In front of them they saw a grand gothic-style building with a towering central spire. It had many windows. The building was set against a deep purple sky. There was mist and fog drifting across the lower portion of the island. There were trees in the front.
"What even is a ghost island?" Usopp asked.
"The skeleton ran on water," Porche said, still stunned.
"More like bolted," Nami added.
Chopper looked around anxiously. "Where did that ghost from earlier go? Is it still on board?" he questioned.
Zoro pointed toward the island. "It drifted off. Straight toward that place," he repsonded.
"So… what do we do?" Porche asked.
"We leave. Immediately," Usopp said. "I officially have the 'I-don't-want-to-go-on-that-island' disease," he added.
"Same," Nami said as she sat down. "Symptoms include dread, chills, and a strong desire to sail in the opposite direction," she added.
Sanji looked around. "We might not have a choice. Look, there's a gate up ahead," he said. The gate looked like a pair of mouth with large teeth.
Franky nodded. "The skeleton said this place traps ships. It's not just haunted—it's a snare," he said.
Suddenly, Luffy burst onto the deck. "Time to go," he shouted.
"Luffy, reconsider," Usopp cried. "There's a creepy building! A haunted castle! You're underestimating evil spirits," he added.
"What are you talking about?" Luffy said. "I'm gonna be super careful. I'll catch the ghosts before they catch me," he added.
"You're underestimating them," Usopp muttered.
"We have to get our crew back. No matter what," he said. "Sanji! Get the pirate lunch box," he said.
"Crewmate?" Usopp said. "I am against that," he added,
"Already packed," Sanji said.
"Going to explore an unknown gives me chills," Franky said, "We are going to need a boat to get us through it," Franky added. "There is a surprise waiting for all," he said. "Solider Dock System 2," he remarked.
"Docking system?" Porche asked.
"Yes, the ship has a 0–4 Docking System," Franky explained proudly. "Each dock is specialized for different situations," he said.
Nami raised an eyebrow. "Hold on. We've seen a few already. You said the others were empty," she responded.
Franky grinned. "That's because I wanted it to be a surprise. Come on, I'll show you," Franky said.
Usopp, Chopper, and Nami slid down a polished metal pole and landed with a thud in the lower dock bay.
"What's the surprise?" Chopper asked, eyes wide.
Franky slid down. "For those not heading to the island first," Franky said. "You get to test this beauty," he added.
The trio turned—and their jaws dropped.
A sleek, compact boat sat in the dock. Its figurehead was the Going Merry. The wood gleamed, and its sails fluttered.Usopp, Nami and Chopper jumped on the ship. Nami sailed it out.
"It's Merry!" Chopper gasped, tears forming in his eyes.
"Merry came back to us," Usopp whispered, voice trembling.
Franky made his way back to the top of the deck. "Mini Merry 2," Franky called.
"I want to go!" Luffy shouted, leaning over the railing.
"If that's our shopping boat, I'm volunteering every time," Sanji said.
"Good job, Franky," Zoro added with a smile on his face.
A sudden scream pierced the fog.
Sanji's head snapped up. "Nami-san?" he called. "Is something wrong?" he asked.
"I can't see anything in this fog," Zoro muttered.
"It came from that direction," Porche said as she pointed toward the mist.
Suddenly the hatch opened.
They all turned around. "Who opened that?" Sanji asked.
"We're nowhere near it," Franky said as his eyes narrowed.
Suddenly, Luffy's mouth stretched unnaturally. "What are you doing?" Sanji shouted.
Luffy then was flung to the ground. At the same time, Zoro's sword rattled then shot into the air and hurtled toward Luffy.
"Watch it, Strawhat!" Franky yelled as he kicked Luffy aside just in time. The sword hit the deck.
"What was that for?!" Franky barked.
Zoro looked stunned. "I didn't do anything. My sword just… moved," he responded.
"This is getting weird," Sanji said.
"It felt like something grabbed and punched me," Luffy said, rubbing his arm. "And I heard a growl," he added.
"I'm going to save Nami-san!" Sanji said as he stepped onto the ledge. He leapt only to trip mid-air. He swung back and face-planted back onto the deck.
Zoro, Sanji, and Franky stared down at him. "So uncool," they said in unison.
Then Sanji's body lifted off the side of the ship and floated eerily.
"Whoa! Sanji's flying!" Luffy shouted.
"We might not even be able to leave the ship now," Zoro said. "Whatever's out there… it might want us dead," he added.
Suddenly, the sea beneath them surged unnaturally.
"This must be the artificial wave," Sanji shouted.
Porche stumbled, trying to steady herself.
"The ship's going to capsize," Franky warned.
"Drop the anchor," Zoro shouted as he was already moving toward the chain.
Meanwhile Usopp, Nami and Chopper got hit by the wave. "Hang on," Nami said as she took the helm.
"We are going to die," Chopper shouted.
She moved the helm however the current was too strong and they got flunk. The Mini Merry landed on the Ghost Island and Nami, Usopp and Chopper went down a ditch.
"Is everyone okay?" Nami said as she looked around.
Usopp and Chopper got up. "Where are we?" Usopp asked.
"We are at the Ghost Island," Nami responded.
"Ghost island?" Usopp and Chopper said in unison.
"How did we end here?" Usopp asked.
"Well, we rode the boat and I hit the side of it, it is 100% my fault but you will forgive me since I am cute right?" Nami said.
"We are getting you for this," Usopp said.
Nami held a sign saying. "I am sorry."
"Anyways, why is there a ditch here in the first place," Usopp said.
At that moment, they heard a growl. They saw two pairs of eyes, then another two and another two.
"What is that?" Usopp asked.
"It can't be," Nami said.
"It is Cerberus," Chopper said.
Then they saw a monstrous three-headed dog. Its patchwork body stitched crudely down the middle. There was blue fur on one side, yellow on the other. Each snarling head was crowned with spiked collars. The central head bristles with wild yellow fur and a vicious grin, while the flanking heads had bandages.
Run," Usopp screamed as they ran. Nami and Chopper bolted beside him.
"Why is it always us?!" Nami shouted.
"I thought they were not real," Chopper cried as tears streamed as he galloped in reindeer form.
"It has three mouths full of teeth," Usopp yelled.
They dove into the haunted forest, where the fog thickened and the trees twisted unnaturally. The air grew colder.
"This place is worse than the dog," Nami said as she glanced around. "Why are the trees… breathing?" she asked.
"They're not breathing," Usopp said. "They're watching," he added.
"I don't want to be watched!" Chopper whimpered.
Behind them, the Cerberus howled.
"It's gaining on us!" Usopp shouted. He turned and fired a flaming star from his slingshot. "Firebird Star," he said as the projectile hit a tree near the beast, erupting in sparks. The Cerberus flinched, but kept charging.
"That barely slowed it down," Nami said. "We need a plan," she added.
"Plan?" Usopp gasped. "My plan is 'don't die," he remarked.
"I second that," Chopper squeaked.
Suddenly, the ground beneath them gave way—a hidden slope covered in leaves. The three of them tumbled down.
"We got away," Chopper said.
"You did," said a man with a bat-like body covered in bandages. He wore a dark purple cape. He had talons and sharp teeth with vampiric fangs, red claws, a long and stitched nose, pointed ears, and his eyes. Above his right eye was the number 21, and above his left was a stitch trailing from his eye to his hairline.
"Who are you?" Usopp asked.
"I am Hildon," Hildon responded.