The Straw Hats, Zenny, and the goats were all now working on the ship that Zoro had found in the mountains. Zoro was cutting up the wood for the goats to transport onto the ship, Johnny, Yosaku, Gin, and Usopp were nailing the wood into place, Grace offered to paint it, which Zenny allowed with a smile. Luffy was told not to touch anything after his first nail, Sanji was checking out the interior, and the rest were helping however they could.
"Is that as fast as you can move?" Zenny yelled. "Come on! Put your back into it!"
"Just relax old man!" Chopper said in his Heavy Point. "We'll take care of all this."
"He's right." said Nami as she sat him down. "Sit and relax."
"Shall I massage your shoulders for you?" Robin asked before two arms sprouted out from behind him, freaking him out a bit before he relaxed as Sanji asked why he built a ship all the way up the mountain.
"Oh, it's not a ship." he said with a grin.
"It's not?" Grace asked as she kept painting.
"Don't give me that!" Usopp said as he pointed a hammer at Zenny. "If it's not a ship, then what is it?"
"It's...my coffin!" Zenny answered.
"Coffin?" they all said, visualizing a giant coffin around them. Zenny then began to explain that a coffin wasn't so bad since he was old and going to die eventually, which caused a few of them to shed a tear.
"But why up a mountain?" Sanji asked, only for Zenny to slump over.
"AH! OLD GOAT!" most of them shouted as they ran towards him and began yelling at him to hold on, only for Nami to shush them and point out that he was sleeping, making them all sigh in relief.
-At the Marine Base-
Sergeant Minchi was putting his plan into action, which was having Captain Moore giving him the authority to lead a trap against the Straw Hats to rescue Vivi, all the while keeping the treasure a secret.
-On the Island-
Zenny and Nami were playing chess, Chopper was making medicine, in the hut, Sanji was next to the makeshift kitchen ready to make food for Zenny if he asked, Robin, Alvida, Nojiko, Valerie, and Vivi were feeding the goats, and the rest were off who-knows-where.
"Hmm. My next move..." Zenny mumbled as he ate some cheese. "Delicious! Where'd you get this cheese?"
"It's made from goat milk." Sanji said. "Eat up. I'll give you strength." he said before he frowned. 'Though it won't make a difference at this point.' he thought as Zenny beat Nami in chess. She asked for another game while Zenny smiled.
"Nothing beats a game of chess while eating cheese and getting your shoulders rubbed!" he said with a huge grin as the rest of them came back with fish as big as they were.
"We got a good haul, Brother Sanji!" Johnny said with a smile as they placed the fish in front of him.
"Make another feast for Big Bro Zenny!" Yosaku said.
"Leave it to me." he said while Usopp told him that if he needed any food or work to be done, then to let them know.
"Sure." Zenny said. "If I were to die today, I'd be happy. This is nothing short of Paradise." he said with a peaceful smile.
"AH! Don't give up Brother Zenny!" Johnny and Yosaku yelled with tears in their eyes. Other members were soon crying as well, telling him not to give up while Gin and Zoro just looked stone faced.
"Hey, don't you think it's strange?" Zoro asked, getting their attention. "Chopper said he had three days, right?" They all nodded in sadness before crying again. "Those three days ended three days ago!" he said, making them all stop.
"Hey, you're right." said Gin as they all looked at Zenny, who was happily munching on cheese.
"He looks healthy." Usopp said.
"Healthier actually." said Zoro as Zenny held out the plate and asked for more cheese.
"Old man! Here's your medicine." said Chopper as he ran out of the hut with a bottle of pills. "Make sure to take them."
"I don't wanna! Makes the food taste bad." he complained before moving a piece on the chess board. "Checkmate!"
"Not again!" Nami yelled as she put her arms over her head while Chopper and the Straw Hat men were talking.
"Oh yeah." Luffy suddenly said. "I remembered that he doesn't die since you gave him a boat full of medicine. I totally forgot!" he said before laughing.
"HOW COULD YOU FORGET THAT?!" all the men yelled.
"Sheesh. We've been working for that old coot for nothing." Gin grumbled.
"Yeah. Now that we know he's okay, let's get off this island." Zoro said.
"For once, I agree with Moss Head." said Sanji.
"Hey Nami, we're setting sail." Zoro called to her, gaining the attention of the Straw Hat women.
"I thought we were staying here until...you know." Vivi argued.
"It's been three days since the three days ended." said Johnny. The women blinked a few times before they realized he was right.
