Strange Animals

"Victory!" Luffy pumped his fists then planted them on his hips. "Now you're going to become our crewmember, right?"

"I'm just cooperating with you while it serves my purpose, remember that! I'll say okay for now, since it seems that if I go along with you guys I'll be able to earn a lot." Nami picked up her treasure and hugged it. "Buggy said that he only takes the best treasures for himself, so this bag's contents are the highest quality. This must treasure should be worth a least ten million berries. I've divided it into two bags so you hold half of it. This treasure is so heavy that carrying it alone is difficult."

"You had no problem carrying it before," Cade mumbled.

Luffy knelt down to Zoro and whacked him on the head. "Hey, Zoro, get up! Let's go."

Zoro opened his eyes and sat up. "Did you finish the fight?"

"Yeah, we also got the map and treasure."

"Ah. I don't think I can walk yet." Zoro placed his hand on his head.

"Obviously! If you guys can still walk then you're not human," Nami said.

"Why did you include me?" Luffy asked.

"You're the weirdest!"

"Oh yeah! I'll wake up the mayor!" Luffy looked at the unconscious man.

"You guys!"

The pirates turned to find people coming towards them, everyone holding some sort of weapon. "We're the people of this village. Did the pirates stir up a fight amongst themselves? If you know anything please tell us."

"Oh, so you're the villages. I think some of the pirate crew are still here," Nami said. "If you want us to tell you then there isn't anything much left to tell you."

"Ah! Mayor!"

"Goodness gracious! Please get up!"

"What happened here?!"

"If's definitely the work of those pirates!"

"Get ready to run," Cade said.

"Ah, sorry. I did that to the mayor," Luffy said.

"What?" The villages glared at him.

"Hey! Why did you tell them that kind of thing on purpose?!" Nami asked.

"You saw me do it, right?"

"I know, but still! That was because you had a good reason!"

"All of you, how dare you do this to our chief! It doesn't matter what sort of excuse you give us!"

"Who are you?! Are you pirates?!"

"Yup. We're pirates!" Luffy grinned. The villagers brandished their weapons.

Zoro laughed.

"You idiot!" Nami said.

"But it's the truth," Luffy said. He grabbed Zoro and they ran off. "Run away!"

"Hey! They're taking off!"

"After them!"

"Luffy, want me to slow them down?" Cade forms a mini water twister over her palm.

"Naw. It's okay. We can out run them fine," Luffy said.

"Let her! You made this situation worse by telling them you were pirates!" Nami said.

"This is a good village. There's no point in attacking them," Luffy said.

"What?" Nami gaped at Luffy.

"For their mayor, for just one person… they're all getting that mad. No matter what excuse we give, they'll still be mad at us." Luffy said as they dashed down an alley.

Shushu barked. They looked over their shoulders to find the dog blocking the villagers.

"We made it. Good. I was getting pretty worried. Thanks to Shushu we managed to get away," Nami said. "Why does it always end up this way?"

"Who cares what they think. We did what we came to do," Luffy said. "Is this your boat? It's cool. I envy you."

"I don't think so. I stole it from a bunch of stupid pirates," Nami said.

"We have been waiting for you, thief." Three men jump up from the boat.

"You… you guys are…" Sweat dripped down the thief's face.

"We knew you'd come back if we stayed here."

"I never dreamed that we'd see this boat again in this very harbor after you stole it."

"You won't be to say that you've forgotten us."

"You know them?" Luffy asked.

"Sort of."

"Sort of?! We have a long history! So you have a gang now? I guess we get to teach you all a lesson."

"Stealing from other is such a terrible thing to do." The guy with the hat patted Zoro on his head. "Man, don't fault like a coward. Stupid. Hey, hold your head up properly!"

"Huh?" Zoro lifted his gaze.

The three pirates shrieked. They jump into the water and swam off.

They set sail.

"Hey, that flag has Buggy's mark on it," Luffy said.

"It was those pirates' boat so of course it does. I'll erase it later," Nami said.

