A/N: This is just a filler to set things up, so don't get too excited.

The sun was slowly rising on the horizon as the Straw Hats began to awaken. Each of them began to stir awake as they smelled Sanji cooking breakfast.

"Eat up everyone. We've got a big day ahead of us!" he said with a smile as he began serving out food while also trying to pull his foot out of Luffy's dented face.

"Today's the day we get gold!" Nami yelled in joy.

"You do realize that if we do find any gold, we probably won't have any room for it." Nojiko stated with a smile.

"That's easy," she said. "We just get rid of some useless stuff. Like the weights, and the men's hammocks, and the men's clothing."

"OI OI! TIME OUT!" all the men, Sanji included, yelled in panic.

"Isn't that a little harsh?" Vivi asked.

"She's right!" Chopper yelled. "Nami, I know you like gold, but where will we sleep?"

"You are NOT touching my weights!" Zoro snapped.

"And what will we wear if you throw our clothes out?" Gin yelled.

"That's your problem." Nami said dismissively before Nojiko pulled her ear.

"That's enough." she said with a smile while Nami yelped in pain.

"It's as lively in the morning as it was in the evening." Gan Fall stated, which Pierre chirped in agreement.

"Hey, where's brother Usopp?" Johnny asked.

"He's not here." Yosaku added as they both looked around.

"He passed out in the forest when he went to take a piss," Zoro answered in a bored tone. "Probably still out there."

"Why didn't you bring him back?" Valerie asked.

"What am I? His babysitter?" Zoro asked.

"Heeeey!" came Usopp's voice before he ran into view.

"See? He's alright." Zoro said as Usopp was hunched over, hands on his knees trying to catch his breath.

"We...people...trouble...ship..." Usopp gasped out after each breath.

"Catch your breath, then speak." Valerie said. Usopp took a moment to catch his breath before he could finally speak.

"Last night, I saw two figures on the ship!" he yelled in panic.

'Uh oh,' Alvida thought. 'This won't end well!'

"You saw two people on the ship? Who were they?" Luffy asked.

'For once,' Alvida thought, her head hanging down. 'I'm glad he's dense!'

"I don't know. It was way too foggy. But it was definitely a man and a woman!" Usopp explained.

"What makes you say that?" Grace asked.

"Because I saw-"

"Come on!" Nami interrupted as she ran towards the ship. "If someone was there, they may have stolen my treasure!"

"I highly doubt that two people can steal 3 billion beris in treasure in one night." Zoro muttered, only to recieve a massive punch from Nami.

"IF ANY OF MY TREASURE'S BEEN TAKEN, I'M BEATING EVERY SINGLE ONE OF YOUR ASSES! NOW MOVE IT!" Nami roared.

"Yes Ma'am!" all but Robin shouted in fear as they all ran towards the ship, none of them wanting to feel her wrath. As they ran, Nami slowed her pace so that she was running alongside Alvida.

"You owe me." she whispered with a smirk, which Alvida gratefully returned.

-On the ship-

The crew and Gan Fall were all on the ship and were now looking around for the figures that Usopp claimed to have seen.

"There's no one here Usopp." Sanji said after lighting a cigarette.

"I'm telling you, I saw someone." Usopp said as he looked around the ship.

"Maybe you were just dreaming it?" Valerie suggested.

"Hmm." Usopp hummed with his arms crossed before looking up at Merry's figurehead. "Was I just seeing things?"

"Well, the treasure's all here, so that's good." Nami said with a smile as she walked out on deck.

"Well, since we're here, let's get the rest of the repairs done." Gin said as he picked up a few planks of woods.

"Good idea." Vivi said. After about 10 minutes of fixing, and a few re-repairs due to Zoro and Sanji fighting, the Going Merry had her Flying Model attachments removed and her hull and other areas patched up.

"Alright! She's ready to sail!" Luffy yelled in excitement.

"Now all we have to do is get her off this stupid altar," Usopp stated. "And I've got just the idea!"

"Really?" Chopper asked, stars in his eyes. Usopp grinned as he and Chopper boarded the Little Crow and used a rope attached to the back, and the other end to the Merry's neck. They used the ship to try and pull it off the altar, only for the Little Crow to break apart.

"Plan B!" Usopp stated on the patched up Little Crow, with Chopper hanging on a rope over the river.

"Um...what's plan B?" Chopper asked nervously.

"We're gonna use the Skysharks to pull the Merry off the altar. And I need you to lure them out of the water." Usopp explained.

"Then...I'm bait?!" Chopper yelled, tears in his eyes before thrashing around, yelling to be pulled in. He began to scream in terror when a Skyshark appeared and tried to eat him, only for Usopp to get the rope around it's maw and using it to pull the Merry off the altar and back into the cloud water.

