THE GROGGY MONSTERS

Foxy laughs uproariously, "GYAHAHAH!!! NO ONE CAN BEAT THE FOXY PIRATES!!!!" His crew cheers wildly for Porch, shouting, "YOU'RE THE BEST, PORCH---!!!" and "LET'S CLAIM OUR NEW CREW NOW!!!" A large, shark-shaped boat crosses the finish line marked "GOAL," with Porch riding on top, waving pom-poms and cheering, "HURRAY! THANKS FOR EVERYONE'S SUPPORT!" The announcer declares, "ROUND 1 OF THE DAVY BACK FIGHT, DONUT RACE, HAS ENDED!" Meanwhile, Luffy looks on in confusion, muttering, "....... EH......" In their small boat, Nami, Usopp, and Robin sit in stunned silence. Usopp asks, "HEY, WHAT HAPPENED TO YOU?" but Nami is speechless, staring blankly ahead.

Foxy gloats, pointing dramatically, "IT'S TIME--- FOR YOU TO SAY GOODBYE TO ONE OF YOUR FRIENDS!!!! HOIHOIHOI HOIHOI- FUEHEHE HEHEH-!!" Sanji looks shocked, exclaiming, "NAMI-CHAN...?!!" Foxy's crew laughs mockingly in the background. Sanji yells to the boat, "HEY! USOP. NAMI. ROBIN. WHAT HAPPENED!?" Usopp, looking distressed, explains, "WE CAME TO WELCOME YOU BACK, BUT THEN YOU STOPPED MOVING......AND THEY PASSED YOU!!!" Nami is still in disbelief, "WE... REALLY LOST......!?" Luffy asks, "... WHAT WAS THAT?" Sanji asks if they are okay. Usopp adds, "YEAH, YOU WERE *ABOUT TO* WIN, BUT YOU DIDN'T!! WE WERE ABOUT TO TAKE THE WIN... WAIT! SOMEBODY TELL ME WHAT HAPPENED BACK THERE!"

Nami explains her experience: "I COULDN'T MOVE MY BODY... NO... ACTUALLY... BUT AFTER THAT BEAM HIT US... HM... WE THOUGHT WE WERE GOING TO WIN, TOO..." Flashback panels show their boat and the waves around them frozen in time. Nami continues, "THE WAVE, TOO... THE BOAT......VERY, VERY SLOWLY....WE COULD MOVE, BUT EVERYTHING WAS GOING..." Foxy's crew cheers in the background. Luffy asks, "WHAT DID HE DO!?" Sanji asks, "ANY INJURIES?" Usopp replies, "YEAH. WHEN WE RECOVERED THE ENEMY HAD ALREADY WON..." Foxy smirks, "FUEHEHE HEHEH---! THAT WAS TOO EASY. THANKS TO MY NORO PHOTON." Luffy is confused, "NORO PHOTON!?" Sanji yells angrily, "ASSHOLE! WHAT DID YOU DO TO NAMI-CHAN AND THE OTHERS!?"

Foxy explains his power: "IT IS AN ATOM THAT WAS NOT YET DISCOVERED BY THE SCIENTISTS. ANYTHING FROM LIFE-FORMS TO LIQUID AND AIR HIT BY ITS RADIATION... WILL NOT LOSE ANY ENERGY, BUT... ITS PHYSICAL VELOCITY WILL DECREASE DRAMA-TICALLY!" Sanji insults him, "WHAT KINDA CRAP ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT, STUPID?!" Foxy instantly becomes depressed, slumping over as his crew cries, "POOR BOSS!" and "HE CALLED ME STUPID". Foxy quickly recovers, striking a pose, "ANYWAYS, ANYTHING IT HITS WILL SLOW DOWN. THAT IS THE NORO PHOTON!!!" Nami says, "A THING LIKE THAT IS NOT POSSIBLE..." Usopp counters, "NOT POSSIBLE!? HAVEN'T YOU LEARNED BY NOW THAT ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE IN THE GREAT SEAS...!!?" Sanji adds, "OH. WHY DIDN'T YOU JUST SAY THAT EARLIER, 2-PIECE HEAD??" Foxy gets depressed again, muttering "HAMBOG!!!". He recovers once more, laughing, "HAH! AFTER EATING THE NORO-NORO FRUIT, I GAINED THE POWER TO EMIT THESE PHOTONS, AND I BECAME THE ALMIGHTY NORO-NORO MAN! BEHOLD! I SHALL DEMON-STRATE MY POWER!!!!"

