Disclaimer: nope, don't own One Piece, and that's all folks!

Bugs Bunny: what's up doc?

Lynn: AAARH! A crazy talking rabbit! *runs away screaming*

SS: …

BB: …?

SS: you've scared off my OC and you're not even IN the bloody story!

BB: my, you're rude.

SS: *gets out a gun* shut up and get lost.

BB: it's not rabbit season yet! *sticks a carrot up the gun and blocks it*

SS: Fine then, I'll try something else. *snaps fingers and summons Luffy*

Luffy: *drools* FOOOOOOOOD!

BB: ... ok, you win... * hops away*

Luffy: *chases BB with a knife and fork in hand*

(Ok… sorry if today's disclaimer was too random! My sister is watching Looney Tunes down stairs, and all I can hear is that annoyingly catchy theme song, so I've just got bugs bunny and daffy duck stuck in my head. XP And I apologize for the late update too. I said I was going to update in a week, but I caught the tummy bug and couldn't quite get up to speed, sorry -_-')

Chapter 9- Deadly Dinners and Investigations

Lynn opened her locker, shivering from the cold, wearing just her drenched swimming suit. The first thing she grabbed was her gate pendant, and let the newfound piece of wood merge with it. The new piece was roughly the same size as the previous pieces added together, and Lynn smiled, forgetting her anger at Usopp for a moment. But she knew they had to hurry and get out of here, because a sea monster appearing in the local pool is most definitely something that'll make the headlines tonight! She wasn't keen on waiting around to find out if the police will come and investigate or not.

"The boys have gone to get changed," said Nami as she walked up behind Lynn, and was responded to by having a load of clothes dumped into her arms.

"Let's hurry and get changed too so we can get out of here," said Lynn, walking into the nearest changing cubical and closing the door behind her.

"Robin! What are we going to do?" wailed Chopper, sitting cross-legged on deck across from the archaeologist. Robin frowned, not knowing how to answer the poor, frightened young reindeer doctor.

Ever since Usopp also disappeared unexpectedly, Chopper had not had a moment of peace at heart. All his crew mates were vanishing, and he had no idea whether they were safe or not. Nor any clue as to where they disappeared to. Chopper and Robin assumed that all their friends had been 'abducted' by the mysterious light, one way or another, but what was that light? Why and how did it appear? These questions puzzled them, and despite the many days of investigation, they found no answers.

"I do hope they are safe," said Robin, her voice filled with concern.

Chopper nodded tearfully. An uncomfortable silence fell between them, and they both sighed simultaneously.

Without a warning, the ship began to tremble furiously, and Chopper cried out in alarm as a large shape burst from the oceans calm surface and flew into the air.

"Oh my, it's an octopus," said Robin, watching it fall back into the water with a splash.

"I-its huge!" scream Chopper. "Why did it burst out of the water?"

The giant octopus rose from the ocean again, screeching and howling; either in pain or in frustration. Maybe both. They could see now that it had a strangely large swollen bump from the top of its head.

"'Damn that stupid curly browed bastard'," said Chopper.

Robin looked at him and blinked.

"That's what the octopus is saying," he explained. "Hmm…" Chopper pondered. "Somehow, that's sounds familiar…"

Robin tilted her head. "Isn't that what swordsman-san is always calling cook-san?"

Robin and Chopper exchanged a look, and then stared at the octopus, who thrashed its tentacles about.

"What happened to you?" Chopper called out to the octopus. "Where did you come from?"

The octopus stopped thrashing, looked at Chopper, and instead began to cry. Robin and Chopper sweat dropped. Its crying sounded like a metal cart being dragged along the ground. After Chopper finally managed to calm the thing down, it told Chopper its story; well, wept it; and Chopper translated.

