The fog pressed in thicker the deeper they walked into Thriller Bark.
It clung to their ankles like grasping fingers, damp and cold, refusing to part even as they moved.
Every footstep echoed far too loudly, as if the ground itself wanted to announce their presence. Somewhere in the distance, metal scraped against stone—slow, deliberate.
Gravestones leaned at crooked angles, names worn away by time or clawed into illegibility. Cracked mausoleums loomed like watching eyes, their doors half-open, daring anyone to look inside.
Twisted trees creaked and groaned, branches bending unnaturally, shadows stretching and shrinking as though alive.
And somewhere far off—
Something laughed.
Usopp clutched the back of Nami's sleeve with both hands, his nose running.
"I vote we stay together," he said in a strained whisper.
"As one group."
"Forever."
Chopper nodded so hard his hat nearly fell off. "Yes! Together! No separating! Separating is how people DIE in horror stories!"
"First someone trips… then they scream… then we never see them again!"
Luffy tilted his head, completely unfazed.
"Huh?"
"But then we won't find anything."
Nami hugged herself, teeth clenched.
"I agree with them."
"This island is already bad enough."
"Splitting up is basically asking to get cursed, possessed, or turned into furniture."
Franky folded his arms, eyes scanning the fog.
"…Still, we do need information."
"Standing around scared isn't gonna get us off this island."
A low wind passed through, carrying with it the faint sound of chains dragging.
Chopper squeaked and hid behind Robin.
Robin closed her eyes briefly.
She wasn't listening to the sounds.
She was listening to the silence between them.
"…Separating would be more efficient," she said calmly.
Everyone froze.
Usopp slowly turned.
"Efficient… like… statistically?"
Robin opened her eyes.
"We're looking for two things."
"Gecko Moria…"
"And Brook's shadow."
She clasped her hands behind her back.
"Brook himself is also somewhere on this island."
"If we find him first, he may guide us."
"And he has already faced this island's horrors."
Usopp whimpered. "Why does logic always sound like a death sentence when you say it?"
Robin smiled faintly. "Because it usually is."
Chopper made a small, high-pitched noise.
"I don't like smart plans…"
Zoro cracked his neck, hand resting near his swords.
"She's right."
"Sitting around scared won't change anything."
"And if something jumps us, it won't matter whether we're together or not."
Luffy's eyes sparkled.
"Yeah!"
"Let's split up!"
Nami spun on him. "WHY ARE YOU ALWAYS SO EXCITED ABOUT THIS PART?!"
Luffy shrugged. "Adventure!"
Franky rubbed his chin, then nodded. "Alright… two teams."
"That way, if one group runs into trouble, the other can move fast."
Robin considered everyone quietly, her gaze moving from face to face.
"We'll divide into two teams," she said evenly. "That will cover more ground."
Zoro smirked. "Works for me."
Sanji straightened his jacket, lighting a cigarette. "Well, I can't let our captain wander around without proper supervision."
"Hey!" Usopp protested.
"I'M strong too!"
"I've beaten ghosts before!"
He hesitated. "…Kind of!"
Robin watched the group argue quietly—fear, bravado, panic all mixing together.
Then she spoke. "…We could let fate decide."
Everyone paused.
Usopp stiffened. "F-fate?"
Robin calmly produced a bundle of short wooden sticks from inside her dress.
"We draw lots."
Nami stared. "…Why do you just have those?"
Robin smiled faintly. "I find them useful."
Chopper whimpered. "That's not comforting…"
Zoro shrugged. "Fine."
Sanji scoffed. "Whatever it takes to move forward."
Luffy grinned. "Ooh! A game!"
They each drew.
Usopp peeked first—long stick.
"…YES!"
He immediately hugged Franky.
"I LIVE!"
Franky checked his. "Long. SUPER."
Chopper trembled as he looked—
Long.
"…Oh! Oh thank goodness!"
Nami slowly opened her eyes and checked.
Long.
She exhaled sharply.
"…Okay."
That left—
Luffy.
Zoro.
Sanji.
Robin.
Luffy pulled his stick.
Short.
"Huh."
Zoro glanced at his.
Short.
"Tch."
Sanji checked.
Short.
"…Figures."
Robin looked last.
Short.
