When I woke up I still felt super groggy.

I opened my eyes to see something I wasn't happy to see.

Zoro had his swords pointed at me, Sanji looked ready to kick me, Nami had her staff ready to swing, Ussop aimed his slingshot right at my eyes, and Apis even had a knife aimed at me with teary eyes.

Zoro spoke up "As first mate of this ship I need to take charge when I say there is no reason you could know all of our life stories. So, who are you working for cat? Why do you want us dead so badly that they'd sent a monster like you to take us out? Answer carefully or I'll cut you to pieces and toss all of them overboard before you can meow 'Oops'

S-..... shucks. I talked in my sleep didn't I?

"Y-yes. You did talk in your sleep. You.... you know about everyone! How?!" She said touching the blade to me.

I frowned and said "none of you would believe me. I don't work for anyone. End of story."

I went to move and Zoro sliced into one of my paws and said "Don't you dare move. Especially when you still haven't answered any of my questions.

I hissed "Mother fu.... fudging jerk! I don't work for anyone and if I really wanted you dead I would've slit all your throats in your sleep by now!"

Sanji said "Even so.... how could you possible know half of the things you do?"

I hissed "How many times do I have to say it?! You wouldn't believe me!"

Zoro growled "You're lying! I can see it just in your posture! Tell us the truth!"

"You can't handle the truth!" I yelled at all of them.

I breathed heavily as I sat there and healed.

Once Zoro and them heard the translation he said "Hmph. You really think that huh? Fine. You still owe us an explanation. Especially since you seem to know us so well. I don't care if you have to write it in your own blood."

Everyone put their weapons away, but I still felt the heated glares they all had on me.

Despite all the negative emotions around me..... I felt great all of a sudden.

What the hell? Why do I feel so..... good about them being this...... angry at me? Wait........ I felt weak when I was being nice to Apis....... and now that everyone is pissed I feel good? What kind of monstrosity am I?

I wandered around the Merry aimlessly.

My mind wandered.

My body gains energy from misery? How does that work? Why does that work? Why would moon cats feed off of........

Wait this makes sense.... that's why they're soo hated. They thrive off of misery and can only die by drowning.

I'm a monster..... I'm a monster..... I'm a monster..... I'm a monster..... I'm a monster..... I'm a monster..... I'm a monster..... I'm a.......

Apis stopped me from banging my head in the wall and said "I...... I know your body is a monster..... but if you were I don't think you'd be this upset about it....."

I smiled and told her "That's true, but I can't be too nice to people or I lose all of my energy.

I can easily see myself beginning to actually like hurting others......

No wonder Zeff wanted to drown me. My kind is designed to cause misery...."

"Who is Zeff?" She asked.

"The closest thing Sanji ever had to a proper father." I told her and leapt off to get some food.

I tried my best to ovoid her for the rest of the trip.

Just before we got there she cornered me and asked "Why do you keep running from me?"

The rest of the crew was actually curious as well.

"I...... I...... I can't be mean or hurt little kids. I may be an a...... annoying jerk, but I don't curse around kids and don't hurt them." I told all of them.

Sanji crouched down to pet me and said "I can relate. Although replace children with....."

I bit his hand before running off again. I was left alone for a while.

While they met Apis's family (including Ryu the Alzheimers riddled dragon.) I watched over the ship silently.

Then the Marines came near the ship.

"Fuck no. Not today."

I leapt off the ship and landed in front of them.

Three bastards with guns. Alright. Let's do this shit.

The second the first one noticed me I leapt through the air and slashed at his throat with my claws. A spray of blood and a gurgle later I felt amazing as the other two stood in pure shock and horror. This easily gave me time to make them end up like the first.

Since the bodies and blood would make a scene, I dumped them into the ocean and licked up the blood.

Fuck I really am a little demon.....

When I was satisfied that they wouldn't be noticed I decided to wait for Ussop.

He came around surprised that I was waiting for him with no marines to be found.

He blinked and asked "S-shadow? Where are the marines?"

I made a slashing motion with my paw. He gulped, got the message, and we went on board.

Kinda funny that he keeps seeing my victims..... I wonder if he'll end up having a nightmare about me.

I shook myself out of it as the ship started sailing to the one rock spire/cliff thing that looks like Ussop's nose.

Just like normal the rest of the crew came barreling down the mountain and landed behind the ship. After escaping to open water away from the others I went to go see the dragon and Apis.

I looked at them to see Grandpa Ryu snarling at me.

He said "Moon cat..... begone! I swear if you harm a hair on my little one's head I'll....."

I told him "I have no intention of such a thing you old fart.

