Coco: Hello, and welcome to Heart Gaiden~ The collection of side stories connected to my story A Heart in Chains, which you should check out if you haven't already. However, if you're come from there to here, then welcome. I hope you enjoy these side stories/one shots just as much as you love the main story.

In today's one shot, we'll be following Havel (in his own mini-series, which I'm calling Havel's Log) as he has his own little adventure on Drum Island.

Some other mini-series or one-shot ideas I have are: The Misadventures of Wren and Ace (just some one-shots of the duo who were almost paired together getting into trouble/Wren just trying to remain sane while Ace causes her grief/the story of their friendship with some other characters thrown in the mix XD) Side Character Chronicles (stories of characters like Wren's father/family, other supporting characters, etc.) Movie One Shots (pretty self-explanatory XD) and Crew Memoirs (a one-shot collection of Wren spending time with a specific crewmate doing random scenarios like getting lost on an island with Zoro, shopping with Nami, self-care day with Brook, etc.)

And of course, if any of you have suggestions (like scenarios/movies/etc.) you'd like to give me, please feel free.

But enough talk, shall we start Havel's Log: Part I?

Havel's ears flickered as his pupils contracted tightly to focus on the prey in front of him. The prey in question was completely oblivious to his presence as it rolled around innocently on the floor. Havel crouched low as he slunk towards his intended target. Never making even the smallest of sounds. He climbed to a higher vantage point that put him directly over his prey…before he pounced.

He landed on his prey with claws still left safely in their sheaths. Said prey let out a surprised gasp before delving into a fit of giggles as small, chubby hands reached out to grasp his fur. Despite the rough tugging on his most prized golden coat, Havel purred as he nuzzled against the baby who was cooing softly in return.

"Be gentle with Havel, Starling," A woman, who appeared to be in her mid-twenties, chided gently. "Be careful not to tug too hard on his fur."

The woman was Magier B. Ilizabeth. She was the wife to Havel's current mage—Magier B. Wolfram.

"She's fine, Iliza." Havel assured the woman.

He then winced slightly when Starling managed to grab one of his ears and give a sharp tug. Starling giggled loudly as her fingers ran through his soft fur. Havel purred affectionately at the babe before leaning in rub his face against hers.

'She grows stronger every day,' Havel thought with pride.

He's been with the Magier Family for several generations now and with each new birth to the family, he feels blessed knowing he could continue to remain with the family.

'Gabriel, your bloodline continues on,' Havel thought fondly of his first mage. 'Starling is the beginning of, yet another generation and I can feel that she will be a special one.'

Quack!

Havel, who had settled down beside Starling on the floor, perked his head up. He looked around the parlor for any sign of what had made that noise.

Quack, quack!

Havel stood up at this point as he tried to figure out where this distressed duck could be.

Quaaack!

He then grunted when he felt a rough prod to the left side of his body, which had him whirling around.

Havel's eyes flew open as the incessant poking to his side continued. He turned his head seeing Karoo frantically poking him with his wing. When Havel lifted his head, the bird finally stopped. Havel let out a yawn as he stood and stretched out his limbs. He then shook out his fur causing the snow that had accumulated on him to fall off. He turned his eyes on Karoo who looked back seeming panicked.

"May I help you?" Havel questioned. "Something must be wrong based on how you're acting."

Karoo nodded then panickily gestured around the ship while quacking at Havel in quick succession. Havel blinked as he took notice of something.

"Zoro's gone." Havel said then flickered his eyes back to Karoo. "You say he decided to jump overboard into the freezing water for some strength training?"

Karoo's head bobbed up and down with more vigor as the panic in his eyes only grew.

"Calm down," Havel said. "Before your head pops right off your neck."

Karoo froze with his eyes widening. He quacked a question at Havel who shrugged.

"I don't know if it's truly possible or not for that to happen." Havel admitted. "But better safe than sorry, yes?"

Karoo contemplated a moment before giving an agreeing quack. However, the situation at hand soon returned to the forefront of his mind as he gapped at Havel. He quacked quickly at the feline.

