Mission #1: PoPo Panic!

[donnervark]

"Not used to the cold are ye?" The captain of the Saphire Frost cackled loudly as he approached one of his only two passengers, Belladona Loveless. Just his mention of the cold made her shiver more, an action that caused her bushy red afro to shake violently.

"Goodness no! Not this cold anyways!" She was bundled up in a thick blue winter coat lined with fluffy white fur. The coat when down to her thighs, beneath which her legs were similarly covered in thick winter pants tucked into furry boots that made her feet look twice their size. Her afro actually kept in the heat on her head, so she just needed a pair of earmuffs to cover those extremities. She had to wrap a bandanna around her arm with the Navy insignia on it as per regulations. She couldn't fit the stupid ballcaps over her afro, and she refused to cut her hair for anything. So the bandanna had to do well enough. Lastly a pair of incredibly thick mittens hid her slender hands from sight completely. Even with all that though, the air had a bite to it that was impossible to ignore.

"Don't worry about it! Plenty of ways to keep warm. 'Ere! Tuck this into the pouch 'round yer midsection!" The captain tossed Bella a hot water pack, which she stuffed into her coat gladly. "So yer ere about the Bear ain't ya?" The captain settled next to her, leaning on the rail as she looked out at the island steadily approaching. Ice Nine was covered in a fog at the moment, but not so thick as to be a hazard.

"Unfortunately yes." Bella sighed. She hadn't expected her first assignment to be killing a rabid polar bear, but it definitely beat scrubbing decks as most Recruits spent their time doing. Fortunately her experience as a doctor made her qualified to ensure the Bear's illness wasn't something more severe. Add on her Devil Fruit, and HQ decided it was a perfect, low-risk opportunity to see what she could do, and give the Marines a good image for addressing a local issue such as this. "Nasty business it is. I hear he's something of a legend for the island?" The captain was a native, usually hauled Seal Blubber and fishmeat from the island, trading it for other necessities. So she hoped maybe he would have more information for her. Ultimately though, she was just bored. The only other passenger was a rather flamboyant man who fancied himself a wrestler. And due to the cold, she spent most of her time below-decks and hadn't spoken much to him.

"Aye...O Pontus Polestar. Biggest...meanest...and damn strongest bear on the island!" The captain lit up his pipe as he spoke, distorting his speech, but not enough to keep Bella from understanding him. "Folks around call 'im PoPo! Chieftan tried to tame him...for the Deep Freeze Bear guards...but aye...he's a wild heart....needs to be in the wild. Needs ta be free to live as us bears should! Gwoohohohoho!" The captain laughed, slapping his own large gut. Bella laughed with him. The captain was a cheerful sort, liked to make jokes about his own weight. But eventually the laughter died, and a grim face replaced the smile he wore before. "Sad it is...but I imagine it can't be 'elped. Bear like that goes feral...and he's got ta be put down I reckon..."

"If there is a way I'd take it. But yes...you are right. Not much to be done about a rabid animal besides end its suffering." It was nature. As a doctor she knew that sometimes death was simply the way of things, she took neither pleasure in it, nor allowed it to burden her more than necessary. She only minded because from the reports the animal had a lot of significance to the people of the island. Furthermore, if it was rabid, on such a small, isolated ecosystem, the infection could spread quick. And since they relied so heavily on seal blubber, if that species when rabid as well, it could drastically affect their economy. The captain seemed satisfied.

"Good to hear M'lady." He groaned and stretched his back. "Well! May as well get to the wheel! Gonna be pulling in any minute from now....first stop...Sleet Town! Trade center of our gorgeous ball of snow here! Gwoohohohoho!"

[York]

Viper Hall, Wild Horse, Vitamin Jones, Crimson Star, Richard Idol. A list of professional wrestlers of old who have permanently etched their names in the history books for their extravagant looks and flawless hooks. But there was one other thing those legends all had in common. Before these mere men became immortals in the hearts of thousands, they have all, at one point or another during their illustrious careers, wrestled and conquered bears. It is widely considered among historians that this acted as their leaps from regular stardom into super stardom. Pitting the limits of humanity against one of nature’s greatest killing machines, and showing the beauty of professional wrestling all it one swoop. It was the stuff of fairy tales.

And now it was Adrian Idol’s turn to take the very same leap. When he would arrive at Ice Nine, he would get the opportunity of a lifetime to fight a bear. Ever since he heard news of a bear running rampant on a nearby island, Idol hadn’t been able to wipe off the excited grin on his face, or stop bouncing from one foot to the other. The bear in question seemed to be pretty popular on the island for its wild nature and imposing strength, and while Idol didn’t bother reading most of the news article, he did catch that it had been given a nickname by the locals. This was a good sign. Defeating a run of the mill bear was already an impressive feat, but defeating a bear with a reputation like this was just what Idol had in mind to launch him into the same league as the legends of old.

