THE TOWN OF WELCOMING

The Going Merry sails through heavy snow. A narration box states: “THE SHIP SAILS ON. TODAY’S CLIMATE IS…” A speech bubble exclaims “IT’S FREEZING!” while another declares “WINTER.” Smaller text notes “WITH A LITTLE SPRING FROM TIME TO TIME.” Someone sneezes “ACHOO!” The ship approaches land after leaving Reverse Mountain. A panel shows a hand gripping the ship’s wheel as narration reads: “THE SHIP NOW HEADS FOR WHISKEY PEAK.” and “AFTER LEAVING TWIN CAPES AT THE BASE OF REVERSE MOUNTAIN, THERE WE GO.” On deck, Luffy stands proudly beside a large snowman wearing a Marine cap, declaring “DONE! THE MAN WHO FELL FROM THE SKY.” Sanji remarks “SUCH CHILDISH SNOW GAMES…” while Nami, bundled in winter gear, reacts with surprise “WHAT!I”

Luffy stares in awe at Usopp’s massive snow sculpture of a woman, shouting “HOLY COW, THAT’S AMAZING!” Usopp poses dramatically beside it, announcing “BEHOLD! MY MASTERPIECE IN SNOW ART! THE SNOW QUEEN!” The snowman suddenly explodes as Luffy is struck, yelling “GAHHHH! MR. SNOWMAN!” Usopp cries “THE HELL WAS THAT FOR!I” while launching a “SNOWMAN PUNCH!” with the impact “バズィ!!” Sanji shovels snow on deck, saying “UNTIL IT STOPS SNOWING, I CONTINUE MY SNOW SHOVELING OF LOVE.” Nami watches from inside, complaining “NAMI! HOW MUCH LONGER SHALL I CONTINUE MY SNOW SHOVELING OF LOVEI” and “HOW CAN THOSE TWO BE SO LIVELY WHEN IT’S SO COLD OUTI” as Sanji replies “JEEZ.”

A loud “CRACK!” and impact SFX “ゴロゴロ!!” shake the ship. Inside, Nami yells at Luffy “SHUT UP! YOU’RE NOT HERE AS OUR GUESTS! GO OUTSIDE AND HELP SHOVEL THE SNOW OR SOMETHING!” while complaining “HEY YOU. DOESN’T THIS SHIP HAVE A HEATING SYSTEM OR SOMETHINGI IT’S REALLY COLD.” Nami notes “IT’S EXACTLY AS CROCUS SAID. THE SEASONS AND CLIMATE HERE ON THE GRAND LINE IS BEYOND MESSED UP!” as she sweats and wonders about the sudden change. Luffy looks confused, asking “JUST WHAT’S GOING ON WITH THE CLIMATE HERE!I” while a voice wonders “LIGHTNING …!I” Elsewhere, Igaram and Miss Wednesday discuss their log pose, with Igaram saying “BUT I JUST CHECKED OUR DIRECT!…” and Miss Wednesday replying “AWHILEI AND YOU’VE LEFT YOUR RUDDER ALONE FOR AWHILE NOW, YOU SURE THAT’S ALRIGHTI” as another figure warns “IT SEEMS YOU’RE UNDERESTIMATING GRAND LINE QUITE A BIT.”

Far across the churning sea the Going Merry sails under a sky filled with strange bubbles. A panicked voice cries, "W-WHAT IS IT!I" Another shouts, "WHAT'S THE MATTER, MY BELOVED NAMI!I" while a long scream of "AHHHHHHH!" echoes across the waves. Below deck the crew reacts in confusion. "DID WE FORGET SOMETHINGI" someone asks. "180 DEGREESI WHY'RE WE TURNING BACKI" Usopp yells as the ship spins wildly. "TURN THE SHIP AROUND 180 DEGREES! HURRY!" Sanji orders. Nami stares at the log pose in horror. "THIS CAN'T BE HAPPENING!" she gasps. In a close-up she explains with sweat flying, "I ONLY TOOK MY EYES OFF THE LOG POSE FOR A SECOND AND THE WAVES WERE SO CALM TOO...! NO! THE SHIP TURNED ITSELF AROUND AND IS NOW HEADING DIRECTLY AWAY FROM OUR DESTINATION!"

