The sea voyage had entered a new phase: monotony. The thrill of their escape from Orange Town had faded, replaced by the endless blue of the ocean and the gnawing reality of their situation. Zoro was napping against the mast, recovering from his injuries. Luffy was dangling a finger in the water, hoping a fish would mistake it for bait.
Nami, however, was not relaxing. She was spread out on the tiny deck, surrounded by the maps she had acquired, her brow furrowed in deep concentration and growing frustration. She finally snapped.
"ARE YOU TWO SERIOUS?!" she yelled, making both boys jump.
Luffy pulled his finger out of the water. "What's wrong?"
"What's wrong?!" Nami repeated, gesturing wildly at their two small boats and meager supplies. "We are heading for the Grand Line! The most dangerous sea in the world! The Pirates' Graveyard! And we're doing it on these glorified rowboats, with no proper food storage, no fresh water reserves, and no actual cannons! We are completely and utterly unprepared!"
Luffy just blinked. "But we have you. You're the navigator, right?"
Zoro, woken by the shouting, yawned. "And as long as we have booze, I'm good."
Nami looked like she was about to explode. She took a deep breath, forcing herself to be the voice of reason. She pointed a sharp finger at a spot on her map.
"Look. There is an island to the south of our current course. It's called the Gecko Islands. We are going there. We are not taking another step towards the Grand Line until we acquire a proper ship, with a real galley and enough room to stock provisions for a long voyage. Is that understood?"
Luffy and Zoro exchanged a glance.
"Does it have meat?" Luffy asked.
"Does it have a bar?" Zoro added.
Nami just screamed in frustration as she took the tiller, steering them south.
On one of the Gecko Islands, in a place called Syrup Village, a young man was perched on a high cliff, looking out at the sea through a pair of well-worn goggles. He had a remarkably long nose, a curly mop of black hair, and an air of self-importance that didn't quite match his lanky frame. This was Usopp.
Suddenly, his eyes went wide. He leaped to his feet and began a frantic sprint.
He burst into the quiet, peaceful village, his feet pounding on the cobblestones.
"THE PIRATES ARE COMING!" he screamed at the top of his lungs, his voice filled with terror. "A massive fleet is approaching! They're going to burn our village to the ground! Run for your lives!"
The villagers reacted instantly. Doors slammed shut, windows were bolted, and a general panic began to spread.
As Usopp continued his run down the main street, a wide, mischievous grin spread across his face. He cupped his hands around his mouth again.
"I WAS LYING!"
The panic in the village instantly turned into furious annoyance. Windows flew open, and doors were kicked open.
"GET HIM!"
"IT'S THAT BRAT USOPP AGAIN!"
"I'LL TEACH YOU TO LIE TO US, YOU LONG-NOSED PUNK!"
A mob of angry villagers, armed with brooms, rolling pins, and the occasional piece of fruit, began to chase him. Usopp just laughed, easily dodging the thrown objects and outrunning them with practiced ease. He disappeared into a small forest at the edge of town.
"Where did he go?"
"Darn it! He got away again!"
Hiding in the branches of a large tree, Usopp watched them give up the chase, a proud smile on his face. "Hehehe. The great Captain Usopp cannot be caught by mere villagers."
He was soon joined by three young boys, who climbed up the tree to meet him. They were Piiman, Ninjin, and Tamanegi, the loyal crew of the Usopp Pirates.
"That was amazing, Captain!" Piiman (Green Pepper) said with admiration.
"You really had them going!" Ninjin (Carrot) added.
"Of course!" Usopp boasted, puffing out his chest. "My lies are legendary!"
Just as they were settling in, Tamanegi (Onion) came rushing towards the tree, his face pale with real, genuine fear.
"Captain! Captain Usopp!" he panted, scrambling up the branches. "It's terrible! There are real pirates approaching the island!"
The other boys scoffed. "Nice try, Tamanegi. You can't lie like the Captain can."
"I'm not lying!" Tamanegi insisted, tears in his eyes. "I saw them! A strange ship with a sheep figurehead! And it has a pirate flag!"
