One Piece Chapter 135: Lapin

Heavy hooves pound through the thick snow as a voice apologizes, "My apologies, this is my fault." Two large, sturdy rams pull a sleigh rapidly across the snowy landscape. Dalton is driving the sleigh, with Vivi and Usopp riding in the back. Dalton explains, "I had heard the doctor came down from the mountain yesterday, so I assumed she wouldn't come down again for several days... But it seems I jumped too quickly to conclusions...!" Vivi reassures him, "Don't worry, it's not your fault!" Dalton replies, looking concerned, "The problem now is those two abnormally strong crewmates of mine. Even if we were to rush up the mountain, there's no way we could catch up to them!"

As the sleigh continues its journey, Usopp says, "So if the doctor's in Cocoa Weed right now, we have to hurry up and ask her to return back to the castle right away." Vivi agrees, "Yes... that's all we can do right now..." Dalton looks back over his shoulder and says, "Forgive me..." Usopp, feeling responsible, says, "Hm? It's my fault that this country doesn't even have enough doctors..." Vivi quickly corrects him, "What? That's not your fault, Dalton!" The sleigh speeds past a wooden signpost partially buried in the snow. The signs point in different directions, reading "COCOA WEED" and "BIGHORN". Dalton urges the rams forward, shouting, "In any case, let's hurry!" The sleigh kicks up a cloud of snow as it rushes past.

High up in the snowy mountains, a massive, round, white creature with rabbit-like ears and sharp claws leaps high into the air with its arms spread wide. Someone yells in surprise, "IT JUMPED!" The creature crashes down into the snow with tremendous force, creating a massive shockwave that sends snow flying everywhere. Sanji and Luffy, who is carrying a sick Nami on his back, are caught in the blast and thrown backward. Sanji yells, "WHOA!" as they tumble. A close-up shows the creature's large, sharp claws gleaming menacingly.

Sanji and Luffy recover and stare at the strange beast. Sanji, smoking his cigarette, says, "What in the world... How can it jump like that!? It's like a gorilla!" Luffy argues, "No, it's a polar bear!" Sanji retorts, "No, it's a goddamn rabbit! But didn't you just say it was a gorilla?" Luffy realizes, "This must be the 'Lapin' that Dalton was talking about!" The view pulls back to reveal that they are completely surrounded. Dozens of these giant, round rabbits are standing in the snowy forest, glaring at them. Sanji looks around and says, "There's so many of 'em!"

Sanji and Luffy stand back-to-back, surrounded by the Lapins. Sanji assesses the situation, "I guess it's expected of a snow creature, to be able to move this swiftly over thick snow... We're at a disadvantage here. Luffy! Don't lay a hand on any of them!" Luffy, confused, asks, "Why not?" Sanji explains seriously, "You may be unaffected, but the impact of every blow you deliver or receive, will be transferred over to Nami as well! So if that happens, she'll die for sure!" Nami is shown slumped on Luffy's back, looking pale and unconscious. Luffy grits his teeth, understanding the gravity of the situation, and says, "G-got it... I swear not to fight!" One of the Lapins opens its mouth wide, revealing sharp teeth, and roars, "RAWWWR!"

A Lapin swings its massive, clawed paw at them, growling, "GRRRR!". Sanji yells, "Just dodge for now! And run away!" Luffy, panicking slightly, asks, "Then what should I do!?" Sanji leaps into action, delivering a powerful kick to the Lapin's stomach. He shouts, "Dodge, shoot! (Flank Meat Shoot)". The impact sends the Lapin flying back. Luffy takes the opportunity to run, carrying Nami, but complains, "That's way too hard! But don't run too fast!" Sanji follows up with another swift kick, calling out, "Flanchet..."

Sanji lands back in the snow, but his feet sink deep into the powder. He looks frustrated, thinking, "Damn it... hard to get any good kicks, with both feet stuck in deep snow..." Suddenly, the ears of the surrounding Lapins twitch in unison. Without warning, the entire horde of giant rabbits leaps high into the air simultaneously, blotting out the sky. Sanji yells to Luffy, "They're coming all at once! I'll cover you so run to the forest!" Luffy sprints toward the trees with Nami on his back.

Sanji furiously kicks away the attacking Lapins, the sounds of impact echoing through the forest. He calls out to Luffy, "We have to shake them off somehow. If we were to seriously fight all of them, we'd be stuck here until the sun goes down!" Luffy continues to run, gritting his teeth and saying, "Damn!" A Lapin roars, "RAWWR!" as Sanji kicks it. Another Lapin lunges from behind, and Sanji barely notices in time, exclaiming, "!! Ah!" Nami is shown breathing heavily, her condition worsening. Luffy yells back, "Stop!" as he runs ahead. Sanji, still fighting, shouts, "I told you to leave them to me!" Luffy replies apologetically but firmly, "Sorry! This is a matter of life and death!"

Luffy spots a steep, snowy slope leading up the mountain. He calls out, "Hey Sanji, we can climb up from here!" Sanji, busy kicking another Lapin away, replies, "Alright, go on ahead!" Sanji delivers a massive kick that sends a Lapin crashing into the snow. The Lapins continue their relentless pursuit, leaping after them. Sanji and Luffy begin to run up the slope. Sanji warns, "They're still after us!" Luffy, focused on reaching the top, says, "Just keep running all the way to the top!"

