"Man...the sun feels nice today," Run sighs, turning his head up slightly to enjoy the warmth. Several days have passed since they've left Thriller Bark, the Florian Triangle and their new friends behind for the open sea. The days follow their departure were...eventful to say the least. Brook has spent the days doing his best earn the 'trust' of the rest of the crew, regardless of their insistence that they already accept him as a member of the crew, and a close friend. "Mmnh...its enough to make me wanna curl up for a nap."
"Mm, that doesn't sound like a bad idea," Robin agrees, lifting her tea cup to take a sip. Nearly the whole crew has gathered around a small table set with a light lunch whipped up by Sanji. Usopp, Chopper, Brook and Luffy, however, are seated on the railing of the Sunny while Zoro reclines against the trunk of a small tree in the shade. It seems that the four of them on the rail have set their minds to catching a fish or two for the aquarium regardless of the fact the hold is nearly full to bursting with supplies. Run suddenly yawns, raising a fist to his mouth.
"Aah, yeah, I think it's nap time." He carefully picks his cutlass up, and stands with a grunt.
"I think I'll join you." With a grin on his face he helps Robin to her feet, and Nami recoils slightly when one of the sleeves of his coat nearly brushes against her face.
"Run, would you just pitch that thing already!" Nami tells him. "No matter how many times you wash it you still picked it up off of a zombie! It's just...creepy!"
"Dahahahaha~! What's wrong?" Run asks her with a grin. "Don't tell me you're squeamish? It's just a piece of cloth. Besides, I can't go and toss it after Usopp went through all the trouble of sewing our roger onto the sleeve--" He turns slightly to show her the crew's roger at the top of the right sleeve. "--now, can I? That's just disrespectful!"
"S-Still, it's--"
"Aaah, Nami, when are we going to get there?" complains Luffy, bending backwards to stare at her. "Are we close to Fishman Island yet?"
"Oh, give it a rest!" sighs Nami, glancing over her shoulder at him. "Even if we were close, we couldn't go right away. We've got to go to Sabaody first to get the ship coated." Sanji suddenly breaks out into his own little dream world, imaging all the mermaids he's going to get to meet when they get there. Luffy tosses his fishing pole down and groans loudly.
"Sanji! I want food! I'm so tired of this!"
"Ohhh, look, look!" calls Usopp, pointing past the bow of the ship. "It's a huge school of fish!" Luffy immediately grabs his fishing pole again, and casts his line into the water. Nami stands from her spot at the table and walks over to where the four of them are to have a look. "Hm? What's wrong?" The fish blow past them, ignoring the bait in the water. "Nami! What's with that obviously foreboding look on your face?" Zoro and Run both turn their heads skyward, looking at the dark clouds gathering. The sea begins to churn and roil, rapidly swirling around and around again until multiple whirl-pools form around the ship, and huge spouts of water stretch skyward around them.
"Wow! That's impressive!" Run says, grinning.
"Sea Serpent Currents," Robin adds, staring up at them. "My, things are getting lively again."
"Serpent Currents! Sanji!" Nami screams.
"Got it!" replies Sanji, dashing to the helm. He grabs the rudder wheel and attempts to turn it with all his might but it won't even budge. "It...It's not moving!" One of the water spouts lunges towards the ship, and Zoro reacts immediately. He cuts through it, completely dashing it before landing back on the deck of the Sunny in a spray of sea fall. Franky intercepts the next one, scattering with his 'Weapons Left'.
"Oi, cook!" growls Zoro. "What are you doing?! Do you mind getting us outta here?!" The next gout of water surges towards them, and Run intercepts it, scattering it with a blow from his saber. Luffy takes down the next and Brook the one after that. There seems to be no end to the currents attacking them, forcing them to defend the ship again and again. They push forward through the storm, avoiding or pushing back the 'Serpent Currents' until finally, they can see hope in the horizon.
