The Marine's ship was docked in the middle of the ocean. The log pose, which had been given to them by Jinshi, had led them directly to an Island that was recognizable by the crew. It was the Island of Cream, renowned for its cream-based products.
" The cream Kingdom? It brought us to the cream Kingdom? It must be wrong. We haven't heard anything from the cream kingdom's Marine base." One of the many Marines spoke.
" If we haven't heard anything, then it means they aren't around to say anything. I don't understand it myself. But it looks like the entire island is compromised." Markus muttered.
" If you're going to go in alone, you'll need to get rid of the coat, and wear something else to hide your identity." Dalmatian told Markus.
" Yeah, I know."
" Hold on, wear this." Dalmatian spoke, he then threw a small brown robe to Markus and told him to put it on.
" Right." Markus muttered. He took his coat off and threw the robe over it to help conceal his identity. " Alright, I'm going. Keep an eye out for the signal."
" Okay, be safe now. And don't get ahead of yourself. If you need to pull back, then pull back. We can always wait for Kuzan and his ship to get here." Dalmatian explained to the man.
" Don't worry. I'll be fine. Just make sure that the when things kick off, that you get the people out of the city as fast as possible. That should be our first priority, before engaging anything else." Markus told the man.
" Right."
Markus nodded back at Dalmatian and jumped off the side of the ship.
' This is it, got do my best. Pops, Bogard, Brago, Gion.... Watch over me.' Markus sped towards the island and then just before he hit the docks, he jumped.
*SWIP!
" Alright, everyone. Until we see the signal, we wait. We'll circle the island so we don't appear suspicious. Got it?!"
" Yes Sir!"
...........
Markus moved through the streets of the great city of cream, which was, despite its name, was made of and brick. Things seemed relatively normal to Markus. The city was bustling with business, the people seemed to be enjoying their everyday lives as if nothing was wrong at all.
" What is going on?" Markus muttered to himself. " Everything is so normal. How is this possible?" It didn't make sense to Markus, not one bit. It was all too fishy.
Even as he walked past the crowds of people, mingling amongst them as if he were one of them, he just couldn't understand it.
" No crime, no panic, nothing.... Not even pirates." Markus muttered.
" Well now, I wouldn't say that."
Markus was visibly surprised, he turned around and a man was standing next to him. This man was wearing a blue and yellow kimono and had blue hair with yellow streaks running through it like lightning. He was smiling at Markus.
' I didn't even sense him. So, how did he get so close?' Markus wondered.
" A robe isn't enough to hide your haki, young man. You should work on concentrating its flow better, it's radiating out like a raging ocean. If I could sense you, then the powers in place definitely sensed you the moment you set foot on this island." The man said to Markus.
Markus haki started to flair a little, as if he was preparing for a fight.
" Ah-ah-ah. Now wouldn't exactly be the best place for that, don't you think? Look around, if we fought, all these people would get caught up in it without a doubt. Besides, I didn't come after you to start a fight."
" Oh yeah? Then what do you want?" Markus asked.
" Well, consider me a friend with a common interest."
" I recognize your face, now." Markus grumbled. It had taken him a moment, if not for the shock he was in he might have noticed sooner. But now, he knew who this man was. " The Flying Thunder God, Goenma of the lightning blade.
" And you are most certainly the hero of the blood beach incident, right? The son of the Hero Garp, Monkey D. Markus." Goenma spoke. Markus felt his stomach starting to churn as the man identified him so easily. " Rest assured, on this day, you and I... Have a common goal."
" And what's that?" Markus asked.
" That. Would be. The complete. And utter. Annihilation. Of the Terra Firma Pirates!" Goenma exclaimed.
Markus' eyes widened. Did he hear him right? He wants to destroy the Pirate alliance? Why? Aren't they working together?
So many questions were running through Markus' mind at that one point in time, that he couldn't properly process what Goenma was saying to him.
" Why should I believe you?" Markus asked.
" Because, everyone has a reason for doing something. I have mine. And you have yours." Goenma stated.
" Really? And what is it you want, huh? Why would you go against your alliance? I hope you don't expect me to believe you, because it doesn't make sense." Markus muttered to the man.
" I guess, I have time to indulge you. But only on one condition." Goenma told the man.
" What's that?"
" You keep it to yourself. and tell no one else. Got it?"
Hearing that, Markus couldn't help but feel slightly curious as to what Goenma was speaking of. But curiosity wasn't what mattered right now. There were too many people around to go into a direct fight with a pirate like Goenma. Not without the support of his comrades.
" Okay." Markus spoke.
" Okay then. Follow me." Goenma said to Markus.
Markus nodded and started following Goenma.
" See, Markus, it's simple. I never really wanted to be a pirate."
" Then why are you?" Markus asked the man.
