This is the 15th chapter. I don't own the series of One Piece.
No flame reviews.
Weird Man Gaimon and His Strange Creatures!
Somewhere in the Sea
Few days have past since the battle of the Black Cat pirates, Luffy and his crew were sailing towards the next island. Of course yesterday, they've been having a heated discussion over sleeping arrangement which its been going on for minutes. They've been thoroughly exploring the Going Merry and they have yet to decide who was sleeping where. Usopp had pointed out that the Captain should be sleeping which he meant himself, but Luffy didn't like sleeping alone and Nami wants it which Zoro then began to argue. Ventus and Luffy stayed out of it. Luffy sat on the deck while Ventus leaned against the rail watching Nami and Zoro argue and Usopp was playing referee. Luffy thought it was funny, but Ventus thought it was annoying as he decided to intervene when he slammed both of there heads and give them an earful since he doesn't care who was sleeping where. Both Zoro and Nami decided not to argue and not to try get on to Ventus' bad side which they both knew fully well how angry he gets so, she gets the bed, much to Zoro's dismay. Luffy then points out that they can hang some hammocks in the storage room below deck, much to their shock and surprise that he said something smart for once. They spend the rest of the morning organizing the supply room and hung four hammocks off the mast and some spare planks of wood. The supply room was right underneath the deck so the bottom of the mast was in the exact center of the room.
Now, Luffy bring some paint, paintbrushes, and one black sheet, painting it while Zoro was napping since he finished sparring Ventus. Ventus have finished taking a bath when he wore his grey pants, white sash, and he's on bare feet and his upper body have shown as he then tied his hair into a ponytail with a ribbon. Nami was going over the maps she found in the Going Merry when she noticed his upper body, causing her to blush a little as she averted his gaze while studying the map. Usopp then get his attention as he tell him some stories, causing Ventus to sigh but decided to humor him.
"Now that the deadly battle for the sleeping quarters is over, I, Captain Usopp shall-"
"Usopp, there was no battle. It's just Nami and Zoro argue like kids since I decided to intervene." Ventus interrupts. "Also, you're not the Captain, Luffy is."
"Well of course there was my first mate and I'm the Captain." Usopp shrugs, causing the young Dragoon to face palm. "Did you not witness the gallant swordsman and I battle the evil sea witch?"
"Gallant?" Zoro asks, woke up.
"I hope he's not talking about me." Nami said angrily.
"I don't know, I think he got you spot on." Zoro replied, earned a punch on the head from Nami, causing a massive bump.
"I don't think I remember Luffy put me as his First Mate and there was no battle." Ventus told him.
"Hey kid, you're not trying to steal my position are you?" Zoro asked, rubbing his sore head when he walk towards him while placing his hand on his white katana. "Because that would be mutiny and I won't allow it."
Zoro placed his scary face on him, but failed to realize that Ventus was starting to get angry as he then look at him.
"What was that?" Ventus growled with rage, making Zoro and Usopp scared since he made a mistake. "Do you think you can kill me?"
"Kid...calm down...I was only joking." Zoro tried to assure him, but failed as Nami then decide to intervene.
"Whoa there Ventus, calm down." Nami assures him, placing her hand on his shoulders. "Zoro was only joking."
Ventus then began to calm down a little as he then walks away, carrying his lance with him. Nami then turned her head to the two as she spoke.
"Look guys, you need to realize that Ventus can get angry very easily not only because of his dragon heritage, but he also has a bad temper." Nami points out sternly. "We seen how well he gets angry."
"Yeah, but I wasn't trying to hurt him." Zoro said seriously.
"He doesn't know that. Once he calms down, apologize to him." Nami ordered.
Zoro then began to walk over to see if Ventus have calm down. He saw him watching the sea and the sky as he then walk towards him.
"Sorry for threaten you, I was only playing." Zoro said gently.
"I know." Ventus said. "But you have a bad way of playing."
