Usopp, for the first time ever, actually saved the day, taking out Mr. 3 and Miss Goldenweek all by himself with pure firepower.
He swaggered back over to his still-waxed-and-apathetic crewmates, chest puffed out, head held high, looking ridiculously proud.
Seeing them all zoned out, a mischievous idea popped into his head.
'Normally, I'd never get away with this. Today's my chance!'
He immediately grabbed Goldenweek's dropped paintbrush and started doodling all over everyone's faces.
…
Five minutes later, Chouchou returned, carrying several large fish and the still-tied-up Miss Valentine and Mr. 5.
Seeing the cratered ground and the unconscious Mr. 3 and Goldenweek, he looked confused.
"What happened?"
Miss Valentine and Mr. 5 already had it figured out.
"Looks like Mr. 0 found out about you guys," Valentine explained. "Those two on the ground are higher-ranked agents than us. Probably sent to kill you."
Chouchou just nodded vaguely.
"Assassinate us? Whatever, they're beaten now. Hey, Captain Luffy! Have you seen Master? Captain! Luffy! Gluttonous blockhead! Stupid straw-hat idiot! What the—?"
Getting no response, Chouchou's calls got ruder and ruder.
Just then, Usopp peeked out from behind Zoro.
"Chouchou? Stop shouting. These guys are useless now," Usopp declared grandly. "From now on, I, the great Captain Usopp, am in charge! Hahaha!"
"Useless?" Chouchou's doggy face was pure confusion.
Eventually, Valentine and Mr. 5 explained the whole color-trap situation to him, including how to fix it.
Hearing the solution, Chouchou just stuck out his long demon tongue and licked the paint off everyone's backs.
Just like that, the crew snapped back to normal—which was bad news for Usopp.
Several "painted faces" immediately ganged up on him.
"AHHH! You ungrateful jerks! I saved you! Don't hit my face—OW! Who kicked me down there?!"
…
Seeing the lively chaos below, Ray turned his attention elsewhere.
Using his Haki and super-sense-of-smell, he located his targets.
In a flash, he zipped off and intercepted Mr. 13 and Miss Friday – the "Unluckies," an otter and a vulture duo carrying an Eternal Pose.
Ray casually returned to the party site a few minutes later and tossed their carcasses to Sanji.
"Cook these too."
Sanji nodded and started prepping.
Ray then threw the Eternal Pose to Nami.
Seeing it pointed straight to Alabasta made everyone cheer, especially Vivi, who impulsively leaped towards Ray for a hug.
The result was the same as Nami's attempt – she face-planted hard.
And so, the banquet continued, with singing and dancing all night.
Even Valentine and Mr. 5 joined in.
As for Mr. 3 and Goldenweek? Luffy decided to have Chouchou dump them deep in the jungle, letting fate decide if the carnivorous beasts got them.
Ray didn't interfere. '
Ants,' he thought.
(Though if he'd been the one fighting them, they'd be dead.)
After the party, Ray went back to his hilltop tree to rest.
Chouchou slept below in his giant Dog Demon form, with Nami and Vivi nestled comfortably in his warm fur.
Half-asleep, Nami felt a mosquito bite and swatted at it before drifting off again.
…
The next morning...
The Straw Hats said goodbye to Dorry and Brogy, ready to finally head for Alabasta.
The two giants watched them board the Going Merry, looking a little sad.
"Friends!" Brogy called out. "Trust us! Sail straight ahead with confidence!"
Ray knew what was coming.
Even without knowing, his senses would have picked it up: a massive Sea King, bigger than the island itself, lurking on their exit path.
Ray could handle it, but it would take way too much time and effort.
So, he accepted the giants' help.
Sure enough, about a kilometer out, an enormous goldfish-shaped monster surfaced.
"A giant goldfish..." Usopp muttered. "That sounds familiar."
Nami and Vivi screamed.
Valentine turned pale.
Everyone tensed up.
But Luffy, trusting the giants, kept the ship sailing straight.
Just as the massive fish was about to swallow them whole, a mighty shout echoed across the sky.
"HAKKOKU!"
Two shockwaves—one red, one blue—shot from the island, merged into one devastating blast, and pierced straight through the colossal Sea King.
The resulting wind propelled the Going Merry forward at incredible speed, racing towards Alabasta.
Ray watched the attack, intrigued.
'Individually, their attacks are strong. But combined... the power increase is insane. Can Haki attacks resonate like that?' He filed the thought away for later.
Watching the crew cheer as they sailed on, Ray gave a slight nod, then announced the day's agenda.
"Training continues."
Everyone: Σ(っ°Д°;)っ "Huh?! Nooo!"
Ignoring their groans, Ray issued orders.
"Sanji, tie Miss Valentine to the iron rod."
Hearing this, Sanji immediately perked up, declaring he'd train first.
Zoro, seeing Sanji jump the line, drew his swords – when it came to training, he was number one.
Luffy, never one to be left out, insisted he should go first.
Nami and Usopp just sighed as the three idiots started competing over who got to train first.
Miss Valentine (whose real name was Mikita), strangely, watched them without resisting, a weird thrill in her eyes.
'So exciting... being controlled like this...'
…
Deep in a hidden cave somewhere on the Grand Line...
A bird-headed man, Morgans, was talking to his subordinate on a Den Den Mushi.
"Is the article about the Straw Hat Pirates ready? The Marines gave us some great material this time. Make sure you include this line: 'The government promises that if the Straw Hat Pirates defeat a certain Shichibukai, they will immediately take their place.' This is huge! Don't leave it out! And make sure Crocodile gets a copy – he's the closest Warlord to them. Things are about to get very interesting. Kehkehkeh!"
"Yes, sir!" the editor replied.
Morgans hung up, chuckling darkly.
"Hmph. Kill my birds, will they? So many of them? Serves them right. This story will make me a fortune. The Straw Hat Pirates... finally becoming decent news material. Kehkehkeh!"
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