Chapter 53: "The Sky Falls Again"
Bell-mère's POV
The sea breeze had always been Cocoyasi Village's lullaby—gentle, salty, and steady, whispering through the tangerine groves like an old friend sharing secrets. For the first time in what felt like years, the rhythm of waves against the coast brought something close to peace, a fragile tranquility that settled over the village like a warm blanket. The sun hung low in the afternoon sky, casting golden hues over the thatched roofs and winding paths, where villagers strolled without the shadow of fear looming over them.
Almost peaceful.
Bell-mère leaned back in her weathered wooden chair on the porch, a cigarette hanging loosely between her calloused fingers, the smoke curling lazily upward like a signal fire to no one in particular. She exhaled slowly, watching the clouds drift lazily across the vast blue expanse, their fluffy edges tinged with the soft orange of impending sunset. The air smelled of salt, earth, and the faint sweetness of ripening tangerines from Nojiko's garden nearby.
"A month of peace," she murmured to herself, her voice rough from years of barking orders as a marine and now as a makeshift guardian of this quiet haven. "A miracle in these seas."Nami and Sunny off chasing their wild dreams, the village had breathed a collective sigh of relief. The markets were bustling again, filled with the chatter of haggling merchants and laughing children. Fishermen hauled in bountiful catches without tribute demands, and even the local tavern had started hosting impromptu celebrations that lasted into the night.
Everything was almost perfect. Except—
"Aqua!" Bell-mère's voice snapped through the quiet like a gunshot, shattering the serenity as she bolted upright, her chair creaking in protest.
A deafening crash erupted from inside the house—pots clanging, pans tumbling, and a scream that sounded half divine, half utter disaster, echoing through the open windows.
"It's not my fault! I was testing the limits of mortal cookware! These pots are so fragile—like your human egos!"
Bell-mère groaned, rubbing her temple with one hand while flicking ash from her cigarette with the other. "You're testing my patience, that's what you're doing. How many kitchens do you plan to destroy before you learn to boil water without turning it into a geyser?"
From the doorway burst Aqua, dripping with spilled soup that clung to her ethereal blue dress like unfortunate decorations, her skin glowing faintly with that otherworldly azure light that never failed to remind Bell-mère she was dealing with a idiot goddess. Somehow, despite the mess, Aqua looked proud of herself, striking a dramatic pose with one hand on her hip and the other waving a ladle like a scepter. "It almost worked this time! The stew of heavenly bliss was one step away from perfection! Imagine—flavors that could make angels weep and mortals ascend!"
Bell-mère crossed her arms, her marine-honed glare piercing through the goddess's bravado. "And then it exploded. Again. That's the third pot this week, Aqua. At this rate, we'll be eating raw fish straight from the sea."
Aqua sniffed dramatically, tossing her wet blue hair over her shoulder with a flourish that sent soup droplets flying. "Exploded with flavor! You mortals just don't appreciate divine innovation. Back in my realm, explosions are a sign of success!"
Bell-mère sighed deeply, though a reluctant smile tugged at the corners of her lips, softening her stern features. It was impossible to stay angry at that ridiculous goddess for long. Aqua was chaos incarnate—a whirlwind of misplaced enthusiasm, godly powers, and zero common sense—but somehow, the house felt empty without her energy bouncing off the walls like a rubber ball in a confined space. In the month since Sunny and Nami had set sail, Aqua had become a fixture: helping (or hindering) with chores, telling outlandish stories of her "adventures" in other worlds, and occasionally pulling off miracles like purifying the village well with a wave of her hand. She was a pain, sure, but she was family now.
In truth, Bell-mère did miss Sunny and Nami terribly. The quiet had grown too strange, too hollow, even with Aqua's antics filling the void. The house echoed with their absence—the empty chairs at the dinner table, the untouched tangerine peels that Nami used to scatter absentmindedly, Sunny's faint scent of sea salt and determination lingering in the air like a ghost. She took a long drag from her cigarette, the smoke burning her throat in a familiar, comforting way, and blew out a lazy plume that danced in the breeze.
"Those brats better be doing alright out there," she muttered, her voice laced with a mother's worry hidden behind gruff affection. "If Sunny's gotten Nami into more trouble, I'll kick his ass myself when they get back."
Then, without warning, the world shifted.
