"PIRATES!"

The folks of Syrup Village were already up and awake as usual by the time their wake up call actually came, but its constant interruption of teatime somehow made it all the worse. Heads poked out of doors, windows, or turned on their way to their market stalls, irritation budding about their faces while, from the South Road, the young man who calls himself Captain Usopp comes running toward the village, arms flailing, legs pumping hard.

"Pirates are coming! Pirates have just arrived! You need to run!" Usopp spouts out. The villagers are already getting themselves ready for a tussle, but not with any pirates. Grabbing brooms, mops, or whatever other makeshift weapon they can, they swung their arms at Usopp in a last ditch effort to catch him, in vain as usual though. Usopp has been the fastest person in the village since he was four years old, and he's gotten plenty of practice since then in running from his fellow townsfolk. Yet his face now is panicked, eyes bulging, slobber running from his mouth as he continues to scream out rabble about pirates arriving. "Why are you attacking me?! There are pirates invading the island!"

Usopp just barely dodges a frying pan headed straight for his head, and the panic leaves his voice. Replaced with laughter, jolly, and glee, he looks over his shoulder at the throng of most of the villagers chasing after him, and shouts out: "Just kidding! There's no pirates! There's no invasion, don't worry!" As usual, this incensed the villagers as soon as they heard it, although they knew it was coming. Like every day, though, they aren't able to catch Usopp, and his legs somehow pump all the faster as he climbs the North Road, rounding a bend, losing the villager's line of sight, and then ducks into an alley, crouching behind a big box. He peeks around the corner to watch the villagers as they run past, clamoring for Usopp's beating or wondering where he could have slipped off to.

After the last villagers goes past, Usopp crept into the main road and watches as they continue up the bending North Road. He squints up at their backs, shades his eyes, and puts on a curious face before finally chuckling and waving. "Ah, they'll realize it soon enough." Usopp shakes his head, turning on his heel as he stares at the dirt ground and heads through the alley across the street, walking out of the edge of town and up a big, grassy hill toward a mansion on a hill, bordered by wrought iron fencing, beautiful, vibrant green shrubbery working halfway up the fence, and beautiful fruit trees flowering on the gardens inside.

In the gardens outside the fence, just under the shrubbery, are beautiful flowers lining the brick walkway circling the fence. This late morning, near the front gate, the beautiful daughter of the mansion owner, Kaya, kneels on a pad, gently transplanting flowers from a tray into the dirt. As she hums to herself, from the front gate comes Merry, her family's loyal butler, carrying another tray of flowers. "Pansies, as well, Mistress Kaya," he said, kneeling on an identical pad and setting the tray in between the two of them. With his gloved hands, he joins Kaya in planting the flowers, their favorite activity to do together while her father works. "The garden is looking so beautiful," Kaya said wistfully. "I'll never get why people don't like maintenance. Maintaining is the best part."

Footsteps make their heads turn up, overjoyed suddenly as Usopp walks over, hand raised. They rise and Kaya meets Usopp halfway, beaming bright as she embraces him. "Can I join?" Usopp asked, gesturing toward the garden. "Please, we'd love the help," Kaya replied. Merry took his gloves off, shook Usopp's hand, then asked, "Could I get you something to drink?" They decided on some fresh lemonade, so Merry heads inside to prepare it for them, leaving Usopp and Kaya to spend some time alone and garden together. Unfortunately, they'd only get about ten minutes to themselves to garden together before more footsteps arrive - a set of three, fast, running. Usopp stands, dusting his hands off as three young boys run up, screaming something incoherent as their three voices meld together.

These are the Usopp Pirates - composed of Onion, Pepper, & Carrot, Usopp's underlings who sometimes assist in the morning pranks (when their parents aren't too mad). They're hysterical, crying, and waving their arms all around. "Wait, wait, guys," Usopp shouted, throwing his hands up to calm them for just a moment. "What is happening? One at a time!" he emphasizes, looking between them. Onion collapses on his rear, too exhausted from the sprint to even talk now.

