Two weeks. Two weeks of surviving on a boat that creaked like it was allergic to water. We'd fought off sea birds, rationed food, argued with waves, and somehow avoided being eaten by sea kings. Honestly, I was starting to feel kind of proud—like we'd beaten the odds.
Then the ocean decided to remind us who was boss.
A massive wave hit us side-on, snapping the oar in half and splitting the boat like a cheap sandwich.
"Hold on—!" Emma shouted, but before she could finish, the boat flipped.
Cold, merciless water swallowed everything.
I kicked, flailed, tried to scream—nothing worked. The weight dragged me down like I was made of lead. Panic hit fast, my lungs screaming for air. I saw bubbles rise, but I couldn't rise with them.
That's when Emma's hand grabbed my wrist. She pulled with everything she had, kicking hard. "You're sinking! Don't fight me!"
I would've answered, but my mouth was currently doing its best impression of a fountain.
When we broke the surface, I gasped like a dying fish. "I—I can't swim!"
"No kidding!" she yelled, still dragging me along. "You're sinking like a rock! Did you eat a Devil Fruit or something!?"
My brain froze.
The weird fruit with question marks… the bitter taste… that strange feeling afterward.
"...Maybe?" I croaked.
"Maybe!?" she barked, disbelief all over her face. "You ate one, didn't you!?"
"I didn't know it was cursed fruit!" I shouted, half-choking on seawater.
"Unbelievable!" she growled, pulling harder. "You picked the worst ocean in the world to turn into an anchor!"
It took everything she had, but somehow Emma dragged me to shore. We collapsed on wet sand, coughing like we'd swallowed half the ocean. My entire body felt like jelly.
"Okay," I gasped. "New rule. I don't touch water again. Ever."
Emma glared at me, breathing hard. "Yeah. Let's keep you far from it. I'm not hauling you like a sack of bricks every time you fall in."
She pulled out her Log Pose and frowned. The little needle spun like it was having an identity crisis. "It's useless. We need an Eternal Log Pose or we'll be stuck here forever."
Before I could respond, the ground trembled.
A low roar echoed through the trees, shaking the sand beneath us. I turned slowly. What I saw made my jaw drop.
A dinosaur—an actual dinosaur—burst through the jungle, stomping straight toward us.
"...Emma," I whispered. "Please tell me that's a hallucination."
"Nope."
She drew two curved blades from her belt in a flash. The thing roared again, snapping branches like twigs, but she didn't even flinch. One clean, practiced swing—two, actually—and the monster dropped, crashing into the ground with a thunderous thud.
I blinked, stunned. "I've seen this before… the dinosaurs… the jungle… the chaos…"
Emma wiped her blade and turned to me. "You've seen this before?"
"Yeah," I muttered, realization dawning. "Little Garden. That's where we are. This is Little Garden."
She raised an eyebrow. "You're sure?"
"Positive," I said, looking around at the prehistoric landscape. "Big rocks, giant bugs, and creatures that really shouldn't exist anymore. Yup. Definitely Little Garden."
Emma sheathed her blades with a sigh. "Great. Dinosaurs, sinking boats, and a mysterious island. I can't wait to see what's next."
I laughed weakly, still sprawled on the sand. "Probably something worse." She smirked. "You're learning fast."
I glanced at the horizon, then at the spinning Log Pose in her hand. "Alright. Eternal Log Pose first. Then food. And maybe… staying alive."
Emma nodded. "Sounds like a plan, Captain."
By the time we dragged ourselves off the beach, the sun was already roasting us like fish on a stick. The air was thick with humidity and the sounds of distant roars. Every tree looked like it belonged in a museum, and every shadow felt like it was hiding something that wanted to eat me.
"This place looks like Jurassic Park threw up," I muttered, brushing sand off my soaked clothes.
Emma was already checking her gear, her twin blades gleaming faintly in the sunlight. "Keep your guard up. The animals here aren't normal."
"Yeah," I said, glancing at the dead dinosaur she'd sliced earlier. "I kinda picked up on that."
We followed a narrow path through the jungle. The ground squished under our feet, and giant bugs buzzed around like mini helicopters. I tried swatting one away, but it just stared at me with the audacity of a creature that clearly didn't fear humans.
"Great," I said. "If the dinosaurs don't kill us, malaria will."
Emma chuckled under her breath. "You complain a lot for someone who nearly drowned ten minutes ago."
"I'm sorry," I said dramatically. "Not all of us are sword-swinging Amazon warriors."
She rolled her eyes. "You'll toughen up. Or die trying."
We walked for what felt like hours until we found a stream. Emma knelt down, filling a canteen, while I stayed a good few feet back because, well—Devil Fruit. Water and I weren't on speaking terms anymore.
"You sure you don't want any?" she asked, glancing back.
I stared at the rippling water and shuddered. "Yeah, no thanks. Me and the ocean broke up. I'm not ready for a rebound."
She snorted. "You're unbelievable."
Before I could reply, the ground shook again—louder this time. Trees trembled, and birds exploded out of the canopy.
"Oh, come on!" I yelled. "Another one!?"
But this time, it wasn't a dinosaur that stepped out. It was a giant.
I froze. He was easily fifty feet tall, wearing armor made of bones and carrying a massive axe like it was a toy. He took one look at us, let out a hearty laugh, and said in a booming voice, "Humans! Tiny ones! Haven't seen your kind here in ages!"
Emma immediately reached for her swords, but I raised a shaking hand. "Wait, wait, I know this guy!"
She blinked. "You know him?"
"Well, not personally," I said. "But… let's just say he's kind of famous."
The giant grinned. "You look funny, little man! What brings you to Little Garden?"
"Bad luck," I answered.
He laughed so hard the ground vibrated. "Bad luck, eh? You'll fit right in!"
Emma leaned closer to me, whispering, "Noah, who is that?"
I swallowed. "That's Dorry the Blue Ogre. One of the two giant warriors who's been dueling on this island for… a hundred years."
Emma blinked, clearly questioning my sanity. "A hundred—?"
Before she could finish, a massive explosion echoed across the jungle, followed by another roar of laughter.
"Ah!" Dorry said cheerfully. "Broggy must've found his dinner! It's time for our next duel!"
And just like that, he stomped away, shaking the earth with every step.
I stood there in awe. "Okay… I officially met a One Piece legend. My life goal is complete."
Emma gave me a look. "You say the weirdest things."
I shrugged. "It's a gift."
We set up a makeshift camp near the base of a tree. Emma handled most of the survival work, while I… supervised. From a safe distance.
Night fell fast, and the jungle came alive with sounds—growls, chirps, distant booms. As I stared into the campfire, my mind drifted to the fruit I'd eaten.
Devil Fruit...That's impossible, right?
I flexed my hand, remembering the strange pulse I'd felt underwater. It wasn't just panic—it was something… burning.
Emma noticed me staring at my palm. "What's on your mind?"
"Just… wondering if I'm still human," I said softly.
She tilted her head. "You're definitely something. But I'll take that as a yes."
I chuckled. "Fair enough."
The fire crackled between us.
Then, in the distance, another giant roar echoed, shaking the trees and scattering birds into the night sky.
Emma sighed. "We're not getting any sleep, are we?"
"Not a chance," I said, leaning back. "Welcome to Little Garden… population: doomed."