"I...I see it!" laughs Luffy. "I can see the Red Line!" Ahead of them the biggest current they've seen yet...and they're going to ride it right out of the storm. Franky steers themselves into the current, and under Nami's orders they raise the sails...and blast their way out with Coup De Burst! Staring at the huge Red Line ahead of them, their thoughts all turn back to the path they've taken to get here. Robin and Run have crossed the Red Line multiple times before with his father's crew...but to be doing it again, and this time with their own strength is something else entirely.
"Alright," begins Nami, slowly turning to face the red head. "So, where is this Sabaody at?"
"Aah, well...that IS the question, isn't it," Run says with a grin, earning a giggle from Robin and a glare from Nami.
"I'm being serious, idiot!"
"Relax, relax! I'm being serious. Sabaody Archipelago is more of a...aah, Robin, you wanna field this one?"
"Mm, Sabaody Archipelago isn't like a regular island," Robin tells them. "It's more of a mangrove growing out of the sea than anything else. Because of that it doesn't have a magnetic pull. However, if we follow the Red Line, we'll be able to find it easily. Aah, it's also very close to Mariejois...so we need to be careful."
"Robin! You're the only one that I can count on!" Nami gushes. There's a huge crash and rush of water seconds later, and all heads turn. A Sea King breaks the surface of the water, growling loudly as it stares down at them. Luffy is the first to react, jumping up onto the figure-head of the Sunny.
"Alright, here we go!" laughs Luffy. "Gum-Gum...Rifle!" The attack strikes the Sea King in the stomach, knocking it back instantly. It even spits up something into the sky before crashing back down into the sea and disappearing. Loud screaming sounds from above as whatever, or whoever, it is comes hurdling down towards the deck of the Sunny.
"I got it, I got it, I got it!" Run cries, moving back and forth with arms held out in front of him. The screaming grows louder and louder until at last the person lands right in the red head's arms, safely stopped from striking the deck while a starfish lands directly beside them. "Dahahahaha~! Safe!"
"Stuck it!" exclaims the starfish. The mermaid raises herself up in the red head's arms and quickly looks towards the starfish with a smile.
"That was amazing!" cheers the girl.
"You're not supposed to be impressed! We were almost digested! You just had to stroll right by that monster, didn't you?"
"S-Sorry...I didn't see it." The starfish huffs, and finally points at the red head who's still holding her carefully in his arms.
"Oi, aren't you going to at least thank the person who caught you?" She finally seems to notice Run, her head snapping in his direction quickly.
"Thank you for saving me, my name is Keimi! I'm such an easy target for sea monsters to eat...that was about the twentieth time, actually!" She pauses for a moment, considering them. "I really should do something to thank you. Oh! Would you like some takoyaki?" Run carefully deposits her on the deck with a grin while Luffy rushes forward, nearly toppling the red head as he comes to a stop before her.
"Takoyaki?!" exclaims Luffy, all but drooling. "That's my favorite! Let's get some, Run! It's been forever!"
"Really?! Alright! That'll be five-hundred Beli per person." They're all a little taken aback by her trying to sell them takoyaki as her way of saying thank you. The only one not phased it Sanji, who dances about, singing about how great it is to finally meet a mermaid, the first one he's ever met...at least until Usopp reminds him of Kokoro. Sanji falls into depression immediately, trying his best to forget actually seeing her.
"Wait, the old woman Kokoro was a mermaid? But she was walking."
"A mermaid's tail will split when she turns thirty," Run explains. "It'll change back into a tail if she submerges herself in water again."
"I really don't want to think of her as a mermaid." Nami knocks Luffy to the deck with a single punch.
"Stop being rude!" Nami shouts at him. "I swear, what's with guys and their desire for mermaids?" Robin giggles in response to Nami's chastising, while Brook walks forward towards Keimi.
"This is my first time meeting a mermaid as well," Brook says. "Pardon me...but would you lend me some money?" Sanji kicks the skeleton away, yelling at him for asking her for money. While all of them are talking, the starfish that originally landed with her has moved off to the side, depressed at being ignored. Luffy stretches an arm out and pulls him back to their little group.
"Oi, Keimi, I've been wondering," begins Luffy. "What's this talking glove?"
