A heavy fog blanketed the Florian Triangle, muffling all sound as the Thousand Sunny sailed cautiously through the infamous graveyard of ships. Unlike before the ships sails were up, powering the ship slowly through it's destination, careful not to bring any unwanted attention to it.
Perona's floating form scouted ahead, guiding them towards Thriller Bark's location through the perilous mist concealing sea monsters. So far her directions had been true, keeping them safely on course.
Brook hummed a quiet melody, using his powers to bend the mist around the Sunny, bending it away to render the ship temporarily invisible. It was the only reason they still sailed undiscovered by the beasts prowling these waters. They all hoped Perona's information was correct that Thriller Bark lay directly ahead.
"Anyone else thinks this place is creepy?" Usopp asked with a nervous glance over the railing into the thick fog below. The heavy mist muffled any glimpse of the ocean itself. "We can't even see anything… anything you can do about that Brook?"
"It's quite tiring to keep the ship invisible as it is… Removing it will be quite challenging for me. Not to mention the surrounding fog does help a bit in hiding the ship…" The skeleton said honestly.
"Eh… we don't need to," Gin said, not really bothered by the minimal visibility. "Its better than getting attacked by sea kings…"
Sanji who was on the front of the ship was also silent. It was hard for him to detect anything with his observation haki. The whole fog thing, and Brook's powers in general was kind of holding back his observation haki. But he didn't know that.
"We should keep quite," Law said, peering intently through the gloom with one hand resting on his sword, "We don't want to attract company."
Vivi shivered, gaze darting warily around their surroundings. "Let's just find this island quickly. Being anchored out here blind gives me the chills." She said.
White Fury nudged her from the side, hissing in a way that said, not to worry.
Usopp looked around in all directions. "Perona, how much further?"
The glitch princess flickered back into view, pigtails bobbing. "We're here! Thriller Bark is directly ahead." She pointed one gloved hand straight ahead.
The Straw Hats rushed to the railing as everyone strained to glimpse the island. Gradually, a dark mass solidified from the gloom. Towering cliffs wreathed in snaking vines loomed overhead, topping enormous battlements encircling the perimeter.
Rotting gargoyles leered from ramparts lined with silent, tattered flags clinging to their standards. Along the trees, one could see dead skeletons being hung by the neck, some missing limbs, while some even had flesh on them. No lights greeted them. No movement or sound disturbed the silence as they drew closer through deepening banks of fog.
"Man this place is creepy," Brook said looking at the skeletons while he shivered, getting multiple sweat-drops from his crewmate. "What? Just cause I dress up as one, doesn't mean I don't have common sense…"
"Hush… I hear something," Sanji said narrowing his eyes. Even Gin, Johnny, and Coby had picked up on the sound, but they didn't know what. The cook tried to use his observation haki, but his observation haki wasn't used to working in this sort of environment.
"Uh, are you sure anyone's home?" Franky asked doubtfully, scowling at the decaying edifices. "This place looks deserted."
Robin's delicate brows drew together in a pensive frown. "I wonder…"
"You guys worry too much," Perona said with a huff, "I brought you here from the side… rarely anyone keeps guard here."
"Keep alert, everyone," commanded Gin, as he went half-zona, ignoring her. His instincts prickled strangely…something lurked here beyond sight. It might be unwanted peranoia, but they were dealing with an unknown enemy here. He would rather be caution and wrong then, unprepared and right.
Coby also draw his bone blades, as he cautioned himself. Johnny and others also had their guards up, just in case. Though again nothing happened. Minutes passed and the crew started doubting their caution.
Maybe nothing was there…
Their ship eased up alongside crumbling docks, the deck barely visible in the gloom.
"Ambush!" Sanji said quickly when he finally managed to pick up unwanted movements.
Without warning, gunshots ripped through the fog, peppering the Sunny's hull. Brook shrieked, dropping flat to avoid a musket ball nearly taking his head off.
"Oh, shit!" Usopp said, also dropping down while he fired off some explosive shots at certain directions.
Bartolomeo threw up a transparent barrier just in time to deflect multiple cannonballs streaking towards the ship.
"We're under attack!" Nami yelped, dropping low with hands clapped over her head. "But where are they?!"
Sanji focused intently, observing the trajectories of bullets ricocheting off their shield. "Too much fog… Brook drop the invisibility and remove the fog…"
"On it," The skeleton said from the floor. The invisibility dropped, while the fog around them also dropped, mixing with the water, finally letting the crew see their enemies.
"There!" Gin pointed along the battlements now visible in brief muzzle flash illuminations.
Rank after rank of armed marines and pirates lined, continually firing down upon the Sunny. But their movements appeared strange…stiff and awkward, as if not fully in control of their own actions.
Perona's form glitched rapidly around the upper fortifications. She suddenly gasped, recoiling in dismay. "Parasites! They're being controlled by that awful doctor!"
Law's eyes narrowed, "Hogback… he anticipated our arrival."
"Hmm… this isn't good. We won't be able to dock our ship the normal way," Nami said. Now that the whole Thousand Sunny was covered by Bartolomeo's shield, they weren't worried about getting hit by the projectiles. But that didn't mean all of the worries were gone.
A large sea king appeared out of the sea, only to get axe kicked back into the sea by Sanji. While Bartolomeo's shield covered the whole of Thousand Sunny like a round shield, it didn't mean all of the danger was gone. One massive explosion or a massive sea king would easily be able to topple the ship.
That's why Sanji, Gin, and Coby were already out in the sky jumping in air, deflecting heavy explosions, and beating large beasts and sea kings before they could harm the ship and the crew.
"You weren't kidding when you said, he had the whole island in control," Robin whistled, while Perona shuddered as the waves of marines and pirates were already jumping out and swimming towards the Thousand Sunny, intending to harm the crew.
"Sanji! Gin! Coby! Don't harm the people, they don't have any control over their actions and they are still alive!" Chopper shouted as when he saw the parasite-driven mad army coming towards them.
"Be ready to come up with a solution, cause holding back won't help us in the long run," Sanji said from above, dodging the shots fired in his way before dropping down with a kick that sent waves around sending the horde of swimming soldiers back before they could get near the Thousand Sunny.
Bartolomeo grunted, maintaining his barrier against the endless hail of munitions. "Yeah, great info, but what do we do now? We're pinned down out here!"
The ship suddenly heaved as a tremendous impact struck from below. The crew that were on the ship nearly toppled overboard before managing to steady themselves. An enormous crab-like appendage burst from the waves, seeking to crush the Sunny's hull.
"Sea monster starboard side!" Usopp yelled.
—–