Cursed Seas and Slashing Tides

Whirlpools and Dreams

In a rowboat, two teens could be seen drifting. One, wearing a straw hat, leaned on a barrel, holding an oar casually. ”What a great day! The weather's so nice! Who'd have thought our adventure would end in disaster so soon?”

The other, however, was frantically panicking. “Dammit, Luffy! Stop yapping, and help!”

“What am I supposed to do? It's a giant whirlpool!” Luffy exclaimed.

“I don't know, start drinking the ocean! That should stop it!” The other teen, Ryomen, retorted sarcastically.

Luffy's eyes lit up. “Do you think that would work?”

“... We're doomed.” Ryomen muttered.

At that moment, the whirlpool began to pull their rowboat in. Their final words echoed as they were sucked into the vortex. “Aaaaaaaah!”
…

On a distant, uncharted island, a pink pirate ship sat docked, bearing the flag off a skull with a heart.

“Why is there dust on my bulwark?” A massive, imposing woman demanded, glaring at her subordinate.

“I'm so sorry, Lady Alvida! I thought I cleaned everything! I'll do it again! So please-!”

“Please what?” Alvida growled.

“Please don't kill me!”

With a quick swing, the man was struck by her iron mace.“Koby!” Alvida barked.

A young boy with short stature, pink hair, and glasses rushed to her side. “Y-Yes, Lady Alvida?”

“Who is the fairest throughout all the seas?” She asked with an eerie smile.

“You are, Lady Alvida!” Koby replied, trembling.

“Correct. And I won't tolerate filth on my ship!” Alvida snarled. “Remember, Koby, if it weren't for your knowledge of the seas, you'd be shark bait by now. But don't push your luck.”

“Y-Yes, that's very generous of you.”

“You're worthless otherwise! Here–shine my shoes!”

“R-Right away, Lady Alvida!” Koby hurried to polish her boots, only to receive a swift kick to the face.

“That's enough! You're pathetic!” Alvida scoffed. “If you've got time to grovel, you've got time to scrub the toilet!”

“Yes, Lady Alvida…right away.” Koby mumbled as he hurried off.
…

Inside a small warehouse on the island, a wooden chest creaked slightly. Inside, Ryomen was stuck, fuming.

“Dammit! How am I supposed to get out of this? I could try kicking it open, but there's no space to move!” He stopped when he heard footsteps approaching.

‘Someone’s coming?’ He thought.

The chest opened, revealing a girl, no older than eighteen, with short orange hair, wearing a blue-and-white shirt and an orange skirt. She stared blankly at him, then shut the lid again.

““Hey! Let me out!” Ryomen yelled, only to hear more footsteps approaching. ‘Was she trying to hide me?’ he thought. ‘I need to help her!’

With a grunt and a few kicks, the chest finally gave in. He stumbled out, only to see the girl standing over two unconscious men.

‘Guess she didn’t need any help,’ Ryomen thought, wide-eyed.

The girl turned toward him with a grin. “Couldn't you have stayed there a little longer? Laughing at you might have improved my mood.”

“Huh? Didn't you leave me in there cauze you heard those guys coming?” Ryomen asked, baffled.