The Straw Hats' ship drifted steadily through the dark waters. The night passed quietly, the only sounds being the creak of wood and the steady splash of waves.
Luffy had fallen asleep not long after leaving the Baratie, sprawled flat on his back with his mouth hanging open, snoring loud enough to be heard over the wind. Zoro rested near the mast, arms folded. Orion sat against the railing, knees drawn up, watching the horizon roll past.
By the time the sky began to lighten, the scent of land reached them first, salt giving way to greenery and something faintly sweet. The land came into view not long after.
"That must be Syrup Village," Orion said quietly, straightening as the coastline sharpened.
Luffy bolted upright instantly. "FOOD ISLAND!?"
Orion flinched at the sudden shout before slowly turning. "Oh... It's just you, Luffy." He stood and stretched, before laughing softly. "You only wake up early for food, don't you?"
"Well, he could stand to wake up a little quieter." Sanji exited the cabin with a sigh. "Come inside. I made breakfa–!" Sanji quickly jumped to the side, narrowly avoiding a collision with Luffy as the boy sprinted into the cabin with comedic speed.
Orion, at a much more casual pace, also made his way inside the cabin. "I thought you hated us, what's with the breakfast?" He asked as he walked alongside Sanji.
Sanji scoffed. "Tch. Despite my personal feelings...I refuse to let anyone starve when I can feed them. No matter who they are. That's my duty as a chef."
Orion grinned as he sat at the table. "I see. Well, thanks for the food."
Sanji turned to the doorway. He grabbed one of the plates from the table and carried it out. He came back a minute later, the plate was gone, and a scowl was now plastered on his face. "Stupid moss-headed bastard..." He grumbled as he sat down and began to eat.
After breakfast, they docked the ship along a shore just outside the village. The shore was surrounded by cliffs with only one slope leading upward to the village.
Sanji lit a cigarette, eyes narrowing slightly. "Why'd we dock so out of the way?"
"Because we're pirates," Zoro muttered, rubbing his temples. "Should be obvious."
Sanji scoffed. "Your ship doesn't even have a Jolly Roger, there was no point."
Zoro waved him off. "Tch."
Luffy was already off the ship, landing on the shore and stretching his arms high above his head. "Well, I'm hungry. Let's go!"
"Didn't you just eat?..." Orion, Zoro, and Sanji thought in unison. Everyone followed Luffy as he climbed the slope.
As they climbed, a scent in the air grew stronger. Sweet, warm, almost syrupy, and clinging to the breeze. At the top of the slope, Syrup Village came into view. It was peaceful. Fences lined the roads. Houses were spaced comfortably apart, each with its own small garden or yard. Windows stood open, curtains fluttering gently.
Sanji replied, exhaling smoke. "You smell that?"
Luffy sniffed exaggeratedly. "Yeah. Smells like dessert."
They moved deeper into the village, footsteps unhurried. Villagers passed by, offering polite nods or curious glances.
The road gradually curved away from the homes, leading them toward the outskirts. Trees grew thicker here, their branches stretching wide and heavy with leaves. Wooden structures came into view—racks, platforms, and shallow trays arranged beneath the trees. Clinging to bark and leaves were small geckos, their bodies still and relaxed, backs gleaming faintly as sunlight caught on amber-colored resin. Every so often, a drop formed, stretching under its own weight before falling into the trays below with a soft, sticky plop.
Luffy slowed. "Whoa…" He squinted. "Why are the lizards shiny?"
"They're geckos," Sanji retorted.
Zoro crossed his arms. "They don't look like they're doing much."
"That's because you're not looking properly," Sanji replied. He gestured with his cigarette toward the racks. "Amberback Geckos. Only found on this island. Their bodies secrete resin as part of digestion. That resin is the syrup."
Orion stepped closer, crouching slightly as he watched one of the geckos bask beneath the sun. The resin along its back glistened, thick and slow-moving. "So it's not collected directly from the trees."
"Nope," Sanji said. "Geckos eat specific insects that live here. Process it naturally. Takes days to get anything usable."
Luffy's eyes lit up. "Can you eat the geckos?"
Sanji turned toward him slowly. "No."
"If you touch one," Sanji added flatly, "I'll break your legs."
Sanji continued, "The syrup's delicate. Heat makes it thicken. Force makes it harden. Stress..." he flicked ash aside, "...ruins the consistency."
Orion tilted his head. "Stress?"
"Loud noises. Sudden movement. Fighting. Anything like that scares them off." Sanji glanced at Luffy. "No geckos, no syrup."
Luffy clasped his hands behind his back and nodded solemnly. "So we gotta be quiet."
A voice cut in. "Why if it isn't Sanji, been a while since you last came here yourself."
They turned to see a blonde woman approaching, sleeves rolled up, hands stained faintly amber. She wiped them on a cloth as she stopped in front of them.
Sanji froze and time seemed to slow.
An imaginary dramatic wind blew through the clearing.
"My lady…" Sanji gasped, clutching his chest. "Your beauty shines brighter than the morning sun, and your hands....no, your very presence....has blessed this humble man, Miss Winr-!"
She smacked him upside the head with the cloth in her hand. "Don't start," she said flatly.
"Just great..." Zoro groaned. "He's not just annoying, he's a pervert too."
Sanji shot a scowl toward Zoro. "What was that?" He snapped. "You moss-brained bastard..."
Zoro's eye twitched. "Say that again."
Orion stepped between them. "Later. The syrup is more important."
Sanji clicked his tongue and looked away, lighting another cigarette. Zoro huffed, but let it go.
The lady watched the exchange for a moment, "I'm Winry, clerk and processor. The farmers are busy today."
She gestured toward the racks, where two figures worked with care, a short blond man moving quickly and efficiently, and a taller figure handling trays with surprising gentleness. "Edward," Winry called. "Customers."
The blond glanced over his shoulder, his golden eyes sharp and assessing. "....Sanji?"
The man, Edward, straightened and made his way over, brushing his hands off on his coat as he stopped beside Winry. "Are you here for the Baratie's usual order?"
Sanji exhaled a thin stream of smoke. "Yeah, these freeloaders needed a way to pay for their meal."
"Freeloaders???" Zoro and Orion wondered in unison.
Edward looked back at Sanji. "You know we're mid-cycle."
"I see," Sanji replied. "How long is the wait?"
Edward nodded once. "Tomorrow, then. Assuming no one here scares the geckos."
Winry clapped her hands once, sharp and decisive. "Alright. You've placed your order. Come back tomorrow. Until then. Don't touch the racks, don't bother the farmers, and don't start any fights."
Sanji exhaled smoke. "You hear that?"
Zoro shrugged. "We weren't planning on it."
With nothing more to do at the farm, the crew stepped away from the racks and back toward the village proper. The calm followed them....a little too closely.
Orion felt it first. Not danger. Not hostility. Just… eyes watching.
Zoro noticed immediately after. His hand drifted closer to his swords.
Sanji took a drag from his cigarette. "We're not alone."
Luffy didn't turn around. He just smiled wider.
They reached the edge of the village, a small café sitting near the road. The smell of baked bread drifted through the open windows.
"I'm gonna take a walk," Luffy said suddenly.
Zoro sighed. "Why is it always you?"
"Try not to cause trouble," Orion grinned.
Luffy waved them off and wandered down the road, hands swinging loosely at his sides, humming to himself as if nothing in the world could possibly go wrong.
Orion watched him disappear around a bend. "He's gonna cause trouble," he said quietly.
Zoro nodded. "Definitely."
To Be Continued.....