The mention of a real flag silenced them. Usopp's bravado vanished instantly.
"P-pirates?" he stammered. "W-well, I think… my famous 'I-can't-be-on-this-island-today' disease is acting up! I have to go home!"
He tried to make a break for it, but the boys blocked his path.
"Captain, you can't run away!"
"How many were there?" Usopp asked, trying to sound strategic.
"I… I only saw three people on board," Tamanegi said.
Usopp froze. His fear was instantly replaced by a renewed, albeit shaky, confidence.
"Three?" he said, his voice dropping to a low, serious tone. "Only three? Hmph. What an insult. They dare to invade my island with such a paltry force? Very well!"
He stood up, pointing dramatically towards the coast. "The great Usopp Pirates will defend this village to the death! To battle!"
Luffy, Nami, and Zoro docked their small boats in a quiet, secluded cove. As they stepped ashore, they were completely unaware that they were being watched from the bushes on a nearby cliff.
Zoro, however, was not so oblivious. His sharp eyes caught a flicker of movement. "We're being watched," he said quietly.
Up on the cliff, the Usopp Pirates panicked.
"He saw us!"
"They're real pirates! They look so scary!"
"Sorry, Captain, we're out of here!"
Piiman, Ninjin, and Tamanegi screamed and fled, leaving their captain all alone.
Usopp's legs were trembling, but he stood his ground. He took a deep breath and leaped down from the cliff, landing in front of the Straw Hats with a dramatic pose.
"HALT!" he declared, his voice shaking only slightly. "I am Captain Usopp, the proud protector of this village! My name strikes fear into the hearts of all who sail these seas! Turn back now, or you will face the wrath of my 80 million followers, who are waiting just over that hill, ready to crush you like grapes!"
Luffy looked at him with wide, curious eyes. Zoro just yawned.
Nami, however, was completely unimpressed. She crossed her arms.
"You're lying," she said flatly.
Usopp flinched as if he'd been shot. "H-how did you know I was lying?!" he blurted out instinctively. He immediately slapped his hands over his mouth, realizing his mistake.
Luffy burst out laughing. It was a loud, genuine, rolling laugh. "Hahahaha! You're funny! I like you!"
Usopp's face turned bright red. He tried to salvage his dignity, striking another pose, pointing a thumb at his own chest. "Lying is my specialty! For I am the man they call… Usopp the Proud!"
A short while later, the four of them were seated in the village's only restaurant. Luffy, Zoro, and Usopp were all devouring huge plates of food, while Nami cautiously sipped her drink.
"So you guys need a bigger ship, huh?" Usopp said between mouthfuls, trying to act like a knowledgeable local. "If you want a ship, your best bet is the mansion up on the hill."
He pointed out the window at a massive, opulent mansion that overlooked the entire village.
"A rich young lady lives there. Her name is Kaya. Her parents passed away last year and left her everything. She's incredibly wealthy, but she's been sick for a long time. Maybe if you ask nicely, she'll give you a ship."
Nami was immediately suspicious. "Going to a rich, sick girl's mansion to ask for a handout? That sounds like a terrible plan. We should just move on to the next island."
Usopp saw an opportunity. "Well," he said, puffing out his chest again. "If you were to make me your captain, I could use my vast influence in this village to talk to her for you!"
Luffy and Zoro completely ignored him and continued to eat. Nami just rolled her eyes. Usopp slumped onto the table in despair.
Meanwhile, in that very mansion on the hill, in a large, beautifully decorated bedroom, a young woman with blonde hair sat by the window, looking out at the sea. She was pale and looked frail, but her eyes were clear and intelligent. This was Kaya.
A tall man with dark hair and glasses pushed up high on his nose entered the room. He was dressed impeccably in a butler's suit. This was Klahadore.
"Is there anything you require, Miss Kaya?" he asked, his voice smooth and precise.
Kaya turned from the window, a small, hopeful smile on her face.
"Klahadore," she said softly. "Has Usopp-san come to visit today?"