"Sorry, I forgot," replies Keimi. "His name is Pappug. He's my pet starfish and my master." They are a little confused about how exactly someone's pet can be in charge of them...but from Pappug's explanation it seems that he more or less became her pet because she feeds him well.
"I'm kinda wondering how he can talk."
"Aah, you see, there are reasons for that! When I was little I thought that I was a person. By the time I realized I was a starfish I could already speak the Human language! Anyway, I'm Pappug the starfish! I'm an up-and-coming designer. Thanks for saving us!"
"Actually, it's a good thing we ran into you!" Run tells them. "We could use some directions to--"
"Oi, oi!" shouts Luffy. "Takoyaki comes first! Everything else can wait!"
"Oh, right!" chirps Keimi. "I have to repay you! First, we'll have to meet up with Hatchin somewhere." The girl reaches back over her shoulder and digs out a transponder snail from her back-pack. After ringing 'Hatchin' several times someone finally picks up. "Hello, Hatchin? It's Keimi! Sorry that we got separated! Where are you right now?"
"Is that Keimi I hear?" retorts an apparently unfamiliar voice.
"Hatchin?"
"You don't know me? I'm not Hachi, I'm Macro! The very same one from the Dopey Macro Pirates!"
"Why do you have Hatchin's transponder snail?"
"Because I beat him up! Normally we're not a match for him but we've teamed up with the Flying Fish Riders!" There's a soft scuffle on the opposite end of the line before another voice comes over it. It must be the person that Keimi is looking for because the man immediately orders her not to come after him no matter what. "Oi, give me that!" There's another scuffle and Macro comes back on the line. "Oi, Keimi, we're going to sell off this buddy of yours! Octopus Fishmen are really rare, so he's gonna be worth a fortune! Come and save him if you think you can! We're five kilometers east of Grove Forty-Four in the Sabaody Archipelago hiding out with the Flying Fish Riders. Bye, now!" The line goes dead, and Keimi stares at the transponder snail in silence.
"Was I imagining it or...did that voice on the other end sound really familiar?" Nami wonders. "Maybe I am imagining it. Really..."
"Sorry, Luffy," Keimi mutters softly. "I'll have to treat you all to some takoyaki later. I have to go save my friend."
"Aah, well, we'll give you a hand then!" Run tells her. "We're on our way to Sabaody, and if this place is near by then we can just swing through on the way. We're trying to reach Fishman Island."
"Really, red hair? Are you sure?!"
"It's fine. Right, Luffy?" Luffy grins from ear to ear and nods in the affirmative.
"You're really help rescue Hatchin, Luffy?"
"Yeah," chirps Luffy in response. "Actually, who is this 'Hatchin' guy?"
"He owns the takoyaki place where I work! His takoyaki is the best in the world!" That seems to be all Luffy needs to hear. In a split second he raring to go rescue 'takoyaki'...and Hatchin by extension when reminded of it. With that decided, Nami asks Keimi and Pappug for directions to the hide-out. Keimi jumps up, and hops over to the railing of the ship, where she calls out loudly. Seconds later, a school of fish pop up around the Sunny, and after a bit of questioning, they agree to point the way for them.
Unfortunately, they're afraid of the Flying Fish Riders, so they'll only take them so far as the out-skirts of the hide-out. Finding their way after that is all up to them. With their destination set, they weigh anchor and set the sails, following the school of fish. Run heads up to the helm with Robin, Nami and Usopp to keep an eye on the school of fish they're following.
"So, Run, you seem to know a lot about Fishman Island," Usopp begins, finally breaking the silence.
"Dahahaha~! I just happen to know a little bit," Run assures him, standing at the Sunny's helm. "The only way for pirates to make it to the New World is by passing through Fishman Island. Of course, if you want to come back you have to get the ship coated again in the New World, and pass through Fishman Island on the way to Paradise." Music begins playing from the lower deck, and after a few moments of making sure everything is under control, Nami goes to see what is happening. "Gather up all of the crew, it's time to ship out Binks' brew~."