"'I was just minding my own business, when I swam into this weird pool of light and ended up in this pond thing. Then, I was attacked! By this blond guy with wacky curly eyebrows and a fierce kick.'" Chopper paused and he thought. "The light…Wait a minute, that sounds familiar…"

"Was the blonde with anyone?" asked Robin, and Chopper asked the octopus for her.

"'Well, there were a few cheering him on…'" answered the octopus through Chopper's voice, "'a red headed girl… a guy with a freaky long nose… a girl with bunches… a boy with short black hair…. a guy with green hair, but he was more mocking him than cheering…'" Chopper's eyes widened and he looked at Robin hopefully. "It couldn't be, could it?"

"I think it could," smiled Robin.

"Rawr! Eeek!" (Translation: you know those jerks?) screamed the octopus.

"Yes, I think that's the rest of our crew," said Chopper. Bad move. The octopus was furious and rose up to attack. Chopper tried to call peace, but it wouldn't listen.

"Fine then. Have it your way." Chopper produced a small golden coloured medicine and crunched it between his teeth. "Rumble ball!" he called and transformed onto jump point, leaping into the air for a quick battle.

It was very awkward getting changed in a completely empty changing room, and Lynn felt a strange, tense atmosphere around. Perhaps it was because she was feeling uneasy at the noise that was rousing outside. After she threw on her jacket and shoes, Lynn and Nami headed outside the building to meet Luffy and co, but were greeted with a horrific sight. The boys were already changed, outside, and what was going on was absolute riot.

"ZORO!" squealed the Zoro-fans, chasing him around in circles.

"SANJI!" cried the Sanji-fans, carrying him away like a tidal wave.

"LUFFY!" news of Luffy's presence at the scene had spread far and wide (all thanks to modern technology) and now Luffy's fan club had gathered, increased in size, and were almost crushing him under their frenzy of feet.

"This is the BBC evening news," said the news-lady loudly over the noise into her microphone, "Reports of a sea monster sighted at the local pool has caused huge disturbances in the area. We are here, live on the scene and apparently, these youngsters are the ones that defeated the monster and protected our town!" the camera swerved to the tanned young man standing at the entrance and boasting away to some photographers. "Sir, sir, please tell us what happened!" the microphone was shoved in Usopp's face and he smirked proudly.

"Well, obviously, I was the one that defeated it!" he bragged. "My crew-... my friends were terrified, but with me around, they had nothing to fear!"

The TV reporters clapped gleefully, firing questions at this young 'hero'.

Lynn slapped her forehead at the sight. "He was the only one that didn't do anything!" she cried in exasperation, but no one heard her. She was caught under the stampede of reporters instead.

"Miss! Look over here!" the photographers' cameras clicked and flashed as Nami posed for them, forgetting about the rest of her friends for a minute.

"Are you people trying to kill us, dammit?" screamed Lynn, shoving her way across the crowds and grabbing each of her friends. Luffy and Zoro happily went with her, and as did Usopp, who although loved attention, wasn't that keen on getting crushed by this ridiculous stampede. Lynn then dragged Nami by the wrist, scowling as Nami continued to blow kisses at her photographers. Now, where was Sanji…?

"Mellorine!" Sanji's weak, love-struck cries were muffled by the huge blanket of girls swarming over him a few yards away.

"I'll take care of this Nami style." Lynn pushed up her sleeve and headed over to him. She landed a punch on his head with no less force than Nami would have done, but her attack had a much different effect.

"Who's the little kid?" frowned an older fan-girl, hanging onto Sanji protectively.

"WHO'S A KID?" bellowed Lynn, grabbing her school bag and swinging it at Sanji in anger, even though it wasn't his fault. But Lynn had completely forgotten that she had quite a few big ass files and dictionaries in there. The bag connected with Sanji's already love-woozy head and he was knocked out completely, love hearts still lingering in his eyes.

"Oh crap," muttered Lynn, blinking at the fallen Sanji, and his ever so mad fan-club. She backed away as they began to move in on her threateningly for hurting their beloved.

