The dawn broke over the Going Merry, casting a warm glow on the ship as Luffy's voice shattered the morning calm.
"SANJI! FOOD! I'M HUNGRY!"
In the kitchen, Sanji, the new cook, was already busy, cigarette lit, examining the supplies. It was his first morning as the crew's official cook, and he wanted to set the right tone. The kitchen door burst open as Luffy rocketed in, followed by a yawning Usopp.
"Meat! I want lots of meat!" Luffy drooled, trying to peek into the pots Sanji was preparing.
"Back off, rubber brain," Sanji blocked the fridge with his leg. "First rule on this ship - nobody touches my kitchen without permission."
"But I'm the captain!" Luffy pouted.
"And I'm the cook. That means I'm in charge of food and keeping you all alive at sea."
Johnny and Yosaku, who had been sleeping on the deck, were awakened by the commotion. They exchanged amused glances, still getting used to the lively atmosphere aboard the Going Merry.
"Looks like every morning's going to be an adventure," Johnny chuckled, stretching his arms.
"Yeah, but it's a good chance to learn," Yosaku replied, watching the crew with admiration.
Nami entered, maps tucked under her arm, dark circles visible under her eyes. Sanji immediately twirled.
"Nami-swan! Please, sit! I'll prepare a special breakfast just for you~!"
"Thanks, Sanji-kun," she managed a small smile, spreading her maps on the table. "We should reach Arlong Park in a week if the wind holds."
Something in her voice made Sanji pause, but before he could ask, Zoro stumbled in, still half-asleep.
"Perfect timing, marimo. Help keep our captain away from the food while I cook."
"What did you call me, curly brow?" Zoro growled.
As the two glared at each other, Luffy seized his chance, rubber arms stretching toward the cooking pot.
"OH NO YOU WON'T!" Sanji's leg shot out, catching Luffy's hands. "Breakfast will be ready when it's ready!"
Johnny and Yosaku watched the scene unfold, feeling a sense of belonging amidst the chaos. They were eager to prove themselves and learn from the Straw Hat crew, knowing that every day would bring new challenges and lessons.
As they settled down for breakfast, Nami's gaze lingered on Zoro's bandaged chest. "We need to find a doctor," she said, her voice serious. "We can't afford to have anyone else get hurt like Zoro did."
Sanji nodded while serving everyone their portions, keeping a watchful eye on Luffy's wandering hands. "A doctor would be a valuable addition to the crew- OI LUFFY! STOP STEALING FROM OTHERS' PLATES!"
SMACK
Luffy retracted his rubber arm from Usopp's plate, nursing the new bump on his head from Sanji's kick. "But I'm still hungry!" he whined, even as he attempted to snatch a piece of meat from Zoro's plate.
SMACK SMACK SMACK
"Luffy! Stop stealing everyone's food!" Sanji yelled, his leg still raised from his latest kick.
"But Sanji," Luffy whined, rubbing multiple bumps on his head, "I need more meat to become the Pirate King!"
"YOUR LOGIC MAKES NO SENSE!" the crew shouted in unison.
Johnny and Yosaku continued their "training," now having to dodge both their captain's rubber arms and protect their food at the same time. "Big Bro Luffy, please!" Johnny pleaded as he barely saved his last piece of bacon.
"Shishishi!" Luffy laughed, already eyeing Nami's plate while she was distracted talking about the doctor's situation.
"Don't even think about it," Nami warned without even looking at him, her fork stabbing the table exactly where Luffy's sneaking hand was about to land.
After breakfast, Luffy and Usopp took dish duty. Though 'duty' might have been a generous term, as Luffy spent more time licking plates clean than actually washing them.
"That's not how you wash dishes!" Usopp scolded, snatching a plate away from Luffy's tongue.
While sitting down leaving the dish to Usopp, Luffy's tone suddenly turned serious. "Okay, Sanji, Johnny, and Yosaku. There's something you need to know about our next destination, we are going to beat Arlong."
