One Piece: The Zou Arc

One Piece © Oda

Blizzard, Monkey D. Aika, and Kumi © Me

Hercules © Me and Gakuto1991

Summary- The Straw Hats have arrived at the island of Zou...which isn't really an island at all, but rather a giant elephant that's lived for hundreds of years! There, they meet the Mink Tribe, as well as Nami and the others. However, things have taken an unexpected turn during Luffy's time on Dressrosa. What has happened to the country of Zou? Why is it that speaking about samurai or ninja seems to be taboo on the island? And more importantly...where is Sanji and why did he leave?!

Ch. 1- Zou

Flashback: 12 years ago; East Blue

"GLAARRGH! HELP! SOMEBODY!"

Monkey D. Luffy, age 7, thrashed about helplessly in the water, trying his hardest to stay afloat...and all the while, he was being stared down on by the Lord of the Coast, the moray eel-like Sea King that ruled these waters. The beast had already devoured the mountain bandit, Higuma the Bear, but its appetite had not been sated, and when it noticed the young boy, splashing like a breathless fish, that's when Luffy knew that he was going to be its next meal.

"AAAH!" Luffy shrieked as the Lord of the Coast lunged at him. "HELP ME~!"

Just as it seemed that Luffy was about to be swallowed up...there was the splashing of waves, the sound of blood spurting into the air, and Luffy's shocked gasp as he looked up and saw his savior: Red-Haired Shanks.

"Shanks...!" Luffy whispered in shock as the pirate held him close to his chest while the Lord of the Coast emerged from the water...only to freeze upon seeing Shanks' intense stare.

"Get lost...!" Shanks hissed, and on that order, the beast dove back into the water and disappeared beneath the depths. That's when Shanks looked down at Luffy...who shivered in his grasp, and the crimson-haired man smiled gently.

"I'm in your debt, Luffy," he told him. "Makino told me everything about how you stood up for us...how you were willing to fight and put yourself on the line."

Luffy sniffled, his tears falling down his cheeks like waterfalls, trying his hardest to choke back sobs.

"You can't cry," Shanks soothed. "You're a man, now."

"...But Shanks...!" Luffy whimpered. "Your arm! YOUR ARRRRRRRRM!"

It was soon revealed that in his haste to rescue Luffy...Shanks' left arm had been torn off, now reduced to a bloody stump.

"Luffy...it's just an arm," he assured. "I've got another one. I'm just glad you're all right."

Luffy only wailed, too guilt-ridden about what had just happened...but also realizing just what a great man his hero was.

XXX

Some time after the incident, Shanks and his crew were preparing to leave. Luffy was a bit saddened, but he knew that they had to go eventually, and he didn't pester Shanks about taking him along anymore. However, this only brought on some more teasing from the red-haired pirate.

"You'll never make it as a pirate!" Shanks teased.

"NO!" Luffy barked. "I will make it as a pirate! Someday, I'm gonna gather up a crew even better than yours and I'm gonna find the greatest treasure in the world, and then I'll be King of the Pirates! I'LL SHOW YOU!"

"Huh," Shanks chuckled. "You think you'll surpass us?"

Luffy only stood there, his lip quivering...and that's when Shanks put his straw hat on the boy's head, much to his surprise.

"In that case," Shanks began, "I'll leave this hat to you. It means more to me than anything in the world, so you better take good care of it, ya hear me?"

A pause...but then Luffy sniffled as he silently wept.

"I want you to bring this hat back to me, someday, in good condition," Shanks told him, "and only once you've become a great pirate. That's our promise, Luffy."

Luffy only stared after his idol, hugging the Straw Hat in his arms as his tears fell while Makino held him by his shoulders.

Flashback end

"Wow...!" Aika whispered in awe as she sat on Luffy's knee and Kumi sat at his feet. "That's how you met Shanks, Big Brother?!"

"Yep!" Luffy grinned. "I tell ya, if it wasn't for Shanks, I wouldn't even be here, talking to you!"

