Chapter 5

One Piece © Oda

Pokemon © Nintendo, Game Freak

Blizzard © Me

"Come on, you guys! Hurry up, hurry up! Let's go, let's go, let's go!"

"Okay, okay! Calm down, will you, fuzz ball?"

"Heh-heh-heh! Zorua sure is excited!"

Yes, indeed he was. Zorua was running circles around Luffy's feet, ecstatic. The Straw Hats had finally moored their ship in the shore of Lostlorn Island, the Tricky Fox Pokemon's home, and to Zorua, that meant that he could finally see his mother, again.

"Everybody got their backpacks?" Nami asked.

"Yep!" Luffy answered. "And lunchboxes, too!"

"Let's go!" Zorua said as he jumped up and down Luffy's head and then down to the shore. "Come on! What are you guys waiting for?"

"Okay, okay, Zorua, we're coming," said Luffy before he jumped down and landed on the shore of the island next to Zorua.

The rest of the Straw Hats soon followed…except for Usopp, of course.

"Okay, everybody, before we go in," Nami began, "we need to go over one thing. The forest here looks really thick, so we have to stick together so we don't get lost."

Everyone glanced at Zoro, who looked to everyone else.

"What?" he questioned.

"Nothing," the others answered.

"Uh…I'm not too sure about this, you guys," said Usopp, standing at the prow. "The whole island's covered in mist! Doesn't that throw you off as a little suspicious?"

"Usopp, whether you like it or not, we have to go," Nami said.

"Yeah, we gotta get Zorua back to his mom," Chopper said. "We promised."

"Maybe I should stay here," Usopp implied. "You know, to guard the Sunny, and all."

"Okay, Usopp," Nami said. "You can stay here…on the ship…alone."

Usopp gulped at the last word as the others began to enter the thick forest with Zorua leading the pack.

TMP! He jumped down and ran to catch up with them.

"Hey, guys, wait up!" the sniper called until he fell into step behind the others.

"So, what are exactly are we looking for?" asked Sanji.

"Zorua says his mom looks just like him, only bigger," said Luffy. "So, all we gotta do is look for a big, girl version of Zorua! Problem solved!"

"Uh, there's only one problem with your theory, Luffy," said Zoro. "We have NO idea where she might be in this forest."

"Well, we do have Zorua," Nami said. "He knows his way around here better than we do. If anything, he might know where to find his mother."

"Hey, Zorua," Luffy said. "Try calling your mom. She'll probably show up when she hears your voice!"

"Oh, yeah!" Zorua said. "Thanks, Luffy!"

With that, Zorua stopped in his tracks, and then, ARROOOOOOOOOOOO~! He let out a long howl.

A long pause came, but nothing answered back to his howl.

"I guess she didn't hear me," Zorua said, disappointment in his voice.

"She's probably too far away, Zorua," Nami said. "Maybe she'll hear you if we keep going."

"Are you sure?" Zorua asked.

"She's bound to know you're here, sooner or later," Luffy replied. "She's your mom! It's part of her instinct! Once, I got lost, and I had no idea where my Mom was, but somehow, she managed to find me!"

"Maybe because she asked someone, Luffy," Zoro said.

"Anyway," said Luffy, "your mom probably isn't too far away from here! We'll find her, don't worry!"

Zorua smiled before he jumped into Luffy's arms, once again.

"Thanks, Luffy," he said.

With that, the Straw Hats and Zorua continued onward into the dense forest. As they did, Chopper suddenly stopped in his tracks and looked up.

He couldn't shake this odd feeling that someone was watching them.

"Chopper!" Zoro called. "Hurry up! What's keeping you, back there?"

"You're gonna get left behind!" Usopp added.

Chopper gasped before he ran to catch up to him.

"Hey! Hold on! Wait up for me, you guys!" he shouted.

However, as Chopper ran off to catch up with the others, no one realized that they were indeed being watched.

XXX

It felt like hours since the Straw Hats had begun their trek through the mysterious forest. They trusted Zorua to lead the way around his home since he knew it better than they did. Still, some of them couldn't help but feel rather suspicious about the place.