"Because there's no reason to panic." Havel told Karoo. "Zoro is a grown man. If he wants to swim, then that's his choice."

Havel then spun around a few times on the barrel he was occupying before laying back down. He closed his eyes preparing to return to his nap when Karoo nudged him clean off the barrel with his bill. Havel huffed in aggravation as he landed on his paws. Karoo quacked insistingly at him. Havel tilted his head a bit more interested in this new information.

"He hasn't resurfaced since diving in?" Havel questioned. "Are you certain?"

Karoo quacked an affirmation. Havel sighed heavily before he gave another stretch.

'I'm getting far too old to worry about problematic children,' Havel thought to himself before putting his nose to the air.

He gave a sniff. At first his senses were entirely consumed by the smell of frost and pine from the island. However, as he concentrated more scents became apparent. He picked up the weakening scent of their lost swordsmen. It was coming from the island, which meant Zoro must have left the water and embarked on the snowy landmass. Havel turned his head seeing Zoro's shirt, coat, and boots all left on the ship.

"That fool is going to freeze to death if he isn't found." Havel huffed.

Karoo quacked questioningly as Havel padded across the ship to reach the Going Merry's figurehead. Havel jumped up onto the ram's head before looking back at Karoo who followed him.

"Zoro hasn't drowned." Havel assured his feathered companion. "However, it seems as if he's gotten himself lost."

Which seemed impossible. However, Havel has witnessed the swordsman's dismal sense of direction during their time sailing from Magus to here. The man had gotten lost trying to reach the bathroom. Havel, who had only been on the ship for a day, had to direct the embarrassed man in the right direction.

"You remain here in case he or the others return." Havel instructed Karoo. "I will try and find him before he dies of frostbite."

Karoo gave a strong quack of affirmation as he raised his wing to salute Havel. The feline looked back towards the snow-covered island.

'My poor fur is going to soak in this snow.' He thought.

He then leapt over onto the island. His body began to shift and grow and didn't stop until he was about the size of a mountain lion. This would make it easier for him to travel through the snow since it came to up to his chin in his original form. His largest form would most likely give someone a fright, so it was best to play it safe at this size. Havel lifted his head and gave the air a deep sniff. He picked up the faint traces of Zoro who gave off the scent of steel.

"It looks like he went this way." Havel said as he started off towards the trees.

"How far could he have gotten in such a short amount of time?" Havel grumbled as he shook out his paws, which were growing number by the second.

During his travels across this island, he come across many things. Like an absurdly tall bear with a pack and walking stick. It had even been polite and stopped to bow at Havel who returned the courteous gesture. He's also come across a reindeer pulled sleigh that was carrying a cackling, older woman who Havel had momentarily mistaken for a witch and her familiar. However, when smelling her very human scent, he realized she wasn't a witch.

He's seen a few of the local neighbors of the island who offered him some direction on where to find Zoro. One had even told him that they saw the old woman attack the freezing swordsmen. Hearing that Havel had passed someone that Zoro had encountered had Havel hoping he was getting closer to Zoro. However, an hour has passed since then and there was still no sign of him.

"I'm going to have my paws full with this one." Havel told himself.

Havel has looked after many young ones in his long life. Though most of them have been of the Magier bloodline. And the Magiers have always been a handful.

—FLASHBACK—

"Gabriel, are you sure this is a good idea?" Havel asked worryingly as he watched the young mage weave together a makeshift bridle out of vines. "Dragons are typically peaceful creatures, but if you anger one, it'll be become quite dangerous."

Gabriel looked up from his work to flash the feline grin as his emerald eyes flashed with zeal.

"Don't be such a pessimist, Havel." Gabriel told him. "What's the harm in a little dragon riding?"

Havel's nose twitched in annoyance as he watched the eccentric, adventurous man finish making his bridle.

'This is going to go wrong in very many different ways,' Havel thought forlornly.

"Now, come on," Gabriel said to his familiar. "I think the biggest one in the flock is up there!"

