Scholar of Strawhat Pirates

Sitting inside the cabin, the four were discussing as they introduced themselves to each other. Dalton then introduced Douglas to the crew:

"This is the son of the doctor that I was telling you about earlier—Douglas," Dalton said.

"Ehhhh, he's the son of the Witch Doctor?" Usopp accidentally blurted out, which made Douglas stare at him. Despite Kureha being called a witch, no one was brave enough to say it to her face.

"Ahhhhh, sorry, sorry, sorry," Usopp said, intimidated by Douglas's intense stare.

"It's alright. She really is a witch," Douglas replied with a smile, easing the tension. Meanwhile, Zoro stood nearby, training in Observation Haki as Douglas had mentioned earlier, while wearing Douglas' mask.

"Anyway, what are your roles in the pirate crew? Zoro said that he was the swordsman of the crew, so you must have your roles, right?" Douglas asked, intending to shift the focus of the conversation away from Zoro, as Dalton, Usopp, and Vivi looked at Zoro like he was some kind of idiot.

"Ahhhh, I'm the captain. I command more than 80 million people in our fleet," Usopp lied, as he always did—lying was like second nature to him.

"Wow, you're awfully weak for being a captain. Mind if I punch you hard?" Douglas asked, which made Usopp panic and fold instantly.

"Ahh, sorry for lying! I'm not the captain, I'm just a lowly henchman. I don't even know this pirate crew. I was just rescued from the sea!" Usopp said, groveling in front of Douglas, which made Douglas laugh, followed by Vivi and Dalton.

"Ahahahaha, you're really funny. But anyway, what is your true role?" Douglas asked again, lightening the mood. This time, there was no heavy atmosphere between them.

"I'm the sniper," Usopp answered proudly, showing his slingshot to Douglas, who examined it. Douglas pulled on the slingshot and noticed it wasn't using its full potential, considering it had only two strong strings.

Vivi, Usopp, Dalton, and Douglas continued talking until suddenly, Usopp realized that his friends had been gone for a long time, which made them panic, especially considering the freezing terrain.

"Zoro, Vivi, don't you think it's taking Luffy a long time to get back? Don't you think we should find them already?" Usopp suggested. Zoro stopped his Observation Haki training and removed the mask, which hit him with blinding light once again. Vivi, feeling guilty, was about to support Usopp when Douglas suddenly spoke.

"Don't worry, your friends are alright. Do you want me to accompany you to them?" Douglas offered. They accepted the invitation. Douglas then picked up the mask and put it on, prompting Zoro to complain.

"Oi, I'm training with that," Zoro said, but Douglas ignored him and started walking out. He was followed by Usopp and Vivi, which made Zoro follow them too—but not before putting on the shirt that Dalton had lent him. When Zoro came out, Douglas was waiting outside with Usopp and Vivi.

The four then trekked toward Drum Rock. As they walked, Usopp remembered what Zoro said earlier and, confused, decided to ask him.

"What did you mean by what you said earlier, Zoro?" Usopp asked, which also piqued Vivi's curiosity. Zoro looked at them, snapping out of his stupor, as he watched Douglas trekking the mountain while still wearing the mask.

"What?" Zoro replied, confused.

"You said earlier that you were using the mask for training? How would you train in that?" Usopp clarified.

"Ahh, that mask makes you blind—perfect for training your senses," Zoro answered casually. This explanation shocked Usopp and Vivi. It opened up a flood of questions for Douglas as they continued climbing Drum Rock.

Then, out of nowhere, Mudang appeared. Douglas had allowed him to roam freely earlier after they visited the Going Merry. His arrival made the climb easier. When Usopp and Vivi saw Mudang, their jaws dropped in surprise.

"What kind of creature is this?" Usopp asked as they all boarded Mudang's back.

"He's a White Walky, a famous creature that's native here," Douglas explained as he scratched Mudang's head, which made the creature visibly happy. Mudang then climbed Drum Rock effortlessly.

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After more than thirty minutes of climbing, they reached the castle at the top of Drum Rock. There, Douglas and the others dismounted from Mudang and started heading inside. Mudang also entered the castle, as he was getting hungry. Douglas then led them toward the dining hall, where the others were gathered.

"Ahhh, Douglas!" Chopper greeted him, being the first to see him, followed by the stares of Luffy, Nami, Kureha, and Ace. Vivi, who was behind Douglas, immediately ran toward Nami, hugged her tightly, and burst into tears. This made Nami feel a little guilty for causing her so much worry.

Douglas, who was staring at this scene, felt deeply moved. He suddenly remembered the entire anime of One Piece and recalled everything the Straw Hats had experienced—and the countless lives they would go on to touch. It was something Douglas wanted to be part of too: the adventure and camaraderie of the Straw Hats—the kind of bond where one would not hesitate to sacrifice themselves for the sake of another.