Zoro was napping on deck when he heard Pekoms yell something. Really, did everyone on this ship have to be so loud? He cracked his eye open and saw the lion mink standing rigidly on the bow of the Sunny. He stretched his arms up yawning before climbing onto his feet to go see what all the fuss was about. As he got closer, he could make out Pekoms words. "Straw Hats! We're finally approaching Totland." Pekoms shouted. "I'll talk to the guardsman to allow us to pass inspection - but you guys need to stay out of sight." Finally, Zoro thought, we're getting somewhere. It's not that he didn't like the Ocean, because he loved it as any pirate learns to love the sea. No, it's just with emotions running rather high on this rescue mission - especially since meeting Sanji's siblings - the Sunny was beginning to feel a little crowded. Zoro would feel glad to have his legs on solid ground again and be getting somewhere. Nami's voice pulled Zoro out of his musings. "Totland?" Nami was asking, "What exactly is Totland?" Zoro leaned across the Sunny's railing and stared out at the ocean as he listened to Pekoms explain Big Mom's base. "There are 34 islands in total surrounding Whole Cake Island, collectively this is called Totland. Each island has its own chancellor and speciality. Almost all the Chancellors are children or relatives of Big Mom. So, you should avoid causing trouble at all costs. Our first stop will be Chocolate Town to resupply." Pekoms explained. "Chocolate Town, why do they call it that?" Chopper asked as he subconsciously licked his lips. Since the whole incident with Luffy being poisoned, everyone was feeling a little hungry and Chopper had always had a sweet tooth anyways. Now, he was practically drooling just at the mention of chocolate. "I'm sure you'll see when we arrive." Pekoms said mysteriously, "Right now the lot of you need to get out of sight." With that the Straw Hats went scurrying around deck for a hiding place. Chopper ran to hide in the tangerine trees. Brook said something about making tea and wandered towards the burnt-out shell of a kitchen. Nami had to physically drag Luffy into the cabin so he couldn't stir up trouble, despite his pleas of wanting to see what an inspection looked like and if there was food. Zoro shrugged and headed back up into the crow's nest for some afternoon training. Soon enough Pekoms was left standing on the bow alone.

There was a large gated wall that encircled Chocolate Town's harbour and as the Sunny sailed closer, a guardsman dressed in a card uniform poked his head up over the wall. "Halt who goes there?" he called down from the wall. Pekoms folded his arms across his chest and growled out, "It's me. I have commandeered this ship for Mama." The demeanour of the card guardsman shifted completely as a lazy smile floated across his face. "Oh, Sir Pekoms how nice," the guardsman said cheerfully. "Did you bring Mama a sweet surprise too?" Pekoms nodded his head, "But of course. What kind of subordinate do you take me for? It is a surprise however, so I would prefer if you don't mention seeing me here. I want to give it to Mama as surprise at the Tea Party." The guard instantly began bobbing his head in agreement. "Yes, yes. No problem, you're so thoughtful Pekoms it's a wonder all the girls don't fall for you," the guard said swaying slightly on his feet. He looked about ready to swoon at the gesture. Pekoms barked out a laugh and waved. The gates to the harbour slowly opened and the Sunny sailed through until the guards' tower was out of sight. They pulled into an empty cove and anchored the ship. Once everyone was back out on deck, they couldn't help but gawk at the Island. "CHOCOLATE!" Luffy yelled as he jumped off the ship. He began running around and shoving different parts of the island into his mouth. "Yummy!" he exclaimed. "Luffy! Get back here! Haven't you learned anything about just eating things without knowing what they are!" Chopper nagged as he rushed after Luffy. He transformed into his deer form and sniffed carefully at his surroundings. "Hmm it really does smell sweet." "Shishi," Luffy laughed as he stuffed his face, "Come on Chopper, try some! It's so good!" Luffy then proceeded to shove a whole glob of chocolate into Chopper's mouth. Soon enough Luffy and Chopper had devolved to having a Chocolate fight. Flinging pieces of chocolate at each other in between stuffing their faces. "No way…" Nami said with disbelief. "It is edible, the whole island is edible." "That's right Straw Hats. This is Mama's power and empire. Welcome to Chocolate Town. As you guys seem to have figured out this whole island