The wind changed abruptly—a deep hum rolled through the air like the sound of a thousand storms caught in a jar, vibrating through her bones and making the porch rattle slightly. Her cigarette froze midair as every hair on her arm stood on end, a primal instinct kicking in from her marine days. The sky seemed to darken subtly, the clouds parting as if pushed aside by an invisible force.
A flicker of blue—no, void-blue—lit up the horizon, pulsing like a heartbeat from the depths of the ocean itself.
Bell-mère's heart stopped for a beat, her eyes widening. She'd seen that kind of glow only twice in her life. Once, when a certain reckless idiot named Sunny had trained with Aqua on the edge of the world, pushing his limits until the air crackled with raw power. And once… when he'd torn open the sky itself during one of his more insane experiments, leaving the village buzzing for days.
She squinted toward the ocean, shielding her eyes with a hand roughened by years of hard work. High above the sea, something shimmered—something massive, descending.
A ship.
A flying ship with a jolly sheep figurehead—its hull surrounded by a crackling aura of dark blue energy that bent space around it like glass under immense pressure, warping the light and creating mirage-like ripples.
"You've got to be kidding me…" Bell-mère whispered, a mix of exasperation and excitement bubbling up. The cigarette fell from her fingers, forgotten as she leaped to her feet.
The ship was descending fast, leaving trails of warped air in its wake, the hum growing into a roar that shook the leaves from nearby trees. The sound wasn't thunder—it was something heavier, deeper, like the fabric of reality straining at the seams.
That wasn't just Haki. That was him. Sunny, pushing boundaries again, probably with that damn grin on his face like it was all a game.
A grin broke across her face, fierce and unbidden. "Sunny, you absolute maniac. Only you would make an entrance like this."
She flicked her cigarette away into the dirt, stamping it out with her boot, and sprinted for the beach, her legs pumping with the energy of a woman half her age. The wind whipped at her hair, carrying the scent of salt and impending chaos.
Aqua's POV
Being a goddess, Aqua liked to say, came with certain privileges. Like eternal beauty that turned heads (and occasionally caused minor wars). Like grace that made even her clumsiness look elegant (in her mind, at least). Like the ability to turn every peaceful day into divine chaos, complete with explosions and dramatic monologues.
She stretched languidly across Bell-mère's couch, her lithe form draped like a queen on a throne, sipping juice from a cup shaped like a seashell she'd "blessed" earlier—meaning it now sparkled faintly and tasted vaguely of ambrosia. "Haaa… life without Sunny is so dull~," she whined to the empty room, her voice echoing with theatrical sorrow. "No adventures, no heroic rescues, no one to appreciate my goddess-level charm!"
Her legs kicked lazily in the air, sending a pillow flying across the room. "He's probably out there charming other girls with that stupid handsome grin. The nerve! My divine heart can't take this betrayal!" She clutched her chest dramatically, as if struck by an arrow, her blue eyes welling with exaggerated tears.
She slammed the cup down on the side table—then immediately forgot why she was angry and began humming a tune about herself, her voice lilting and melodic. "Oh~ Aqua the beautiful, Aqua the wise, Aqua who makes mortals cry with joy~"
A fish bowl on the table wobbled dangerously from her enthusiastic gestures, the goldfish inside swimming in frantic circles.
"Hey! Don't you roll your eyes at me, Mr. Fish!" she scolded, pointing an accusatory finger at the oblivious creature. "You don't understand what it's like to miss a god-tier hunk like Sunny! He's out there, probably fighting dragons or seducing mermaids, while I'm stuck here making exploding stews!"
Aqua puffed her cheeks in indignation, crossing her arms. "When he comes back, I'll scold him properly—'Sunny, you fool, how dare you leave your goddess behind!' Then I'll punch him lightly, and make him carry me around like the divine royalty I am! Yes, that's the plan."
She threw herself back dramatically on the couch, her eyes catching the sunlight streaming through the window, turning her hair into a cascade of shimmering blue waves. "Sunny better bring presents. Maybe a throne carved from clouds. Or a planet named after me. Or at least some fancy wine—wait, no, water! Purified by my own hands, of course."
The room trembled suddenly, cutting off her reverie.
The juice cup fell over, spilling across the floor in a sticky puddle.
A deep vibration ran through the air, making the furniture rattle and the fish bowl slosh dangerously.
Aqua blinked, her goddess senses tingling. "Wait. That energy… no way. It's too familiar—too powerful."
The goddess jumped to her feet in a blur of motion, barefoot and uncaring, her dress swirling around her like liquid. She dashed to the window, her pupils dilating as she caught the faint shimmer of something massive tearing across the clouds, leaving a trail of distorted air.