But Pepper takes the command here, pointing over his shoulder at the Southern shore. "Captain, it's for real this time! Pirates are here! How did you know?" Usopp just laughs in response, shaking his head. "No, guys, it was a prank as usual, come on now." But the kids are not buying it - they know something Usopp doesn't. In unison, they point to the same direction over the trees shadowing the shore. Just barely visible is the flagstaff of a ship, waving on high the black Jolly Roger of a pirate crew. Usopp & Kaya's eyes both get wide at that; the island has not had pirate visitors in many a year. "Onion saw the whole thing," Carrot chimes in, regaining the elders' focus. "Tell 'em, Onion."

Onion sits up, still struggling to catch his breath, but manages to groan out, "I was staring at the sea this morning as usual when I saw the pirate ship rolling in… I waited around until they shored, and heard them talking about ransacking the village, Captain!" He's crying all the harder now, as are Pepper & Carrot. "I don't want them to kill my mom and dad!" Onion sputters out, now causing all three of the boys to cry, with neither Usopp nor Kaya able to calm them down.

From behind Kaya come two more figures: Merry, returning with the fresh lemonade and glasses, and Victor, Kaya's father. "What's going on? I heard the commotion all the way from my study," Victor proclaims, walking over. "Good to see you, Usopp. Kids! What's the matter?"

"Pa," Kaya says gently, walking over and pointing to the Jolly Roger waving. "Pirates," she manages to say, unsure how to tackle handling this. Victor narrows his eyes, not recognizing the Jolly Roger from here. His mind races, wondering what to do. "Okay, kids," he says, gesturing to Usopp, Kaya, and the younger children. "You need to head inside, get to safety. We'll bar the gates and the door. Merry, why don't you phone the militia? If they even still have their weapons . . ."

While Victor brainstorms out loud about how to organize and help out, Usopp's mind is racing. His heart urges to rush that ship single handedly, but his legs can't move. He suddenly feels guilty over his years of rushing through town, clamoring about pirates when now there's a real threat coming in the form of a pirate crew. He imagines the ferocity of this crew, wishing his father was here to deal with these brigands. Yet it becomes apparent to Usopp that all this island has right now is him, the son of a pirate and someone with the gall to call himself a captain.

Victor is trying to herd the kids into his mansion when Usopp then notices a horde of figures emerge from the treeline, bigger even than Usopp would have initially imagined. His eyes go wide, while behind him, the others are about to enter the front gate. "Usopp!" Victor & Kaya call, trying to urge him into the safety of the mansion. How can you call yourself a brave warrior of the sea if you hide now? His thought snaps Usopp back into reality and he sprints off, straight down the hill back toward Syrup Village and the South Road where the pirates are fast approaching from.

"Usopp!" Kaya calls, making to rush after him before Victor catches her, holding her back. Usopp hears nothing else, apologizing in his head to them for running off but his resolve is geared toward defending his home now. He grabs his slingshot, tucked in his waistband, white-knuckling it as he pumps his legs down the hill toward this horde of pirates. So many. He double checks that his pouch of lead stars is still at his hip, which they are. So many. Would it be enough to take on all of these pirates? So. Many.

Usopp's legs suddenly stop, and he stares ahead at the horde of pirates, now barely able but still within hearing distance of these pirates. Their cries and jeers echo around in his head as his knees start shaking, his teeth start chattering, and his mind goes from a thousand to a million miles per hour. I can't do this! Usopp thought, still clutching the slingshot so hard he's worried he'll break it. From this distance, he can make out the pirates' captain, a taller man than the rest of them who strides with the ultimate confidence. I can't do this! Usopp thought again, envisioning the beating he'd receive if a weakling like him tried to stand up to this entire crew of hardened seafarers. "I can't do this," Usopp finally squeaks out, beside himself with what a failure this is.

His eyes drift to the Jolly Roger waving above the treeline, now a bit more visible. The insignia are the classic crossed bones, and instead of a skull in front of them, a set of vibrant red lips, an equally red tongue sticking out as if to lick the enemies.

The idea came to him then, as he imagined his own Jolly Roger (an odd skull & crossbones with what could only be described as a poorly drawn representation of Usopp's skull screaming) waving above a ship as it sailed the seas. "What good's a pirate without his ship," Usopp ponders, chuckling before turning course and making for the South shore and these pirates' imposing ship. That's exactly it! The militia and the village will protect their own - but who's going to deal with their back up, and their ship, and actually teach them a lesson of not to mess with Syrup Village?

