Chapter Two: Dreams of Animals

"Whaaaat?"

"Yeah! I've decided guys! I'm going to be the King of the Jungle!"

At that, he was tackled to the ground and pinned on the ground by his orange-pelted friend. She snarled at him and looked at him like he was crazy. Nami then batted him semi-softly with no claws on the face.

"ARE YOU SOME KIND OF IDIOT? Wait, don't answer that, moron. But, you seriously want to become something foolish like that? You're a monkey for crying out loud; a mon-key! Plus, to become 'King of the Jungle' you have to find that cub's tale treasure. Ah… what was it called again? An… an-"

"Animal Piece!"

Luffy slipped out from Nami's hold and started to jump around like he ways did. He was laughing his annoying, but addictive monkey giggle and he looked at each of his friends. Luffy had a scar under his left eye from when he was just a little monkey and some bandit raccoons attacked him for his money. He wouldn't be here if it wasn't for Shanks, another red haired older monkey. Luffy owed his life to the man, and he didn't plan to forget his promise to him! He was going to become more famed and more respected than Shanks no matter what, and by becoming the King of the Jungle will just do it!

The monkey looked at all of his best friends' shocked faces. It looked as if they had seen a spirit or something!

"What? Don't you guys want to find it too?"

"Luffy listen to me, old turtle Nolan was lying! I can sense a lie when a see one; I mean I am, after all, the king of the liars! Ahaha!"

"Ah! Perfect Usopp! King of the Liars is definitely fit to be a friend of the King of the Jungle!"

Usopp's mouth dropped and he just looked at Luffy. 'Usopp! King of the Liars! Hm… I like that. Maybe if Luffy DOES become King of the Jungle, I can become the Liar King. NO! That's ridiculous… but then again…' The poor fox was deep in thought to see the outcome of this new adventure. Usopp then sighed and looked up at his best, best friend.

"I'll join you."

All of the other animals turned their heads at the fox and he started to shrink away. Smiles came on some of their faces while others, such as Nami, got even a bigger frown. In the end of Luffy's innocent convincing, Nami even gave in since her dream would be able to be achieved if she helped Luffy on his adventure.

As for all of the others dreams, they, too, were so ambitious.

Zoro wanted become the greatest warrior in the world. His kin were often looked down upon since they were a bit slower and didn't come down from the trees. He would show the world that he was different from all of his other species! He'd prove himself as the most feared animal in the jungle.

Nami deeply desired to discover the whole world and record it within her memory. All of the different places she would go to and she would tell her foster mother, Bellemere, when she came back home. Not only would she tell her foster mother, but she would also record all of these in a map of the world! There were so many places for her to explore and Nami had a strange talent in writing with her claws.

Usopp wanted to, of course, become King of the Liars, but he also wanted to find his father. He knew his father was somewhere out there, living as an adventurous sly fox along with Luffy's idol, Shanks. To achieve both goals was his true goal, of course if that made ANY sense at all.

Sanji's deep passion was to cook. He had learned from some other 'cooks' nearby the watering hole. There was one baboon named Zeff who taught Sanji how to cook. He didn't only take him in as an apprentice, but also as an adoptive son in a way. The other chefs told the flamingo stories about a very small meadow far away in the forest where no one went. It was a place filled with herbs, vegetables, and even the legendary Aji Aji fruit! This fruit was said to taste like nothing you ever tasted before. In fact when it was cooked, it let off an aroma that even the toughest cats in the jungle would let out a feline grin. Whatever he did, Sanji wanted to find that place and show Zeff that the meadow truly did exist! The cook's paradise; All Green!

Chopper's dream was to cure all the illness in the world and discover the best herbs that according to the tales grow where the Animal Piece was hidden. His foster father had died because of an evil dictator of Chopper's small village, so Chopper wanted to live up to his foster father's dream and become the greatest doctor in the world.

Robin, that wise youthful owl, wanted to uncover the mystery of the "Night Ages" or the time before time. She had listened to tales, read any book that she could get her claws on, and even investigated old tree ruins. She was the last of her own owl clan since they were wiped out by those nasty Grand Forest Government troops or Soarers as many called them. Robin wanted to bring back the tree of knowledge and know the mysteries of the world.

Franky was one who went beyond any animal comprehension. He learned how to use the power of fire, steam, and coal and bend it to his will. He had made things that flew like birds and things that dug like moles. As well as things that did extremely useful stuff. He was extremely limited though. Quality materials were rare as well as the legendary tree Franky dreamt of since he was a little pup, The Adam Wood Tree. If he could make anything out of that wood, he would have fulfilled all of his dreams.

And finally was Brook. Once long, long, long ago, Brook had met a young whale named Laboon. The two were close friends, until Brook had to abandon the baby whale to move back inland. It was a sad departing, but he had promised that he would meet up once more with that whale. Brook had said once he had made it across the island, he would come back to meet up once more with Laboon. Things had happened, including Brook loosing all of his fellow friends to a horrible storm and he had been trapped in a cave for very, very long. Brook had found Luffy and his little crew, with dreams and hopes up again, Brook planned to meet up with Laboon and cross that terrible stretch of darken forests with his new friends. Hopefully one day he could meet up with Laboon.

"So Luffy-san… Yohoho…. Where will we start?"

Luffy looked up at his bat friend, Brook, and sighed. Luffy hung upside down from a branch and crossed his legs and arms. He started to think really hard and the others just looked at him, knowing that Luffy wasn't exactly the sharpest tooth in a tiger's mouth. (S/N: A word play on 'Sharpest knife in the drawer') Luffy thought and thought and thought until his head hurt. He finally sat on the branch and smiled brightly. He looked at each one of his friends with that sweet, kind, adventurous smile.

"We start at Sand Dune Kingdom!"

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A/N: Finally I'm back! I had some trouble with all their dreams. I wanted them to be like the canon, but not! Anyways, I hope you liked it and R&R!