I know I am a monster, so I abide by rules I have set. Rule one is not harming children."

We still glared at each other, but he eventually conceded and relaxed.

"Be sure that it is so or I'll have to drown you and then eat you out of spite."

I replied "Surprisingly together when it comes to what matters doesn't it?"

"Doesn't what?" He asked with a confused look.

I snorted and went to the cargo hold to see if there were any new mice to hunt.

Apis's POV

I was shocked to say the least. That was the most I had seen Grandpa Ryu move in a while.

I asked him "Is Shadow really that dangerous?"

Ryu blinked and told me "Shadows can't do anything. What are you on about little one?"

I frowned and asked "What do you know about moon cats?"

His eyes widened for a split second before saying "They.... they are one of the most dangerous creatures in existence. Most are mindless creatures of hate and death.

All of them have multiple tails. Each tail gives them a power, and makes them bigger....

There is the occasional one that is sentient. Those ones are always tricky because they always have knowledge and experience far beyond their age..... never make an enemy of one of those if you value your life....."

"Well..... these people have a sentient one that they're friends with. Is there a way for him to be nice without being tired?" I asked.

He looked to be in deep thought before saying "He must be a two tailed then. Once he gains enough raw negative emotion for a third tail he should be.... wait.... what were we talking about?"

I sighed and said "Don't worry Grandpa Ryu."

I'll have to tell him or the crew later....

Luffy interrupted by saying "Is that all? He'll be happy to know that!"

"He will?" I asked in confusion.

"Yeah. He actually needs to be a jerk to people, but deep down.... he hates it more than anything.

He's always trying his best to help us even though his body doesn't.

It's honestly amazing he has enough strength to go against his very nature. It's good to know things will be easier on him once he gets another tail. Plus he'll be super cool and get a new power!" Luffy finished off with some laughter.

"Wait.... did you understand....."

We were all interrupted when Sanji called out "Food!"

He came to the back holding a large pot of rice. Luffy grabbed it without thinking and it landed right on top of Grandpa Ryu's head!

I quickly helped get the pot off of him before he said "I...... I remember the location of an island..... one that was important..... perhaps that is it!"

"Lead the way you cooky old fart before I have to drop something bigger on your head." I heard Shadow snipe from above.

Grandpa Ryu mostly ignored him and pointed towards the west.

Luffy called out "Set sail!"

After we set sail I saw Shadow go on top of the crow's nest and balance himself on top of the highest point.

Well..... that explains soo much..... I wonder how he knows so much though..... it's almost like he's seen it all before......

But how?

After a bit of sailing we suddenly saw a massive storm brewing.

Nami started shouting out constant orders to get prepared for the intense weather.

I looked up and shadow stood on top of the crow's nest not moving a muscle.

"Shadow! What are you doing up there?! You're gonna get hit by...."
I was interrupted by a flash of light and the boom of thunder as a massive lightning bolt hit him dead on. The ship's deck was spattered with his blood and what was left of him.

Then he quickly reformed obviously still in pain.

He immediately was struck by another bolt.

He reformed, he was blown away by lighting. Again and again and again.

By the time we exited the storm he fell from the crow's nest onto the deck limp and unconscious.

I ran over, picked him up, and held him tightly with tears streaming down my eyes.

"Why? Why did you do that? Why did you go through soo much pain."

He mumbled in his sleep "I can regenerate from anything. The Merry and you guys can't...... better me than anything else.......

Maybe I can help the Merry last longer....."

"Last longer?"

"Gonna break..... water seven..... sad...... no repairing it...... Ussop......"

I held him and said "Just rest. Stop with that future talk....."

He snuggled into me cutely and I smiled.

He really does care about this ship and these people.

I set him off to the side where he wouldn't be in any danger as Luffy called out "Land!!!"

Shadow's POV

When I woke up from my electrical barrage I saw we were stationed at the island that would tell everyone to go back to Warship isle.

Speaking of which....

I looked towards the tower and saw the gang coming flying right towards the ship. They just barely cleared the damn thing before landing in the water.

I yelled down "Are you crazy?! You could have destroyed the ship!"

Luffy just laughed once he heard the translation and said "But we didn't! Plus it was fun! Let's do it again!"

Everyone shouted "No!!!"

I was still tired from the electricity so I decided to lay back down, but refused to sleep.

I watched everyone do things around the ship when the final climax of the arc started. The wall of marine ships.

I was still too drained to do much. The whole situation would be handled, but I still felt like shit for not helping.

Ussop broke the big main cannon by landing our own shot into it, the monster trio all went off to take out the chains of a ship and take out a ton of marines.

