Little Garden Arc

This ninth canon arc, the third of the Arabasta Saga, carries the crew to a primeval island whose name belies its enormous dinosaurs and towering vegetation. The setting introduces One Piece's second non-human humanoid race, the giants, along with their homeland of Elbaph, a place that becomes a long-running goal for both Luffy and Usopp. Two giant warriors, Dorry and Brogy, anchor the story, while the wax-wielding Mr. 3 and the hypnotist Miss Goldenweek join the roster of Baroque Works officer agents.

Now traveling with Vivi, the Straw Hats reach the misnamed Little Garden and split up to explore. Vivi and Luffy befriend Dorry, an Elbaph giant, while Nami and Usopp are startled when his rival Brogy beheads a tyrannosaurus and hauls them off. The two warriors, exiled from their homeland over a forgotten quarrel, have been settling their score in single combat for a hundred years. Their honor inspires Usopp toward his own dream of becoming a brave warrior of the sea. Lurking nearby, the Baroque Works agents reveal a bounty on each giant's head and plot to kill both them and the crew.

Mr. 5 sabotages Dorry's drink with an explosive, wounding the giant, and Mr. 3 secretly trips him so Brogy wins their latest bout. The agents then seize Zoro, Nami, Vivi, and Brogy, trapping them inside Mr. 3's enormous candle apparatus to slowly entomb them in wax. Luffy, Usopp, and Karoo race to free them, battling hypnosis, exploding attacks, and Mr. 3's mecha-like Candle Champion. Usopp ultimately rigs an oil-soaked rope that Luffy ignites, melting the wax in time, and the crew defeats every agent. Sanji, meanwhile, is mistaken for Mr. 3 over a Den Den Mushi by the boss Mr. 0 and ordered to Arabasta. As a parting gift, Dorry and Brogy slay the ship-eating Island Eater, sacrificing their dulled weapons so the Straw Hats can leave for Arabasta with their Eternal Pose.

The friendship Usopp forges here pays off years later at Enies Lobby, when he persuades the giants Oimo and Kashii to switch sides after learning the World Government lied about Dorry and Brogy's fates. Nami is bitten by an insect that sickens her during the next arc, which prompts Luffy to seek out a ship's doctor, leading to Chopper. Sanji's covert handling of the Mr. 0 call begins his recurring pattern of secretive operating, and his impersonation marks Mr. 3 for Crocodile's wrath. Elbaph, planted as a destination here, finally becomes a Straw Hat port of call in its own later arc. In the 4Kids dub this entire arc was cut, creating several downstream plot holes.