"That's true." Zoro admits. "Anyway, did that happen to you before?"
"Yes." Ventus nods. "That happens to me a lot of time."
"What do you mean?" Zoro questions, raise his eyebrow.
"I'm not always been loved." Ventus replies sadly. "My parents were the only ones I've been loved, but not everyone else. I wasn't being loved, I was hated and loathed by those people and dragons alike. I never belong to anyone, not in between the two."
Zoro was shocked and furious of how those people from Ishgard and the dragons from Dravania treated him like an outcast which it was downright wrong and cruel.
'So that's how he got angry. He gets mad when we try anything to hurt him.' Zoro mentally thought, made a mental note to never make Ventus angry as he then spoke. "Well, this isn't Ishgard or Dravania. So you got nothing to get angry about."
Ventus then look at him, raised his eyebrow.
"But you might want to be careful around Nami, she's stronger than she looks." Zoro told him.
"I'll keep that in mind." Ventus said, chuckled a bit.
"Hey, what's that?" Zoro asks, pointing the vessel flute.
"That's an ocarina." Ventus answered. "I use to play this when I was little. My mother gave it me when I was three."
"Well, can you play it?" Zoro asks. "I bet you're good at it."
"I'M FINISHED!" Luffy suddenly cried out, earned everyone's attention as he showed the pirate mark. "Look, our pirate mark! Now that Usopp has joined, we got five people that's almost a whole crew. I think it's about time we got our own flag."
Though, Luffy was very terrible at drawing when he showed his poorly drawn skull and crossbones on a pirate flag, causing everyone to sweat drop.
"Uh...Luffy. Is that really gonna be our mark?" Zoro questions.
"What do you think? Nice, huh?" Luffy asks with his big grin.
"Luffy, our mark is suppose to look intimidating. You know, it should strike fear into their hearts." Ventus points out.
"If our enemies were terrifying infants? Then, this would be perfect." Nami added, placing her hand under her chin while supported her elbow with the other.
That got Usopp's attention as he then wave his finger with a smirk on his face.
"You guys really should've told me about this." Usopp said, earned their attention. "Maybe you didn't know this about me, but I am artist."
"Does that mean you can draw?" Luffy asks curiously.
"When it comes to painting, I'm in a league of my own." Usopp said with a smile, pointing himself with his thumb. "I've been drawing graffiti for 50 years straight."
Usopp then held his head high proudly which it was an obvious lie.
"Whoa, 50 years?" Luffy said with awe.
"That would mean he's an old man by now." Zoro said.
"He'll have his full-grown long white beard too." Ventus added.
"Which would give him five or six grandchildren and I don't see them." Nami stated.
"That is so cool." Luffy said with a big smile.
"Hey!?" Usopp exclaims with annoyance.
Usopp then quickly grabbed another black sheet and drew the flag.
"Behold, a priceless work of pirate art. Ta-Da!" Usopp said proudly, showing the pirate flag which was a long-nose skull and crossbones that was wearing a bandana and his sling shot in the background.
"Looks a lot like you on that flag." Luffy said with deadpan expression, didn't like that pirate flag as he and Zoro then hit him in the head.
Usopp then tried again and he drew a better version of Luffy's design when he showed the pirate flag.
"So, how do you like this one?" Usopp questions with a proud smirk.
"Wow, that's actually pretty good Usopp." Nami said with an impressed smile.
"Yeah, keep it." Luffy added with a smile. "That's the one."
"So, we finally settled on it? This is gonna be our mark?" Zoro questions seriously.
"Sure is." Luffy answered, points the sail. "Hey Usopp, draw one on the sail too."
When Usopp finished painting the sail, Luffy ran up to the Going Merry's figurehead when he saw the sail had been painted with the Straw Hat mark.
"Okay, it's all done! Now the Going Merry has everything she can possibly need!" Luffy declared happily.
