Foxy the Silver Fox

Luffy, Usopp, and Chopper stand in a grassy plain, staring at a pair of incredibly tall bamboo stalks that have been split open. A voice asks, "A spirit?" Luffy replies, "I told you, I split open a bamboo tree and he just appeared....Hey, you. Say something." The three Straw Hats sit on the ground, looking up at a large, unusual-looking older man sitting in the grass. The man has a very tall, elongated forehead, a prominent nose, and a thick white beard. He wears a black hat and a light-colored robe. The old man looks at them and says, "Have you all been well? Yes, of course I remember. It's been a long time."

Usopp, Chopper, and Luffy look completely bewildered by the old man's familiar greeting. Usopp yells, "Talk about changing your mind on a whim! JUST WHO ARE YOU!?" Chopper adds, "Ahh, no wonder I thought your faces looked unrecognizable." Luffy agrees, "Me neither," and Usopp confirms, "I don't know him." The old man looks confused and asks, "Huh? Do you know him?" He then rubs his nose and says, "You're the ones who brought me down from the stilts, right? Let me say my thanks. My name's Tonjit." An introduction box labels him as "Nomad Tonjit". Usopp looks at the massive split bamboo poles lying on the ground and asks, "Stilts?" Realizing the truth, Usopp yells in shock, "AHH! HE'S RIGHT!"

Luffy looks at Tonjit and asks, "But just an old man on bamboo stilts who fell? Oh, so you're not a fairy that appeared from inside the bamboo when I split it. So why were you walking on such high stilts?" Tonjit explains, "Yes, and I was standing right at the very top! But your stilts are so tall I couldn't even see the top!" Usopp yells at Luffy, "Holy cow, you ARE retarded!" Tonjit reveals, "For 10 years..." Luffy asks, "What're you, stupid? So I was stuck there." Tonjit explains his predicament: "Getting on them was the easy part... But it was so high up that I was afraid to get down! I wanted to try walking on the world's highest stilts! I've loved walking on stilts for a long time... So using the tall bamboos on this island," Usopp interrupts, "That's all you have to say after 10 years of being up there!?" Tonjit shivers, "Ahh... Such frightening times... Making it even scarier and scarier to try to get down! Yes, and during that time, the bamboo continued to grow and grow." Usopp screams in disbelief, "YOU WERE WALKING ON STILTS FOR 10 WHOLE YEARS!?"

Luffy looks around the grassy plains and notes, "Both the trees and animals! Speaking of long things, why's everything so long or tall on this island?" Usopp remarks to Tonjit, "You sure paint a lazy picture about your harrowing experience... You're pretty laid-back, aren't you?" Tonjit replies, "I managed to survive on a diet of fruits. Still, thanks to all the trees on this island as tall as my stilts." Tonjit points to a creature off-panel, "For instance, that animal..." Usopp sweatdrops, "That's one heck of an explanation..." Tonjit explains, "And since they promote a lifestyle where you don't worry and hang-loose, everything here grows long. There's a reason for that, you see. As you can see, these peaceful plains cover the whole island, Yes, I'd imagine foreigners would wonder about that." Tonjit points to a very long, white dog walking by. "That one's a snoooooow leopard." Usopp yells, "LEOPARD!? Don't let it bite you." Tonjit continues, "There are carnivores here on this island too so be careful. And that's a plaaaaaatypus." Usopp screams, "ALL YOU DID WAS PRONOUNCE IT LONGER!" Tonjit finally concludes, "Is a daaaaaaachshund."

Tonjit invites the crew, "Come inside. I'll treat you to some food for saving me." Luffy and Chopper cheer, "OHH! WOO-HOO!" Usopp looks at a wide, horizontally stretched bear-like animal and yells, "WHY'S THAT THE ONLY ONE THAT'S LONG HORIZONTALLY!?" Tonjit turns to where his home should be and is shocked to find empty plains. "AGHHH! THE VILLAGE IS GONE! AND MY LIVESTOCK TOO!" Usopp deadpans, "You just noticed? How can a village just disappear in the span of 10 years?" Tonjit looks around, "I don't see any livestock? Village? Where?" Tonjit explains, "The customary drink in our village is milk freshly squeezed from our animals." He walks over to a small wooden structure with a churn. "Oh... Well, about that, I'll explain to you once we sit down and get comfortable. More importantly, I still have to treat you to something. I should have some milk stored over here..." Usopp looks concerned, "Uhh... Milk? That you've been storing for 10 years...?"