Having been in the North Blue for a little under a month, Idol, and his clothing habits had some trouble acclimatizing to the weather. His custom made, stylish leather coat had to be put aside for a blander yet warmer olive parka that reached down to his knees. It was clear that it was made for someone taller than Idol, but he had to work with what he had. Even worse, his platinum blonde hair was now hidden under a matching puffball hat. But worst of them all was his defined torso was now buried under layers of sweaters, shirts, and undershirts. At least with a coat this large, he could withdraw his arms inside and rub himself if he got too cold. Adamant on keeping both his deceivingly warm tights and his wrestling boots, Idol had to live with the fact that he wouldn’t die of cold, but wouldn’t be able to show off most of his body anymore. At least not until he got inside someplace warm, and frankly, the lower deck of this boat wasn’t cutting it. Such was the price for traveling in the North Blue. You get to cross paths with bears and become a big star, but you have to cover up your body for the most part.

But it would all be worth it. Idol’s excitement was the reason he wasn’t below deck getting chummy with the others on board. As soon as they would docked, Idol wanted make a mad dash to find the bear called PoPo, defeat it with his wrestling arts in a timely, yet memorable fashion; and then find a warm place to rest and show off the fruits of his labor. Perhaps save some time later to fraternize with the captain and red afroed woman on board. Idol wasn't intentionally avoiding them, but seeing as he didn't want to waste a single moment on this trip, he stayed above deck the whole time.

"I'll make it up to them later" he thought, running his hands over his body under his coat and chuckling, "I'll have a hell of a story to tell them, that's for damn sure."

[donnervark]

Bella suppressed another shiver as the Captain headed to his work, and hugged the water bottle close to her midsection. The island was close now, but far enough that she didn't feel like just standing there staring. Her bushy hair bounced as she looked about, dancing along with the gentle, frigid breeze. Her bright golden eyes fell on her fellow passenger, whom she'd seen very little of. Even through his heavy layers of clothing, the man could not hide his eagerness to be ashore. She shared that wish for sure. Being a Devil Fruit user herself she preferred to have stable ground beneath her feet when she had the choice. His eagerness seemed a little more youthful and directed though. She chuckled as she watched him practically dance in place.

"Careful boy, you may set the deck on fire." She spoke jokingly, hoping to find a distraction from the cold. "Though...a fire right now might be pleasant." She laughed, taking another look at the island. They were very close now, and closing faster each second. Looking back to Adrian, she found it hard to guage him. With all the clothing she couldn't tell what sort of man he was. His features were striking and masculine, but nothing incredibly noteworthy. Though given the thickness of their furs, he couldn't be overly large beneath them. She'd barely had time to investigate him, before the ramp was being lowered onto the pier. "Well. I'm sure we will see each other on the island." She let him go first, as he appeared quite excited to do so. "Behave yourself now." She commented with a smile as he took off, and started down the plank, and onto the pier.

Bella's mind was a little preoccupied. As she walked the redhead took in the sights, watching the sturdy islanders hefting massive crates of fish and blubber down the pier to the varying ships tied there. She was astonished with how they could be out with little more than sweaters and heavy clothing. The cold was biting and penetrating, yet they seemed to barely notice.

"Excuse me? Are you the harbormaster?" Bella asked as she approached a tall, slender man who looked busy with a heavy book, chronicling various crates. He spun to meet her, not a startled movement, rather a severely abrupt one.

"Oh! Why yes! Ha! And you must be..." He spoke quickly, and sounded like one of the most cheerful people she'd met. While most of his face was obscured by a heavily furred ski-mask, a long red nose protruded from its depth, and a pair of beady eyes blinked at her rapidly. "Oh! Your bandana! You must be from the marines then?" Bella nodded, and he clapped his hands. "Oh good! We've been waiting! Hold on the chief ordered a Sleigh for you right away!" Bella quirked her head as he waved over to someone who appeared to be a helper, whispered a few words to the boy, and sent him off scampering.

"Excuse me? A sleigh?" She rubbed her arms. "I was under the impression that I'd be heading out right away? Will the sleigh be able to track the bear?" She admitted she wasn't a hunter, nor had experience hunting Polar Bears. However, she imagined a sleigh would not be very stealthy. It was the harbormasters turn to quirk his head.

"Oh! Oh my no! Ha! We were told you would be a doctor or have medical training?" Bella nodded, not really sure where he was going with this. "Oh! Oh good! Well you see we've avoided casualties so far. Old PoPo hasn't come too close to town...yet...ha...but!" The man rubbed his mittens together nervously. "We had a bite just yesterday..." Bella sighed. That was poor luck. She couldn't control the speed of a ship, but if she'd been there sooner, perhaps she could have done something. "Oh! Oh don't worry the boy isn't dead! But he's got a nasty infection...and I hate to say we've been out a doctor....our Islands only one was...well...PoPo's first victim." Bella understood.

"So your chief wants me to see if I can save the child first?" That was simple enough. It was more a miracle that a child survived a bite from a massive, adult bear. Rabies should be treatable if it was this early. Just as the Harbormaster was nodding in agreement, a sleigh drew up to the docks, drawn by a man comically rounded out by his layered clothing. She imagined if he fell from the drivers seat, he may simply roll away. "Very well then. I'm sure the bear can wait. I will look forward to a bit of warmth in the interim. Have a pleasant day Mister?"

"Oh! Oh just call me Harby! Everyone does...ha!" Bella smiled and stepped up to the sleigh. If everyone on Ice Nine was this cheerful, she may be able to forget the cold.