For instance, Chopper continued to feel that someone was watching the crew, and even Luffy was beginning to have the same feeling, although the latter continued to sweep it off as nothing. Also, as Robin had said, the landscape seemed to change at every turn they made, like when this tree that Blizzard had marked (with his claws) had seemed to disappear and then reappear in a different place, but Usopp rebukes it by saying that all trees look the same. However, he, too, saw something mysterious and rather scary: a pair of glowing, demonic, blue eyes that were glaring back at him through the shadows of the foliage. When he tried to tell the others, though, they had disappeared, like whatever was there did not want to be seen.

The crew was surprised that Zorua himself did not notice these odd occurrences.

"Maybe this whole place is cursed," Usopp said as the Straw Hats were walking along the forest trail, led by Zorua. "I mean- Robin DID say that people who come here are never heard from again."

"Oh, Usopp," Nami said. "What are you so scared of? That's nothing but a bunch of gobbledy-gook!"

"Oh, yeah?" Usopp said. "Chopper kept saying that we were being watched, and even Luffy agreed with him!"

"That's probably just their imagination," Nami remarked.

Although, with Luffy's Haki, it actually wouldn't be surprising, she thought.

"And what about the disappearing landmarks we made along the way?" asked Usopp.

"You said that all trees and rocks look alike," replied Nami.

"Well, how do you explain those eyes I saw?" Usopp questioned.

"Once again, it was probably your imagination," Nami answered. "There were no eyes there."

"But I tell you, I saw them!" Usopp said before he gasped and pointed behind Nami. "In fact…there they are!"

Nami turned around, but then gasped herself.

There, glaring at her, were those same glowing blue eyes that Usopp had seen!

"O-oh, my god!" Nami stammered in fright.

"See? Do you believe me, now?" Usopp asked, just as scared as her.

"L-Luffy! Guys!" Nami called to the others.

"What's wrong, Nami?" Sanji asked.

"L-l-look!" Nami cried as she pointed to where eyes were.

"I don't see anything," Luffy said.

"Me, neither," Zorua added.

"Huh?" Nami muttered before she looked to where she pointed.

The eyes were gone.

"But…but…!" she stuttered.

"Don't tell me Usopp's got you thinking that something's out here, too," Zoro said.

"But…but I swear, I-" Nami began before she heaved a sigh of exasperation. "Forget it."

At this point, Zorua decided to try and call for his mother, again.

ARROOOOOOOOOO~! he howled.

A pause came, but then, Grrrr…! A growling sound filled the air.

"D…did you guys hear that?" Usopp asked.

"Yeah, that's my tummy grumbling," Luffy answered, rubbing his empty stomach. "I'm hungry. Can we stop to eat lunch, now?"

"We have been walking for quite a while, haven't we?" Robin asked.

"Yes," agreed Brook. "Why, I'm so hungry, I'm practically wasting away to bone! Ah, wait. I was nothing but bone to begin with! Yo-ho-ho-ho-ho! Skull Joke!"

Only Luffy and Zorua laughed at the joke while everyone else groaned.

Grrrrraaaarr…! Another growl is heard.

"Okay, Luffy, we get it," Zoro said. "You're hungry."

"But…that one didn't come from my tummy," Luffy said.

Grrraaaaaarr…! The growling came again.

Gulp! Usopp, Chopper, and Brook gulped.

Luffy picked Zorua up by the scruff of his neck, and then stuffed him inside his backpack.

"Hey!" Zorua said. "Luffy, what are you doing?"

"Just stay in here, for now!" Luffy told him before he closed the backpack.

Zoro put his hand on his swords, prepared to draw them.

Nami gripped her Sorcery Clima-Tact with shaky hands.

Sanji took a drag of his cigarette and let out a puff of smoke.

Robin just stared straight forward, calm as always.

Grr~! Blizzard bared his fangs and growled.

BAP! Franky punched his palm.

GRRAAAAAAWWWWRR~! A loud roar filled the air. Thomp! Thomp! THOMP! The roar was followed by loud, heavy footsteps.

"AAAAAAH!" Chopper screamed before he hid behind Blizzard's legs.

"Get ready," Luffy said. "Whatever's coming, it's here!"

Suddenly, something came out of the shadows before the Straw Hats.

