Led by Flora, the forest ranger apprentice, the Straw Hat Pirates walked into the island along a path naturally paved with giant tree roots and smooth stone slabs. The surrounding vegetation was more lush than they could have imagined; some flowers were as big as bathtubs, and some vines coiled around the ancient trees like giant pythons. The rich life force in the air was almost tangible.
"Everything on our Ambra Island comes from the blessings of the ' Mother Tree,'" Flora explained, her voice filled with reverence as she led the way. "It is the Mother Tree that maintains the ecological balance of the entire island, bestowing upon all plants their vibrant vitality. Our duty as forest rangers is to protect the Mother Tree and uphold this balance."
Robin asked with great interest, "Miss Flora, is the ' Mother Tree ' you mentioned a special tree? Where is it?"
Flora immediately shook her head nervously, her emerald green hair swaying. "We can't ask! We can't go looking for her! The Mother Tree is in the sacred deepest part of the island, and only the Great Forest Ranger can approach it. Outsiders will disturb the Mother Tree's peace and incur the forest's wrath!" She pointed to the seemingly ordinary plants on both sides of the road, "They... are the Mother Tree's eyes and ears."
Upon hearing this, Usopp and Chopper immediately looked nervously at the surrounding plants, feeling as if the swaying branches and leaves were staring at them.
Luffy, however, was oblivious; his attention was drawn to a cluster of rainbow-colored berries by the roadside, emitting an enticingly sweet fragrance. "Oh! These look delicious!" he exclaimed, reaching out to pick them.
"Don't pick them!" Flora exclaimed, but it was too late.
The Luffy's hand touched the rainbow berry, something unexpected happened!
"Shhhh--!"
The surrounding plants seemed to come alive instantly! The once supple vines lashed Luffy like whips, and roots burst from the ground, wrapping around his ankles. Even the huge ancient tree next to them, with its face-like markings, slowly "turned its face," its hollow trunk seemingly staring at them!
"Whoa! The plant is angry!" Usopp screamed and hid behind Zoro.
Chopper was also frightened and transformed into his beast form, ready for battle.
Zoro and Sanji instantly entered battle mode, one drawing his sword and the other raising his foot.
Nami was so frightened that she hugged the bag containing Beli tightly.
Franky assumed a fighting stance. "Super~ What a warm welcome!"
Brook had already drawn his cane sword. "Hehehe, even the plants are so energetic?"
Jinbe calmly stood in front of the crowd.
Flames ignited in Ace's hand, but looking at the rampaging plants around him, he hesitated whether he should set the Yamakaji.
"Stop! Stop! He didn't mean it!" Flora shouted anxiously. She ran in front of Luffy, spread her arms to block the restless plants, and began to hum a peculiar, rhythmic tune. Her voice was ethereal and soothing, as if communicating with the forest.
The riotous plants gradually calmed down, the vines retracted, and the roots disappeared into the ground. The tree with the human face also slowly turned back, but a tense atmosphere still lingered in the air.
Luffy scratched his head. "Huh? Don't they like people eating their fruit?"
Flora breathed a sigh of relief, turned around, put her hands on her hips, and said angrily to Luffy, "I told you to follow the rules! Many of the plants here are sentient! They share the Mother Tree's senses! Picking them indiscriminately, especially those fruits containing the essence of life, will be considered provocation and plunder!"
Just then, Allen, who had been silently sensing the situation, suddenly spoke up, "Miss Flora, you just said that the Mother Tree maintains the balance. But I sense that although the vitality of this forest is vigorous, it carries a kind of... 'restlessness' and 'thirst.' It's like a thirsty person desperately drinking water, yet still unable to quench their thirst. This 'imbalance' seems to be coming from the depths of the island, from the direction of the 'sacred place' you mentioned."
Flora froze, a flicker of panic and confusion crossing her emerald eyes. "No... impossible! The Mother Tree is a symbol of balance! It must be the presence of you outsiders that has disturbed it!" But the wavering in her eyes did not escape the notice of Robin and Allen.
Just then, a slight, continuous tremor came from the ground. In the distance, a faint whimpering sound, like countless people sobbing, drifted over—the very "strange whispers" Flora had warned about earlier!
Flora's face turned pale instantly. "Oh no... It's the direction of ' Thirsty Forest '... The plants there have gone berserk again because of 'thirst'! I have to go tell the Great Forest Ranger!" Without saying anything more, she turned and ran into the depths of the forest, her figure quickly disappearing into the dense vegetation.
The Straw Hat Pirates looked at each other in bewilderment.
"It seems the 'balance' of this island has already been broken," Robin said softly.
"Shall we go take a look?" Ace asked Luffy and Allen.
Luffy nodded vigorously. "Of course! That place called ' Thirsty Forest ' sounds like it really needs help! And it looks interesting too!"
Allen nodded slightly, his senses pinpointing the source of the anxiety and longing. "The crux of the problem might lie there."
Guided by the eerie whispers and the earth-shaking tremors, the Straw Hat Pirates deviated from the main path and headed towards the source of Ambra Island's imbalance— the Thirsty Forest.