"Um...can you all wait a moment?" Nami asked with a worried look on her face.
"Why? You wanna play more chess against Zenny?" Yosaku asked.
"It's not that I want to." she said, looking ready to cry. "I've lost every game against him, so now the Going Merry belongs to him." she explained while Zenny grinned and made a V with his fingers.
"YOU DID WHAT NOW?!" most of the crew yelled with bugged eyes.
"WHAT KIND OF PIRATE LOSES THEIR SHIP?!" Usopp yelled.
"I'll win it back!" Nami said with tears in her eyes. "I swear!"
"Checkmate." Zenny said, making Nami scream in horror.
"GET AWAY FROM THAT CHESS BOARD!" Nojiko yelled as she pulled Nami and the chair away while the rest of them freaked out and surrounded the table.
"If you want your ship back, then you'll have to work it off." said Zenny before he flipped his abacus a bit. "I say around 10 years of work should do it. How's that for profit?" he asked with a grin. All but Robin surrounded Nami as she slumped down to the ground.
"I thought if I won, I could get the info on his treasure." she said with tears in her eyes. Most of them argued about leaving, but Luffy refused, stating that a bet was like a promise and he would not break a promise.
"Checkmate." said Robin. Everyone looked to see that she had grown an arm on the table, with Zenny staring at the chessboard. "Looks like we can have the ship back." she said as the others all gathered in front of Zenny.
"Well?" Nami asked with a hopeful tone. Zenny only stared before bowing his head.
"I lost." he said.
"YAHOOOOOO!" they all cried out as Nami ran over to Robin.
"I knew we could count on you big sis!" she said.
"Thanks for cleaning up Nami's mess." said Nojiko. "Maybe that'll curb her gambling habit."
"How's that for profit?" asked the Straw Hat men.
"Don't push it." Zenny said as he backed away before laughing his ass off. "I've lived a long life, but I've never met pirates as great you all. You guys are the best! Time for a party!"
"YEEAAAAHHH!" they all shouted along with the goats.
-Later that night-
Everyone was eating and laughing as they sat around a campfire, where they learned why Zenny was on this small island. 20 years ago, he was Money Lender Zenny, a man who loaned money to pirates. He told them all that he was driven by his dream before he washed onto this island, and that dream was to become a pirate. He told them that his ship was destroyed by some pirates before he washed onto the island, and that he'd spent a long time building the ship to escape, but became too old to set out.
"You shouldn't give up old goat guy." Luffy said with a mouthful of food. Zenny looked at him as he continued. "Doesn't matter how old you get. Anyone can become a pirate." Zenny's eyes widened as a few of them told Luffy it was a bad idea.
"He's just drunk. Right Zenny?" Nami said.
"I'm drunk alright!" Zenny said with a laugh. "This kid's got me thinking! A toast to the Zenny Pirates Maiden Voyage!"
"KANPAI!" they shouted. They kept on partying before most of them fell asleep, with Zenny and Robin talking up on the ship. She told him about how Luffy saved her when she wanted to die, with him telling her that she didn't look like she regretted it. "You're life is just beginning. My dream...will stay on this island." he said as Dawn arrived, with two goats baaing in worry as they stared off into the distance. "What's wrong?"
-Down the mountain-
Chopper was running up from the coast towards everyone, stating that the marines were there.
"What?" they all asked before they jumped up and ran down the mountain to see one ship in the coast.
"It's only one ship, but why aren't they firing?" asked Usopp.
"Hello there, Straw Hat Pirates!" Sergeant Minchi greeted as he stepped forward on the ship. "And of course to you too, Princess Vivi of Alabasta. Looks like you're okay despite your present company. I'm Sergeant Minchi of the Marines. Nice to meet you."
"Nice to meet you?" Nojiko said.
"Yes. Please forgive me for my rudeness last time." he said. "Had I realized who you all were, I'd never have chased you down. And for that, I apologize."
"What kind of crap is this?" Gin asked. "Marines are supposed to chase pirates."
"Something's fishy about this guy." Usopp added.
"This has trap all over it." said Alvida as a few of them went for their weapons.
"Whoa! Whoa! Hold on!" Minchi pleaded. "I know you guys are the ones who took down Crocodile. Nobody on this ship would stand a chance against you. And even if I wanted to fight, I'd have brought more than one ship."
"Then what about all those other marine ships waiting in the fog?" Luffy asked bluntly. Minchi flinched, confused and horrified that Luffy would know.
"What?!" he yelled out before composing himself. "I mean, what are you talking about?" he asked with a few beads of sweat.