"Sea wind blows, to where who knows, the waves will be our guide~," joins Robin. Several minutes pass, listening to what can only be Brook's playing before the fish in front of them finally disperse. Seconds later, Luffy launches himself up and lands on the figure-head.
"I don't see anything!" shouts Luffy, scanning the horizon. Keimi hops up to the helm moments later shouting that the Flying Fish Riders aren't in the water but the sky. All heads turn skyward, just in time to see a trio of large flying fish go speeding past them. "Oooh! That's so cool!" They quickly circle back around, this time dropping bombs from the fish. Zoro and Luffy scatter the bombs before they even get close to the ship...and rather than circle back around they simply break off, and disappear back in the direction they've come from.
"Dahahaha~! Man, that was a surprise!" laughs Run, watching the fish disappearing over the horizon.
"I wanna ride one!" Luffy shouts. "I wanna ride one so BAD! I don't care if they can only fly for a few minutes!"
"They were obviously on the offensive," begins Franky. "I wonder why they broke off their attack."
"It looked like they'd received orders," Robin adds. "Regardless, they're going to be on alert now that we've bumped into them. We should be on guard from here on." They sail on for quite some time before eventually, the Flying Fish Riders' hide-out appears on the horizon.
"Oi, oi, I see it," calls Luffy. "That's the place that Hatchin guy is imprisoned, right? Oi! Let's hurry up and save that takoyaki guy!"
"We'll save him in a flash, Keimi!" gushes Sanji.
"Oh, thank you!" replies Keimi. "Ah! But be careful! The Macro pirates have captured me over thirty times!" While ignoring the fact that Keimi gets captured, and eaten FAR too much, they continue forward. The Flying Fish Riders hide-out is shaped in a half-moon with a large port to moor the Sunny in.
"Looks kinda like a living complex," Franky mutters.
"Who would they go through all the trouble of living out here," Zoro grunts, looking at their base. Ahead of them, a large cage hangs suspended above the ocean with an octopus man tied up within. They closer they get the more familiar the Fishman seems to be. After all this time...there's no way. They couldn't have bumped into THAT guy again, right?
"Keimi!" shouts the Fishman, sounding VERY familiar to nearly all of them. "I'm alright! I'm right here! Don't worry, alright?"
"Hatchin!" screams Keimi. "I knew you were alright!"
"I am! But you need to go back! This is a trap! You know I'm strong, so go! I can take care of this!"
"Wow! This is by a wide margin the least likely thing that could have happened," Run says. "Who'd have thought we'd bump into THAT guy again?"
"You really think it's him?" Sanji asks.
"Aah, I remember that voice."
"Well, there's really only one way to find out for sure. Oi! How's Arlong doing these days?"
"Oh? Arlong?" replies 'Hatchin'. "Well, he, Chew and Kuroobi were all captured by the Navy. I was the only one who managed to break out, and now I'm running a takoyaki shop like I've always dreamed of doing. Aside from this, things have been going really well lately. Ah! C-Crap!"
"You're that octopus from Arlong's crew!" accuses Luffy. "So you're the takoyaki maker called Hatchin?! Now that we know it's you, there's no way we're saving you! B-But...i-is...your takoyaki really that good?!"
"Aah! Do you guys know Hatchin?" Keimi questions them. "Are you guys friends?"
"Well...it's complicated," Run tells her. "Your friend 'Hatchin' here has a bit of a history with us...and it's not a good one." Keimi looks around at all of them, and unable to find one of them willing to help, decides that she's going to help him herself. She hops to the edge of the deck and then dives over with Pappug. Of course, seconds later she surfaces held tightly by a trio of Fishmen along with Pappug. Hatchan immediately begins smashing himself against the iron bars of the cage, trying to free himself and save Keimi.
"Those bastard!" growls Sanji, walking forward. "Keimi did nothing wrong!"
"Wait, Sanji!" shouts Nami, watching the fishman struggle violently inside his cage. "It's alright. We'll help Hatci, too. We promised, after all." If she's willing to let it go, then so are the rest of them. Luffy is the first one to act, stretching himself out and snatch Keimi and Pappug from the Fishmen before landing in the Flying Fish Riders base.