"So cool...!" Kumi said.

"So that's how you became inspired to be a pirate!" exclaimed Aika. "That's so amazing!"

"Shishishishi!" Luffy laughed.

"And you're really gonna give his hat back to him?" Aika asked.

"That's right," Luffy replied as he took his hat off his head and looked at it with a sense of nostalgia. "I promised Shanks I'd return his hat to him...once I become King of the Pirates."

Aika beamed brightly, her eyes sparkling with whimsy and enthusiasm. She had always wondered what made Luffy the great man that he is today...and now she knew.

"BWAAAAAAAAAAAAHHH~!" sobbed the Barto Club crew. "SO MOVING!"

"Oh, yeah," Luffy said. "I forgot you guys were there."

"Tell us more, Luffy-senpai!" said one of the Barto Club Pirates. "Please!"

"Hold your horses, everybody!" Bartolomeo exclaimed. "I've interviewed the rest of the Straw Hats, and I will tell you all of their epic tales!"

"Really, boss?!" asked the rest of the Barto Club Pirates.

"Please, tell us!" shouted Gambia. "Tell us more!"

"Ahem!" Bartolomeo cleared his throat as he held open a notebook. "Sometime after Luffy-senpai began his journey, he would later come to a place known as Shells Town, where Roronoa Zoro-senpai, also called 'Pirate Hunter', was held captive!"

The Barto Club Pirates all gasped in horror.

"Put to the rack and starved for days, Zoro-senpai showed that beneath his rough exterior...lies a pure heart, for he had eaten a rice ball, stomped on by a cruel Marine soldier, made by a sweet little girl!"

"Awww~!" the Barto Club Pirates while Zoro only rolled his eye in irritation.

"Oh, Zoro, I didn't know about that," Robin smiled. "That's so sweet of you."

"...I guess," Zoro muttered.

"After Luffy-senpai returned Zoro-senpai's swords to him, they engaged in their first battle with the Marines!" Bartolomeo exclaimed. "It was then that Zoro-senpai declared his ambition to become the World's Greatest Swordsman!"

"SO COOL~!" cheered the Barto Club Pirates, to Zoro's further irritation.

"I don't need these fanboys cheering me on," he muttered.

"After a short battle, Luffy-senpai and Zoro-senpai emerged victorious and continued their journey together!" Bartolomeo told. "As they reached their next destination, Orange Town, it was there that Luffy-senpai would meet his navigator...as well as the apple of his eye, the beautiful and cunning Nami-senpai!"

The Barto Club Pirates all gasped again, this time in delight. In fact, even Aika was excited.

"Ooh!" she exclaimed. "I've always wanted to hear about this!"

"Shishishishi!" Luffy laughed. "Yeah, I remember that like it was yesterday. I got shot outta the sky and I fell right in front of her!"

"Like an angel from the heavens above!" Bartolomeo added. "Nami-senpai was a cunning thief who stole strictly from pirates...but the reasons why was not without good reason: since her childhood, she was taken as a slave by the cruel Fishman, Arlong!"

"Boo~!" the Barto Club crew yelled.

"Boo! Boo, Arlong!" Aika shouted.

"But like a knight in shining armor," Bartolomeo began, "Luffy-senpai was immediately at her rescue and felled the villain, granting Nami-senpai her freedom!"

"YEAH~!" the Barto Club cheered.

"YAHOO!" Aika hollered. "YEAH! WHOO-HOO!"

"Aika, settle down," Luffy said as he pet her head. "I get it."

"Sorry," Aika said.

"Before he had defeated Arlong, however," Bartolomeo pointed out, "there would be two more great men who would join them on their voyage! After they left Orange Town, the three Straw Hat Pirates would later come upon Syrup Village, where they met the great Usopp-senpai! Sure, he was known as a big liar, back in those days..."

"HEY!" barked Usopp. "I'm right here, you know!"

"HOWEVER!" Bartolomeo declared. "When it comes right down to it, he will stake his life, standing up to his enemies, when it came to defending his friends!"