[York]

"Careful boy, you may set the deck on fire."

Idol turned to face the source of the line, smiling when he saw it was the afroed woman he’d seen earlier.

Dismissing her bandana as a mere accessory, Idol assumed that, because of her afro, she was an entertainer in the same vain as the Soul King. He imagined an entire line of women much like her with afros of all sorts of vibrant colors, singing songs about victory or love. She probably wasn’t as large as her outfit implied, but it honestly didn’t matter. The hair was what people would want to see, and it drew Idol’s attention like a magnet. Idol pat his head wondering what he would look like with such a hairstyle.

He deeply wanted to comment on how he would be enough to melt the entire island with his hotness, or something about how strong he was, but thought against it. He needed to save his the best material for the bear, as he would never stoop so low as to rehash material. There would be time to throw pleasantries back and forth later, in a warmer and more inviting environment. Perhaps they could discuss hairstyles, and trade tips. But for now, he would keep the interaction short with a smile and a nod.

As soon as they had docked, Idol approached the plank that lead to the island, continuing his little dance and deep breaths as he gazed at the snowy landscape. Idol had never seen so much white at once, it was almost blinding. Somewhere on this island is the first step to the hearts of millions. His grin grew wider as more visions of him besting the bear filled his mind. Maybe the island folk would name their children after him to show their appreciation, maybe they’ll build a statue. Well the time for waiting was over, the time for action was now.

The moment that it was safe to do so, Idol burst into a sprint down and through the pier. Hopping over the buckets and around the crates. He was a dynamo in human’s clothing. The sooner he found the bear, the sooner he would be out of both these heavy clothes and killer weather, and the sooner he would be nestled comfortably within the bosom of history. The snow was fairly deep but that didn’t stop him. The coat he was wearing was hindering his leg movements, but that didn’t stop him. The wind was starting to pick up, and was starting to numb Idol’s nose and cheeks but that didn’t stop him. With all the excitement and confidence he had built up over the past few days, there was nothing on this island that was going to stop him from finding PoPo and give it a beating the likes of which he had never seen.

These thoughts came to a quick stop when Idol spotted something out in front of him. He slowed down and stopped as a polar bear drawn carriage approached him from the distance. His jaw almost dropped. The huge white beast was completely under the coachman’s control, not even showing a shade of disobedience. Was this island full of people so powerful that they were able to turn polar bears, nature’s ultimate killing machine, into docile servants?

Idol’s posture fell into a slouch, as he brought a tucked hand to his mouth and unconsciously started to bite at his fingernails. This polar bear was already hulking, and looked as though it could tear through Idol as though he were paper. How would the young blonde fair against one that was wild and on a rampage? The idea of quietly dropping the hunt and leaving the island in its entirety flashed through his mind momentarily. The world is a big place, there’s bound to be bigger and stronger bears elsewhere, and Idol would be able to fight those. Nobody would even know that he was on the island. If he played his cards right, he might be able to convince people that gave it his all… that he came so close to winning but lost in the end…

No. Deep down, Idol knew that he had to see this through. The chances of crossing paths with creatures bigger and stronger than a bear was guaranteed in a world so vast, and running away from them wouldn’t do him any favors either. This bear was an opportunity that had fallen into his lap, an opportunity that may never come up again. Making up stories wasn’t going to get him any closer to the WBCW World Heavyweight Championship, nor would it get him any closer to proving wrong all those horrid rumors that landed him on this island to begin with. If he ran away now, he would forever regret this moment. No matter what he achieved, or who he beat, he would never forget the day he chickened out.

Idol dropped his hand from his mouth and slowly stood tall again. The carriage had gone past him while he was in thought, and as he snapped back into reality, the cold suddenly hit him again. “Whoa! How long have I been standing here?” he asked, rubbing himself under his large coat, “I don’t have time to freeze, I’ve got a bear’s ass to kick.” With that, he returned to his run. There was a town not too far away, gathering intelligence there would be a wise move. After today, neither PoPo, nor the islanders of Ice Nine would ever forget the name of Adrian Idol.

[donnervark]

As Bella settled into the sleigh she sighed, adjusting herself as best as she could manage. Her wings were incredibly uncomfortable beneath the heavy clothing, but there wasn't much to be done about it. Keeping them out would assuredly make her very cold...very fast.

"Wait! Hold the sleigh!" A panicked voice sounded a short distance away, drawing Belladona's attention. She looked out the window to see a pretty woman hurrying towards the sleigh. She was carrying a large bag, and was clothed in a strange bit of garb. "Hold on please!" The woman came to a stop, panting from her sudden sprint. "Is there room? Are you heading to Ice Town?" The sleigh driver responded silently. "Oh great! Here you are!" After paying, she climbed inside and settled in opposite of Bella.

"Hello there. Heading to the clinic as well?" The woman removed her heavy hood, revealing a gorgeous, shapely face surrounded with thick, curly blonde hair. Her big pink eyes looked almost over sized for her thin face, but it gave her a youthful appearance that made it hard to judge her age. Her outfit was somewhat bizarre. It was a heavy winter outfit, but apparently designed to still look like a fashionable dress. The skirt was designed in layers that made it difficult to tell what sort of figure she possessed, and the top was fashioned with a heavy fur cloak that fell around her shoulders. The whole ensemble was a pale seafoam color, with pure white fur lining everything. She smiled warmly.