"HAH! I'm pooped!" Usopp said with exhaustion, lying flat on the ship.
Until, they heard a storm that was coming from here as Zoro, Luffy, and Ventus then look at the black storm cloud.
"Are we going the right way?" Luffy questions. "Seems kind of dangerous.
"What's that?" Usopp asks curiously.
"Hold on." Nami said, earned Usopp's attention when she realize what their heading as she then used the binoculars to look at that direction while Ventus use his 'Dragon Sight' to look at where Nami was looking, seeing the island as she spoke. "That's the place. Yep, there's no doubt about it."
"Hey, what do you see out there?" Luffy questions, holding his straw hat. "Is this something cool?"
"The Legendary Treasure Island." Nami answered when she turned to them.
"You mean the Treasure Island?" Usopp questions, raise his eyebrow. "Even I've heard of that place."
"Yeah, I'm not surprised. This is the famous world over." Nami explains seriously. "And so are the crazy stories about it."
"What crazy stories?" Luffy asks.
"Legend has it that whoever is dumb enough to sail close to the island incurs a God's wrath." Nami answered with a smirk as lightning strikes, causing Usopp to scream with fright since the Going Merry enters the storm when the tide was hitting the ship, making it tilt slightly and rocking the ship.
"Now we know that all those stories were true guys!? This is the God's wrath!?" Usopp shouts.
"I think that sounds cool." Luffy said with a grin.
"Wait! We're not gonna..."
"You bet we are." Nami answered with excitement.
They then headed towards the Treasure Island and go through the storm as both Zoro and Ventus grab hold of the ropes to keep the sail hold and steady. Luffy rush towards the figurehead as he spoke.
"Lets go! To Treasure Island!" Luffy shouts with a smile, pointing the island.
Usopp was panicking, thinking this is a bad idea while Ventus and Zoro were holding the ropes to keep it steady and Nami then laugh with excitement.
Treasure Island
When they finally made through the storm and landed on the island, the Straw Hat crew were exploring the island which it was the jungle filled with Venus flytraps, leaving Usopp scared of the jungle. When they continue heading towards the jungle, Usopp stopped when he saw that flytrap hissed at him which he's scared and ran towards his crew. The Straw Hat crew kept their guard up while looking at the jungle as Usopp spoke which he's hiding behind Zoro.
"Hey, this place is creepy." Usopp said.
"Yeah, so?" Zoro questions.
"It said that somewhere on this island rests an unimaginable fortune just waiting to be found." Nami explains as she stopped. "Supposedly, many pirates have landed here in the past, they all fled in absolute terror before they ever get the chance to look for it."
"Absolute terror?" Luffy repeats as he then stopped.
"What do you mean by that?" Ventus questions, raise his eyebrow.
"I'd be afraid too. They say one pirate's face suddenly turned into a boar's face." Nami explains. "And another pirate's mustache stretched out like a couple of snakes and strangled him."
"But that's not true, right?" Usopp asks with his face pale.
"Well, I'm sure that some of those stories are a bit of an exaggeration." Nami said, shrug her shoulders with a smile.
"Don't talk anymore!? You're scaring me!?" Usopp exclaimed, scared.
Until, the red eyes that was coming from the tree starting to appear along with the other red eyes that were appearing from the entire forest, staring at the Straw Hat crew with a scary glare. Zoro then yawned as he then while looking for a spot to sleep.
"I'm tired. Nap time." Zoro said as he the lays down to the ground, taking a nap while snoring, causing them to sweat drop.
"How can he possibly sleep at such a creepy place?" Usopp questions.
"He's either dumb or he's got nerves of steel?" Nami asks with annoyance.
Luffy was then looking something from the bushes which he was looking at the white-furred snake with rabbit ears as it hissed at him. Nami, Usopp, and Ventus were looking around in the forest when Usopp felt something dripped on his back, making Nami spooked as she then turned her head to him.
"What's happening? Are we in danger?" Nami asks with worry.