"Alright!" laughs Luffy. "I got 'em both! Zoro! Cut open the cage!"
"Straw Hat!" bellows Hatchan. "Be careful! You're right in their trap!"
"Luffy!" calls Run with a grin. "I'll take care of the Flying Fish! You can find the guy in charge!" Hearing Run, Luffy grins in response and then sprints off into the base. The Flying Fish Riders break the surface of the sea, and go sailing high into the sky over the head. The Sunny creaks softly as if under an invisible weight while Run turns his attention skyward. "Hey, fishy, fishy~!" The Flying Fish suddenly squirm and shake as Run tracks them through the sky. "Time to go home." The Flying Fish immediately dive straight down, disappearing under the surface of the sea with their riders. "Dahahaha~! Alright! Problem solved!"
"A...Amazing," murmurs Brook, staring at the red head. "He spoke and...they fled. What technique is this?" The trio of Fishmen that grabbed Keimi before, suddenly make another appearance, wading through the sea towards her and Pappug on the docks. Zoro rushes forward and leaps from the ship towards the cage holding Hatchan. His swords flash briefly in the sunlight, and he's barely landed on the dock beside Keimi before the cage breaks apart. Hatchan crashes down into the water, and with a single punch, sends all three of them flying. Hatchan wades through the water quickly and scrambles up onto the dock where he reunites with Keimi and Pappug.
Zoro watches as the trio having their happy little reunion for a few moments before sighing heavily. Loud crashing sounds across the Flying Fish Riders' base seconds before Luffy comes sprinting back to the dock.
"Everyone, run!" exclaims Luffy. "There's a really big one coming! It's a guy in a mask riding a big cow!" One of the buildings closest to them collapses into nothing but rubble, and a large masked man riding and even large bison steps through it.
"What's this?" grunts the man, looking around for any sign of his Flying Fish Riders. "Wiped out, alright? How could all of them be swatted down like flies?!" He turns his attention to Hatchi, Camie and Papug quickly. "I've got no use for mermaids, Fishmen or gloves! So, get lose already!" Not needing to be told a second time, the three beat a very hasty retreat. "You know, I'm not in the human trade because I want to be. It's all because of THAT man! The man who showed up and plunged me into the depths of Hell...and now he's finally right in front of me! What a joyous day!"
"Man, he sounds PISSED," Run mutters into Robin's ear, earning a giggle from the woman. "But I don't remember us doing anything to that guy."
"It seems that HE knows US, though," Robin tells him. "Perhaps he was a member of one of the organizations from the past?"
"On this day even if I, Duval, die as well, I WILL kill you! The pirate, 'Black Foot' Sanji!" Duval screams.
"Huh? He wants to kill me?" wonders Sanji.
"What did you do to this guy?" Franky asks.
"Maybe whatever it was happened when you were working at the restaurant?" Nami offers.
"That was a while ago," Sanji tells her. "All I did back then was piss people off so...I guess it's possible?" Duval fires a barrage of harpoons at the ship, forcing them to dodge the deadly bolts quickly as the embed themselves into the Sunny. Each bolt releases a hiss, followed by a purple haze.
"Those bolts are covered in scorpions poison," Duval tells them. "If one hits you then you'll be dead in three minutes!" Again he fires more of the bolts at them and the Sunny. Luffy takes this chance to rush the man, and kicks the helmet he's wearing right off of his head. "Damn it...fine...I don't need that mask anymore. All of you, take a good look at my face." While most everyone is shocked by his appearance, Run does his best to stifle his laughter, bracing himself against the railing of the Sunny. The man is a dead ringer for Sanji's poorly drawn wanted poster!
"Why...Why do I have to be hunted by famous bounty-hunters because of you, 'Black Foot' Sanji?!" Their cook, now burning with anger, leaps over the railing of the Sunny and swims to the dock of the base before hauling himself up quickly. Sanji starts sprinting towards the man. "Damn it, Black Foot! Give me back my life!" Sanji jumps up, and kicks the man in the face the second he's within range.