"Oh my no! I'm an entertainer you see!" She produced a small harp from her bag. "I came here with my father...oh my!" She blushed. "Heavens I forgot to introduce myself! I'm Tabitha! Tabitha Brooch." She fluttered her mitten-covered fingers over the Harps chords, producing a pleasant series of ascending notes. "Hehe, apologies. Can't do much with these!" She held up her mittens with a smile. "I promise I'm very good!" Bella smiled in turn. The woman's mood was infectious. She seemed completely unnaffected by the cold.

"You two ready? Then off we go!" The sleigh driver took off, and the pair were on their way.

"How lovely. I didn't think traveling entertainers would be common here due to the weather...how are the people enjoying you service?" Bella asked, trying to create some pleasant conversation to make the trip go more quickly.

"Oh you'd be amazed! They don't get many entertainers, so I'm making a killing!" Tabitha's mood suddenly shifted. "It seems they need all the distraction they can get these days. You know...what with the bear attacks?"

"You've been here long enough to know about that?" Bella's curiosity was piqued. She appreciated any information she could get. Intel had been scarce. Really it was a straightforward job, but she didn't like going into anything blind, and she left nothing to chance if she could help it.

"Oh yes. One can't go three steps without hearing talk of the Great Pontus Polestar going savage....they don't like to talk about it. But there is little else to discuss." Tabitha sighed. "I hear the islands head Chieftan hasn't left the Deep Freeze since the attacks started. He's busy trying to find a new doctor for the island." Tabitha stopped for a moment, as if lost in thought. "That's why you are here right? To deal with the bear?" Bella quirked an eyebrow. That was a rather astute assumption.

"What makes you think that?"

"Your armband?" Tabitha motioned towards it, and Bella smiled. Of course. That was obvious to any who recognised the Marine's insignia. "My late husband was a privateer...oh don't worry he worked with the Marines. But I got used to noticing little things like that." Bella nodded. That made sense at least.

"You are very honest Tabitha. Yes. Since you've already assumed my reason for being here, it won't hurt to tell you. But please try not to spread it around? I don't want to prematurely worry or excite the people until the situation is resolved." Bella adjusted herself again. "There's a sick child in Ice Town. I'm to see to his recovery, then hunt Pontus down before he injures anyone else." Tabitha blinked a couple times.

"Are you a doctor then?" Bella nodded in response. Something flashed across Tabitha's face, like a bit of contemplation that seemed a little more intense than was necessary. But Bella dismissed it.

"Indeed. Hopefully it is only a case of rabies. I'm here in case its something worse. But that isn't likely as far as I can tell." She leaned back. Rabies was straightforward, but on such a small, contained ecosystem, anything worse could be a huge problem. Everything here relied on everything else in some way, thus one species being affected drastically, could cause a chain reaction that might wreak havoc on the islands economy and health.

"Well I do hope the best for both you and the boy. I do think I might take a nap before we hit the town. Wake me up when we are close?" Bella nodded to Tabitha, and casually observed as she used her hood as a pillow, and drifted off into a softly snoring nap. Bella didn't feel like napping, so she contented herself to observing the countryside as they traveled.

[York]

The sign read ‘Sleet Town’, not that Idol read it. It wasn’t that he couldn’t read, rather it was his running speed combined with the island’s climate that caused irritation in his eyes, leading him to squint. Besides, being new to the island, knowing this particular town’s name did him no good nor did it do him any harm. He just wanted information, and here was as good a place as any to start. He first considered looking for some type of authority figure and trying to squeeze some information out of them, but he quickly abandoned the idea. They would try to talk him out of it. The bastards.

As he scurried down the streets, Idol caught glimpses of the buildings around him. He stopped and stared at one particular establishment, his eyes going wide. The sting from the wind made him curse, and bring his eyes back to a squint, but he got the information he needed. From the sign hanging above the door, Idol was able to deduce that this was the carriage rental place. The owner must know a thing or two about bears, maybe he knew where PoPo was. Using the coat’s sleeves for a change, Idol opened the door and was immediately met with warmth. Slamming the door behind him, Idol threw off his coat and basked in the room’s warmth. Falling to his knees, he began rubbing his cheeks and filling his lungs with inviting, warm air.

Inside, the clerk, an older looking man in a light coat and a toque that covered him down to his eyebrows, stared disapprovingly at the wrestler. With a sigh, he put on an insincere smile and approached the stranger, speaking in a manner that matched the room’s warm temperature. “Hello sir. Are you looking to rent one of our carriages today?”

Idol, feeling his cheeks and fingers flush with life once more, stood up and patted his knees. “You know a thing or two about polar bears, right?” This question caught the clerk off guard. His expression changed to one of confusion but he did nod. “Yes, sir. With our extended knowledge on polar bears, as well as our years of innovation in the field of carriages, we are able to provide top quality ser-” Idol quickly shot up a hand to interrupt, frustrating the clerk.

