uffy chased after the man who had been throwing rocks at his head, shouting for him to stop, to wait, but he just kept running. Finally Luffy cornered him in a small round room, with the only thing between them a shallow pool of water.

After the man evaded him for the past several minutes, Luffy had finally had enough. "Why were you throwing rocks at me?" he demanded. "Do you want something or what?!"

The smaller man chuckled. "Thank you for asking, and yes! Despite the grave danger of this place, I have come here to make you a splendid proposal!"

"Grave danger?" Luffy questioned, confused. He had seen no danger, just fun.

"Let me introduce myself," the man said, putting his hand to his chest. "I am Brief, the captain of the Chobihige Pirates. I am the brave man that is fighting back against Baron Omatsuri's rule."

"Pirates?" Luffy suddenly stopped and looked at the man seriously, and deciding he had seen worse pirates. "Hey, you have a booger under your nose."

Brief pointed to the small patch of hair on his upper lip and yelled, "This is a moustache! The symbol of the Chobihige Pirates!" He took a breath and calmed down. "We even have a special way of greeting each other." He stood up straight, and put his finger sideways under his nose, and said, "Chobihige!"

"Weird," Luffy stated.

"No, it's cool!" Brief insisted. "You should try it! Go ahead! Chobihige!"

Luffy just stared back at him, not moving. "What's wrong?" Brief asked. "You just go like this!" He demonstrated again. "Chobihige!"

Luffy didn't move, seemingly unimpressed. "What's your proposal?" he finally asked, getting back to the matter at hand so he could be done.

"Ah, yes, my apologies," Brief replied. He pulled out a pair of binoculars, and looked at Luffy from across the room. "You have your crew with you," he said.

"What?"

"I saw you," he continued. "A great team."

"We are," Luffy replied with a nod.

"Wonderful friends."

Luffy wondered what he was getting at, but agreed, "Of course."

"Amazing teamwork."

Luffy was feeling proud now, "Tell me about it!"

"And so… why don't you guys join my crew?"

"-huh?"

"Why don't you all become Chobihige Pirates?"

Luffy just looked at him, waiting for a laugh, or a joke, or something- but nothing came.

"Hey, were you listening?" Brief asked. "I said-"

Luffy had heard enough. He stretched his arm across the room, and grabbed Brief's lapel, pulling him to him. Brief had to step quickly through the shallow pool in order to keep his feet.

"No violence please!" he said, panicking.

When the man was directly in front of him, Luffy answered. "No, of course we won't join your crew!"

Brief smiled, almost sadly. "That's what everyone says at first, but after a while on this island, you'll change your mind." He adjusted the large glasses on his face, and looked directly at Luffy, no longer scared. "Let me give you a warning," he added.

"What?"

"Beware of Baron Omatsuri," Brief said lowly. "He destroys friendships."

This resort is so empty… Chopper thought to himself as he wandered the halls. There are no people anywhere, though there are so many buildings. He continued to explore the place, moving outside. Where are all the people that were cheering for the goldfishing? In fact… where are the signs that people were here at all?

He continued to mull over this puzzle as he wandered from place to place, his confusion mounting with each stop. Not just the buildings, but the streets were empty too. Continuing to walk, he finally came across a large field, with many doors.

No… not doors… he thought as he went closer to examine them. They were all taller than he was, and spaced in exact distances apart from each other. There were rows and rows, and he had a terrible feeling well up as he got closer. Seeing the engraving on the piece of stone in front of him confirmed it.

They are… grave stones… he thought. Hundreds of them… his mouth hung open at the shock of it. He noticed that each one had a bundle of flowers at the base. Before he could think too much on it, he heard a yell, and turned towards the sound.

Just in time to see a man tackle Kia to the ground.

"Hey!" Chopper shouted, running towards them as fast a he could.

"Get off me!" Kia yelled, flailing against the older man. He was a little stronger than he looked, but he wasn't hurting her, so she didn't want to go all out.

"You're one of Baron Omatsuri's men!" he shouted at her. "I'll make you pay for what you did to us!"

"What?!"

"Take that! And that!"

Kia covered her head to protect against blows, but when they came, she could hardly feel them. She stopped struggling, confused. Was he simply weak? Or was he putting on some kind of act?

"Well?" the man shouted. "Do you surrender?"

"Oy!"

Kia and the man both turned, seeing Chopper running to them in his heavy point form. "Stay away from her!"

"Ahh!" the man screamed. "An otter monster!"

Kia covered her mouth so she wouldn't laugh, and Chopper stopped in shock. It lasted only a moment, and then he was shouting, "I'm not an otter!" at the man, practically pouting.

"Papa?" came another voice, and the three of them stopped and gaped.

"Papa?" Chopper asked in surprise.

The man turned to Kia, his hands clasped as he pleaded quietly. "I'm sorry, I'm sorry! Please call off your monster!" he hissed.

"We're not with the Baron," Kia replied softly. "We're pirates." She looked over to where Chopper was still advancing on them, though cautiously. "And he won't hurt you."

"Huh?" the man asked in relief. "Well, since you let me win, I can show you the secrets of this island."

He stood up straight, giving Kia a knowing wink, and started speaking in a false booming voice. "Well, I suppose I can be merciful and let you go… this time, heh-heh."

Kia rolled her eyes, but didn't contradict him. He was obviously playacting for his kid, and she didn't want to make him look bad. She could remember thinking that her own dad was a superhero when she was young. And if there was something he could tell them that would help them get off the island, she was all for it. She gave Chopper a signal, and he reverted to his normal size, and joined them.

The man gestured behind him, and Kia saw three kids come forward, an older girl that looked about her age, a boy about twelve, and a younger girl that looked only seven years old.

"We are also pirates," the man said. "But we are small time, a family-run crew. We call ourselves the Tea Room pirates." He put his hand on his chest and said, "I'm the captain, but everyone calls me Papa, of course." He turned to the others and introduced them from oldest to youngest. "This is Rosa, Rick, and Daisy. Aren't they just adorable?!"

"It's nice to meet you," Kia replied, smiling at the scowl from Rosa. "I'm Kia, and this is Chopper. We're part of the Straw Hat Pirate crew."

"Was your crew tricked into coming here too?" Rick asked. "We were told this was a resort, but it was a trick."

Chopper nodded. "Yes, that's what we thought too, but we had to pass a trial before we could go the resort."

"Really…" Rosa said sarcastically, glaring at her father.

"But it wouldn't matter if you did," Kia jumped in. "The Baron keeps giving new trials until you fail. He can't let anyone win." She had no idea if that was true, but she believed it, and wanted the kids to think so too. It looked as though Rosa no longer saw her dad as a hero, but Kia didn't want to ruin that for Daisy just yet. "Some of our crew is still participating in a trial now."

"The Baron is a bad man," Daisy commented, and her older siblings and father looked at her, seeming troubled.

"That's because he's a pirate," Rosa sneered. "Though not like us. The kind of pirate that people are afraid of."

"How do you know that?" Chopper asked.

"Because we're so smart!" Papa replied smugly.

"Don't listen to that liar," Rosa said with a roll of her eyes. She ignored him as he demanded that she call him Papa and show proper respect. "We'll show you, so follow us," she said to Kia.

Kia nodded, and they all started away, Papa wailing in the background about his daughter saying such mean things.

After a time, they came to a decrepit area of the buildings, and Rosa led Kia and Chopper to a crumbling brick wall. There, in the middle of the wall hung a very old wanted poster, discolored from age and weather.

"Wanted, dead or alive, the Red Arrow pirates," Kia read.

"Recognize anyone?" Rosa asked her, and she and Chopper looked closer.

"That's Muchigoro, there in front," Kia said with a frown. "But he doesn't have the plant growing from his head. That's really strange."

"That's not the only thing that's strange," Chopper added. "This man in the middle… he looks like the Baron."

Kia adjusted her gaze, and shook her head. "Yeah, but he's way too young in this picture," she said. "Maybe it's his younger brother or something?"

"No," Papa said ominously. "That's the Baron. This picture was taken a long time ago."

"Hmm," Kia replied. "So what, they decided to retire here?" she asked. "They got tired of being chased by the Marines?"

"All I know," Papa said seriously, "is that this is not an island of festivals. It's an island of pirates."

Kia turned to look at them. "Okay, so they stayed here. But why invite other pirates to come? The note specifically invited pirates that were strong to come."

"What?" Rosa asked.

Chopper rubbed his chin as he thought it over. "Pirates invite other pirates to come… then make them do a trial in order to find strong pirates… " he paused. "And then what?" he asked, looking back to Papa.

"Uhh… I was just wondering that too," Papa replied.