It was a bipedal, scrawny, fox-like creature that stood about as tall as 5 feet and 3 inches high, and its fur was mainly grayish-brown with crimson and black accents. It has a pointed snout and ears, the insides of which have a red coloration. It also had red rimming around its eyes and the corners of its mouth. The fox-like creature had a large, voluminous, red mane that had black tips. The mane seemed to resemble a ponytail, seeing as how there was a teal bangle of some sort that separated a large mass of the mane from the lower portion. It also had a black ruff on its upper body, pointed at the shoulders from which its arms extend. Its upper arms appeared thin, whereas its lower arms, while still slim, are bulkier. The arms had spiky-looking extensions of fur on the elbows, and one the ends of those, as well on its feet, where three crimson red claws that looked as sharp as steak knives.

Grr…GRRRAAAAAAAAAAWWRR~! The creature growled and then let out a powerful roar at the Straw Hats.

"MONSTER!" Brook cried, hiding behind Franky.

"W-W-WHAT THE HELL IS THAT THING?" Usopp questioned.

"It's Zoroark!" Robin answered.

"Zoro-what?" Luffy repeated, bewildered.

"Zoroark," Robin repeated. "The Illusion Fox Pokemon and the evolved form of Zorua. Zoroark can create illusions and change its appearance just like Zorua can, only its illusions are more perfect!"

"I am Zoroark, guardian of Lostlorn Island," Zoroark proclaimed. It appeared that it had the same telepathic abilities as Zorua, and the voice coming from her head sounded more feminine, so the Straw Hats concluded that she was female.

"How dare you filthy humans enter my forest," said Zoroark.

"Uh, technically, not all of us are human," stated Chopper.

GRRAAAAAAAAAAAAAWWRR! Zoroark roared at the little reindeer, sending him into a state of fright, once again.

"Listen, fuzz-face," Luffy started, "don't start pulling off that 'this-is-my-island-and-you-gotta-leave' crap! We-"

"Luffy, wait!" Nami said as she held her captain back. "Let me handle this. You're not very good with…negotiating and stuff."

"Fine," said Luffy.

Nami turned to Zoroark, trying her best to look confident, but it was rather hard to because of Zoroark's visage.

"Um, listen, Zoroark," Nami said. "The reason we're here is not what you think! You see, we're-"

"I will not listen to whatever cockamamie excuse you have!" Zoroark hissed. "Humans are forbidden to set foot on this island! You will leave at once!"

"We're not going anywhere until you hear us out!" Luffy said.

"Then perish…" Zoroark said sinisterly before she got down on all fours, and then lunged at the Straw Hats.

"RUN!" Luffy shouted.

The crew scattered as Zoroark landed.

GRRAAAAAAAAAAAAWWWRR! She roared.

At that moment, Zorua stuck his head out of Luffy's backpack.

"Luffy?" he asked. "What's going on out there? What's happening?"

"Nothing!" Luffy answered as he shoved Zorua back inside his backpack. "Stay in there until I say you can come out!"

"AAAAAAAH! SOMEBODY SAVE ME!" Chopper cried as Zoroark gave chase after him. "SHE'S GONNA EAT ME!"

Blizzard tackled Zoroark to the side and into a tree.

"Wretched beast!" Zoroark shouted before BAM! She kicked Blizzard into another tree, which caused him to crash into another tree, and then another, and then another, and then one more!

"Blizzard!" Luffy cried.

"Damn," Zoro cursed. "She's…strong!"

"Yeah…she is," Luffy commented.

"Look out!" Nami cried. "Here she comes, again!"

Zoroark came charging, again, this time at Luffy.

"Whoa!" Luffy cried before he jumped out of her way as Zoroark slashed her claws at him, barely missing.

"Weapons LEFT!" Franky shouted as he fired bullets out of his left knuckles, but Zoroark dodged every shot the cyborg made.

"Fool," she said. "You think you can stop me with mere bullets?"

"Dammit!" Franky cursed. "She's too fast! GUH!"

POW! Zoroark punched Franky in the jaw, sending him flying several feet away.

"I'll save ya, Franky!" Usopp said. "Certain Death…Green Star: RAFFLESIA!"

TWANG! Usopp fired a Pop Green near Zoroark's left. A large Rafflesia flower appeared beside the Illusion Fox Pokemon, and it began to release a foul odor.