“Look, we’re both busy men, so I’ll make this short and sweet. I’m hunting the bear called PoPo. I want you to tell me if you’ve seen him, and tell me where he is.” The clerk’s smile almost fell off his face, but he caught himself. This weird tourist could be of use. Suddenly, he began clapping his hands and jumping up and down. “Oh joy, oh joy” he said, much to Idol’s surprise, “We’ve been waiting for someone to take care of that menace for eons now. It sometimes seems like our small island is forgotten by the outside world in our time of need” He turned away and sobbed loudly, moving his arms in such a way to resemble wiping away tears. This lasted for precisely 3 seconds, after which he turned around and clasped his hands together. He spoke with enthusiasm to rival a child on Christmas morning, “but like a ray of light at the end of the tunnel, a brave young man comes to save the day!” Idol puffed out his chest and smacked it with his fist, “Yeah, that’s why I’m here. I’m a professional wrestler, I’m more than capable of handling a bear.” The clerk took this news well. “Professional wrestlers are experts in the field of combat, and have been conquering bears since the very beginning. And with my skills, I am more than enough to beat PoPo” he said, any sign of uncertainty long vanished. Idol flexed both arms and flared his non-existent lats.

The clerk was now beaming. “Oh thank you, thank you, young man.” He said, patting Idol’s shoulders. “When I first saw you, I knew that you had something in you. A young man as strong and handsome as yourself should have no problem with that blasted bear.” At the complement, Idol smiled smugly. Yeah, he was all of those things. With the wrestler all buttered up, the clerk knew that it was time to seal the deal. “There was news that he was around Ice Town, you can rent one of our carriages and get there without exerting yourself.” As though out of nowhere, the clerk withdrew a pamphlet showing the various carriages and styles available to the public. “Because I like you, I’ll give you a big discount. Only 500 Beries!”

“Oh, I don’t have any money” Idol said, now engaged in a different pose with his arms over his head and his hands interlocked. “When you’re out fighting, you don’t need it. All that jingling and weight gets in the way, you know?”

Moments later, Idol was scurrying out the door, escaping the clerk’s outraged rant on wasting time and being a no good bum. Throwing his coat over his head, Idol gave the establishment a dirty look. “Who needs you? I’ve got the information I came for” Cocking his nose under his coat, Idol looked around for any sign that may point him in the direction of Ice Town. Maybe PoPo had already come and gone, but people there would definitely have even more information. Idol was so proud of himself, looking for clues and finding things out like a detective in a stage play. Realizing just how close he was to getting his mitts on that bear gave Idol that excited feeling he had on the boat earlier. If anything, it got his mind off the cold.

[donnervark]

When the sleigh arrived, Tabitha left quickly. Giving a polite, albeit rushed parting, the woman hurried off into town. Bella didn't mind as she had other, more important matters to attend to. Apparently news traveled faster than the Polar Bears did, as people were already aware of her arrival, and a handful were prepared. A small group of people awaited her only a few meters from the sleigh. After a few words, they identified themselves as family of the sick boy, and showed her very quickly to the hospital...if it could be called that. This was a small island, with a small population, so one could not expect a grand facility to await the winged beauty, but the building she entered was little more than a two story home. Good sized, but it had more the feeling of a rustic healers-den than a place of science and medicine. As she moved inside, an old woman, the boys grandmother gripped the fur of Bella's coat.

"Please lady. An old woman shouldn't have to bury her grandchild..." Bella knelt down and took the elder's hands in hers.

"Don't worry Oba-Chan. You're grandson is going to grow up as strong as a Polar Bear." She flashed her warmest, most assuring smile. "And that's a promise!" She squeezed the old woman's hand and headed inside. The warmth was like a big soft blanket wrapping around her as Bella shut the door. She had to hurry and peel off her heavy coat lest she sweat herself dry. As the buxom redhead did so, she took in her surroundings, and was pleasantly surprised. Though the outside looked rustic, the inside was equipped with modern equipment. The rich aroma of spices and medicinal herbs flooded her nose, at the same time that the bubbling of gently simmering broths filled her ears.

"Oh my! Thank goodness they told me you would be here soon!" Bella turned to face a small young man as he slid down a ladder that descended from a cylindrical bookcase built into the ceiling. He wore a thick grey sweater and coveralls, and had more the look of a worker than a doctor. His short curly black hair looked unkempt, and his expression was clearly weary from exhaustion. "Salutations!" He said with no small amount of cheer as he approached, wiping his hand on his clothing before extending it. Bella shook it with a smile.

"Greetings to you as well. Belladona Loveless, and you are?"

"Oh me? I'm Hash. I was training as Doctor Boogod's apprentice...before..well...his accident." Bella had to absorb that information for a second.

"Wait...no offense...but the island had only one doctor with one apprentice?" She did not mean to sound insulting to this apprentice. She was sure he was capable, but not having a trained medical professional was dangerous for such a hostile environment. She'd heard that the doctor had been killed, but had expected him to leave behind at least a handful of trainees to attend to matters. Hash didn't seem to take offense. He just nodded and rubbed his hair in a beleaguered fashion.

