**East Blue → Grand Line Entrance – Aboard the Transport Ship**
The transport ship was bigger than anything they'd sailed on before—proper steel hull, three decks, a real galley with a stove that didn't threaten to tip over every wave, and bunks that didn't feel like sleeping in a coffin. It still rocked like a drunk in a storm once they left Loguetown behind, but at least no one had to sleep on deck unless they wanted to.
Usopp spent the first two days of the voyage either hanging over the rail or curled in his bunk, moaning that "the Grand Line is trying to murder me before I even get there." His face had turned a permanent shade of seasick green. Every time the ship pitched, he'd wail:
"This is it! This is how I die! Betrayed by waves! Forgotten at sea! Tell Kaya I loved her!"
Luffy sat beside him most mornings, patting his back (still too hard), holding out strips of dried meat.
"Food helps."
Usopp lifted his head just enough to glare.
"If I eat that I will literally explode."
Luffy chewed thoughtfully.
"Then maybe tea?"
Sanji appeared like he'd been summoned—tin mug of ginger tea in one hand, small plate of plain crackers in the other.
"Drink slowly. Eat one cracker at a time. No gulping." He crouched, voice softer than usual. "You'll live, long-nose. The Grand Line hasn't killed anyone this pathetic yet."
Usopp took the mug with shaking fingers.
"You're… being nice again."
Sanji lit a cigarette.
"Don't get used to it. I just don't want vomit on my galley floor."
But when a sleek merchant sloop passed them later that afternoon—its deck lined with elegant women in flowing dresses waving handkerchiefs—Sanji's entire demeanor changed.
He froze mid-step.
Eyes became hearts.
Cigarette fell from his lips.
"Mellorineeee~ ♥ Sea goddesses! Angels of the ocean! Bless my unworthy eyes~!"
He spun in place, arms wide, nose already trickling blood.
"Allow this humble chef to prepare you a feast! Caviar! Lobster! My heart on a silver platter~!"
Nami appeared behind him, grabbed his collar, and yanked.
"Get. A. Grip."
Sanji sighed dreamily as the sloop sailed out of sight.
"Paradise has already begun…"
Usopp stared in horror.
"Is he always like this?"
Zoro—leaning against the rail sharpening Wado Ichimonji—grunted.
"Worse when there's more than one."
Koby tried to help with a seasickness acupressure point from the manual.
"Press here for five seconds—"
Usopp swatted his hand away.
"I'm dying. Let me die in peace."
Nami rolled her eyes from her spot by the chart table.
"You'll live. And stop whining. We're almost at Reverse Mountain."
That shut Usopp up.
For about thirty seconds.
Then he started whimpering again.
The ship reached the base of Reverse Mountain at dawn on the fifth day.
The mountain rose like a wall across the horizon—four impossible waterfalls rushing upward into the sky, converging at the peak in a roaring white crown. The sea around them began to tilt, current pulling harder, faster.
Everyone gathered at the bow.
Luffy stood on the very front rail, arms wide, hat flapping in the wind.
"Here it comes!"
Usopp clung to a rope, eyes huge.
"We're gonna die! We're gonna climb a waterfall backward and die!"
Sanji swept Nami behind him protectively.
"Don't worry, Nami-swan~! I'll shield your delicate beauty from the spray~ ♥"
Nami shoved him aside.
"I can handle a little water."
Zoro braced both feet on the deck, swords sheathed but hands on hilts.
Koby gripped the rail, glasses fogging from the mist.
The current caught them.
The ship lurched—then surged upward.
The deck tilted violently.
Water roared around them.
Usopp screamed.
Sanji spun into protective mode again.
Luffy laughed—loud, wild, joyful—arms stretching out to grab anyone who slipped.
"Hold on! This is awesome!"
The ship climbed—higher, steeper—bow pointed almost straight up.
Spray soaked them all.
The world tilted.
Then—suddenly—they crested the peak.
A moment of weightless silence.
The four seas rushed together below in a chaotic spiral.
The Grand Line opened before them—vast, glittering, endless.
The ship dropped.
Not gently.
The deck fell away beneath their feet.
Everyone grabbed something—rails, ropes, each other.
Luffy whooped the entire way down.
Usopp screamed until his voice cracked.
Sanji shielded Nami (unnecessarily).
Zoro stayed perfectly balanced.
Koby clung to the rail like his life depended on it (it did).
They hit the bottom with a bone-rattling crash—water exploding around the hull.
Then—silence.
The ship settled.
The roaring faded.
They were through.
The Grand Line lay ahead—calm for now, deceptively peaceful.
Luffy turned to the others, soaked to the bone, grinning so wide his face might split.
"We made it!"
Usopp slid down the rail to sit on the deck.
"I'm alive… I'm actually alive…"
Sanji wrung out his shirt, already looking around for any sign of beautiful women.
"Paradise~ ♥"
Nami pushed wet hair from her face.
"Log pose is spinning. First island in range."
Koby adjusted his glasses—lenses cracked but intact.
"We're really here."
Zoro smirked.
"About time."
They docked at a small outpost island three hours later—Whiskey Peak in all but name: sleepy town, welcoming smiles, too many taverns for the size of the place.
The locals greeted them with open arms—food, drink, offers of beds for the night.
"Heroes of Cocoyasi! Come, rest! Eat! Drink!"
Luffy dove in immediately—meat platters appearing in front of him faster than he could finish one.
Sanji was in heaven.
Beautiful women everywhere—bartenders, waitresses, even the mayor's daughter.
He spun from table to table.
"Lovely ladies~! Allow this gentleman chef to prepare a feast worthy of your grace! Seafood risotto? Tangerine sorbet? My undying devotion~ ♥"
Nosebleed imminent.
Nami grabbed his ear.
"We're on duty."
Sanji clutched his heart.
"But Nami-swan~ The call of beauty is irresistible!"
Usopp tried to act cool.
"I've got 8,000 snipers ready if anything goes wrong!"
Zoro muttered:
"Shut up before you get us killed."
Koby noticed things first—too many weapons hidden under tables, too many eyes watching their every move.
Nami smelled the trap.
"Too easy. Stay sharp."
Luffy—mouth full of meat—grinned.
"This place has great food!"
Night fell.
The squad gathered on the deck of their ship—away from the town's lights.
Nami spoke quietly.
"They're not what they seem."
Usopp clutched his slingshot.
"What do we do?"
Luffy looked at the island—lanterns flickering like false stars.
Fists clenched.
"Then we'll handle it."
He grinned.
"Together."
The Grand Line's first test had already begun.
To be continued…