Chapter 3: Thriller Bark is Weird

With the unseen crash of the Mini-Merry everyone was worried.

"Hey! Name get back here! I want to ride the Mini Merry!" yelled Luffy.

Well almost…

"Is that what you're worried about?" asked Sanji.

However before anything else could be done suddenly one of the paw like anchors feel into the sea.

"Franky." Said Zoro.

"Look, I made sure that that anchors can never call on their own." Said Franky, "Either way have to bring it up otherwise the ship will lose balance"

That was when suddenly the hatch to that area opened on it's own.

Then somehow Luffy's face began to move on its own, before Luffy almost fell into the hatch.

"Stop playing around!" yelled Sanji.

That was when suddenly one of Zoro's sword flung it self at Luffy as a growl could be heard.

"Did anyone else hear that?" asked Robin.

"The growl." Said Mami.

Everyone was on edge… something was there.

"There's definitely something here!" said Sanji jumping to the edge of the ship, "That makes me worried even more. I'm going to find Nami and the others. You stay on the ship to deal with whatever it is."

Sanji jumped off the ship, however whatever was causing problems grabbed Sanji's legs, and from him opt face plant on the side of the ship (which caused him to make a noise that sounded like Hgeegh). Then it lifted him into the air and threw him on the deck.

The invisible thing however now turned it's attention to Robin. Robin tried holding it back while it licked her.

"What's wrong Robin?" asked Sanji.

"It's got me!" called out Robin.

"I'll handle his!" said Mami.

Mami created several ribbons and moved them towards the invisible thing. Most of them managed to tie to the invisible thing.

"Got it." Said Mami grabbing the ribbons.

"You think you can hold onto the ribbons." Said Zoro.

Mami nodded.

However suddenly the ribbons completely disappeared.

"What?" asked Mami still feeling the ribbons.

However that was when the sea began to act strangely with bizarre wave. Mami suddenly fell over.

"Are you okay Mami?" asked Sanji.

"I'm fine." Said Mami, "But I lost it."

"It's okay." Said Sanji.

"Hey, Hgeegh! Pull up the anchor! We can't move the ship right now" yelled Zoro while mocking

"Who are you calling Hgeegh!" yelled Sanji.

During this time everyone scrambled either calling out to the other group or trying to get the anchor up.

The good news is that eventually the seas did calm down, however the ship got caught in a massive spider web that had both Brook's ship and the Mini-Merry entangled in it.

Nearby wads an entrance to the island. Zoro knew it was a trap and decided to stay on the ship. However Luffy made him come along.

They went down a set of stairs, when they got to the bottom they saw it was a hallway full of skulls and there was a Cerberus.

It should also be pointed that for some strange reason one of the heads was that of a fox. The Cerberus growled and glared at them. The crew immediately knew it wanted to pick a fight.

But this is what Luffy thought about it.

"Do you think it tastes good." Said Luffy.

"Do you really want to eat that?" asked Mami.

Luffy stared at the Cerberus.

"You're right… it is a dog." Said Luffy, "I should tame it."

Mami was left speechless.

"You still need to get used to our captain." Said Robin.

"I do." Sighed Mami.

"Remember Luffy, it might be a dog, but it's the boss of all dogs." Said Zoro.

Naturally the Cerberus bit Luffy with all there heads.

But Luffy remained calm. In fact when it stopped biting him, he punched it extremely hard into the wall.

"Oh-kay…" said both Sanji and Zoro.

Really is was the only response to that.

They examined the Cerberus and noticed it was covered in terrible wounds.

"I wonder how it's still alive." Commented Robin.

"I can't help but to get a bad feeling about it." Said Mami.

They contented on their way, with Luffy riding his new pet.

"He doesn't look very happy." Said Robin, "Poor thing."

"Don't patronize it." Said Zoro, "Even a dog has to have pride."

That was when they saw one of the strangest sights they would ever see in their life.

A geezer tree was having a drink with a unicorn.

It's exactly how it sounds.

"And old tree guy and a unicorn are having a drink…" mumbled Luffy.

Geezer Tree is a much better term.

Luffy tackled the geezer tree while Franky captured the unicorn.

"Hey! Stop that!" yelled Sanji and Zoro.

The rest of the crew managed dissuade Luffy from getting the Tree Geezer and the unicorn from joining the crew.

"Look Luffy. You can't just have random things join the crew." Said Sanji, "We already have a tanuki and a robot."

"I'm a Cyborg your jerk!" yelled Franky.

However the others tuned out the augment that Sanji and Franky were having, because Robin noticed something.