is made from Chocolate. It's called Cacao Island." Pekoms said as he caught one of the flying chocolate pieces and began nibbling on it. "Each of the islands has a different specialization, this one's is chocolate but there's also Nut Island and Gummiland and a bunch of others." Zoro felt his mouth drop. Of all the strange things, this was crazier than Skypiea. A giant sweet island. All he could think was yuck. He didn't even like sweets. "Do they have a meat island?" Luffy instantly asked. "Of course not, you idiot! Mama only likes sweets!" Pekoms said and Luffy's face fell momentarily in disappointment. Chocolate Town itself was just as strange as the harbour. From the deck Zoro could see hundreds of people bustling around with baskets and children. But even the town was odd he thought. Not just the buildings that seemed to be edible but the people themselves were weird looking. Chopper appeared to be on the same train of thought as Zoro, "Whoa everyone looks so different here! I can smell a bunch of different species even minks. Do they all live here?" Chopper asked as peered at the town. "Yes, that's part of Mama's dream to make a place where everyone can live together, just like a wonderland." Pekoms said. "So cool!" Luffy exclaimed and he then began to wonder away from the ship and closer to town a grin spread across his face. Zoro jumped over the railing and landed gracefully in a crouch. Hmm, at least the ground wasn't sticky, he thought as he went to follow Luffy. "Now remember, this isn't a vacation. We need to get the supplies and leave as soon as possible, so hurry back to the ship!" Pekoms called to Nami. She had, along with Chopper and Brook, been changing clothes and sorting through hats and head coverings to make disguises. "I see you three are ready to go. Now what's taking Straw Hat and the swordsman so long to change?" Nami glanced at Chopper and Brook before replying, "Luffy and Zoro? Didn't you know they already left." "What?! They haven't listened to a thing I've said?!" the mink said furiously. "No! They better not cause trouble! What do you think will happen to me if anyone finds out I'm the one who brought you guys here?" "I'm sure it'll be fine." I hope, Nami thought. "Zoro's with Luffy, and as long as they don't get lost everything will be alright." "Pekoms! Pedro! You guys stay here and guard the ship. We'll go into town and buy some food and medicine to restock." Nami said pony tailing her hair and pulling a hat onto her head. Then Chopper, Brook, and herself climbed off the ship and headed towards the town. "How will we find Luffy and Zoro in all these people?" Chopper asked as he looked around and sniffed. "I can't even smell them over all the sugar in the air. Wow! All the shops are made of candy! Look Nami, that one has graham cracker walls!" "Don't worry, Luffy's gonna stick out like a sore thumb. We'll just follow the screams. It's Zoro we have to worry about." Nami replied. "But you told Pekoms that Zoro would help Luffy keep a low profile." Chopper protested, his face aghast. "Oh that? I was lying. He looked so concerned but as you should know, there's no use worrying about something you can't change. Luffy's a force of nature, there's really not much we can do about him getting into trouble." Nami said with a shrug. "AH! SOMEONE'S EATING MY CAFE! HELP!" "See? Case and point. Luffy's that way" Nami said pointing to the street off to their left. "Yohoho, our captain sure is something else. I don't know anyone else that could eat a building." Brook chimed in as they continued their stroll at a leisurely pace. "Nami, I think it best that Chopper and I shop while you go handle Luffy." "Sure, leave me with the hard job while you two go and spend all my hard-earned money," she huffed. "But you're right. If either of you two go with Luffy, you'll probably just get him into more trouble. You probably would have eaten that Cafe if you'd went with him earlier. If you find Zoro, make sure you keep a leash on him and drag him back to the ship." By the time Nami found Luffy, he looked like a balloon ready to burst. An official looking man dressed in blue with a baton was yelling at him. "Were you responsible for this?" the guard asked. "Who am I kidding? The evidence is all over your face! I'm going to have to write you up!" The man stepped menacingly forward. Just as Nami was preparing to step up and do some damage control, a feminine voice rose from the crowd. "How could you? You promised to eat up everything!" a young woman stepped past the murmuring crowd, hands on her hips. She was wearing a long white skirt with a pink frilly top. Her