12 Part 12 - The Frilly Yeti?

It was midday when the Vaeg pirates set out on their treasure expedition, although it was hard to tell because of the constant snowfall. Mountains stretched out as far as the eye could see, encased in a permanent layer of snow. The temperature was extremely low, causing everyone to complain from the first few minutes onwards.

"R-remember that I get to punch you if this isn't fucking worth it, Barbosa!" Nargo stuttered.

"At this point, I'm going to punch myself as well if this isn't worth it." Barbosa replied.

"Why the hell did you plebeians drag me into this?" Vaeg said.

"Like we've said before, you're our ship's DOCTOR!" Jimmy replied.

The crew turned and saw Tim Tim riding on top of Ronin, with no cares in the world. They were both playing in the snow which led the crew to question why they brought them. Dismissing their doubts, they continued onwards towards the first mountain. When they arrived at the base of the mountain, they assessed their options.

"So we can either climb up it with no safety gear or go round it." Jimmy started.

"I could use my chains to take people up two at a time." Nargo said.

"Wouldn't you get tired Nargo? This mountain is around several kilometres high." Sam asked.

"Fuck's sake, really?" Nargo said.

"I've recently added a grappling hook feature to my arm, so I can take myself and one other person with me." Belsari added.

"That would mean only five people would go up though. Sam, do you know how long it takes to go round?" Jimmy asked.

"It should take around two hours longer to go round than to scale the mountain. Also, just so you guys know, we have to scale one more mountain after this before we reach the area where the treasure is." Sam replied.

"Nargo and Belsari, you two take Doctor Vaeg, Whatz D Face and Barbosa. The rest of us will go round." Jimmy decided.

"Before you start climbing, hear me out. Once you reach the top, it will be connected to the second mountain so all you have to do is walk across and wait for us at the other mountain. We'll meet you where the mountain splits in two." Sam said.

"Well that sounds fucking ominous." Nargo said.

"Hold on, don't I get a say in this." Vaeg interrupted.

Before he could complain further, a chain wrapped round him and Whatz D Face, who was just casually sipping some tea, and flung them in the air. Nargo lit a cigar, which he had been saving, and was launched upwards. Belsari grabbed hold of Barbosa, who looked traumatized already, and started the program for her grappling hook. Suddenly a hook burst out and connected to something in the distance. Barbosa screamed as he was taken upwards with Belsari.

Sam turned to Tim Tim and Jimmy, "Let's get going, shall we?"

"How are we meant to climb the second mountain to come?" Jimmy asked.

"Weirdly, there's a staircase near the second mountain, so we'll be able to meet them with little to no problems. Just keep an eye out for wolves and bears." Sam replied.

"Tim Tim, since you're the animal expert, you'll be leading our small party, so we don't get ambushed by animals." Jimmy said.

Tim Tim, who, up until this point was still playing in the snow, looked around frantically and said confused, "Where'd everyone go?"

"Did you not hear a single thing?" Jimmy said unamused.

"I'm sorry Mister Jimmy. This is the first time I've seen so much snow in my life, so I got a bit carried away."

Jimmy had to explain everything to Tim Tim again and once Tim Tim had got the plan they headed off around the mountain.

"I'm surprised that Nargo has a devil fruit. I just thought he was really strong physically and that was why he could carry those chains." Sam said.

"Sorry I forgot to mention it. He can basically manipulate any metal." Jimmy replied.

"That's an interesting power to have." Sam turned to Tim Tim, "So that sword by your side looks like it hasn't been unsealed yet. Any particular reason?"

"Do you know what happened to your first mate after he left?"

"I heard he was living peacefully but that psychotic captain ruined his happy life. That's as much as I know."

"This blade is called Zendu."

"Wait, don't tell me that's a cursed blade?"

"I'm afraid it is Mister Sam. What they did to him one night scarred Genuichiro for the rest of his life and gave him a hatred so strong that he infused his soul into his final blade."

Sam clutched his mouth and tears rolled down his face, "He was such a kind, old fool. How could his legacy be one of hatred."

He then whispered something to himself but it was too quiet for anyone to hear.