"GAH!" Zoroark cried as she covered her nose with her claws. "That stench!"

Everyone else covered their noses at the smell. Chopper even passed out because he couldn't take the stink.

"It smells like Blizzard's farts!" Luffy said.

It was a good thing that thing Zorua was inside his backpack. He probably wouldn't have been able to stand the smell, either.

GRRAAAAAAAAAAWWWRR! Zoroark roared.

"You'll pay for this!" she snapped.

"Now, you've done it, Usopp!" Sanji shouted. "All you did was make this fuzz-bag angrier!"

SLASH! SLASH! Zoroark slashed her claws at Usopp, who ran away as fast as he could.

"DAH!" Usopp yelped. "Okay! Now someone has to save ME!"

"Hang on, Usopp!" Nami called.

THWAK! She smacked Zoroark on the head with her Sorcery Clima-Tact..

Zoroark turned to her and growled, viciously.

"Uh-oh," Nami said before she attempted to hide her staff behind her back and chuckled sheepishly. "Uh…sorry?"

GRRAAAAAAAWWWRRK! Zoroark roared.

"AAAAAAAAAH~!" Nami screamed.

"Gum-Gum JET PISTOL!"

POW! Zoroark was suddenly struck by a fast, powerful punch, right in the face. Luffy then came to Nami's side.

"You okay, Nami?" he asked.

"Yeah," Nami said. "That was close, though. She almost got me!"

"Here," said Luffy as he handed the navigator his backpack. "Watch this for me! I'm gonna try and get her away from here so you guys can escape!"

"What?" Nami questioned. "L-Luffy, hold on!"

"Hey, fuzz-face!" Luffy called to Zoroark, who was just now getting back up from his attack.

Zoroark turned to face Luffy, who was making funny faces at her by stretching his cheeks and tongue.

"Nah-nah~!" Luffy said. "Come and get me, you walking throw rug!" He turned to Zoroark and slapped his hand on his buttocks. "Kiss my rubber ass!"

"You'll regret that, you wretched human!" Zoroark growled, telepathically before she charged him, again, but Luffy turned tail and ran as fast as he could, forcing her to give chase.

"Luffy, come back!" Nami called. "Luffy!"

"You think he'll be okay?" asked Zoro.

"I hope so," Nami said.

"Did you see what she did to Blizzard?" Usopp questioned. "She kicked him through five trees! FIVE!"

Speaking of whom, Blizzard emerged from the wrecked trees that Zoroark had kicked him through, a little sore, but nonetheless okay.

Just then, Zorua emerged from Luffy's backpack.

"Zorua!" Nami said.

"What's going on?" Zorua asked. "What happened? Where did Luffy go?"

"He's being chased by a monster!" Chopper said.

"A monster?" Zorua repeated.

"Yeah! She called herself Zoroark," Sanji replied.

"Here! I managed to draw a rough sketch of her!" Usopp said as he held up his sketch pad, revealing a sketch of Zoroark that he made.

Zorua gasped.

"I know!" Usopp said. "Scary, isn't she?"

"No, you don't understand!" Zorua said. "That's not a monster!"

"It's not?" asked Brook. "Then, pray tell, young Master Zorua, what is it?"

"That's my Momma!" Zorua answered.

The Straw Hats gasped, except for Robin.

"I suspected as much," said the historian.

"Wait," Nami said. "Robin…you knew all along that Zoroark is Zorua's mom?"

Robin answered with a nod.

"If you knew, why didn't you say something sooner?" Zoro asked. "It would've saved us a lot of trouble!"

"I thought you figured when I said that Zoroark is the evolved form of Zorua," said Robin. "Technically, it means that that's what Zorua will turn into when he reaches adulthood."

"Oh, no," Nami said. "We gotta go after Zoroark! If we don't, she could kill Luffy!"

"Follow me!" Zorua said as he jumped out of Luffy's backpack and then ran off in the same direction that Luffy and Zoroark ran off to with the rest of the Straw Hats not too far behind him.

"Please," Zorua said. "Please, Momma…don't hurt Luffy!"

TO BE CONTINUED…

Sorry if it seems short. Next chapter might be longer.

Review, please!