Nami leans in with a serious expression. "THE ONLY THING YOU CAN TRUST OUT HERE IS THE DIRECTION YOUR LOG POSE POINTS! YOU CAN'T TRUST ANY OF THEM. THAT'S THE KIND OF OCEAN THIS IS. THE WINDS, SKIES, WAVES, AND EVEN THE CLOUDS... DO YOU UNDERSTANDI" she warns. Usopp sweats nervously while Luffy looks doubtful. "ARE YOU REALLY A NAVIGATORI LOOKS LIKE YOU'VE BEEN PLAYED BY THE WAVES," he mutters. Suddenly Nami snaps, "JUST LEAVE IT TO ME, NAMI!" and barks orders: "SANJI, YOU TAKE THE RUDDER! USOPP, YOU TAKE THE JIB SAIL! WE'LL USE IT TO TURN THE SHIP AROUND 180 DEGREES TO THE LEFT! CATCH THE WIND FROM THE RIGHT SIDE!" The crew scrambles as the ship lurches violently. "STOP ACTING SO HIGH AND MIGHTY AND START HELPING OUT!" someone yells. Zoro snores in the background until Usopp shouts, "ZORO, WAKE UP! WE'RE IN AN EMERGENCY!" Zoro jolts awake with "WHAT!I" while Sanji remarks, "AH, THE FIRST BREEZE OF SPRING."

Chaos erupts across the deck. "WHAT IS WRONG WITH THIS OCEAN!" Usopp screams as the ship spins. "AND NOW THERE'S FOG! THE WAVES ARE GETTING HIGHER!" Nami cries. Luffy spots something and yells, "HEY, I SEE A DOLPHIN JUMPING OVER THERE! LET'S GO CHECK IT OUT!" only to be told, "YOU JUST STAY QUIET!" The crew spots danger: "ICEBERG SPOTTED AT 10 O'CLOCK!" Nami warns, "THE CLOUDS ARE MOVING TOO FAST!" They scramble to seal leaks as the ship grazes ice with a loud impact. "THERE'S WATER LEAKING IN THE LOWER DECK!" someone shouts. Below, Luffy and others stuff their faces. "YOU'RE EATING TOO MUCH!" Nami scolds. "GOT IT! EVERYONE EAT UP AND ENERGIZE!" Usopp replies. "THE WINDS ARE TOO STRONG! RAISE THE SAILS!" comes the next order, but the sail tears with a ripping sound. "OH NO! THE SAIL'S TEARING!"

The ship rocks violently. "WHAA- AAT!I IT CHANGED AGAIN! DAMMIT!" Usopp yells as debris flies. "NAMI, WHERE'S THE COMPASS POINTING TO NOW!I" someone demands. "WE'VE GOT ANOTHER LEAK ON THE LOWER DECK!" another voice adds. A quiet interlude shows the battered Merry drifting alone on calm seas with seagulls crying "CAW" overhead. Far below deck Luffy wakes with a stretch. "HMI AH, THAT WAS A NICE NAP," he says lazily. Zoro remains fast asleep with a loud snore while the rest of the crew lies exhausted around him. The distant sound of waves and birds continues as the ship sits becalmed under an empty sky.

On the deck of the Going Merry, Luffy lies sprawled on his back with a large sweat drop while Zoro stands nearby holding his swords. A massive speech bubble erupts from above: "YOU SON OF A...!" Sanji, cigarette in mouth, questions the group, "ARE YOU SURE WE'RE GOING THE RIGHT WAYI" and adds, "HEY, COME ON NOW. I KNOW THE WEATHER'S NICE AND WARM BUT DON'T YOU THINK YOU'RE BEING A BIT TOO LAZYI" The scene shifts as someone yells "YOU NOTICED NOW!I" while a figure clings to the mast amid the large SFX "ドビーン!!". Zoro reacts with "!I". Luffy, now standing with his straw hat, grins widely and declares, "WE'RE HEADED TOWARDS THEIR TOWN RIGHT NOW." From the upper deck an unseen speaker says, "WHAT, SO WE'RE GIVING THEM A RIDEI IT'S NOT LIKE WE'RE OBLIGATED TO OR ANYTHING." Zoro replies calmly, "I KNOW."