"Why do I care?!"
"What do you mean?! Who else could be responsible?!"
"Damn it, I'm the one who's pissed about it!"
"Pfft!" grunts Run, raising a hand to his mouth. "It's...c-c'mon, it's...daha~! Dahahahaha~!" Finally unable to contain himself, and breaks out into loud laughter, joined almost immediately by Brook. "He's a dead ringer for the poster! Dahahahaha~!" Brook and Run nearly collapse to the deck of the Sunny with laughter before they can catch themselves.
"Brook! Run! This isn't funny! Just you wait, I'm gonna pound both of you later!" Duval takes this opportunity to explain to them exactly how all of this came to be. He used to be just a small time gangster in some village in the middle of nowhere. He did as he pleased, tormented the villagers, and no one fought back. Until one day, Sanji's wanted poster showed up in the village, and he was chased out by the Marines. Ever since then he's worn that iron mask to hide his face. Sanji suddenly leaps forward, and pins the man back against the bison by his throat.
"All of this is because of something like that?" growls Sanji. "You put Robin and Nami in danger just because of that?!"
"They're part of your crew...so naturally, I hate them as well! They're just as guilty as you!" He moves in an instant, shoving his harpoon gun towards Sanji and firing. Their cook dodges with ease, landing several feet away completely unharmed. "Since it's come to this...!" He reaches down and grabs a transponder snail. "Assume formation!" Silence is his response, and he looks towards the water slowly. "H-Huh? Where are there? You...did you get to them, too?!"
"I guess that damn red head is good for something, after all."
"Damn it! Since it's come to this...I'll show you what makes Motobalo so terrifying!" Duval turns the giant bison towards them. "These horns have claimed the lives of countless opponents to this day! They're what allowed me to escape the Marines with my life! They're so strong that they even broke a hole in the village dam!" Luffy cracks his knuckles loudly, and steps up.
"This fight is between you and Sanji," Luffy tells him. The large bison charges forward, and rather than move away, Luffy meets the bison head on. It stops dead in it's tracks, unmoving. "Fighting you is a waste of time! So don't butt in!" Run's eyes widen slightly as he watches the bison start trembling, and back-pedal rapidly. It bucks off Duval before collapsing to the ground unmoving and foaming from the mouth.
"That was...just like the thing Run does!" Usopp exclaims. "That H...Hao..."
"Haoshoku Haki," Run finishes, smirking slightly. "I never imagined..."
"Ohhhh!" gasps Luffy, grinning. "Like that thing you do! Can I tame animals now?!" Before Run can answer, Duval shouts loudly and turns to face Luffy and Sanji. While Luffy is ready to fight the man but Sanji steps in front of him quickly. The cook charges him, aiming a barrage of kicks at the Duval's face. Each and every one connects before he finally sends the man flying several meters away where he lies still, the fight over...
- - -
"You said you need to go to Sabaody Archipelago, right?" Keimi questions them, laying a map out on the deck of the Sunny for them. After everything was done and dusted with Duval and his men they'd lashed Hatchan's ship to the Sunny and immediately set sail. Hatchan had treated the crew to all the takoyaki as a thank you for rescuing them and, unfortunately for the Fishman, he had seriously underestimated Luffy's appetite. Luffy had nearly eaten him out of house, or rather, shop and home before he was finally satisfied. A bigger surprise than that was Duval and his men's sudden appearance. The man is apparently quite thankful to Sanji for rearranging his bone structure which they had to admit had actually turned the man into quite a looker. He even gives the crew the number to his transponder snail with the promise of helping them any time they might find themselves in a sticky situation.
"That's right," Run agrees with a grin. "We need to visit a coating mechanic if we're going to make it to Fishman Island."
"We really don't have any other choice?" Usopp asks. "Sinking to the bottom of the sea..."
