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Hydrilla

A genus of aquatic plant, hydrilla can be identified by its leaves arranged in whorls of two to eight around the stem, with serrations or small spines along the leaf margins. While rarely seen, hydrilla flowers have three sepals and three petals.

"That's Arlong Park ahead…" announced Johnny through chattering teeth. His knuckles were white where he gripped the side of the boat beside the bandaged Zoro. On Zoro's other side sat Usopp, shaking and sweating in a similar position.

"So this is the hideout of Arlong the Fishman pirate from the Grand Line?" he asked with an audible gulp. "Is Nami really here?"

"The easiest way to find out is to look for the ship," responded Terra from where she sat cross-legged across from the three boys. "Preferably quietly."

"Y-yeah," stammered Usopp. "Good idea!"

Ever the contrarian, Zoro stood to his feet. With a determined expression, he used his thumb to begin unsheathing his last remaining sword. "Let's attack," he commanded.

"Are you stupid?" burst Terra, waving her arms frantically in front of her face.

Usopp's eyes looked ready to pop out of his head. "Why— why would we do that?!"

"We just said we were going to look quietly!" added Johnny with a similar look of appalled shock. "These are Fishmen, bro!"

"We don't even know what's going on here yet! We need some kind of a plan here!" Usopp supported.

Terra quickly stood to point a finger into Zoro's face. "And don't you dare say that that's your plan! 'Attack' is not a plan!"

The swordsman swatted Terra's hand away and turned around to face the island. "You three can stay here and blabber like babies if you want, but Luffy told me to bring her back, and I'm going to do just that. No matter who I have to face!"

Behind his back, Usopp and Johnny shared a look of disdain before simultaneously raising their hammers.

"Well," said Terra as Zoro slumped to the group with two new bumps on his head courtesy of the boy's makeshift weapons. "Technically, he wasn't facing us."

Usopp dropped his hammer and ran to secure some rope. "Let's just hurry and tie him to the ship already! No way are we fighting those guys!"

"Even still, I'm not sure I condone what's happening right now," replied Terra as she watched Johnny drag the unconscious Zoro towards the middle of the ship. "He's going to be pretty angry when he wakes up."

"Isn't that just a better reason to have him tied up?!"

"Hm. Good point," she reluctantly agreed and began to help Usopp in winding the long rope around their crew-mate. "But if he asks, I'm throwing you under the ship. I like him better than you two idiots."

"Hey!" squawked Usopp. "Nobody asked you that!"

"Sorry," she deadpanned. "I like all my children equally. Is that what you wanted me to say, wittle baby?"

"That's even worse!" Usopp screeched.

"Didn't we say that we were going to move quietly!?" Johnny loudly reminded the pair.

Terra snickered and finished securing their swordsman to the ship. "We did, and you guys are doing a great job of it."

Usopp stepped away from them with a grumble, and fished out a pair of binoculars from his bag. "Let's just focus on looking for Merry."

Terra settled down next to Zoro and prepared herself to face his anger when he inevitably awoke. She needn't wait long, as Zoro jerked awake with a grunt only a minute later.

"Hey!" he yelled as he squirmed against the ropes. "Untie me!"

"No, don't think I will," Terra replied with an amused smile. "Keep it down, wouldn't you? You've been outvoted. We're investigating quietly."

Zoro side-eyed her but relented, stewing silently in place.

"There it is!" cried Usopp with a gasp. "I found the Going Merry!"

"So she is here! We'll just have to find her!" said Johnny as he pulled out a map that showcased the island. "We're east of Arlong Park, this place is called Cocoyashi Village… why would she have stopped so far from the village?"

"We'll have to find her to figure that out," responded Terra.

"Yeah, so untie me, damn it!" raged Zoro.

With a toothy grin, Usopp approached the two and leaned into Zoro's space.

"Zoro," he said pleasantly. "You've been hurt so badly, you need your rest!" With that same shit-eating grin, Usopp clapped a hand onto Zoro's shoulder as the swordsman struggled to wriggle away. "Just relax! You can help next time!"

Usopp straightened up with a confident laugh, and looked forwards with his hands on his hips. "Do you hear that, gentlemen? I, the great Captain Usopp, will bring back the girl!"

"F-f-for s-sure!" stuttered Terra with laughter in her voice.

Usopp whirled to face the teasing girl with a finger pointed to her face. "H-hey! Just watch, I'll bring her back!" His scowl quickly replaced again with that ridiculous grin, his posture tall with confidence. "Right rudder, full! Pull the boat up to the Going Merry!"

"Right!" came Johnny's quick response.

"Ahh, yes!" said Usopp, his legs spread wide and his arms crossed over his chest. "It's time to give a name to this voyage! I shall call it: The Great Adventures of Captain Usopp!"