The tension was palpable in the air of the mansion, made all the worse by the cries of the Usopp Pirates gathered around the dinner table, at least enjoying Merry's lemonade. "What about our parents?" Onion blubbers. "I want to go protect them," Pepper laments afterward. The adults are gathered at the window overlooking town, watching the mass of pirates reach Syrup's outskirts. Victor bites his lips, fists clenched at his side. What can I do? The same thought cycles through his head.

"Usopp is so brave," Victor mutters, so only Kaya can hear. He sighs, and turns to her and Merry. "Listen, you two stay here. The militia isn't coming." Merry looks despondent at that news. "I'm going to Syrup Village to try and negotiate with these pirates."

"Father, no!" Kaya immediately protested, shaking her head vigorously. "I've already got Usopp to worry about."

"Master, I think Miss Kaya is right," Merry added, but Victor threw his hand up, not unkindly but sternly.

"This is how it's going to be," Victor asserts. "Maybe they will listen to reason. And if not, it's my money that could speak to them."

Victor strides to the front door, confusing the Usopp Pirates who want to know what's going on while Kaya and Merry follow him to the foyer. Their protests are deaf to him, as logical as they are. "Let's just call the Navy, they can come help!" Kaya said, desperate for Victor to just stay behind with them.

Victor chuckled at that suggestion. "We're too far out. Besides, this isn't a high profile case for them to spare any men on us." He sighs, giving Kaya a massive hug that she returns with fear. He looked at Merry over the top of her head. "Keep her and the children safe within these walls, old friend?" Merry just nodded back in response, lips tight in a thin line. Victor let go of Kaya, then, only squeezing her shoulders for a moment before turning and leaving out the front door.

Kaya collapsed into Merry's arms almost instantly, crying like the Usopp Pirates are inside. "What will happen to him? Foolish old man," Kaya says, sobbing. The three youngsters in the other room poked their heads around the corner of the door, watching and wiping the tears from their own eyes. Merry just held Kaya softly as she said to him, "I can't lose him, too, Merry."

Merry sighed, shaking his head. "You won't, Miss Kaya. Master Victor knows what he's doing." He hugged her back all the tighter at that moment, thinking of the grief Kaya held when her mother passed and giving a silent prayer: Keep her father safe, if not for his sake, then for hers at least. Make it double for Usopp.

And the Usopp Pirates crept back to the dining table, never having seen an adult cry like that before. It's strengthened them. "We're able bodied, too. Maybe we can fight if those pirates make it up here," Pepper suggests as the de facto second in command of the Usopp Pirates. A double "Yeah!" from Carrot and Onion marks the beginning of their new pledge as Pepper throws his hand in between them.

"If we see those pirates even try to hurt Miss Kaya or this house, we'll attack! Just like Captain always trained us!" Pepper declared. Another double "Yeah!" was met as Onion and Carrot joined their hands over Pepper's. They throw their hands in the air as quietly as can be, still not wanting Kaya or Merry to know they're conspiring.

Onion turned to display the kitchen to them, grinning and saying, "It's lucky we're equipped with our best weapons, too!"

As Victor was leaving the mansion and heading toward Syrup Village itself, Usopp had reached the big pirate ship that was waiting for him on the sandy shores of the island. The air is quiet here except for the sound of the surf hitting the sand, deafening in Usopp's ears at the moment as he struggles to listen for any enemies. He creeps up a rope ladder to reach the deck of the ship, his eyes confirming what his ears suspected: This ship is empty.

It is at least mostly empty, as Usopp starts calling out for people. He actively felt his confidence grow in the next few moments as he believed himself to be alone, figuring he could just burn the ship while the pirates were gone. But then they'll be stuck on this island. What if they make it their base? he thought, That ruined that plan of action as he explored the deck of the ship, heading for the cabin in the center of the deck - and as he thinks of alternatives, the door to the cabin opens, almost right in Usopp's face, putting one pirate right in front of him. Both of their eyes go wide as they study each other's face, Usopp's spreading into false friendliness, and the pirate's into budding realization.