"Uh, what? No I was just making up a little dance to liven things up." Usopp answered which he was obviously scared as he make a gesture of dancing, but felt something licked his fingers. "Hey come on, stop that Luffy."
But when he turned his head, he saw that it was a hybrid between a wolf and a rooster. Nami then got her attention when she saw a small panda with bat wings, causing her and Usopp scream with fright as he landed on the ground while she landed on him while the two strange animals left. Ventus then sniff the air in the forest, knowing that they're not alone. Luffy then turned his serious expression while looking at the forest.
"What's going on?" Nami asks with scared expression as she and Usopp stood up.
'Leeeeeeave nooooooow!?' The voice of a man shouts, making a frightful voice.
"Who's there!?" Luffy exclaims with a shout.
'Leave Now!' The voice shouts again.
"Guys, where's that voice coming from?" Nami asks.
'I am the vengeful Island God. Leave at once if you value your lives.' The Island God warned them.
"Island God?" Luffy repeats with confusion.
'I don't think this 'Island God' ever exist, but I know someone live here.' Ventus mentally thought as he then sniff the air, he then turn his head towards the bushes when he saw the big green bush right next to the bushes.
'Wait, you guys are pirates, right?' The Island God questions.
"Well yeah." Luffy answered simply.
'Ugh, I knew it!' The Island God exclaimed.
"Why would a 'God' need to ask something like that?" Nami questions.
'I don't know-I mean...Take one more step into the forest the instant you do, you'll receive my Divine Punishment and meet your Doom, which it's my punishment.' The Island said, but made them confused.
"Okay, that made no sense at all." Luffy said with confusion, slightly tilted his head.
"This guy is weird." Nami said.
"Yeah, what's his deal anyway?" Luffy questions.
'What did you say, Straw Hat boy?' The Island God questions when they saw those strange animals that were mixed together.
"What are these things?" Usopp asks, feeling scared.
'They use to be humans. They came looking for treasure, but all they found was my wrath.' The Island God answered.
'They don't look very threatening, but they do look strange.' Ventus thought, raise his eyebrow as Usopp then kneeled down, praying.
"You transformed them? Then, you are a God!?" Usopp exclaims, causing Ventus to sigh.
"Look at all these weird things." Luffy said, looking at a hybrid of a rhino and a kangaroo, and a hybrid of a zebra and an ostrich, carrying a hybrid of a pig and a lion. "So is this a pig?"
"Could be a lion." Nami said with confusion.
"Or could be both." Ventus added, leaving a pig/lion bite Luffy's face which his face stretches as he then breaks free from that bite.
'You stretchy freak of nature! What are you!?' The Island God shouts.
"One time I ate a Devil Fruit, so now I'm a rubber person." Luffy explains, stretching his mouth.
'Yeah right, a Devil Fruit? I heard those same stupid stories back when I was a pirate.' The Island God said, not buying his story.
"Back when you're a pirate?" Nami repeats, scowled.
'I mean uh, no...I wasn't reminiscence about the old days. Enough of that talk, I don't want to hear about the old days, get it!?' The Island God exclaims.
"It's no use trying to scare us. I know you're lurking in the bushes, I can smell your scent. You're not that far." Ventus said. "Do you honestly think that we would fall for that old trick?"
'Shut up!? If you won't leave, then prepare for my Divine Judgement!?' The Island God yelled.
With that, the wooden spears hurled towards the Straw Hat crew, causing them to dodge while Zoro remain asleep, but unscathed when the wooden spears missed him. Then, the wooden crate tumbled down towards Luffy when he got in the head, but it didn't effect him as he spoke.
"You're really pushing your luck, God." Luffy said with a grin.
"How are you not dead!?" The Island God shouts with shock.
"Over there!" Ventus shouts, points the big green bush as Luffy then turned to the bush.
