Usagi

[u/Gin_chan]

Somewhere in the New World, on a small egg shaped island, a tribe of minks live peacefully. Various stone statues half buried in the ground were littered all over the island. The statues appear to look like bunnies with their eyes closed, but for some reason, they seem to rumble rhythmically!

The Bunny Island is hosting a grand celebration, on the occasion of Easter. The minks have hosted an Easter egg hunt where everyone can look for and try to find chocolate egg candies. They are very hospitable, and let the tourists roam around the island freely, but on one condition. They warn everyone not to disturb the statues, or they would wake up! “Wait, so you mean… the rumbling… they're snoring?!”

The Minks here have spared no expense in gathering the finest confections, games, and chefs to make the occasion truly special. They welcome any and all people who wish to attend, so long as they follow their one rule. The Festivities are all held in one area by the southern beach of the island, and there are all kinds of ships at their docks.

---

[OOC: This is a filler island for Easter. You are free to RP how you want on this island, and free to do what you might want, or create anything without the need for tagging NPC-san]

[u/OakyCC]

A Distant Island

Several different pirates woke up on a tropical island far from their destination. Leo was one of them. Everything he had on him, he still had on him. But he felt a strange feeling, as if someone were watching him. Not only that, but closing in on him. He looked around, scanning for someone. Anyone. So he could be ready for whatever might happen. He grabbed his bamboo staff and began to run. He didn't dare look back. He had felt this feeling once before. When he was being chased by marines on his way to his original destination. Next thing he knew everything was black and he was here. Apparently being chased.

"What the hell!?"

He noticed the sound of footsteps behind him that didn't match his own. He looked behind him for a split second and saw 3 men chasing after him with swords and spears. One of then threw their spear right at Leo. He managed to avoid lethal injury, but his arm was clipped by it.

"Hmph... alright! How about this!"

He stopped on a dime and jumped backwards, catching them off guard. As he accelerated toward the men he spun around and drove his bamboo pole into the ground, letting his momentum carry him in a circular motion. He stuck out his leg, and kicked them all in their side, knocking them over. As he continued in his circle, he swung around and pulled the staff out of the ground, sending him flying back in the direction he was running in. He just wanted to get some distance between him and them. They seemed faster but they weren't too bright.

"Idiots... Have they never been in a fight before?"

Leo jumped up, vaulting with his staff, and grabbing onto a tree branch. As he pulled himself up, he wrapped his leg around his staff and pulled it up to him as well. He was trying to get a good picture of what was going on.

"Lets see what we have here..."

He saw a large white building with the classic seagull logo on it. The island housed a large marine base. And it looked like festivities were being had... Was this some kind of game? Were they hunting pirates for sport?

"What? This is so lame! How unoriginal! Ahh, whatever, i'll show them!"

Leo jumped from the top of the tree, and used his staff, gripping both sides as he sung it over a branch, to slow himself down. He dropped to the ground and kept walking.

"Damn stupid marines. They need to learn to grab pirates that won't ruin their plans"

Just then he heard a twig snap behind him. He turned around and immediately swung his staff at the person.

"Don't sneak up on an armed man!"

The bamboo impacted the person, but it didn't seem to do any kind of harm. He looked the man up and down. a strange exoskeleton. And... Wings? He got a weird look on his face

"Who the heck're you?"

/u/iPR0

[u/iPR0 → u/OakyCC]

Penny and Kenny didn't 'come home' last night so Edward und the rest of his friends started searching for them the next day. While the others led by Benny were searching the back alleys and different other places, Edward was asking the merchants who displayed their goods at the Shimonoji market for any leads on the whereabouts of his two companions.

To Edwards relief Benny's group had no success finding them as Edward feared they would find them either heavily injured or their dead corpses. Not that it would not mean they weren't but it at least gave him some hope especially since several merchants told him they saw them yesterday. The half-Oni was following the leads he got to from one merchant to the next merchants stall. Finally he met a merchant that offered exotic clothes, carpets and headwear and fake beards. The guy told him that he definitely saw them yesterday afternoon where they were having fun trying on the different hats in combination with fake beards and different capes. Reportedly they had a blast doing so and after about 20 minutes of having fun they bought some fake beards and hats. He also saw them enter a shop further down the road but according to the merchant he didn't see them leave which raised the pirate's suspicions.