"Well, yes and also no. There are technically two ways to cross the Red Line. The first, and the option we're limited to, is by passing through Fishman Island. The second is...well, asking for permission to cross through Mariejois. Of course, actually getting permission takes a while but since we're pirates they won't grant it to begin with. If we were dead set on that option, we'd also have to sell off the Sunny and take our chances buying another ship in the New World." Franky immediately spits out the tea he's been sipping.
"What?!" demands Franky. "Sell the Sunny?! Say that again! I dare ya!"
"Relax, relax!" Run holds his hands up in a disarming motion. "I was just pointing out what we'd have to do not recommending it, Franky. Since we won't even be able to get permission, it's all hypothetical anyway. Now, since we're not going to walk across the Red Line...the only option for us is going through Fishman Island on the sea bed. Naturally, that's not without risks but that's what the coating is for. The pressure can crush the ship and kill us, there's also the risk of being eaten by Sea King's and other sea monsters."
"Coating?"
"Relax, Franky, it won't mess with the ship. It's just a temporary measure."
"Hmmm...well, I'll trust your judgement since you seem to know more about it..."
- - -
"Woooow!" gushes Luffy, staring at the massive trees past the bow of the Sunny. Bubbles float this way and that through the branches of the mangrove forest, accompanied by a strange and harmonious popping. Run steps up beside Robin, his hand gently capturing hers.
"Aah...it feels like a life time has passed since we were here," Run murmurs. "It feels kinda strange being back here without dad and the crew." Robin raises their hands and gives his knuckles a gentle kiss in response. "Hm, someone is excited."
"Of course," Robin tells him. "One final push and we're in the New World...just thinking of all history that awaits is enough to make my body tingle all over." As they sail onward to Sabaody, Hatchan takes the opportunity to explain to them that the archipelago isn't really an island but more than a collection of the tallest mangrove trees in the whole world. The tree's are marked by numbers from one to seventy-nine, and each one has it's own towns and shops. The place they're going, grove forty-four is the entrance to the archipelago.
"Everyone, remember the number on the tree!" Hatchan tells them as they drop anchor at grove forty-one. "These groves are all connected by bridges so if you get lost, you should be able to find your way back easily enough!" Luffy is quick to act, leaping to the railing of the Sunny and then straight onto land while laughing the whole way. The rest of the crew is quick to join him, following his trail until they find him standing in front of a bubble that seems to have sprung right out of the ground in front of him.
"Wow! So cool!" gushes Luffy, grinning from ear to ear. "It popped right out of the ground!" Chopper and Usopp sprint past the rest of the crew to join him, staring up at the bubble in wonder. Luffy suddenly leaps up, landing on the bubble with ease. Rather than pop as they'd expected, it instead only deforms slightly before he leaps to another bubble and then another. "Ohh! Look, look! They're not popping! So cool!"
"My, I'd almost forgotten just how strong the bubbles here were," Robin says, watching him jump from bubble to bubble.
"The roots of the mangroves secrete a special resin," Pappug tells her. "The resin expands into bubbles when the roots 'breathe'."
"Luffy!" Run calls, staring up at him with a hand held up to shield his eyes from the sun. "Don't go too high. The bubble pop once they get too far away from the mangroves. They--" Before he can finish his sentence, the bubbles begin to rapidly pop, and Luffy comes plummeting straight down to the ground with a loud 'boom!'. "Aah...looks like I was a little slow on the warning." As the dust clears, they watch as Luffy struggles to free his head from the ground for several moments before he finally succeeds with a laugh. "Before I forget, we'll find a coating mechanic here, right, Hatchan?"
"Yes!" Hatchan assures. "We'll go see a mechanic and have the ship coated right away! Since the danger of using an unskilled mechanic can't be ignored, I'll take you to the only one that I trust! But in exchange...you have to make me one promise! Sometimes, there are World Nobles wandering around in town."
"World Nobles?" echos Usopp.
"Residents of the Holy Land Mariejois," Robin informs him.
"Promise me," continues Hatchan. "No matter what happens in town, that you will not defy the World Nobles. Even if someone is killed right before your eyes, you must pretend you saw nothing. I'll say it again! You MUST pretend you saw NOTHING...!"