"Stop right there, you morons!" the mayor called. "I'm sorry! I owe you!"

"Don't worry about it! Just live happy lives!"

"Hold on. Where's the treasure?" Nami glanced around the boats.

"I left it behind," Luffy said.

"What! You left the treasure behind?! I gave you half of it, didn't I?! That's five million berries!" Nami growled.

"Yeah, but since half of the village was destroyed it will take some money to repair it," Luffy said.

"That's my treasure!" Nami grabbed Luffy and pushed him towards the water.

Cade pulled Nami's hands off him and twisted her arms behind her back.

"Ouch! Let go!" Nami demanded.

"Don't touch Luffy like that." Cade released the girl with a small shove.

...

"Share some food with us," Zoro said. A couple hours had passed since they left that island.

"What? Why didn't you get some while we were on the island? If you don't bring food and water with you, you're underestimating the sea," Nami said.

"I see something." Luffy shaded his eyes.

"It's a miracle you've survived up to now," Nami said. "That island is no good. It's unpopulated, so it's useless. Let's keep going."

Luffy paddled towards the island.

"Wait!"

"Let's see if we can find someone who would join us here," Luffy said.

"And let's look for food, too. You know, Nami was right, we seem to have no plans," Zoro said before dosing off.

...

Cade stepped out of the boat and hauled it closer to the land.

"We've reached the island!" Luffy laid down the oar and jumped out of the boat. "There's nothing here but forest."

"Like I said, this is an unpopulated island. It would be weird if you found someone for the crew here," Nami said.

"Hey, Zoro, come over here. Hey, you're sleeping!"

"Let's let him sleep. He's still recovering from his injuries." Cade checked Zoro's bandages then turned to Luffy.

Luffy nodded. "You're right. Well, let's go."

"Go where?" Nami asked.

"Towards the forest." Luffy headed towards the woods. "You never known there might be people there."

"There's no one here but poisonous snakes and wild animals." Nami cautiously scanned the ground and limbs.

"Pock. Pock. Pock." An animal walked by, cross between a fox and a rooster.

"What is that?" Nami asked.

"A fooster?" Cade offered.

"There's no such thing!" Nami said.

"Hey look! What a weird rabbit." Luffy held up a snake with bunny ears.

"It's weird all right, but I think that is a mutant snake," Nami said.

"Snunny." Cad rubbed her chin.

"Now you're just making things up!" Nami glared.

"How about that lion?" Luffy pointed to an animal crossed between a lion and pig.

"A lig." Cade smiled.

"Shut up! That's a pig. Isn't it? A weird mutant pig. This forest is really weird." Nami held her head.

"Don't come closer! Get out!" a voice called out.

"Huh?" Luffy looked up.

"What's that sound? Who are you?" Nami asked.

"Me? I am the forest guardian," the voice said.

"Forest guardian?" Luffy asked.

"That's right. If you still want to live, the leave at once. You are pirates aren't you?"

"Yes," Luffy said.

"Why did he ask that?" Nami asked.

"So you are pirates," the voice said. Listen well, don't take a step further into the forest. Or else you will face the forest judgment."

"Who cares?" Luffy harrumphed.

"What exactly is that?" Nami asked.

"What a weird guy," Luffy said.

"Hey, the brat with the straw hat, what did you just say?"

Cade scanned every shadow and tree. Whoever this was had to be close by.

"Where are you, come out!" Nami punched the air.

"Looks like the voice is come from there," Luffy said.

"Hey! I told you not to come closer! Receive the forest judgment!" A gun fired. It pressed into Luffy's body then bounced off. "Huh?"

Cade caught sight of the gun flash and backed into the shadows, sneaking around to that area.

"What a shock! That was a bullet, right? So bullets don't hurt you." Nami looked at Luffy.

"Yeah, but that surprised me, too." Luffy adjusted his hat.

Cade spotted a bush that stuck out from the bushes around it. At it's roots was a chest. Snapping out her hand she grabbed the bush and found it to be a man. "Found him."

