The climb up the snow-buried path had nearly killed Pintel twice and Gibbs three times.
Drum Island looked less like a place meant for humans and more like a cruel joke told by nature. A very cold joke at that.
The air froze in their lungs. Snow swallowed boots whole. Jack was sure he had eaten snow twice. And the winds, oh they were very cold.
The Winter Island seemed a bit colder than usual.
"Just up there," he said vaguely, pointing toward a cliff face half-hidden by frost.
"There is nothing up there," Ragetti wheezed. "Just… more up."
Augur said nothing. He carried Gibbs across his shoulders, the older man wrapped in every spare coat and blanket they had salvaged from the Pearl. Gibbs was conscious, technically, but his teeth were still chattering like a malfunctioning percussion section.
Crocodile walked behind them, silent, cloak pulled tight, eyes sharp. She hated the cold. Hated the weakness it forced upon her. But she hated confusion more.
And right now she was very confused.
Jack had insisted on this island. Had insisted on finding "the old witch." Had insisted it would solve Gibbs' condition. Said there was crew here.
She didn't like trusting things she couldn't verify.
They finally reached the crest.
A small house stood tucked against the mountainside, smoke rising faintly from its chimney. Modest. Quiet.
Jack slowed.
Augur slowed.
Crocodile's eyes narrowed.
"Trap," she murmured.
The snow around the entrance was too smooth. Too undisturbed for a place that claimed to be inhabited.
Ragetti knocked.
Nothing.
Pintel reached for the door handle.
The moment he touched it—
SNAP.
The ground beneath them shifted. Snow collapsed. A net shot upward, rope tightening around their legs and torsos.
Pintel screamed.
Ragetti screamed louder.
Gibbs nearly slipped from Augur's shoulders.
Crocodile turned to sand instinctively—
—but froze mid-motion.
Hands.
Hands sprouted from the wooden beams. From the walls. From the snow itself.
Elegant hands, but they seemed to be controlled by someone.
They grabbed ropes mid-flight. Twisted knots. Snapped mechanisms.
The net fell limp before it could fully tighten.
The door creaked open.
A calm voice drifted out.
"That's quite enough."
Nico Robin stepped into the doorway, brushing snow from her coat.
For a moment there was only silence.
Jack blinked once.
Then twice.
"Well," he said slowly, "this is a pleasant surprise."
Robin smiled faintly.
"It's good to see you again, Captain."
Pintel stared. "Demon child. Truly a demon child."
Crocodile's gaze sharpened immediately.
She recognized her.
Nico Robin. Ohara's survivor. The woman the World Government had hunted since two months.
Interesting.
Robin turned her head slightly toward the interior.
"Ginny. It's safe."
There was a rustle inside.
A young woman stepped out hesitantly.
Ginny.
She no longer looked like a ghost.
She was still pale, still thin—but there was life in her eyes now. Strength that hadn't been there before. In her arms, wrapped tightly in thick blankets, was a sleeping baby with pink hair.
Bonney.
Pintel and Ragetti rushed forward instantly.
"Bonney!" Pintel gasped.
"She's still so small!" Ragetti cooed.
They leaned in far too close.
Ginny instinctively stepped back, protective arms tightening around Bonney. Overwhelmed.
Jack immediately moved between them.
"Gentlemen," he said lightly, sniffing the air.
He wrinkled his nose.
"Pintel."
Pintel blinked.
"Yes, Captain?"
"Step away from the infant until you no longer smell like a deceased sea creature."
Pintel froze.
Ragetti sniffed him experimentally.
His face contorted.
"…Oh."
Pintel sniffed himself.
His eyes watered.
Jack nodded gravely. "We are pirates. Not biohazards. Now speaking of biohazards, we can possibly use you to catch the enemy off guard."
Ginny exhaled slowly, tension easing.
Jack looked at her properly now.
"You look… better."
Ginny managed a small smile.
"I am."
Her voice still carried strain, but not the hollow weakness from before.
Robin's gaze dropped to Gibbs.
"What happened to him?"
Augur adjusted his grip. "He....is in a frozen state. He won't last much longer in this cold."
Crocodile stepped forward finally.
"Can someone," she said, voice edged with irritation, "explain what exactly is happening?"
Robin and Ginny's attention shifted to her.
They took in the golden hook. The cigar. The scar.
Robin's eyes flickered in recognition.
Crocodile.
Demon Child meet Sand Woman.
There was silent assessment there.
Jack opened his mouth to speak—
—but the door behind Robin opened again.
Two figures entered, shaking snow from heavy coats.
One was tall, lean, elderly but far from frail.
Dr. Kureha.
Her sharp eyes scanned the unfamiliar group immediately, assessing threat levels in seconds.
She stopped mid-step when she saw the number of armed strangers in her home.
"Well," she said flatly. "You shouldn't be here."
Behind her stood a man in a thick winter coat with a pink hat decorated with crude cherry blossoms.
Dr. Hiriluk.
At this time he was still alive, still wild-eyed and dramatic, posture slightly hunched but energy strangely electric. His mustache twitched as he studied the pirates.
"Who are they?" he asked Kureha quietly. "They don't look like villagers."
Ragetti squinted at him.
"And who are you?"
Crocodile pinched the bridge of her nose.
"Enough."
Jack finally stepped forward, raising both hands diplomatically.
"Right. Introductions. Order. Civility."
He gestured first to Robin.
"Crewmate."
Then to Ginny.
"Long story."
Then to Kureha and Hiriluk.
"Doctors, I presume. Or charming mountain hermits. The hag looks like one."
Kureha crossed her arms.
"Answer the question. Why are pirates on my mountain? You shouldn't have come here."
Augur shifted slightly, making sure Gibbs didn't slide.
"He needs treatment. And why shouldn't we be here? We had a deal."
Hiriluk stepped closer, studying Gibbs' frostbitten face.
"Hypothermia," he muttered.
"And more," Augur added quietly.
Robin looked to Jack.
"You walked into our perimeter trap without noticing."
Jack smiled faintly.
"I noticed."
Robin raised an eyebrow.
"You did not."
Jack considered.
"…I suspected."
Crocodile shot him a look.
Ginny spoke softly.
"They're not enemies."
Hiriluks's eyes moved to Robin.
"You trust them?"
Robin paused.
"…Yes."
That answer changed the air.
Kureha exhaled sharply.
"Bring him inside before he dies on my doorstep."
Augur moved immediately.
Pintel and Ragetti stepped aside, suddenly serious.
Crocodile remained still, eyes lingering on Robin.
Demon Child.
Interesting ally for Jack.
Hiriluk stepped closer to Jack, studying him.
"You look familiar. Where have I seen you before?"
Jack tilted his head.
"Maybe on a bounty poster or news."
Hiriluk smiled faintly.
"Good. That makes you interesting. What's your name?"
"Jack Sparrow, captain of Caribbean Pirates. I believe my bounty is 250,000,000 berries."
"Whoa that's a lot- WHAT!!"