"So you don't really know the secret of the island?!" Chopper asked incredulously.

"I'm sorry!"

Chopper turned and looked to Kia. "We'd better go and tell the others," he said.

"Yeah," she replied. "Maybe together we can figure out the mystery behind this wanted poster."

Daisy yelled suddenly, and they spun around, and Kia saw a flash of the Baron before she was grabbed by Papa and carted away. She tried to yell, but he had his hand over her mouth. Then she was frozen, seeing only the image of Chopper pinned to the wall, an arrow protruding from his body as the five of them ran away.

"So it attached to you, and took you flying?" Robin asked as she and Usopp walked out to the appointed place for dinner. She could see that several of their crew were already there, waiting near a large pool.

"Yes!" Usopp replied. "I wasn't running away, it just happened! And now Nami is so angry, because she thinks I betrayed her!"

"I see," Robin said.

"So?" Usopp asked. "How can I get her to see that I wasn't betraying her?"

"Did you see anything while you were flying?" Robin asked. "Like a flower or something?"

"A flower?" Usopp asked, confused. "Robin! That's not helpful!"

"Well?" she asked.

"If I think about it…" he mused, trying to remember.

"If I think about it," Zoro interrupted as he continued to look around, "where's Chopper and Kia?" he asked.

Distracted, Usopp turned to Zoro. "Robin told us they left her earlier, so I'm sure they're just exploring, and will be back soon. Kia always turns up for dinner."

"Kia was upset about something the Captain said, and she stormed off," Robin answered. "I believe the doctor went after her."

"Well, at least they are probably together then," Zoro mumbled.

"Hey," Sanji spoke up. "Do you know where Kia and Chopper are?" he asked Usopp.

Usopp turned to his left with a scowl. "We literally just spoke of this," he replied. "You're standing close enough to have heard."

"Where's Kia? And Chopper?" Nami asked from her place several steps away to his right.

"Like I said-"

"I wasn't asking YOU!" Nami interrupted.

"How can you still be mad at me, Nami?!" Usopp asked, confused. "I explained and apologized, and…"

"Captain, will you do something about this?" Robin asked, turning to Luffy. "They've been like this all afternoon."

Before Luffy could answer, there was the sounds of drums, and they turned to see the Baron standing before them playing a drum as a platform of drummers raised behind him.

This is the strangest island, Robin mused to herself. Shifting around to meet the whims of the Baron.

"Why are you fighting?" the Baron asked smugly. "I thought your crew were friends?"

"You've got to be kidding," Zoro muttered.

"In any case," the Baron continued, "I'm going to treat you to a banquet tonight, with a dinner that your eyes have never beheld."

The pool water started bubbling, and split down the middle. Nami and Usopp gasped as the water moved aside, revealing a man in a chef's hat carrying two large, sharp paddles standing on a smooth platform rising from beneath the water. It continued to rise, the platform only slightly smaller than the pool itself, until it was higher than the edge of the pool.

Flames rose all around, and Sanji- who understood perfectly what was happening- mumbled, "So, it is a cooking performance then."

"The outdoor barbecue restaurant is now open!" Baron Omatsuri declared, and the performing chef started skating around the platform, leaving shiny trails in his wake.

"Is he… oiling the surface?" Nami asked, intrigued, while Sanji frowned.

"Nothing special about this," Sanji grumbled, as his crew mates looked on in awe.

Men from either side threw large ingredients to the chef, and he raised his paddles, thrusting upward in rapid succession, chopping all the vegetables and seafood easily. He let them fall to the oiled grill surface, then skated around, turning them as he collected them together in his paddles.

"Wow, he's so fast!" Usopp declared.

"Nothing special about this at all," Sanji said again. "I've shown you much better before."

"It looks great! I can't wait!" Luffy shouted, cheering on the chef.

Sanji pulled his cigarette from his mouth so he wouldn't bite through it, as he felt his teeth grinding together. He could hear Luffy's shout echo is his mind, and felt as if his pride was just put on the line. He was supposed to be the greatest chef, the chef for the King of the Pirates!

He dropped the cigarette, grounding it out with his shoe, even as he opened his jacket and carefully removed it, folding it nicely over a chair, followed by his tie. He moved purposefully, but didn't rush, taking a table cloth from a table and tying it around his waist as an apron. Then he went to where the men stood around the empty carts that held the ingredients, and saw there was nothing left.

No matter, he thought. Everything I need is already up there. He saw the extra supplies for the chef should he need them, and grabbed the oil pads, strapping them over his shoes. He took a single paddle, and jumped above the flames and onto the grill surface.

The chef stopped, seeing someone ruining his show. "What are you doing, kid?" he asked lowly. "You're in the way."

Sanji didn't bother answering him, he would know soon enough. "Luffy!" he called as he carefully rolled up his sleeves. "I'm going to make you something one hundred times better than this fatso."

"Heh," the cook replied. "How could you, with no ingredients?"

"Easy," Sanji answered. "I'll just take yours!"

With that announcement, the cooking battle was on, and both cooks knew it. The drummers started drumming again, making the whole affair official. Luffy was delighted, as Sanji's cooking was the best, so he was bound to get something amazing for dinner.

Usopp loved a good competition, and did what anyone would, and cheered his crew mate on. He could see Nami doing the same, and he moved over, thinking that them cheering together was bound to make her forget being mad at him.

Zoro rolled his eyes, and sat on a chair. He asked a passing man to bring him something to drink, then decided a short nap couldn't hurt.

Robin saw it was a handy distraction, and decided to slip away to search for the elusive flower she had been hunting for. She had almost made it out of the area, when she heard someone asking where she was going. She turned easily, seeing Baron Omatsuri looking at her suspiciously.

"...A walk before dinner," she answered. "To whet the appetite."

"In the middle of a party?" he asked.

"I thought I'd find a flower for my table," she replied.

"Is this one here not enough?" he asked, gesturing to the strange little smiling flower perched on his shoulder.

"I'm looking for a special one, that only grows here on this island," she answered, watching him closely for his reaction. "A… lily carnation."

"Hm?" he replied, showing no hint of surprise. "What are you talking about?"

"I heard about it from the owner of the giant goldfish," she answered. Then turning back around, she began walking off. "He said it was quite lovely."

Try as he might, Usopp could not seem to get Nami to speak to him. Even as he cheered on Sanji with her, she would look at him, then flounce away. She would cheer for Sanji, and he would add to her cheers, and she would give him a frosted look, then leave again. After a third time, she went and sat at a small table with Muchigoro, leaving now way for him to talk to her.

He finally gave up, walking out to the trees to let off some steam. What is wrong with her?! he thought. I told her what happened… so she doesn't have to be SO mad at me! I didn't even do anything…

He saw a large fruit and decided to kick it away like a soccer ball. He swung out, then yelled at his foot connected with something as solid as a rock. "OUCH!"

A young boy was suddenly in front of him, and said, "Good evening to you."

Usopp looked at him, confused. "Where did you come from?"

"You have a cool hat," the boy said. "Let me have it."

"Huh?!" Usopp asked, stepping back.

The boy extended his arms, reaching for him. "Your hat. Give it to me."

"Why would I?" Usopp asked. "It's mine."

"Because I want it!"

Usopp gave him a strange look. "Well, sorry, but it was a present, so I won't give it away."

"Give it to me!"

"No way kid!"

The boy stopped, and glared at Usopp. "Did… you just make fun of me?!" he asked angrily.

"No… I didn't," Usopp replied.

"You did! You did!"

"How did I get pulled into this conversation?" Usopp murmured, mostly to himself.

"I won't forgive you for this…" the boy said, glaring at Usopp. Usopp stopped, his mouth hanging open as he watched the boy's angry eyes turn from a pale shade of green to an angry color of red. He didn't even have time to yell for help as the boy jumped at him.

Sanji could hear the other cook add his finishing touches, and nodded smugly to himself that the flavors would simply enhance his own dish, so he needn't worry about them. The man was going with light and mild flavors, while his own creation was going to be bold.

He was ready, just as the other finished, and he started twirling his paddle around the giant pile of noodles, creating a large ball that he flung up into the air. It gave him just enough time to flip his large omelet that he had been preparing.

The noodles landed first, with his omelet landing perfectly on top, cooked side up. He poured his thicker sauce on top, shouting out as he worked so that the others could understand his creation. Then he topped it with a crisscrossing pattern of lemon flavored dressing, and added a garnish.

"Please enjoy!" he called, knowing by the cheers that he had succeeding in proving his place. He turned to where he left his crew and asked. "Robin my dear, did you see that? My complete and utter victory…" He opened his eyes and saw Luffy cheering, and the green haired idiot asleep. "She's not even here!"