The pirate only has time to reach for his sword before Usopp screams, too afraid to even think. This startled the pirate something fierce, causing him to lose his footing as he bucks backward, anticipating an attack. Right behind him are a set of stairs, though, and his foot has nowhere to land, sending his body tumbling after himself. Usopp shielded his eyes, and missed the entire thing, only opening his eyes seconds later when death didn't come. Looking down the stairs, he chuckled, deciding to claim that as a victory for Usopp. He heads into the cabin to double check on the pirate and make sure he's knocked out, but there's really no mistaking it even from the top of the stairs. Can't have him get up while you're still here, he thought, grabbing a roll of rope from across the room and tying the pirate's arms to his legs in a hogtie. As he finishes the knot, he realizes he's been hearing something on repeat for some time now: A soft voice calling, "Hello?"

Usopp sprang up, gripped his slingshot and a lead star once more, and headed through the pirates' cabins to find the voice. The cabin ended up being fairly expansive, and he cursed his luck for getting lost twice, ending up in a modest room of beds for the crew and then a strange hallway with placement Usopp can't understand. Yet the voice is louder, coming from an open door at the end of the hallway. "Hello?" There was no urgency in the voice, but it made Usopp nervous. Even more nervous than if there had been urgency, really. Usopp raised his slingshot with each and every step forward, forcing his legs to make the movements.

He would be grateful for it, as he steps into the brig before too long and finds it similarly empty as the rest of the ship. Usopp lowers his weapon, sighing, but worried about that voice - until he's scared nearly out of his skin by that same voice next to him in the cell. "Were you the one shouting?" Usopp slams into the opposite cell's bars, clanging about, and he throws hands up as defense, but realizes how foolish he is - this man, no older than Usopp, is not only locked up in a cell but tied up completely, almost comically with how bound he is. He wears a broad smile aimed at Usopp, with no come ons put on it, and also notable is his straw hat perched atop his head. "I'm Luffy, who are you?"

He's not one of them! Usopp realized suddenly, looking around in a hurry. "You're a prisoner, huh? Hold on, I'm here to save you! Let me find the key to this cell." He looks at the desk, finding the keys to all the cells in the first drawer. He rushed back over, unlocking the cell door, tossing the keys aside, and bending down to untie the knot. "Who are you, man?" Usopp gets out as he works on the tough knot. "And why'd they tie you up so thoroughly?" he added with frustration.

"I told ya, I'm Luffy!" Straw Hat said back. "I was traveling when I met these guys. They didn't seem to like me too much, so they locked me up, but I tell ya, they really shouldn't have tried to rob me. I was just defending myself!"

Usopp thinks about what this guy just said, confused how one man would try to defend himself against all those pirates. "Your crew were killed, then?"

"No, I'm still assembling them! I don't even have a first crewmate," Straw Hat responded. "Actually, that's what I was coming here to do when they decided to come along."

Usopp still struggles with the knot, sucking his teeth as he works. "Really? Not many travelers here, friend. But that's beside the point - why would the pirates come here, too? You convinced them to?"

Straw Hat shook his head in reply. "No, as soon as I mentioned Syrup Village, one of the captain's guys mentioned he grew up here! He knew of a mansion with a bunch of treasure inside it. That's what these guys are after."

Usopp's blood ran cold at these words, his breath stopping his lungs, and his sweat suddenly budding all across his forehead. "What did you just say?"

"Yeah, and when they were saying they'd just kill everyone here, I had to fight them," Straw Hat said. "Hey, how's that knot coming? I haven't felt my hands in hours."

` Usopp begins to hyperventilate, unable to even process the prisoner's words. He rushes out the cell door and back up the stairs, getting to the hogtied pirate, taking his knife, and rushing back downstairs to the brig and Straw Hat's side. He slices through the knot mercilessly, while Straw Hat is left confused. "What's going on? Calm down, guy. It'll be alright!"

Usopp grabbed Straw Hat by the shoulders, staring him right in the eye, and proclaims: "All my friends are at that mansion!" He rushes back out the cell and up the stairs as Straw Hat watches from the cell, massaging his wrists and pushing himself to his feet.

As Usopp was being followed by Straw Hat back up the shore toward the treeline, Syrup Village was finally actually being attacked by pirates. The crew were mostly there in the town square, busting up stalls of produce, of jewelry, of meats, and of novelties. The townsfolk are scrambling to get out of town on every mile of the outskirts, but there are those caught captive by the pirates personally, watching their belongings get smashed or burned, or else just hidden inside their houses, watching and waiting for all this to pass.