Foxy demonstrates his power. A crewmate fires a cannonball, and Foxy shoots a beam from his hand, shouting, "NORO NORO... BEAM!!!" The beam hits the cannonball, and it stops mid-air. Usopp is shocked, "EH?? THE CANNONBALL STOPPED IN MID AIR?" Foxy wiggles his fingers, saying, "NO...RO... NO...RO... ANYTHING HIT BY THE BEAM WILL SLOW DOWN DRAMATICALLY." He explains further, "MOST HUMANS ARE IGNORANT OF THE WORLD ON THE SEA. THE EFFECT LASTS FOR ARROUND 30 SECONDS BEFORE THE OBJECT RESUMES ITS MOVEMENT." Luffy watches in amazement. Foxy boasts, "WITH THIS, NOTHING IS A THREAT TO ME... FUEHE HEHEH! DO YOU DOUBT YOUR EYES?"

Suddenly, the suspended cannonball resumes its speed and violently explodes against a target with a massive "BOOOOOOM!" Foxy's crew cheers wildly, "BOSS!" Foxy declares, "MY NO......IS MY TEAM!!!" and adds, "THAT'S RIGHT. THE VICTOR OF ROUND 1..." Sanji realizes, "DAMN... SO THAT'S WHY WE LOST..." Usopp complains, "THAT'S A REALLY DIRTY TRICK TO USE IN A RACE..." Nami agrees, "NO WONDER THOSE BASTARDS WERE SO CONFIDENT... HIS POWER CLINCHED THE MATCH FOR THEM." Foxy points at them confidently, "ALL THAT MATTERS IS CROSSING THE FINISH LINE! WE DID IT FIRST, SO YOU LOST! NO EXCUSES!"

The announcer declares, "THE FIRST MATCH HAS OFFICIALLY ENDED. NOW IT'S TIME FOR THE HIGHLY ANTICIPATED CREW SELECTION!" Porch mocks them, "IYAN! I PITY YOU, LOSERS!" The announcer continues, "THE CAPTAIN OF THE WINNING TEAM WILL CHOSE A CREW FROM THE LOSING TEAM. PLEASE PROCEED, BOSS---!!!" Foxy points his finger directly forward, laughing, "THE FIRST ONE THAT I WILL TAKE IS... YOU!!!" Reaction shots show Usopp, Chopper, Sanji, Nami, Zoro (drinking), Robin, and Luffy looking tense. Sanji mutters, "DAMN IT!!"

Foxy finishes his sentence, pointing directly at Chopper: "THE DOCTOR TONYTONY, CHOPPER!!!" Chopper's eyes bulge out in absolute shock as he squeaks, "MEH?!" Foxy's crew immediately swarms Chopper, grabbing him and tossing him in the air. Luffy's crew yells, "NOOO--- CHOPPER!!!" while the Foxy Pirates shout, "STOP STRUG-GLING!" Chopper wails, "WUAAAH--------!!" The Foxy Pirates fawn over him, saying, "YEAH--- YOU WILL MAKE A WONDERFUL PET---", "IT'S SO CUTE!", "YOU'RE MORE CUDDLY THAN I IMAGINED <3", "EH-- BOSS. CAN I HOLD HIM, TOO?! <3", and "WHAT A GREAT PRIZE!!"

