Somewhere in the first half of the Grand Line…
Whooosh—!
A gust of wind swept through.
A pair of massive wings suddenly sliced down from the sky, disappearing into the dense forest below.
The force of the wings flapped the surrounding foliage, creating a rustling roar across the treetops.
Because navigation in the Grand Line demands extreme skill, islands here have almost no contact with one another.
Each island, therefore, retains its own unique culture and characteristics.
Little Garden is one such island, preserving a primeval appearance to this day.
Here, as far as the eye can see, there is not a trace of human presence.
Towering trees soar hundreds of meters, ancient beasts roam, strange insects crawl, and volcanoes could erupt at any moment.
According to the most famous explorer in the pirate world, Louis Arnote, the island was described in his writings as:
"To the residents here, this island is like a 'small garden.' Therefore, let's call this land Little Garden!"
…
A river cuts across the island, connecting to the sea.
The Going Merry sailed freely through this foreboding and eerie landscape.
From the sheep-headed figurehead at the bow, a calm and composed aura radiated, unconcerned by the enormous silhouettes occasionally glimpsed in the forest shadows.
Several days had passed since Luffy promised Vivi he would help quell the rebellion in Arabasta.
Though Vivi's heart was anxious, and she knew she had the permanent guidance of Arabasta's records, she dared not disturb Luffy and his crew from their planned voyage.
So she waited quietly, with complex feelings, until their playful journey concluded and they would turn their attention to her.
Being both knowledgeable and of royal lineage, Vivi had guessed the Starry Sky crew's true nature the night she first learned Luffy's name.
After all, in this world, there were only so many well-known, named powerful individuals.
Coupled with her preoccupation with the Shichibukai because of Crocodile, Vivi's awareness heightened.
When she learned that Luffy and his crew were also connected to the Shichibukai, she felt like a fish on a chopping board, powerless before these giants.
Now, she could only go along with events.
Once aboard a pirate ship, there is no turning back.
She could only hope that Luffy and his crew would not, like Crocodile, take improper interest in Arabasta.
Yet, the more she thought about it, the more impossible it seemed.
How could there be any 'good people' among such similar kinds of men?
She recalled the Starky* captain's blunt words to her.
She knew they had no real interest in saving Arabasta.
But for Vivi, all was not without hope.
After days of observation, she had come to understand the characteristics of the crew.
Luffy, he does things as he wishes, with purpose, showing no signs of being a villain, though certainly indifferent to trivial matters.
Zoro and Brook rarely voiced opinions, but their subtle actions revealed unwavering trust in Luffy's decisions.
Little Merry, though appearing fourteen or fifteen, had the innocence of a child, fiercely protected by the crew; even speaking a few words to her was a challenge.
Nami, though always appearing proud, showed the most concern for Vivi behind the scenes. From the moment Vivi boarded the Sunny, she had silently watched over her.
Sanji always displayed a readiness to serve. But Vivi knew she could not manipulate him to act against Luffy.
Robin was mysterious, often smiling enigmatically and indifferent, yet occasionally sparked curiosity when Vivi mentioned Arabasta's history.
Usopp listened attentively but was independent, thinking for himself rather than simply following words.
Of all aboard, only the pink-haired youth, Koby, seemed reliably helpful.
Though he performed the lowest-level tasks, he did so willingly, with joy.
Despite their quirks and odd behaviors, the crew's camaraderie was undeniable.
If only I weren't a princess… could I live such a free and carefree life?
"Haha…" Vivi shook her head helplessly, dismissing such impossible thoughts.
She had a mission of her own!
Whether the Straw Hats sincerely helped her or not, she would unite every force possible to protect Arabasta's peace.
…
The Going Merry gradually ventured deeper into Little Garden, where the river became shallower, making further navigation difficult.
Seemingly aware of this, Luffy and the crew slowly emerged from the open hatch.
"Wow!"
Upon reaching the deck, Usopp and Koby were stunned.
Towering trees, vines several meters thick, and glimpses of ancient creatures peeking through the dense forest, everything amazed them.
Even seasoned crew members like Zoro were shaken.
After all, they had only heard tales of the Grand Line's strange sights; seeing them firsthand was a completely different experience.
The breathtaking visuals alone fulfilled their expectations of the Grand Line!
Luffy, however, was not here just for sightseeing.
Leaping from the hatch with a backflip to the bow, he spread his arms as if to embrace nature itself:
"Everyone! Since we've come to this amazing island, let's relax today!
The forest in the ship's hold doesn't have suitable creatures yet, so today you can catch some dinosaurs to keep as pets!
Or catch animals that look tasty and put them in the pastures!"
"Ohhhh!!!"
At the mention of food, Merry immediately jumped, cheering:
"Food! Food! Merry wants some too!!!"
Seeing Merry's excitement, Luffy nodded enthusiastically:
"Alright, alright! Today's a rare day for fun, everyone can go!"
With the Sunny's current defense level, attacks under a billion Berries couldn't harm it, so there was no need to guard the ship.
Today was a chance for some light-hearted fun after intense training, work and play must balance, after all.
"Oh! Right!"
Noticing everyone's interest in exploring, Luffy added:
"One more thing, this island isn't uninhabited.
It's home to two very strange giants…"
Boom!!!
Boom! Boom!…
Before his words finished, a massive volcano at the island's center suddenly erupted.
Molten lava shot skyward like a signal, scorching the air with billowing smoke.
Two enormous silhouettes appeared in the crowd's sight!
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100 Power Stones = Bonus Chapter
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