Chapter VIII: An Unlikely Trio. The Reluctant Cat, Tiger.
Back at Chelsea Pier, the tramp steamer boat remained near the dock, still preparing for its voyage across the ocean. At the abandoned museum nearby, the mice were preparing themselves too, only for the plan of attack against the cats at dawn. Gussie announced how the plan would go down to the mice.
Gussie: Once more. There is the boat. The boat whistle blows at 6:00 in the morning, and that is when we must... rewease the secwet weapon!
In Gussie’s demonstration, she had some windup toys resembling cats and their secret weapon. The cat toys were placed near the pier and were chased towards the boat by the secret weapon. The mice and pirates cheered as the weapon chased the cat toys onto the boat, taken on a one-way trip to Hong Kong in Asia.
Gussie: So, the cats must be here at 6:00 on the dot, not a moment before or after.
Robin: Six on the nose. Sounds simple.
Usopp: Yeah but why at six?
Gussie: We already said it; the Star of Hong Kong will leave for China at six. And we want the Mott Street Maulers on it when it does.
Franky: Okay, so how are we gonna bring the cats over here?
Gussie: That should not be much trouble.
She turns to the group of mice who got picked for the job of luring the cats to the pier.
Gussie: Now, when you go to get the cats, what do you do to make them come here?
The assigned mice got on their feet and chanted in a mocking way.
Mice: Nyah nyah nyah-nyah nyah.
Gussie: Right! *to everyone else* Now get some sweep. We have a wong day ahead.
As everyone prepare for bed, the Straw Hats gather and headed for their posts.
Robin: Hard to imagine.
Zoro: Imagine what?
Robin: That we’re helping these mice chase out a bunch of cats with something Franky would only dream of building.
Franky: It’s true.
Nami: It’s too bad Luffy isn’t here, he’d get a kick out of this.
Sanji: Yeah…he would…
Chopper: *starts to cry* Luffy…
Franky: Hey, no crying. Luffy’ll come back. He always does.
Nami: Yeah but from being lost at sea? I mean nobody can come back from that? Not even Luff on his luckiest day.
Usopp: I wouldn’t be too sure.
Nami: What makes you say that?
Usopp: Back at the rally, when whoever-that-guy-was was speaking, I could’ve swore I heard Luffy laughing.
Brook: You sure?
Usopp: It sounded like him.
Sanji: But did you see him?
Usopp: Couldn’t with all those mice in front of us, but I know it was him.
Chopper: So then he is alive?
Robin: Maybe, maybe not?
Usopp: And if he’s alive, then who’s to say that Fievel is—oomph!
Zoro clamps Usopp’s mouth shut as the Mousekewitz family walks by to the weapon. Just as they were out of ear shot, Zoro lets go.
Usopp: What was that for?!
Zoro: I’d suggest you’d keep that to yourself around the Mousekewitzs until we know for certain.
Usopp: Yeah but…
Zoro: Look, even if we did have proof, they’ll never believe us and I know Papa doesn’t want to talk about it.
Usopp: Well…
Robin: I think it’s best we discuss this till after we get rid of the cats, okay?
Nami: Very well. But do you really think Luffy is alive?
Zoro: At this point I’d be surprised if he wasn’t.
With that, the Straw Hats head for the Secret Weapon, getting ready for the big day in the morning ahead.
However, what they didn’t know, was that while Luffy and Fievel were still alive, they were the permanent guests of the Mott Street Maulers’ and their lovely maximum security complex. And by ‘lovely complex’, I meant a large pile of dirty, beat-up birdcages. Inside one of said cages were our two lost boys; Fievel was sobbing while Luffy was trying to break out of the cage. After bashing through the cage multiple times with his fists and kicks, he stopped and panted hard.
Luffy: Man, what’s this thing made out of, seastone?
Well seastone doesn’t exist in this world, so the cage is made of basic metal. And since Luffy is about the size of its supposed occupant, it’d be a lot harder to get out even with his devil fruit powers. Elsewhere, we could hear the mauler on duty, half-awake, talking to himself.
????: No, no, no boss, it was not me. I promise it was not me.