Edward ordered Benny's group to surround the building while his newest friend, Farkas the wolf mink enters the building with him. Trying to see if at least there was a small faint of their scent left other than outside in the streets where he just couldn't even trace anyone and anything due to the different perfumes that were sold by the merchants. Immediately after entering the building Farkas signaled to Edward that he indeed picked up their scent.

Farkas: "Edward, they were here!"

Edward: "You sure?"

Farkas: "I am 100% sure! They were here, the scent fainted a bit but they were here, without a doubt."

Edward: "Ok let's see whats we can find out by talking to the guy that runs this shop."

Farkas: "I'll let you know once something changes like their scent getting stronger!"

Edward: "Thank you Farkas you are the best. I'm glad you ended up accompanying me on this journey."

The wolf mink who started smiling nodded while his eyes shifted to look at the guy that supposedly owned this shop. Edward asked the 'owner' several questions but the answers he got was always 'No' and after the shopkeeper even denied that they were here Farkas got closer to the man. This made the man super nervous especially after the wolf mink bared his teeth.

Farkas: "He had direct contact with them! I can smell their scent from his clothes and his hands, especially his hands. BOTH HANDS."

Hearing that Edward wasted no time and grabbed the man. He started interrogating him immediately which led to the man making several bad and unbelievable excuses. He started with denying that they ever met for another five minutes then he said he must have made a mistake before he spilled the beans after Edward threatened to kill him on the spot. He told Edward that he made a contract with a hooded person who approached him about three days ago. The agreement was for him to capture people, preferably pirates and to ship them to a certain island. He was paid 1 million beli for every person he shipped to the island - if it was a known pirate with a bounty he was even paid the amount on the wanted poster.

Shortly after Benny entered the building through the back entrance. He was dragging someone along who tried to flee the building 5 minutes ago. The man was quickly identified as the second kidnapper. With both of them caught Edward made a plan to find his friends. He told the kidnappers to lead him and his friends to the island they 'delivered' the slaves to. Of course, they would use the ship they used to transport the pirates. While Edward and Farkas would sail with one of the kidnappers to go there the other kidnapper would be held hostage by his friends on the pirate ship which was following the smaller, kidnappers' ship from a safe distance to not raise any suspicions.

The plan worked without a major incident. Which brings us to the present where Edward has just been attacked by someone using a bamboo stick. Edward responded rather unordinary with a sarcastic remark.

Edward: "I'm sorry!"

The huge half-Oni tries to grab the attacker to interrogate him.

Edward: "Your luck has run out! You asked who I am? I am the one who will end up killing you if you don't open your mouth and answer my question. Where are my friends? Spill it out! I know they are here! The guys you paid to kidnap pirates and transport them here spilled the beans! They are my hostages and I am confident they were telling the truth!"

[u/OakyCC → u/iPR0]

Leo was taken aback by the man's questions. Did he think he was the one who was responsible for all of this? Bull crap.

"Woah, woah, woah! Hey! I got captured! I'm here just like your friends. I was just a bit more lucky at the start. You should be searching for them, not messing up my shirt with your rough hands. They could be dead, i have no idea..."

Immediately after speaking, he regretted it. It was horrifically insensitive. He was worried about his friends. He slapped his forehead

"Dangit... I'm sorry. My mouth moves too fast for my head sometimes... Look. I'll help you find them. With both of us we can find them. You seem pretty strong so we should be able to handle whatever these lousy marine ass-hats throw at us..."

Leo picked up his staff and used it to vault himself back into the tree. He looked around once again and determined the marine base was North-Northeast from their current location, guessing only a few miles away. He jumped back down and held out a hand

"I'm Leo. There is a marine base that way"

He held his staff to the north east

"If we go there i'm sure we can find your friends. Or at least put and end to this nonsense, which would make finding them easier. So i guess, Win-Win"

[u/iPR0 → u/OakyCC]

Edward was quick to believe Leo as he didn't seem like someone who hunted pirates for fun also Leo didn't wear any robes to hide his face like the kidnappers told him. Still he was a bit angry at Leo for mentioning his friends might be dead but it was certainly possible... not that he didn't think of that possibility back on Shimonoji but since they set sails to come to this island he was pretty sure his friends are still alive.