Terra sighed from behind him and shared a pained look with Zoro. Suddenly, Usopp loudly gasped and flinched away, trying to hide himself against the floor in their space.

Seeing this, Johnny quickly crawled their way. "What is it?"

Usopp pointed his thumb over his shoulder, and the four looked towards the dock to see three Fishmen wearing tacky, open front shirts. Terra found herself largely unimpressed, a sentiment not shared by the two cry-babies on the ship.

"It's Fishmen!" cried Usopp and Johnny in a pained whisper.

"Full speed ahead!" Usopp continued as they sailed past the Fishmen group.

Straining against his bindings, Zoro loudly asked, "Why didn't we just dock right there?!"

Usopp and Johnny hushed Zoro with fingers pressed against their lips. "What are you talking about?!" seethed Usopp. "Didn't you see those three Fishmen?! It's Arlong's crew! We can't stop here!"

Any further comments from Usopp were muffled by Zoro's boots pressing against his face. "Do not yell at me!"

Terra let out a long-suffering sigh as she pushed Zoro's legs back to the ground. "This whole area— if not the whole island— will be under Arlong's control. Where exactly are you expecting us to dock if you want to avoid Fishmen entirely?"

"Well—" began Usopp, a thoughtful look on his face. "We could just say that we couldn't find her?"

Terra levelled the boy with an unimpressed look. "You must be joking. What happened to everything you were saying about the Great Captain Usopp bringing back Namil? We gave Luffy our word.

"That was before!" Usopp replied.

"Before what?" she grouched.

Usopp's response was cut off by the sound of splashing as two of the three Fishmen jumped into the water, presumably having spotted their indiscreet sailing. Instead, Usopp and Johnny shared a panicked look before Usopp yelped, "Let's run!"

Johnny was quick to agree. "Okay!"

"UNTIE ME!" shouted Zoro as the two cowards jumped from the ship into the water. "HEY! You two get back here, or you're gonna die!"

"Sorry, Zoro," muttered Terra with a heavy sigh, her body rapidly transformed into greenery. "Try not to lose me."

"Hey! What are you—"

The rest of his words were lost on disappearing ears as Terra slumped against his side, leaving nothing but strands of hydrilla draped over his shoulder.

Terra opened her eyes to find herself drowning.

Zoro was beside her in the water, his arms and feet bound tightly in rope. They sank slowly together, sharing a look of panic—

The effects of the water on her body and mind were instant and unforgiving— with Zoro unable to help her, she would surely drown. That's the last time I try helping him, Terra thought tiredly.

Terra caught on a flash of orange as another body broke the surface above her. Nami swam quickly towards them, her eyes widening as they locked on Terra's useless form sinking beside Zoro.

"Nami," she bubbled, just as shocked to see Nami as she seemed to be seeing her.

With a new look of ferocity, Nami sped towards them and grabbed them both by the arms to drag them up to the surface. She pulled Terra to the surface first, yanking her up until Terra's chest could rest safely against the ground before doing the same to Zoro.

"Huh?"

"They're back up!"

"Where did the girl come from?"

Terra tiredly raised her head to see that they were completely surrounded by Fishmen. Her eyes swept the area before she concluded that they were absolutely outnumbered and out of luck— with her legs still submerged in the water, Terra couldn't dissipate even if she wanted to.

"What do you think you're doing?!" came Nami's harsh whisper as she pressed Zoro's arms into his back.

"No," Zoro said with a cough, clearing his throat of water. "What do you think you're doing? You're really just a nice girl who can't watch one guy die. Stop pretending."

Terra dropped her head against the ground, resigned to her fate. With her legs in the water, even raising her head felt like it ate up all of her energy. "Zoro— do me a favour. Next time, don't involve me in any points you're trying to make."

"Ugh!" shouted Nami as she stood. She stomped a foot against Zoro's back, forcing a cough of pain from the man. "You bastard! Try that again and I'll make sure you die!"

"Tell me," they heard. Terra raised her chin just enough to see that the voice came from a large Fishman sitting casually on a lounge chair like a throne. Terra presumed him to be Arlong. "What should we do with these two?"

"Lock them up," replied Nami as she strode towards the Fishman, water dripping off her clothes and skin. "I'll deal with them when I have the time."

"Arlong!" came a sudden shout as another Fishmen jogged towards them. "Hey, Arlong!"

"Yeah?" grunted the Fishman in question. "What is it? Spit it out already."

"This guy didn't come alone," was the report, and Terra dropped her head to frown into the ground. "There was another long-nosed, weird-looking guy with him, but he got away."

"That freaking idiot," Terra muttered.

"I think he escaped into Cocoyashi Village!"

"Cocoyashi, huh?" responded Arlong. "That's perfect. Now I have two reasons to go. It's time to go have some fun."

Nami, thought Terra, her face pressed uncomfortably into the pavement. Just what have you gotten us into?