?????: Wake up! Uh, wake up! JAKE! Wake up! Oh, you’re up! Uh, go get some sleep Jake.
Jake: Oh yeah, you’re right. Rest, sleep!
As Luffy was about to go at the birdcage for I think was the tenth time, the large orange tabby Tiger arrives, making noises and acting like he was ready for a fight.
Tiger: I’m your guard…Tiger! Don't make any funny moves. 'Cause I'm crafty, and I'm quick. I have the instinct of a cat. What am I saying, I am a cat.
However, no one was paying attention to him as Fievel was still crying and Luffy was trying to bust of the cage. Tiger goes over to the cage just as Luffy was winding up for another punch.
Tiger: Hey, what are you trying to—
Luffy: Gum Gum Pistol!
Luffy throws a punch at the birdcage, causing his arm to ricochet all over the inside of the cage. This causes the cage to bounce about like a can full of Mexican jumping beans, frightening Tiger as he tries to keep it from falling over. Tiger manages to catch the cage, just as Luffy puts a dent into one of the bars.
Tiger: Woah! Oh, hey, now don't start that. I didn't mean to scare ya that much, really. It's okay, little buddies. Hey, I'm your friend. Aw, come on. Be happy. *chuckles* Aw. Oh, come on. What are you trying to do anyway?
Luffy: What does it look like I’m doing? I’m trying to bust out of this dumb cage so I can go find my crewmates and help my friend find his family.
Tiger: You…lost your family?
Fievel: Mmm-hmm.
Tiger leaned himself next to the cage, allowing it to hang again, all while he started expressing sorrow as well, not just for Fievel, but also for himself.
Tiger: Oh, no. *picks off one of his nails* That's terrible. You know, I lost my family, too.
Luffy: You did?
Tiger: That’s right. *holds his tail* Years ago, I mean…*sobbing* eight brothers…ten sisters…three fathers…
Tiger buried his face in his tail as he sobbed, missing his family just as much as Fievel missed his. Luffy, while feeling somewhat sorry for the big ol’ tabby, was wracking his brain on how one cat would have that many siblings from three separate fathers.
Fievel: Don't cry. You'll find them.
Tiger: *sniffled* Do you really think so?
Tiger finally calms down, picks off another one of his cat nails and spits it out, landing on the cage.
Tiger: Gee, you're nice. Um, my name is Tiger. What's yours?
Fievel, Fievel Mousekewitz.
Luffy: And I’m Monkey D. Luffy.
Tiger: Monkey D. Luffy?
Luffy: Just call me Luffy.
Tiger: oh… Listen, I gotta level with you guys… I like mice.
This suddenly caused Fievel to turn around and burst into tears again, thinking Tiger liked mice as food.
Tiger: Oh no, not like that. I mean, I don't eat red meat at all. (chuckles) I'm a vegetarian.
Luffy: A vegetarian?
Tiger: That's right. Oh, a little fish now and then. But what I really like is some nice... Shh... Broccoli.
Luffy: A broccoli eating cat? That seems weird.
Fievel: You know, I thought all cats were supposed to be mean.
Tiger: Mean? Ha, I am mean! *growls*
Tiger starts up acting all tough and all this frisky activity caused the birdcage that Luffy and Fievel were in to break free and roll on the ground.
Tiger: Argh! Then…and…ah, what’s the use?
As the cage stopped, they looked up and saw Tiger sitting on a ledge, his back facing them and his tail slowly tapping from side to side. But as it seemed though that he was going to remain stern and guard the duo, but Luffy could sense something was wrong.
Luffy: You don’t seem to be like the other cats do you? Almost every cat we came across wanted to eat us.
Tiger: Well…to tell you the truth, I really don’t like hurting mice. I get it’s a whole predator/prey thing, but there is a thing as a limit.
Luffy: Then why not quit?
Tiger: I would if I wanted to, but the Maulers were pretty much the only family I have…if you even call them family.
Fievel: How come?
Tiger: To be honest, I hate how the Maulers have been treating the mice. I mean it’s enough that we force them to pay for protection, but then we go out and attack them anyway? I mean it doesn’t make any sense. And ever since Warren got those monsters from that weird guild, nothing makes sense anymore.