"Aye I am all we've got." Hash looked around with a sigh. Bella could tell he was making do. But she started to notice little things...the untidy nature of the hospital...the seemingly chaotic variety of experiments and chemicals being worked with. Hash was in over his head. "To be honest...I'm not sure how long I can keep this up. Boogod was a genius Ma'am. I want to be a doctor, but even he said I lack the natural talent."

"Talent comes naturally Hash. Skill comes from practice. Both are equally valuable, one just requires more work." Hash looked at her with a smile.

"Boogod always said something like that." He grinned. "I think he'd have liked you. He never put me down. Just told me I'd have to work for it." Bella smiled, but Hash started, as if just remembering something very important. "Oh! Gods I'm dense! Here we are chatting while a life is at stake! Please follow me!" Bella refrained from mentioning she'd let it slip herself, and followed the young man as he showed her to the second floor, where the patients stayed. It took only a few moments, but she was led into a room. It was small, but much more clean than the outside areas. The child laid buried under layers of blankets, on a cot placed near the fireplace. "He's been having a rough go of it. Though he's not exhibiting the normal signs of rabies. I confess we don't get it much here, at least not in my lifetime. But from the sightings of Pontus match with what I've read, so it has to be that right?"

"Perhaps. Hopefully so..." Bella pulled out her own personal satchel of medical supplies, and put on a pair of gloves. Very gently she pulled back a few layers of blankets, and rolled the child over. Immediately, she pulled her hand away. "Hash." She flashed the young man a deadly look. "This is NOT rabies." The boys skin had lost almost all color, and his veins were plainly visible. Deep blue bruising spider-webbed out from his veins, and his eyes were glossed over, as though he were blind. Furthermore, his lips had turned deep blue as well, but ringed with a sickly green. Bella was a practiced woman. Though she had not been very far from Loguetown in her lifetime, she had never seen nor heard of any case of Rabies or any of its variants that looked like this. Hash had become very quiet. Bella could almost hear him wringing his hands. Carefully she pulled back the boys lips. He was breathing steadily, but very slow and lightly. The sight of teeth caked in green plaque-like build up solidified her assertion. This was no case of Rabies she'd ever seen, or heard of.

"It....it isn't a plague is it?" The trepidation in Hash's voice was evident, for good reason. A small island like Ice Nine could not suffer a plague and survive, not easily anyways. Drastic measures would likely be required, and the World Government may even find it necessary to step in.

"Hash would you please fetch me five vials? Equal sized and please fill them with a saline solution." Bella asked plainly, refusing to answer his question until she knew for sure what she was dealing with. She had a vague suspicion, but she had to be sure. In a few moments Hash returned with the set of vials in a small glass rack. "Thank you Hash." She pulled from her kit five swabs and five smaller vials. "Pay attention please." Each vial had a clear liquid within, and one by one she added a few drops to the vials of saline solution. "Each one of these has a chemical of a very basic, but necessary nature. When the chemical comes into contact with certain groups of toxins, it will react and change color. If no toxin is present, and we are indeed dealing with an illness or disease, no change will occur." Hash remained silent, fascinated by the simple task Bella was performing. One by one she gently swabbed the boys mouth, and placed it within a vial, stirring it around. One by one, the vials tested negative, with no change....until the last. As she stirred, the water turned violently purple." Bella sighed.

"What does that mean!?" Hash practically exploded from the tension. Bella looked at him in silent contemplation, then back to the boy, before returning his blankets to their original position and peeling off her gloves.

"It means Hash...that Pontus Polestar is not savage. He did not go rabid."

"But....then why? Why would he attack where he normally avoids humans?" Hash looked almost frantic, somewhat excited even....perhaps because the threat of plague was no longer present. Bella placed a hand on his shoulder before walking past him.

"Because he's been poisoned. The last vial tests for man-made compounds, complex toxins that are designed to avoid detection in the first place." She didn't want to admit that the only reason she had that chemical test kit in the first place, is because she suspected the World Government may already have used such tactics in the past. She wasn't about to harm their reputation, but she wasn't going to let anyone die for their mistakes either. "Which means someone either wanted to kill Pontus in the most horrible way imaginable...."

"Or what?!" Hash practically groaned out his question as Bella started to dress again.

"....or they wanted to drive him mad...." She could have gone further. But at this point most of her suspicions were just that, suspicions and speculation. But if Pontus went berserk, and started attacking people and wildlife, spreading the toxin through the green plaque on his teeth....well the island would likely never recover. Tourism would plummet, and the natives would either die slowly, or be forced to leave for lack of food. "Hash." Bella turned to the young man and cupped his face in her hands. He seemed like a fine young man, and she would use that. She couldn't let panic spread through the island before she got to the bottom of this. He started blushing immediately due to her close proximity, and the warmness of her countenance. "I need you to do something for me. It is very important."

"A...anything!"

"I need you to keep what happened here secret. Even if the Islands chieftain comes knocking, I need you to claim only that I have verified that no plague or illness is present, and they need not worry. Can you do that?" If someone did this on purpose, it was impossible to know who. She couldn't tip them off to the fact that she knew about their poison. She had surprise to rely on, and one other piece of evidence.....Pontus Polestar. If she could find him, then maybe she could trace the source of the toxin.

