The descent from the Giant Jack was considerably less chaotic than the ascent, mostly because everyone (except Zoro) had gotten the hang of flying. With their bags full of gold and their heads full of history, the crew touched down on the familiar soil of Upper Yard.
The war was over. The treasure was secured. The history was recorded.
It was time to pack up.
Ben set his suitcase down in a clearing near the shore of the White Sea. He flipped the latches open.
"Accio Merry."
A small, toy-sized ship floated out of the case. It looked like a pristine model, perfect in every detail. Ben set it gently on the milky-white water.
"Command T: Enlarge."
VOOM.
Space warped around the little ship. In a blink, the toy expanded, regaining its full, majestic size. The Going Merry bobbed gently on the cloud waves, its sheep-figurehead looking as cheerful as ever.
"Home sweet home!" Nami sighed, hugging the railing as she boarded. She immediately ran to the storage room to secure her newfound fortune.
"Alright," Ben announced, stretching his arms. "I've got some work to do. Don't disturb me."
"What is it?" Usopp asked, leaning in with gleaming eyes. "A lightning cannon? A weather machine?"
"Secret," Ben winked. "You'll see when it's ready. Don't disturb me unless the sky falls. Again."
Ben retreated into his workshop, the "Do Not Disturb" sign flipping onto the door. Inside, the hum of machinery and the glow of Arc Reactor blueprints filled the room, but what exactly he was building remained a mystery for another day.
While Ben tinkered, the rest of the crew turned Upper Yard into a party zone one last time.
Conis and her father, Pagaya, arrived from Angel Island on their Waver, bringing fresh sky-fruit and news that the Skypiean police force (the White Berets) was officially disbanding to form a joint peace-keeping unit with the Shandia guards.
"It is truly a miracle," Pagaya said, adjusting his glasses. "To think that we would see Shandians and Skypieans sharing a meal in my lifetime..."
"It's not a miracle, old man," Sanji said, placing a massive platter of pasta on the table. "It's just what happens when you have a good meal together."
"And when you beat up the bad god!" Luffy added with his mouth full.
The night was filled with laughter, music, and the warmth of a bonfire. Even the wolves of the cloud forest came to the edge of the light, yipping playfully at Chopper.
---------------------------------------
The next morning, the sun rose on a changed world.
The Straw Hats were packed and ready. But before they left, Ben had one final piece of business.
He stood at the edge of the Upper Yard, facing a gathered crowd of Wyper, Gan Fall, the Shandia chiefs, and the Skypiean elders.
"You guys have a problem," Ben stated bluntly.
"We have many," Wyper admitted. "But Enel is gone."
"No, I mean space," Ben pointed at the jungle. "Upper Yard is big, but now you have two populations trying to live on it. Vearth is sacred to you. You fought over it because there wasn't enough of it."
Gan Fall nodded solemnly. "It is true. The soil is our most precious resource. Sharing it will be... a challenge."
"Well," Ben reached into his pocket and pulled out a small, compressed cube of dirt from the ground. "Problem solved."
He tossed the cube onto a dense patch of island cloud about a hundred meters offshore.
"Command T: Enlarge."
RUMBLE.
The air cracked. The small cube didn't just grow; it exploded outwards. Soil, rock, and earth expanded exponentially. A mass of land the size of a small town erupted from nothingness, settling heavily onto the cloud foundation.
In under a minute, a brand new island of Vearth sat next to Upper Yard.
The Skypieans and Shandians dropped their jaws. Some fell to their knees. To them, Vearth was holy. Creating it was... beyond divine.
"A gift," Ben dusted off his hands. "For the gold. And for putting up with my captain."
Wyper stared at the new land, his eyes wide with shock. He walked slowly toward the edge of the cloud, stepping onto the fresh soil Ben had just created. He knelt down, digging his rough, calloused hands into the dirt. He lifted a handful, letting the rich, dark earth crumble through his fingers. It was real. It was Vearth.
"To create Vearth from nothing..." Wyper looked up at Ben, a deep, newfound respect in his gaze. "You are a terrifying man, Blue Sea Dweller. But... thank you. The war truly has no reason to exist now."
"Just use it well," Ben shrugged. "Build houses, farm it, whatever. Just don't fight over this one, alright?"
"We won't," Gan Fall promised, placing a hand on Wyper's shoulder. "We have learned our lesson."
---
Ben turned to the Saruyama Alliance. Mont Blanc Cricket was standing by the railing of the Merry, looking at the sky one last time. Masira and Shojou were crying rivers of tears, hugging Chopper.
"It's time, old man," Ben said.
"Yeah," Cricket took a deep breath, lighting a cigarette. "I need to get back. The boys back on Jaya will be wondering if we died."
"I can take you back," Ben said. "Instant transmission. But before you go..."
Ben tossed a bag to Cricket. Inside were several Breath Dials and a rare Jet Dial salvaged from the Ark Maxim.
"What's this?" Cricket asked.
"Engine parts," Ben grinned. "For your ship. If you rig these up right, you won't need the Knock Up Stream to come visit. You can fly back up here whenever you want to see Nola."
