**Cocoyasi Village, Conomi Islands – East Blue**
**The evening of their arrival**
The ridge overlook was narrow—barely wide enough for five people to sit shoulder-to-shoulder without elbows knocking. The sun had slipped below the horizon twenty minutes ago, leaving the sky a bruised purple streaked with the last threads of orange. Below them, Cocoyasi Village settled into uneasy darkness. Lanterns flickered in a few windows, but most houses stayed black, shutters closed tight. The mayor's house glowed like a lantern itself: every window bright, shadows moving behind the glass, laughter drifting up the slope on the night breeze.
Arlong's laughter was the loudest.
It rolled out in deep, grating bursts that made the hairs on Koby's arms stand up.
They sat in a loose semicircle on the packed dirt, backs against tree trunks, weapons close. Rifles leaned against shoulders. Zoro's swords rested across his knees. Sanji's cigarette was the only steady point of light, glowing orange every time he inhaled.
Usopp sat between Nami and Luffy, knees drawn up, slingshot across his lap like a security blanket. He hadn't stopped fidgeting since they reached the vantage point—fingers tapping, eyes darting between the village and the five Marines who had somehow decided to trust him in the span of one afternoon.
Luffy broke the quiet first.
"So," he said, voice low but carrying easily in the still air, "what's the plan?"
Nami exhaled through her nose.
"We're supposed to assess and hold. Not charge in like idiots."
Luffy tilted his head toward her.
"But they're hurting people. Right now."
Nami's jaw tightened.
"I know."
Zoro shifted, leather creaking against leather.
"How many can we take before they call the whole crew?"
Usopp swallowed audibly.
"Arlong alone is… he's strong. Like, really strong. His teeth can cut through steel. And the others—Kuroobi, Chew, Hatchan—they're all fish-men. Faster in water. Tougher on land than most humans. And they've got swords, guns, whatever they stole from the last Marine patrol that tried."
Koby adjusted his glasses with trembling fingers.
"East Blue Command said reinforcements in forty-eight hours. We're supposed to buy time. Evacuate if possible. Engage only if—"
Luffy cut him off gently.
"Koby. Look down there."
They all followed his gaze.
In the street directly below the mayor's house, two fish-men were dragging an old man out of his home by the collar. The man's legs kicked weakly. One fish-man laughed and kicked a crate of vegetables into the dirt, smashing tomatoes across the cobblestones. The old man shouted something—too far to hear the words—but the tone was desperate, pleading.
Sanji's cigarette fell from his lips. He crushed it under his heel without looking down.
Luffy's voice stayed calm.
"They're not waiting forty-eight hours."
Nami closed her eyes for a long second.
When she opened them again, her expression had hardened into something colder, more familiar to anyone who'd ever seen her chart treacherous waters alone.
"Then we don't wait either."
Usopp's head snapped toward her.
"You're serious?"
Nami met his eyes.
"I've lost villages before. I'm not losing this one."
Usopp looked at her—really looked—then at the rest of them.
"You're all crazy."
Luffy grinned in the dark.
"Yup."
Sanji stood slowly, dusting off his trousers.
"I'll take the left flank. Draw some of them out. Give you room to move."
Zoro rose next, rolling his shoulders.
"I'll go right. Cut through anyone who gets in the way."
Koby stood too, rifle in both hands.
"I… I can cover the rear. And signal if reinforcements show up early."
Nami glanced at Usopp.
"You know the village best. Hidden paths? Back doors? Places they won't expect?"
Usopp hesitated.
Then he nodded.
"There's a storm drain that runs under the main street. Comes out behind the tavern. Narrow, but adults can crawl through. I used it to sneak supplies to people at night."
Luffy clapped him on the shoulder.
"Perfect. You lead Nami and me through there. We'll get inside the mayor's house from behind. Get the villagers out while the others pull attention."
Usopp stared at Luffy's hand on his shoulder like he couldn't quite believe it was real.
"You're really trusting me? After all the lies?"
Luffy shrugged.
"You lied to protect people. That's not a bad lie."
Usopp's eyes shimmered.
He blinked hard.
"…Okay. Okay. Let's do this."
They moved.
Single file down the ridge, footsteps muffled by pine needles and soft earth. Usopp led, slingshot at the ready, though his hands shook. Nami followed close behind, log pose glowing faintly on her wrist. Luffy bounced lightly on the balls of his feet, impossible to keep quiet even when he tried.
At the base of the slope, Usopp pointed to a rusted grate half-hidden behind a collapsed fishing shack.
"Here."
Sanji and Zoro peeled off without another word—Sanji vanishing into the shadows on the left, Zoro melting into the right like smoke.
Koby crouched behind a low wall, rifle scope trained on the street.
He whispered into the dark:
"Good luck."
Luffy flashed him a thumbs-up before dropping to his belly and crawling into the drain after Usopp.
The pipe was tight. Damp. Smelled of salt and rot.
Usopp crawled ahead, breathing shallow.
"Watch your head," he whispered back. "There's a low beam in about ten meters."
Luffy's voice echoed softly.
"Got it."
Nami crawled last, every movement precise, controlled.
They moved in silence except for the drip of water and the occasional scrape of elbows on metal.
After what felt like forever—but was probably only five minutes—the pipe widened into a small junction chamber. Usopp stopped, listening.
No footsteps above.
He pushed up a loose manhole cover just a crack.
Moonlight spilled in.
They were behind the mayor's house.
