"
"BREAKFAST IS READY!" Sanji called from the kitchen, right on cue.
"FOOD!" Luffy shouted, his previous serious demeanor instantly replaced by his usual enthusiasm for eating.
As the crew dispersed from breakfast, dark clouds began gathering on the horizon. The Going Merry's sails caught the increasingly cold wind, a reminder that they were approaching the winter island Luffy had mentioned.
"Alright," Usopp declared, trying to sound brave. "We need to prepare for Drum Island and then head straight to Alabasta!"
The crew nodded in agreement, their resolve strengthened by the gravity of the situation. They knew they were racing against time to save a kingdom and defeat one of the most dangerous men in the Grand Line.
Karoo burst into the room, quacking frantically and pointing his wing toward the door.
"What's wrong, Karoo?" Vivi asked, concerned.
The crew rushed outside, following the panicked duck. As they reached the deck, they saw a mysterious figure standing on the water's surface, his silhouette barely visible in the misty morning light.
Usopp's eyes bulged, and he started screaming, "G-g-ghost! It's a ghost walking on water!"
Karoo joined in, quacking loudly in fear. The commotion quickly attracted Zoro and Luffy, who stumbled out onto the deck.
"What's all the noise about?" Zoro grumbled.
Luffy, however, snapped to attention as soon as he saw the figure on the water. Without hesitation, he stretched his arm back and shouted, "Gum-Gum Pistol!"
His fist shot forward, aiming straight for the mysterious man. The crew watched in stunned silence, their jaws dropping as Luffy's attack seemed to pass right through the figure.
"Luffy!" Nami exclaimed, shocked. "What are you doing?"
The rest of the crew stood dumbfounded, their eyes darting between Luffy and the mysterious figure. They couldn't understand why Luffy had attacked so suddenly or how he had known to do so.
"Oi, Luffy," Zoro said, his hand on his swords. "You know something we don't?"
Luffy's face contorted with anger as he glared at the mysterious figure. "He's a bad person! They make Chopper cry!" he shouted, his fists clenched tightly.
The crew exchanged glances, understanding who Chopper was and why Luffy was so upset.
Suddenly, as if responding to Luffy's words, the sea began to tremble. The Going Merry rocked violently, nearly throwing the crew off their feet. Nami clung to the railing, her eyes wide with fear.
"What's happening?" Usopp screamed, holding onto Zoro for dear life.
The water around the ship started to churn and bubble as if something massive was rising from the depths. Luffy's eyes narrowed, a hazy memory flickering in his mind.
"Guys," he said, his voice uncharacteristically serious, "something big is coming."
As the words left his mouth, a colossal shape began to emerge from the sea. Water cascaded off its metallic surface, revealing a sleek, submarine-like vessel that dwarfed the Going Merry.
Luffy's eyes widened in recognition, a mixture of excitement and dread washing over him. "I remember this," he muttered, more to himself than to his crew. "before we met Chopper, something like this appeared..."
The crew stood in awe and terror as the massive vessel continued to rise, its true size becoming apparent. It was easily ten times the size of their ship, with strange markings and devices covering its hull.
"What is that thing?" Sanji asked, his cigarette falling from his open mouth.
Robin's eyes narrowed as she studied the vessel. "It appears to be some kind of advanced submarine," she said, her voice tense. "But I've never seen anything like it before."
The crew watched in amazement as the submarine transformed, its metallic hull shifting and reshaping until it resembled a massive ship with a hippo figurehead. The transformation was unlike anything they had ever seen before.
Suddenly, an obnoxious laugh echoed across the water. "WaaHhhhhhWhhhhhh!"
A rotund figure appeared on the deck of the hippo ship, wearing what looked like a hippo fur coat. His face was twisted in an arrogant sneer as he glared at the Straw Hat crew.
"How dare you hit one of my men!" the figure bellowed, his voice grating on their ears.
Luffy's eyes widened in recognition, memories flooding back. This was Wapol, the cruel former king of Drum Kingdom who had tried to destroy the pirate flag that meant so much to Chopper. Rage boiled up inside him.
"I'll Kick Your Ass!" Luffy roared, his fists clenched at his sides.