"Now that you mention it, I smell gunpowder from somewhere else. And it's not from his ship or ours." said Chopper as he sniffed the air.
"Not here to fight, huh?" Valerie asked with a grin.
"Liar." Grace said as she munched on a rice cracker. Minchi's facade slowly left his face as he laughed.
"I don't quite know how you managed to find out, but it doesn't matter." he said. "Still, I'm not heartless, so I'll give you a choice. Hand over Princess Vivi, and we'll see that you get a fair trial."
"No." Luffy said bluntly.
"What do you mean 'no'? Don't you care that your lives our in my hands?!" Minchi yelled.
"Because Vivi's our f-" Luffy said before Alvida slapped a hand over his mouth.
"Like we're gonna give up our hostage that easily." Alvida shouted before whispering to Luffy. "If the marines find out Vivi left on her own, her country's screwed."
"She's right." Valerie said. "We keep her long enough, and her country will fork over anything we desire to get her back."
"Play along." Nami whispered to the others, seeing as a few of them looked confused.
"Course, you come onto shore and try to take her by force." Gin shouted as he held a gun to Vivi's head at point-blank range. "But I doubt you want the World Government on your ass when they found out your screw up lead to her demise." Minchi's eye twitched a little while Sanji looked ready to kick Gin's ass for pointing his gun at Vivi, only stopping when Nami took a step back in front of him and whispered that they were fooling them. Minchi growled at them before a grin came to his face.
"Well that would be a problem for me if anyone actually believed you." he said. "All I would have to do is say that we found her dead by the time we apprehanded you pirates. Who would the world believe? A marine such as myself, or the very pirates that kidnapped her?"
"Tch. Rotten bastard." Usopp growled as Minchi continued to grin at them.
"Look!" shouted Nojiko as the fog lifted, revealing nine more warships. "Luffy was right! They've got a whole fleet out there!"
Ballup Ballup Ballup, Ballup Ballup Ballup.
Minchi reached into a his pocket and pulled out a baby Den Den Mushi and answered. "Sergeant Minchi here."
"Sergeant! Emergency!" shouted the Corporal from the other line. "The landing party's been wiped out!"
"What?!" Minchi shouted.
"These hands started popping out of nowhere! Please Sergeant! We must contact Captain Moore for reinforc-"
"SHUT UP!" Minchi shouted, his patience at an end. "WE'RE NOT CONTACTING HIM! I'M NOT LEAVING WITH ZENNY'S TREASURE! GOT IT?!"
"I KNEW IT!" Nami shouted in joy. "That old guy does have a treasure somewhere on this island!" All but Luffy just stared at her while Minchi looked like he wanted to kick himself for shouting that. Everyone's focus was now pointed to the top of the mountain, where they saw Zenny and his goats sailing down through the forest.
"Old Goat Guy!" Luffy shouted with a grin as Zenny's ship plowed through the forest. The Straw Hats watched before they panicked and jumped out of the way of the ship, letting it go out into the water. "Nice job Old Goat Guy!" Luffy shouted, with the others telling him not to encourage him to much.
"OLD MAN! YOU ALRIGHT?!" Chopper yelled in worry. Zenny could stare around him in disbelief before looking back at the island.
"I'm actually out at sea." he said before a grin came to his face. "I've done it! This is no longer my coffin! This is the official ship of the Zenny Pirates!"
"GREAT JOB OLD MAN!" Luffy shouted.
"Shut up, Luffy!" his friends shouted at him.
"He's ill!" Chopper yelled. Zenny and Minchi began to shout at each other before Usopp yelled to him that Minchi was after his treasure. Zenny and Minchi shouted again before Zenny dared Minchi to take it if he could.
"Well said!" Luffy shouted. Zenny looked to see Luffy's hands were stretched out and were holding on to his ship. "Show him how a pirate fights!" he said before using his crazy strength and slamming Zenny's ship into Minchi's, making them both fly through the water before they smashed into a cliff.
"YOU DUMBASS!" Luffy's crew shouted at him.
"Why'd you do that?" Zenny asked from where he and his goat friends were scattered on his ship.
"If you're a pirate, then it's alright for us marines to kill your old ass!" Minchi yelled.
"Can that old guy even fight?" Zoro asked. Luffy's grin dropped when he remembered that before throwing his arms out and stretching them until he grabbed onto some ropes.