Havel looked to where Gabriel was pointing to see a large dragon with black scales and scaring around its maw. It was perched up on a rock outcropping, which allowed it to view the other dragons in the valley. As Havel balked at the size of the creature, Gabriel started making his way towards the beast.

"He's going to get himself killed." Havel said.

—break—

Havel sat back watching with wide eyes and his ears pinned back against his head as he watched the fire consume what had once been his home. He then slowly turned to stare accusingly at the cause of the fire. Magier B. Loxley chuckled nervously the longer Havel glared at him.

"And what have we learned, Loxley?" Havel hissed at the young man.

Loxley fidgetily ran his fingers through the wavy, wine-colored locks of his hair as he let out a puttering breath.

"That using salamander fire in an enclosed space to cook dinner isn't such a good idea." Loxley replied.

Said salamander peeked out from Loxley's collar as it blinked at the damage it caused. For a moment it was silent before Havel heard the telltale sign that Loxley's mother was returning from grocery shopping. He could hear the woman's raised voice before he even spotted her making her way through the gathered crowd. Loxley spotted her as well and turned pale at the sight of her angry expression.

"I do hope you know that you are on your own," Havel told the boy causing him to flinch as if Havel struck him.

—break—

"Magier B. Finch, you get down from that tree this instant!" Havel called up at the laughing child.

The girl's two siblings were standing behind Havel with twigs and leaves sticking out from their hair. They were also covered in dirt and several cuts from where they had both tumbled out of the tree from their attempts to reach the top. Havel had found them both on the ground complaining of pain before panicked set in when he hadn't spotted the youngest of them. And his heart nearly stopped when he had looked up to see how high she was.

"No, I'm almost to the top!" Finch called back. "If I make it, Tristan and Yvain have to do what I want for two whole months!"

Havel growled in irritation before he started his way up the tree to collect the girl himself.

"I am regretting my choices of even associating with this family." He grumbled under his breath.

—END OF FLASHBACK—

The years with Wren's family have been long and filled with excitement to say the least. Not to mention a lot of injuries and headache.

'And it seems as if life with these pirates will be no different,' Havel thought.

Though despite all the times he's complained or been at his wits end, he didn't actually regret his choice of remaining with the Magier family. Even if he could go back in time, he wouldn't change anything. Even now as he's traveling through the snowy wasteland of this island in search of a lost swordsman. Havel sniffed around for the scent of steel again and once he caught a whiff of it, he continued his journey. He went up a snowbank with his eyes landing on a village far below in a valley.

'Maybe I'll have some luck there.' Havel thought.

He might find one member of the crew at least. If he does, they could help in the search for Zoro. However, before he could move towards the village, he paused in his search for the swordsman when the ground underneath him began to shake. His ears twitched as the sound of rumbling reached his ears. He lifted his head with his fur standing on end when he saw the massive avalanche coming down from the mountain.

"Not good, not good, not good!" Havel repeated rapidly as he tried to sprint down the bank to get away from the oncoming avalanche.

He ran faster than he ever has in his entire life to try and put distance between him and the deep waves of snow. He was near the village when the snow caught up to him. He screeched as the snow caught up and buried him under layers of icy slush. He was tossed and turned under the snow for several minutes before it finally came to a stop.

'I am really starting to dislike this island,' Havel thought as he laid buried under the snow.

He tried to shift to get on his paws, but the snow was too heavy. He growled in annoyance as the cold was really starting to set in. He needed to free himself before he froze to death. Huffing in effort, Havel's body began to grow. Normally the task wouldn't be so tedious, but with the weight pressing down on him it was making things difficult. It took him a few minutes, but soon he was bursting through the snow and able to breath fresh air again.

"That was too close for comfort." Havel as he shook out his fur.

He heard gasping to his right, so he turned his head to see Zoro, Vivi, and Usopp all staring at him in shock.

"Havel!" Vivi exclaimed. "What are you doing out here?"

"Yeah, furball, I thought you didn't want to get your fur wet by walking through the snow," Zoro scoffed. "That's why you remained on the ship, isn't it?"