" I was forced into it. It was a long time ago. See I wasn't always a pirate, but a swordsman, who owned a dojo in the east blue." Goenma spoke. " Things were simple, I was raised in a family that came from a distant land. My grandfather went to the east roughly 49 years ago with my grandmother and my father when he was a kid. He settled down in a small village, where he built himself a place where could pass on his swordsmanship to kids and others who wanted to learn the sacred art. It was truly a place of beauty, honor, and respect."
" It sounds like a nice place." Markus stated.
" It was." Goenma replied. " But as the saying goes, all good things must eventually come to an end, so did my home. Eventually time passed, and the dojo finally fell into my hands. It was peaceful, truly. I particularly enjoyed teaching the young kids of the art. They were all always so bright. But a new garrison of Marines moved into the village. Said it was part of a recent military mix-up. Meant to allow the Marines to expand their horizons and get younger Marines experience. At first things were just fine. But eventually, the Marines started asking for... Handouts. Help is always given to those who come to our dojo. Race, religion, skin, nothing matters, so long as you need help we will try to give it, that was our motto. And at first it was fine. We provided the Marines with food and supplies to keep them fed during the hard times."
" But they started asking for more and more, and one day, while I was hunting, I discovered that the Marines had forcefully taken supplies from some of my students, so I confronted them. I asked them why they were stealing from the people who they were supposed to protect, and they responded by telling me, it's because they were more important. That without them around, the pirates would come and take everything. I guess, I understood it, even if I didn't like it." Goenma explained. " So, I looked the other way, figuring that things would get better once the dry season was over. But it didn't. As time passed on, the Marine captain grew more and more power hungry, and eventually he started forcing people to pay taxes and tributes to him. He was practically sucking the life out of my home. So, I sent a letter to Marineford addressing the situation. But nothing ever came of it."
By now, Markus and Goenma were exiting the boundaries of the city and entering into a forest. And though it seemed suspicious to him, Markus continued listening to Goenma's story.
" I kept telling the villagers to hold on and to keep believing in the marines. Telling them that things would get better. But again I was wrong. One day, while I was out fishing, one of my students came running to me and told me that Marines had busted into the dojo and were assaulting some of the students. Particularly... The females." Goenma muttered. There was a very clear switch in the tone of Goenma's voice, his very appearance started shifting. " Well, I'm sure you can imagine what I mean. And after that, I went into a rage. When I awoke, I was surrounded by bodies and my sword was drenched in blood. I was so mad, that I don't even remember killing them," Goenma stated.
" Why are you telling me this?" Markus wondered. His story, the way he spoke, the look on his face. None of it smelt of lies. At least not a far as Markus could understand. But if so, why share it with him of all people?
" Well, I figured if I don't make it off this island by the end of the day, then it'd be nice to have told someone else of my plight. It has been many a lonely year on these seas, and now finally, I see a potential end in sight for myself. And I want someone to know, that everything I've done, and everything I will do, has and always will be to follow my own justice."
" You want to follow your own, justice?" Markus asked.
" Yes. I do. And my justice is telling me, that I can't allow Terris to fulfil his goals."
" Okay, but why the story, and why bring me all the way out here to the forest?" Markus asked the man.
" Because we need help."
" We?"
" Yes, Marine. We."
Markus was immediately alerted by the booming voice and immediately raised his guard.
" Take ease, Marine. I am no threat to you on this day." Stepping out of the forest and into the light was a man that Markus recognized as the Red Lion Himejima, the same one from the beach.
" Red Lion?! This was a trap." Markus muttered.
" No. Think clearly. If it were a trap, you'd be dead." Himejima stated.
" That is true. The two of us together could have very easily killed you, if we wanted." Goenma remarked.
Markus looked at the man and scoffed." I don't know about easy. What's going on here, Goenma?"
" I called him here." Himejima spoke. " I went to him and asked for his help."
" For what?" Markus asked.
" To help bring down Terris. He has slighted my captain and dishonored my crew. He must die." Himejima explained.
" And my goals aligned with his. So, naturally I agreed." Goenma spoke up. " But we did not think we could do it alone. Thankfully, now, we don't have to. With you here, our plan can move into effect immediately."
" Oh? And what plan is that?" Markus asked.
" To free Black lion Jinshi from the royal dungeon, and destroy The Terra Firma Pirates!" Himejima exclaimed.
"To Free... The Black lion?!"
*DOOM!
To Be Continued.
.................
Ahhh that's another one in the books. It looks like things have taken a sudden and surprising turn. Goenma's tragedy is truly horrifying. And Himejima turning to the enemy for help, just what kind of relationship does he have with the black Lion? You'll just have to come back tomorrow to find out.
Until then let me know what you guys thought about the chapter by leaving a comment below. Trust me, it really does help not only get others interested, but it is nice to be able to interact with you guys.