"Let's go!" shouted a voice, and Lynn hadn't even a chance to turn before she was snatched up by the waist and hauled away from the mob speedily. She looked up and saw Luffy's face, his expression a mix between confusion and anxiousness. "Why did you knock Sanji out?"

"I didn't mean to!" Lynn glanced over and saw that Luffy held the unconscious Sanji under his other arm.

"The violence thing only works if I do it!" shouted Nami, running up behind them, followed by Zoro and Usopp.

"Well how would I know?" protested Lynn, jumping from Luffy's arms and running on her own legs.

"Cant someone get rid of these stalkers?" yelled Zoro, casting a fleeting look behind him at the horrific mixture of fans and paparazzi still giving chase.

Usopp had an idea, and he stopped running to face the mob. "Smoke star!" he shouted, firing from his slingshot and sending up a thick smog. They crew used this great opportunity and escaped down the road.

"Sanji. Oi, Sanji." Luffy slapped the cook's face gently, trying to wake him up. "I'm hungry!"

It was almost an hour later, and Sanji still lay on the floor in Lynn's living room, unconscious. Everyone else formed a circle around him, taking turns trying to wake him. Zoro was excluded, of course; who knows what he'll do to the poor cook?

"What's wrong? He won't wake up!" wailed Luffy. "What are we going to eat for dinner?"

"Sanji's out cold and you're worried about your dinner?" demanded Usopp. But then his growling stomach caused everyone to look at him. Nobody criticised him, though, as they were actually all starving.

Zoro rolled his eyes. "Like I said earlier…" he put a hand on the handle of his katana. "Just let me take care of…"

"NO!" everyone shouted at him.

"Just a tiny stab…"

"NO!"

Zoro grumbled his discontent and sat back down.

"This isn't going to work," sighed Nami, straightening up. "We should eat first, and let him wake up naturally."

"But who's going to cook?" frowned Lynn. She looked up and saw that all eyes were on her. "What?"

"I vote the one responsible cooks today," said Usopp.

"I agree." Nami nodded.

Lynn looked back and forth at each of her friends. "ME?" she cried. "You're kidding?"

"Well it's your fault that he's knocked out," said Nami, shrugging.

"We could always order a pizza," suggested Lynn.

"What? You can't cook?" Usopp raised an eyebrow.

"O-of course I can!" Lynn pouted, not wanting to admit defeat to him.

"Ok, then that's settled, you're cooking the dinner," declared Nami, patting Lynn on the back and sitting herself onto the sofa casually as Lynn headed into the kitchen.

Poor octopus. In one day, he'd been beaten up good; not once, but twice. Chopper turned himself back into brain point and stood on the railing of the ship with his arms crossed, facing the battered and bruised sea monster.

"Browal!" (Translation: I'm sorry!) it moaned, and slipped away under the water.

"Wait!" Chopper shouted after it. "We have a few questions we'd like to ask!"

But the monster was already out of sight.

"Never mid doctor-san," said Robin reassuringly. "If what that octopus said was true, then our nakama are most probably still alive and well. All we have to do now is find a light so we can go and find them."

Chopper flinched at that suggestion. "But who knows what's behind those lights?" he whimpered, trembling slightly.

Robin pondered. That was a good point. They could now almost be certain that their friends were still alive, but their whereabouts were still unclear, and the place they were at could be deadly dangerous for all they knew.

"Robin..." Chopper pointed a shaky hoof towards something near the forest. Robin turned, and stared at the light shape in the distance. "Is that what we're looking for?" gulped Chopper.

"I believe so. But I didn't think one would appear so soon." Robin began to head over in its direction.

"No! Robin don't go!" cried Chopper, jumping up down from the railing.

"But we need to find the rest of the crew don't we?"

"Yes, but..." Chopper swallowed and looked at Robin tearfully. "I don't want you to get eaten too!"

