Chapter 105: Arrival at Little Garden
The Going Merry sailed under the warm, golden sunlight, the waves glistening like molten gold. The past week had passed uneventfully, the crew occupied with their usual routines, though the atmosphere aboard the ship carried an unspoken tension. Nami was perched on the upper deck with her logbook in hand, her brows furrowed as she made notes. Usopp worked on repairing a cannon, Johnny and Yosaku practiced their sword forms near the mast, and Sanji hummed while preparing lunch in the galley. Zoro was sprawled out against the railing, his swords resting beside him as he dozed in the midday sun.
Luffy stood near the helm, gazing out at the horizon. His expression was not curious. It was knowing. He had been waiting for this island. He knew what was on it. He knew who was waiting for them.
Nami noticed the looks Vivi kept giving him. Her eyes narrowed slightly, and she let out a sharp exhale. "Focus, Nami. It is nothing," she muttered under her breath, but her pen moved with a little more force than necessary.
Usopp, ever the keen observer, sidled up to her with a knowing smirk. "What is eating you, Nami?"
"Nothing," Nami replied curtly, her tone making it clear the topic was not up for discussion.
Usopp leaned closer, lowering his voice. "You know, it is not like Luffy is trying to pick sides or anything. He is just being Luffy."
Nami glared at him, but her expression softened as she sighed. "It is not that. I just... never mind. Forget it."
Before Usopp could press further, a shout rang out from the crow's nest.
"Land ho!" Johnny's voice carried over the deck.
The crew immediately sprang to life. Luffy turned toward the crow's nest, a small smile playing on his lips. Zoro, startled awake, reached for his swords, while Nami climbed onto the railing to get a better look.
On the horizon, a lush green island loomed into view. Massive trees towered into the sky, their canopies sprawling wide like a giant natural fortress. The air was thick with moisture, and even from the distance, the calls of strange animals echoed over the water.
"Finally!" Nami exclaimed, a smile breaking through her earlier irritation. "It is about time we saw some land."
"I thought we would be stuck on this ship forever," Usopp added, wiping imaginary sweat from his brow.
As they drew closer, Luffy's expression did not shift. He already knew what was on that island. He already knew who was waiting for them.
"Everyone," he said, his voice carrying across the deck. "We need to talk before we dock."
The crew gathered around him. Nami crossed her arms. Zoro leaned against the mast. Sanji stepped out of the galley, wiping his hands on a towel. Johnny and Yosaku exchanged glances. Usopp looked nervous.
Luffy waited until he had everyone's attention.
"Miss All Sunday sent word last night," he said. "There are Baroque Works agents on this island. Four of them. Waiting for us."
Nami's eyes widened. "Four? Here?"
"Mr. 3 and his partner, Miss Goldenweek. And two more we have already met. Mr. 5 and Miss Valentine."
Zoro's hand went to his sword. "The bomb guy and the weight girl. They survived."
"They survived," Luffy confirmed. "And they want revenge for what happened at Whiskey Peak. They have been tracking us. Waiting for us to make landfall."
Usopp's face had gone pale. "Four Baroque Works agents? On one island? Waiting for us?"
"Mr. 3 is the one to watch," Luffy continued. "He is a Devil Fruit user. The Wax-Wax Fruit. He can create wax. Hard as steel. Shape it any way he wants. He is smart. He is patient. He does not make mistakes."
Vivi stepped forward, her expression tight. "Mr. 3. I have heard of him. He is one of Crocodile's top officers."
"He is," Luffy said. "And Miss Goldenweek is his partner. She does not fight like the others. She uses colors. Paint. She can trap you in your own emotions if you are not careful."
Sanji lit a cigarette. "So we have a wax user, a paint user, a bomb user, and a weight user. All on one island. All waiting for us."
"Waiting for us," Luffy said, "and thinking we do not know they are there."
A slow grin spread across Zoro's face. "So we surprise them."
"Exactly."
Johnny raised his hand. "Uh, Captain? What about the other things you sensed? The powerful presences?"
Luffy shook his head. "Not our concern. Not yet. We focus on the agents. We take them out. We move on."
"And the island?" Nami asked. "What is this place?"
"Little Garden," Luffy said. "An island frozen in time. The age of dinosaurs never ended here."
Usopp's jaw dropped. "Dinosaurs? As in giant lizards that want to eat us?"
"As in giant lizards that want to eat us," Luffy confirmed. "Stay vigilant, trust your training. Do not let your guard down. Do not engage the wildlife unless you have to."
He looked at each of them in turn.
"Miss All Sunday is feeding us information. She is taking a risk doing it. We do not waste it. We go in. We find the agents. We end this quickly."
The crew absorbed his words. Nami's hand had gone to her Log Pose. Zoro was already checking his swords. Sanji took a long drag from his cigarette.
Usopp swallowed hard. "Quickly. Right. Quickly is good. I like quickly."
---
The Going Merry sailed into a narrow river that cut through the dense jungle. Towering trees lined the banks, their roots twisting into the water like ancient serpents. The air was thick with humidity, carrying the rich, earthy scent of the forest. Strange bird calls echoed from the canopy, mingling with the distant rumble of a volcano.
"This place is like something out of a storybook," Usopp said, his eyes wide.
Luffy leaped onto the deck railing. He was not grinning. He was not excited. He was focused.
"I am going to scout ahead," he said. "Vivi, you are with me."
The crew stared at him in surprise.
"Are you sure about that?" Zoro asked, raising an eyebrow.
Luffy nodded. "She knows Baroque Works. She knows how they think. I need her."
Vivi stepped forward, her cheeks flushed. "I will go."
Sanji, ever the gentleman, quickly prepared lunch packs for Luffy, Vivi, and Karoo. "Take these," he said, handing them over with a dramatic flourish. "You will need your strength."
As Luffy, Vivi, and Karoo set off into the jungle, Zoro stretched and let out a loud yawn.
"I am bored," he announced. "I am going for a walk."
Sanji smirked. "While you are at it, bring back some meat. We are running low."
Zoro scoffed. "You are the cook. Should not you be the one getting the meat?"
"Oh, please," Sanji retorted. "I would like to see you catch something other than a cold."
"I can catch enough meat to last us a whole year," Zoro shot back. "EASILY."
"You do not know anything about cooking. Whatever creature you bring back, we probably will not even be able to eat it."
"Meat is meat. It all depends on the cook. So if you cannot cook the meat I bring back, that means you simply are not such a great chef, does it not?"
The words played at Sanji's ego. His eye twitched.
"Alright then," Sanji said, his voice dangerously calm. "Let us see who can hunt the biggest game."
"Bring it on," Zoro said, already walking toward the jungle.
The two bickered as they prepared to head out, their banter drawing amused glances from Nami and Usopp.
"Those two muscle brains," Nami muttered. "They are hopeless."
Johnny and Yosaku exchanged a look. "Should we go with them?" Johnny asked.
"Let them fight," Yosaku said. "They will wear each other out."
Before long, the island erupted with life. A distant volcano rumbled, sending a shockwave through the ground. The crew froze as the thunderous sound of massive footsteps echoed across the jungle, growing louder with each passing second.
The crew stood at the edge of the jungle, the air thick with tension as they braced for whatever was to come.