A ship. A flying one—wrapped in the same dark blue Haki she'd once seen swirling around Sunny's body when he lost himself to his own power during their intense training sessions. The aura pulsed like a living thing, bending light and reality.
Her lips curled into a delighted grin, her heart racing with excitement. "Sunny…" she whispered, her voice trembling with laughter and joy. "You actually did it again, didn't you? Descending from the heavens like a true hero—or a complete show-off!"
Aqua twirled once in pure joy, light shimmering around her in a halo of blue sparkles that lit up the room. "He's back! My favorite idiot's back! And with style—flying ships? That's my influence!"
Without hesitation, she sprinted toward the beach, the wind catching her divine cloak and making it billow like wings. She weaved through the village paths, shouting at startled villagers. "Move aside, mortals! The goddess of reunion is coming through! Make way for divine drama!"
Nojiko's POV
The afternoon sun painted Cocoyasi Village in warm gold, turning the tangerine groves into a sea of vibrant orange and green. Nojiko leaned over the garden fence, humming a soft, tuneless melody as she wiped sweat from her brow with the back of her hand, her blue hair tied back in a practical ponytail. The soil was rich and loamy under her fingers, the plants thriving under her care.
Life had been calmer since Nami and Sunny left on their grand adventure. But… maybe too calm. With Aqua around, "calm" still meant a few kitchen fires, one exploded bathtub (Aqua's attempt at a "divine spa"), and endless stories of godly mishaps that left Nojiko in stitches. Yet, despite the goddess's antics, Nojiko had grown fond of the chaos—it kept the house lively, filled the silence that Nami and Sunny's absence had left.
Still, she missed them deeply. Missed Nami's sharp wit and the way she'd sketch maps on any scrap of paper. Missed Sunny's easy grin when he'd steal food off her plate during meals, his teasing eyes sparkling with mischief. Missed the romance in those quiet moments—Sunny's hand brushing hers while helping in the garden, or the way he'd look at her like she was the center of his world. The house felt incomplete without them, the laughter echoing a bit too hollowly.
She glanced toward the kitchen window where a pot of stew simmered on the stove, the aroma of herbs and vegetables wafting out. "Sunny, if you're not back soon, I'm eating your share myself," she muttered with a fond smile, imagining his protest.
On the table nearby sat a folded cloak—navy blue with gold trim, hand-stitched by her own hands over late nights. It was a gift for him, something practical yet personal, embroidered with subtle patterns of waves and stars. "He's not getting away without wearing that," she said softly, her cheeks warming at the thought of his reaction—perhaps a hug, a kiss, that romantic spark that always made her heart flutter.
Then, a low rumble shook the earth beneath her feet, vibrating up through the soil and making the leaves rustle.
The watering can slipped from her hands, clattering to the ground. "...What the—?"
She turned toward the horizon—and froze, her breath catching.
Up above the clouds, something was falling. A ship—glowing with that unmistakable, haunting blue aura. The air rippled around it as if reality itself was bending, waves of energy pulsing outward like shockwaves.
Her heart leapt, a mix of fear and exhilaration. "Sunny!"
Without another thought, Nojiko bolted toward the beach, her cloak fluttering behind her like a banner, a wild grin spreading across her face despite the insanity. "Only you would fall from the sky just to make an entrance, idiot! If you crash into my tangerines, you're dead!"
Narration: Mixed POV
The sound of crashing waves roared through Cocoyasi's coast, a symphony of nature interrupted by the unnatural hum descending from above.
The air shimmered unnaturally—the Going Merry was coming down fast, cloaked in that same void-blue aura like the sky itself was being peeled apart layer by layer. The energy crackled, sending sparks dancing across the water's surface, the ship's sheep figurehead grinning defiantly as if in on the joke.
Sand flew in every direction as the ship slammed into the shallow waters with a thunderous splash, spraying salt, foam, and flecks of light into the air like a fireworks display gone wrong. The shockwave rippled across the beach, uprooting seashells and sending crabs scuttling in panic, while Aqua spun in a comical twirl, her dress flaring like a blue umbrella. Bell-mère ducked low, cursing under her breath as sand pelted her, and Nojiko laughed like a lunatic, her hair whipping wildly.
"—HE'S REALLY DOING IT AGAIN!" Bell-mère yelled, shielding her eyes from the spray, her voice a mix of awe and annoyance.