Usopp lifted the cover fully.
They climbed out one by one—silent, careful.
The backyard was overgrown with weeds. A broken swing set rusted in the corner. Voices drifted from inside the house—loud, drunken, triumphant.
Luffy crouched low.
"Ready?"
Nami nodded.
Usopp swallowed.
"Yeah."
They crept toward the back door.
Inside the house, the scene was worse up close.
Tables shoved against walls. Empty bottles everywhere. Fish-men sprawled in chairs, laughing. Arlong sat at the head like a king, feet propped on the table, a massive saw-nosed grin on his face.
Villagers—maybe a dozen—stood against the far wall, heads bowed, hands bound with rope.
An old woman trembled visibly.
A young girl clung to her mother's skirt.
Luffy's fists clenched so hard his knuckles popped.
Then—
A crash from the front street.
Glass shattering. A shout. The unmistakable sound of a body hitting the ground.
Sanji's voice carried clearly, even from here:
"Come get some, you oversized tuna!"
More crashes.
Shouts of alarm.
Arlong stood slowly.
His grin widened.
"Looks like we have visitors."
He cracked his neck.
"Find them. Bring me their heads."
Fish-men scrambled for weapons.
Chaos erupted outside.
Inside, the villagers flinched.
Luffy looked at Nami and Usopp.
"Now."
They moved.
Usopp darted to the bound villagers, pulling a small knife from his belt.
"Stay quiet," he whispered. "We're getting you out."
The old woman's eyes widened.
"Usopp…?"
He nodded frantically.
"Yeah. It's me. Come on."
Nami moved to the side window, peering out.
"Sanji's got three on him. Zoro's carving through another group. They're pulling most of the crew outside."
Luffy stood at the doorway to the main room, back to the wall.
Arlong was still inside—watching the door like he knew something was coming.
Luffy met Nami's eyes.
She nodded once.
He stepped out.
Into the light.
Arlong's head turned slowly.
Then he laughed—deep, rolling, mocking.
"A human child? With a straw hat?"
Luffy didn't answer.
He just walked forward.
One step.
Two.
Arlong's grin faltered for half a second.
Then he lunged.
Fast.
Too fast for a man his size.
Fist like a sledgehammer aimed at Luffy's head.
Luffy ducked.
Rubber body bending in ways no human could.
He came up inside Arlong's guard.
And punched.
One clean, straight right to the solar plexus.
The air exploded from Arlong's lungs.
He staggered back three steps, eyes wide.
The room went silent.
Luffy stood there, fist still extended, hat shadowing his eyes.
"You're done hurting these people."
Arlong coughed once.
Then laughed again—hoarser this time.
"You think one punch is enough?"
He straightened.
Cracked his knuckles.
"Then let's see how many it takes."
Outside, the fighting grew louder.
Sanji's kicks cracked like thunder.
Zoro's blades sang.
Koby's rifle barked once, twice.
Usopp and Nami were already ushering villagers toward the back door.
The old woman paused at the threshold.
Looked back at Luffy.
"Young man… be careful."
Luffy grinned over his shoulder.
"Don't worry. We've got this."
She nodded once—trusting, somehow—and disappeared into the night.
Arlong charged again.
This time faster. Harder.
Luffy met him head-on.
Rubber against shark.
Fists against teeth.
The mayor's house shook with the impact.
Outside, the street became a battlefield.
Sanji spun through three fish-men like a white blur, legs flashing.
Zoro cut through another pair—precise, economical, no wasted movement.
Koby fired covering shots from cover—each one aimed to wound, not kill.
Usopp crouched behind a barrel, slingshot trembling.
Then he saw a fish-man sneaking up on Sanji from behind.
He didn't think.
He aimed.
Fired.
The pellet cracked against the fish-man's temple.
The man dropped.
Sanji glanced back.
Saw Usopp.
Gave him a small nod.
Usopp stared at his own hands.
Then smiled—shaky, but real.
Inside, Luffy and Arlong traded blows that cracked floorboards.
Arlong's teeth snapped inches from Luffy's face.
Luffy stretched back, then snapped forward—headbutting Arlong square in the nose.
Cartilage crunched.
Arlong staggered.
Luffy didn't let up.
He bounced off the walls—literally—rubber body ricocheting like a pinball.
Each impact landed harder than the last.
Arlong roared.
Grabbed a table.
Swung it like a club.
Luffy ducked under.
Came up inside again.
Gomu Gomu no… Pistol!
The punch connected with Arlong's jaw.
The fish-man flew backward.
Crashed through the front wall.
Out into the street.
Dust and splinters rained down.
The fighting outside paused for half a heartbeat.
Then the remaining fish-men saw their captain on the ground.
They roared.
Charged.
Luffy stepped out through the hole in the wall.
Hat tilted low.
Fists raised.
Behind him, Nami and Usopp were already halfway down the street with the last villagers.
Sanji, Zoro, and Koby fell back to cover the retreat.
Arlong rose slowly.
Blood on his teeth.
Grin wider than ever.
"You… are interesting."
Luffy didn't smile back.
"You hurt people who couldn't fight back."
He stepped forward.
"I don't like that."
Arlong laughed.
"Then come. Let's finish this."
The night air crackled.
The village held its breath.
And in the middle of the street, under the light of a single lantern, two worlds collided.
One made of rubber and dreams.
One made of teeth and hate.
The fight for Cocoyasi Village had truly begun.
To be continued…