"Arlong? Who's that?" Sanji asked, confusion evident on his face as he lit a cigarette.
Johnny and Yosaku's faces went pale. "Are you serious, as in Arlong the Fishman, Big Bro Luffy?!" Johnny exclaimed.
"Fishman?" Sanji exclaimed in surprise. "So I heard on the Grand Line..." before he was interrupted by Yosaku.
"That monster has a bounty of 20 million berries! He rules over 20 towns since coming to the East Blue!" Yosaku added, trembling. "He's the most dangerous pirate in East Blue! Who used to rampage throughout the Grand Line!"
"Why would you want to fight someone like that?" they asked in unison.
Luffy suddenly stood up, slamming his hands on the table. "HE MADE MY NAVIGATOR CRY!" he screamed, his voice filled with rage.
The outburst left everyone momentarily stunned. Nami watched them all, her hands clutching the fabric of her skirt. After years of carrying this burden alone, she decided they deserved to know everything.
"I... you should know what you're getting into," she started, her voice trembling. "He killed my mother. And then forced me to work for him, drawing maps..."
"THAT BASTARD!" Sanji slammed his fist on the table while screaming.
"Nami..." Usopp had gone pale, all pretense of bravado gone.
"Big Sis..." Johnny and Yosaku were wiping tears from their eyes.
"Big Sis Nami," Johnny and Yosaku exchanged determined looks before raising their swords. "Yosh, let's go beat his ass!"
Usopp, trying to mask his nervousness with bravado, puffed out his chest. "Well, this reminds me of the time I, the Great Captain Usopp, single-handedly defeated a thousand fishmen with just a rubber band and-"
"Shut up, long-nose," Zoro interrupted, though an amused smile played on his lips. "Save your stories for after we win."
Luffy stood up again, his straw hat shadowing his eyes. "Nami," his voice was unusually serious. "You're my navigator. And nobody, NOBODY hurts my crew!"
"Luffy..." Nami whispered, tears forming in her eyes. For the first time in eight years, she felt like she wasn't alone anymore.
"We're going to Arlong Park," Luffy declared, cracking his knuckles. "And I'm gonna kick his ass!"
"Count me in," Zoro grinned, placing a hand on his sword.
"For Nami-san, I'll turn that fish into sushi!" Sanji declared.
"The Great Captain Usopp will... will..." Usopp's knees were shaking, but he stood firm. "Will fight too!"
Looking at them all, her nakama, Nami felt hope blooming in her chest. Real hope, for the first time in years.
"Thank you," she whispered, wiping her eyes. "All of you."
"Shishishi!" Luffy grinned, adjusting his straw hat. "That's what nakama are for!"
"Does this mean we can have a feast when we beat him?" Luffy asked hopefully, somehow already munching on food he'd managed to squirrel away.
"WHERE DID YOU EVEN GET THAT?!" everyone yelled in exasperation.
Sanji's eye twitched as he recognized the meat from the dinner he'd just prepared. "I JUST put that in storage, you rubber menace!"
"But Sanji," Luffy whined through a mouthful of food, "thinking about kicking fish-guy's butt made me hungry!"
"EVERYTHING makes you hungry!" Usopp pointed out.
Nami couldn't help but laugh, the tension from earlier melting away. Even in serious moments like this, Luffy was still... well, Luffy.
"Fine," Sanji sighed, lighting another cigarette. "After we defeat Arlong, I'll prepare the biggest feast you've ever seen, Nami-swan~!"
"Meat!" Luffy cheered, throwing his hands up and accidentally revealing more stolen food hidden in his shirt.
"THAT'S WHERE THE REST OF IT WENT!" Sanji roared, launching himself at his captain while everyone else burst into laughter.
As the morning settled, Luffy gathered everyone on deck. "Alright, everyone! Let's get to our Haki training!"
Johnny and Yosaku exchanged curious glances. "Haki training?" Johnny asked, intrigued.
