"Look over there, they'll be launching their attack from this very beach," Usopp remarked, his eyes scanning the shoreline as our group finally reached the designated location. "And this is the route that leads straight to the village," he continued, pointing towards the well-trodden path that began at the beach, clearly a prime spot for pirates to dock their ships, maybe even a fleet of them.
Usopp stood there, arms crossed, an air of certainty about him. "See, there's no other way up. It's all sheer cliffs everywhere else," he explained, emphasizing the strategic importance of the path. "So, if we can hold this position, the village should stay safe!" His determination shone through as he maintained his assertive posture.
Luffy, as always, exuded his carefree demeanor. "Piece of cake!" he exclaimed with a grin, casually adjusting his iconic straw hat with his left hand. His confidence was infectious, but Usopp's expression quickly turned more serious.
"Easier said than done," Usopp interjected, his voice laced with concern. He gazed at each of us, curiosity evident in his tone. "We'll have to fight like an army. What can you guys do?" His question hung in the air, highlighting the gravity of the situation and the need for each of us to contribute our unique abilities to defend the village.
"I cut," Zoro exclaimed with the swiftness of a striking viper, his arms crossed defiantly, and his sharp gaze locking onto Usopp like a hawk zeroing in on its prey. His proclamation carried the weight of a thousand battles, and his stance exuded the confidence of a seasoned swordsman ready for action.
"I stretch," Luffy chimed in, his voice bubbling with a mischievous excitement that mirrored the playful twinkle in his eyes. A mischievous grin lit up his face as he eagerly demonstrated his extraordinary ability, a sight that would make anyone do a double-take. With childlike enthusiasm, he reached out with his left hand and effortlessly stretched his cheek to ridiculous lengths, as if defying the very laws of nature.
"I steal," Nami declared, her tone dripping with pride, as if her thieving prowess were the most remarkable power in the entire world. Her eyes gleamed with the satisfaction of a master of her craft, someone who had honed her skills to perfection. She was the embodiment of cunning and finesse, ready to outwit any foe that dared cross her path.
"I slash," I deadpanned, my expression stoic and unwavering, as always. The simplicity of my statement belied the deadly precision of my attacks, a reminder that sometimes the quietest warriors were the deadliest. My sword gleamed ominously in the dim light, a silent promise of swift and lethal strikes.
Usopp turned around, wasting not a single second, and uttered his confession with a hint of reluctance that suggested he had orchestrated this escape plan from the very beginning. "I run and hide," he admitted, placing the burden squarely on our shoulders. His words hung in the air like a challenge, daring us to respond.
"You've gotta fight too!!" we respond in unison, a quick and determined counterattack to ensure that Usopp doesn't evade his responsibilities so easily.
....
"It's perfect!" Usopp exclaims with a triumphant grin, his eyes fixated on what he now considered his "masterpiece." What he had meticulously orchestrated involved a generous pouring of oil across the path leading to the village. It was undoubtedly a clever strategy, albeit one that seemed better suited for a timid soul – then again, this was Usopp we were talking about.
With a touch of smug confidence, he continues, "There's absolutely no way they'll make it up this path, not with all the oil we've poured down it." Usopp's voice brims with conviction, though he doesn't delve into the technicalities of how the oil would work its magic on the earthy terrain.
"Now, here's the plan," Usopp begins, his eyes sparkling with anticipation as he envisions the chaos about to unfold. "We'll strike them while they're slipping and sliding, catching them off guard. And remember, no matter what happens, we must hold this pass!" He punctuates his statement with a meaningful, determined look.
Nami, always the voice of reason, chimes in cautiously, "I just hope we don't end up slipping and sliding ourselves," she says while gesturing towards the oiled-up ground with her index finger, emphasizing her point.
Curiosity gets the better of me, and I decide to test just how slippery the path has become. I gingerly place my hand on the oily surface, confirming Usopp's claims. "It would be pretty dumb to get caught in our own trap," I remark, wiping my oil-smeared hand on the nearby dirt. The irony of the situation doesn't escape me as we prepare for the impending confrontation.
Luffy couldn't help but grin from ear to ear as he observed the slick plan Usopp had concocted. "You sure did come up with a slick plan!" he exclaimed, his eyes widening with a mix of excitement and curiosity. With childlike enthusiasm, he bent down, examining the oiled surface of the ground. He crouched closer, a mischievous glint in his eyes, and then cautiously placed his feet and sandals right onto the slippery surface.
As Luffy's feet slid effortlessly on the ground, he couldn't help but marvel at the sheer genius of Usopp's idea. "This is amazing, Usopp!" he exclaimed, his voice filled with genuine admiration. He took a few more steps, testing the slippery ground further, a wide grin never leaving his face.