"Hey! Let me go!" The man kicked his feet.

"Wow! So cool! It's okay, Cade. You can release him." Luffy sat down on a rock.

"As long as you don't shoot at Luffy again." Cade brought the man to her face, giving him a storm filled glare.

"I won't. I promise." The man shivered.

Cade sat him down. "Tell us your name."

"It's Gaimon." The man looked at Luffy. "It's a devil fruit, right? I've heard about that before. But it is the first time I have met someone who actually ate that kind of fruit."

"It's the first time I've met someone who's stuck in a treasure chest, too. You're like a son in a box," Luffy said.

"Yeah. My parents took care of them when I was still small." Gaimon closed his eyes.

"My parents took care of them when I was still small?" Cade crossed her arms. "That doesn't make sense."

"Wait! Are you an idiot?! I'm not a son in a box!" Gaimon shouted. "I got stuck in here and I can't get out! I've lived on this island like this for twenty years. Can't you understand what I've been going through?"

"What? Twenty years? By yourself?" Nami asked.

"Yes. It's been twenty years."

"That's really stupid," Luffy said.

"What did you say? I'm going to kill you!" Gaimon snapped then sighed. "Twenty years… It's such a long time. My hair and mustache have already grown this long. And ever my eyebrows are connected. I haven't spoken to anyone for twenty years."

Luffy grabbed the man's head and pulls.

"It hurts! It hurts! What are you doing?!"

"Why can't I pull you out?!"

"Stop! Stop! My necks going to break!"

Luffy released him.

"You're crazy! I haven't moved in years! My body and this chest have already became one! If you're going to forcefully pull me out then my body will be done for!"

"But, how did you get to this island?" Nami asked.

"You mentioned earlier that you were pirates, right?"

"Yes, there are four of us," Luffy said.

"I was once a pirate."

"Oh!" Luffy's eyes widened.

"It's nice being a pirate, venturing for treasures, it's even okay if I risk my life. Do you have any maps?"

"We have a navigational map for the Grand Line." Luffy pulled out the map. "I'm going for One Piece."

"What? One Piece? And you intend to go to the Grand Line?" Gaimon looks at the map. "Which one is the Grand Line?"

"This. Uncle Cauliflower head, you don't know?"

"I don't really know how to read maps."

"Oh, I see."

"Is that how stupid pirates are suppose to talk?" Nami asked.

"Says the one who keeps saying weird," Cade said, earning a glare from Nami.

"Listen." Nami took the map. "Do you know the Red Line?"

"I know. That's the land that separates the oceans," Gaiman said.

"Yes. There are two oceans in this world. And the land that splits the world's two oceans is called the Red Line." Nami drug her finger over the map. "Using the city of Red Line as the center, draw a line around the world across the opposite way. And that's the Grand Line. In history, only the pirate king Gol Roger has conquered this route. Also, it is the most dangerous route."

"One Piece is surely in that place. That means we need to sail around the world," Luffy said.

"Idiot!" Nami snapped. "That place is not that easy to find! It also has another name: The Pirates Graveyard. Long ago, I saw pirates that returned from the Grand Line. Everyone of them had lost their spirit and looked as if they were dead. Their facial expressions were even more painful to look at. It looked like they had met something horrid, maybe a dreadful pirate or perhaps a monster. Nobody dared to talk about it. You could see from their look, the horror of the Grand Line. I have no other proof than this, the rumors only made it more and more mysterious. It's already been more than twenty years since the beginning of the great pirate ear. That treasure might be nothing more than a legend. Now can you see? One Piece is only inside a dream."

"Is that so? I think that there is a better ending right?" Luffy said.

"If a person really found such a treasure, he wouldn't tell anybody. That's what a smart person would do," Nami said.

"I will surely find the treasure because I'm always lucky." Luffy grinned.

"I just can't understand where you get such confidence," Nami said.

"Now I will tell you, why I can't leave this island," Gaimon said.

"Oh, why is that?" Luffy asked.