The void-blue light dissolved with a final shimmer, the ship settling into the waves with a groan of wood and creak of ropes, bobbing gently as if nothing extraordinary had happened. A familiar voice echoed from the deck, cutting through the settling mist.
"Whew! Smooth landing… ten outta ten." Sunny's tone was casual, as if he'd just stepped off a rowboat.
"We almost died, idiot!" Nami's voice came right after, furious but laced with reluctant amusement, her orange hair disheveled from the wind.
"Correction," Sunny grinned as he appeared on deck, stretching lazily, his hair glinting with faint Haki sparks, eyes bright—the kind of grin that said yeah, I definitely did something insane again, and I'd do it twice.
"SUNNY!" three voices screamed in unison—Aqua, Bell-mère, and Nojiko—rushing forward in a chaotic wave of reunion.
Aqua's POV
"MY DEAR CAPTAIN!" Aqua shrieked dramatically, light exploding around her in a burst of blue sparkles that lit up the beach like a festival. "How dare you descend from the heavens without proper divine warning! Do you know how worried your goddess was?"
Without hesitation, she launched herself like a bullet—literally. A blast of water pressure erupted from her feet, propelling her forward in a comet of spray and energy. Before anyone could react, BAM!
"Ghh—!" Sunny barely had time to turn before Aqua's head slammed into his chest like a cannonball, knocking the wind out of him in a comedic whoosh.
"Divine bullet of love!!" she announced proudly as Sunny stumbled backward, his arms flailing for balance. "Target acquired! Penalty for absence: one goddess hug!"
And then—
She kissed him.
Right there, on the lips, bold and unapologetic.
Time froze on the beach. The world went quiet except for the sound of crashing waves and Sunny's rapidly dying brain cells, his eyes wide as saucers.
Sunny blinked in shock, his face turning a deep scarlet. Lucy blinked from the deck, her expression frozen. Even Zoro stopped mid-sip of his sake flask, choking slightly.
Aqua pulled back, all glitter and sparkles, her cheeks flushed with romantic triumph. "UmU~ See? That's what happens when you leave a goddess waiting for a month, darling. Next time, bring flowers—or a kingdom!"
Sunny's face went even redder, stammering. "W-Wait, Aqua—that was—"
"Ara ara~ You're blushing~" she teased, tilting her head with a wink, her voice dripping with playful mischief. The romance hung in the air like perfume, her hand lingering on his chest.
Lucy POV
At first, she smiled, watching the reunion with her usual cheer.
Then, something inside her cracked—quietly, but deeply, like a storm brewing beneath calm waters.
Her grin twitched unnaturally. Her pupils narrowed to sharp golden rings. Her hair shimmered—turning soft white, like clouds drifting in a gathering storm, floating slightly as if defying gravity.
The air hummed with static, a subtle chill spreading across the beach.
In her hand, a kitchen knife formed—not steel, but condensed cloud. Fluffy, pure… yet terrifyingly sharp, edges glinting with ethereal light. Her expression softened into a smile that didn't reach her eyes, too perfect, too serene.
"Aqua…" she whispered, voice sugar-sweet but laced with venom. "You really like touching my Sunny, don't you? How... endearing."
A chill ran down Sunny's spine, his Haki senses flaring in warning.
[system]: Hmmm~ interesting anomaly detected, beloved. Lucy's emotional output has exceeded 400%. Oh my, she's so cute when she's jealous~♡ Shall I intervene? A little "adjustment" could make her... calmer.
Sunny: "...System, now's not the time—stand down!"
{ego}: "Oh boy. The yandere program just went live. We're all doomed, folks. Someone hide the cutlery—and the goddesses."
[system]: As you wish. But if she escalates, I'll protect you. Efficiently. ♥
{ego}: "Yup, that's totally reassuring. Nothing says 'peace of mind' like a homicidal AI whispering sweet nothings."
In that one second, Lucy looked like a storm given form—hair floating wildly, aura cracking the air like lightning about to strike, her eyes locked on Aqua with possessive intensity. The crew froze: Usopp yelped, "W-What's happening? Lucy's gone demon mode!" Sanji muttered, "This is bad—jealousy plus powers equals apocalypse." Zoro gripped his swords, ready for anything.
Then—
Gone.
Everything vanished in a blink. The knife dissipated into mist, her hair returned to normal, the aura faded like a passing cloud.