Without warning, Luffy unleashed a wave of Conqueror's Haki. The invisible force swept across the water, slamming into Wapol's ship. In an instant, every one of Wapol's men collapsed, their eyes rolling back as they lost consciousness.
The Straw Hat crew stood in stunned silence, awed by the display of their captain's power. They had seen glimpses of his Haki before, but nothing like this.
Wapol, now alone on his ship, trembled in fear. His eyes darted frantically between his fallen men and the enraged rubber man glaring at him from the Merry's deck.
"W-what did you do?" Wapol stammered, his earlier bravado evaporating. "What kind of monster are you?"
Luffy cracked his knuckles, his eyes shadowed by the brim of his straw hat. "I'm the man who's going to be King of the Pirates," he growled. "And I won't let you hurt my friends or destroy what they care about!"
The rest of the crew, recovering from their shock, readied themselves for battle. They might not understand everything happening, but they trusted their captain implicitly.
As tension filled the air, the two ships faced off, with Luffy prepared to defend his future friend's honor and Wapol realizing he might have picked a fight with the wrong pirate crew.
Luffy's eyes narrowed as he focused on Wapol. Without hesitation, he stretched both arms far behind him, twisting them together.
"Gum-Gum... BAZOOKA!" he shouted, launching his arms forward with incredible force.
His hands slammed into Wapol's rotund belly, sending the tyrant flying off into the horizon with a fading "Waaaaahhh!"
As Wapol disappeared from sight, the crew continued their sailing leaving the huge ship behind, Nami after a minute turned to Luffy, their faces a mix of awe and confusion.
"Luffy," Nami started, her voice hesitant, "what was that all about? It's not like you to attack someone so... decisively."
Luffy's serious expression melted away, replaced by his trademark grin. "Shishishi! That guy was a real jerk in the future I saw! He tried to destroy something really important to a friend we haven't met yet!"
"A friend we haven't met?" Usopp repeated, scratching his head.
"Yeah!" Luffy nodded enthusiastically. "The awesome doctor on the island we're going to. Wapol used to be the king there, but he was terrible! He tried to destroy the only thing our Chopper had left of someone important to him!"
The crew listened intently as Luffy recounted the story.
"So that's why I had to kick his ass now!" Luffy concluded, punching the air. "No one messes with my friends, even if we haven't met them yet!"
As understanding dawned on their faces, snowflakes began to fall gently around them. The crew looked up in wonder as the mist parted, revealing a winter island looming before them.
"Wow! It's Drum Island!" Luffy exclaimed, his eyes sparkling with excitement. "Let's go find our new friend and the super doctor!"
"Wait, Luffy!" Nami called out, but it was too late. Their captain had already stretched his arm to grab the figurehead, ready to launch himself onto the island.
"ADVENTURE!" Luffy shouted joyfully as he catapulted himself towards the snowy shores, leaving his crew sighing in exasperation and fondness.
"That's our captain," Zoro smirked, preparing to drop anchor.
"Always rushing ahead," Sanji added, lighting a cigarette.
As the Going Merry approached Drum Island, the crew couldn't help but feel a mix of anticipation and curiosity about the new friend Luffy had mentioned and the adventures that awaited them on this winter wonderland.
CRASH! Luffy landed face-first in the snowy forest, creating a Luffy-shaped hole in the deep snow. "Shishishi! That was fun!" he laughed, pulling himself out and shaking off the snow like a dog.
Meanwhile, at the canal entrance to Drum Island, the Going Merry slowly made its way through the icy waters. Before they could properly dock, dozens of armed islanders emerged from behind snow banks and trees, their rifles trained on the ship.
"Don't move! State your business!" one of the villagers demanded.
"Great, just great," Nami muttered through gritted teeth. "LUFFY, YOU IDIOT! You could have at least warned us about the armed welcome committee!"
Usopp's knees were knocking together as he hid behind the mast. "W-we're going to die because our captain couldn't wait five minutes to tell us what to expect!"
"That rubber-brained moron," Sanji growled, cigarette clenched between his teeth. "All he mentioned was some 'awesome doctor' and then launched himself who knows where."
Zoro gripped his swords, ready for anything. "Typical. He probably got lost in that forest already."