"It's alright," reassured Robin. "Don't be scared. It'll be fine." She began to go again.

"NO!" yelped Chopper, springing up from the ground. Robin couldn't help but sweatdrop when she felt Chopper clinging onto her leg. "I'm scared!" he admitted.

Robin smiled supportively at Chopper, and then quickly thought of an investigation strategy for the two of them. Chopper nodded slowly as she explained her plan to him, and finally and reluctantly, he agreed to it.

Nami flicked through the TV channels, looking for something to watch. There was nothing interesting on apart from the chaotic BBC news report of the events at the swimming pool earlier.

'These image qualities are brilliant,' she thought, watching a footage of herself and the photographers.

A strange smell penetrated her nostrils, and she crinkled her nose uncomfortably. Was something burning? Was something rotting? It smelt like a combination of both. And it was coming from the kitchen.

'What is Lynn doing in there?' she wondered, frowning, trying to decide of she should go and lend Lynn a hand. A huge crash and a scream, followed by loud coughing ended her hesitation, and she dashed into the kitchen, demanding to know what was going on. She stopped and gawked when she saw the pitiful state the kitchen was in.

It was nothing too serious, really. Just that the room was tipped upside down and there was black smoke coming from the oven. Salt and pepper pots lay spilt on the worktop, scattered utensils everywhere, vegetable peelings and bits covered the floor, the fridge door was wide open, and Lynn stood in the middle of it all, cursing about the broken dishes she had just dropped, whilst choking on the smog.

"WHAT THE HECK?" shouted Nami.

"Oh, Nami," smiled Lynn meekly, waving at her, "hi!"

Nami scowled. "What are you doing?" she demanded.

"Making dinner," replied Lynn, heading over to her, but slipped on a banana peel in the process and ended up on her bum.

"What on earth do you need bananas for?" Nami helped Lynn up.

"Well, I was hungry…"

Nami sighed. "I didn't know that you and kitchens were mortal enemies..."

"We're not," said Lynn, picking up some bits of rubbish from the floor. "They just don't like me,"

"Never mind that, go and sort out whatever is burning to a crisp inside that oven!" Nami shoved Lynn towards the black smoke.

"Oh no!" Lynn cried, taking the oven tray out and placing it on the worktop. "The fish!"

Nami stared at the black-as-soot thing in the middle of the tray. That lump of coal is fish? She stuck out a finger, poked it, and sweat dropped as it crumbled into ashes.

"Ok... I guess we're not having the fish then..." Lynn turned back to the hob and peeked into the pot that sat on the far edge.

"Is that something edible?" asked Nami hopefully. She wasn't pleased with Lynn's reply.

"I think so..."

Nami walked over and inspected the pot herself. She felt sick just looking at its contents. The girls exchanged a look and then pulled a face simultaneously.

"What is that suppose to be?"

"It was meant to be carrot soup and... never mind."

Together, they took the pot to the downstairs bathroom and dumped the 'soup' down the toilet bowl.

"What a waste," said Nami, shaking her head as she pressed the toilet flush button. "Have you actually made anything else fit for human consumption?"

"I have actually!" beamed Lynn, who didn't seem to be depressed over the fact she had epically failed the first two dishes. "I've made egg fried rice!"

"Really?" somehow, Nami wasn't thrilled over that fact.

"It's the only proper dish I can cook," added Lynn under her breath, not seeming to realise Nami could hear her loud and clear.

"IS DINNER READY YET?" Luffy's eager voice called from the dining room. Nami looked at Lynn. She thought back to the two previous nightmares known as 'food'. And she sighed.

"Bon appetite," smiled Lynn, placing the plates and pan of egg fried rice on the table. Everyone, apart from Nami, looked around to search for the rest of the dinner, but saw none.

"Is this all?" asked Zoro, scratching his head. The food supply today didn't look like it could feed Usopp, never mind Luffy!

"Yep, that's all I'm afraid."

