[Chapter Size: 2826 Words.]
Third Person POV
Little Garden, First Half of Grandline.
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The Black Pearl gracefully glided through calm waters until it reached the island of Little Garden. A natural masterpiece, the island unfolded as a lush blend of dense jungle and a wild, prehistoric landscape. Towering palm trees majestically stood at the forefront of the beach, their leaves dancing to the rhythm of the tropical breeze.
The golden sandy beach stretched along the coast, inviting the Straw Hats to disembark and explore. The jungle’s edge was adorned with exotic flowers, each displaying vibrant colors that contrasted against the lush greenery. Mysterious sounds of wild creatures, accompanied by distant roars and the gentle murmur of waves, completed the symphony of nature.
As Luffy called the crew to the deck, they could sense the unique atmosphere of the island. Little Garden, with its peculiar mix of tropical beauty and prehistoric elements, promised a distinctive adventure for the Straw Hats. The Black Pearl anchored in the sand as it entered the beach, coming to a stop after a few moments.
“Another interesting island. I just hope we don’t encounter any giant shrimp this time…” Usopp said, looking at the island with some anticipation.
“Megalo certainly wouldn’t like that… Hehehehe.” Shirahoshi chuckled.
“Shakry!” Megalo didn’t seem too pleased, but he feared encountering another creature like that again.
“Everyone, before we head to the beach, gather here. I want to discuss some important points with you,” announced Luffy, his voice filled with determination.
All gathered on the deck, approaching the captain at that moment.
“Firstly, I’ve talked to Robin, Vivi, and Yamato,” began Luffy, capturing his crew’s attention. “We’re going to split up here because with the Baroque Works team that came to capture us being captured and destroyed, Crocodile might act hastily to take Alabasta, and Vivi’s father could be killed in that time while we’re heading to the desert country. As I mentioned before, I intend to help her with our deal, and her father shouldn’t die due to the petty schemes of that Shichibukai.”
Luffy’s words elicited surprised and concerned looks among the crew members.
“So after some discussion, Yamato and Nami will go to Alubarna, the capital of Alabasta. It will only take a few weeks for us to meet again as we go to the Drum Kingdom from here and then finally to Alabasta. They can keep the country’s situation under control until we arrive.”
“I had considered making Robin a double agent, but that would be too risky, and besides, Robin has evidence stored against Crocodile anyway, so incriminating him won’t be an issue when we get to the country,” Luffy spoke.
“Wait, she has evidence?” Vivi expressed her surprise upon learning that Robin had incriminating evidence against Crocodile.
Robin, with a subtle gesture, confirmed the information with a slight nod.
“Still, Yamato and Nami can easily handle him if he tries to attack the capital. Yamato can identify all the spies in the palace and defeat Crocodile, and Nami can create a group of harpies now to counter the rebels if they decide to attack,” Luffy announced his plans for everyone to understand the status quo.
Concerned for her sister, Nojiko asked, “Can I go with my sister too?”
“Hey, sis, I’ll be fine. I can handle this, and I’m sure you can sail to Alabasta without any problems. Bepo is also a navigator,” Nami smiled at Nojiko.
Luffy also responded, “I’d like you to stay with us. We need to train your Devil Fruit, and I have something new for everyone.” He pulled out a very beautiful book from his pocket, one that cost 5 billion berries. “It’s time to start Haki with some members. Nami will learn from Yamato in Alubarna, meanwhile, we’ll train here with the group, along with the newly acquired fruits.”
Yamato and Nami, ready to embark on the next phase of the mission, exchanged determined glances before heading towards Alabasta. Nami sprouted wings and an Eternal Log Pose on her wrist, ready for the journey ahead, while Yamato leaped using Geppo. They might not have the energy for a direct trip to Alabasta, but they would certainly stop at other islands before moving forward.