long brown hair was pulled into two ponytails and bangs covered her forehead. Nami blinked. Had Luffy made a new friend since they landed? It wasn't unusual, but even for him that was quick. Nami stared at the scene of the destroyed Cafe as the woman began talking again. "I was most proud of these Coco-biscuit bricks and you've just left them!" The woman picked up one of the said bricks and shoved it into Luffy's mouth. A cry of delicious rose from him as he fell backwards chewing. "Oh, I see my apologies Miss Pudding! So, this one was just a dismantler that was hired to take down the building?" the guard asked an awkward smile plastered on his face. "Yes sir. I hired him to eat the cafe before the ingredients went bad." the woman replied. Her name is Pudding? Nami thought. Huh, strange name. The guard put his hands up and began waving the crowd off, "I'm really sorry for the chaos caused everyone. This isn't a crime scene, so please go back about your business." The crowd dispersed quickly, and the guard turned to go before swiftly turning back around. "Before I forget, congratulations on your upcoming marriage Lady Pudding!" How lucky, Nami thought as she rushed towards Luffy. Did that guard call her a lady though? Luffy was still a pudgy ball sitting on the ground with his signature grin, "So your name's Pudding? Thanks, you really saved my butt!" Nami smacked him. "She wouldn't have had to save you if you could think with something other than your stomach for once! By the way, where's Zoro? I thought he was with you." "Shishishi, I didn't see him, so he probably got lost again." Luffy laughed as his ridiculously fast digestion kicked in and his belly shrunk. "Oh, wow you sure must run through food fast," Pudding noted as she stared at Luffy. "And I really should be thanking you for saying my creation was delicious!" A blush stained Pudding's face in pride. "I don't mean to be rude Pudding, I appreciate your kindness for saving this idiot," Nami said as she jerked her thumb at Luffy. "We would love to stay and chat with you longer, but we have somewhere urgent we need to be." "Where are my manners!" Pudding started. "I should have invited you home for tea not chatted out with you in the middle of the street! Father would be so ashamed! I haven't even asked you your names yet! I'm a terrible host!" Pudding exclaimed as she kneeled on the ground and folded her hands together in a prayer. "Father please forgive me!" "Haha you're a funny lady! I'm Luffy I'm gonna be kin-" Nami shoved her hand over his mouth muffling the rest of his response. "Luffy? Did you just say Luffy? Like Straw Hat Luffy?" Pudding asked her eyes wide in shock. Crap, Nami thought. "You two need to follow me quickly!" Nami gulped. Great just her luck, this could be bad. "Yup," Luffy said past her hand as he stretched himself out of Nami's grip. "Come on Nami let's go with Pudding she seems nice!" Nami opened her mouth to respond but Luffy and Pudding were already ducking into an alleyway. Seriously, how was Luffy not kidnapped as a child? It probably had a lot to do with Ace, she thought. Probably all to do with Ace in fact. When she slipped into the alley, Nami heard Luffy say, "What so you're Big Mom's daughter?! And you're gonna marry Sanji?" Luffy had his mouth open in surprise and Nami's jaw dropped too. Now that, that was not what she had expected. Oh boy this could be so bad. "You guys are Sanji's crewmates, aren't you?" Pudding asked as she grasped Luffy's hand. "What are you even doing here? How did you even make it past the tarte inspection?" "We came to get Sanji back!" Luffy said staring at Pudding as if he dared her to get in his way. "Oh, thank goodness!" Pudding sighed. "I've been so worried about Sanji since I met him. He's a wonderful gentleman, but I can tell that he's very sad. I don't want to bring him sadness as his wife, and I can already tell that his heart belongs to another."Pudding glanced at Nami and Nami felt herself blush. This lady must be a little misguided if she thinks I'm Sanji's love, she thought just as Pudding continued. "That's why I can't go through with this marriage." Nami found herself shocked at the last statement. What was Pudding going to do? Would she turn them in? "Here," Pudding said as she pulled a napkin out from her shirt pocket and began to draw, "If you follow this route…" She said showing Nami a series of island shaped dots and directions. "It's known only to us siblings. It should allow you to get to Whole Cake Island unnoticed." "But why would you want to help us?" Nami asked. "I guess you could say it's for my own selfish reasons." Pudding