She met the others' eyes, calm as ever.
"…It seems fate has chosen."
Usopp stared.
"So…"
"You're all going together?"
Robin nodded.
"Team One—Luffy, Zoro, Sanji, and me."
Chopper gasped. "You're the scary team!"
Luffy slapped his back hard enough to make him stumble. "You'll be fine!"
"If something happens, I'll punch it!"
"That's what I'm scared of!"
Zoro smirked. "Works for me."
Sanji flicked his cigarette. "I'll make sure no harm comes to Robin-chan."
Robin turned her gaze to the others. "Team Two—Franky, Nami, and Usopp."
Usopp blinked.
"…Wait."
"That sounds safer."
Usopp then wiped a tear. "…I can't believe I survived a horror lottery."
Franky crossed his arms. "Roger that."
Nami pointed a finger. "If anything weird happens, we regroup immediately."
Franky crossed his arms. "Roger that."
Sanji bowed deeply, eyes sparkling. "Be careful, Nami-swaaaan! I'll come running at the slightest scream!"
Zoro muttered as he walked past him. "Or the slightest excuse."
Sanji snapped back. "Say that again, moss-head!"
The fog thickened between them.
The two groups stepped away from each other—
And Thriller Bark smiled.
———————
Moments Later.
Nami walked briskly through the crooked path, Clima-Tact clenched tight in her grip.
"I hate this place," she muttered.
"I hate the fog."
"I hate the laughing."
"And I especially hate how quiet it suddenly is."
The mist curled around their ankles like something alive.
Usopp jumped and spun around, slingshot raised. "I swear—I swear something just moved!"
Franky squinted at him. "…That was your coat."
"DON'T SAY IT LIKE THAT!" Usopp shrieked.
Chopper trotted nervously between them, hooves tapping too loudly.
"I-I feel like something's watching us…"
"Like… like it's waiting."
Before anyone could answer—
A loud, wet snort cut through the fog.
"OINK~!"
Something huge crashed out from behind a crypt.
A massive pink pig, towering over the graves.
It stood on two legs.
It wore a crooked wedding veil.
And in its hooves—
A gigantic axe.
Silence.
"…WHAT," Nami said flatly.
The pig squealed with delight, spinning in place.
"MEN! MEN!"
"WHERE ARE THE MEN?!"
It swung the axe down.
CRASH.
A tombstone shattered.
Usopp screamed. "WHY IS IT ALWAYS MARRIAGE IN HORROR PLACES?!"
Chopper hid behind Franky's leg.
"I-IT'S A BRIDE PIG!"
"WHY IS IT A BRIDE?!"
Nami backed away slowly, eyes sharp.
"Franky—Usopp—this thing is insane."
The pig sniffed the air.
"SMELLS LIKE MEN!"
"I'LL MARRY YOU ALL—"
"AND THEN KILL YOU!"
It charged, earth shaking with every step.
Franky cracked his knuckles. "Alright, lady—nobody marries my crew without permission!"
Usopp waved his arms wildly. "I OBJECT! I OBJECT TO EVERYTHING ABOUT THIS!"
Chopper squeaked. "I-I'm too young to be wed!"
Then—
Something brushed past Nami.
Not the pig.
Something else.
A sudden pressure at her waist.
Cold.
Firm.
"…Huh?" Nami whispered.
A breath brushed her ear.
"Found you…"
WHAM.
The world went black.
Nami vanished.
"—NAMI?!" Usopp screamed.
Franky spun around. "NAMI?!"
Chopper ran forward, panic flooding his voice. "Nami?! Where'd you go?!"
The pig skidded to a halt, blinking stupidly.
"…Huh?"
"Where'd the woman go?"
Usopp's face drained of color. "S-she was right there…"
"She didn't run…"
Franky clenched his fists, eyes scanning the fog. "…This wasn't the pig."
The mist shifted.
Footsteps.
Invisible.
A low, pleased laugh echoed—close.
Too close.
"Abahahahaha…"
Chopper froze.
"T-that laugh…"
"It's not a zombie…"
From nowhere, a voice whispered smugly.
"What luck…"
"Such a beautiful woman…"
Usopp turned in circles, slingshot shaking.
"SHOW YOURSELF!"