She stood there again, normal, cheerful, scratching her cheek like nothing had happened. Everyone blinked, confused, rubbing their eyes.
"...Lucy?" Nami asked cautiously, stepping forward. "You okay? That was... weird."
"Yup! Totally fine~," Lucy chirped, eyes closed in a radiant smile, her voice bubbly as ever. "Just excited to meet everyone! Hi, Aqua! You're so pretty—almost as pretty as my dreams of being Pirate Queen!"
Sunny, meanwhile, was sweating bullets, his romantic reunion turning into a comedic nightmare.
{ego}: "Oh she's fine, alright. The kind of fine that ends with Sunny sleeping with one eye open. And readers? Buckle up-this yandere arc is gonna be hilarious."
Sunny POV
Sunny gulped, his back slick with cold sweat under his shirt. He definitely saw that—Lucy's flash of yandere intensity, like a switch flipped in her soul. The romance with Aqua still tingled on his lips, but now it was overshadowed by the comedy of impending doom.
And so did [system] and {ego}—the only two beings insane enough to make the situation worse, their voices chattering in his head like uninvited commentators.
[system]: Don't worry, darling. I'll keep her calm. Or maybe not. Watching you panic is… cute~ Perhaps a little jealousy spices things up? ♥
Sunny: "System. No. Absolutely not."
{ego}: "He's dying inside, folks. Look at that poker face cracking. I give him three minutes before cardiac arrest—or spontaneous combustion via girlfriend glare."
Meanwhile, Aqua stood proudly beside him, humming triumphantly, oblivious to the tension. "See, everyone's happy I kissed him! It's a goddess's welcome—full of love and flair!"
Zoro scoffed, wiping sake from his chin. "Happy? You just broke physics—and probably Sunny's brain. That kiss looked like it sucked the soul out of him."
Sanji clenched his teeth, smoke billowing from his cigarette like a volcano. "That should've been me— I mean, how dare you assault the lady's captain like that?! Though... impressive technique. Not that I'm jealous or anything."
Lucy just smiled sweetly. Too sweetly, her eyes flickering with hidden gold for a split second that only Sunny caught.
Bell-mère crossed her arms, chuckling deeply. "Well, he did fall from the sky like a damn meteor. A kiss seems like a fair punishment. Kid's got style—insane, but style."
Sunny sighed, running a hand through his hair. "Can I please have one normal landing? Just once? No explosions, no kisses, no near-death experiences?"
Nami smirked from the deck, leaning over the rail with a teasing glint in her eye. "With you? Not a chance. But... welcome home." She blew him a kiss, adding a layer of romance that made his heart skip—until Lucy's too-sweet smile reminded him of the comedy minefield he was in.
Reunion Scene
As the chaos settled like sand after a wave, laughter bubbled up again, infectious and warm. Aqua was already crying happily into Bell-mère's shoulder, blubbering about "divine separations" while Bell-mère patted her back awkwardly, muttering, "There, there, you watery mess." Nojiko was scolding Sunny for forgetting her handmade cloak, thrusting it into his hands ("You'll wear it or I'll sew it into your skin! And don't think I won't add romantic embroidery next time!"), her eyes sparkling with affection as she pulled him into a quick, heartfelt hug that lingered just long enough to spark romance.
Usopp regaled the newcomers with exaggerated tales of their flight—"We were 30,000 feet up! I nearly invented wings on the spot!"—while Sanji offered snacks, swooning over Nojiko and Bell-mère. Zoro just grunted approvals, already eyeing training spots on the beach.
Lucy... stood just a little closer than usual to Sunny, her hand brushing his innocently—but with that underlying yandere vibe that kept him on edge, turning the reunion into a comedic tightrope.
The tension slowly dissolved into warmth—the kind that came from belonging, from seeing home again after storms.
Sunny leaned on the railing, watching them all with a soft grin, the scene of family and friends wrapping around him like the sea breeze.
"...I missed this," he said quietly.
[system]: I missed you more, darling~♡ But don't worry—I've already prepared training regimes so brutal even gods would beg for mercy. You'll love them. (Lucy, Zoro, Sanji, and Usopp are already in the roster.)
Sunny's smile become deviless .Yesss~!
[system]: Training. Hell version. Signed and approved by me and {Ego}. Not you, of course. I'm simply organizing. ♥
{ego}: "Yup. They're dead. Again. Someone call the morgue and cue the training montage of pain. Also, reader, bring tissues— their screams will be comedic gold."