Usopp sniffed the air and crinkled his nose. "What's that weird smell?"

'That,' thought Nami. 'Would be the smell of scorched fish, burnt and curdled soup stuff, spilt cleaning up liquid, too much air freshener, all mixed into one,'

"I'm sorry for the big mess," said Lynn, scooping out servings for everyone. "I've never been brilliant in the kitchen,"

'Understatement of the century,' thought Nami, rolling her eyes.

"Then how did you survive with your parents away?" asked Usopp.

"Well, there's a restaurant down the road, and I do love pizza express."

"So you live on junk food when no one's around to cook?" Nami raised an eyebrow.

"Pretty much, yeah," answered Lynn.

By now, everyone had a plate of food in front of them, apart from Lynn who was standing and Sanji who was still unconscious, and were all looking down at it suspiciously. Well, Luffy was more looking at it hungrily. Nami shuffled back in her seat, edging away from the food as if it were poisoned. It probably was, in its own way.

"I'm starving!" exclaimed Luffy, and he was first to dig in. everyone watched for a moment before picking up their own cutlery carefully. Zoro stared at his spoonful of rice suspiciously, raising it to his mouth, and then lowering it hesitantly, not fully convinced it was safe to eat.

"Just eat it already," said Nami impatiently, "Look. Luffy's eating it just fine!"

"Yes, but he's not normal," Zoro still eyeing his food cautiously. "If it's safe, then why don't you try some first?"

"No, you go first."

"No way!"

Lynn pouted, feeling offended. It was like Nami and Zoro were fighting about who was going to die first. Nami's stomach rumbled and she was eager for food, but wasn't going to risk it without a guinea pig to test first.

"Shut up and eat the damn stuff!" shouted Nami, quickly scooping a huge spoonful of egg fried rice and forcefully stuffed it down the swordsman's throat as he opened his mouth to protest, and then pinched his nose so he swallowed. Zoro choked with nausea and turned purple.

"Are you... trying... to murder me bitch?" screamed Zoro, gagging and spluttering, and he turned to Lynn. "What are you trying to make? Egg fried rice or egg shells fried with salt?"

"It's not that bad is it?" Lynn muttered sheepishly.

"Sake! Sake!" gasped Zoro, desperate for a drink to wash the dreadful taste down.

"Well, we have some alcohol on the top shelf of the cupboard." Lynn hesitated before she spoke again. Ggo and get it yourself."

"What? Is it too high for you to reach?"

Lynn flinched and her expression darkened. In response to his no-offence-intended statement, she grabbed the plate off the table and tipped the rest of its contents down his throat. The swordsman gagged again, and his face turned a few more nasty shades before he collapsed off his chair, leg twitching in the air comically.

"What happened to Zoro?" asked Luffy, looking up from his 'meal' and peeking over.

"I think he was poisoned…" gulped Usopp, putting down his spoon and pushing away his plate, now certain that it was 'toxic'.

'Wow, that stuff is dangerous,' thought Nami, shaking her head.

Lynn took a deep breath, calming herself from her little outburst, and smiled sweetly, as if having two of the monster trio lying unconscious on her dining room floor was the most normal thing in the world.

"Pizza express, anyone?"

Chopper stayed latched on Robin's leg as they stepped up in front of the gleaming circle of light.

"Damn you!" he wailed at it, torn between fright and newly roused anger on remembering each of his stolen crewmates. "Give us back our nakama, jerk!" he failed to realise it was useless shouting at an inanimate object; or he just didn't care.

"Doctor-san," said Robin, trying to gently pry him off her leg. "Why don't we do as planned."

Chopper nodded shakily and slowly lowered himself onto the ground. Searching around quickly, he noticed a small, blue feathered bird perching in its nest on the top of a tree. Perfect. He cleared his throat and called out to it. "Excuse me! Can you help us?"