Luffy's crew is furious. Luffy yells, "CHOPPER!!!" Sanji mutters, "THOSE BITCHES..." Nami realizes, "THEY TOOK CHOPPER BECAUSE HE LOOKS LIKE A RARE PET." Robin wonders, "IS HE A COLLECTOR OF RARE PETS!?" Usopp adds, "HOPEFULLY NOT A COL-LECTOR OF RARE PELTS." Sanji shouts, "WHAT!? THIS IS NOT THE TIME FOR JOKES!! THEY TOOK OUR FRIEND!!" Foxy's crew forces a black mask onto Chopper's head. "LISTEN UP!! DR. CHOPPER, YOU ARE NOW ONE OF US... YOU MUST SWEAR YOUR ROYALTY TO ME!! PUT ON THE MASK." Chopper whimpers. Nami cries, "CHOPPER...!!" Usopp apologizes, "I'M SORRY CHOPPER. WE LOST.." Foxy laughs, "FUEHEHE-HEH... A RARE PET INDEED~~~~" Zoro quietly drinks from a bottle.

The Foxy Pirates welcome Chopper, "IT'S AN AMAZING TALKING REINDEER!!" "COME. SIT NEXT TO ME, COMRADE!" "HAHAHAHA" "LET'S BE FRIENDS!" Chopper sobs uncontrollably. He turns back to his crew and cries out, "EVERYONE~~~~!!!!!! I... I DON'T WANT THIS~~~~!! I STARTED SAILING WITH YOU GUYS... LUFFY!! LUFFY ASK ME... I ONLY WENT BECAUSE LUFFY ASKED!! I DON'T WANT TO JOIN THESE PEOPLE!!!" Luffy, Robin, Sanji, Nami, and Usopp watch him, looking distressed and helpless. Usopp is sweating profusely.

Zoro, sitting on the ground with his swords and a bottle, speaks up sternly, "SHUT YOUR MOUTH, CHOPPER!!" He glares at the crying reindeer, "YOU ARE DISGRACEFUL!" Zoro stands up, holding his swords, and says, "IT WAS YOUR CHOICE TO GET A LIFE ON THE SEA. DEAD OR ALIVE, THE CHOICE WAS YOURS ALONE. DON'T BLAME IT ON OTHERS." He continues, "WE ACCEPTED THE CHALLENGE! USOP AND THE OTHERS TRIED THEIR BEST. IN THE PIRATE'S WORLD, TEARS WON'T GET YOU ANYTHING... IF YOU ARE A MAN..."

Zoro finishes his harsh speech, looking intensely at Chopper, "THEN JUST SIT TIGHT, AND... QUIETLY WATCH THE GAME!!" Chopper stops crying, sucking up his tears and snot, looking determined. Nami is appalled by Zoro's words, "HOW COULD YOU SAY THAT!? HE MUST FEEL TERRIBLE RIGHT NOW..." The announcer's voice booms, "DO KAH!!" Zoro smirks, "MUCH BETTER..." Nami looks surprised, "OOH!!" The Foxy Pirates prepare for the next event.

The crowd cheers wildly, "WUUOOOOH~~~~!!!!!" "THAT SWORDS-MAN SURE CAN TALK!!!" "BOSS WILL PROBABLY CHOOSE HIM NEXT ROUND." "THE REINDEER IS A TOUGH GUY, TOO." "I'M SO TOUCHED THAT I SHED A TEAR! LOOK! AT THE CORNER OF MY EYE! SEE!?" Zoro stands ready, "LET'S GET READY FOR ROUND 2...." Sanji walks up beside him, lighting a cigarette, "THAT'S RIGHT... THERE ARE TWO MORE MATCHES. WE HAVE TO RETRIEVE OUR EMERGENCY FOOD FRIEND." The announcer declares, "THE CONVERSION IS NOW FINISHED! CHEER AS THE DAVY BACK FIGHT CONTINUES!!!" Chopper sits in a chair wearing his new mask, looking resolute, "COOK ME. FRY ME. I DON'T CARE. I'M A MAN!!!" Usopp realizes a problem, "WAIT... ISN'T CHOPPER IN THE 2ND ROUND!?" Nami adds, "YOU GUYS TOOK HIM AWAY..." Foxy's crew laughs, "WAHAHAH. THIS IS STRATEGY! GAMBLING STRATEGY!!" "THAT'S TRUE." The announcer states, "THE RULE IS 'CANNOT EXCHANGE THE CONTESTANTS.' NO CHANGING WHATSO-EVER!"