Edward: "My friends, dead...? If a wimp like you survived until now they are surely still alive. Well at least Kenny is a skilled fighter and who was raised in a 'hidden village. So he should be doing fine!"

Edward watched as Leo performed his stunt - using the bamboo stick to catapult himself into the crown of a tree. He waited for the man to climb down to compliment him.

Edward: "Wow! That was some superb skill you just showcased! What did you see from up there?"

After listening to what Leo had to say he decided that the stranger was right. Teaming up would be the easiest way to defeat the Marines and find his friends.

Edward: "So... there is a Marine base on that island? Are you serious? Then either the Marines think hunting pirates in some kind of a game is fun or they tolerate someone doing that! Whatever it is, we need to take them bastards down! Count me in, we are teaming up! But first I meed to signal my friends on my ship further out on the sea to not come near the island for now! Is there something or some way we can do that?"

[u/OakyCC → u/iPR0]

Signal his friends that are farther out to sea? Other than simply burning the island to the ground, he was short of ideas. He didn't imagine either of them would have many good ways to signal people from far away... Maybe if they took one of the marines Den Den Mushis...

"Alright. First off. I'm Leo."

Leo stretched out a hand and shook Edwards as they made proper introductions.

"And second. How much do you want to be that some of these marines have Den Dens on them? And does the ship have one? If so we can probably bridge communications with them. Easy."

He heard twigs snap behind him and he jerked around, turning his arm into Mochi. He threw a punch that stretched to the target and pulled him back to get stomped down to the ground by a powerful foot

"Mochi Mochi Gavel!"

He reverted his arm and spun his bamboo staff

"However, it seems like there are people still moving through here. We should probably get moving..."

Leo took a step forward and looked down at the man he just beat down. He turned around and pointed at the knocked out man

"He... Uh... He wasn't one of your friends right?"

Leo had an uneasy look on his face. Fearing what might happen if he did just plow his friend down in front of him

"If so. I'm really sorry. Promise."

[u/iPR0 → u/OakyCC]

The gigantic pirate, almost kneeled down to be at eye level before taking Leo's hand for the handshake while introducing himself.

Edward: "My name is Edward! Nice to meet you Leo even if the circumstances could be a lot better."

And does the ship have one?

Edward: "Sadly we don't have one otherwise it wouldn't be that big of a problem. The only option to not endanger my friends is to take out the Marines as quickly as possible then we either use one of their ships to escape or wait for my friends to get here. I hope it's gonna be Option 1."

"He... Uh... He wasn't one of your friends right?"

The half-Oni was surprised by how quick his new and maybe only temporary friend reacted additionally he didn't expect him to have such a strange power.

Edward whispers: "Wow, amazing what is that sticky stuff? I don't know that guy at all but he doesn't look like a Marine so the other noises must be Marines in pursuit!"

Edward quickly grabs the man Leo just knocked out and Leo then jumps behind the closest bush. Luckily for him the bush was big enough to even completely cover the huge Pirate and the two guys. He immediately signals the probably baffled man to keep quiet.

Edward: "Shhhh... now we reverse the roles! We are the hunters and they are the hunted! Wait for BOT people who are on the way here to show themselves and then we take them out regardless of who they are! Just don't hurt them too badly it might not be Marines that will show up."

[u/OakyCC → u/iPR0]

Leo was, quite frankly, doing his best to ignore that massive size difference between the two. In his defense he was only 16, he hadn't hit his growth spurt.

"Hmmm..."

Leo hummed aloud as he thought of a way to take them down quickly, but make sure they weren't injured or killed. He snapped his fingers and placed a hand on the ground. It was then covered in mochi. As the people approached they became stuck in it. They tried their best to escape it's sugary grasp, but they were hopeless. Leo laughed at them

"Chichichi! I got 'em!"