I then saw Eric make his way sneakily over to Apis.

I dashed at him without a second thought or hesitation. I jumped and latched onto the first part of him my fangs met.

Unfortunately it was just his arm. Fortunately Luffy stretched back to us in time to clobber the sickle fruit user.

My misfortune continued as I was launched off the side and was heading right for the water.

As I sank the only solace I had was that I had taken a nice chunk out of Eric's hand on my way down. I managed to hold my breath as best I could. I noticed that the rock bed was very close to the surface by now.

My vision was blurring as the seconds ticked by and my lungs burned. I eventually started swallowing sea water. I was surprised no one had come for me as my consciousness slowly faded once more.

However much later I coughed up seawater feeling very invigorated all things considered.

I saw Apis crying over the body of Granpa Ryu.

I walked over as I heard them discuss how this was a Dragon nest and all that.

I had made a decision and I wasn't going to back down now.

I started thinking towards Apis.

Confession time.

She turned to me and everyone was interested to see my presence. Apis started translating, feeling the importance of those words.

I have seen countless stories of fantastic journeys. Ones of wizards and destiny, ones of adventure and romance, ones of aliens, zombies, cowboys, ninjas, gods, and everything in-between.

One was a tale simply known as One Piece. A grand story telling the many insane adventures of a man named Monkey D. Luffy. The next King of the pirates. That is how I know so much. However, just because it was a story, doesn't mean it remained a story or makes anything less real.

The man who wrote it was able to see this world somehow.

My old world..... was mundane and boring. It didn't have devil fruits or moon cats..... the most magic we had ever experienced was what we saw in those stories.

All of them were shocked to say the least, but I continued and so did Apis.

I was born a relatively normal life. In my world education is mandatory. In fact I went on to go to a collage and learned quite a bit about science. A lot of it has gone fuzzy and I feel it going fuzzier with each day. So.... I'm willing to answer some questions if you want.

All of them stood quietly before Nami asked "How much money will I make being a part of this crew?"

I told her "Enough make a noble jealous eventually. Keep close and the berri will follow."

Ussop asked "Will I become a brave warrior of the sea?"

I chuckled and told him through Apis "With this crew? Of coarse. It will take a while, but I know you will one day."

"Will I ever find the All Blue?! Will Nami marry me?! Will I get lots of lovely women to marry me?!" Sanji asked getting steamed up.

"Yes, maybe, if you want the second ditch the thought of others you pervert cook."

I looked to Zorro and he told me "I already know I'll be the world's greatest swordsman. I don't need some demon cat to tell me that."

I nodded and turned to Luffy. He had a huge smile and he loudly said "My nakama is so cool! How much meat do I get to eat?!"

Everyone dropped and all of the pain I went through in the past couple days plus the kindness I was showing caught up and I fell asleep with one last thought.

Stupid kitten body falling asleep like this......

When I woke up I felt the rocking of our ship so I decided to at least stretch out on Luffy's lap.

"Hey Shadow. Apis left just so you know. She was happy that you did so much and that you had a nice reason for knowing us. I can't wait to see what you saw. For now you should get more rest."

I gave a little salute and let my napping continue.

When I next woke up it was raining and we were about to crash into Reverse mountain.

Luffy managed to put a stop to that.

When Eric showed up I slammed into him and knocked him off. The few seconds of sheer panic that radiated from him kept me nice and attentive while we flew through the air to the grand line.

Huh. I'm really racking up the body count. Maybe I should care more? Eh whatever.

I made sure to dig my claws deeply into the wood of the deck before we launched off of the water spout and landed safely in the channel that leads to the grand line.

As we neared Laboon I felt a rush of energy from his sheer sadness. Despite the pain his wails of anguish did to my ears, I felt them give energy to my body. I barely noticed when we slowed down. Then the figurehead landed right on top of me.

"Mother fucker whhhhy!!!!!" I screamed out.

Laboon suddenly seemed to pause.

"Huh? What was that voice?"

The crew's panic added to his sadness and confusion.

And then Luffy punched him in the eye.

Luffy launched himself at the whale and he swallowed the Merry.

Meanwhile I was still stuck under the damn figurehead being crushed.

In fact I was completely forgotten about while the crew went off to deal with Crocus, Mrs. Wednesday, and Mr. Six. Or was it seven? Nine?

My memory is definitely getting worse. Then again remembering 1500+ chapters of an over two and a half long decade story isn't easy...

Finally, after all the action was already done an over with, something lifted the figurehead up and I was free.

"Oh, there you are Shadow!

I will castrate you ero cook!