Zoro, already familiar with the concept, nodded. "Yeah, it's a power that lets you sense others, strengthen your attacks and even hit logia users, and even knock out your opponents. It's crucial for surviving in the Grand Line."
Nami, leaning against the railing, added, "It's useful, but not everyone needs to master it. Usopp and I focus more on our own skills."
Usopp nodded in agreement, fiddling with his slingshot. "Yeah, I prefer to keep my distance and use my brains."
Luffy grinned but shook his head at Nami's statement. "You're right, Nami, that not everyone needs to master it, but if you want to survive in the Grand Line, you need the basics at least."
Johnny, curious about Zoro's motivation, asked, "Zoro-aniki, what made you interested in learning this?"
Zoro's expression turned serious as he looked at Wado Ichimonji "I make a promise to become the World's Greatest Swordsman. My fight with Mihawk showed me just how far I must go. If I want to become the World's Strongest Swordsman, I need every advantage I can get. Raw strength isn't enough anymore."
The crew fell silent, remembering the overwhelming gap in power they'd witnessed during that battle.
Suddenly, Nami's voice cut through the silence. "Everyone, get ready! There's a storm approaching from the east!"
"How can you tell, Big Sis Nami?" Johnny asked, amazed.
"Experience," she replied simply, though her expression softened slightly.
As the crew scrambled to their positions, Luffy watched with pride. Even if they weren't consciously using Haki yet, each of them was already growing stronger in their way.
"That's why we train," Luffy said firmly as they worked together to handle the storm. "To get stronger, to protect our dreams, and to face whatever the Grand Line throws at us."
The storm hit with full force, but the Straw Hat crew handled it with practiced efficiency. As they navigated through the turbulent waters, Luffy couldn't help but smile. This was just the beginning of their journey to become stronger, and he knew that each challenge would only help them grow.
After the storm passed, the crew returned to their training with renewed determination.
Usopp had set up targets along the railing, practicing with his slingshot. "Maybe if I can sense where enemies are, my shots will be even more accurate!" However his attempts at meditation were frequently interrupted by his own nervous imagination.
"Focus, Usopp!" Zoro called out while continuing his sword forms. "You can't develop Haki if you're jumping at every wave!"
Nami worked on her maps but occasionally joined in the basic exercises. "I still think my weather sense is more practical for now," she said, though she didn't completely dismiss the training.
As the afternoon wore on, Luffy noticed something interesting. During a sparring session, Zoro instinctively dodged one of Sanji's kicks without looking.
"Did you see that, Zoro?" Luffy exclaimed excitedly. "That was definitely!"
Before Luffy could continue, a delicious aroma wafted across the deck. Luffy's nose twitched, and his training focus instantly evaporated.
"FOOD!" Luffy's neck stretched toward the kitchen, where Sanji was emerging with several plates.
"Oi, oi! Wait until I set everything down, rubber brain!" Sanji called out, expertly dodging Luffy's grabbing hands.
"As they ate, Luffy was stuffing his face with meat when Sanji spoke up.
"Oi, Luffy, what do you know about these fishmen we're gonna fight?"
"Oh!" Luffy swallowed a huge chunk of meat. "They're really strong in water! And super proud too - they keep saying humans are weak and stuff. It's annoying! Shishishi!"
"Anyone we should watch out for?" Zoro asked.
"Yeah! There's this octopus guy with six swords - but Zoro, you're way cooler!" Luffy grinned, bits of food flying. "Then there's this karate fish who goes 'HYAH!' and a long-mouthed guy who spits water!"
"What about Arlong?" Johnny asked, shaking a bit.
"He's super strong!" Luffy said while grabbing more meat. "Can break stuff easy and shoots water like BWOSH! But he's dumb cause he thinks humans are weak! That's why we'll kick his ass!"
Nami sat quietly, gripping her cup.
"Don't worry, Nami!" Luffy gave her his signature grin. "We're all gonna fight together!"