Miss Wednesday leans in close with a sly smile, introducing herself: "AND I'M MISS WEDNESDAY..." Mr. 9 sweats nervously beside her, stammering "M... MR. 9..." Sanji eyes them suspiciously and asks, "WHAT DID YOU SAY YOUR NAMES WERE AGAIN...I" while thinking "HMM... THERE'S SOMETHING SINISTER ABOUT YOUR FACES..." with the SFX "ぎくっ!!". In the next room, Miss Wednesday continues, "I FEEL LIKE I'VE HEARD IT BEFORE... OR NOT..." as Sanji rubs his chin and remarks, "RIGHT... SOMETHING ABOUT THOSE NAMES HAVE BEEN BUGGING ME EVER SINCE I HEARD'EM..." Suddenly a fierce woman with short hair and a net top appears, shouting "HUHI" and "DID YOU HAVE A NICE NAP!I YOU WOULDN'T WAKE UP NO MATTER HOW HARD WE TRIED...!" She delivers a powerful kick with the large SFX "ゴン!!" sending Mr. 9 flying backward as Sanji watches in surprise, saying "WELL, IN ANY CASE-".

Miss Monday stands triumphantly over the fallen Mr. 9 and yells, "YOU CAN NEVER EXPECT WHAT MIGHT HAPPEN OUT HERE! DON'T LET YOUR GUARDS DOWN, EVERYONE!" She then strikes a dramatic pose with fist raised, declaring, "I UNDERSTAND BECAUSE ALL OF MY NAVIGATION SKILLS HAVE FAILED TO WORK! I FINALLY UNDERSTAND JUST HOW TERRIFYING THIS OCEAN TRULY IS, AS WELL AS WHY THEY CALL IT THE 'GRAND LINE!'" In a smaller panel she smiles confidently and says, "AND AS A PROOF OF THAT, THINGS WILL WORK OUT ONE WAY OR THE OTHER. WE'LL BE FINE!" while looking ahead. The final panel shows the ship approaching a distant island as someone asks, "UHH... ARE WE GONNA BE FINEI" with the large SFX "ずーん".

Luffy leans out excitedly from the ship with wide eyes and an open mouth as the narration states, "THE FIRST LEG OF OUR JOURNEY, IS OVER." The Going Merry sails onward across the sea with the large SFX "パアアアア...". The next panel reveals a vast landscape of giant round cacti under a bright sky. A massive impact SFX "どーん" shakes the scene as Luffy shouts, "IT'S AN ISLAND!" and "I SEE GIANT CACTI!" The ship continues toward the cactus-covered shore.

Luffy leans forward excitedly on the Going Merry's figurehead as the ship nears land. "THANK GOD WE'VE ARRIVED ALIVE!" he shouts. Sanji stands nearby, declaring, "SO THIS IS WHISKEY PEAK!" The crew prepares to disembark. "NOW THEN, WE ASK YOU PLEASE DROP US OFF HERE!" someone calls. "IF FATE WILLS IT, THEN LET US MEET AGAIN!" With a dramatic leap, the group jumps from the ship. "THANK YOU FOR TAKING US HERE, MY HONEYS!" a voice says as they land. "BYE BYE BABY!" echoes as the ship pulls away with a loud "ドドーン!!" impact sound. Nami, Zoro, and others react with surprise at the sudden departure.

The Straw Hats stand on deck gazing at the approaching island. "LOOKS LIKE WE CAN DOCK INLAND," one notes. "THERE'S A RIVER RIGHT UP AHEAD," another observes. "FORGET ABOUT ME! PREPARE TO LAND!" Luffy yells. "JUST WHAT IS UP WITH THOSE TWO... THEY'RE GONE..." Nami remarks. Usopp worries, "DON'T FORGET THAT WE HAVE TO STAY ON THIS ISLAND FOR A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF TIME. WHYI" Nami replies, "WAIT JUST A SECOND!" Luffy grins, "WELL, WE CAN ALWAYS RUN AWAY IF THAT'S THE CASE." Usopp panics, "T-THERE WOULDN'T BE ANY MONSTERS ON THIS ISLAND NOW, RIGHT...!I" Nami holds up the log pose and explains, "AND THE RECORDING TIME VARIES FOR EACH ISLAND. THERE'RE SOME ISLANDS THAT TAKE ONLY A FEW HOURS TO RECORD, WHILE SOME TAKE EVEN A FEW DAYS. THIS LOG POSE HAS TO RECORD THIS ISLAND'S MAGNETIC FIELD, BEFORE WE CAN MOVE ON TO THE NEXT ISLAND!"