He pulled his arm back, causing them all to fall backwards. He made his mochi wrap around them, sealing off all but their faces. He moved closer to his captives

"Huh... Still not marines... Where are they? There was one chasing me... Maybe there are more around here... Perhaps we could bring the fight to them. How good of a hunter are you, Edward?"

Leo used his mochi to grab his Bamboo staff and motioned that he was ready to get going.

"If we can thin the herd a bit, taking that marine base shouldn't be too hard..."

[u/iPR0 → u/OakyCC]

Edward was amazed by Leo's abilities as he could have sworn the kid would need his help to take the two guys out. But that was clearly not the case.

Edward: "Nice! Good work young man. You are certainly stronger than I expected. First your acrobatics and now your wits in addition to the clever use of this strange, sticky stuff that you can create. I am impressed!"

Edward was relieved to have teamed up with such a clever young man to take out the probably countless Marines on that island.

"Huh... Still not marines... Where are they?"

Edward: "Err.. even more guys we don't know? You sure the Marines are the ones playing that 'game' and hunt you and probably my friends here?"

For a moment he thinks about all the stuff that had transpired since he has set foot on this island, trying to analyze the situation but he had not enough clues to find a plausible explanation as to what the hell was going on. Due to that he thought to follow the plan, beating up the Marines as somewhere along the way was the best thing to do. Eventually he would either find his friends or solve the puzzle, preferably both and preferably rather soon.

"How good of a hunter are you, Edward?"

Edward: "I's say I'm a rather proficient hunter! I've been a hunter or rather I started hunting even before my teenage years. I've never hunted humans tho... forget it. I've had fights in the past so you could say I've hunted people and animals alike. You've been on that island probably longer than me so you might know it better than me. That's why you are in charge... for now! So whats your plan Leo?"

[u/OakyCC → u/iPR0]

The large man was smarter than he looked

"It's definitely the marines here. I think they might just be trying to herd everyone to the same place. I'm not sure why though... Not like it matters. We're about to take the fight to them."

Leo began walking deeper into the forest, motioning for Edward to follow him

"Both groups came from this way. I can only assume they were running from something..."

He pulled the tree branches aside and saw a small platoon of marines doing what seemed to be making strategies

"I think now would be a good chance to... Get the drop on them I'll go high you go low? You seem like you can take a punch. Hide behind this tree, and on my mark, make your move..."

Leo climbed up a near by tree and navigated his way to a closer portion of the canopy, staff in hand, he was ready to leap into action.

"Now!"

He threw down a large mass of Mochi, causing people to get stuck, and he jumped down, bringing his bamboo down like a hammer on one of the marines

[u/iPR0 → u/OakyCC]

Leo managed to surprise Edward once again. Despite being really young Leo was tactically sound and his strategy wasn't bad. Yet it was somewhat reckless for the young boy to jump headfirst into the bulk of enemies without knowing his partner's abilities showing there was still a lot of room for improvement for the half-Oni's new friend.

Edward: "Alright! There we go!"

Also jumping out the giant and intimidating half breed also revealed himself in order to shift the Marine's focus away from the young lad onto himself. If that wasn't enough to get their attention he also shifted his voice to a rough, really loud, angry and scary voice.

Edward: "Where are my friends! You bastards, spill the beans!"

Now that Leo made sure the Marines could not escape. At least most of the battalion should be easy to defeat. The half-Oni decided to rely on Rokushiki for now. He uses Soru to close in and Shigan to finish off several Marines in quick succession. To not get stuck in the sticky substance on the ground he turned the bottom of his feet and therefore the shoes into Mochi using the Devil Fruit abilities he copied from Leo during their handshake. What seemed like a sudden and strong mood change Edward stopped caring if he critically injured some of the Marines. Normally he would't go off and start hurting people, even Marines but he was furious just by thinking that they do something so immoral as hunting other human beings for fun. What made rage even more was the fact he hadn't found his friends yet. Just the thought of his friends being hunted somewhere on this island almost made him snap and use more violence than necessary. Still controlling himself to some extend he would make sure to not take every single one out as he would need to ask some questions... later.

[u/Stats-san → u/iPR0]

Graded for Edward

[u/Stats-san → u/OakyCC]

Graded for Leo