Morning
The sky was clear, a vast blue expanse. A warm spring breeze drifted across the ocean currents, gently rippling the sea.
The Pseudo-Merry sailed smoothly, its sails billowing with the wind. Schools of fish flanked the ship, darting forward, some leaping from the water in playful splashes. Under the morning light, the droplets shimmered in a kaleidoscope of colors.
Above, flocks of seabirds circled, hunting. Sora's crew hadn't seen such swarms since leaving Shimotsuki, a sign they were nearing land.
After dining at Baratie a few days ago, they'd stocked up on supplies and set sail again. Zeff hadn't mentioned Sanji, and Sora hadn't asked.
Pseudo-Merry
Sora lounged on the ship's sheep-shaped figurehead, basking in the sun. Kuina sat nearby in a deck chair, poring over newspapers and sea charts.
Their destination was the Golem Islands, home to Arlong's Pirates and Nami's village, Cocoyasi. Sora had specifically requested a chart for the islands from Zeff. Without it, finding the Golem Islands in East Blue's vastness would've been a needle-in-a-haystack hunt.
"Hey, Sora, why the Golem Islands?" Kuina asked, looking up from her charts. "What's so special about them?"
She'd wanted to ask since Baratie. Their original plan was a straight shot to Loguetown, but Sora's sudden detour puzzled her.
Sora opened his eyes, gazing at the sun. "Nothing much. Just heard there's a dragon there I want to check out."
"Dragon?" Kuina blinked. "You mean Arlong's Pirates, right?"
"Yup."
"So what's that got to do with us?"
Sora paused, watching a black-and-white seagull swoop overhead, his tone somber. "That dragon's not just oppressing the villages in his territory. He's toying with an innocent girl."
"Girl?" Kuina shot to her feet, voice sharp.
Sora realized he'd misspoken. Keeping his tone even, he said, "Yeah, a girl. Don't you know dragons in legends always involve a maiden?"
"Really?" Kuina eyed him skeptically.
"Absolutely," Sora said with unprecedented conviction.
Kuina stared, suspicious, then sighed. "Just say you want to defeat Arlong, save the villages, and play hero. Why complicate it?"
She pondered, her calm eyes suddenly sparkling. "A beautiful girl slaying a dragon… that'd be pretty cool, right?"
Facing the horizon, she declared, "I've decided!"
"Decided what?" Sora asked.
"Arlong's mine to defeat," Kuina said, locking eyes with him, resolute.
Sora grinned. "Alright, our dragon-slaying heroine Kuina! You'll carve your legend."
Kuina tilted her chin proudly.
Sora, relieved she'd dropped the "girl" topic, wiped imaginary sweat from his brow. He'd nearly spilled about Nami. The truth was, remembering Nami and the dozens of villages suffering under Arlong's rule had prompted the detour.
If he ignored them, they'd endure two more years of torment until Luffy arrived. How many families would shatter in that time?
He couldn't fix what he didn't know, but this he did. His sense of justice, forged in his past life under a red flag, demanded action. Crushing Arlong's Pirates was as easy as squashing an ant for him. Simple, righteous—he had to do it.
He wasn't a saint, though. Evil was evil. He didn't buy "Put down the butcher's knife, become a Buddha". If evildoers could ascend, what about their victims? Who'd soothe their pain? Who'd pay their debts? Those he caught would face hell's judgment.
As more seabirds joined the flock tailing them, a long coastline emerged ahead. Closing in, Sora caught the faint scent of earth. Sitting up, he swung his legs over the sheep's head, spinning to face the shore. Scanning, he saw no sign of Arlong's base entrance, which, if memory served, was seaside.
He hopped down, shouting to the helm, "Ata, adjust course! Circle the island to find Arlong's base."
"Got it!" Ata, lounging at the wheel, snapped up, cigarette in mouth. Gripping the helm, he yanked it left. The Pseudo-Merry veered smoothly.
Ahua emerged from the kitchen, holding a bounty poster. Approaching Sora, he adjusted his glasses, eyes glinting. "As expected, Sora's targeting Arlong's Pirates."
Sora nodded, gesturing to Kuina. "Show her the poster. She's facing them. Until you're a great swordsman, don't underestimate anyone."
"Got it," Kuina said, taking the poster from Ahua.
She studied it, exclaiming, "So Arlong's crew are all Fish-Men!" Then, wrinkling her nose, "They're ugly."
"Don't let looks fool you," Sora said. "Fish-Men are a hybrid of fish and human, stronger than most. In water, their power doubles."
Drawing on his knowledge, he added, "Six years ago, a Grand Line Fish-Man pirate crew split. Arlong formed his own, came to East Blue, and took over the Golem Islands."
"How do you know so much?" Kuina asked, squinting.
Sora grinned. "I read newspapers daily, plus some weird books."
"True," Kuina nodded, recalling. "You were always buried in books as a kid."
She turned back to the poster, but paused, noticing Ahua, Alo, and Ata now gathered at the bow. "What's with you three?"
(End of Chapter)