Cricket stared at the dials. He looked at the sky, then at Ben. A grin, wide and free, broke across his face.
"You really think of everything, don't you, kid?"
"I try," Ben smirked. "Say your goodbyes."
Cricket turned to the Straw Hats. "Luffy! You crazy rubber brat! You better become the Pirate King!"
"OF COURSE I WILL!" Luffy shouted, waving.
"Nami, thanks for not charging us for the ride!"
"First one's free!" Nami winked.
"Boys!" Cricket barked at his monkey-brothers. "Grab on!"
Masira and Shojou grabbed Cricket's shoulders. Ben placed a hand on Cricket's back.
"See you later, Sky Island!" Cricket yelled.
CRACK!
With the sharp sound of a whip crack, Ben and the Saruyama Alliance vanished instantly.
Jaya
In the blink of an eye, the scenery changed from white clouds to the blue ocean of Jaya. They stood on the shore near Cricket's castle.
"Whoa..." Masira stumbled. "We're... back?"
"Instant..." Cricket touched the ground. "He wasn't kidding."
Ben appeared beside them. "Safe and sound."
"Ben," Cricket extended a hand. "Thank you. For everything. For the gold, for the bell... for clearing his name."
Ben shook it firmly. "That's what pirates do, right? We chase dreams."
"Go," Cricket nodded toward the sky. "Your crew is waiting. Don't keep the King waiting."
Ben smiled. CRACK.
---
Ben reappeared on the deck of the Going Merry amidst a puff of smoke.
"Welcome back!" Robin smiled.
"Did they get home okay?" Chopper asked.
"Safe and sound," Ben nodded. "Now... let's get moving. The Log Pose is already pointing to the next island."
"Alright!" Luffy jumped onto the figurehead. "RAISE THE ANCHOR! BRING OUT THE OCTOPUS!"
Ben paused. "Octopus?"
"Yeah!" Luffy turned around, eyes sparkling. "The old man said we need a Balloon Octopus to get down! Where is it? I want to see the balloon!"
Ben sighed, rubbing his temples. "Luffy, we don't need a balloon. I installed Valkyrie Thrusters. We can fly down using repulsor tech. It's faster, safer, and way cooler."
Luffy's face fell. His lower lip jutted out in a massive pout. "But... but it's a balloon octopus... I wanted to float down..."
The disappointment radiating off the captain was palpable. Even Mini Merry beeped sadly.
Ben looked at Luffy's puppy-dog eyes. He looked at the high-tech console he had spent hours calibrating. He sighed again, defeated.
"Fine," Ben groaned. "We'll use the balloon."
"YAY!" Luffy cheered, instantly recovering. "BALLOON OCTOPUS!"
"You spoil him," Nami muttered, though she was smiling.
"He's the Captain," Ben grinned. "If the Captain wants a balloon, the Captain gets a balloon."
From the White Sea below, a massive, purple Balloon Octopus floated up, summoned by Conis. It tethered it to the Merry's mast.
As the crew busied themselves with the ropes, Mini Merry walked quietly to the very front of the ship, standing beside the wooden sheep figurehead. She placed a small, robotic hand on the railing, her camera eyes focusing on the endless sea of white clouds.
"Recording Memory: 'The White Sea'," Mini Merry chirped softly. "Altitude: 10,000 meters. Status: Beautiful."
Ben walked up behind her. "Everything okay, Merry?"
Mini Merry turned her head, her mechanical face forming a warm, digital smile. "Internal diagnostics indicate happiness, Ben. Flying felt like a wonderful dream."
Ben smiled, resting a hand on the ship's railing. "It was a good dream. But it's time to wake up and hit the real waves again."
"Understood," Mini Merry nodded. "The ship is ready to dive."
Before they cast off, Ben spotted Conis standing on the dock. He walked over to the railing and leaned down.
"Conis!" Ben called out.
"Ben-san?" Conis looked up.
Ben tossed a small, intricately carved wooden box down to her. She caught it gently.
"A souvenir," Ben said with a gentle smile. "To remember the pirates who crashed your beach."
Conis opened the box. Inside was a tiny, automated dial mechanism. As the lid opened, a soft, beautiful melody—Binks' Sake—began to play, accompanied by a small holographic projection of the Straw Hat crew waving.
"It's beautiful," Conis whispered, clutching it to her chest. "Thank you, Ben-san! I'll treasure it!"
"Goodbye, Sky People!" Usopp yelled, waving down at the shrinking figures of Wyper, Gan Fall, and Conis.
"THANKS FOR THE MEAT!" Luffy roared.
"COME BACK SOON!" Conis waved, tears in her eyes.
The Merry, now suspended by the massive, goofy-looking Balloon Octopus, drifted away from the dock.
"Next stop..." Nami checked the Log Pose. "The Blue Sea!"
With the balloon acting as a parachute, the ship drifted off the edge of the Sky Island, diving into the clouds below, carrying the Straw Hat Pirates toward their next great adventure.