The blade was severely affecting Tim Tim's mind. Despite being sealed, it was radiating bloodlust so strong it was weakening Tim Tim's dream of cohabitation between animals and humans and replacing it with images of revenge and murder. Although he was subduing it, Tim Tim knew he would have to feed it soon otherwise his mind would be consumed by its rage.

A couple quiet hours passed as they neared the stairway for the second mountain. Fortunately, a pack of wolves nearby didn't notice them, but by the faint footsteps imprinted in the ground near the staircase, people had recently been near the mountain.

They eventually reached the stairs but were concerned by how narrow and hazardous the stairs were. They spiralled all the way up the mountain with no rails. Tim Tim used some rope, he had found some whilst trekking to the stairs, and tied it around Ronin, Jimmy, Sam and himself.

They walked carefully up the stairs, almost falling countless times but just about managing to hang on. When they arrived at the top, they breathed a sigh of relief. However, this wouldn't last long as the rest of the group were sprinting quickly towards them being followed by two yetis and an avalanche.

Thankfully, the avalanche stopped before it could reach the second mountain but the two yetis, who seemed to be wearing frilly underwear, weren't swept up. Once everyone had regained their stamina, they resumed a battle position.

"What the hell have you guys been up to?" Jimmy asked.

"P-p-please, just don't ask." Barbosa stuttered.

"Just fucking help us out. Despite their ridiculous appearance, they are actually pretty strong." Nargo said.

"I think they look pretty stylish to be honest. I mean they did when they tried to kidnap Barbosa for particular reasons." Vaeg joked.

"We wouldn't even be in this mess in the first place, if you had actually kept a lookout." Barbosa argued.

"Monkey man, you need to relax and enjoy life. We're not gonna judge you for getting some action."

"What are you implying?!"

"Shut the fuck up. You're gonna cause another fucking avalanche." Nargo butted in.

Whatz D Face was still sipping his tea in a calm fashion whilst Belsari fired a net over the two yetis.

"You guys finished yet?" Belsari asked impatiently.

The yetis tore right through the net with impressive strength and started approaching the group.

Tim Tim fired his flintlock pistol directly into one of the yetis' forehead, dropping him in an instant. Sam and Jimmy tag teamed the other yeti. Jimmy stabbed and ripped out his harpoon, causing immense pain whilst Sam morphed his arm into a sword, slashing and stabbing until the yetis fur turned to red.

"What kind of bullet were you using Tim Tim?" Belsari asked intrigued.

"I may have borrowed a higher quality bullet from Mister Jenkins' arsenal. Anyways, couldn't you have burned the yetis?"

"Well you see. I couldn't start up my flamethrower because it was too cold." Belsari laughed awkwardly.

Sam broke off the horns of the yetis and passed two to Jimmy, assuming he was the captain.

"Hold on, why is he getting the horns?" Vaeg furiously shouted.

"Isn't he your captain?" Sam asked.

"Why did you say that Mister Sam?" Tim Tim shook his head, sighing.

For a few minutes, Jimmy, Vaeg and Nargo argued about who the captain was until Sam broke them up. He pointed towards the split in the mountain.

"Wait, we only climbed one half of the mountain?" Tim Tim asked, flabbergasted.

"If we go into that crevasse, you will see a frozen waterfall. There is a huge drop which is why I couldn't get to it alone. Also don't be surprised if you see any tribes people there. We hid the treasure in their territory but I can assure you they're nice people." Sam reassured.

Once they were all in the middle of the crevasse, which was surprisingly spacious, they were given sight of the frozen waterfall. It sparkled in the dim light. It radiated beauty and bewildered the Vaeg pirates. However, the drop down was very menacing, roughly a thirty-foot drop, and there was only ice to soften their fall. Everyone looked towards Nargo again.

"Really, again? I'm losing focus a little bit though so it won't be a smooth ride down." Nargo sighed.

"For some reason I can smell some really nice roasted humans down below. Maybe it was a good thing to come here after all." Vaeg whispered to himself.

The crew, hearing this, hastened their preparations to drop down. Vaeg's nose for humans was never wrong.