Luffy beams with his usual grin, "WELL, WE'LL WORRY ABOUT IT WHEN IT HAPPENS. SO LET'S JUST GO ALREADY!" Nami turns to the crew, "T-THEN EVEN IF WE COME TO A HORRIBLE MONSTER ISLAND THAT WE WANT TO RUN AWAY FROM, IT'S POSSIBLE THAT WE'LL HAVE TO STAY ON IT FOR SEVERAL DAYS...!I" Sanji declares, "I'LL PROTECT YOU, NAMI!!" Usopp stammers nervously about a "CAN'T-ENTER-ISLANDS-DISEASE." Luffy leans in eagerly, "IT'D BE WEIRD NOT TO GO IN WHEN THERE'S A RIVER IN FRONT WAITING FOR US!" The crew readies themselves as the Going Merry sails into the river. "READYI BE PREPARED TO FIGHT OR RUN AT A MOMENT'S NOTICE," someone says. "...FINE, LET'S GO IN THEN," another replies.

From the ship, the crew spots figures on shore. "PIRATES ARE HERE! GO TELL THE OTHERS!" a voice shouts. "PEOPLE!I YOU SURE IT'S PEOPLE!I" another exclaims amid the fog. "HEYI YOU'RE RIGHT! HUH, ISN'T THAT A PIRATE SHIPI" The Going Merry approaches the town as a large crowd gathers on the docks, cheering wildly. "TO THE TOWN OF WELCOMING, WHISKEY PEAK!" a banner-like caption reads. The townspeople wave and shout, "WELCOME!" with massive impact lettering "ばん!!" and "WELCOME!" filling the air. The ship enters the canal leading into the bustling town under a huge arched welcome sign. "WELCOME TO GRAND LINE!" and "WELCOME TO OUR TOWN!" signs greet them as the crew stares in surprise.

The Straw Hats stare in shock as a massive cheer erupts from the town. Luffy grins widely while Sanji and Nami look on in surprise. A huge crowd lines the docks, waving flags and banners that read "WELCOME" and "WILL KOMMEN," shouting with joy. "OHI" someone exclaims. "HUHI NOT ONLY ARE THERE NO MONSTERS, BUT THERE'RE PEOPLE GREETING US," a crew member notes. "WHAT'S GOING ON...I" another wonders. The townspeople roar, "LONG LIVE THE BRAVE HEROES OF THE SEA!" as the ship approaches. On deck, the crew reacts with excitement. "YAHOO!" Usopp cheers. "LOOKS LIKE PIRATES REALLY ARE THE PEOPLE'S HEROES! TALK ABOUT A WARM WELCOME!" someone shouts. "T-THERE'S A BUNCH OF LOVELY LADIES TOO!" Sanji exclaims with hearts in his eyes as the enthusiastic crowd waves them ashore.

A tall man with an enormous afro and curly mustache steps forward in a formal black coat, holding a saxophone. "YOU MAY BE A LITTLE SHOCKED AT THE WELCOME, BUT THIS IS WHISKEY PEAK, A TOWN OF LIQUOR AND MUSIC. HOSPITALITY IS OUR MIDDLE NAME," he declares. The crowd gathers behind him along the canal. "WELCOME, MY NAME IS IGARAPPOI. MA-MA-MAA~! AHEM! WELG-" he continues, clearing his throat. "SO PLEASE, I CORDIALLY INVITE YOU TO OUR BANQUET. IF IT'S FINE LIQUOR YOU WANT, WE HAVE AN OCEAN'S WORTH," Igarappoi says with a serious expression. "ENTREAT US WITH TALES OF YOUR ADVENTURES. MA-MA-MAA~! AHEM AND HOPE THAT YOU MAY ENTREAD-" he adds. The Straw Hats watch from the ship as the mayor of Whisky Peak formally greets them.

Luffy, Usopp, and Sanji burst into laughter, shouting "GLADLY!" while Zoro and Nami stand nearby. "THE IDIOT TRIO..." Zoro mutters. Igarappoi raises his arms dramatically. "AND LET US SING TO OUR HEART'S CONTENT FOR THESE ADVENTURERS! EVERYONE! PREPARE THE BANQUET!" he announces. "PLEASE PUT ASIDE THINKING OF SUCH WEARY MATTERS FOR NOW AND FOCUS ON RESTING FROM YOUR JOURNEY!" he continues. Nami asks, "LOGI AH, BY THE WAY, HOW LONG WILL IT TAKE FOR THIS ISLAND'S LOG TO BE RECORDEDI" The sun begins to set over the town. "ALRIGHT, TIME FOR A PARTY!" someone calls. The caption reads, "THE SUN SETS ON WHISKEY PEAK." as the crew prepares to celebrate.

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