"...Well...okay, that much is true," Usopp admitted, blushing a little.

"It was because of his bravery that Luffy-senpai aided Usopp-senpai in defeating the nefarious Captain Kuro of the Black Cat Pirates!" said Bartolomeo. "But wait! There's more! It was here that they also met their first ship, the Going Merry-senpai!"

Upon hearing that name, the Barto Club Pirates cheered while Luffy, Zoro, Usopp, Robin, and Franky all smiled fondly.

"Good ol' Merry," Luffy smiled. "We'll never forget her."

"As long as we have Mini Merry," Usopp added.

"As they sailed on, Luffy-senpai came upon the realization that he also needed a cook!" Bartolomeo continued. "During the voyage through the East Blue, they came upon the floating restaurant, the Baratie, where they would meet the sous-chef, Sanji-senpai!"

"Sanji-senpai~!" the Barto Club Pirates hollered.

"Sanji-senpai was a kind soul, always feeding those who were hungry, even if they were enemies!" Bartolomeo added. "Like Luffy-senpai, he, too, had a dream that sounded almost impossible: to find the great All Blue and use its vast bounty to become a great chef!"

Grrrrrrrllllllllggh~! Luffy's stomach rumbled loudly.

"I can't wait to meet up with Sanji, again," Luffy said. "Then he can make me some lunch."

"Is that seriously all you think about?" Blizzard asked.

'Still...I still have that weird feeling about Sanji,' he thought. 'I wonder why.'

"And so, the 5 Straw Hats continued their voyage," Bartolomeo began, "from the East Blue and into the Grand Line! After landing on their first island, they met the beautiful and kindhearted Princess Vivi-senpai, promising to take her home to her country of Alabasta! However, they soon ran into a dilemma: Nami-senpai had been stricken by a fatal disease!"

"Oh, no!" Aika cried while the Barto Club Pirates gasped in horror.

"But thankfully, her life was saved, thanks to 'Cotton Candy-Lover' Tony-Tony Chopper-senpai!" Bartolomeo exclaimed, causing his crew to cheer loudly. "A young reindeer who ate the Human-Human Fruit, he felt lonely and downcast due to his outlandish looks, but he is a skilled doctor who had studied advanced medical care under his mentors! After Luffy-senpai defeated the cowardly tyrant, Wapol, he showed Chopper-senpai that whether you are human, animal, or any other kind of race, he will always welcome you in his crew! Thus, he took Chopper-senpai in as the ship's doctor!"

Blizzard, Aika, and Kumi all smiled before glancing at Luffy, who smiled back at them, while the Barto Club crew cried comical tears.

"This is one of many reasons why I admire Luffy-senpai so much~!" Gambia sobbed.

"I feel the same...!" Bartolomeo sobbed. "Every time I think about it, I am moved to tears!" He then quickly wiped his tears away. "But wait! The story isn't finished, just yet! Luffy-senpai has always had a huge heart! He even welcomed former enemies into his crew, such as Robin-senpai and Franky-senpai!"

"EEEEEEEEEEHHH?!" the Barto Club crew exclaimed.

"Wait, you mean Aunt Robin and Franky used to fight with you?!" Aika asked in surprise.

"It's true," Robin replied. "I was once the member of a crime syndicate called Baroque Works."

"And I used to be the leader of a gang of vandals called the Franky Family," Franky added.

"But when we were in trouble, your brother came and rescued the both of us," Robin said.

"Even though back then, I didn't really like Franky because he beat up Usopp," Luffy pointed out, "but he made Sunny for us, so we're cool, now!"

"That's right!" Bartolomeo exclaimed. "Robin-senpai, the archaeologist who searched for the truth of the Void Century, and Franky-senpai, the cyborg shipwright, soon joined their ranks! Several weeks following this, they were caught in a terrible storm but took shelter on Rivet Island, where they met their future guard dog, Blizzard-senpai!"