Luffy/Fievel: Monsters?
Tiger: Yeah. Those things that chased you guys earlier. But I really don’t like how they act. They’re more vicious than we are.
Luffy: So what do you like?
Tiger: I like butterflies with big golden wings and blue and green tips.
Fievel: Me too!
Tiger: Ha. I like Swiss cheese ice cream.
Fievel: Me, too! Me, too!
Tiger: You too, too?
Luffy: Never heard of Swiss cheese ice cream, but I like ice cream too.
Tiger: Hmm. Wait a minute. What's your favorite book?
Luffy: Well I don’t have a favorite, but the one I really like reading is…
Fievel/Luffy: The Brothers Karamazov.
Tiger: The Brothers...
Tiger starts to chuckle with joy, seeing how the three have so many common interests.
Tiger: I can’t…I can’t believe it! I can’t believe it!
Tiger: I can tell, we got an awful lot in common
Even though we look as different as can be
He took the birdcage and removes some locks, allowing him to take the bars off so he can look at Fievel and Luffy eye to eye.
Tiger: We don’t even have to try to see things eye to eye
It just comes to us naturally
Now what happens next, looked like something from a fantasy. The cobwebs lift upwards as if being pulled up like curtains on a stage.
Tiger: Come to think of it, I think we fit together
Playing cat and mouse won’t get us very far
There’s no need to feud or fuss when it isn’t really us
Let’s you and me be who we are
Tiger: We’re a trio! A trio,
Three single lonely ones,
who were meant to be a three-o
A trio! It’s so real-o
Cause wherever we go
We’re going me and you
Now next to a mirror, Tiger wiped against it, allowing Fievel and Luffy to see their reflection.
Luffy/Fievel: Yeah!
Tiger: Oh, no matter what, now we’ve got one another
We’ll be there to pick each other off the floor
Any time you’re feeling glum, count on me to be a chum
Fievel: If you get an itch attack,
Luffy: We’ll be there to scratch your back
Tiger: Now who could ever ask for mo-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o
o-o-o-o-o-o-o-ore? Mo-o-o-o-o-o…
Tiger’s singing suddenly stopped when Fievel and Luffy started scratching his back. This caused him to start laughing wildly.
Tiger: Oh, stop! Oh, stop! No! Don't! Don't stop! More. More!
We’re friends and that’s what friends are for!
Fievel/Luffy/Tiger: We’re a trio!
A trio,
Three single lonely ones,
who were meant to be a three-o
A trio! It’s so real-o
If we’re ever in a stew,
we know we can make it through
‘CAUSE YOU’VE GOT ME AND I…
GOT…
YO-O-O-O-O-U
YES SIR!
Well, that was the beginning of a very odd trio of friends; a young mouse, a vegetarian cat and a rubbery pirate captain. And this was definitely a friendship that transcends all boundaries. But as wholesome as this moment was, sadly we have to end this short because…
DDDDDDDDIIIIIIIIINNNNNNNGGGG!!!!
The happy moment shattered along with the mirror as an alarm went off. This caught everyone off guard and Digit, having been awoken by the sudden alarm, saw what happened and started freaking out while tiny bits of electricity sparked on his antennae.
Tiger: Where’d that come from?
Digit tries to stop Fievel by grabbing him, only for Luffy to slug him away with a punch.
Tiger: Don't. Oh, stop it! Uh! Oh!
Luffy grabs Fievel and makes a beeline for the exit, just as Warren and the other cats arrived.
Luffy: Thanks a lot, Tiger! See ya next time!
Warren T.: TIGER, HOW DID THEY GET AWAY?!
Tiger: They overpowered me.
Warren T.: You’re out of gang for this!
Tiger: Good! I’m glad! I never liked you, and besides, your music stinks!
Reaching above ground once again, and this time avoiding being pulled back in by the cats, Luffy and Fievel raced back fast as they could to the pier. They could suddenly hear a cacophony of cats and monsters far behind them. But that didn’t matter as they rushed to pier, and to the Secret Weapon.