Down at the coastline, near the towering drum-shaped mountains, a massive, bizarre ship emerges from beneath the snow and ice. The ship has a large castle-like structure built onto its deck and paddle wheels on the sides. A voice laughs triumphantly from the ship, "MAHA HAHA HA! Here at last!" A close-up reveals a man with a cylindrical tin-plate jaw and a crown, Wapol. He looks out at the island and declares, "At my beloved, Drum Kingdom!"

Wapol stands on the snowy shore, flanked by his two top subordinates, Chess and Kuromarimo, and a large, round, white hippo. The ground around them is littered with the bodies of defeated guards. Wapol scoffs, "Hmph... to think they'd put up watchguards in the short time I was gone... Opening fire on us? What fools..." He looks up at the towering drum mountains with a sense of nostalgia and pride. "Ahh... those grand, majestic mountains towering over all else as always! Chess! Is my castle alright?"

Chess, a tall man with a bow, and Kuromarimo, a man with a large afro, look up towards the mountain peaks. Chess replies, "It appears to be in good shape, Your Majesty." Wapol bursts into boisterous laughter, "MAHAHA HAHA!" He throws his arms wide, declaring, "MA HA HA HA HA! Then let us be off at once! Back to the castle! It's time to stop being a pirate and return to my life as a king!" Wapol mounts his large white hippo. He commands, "Onwards, Robson! What's the matter with you!? Are you still angry that I killed your brother? Stop grumbling! I'll give you a nice reward soon enough." The hippo grunts sadly, "Mofu...?" Wapol confirms, "That's right." A text box identifies the creature as "White Walkie (Wooly Hippo) Robson".

Robson the hippo looks depressed, letting out a soft "MOFU!". Suddenly, a panicked guard runs up to Wapol, shouting, "Your Majesty! I have an urgent report!" Wapol demands, "What is it!?" The guard points back and says, "It's those pirates from yesterday! Their ship is docked by the river!" Wapol is shocked, "What!?" His expression turns furious as he growls, "Those Straw Hats dare tread foot upon my kingdom!? Those scum have quite the nerve, after what they did to me...! Find and kill every last one of them at once!" The guard nervously replies, "Well, that's... none of them are presently on their ship... We're not sure where they went off to."

Kuromarimo and Chess stand together, analyzing the situation. Kuromarimo notes, "Looking at the footprints left behind in the snow, it seems they've headed for Big Horn, Your Majesty." Chess adds disdainfully, "What an incompetent bunch..." Text boxes formally introduce them: "Chief Magistrate of the former Drum Kingdom KUROMARIMO" and "Chief Staff Officer of the former Drum Kingdom CHESS". Wapol grins wickedly, his tin jaw gleaming. "Well done. Then we shall first head for Big Horn instead. Let us celebrate the rebirth of Drum Kingdom with their extermination!"

The sleigh arrives at a snowy village. A sign on a large building reads "STOOL". Dalton, Vivi, and Usopp are standing outside. Usopp yells in disbelief, "WHAT!? She already left!?" A text box identifies the location as "COCOA WEED". Inside the tavern, Dalton speaks with the locals. A man says, "We just missed her!?" A woman adds, "She treated me just a little while ago." Dalton asks urgently, "Are you looking for the doctor, Dalton? Yes, it's an emergency. Do you know where she went!?" A man sitting at a table replies, "I think I heard someone say that she left for Gyasta." Dalton repeats the name, "Gyasta?" Usopp asks, "Where's that?"

Inside the tavern, Dalton explains, "It's a village by the lake shore, much farther up north from here. Ice skating is quite popular there." Vivi urges them to move, "Well we don't have time to loiter around here forever! We should go there immediately!" Suddenly, the tavern door bursts open. A heavily injured and bleeding guard stumbles in, crying out, "Dalton, are you there!?" The villagers are shocked. One asks, "What is it? Wait, aren't you supposed to be on guard duty today...?" The injured guard gasps, "All the guards other than me were done in! The ship just... surfaced from below the sea all of a sudden and attacked everyone! You've got to come and help, Dalton! We-" Dalton interrupts calmly, "Calm down and speak. Who was it that attacked the guards?" The guard screams in terror, "IT WAS WAPOL! HE'S COME BACK!"

The villagers outside in the snow react with sheer terror to the news, gasping, "WAPOL...!?" Dalton asks, "Where is he right now!?" The injured guard continues his frantic report, "He's at your village! Big Horn!" Without hesitation, Dalton is seen riding furiously through the snow on a horse. He looks incredibly angry. Someone yells, "DALTON!" as he rides off. He thinks to himself, determined, "I have to settle things once and for all!"

Dalton rides hard through the blizzard. He thinks to himself, "I'm not doing this, for justice or other such noble intentions..." As he charges forward, his body begins to transform. He turns into a massive, muscular half-man, half-bison creature, tearing through the snow with incredible speed and power. He continues his thought, "After all, you and I... are guilty of the same crimes...!" A close-up shows his fierce, determined eye in his bison form as he thinks, "Just you wait, Wapol!"

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