"It's because I'm not mature. I don't know how to adapt to the changes in situations."

"What?" Luffy asked.

"It happened twenty years ago, I was a pirate and the ship docked on this island. Because we found a map that said there was treasure on this island. Two hundred men searched for three weeks. All we found was a broken treasure chest. But no one climbed up this rock formation. I decide to climb up it before we left. Unfortunately, the rock under my hand crumbled and I fell. When I woke up I was stuck in this chest. By the time I managed to crawl to the short my crewmates had already left."

"No one came back to this island in twenty years?" Luffy asked.

"Yes. People came. There were many times. They were all pirates looking for the treasure, but I used the forest judgment to scare them all away. My eyes were never wrong. I'm very sure that there's a lot of treasure in that large rock hill. But I've been stuck in this chest. I've only been able to protect the treasure these past twenty years. That treasure is all mine!"

"That's right. Those are yours, Uncle." Luffy nodded.

"Okay, Gaimon! We'll help you bring those treasures down," Nami said.

"What? Is that true? That's very nice," Gaimon said.

"Aren't you a professional thief that steals treasures from pirates?" Luffy asked.

"Don't speak such nonsense! I have principles too!"

They followed Gaimon into the forest.

"This is it." Gaimon stopped and looked up a rock formation. "It's been a long time since the last time I came here."

"But why haven't you asked anyone to help you before?" Luffy asked.

"Because I don't trust anybody." Gaimon sighed. "Anyone who sees me like this wouldn't believe me anyway. I've waited for this moment so long, today's the happiest day of my life."

"Okay." Nami patted Luffy's shoulder. "Go for it."

"You want me to go up there?" Luffy asked.

"Of course. Do you think that I can climb that?"

"Come on, Luffy." Cade patted his shoulder. "We can race up there."

"Okay!" Luffy threw up his fist.

Cade held her palms towards the ground. They launched and landed at the same time, spotting the treasure chest. All were open and empty. "Well, that's... not really a surprise."

"There really are some treasure chests up here. There are five of them," Luffy said.

"That's great! Quick! Drop them here! But don't hit me!" Gaimon said.

"No way!"

"What?!"

"What are you talking about?" Nami snapped. "Stop joking around, and drop the treasure chests, now!"

"Nope. I don't want to."

"Don't you dare come down here again!" Nami said.

"Why does she think she can order us around?" Cade shook her head.

"Forget about it! It's okay if he doesn't want to drop them here!" Gaimon said.

"How can that be okay?! That's your treasure!"

"Straw Hat kid, you really are a good person."

"What are you saying?!"

"I've thought about it before. I knew it might be a possibility. But I always try hard not to think about it," Gaimon said. "The treasure chests are empty, aren't they?"

"Yeah. Every single one of them." Luffy laughed. "Don't be disappointed, Uncle! You meeting us after these twenty years is a really good thing, too. Because if it had been thirty years you might have been already dead. Don't worry, there's still the great treasure One Piece waiting for us! Will you join us?"

"You're inviting me?"

"Are you sure you want to stay here?" Luffy asked as he and Cade jumped back to the ground.

"Yes. Thank you for inviting me. But I still want to be the forest guardian here."

"Why?"
"Because there are many rare animals in the forest."

"You're right. We saw a strange snake and pig."

"There were many people who came to this island to get those animals. And living here for twenty years made me grown to love those animals. I can't leave them behind."

"You're a rare and precious animal, too," Luffy said.

"I'm going to kill you!" Gaimon bared his teeth. "Now that there are no more treasures, I feel somewhat relieved. I can now live in this island more comfortably."

"Too bad, you are an interesting person," Luffy said.

"I'm sure you'll find good companions for your crew. And also find the One Piece, then buy the whole world."

"That's right! We can do it!" Luffy grinned.

"We better get going then," Cade said. The pirates headed back to the boats and pushed off the island.

...

While writing this chapter I noticed, for the first time, in the manga this episode happens before Usopp joins but in the anime it happens after Usopp joins.