"Alright!" most of the Straw Hats cheered on shore.

"Usopp! Chopper! Great job!" Nami yelled, making Usopp laugh in triumph.

"This was a piece of cake!" Usopp boasted while Chopper hung limply on the end of the rope, his entire body white as a ghost.

"Sky Island scary...Sky Island scary..." Chopper muttered in fear. After a few moments, everyone was now gathered on shore to discuss what their next move was.

"Alright everyone! We're splitting into two teams!" Nami declared.

"Why two teams?" Gin asked.

"One team will travel South to the City of Gold and gather all the gold. The other will take the Merry towards the East so we can all escape!" Nami explained.

"So one team does all the work, while the other stays on the ship." Valerie summed up.

"Exactly. And since the ship needs a navigator, I'm staying with the ship." Nami said.

"You want all that gold, but you're not going to get it?" Johnny asked.

"That doesn't make any sense." Yosaku added.

"I'm not going anywhere near it! It's probably guarded by those Priests, or Guerillas, or whatever!" Nami said.

'She's having them risk their lives for something she wants?' Chopper thought as he stared at Nami.

"What?" she snapped.

"That's my sister for you." Nojiko said, her head resting in her hand.

"It doesn't matter~" Sanji sang, hearts in his eyes. "I'll gladly risk my life to find every scrap of gold on this island for her~!"

'Such a strange group of Blue Sea Dwellers.' Gan Fall thought as the teams were chosen. The Gold Extraction Team consisted of Luffy, Robin, Zoro, Chopper, Gin, Grace, Vivi, and Carue. The Escape Team was formed of Johnny, Yosaku, Usopp, Sanji, Valerie, Nojiko, Nami, and Alvida, with Gan Fall and Pierre joining as guests.

"Alright everyone! Good luck!" Nami yelled from the ship before they used the Little Crow's Breath Dial and pushed the ship along the river.

"See ya!" Luffy yelled with a wave before he and the others began walking into the forest. "Alright guys! Let's get that gold!"

"YEAH!" they cheered.

'Good luck everyone!' Luffy thought. 'Because things are about to get crazy.'

-The Shandians-

Laki had her gear and walked towards the other warriors who were ready to fight before seeing Aisa's bag of Vearth scattered on the ground.

"Wiper! That's Aisa's treasure!" she shouted as she ran towards him, only to be stopped by Braham.

"Those of you who are not willing to fight, stay. I won't think ill of you." Wiper declared, his back to them all.

"We've always been ready-"

"Are you willing to leave behind your fallen comrades and continue forward?!" Wiper asked them, stunning Laki, but hardening the others resolve. "Today is the day...I will take Enel's head! If you're not willing to step over your comrades, then stay!" Laki just stared at Wiper as he and the other Shandians left to fight. It wasn't until they were out of her sight did she finally get onto her knees and began collecting the Vearth back into the bag.

-God's Enforcers-

"Your enemies are the 20 Shandians, former God Gan Fall, and the 16 Blue Sea Dwellers!" Chief Enforcer Yama stated to the 50 Elite Enforcers, men with tiny horns on their heads and long ears making them look like goats. "They pose no threat! Wipe them all out!"

"Baaaaaah!" the Enforcers cried out.

-God's Shrine-

God Enel was relaxing in his Shrine with other angels standing by, a smile on his face.

"Ah, the Shandians are on the move. And the Blue Sea Dwellers have separated." Enel stated, his Mantra picking up on everything.

"You do not seem concerned, God Enel." one of the angels said. "Two of the Priests have already fallen at the enemies hands."

"That just means that they did not have Divine Protection." Enel said before laughing. "Now then, the Survival Game has begun. Banana." he said to one of the servant angels before holding up his fingers to count. "Let's see 2 Priests, 20 Shandians, 7 Blue Sea Dwellers, along with their pet, in the Forest, 8 Blue Sea Dwellers on their ship, plus the former God Gan Fall. Add in the 50 Elite Enforcers...That's 89. After 3 hours, how many do you suppose will still be standing? You, take a guess." he said to a female angel.

"Wha-Me? I can't make a guess like that!" she said nervously.

"What?" Enel said, his mouth full of food. "You're no fun. Just pick a number. Fine then, you." he said as he pointed his toe at one of the angels.

"Uh, well. The Enforcers are powerful, so they'll likely survive. But the Shandians are strong as well. I'd guess...50 would remain?" guessed the angel.

"50 huh? That's optimistic!" Enel laughed. "It seems that you're not taking any of this seriously!" The angels all looked at each other before asking Enel what he thought of the game. "It's simple. After three hours, the remaining number of survivors shall be," and then he held up his hand, a dark smile on his face. "Just five."