The clouds descended slowly.
Not like a storm.
Like a tired giant finally laying something precious down.
After two minutes of flight, Luffy's group arrived back at the ruins of Arlong Park. What remained of it was nothing more than scorched earth, broken stone, and silence where cruelty once echoed.
Waiting near the shoreline were Usopp, Johnny, and Yosaku.
All three of them looked up as the clouds lowered—and immediately noticed something was off.
Luffy stepped down last.
His boots hit the ground heavier than usual.
Sweat ran down the side of his face.
"Captain?" Zoro asked, sharp-eyed as always. "You okay?"
Luffy exhaled and rolled his shoulders once, lightning briefly crackling and fading.
"Yeah," he said. "Just overdid it a bit."
He glanced up at the clouds still hovering above them.
"Carrying all of you… plus cannons, gunpowder, and half a Marine base tends to add up."
No one laughed.
They'd seen the island disappear.
They nodded instead.
Luffy raised his hand and gestured.
A separate cloud drifted away, floating toward the Going Merry, which was docked nearby. Crates of ammunition, cannonballs, rifles, and supplies descended carefully onto the deck.
Then Luffy turned.
"Usopp," he said.
Usopp snapped to attention instinctively. "Yes, Captain!"
"Take the Merry around to the back of the island. Dock near the village."
Usopp saluted hard enough to nearly fall over. "Aye!"
Luffy nodded and shifted his gaze.
"Johnny. Yosaku."
"Yes!" they said in unison.
"Unload everything and stash it below deck."
They nodded immediately and sprinted toward the ship.
Luffy turned last toward Sanji, Zoro, and Diane.
"We're heading to the village," he said calmly. "I need a drink."
He looked at Zoro.
"And you need a doctor."
"I'm fi—"
Zoro stopped mid-sentence.
Luffy's glare left no room for argument.
"…Tch."
Before leaving, Luffy sent another cloud upward—this one heavy, dense, and humming faintly with restrained energy.
All the money.
Hidden.
Waiting.
They began walking toward the village.
As they approached, sound reached them first.
Laughter.
Music.
Cheers.
Diane blinked in surprise.
"…Are they celebrating?"
Luffy chuckled. "You could say that."
She walked beside him quietly for a few seconds before he spoke again.
"There's something I want to ask you."
Her shoulders stiffened slightly.
"…Okay."
Luffy didn't look at her when he asked.
"Were you freed by Fisher Tiger?"
Diane flinched.
Sanji and Zoro slowed their steps without realizing it.
"…Yes," she said softly.
She swallowed.
"I was taken when I was little. Sold to one of the World Nobles. I thought… that was it."
Her hands trembled.
"But one night, everything burned. A Fishman broke the chains. He didn't even look at us like slaves."
She smiled weakly.
"I spent years trying to get back here. And when I finally reached East Blue…"
Her voice cracked.
"Nezumi found me."
Luffy stopped walking.
Placed a hand gently on her shoulder.
"It's over," he said. "You're home."
She looked up.
Only then did she realize they were already there.
The village.
Her village.
For a moment—nothing happened.
Then someone screamed Luffy's name.
The entire village erupted.
People ran toward him laughing, crying, shouting thanks, praise, disbelief.
Luffy raised one hand.
"Wait."
He grabbed Zoro by the back of his shirt and shoved him forward.
"This idiot needs a doctor. Now."
An old man in a white coat pushed through the crowd immediately.
"I'll take him."
Zoro was dragged away despite his protests.
Luffy then turned the crowd's attention back.
"This is Diane," he said clearly. "She was taken years ago. I found her held by Marines."
Whispers exploded.
Then—
"Diane…?"
An older woman stepped forward, trembling.
"Is it really you…?"
Diane broke.
She ran into their arms, sobbing uncontrollably.
Genzo stepped forward slowly, eyes wide.
"…Fifteen years," he murmured. "She's been gone fifteen years."
The village went silent.
Luffy hated that silence.
"HEY!" he shouted.
Everyone jumped.
He pulled out a bottle of whiskey and grinned.
"I thought we were throwing a party."
It took half a second.
Then the village exploded again.
---
Four Days Later
The sea stayed calm.
Too calm.
Three days of nonstop celebration followed.
Food never ran out.
Music never stopped.
Zoro healed.
Sanji cooked.
Usopp told exaggerated stories—most of which were somehow still true.
On the fourth day, the Going Merry was ready.
Food packed.
Supplies loaded.
Orange trees planted neatly along the deck.
Standing on the dock were the villagers.
Diane.
Her parents.
Genzo.
Nojiko.
Luffy stood at the stern, hands in his pockets.
"You remember the plan, right?" he asked.
Zoro nodded.
Usopp nodded.
Johnny and Yosaku nodded.
Sanji blinked.
"…What plan?"
Luffy laughed.
"You'll see."
He turned toward Nojiko.
"Your sister's a pain."
Nojiko smiled knowingly.
"I know."
"I might need help watching her."
Genzo's eye twitched.
"…Watching?"
Nojiko crossed her arms, amused.
"So you want me to babysit her?"
Luffy scratched his head.
"…Yeah."
Nojiko considered it.
Then stepped onto the ship.
"Guess I'm joining."
Luffy blinked. "You're not bringing anything?"
She smiled.
"Nami's taking it."
That's when—
"NAMIIIIII!"
A scream echoed across the dock.
Luffy smirked.
The storm wasn't over.