Luffy looked up Blizzard, who looked back down and smiled at him, wagging his tail.

"Half-wolf and half-dog," Bartolomeo went on, "Blizzard-senpai was outcast by both humans and his canine peers! He spent 3 years, waiting for his former master, Robby Rivet, to return, but those 3 years of having to face the ostracization from others due to his parentage left him cold and spiteful, only trusting his former master and his wife, Hillary! Why, he even went as far to bite Luffy-senpai!"

"Is that true?" Aika asked.

"Yeah, it is," Luffy admitted. "I was just trying to see if he'd move!"

"You didn't have to keep poking my nose, you know," Blizzard pointed. "That's the real reason I bit you."

"But as the days passed, Luffy-senpai and Chopper-senpai helped Blizzard-senpai reopen his heart!" Bartolomeo stated...his eyes once again teary. "Guh...! The classic tale of boy and dog...to know that Luffy-senpai and Blizzard-senpai met and bonded like this...it is especially moving!"

"We feel the same~!" sobbed the Barto Club Pirates.

"...Seriously?" Blizzard asked. "Again with the crying?"

"Hahahaha!" Luffy laughed. "They're so funny!"

"After defeating Robby's killer, the traitor known as Dick Benton," Bartolomeo continued, "Blizzard-senpai was free to join Luffy-senpai as he wished, and became the Straw Hats' guard dog!"

Blizzard smiled once more while Luffy petted him on the head, chuckling as he did so.

"After that, they sailed into the mysterious Florian Triangle," Bartolomeo said in almost eerie voice, "where they met the undead skeleton, Brook-senpai! After eating the Revive-Revive Fruit, Brook-senpai drifted around in the Florian Triangle's waters for decades, feeling saddened and lonely at the thought of never again seeing a friend he had long left behind, but then, his wish came true when Luffy-senpai came along and gave him the companionship he had since longed for...GAAAH! I'm getting misty-eyed again!"

"Us, too~!" wailed the Barto Club crew.

"I'm really glad you did that for Brook, Big Brother," Aika smiled.

"Shishishi!" Luffy laughed. "Well, of course! Besides, I've wanted him on my crew even before I knew he was a musician!"

"And last, but not least, the two newest members of the great Straw Hats!" Bartolomeo exclaimed as he pointed to Aika and Kumi. "Aika-senpai and Kumi-senpai! Trapped on an island both icy and fiery, these two were the only companions they had as they faced the horrid experiments of the dreaded Caesar Clown, hope soon came in the form of Luffy-senpai!"

Aika smiled at Luffy, who smiled back at her as he kissed her forehead, causing her to giggle.

"Nobody would have expected for Aika-senpai to be the younger half-sister of Luffy-senpai!" Bartolomeo shouted. "After losing his brother, Fire Fist Ace in the Paramount War, Aika-senpai filled the void that was in Luffy-senpai's broken heart! AAAAGH! Again with the tears!"

The Barto Club Pirates soon started joining their captain in bawling.

"And that, my friends, concludes the interview report!" Bartolomeo concluded before he wiped his eyes. "However! This is no time for sentiment! We must continue to bring Luffy-senpai and the rest of our heroes to Zou!"

"YEAH~!" the Barto Club Pirates cheered in agreement.

"Uh...guys?" Usopp asked as he looked up at the sky...from which a lightning bolt soon descended, shocking the Barto Club crew to a crisp! As for Luffy and the others, they managed to avoid it in time...well, the others did, anyway. Since Luffy was immune to lightning due to his rubbery body, he just stayed outside.

"Shishishishi!" Luffy laughed. "Man, you guys are a blast to hang out with!"

"I'd hardly call THAT a blast!" Blizzard pointed out, poking his head out from the door.

"Anyway," Luffy began, "full speed ahead to Zou, guys!"

"YES, LUFFY-SENPAI!" the Barto Club Pirates shouted.

"Where do they get this kind of enthusiasm?!" Zoro questioned.

