One Piece: The Little East Blue Arc

One Piece © Oda

Blizzard © Me

Summary- Several days before their encounter with "Golden Lion" Shiki, Luffy and crew have run out of rations (again), and come across a giant, fire-breathing beetle and an island where they are welcomed as guests, mostly because the first five members are from the East Blue. However, a gang of villains soon come to disturb the peace. It's up to the Straw Hats to save Little East Blue!

Chapter 1

Impel Down…

The world's most secure underwater prison.

One could hear the tormented the screams of the prisoners within, begging for death.

Only two were either courageous or foolish enough to break into such a facility.

To save his older brother, Portgas D. Ace, from execution, Monkey D. Luffy and his loyal wolf-dog, "White Wolf" Blizzard had breached Impel Down together.

No one had ever dared to even break into- much less escape- Impel Down…except one.

They called him "Golden Lion" Shiki, a pirate who had a huge pirate armada and fought against the legendary Gol D. Roger, otherwise known as the "Pirate King", 22 years ago.

Shiki had been locked away here in Impel Down, awaiting his death sentence, but then…one day…

It happened.

The very thing that tarnished Impel Down's reputation: Shiki escaped.

He actually cut off his own two feet, shook off his shackles, and flew away from it all. For you see, Shiki had a plan. A plan that would bring the world to its knees.

Unfortunately for him, Shiki would later find that his plan would fall apart…at the hands of a motley crew of rookies.

But let's not get ahead of ourselves.

Let us go back in time, in the present, several days before Shiki faced this pirate crew.

XXX

BOOP! BOOP! BOOP!

A submarine was sailing under the waters of the Grand Line.

This sub belonged to the Amigo Pirates, a mariachi-themed pirate crew. Inside the submarine, the crew was seen feasting, and partying together without a care in the world.

However, the merriment was soon put to a stop when one of the men went up to the leaders of the crew.

"Boss Corto!" exclaimed one of the men.

"What is it, now?" questioned a husky voice.

"We've just gotten word from Big Boss Shiki!"

Upon hearing that, all music, laughter, and chatter came to a halt, and there came a slight pause.

"Finally," said a large man dressed up as a stereotypical luchador. "It's about time! Hey! Bring a Transponder Snail over here!"

"Yes, sir!"

Corto turned to a figure sitting in the shadows.

"Hey, Big Bro!" he said. "Did you hear? We did it! If we can join Shiki's armada…" he grinned, "we finally have a chance at becoming world-renowned pirates!"

There was a pause.

Suddenly, the air was filled with the strumming of guitar strings…playing a rather solemn tune.

"SHIK-SHIK-SHIK-SHIK…" snickered a voice, although it sounded more like sobbing.

The person this voice belong to was a rather tall man, dressed as a stereotypical Mexican man dressed in a poncho and had a very large sombrero over his head. He also had a triangular face with a thin mustache.

He is Largo, the captain of the Amigo Pirates and the older brother of Corto.

"Big Bro?" Corto asked. "What's wrong? Why are you crying?"

"Oh, amore," said Largo. "My dear little brother, Corto! I am very saddened."

"Huh?"

"If the plan of Senor Shiki comes into fruition," Largo began, "the world will become a very sorrowful place. Just thinking about hearing those thousands of despairing voices…it makes me cry!" He started laughing/sobbing, again.

Corto stared at his older brother, confused and somewhat concerned.

"Here's a Transponder Snail!"

"Oh, good!" said Corto. "Put him through!"

One of the Amigo Pirates set the Transponder Snail in front of Corto, who picked it up.

"Are you the captain of the Amigo Pirates, Mr. Largo?"

"No," Corto answered. "I'm the vice-captain and his brother, Corto. What do you want?"

"Very well, then. I've called to let you know that we've decided to welcome Mr. Largo and his crew into Lord Shiki's assembly…as our 51st division leader."

The crew let out surprised gasps.

"Ha-ha!" Corto laughed. "No surprise there!"

"However…"

"Huh?"

"Lord Shiki needs you to fulfill a…condition for him first, in exchange."

Largo lifted his head up.

"A condition, you say?" he said.

XXX

Meanwhile, not too far away, the Thousand Sunny, the ship of the Straw Hat Pirates, was sailing along the Grand Line's waters.

Sanji was in the kitchen, washing dishes.

Roronoa Zoro was busy weight-training.

Franky was at the helm, steering the ship.

Nami and Nico Robin were out on deck, just enjoying each other's company.