He moved away, having seen Nami come to the other side of the platform, and asked, "Then Nami… Can you see this delicacy? It's a token of my love to you…" he looked to her with love filled eyes, seeing her ignoring him completely as she sat with another man at a small table for two.

He wilted, grabbing his paddle and heading off the scorching grill. "I don't feel like doing this anymore..." he mumbled.

"Bon appetit!" Luffy called as he dove straight into the massive pile of food. "It's HOT!" he screeched as he came back up. "But sooooo goooood! Hey Zoro! Get up! This is great!" he called.

Zoro, raised his head from the chair and looked up to Luffy. "Time to eat, huh? Okay, though I never did get my drink."

"I won't let you. You were sleeping."

Zoro sat up, and stared at Sanji. "Huh?" he asked.

Sanji glared down at him. "You don't have the right to eat any of it, since you weren't cheering me on."

Zoro glared back, but before he could say anything, Sanji's face turned into a wide grin. "Robin! Where are you?! Dinner is ready!" he called, and went running off.

Zoro reclined back in his chair, not too upset about missing the food, but he really wanted a drink. He looked at the idiot that ran around the tables yelling for Robin, and thought, what a leech.

Nami did as she usually did, and used her tolerance for alcohol to her advantage. She had Muchigoro drink glass after glass with her, flirting and teasing him to continue to drink. When he asked her why she was with him, and not her crew, it gave her a moment's pause. "We're not usually like this…" she murmured. She didn't mean to tell him that, but he heard her. She quickly covered it up by giving him a pet name, Mucchy. It worked, as once he figured it out, he started acting suave.

She hadn't gotten much from him, just how wonderful that Baron was, and how he was a man's man. But eventually, Muchigoro said something about how the Baron was even stronger than that Roger. And Nami pounced.

"Roger?" she asked. "What Roger?"

He laughed. "You're a pirate and you don't even know who Gold Roger is?" he asked incredulously. "I'm surprised."

"The man that started the new era of pirates?" Nami asked, a little confused by the way he was talking of the old king of the pirates.

"Yes, that's him!" Muchigoro replied. "Have you met him?"

Nami laughed, thinking he was playing with her. "Of course not, he was executed so long ago."

"Executed?" Muchigoro stammered, shocked. "Don't be ridiculous!"

"Yeah," Nami replied, wondering what was going on. "Over twenty years ago now."

He looked at her with wide eyes, and she glanced back, wondering what was going on with him. He had started sweating, and looked very pale. "That can't be…" he said, staring past her. "Because I just saw Gold Roger the other day."

"The other day?" she asked oddly.

"Yes…" he continued, and she wondered if he was even aware of her any longer. "Before the night of the big storm…"

"Mucchy?" she asked, but he just continued to stare out past her. "Mucchy! What happened the night of the storm?!" she demanded, feeling as if she were finally to the heart of it all.

He began shaking, and put his hands up to his face. "Mucchy!" she yelled. He looked at her, and she gasped, leaning away from him. His entire body had shriveled, as a dying plant, and he was looking at her as if pleading for help.

She didn't know what was happening, let alone how to help. She just wanted to get away. So she got up, and ran back to where Robin had been.

"Captain!" Sanji yelled, "Stop eating and do something!"

Luffy popped his head up from his dinner, recognizing that Sanji wasn't playing around. "Huh?" he asked.

"Robin's gone!" Sanji said.

"Wait, she is?" Luffy asked.

"She said she was going to check out the flower," Zoro added as he walked up to them. "You know she likes to go off on her own."

"Flower?" Nami asked as she ran up.

"It can't have taken this long, just to look for a flower!" Sanji argued.

"Hey, where's Usopp?" Luffy asked. "Did he go with her?"

"Uh, I don't know where he is," Nami replied, looking around. "But he was still here when Robin left."

"So Usopp is missing too?!" Sanji demanded.

"Chopper and Kia aren't back either," Zoro stated, and the four of them looked at each other as the situation began making sense.

"Something is going on here," Nami said.

"I have a bad feeling," Zoro added.

"Are you talking in your sleep again?" Sanji sneered at him. "What were you doing this whole time?!"

"What's that supposed to mean?!" Zoro asked with a frown.

"I'm saying you- who were just sitting there- should have paid attention!" Sanji yelled.

"Hey, they're not kids for me to babysit!" Zoro replied angrily.

"Four of our crew are gone! And yet somehow, nobody noticed until now?!" Sanji demanded, looking at the other three.

"But-" Nami started, then realizing she didn't have an argument, stayed quiet, her head hanging.

Honestly, Sanji was surprised that Nami and Zoro weren't arguing back, but he didn't care. He turned to Luffy. Someone had to be to blame for this…

"Luffy? What are you going to do?" he asked, and Luffy looked at him, surprised. "It was your idea to come here in the first place!"

"Sanji!" Nami berated. "There's no use saying that now!"

"This happened because of you!" he yelled, staring at his captain, who wasn't speaking, and he got even more upset. "Luffy…" he said, trying to keep his calm, "you did this. So now what are you going to do?"

"This is… my fault?" Luffy asked softly as it dawned on him.

There was a murmuring, and the four of them looked over to see the Baron leaning over the body of Muchigoro. Nami shook a little at seeing the dried up husk shake on the ground.

"The banquet is over!" the Baron declared. "And we will resume the trial from hell! Get DJ over here, now!"

They were shocked to say the least, and were about to shout back how they would definitely not participate in any more trials. They were going to find their crew mates.

A small boy that looked like he had a turtle shell on his back suddenly appeared before them, pulling his cap low over his eyes. "Good evening," he said, taking the Straw Hats aback. "I'm DJ Kappa."

Sanji walked right by him, saying, "Hold it!" to the rest of the men that were clearing up the tables. "Where are Usopp and Robin?!" he demanded.

Zoro walked forward as well passing the boy on his left. "Where are Chopper and Kia?" he added. "Bring them to us right now!"

"Hey, did you just ignore me?" DJ asked, turning to them. "You did! You just ignored me!"

The two of them turned to look over their shoulders at the small boy between them. "Shut up, little imp!" they yelled together, and DJ froze in shock.

"I-imp?" he croaked.

Sanji stopped, focusing in on the hat that the kid wore. "Where did you get that?" he asked. "It looks exactly like the one I gave to Usopp." He reached over, and grabbed the hat, yanking it off the kid's head. DJ tried to grab it back, but Sanji merely held it out of reach.

"Hey…" Zoro said menacingly. "What did you do to Usopp?"

DJ decided he'd get the hat back later, but for now, they were exactly where the Baron wanted them. He ran over to the Baron, and looked back with a smile. "They're somewhere on this island!" he said with a singsong voice. "Try to find them if you can!"

"So you guys DID do something to our crew?" Zoro demanded.

"Don't get so angry," Baron Omatsuri replied, as DJ scampered off. Zoro and Sanji watched as something large was shifting behind him, a gigantic gold curtain blocking it from their view. "First I must explain the next trial."

"Who cares about that!" Zoro demanded. "Where ARE they?!"

"The trial first!" the Baron said.

"Screw that!" Zoro yelled back, even louder. "Our friends first!"

The Baron scowled at them, and shook his head. "THE TRIAL FIRST!"

There was a pause, as the two fighters faced off against the Baron, and then Sanji broke away. "This is going nowhere," he said as he turned. "I'm going to look for them… alone."

"Sanji!" Nami called after him, but he was already running away from the area.

"I'm not in the mood for this trial crap again," Zoro grumbled, and turned in the opposite direction and headed off.

"Zoro!" Nami called, but he didn't stop either.

"The fools," Baron Omatsuri said with a maniacal grin. "They didn't even hear what the trial was." The golden curtain fell away, revealing a large lit up sign that said, SHOOTING. "There are no rules to this trial, and it is very simple. One hundred snipers will be shooting at you," he explained, as all the men around him raised rifles and sighted Luffy and Nami in them.

"If you think you can escape them, then by all means… look for your friends."

Nami was taken aback, uncertain. She looked over at her captain, surprised that he wasn't moving, wasn't even looking upset. "Luffy… what should we do?" she asked. He didn't answer, didn't even move his head to look at her. "Luffy?" she pressed, and still no response.

"Let the trial… begin!" Baron Omatsuri declared, and the men around him began running in the direction of the crew, including some that came towards Nami and Luffy.

"LUFFY!" Nami yelled, getting scared. "Fine! I'll go alone!" she yelled at him as she turned and ran. The Baron's men chased after her, not bothering to even stop to look at Luffy as they passed him.

