The Dragon, the Reindeer, and the Cherry Blossoms(Drum Island Rewrite)

Six: Climbing Up That Mountain

Sanji couldn't believe what was amongst them as Mirai hissed at Wapol, "You've found us, but how?!" The ex-king didn't answer her question but turned to Luffy and said, "I'm getting sick and tired of you Straw Hat! This time, I'll get rid of all three of you for real and chew you up into tiny pieces!" Luffy was already enraged at the sight of Wapol. "Move it," he said sternly. Wapol just let out a small laugh and said, "Stubborn aren't ya? Why would I wanna do that?"

Luffy stayed silent, Sanji and Mirai following him by also being silent. If all Wapol wanted to do was just speak with Luffy, then so be it. The hybrid had the right to stay silent and not interfere with what was going on. "Besides, I bet you, your friends, and your half-dead friend can't even make it up the mountain!" the ex-king added. Mirai then spoke up, "Yeah right! My captain can do anything!" Wapol smiled to himself, liking how encouraged the Winter Dragon of Drum Island was.

Sanji placed his hand on her shoulder. "Come on. We need to get going. No need to face these guys," he told her. Mirai almost flinched, but she nodded in respone. The three turned around and left Wapol and his main henchmen, Wapol screaming in the back as the three didn't listen to him. Mirai's ear rang over the ex-king screaming, "Kuromarimo! Chess! Take care of those Straw Hats! Bring the Winter Dragon to me alive and take care of the unconscious one first!" Luffy also stopped as he and Mirai turned to look at the two henchmen headed their way.

"Oh no you don't!" both said at the same time, making the cook stop as well to see the men coming at them. Luffy quickly dodged a mace attack from Kuromarimo and Mirai whipped her tail at incoming arrows from Chess. Luffy wanted to fight, but Sanji reminded him to not. "Dang you! You'll regret this! All of you!" the rubber boy snarled. Mirai heard his voice and growled. Both Kuromarimo and Chess stopped their attacks as they faced her. "You leave my captain out of this!" she yelled. Snarling, two fireballs appeared in her hands as she charged at the men, singeing bits of their clothes.

Both screamed in terror and fell into the snow, giving the three Straw Hats the prefect chance to escape. The three made the run for it as Kuromarimo and Chess watched them run from their spots in the snow. "You better not follow us you idiotic servants of that nasty Wapol!" Mirai exclaimed from far off as they ran. Chess was about to make his aim, but Wapol told him to hold his fire. "But sire? Why? You said you wanted Mirai Tatsumi, the Winter Dragon, alive," he asked and told him.

"Let them go," Wapol then said. "We'll show those three what a battle in snow and ice truly feels like."

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The three continued to run through the snow. "We're almost at the base of the Drum Rockie where I live. There we'll find Drum Castle," Mirai explained as the boys ran. Mirai checked on Nami ever so often to see if she was alright. Sanji looked back and said, "You guys. We're not being followed. No one is around." Luffy also looked back, realizing what the cook said was true. It was just snow all around them.

Soon, something appeared out of the snow. "LOOK OUT!" Mirai screeched. The three came to a halt as Wapol appeared from a huge pile of snow, Kuromarimo and Chess appearing from their hiding spots in advance. "Now this is what a true battle in snow and ice feels like!" Kuromarimo chimed as he and Chess aimed their weapons at the three. "You camouflaged yourselves with the snow! Pretty fancy and old trick if you ask me," the hybrid said crossing her arms.

"You shut up! Now we end this!" Chess snarled. Both jumped up, preparing their attack on the Straw Hats. "BRACE YOURSELVES!" Mirai screamed as the three prepared for the worst. At the last moment, two Lapins came into the fray and attacked both Kuromarimo and Chess, sending them packing. The force from the creatures caused Luffy, Sanji, and Mirai to all fall back a bit. "Lapins?!" Sanji and Mirai both said at the same time. Luffy was able to land on his feet as he looked back at them, watching Kuromarimo and Chess fall into the snow with the Lapins facing them.