Monkey D. Luffy, Usopp, Chopper, and Brook were sitting on the rail with their fishing gear.

Blizzard , who was wearing a number 14 jersey, was sitting nearby since Sanji told him to sit there and watch them.

"Don't let them slack off," he told the wolf-dog.

The reason they were fishing was because, once again, the crew was out of rations. Since it was their fault, Sanji had Luffy, Usopp, Chopper, and Brook go fishing until they caught something.

Unfortunately, they hadn't gotten even a nibble.

"Nothing, huh?" Chopper asked.

"I guess not," Brook said.

Usopp heaved an exasperated sigh.

"I'm SO hungry!" Luffy whined.

GRRRRUUUUUMMBLE~! His tummy, which was swollen twice its regular size, let out a rumble in agreement.

"That pot belly of yours sure seems to say otherwise," said Usopp, glaring at Luffy's paunch.

YAAAAAAAAWWN! Blizzard let out a big, lazy yawn.

"How long has it been since we ate anything?" Luffy asked, rubbing his tummy.

"About three days ago," Chopper replied.

"What?" Luffy asked. "We went THAT long without eating?"

"We've been having parties every day, lately," Chopper explained, "and because of that, our stomachs have expanded, so we need to eat more food to be satisfied."

"You're right," Brook said as he brushed a hand against his cheek bones. "It feels like my bones are getting bigger than these days."

In your dreams, maybe, Blizzard thought.

YAAAAAAAWWN~! He let out another lazy yawn.

Just then, Sanji approached.

"So how's it going, guys?" he asked. "Catch anything yet?"

"Nope," Usopp answered. "Nothing so far."

"Not even a nibble," Luffy added.

"We're totally outta food, guys!" Sanji said. "If you don't catch even one little thing, then no food for you!"

"WHAT~?" the fishing quarter cried.

"Don't 'what' me!" Sanji spat. "I told you that it was a bad idea to have a party before we got to the next island, but no~! You guys just had to do it!"

Flashback, 3 nights ago

Luffy, with a stick of meat and a big pot belly (though not as big as it is presently), Usopp, Chopper, who had chopsticks in his nose, Brook, playing his violin, and a drunken Blizzard were hooked in each other's grasp.

"Party! Party! Party!" they chanted.

ARROOOOOOO~! Blizzard howled, drunkenly.

Flashback end

"Is that how it went?" Luffy asked.

Usopp chuckled nervously.

"You idiots don't even remember?" Sanji growled.

Well, I certainly do, Blizzard thought. My head still hurts a little from Luffy giving me all that damn booze!

Suddenly, Brook felt his fishing rod move. Looking down, the skeleton saw his line twitch…and then, something pulled at it!

Brook gasped and pulled at it his rod.

"I've got a bite!" he exclaimed. "I've got a bite!"

"AAAAH!" Usopp and Luffy yelped before they grabbed Brook's rod and began to assist him.

"Way to go, Brook!" Usopp exclaimed.

As the three struggled to reel in whatever was on the line, they saw a huge silhouette beneath the water's surface.

"Did you see that?" Usopp asked. "It's freaking huge!"

"All right!" Luffy cheered. "You hear that, tummy? You'll be full, soon!"

RRRUUUMMBLE~! His stomach seemed to growl in excitement.

"Reel that fish in, even if it kills you!" cried Sanji.

"Hang in there!" Chopper cheered. "You've almost got it!"

Blizzard heaved a sigh before he got up and walked up to the upper deck where Franky was. Normally, he didn't like being anywhere the shipwright was, but he needed the quiet.

How's a cranky wolf-dog to get any sleep at all with this racket? he thought as he flopped down in the shade behind Franky, who was whistling to himself.

Nami and Robin were just sitting at their little table, watching the boys.

"Looks like they're having their fun," Nami thought.

Robin just chuckled.

Just then, Blizzard's ears twitched, his sensitive ears picking up the sound of wings, beating at 50 times a second.

The hell…? Blizzard thought. What is that?

Franky gasped, suddenly, and Zoro also paused in his training.

Back down on the deck, Luffy, Usopp, and Brook had nearly reeled in the fish.

"Here…it…comes!" they cried.

SPLASH! A huge fish came out of the water, and not just any fish: a Blue-Finned Elephant Tuna!

Sanji gasped. He hadn't' seen such a huge fish since he was in Loguetown!

It…it can't be! he thought.

"WHAT THE HELL IS THAT?"

WOOF! WOOF! WOOF-WOOF!