"Hmm?" Omatsuri said as he and Luffy were now the only two left. "Aren't you going?" he asked. "A captain that abandons his crew, is that it?"

Luffy didn't speak, but he did start to move. His arm began to rise, bringing the straw hat that was gripped in his hand back to his head.

"Was that all there was to your bond of friendship?" Omatsuri sneered. "Seems it was so easily broken."

He reared back as Luffy glared at him, his face contorted in anger. "Give me back my friends!" he shouted, and moved forward to attack in the same moment.

"Ha ha ha!" the Baron jeered. "Now that's the spirit!" he pulled his bow up to aim it, an arrow appearing from his hand as he drew the string.

Luffy stopped suddenly, seeing the flower on the Baron's shoulder look at him with crazed eyes, and what looked like sharp teeth. He jumped out of the way, just as the arrow would have hit him.

Luffy grabbed his hat as he slid to a stop, preventing it from sliding from his head, and he narrowed his eyes as he turned back to the baron. He was shocked, however, as he saw the arrow that the baron had shot at him was still in the air, right where he had been before. And then it turned on its own, and pointed at him again.

He barely jumped away in time, moving as soon as he landed, as the arrow came after him again and again. He didn't understand how it was doing it, but it would stop, turn, and pick up speed again as it shot itself at him over and over.

He moved as far away as he could, away from the strange pavilion, the arrow destroying fountains and tables as he moved around them. He even fell down a flight of wooden stairs in his effort to avoid getting hit. Then his back was at a landing, and he saw the arrow aim at him again. He had nowhere to go this time.

He gripped the landing and moved his feet, hoping to simply avoid the next blow. However the arrow was strong, and destroyed the landing completely, causing Luffy to fall several stories and land face first in the dirt.

He thought for a moment that he heard someone call him, and he struggled for a moment, before he finally closed his eyes.

Baron Omatsuri stepped forward, seeing that his arrow was gone, but did not see the body of the straw hat pirate captain. He glanced to the flower on his shoulder, then headed off. The others should be caught by now, he decided.

One by one, DJ used the men around him to round up the pirates that had insulted him. "It's no use running," he would shout, enjoying the hunt, even as the others shot bullets like rain.

First the woman, though it was far too easy. The discs he had would follow his every command, and he sent them after her. After the first explosion, she stopped to get her bearings, and then she was surrounded. A smaller explosion had her incapacitated.

Then the cook, as he was closer than the swordsman. He was trying to keep out of sight, but it was no use. DJ's discs could cut through anything, go anywhere, even though the bullets from the others' guns were useless- the cook didn't stand a chance. He used a few extra discs this time… he didn't want that one coming after him later.

And finally, the swordsman, who was wandering down at the beach. Why he thought his friends would be there, DJ had no clue, but it made it easy to surround him with discs. He seemed tough as well, so DJ used several explosive discs to bring him down. He stood over him, waiting for the others to come and carry him off. "You shouldn't have ignored me," he said to the man's body.

He heard a sound, and looked down, but was suddenly grabbed and thrown. "You'll pay for that!" the green-haired swordsman shouted, and pulled out his swords. DJ was confused for a moment, as the man even had a sword in his mouth. Then he moved so quickly that DJ couldn't even evade him. He cried out, feeling his torso being cut, but he didn't fall.

"You… cut me," he said, as he turned to the man. He brought his hand from his shredded shirt, and held it up to look at it, seeing nothing there. "You cut me, but I won't die…" he said. "I won't even bleed." He looked up to the man. "Why won't I bleed?" he asked.

"What technique did you use to avoid it?" Zoro grumbled, and went in for another attack. He looked back, and asked, "How was that?!"

The boy turned to him again, looking confused, yet still whole. "What's a technique?" the boy asked him.

"I don't believe this!" Zoro replied. I can see the slices I made in his clothes, so why isn't he cut?!

With a strangled cry, Zoro reeled forward, barely keeping his feet. "What was that?" he mumbled as he fell forward, an arrow protruding from his back.

Baron Omatsuri stepped forward, hardly glancing at the fallen man. "DJ?" he asked. "Are you all right?"

"Sir Baron?" DJ said, moving forward. "Why don't I die when people cut me or shoot me with a gun?"

"Because you are strong," Omatsuri replied.

"It's strange sir," DJ said, looking confused. "because I'm not as strong as Kerojee or Muchigoro."

"You ARE strong, DJ," Omatsuri said, stressing it for the boy.

His face cleared, and he smiled in return. "Oh, I am, aren't I?" DJ said. "Just as I thought! Only Straw Hat is left, Sir," he stumbled a bit as he walked.

"DJ?" Omatsuri asked.

"Sorry sir, I just got dizzy…"

Omatsuri frowned, as he watched the young boy fall over, his body shriveling up. He moved away, walking back towards the resort, seeing the shriveled bodies of all his comrades. He began walking faster, knowing what needed to be done to get them strong again. This always happens… and now she needs food…

"Wh- where is everyone?" Luffy asked weakly.

"Oh, you're up!"

Luffy bolted upright, the cool cloth that had been covering his eyes falling away, and he saw the small man with the even smaller mustache sitting across a low table from him. And there was also a goat that bleated at him.

"It's you!" Luffy said accusingly.

"Yes, we meet again," he replied. "I am Brief, in case you forgot."

"How could I forget a guy that won't wipe off the booger on his face?" Luffy asked.

"It's a toothbrush mustache!" Brief shouted, slamming a fist on the table.

Already forgotten, Luffy looked around the room he was in. "Why am I in this strange place?"

Brief rolled his eyes. "You really shouldn't complain you know," he answered. "I dug tunnels and escape routes all over this island, so I wouldn't be caught by the Baron's evil hands. You were lucky, and fell right on top of an entrance to my tunnels. Otherwise, the Baron would have you now."

"I can't stay here!" Luffy said desperately. "I have to find my friends!" He stood up, and moved to the door.

"Hold on…" Brief started.

"Nope, my friends are waiting," Luffy replied, moving over to a door.

"I said, hold on!"

"See ya!" Luffy called, opening the door, and walking through.

Brief waited a few moments, unsurprised when the pirate came back into the room via another door.

"Huh?" Luffy said, then turned back the way he came.

After another minute, yet another door brought Luffy back into the room.

"What?" he asked, perplexed.

"It's not very easy to get out of this place," Brief said, as he continued to peel fruit for his dinner. "The tunnels are complicated to those that do not know them."

"Then tell me how to get out!" Luffy shouted as he came back into the room.

"Ah, welcome!" Brief greeted him, as if he had just shown up. "Welcome to my secret base! Can I get you something to drink? Do you like goat's milk?" he asked, gesturing to his goat.

"I don't want anything!" Luffy yelled, and stomped his foot.

Luffy sat, though he wasn't happy about it. The little man refused to tell him how to get out, and insisted that they should team up. He wouldn't listen to how Luffy was in a hurry… he would just ignore everything else but what he wanted to talk about. So… Luffy pouted.

"Seriously, it only makes sense to reconsider," Brief began again. "We really should be a team."

"No!"

"Now don't say that…" Brief said knowingly. "The Chohibige pirates are always looking for new members."

Luffy turned his head, glaring, ready to tell him off, when something caught his eye. He moved closer to the picture, recognizing Brief in the front and center, holding a jolly roger. The skull on the flag had glasses, just like his, a hat just like the entire crew was wearing, and even a little booger-looking mustache, like the rest of them. They were all grinning, and looked very happy.

"Are these your friends?" Luffy asked.

Brief looked over, and nodded. "Oh, yes…"

"They all look like you," Luffy noted.

"Yeah, because we're a team," Brief explained.

"But…" Luffy looked over to the small man. "I haven't seen anyone besides you here. Are the others in a different secret base?" he asked.

"No," Brief answered in resignation. "It's just me now."

Luffy looked up at him, his eyes wide as the realization hit him of why this little man wanted them to join him.

"I'm the only member of the Chohibige pirates left." Brief moved to sit down, putting a cup of tea in front of Luffy as he did. "I still remember," he said as he sipped his own drink, "when my dear friends were captured by the Baron…"

"...When they were swallowed up… by that giant monster…" he added gravely.

"The Baron's men are everywhere…" Rosa whispered to Kia, who nodded.

"I'm not sure how we'll find the others," she replied softly. "I may have to go after Chopper without them."

Together, they snuck back to where the family was hiding, breathing a sigh a relief that they weren't spotted.

Rick finally asked, "Well? Any luck?"

Rosa shook her head. "There are people everywhere, it looks like they are hunting some… thing," she finished lamely, looking at Kia.