Back at Chelsea Pier, the tramp steamer boat remained near the dock, still preparing for its voyage across the ocean. At the abandoned museum nearby, the mice were preparing themselves too, only for the plan of attack against the cats at dawn. Gussie announced how the plan would go down to the mice.
Gussie: Once more. There is the boat. The boat whistle blows at 6:00 in the morning, and that is when we must... rewease the secwet weapon!
In Gussie’s demonstration, she had some windup toys resembling cats and their secret weapon. The cat toys were placed near the pier and were chased towards the boat by the secret weapon. The mice and pirates cheered as the weapon chased the cat toys onto the boat, taken on a one-way trip to Hong Kong in Asia.
Gussie: So, the cats must be here at 6:00 on the dot, not a moment before or after.
Robin: Six on the nose. Sounds simple.
Usopp: Yeah but why at six?
Gussie: We already said it; the Star of Hong Kong will leave for China at six. And we want the Mott Street Maulers on it when it does.
Franky: Okay, so how are we gonna bring the cats over here?
Gussie: That should not be much trouble.
She turns to the group of mice who got picked for the job of luring the cats to the pier.
Gussie: Now, when you go to get the cats, what do you do to make them come here?
The assigned mice got on their feet and chanted in a mocking way.
Mice: Nyah nyah nyah-nyah nyah.
Gussie: Right! *to everyone else* Now get some sweep. We have a wong day ahead.
As everyone prepare for bed, the Straw Hats gather and headed for their posts.
Robin: Hard to imagine.
Zoro: Imagine what?
Robin: That we’re helping these mice chase out a bunch of cats with something Franky would only dream of building.
Franky: It’s true.
Nami: It’s too bad Luffy isn’t here, he’d get a kick out of this.
Sanji: Yeah…he would…
Chopper: *starts to cry* Luffy…
Franky: Hey, no crying. Luffy’ll come back. He always does.
Nami: Yeah but from being lost at sea? I mean nobody can come back from that? Not even Luff on his luckiest day.
Usopp: I wouldn’t be too sure.
Nami: What makes you say that?
Usopp: Back at the rally, when whoever-that-guy-was was speaking, I could’ve swore I heard Luffy laughing.
Brook: You sure?
Usopp: It sounded like him.
Sanji: But did you see him?
Usopp: Couldn’t with all those mice in front of us, but I know it was him.
Chopper: So then he is alive?
Robin: Maybe, maybe not?
Usopp: And if he’s alive, then who’s to say that Fievel is—oomph!
Zoro clamps Usopp’s mouth shut as the Mousekewitz family walks by to the weapon. Just as they were out of ear shot, Zoro lets go.
Usopp: What was that for?!
Zoro: I’d suggest you’d keep that to yourself around the Mousekewitzs until we know for certain.
Usopp: Yeah but…
Zoro: Look, even if we did have proof, they’ll never believe us and I know Papa doesn’t want to talk about it.
Usopp: Well…
Robin: I think it’s best we discuss this till after we get rid of the cats, okay?
Nami: Very well. But do you really think Luffy is alive?
Zoro: At this point I’d be surprised if he wasn’t.
With that, the Straw Hats head for the Secret Weapon, getting ready for the big day in the morning ahead.
However, what they didn’t know, was that while Luffy and Fievel were still alive, they were the permanent guests of the Mott Street Maulers’ and their lovely maximum security complex. And by ‘lovely complex’, I meant a large pile of dirty, beat-up birdcages. Inside one of said cages were our two lost boys; Fievel was sobbing while Luffy was trying to break out of the cage. After bashing through the cage multiple times with his fists and kicks, he stopped and panted hard.
Luffy: Man, what’s this thing made out of, seastone?
Well seastone doesn’t exist in this world, so the cage is made of basic metal. And since Luffy is about the size of its supposed occupant, it’d be a lot harder to get out even with his devil fruit powers. Elsewhere, we could hear the mauler on duty, half-awake, talking to himself.
????: No, no, no boss, it was not me. I promise it was not me.