XXX

Meanwhile, at the current Marine HQ...

"Sir, I have a report!" saluted a Marine Vice-Admiral. "The A.O. Pirates, formerly working under Whitebeard, have been wiped out!"

"Was it him, again?" asked none other than Admiral Kizaru, who was just nonchalantly clipping his nails.

"Yes, sir!" answered the Vice-Admiral. "It was the Warlord, Edward Weevil, and his dog, Hercules!"

"And just how many former Whitebeard Pirate captains have been taken down, now?" asked Kizaru.

"That one was the 16th," the Vice-Admiral answered. "Just like always, it seems they got into some sort of argument, and then the whole town was blown up as a result...we estimate a good 600 casualties, sir. Everywhere he goes, the civilian damage is tremendous. I don't know if we can overlook this, even if he is a member of the Seven Warlords."

"It's quite a quandary," said Kizaru.

"His claim of him and Hercules being the sons of Edward 'Whitebeard' Newgate and Stefan is quite impressive," the Vice-Admiral speculated, "if perhaps a bit suspect..."

"Hmm..." Kizaru hummed, quizzically. "Well, truth or falsehood of that claim doesn't matter to us. No matter what bloodline they're from...he and that canine of his possess one significant source of value to us: as a pirate...they are both exceedingly powerful! Just like the real Whitebeard and Stefan in their youth...at least in terms of strength."

XXX

Somewhere on an island in the New World...a town is blazing as flames and smoke billowed up into the air...and on the ground, many pirates littered the ground, bloodied and battered. In the midst of it, two shadowy figures stood.

"Dey're all dummies...!" the first figure spoke, holding a huge halberd. "Dey don't undastand! Dey all keep saying da same ting! Dey keep saying dat do only sons of Whitebeer was da Whitebeer Pirate Crew! But Mama...MAMA! I'M THE SON OF WHITEBEER! LOOK AT MY HAIR! IT'S ALL WHITE!"

The first figure is revealed to be a large man with a stocky figure, with thin, disproportionate legs, prominent scars going down his left eye, across his thick neck, and around his left forearm. He has long, blonde, bushy hair with two braids going down the sides of his face. His attire consisted of a pair of black overalls held up by a pair of chains, with a purple stripe going across them, and on the front was a Jolly Roger that looked just like his face.

Next to him was a black standard-sized Poodle with the typical "Poodle" trim cut, such as balls of curly fur on his head, ear tips, tail tip, chest, and around his paws, wearing a dark red bicorne hat with feathers on the rim and the same Jolly Roger as his master, and a scythe in his mouth.

However, out of all the features they had...their most prominent ones had to be the crescent-mustaches they had on their faces.

Their names are Edward Weevil, one of the new Seven Warlords of the Sea, and Hercules, both being the self-styled "Whitebeard Jr." and "Stefan Jr.". Former bounties: 480 million Berries and 380,000 Berries, respectively.

"Of course you are, my son!" shouted a voice. "Those Whitebeard Pirates were just fools playing some nursery game! The only sons with the blood of Whitebeard and Stefen, the Strongest Pirate and dog in the world, are you and Hercules, my dears!"

This is Miss Buckin, a short, blonde-haired woman, shorter than Weevil and even Hercules, who wears a purple dress that bore Weevil's Jolly Roger on the front, as well as a leopard-spotted fur coat. She is Weevil's mother and Hercules' owner.

"And that makes me Whitebeard's now widower lover!" Buckin proclaimed.

(A/N: I hate this old bitch so much.)

Hercules only stood quietly, minding his own business...but then, his ear twitched before he looked back at a nearby building. Then, he raised his scythe and swung it down on the ground...and at first, nothing seemed to happen, but then, KROOSH! The building was suddenly sliced in half...and behind that was tiny little mosquito...also sliced in half.

'Annoying little bug,' Hercules thought. 'I can't stand mosquitoes, that I can't.'

"Now get it together, my little treasures!" Buckin demanded, smacking Weevil's and Hercules' knees with her cane.