"Y...yes! I mean, yes Ma'am....I can do that..." Bella smiled and hugged Hash's face to her bust, letting him linger there comfortably for a moment with a smile, before leaving him dumfounded...with a smile of his own. He seemed like a good kid, and she had no doubt he would eventually replace the good doctor Boogod one day. "Keep up on your work Hash. Take care of the boy, and be ready to synthesize a vaccine when I come back!" And with that she returned to the biting cold.

[York]

There it was. Idol’s eyes grew wide and his heartbeat hastened. A few hundred yards away, through the snow, through the wind, Idol could see something big lumbering about. While most of its form was white, the black nose and red stained mouth and paws made it obvious to anyone who was paying any attention. The signs Idol had run past warning civilians of polar bears had not been just for decoration. The bear in question was far larger and looked wilder than the one drawing the carriage earlier, a clear indicator that this had to be the savage PoPo Idol was looking for.

Idol took a knee. Not a useful hiding tactic, as his olive colored coat made him stand out like a buoy in the snowy field. Once he realized this he stood tall again. “How would I approach this thing?” he asked himself. Purportedly, these are things you plan before you start on your hunt. Idol was paying for his ill preparedness, as all he could do was watch the bear swing its mighty arms about, and aimlessly roar into the air. If he was fighting something that Idol couldn’t see, he was probably winning.

Idol remembered being told that bears knew a number of wrestling holds, and if he were to present himself properly, the bear would acknowledge him as an equal and would grapple with him. From there, it would be a matter of getting behind the bear, knocking him over, and locking him in a hold to put it to sleep. Picking him up and slamming him was out of the question, and the idea Idol had the striking power to knock PoPo out was pitifully laughable. Whatever Idol had to do to win, he’d have to do it fast, because the strength difference and environment would turn the tables against him so fast it would make his head spin

Idol could now feel his heartbeat in his throat, and found it harder to breathe. It was like he had fallen asleep with his head under the covers. He couldn’t fight like this, he needed to calm himself down. Taking long, deep breaths, Idol started to pull his coat over his head. It would only get in his way in his most dire of moments. Any protection it may have provided from the cold would come at the cost of his mobility, something Idol had relied on using as a shorter man. It didn’t matter though. When it came to fighting a bear, a single attack was all it would take to take the fight out of anybody. Standing topless in the cold, Idol raised his taped fists. Already he could feel the feeling in his fingertips going, and the wind pressing on his bare chest like a weight. Just further motivation to end this quickly.

Idol’s action, along with the dark colors he was wearing, got the wild bear’s attention. Standing at its full height, it was bigger than anything Idol had ever squared off against. It was probably stronger and tougher too, as it was born with the tools to thrive in this unforgivingly cold environment perpetually. Idol didn’t care. There was nothing this bear was going to do that would deter him. He had traveled all this way to wrestle, and that was what he was going to do. Wrestle.

PoPo let out a loud roaring noise and started to lumber towards Idol, but Idol did not waver. He did not move, he did not even shiver. He stood his ground, not taking his eyes off PoPo for even a second, preparing himself for the inevitable counterattack he’d have only moments to execute when the timing was right. Idol continued his breathing and didn’t break his form as the distance between him and the bear grew nearer and nearer by the second.

[donnervark]

Bella was so distracted by her own thoughts that she moved quickly to the outskirts of the village without acknowledging anyone. Thankfully most did not try to stop her, as they had their own worries to consider, or simply weren't friendly enough to strangers to care about her business. The few that did were turned off by her stern demeanor. Whatever warmth she had offered Hash in parting had gone with the chill of the wind that whipped at her clothing. Everything had changed. The buxom doctor hoped against all that she was wrong, and that this was simply a sickness she'd never seen. If she was right, then this was an emergency. Perhaps it was fate that she had been sent. If the Navy had sent in a squad to kill the bear, they likely would have done so and left without uncovering any of her suspicions. The island would have celebrated the end to their worries, mourned the loss of their idol, and gone on with their lives oblivious to the danger infecting Ice Nine.

"Hello? Sir?" Belladona stopped by a Sleigh master on the edge of town. He was outside, preparing one of his sleighs and feeding the Polar Bears that pulled it. He turned to her with a grimace at first, which quickly shifted to a smile.

"Oh! Do you need a sleigh Ma'am? I'm just getting ready for a ride out of town. But if you need to go somewhere...." She stopped him before he could get into his pitch. She didn't have the time.

"Yes I need your sleigh. But I need to find Pontus Polestar. It is extremely urgent. Can you travel off the roads?" The man regarded her for a moment and threw his hands up in the air.

"You too!? Gaugh! You foreigners don't know how to stay out of things that aren't your business! I'm trying to make money here don't ya know?" The man started to turn away, when Bella grabbed his arm, yanked him back, and pointed to her armband.

"Sir. I understand your frustration. But this is an emergency. I'm with the Marines....wait...foreigners?" The man jumped slightly as he realized she was with the Navy, and his tone changed once again entirely.

"Oh dear me apologies! I don't want any trouble with the Marines! I...well yes. You and the other guy...average looking...average height I suppose?" The man described someone who Bella immediately recognized as the young man who'd shared her ship. What could he possibly want with the bear? "Fool seemed keen on fighting the beast. No idea why anyone would be crazy enough to do that...." Bella's eyes went wide for a moment.

