-Chapter 3-

General POV

Luffy and Usopp are up on the deck, playing cards. Nami is guiding the ship while Zolo sleeps. Luffy puts his card down. "Sanji's been gone for a while now. Do you think that he got beat up by that lizard again?" Luffy asks. Usopp and Luffy both start laughing again. "Oh, that was priceless!" Usopp giggles. He puts down his card, winning the game. "I win, Luffy!"

Luffy gapes. "You're so good, Usopp! This is the 27th time you won today!" "Well, I'll have you know, I'm actually the world champion!" lies Usopp, modestly.

"Really?!" exclaims Luffy, impressed. "Nope, he's lying. He rigged all your games." answers the navigator, not even looking up from her maps.

"Oi, Nami!" cries Usopp. "You ruined the game!"

Before Luffy could respond to Usopp's treachery, a small lizard comes smashing through the deck.

Axew POV

This is the second time today I have been unwillingly shot through the air, onto the same ship's deck. This time, though, it was upwards.

I open my eyes, lying on the deck, for the second time today. Long nose is yelling at Sanji.

"Sanji, you can't shoot the cannon in the ship!" he screams, frustrated.

Sanji scratches the back of his head. "It was an accident, I already told you! Besides, what do we do with the lizard?"

I freeze. They aren't actually going to eat me, are they? I'm tired and sore, and I don't think I could escape again.

"Can't you just cut it up?" asks Long Nose, still angry, but slightly curious.

"I've never seen a creature like it before. Its scales are quite tough, and I don't even know if it's edible. Besides, it seems quite smart."

Straw hat wanders over. "Usopp, I can't believe you cheated."

Has this guy got a screw lose? A creature no one's ever seen before shoots onto your deck, twice in one day, and you're concerned about your friend cheating in a card game?

Long Nose "Usopp" and Sanji seem to share my bemusement. Before they can speak up, he notices me.

"Hey, what's that?" he asks, puzzled.

Wait, he just noticed me? I'm not sure whether to be insulted or something.

"It's the lizard that fell from the sky, earlier." They both explain in an exasperated tone.

Boy, having this guy on your ship, must really wear you out.

"Can I eat it?" he asks. He slumps in disappointment when Sanji tells him the bad news.

Usopp looks back at Sanji. "If we can't eat him what do we do with him?"

Before Sanji can speak, Straw Hat interrupts him. "I know!"

Genuinely intrigued, Sanji and Usopp let him speak. "What's your idea, Luffy?"

"Luffy" grins. "He can join our crew!"

Wait, what?

-end of chapter 3-

- If anyone has any questions, problems, or curiosities, just ask me. I'll be happy to try and answer them! -