The two arrivals.
One guy wore a crown and a green acrobat outfit with the number 9 tattooed on his cheeks.
The woman had blue hair in a high ponytail, hot pants, and weird eyelashes (only three per eye?).
They were standing on a metal platform, laughing arrogantly.
"Mr. 9," the woman said, "looks like we have guests."
"Miss Wednesday," the man replied, "let's just finish this with one shot, baby."
Ray immediately recognized the blue-haired woman as Vivi, the princess of Alabasta.
'Man, she really was chuunibyou back then. Not bad acting, though.'
As the two pulled their triggers, cannonballs flew towards Crocus.
Zoro instantly drew his sword and sliced them in half mid-air.
Vivi and Mr. 9 were shocked.
Looking closer, they realized it was a pirate crew... and that flag looked really familiar.
After a second, they both broke out in a cold sweat.
"Uh, Mr. 9," Vivi said awkwardly, "did we get lost? Where are we?"
"Y-yes!" Mr. 9 stammered. "Wrong path! This damn Grand Line is so confusing!"
They immediately turned to leave, totally panicked.
As members of Baroque Works, they knew their wanted posters.
This was the Straw Hat crew, total bounty 145 million!
Plus, they'd heard rumors about them doing something big back in the East Blue.
But just as they took a step back, the giant Chouchou appeared right above them.
The terrifying demonic energy washed over them, making their limbs go weak.
Just like that, they became Nami's captives.
After being subjected to Nami's... creative binding techniques, they were thrown into the Going Merry's storage room.
Inside, they found Gion and Hina, their fellow prisoners.
'Oh my god, they captured a Marine Vice Admiral?!' Vivi thought, recognizing Gion instantly.
'What did this crew do?! Even Crocodile might not dare attack a Vice Admiral!'
Gion and Hina recognized Vivi too, looking puzzled but powerless.
Then, the door opened again.
Nami walked in, wet the floor, and slowly drew her Clima-Tact.
"Sorry, you four," she said sweetly. "It's that time again. Just thinking of my crew's safety."
"Ahhh~"
The storage room filled with screams and chaos once more.
…
When Nami came back up, even Luffy looked a little disturbed.
"Nami," he said, "isn't zapping them every 10 minutes a bit much? Maybe just electrocute Gion every half hour? The other three don't need it, right?"
Nami glared at him.
"We just got to the Grand Line! We're rookies! Gion and Hina wanted to execute us! They're dangerous! Before we let them go, we can't let them recover at all. I'm being merciful by not cutting off their hands and feet!"
Everyone understood her logic, but watching the beauties get tortured was still rough.
Sanji was torn between supporting Nami and feeling sorry for the prisoners.
Only Ray approved.
Gion had wanted to cut off his hands and feet.
If they hadn't been strong enough, they'd all be captured or dead.
She deserved no sympathy.
If Nami wasn't doing it, Ray would have probably crippled them himself.
Letting them live was already mercy, a nod to Garp letting them go.
It was just about survival – right and wrong didn't really factor in.
…
Two hours later, under Crocus's guidance, everyone gathered at the Twin Capes lighthouse for dinner.
The gags were removed.
Sanji carefully fed the three beauties, while Mr. 9 had to eat like a dog next to Chouchou.
Crocus explained the Grand Line to Nami: trust nothing but the Log Pose.
Each island has a magnetic field you collect; once it's set, it points to the next island.
Your starting island determines your whole route.
He gave Nami a Log Pose pointing to their next stop: 'Whisky Peak'.
Before they left, despite Chouchou trying to talk to him, Laboon started ramming his head against the Red Line again.
Luffy yelled, activated Gear Second, and charged.
His Haki-coated Jet Gatling hammered Laboon's head.
Enraged, Laboon fought back.
After a brief, intense clash, Luffy called for a timeout.
"It's a draw!" he declared. "Laboon, let's finish this next time! Wait for us to come back!"
…
And so, their time at Twin Capes ended.
The Going Merry set sail again.
Vivi and Mr. 9 were still captives in the storage room.
Ray left Gion and Hina behind.
Of course, Nami gave them one last "enhanced" electric shock before they went.
By now, the two women figured their lightning resistance must be legendary.
Two hours after the Straw Hats left, Crocus untied them as Ray had instructed.
After lying there for a while, feeling gradually returning to their numb limbs, they managed to stand up, occasionally coughing up black smoke.
Hina lit a cigarette, glaring furiously after the ship.
"Gion-sensei! Hina is furious! Hina will torture that little thief cat Nami into becoming Hina's slave!"
Gion was just as murderous as her.
"That bastard Ray... I'm not done with him!" She grabbed her sword, went into the lighthouse, and immediately called HQ.
"This is Momousagi. Send a warship to Twin Capes to pick me up!"
"Yes, Vice Admiral Momousagi!"
After hanging up, she stared out at the sea.
"Ray... once I recover, you will pay the price. Hmph!"
…
Having successfully entered the Grand Line, the Going Merry sailed on relatively calm seas.
Ray gave everyone two days off from training to get used to the weird Grand Line weather.
Everyone cheered, declaring Ray the coolest.
Ray just ignored them, leaning against the railing and finally getting a chance to organize the rewards he'd gotten from the Loguetown battle.