"Sir!" She dropped a bag of coins in his glove and pushed it to his chest. "You HAVE to get me to him as soon as possible!" This was not good. If the young man was bitten then he'd be infected as well. It could easily start the chain reaction that would doom this island entirely. "Can you take me off the roads? Can you find him?" The sleigh master fingered the bag, shaking it, before giving her a big smile.

"Aye! That I can miss! Hop in!" Bella sighed in relief as the man scurried off to speak with someone she did not recognize. The fellow had the look of a ranger, wearing heavy gear designed for travel as well as carrying a long rifle. He pointed off into the wilderness, and after few moments of speaking, the sleigh driver returned. "Our rangers keep watch for the wild bears that roam about. They reported a crazy person heading off into the wild. Once we get to it my bears can sniff him out no problem!" The redhead nodded and entered the sleigh quickly, her mind racing with plans. They needed to hurry, but she couldn't help but consider the purpose of this situation to begin with. Ice Nine was not a wealthy island. It was not an ideal location for really any trade or commercial purposes. There was very little general value to the place....beyond the belongings of the inhabitants. Her mind was so heavy with thought that she ignored the sleigh building up speed as the mighty bears that pulled it yanked it off the trail and into the wilderness.

Perhaps she was wrong. Could this just be a freak disease popping up? The harsh environment could potentially force the evolution of a new bacteria to cope with said conditions. But that rarely happened in such cold temperatures.

"It may be a few minutes! We have to circle around this crevasse! The ranger said he couldn't have gone far!" Bella acknowledged the shout from the driver, and leaned back into her seat. The mental preparations she had to make in case the lad was infected were....considerable. She didn't like to think about it, but it was possible that he could not be allowed back to the village. There was already one infected. Another could make things devolve exponentially.

[York]

The moment of truth came. PoPo closed the distance and, still running at his full speed, raised both of his paws to tackle Idol, the impact surely enough to incapacitate him and cut him in half. Idol, the experienced wrestler who had been on the receiving end of one of these before, knew precisely what to do. He quickly ducked down, tucked his head and performed a rolling somersault straight out of a gymnastics textbook, effectively dodging the tackle as it whizzed right over him. As a smaller man living a combat heavy lifestyle, dodging was something that became second nature over time. As his head and back hit the snow, the cold hit him right back like a steel folding chair, and the moisture sticking to his back felt like small hooks digging into his skin. But he’d rather that than anything the polar bear may have thrown his way, any cold would be forgotten later, but harm from a bear were permanent.

PoPo, seeming to forget everything he may have known about hunting, fell flat on his front with a soft crunch of snow and a thud. Idol didn’t even give himself a moment to shake off the cold, and with a mad grin on his face, he skipped to the prone bear and leapt on his back. As PoPo regained his footing, Idol tried so feverishly to get a choke hold on, struggling to get his arms around the polar bear’s tree trunk like neck. But try as he might, he couldn’t quite get a hold on, and he started panicking. He came to realize that applying a choke to a target this size would most likely end up with separated shoulders, or getting his arms sliced off by the claws. Loosening his grip, the wrestler realized that he needed a new strategy, and fast.

Before Idol could release the hold and jump off his back, PoPo, either by accident or by some counter learned by experience, rolled over on his back, crushing Idol with his full weight. Had this been a man, it wouldn’t have been too much of an issue, Idol had met his fair share of men whose main method of attack was throwing themselves around like cannon balls. Had this been in a wrestling ring in a properly heated arena, he would've dodged or countered. But this was different. The suddenness of the attack, the unforgiving environment, and the great size difference between the two blended into an attack that knocked the air out of Idol’s body like a deflating balloon. Whatever drive he had before the fight had been crushed out of him, and Idol, with a loud groan came to realize just how outmatched he was. But he couldn’t just give up yet. PoPo regained his footing, and was now doubt planning another attack.

Idol blocked out the pain and slowly got to a knee, frustrated with how much he struggled trying to get on two feet. The two, some six feet away, stared at each other for a moment before PoPo lunged at Idol, his mouth foaming like an overfilled beer mug. Idol mustered up the last of his intestinal fortitude and, from his kneeling position, leaped into the air and kneed the mighty polar bear right into its black nose. In response, PoPo reared back and turned away, as Idol collapsed into the snow. This was Idol’s last chance. He had to leg it while he still had the legs to do so.

The air had gotten so cold that Idol could feel the intricate shape of his windpipe in his throat, and it started to hamper his breathing. Now resorting to crawling, he picked up his thick olive coat, his grip so weak that he could barely feel it in his hands. Behind him, PoPo roared again and Idol, without thinking, turned around and held out his coat and the bear sunk his massive teeth into it. The wrestler fell on his back and helplessly watched as his coat torn from his weakened grip, and savagely shaken to and fro by the beast before him. Even with his bare skin on the snow, Idol broke out into a fear sweat. How long until PoPo would tear through the coat and have a go at him. Would his body hold off as well? Raising his hands to shield his eyes from the pouring saliva, all Idol could do was think of a way of out without losing anything vital.