?????: Wake up! Uh, wake up! JAKE! Wake up! Oh, you’re up! Uh, go get some sleep Jake.
Jake: Oh yeah, you’re right. Rest, sleep!
As Luffy was about to go at the birdcage for I think was the tenth time, the large orange tabby Tiger arrives, making noises and acting like he was ready for a fight.
Tiger: I’m your guard…Tiger! Don't make any funny moves. 'Cause I'm crafty, and I'm quick. I have the instinct of a cat. What am I saying, I am a cat.
However, no one was paying attention to him as Fievel was still crying and Luffy was trying to bust of the cage. Tiger goes over to the cage just as Luffy was winding up for another punch.
Tiger: Hey, what are you trying to—
Luffy: Gum Gum Pistol!
Luffy throws a punch at the birdcage, causing his arm to ricochet all over the inside of the cage. This causes the cage to bounce about like a can full of Mexican jumping beans, frightening Tiger as he tries to keep it from falling over. Tiger manages to catch the cage, just as Luffy puts a dent into one of the bars.
Tiger: Woah! Oh, hey, now don't start that. I didn't mean to scare ya that much, really. It's okay, little buddies. Hey, I'm your friend. Aw, come on. Be happy. *chuckles* Aw. Oh, come on. What are you trying to do anyway?
Luffy: What does it look like I’m doing? I’m trying to bust out of this dumb cage so I can go find my crewmates and help my friend find his family.
Tiger: You…lost your family?
Fievel: Mmm-hmm.
Tiger leaned himself next to the cage, allowing it to hang again, all while he started expressing sorrow as well, not just for Fievel, but also for himself.
Tiger: Oh, no. *picks off one of his nails* That's terrible. You know, I lost my family, too.
Luffy: You did?
Tiger: That’s right. *holds his tail* Years ago, I mean…*sobbing* eight brothers…ten sisters…three fathers…
Tiger buried his face in his tail as he sobbed, missing his family just as much as Fievel missed his. Luffy, while feeling somewhat sorry for the big ol’ tabby, was wracking his brain on how one cat would have that many siblings from three separate fathers.
Fievel: Don't cry. You'll find them.
Tiger: *sniffled* Do you really think so?
Tiger finally calms down, picks off another one of his cat nails and spits it out, landing on the cage.
Tiger: Gee, you're nice. Um, my name is Tiger. What's yours?
Fievel, Fievel Mousekewitz.
Luffy: And I’m Monkey D. Luffy.
Tiger: Monkey D. Luffy?
Luffy: Just call me Luffy.
Tiger: oh… Listen, I gotta level with you guys… I like mice.
This suddenly caused Fievel to turn around and burst into tears again, thinking Tiger liked mice as food.
Tiger: Oh no, not like that. I mean, I don't eat red meat at all. (chuckles) I'm a vegetarian.
Luffy: A vegetarian?
Tiger: That's right. Oh, a little fish now and then. But what I really like is some nice... Shh... Broccoli.
Luffy: A broccoli eating cat? That seems weird.
Fievel: You know, I thought all cats were supposed to be mean.
Tiger: Mean? Ha, I am mean! *growls*
Tiger starts up acting all tough and all this frisky activity caused the birdcage that Luffy and Fievel were in to break free and roll on the ground.
Tiger: Argh! Then…and…ah, what’s the use?
As the cage stopped, they looked up and saw Tiger sitting on a ledge, his back facing them and his tail slowly tapping from side to side. But as it seemed though that he was going to remain stern and guard the duo, but Luffy could sense something was wrong.
Luffy: You don’t seem to be like the other cats do you? Almost every cat we came across wanted to eat us.
Tiger: Well…to tell you the truth, I really don’t like hurting mice. I get it’s a whole predator/prey thing, but there is a thing as a limit.
Luffy: Then why not quit?
Tiger: I would if I wanted to, but the Maulers were pretty much the only family I have…if you even call them family.
Fievel: How come?
Tiger: To be honest, I hate how the Maulers have been treating the mice. I mean it’s enough that we force them to pay for protection, but then we go out and attack them anyway? I mean it doesn’t make any sense. And ever since Warren got those monsters from that weird guild, nothing makes sense anymore.