"I'm sorry, but I don't think I can make it to my friends for help," she said. She looked over to Papa. "Any idea where they might have taken Chopper?" she asked. She and Rosa had already gone back to where they left him, and found nothing.

"No, I'm sorry," he replied. "And I'm sorry about the reindeer, but if we hadn't run, we'd be dead right now."

"Oh, I'm glad we did then, Kia," Rick said, looking relieved. "I'd hate for anything bad to happen to you."

"I know," she replied, not wanting to sound ungrateful. "But I can't just leave Chopper to die, nor my other friends. They are like family to me."

"But… they aren't," Rick said, confused. "You told us that you had sisters, and that you are trying to find them. Isn't it more important to stay alive so that you can see them again?"

"It's hard to explain," Kia replied as she shook her head. "But I suppose I wouldn't really feel good seeing them again, if I let my friends die to in order to make it happen."

Rick didn't truly understand, but he was quiet as he thought it over.

"I think she's right," Rosa spoke up.

"And, I think we should help Kia find Mr. Reindeer," Daisy added.

Kia gave them a grateful smile, which was wiped away as Papa fumed.

"No! We aren't going anywhere near that resort. We're going to continue looking for our ship, and we're going to leave this island while we still can!"

"But Papa," Rosa began, only to be cut off.

"No!"

There was silence after that, as they huddled in their hiding place. Kia continued to monitor the movement outside, hoping that soon she would have a chance to leave. No matter what Papa said, she wasn't going to leave her crew to die.

After an hour or so, Kia realized how quiet it had become. Night had descended, and she no longer heard the pounding of footsteps as a patrol came around. She waited a bit longer, thinking that perhaps she had just missed it. But even after another fifteen minutes, there was not a sound, and she decided it was safe to explore.

Rosa noticed as well, and could see the determined look on her face. "I'm coming with you," she whispered to Kia.

"I'm just going to look around outside," Kia explained, noting that the others looked like they were sleeping. Then Daisy opened her eyes and looked at them.

"Be careful," Daisy said with a smile.

"You got it," Kia replied.

She crept out the door slowly, looking each way. Rosa followed at her back, as they inched out into the street.

"It's very strange," Rosa commented. "There is no one around. Do you think they gave up?" she asked Kia.

"I wouldn't think so," Kia replied, looking left and right. "Unless they got someone else worth more to them," she looked back to Rosa in worry.

"I'm sure your friends are fine," she answered soothingly. "You said that they are strong, right?"

"Very strong," Kia answered.

"That's exactly what I am counting on."

The two girls spun around, finding themselves face to face with the Baron, whose bow was notched and pointed at them.

"I'm hungry!" the small flower on his shoulder spoke up, and Kia looked at it with dread.

"Yes, I know," Omatsuri replied. "I'm collecting all sorts for you this time, Lily."

Kia stepped in front of Rosa, blocking her. "Let her go, Baron," she said. Kia looked forward, ignoring whatever the Baron was saying and trying to convince Rosa to run.

"Move," the Baron commanded, gesturing with his bow.

"Depends on where we're going," Kia said, trying to sound brave.

"Why, to see your friends… of course." Kia didn't like the smile the Baron was giving her, but if he would really lead her to her friends, then they could work together to get out of there. "We must have you all together after all."

"I'm coming," Kia agreed, gesturing Rosa to stay back and hide. Stubbornly, Rosa grabbed her hand and started walking along side her. Neither girl looked back, not wanting to give away the others, and they didn't see Daisy peeking out through a crack in the door.

Kia was a bit surprised that the Baron was taking them away from the resort. But as the trek became longer and steeper, she realized exactly where they were going. And as the top of the mountain became closer, so did the thing that was sitting on top of it.

"What is that?!" Rosa said quietly, the horror apparent in her voice.

"I don't know," Kia answered, her own worry compounding. She didn't know what would happen, nor what that monstrous thing was, but she was afraid she could guess. And she didn't like what she was thinking.

The Baron egged them onward, then turned suddenly, pointing his bow. "Come out!" he shouted.

On trembling limbs, Papa emerged from behind a rock, trying to keep the others hidden. Baron Omatsuri took one look, and dismissed him. He put down his bow, and moved away.

Rosa's family ran to her, and immediately curled into each other, getting and giving comfort. "Don't be scared, Daddy is right here," she heard Papa croon to Daisy's cries, and Kia turned away not wanting to intrude.

Seeing something move, she started towards it, and upon recognizing it, she ran. "Chopper!" she called, relieved that he was okay.

"Kia?" he asked, surprised as he sat up, rubbing his stomach. "I… I thought I was shot by an arrow," he said. He froze as she threw her arms around him.

"Chopper, I've been so worried that I would never see you again, and I'd never be able to make things right!" she gushed, her eyes filling with tears. "I don't ever want to fight again!" she cried. "Please forgive me!"

Chopper's lip trembled, and he changed to his heavy point so that he could hug her properly. He pulled his arms tight around her. "I'm sorry too Kia!" he cried.

"I'm hungry! I'm hungry!"

They turned at the shrill voice, seeing that the Baron had stepped beyond them, next to the giant… growing thing that was raised into the sky. Kia's eyes widened as it began to move, the moonlight helping her to see the small shoots coming from the top.

"What is that?!" she breathed in repulsion, though now she understood.

"Is it alive?" Chopper asked, not quite understanding.

Yes… she thought, not quite able to say it out loud.

"I'm sorry to make you wait Lily…" they could hear the Baron say, his face tipped up to the humongous plant stem. "It is finally time to eat."

The stalks that came down were unlike anything that Kia had experienced before, curving and angling in every direction like a ball of string that was unraveling as it fell. And yet it was so fast, that one moment it was in the sky, and the next, it was grabbing Daisy, and lifting her away from her family.

"DAISY!" they yelled, trying to pull her back.

"Daddy! Help me!" she called in fright.

"Chopper, what can we do?" Kia asked, though he didn't answer, he was already moving.

Kia watched him as he crunched into a rumble ball, afraid that he wouldn't make it. The once curving shoots were retracting now, bringing Daisy up to it's open surface. Kia understood as Chopper jumped, and she moved to intercept.

Chopper punched with all his might, and the giant stem balked and swayed, releasing it's prize. Kia made it just in time, catching Daisy before she hit the rock covered ground. Her family came running, relieved that she was saved.

"Now's your chance! Run!" Chopper called, bounding back up to the plant and striking it again.

"Hurry up!" he called as he landed. "Kia! Get them away from here!"

"Mr. Reindeer!" Daisy yelled.

"Hurry!" he called again, changing into his heavy point form.

"Just as I thought," the Baron laughed, "I knew that you'd be strong." He released his arrow, barely missing Chopper, but causing an explosion beneath his feet.

"Chopper, no!" Kia screamed, running for him as the plant stalks wrapped around one of his feet, and picked him up off the ground. She grabbed onto his hand with both of hers, pulling him back.

"It's the first time I'm offering Lily someone with the power of a devil fruit," the Baron continued to laugh, enjoying the struggling pair.

"Let me go!" Chopper yelled upward, holding tightly to Kia's hand. "Damn you!"

He stopped squirming as he saw that Kia was straining on her toes, that she was about to leave the ground.

"Kia, you have to let me go, or you'll be pulled up too!" he said to her. "Please! Get somewhere safe!"

"No way, I'm not letting go!" she yelled, her feet dragging along the ground as the plant pulled the two of them. She tried to make her body heavier, imaging that she was dead weight, though she doubted it was helping.

"Kia!" she heard the shout, and tried to turn. The distraction was enough for the plant to pull her from the ground, but she was stopped just as suddenly as Rosa, Rick and Daisy all grabbed her legs.

"I told you all to run!" Chopper wheezed.

"Daddy!" Rosa yelled. "You have to help us! You're really strong, aren't you?!"

"Show us!" Rick added as they pulled down on Kia, gaining enough to get her almost touching the ground. "Show us how strong you really are!"

"Help us Daddy!" Daisy wailed.

Papa stared for a moment, and then moved, his family so happy that he was coming to help them. But their elation turned to despair, as he grabbed each of them and pulled them away from the danger. Without their help, Chopper and Kia were pulled easily into the air.

"Why?!" Rosa shouted.

"Wh- what are you doing?" Rick stammered.

"Daddy, don't!" Daisy cried.

"Daddy why?!" Rosa yelled as she fought against him even as he herded them away. "Let me go! They saved Daisy! They saved Daisy and you won't even let us help them?!" she cried furiously. "You COWARD!"

He stopped then, and slapped her across the face. The family stopped, staring at each other in shock, their father looking ashamed at his feet.