Havel huffed with his tail twitching in annoyance. He then lifted his large paw to swat the half-naked greenette into the snow. Usopp and Vivi gaped at the act of violence.

"I'm out here because you of, you brat!" Havel hissed.

Zoro, who was sputtering out a mouthful of snow, pushed him up to glare at the feline.

"Me?!" Zoro snapped.

"Yes, you!" Havel returned. "The duck thought you had drowned in the river. Then when I realized you weren't in the water but on the island without anything to keep you warm, I came looking for you so you wouldn't die of frostbite. Show some gratitude!"

He whacked Zoro again before fully lifting himself out of the hole, he had been stuck in. He shivered as an icy wind blew past causing his damp fur to ruffle. His fur was starting to clump together as balls of snow stubbornly held onto the golden fur.

"Are you going to be okay, Havel?" Vivi asked in concern.

Zoro, who was having to pick himself up a second time, rolled his eyes thinking the cat was well enough if he had the energy to abuse him.

"I will be once I warm up." Havel huffed as he sat hunched and shivering. "Not to mention clean my fur. To have it in such a state…it's so disheartening."

He forlornly hung his head as Vivi sweat-dropped. She then blinked when noticing the gathering of people down below.

"Hey, look at that, guys." Vivi said getting the others' attention. "There are some people over there."

"Hey, look at those buildings." Usopp added. "They seem familiar, don't they?"

As Vivi squinted her eyes to get a better look, Havel and Zoro shot one another one more glare over the princess's head.

"You're right, Usopp." Vivi said. "This place is Big Horn. We just came back. It looks a lot different buried in snow though."

She then frowned in concern when the men in uniform, who were standing on top the heaps of snow, shouted at the villagers.

"Let's see what's going on." Vivi said.

She started downhill with the boys and Havel following her. Said feline shrunk down to his normal size as he didn't wish to cause a fright amongst the humans. He then jumped onto Zoro's shoulder causing the man to grunt at the sudden weight. Zoro shot the feline a look but said nothing to him as they reached the people.

"Hey, what's going on here?" Zoro questioned the man in the back.

"What's going on here?" The man repeated in disbelief before turning to look at Zoro. "Wait, what's going on with you? Why are you dressed like that?"

He then looked in confusion at Havel who gave him a scathing look as if daring him to comment on his appearance. The man shrunk away from the irritable feline. Havel hmphed at the man as his tail swished back and forth against Zoro's back causing the swordsman to flinch.

"Stop that," Zoro snipped.

Havel's lip curled up in irritation, but he kept quiet as he focused on the men standing before the crowd. He didn't listen to what was being said as something else caught his attention that was far more important. He eyed the fur-lined hats the men wore while thinking they looked quite warm. He wasn't a fan of clothing as he always saw the garments as restricting, but the thought of snuggling into the warmth of one of those hats did sound appealing.

'One of them shall be mine,' Havel thought as a devious look twinkled in his green orbs.

"Uh, Havel, what's that look for?" Usopp, who was already worried about what Zoro might do after the man expressed the men before them weren't their friends, asked nervously.

Without bothering with a reply, Havel and Zoro launched themselves forward. The people—friend and foe alike—all gasped as Zoro punched a man so hard that he crumbled to the ground unconscious and as Havel grew to his larger size to slam another man into the snow.

"No! Bushido-san, Havel, what are you doing?!" Vivi exclaimed.

Havel ignored the princess and everyone else as he past his original form into a smaller one that could easily curl up comfortably in the hat, he plucked off his victim's head. He purred satisfied by the warmth provided as Zoro, who now sported one of the enemy's coats, let out a happy laugh while patting his now clothed arms.

"Ah, this is so warm." Zoro said. "I really like this thing. You feeling better, cat?"

Havel hummed confirmation as he turned over in the hat to lay at a more comfortable angle. Zoro snorted at the furball before reaching down to pluck Havel—hat and all—off the ground.

"That's why you wanted to know who they were?!" Usopp yelled at the swordsmen. "Watch out, Zoro! They don't look very happy!"