Everyone looked up upon hearing Franky's yelling and Blizzard's barking.

The reason why was because out of nowhere, a huge, shadowy creature came flying at the ship through the air.

"What the hell?" Nami exclaimed.

"W…what is that?"

Luffy, Usopp, and Brook had pulled the fish up with so much force, they saw that they had sent the fish flying into the air…to be caught by a huge horned beetle!

CHOMP! The beetle caught the fish in its sharp teeth before it flew away.

"That was…!" Franky stammered.

"A giant beetle…!" Nami concluded in shock.

"Our fish…" Chopper whispered.

"HE ATE IT~!" Brook finished.

"SO COOL~!" Usopp and Luffy exclaimed with sparkling eyes.

Are you kidding? Blizzard thought.

XXX

Standing on a cliff on an island nearby, someone had spotted the Sunny via spyglass.

That someone was a little brown-haired girl wearing a Marine uniform that was way too big for her.

"That's…a pirate ship!" the girl said. "Damn them!"

Boss… she thought. Kill them!

XXX

The beetle let out a ferocious roar as it flew up, up, up towards the sun, and then dive down and make a beeline for the Sunny!

"On your toes!" Robin said. "Here it comes again!"

"It's coming in fast!" Sanji cried.

"HIT THE DECK!" Nami yelled.

The Straw Hats ducked down as soon as the beetle came swooping at them until it flew back up, again.

"Damn," Sanji cursed. "That's one big beetle!"

Luffy, his pot belly having gone down, felt his spine tingling with excitement.

"I wanna ride on him!" he exclaimed.

"Are you outta your mind, Luffy?" questioned Chopper.

Luffy ran off to get to a higher place.

"Hey, Usopp!" he called. "Help me catch him!"

"You got it," said Usopp, who was now equipped with his bug catcher net and tackle.

"Where'd you get that from?" Chopper asked, eyes bugging.

The beetle came diving back towards the Sunny, again, but Franky was ready for it. He pulled out his connector and aim his hands at the beastly bug.

"There's no way in hell I'll let you destroy this ship!" the cyborg declared. "Coup de VENT!"

BAM! Franky fired a shot of air at the beetle…but it just flew out of the cloud of dust without a scratch on it!

"Franky's attack didn't work?" Sanji questioned.

"No way!" Franky said.

It's his skin, thought Blizzard. It's too hard for physical attacks to hit.

"Leave it to me!" Luffy proclaimed.

WROING! He stretched his arm, grabbed onto the yard arm of the mizzenmast and jumped up, prepared to face the beetle, head-on.

"Okay, you big beetle," Luffy said. "Come and get some!"

The beetle came flying toward Luffy, who stretched his arms back.

"Gum-Gum…!"

All of a sudden, the beetle began to flash a deep red, and then, FWOOOSH! A huge ball of flame came flying towards Luffy from the beetle's mouth.

"Ah!" Luffy cried.

LUFFY! Blizzard shouted in his head.

"BAZOOKA!"

POW! Luffy laid a hit, dead center in the beetle's thorax.

XXX

On her little lookout, the girl could see the fight taking place.

"They…actually managed to hit Boss?" she said.

XXX

The beetle shook it head to relieve itself of the disorientation. Now it was really made. Its skin began to flash red again before it flew at the ship, once more.

"The beetle!" Sanji said. "It breathes fire, too?"

"He's gonna roast the Sunny!" Franky added.

"Hey, Luffy!" Chopper called. "Are you all right, up there?"

Up on the mast, Luffy's body and clothes only suffered minor burns, but his body was shaking.

"That beetle," he said. "Not only is he huge, but he can breathe fire, too." He lifted his head up, revealing his sparkling eyes. "HOW AWESOME IS THAT~?"

You've GOT to be kidding, Blizzard thought in disbelief.

"Looks like he's okay," said Sanji.

"I guess so," Chopper said.

"Okay, guys!" Luffy said. "Looks like we're gonna have a new crew member in a few minutes!"

"ARE YOU OUTTA YOUR MIND?" the Straw Hats questioned. "NO WAY!"

HE'S CRAZY! Blizzard thought.

Luffy just laughed, turned to face the beetle, and said, "Okay, you big beetle! I want you to join m-"

Before Luffy could finish, BAM! The beetle knocked him off of his feet and towards the deck. However, Luffy wasn't going to give up so easily. He was going to make this beetle join his crew or die trying!

WROING! Luffy stretched his arm out and wrapped around the beetle's horn, meeting it up close and personal. Literally.