"Fine. Call me a coward if you want. But I won't let you put yourselves in danger."

Baron Omatsuri turned gleefully. "Yes! Fight! Harder and harder! There is nothing I love more than to see pirate crews fight with each other!" His laughter boomed as the small crew watched their new friends being raised to the open face of the plant stalk.

"BARON!"

Omatsuri turned then, looking up to where the shout had come from.

"Don't think for a second that you've won!" Chopper shouted, even as he pulled Kia up into the safety of his arms, and held her in a hug. He shook his empty fist at the man. "Our friends will come to save us!"

"Yeah!" Kia added, even though they were upside down, she felt that nothing could hurt her. She tilted her head as the plant turned them, to look at the Baron. "Then they'll beat up you, and Lily!"

He smiled at her, giving her chills. "They're not coming," he called back to them. "No matter how long you wait."

"They will too!" Chopper argued.

"It is true. No one is coming."

"I believe in them! They will come!" Chopper shouted.

"I said they aren't coming!" Omatsuri yelled. "Why don't you get it?!"

Hearing Kia gasp had Chopper focusing away from the Baron, though he was still answering in kind. "I know it… I know they will come…" he gasped then as well, as he was turned to the plant's face, and saw them.

"Nami! Sanji!" he called them each by name as he saw them. "Usopp! Robin! Zoro!" They looked unconscious, some were half buried in the vegetation of the plant, as it grew over them, swallowing them.

He could feel Kia trembling as they were pulled in to meet the same fate. And the last thing he heard was her voice crying softly.

"Luffy… I'm sorry, big brother."

Rosa looked up in horror, as the plant dropped it's package, and she heard the screams of Kia and Mr. Reindeer as they fell. The silence came swiftly and yet suddenly, and she gasped at the pain of it. She covered her mouth with her hand, not wanting to attract the Baron's attention.

She nodded silently, as Papa started pulling them away, the four of them escaping back into the forest. Once hidden among the rocks and trees, she refused to go further, needing to see what happened. She needed to know the true secrets of this island, so that the next time… she could help. I won't let anyone get fed to that plant again, she thought as the tears rolled down her face.

Daisy looked up, then reached for her sister's hand. She thought of the strange name she had heard Kia say, and wondered why she was talking to a brother when she had said before that she had only had sisters.

It bothered her and confused her enough, that she finally turned to her sister and asked.

Rosa, unsure of what Daisy was asking, had to shake herself to get focused on her sister's question. She had her repeat it again, blinking in surprise as the implications hit.

"Do… do you think that maybe she had a brother too?" Daisy asked.

"But then, why tell us only about her sisters?" Rosa pondered.

"Perhaps only her sisters are missing," Rick added, having been listening along with their conversation. "If he was part of her crew, she wouldn't have mentioned him when talking about her missing family." He shrugged. "That's the only thing that makes sense to me."

"If that's true," Rosa said, looking back at the mountain from their hiding spot, "then I want to tell him what happened. I want him to know how brave and selfless she was before she died."

Rick and Daisy hung their heads. "She was really nice," Rick added quietly. "And pretty."

"So was Mr. Reindeer," Daisy chimed in, and her siblings smiled sadly at her.

"The Baron once told me, way back, that it makes him furious to see friends like us," Brief told Luffy, as they sipped their tea. "That it makes him want to break us up, cut us into little pieces, so that we will feel the same way he does."

"The same way he does?" Luffy asked.

Brief nodded. "Yes, though it doesn't make sense. All I know is that he hates pirate crews that have strong bonds of friendship." He looked up into Luffy's eyes. "Don't fight him by yourself," he cautioned. "That's exactly what he wants you to do."

"Then what should we do?" Luffy asked.

"That's the tricky part…" Brief started, when Luffy bounded to his feet. "What is it?" he asked.

"Oh no…" Luffy mumbled, standing and looking around the room. He moved a bookshelf out of the way, revealing another passage. "I have to go!" he shouted. "Thanks for everything!"

Brief shouted after him, telling him to wait, but the Straw Hat pirate just kept running. Brief turned back, and his eyes landed on the picture of his crew. He hadn't been able to help them then… but he could help the Straw Hat pirate now. Nodding, he ran for his coat and hat.

Papa was staring, unbelieving at the man that had just emerged from the root of the monstrous plant. He recognized him, as the man that had bested him in gold fish catching. He spoke as if he had just awoken, and found himself somewhere new, and Papa had a sinking feeling.

He started backing up quietly, deciding to find his kids, and get as far away from this place as he could. He watched the Baron speak to the plant man as if he was a dear friend, and Papa turned, eager to get away. He stopped, frozen, seeing his children merely paces away, led by Daisy, looking up at the huge plant atop the mountain.

He moved over, trying to guide her back, and she protested, but was smart enough to stay quiet. Before he could find out the reason, he was flung backward onto the ground, a small man appearing from where he had stood, yelling, "STRAW HAT!"

"WHO ARE YOU?!" Papa cried out in alarm.

"Ah, you came, Straw Hat, though you could have gotten away," Omatsuri said, turning to face the pirate that was walking towards him. He was missing his name sake hat, and he looked pathetically sad.

"How foolish of you," the Baron said.

"Hey mister," Luffy said softly, and Omatsuri raised an eyebrow. "Where is Chopper?" he asked.

"You mean that otter with horns?" the Baron asked. "He went-"

"Hey mister," Luffy interrupted. "There are two things you need to know. One, Chopper is not an otter. He is a reindeer. And two, I will NOT let you hurt my friends."

"Hurt your friends?" Omatsuri asked snidely. "You had seven friends with you, didn't you?" He laughed. "Well just a short time ago, that number became six, and then five. And very soon now, it will be four."

Rosa and Rick grabbed each other's hands, hope bursting forth in them.

"That voice…" Daisy said as she explained to her father, stopping him from escorting her away. "I heard his voice!"

"What… did you say?" Luffy gaped, telling himself that it couldn't be true. He couldn't even bear to think of who it was, because he couldn't imagine it. He couldn't lose any of them, not here… not now… not… ever.

"Your friends have been given to Lily," Omatsuri said with a smirk, and gestured up to the giant plant, which turned and faced them, and Luffy could see the silhouettes of his crew, laying there, unmoving. And… he couldn't see Chopper or Kia.

"And now you come to me, and say you won't let me hurt your friends?" Omatsuri chuckled. "I won't let you hurt my friends…" he impersonated the boy, laughing more and more until he thought he would burst. "Too bad for the dark haired woman then- she just disappeared."

"I WON"T ALLOW IT!" Luffy screamed.

The Baron turned quickly, pulling up his bow, the arrow appearing instantly. He aimed for the fist that was being reared back, pinning the boy's hand to a rock behind him. He was a little surprised that the boy had kept his feet, but he was the captain for a reason after all, so he must have had some strength.

"Arrow number one," Omatsuri announced, watching Straw Hat struggle with his stretched arm, his hand pinned several yards behind him. "And while you try in vain to get free, you will lose another friend." He looked up to Lily's surface. "Ah, the cook it seems," he told him.

"SANJI!" Luffy cried, the pain in his hand nothing compared to the pain in his chest. "DON'T!" He tried again, "Gum-Gum…"

A second arrow snatched his left hand, taking it backwards and into the same rock.

"Ah, another one," Omatsuri said in mock sadness. "The beak nosed one just died."

"USOPP!" Luffy cried, thinking the pain would break him in two. He kicked out, only to have his foot shot with another arrow, and he fell, three of his limbs outstretched behind him.

"Only three left, you'd better hurry," Omatsuri grinned. "Though what can you do, with only one leg?"

"Gum-Gum…" Luffy started again, desperate to do something, though a new arrow stopped him. He was panting, struggling just to make it to his knees, straining to keep himself where he was, to not let the stretch on his limbs pull him back, but he could barely keep his balance in order to raise his head up.

"I'll tell you since you cannot see," Omatsuri said. "The orange haired girl just disappeared."

"N-Nami…!" Luffy panted.

"Looking like that… there's nothing you can do," Omatsuri deduced. "And the last of your friends, will be gone."

"ZORO!" Luffy screamed, rearing back suddenly, the zipper of his sweater catching on a rock and ripping as he moved up. He didn't have his limbs, no… but that didn't mean he was giving up. Pushing his torso forward, he sent his head flying toward the plant, willing his neck to continue stretching no matter what.

He could feel the arrows that the Baron shot at him, but didn't flinch even when they grazed his neck. But he was too far away, and was able only to get close enough to watch Zoro disappear into the plant's slimy green surface. He screamed again for his friend, but to no avail.

