The dust had barely settled from the Black Cat Pirates' defeat when Luffy, Raja, Nami, and Zoro plopped into a Syrup Village diner, gorging like they hadn't eaten in weeks. Luffy shoveled meat into his mouth, mumbling, "Sooo good!" through a full grin. Zoro chugged sake, muttering, "Not bad for a backwater."Nami nibbled daintily, counting coins, while Raja conjured a floating plate of curry, declaring, "A feast fit for the Wizard King!"
The door creaked open, and Kaya stepped in, her frail frame dwarfed by the room's chaos. "Um… excuse me? Can I have a word?"
Luffy paused, a drumstick halfway to his mouth. "Sure, food lady! What's up?"
Nami elbowed him. "Show some respect, you glutton!"
Meanwhile, Usopp sat cross-legged in his cramped house, staring at a bulging bag he'd packed for his grand pirate exit. "Time to chase the seas like Dad!" he proclaimed, hoisting the sack. He tugged it toward the door—and CRASH!—it wedged tight, splintering the frame. "Oh, come on!" he yelped, yanking harder. The door buckled, and Usopp tumbled out, rolling down the hill like a runaway barrel, bag flailing behind him. He skidded to a stop, grinning. "Free at last!" He scooped up his scattered gear—slingshot, socks, and a half-eaten sandwich—and strutted off.
Back at the coast, Merry and Kaya led the Straw Hats to their prize: the Going Merry, a sleek ship with a sheepish figurehead. Nami's eyes sparkled. "A caravel! Perfect size for us!"
Merry puffed out his chest. "Indeed! The rudder system's a marvel—dual-axis control, reinforced steering—"
"Uh, yeah, simplify that,"Nami cut in, waving a hand.
Merry blinked. "It… turns good?"
"Better," she nodded.
Kaya smiled shyly. "It's stocked with food, too."
Luffy leapt up. "THANKS, MERRY!"
Zoro hits luffy on the head. "It's Kaya, you dolt."
Luffy scratched his head. "Oh, right! THANKS, KAYA!"
As the crew admired their new ride, a human tumbleweed rolled down the slope—Usopp, bag and all. Luffy and Zoro stuck out their feet, stopping him inches from the ship. "Oof!" Usopp groaned, popping up. "Well, I'm off to sea! Catch you legends someday!"
Luffy grinned. "Nah, get on board!"
Zoro smirked. "Yeah, you're with us now."
Usopp's eyes widened. "Really?! Then I'm captain!"
Luffy's grin vanished. "Nope, that's me!"
"Dream on, rubber brain!"Usopp shot back. "I've got 80 million followers!"
Nami sighed. "You've got three kids and a broken door."
Up the hill, Ninjin, Tamanegi, and Piiman watched the ship, eyes misty. "Usopp's got real pals now,"Ninjin sniffed. "Strong ones!"
Tamanegi nodded. "He's gonna be a legend!"
Piiman pumped a fist. "Go, Captain Usopp!"
Near the mansion, Merry turned to Kaya. "Usopp's had it rough. His dad, Yasopp, sailed off to be a pirate. His mom got sick, died proud of Yasopp's dream. After that, Usopp kept yelling 'pirates are coming'—kept the village on its toes, even if it was all fake."
Kaya clutched her dress. "He's so brave…"
"Stay strong for him,"Merry urged. "He's out there chasing his own tale now."
Back in town, the veggie trio stood tall. "PIRATES ARE COMING!"they hollered, waving as the Merry's sails caught the wind.
Kaya smiled at Merry. "Someday, I'll be a doctor. Help people like Usopp helped me."
Aboard the Going Merry, Raja twirled his wand like a maestro, runes glowing as he etched them into the hull. "Magic Shield Rune!"A shimmer encased the ship. "Strength, Speed and Durability Runes!"The wood creaked tougher, sails snapping faster. Underneath, he scrawled a Detection Rune. "Sea beasts beware!"he cackled. "The Wizard King's turned this tub into a fortress!"
Luffy bounced over, waving a scribbled Jolly Roger—a straw hat skull with crossbones, drawn like a toddler's doodle. "Look! Our flag!"
Nami winced. "It's… awful."
Usopp smirked. "Step aside, Captain Scribbles. I'm an artist!"He sketched a sleek design—too sleek. Luffy frowned. "Too fancy!"
Zoro grunted. "Looks weak."
Raja waved his wand, and poof!—the Iconic Straw Hat symbol Jolly Roger flared above the mast. "Perfection, courtesy of moi!"
Luffy cheered. "That's it!"
Luffy spotted a rock in the sea. "Cannon time!" He manned the gun, firing wildly—BOOM! BOOM!—missing every shot. "Why's it so hard?!"
Usopp swaggered up. "Watch a pro." He aimed, fired—BANG!—and the rock exploded. "Boom, baby!"
Nami clapped. "Sniper, huh? You're hired."
Usopp struck a pose. "Usopp the Proud, at your service!"
In the kitchen, the crew sprawled around a table piled with Raja's conjured bread and meat. Nami tapped her chin. "We need one more role for this voyage."
Luffy nodded. "A musician! Songs make meat taste better!"
Raja grinned. "And a dancer! Every ship needs a groove!"
Nami groaned. "You idiots! Music won't keep us alive!"
Zoro smirked. "Neither will your whining."
"Shut it, mosshead!" Nami snapped. "We need practical skills!"
A shadow lunged from the sea—a swordsman, blade flashing. Zoro blocked it mid-sip, sake sloshing. "Who're you?!"
The attacker stumbled back. "Your death pirate Monsters!"
Zoro blinked. "Johnny is that you?"
Johnny sheathed his sword, panting. " Big Bro Zoro help Yosaku's dying! I was brooding on that rock—" He pointed at the rubble. "—when your ship blew it up!" Luffy and Usopp turn their head to the side and whistled.
Nami knelt by Yosaku, sprawled on their dinghy. "Relax, drama queen. It's scurvy. Luffy, Usopp, feed him limes."
Luffy shoved a lime in Yosaku's mouth. "Eat the green meat!"
Usopp added another. "Sniper precision!"
Yosaku sputtered, color returning. "I… live!"
Johnny bowed. "Johnny and Yosaku, at your service!"
Nami crossed her arms. "We need a cook. Raja's meat-and-bread diet's killing us."
Raja flopped to the deck, tracing circles with a finger. "My culinary genius, insulted! I'm wounded!"
Johnny perked up. "There's a floating restaurant a few days out, near the Grand Line. Best cooks around!"
Luffy's eyes sparkled. "Meat paradise? Let's go!"
Zoro grinned. "Sake paradise, even better."
Nami smirked. "Finally, a plan I can get behind."
Raja sprang up, cape flaring. "To the Wizard King's next stage—the feast awaits!"