Nothing.
Then—
Silence.
Franky slammed his fist into the ground.
"DAMMIT!"
Chopper's eyes filled with tears.
"Nami…"
"Please be okay…"
Far away, through the fog—
A figure became briefly visible by the distortion of the air.
A man with a lion's jaw.
Grinning.
Absalom carried an unconscious Nami over his shoulder.
"Don't worry, my bride…"
"We'll be married soon…"
The fog swallowed them whole.
——————-
The Den Den Mushi clicked to life, its little face pale and sweating.
Static crackled.
Then—
Usopp's voice burst through, shrill and shaking.
"SANJI! ZORO! LUFFY!"
"NAMI'S BEEN KIDNAPPED!"
Sanji stopped mid-step.
The flame at the tip of his cigarette flickered.
"…What?" he said quietly.
Franky's voice followed, heavy with fury.
"Someone invisible."
"Grabbed her and vanished into the fog."
For a split second—
Nothing.
Then—
CRACK.
Sanji's cigarette snapped cleanly between his fingers.
"…Invisible," he repeated.
His voice dropped, losing all warmth.
"…An invisible man?"
Usopp gulped audibly through the Den Den Mushi.
"Y-Yeah!"
"We didn't see anything—she was just gone!"
"Probably a Devil Fruit user!"
Sanji's hands trembled. "…Of all Devil Fruits…"
Zoro glanced sideways, already knowing where this was going.
"Oh no."
Sanji's jaw tightened. "…That's the one I wanted most."
Robin blinked once. "…I see."
Luffy tilted his head.
"Huh?"
"Why?"
Usopp blurted, "…Huh?!"
Sanji suddenly exploded.
"INVISIBILITY!!!"
"THE ULTIMATE POWER OF STEALTH!"
"THE PINNACLE OF CHIVALRY!"
"THE ABILITY TO PROTECT WOMEN FROM THE SHADOWS—"
Zoro cut in flatly. "You mean sneaking into baths."
The air crackled.
Sanji spun on him. "WHAT DID YOU SAY, YOU MOSS-HEADED MENACE?!"
Zoro smirked.
"Oh?"
"Hit a nerve, curly-brow?"
Sanji leaned forward, veins popping.
"LISTEN HERE—"
"IF I HAD THAT POWER—"
Robin interjected calmly. "You would violate every privacy law in existence."
Sanji froze. "…That's slander Robin-chan."
Luffy scratched his head. "So… Nami's gone?"
"Yes!" everyone shouted at once.
Chopper's voice suddenly cut through the Den Den Mushi, trembling.
"S-Sanji…"
"She was unconscious when they took her…"
"I couldn't do anything…"
Sanji went still.
His posture changed.
The rage didn't disappear—
It focused.
He lit a fresh cigarette, the flame steady.
"…Don't blame yourself, Chopper."
His voice was calm.
Too calm.
"…Whoever did this…"
He exhaled smoke slowly.
"…is dead."
Usopp whimpered.
"H-He laughed…"
"Like he was enjoying it…"
Sanji's eyes darkened.
"…Then I'll wipe that smile off his face."
Zoro rested a hand on his swords.
"You're not going alone."
Sanji didn't look at him.
"I didn't say I was."
Luffy's grin vanished.
"We're getting her back."
Robin nodded.
"Agreed."
"And we'll find Brook as well."
The Den Den Mushi trembled.
Franky growled through the line.
"We'll keep looking for clues."
"Just hurry."
Sanji disconnected the Den Den Mushi.
The fog thickened, curling like fingers.
Somewhere deep within Thriller Bark—
A shadow laughed again.
And the hunt truly began.
—————————-
Mist drifted low across the broken courtyard as two figures emerged from opposite ends of the ruins.
"Franky."
Robin stopped first, her eyes calm but alert.
Franky turned, relief flashing across his face.
"Robin! There you are."
They closed the distance quickly, instinctively turning back-to-back as they scanned the fog-choked paths and leaning gravestones.
"Where's your group?" Franky asked. "Luffy and the others?"
Robin answered without hesitation.
"Zoro and Luffy are moving through the western section."
"They went to look for Usopp and Chopper."
Franky frowned. "…That leaves Sanji."
Robin nodded.