Usopp tried suggesting something about nets, and Sanji, Johnny, and Yosaku started talking about strategy, but Luffy and Zoro weren't listening anymore.
"Shishishi! You guys think too much!" Luffy laughed with his mouth full. "The plan is super simple!"
Everyone leaned in.
"I'm gonna punch Arlong in the face! Hard!" Luffy declared proudly.
"THAT'S NOT A PLAN!" They all yelled.
"Sure, it is! Zoro fights octopus 'cause they both use swords! Sanji kicks karate fish 'cause they both fight with legs! Usopp shoots a long-mouth guy 'cause they both go PEW PEW!"
Sanji sighed, lighting his cigarette. "That... somehow makes sense."
"Oh yeah!" Luffy suddenly remembered, looking serious. "We destroy the map room first. That's important."
Nami's fork clattered against her plate. Her eyes widened as she stared at Luffy, face pale. That room was her prison for eight years - where she'd drawn countless maps for Arlong. How could Luffy possibly know about it? She hadn't told anyone about that room, not even her sister.
"Luffy..." she started, voice slightly shaking. "How did you...?"
But Luffy was already stuffing another piece of meat in his mouth, deliberately avoiding her questioning gaze. "Because that room makes Nami sad," he said simply as if that explained everything.
The others exchanged confused looks, but Nami felt tears pricking at her eyes. Somehow, this rubber idiot always knew exactly what mattered most.
"And then what?" Usopp asked nervously.
"THEN WE HAVE A HUGE FEAST!" Luffy shouted excitedly. "WITH LOTS OF MEAT!"
"OF COURSE!" Everyone shouted back.
Nami couldn't help laughing at his simplicity.
"Oh yeah," Luffy added, picking his nose. "Don't fight in the water. It's super annoying!" He remembered something about a fish guy with too many teeth, but meat was more important right now.
As the days passed, the crew settled into a rhythm of preparation. Zoro spent countless hours meditating with his sword - Wado Ichimonji-, occasionally achieving fleeting moments where he could feel something deeper in his cuts. Usopp worked tirelessly on new ammunition types, muttering about "anti-fishman pellets" while his hands moved with practiced precision.
Sanji divided his time between cooking and practicing his kicks above deck, determined to make his legs strong enough to crack even Fishman scales. Johnny and Yosaku, though still nervous, drilled their sword techniques with renewed determination.
Nami often stood at the helm, her eyes distant but resolute. Sometimes, late at night, Luffy would catch her studying her maps with trembling hands, but her spine was straight and her jaw set with determination.
"We're getting closer," Nami announced one evening, her voice steady despite the tension in her shoulders. "Another day, maybe two."
"Shishishi!" Luffy grinned from his special seat on Merry's head. "Perfect! I'm getting hungry for fish!"
The crew groaned at his joke, but there was comfort in their captain's unwavering confidence. As the stars emerged above them, the Going Merry continued her journey toward Arlong Park, carrying not just a crew, but a family bound by dreams, determination, and the promise of freedom.
As they sailed through calm waters, a massive shadow appeared beneath the waves. The sea cow, Momoo, emerged with a plaintive moan, its eyes immediately fixing on the smell of Sanji's cooking.
"That's Momoo!" Nami exclaimed, gripping her staff. "It's Arlong's pet sea monster!"
Luffy tilted his head, studying the creature with unusual intensity. Something about it tickled his memory, but he couldn't quite place it. The sea cow's eyes met his, and for a moment, there seemed to be a flicker of recognition.
"Oi, oi," Sanji lit a cigarette, stepping protectively in front of Nami. "Whatever this thing is, it's not getting near my kitchen."
Momoo made another sound, this one distinctly more food-focused as it eyed the meat Luffy was holding.
"Oh, you want this?" Luffy asked, holding up the meat. Then, without warning, his expression hardened. "Gum-Gum Pistol!"
The punch connected squarely with Momoo's snout, sending the sea monster reeling backward unconscious.