As the two women soared into the air and departed beyond the island, a new question arose among the crew. Vivi, curious, asked Luffy, “Hey, Luffy, why are we going to the Drum Kingdom? Is there something special there before we head to Alabasta like this island we’re on?”
Luffy explained his decision: “I have some information that this kingdom was attacked and devastated by a pirate group. This country itself is not part of the World Government, but it already suffers tyranny from the current king, and I plan to take over that kingdom too. It’s a country specializing in doctors, and I’m sure Lami can benefit from being there.” He said.
‘And recruit Tony Tony Chopper, of course, two doctors are better than 1.’ Luffy thought, but his plan was to have the three kingdoms from the beginning of the original work as his territory.
“I see…” many nodded, understanding the captain’s reasons.
The preparation to explore the island continued. Luffy instructed, “Now, let’s check out the giants. If anyone wants to explore the island separately, take a Vivre Card so you don’t get lost. And someone stick with Zoro all the time, please. I don’t want him showing up again in the East Blue in a newspaper after getting lost again.” Luffy smiled, provoking some frustration dimples in the swordsman.
“But before that, as Nojiko mentioned, there are diseases on this island, so take this to prevent yourselves from being bitten by any mosquitoes with some disease.” Before embarking on the exploration of the lush island of Little Garden, Luffy, showing concern for the health of his crew, distributed repellents to everyone. He and Nojuko warned about possible tropical diseases and the dangers associated with the local fauna and flora.
Luffy went to the ship and shrank it, and the prisoners followed the change from inside the ship; they had no idea they were in someone’s pocket as they complained that the ship was swaying too much and how dark it was outside. Thus, the crew began to spread in various directions.
“I’ll explore one side; I want to see the medicinal plants,” said Lami.
“I’ll go with Lami!” added Bepo.
“I’ll wander around too,” said Zoro.
“Well, someone has to keep an eye on Zoro,” Usopp commented, going with the swordsman.
“I wanted to explore, but Luffy mentioned the giants on this island, so I’ll accompany him,” said the curious Robin. She knew this island was dangerous and warned Luffy, and even with Nojiko’s stern explanation, Luffy was determined to see the place.
“There are dinosaurs here. I’d like to catch some to make recipes I’ve never created,” Reiju spoke.
“I’ll accompany her,” said Kuina.
“I’ll go along with them.” Alvida would accompany Kuina and Reiju.
Luffy led the main team, advancing to the heart of the island in search of any signs of giants and other potential discoveries. Zoro, accompanied by Usopp, continued exploring the surroundings, cutting vines, and keeping a keen eye out for any signs of dinosaurs or other dangers.
Another group, consisting of Lami, Bepo, Kuina, Alvida, and Reiju, chose to explore the jungle more widely, collecting samples of the local flora and observing the animals that inhabited the island. Each team was determined to make the most of the opportunity to explore the island and gain knowledge about its unique environment.
“What an interesting place!” exclaimed Shirahoshi as they observed the wonders of the island.
“The flora here is truly unique,” commented Robin, with a fascinated tone.
“Yes, there are at least 10 books detailing the flora of this island over the millennia,” added Nojiko, mentioning her extensive library now in her personal cabin.
“Interesting, I’d like to borrow some…” expressed Robin, her curiosity piqued.
“Of course, but the books are all in the ship’s library, anyone can grab them,” Nojiko mentioned.
“A library on the ship?!” Robin looked at Luffy suspiciously now.
“Well, you didn’t ask, but we’ve been training lately, only stopping to rest, eat, and sleep. I don’t think you missed much.” Luffy shrugged.
“Karoo, don’t eat that!” Vivi warned her friend who was biting some strange plant.
“You too, Megalo,” Shirahoshi also cautioned, as Megalo was eating some foliage that looked like seaweed.
“Luffy, do you think Yamato and Nami will be okay?” Nojiko questioned.
“Yes, Nami can’t get lost with her skills and the Eternal Log in her possession. Besides, Yamato is very strong for this sea,” reassured Luffy.