Silence. He repeated his request. Still nothing. He opened his mouth to shout again, and the bird flew out of its nest and stabbed him on the head with its beak.

"Tweet! Tweet tweet tweeeeeet!" (Translation: shut up dammit, I'm trying to sleep!) screamed the small bird that hopped furiously on the ground before him.

"Sorry," he apologized. "But can you help us?"

"Tweet?" the bird tilted its head and stared at Chopper with wide, dark eyes.

"I'd like you to fly into that light thing, circle the area and see if you can track down a few people, and then you can fly back," Chopper told it.

"TWEEEEET!" (translation: no way in hell!)

"Please?" pleaded Chopper. "We can give you any rewards you might want if you help."

"TWEE- tweet?" (translation: NO WA- really?)

Chopper nodded, and glanced at Robin, who nodded approvingly too.

The bird seemed to giggled greedily. "Twit-twit-tweet?" (translation: how about a bag full of shiny stuff?)

"You like shiny stuff then! No problem!" Chopper smiled.

"TWEET!" (translation: you got yourself a deal!)

Chopper beamed, and Robin crossed her arms across her chest. "Ojos Fleur." She said, closing her eyes.

The bird blinked, wondering what she was doing, then screeched when it felt a tickly sensation on its chest, and almost fainted from shock when it saw that the thing which had caused the tickling was a pair of eyes that had suddenly sprouted on his feathers.

"It's ok," reassured Chopper. "That's just Robin's devil fruit power. It won't hurt you."

The bird continued to freak out and attempted to peck out the freaky eyes, though failing to reach because its beak was too short.

"Don't do that," frowned Chopper. "Or else you'll hurt Robin. If you hurt Robin then I'm not giving you shiny stuff."

The bird stopped; sharpish. "Tweet twit tweet?" (translation: ok, who am I looking for?)

"Well, there are five of them," said Chopper, thinking. "There's Nami, a girl with orange hair, and a rather scary aura at times; and the rest of them are guys. One of them has green hair and three katanas, one of them has blond hair and is never without a cigarette, one of them has a really long nose and goggles on his head, and one of them has short black hair, a scar under his left eye, and is always wearing a straw hat. That's our captain."

The bird nodded and chirped, signifying that it understood instructions. It batted its wings and took off into the portal, ignoring the creepy eyes that stayed on its chest.

"When the eyes vanish then come back at any time!" Chopper shouted after the bird, and watched it disappear into the pool of light. Then, he turned to Robin. "What do you see Robin?"

Robin's frowned, eyes rolling around behind her closed eyelids, examining the scenes on the other side of the portal through the bird's spectrum. "This is very different…"

"What?" asked Chopper curiously.

The landscape that Robin saw was that of a small town centre. Tons of people strolled down the strange, modern looking streets, heading in and out of tall buildings that resembled shops. It was evening time, yet the streets were still bustling, and lit up with colourful lights and signs. Strange. Strange indeed. Robin described everything she observed to Chopper, careful not to leave out any details. Chopper nodded as he listened, and he relaxed more and more as she went on, now certain this place was different, but by no means dangerous. Robin took a breath after she finished talking, and uncrossed her arms and opened her eyes, removing her other set of eyes from the bird's chest on the opposite side of the portal.

"Ok," said Chopper, inhaling deeply. "I think I'm ready to go in and search for our nakama now."

Robin smiled, pleased that she had now fully reassured the reindeer doctor, and nodded to signify that they would now enter the mysterious land. Chopper stepped forwards slowly, feet, or should I say hooves, only centimetres away from the glowing portal. He felt ready. It took some convincing, but he was ready, and willing.

So, goodness was he surprised when the portal suddenly, without a warning, sucked in on itself and disappeared into thin air.

Chopper's mouth dropped open in shock, and Robin blinked a few times before muttering. "Oh dear..."

"I-it's gone!" wailed Chopper.

"And that poor bird is unfortunately stuck on the other side," added Robin. "That was too sudden!"

