"Alright boys, here the treasure is!"
The Buggy Pirates gaped at their captain. The Big Top was in the middle of the sea, no land in sight.
"Where, captain?", Mohji, the 1st mate, asked.
Buggy pointed, "At the bottom of the ocean floor, at this coordinate. So, one of you will have to go down and get it."
He took notice of his crews' paling faces, "Is there a problem?"
Mohji was the first to speak up, "Well, you see, Captain, I would be honored to help you, but, I have to stay aboard with Rich, y'know how cats are about water."
"If I'm not on deck with him, he gets nervous," Mohji turned to his lion, "Right, buddy?"
Ritchie nervously nodded his head upon being fixed by the captain's glare.
"Hmmm, and what about you, Cabaji?", Buggy turned to his 2nd mate.
"Um…," Cabaji paused, "Captain, might I make a suggestion?"
"Do so."
"I suggest we draw straws-and the one who draws the shortest straw goes first!"
"What an excellent idea, Cabaji," Buggy smiled before barking orders, "Ok, men, line up!"
…
Shells Town:
"Ah, Captain Morgan, what a pleasure to meet you!" the sculptor Pietro greeted his client, "I am honored."
"As you should be," the gigantic Marine captain gruffled.
"Shall I show you the statue?"
"Yes," Morgan answered, "but I warn you, the last few 'artistes' that have tried to capture my magnificent likeness…", tapping the tip of his axe with his regular hand, "fell short of the task."
Pietro gulped before regaining his composure, "I assure you, sir, this will be to your utmost satisfaction."
"It had better be."
"May I present to you…", Pietro pulled the curtain off his statue, "My masterpiece!"
"It is…" Morgan paused, in awe, "excellent."
…
Syrup Village:
"Good morning, Klahadore," the store owner greeted Kaya's bespectacled butler.
"Good morning," Klahadore spoke in his usual polite tone, "I am here for Miss Kaya's prescription."
"Of course," the owner went into the back to fetch the medicine.
The owner came back out with a bag, which he handed to Klahadore, "Do tell Miss Kaya that I asked after her health."
"I will," the butler assured him.
Their conversation was interrupted by a sudden cry of "Get back here!"
"You can't run forever, Usopp!"
The two of them looked out the window to see, as usual, a mob of angry citizens chasing the village's long-nosed liar.
"Uhh…," the owner sighed, "That punk's up to his old tricks yet again."
"Indeed," Klahadore's voice was now dripping with contempt, "it is a wonder why Miss Kaya is so taken with him…"
…
The pirate Admiral, Don 'Foul Play' Krieg stood, clad in his golden armor, in front of every single member of his armada, all kneeling at his feet.
"Listen up, men!
Before me, stand five thousand pirates. In the sea, swims fifty vessels, each as strong as the last-except for my mighty flagship-the Dreadnaught Sabre!
Together, we have plundered the East Blue! Together, we have humbled the Navy countless times!
But, I ask, what is left when we have stolen all worth taking in this sea? Fought everyone worth fighting here?
The answer is nothing. Nothing at all. No reason left for us to stay in the East Blue.
Now, we shall set out for our true conquest-the Grand Line!
There are those that speak of the Grand Line in hushed tones. Say that its waters are too treacherous. That its monsters, both human and otherwise, are too strong to be overcome.
Bah! This is naught but the talk of weaklings and cowards!
Right here, right now, I say we put aside thoughts of these bogeyman and take what is, by right of strength, rightfully ours-the Grand Line!"
A great cheer went up around the men.
"Combat Commander Gin!"
"Admiral," Gin stepped forward before getting down on one knee.
"Are you with me, Gin? Will you sail with me to the Grand Line?"
"Admiral, I have sworn to sail with you till the very end of my life."
"Good," Krieg turned to his other high-ranking officers, "And what of the rest of you? Do you too swear?"
"Yes, Admiral Krieg, sir!"
"Good! Good!", their cheers were like energy to Krieg, "Then, tomorrow, we set out-for the Grand Line!"
…
Arlong Park:
"What do you mean he's gone?!"
With all the adrenaline and joy he had gotten from the last raid, along with all the loot, this was the last piece of news Arlong wanted to hear.
"I dunno-I mean he's gone," Hatchan spoke up.
"What happened, Hachi?", Kuroobi asked, irately.
"Well, last I saw him, he was heading into the village," Hachi explained, "That was a week ago."
"The villagers wouldn't touch him-chew," Chew commented, "They know if they even scratch one of us-even the crossbreed-we'll lay waste to the whole village-chew."
"Hey, Arlong," Hachi asked, having noticed his leader walking away, "Where are ya going?"
"To Cocoyashi Village, where'd ya think?", Arlong gruffly answered as he continued his pace, "To get some answers."