"Ouch!" cried Weevil. "That hurts, Mama!"

"Now, take a look at these!" Buckin ordered as she held up two pictures of Whitebeard and Stefan, respectively.

"Huh?" muttered Weevil. "Are dose mirrors?"

"No, they're pictures of Whitebeard and Stefan!" Buckin barked.

"Oh!" Weevil realized, his nose runny. "I tot dey were mirrors!"

"How can these four look so alike and not be father and son?!" Buckin questioned. "Ridiculous!"

"Ohhh...I'm sorry, Mama!" Weevil apologized, and Hercules whimpered in agreement.

"Oh, it's quite all right, dears," Buckin assured. "I'll always forgive you...because I love you both so!"

"Oh, Mama~!" Weevil sobbed while Hercules howled, happily.

"Now, let's get going!" Buckin said as she waved up to a News Coo. "What do you need to do next, my son?"

"Errr..." Weevil mumbled, scratching his head. "I forget."

"You and Hercules have to search for Marco the Phoenix and all the other remaining members of the Whitebeard Pirates, and then seize all the treasure they've got!" Buckin shouted. "Your Fathers, Newgate, and his dog, Stefan must've left behind a massive inheritance, and as their true sons, it is rightfully yours!"

"Ohh, okay," Weevil nodded. "Hercules and I get it, now, Mama...still, I gotta get revenge on dat stupid Blackbeard who killed Dada!" At that moment, both he and Hercules burst into tears. "Hercules and I are gonna kill him! We won't get away wid it!"

Hercules growled in agreement at this.

"Foolish boys," Buckin chastised as she bought a newspaper from the News Coo. "Vengeance is no way to make money, something we so desperately need! You need to inherit this fortune!"

That's when she looked through the newspaper and gasped at the front page article.

"What's this?!" she asked in surprise.

"What is it, Mama?" asked Weevil.

"It seems Doflamingo's been taken out," said Bakkin, "and by Garp's grandson, no less! I should've known!" She then put her hand to chin in thought. "Hmmm...if memory serves me correctly, Marco and the other Whitbeard Pirate captains protected him and White Wolf Blizzard during the war, two years ago!"

"Den dat means he and White Wolfy might know where Marco is!" Weevil exclaimed. "Should we go find him, too, Mama?"

~One week later~

The Going Luffy-Senpai drifted through a thick fog bank...the sounds of groans filling the air.

"This fog is so think," said Gambia. "I can't see a thing...BLEEGH!"

"BLEEEEAAAHH~!" the Barto Club Pirates all gagged.

"Are you serious, right now?!" Zoro questioned. "What kind of pirates get seasick?!"

"What a bunch of idiots," Blizzard muttered.

"Granny says...it gets better when you chew gum," Bartolomeo moaned.

"Wait, is THAT why there's gum stuck all over the deck?!" Usopp asked in disgust."

"Hey, boss!" called the ship's watchman. "I see something at 2 o'clock! BLUUUGGH!"

"Oh, yeah?" asked Bartololmeo. "L-like what...? Uggh...!"

"Well, in this thick mist," the watchman began, "it looks like some kinda mountain...or maybe a monster...? URP!"

"What kinda monsters could be mistaken for a mountain?!" yelled Bartolomeo, who gagged again.

"It looks like it's moving, really slowly, though...!" answered the watchman. "Urrrgh...!"

"That's because you're seasick, dumb-ass!" shouted Bartolomeo. "Bleeeeghh!"

"Ooh, a moving mountain?!" Luffy asked with his usual enthusiasm. "Let's check it out!"

"Yeah!" Aika agreed.

"Are you two nuts?!" Usopp questioned. "Our first priority is getting out of this damned mist! If we hit a reef, we're sunk!"

"Hold up a second, God," Law spoke up, having been silent with Jupiter the whole time.