"Don't move!" The Island God warned him, but Luffy didn't listen as he aimed at the rubber captain with his gun. "I said 'Don't move!'"
He then fired at Luffy, making Nami and Usopp shrieked when Luffy then bounces the bullet right off of him.
"That can't be!?" The green bush exclaims with shock.
"Hey 'Island God', even mortals know that bullets can't hurt a rubber." Nami said with a grin.
"Maybe not, but I still hate them." Luffy said, placing his straw hat on his head.
"You're some kind of monster!?" The green bush said as it then flees, throwing the gun away.
"Over there!" Usopp shouts as Luffy chases after it.
"Look, found his gun." Nami said, looking at the gun when Usopp look at it.
"That means the 'Island God' was a fake." Ventus said, putting two and two together as they look at him. "While you guys were busy looking at those animals, I picked up that scent. I think someone lived here is a man and I believe he's the one who tries to scare us in order for us to leave the island."
"Then why didn't you tell us!?" Usopp yelled.
"Because you're too busy wet your pants." Ventus answered with dull expression, making Usopp face fault down to the ground while Nami giggled of his remark. "Anyway, we gotta catch up to Luffy before he tries anything stupid."
With that, Nami, Usopp, and Ventus then rush towards Luffy since he's still chasing after the big green bush.
Meanwhile, Luffy stops at the cliff as he then searches the so-called Island God which he's nowhere to be found.
"Where did he go?" Luffy muttered with a question when he heard branch have snapped, causing him to turn his head towards the big green bush as he then look at it. Nami, Usopp, and Ventus manage to catch up to him as they then look at the big green round bush.
"What is this?" Luffy asks confusingly.
"Could it be the Island God?" Usopp questions curiously.
However, the big green bush then stood up and ran, making them shocked.
"It's moving!?" Nami exclaimed, but the walking green bush was then knocked out by the tree, didn't watch where it was going and landed on the ground while trying to get up. The four then look closely at the big green bush when the sunlight shines, revealed that was a man with a pear-shaped face, a beard, a larger green afro, pronounced uni-brow, and his body was compressed into a treasure chest, leaving only his hands and feet free.
"Stand me up!? Stand me up already!?" The man yelled, struggling to get up.
"Ventus' right, it really is a person." Nami said with shock.
"Awesome! He's like a talking scrub brush." Luffy said with awe.
"That's it? You're not even a minor deity, you're more like a box." Usopp said seriously.
"Come on, stand me up now!?" The man pleads.
"Relax." Usopp assures as he and Luffy help him up.
"Uh...I'll let you off with a warning this time." The man said as he then ran, but Luffy grabs hold of him which made him stop in his tracks, causing the rubber captain sent flying towards him and they were flying off the cliff, falling towards the ocean when Luffy grabs hold of the tree branch when his limbs were stretch down, stopped as he then pulls him back up, but failed to realize that he was pulling him too quickly and they then flying up towards the sky, crashing down towards the ground.
With everything settled down for few minutes, Nami patched him up when she placed a bandage on his head.
"There, you're all set now." Nami said, leaving the hybrid animals licking him. "You're a pretty popular guy, Mr. Island God."
"So let me get this straight, these crazy animals helped you scare off the pirates who came to place looking for treasure?" Usopp questions when the hybrid animals stop licking him.
"I've never seen a person stuffed inside a treasure chest before. You're a real live jack-in-a-box." Luffy said with a smile.
"Yes ironically, I am in fact in a box and my name is-YOU IDIOT!?" The man exclaims. "I'm a person, not a toy!? I've been stranded alone on this island and stuck in this contemptable box for 20 years!?"
"That long?" Nami asks with shock, leaving Usopp open his satchel while grabbing his thermos as he then opens it up, pouring a warm tea as he then drinks it.
"So, you've been all alone on this island for 20 years? That's amazing." Usopp said.
"Yeah, just take a look at me. I got a beard like a wild man and ended all that time, you're the first people I've had a real conversation with. Can you understand how painful that is?" The man questions with sad expression on his face.