"He split off."
"The moment he heard Nami was taken."
She glanced toward the deeper shadows of the island. "He's hunting her kidnapper."
Franky exhaled sharply.
"…Figures."
"That cook's gonna burn this island down."
Robin's expression softened just slightly.
"He's… motivated."
Franky cracked his knuckles.
"Alright."
"Then it's just us."
He looked around, metal fingers flexing.
"We're looking for Brook, right?"
"And any clue about this place?"
Robin nodded.
"Yes."
"If Brook is still nearby, he may know how Thriller Bark functions."
"And how shadows are taken."
The fog thickened.
A faint skittering sound echoed above them.
Franky's head snapped up. "…You hear that?"
Robin's eyes narrowed. "Yes."
Something moved along the broken walls.
Too fast.
Too many legs.
For a brief moment, the fog was still.
Then—
SKREEEE—
The ground trembled.
A massive shadow dropped from above.
Eight legs slammed into the stone with a wet crack, splintering the ground.
A giant spider, its body stitched and grotesque, eyes glowing faintly green, loomed over them.
"…Of course," Franky muttered. "Why wouldn't there be a nightmare spider."
Robin's eyes narrowed. "It's fast."
The spider lunged.
Franky stepped forward. "SUUUPER—"
STRONG RIGHT!
His metal fist rocketed forward—
—but the spider vanished in a blur, reappearing behind them.
"What—?!" Franky spun.
FWIP—FWIP—FWIP!
Thick, sticky webs shot out, wrapping around Franky's arms and pinning them to a crumbling wall.
"HEY—!"
Another volley caught Robin mid-motion, binding her arms and legs before she could bloom a limb.
"…Troublesome," she said calmly, though she couldn't move an inch.
The spider clicked excitedly, skittering closer. "Fresh pirates… fresh bodies… Lord Moria will be pleased…"
Franky strained against the webs.
"DAMMIT—these things are tougher than steel!"
Then—
"Yohohoho~ Yohohoho~"
A soft humming cut through the fog.
Both Franky and Robin froze.
The spider hesitated. "…Huh?"
A familiar melody drifted closer—light, cheerful, completely out of place.
"Binkusu no sake wo, todoke ni yuku yo~"
The spider then shouted. "Who the hell is singing?!"
From between two broken towers, a tall silhouette stepped forward.
Top hat.
Afro.
Cane tapping gently against stone.
Brook.
"Well now," he said pleasantly, "It seems you've come to this island after all."
Franky's jaw dropped. "BROOK?!"
Robin smiled faintly.
"Yes."
"Our captain seems to like you."
Brook's empty eye sockets widened.
"…Likes me?"
He laughed warmly.
"Yohohoho~!"
"Well, that's quite nice to hear!"
The spider recoiled.
"WHO ARE YOU?!"
"You're not a zombie!"
"Are you with these pirates?!"
Brook turned his skull toward it.
"Indeed. You can say that"
"And since you're causing trouble…"
He walked forward calmly.
Franky shouted,
"HEY—SKELETON!"
"WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!"
Brook raised a hand slightly.
"Worry not, my friend."
"I'm not going anywhere."
He stopped a few steps from the spider.
"I'll put an end to this promptly."
Franky blinked. "…Huh?"
Brook placed one hand on his cane sword.
The humming stopped.
The air seemed to thin.
"Three-verse humming—"
The blade slid free for a heartbeat—
Then—
CLICK.
Brook sheathed it.
"AERONAUT SLASH."
For a moment—
Nothing happened.
The spider laughed nervously. "…Did you miss?"
Then a thin line appeared down its body.
A second later—
SHRRRK.
The spider split cleanly in two, both halves collapsing lifelessly to the ground as the webs dissolved into mist.
Franky's restraints fell away.
"…What."
"…The."
"…Hell."
Robin adjusted her posture as the last strands vanished, eyes sharp with interest.
"…Remarkable."
Brook turned back to them, tipping his hat.
"Now then."
"Since you're here…"
His tone softened.
"I suppose it's time I told you everything about this island."
Franky stared. "…Luffy really did find a monster."
Brook laughed. "Yohohoho~!"
And deep within Thriller Bark—
The gears of fate began to turn.
————————-