“And those giants, Captain? Are they strong?” Hugo asked, changing the subject.
“No, but I have plans to make them quite powerful,” Luffy spoke.
“And why are there giants on this island?”
“That, we should ask them ourselves. There’s certainly a story here.”
“Look, a dinosaur!”
“How frightening!”
“This is a T-rex, a carnivorous dinosaur and one of the most powerful we’ll encounter on the island,” Nojiko mentioned.
“Hahaha. How interesting.”
“Hey, Hachi, I want to see your training, fight,” announced Luffy.
“Nee… alright, Captain.” Hachi unsheathed his 6 swords, delivering swift cuts, eliminating the enemy in an instant.
“Was it that easy?” Hachi said surprised, seeing his ability for the first time in a real battle.
“So strong, Hachi-Sama!” celebrated Shirahoshi.
“Nee… Thank you, Princess-Sama.” Hachi scratched his head shyly.
“Let’s continue.” Luffy encouraged the group to proceed with the exploration of the intriguing island.
As they explored, Zoro and Usopp faced unexpected challenges when hungry dinosaurs attacked them. Usopp skillfully fired his firearms, targeting the creatures’ weak points, while Zoro, with his swordsmanship, cut through the approaching threats. Together, they formed an effective and reliable team to deal with the dangers of the jungle, honing their combat skills with each opponent. Zoro was far beyond his original point when he was in Little Garden in the original work, and Usopp had become quite competent, even though his spirit never changed. This Usopp would defeat that original Zoro if they were to be compared.
Climbing the hills, Reiju and Kuina also encountered approaching dinosaurs. Reiju, using her enhanced physical strength, kicked the dinosaurs to prepare provisions for the group, turning the threat into an opportunity. At the same time, Kuina took the chance to train her sword skills, facing the dinosaurs with dexterity and precision, consolidating her progress on the path of the swordsman.
While exploring the lush area, Lami, Alvida, and Bepo didn’t hesitate to face any dinosaur that crossed their path. Lami, with her agility and botanical knowledge, avoided the dinosaurs’ attacks while identifying unique plants for remedies. Alvida, using her slippery fruit power and Soru, slid like a shadow and crushed all opponents. Bepo, in turn, showed his physical strength and fighting skills, protecting Lami and defeating any threat that arose. Amidst the adventure, the trio demonstrated a rather smooth exploration.
Meanwhile, Luffy and the group in the middle of the island began to hear a distant sound of cracking ground. Intrigued, they followed the noise until they reached an area where two enormous giants were engaged in an intense battle.
The ground trembled under the force of their blows, and nearby trees swayed with the impact. The two giants, each wielding an immense sword and shield, exchanged blows with surprising precision. Every move was a dance of blades and shields, creating a symphony of thunderous metal clashing.
As they faced off, their weapons created sparks in the air, illuminating the scene like lightning in a storm. The battle between them was a spectacle of pure strength and technique, showcasing the mastery they had over their colossal weapons. Each strike emitted a deafening roar, echoing through the area.
It was as if the island itself responded to the magnitude of the battle, with fissures forming in the ground due to the titanic force of the giants. Luffy, Hugo, and many in the group watched in awe at this colossal clash. Even from a distance, they could feel the intensity of the vibrations emanating from the fight.
“Shouldn’t we leave?!” Vivi ignored everything Luffy said about the giants being weak when she saw them; others just shrugged, some of them witnessed the battle in Cocoyasi, so they weren’t very surprised.
The giants, immersed in the art of war, continued to exchange blows, revealing exceptional skill in every move. As the battle progressed, it became clear that this was more than a simple contest of brute force; it was a demonstration of refined technique and mutual respect between these warrior giants.
After the monumental stalemate, they stopped, Broggy and Dorry looked at each other with respect and, at the same time, a hint of amusement in their eyes. This scene was familiar to them, as this fight had been happening for over a hundred years every day, with no clear winner.