"That's ridiculous." Luffy said simply.
"WHAT DID YOU SAY!?" The man shouts, showing his white eyes and shark-like teeth.
Until, Zoro showed up with his sleepy expression as he spoke.
"There you are, I've been looking all over for you guys." Zoro said with a yawn, rubbing his head.
"How could you have slept through everything that's just happened?" Nami asks with annoyance.
Zoro then took Usopp's drink as he sat on the rock, drinking as he then look at the man with a larger green afro, cause him to jump back a bit with shock and surprised expression on his face.
"What the heck is that!?" Zoro questions.
"He finally sees him." Nami said with deadpan expression, leaving Ventus sighed.
"Check it out, he's in a treasure chest." Luffy said with a smile, thrusting his thumb at him.
"Like a jack-in-a-box, but real." Zoro said.
"Yes ironically, I am in fact in a box and my name is-YOU IDIOT!?" The man exclaims. "We've already been through all that!?"
With that, both Luffy and Zoro then try to pull him out of the treasure chest, but it won't budge when they tried to pull even harder which it didn't work so they give up as he spoke.
"Sorry, I'm afraid you're stuck." Luffy apologize.
"Don't be stupid!?" The man shouts with annoyance. "I've been stuck inside this blasted treasure chest for so many years now, that its slowly become apart of my body. If you try to break it, you'll break my body too."
"You're a strange little man." Zoro said, causing the man to groan.
"Alright guys, enough about me, who are you?" He questions. "You're not any of those other pirates who've come around here, that's for sure."
"I'm Luffy." Luffy answered with a smile, sat on a rock. "I'm gonna be the King of the Pirates."
"You're what!?" The man exclaims with shock.
"I'm gonna get One Piece and then I'm gonna be King of the Pirates." Luffy told him.
"The 'One Piece'!? Don't tell me you idiots are actually planning to sail on the Grand Line?" The man questions.
"Yep, we got a chart right here." Luffy said, showing the chart to the Grand Line.
"Don't be such a fool! The Grand Line is a graveyard, I once saw a group of pirates who managed to escape from that horrible place and I'll never forget that." The man said with a scary smile on his face. "It was an awful sight. They were just a hollow shells of the men that they use to be. There's no telling what horrors they witnessed in that ghastly place. Not one among them even tried to speak. Now listen to me well young pirates, the rumors of the One Piece spawn more rumors who knows what's true. It's been 20 odd years since the start of the Great Pirate Era and the One Piece is already a dream within a dream beyond the legend."
They, except Luffy, began to understand what he means about the One Piece was nothing than a pirate graveyard since many of those pirates didn't even find the One Piece ever since the Great Pirate Era, many of them died, and many of them have manage to escape from death which neither of those pirates won't be able to sail or speak about those horrors they have witnessed first-hand. It took a few minutes to calm down when Luffy and the scrub man look at the chart to the Grand Line.
"So, which one of these is the Grand Line?" He questions curiously.
"I don't know, figured you can tell me Mr. Scrub Brush Guy." Luffy shrugs.
"Sorry, I've never learned how to read a sea chart." He apologize.
"I never did either." Luffy added, causing the two laugh.
"Ignorance is bliss, isn't it?" Nami asks with sarcasm. "Anyway, even if we do somehow make it to the Grand Line, the best idea would be to get as much treasure as we can and then escape."
'That's your idea, not ours. Mine is to return to Ishgard and end this conflict between humans and dragons.' Ventus mentally stated, but keep it to himself.
"You go ahead and do that, I'm gonna find the One Piece." Luffy told her with a grin.
"Where did you get all that confidence of yours?" Nami questions.
"I'll get it, you'll see." Luffy answered simply.
"Whatever you say." Nami said with a sigh.
"You're me." The man said with astonish, earned his attention. "You're exactly like me, you even look like me we could be twins."