Robin maintained her calm demeanor, though her eyes showed slight amusement. "It seems our captain's enthusiasm has once again put us in an interesting situation."
"HANDS WHERE WE CAN SEE THEM!" another villager shouted.
As the crew raised their hands, they collectively thought the same thing: "Luffy, when we find you, you're going to get it!"
In the forest, Luffy sneezed. "Huh, someone must be talking about me! Now, where's that mountain with the castle? I want to see Chopper!" He started marching through the snow, heading in completely the wrong direction, humming happily and completely oblivious to his crew's predicament.
While Dalton led the Straw Hats into the village, explaining the situation and asking detailed questions about their encounter with Wapol, Luffy was having his own adventure in the snowy forest.
"Brrr! It's cold!" Luffy finally noticed, hugging himself and shivering. "Maybe I should've grabbed a jacket... Oh well! Shishishi!"
Despite the biting cold, he continued trudging through the deep snow, his sandals completely inappropriate for the weather. As he walked, he suddenly heard rustling in the nearby trees.
"Huh?" Luffy turned just in time to see several large, rabbit-like creatures emerging from the forest. The Lapahns bared their sharp teeth, their muscular forms towering over him.
"Wow! Giant bunnies!" Luffy exclaimed excitedly, completely missing their aggressive stance. "But I can't play now, I gotta find Chopper!"
The Lapahns lunged at him, but Luffy easily dodged, bouncing through the snow. "Sorry, bunnies! Maybe later!"
As he continued his journey, he encountered a herd of massive reindeer. Unlike the friendly Chopper, he remembered, these reindeer snorted threateningly and pawed at the ground.
"Nope, none of these look like Chopper," Luffy mused, casually walking past the intimidating creatures. "He's way cuter!"
Finally reaching a clearing, Luffy looked up at the three mountains before him. "Now, which one had the castle?" he wondered, putting his hand above his eyes to shield them from the snow. "Hmm... that one looks good!"
He pointed to the middle-sized mountain on the right. "Yeah! That must be it! Time to climb!"
Before starting his ascent, Luffy closed his eyes and concentrated for a moment. His arms suddenly turned a shiny black color as he coated them in Armament Haki.
"This should help with the cold," Luffy grinned, flexing his now-hardened arms. "Alright, let's go!"
What Luffy didn't realize was that he had chosen the wrong mountain - the castle was actually atop the tallest one, Drum Rock. But being Luffy, he started his ascent anyway, his Haki-coated rubber arms stretching to grab onto rocky outcrops.
"Don't worry, Chopper!" he called out to no one in particular, his voice echoing across the snowy landscape. "I'm coming to meet you again for the first time! Shishishi!"
Meanwhile, back in the village, the Straw Hat crew gathered around Dalton in one of the houses.
"So, about this doctor..." Nami started, remembering Luffy's excitement about someone named Chopper.
Dalton's expression grew serious. "Well, we only have one doctor on this island. The people here call her Dr. Kureha, though many refer to her as 'the witch'."
"A witch?" Usopp gulped nervously.
"Yes," Dalton continued, "She's a skilled doctor, but she's quite... eccentric. She's 140 years old and lives in the castle at the top of Drum Rock, the tallest mountain you can see from here."
Sanji lit a cigarette, looking thoughtful. "That's the opposite direction from where Luffy went, isn't it?"
"Indeed," Dalton confirmed. "Dr. Kureha comes down to the villages when she chooses, treating patients as she sees fit. She then takes whatever she wants as payment - money, food, sake, anything that catches her fancy."
"But what about this reindeer Doctor Luffy mentioned?" Nami asked, trying to make sense of their captain's earlier excitement.
Dalton's eyes widened slightly. "Reindeer doctor? Well... there have been strange rumors about Dr. Kureha having an unusual assistant, but I've never seen them myself. Some villagers claim they've spotted a small creature working with her, but most dismiss it as mountain folklore."
"That must be who Luffy was talking about!" Usopp exclaimed, pounding his fist into his palm.
Sanji interjected, "We should probably go after our idiot captain before he freezes to death. He went up the wrong mountain after all."
Just then, they heard a commotion outside - villagers were shouting about something approaching from the sea.