"Oi, guys!" he shouted to his crew that were getting the ship ready. "Grab on if you wanna fight!" Gin, Zoro, Johnny, and Yosaku grabbed on before Luffy launched them towards the ship to help Zenny, who's goats were running wild on the ship while Zenny laughed. Luffy and company fell into the water after Minchi sliced the ropes, leaving them to swim up towards it and drag Luffy's ass through the water before they reached the side and started climbing. Chopper was yelling for his friends to hurry and get the ship moving so he could check on Zenny.
-Up on the mountain-
"Is that true?!" came Captain Moore's voice over the Corporal's Den Den Mushi.
"Yes sir. I apologize for not reporting sooner." The Corporal and landing party were limping down the mountain after their run in with the mysterious hands that attacked them.
-Back to the part you all care for-
"WHAT ARE YOU DOING?! THEY'RE GOATS!" Minchi shouted at his crew as the goats jumped and attacked them.
"Don't forget about us." Minchi turned to see Luffy being dragged on board, followed by the others. Each of them were grinning before they got out their weapons and attacked alongside Zenny and his goats, with Robin assisting unnoticed from Zenny's ship. The marines tried to fight back, but they might as well been throwing rocks for all the good they were doing. By the time the Going Merry pulled up alongside, the battle was already over.
"Zenny!" Chopper yelled when he saw Zenny clutching his chest and breathing hard. He ran over to him before lying him down and getting to work on giving him a shot, with Zenny watching and calming down after the shot. "How do you feel?"
"I feel great." he said. "I've finally become a pirate. I feel more alive then ever." he said before laughing. Nami tied up Minchi while Usopp chatted with a marine that was saying that they were following orders.
"The attacks should subside now." Chopper said after helping Zenny.
"Thank you, Dr. Chopper." Zenny said.
"Hey Old Goat Guy. How was that for profit?" Luffy asked.
"Pretty good." he said before they started laughing.
"Now then," Nami said as she walked towards Zenny. "About that treasure." Zenny turned around and laid down on the ship.
"Don't startle him Nami!" Chopper yelled.
"When it comes to treasure, Nami becomes more stubborn than Luffy." Nojiko said, earning a collective nod from most of the crew.
"Well, seeing as how you all helped me, I guess I can tell you." Zenny said, much to Nami's joy. He explained that he did have treasure and that he had it all changed into cash.
"Cash!" Minchi whispered from where he lay next to Nami, both having Berri symbols in their eyes. But that quickly changed when Zenny told them that he had the cash with him when he washed onto the island and woke up to the goats eating the cash.
"THEY ATE IT?!" Chopper, Nami, and Minchi shouted. Zenny smiled when he said that he lost his money, but gained loyal friends in the goats. All of them were smiling at him as he told them he had the greatest treasure in the world.
"That's so wonderful!" Johnny and Yosaku cried in unison.
"I may stumble, but I don't come out empty handed." Zenny said before most of them started laughing.
"What rubbish!" Minchi groaned. "This isn't over Straw Hat! You still have nine marine warships to deal with!"
"Are you still here?" Luffy asked before lifting him up and throwing him towards the marine ship at blinding speeds. "GET LOST!" Minchi screamed in terror before smacking into the mast of the marine ship and sliding to the deck in front of Captain Moore. Moore stripped him of his rank before contacting the Straw Hats, saying that he'd let them choose the battlefield for rooting out the scum of their ranks. After a fond farewell, and wishes of meeting again and of good luck, Luffy and crew sailed off to deal with Moore while Zenny and the goats went back to the island to repair the ship. The Going Merry sailed into the fog before coming out the other side, leaving Moore's fleet at the mercy of the rocky waters.
"Will he be alright Doctor?" Robin asked after Chopper tended to the bump on her head.
"The medicine will prevent the attacks, but won't cure his illness." he said in a grim tone. "He shouldn't be a pirate in his condition. His heart's weak, and he's fairly old."
"Don't worry." Luffy said as he appeared from the tangerine trees. "If he wants to be a pirate, let him. Who knows? He might find a cure for his illness out on the sea."
"You think so?" Chopper asked.
"Don't worry about that old goat." Zoro said. "He's old, but he's got guts."
"Don't worry Chopper. We'll see him again." Luffy said. Chopper looked at him before he smiled.
"You're right." said Chopper as the other crewmates all smile.
"WE'LL BE WAITING!" Luffy and Chopper shouted. "ZENNY PIRATES!"
A/N: And so ends another arc. Next up...is up to me! XD. Remember, I need to know which special or movie is around this time. Thanks to all of you who have been sending info.