The captain himself cheered on his crew as they lit torches and began throwing them into the full buildings, burning homes down. They were not interrupted by the cries of the villagers, pleading for their well being or their houses, nor by the cackles of the captain, but only by a deep, booming voice cutting through the chaos. "Stop this! Please!"

The pirates all turned to the source of the voice. Victor, alone at the mouth of the East Road, stands firm, resolute against this force so much grander than just Victor. But he steps forward, arms raised in parley. "Who is your leader?" Victor asked after a few moments of bated silence.

"That'd be me," said the captain, taking three steps forward so he stands next to the flowing fountain. "Captain Bellamy, at your service." He points up to the mansion on the hill, behind the East Road. "That'd be your house on the hill then?"

Victor sucks in his breath. "Yes. I have much treasure to offer you, pirates." He doesn't say "pirate" with venom. "I have offerings, in exchange for the safety of the village! Please, put out what fires you have started and leave. We are a simple people."

Bellamy laughed at that, made louder by his crew joining in behind him. "You hear that, boys?" Bellamy kicked over the fountain with steel toed boots then. The fountainhead toppled over into itself, causing the jets to shoot out in odd angles, making a new hissing noise. "He's got us an offer! And all we have to do is put the fires out." His cackles die down, he spins to look across the town square, then smirks. "I got a counter offer, sir." Bellamy turns back to Victor, pistol pointed at him.

Victor puts his hands up higher but Bellamy fires simply, sending a bullet into Victor's stomach. He falls to the dirt road, and Bellamy smirks over his shoulder at his crew, jerking a thumb up at the mansion. "That's one less guy to deal with up there. Come on, boys." His quiet line is met with a triumphant cheer, a resounding call of, "TREASURE!"

Usopp was halfway back to the mansion by the time he saw the mass of pirates headed that way, but they are so much closer, he thinks, breath running ragged in his lungs as desperation fills his mind. Tears are running from his eyes, not from fear or sadness even, but from pure exertion of energy. Behind him comes Straw Hat, making good progress, but slower than Usopp. "Whew!" he says, sucking air into his lungs. "This guy can run!"

Their legs keep pumping, Usopp's all the harder as he watches the swarm of pirates enter through the front gate from afar, jamming their weapons through the rings and prying it from all angles so it came down in a flurry of screeching metal. "Push in, boys!" Bellamy called, stepping aside to let his men rush the front door. The gate wasn't much trouble, but the door is far easier to bust through, three of Bellamy's biggest guys using their shoulders to heave through the double doors into the foyer.

Usopp kept running, wouldn't stop, until finally he arrived at the main gate way ahead of Straw Hat. He panted, looking from pirate to pirate, suddenly returning to the gravity of what a fight like this would mean. Even worse, he's clutching his slingshot and a lead star. There's no lying out of this one, he realizes as Bellamy looks him up and down, a scowl growing on his face.

But Usopp then notices what's happening inside the mansion. Pepper, Carrot, and Onion have clubbed those first three intruders with dough rollers, frying pans, and a wok, as evidenced by the open wounds on their foreheads. However, they've already gotten the children underfoot, squishing on their heads with their swords drawn at their throats. Behind them, Merry clutches a knife, standing protectively in front of Kaya. Merry's defense and Usopp's arrival have just barely given him and Kaya the time to stay alive, but they're surrounded by ten of Bellamy's men.

"And who are you?" Bellamy said, bringing Usopp's attention back to him. He cocks an eyebrow when Usopp doesn't respond. "Well?"

Usopp brings his slingshot up, aimed at Bellamy's face, but his butterfingers drop the lead star. Usopp watches it in muted horror, reaching for the next nearest projectile in his arsenal as Bellamy realizes he's an attacker and charges him. Usopp barely grabs the fastest thing he can from the fanny pack on his back, loading it into the slingshot - Damn, did it have to be that? - and fires an egg right into Bellamy's face. It splashes runny all over Bellamy's face, causing him to stop a moment to sputter the yolk from his mouth and dig the shells from his hair.

"Okay," Bellamy said simply, grinning again and making for Usopp as the crew laughs suddenly. "That the best you got, shrimp?" "Take him down, Cap'n!" "You dare to go up against the Bellamy Pirates?!"