"The tree man and the unicorn both had the same thing." Said Robin.

"What thing?" asked Zoro.

"All of them had horrible injuries and a number placed on their body." Explained Robin.

"You're right." Said Zoro.

"What do you think it means?" asked Mami.

"Probably they're working for someone." Said Zoro.

"It's a possibility." Said Robin.

"Hey! What's that sound?" asked Luffy.

That was when they saw the ghosts.

"All right!" cheered Luffy.

Luffy tried to catch them with a net. However the net kept going through them.

"Um… Luffy they're ghosts I don't think they could be caught with a net." Said Mami.

"What really?" asked Luffy.

Franky decided that fire might work, but it didn't work, one of the ghosts ended up going through him. Causing him to sink to his knees declaring how pathetic he was.

"Why you!" yelled Luffy trying to catch the ghost.

However the ghost when through him and he was now in the same state as Franky, proclaiming that if he were to die he would want to be reincarnated as a clam.

"It seems if they go through us, we become depressed." Said Robin.

"You two are pathetic." Muttered Zoro, "You allowed yourself to let those ghosts make a fool out of you just because you don't have the discipline or willpower."

Just a second later one of the ghosts went through him and he started proclaiming that he should have never been born.

"You're right." Said Mami.

"An enemy we can't touch but will make us helpless." Said Robin, "What a strange island.

Thankfully they managed to ditch the ghosts… while Luffy, Franky and Zoro had recovered, they were now angry with the ghosts and what they did.

"You guys are hilarious." Mocked Sanji.

Mami was looking around for ghosts.

"You seem nervous." Said Robin.

"It's just I don't know what will happen if it touches me." Said Mami.

"Don't worry it will be fine. Remember Witches can't exist in this world." Said Robin.

Mami nodded.

They soon found themselves in a graveyard. Luffy wanted to eat there, but he was the only one.

That was when a hand popped up from one of the graves and what appeared to be a zombie followed.

However Luffy just calmly walked over and pushed the zombie back into the grave.

"Don't put me back into the ground you idiot!" yelled the zombie.

"An old man with severe injuries?" asked Luffy.

"It's a zombie you idiot!" yelled Sanji, Zoro and Franky. Robin watched while Mami struggled not to laugh.

More zombies appeared screaming for revenge for making fun of zombies.

"Are zombies supposed to be this lively?" asked Sanji.

"Show them the terror of us zombies!" yelled one of the many zombies.

Robin got into position, as did Sanji, Luffy punched his hand, while Franky removed the skin off his, Zoro got his swords ready while Mami summoned one of her hand cannons.

"You wanna fight. Because we'll show you the terror of us instead!" said Luffy.

Luffy proceeded to shout, "600 Million Berry Jackpot!"

Of course this easily defeated the zombies.

Shortly afterwards the zombies were now bowing in apology. Luffy asked them if they saw Nami, Usopp or Chopper.

Turns out the zombies attacked them they also went into the mansion.

After stuffing the zombies into the ground upside down they headed to the mansion.

That was when a zombie tried to stop them.

"Pleas wait! I saw how frighteningly strong all of you are." Said the zombie, "I need your help."

"An old man with severe injuries?" asked Luffy.

"It's a zombie!" yelled Zoro, Franky and Sanji.

"Actually I am an old man with severe injuries." Said the zombies… who as it turned out was an old man.

"Please I want you to defeat a man!" said the old man.

"It's the man who's been stealing everyone's shadows, isn't it?" asked Mami.

"How did you know that?" asked Luffy.

Mami pointed to the man's lack of shadow.

"It's just like Brook's." said Luffy.

"He's left a long line of victims! Once my shadow returns I will give you whatever you want in return. Please! I beg of you." Said the old man.

"So what is the man's name." said Zoro.

"Moria." Answered the old man.

"Moria?" asked Robin, "As in Gecko Moria?"

"That's right." Said the old man.

'Do you know him Robin?" asked Luffy.

"I know his name. He's a man who's original bounty was much higher than Luffy's." explained Robin, "Gecko Moria is one of the 7 Warlords of the Sea."

Indeed, the one who has been stealing shadows was indeed one of the 7 War Lords of the Sea.

Indeed, he was a dangerous foe for the Straw Hats.

Next Time: As they explore the mansion. Members of the crew start to disappear one by one. But when Mami is the one taken the end result is something that should have never happened... something is created that should never have been... What is it? Find out next time!

A/N: The next chapter is where the plot really starts, I thought it was going to take much longer...