His neck retracted, sending his body crashing into the rock that he was pinned to. And he sat there, motionless, not knowing what he could do now.

"Straw Hat," Omatsuri spoke even as he started to walk away. "The swordsman just died." He looked back, seeing the anger on the boy's face. "You no longer have any friends." He took such delight in seeing the anger on that face change and go blank in shock. "You are all alone now."

The murmur of a crowd of people sounded from around the island, as the Baron's men made from plants were revived. Omatsuri glanced towards the resort, the smile on his face one of genuine happiness.

"Give…me… back… my… friends…" Luffy managed to get out, and Omatsuri turned back to him.

"You have lost all your friends," he said mercilessly. "That fact will never change. So what do you want to do?" he asked. "If you survive- only long, lonely days await you. Or, if you prefer, I can let you join your friends."

Worn out, and unsure, Luffy didn't bother to answer. Omatsuri grabbed him by the hair, pulling his face up. "Well? You don't want to be alone, now do you? You cannot be a pirate all alone. So what shall it be? Life or death?" He stepped back, pulling out his bow and aiming it at the would-be pirate captain.

"I know how it feels…" Omatsuri murmured, slowly pulling back the string. "The pain will be gone soon."

Brief looked up, and turned to the people he had taken from above ground. They seemed decent enough, and looked as though they wanted to help Straw Hat.

"Here! Quickly!" he said pointing up, then ran for another opening, trusting them to get him.

Brief popped up above ground, calling, "Baron!" then disappearing back down before he could be shot. He ran to another, then another, causing the distraction needed for the others to rescue Straw Hat. "I won't let you kill this man!" he shouted the final time he went to the surface.

Coming back into his secret base, Brief ran for the main room, hoping the others had found their way. He knew it was easy to get lost down here.

"Don't lose hope!" Brief called, shaking Luffy violently. "You're the captain aren't you?!"

Luffy didn't fight, just let himself get whipped back and forth. "It's… my… fault…" he muttered.

"Mister…" Rosa said, even as Rick and Papa tried to get Brief to let go of the pirate. "I… I mean we… don't think your friends are dead yet."

Luffy's hand moved to Brief's, and Brief stopped shaking him. Luffy looked up, and into Rosa's face, his eyes wide.

"My sister…" she began, and Luffy turned to see a small girl stepping forward.

"Are you Luffy?" Daisy asked.

"Y-yeah…" Luffy answered.

Daisy smiled sadly. "Kia wanted to tell you," she replied. "I'm sorry, big brother."

They were all a little stunned, to see Luffy's lip start wavering.

"You really are her brother?" Rick asked, and Luffy nodded, though he didn't trust himself in that moment to speak.

"She is still calling for you," Rosa said firmly, and Luffy gaped at her, but she shook her head. "Only Daisy can hear them."

"Mr. Reindeer is calling you too," Daisy continued, and stepped back as Luffy jumped up.

"Ch-Chopper is?!" he asked. "And Kia too?! Where? Where are they?!" He moved around the room, cupping his hands behind his ears, for several long moments, then trying to stretch them out bigger. "I can't hear them!"

Daisy mimicked him, cupping her hands behind her own. "I can," she said as she closed her eyes. "There are other people's voices too… maybe five, no, six. They are saying, 'Luffy, Luffy!' Did you hear that?" she asked, as she opened her eyes and turned to Luffy.

He let go of his ears, and they went back to normal, and he just gaped at the small child. "Really-?" he asked, hoping beyond hope.

"Unfortunately we cannot hear the voices either," Brief said. "But this girl knew your name, though she has never met you, and had never heard of you before."

"AAHH!" Daisy yelled, covering her ears, just before an explosion sounded, and shook the tunnel.

Explosion after explosion sounded around them, and Brief looked to Luffy. "There is still a chance to save your friends," he said. He turned and grabbed Luffy's hat from a table, pushing it onto his head. "And you forgot this before," he added.

Luffy looked up to the hat on his head, his despair disappearing in the moments he was with these people, though his confidence was still shaken, and his hope was hanging by a thread at the thought of losing his friends for a second time.

"Now," Brief continued, "don't go head on against the Baron's arrows, but instead use this network of tunnels. That way, I can help you navigate, and get to the flower." His gaze pierced Luffy's. "You aren't alone yet, Straw Hat," he said, putting his finger under his nose and grinning. "You still have me."

Luffy's eyes went wide, and Brief pushed him along before things got too emotional. "Now go! Hurry! There's no time!" he said rapidly, pushing Luffy towards the tunnel.

"Um… what's with that weird pose?" Rosa asked softly, but in the quiet it was loud and clear.

Papa gave the strange man a look. "Why do that during a serious conversation, that's just wrong," he muttered.

"Totally uncool," Rick agreed.

Brief turned to explain just how important and special his display was to his pirate group, but Daisy just watched the man who was going to try to save Kia and Mr. Reindeer, happy that a smile came to his face, even though it was small. He reached up to tug on his straw hat, then he turned and ran down the tunnel. She turned her head to look at her family. "We should help too," she declared.

Baron Omatsuri shot again and again, knowing that somewhere on this mountain were those that wanted to defy him, to ruin his happiness. Turning, he heard footsteps and aimed into the smoke. Slowly, a figure emerged, and he could see the brightly colored straw hat on his head.

"Aha!" the Baron cried. "I've found you!"

He shot an arrow, but the boy merely tilted his head a fraction to the side, the arrow missing, and striking something behind him in flash. Frowning, he tried again, but with the same result. Something is different about him now…the Baron thought.

A third arrow was shot and missed again, and as the boy came closer, a look of determination so strong on his face had the Baron's mouth hanging open in surprise and trepidation. Steeling himself, he brought his bow up again, firing after the boy as he started to jump away from the blasts.

"At least you're fast!" the Baron called, seeing his sixth arrow hit the mark, watching as the boy's limb flew from his body. "Ha ha! I got you!" he cheered.

The smoke cleared, revealing the tiny man that he had not been bothered with, holding onto a pile of straw that was wrapped in clothes similar to the Straw Hat's. Omatsuri gritted his teeth, hearing the man shouting to the Straw Hat, and looking beyond him.

Omatsuri turned, and fired at the tenacious pirate, missing yet again as he jumped into a hole. He swept the mountainside with his gaze, shocked to see the young pirate emerge even further up the mountain, and heading towards the giant plant.

Enraged, Omatsuri turned to the tiny pirate man, deciding to eliminate him after all. His anger grew as this shot missed as well. It seemed he had underestimated the man's will to survive. He shot again and again, triumphant as he got close enough to hurt the little man with an explosion.

"Stop this Baron!" the man called, and Omatsuri played along, lowing his bow with a smug expression, noting that the Straw Hat pirate had stopped in his tracks. "You are wrong if you think you can always take people's friends away from them."

Surprised, the Baron stared as the small man struggled to stand. "Right now," the man called out. "I'm his friend!"

The Baron began to chuckle. "Friend?" he said, his chuckle becoming full on laughter. "That's rich!" He turned back to the other, and called out. "Listen Straw Hat! This man was part of a pirate crew that I destroyed. But instead of joining his friends… he begged me for his life!"

Omatsuri aimed his bow at the small man, his power creating not one, but dozens of arrows in his hand, and he shot them high into the sky as one, so that they would come raining down on the man. "What good would a friend like that be to you?!" he sneered.

Rosa watched in awe, as the Straw Hat pirate rushed to Brief's side, holding out a huge rock to stop the arrows. She gasped as he balanced the boulder with one hand and snatched an arrow with the other, just before it hit the small man.

"I thought I told you… I would NEVER let you hurt my friends!" he screamed, as the rock above him broke to pieces.

He screamed, rearing back and striking the Baron in the face, sending him tumbling away. Rosa cheered inwardly as the display, thinking how lucky Kia was to have him as a brother, and as a protector.

"Friend?" she heard Brief ask the Straw Hat, and the other pirate turned, a huge grin on his face, and his finger sitting under his nose.

"Chohibige!" Luffy laughed.

Brief looked as if he would cry, but held it together and called back, "Chohibige!"

Rosa thought she was the only one enthralled in it all, but her brother and sister's voices added to her own as she completed the salute as well. "Chohibige!" they called.

"Huh?" Papa asked from beside them.

"Hurry Luffy!" Daisy shouted. "Help Mr. Reindeer and the others!"

They could only stare, as Luffy ran forward, and jumped, making attack after attack on the huge stem. Finally, after a serious blow, it broke into what seemed a thousand pieces, and the family started cheering.

"Wait…" cheers stopped instantly, and they stared at Daisy, who had her hands cupped behind her ears. "Their voices… are coming from a different place," she said.

