High above the swirling turquoise of the sea, the Thousand Sunny's silhouette cast a long shadow over the crescent-shaped platform that served as the Flying Fish Riders' base. Half-submerged pylons rose like jagged teeth from the waves, water slapping against metal walkways with a rhythmic clang.
Sanji pressed his lips to the transponder snail, brow furrowed. "Captain," he said quietly, "this place isn't an island. It's a man-made platform in the middle of nowhere."
Usopp peered through a spyglass, voice low. "I'm not seeing anyone… but over there, straight ahead—" His words trailed into a gasp as Camie's high-pitched cry cut through the dawn breeze.
"Hacchin! Are you okay?!" Her words bounced against the steel girders as she sprinted forward, Pappagg the starfish clinging to her hair.
"Get out here, Makuro! Give us back our Hacchin!" Pappagg shrieked, voice trembling on the wind.
Luffy bounded to the railing. "Someone's in that cage over there!" He pointed, eyes blazing.
Camie's voice cracked: "It's Hacchin! We have to save him before the Makuro Gang or the Flying Fish Riders return!"
Usopp shook his head, grim. "Guys… something's off."
Franky advanced, goggles gleaming. "They're probably lying in wait—once we're in the open, BAM—they spring a trap."
Camie pressed her hands to her throat, wide-eyed. "Huh! Why didn't I think of that?"
Pappagg muttered, "I-I didn't think of that either!"
Lucas, arms crossed, sighed. "No wonder you two get kidnapped all the time. The Makuro Gang and the Riders must be idiots for building an empty base."
They approached on a narrow pier of welded steel, waves thrumming through creaking beams. Up ahead, Hacchin's muffled voice drifted through rusted bars:
"Nyuu! Camie, it's me—don't worry!"
Camie's knees buckled. She reached for the cage with tears in her eyes. Pappagg leapt at the locks. "Hacchin! You're all black—did they burn you?!"
He pressed his fists to the bars. "I'm fine. I'm tough! You should get out of here!"
Zoro's voice rumbled from behind. He emerged from misty spray—clandestine, bandaged wounds crisscrossing his chest. "That voice… silhouette… Nami, thoughts?"
Nami's jaw clenched. "Something doesn't add up."
Luffy stepped closer, squinting. "Wait—Hacchin, how's Arlong doing?"
Hacchin froze. "Arlong? He, Choo, and Kuroobi got caught by the Marines."
Luffy's grin snapped into a roar. "Arlong?! Really?" His eyes flashed with remembrance and fury.
Ghostly quiet fell, then Usopp's voice trembled as he poured out the story of Nami's betrayal by Arlong's crew—how they enslaved her and imposed a crushing debt only to wish her to serve them forever. "I took care of those fishmen," Usopp said, cheeks reddening with shame.
Lucas tapped his fingers. "Octopuses have no bones—they'd slip ropes easily. If Hacchin was trapped, he must've escaped somehow."
Franky scratched his chin. "If he could escape once… he can escape again."
Luffy slammed a fist into his palm. "So! Hacchin, you're the takoyaki vendor? If we'd known, we'd never—"
He cut himself off. His face softened. "But… is your takoyaki really that good?"
Sanji's eyes narrowed, nostrils flaring. "Don't let your hunger sway you."
Zoro snorted from the rear. "Chh—moronic."
Camie edged close, searching Zoro's stern gaze. "You and Hacchin… friends?"
Zoro's gaze turned ice-cold. "Not in the slightest."
Camie whirled toward Nami, eyes brimming. "Nami-chan—"
Usopp shrieked, terrifed. "Okay let's turn the ship around—our business is done here!"
Nami grabbed Camie's arm. "Stop! Hacchin's harmless… and we promised to help."
Camie's shoulders slumped in relief. She turned to Luffy. "Are you coming?"
Luffy's grin spread. "Sure—if you're in." He sprinted forward and vaulted from the rail, stretching arms to snatch Camie and Pappagg from the guards' clutches, using the sub's buoys for traction. They landed in a spread-eagle crash onto the steel deck.
"Zoro!" Luffy hollered. Zoro's blade flicked free in a single motion. With a burst of swordsmanship—flicK-fLaSH—he severed the cage's locks and slashed the ropes binding Hacchin.
Luffy roared: "Time for battle!"
As if on cue, swarms of winged fish swooped up from beneath the waves—Riders atop each, carrying pikes and small bronze cannons. The sea crackled with energy as they encircled the Sunny's starboard side.
Lucas surged forward in an instant. His form blurred into Jetray, aerodynamics slicing the salt-soaked air as he crouched, muzzle hissing. He rocketed skyward, propulsions igniting with a BRAAK!
Jetray streaks through the formation, beating wings against the sun. Lucas's grinned, eyes alight.
Below, Luffy stretched a fist skyward and snagged one fish's satiny fin. "Gotcha!" He yanked himself aboard, riding the sleek creature as it looped in tight figure-eights.
The Riders retaliated: cannonballs lobbed from above. Franky remained calm, fingers dancing over each trigger as he fired from under the deck—each shot WHM! shattering balls against the hull in midair.
Luffy whooped: "Haha—I'm flying!" He hugged the fish's neck, riding it like a bronco.
But the fish turned swooping down. Five minutes had passed and the flying fish dove back toward the sea. Luffy's eyes widened. "Whoa—"
Lucas, as Jetray, twisted mid-air and dove in a spiraling arc. With a burst of speed, he snatched Luffy from the fish's back just as it entered the water and rocketed both toward the Sunny. Below, the fish scattered, squealing.
Moments later, Lucas and Luffy burst through the deck hatch in a whirlwind of wind and spray. Luffy coughed, dripping, as Lucas reverted with a wet plop.
"I got you," Lucas panted, wings folding back into his body.
Luffy simply shot him a thankful grin. "Thanks."
The Straw Hats dashed to the railing as the flying fish scattered beyond the horizon. Nami wiped her brow. "That was too close."