But this all stops suddenly, and Usopp wonders why as he cowers from Bellamy's upcoming blow, too scared now to even grab a new projectile. "Captain!" yell the Usopp Pirates from the foyer. "Usopp, run!" Kaya calls out, added by Merry's calls for his safety. Yet the Bellamy Pirates have refocused, as well. Bellamy's stopped dead in his tracks, eyes wide, angry but also scared.

"How the Hell did you get out?!" Bellamy cries, taking a step backward.

"What's going on here?"

"Captain! It's him!"

Usopp opens his eyes, mistaking the pirates' new fear at him, but a quick look over his shoulder shows Straw Hat has finally arrived. He's smiling, taken his hat off and rubbing his hair back. He claps a hand on Usopp's shoulder. "You're fast!" And then he looks over to the Bellamy Pirates. "Were you about to hurt my new friend?"

Bellamy throws his hands up, smiling weakly, shaking his head, "Hey, pal, look, we got off on the wrong foot and . . . I think we're actually in the wrong place. Look, just let us g-."

Straw Hat's already taking steps forward to bridge the gap, walking past Usopp fearlessly into the throng of the pirates Bellamy is surrounded by. Straw Hat stances up, rearing his fist back. "Gum Gum . . ."

"Wait!" Bellamy manages to squeak out this last word.

"PISTOL!" Straw Hat sends his fist forward. His hit will never connect, Usopp thinks, confused until Straw Hat's arm stretches like something he's never seen before, slamming square into Bellamy's jaw and launching him right out of the mansion's inner court. He flies over the gate and quickly out of sight, but Usopp and Bellamy's pirates rush out of the main gate to watch him continue to soar, far over the land and finally out to sea, splashing just offshore of the island.

The pirates all turn their heads to Straw Hat, who just turns to them right back with the same innocent grin on his face. "Remember how hard he was to lock up before?! Run!" says one of Bellamy's men, and with a general cry, some half-assed apologies tossed in, the entire crew goes running, leaving the mansion, the villagers, and Straw Hat behind. The Usopp Pirates pick themselves up, following Kaya and Merry out the front door. Kaya runs to Usopp, wrapping her arms around him and clutching him tight. "I'm so glad you're alright," she whispers in his ear.

"Captain, that was amazing!" the Usopp Pirates clamor, singing Straw Hat's deeds but also not letting Usopp's deeds go unnoticed. "You came back for us!" the three say, blubbering through their tears. Merry comes last, shaking Usopp's hand and bowing to him humbly. Usopp is glad all his friends are safe, of course, but he has one big question left. While his guard isn't fully up around him, Usopp can't help but question Straw Hat's presence here, especially given that he was locked up on Bellamy's ship.

"Who are you, friend?" Usopp asks, drawing the others' attention over to Straw Hat as well.

Straw Hat is now dusting his straw hat off, but looks back up at the others, smiling wide and raising a hand in a wave. "I'm Monkey D. Luffy! I'm the man who's going to become King of the Pirates!"

Hey, all. AroundTheBlue here with a little editor's note. I just wanted to address some things about this project.

I started writing an alternate universe of the One Piece story over COVID lockdowns & quarantines. It started as a way to pass the time and test my writing skills, but I've stuck with it so long I wanted to start posting somewhere.

However, I know all about the qualms authors have with fanfiction. I have qualms about even posting this for those reasons, though I couldn't find much on what Oda says about it personally. Nonetheless, if this is something I shouldn't post more of, I'd be glad to be made aware of that.

My story is not a "Here's what I think should have happened," but certainly more of just a "What If?" I have taken liberties with certain aspects (as is evidenced here by Kaya's father still being alive) to add to my story. But again, this is just my story in the scope of Oda's story. One Piece is my favorite piece of fiction ever. I got really close with the series over COVID as well and I want to do it honor in all ways from just reading it to writing this.

I would never hope to profit off of this, and would never want it to seem like I'm saying anything about the scope of writing Oda puts out. It's masterful, it's gripping, and it's well planned out. He's a master of his craft, and this is truly meant as a fun homage to what I consider the most compelling piece of media we have at our disposal right now.

Thank you all for reading. If I post more, I'll see you then.

ATB