Zoro looked to Wapol's men as Havel barely peeked open an eye to glance at them unconcernedly. Seeing as they didn't seem strong enough to mess with Zoro, who sat him down, Havel closed his eyes and ignored the fight that followed and ended with Zoro as the victor. He was just about to doze off when he was lifted off the ground. He looked up seeing Vivi, who was looking positively worried, holding him against her chest. He lifted his head up wondering what was wrong as the villagers and even Usopp rushed by talking about finding someone named Dalton and needing to find him immediately.

"Who is…Dalton?" Havel questioned confused.

He then blinked when noticing one of the homes not completely covered in snow had smoke coming from its chimney. He tilted his head.

'Now isn't that interesting,' Havel thought as he noticed sparks of flame shooting out every so often. '…magic…'

"So, this Dalton man is a beloved member of this island's community and you've been living here with him because he's a nice man," Havel said. "Does that sound about right, Salamander?"

The pink creature nodded its head as he and Havel sat by the fireplace in Dalton's home. Behind them, Dalton, who had finally been found and brought inside to be treated, was being watched over by the entire village as doctors took care of his injuries.

"How did you even come to this island?" Havel questioned.

The salamander made a few squeaking noises as it waved its front legs and web-like feet around. Havel nodded along to whatever it was saying as Zoro watched them with a deadpanned expression.

"Can you even understand that thing or are you just bullshitting right now?" Zoro asked.

Havel and the salamander, who paused in its squeaking, both gave the young man a look.

"Excuse me, young man, but we are having a conversation," Havel told the greenette before looking to the salamander. "I apologize for his behavior. I am beginning to fall under the impression that the poor boy didn't have parents to raise him right. He hasn't shown any sense of manners or sense since I've met him."

The salamander replied in more squeaks—and while Zoro might not have understood what was being said, he had a feeling the salamander was giving Havel his sympathy.

"What'd you just say?!" Zoro snapped in irritation.

He went ignored as the salamander returned to what it was telling Havel seconds ago. Havel hummed at the end of the fire lizard's tale. Zoro clicked his tongue in annoyance at the pair before he stomped out of the room to go outside where Vivi and Usopp were waiting worriedly for news about Dalton.

"So, you were being kept unwillingly by a crew of pirates who used you to heat their meals and for their own entertainment." Havel said. "How awful. I am sorry you went through that."

The salamander thanked Havel for his empathy before it continued with its story.

"Ah, that's how you came to be here." Havel said. "When they arrived here on this island to collect supplies, you made your escape and eventually you found yourself here in this man Dalton's home."

The salamander nodded then looked in Dalton's direction with a concerned look in its fiery eyes. It squealed worriedly. Havel moved closer to the fire creature and wrapped his tail around its back.

"I'm sure everything will be fine." Havel assured the salamander.

The salamander squeaked in return as it nestled closer to Havel for comfort. As the two watched the doctor's work along with everyone else, Havel's mind wandered to Wren and the others.

'I hope you're safe, Misce.' Havel thought. 'And having better luck where you are than we are here.'

His ears then twitched when Dalton gave a gasp and sat up quickly in bed. As the humans began to fuss over him, the salamander squeaked happily with its tail flickering behind it rapidly. However, its relief was soon short-lived as Dalton forced himself off the table where he had been laid. He nearly hit the floor causing everyone to cry out in worry.

"Where's my weapon?!" Dalton demanded. "I need to go now!"

As the humans begged him to stop and rest, Havel sighed as things were becoming lively once again.

'I should have remained on the ship,' Havel thought.

Coco: So, did you enjoy it? I know it isn't as long as one of the chapters for A Heart in Chains, but I wanted to start off small at first and then if it seems like people are enjoying these mini-series, I'll start making them longer.

So, what would you like to see next? A Wren and crew bonding moment? Ace and Wren getting into trouble? Perhaps one of the movies? Let's me know in a review or feel free to PM me.

Now, as always remember to keep being your beautiful, amazing selves and stay safe out there! Tata for now~