Chopper sighed dejectedly. "I guess we'll have to wait till the next time a light shows up."

"Never mind," said Robin. "At least that gives us some time to maybe hide our ship before we set off; just in case anything should happen to it."

Chopper nodded in agreement, knowing that there was nothing else they could do now anyway, and they both headed back to the Merry.

The poor, poor bird. It fluttered around in the darkening evening sky, freaking out slightly. The eyes on its chest had disappeared, but so had the portal that linked its world to the world it was currently in! It cursed in bird talk about stupid reindeers and being starving. Setting itself onto the top of a tall building, it could but grumble to itself and ruffle its feathers disapprovingly. It was stuck here, and there was nothing that could be done about that.

Suddenly, something caught the bird's attention. There was something small and dark just out of the corner of its eye. Thinking it was maybe edible, the bird went over to inspect. It was a small piece of… wood? The bird didn't care; it was too hungry to care anymore. Picking the wood up in its beak, it swallowed the wood in one gulp, and frowned (if birds could frown) at its dull taste. It, in fact, did not satisfy the birds hunger at all! It instead sat down and began to ponder about its next steps.

After a few moments of debating pros and cons with an inner self, the bird finally decided that it would set off to find the said 'crew' of that darn reindeer that abandoned it here. Maybe they could help find a way home! But that would take place tomorrow, as now, it was time to nap after an exhausting and frustrating day.

Gordon Campbell, chief of police, was a fat and bulky figured officer. He stood at the side of the local swimming pool, scratching his stubby chin gently. He was currently responsible of investigating the case of the sighted 'monster' that had supposedly invaded the pool earlier. But so far, there was no trace as to where the 'monster' could have gone.

"Hey, chief," said an investigator to Gordon, searching for suspicious items but getting nowhere. "Why don't we ask those kids that claimed they beat the monster? They might know something."

"Nah!" a passing police officer waved a hand objectively. "I'll bet they were just looking for attention or something. Yeah right, like they would really know anything useful!"

Gordon nodded thoughtfully. His officer had a point. Everyone knew that teenagers nowadays could not be trusted.

"Sir, these are the finger prints we found at the scene," said Sarah, Gordon's assistant, who forever carried a serious expression.

"They could belong to virtually anyone who was swimming today!" Gordon dismissed her with a wave of his hand.

"But sir, these prints weren't identified on our system, shouldn't we try to find out who they belong to?"

"Don't bother," said Gordon. "What's the use in that? We're trying to locate a possible monster, not search for a murder suspect."

"But sir-" Sarah sighed as her chief walked away, shouting for everyone to call it a day and go home as this whole thing was just a waste of time and a scam. 'He never pays attention at all to anything I say,' she thought in exasperation.

But in fact, Gordon may look lazy and none-too-bright on the outside, but he was actually processing the information he was given quietly through his head. Confirmed numerous sightings, slime samples, tentacle marks on the walls; there was no doubt a suspicious creature was present here at the pool earlier. But he had his reasons for not revealing this to the public; nothing but chaotic panic would arouse, and that would just make matters worse. But he, himself, knew perfectly well that the monster from before was not something from this world. And that it had disappeared mysteriously in a span of time thought humanly impossible.

Gordon pondered, and smiled to himself slightly.

"Interesting. Interesting indeed…"

A great big thank you to 'eternitybeckons' for her brilliant ideas on the Chopper and Robin scene! :D

Next time: An awkward situation and a confrontation at school. Then, the gang chill out at home, when they get an unexpected visit… Well, technically it's not a visit, since they own the place… have I given you enough clues? Quick! Hide the Straw Hats!

Please please R&R! Or else! Ok, that was an empty threat, but please do! I really love reviews! Anything, even a simple 'hi!' will do! PLEEAAASSE! I wanna know if I'm doing ok, or if I'm talking complete crapola in my stories!