Tonjit tells them, "Alright, well take a seat anyways." Usopp yells angrily, "HEY! LOOK AT ME WHEN YOU TALK! THAT'S 10 YEAR-OLD MILK YOU'RE TRYING TO FEED ME, ISN'T IT!?" Tonjit holds up a block of cheese instead. "This cheese is to your liking... I hope." Tonjit explains, "Unlike you three, I've lived a long and hardy life on this island, So I've developed a strong stomach. You youngsters and your fragile constitution..." Usopp stubbornly grabs the cheese and eats it. "Hmph, of course I can! It's only 10 year-old cheese." Luffy asks, "So you can eat this cheese, old man?" Tonjit starts, "So as I was saying..." Suddenly, Usopp clutches his stomach in agony. "DON'T EAT IT!" Tonjit yells, "NO DUH!" Chopper diagnoses, "It's food poisoning." Chopper panics, running around, "DOCTOORR! WAIT, THAT'S ME!" Usopp yells at Tonjit, "SEE, WHAT'D I SAY, YOU RETARD!" Luffy calmly says, "CALL A DOCTOR..."

Chopper realizes, "Oh, so that's why your village is gone even though it's only been 10 years..." Tonjit explains, "Yes, my people are laid-back nomads who move our homes periodically." Luffy is amazed, "Whoaaa, you're so cool!" Chopper asks, "Nomads?" Tonjit elaborates, "Normally, the high sea levels make it appear as 10 distinct islands. Although this island is essentially one connected ring. Welcome, travellers. This island is called 'Long Ring Long Land.'" A diagram shows the ring-shaped island mostly submerged, leaving 10 separate landmasses. Tonjit continues, "Using that special low tide, we move from one island to the next, once every 3 years. So for a few hours on that day, the 10 islands become connected as one. But once a year comes a very low tide." Usopp laughs, "Ohh... So you were left behind during the move. Accidentally left behind!? Haha, you're great! I love that slow-witted part of you!" Luffy laughs along with him.

Tonjit explains his plan: "To catch up with the others within 5 years. I can then move every year to the next island,...Yes, I suppose so. If I at least had a single hooorrrsseeee," Usopp calculates, "So if your people move once every 3 years, it'll take 30 years to complete a full lap. So even if you did spend a decade on stilts, You still need to wait 20 years before you can reunite with your people." Tonjit says, "With its strength, it can carry all our belongings during the move. Trying to cross the island by foot would be too slow, And you'd be drowned by the incoming tide. It's almost impossible to move from one island to the next without a hooorrrsseeee. Yes, it's the most beautiful animal on this island. Its form as it gallops across the plains is indescribably graceful." Chopper asks, "Hooorrrssseee?" Luffy asks, "Won't it be lonely...?" Tonjit smiles, "After all, the 10 islands here are technically one single island. It's fine, I'll just wait another 20 years here. Moreover, a log pose would only point at the next island. None of us have any sea navigational skills..." Luffy suggests, "Then how about travelling by boat?"

Luffy points off-panel, "Ah, you're right! If it's a horse we're talking about, then there's one outside!" Chopper wonders, "Hm? Could a hooorrrssseeee be the same thing as a horse?" A massive, incredibly tall horse with a long neck stands outside, neighing. Tonjit bursts into tears of joy, "WERE YOU... WAITING FOR ME HERE!? OHHH! SHERRY!" Tonjit runs out and hugs the horse's long legs. "I can't believe it... You must have been so lonely as you waited for me all these years! Thank you! Thank you so much! I'll never leave you again!" Sherry neighs happily. Tonjit cries, "You've grown so much since I've been gone! How I've longed to see you! Sherry! You lovely little thing!"

Luffy smiles, "What a nice horse. I'm sure she likes him very much." Chopper adds, "Ohh, so that horse was waiting for that old man all these years." Tonjit mounts Sherry, and the tall horse gallops gracefully across the grassy plains. Chopper watches in awe, "It really is graceful as it runs." Luffy's eyes sparkle with excitement, "WHOA! IT'S SO FAST! I WANT TO RIDE IT TOO!" Sherry neighs happily as Tonjit laughs heartily, "HAHAHA!"

Tonjit rides Sherry, saying, "As well as snowy days. Thank you for waiting for me. I'm sure you've endured many rainy days alone, Sherry... Let's cross the islands on the next low tide day." A flashback shows the nomad tribe preparing to leave on their tall animals. A nomad asks, "ARE YOU SURE? YOU'LL BE LEFT ALL ALONE. IT'LL BE ANOTHER 27 YEARS BEFORE WE RETURN HERE." Another says, "ARE YOU REALLY GOING TO WAIT FOR TONJIT NO MATTER WHAT? THE REST OF US WILL BE MOVING ON AHEAD. SHERRY..." Sherry is shown waiting alone in the rain and snow. The nomads say, "NONE OF US HAVE ANY IDEA WHERE TONJIT WENT. IT'S NO ONE'S FAULT. YOU SHOULD COME WITH US." Sherry remains steadfast, waiting for her master.

Tonjit continues to ride Sherry across the plains, looking a bit nervous. "YOU KNOW I'M NOT TOO GOOD WITH HEIGHTS! WHOA THERE, SHERRY!" Usopp, Luffy, and Chopper watch them go, laughing. "Haha... AHAHA..." Suddenly, a loud gunshot rings out. "BANG!!" Sherry's eyes widen in shock as she is hit. The massive horse collapses forward, sending Tonjit flying off her back.