"Gotcha!" Luffy said with a snicker.

The beetle began to fly all around, trying to shake Luffy off, but he wouldn't let go.

XXX

The girl stood from her lookout on the cliff, sweat-dropping.

"You've got to be kidding," she muttered.

XXX

BZZZZZZ! The beetle started flying back toward the Sunny, with Luffy in tow.

"Uh…what is he doing?" Usopp asked.

"It appears that they're coming this way," Brook said, nervously.

"Hey, you're right," Usopp said. "It's getting bigger…"

"HEADS UP!" Chopper cried. "IT'S HEADING RIGHT FOR US!"

"DUCK!" Franky shouted.

"AHHHH!" Usopp screamed before he turned and ran.

Things seemed to go into slow motion, and before Usopp realized it, he had been grabbed by the beetle and was being!

"AAAAAAAAAAH!" Usopp shrieked. "HELP ME~!"

Damn it, Luffy! Blizzard cursed in thought. Get back down here!

CHOMP! Blizzard snapped his jaws shut, right on poor Luffy's butt.

"YOW~!" Luffy cried out in pain. "Blizzard, what the hell? Leggo!"

"Damn it, Usopp!" Sanji cursed.

"That moron!" Zoro added.

LEAP! The two grabbed onto the beetle's legs as it flew back to the Sunny, or rather, passed it, straight towards an island.

"It's taking them away," Nami said before she heaved a sigh. "Those idiots. When will they ever learn?" She then noticed the island the beetle was flying towards. "Hey! An island! Is that where the beetle lives?"

XXX

"Boss! Stop!" The girl cried. "Look out, Boss!"

"AAAHH!" Usopp yelled. "WE'RE GONNA CRASH!"

Luffy and the beetle, known as Boss, looked to the cliff-face.

Oh, crap! Blizzard thought.

KRASH! The beetle and the Straw Hats flew right into the cliff.

XXX

"Heh-heh-heh-heh-heh!" Luffy snickered. "You can't get away now, you giant beetle!"

After getting to higher ground, Luffy found that the beetle's horn was now stuck in the cliff wall.

"There's no point in resisting!" Luffy said. "Just give up and join my crew, already! I won't take no for an answer!"

"Boss is mine! There's no way in Hell…that he'll ever be a PIRATE!"

CHOMP! The little girl from earlier jumped at Luffy's back and bit down on his rubber skull.

"OW~!" Luffy cried. "GET OFF! GET OFF! GET OFF! STOP IT! LEMME GO! OW, OW, OW~!"

While Luffy was struggling to get the girl off, Zoro, Usopp, Sanji, and Blizzard pull themselves up the cliff.

"That hurt…" Zoro grumbled. "Where the hell are we?"

"I didn't know there was an island like this," Sanji added.

"Yeah, and more importantly…" Usopp began.

What the hell's going on here? Blizzard finished in thought, watching Luffy running around in circles with the little girl biting on his head.

"Yoko! What's going on?"

"What happened?"

Suddenly, a group of people appeared. The natives of the island, probably.

"This guy's a pirate!" The girl, known as Yoko, muffled through Luffy's hair. "Watch your backs!"

"A pirate?" The natives cried before they dropped to their knees. "Please, have mercy!"

"Stop kneeling like that!" Yoko growled.

Just then, a portly old man appeared.

"Oh!" said the old man. "You're the Straw Hat Pirates, aren't you?"

The natives soon got to their feet.

"Uh, yeah," Zoro said. "That's us."

"Hey! You're right! It is them!"

"Yeah! That guy's 'Pirate Hunter' Zoro!"

"And 'Black Leg' Sanji!"

"And 'White Wolf' Blizzard!"

"But who's the guy with the long nose?"

"HEY!"

A few seconds later, the people managed to pry Yoko off of Luffy's head.

"Lemme go!" Yoko barked as she struggled to get out of their grasp. "Let go! That guy tried to take Boss from me! Let me go so I can bite his head off!"

"Stop it, Yoko!"

"Yeah, that's enough!"

"Shut up! Let go of me!"

Yoko? Blizzard repeated in thought. I have an aunt named Yoko.

"Who are these people, anyway?" Zoro questioned.

"Hey, girl!" Luffy said. "Are you the owner of that big beetle?"

"Owner?" Yoko repeated. "Boss isn't my pet! He's my friend!"

"Your friend?" Luffy repeated. "So that beetle's on somebody else's crew, huh? Hey! Is there any chance I could have him?"