"How could you say he looks like you?" Nami questions skeptically when she approaches him.
"Young man, I understand about the pursuit of your dreams. When I was a younger man, we use to feel the same way." The man stated, leaving them confused. "We were willing to put our lives on the line to search for treasure. It was that single-minded sea that change the course of my life forever."
Nami tried to ask him, but was interrupted as he then began to explain of his past life as a pirate. He and his crew have landed on the Treasure Island to find the treasure that was said to rested here. What happened then during their month of search, they grew very upset that they couldn't find any of the treasure and found out that the treasure chest was empty. So, they decided to leave the island, but only one man named Gaimon was looking further up to see if there were any treasure chests since his captain have been standing there for a month, decided to climb up to see if there's anything up there. When he climb up to the top, he saw six treasure chests as he was about to call his crew, but began to fall off, landed on the treasure chest and his body was compressed. Gaimon quickly recovers as he crawled his way towards his crew, but it was too late when he saw them sail far out to sea. However, he tried to climb back up since he thinks the entire treasure was his, but he was too stuck on this treasure chest when tried to get out. He then tried to call his crew back, but they were too far off the island. When Gaimon finished his story, he then spoke.
"And after all this time, the fortune I found but only saw for an instant has never strayed far from my lonely old mind." Gaimon explains. "Pirates have come here countless times to search for my treasure. But fortunately, my friends here help me scare them away. That's how I've kept my treasure safe and sound for the past 20 years. It's my treasure!?"
"No question, it's yours alright." Luffy nods with an agreement.
"You know, I think we can help you out. Gaimon, why don't we get the treasure down for you?" Nami suggests, stood up.
"Wait, do you mean it?" Gaimon asks surprisingly, earned a nod from him.
"Nami." Usopp called him with a dull expression.
"Hey, aren't you a thief that only steals from pirates?" Luffy asks, making Ventus snicker a bit.
"How rude!?" Nami exclaims, turned her head to him. "I am a thief, but I have a conscience."
"And since when do you have a conscience?" Ventus asks with smirk.
"Watch it, Ventus!" Nami warns with a tick mark on her head.
Gaimon was looking at them with awe, he then call out the giant hybrid of a cow and tortoise as they ride on it while Ventus sprouts his dragon wings to take flight as they then head towards the hill. When they made their way towards the hill, Luffy, Nami, Zoro, Usopp, and Gaimon landed on the ground while Ventus then landed as well.
"It's here?" Luffy asks, looking at the hill.
"Yes, this is the place. It's all up there." Gaimon answered as they look at him with a smile. "The time is finally come. It's a great day. Get to it, Straw Hat!"
With that, Luffy then stretch his arm to grab the hill.
"Gum-Gum: Rocket" Luffy then launch himself up in the air while landed on the top of the hill. He then look at the treasure chests as he then opens one of them, found out that it was empty like the other one. He then open the other five treasure chests, found out that all four chests were empty and everything they and Gaimon have been searching for was all for nothing. And the story of the Treasure Island was just false rumors and exaggeration.
Gaimon and the Straw Hat crew were wondering what's taking him so long since Luffy was taking his time as he spoke.
"Hey the chests, ya see?" Gaimon questions with a shout, smiling.
"What the hell is he up to?" Zoro questions seriously.
"I'll check it out." Ventus said as he then takes flight as he flew his way towards the hill, seeing Luffy looking at the treasure chests as he spoke. "Luffy, what are you doing?"
"Oh, hey Ventus." Luffy greets, turned his head to him.
"They're waiting for you." Ventus told him, notice the treasure chests. "Wait, aren't those-"
"Yep, there empty." Luffy nods. "Catch."
Luffy then toss the treasure chest to him as he spoke.
"Give it to our crew, they were wondering if I found them." Luffy ordered.
Ventus give him a nod as he then fly towards them, landed on the ground.