"What?" they replied together.

Luffy looked up and stared, thinking that he friends would have fallen from the broken plant, but he couldn't find them. "Where are they?" he asked frantically searching.

From behind him, a voice came. "They are here."

Luffy turned, the Baron standing behind him with a blank look on his face. His gaze moved to the Baron's shoulder, where the little flower was convulsing. It lost it's petals, and started bulging, still attached to the taller man.

With each convulsion, the bulge behind the flower's face grew, until Luffy could make out shapes… that looked like shadowed versions of his friends. He stepped back in revulsion at the sight.

He could no longer tell if the plant was growing from the man, or the man was a creation of the plant, and he just looked at the thing, wondering how he would beat it, without hurting his friends.

"Day after day, after day…" he could hear the Baron muttering. "So many days, alone… after the storm."

"Look out!" Rick shouted, pointing past Luffy.

Luffy turned, seeing the pieces that had been the plant that he destroyed, somehow still in the air. Then they, turned and faced him, and he saw they were arrows, just like the ones that the Baron had shot at him.

"One for every day I spent without my friends…" he could hear. "One for every day… alone." The Baron's face turned up, and his blank eyes stared into Luffy. "Now, die."

Luffy turned again, seeing the arrows shooting at him, knowing that he couldn't escape, couldn't hide, couldn't even grab something to block them. He leaned over, making himself a smaller target, watching the arrows falling on the ground around him, blocking out the sting as they hit him in the back, stuck in his arms and legs.

The small group stared in horror seeing the boy covered with arrows.

"Straw Hat…" Brief murmured.

"I-It's… over…" Papa said, the fear returning for his family. He looked left and right, wondering where he could go to escape such a monster.

"Don't give up!"

Papa and Brief both turned, seeing Daisy running forward, her hands around her ears. "Mr. Reindeer and Kia are calling for you! They're shouting, "Luffy! Be strong!" and the others are calling for you too! So! SO! DON"T GIVE UP!"

Luffy was in pain, so much so, that he could barely walk, but he managed to somewhat hobble forward. He could hear the little girl, and he wanted to believe her, but he wanted to hear what she was hearing. He strained his ears as he limped closer.

He wasn't sure if he imagined it, but he could almost hear it, like a breeze. "Luffy…" But how could a breeze sound differently? "Luffy…" Just like each of them…

"My… friends…"

"WHAT?!" Omatsuri gaped as the boy came towards him, the arrow shafts in his back clacking together with each step he made.

"My… friends… give… them… back… my… friends…" Luffy was mumbling.

"Luffy…"

He could hear them. And he reached out to them with a shaking hand, an arrow pierced through his palm. The Baron reeled back at the sight.

"Yes!" Daisy called. "That's it!"

The Baron watched in disgust, yet he couldn't help but stare as the Straw Hat pirate began pulling the arrows from himself.

"Daisy…" Papa said quietly as he came up behind her. "Can you really hear them?" he asked.

She turned then, looking at her father, and she reached up, hooking her finger into the small ring that he wore on a cord around his neck. She set it in her palm, and stroked it. Papa crouched down, so as not to keep it from her.

"To tell the truth, I heard what you said to Kia this afternoon, when we were at the gravestones…" she admitted. "Mommy told me I got my good hearing from her, because I can hear even the smallest whisper. I didn't want you to know, because you always try so hard to impress us."

"Daisy…" Rosa breathed out, feeling sorry that her younger sister had to have heard all the fighting she and her father had done in whispers, thinking the others hadn't known.

"But you don't have to impress us," Daisy continued, looking up to her father with love. "Because I know that you are really strong."

Papa was lost for words, a tear escaping form his eye before he smiled, and cupped her face. "Of course," he said softly. "Papa 's strong."

Rosa could see the determination come into her father's eyes, and wondered what in the world he was thinking. Before she could ask, he ran from them. Rock shouted out for him, thinking that he was running away. They were all shocked to see him stop, and reach down, standing back up with the Baron's bow in his hands.

He moved to the right, grabbing up an arrow from the ground, and putting it to the bow. He pulled back, his hands trembling as he aimed at the monstrous plant growing from the Baron. It turned then, and his aim faltered as he saw the hungry look the plant gave him. His palms sweated as he thought of his children being victims to this monster.

"Daddy! You can do it!" Daisy shouted, bolstering his courage.

"Daddy!" Rosa and Rick joined in the call, shouting out, "Shoot it!"

"Shoot!" they all yelled together, and he pulled back a little further, his aim true, as he released the arrow into the gaping mouth of Lily. It shot clean through, tearing out from the back.

The scream was pain, but not only from Lily. The Baron also screamed, though it wasn't a physical pain he was feeling. Lily was dying, and he knew, without Lily… all his friends would be gone.

"No!" he called, trying to put the pieces of the plant back together. He knew his cause was lost, and he turned in fury to the man who shot her. "Unforgivable!" he seethed.

He stood slowly, his aura menacing, as he took a step towards the man that was guarding his children. A splash sounded near him, and he turned, wondering if Lily was somehow still alive.

The punch felt like a building had just smashed into him, and the Baron had a fleeting glimpse of a straw hat before everything went dark.

Brief called out, and they ran to the collapsed pirate, helping to bind his wounds.

"He's hurt really bad," Rick said lowly.

"But he's still alive," Rosa said, as she leaned in close. "He's breathing."

Brief continued to call for him, hoping he would wake.

It took a while, but eventually, Luffy's eyes popped open to see the brightly colored sun rising in the sky above him.

"Mm?" he murmured, then panted heavily. "I thought I was going to die!"

"Straw Hat!" Brief called happily, staring down at him from where he knelt next to him. "You're alive!"

"Thank goodness!" Papa said happily.

"Thank goodness!" the children echoed.

"Thank goodness!" Brief agreed, before he had to cover his eyes so as not to show his emotion.

"You guys!" Luffy said, smiling. "You're not hurt, are you?" he asked, trying to sit up. "OUCH!" he yelled, laying his head back down.

"You should be more worried about yourself!" Rosa scolded.

"It's a miracle you're still alive after all that!" Brief added.

Luffy looked up at them again, seeing their wide and happy eyes, their trembling smiles. "I couldn't have done it without you," he said sincerely.

"Hey, that's MY line," Brief retorted.

"All of you…" Luffy said. "Are … are my friends?" he asked, worried to hear the answer.

He saw them look up, and then the oldest girl stood, waving, and shouted, "Kia!" as she ran away.

"Mr. Reindeer!" Daisy yelled, following after her, and Luffy followed them with his head, even though he was now looking at them upside down.

He grinned as he heard Zoro's voice, loud and clear.

"Well, aren't you two popular all of a sudden," the swordsman drawled, then gave a large yawn. "I'm not sure why, but I feel like I slept for a long time."

"Where are we?" he heard Nami ask, and he just smiled, and closed his eyes, the sound of their voices like music to his ears.

"Hey look!" Usopp called. "The sun's rising!"

"It's so bright," Robin replied.

"Hey, is that Luffy?" Sanji asked.

"It is!" Kia said happily, running ahead of them, as they made their way to Luffy.

"Captain, have you been sleeping here?" she asked, seeing the way he looked to be resting.

"Luffy! Hey, Luffy!" Nami called. "Why are you sleeping here, in the dirt and rocks?!"

"Oh look, I can see the Merry!" Usopp cheered.

Luffy opened his eyes, looking at his friends with joy. And then he grinned, and giggled.

Kia grinned back, though she exchanged worried glances with Chopper. She gestured to the doctor, and he stepped closer. "He's hurt," she whispered. "Can you get him back to the ship? I'm going to find out what happened from Rosa."

Chopper nodded, looking over their captain. "AAAHH!" he yelped, seeing all of the wounds covering Luffy's arms. "What happened, Luffy?!"

The captain didn't answer, he just shrugged, and Chopper dismissed him, and turned to Zoro. "Can you help me get him back to the Merry?" he asked. "He needs treatment!"

Kia could hear Zoro yelling at Luffy not to move, Sanji and Usopp arguing over a hat, and Nami and Robin talking about the last things they could remember, as she moved over to Rosa.

"The last thing I remember was leaving the ruins with you behind me," she said to the other girl. "Can you fill in the blanks for me?"

Rosa looked shocked. "You… don't remember the Lily Carnation plant?" she asked, concerned, and Kia frowned.

"No…" Kia replied. "Not at all."

"We'll tell you on the way down," Brief said, holding his hand up to show them the way to walk. "We all want to make sure Straw Hat is well before saying goodbye to this island forever."