stated as she handed the napkin to Nami. "I've always dreamed of falling in love on my own. But Mama… she always arranges her children's marriages to bolster her pirate crew. But if I try to bow out of the wedding, Mama will never forgive me! If you guys steal the groom before we get married though? Well, there's nothing I could have done about that." Pudding finished, a small sly smile on her face. This was a girl after Nami's own heart. "Yosh! Okay Nami let's go back to the Sunny now! We've gotta find Sanji so he can cook me meat!" Luffy said tugging Nami back towards the main street. "Tomorrow, let's meet on the Southwest Coast of Whole Cake Island. I'll bring Sanji to meet you!" Pudding yelled after them. "Just follow the map!" ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ As soon as they returned to the mainstreet Nami had to talk Luffy out of slingshotting them across the entirety of Chocolate Town. Reminding him, with her fists, what the word stealth meant. They managed to make it back to the ship fairly quickly. Luffy was so focused on the proposition of seeing Sanji the next day that he didn't even look twice at another edible building. When they climbed up the rope onto the deck of Sunny Nami was surprised to see Zoro there. She figured they would have to search all over the island for him. Today really was turning out to be fairly lucky for them. "Captain! Navigator!" Brook called from over by the door to the bathroom, "We may have a problem." "Pekoms is missing." Pedro said appearing in the bathroom door. "What do you mean? He isn't here? Weren't you with him the whole time?" Nami asked incredulously. Well there went their luck. "Maybe he got lost or something," Zoro chimed in. "Zoro not even you could get lost guarding a ship," Chopper said. "Nami, Zoro, Brook, Luffy! Come quick there's something scrawled in the bathroom!" Pedro said. "What's it say?" Luffy asked as the crew all crowded together in the small bathroom to stare at something scratched in the tile floor. "Turnback." Brook read aloud. "How ominous. Yohoho, I'm getting chills down my spine." "A warning?" Nami questioned as she turned towards Pedro, "Did Pekoms write this?" "I honestly can't say Miss navigator" Pedro replied his paws tapping his sword restlessly, "I was guarding the ship when suddenly I heard a splash. Then something hit me over the head and I was knocked unconscious. When I awoke Pekoms was not on the ship and I found this in the bathroom." "Turnback, huh. Probably means something bads gonna happen if we keep going ahead." Zoro voiced a smile finding its way onto his face at the thought. "Wah how scary! Oi Zoro don't smile at that! I don't want anything bad to happen." Chopper cried as he rushed out of the bathroom. "Yosh!" Luffy said clapping his hands together in decision. "Everyone we're gonna continue on ahead and find Sanji. Things have just started getting interesting. Let's set sail!" ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Ring Ring Ring Ring "Hello," a deep voice answered, "This is Sweet Commander Cracker how can I help you?" A feminine voice flitted through the Den Den Mushi from the other line,"The strawhats have arrived. From what I counted there were at least two of them, it's possible there may be more though. I've sent them to the forest be ready brother." "Thank you for telling me. You've done so well, I'll take it from here, after all I wouldn't want anything to ruin your big day little sister." ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Author's Note: I don't know about anyone else but I really can't imagine Zoro eating some fancy sweet dessert. He seems more like a bacon-bourbon kind of guy to me. Originally I thought about cutting Pudding out completely from this story because of what I have planned. But, I think she's an interesting character that sets up some other interesting scenarios and reactions so I decided to keep her part present and intact. Let me know what you guys think. Just as a warning next chapter things are gonna start getting really canon divergent. I'd also like to give a big shoutout of thanks to Mythsandchaos for agreeing to be my beta reader for this story and helping me with this last chapter. Also just as a general note I'm going back to edit and clean up some of the earlier chapters just so they flow better. I know I'm the Queen of run on sentences so I'll be fixing that and doing minor grammar editing, but no adjustments to the plot or anything like that. Anyways next time you guys can look forward to the appearance of the mystery forest and finding out what Zoro was up to in Chocolate Town!