"Luffy!" Nami shouted, "What was that for?"
"Dunno," Luffy shrugged, already back to eating. "Just felt right."
As Momoo sank beneath the waves, the horizon began to change. The misty outline of buildings emerged through the sea spray, and Usopp's voice cut through the tension. "LAND HO!" His usually boisterous tone carried a tremor of anxiety. "I can see... I can see Arlong Park!"
Everyone immediately tensed for battle, but Nami quickly intervened, her navigator's instincts kicking in.
"Are you all complete idiots?" she demanded, smacking the nearest crew member (unfortunately Usopp) on the head. "Fighting Fishmen at sea is suicide! Even you, Luffy - you're supposed to know better!"
"But Nami..." Luffy whined, still chewing.
"No buts! We need a proper strategy. These waters are their territory!"
The crew reluctantly agreed, and Nami began outlining their approach to Arlong Park, determined not to let their enthusiasm sink them before the real battle began.
Luffy, with a mysterious glint in his eyes, replied, "Don't worry, Nami. I have a feeling everything will work out. We just need to stick together."
Nami raised an eyebrow, confused by his confidence. "What do you mean, Luffy? Do you know something we don't?"
Luffy grinned, his usual carefree demeanor mixed with an unusual certainty. "Let's just say I've got a good feeling about this. Trust me."
Nami sighed, exasperated but somewhat reassured. "I'm foolish to expect anything smart from you." After taking a moment to gather herself, she began barking orders. "Everyone, clean the deck to make it look like there's one person on board. The rest of you, go inside the ship and hide until I tell you to come out. UNDERSTAND?"
Everyone else, frightened, replied, "YES!"
Johnny's hand trembled slightly as he gripped his sword. Beside him, Yosaku's face had gone pale, but his jaw was set with determination. They'd seen what the fishmen could do and had witnessed their brutality firsthand. Yet here they stood, ready to fight. Because sometimes, friendship demands courage.
Zoro noticed their nervousness and smirked. "Oi, you two," he whispered, "try not to shake so much. You'll give away our position." His casual tone helped ease their tension, reminding them they weren't alone in this fight.
Sanji lit a cigarette, nodding. "Just make sure you don't snore, marimo. We don't want to give ourselves away."
Usopp, already halfway to hiding, whispered loudly, "I'm great at hiding! I once hid from a giant sea king for three days straight!"
Johnny and Yosaku exchanged nervous glances but nodded, determined to follow Nami's lead. "Big Sis Nami, we'll do whatever it takes!"
As the crew hid, Nami took the helm, steering the Going Merry toward A port where two fishmen acting as guards. Her heart pounded with a mix of fear and determination, but she knew she wasn't alone anymore. Her nakama were with her, ready to fight for her freedom and their shared dreams.
Luffy crouched behind a barrel, and whispered to Zoro, "Hey, Zoro, Arlong might be strong, but that just makes it more fun to beat him!"
Zoro smirked, his fingers lightly tapping the hilt of his sword. "Doesn't matter how tough he is. We'll slice him up together."
Sanji, catching the conversation, flicked his cigarette with a confident grin. "And I'll make sure to send that fishy freak flying for Nami-san."
Nami, overhearing their banter, felt a surge of warmth and determination. She glanced back at her crew, a small but fierce smile on her lips. "Thanks, guys," she whispered, her resolve burning brighter than ever.
Luffy, with his future knowledge, felt a sense of calm. He knew the challenges ahead, but he also knew the strength of his crew and the bonds they shared. Whatever the future held, they would face it together.
As they approached Arlong Park, Luffy's mind wandered to the future he knew. He saw flashes of battles, new friends, and adventures that awaited them beyond this island. He knew that defeating Arlong was just the beginning of their journey, and he was ready to face whatever came next.
Luffy stood silently, adjusting his straw hat. The shadow it cast couldn't hide his grin, but there was steel in his eyes. His crew recognized that look. Without a word, they understood: this wasn't just another fight. This was war.