Tonjit yells in shock, "WHAT!?" Chopper, Usopp, and Luffy's faces are drawn in extreme close-up, their expressions filled with horror and disbelief. "AHH-" Tonjit tumbles to the ground. "GRAMPS!" "THE HORSE!" Tonjit scrambles to his feet and rushes toward his fallen companion. "WHAT'S WRONG!? AH! SHERRY!" Sherry lies on the ground, neighing weakly. Chopper runs forward in a panic, "I HEARD A GUNSHOT! WAS SHE SHOT!?" Usopp follows, equally frantic, "IS SHE ALRIGHT!?"

Tonjit kneels by Sherry, crying out her name. Luffy glares angrily in the direction of the gunshot. A strange voice laughs, "FEH! FEH! FEH! FEH!" Luffy turns, "HM!?" The voice calls out, "HOY HOY HOY HOY!" A silhouette of a large man with a distinctive split-head hairstyle appears over a ridge. "THAT'S RIGHT! THAT HORSE BELONGS TO OUR BOSS! IT'S MY CATCH! DON'T YOU TOUCH IT! I SHOT THAT HORSE!" Luffy's fury erupts. He clenches his fists, veins popping on his forehead, and roars, "DO YOU THINK YOU ARE!? WHO THE HELL-"

Chopper examines Sherry's leg. "But the bullet fortunately missed her bones. Let's focus on treating Sherry first! Her leg's been shot." Usopp is furious, "DAMN IT, SO THEY'RE RESPONSIBLE!?" Luffy yells at the newcomers, "I'M GONNA KICK YOUR ASS! HOW THE HELL SHOULD I KNOW YOU!?" The man with the split head steps forward, "DON'T TELL ME YOU DON'T RECOGNIZE THIS FACE! WHO AM I?" The figures are fully revealed: Foxy the Silver Fox, flanked by his crewmates Hamburg and Porche. Hamburg, a large gorilla-like man, laughs, "PFT! PFT! PFFFT!" Porche, a woman with a long nose and goggles, says, "How rude of them!" Foxy suddenly becomes deeply depressed, dropping to his knees. His crewmates try to comfort him. "He's clearly lying. I'm sure he's just pretending not to know who you are... No, boss! Please don't get depressed!" Luffy yells, "HEY! STOP LAUGHING, HAMBURG! He HAS NO IDEA... WHO I AM..." Foxy recovers instantly, laughing, "FEH! FEH! FEH! FEH!" Luffy is confused, "HUH!?" Introduction boxes identify them: Foxy Pirates Combatant Hamburg, Foxy Pirates Captain Foxy the Silver Fox (Bounty: 24,000,000 beli), and Foxy Pirates Combatant Porche.

Foxy yells confidently, "WHO CARES ABOUT A SINGLE HORSE, YOU NITWITS! HUNTING SOME ANIMALS IS MERELY A SIDESHOW! FOXY'S MY NAME! I'M A MAN WHO GETS WHATEVER HE WANTS!" He holds up a hand, "HOLD IT! STRAW-HAT LUFFY!!!" Luffy is already charging at him, arm stretched back for an attack. "GOMU GOMU NO... WHY YOU...!" Porche interrupts, listing their bounties: "Roronoa Zoro! Bounty: 60,000,000 beli. Monkey D. Luffy! Bounty: 100,000,000 beli. Despite having only 7 crew members, the sum total of your pirate crew's bounty is an impressive 160 million!" Luffy skids to a halt, surprised. "What!? How do you know my name!?" Foxy smirks, "OF COURSE WE KNOW! WE'VE DONE OUR RESEARCH!"

Foxy holds up three coins with a sinister grin. "WE'RE THE FOXY PIRATES! WE HEREBY CHALLENGE THE STRAW-HAT PIRATES, TO A DAVY BACK FIGHT, AS CONDUCTED BY THE ORTHODOX 3-COIN RULE SET!" Luffy, not understanding but always ready for a challenge, yells back, "I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE HELL YOU'RE BLABBERING ABOUT BUT BRING IT ON! I'LL GLADLY TAKE YOU ON IF IT'S A FIGHT!" Usopp and Chopper panic, their eyes bugging out. "LUFFY, NO! YOU CAN'T ACCEPT THIS GAME! WE'LL LOSE OUR CREWMATES!" Usopp remembers a ruined, crewless ship they saw earlier. "Ahh...! The ship we came across near this island... WE DON'T HAVE ONE! SOMEONE GIVE ORDERS! NAVIGATOR! THEN THE CAPTAIN! WE DON'T HAVE ONE!" Usopp realizes the implication, "Huh...? Luffy... Wait a moment... Is 'Davy Back Fight'...?'" The chapter ends on this tense realization.

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