Joy Boy followed Toki to the port of Mary Geoise.
Toki glanced at Joy Boy before boarding the massive warship Michael had named Pluto.
Joy Boy paused for a moment, then quickly followed after her.
"Toki! Now there's no one else to disturb us... shouldn't you tell me the truth?"
"The truth... you should have already guessed it, shouldn't you?"
"Tch, so he really did return to the future." Joy Boy clicked his tongue twice. "So you've been so blatant in front of me all this time... were you not afraid I'd find out, or did you think I wouldn't understand?"
"Father never thought you were foolish... and he understood your character well." Toki sighed.
"He simply knew you would make the right choice, that's all... Set sail, I'll take you to see something."
"What is it?"
"Something powerful enough to maintain the world's balance."
...
After the world shattered, everyone struggled to adapt to the new environment.
But for those who already lived by the sea, this was the easiest challenge.
The Fishmen and Mermen races were especially blessed by nature.
Joy Boy, aboard his massive warship with crew members from the Giant race, navigated through unfamiliar waters under the guidance and escort of the Fishmen and Mermen.
A solitary island stood in the distance.
"What's special about this island?"
"The island isn't the focus... it's what's above it."
"Above the island?"
Joy Boy looked up and finally noticed another island floating directly above it!
And that shape...
"Holy shit!?" Joy Boy abruptly lifted the brim of his straw hat. "Is that... God's Nation!?"
"Correct, God's Nation... though according to Father, it should be called Uranus..."
"Uranus..." Joy Boy froze. "He named my warship Pluton... and he referred to Nereus as Poseidon..."
"Clearly, they're a set..." Toki shrugged. "And as overseers... they should at least have the power to completely overthrow the new government, right?"
As the group approached the island, Joy Boy and Toki boarded Uranus.
After reaching the lowest-level control room, they saw the Lunarian boy who had been completely transformed into a power source.
"This thing... actually uses the Lunarian Race as its energy?" Joy Boy's eyes widened. "This is... pure evil."
"Well, it depends on whether you're willing to use it..." Toki pointed to the side.
Joy Boy glanced over and saw dozens of Lunarians bound tightly, imprisoned there.
"Recently, I took the liberty of searching for those Lunarians who weren't in the capital of the Great Kingdom at the time... and the results were quite fruitful..."
"Toki... you're ruthless."
"I have plenty of sympathy, but I'm not generous enough to waste it on enemies."
After saying this, Toki turned and walked away without another word.
"You... where are you going?"
"Isn't it obvious? I'm taking Rocks with me, of course." Toki smirked. "Father said he'd be waiting for me in the future."
Joy Boy nodded.
"Then... today is farewell for good."
"Yes, farewell, Joy Boy." Suddenly, Toki seemed to remember something. "By the way, the island below appears to be a research facility of the Great Kingdom, specializing in ancient technology... I found a giant robot named 'Emit' there. It might be useful to you."
...
One week later, Angel Island in the South Blue.
"What time do you want to return to?"
"Let me think... sending me about 800 years into the future should suffice... With your current Devil Fruit abilities, precise time travel is still difficult, right?" Rocks said with a laugh. "But don't worry, just rely on your intuition to activate the ability... After all, based on what Michael has hinted, this time, your power will send me exactly to the era where he is."
"Tsk, I really should develop my Devil Fruit abilities better."
Toki sighed and placed her hand on Rocks' shoulder.
The next moment, a special glow unique to the Time Fruit radiated from Toki's hand.
"Goodbye, Rocks..."
"Hahaha, just as Michael said... Let's meet in the future!"
As soon as the words fell, Rocks vanished from the spot.
Looking at the now empty room, Toki shook her head.
Without hesitation, she activated her ability once more...
"Farewell, Lily."
...
When Toki opened her eyes again, she found herself in a dimly lit space.
She closed her eyes briefly, then reopened them, adjusting to the light.
Only then did she realize she was lying atop a small mountain of fruit—evidently, she was in the cargo hold of a ship.
Just as she was about to leave to inquire about the current time...
The warehouse door slowly creaked open.
A rather short young boy walked in.
But after being trained by Michael for so long, Toki's perception had sharpened considerably.
She could tell at a glance that this boy possessed physical abilities far beyond his age!
As she watched curiously, the boy turned and lay down on a reclining chair.
This allowed Toki to see his face clearly.
Instantly, she froze.
That boy... looked exactly like Father!
Toki wanted to dismiss it as a coincidence.
But the lazy way he lounged on the chair was identical to Father's mannerisms.
Even the strange melody he hummed was the same.
Overcome with excitement, Toki accidentally nudged an apple beside her.
And that apple...
Had spiral patterns but was pure white and flawless.
A Devil Fruit—the Human-Human Fruit, Mythical Zoan: Seraphim Form.
Michael froze in place.
Finally, he picked up the Devil Fruit and took a bite.
Then, under Toki's watchful gaze, the first pair of newly formed Wings emerged from his back.
"So this... is the origin of Father?"
Toki concealed herself and left the scene.
She needed to secure a plausible identity and then take Father away!
Just as he had once adopted her.
But just a few days later, when she returned to the merchant ship, she was told Michael had already left.
Toki felt a deep sense of loss. Perhaps... the future they spoke of had not yet arrived.
But she dared not continue traversing time. She couldn't leap forward—if she overshot... it would be farewell forever.
So she believed that one day, she would reunite with her father.
Until then...
It was time for Toki's own adventure.
Thus, the young girl embarked on her journey into the future.
From the Grand Line, she ventured into the New World.
In this world both familiar and strange, she adventured to her heart's content.
Until one day...
Toki sheathed Kogarashi and Shigure, the last slave trader collapsing to the ground.
Before her, two men suddenly appeared.
"Gurararara! What a terrifying little lass! How about becoming my daughter!?"
"Hey! Whitebeard! Stop trying to be everyone's father the moment you meet them!"
"Tch, Oden! You really can't help meddling, can you!"