The announcer continues, "IN ROUND 2, GROGGY RING, AND TEAM STRAW HAT WHICH... WILL ONLY HAVE 2 CONTES-TANTS! IN OTHER WORDS, THE FOXY PIRATES ALSO HAVE THIS MATCH IN THE BAG!" Sanji and Zoro walk onto the field. Sanji says, "WHATEVER, NOT LIKE I NEED ANY OF YOU." Zoro retorts, "SHUT UP, YOU'RE THE UNNEEDED ONE, SEAWEED HEAD!" Nami watches them sweatdrop, "I HOPE THEY DON'T END UP FIGHTING EACH OTHER." The announcer explains the rules, "NOW. I SHALL EXPLAIN THE RULES FOR THE GROGGY RING RIGHT NOW!! IN THE COURT, THERE ARE TWO GOALS ON EACH SIDE. YOU WIN BY THROWING YOUR BALL INTO THE ENEMY'S. HOWEVER, YOU WON'T BE USING A REGULAR RUBBER BALL. YOU'LL USE A PERSON!!! SO FIRST, EACH TEAM MUST CHOOSE A PERSON TO BE THE BALL!"

A referee holds up a ball-shaped hat and asks, "WHICH ONE OF YOU WILL BE THE BALL?" Zoro simply says, "MN." and grabs the hat, saying "HERE." He unceremoniously plops it onto Sanji's head. Sanji says, "EH?" before erupting in fury, "WHY DO YOU GET TO DECIDE!? YOU GOD-DAMNED SEAWEED *#%S*#@!!" The announcer's voice echoes, "YOU ARE LISTENING THEIR ENTRANCE MUSIC... IT'S OUR RETURNING CHAMPIONS FOR GROGGY RING!!!" The crowd cheers as a heavy rhythm plays. "NATURALLY, THEY HAVE GONE UNDE-FEATED IN THE PAST. THEY ARE THE 'GROGGY MONSTERS!!!' THEY ARE NOW ENTERING THE FIELD." Sanji and Zoro look toward the entrance.

A massive double-page spread reveals the Groggy Monsters. The announcer introduces them: "HERE THEY ARE!!! IN THE FRONT IS THE FOUR-HOOF-DRIVEN DASHER, HAMBOG!!! BEHIND HIM IS 'PICKLES, THE TACKLE DEMON!!!' STANDING AT THE REAR IS THE HALF-FISHMAN, HALF-GIANT, 'BIG-BANG, THE WOTAN!!!'" The three massive Foxy Pirates pose intimidatingly. Hambog is round and wears a ball hat. Pickles is large and muscular. Big Pan is a colossal half-fishman half-giant. The announcer yells, "THEY ARE LITERALLY THE MONSTERS OF THE RING!" Luffy, Chopper, Usopp, and Nami react in shock. "WOW!" "WHAT ARE THEY!" "IT'S WEARING THE BALL SIGN!!" "THERE'S NO WAY YOU CAN WIN!!" Foxy laughs, "FUE-HEHE-HEH!!" Sanji and Zoro stand before the giants. Sanji notes, "WE'RE OUT-NUMBERED." Zoro smiles confidently, "NO PROBLEM." The announcer concludes, "WITH THAT... THE 2ND ROUND, GROGGY RING IS ABOUT TO BEGIN!!"

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