Meanwhile, Usopp stood nearby, his chest puffing out with pride. He couldn't resist the opportunity to bask in Luffy's praise. "Naturally!" he declared, a smug grin crossing his face as he crossed his arms. He tilted his head back, gazing up at the sky just as the first rays of dawn began to break through the horizon. "When it comes to daring ideas and this slingshot, I have absolute confidence!" He couldn't have asked for a better moment to showcase his inventive prowess.
As the first rays of the rising sun painted the sky with hues of orange and pink, Usopp's confidence seemed to soar even higher. The approaching dawn only added to the sense of adventure in the air, making our bold plan feel all the more exhilarating.
...
After what felt like an eternity, with no sign of a ship on the horizon, Luffy broke the silence. He scratched his head, his impatience growing. "Where are they? It's already dawn," he mused aloud, frustration evident in his voice. Unable to sit still any longer, he kicked a nearby rock with his restless feet.
Zoro, always the first to come up with an excuse that involved sleep, chimed in, "Maybe they overslept?" His comment earned him a dubious look from all of us, considering his notorious sleeping tendencies. Rolling my eyes in respond, "Yeah, I don't think that's the case," as I exchanged a glance with Luffy, who clearly shared my skepticism.
Nami, ever the observant one, suddenly perked up. "Maybe it's just me, but I think I hear someone yelling 'Yarrr' to the north of us." She demonstrated her point by placing her left hand to her ear, indicating she was hearing something. I strained my ears and, to my surprise, realized that I, too, could hear distant shouts echoing in the breeze.
"North!" Usopp exclaimed, his eyes wide with shock, beads of sweat rolling down his face in streams. The anticipation and tension grew as we turned our attention toward the mysterious sounds, our thoughts racing with the possibilities of what might be approaching from that direction.
"Hey! What is it?" Zoro's sharp eyes locked onto Usopp's strained expression, his concern evident as he quickly voiced his worry. Usopp, however, didn't respond immediately; instead, he clutched his head in frustration and lowered his gaze, creating a momentary suspense before he finally spoke.
"There's another landing on the north beach!" Usopp's voice quivered slightly with the weight of the news he carried. The tension in the group grew palpable, and Luffy couldn't help but blurt out his frustration.
"You mean we're on the wrong beach!?" Luffy's exasperation echoed across the shore, mixing with the crashing waves. He knew that when things went wrong, they often did so in the most inconvenient way.
Usopp began to stammer out his defense, trying to justify his assumption, "But the pirates had their secret meeting here! I just assumed..."
Luffy cut him off abruptly, the urgency of the situation demanding swift action. "We've gotta get to them before they attack the village! Which way should we go?" His voice carried a sense of determination, the captain's instincts taking charge.
"If we run straight north," Usopp replied, his gaze meeting Luffy's with determination in his eyes, "we should get there in about three minutes. There's another pass there almost exactly like this one. We can stop them there." The plan was laid out.
Without a moment's hesitation, Luffy, our fearless captain with his boundless energy, sprang into action, his legs a blur as he shot forward with astonishing speed. His voice reverberated through the air, his words carrying on the wind, "I'll be there in twenty seconds!" On the other side of the chaotic scene, Usopp could only let out a frustrated cry, his hands flailing and clutching his head in despair, his grand plan seemingly foiled.
But what happened next was a curveball that left all of us, including me, completely befuddled. Luffy wasn't making a beeline for the northern direction we had all expected. Instead, he veered off course, sprinting off in the complete opposite direction. It was as if he had an entirely different destination in mind, yet the determination with which he ran was unwavering. "Wait, Luffy! You're going the wrong way!" I shouted, my voice dripping with urgency as I pushed my legs to the limit, desperately trying to catch up with him.
However, it seemed my cries were falling on deaf ears as Luffy charged ahead, his eyes fixed on some invisible prize, completely oblivious to my frantic warnings. "How on earth is he so fast?" I muttered to myself, panting heavily as I struggled to keep pace. "I'm barely making headway. Luffy, you have to stop!" I yelled again, the desperation in my voice more pronounced than ever.
As I continued to pursue Luffy, a strange sense of déjà vu washed over me, taking me back to that fateful time when I found myself stranded on that forsaken island. Back then, it had been a tribe of mischievous monkeys that had scurried away from me, ignoring my heartfelt pleas for them to return. In this particular scenario, it was as if Luffy had taken on the role of that elusive monkey, though I couldn't help but chuckle at the unintentional pun as I pressed on with my relentless chase. The world of pirates was indeed a realm of unpredictability, where even the most straightforward plans could take the most unexpected twists and turns.