"Huh?" Usopp asked, bashfully scratching the back of his head...unaware of a jealous Franky glaring at him from behind. "God, you say? Man, it's so hard getting used to my new bounty, nowadays!"

"I'm sure the Marine Admirals are already on the lookout for you," said Law, sarcastically, which cause Usopp to yelp in fright. Then, Law held up the Vivre Card in his possession. "Look here. The Vivre Card is pointing straight ahead."

"Oh, yeah, you're right!" Luffy realized. "That must mean yours and Juppy's friends are up ahead, right, Traffy?"

"I've heard that this place resists intrusion," Jupiter started, "what with all this heavy mist and the reverse sea currents."

That's when the wind suddenly picked up.

"Hear that?" asked Franky, having. "Sounds like we got us a headwind, boys! Hoist the sails and man the oars!"

"Roger that!" the Barto Club Pirates exclaimed, only to gag again.

"What kind of weak response is that?!" Franky questioned.

"Seriously, who ever heard of seasick pirates?" Kumi asked.

"Makes no sense to me," Blizzard added.

"Usopp, are you all right?" asked Robin. "You look a bit pale. Do you need some gum?"

"No, Robin," Usopp replied, tearfully. "I just got caught up in reality...!"

As the Going Luffy-Senpai sailed further...that's when the crew on board got a good glimpse at what was up ahead, and needless to say, they were rather shocked at the sight.

"Wait...THAT is Zou?!" Luffy asked.

"No way!" cried Bartolomeo. "It doesn't make any sense!"

"This is bad!" Usopp shouted. "Like butt sitting on hot lava bad! TURN THIS SHIP AROUND, RIGHT NOW!"

"No," Law answered. "This is our destination."

"But...but Traffy!" Aika exclaimed. "Look at it!"

"It's a...GIANT ELEPHANT?!" Kumi questioned.

Indeed. Zou was actually a humongous elephant with wrinkled, gray skin and sunken eyes...standing right in the middle of the ocean!

"That's right," Law said. "Zou is the name of a place that flourished on the back of an elephant."

"WHAT?!" everyone questioned.

"You mean...that thing is alive?!" Luffy asked.

"It's on the move all the time," said Jupiter. "It's a mysterious, elusive land that never stays in one place...mostly because it isn't actually land. Therefore, it can't be tracked with a Log Pose."

"Jupiter and I have never come here before...until now, that is," Law added.

"You've gotta be kidding...!" Usopp squeaked.

"If it's heading away from us," Law began, "then that means Black Leg-ya's team got here long before we did."

"So we've been chasing down an elephant that's been moving away from us the entire time," Robin speculated.

"That's right," Law replied. "Now...prepare to disembark. Can you give us some food supplies, Cannibal?"

"Huh?!" Bartolomeo questioned. "Why in the hell should I give you any, Trafalgar?!"

"Fine," Law answered. "Then will you give Straw Hat-ya and his crew some food?"

"Take everything you got!" Bartolomeo exclaimed.

Meanwhile, Kin'emon and Kanjuro stared in shock at what they were seeing.

"I see," said Kin'emon. "So THIS is Zou! So many truly odd and eerie things can be found, overseas! I only pray that Momonosuke is safe!"

"Hold on, my friend!" Kanjuro spoke up. "I've heard that Zou is home to a man-hating species."

"That's right," said Law. "They're called the Mink Tribe. They've been keeping humankind away from their home for nearly a thousand years, I hear."

"Wait, wait, wait!" shouted Usopp. "Back up! Did you see a thousand years?! ON THE BACK OF AN ELEPHANT?!"

"But...if that's true," Luffy started, "then that means...THIS ELEPHANT'S BEEN ALIVE FOR A WHOLE FREAKIN' MILLENIUM?!"

"...Mother was right...!" Blizzard gaped. "Live long enough, and you'll see everything!"

TO BE CONTINUED...

I finally started this, and only 6 minutes before my birthday!

I combined episode 751 from the anime and chapter 802 of the manga for the this. That's why it took so long to write. ^^;

Review, please!