They stared at each other for a while, but soon burst into loud laughter. The giants laughed together, sharing not only the draw in their century-old battle but also the enduring friendship that had formed between them over the years. It was a scene that represented the essence of Little Garden.
“Hey, Dorry, I think once again, we’re at a tie,” Broggy said, laughing.
“Looks like it, Broggy. We can’t decide who’s stronger yet,” Dorry smiled.
“I think it’s because we’re both equally amazing, but tomorrow, we’ll break the tie! Since I’m going to win!” Broggy said, scratching his head.
“Indeed, but I’ll be the winner.” Dorry nodded, and his gaze turned to Luffy’s group, which had already been noticed at a distance. “Looks like we have interesting visitors this time.”
“How frightening!” Shirahoshi ran to Megalo.
“He’s staring at us!” Vivi opened her eyes wide in fright.
While the princesses had scared faces, Nojiko and Hachi had cautious eyes, expecting some hostile move, but the rest of the group didn’t seem to care about the giants’ looks. They couldn’t feel threatened by these beings, but besides being quite friendly, their group could defeat them.
“Apologies for the disturbance,” said one of the giants, with a very friendly expression. “Sometimes, we have a disagreement on important matters, but our people always resolve these differences this way—well, despite being here for more than 100 years. HUHUHUHUHU!”
“It’s okay, we’re used to it,” Luffy said, taking steps in front of the group, and continued talking.
“You mentioned that you’ll fight again tomorrow?” Luffy asked.
“Yes, tomorrow, I’ll have my victory after 100 years!”
“No, Dorry, you’ll lose!”
“That’s what we’ll see!”
“You two won’t fight each other tomorrow because you’ll fight with me!” Luffy interjected and threw down his challenge.
“Hm?”
“What did the little one say?”
“Luffy-Sama?” Shirahoshi was surprised, as were some in the group.
“I challenge both of you at the same time in a fight with me. Do you accept?” Luffy maintained his arrogant smile.
“Why do you want to fight us? You don’t seem strong.”
“What was that? Elbaf warriors going to refuse a challenge?” Luffy mentioned, raising an eyebrow.
“Of course not, we are great warriors, right, Broggy?!”
“Yes, Dorry, we don’t refuse any fight or challenge, Dorry!”
“That’s great because if you lose, you’ll join my fleet! I’ll fight against both of you at the same time!” Luffy declared with the same enthusiasm.
“Hm? Hey, why would we do that? And what happens if we win?” questioned the giant with the longer beard.
“Because I’m going to turn you into the greatest warriors of Elbaf in this era! And if you win, I’ll give you a manual to further increase your strength. What do you think?” explained Luffy.
“Hm… What do you think, Dorry?”
“It sounds interesting. He’s small, but he’s confident, and if there’s a manual that can increase our strength, we can accept the challenge, Broggy.”
“Then it’s settled. Let’s fight here tomorrow, get ready.” Luffy smiled.
“Hey, are you really going to fight these giants?” Nojiko spoke cautiously, seeing two giants against Luffy.
“Even you could defeat them, silly girl, but I want to put on a good show tomorrow with my zoan in the final stage. I need to train your form and get used to it, and I barely had a chance to use it.” Luffy explained. He had only used the fruit once and needed to get accustomed to the colossal form.
“So, now that it’s settled, what do we do now?” Hugo asked.
“Let’s train. It’s time to see Chouchou’s form and Nojiko’s explosive fruit for them to adapt,” Luffy determined.
“Hey, giants, how about a feast after this training? Why not join us?” Luffy shouted with enthusiasm.
“Feast? Sounds good, doesn’t it, Broggy!”
“I agree, Dorry. Let’s join!”
Thus, Luffy went to train with his group in another open area. Everyone was eager to see Chouchou’s form and help Nojiko in her training.
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Raccoon here:
“Stone Stone!”
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