Cursed Seas and Slashing Tides

The Road to Freedom

After a few days of resting and recovering from their recent wounds, the crew sailed toward Arlong Park.

"Alright. So, do you remember the plan?" Nami asked the group, her voice tinged with a small amount of fear as the reality of what was about to unfold weighed on her.

“Yeah! We go and beat them up!” Luffy shouted enthusiastically.

“No, you idiot!” Nami angrily punched him in the head. “You wait at Gosa Village while I go and give the money to Arlong. They always celebrate when I bring large amounts of cash, so this time shouldn't be any different. Then, when their guards are down, we can take them by surprise. Do you understand?”

The rest of the crew nodded, clearly not wanting to be hit like Luffy.
…

The Going Merry was docked in a secluded spot near Gosa Village, which lay in ruins, completely destroyed by Arlong and his crew.

The crew waited anxiously on the ship for Nami to return from Arlong Park.

“Aaah! I can’t stand around any longer!” Luffy groaned in frustration, then leapt off the ship and headed toward the village.

"Luffy, wait!" Ryomen called out, but Luffy kept going, ignoring him. "Dammit, we can’t be seen by Arlong’s men." He turned to follow Luffy, trying to bring him back.

Taking only a few steps, Ryomen glanced back and saw Zoro, Sanji, and Usopp following him.

"Even you’re coming, Usopp?" Ryomen asked, surprised.

"I’m not staying alone on the ship!" Usopp replied nervously.

“Alright then.” Ryomen muttered with a sigh.

They quickly found Luffy wandering aimlessly around the village.

"Luffy, I know you don’t want Nami to go alone, but you’re only going to put her in more danger by doing this." Ryomen said, trying to reason with him.

Before Luffy could respond, a young boy with a sword charged at a large fishman, yelling. “This is for my father!” The boy swung his sword, but it was easily caught by the fishman.

“Hahaha! A puny human thinks he can take on a fishman? You deserve to die!” The fishman raised his fist to strike, but before he could land the blow, Luffy appeared behind him and knocked him out with a single punch.

“You alright, kid?” Luffy asked the boy.

“Y-Yeah, thanks.” The boy stammered, still shaken by the close call.

“What did you just do!?” A shocked voice came. A woman with short blue hair and a tattoo on her arm rushed over. “Arlong won’t let you go if he finds out about this!”

“Hm? Who are you?” Luffy asked, confused.

“Nojiko. Come on, we need to leave before someone sees this.” She beckoned them to follow her.
…

They arrived at a modest house on the outskirts of Cocoyashi Village.

"Nojiko-chan, please allow me to prepare something for you as thanks for letting us into your home!" Sanji exclaimed, rushing into the kitchen.

Nojiko looked at the others with a raised eyebrow. “Is he always like that?”

“Yes,” They all replied in unison.

Nojiko sighed and turned to the boy. “Do you understand the consequences of what you’ve done?”

“Yes, but they killed my father! They need to pay!” The boy’s voice cracked, and tears welled up in his eyes. “I even went to Arlong Park, but a woman from his crew stopped me! I want to kill her too! I hate them!”