"No way!" Yoko said as she freed herself. "Over my dead body! Besides, you've already got a vicious, bloodthirsty wolf!"

Uh, okay, Blizzard thought. Hurtful!

A pause. Luffy and Yoko were locked in a stare-down, but then…

Luffy just grinned.

"I see, now!" he said. "Fine! You can keep him!"

"Huh?" muttered Yoko.

Luffy went over to the crag, looked down to Boss, stretched his arms and grabbed him, and with little to no effort at all, he pulled the giant beetle over his head and onto higher ground.

"Boss!" Yoko cried.

Boss stood to his feet as the half-pint came to his side. His horn was bent, but other than that, he seemed fine.

"Sorry if I hurt you, beetle," Luffy said.

Boss seemed to flash red in anger.

"Please!" Yoko said. "You really think you've beaten him?"

"I didn't mean it like that," said Luffy with a laugh.

RAAAAWRR! Boss roared at Luffy, but then he staggered a bit.

"Boss!" cried Yoko.

"Hey, you all right?" Luffy asked.

"Back off!" Yoko snapped. "These wounds mean nothing to him! They'll heal right up overnight while he's asleep underground!"

"Ooh!" Luffy chirped. "That's pretty amazing!"

"Not just that," Yoko said, "but tomorrow is the day he'll molt!"

Molt? Blizzard repeated in thought.

"Tomorrow, he'll be much bigger and stronger than he was today!" Yoko declared. "Just you wait!"

"So wait," Usopp started, "even beetles that big still molt?"

"Boss is special," said the old man. "He only molts once a month. That explains why he's so huge!"

"So, he's gonna be stronger than he is now?" Luffy asked, excitedly.

"He sure is!" Yoko answered. "What do you say to that, pirate?"

"That's awesome!" Luffy commented. "Okay! Let's you and me have a rematch, tomorrow!"

"What?" Yoko questioned.

"Tomorrow," Luffy began, "we'll prove just who's stronger."

"That's the stupidest thing I've ever heard of!" said Yoko.

GRRAAAAAAWR! The beetle roared at Luffy, as if to say, "Anytime, any place!"

"Heh-heh-heh-heh-heh!" Luffy chuckled. "Looks like we've got a deal!"

That's my Luffy, Blizzard thought with a smirk.

"Ho-ho-ho-ho!" The old man chortled. "He truly is an interesting young man, as they say!"

"B…Boss…!" Yoko whispered.

She had never seen him act like this, before.

XXX

Moments later, the natives were leading the Straw Hats through a huge cave.

"This way!" the old man called as he and the rest of the natives brought them to a stone bridge over a pool of water.

"This cave is huge!" Usopp said. "What do you people use it for, anyway?"

"We use it as an escape route," said one of the natives.

"Escape route?" repeated Usopp.

"Mm-hmm! This entire cave is like a maze. We can uses its vast tunnels to escape and confuse the pirates that come here!"

"We're the world champions when it comes to running away and groveling!"

"You're actually proud of that?"

Blizzard snickered.

Watch out, Usopp, the wolf-dog thought. These folks might give you a run for your money!

"It's how we survive here in the Grand Line," said the old man. "We don't have a military force, here, and it's a remote island, so the Marines just leave us on their back burner!"

"Speaking of the Marines," said Sanji, "that little girl was wearing a Marine uniform. Why is that?"

"Yeah, I noticed that, too," Luffy said.

So did I, Blizzard thought.

A pause.

"Well," said the old man, "she wears it in memory of her father."

Her father? Blizzard thought.

"He was a good man," the old man continued. "He couldn't just stand by and watch us be attacked by pirates, day in and day out, so one day, he separated himself from the other Marines in order to protect us from them."

"When you said, 'in memory of',…do you mean…?"

"Yes. It was five years ago. He was fighting against a crew of pirates, greatly outnumbered…and he was killed. Poor Yoko. I never saw her so sad in all my life. Three years later, Boss appeared on the island and became like our guardian angel. He and Yoko took a liking to each other almost instantly. Maybe it was because Yoko saw her father, who was so strong, in him."

As the group reached the end of the tunnel, Zoro had to stop and ask, "Are you sure it's okay for us to be here? We are pirates, after all."

"True," the old man replied, "but you pirates are completely different. Now, come! We're here!"

Luffy, as always, was the first to come running out of the cave, his laughter filing the air. He took a look around and saw some farms with windmills…

Just like back at his home island.

