Sanji came back with all the salt they had on the ship, the sight of which made the zombies start crying and begging for mercy.
They were almost pitiable, if it hadn't been likely that they were the parasitic puppets of some mad man who steals shadows from people.
The group "exorcised" the zombies in short order and started making their way further into the island.
"Excuse me, can you wait a moment?" A voice came from a figure coming out of some nearby bushes.
"Another zombie!" Luffy shouted, stretching his arm and stuffing a handful of salt into the figure's mouth.
"That one isn't a zombie, Luffy. He's just a beat up old guy." Cherry said, as the old man spit out the salt in his mouth.
"*cough* I was *cough* watching you guys, and I can see you're all really, really strong. I'd like to ask you to defeat someone for me." He said, scraping the remnants of the salt off his tongue.
"Oh, who's that then?" Franky asked.
"He's the man who stole my shadow, as well as the shadows of many other people hiding here on the island. If you beat him, our shadows should return to us, and we'll all be eternally grateful!" He prostrated himself, which was clearly difficult due to his advanced age and injuries.
"His name is... Gecko Moria!" The old man said grimly.
"Oh, I know who that is. Gecko Moria is one of the current Shichibukai, his original bounty was 320 million, if I recall correctly." Robin said unworriedly. No one else in their group seemed particularly fazed by this information either.
"Hey, I know you guys are strong, but don't underestimate him! Even if I think you can win, it won't be that easy, you know!" The old man said, not wanting his potential saviors to lose because of overconfidence, and as a result give Moria even more powerful subordinates.
"Don't worry about us, old man. We're all powerhouses in our own right. Especially my DARLING CHERRY AND ROBIN!!!!" Sanji assured him.
"We'll get your shadow back no matter what, old man! SUPEEER!" Franky exclaimed.
"Shishishishi! We were already going to kick Moria's ass, so we'll save you and the others while we're at it!" Luffy promised.
"Ah, than you! I'll place my hopes in you then!" The old man said with another bow.
...
Back in Doctor Hogback's mansion.
The group of five made their way back down to the dining room, intending to leave through the door they came in if they could.
The dinging room was empty, with no Doctor Hogback or Cindry in sight. Serene picked up a hand written note on the table and read it aloud.
"I apologize that I must attend to some time sensitive business in my lab. I do hope we can speak more soon. In the meantime, Hildon will show you to some guest rooms to rest in. He has been reprimanded for his previous behavior in the graveyard and should not give you any more trouble." Serene read.
"Hildon isn't here yet, so we should take this chance to leave." Nami suggested.
"Why leave so soon? I hope it isn't on my account, I am sorry for mistreating you. I am a troubled soul, Doctor Hogback is very patient and generous to employ one such as myself." Hildon said, dangling from the chandelier.
"Our friends should be getting worried about us by now, so we really should head back..." Usopp said, backing towards the door.
"Oh? Well, before you go, I believe Doctor Chopper wanted an autograph did you not? You can leave right afterwards." Hildon replied.
"I-I don't want to disturb the doctor, and we should really get going..." Chopper said.
"Just forget about it Hildon. They're already too suspicious." A voice came from one of the paintings on the wall.
"The painting talked?!" Chopper squealed.
"I WON'T LET YOU LEAVE!" The painting of a woman lurched outwards at Chopper to grab him.
The whole room came alive; the painting, the mounted heads, the bear skin rug. They fought against the zombies to get to the entrance. Usopp used fire to frighten them enough to make a path. However, the door was locked and was too thick for them to break through.
They stumbled around the rom trying to flee when they backed into the large fireplace, causing the wall in the back to swivel, revealing a secret passage.
Eventually they managed to get away from the pursuing zombies and found a spot with no paintings on the walls to rest. A large door was one one side of the hallway from which they heard a voice. They decided to peak inside.
"Fosfosfos! I'm nearly finished with this marionette! It turned out quite well, don't you think Cindry?" Hogback said.
"I think it's your worst work yet..." Cindry replied viciously in her usual monotone.
"You don't have to be so mean about it...." Hogback said depressed.
"Here's your dinner, chicken noodle soup." Cindry said, dumping it out of a bag directly onto the table.
"It looks like he's working on making a zombie." Usopp whispered.
"From the discoloration of the skin, I would say they aren't alive..." Chopper observed.
"Baaah." Merry bleated softly.
"Huh?" Chopper said, turning around.
"What's wrong, what did Merry say?" Nami asked turning around as well. But she soon got the answer to her question.
"Yohoho! You're not supposed to be here!" A zombie with a sword on his hip said. He drew his sword and slashed out towards them, but the strike cut apart the door behind them instead.
"Hm? Why are you here?!" Hogback exclaimed. "I suppose it doesn't matter what you've found out. Soon the Night Attack will begin."
"Why are you going this?! How have you fallen so far?!" Serene couldn't contain herself any longer.
"Why? Because I crave the best things in life, Serene. With Moria I can have wealth and a beautiful trophy wife who will never age. When Moria becomes king of the pirates, I'll have great influence as well. Why don't you join up with Moria too, Serene? He's always in need of competent subordinates and my recommendation can make that happen." Hogback offered.
"What about... them." Serene asked, looking at the others.
"I'm afraid they'll have their shadows added to our ranks, but they won't die. So what will it be?" Hogback replied.
Serene remained silent.
"You can't be seriously considering that, Serene? He's crazy!" Nami said.
"I accept..." Serene said. "On the condition that they aren't harmed."
"Sure, sure. Aside from taking their shadows they won't be harmed. Fosfosfos, I knew you'd make the right choice, as expected of my daughter!" Hogback said.
Nami studied Serene. She hoped this was just the means to buy time for the others to come find them.
"Yohoho! So we'll have another beautiful lady joining our crew? Do you mind if I see your panties?" The samurai zombie said.
"Get lost, freak." Serene only liked skeletons, not all dead people. She had standards.
...
The other group arrived outside Hogback's mansion.
"Hello, it anyone home?" Luffy called out. He grabbed the handle and pulled open the door, despite it being locked. "Ah, it's open!"
"If you break it open of course it would be, idiot." Zoro said.
What appeared to be a dining room was on the other side, but it had been made quite the mess of.
"Gecko Moria! Are you here?!" Luffy called out.
"Oh? You know the name of our master and yet you still came here? You're quite bold! ATTACK!" A pig's head on the wall spoke.
The room came to life and everything around them attacked. Half a minute later the various zombies had been beaten down and most had been exorcised with salt except the pig who seemed to be in charge.
"Why don't you tell us where our friends are, little piggy? Unless you'd like to become a salt cured ham?" Cherry asked, holding his mouth open and holding a ball of salt with the other hand.
"I'll talk, I'll talk! Those five are resting in the guest rooms prepared for them further inside, up those stairs! They're safe and sound, I swear!" He squealed.
Cherry stuffed the salt ball into his mouth whilst he screamed. "I guess I should have told you I already know where they are. I was just testing you."