Luffy/Fievel: Monsters?
Tiger: Yeah. Those things that chased you guys earlier. But I really don’t like how they act. They’re more vicious than we are.
Luffy: So what do you like?
Tiger: I like butterflies with big golden wings and blue and green tips.
Fievel: Me too!
Tiger: Ha. I like Swiss cheese ice cream.
Fievel: Me, too! Me, too!
Tiger: You too, too?
Luffy: Never heard of Swiss cheese ice cream, but I like ice cream too.
Tiger: Hmm. Wait a minute. What's your favorite book?
Luffy: Well I don’t have a favorite, but the one I really like reading is…
Fievel/Luffy: The Brothers Karamazov.
Tiger: The Brothers...
Tiger starts to chuckle with joy, seeing how the three have so many common interests.
Tiger: I can’t…I can’t believe it! I can’t believe it!
Tiger: I can tell, we got an awful lot in common
Even though we look as different as can be
He took the birdcage and removes some locks, allowing him to take the bars off so he can look at Fievel and Luffy eye to eye.
Tiger: We don’t even have to try to see things eye to eye
It just comes to us naturally
Now what happens next, looked like something from a fantasy. The cobwebs lift upwards as if being pulled up like curtains on a stage.
Tiger: Come to think of it, I think we fit together
Playing cat and mouse won’t get us very far
There’s no need to feud or fuss when it isn’t really us
Let’s you and me be who we are
Tiger: We’re a trio! A trio,
Three single lonely ones,
who were meant to be a three-o
A trio! It’s so real-o
Cause wherever we go
We’re going me and you
Now next to a mirror, Tiger wiped against it, allowing Fievel and Luffy to see their reflection.
Luffy/Fievel: Yeah!
Tiger: Oh, no matter what, now we’ve got one another
We’ll be there to pick each other off the floor
Any time you’re feeling glum, count on me to be a chum
Fievel: If you get an itch attack,
Luffy: We’ll be there to scratch your back
Tiger: Now who could ever ask for mo-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o
o-o-o-o-o-o-o-ore? Mo-o-o-o-o-o…
Tiger’s singing suddenly stopped when Fievel and Luffy started scratching his back. This caused him to start laughing wildly.
Tiger: Oh, stop! Oh, stop! No! Don't! Don't stop! More. More!
We’re friends and that’s what friends are for!
Fievel/Luffy/Tiger: We’re a trio!
A trio,
Three single lonely ones,
who were meant to be a three-o
A trio! It’s so real-o
If we’re ever in a stew,
we know we can make it through
‘CAUSE YOU’VE GOT ME AND I…
GOT…
YO-O-O-O-O-U
YES SIR!
Well, that was the beginning of a very odd trio of friends; a young mouse, a vegetarian cat and a rubbery pirate captain. And this was definitely a friendship that transcends all boundaries. But as wholesome as this moment was, sadly we have to end this short because…
DDDDDDDDIIIIIIIIINNNNNNNGGGG!!!!
The happy moment shattered along with the mirror as an alarm went off. This caught everyone off guard and Digit, having been awoken by the sudden alarm, saw what happened and started freaking out while tiny bits of electricity sparked on his antennae.
Tiger: Where’d that come from?
Digit tries to stop Fievel by grabbing him, only for Luffy to slug him away with a punch.
Tiger: Don't. Oh, stop it! Uh! Oh!
Luffy grabs Fievel and makes a beeline for the exit, just as Warren and the other cats arrived.
Luffy: Thanks a lot, Tiger! See ya next time!
Warren T.: TIGER, HOW DID THEY GET AWAY?!
Tiger: They overpowered me.
Warren T.: You’re out of gang for this!
Tiger: Good! I’m glad! I never liked you, and besides, your music stinks!
Reaching above ground once again, and this time avoiding being pulled back in by the cats, Luffy and Fievel raced back fast as they could to the pier. They could suddenly hear a cacophony of cats and monsters far behind them. But that didn’t matter as they rushed to pier, and to the Secret Weapon.