"Whoa!" Luffy gasped. "Windmills! They're gigantic!" He stopped and stood on a hill, which seemed to overlook the rest of the island. "Wow! It feels so high!" He smiled, enjoying the feel of the wind. "It feels like I'm at home, again…"

"Wow!" Usopp said in amazement as he, Zoro, and Sanji joined their captain's side. "At first, I thought it was a mountain, but on the other side, it's gorgeous! Just look at the view!" He took a look around and saw the many huts and buildings. "Huh. That's weird. All these buildings…they seem…familiar, somehow."

"Ho-ho-ho!" the old man chuckled. "You mean you can't see it! When we first got here, it was nothing than a deserted island, but that was only the beginning. Ever since, for some odd reason, people kept coming here from the same ocean. That's what made this here little town!"

The Straw Hats put on a look of surprise.

"Y…you mean?" Luffy asked.

"Welcome, Straw Hats!" the old man proclaimed. "This is Kansorn Island, where people from the East Blue settle here, together! We also call it 'Little East Blue'!"

The air was soon filled with cheers from the townsfolk.

"I didn't expect to see the rookies of promise from the East Blue here!"

"Mr. Zoro! You're from Frost Moon Village, aren't you? We have a dojo here for who hail from there!"

"A dojo?" Zoro repeated. "Really?"

"And Mr. Sanji! You grew up on the Baratie, right? Try the food at the local Baratie! It's really good!"

"They have a Baratie here?" Sanji questioned in disbelief.

"And you, Straw Hat! You come from Windmill Village, right? Check it out! Windmills as far as the eye can see!"

"I can see that!" Luffy said.

"Uh, excuse me!" Usopp said. "Is there somebody who used to live in Syrup Village?"

"Uh…there is Luigia."

"Luigia?" Usopp repeated.

"Uh-huh. She lives in the most luxurious mansion in town!"

"That's weird," Usopp mumbled. "Kaya lives in a luxurious mansion."

From a distance, Yoko was watching everything, and she couldn't believe her eyes.

Even if these guys were from the East Blue, they were still pirates, and to her, pirates were nothing but pure scum.

She hated scum.

XXX

Back at the Sunny…

"Gosh, I hope they're okay," said Chopper, wondering what might've happened to the others.

"Don't worry about it, Chopper," said Nami. "If they need help, they'll call us."

"Do you think we should make a giant insect cage?" Robin asked.

"Hmm, good point," Franky said. "If the beetle does decide to join us, we're gonna need it."

BELLIP-BELLIP-BELLIP! BELLIP-BELLIP-BELLIP! The Transponder Snail started ringing.

"See? It's them!" Nami said before she picked it up.

"Hello? Nami? Are you there? It's me, Usopp!"

"Yeah, Usopp, it's me. You guys catch the beetle?"

On the other line, Nami could hear the sounds of people, cheering.

"Well, no, actually, but…hey, calm the hell down, will ya? Shut it! I got this! Anyhow, you think you could come down here?"

"What? Why?"

"It turns out that there's a town on the other side of this island, and…wait, what? Oh! Hang on! Luffy wants to say hi!"

"Hi, Nami!"

"H-hi, Luffy, sweetie!"

"A lot of people are asking for you, down here!"

"Hey! Call her 'Miss' Nami!"

"What in the world is going on?"

"Gimme that! Anyway, please, get down here! I'm begging you!"

"Bye, Nami! Love you!"

"No, wait! Luffy! Usopp-"

It was too late. They hung up.

"Well that was weird," Nami said.

"Why would they call for just you?" asked Chopper.

"I don't know," Nami answered, "but I guess I better go down and find out."

With that, Nami got on her White Rocking Horse I and rode the waves to the island, leaving Franky, Chopper, Robin, and Brook to watch the ship.

XXX

Meanwhile, under the water, a periscope was seen emerging from the surface. It belonged to the Amigo Pirates' submarine, and it was Corto who was looking through.

He saw Kansorn Island up ahead.

"Is that it?" Corto asked one of his men.

"Yes, it is. It's rock-bound and there are reefs all around it, so regular ships can't get near it."

"Big deal," Corto said. "Reefs aren't a problem with this sub, right?" He then stood up. "All right, listen up! We're going on a little hunting trip! We're gonna find that big beetle that escaped from Big Boss Shiki's hideout! Let's go, men!"

"YEAH~!" the Amigo Pirates cheered.

TO BE CONTINUED…

Man, this one was long.

Review, please!