"Where's Luffy?" Nami asks.
"He found those treasure chests." Ventus inform her.
"Yes, good work." Gaimon said, laughing. "Now it's mine, I got my treasure! Open up, I want to see it!"
Ventus knew that Gaimon have waited for so long to see that treasure chests as he then place it down to the ground, opened the treasure chest and found out that it was empty.
"What!? Empty!?" Gaimon and Nami exclaims in unison.
"What the hell!? What kind of crap is this!?" Nami shouts. "Where's Luffy!?"
Luffy then revealed himself, carrying the treasure chest with him.
"Hey, what is this!? Give that man his gold!?" Nami yelled.
"You ass! This isn't funny anymore! Toss them all down now!" Usopp demands.
However, Luffy refuse to toss those treasure chests, but Zoro noticed something was up when he narrowed his eyes since he knew that his captain have noticed about the treasure chests.
"Hey I'm not joking around, Mister!?" Nami yelled.
"It's alright." Gaimon reassured her. "It doesn't matter. It's alright."
"It's not alright." Nami refuted, turned to him.
"Gaimon! You've been guarding that treasure with your heart and soul for the past 20 years." Usopp added.
"Straw Hat, you're a great guy." Gaimon said, shed in tears, leaving them confused. "I always had it ain't like that, this might be the case. I've tried not to think about it, but still, they're empty."
That got Usopp and Nami shocked as Luffy spoke.
"Yep, every last one of them." Luffy nods.
"How sad, the treasure he guarded for 20 long years was just a bunch of empty boxes." Nami said sadly.
"I'm afraid so." Ventus nods. "And the story about the Treasure Island was nothing but lies."
"It happens all the time with treasures and our maps leading to them." Gaimon said, crying. "You set out on a quest to find it, but someone else got to it first. That's the kind of risk you have to take with your treasure hunting pirates. You can waste a whole lifetime searching and never once such treasure, plenty of pirates live like that. Believe me!"
That got Luffy laugh when he heard of Gaimon's explanation as he spoke.
"Try not to be too upset, old man." Luffy said with a smile. "It's a good thing we came along after 20 years. 30 years later and you'd be dead."
"Oh Straw Hat!" Gaimon said with a smile.
"Luffy." Nami said surprisingly.
"Is he?" Usopp asks.
"Since this treasure hunt's a bust, you're gonna need something else to fill your time." Luffy told him. "Why don't you join up with us and search for the One Piece?"
"What? Really?" Gaimon asks. "You're asking me? Oh I know how I must look to you, other people wouldn't speak to me, but you are kind. It's been so many years since I've had a friend. Thank you!"
Few hours later, since the treasure hunting was a loss, the Straw Hat crew then head towards the ship since Ventus have found some herbs for the medicine.
"Are you sure you want to stay on the island, Gaimon?" Luffy asks.
"Yes I'm sure." Gaimon answered. "There's something here far more valuable than treasure than I feel I must protect."
"Worth more than gold?" Usopp asks with confusion when they saw the hybrid animals surrounding him.
"For the past 20 years, these guys who stood by my side through thick and thin." Gaimon told them. "I can't leave them."
The hybrid animals then began to luck Gaimon, leaving him laughing and the Straw Hat crew smile.
"Now that I know there's no treasure here, I somehow finally feel free." Gaimon stated. "Without that heavy burden, I can think on the things that really matter to me. And besides, after all these years I've grown fond to this little box."
"Too bad, you're a neat guy, pretty cool for a scrub brush." Luffy said with a smirk.
"A weird creature here is your true friends." Zoro added.
"Yep, and he's weirdest of them all." Luffy agrees.
"EXCUSE ME!?" Gaimon exclaims, showing his white eyes as they burst with laughter.
With that, they parted ways as they wave goodbye to Gaimon and the hybrid creatures as they venture out to sea and their journey continues.
That's it for the 15th chapter. Sorry about the delay.