Luffy tilted his head, watching Nolan from the deck. The sloth was perched on the Going Merry's figurehead, arms wrapped around the wooden sheep's neck like it was an old friend. His lips moved in quiet murmurs, as if deep in conversation with the ship itself.
"Oi, what's Nolan doing?" Luffy asked, scratching his nose.
The crew exchanged glances. Robin stood nearby, her usual calm expression tinged with mild concern—not for Nolan's sanity, but for whatever he might be hearing.
Zoro crossed his arms. "Who knows. Maybe he finally lost it."
Sanji blew out a stream of smoke. "Or maybe he's just talking to the ship. Wouldn't be the weirdest thing we've seen."
Nolan suddenly turned to them, blinking slowly. "Capt'n… Merry's exhausted," he said, as if this were the most obvious thing in the world.
Luffy's eyes widened. He scrambled forward, pressing his hands against the ship's railing. "Oi, Merry! Are you okay?!" His voice was full of genuine worry, as if expecting the ship to answer back.
Usopp rubbed his temples. "Great, now the captain's doing it too."
But despite their skepticism, none of them dismissed the idea outright. The Going Merry had carried them through storms, battles, and impossible skies. If any ship had a soul, it was this one.
Nami hesitated before stepping closer. "Nolan… who exactly are you talking to?"
Nolan yawned, stretching his arms. "Right. Forgot to mention… I can talk to things. Sentient or not." He waved a hand dismissively, like this was no more impressive than knowing how to tie his shoes.
Robin's eyes sharpened—she understood the implications. Observation Haki so refined it could perceive the will of inanimate objects? That wasn't just rare. That was unheard of.
The others, however, just stared blankly.
"So… you're saying Merry's alive?" Chopper asked, eyes sparkling.
Nolan shrugged. "Alive enough." He patted the ship's head. "Mm? Yeah…" He nodded, as if listening to a response only he could hear. Then, after a pause, he added, "Oh. Merry says… 'thank you.'"
For a moment, no one spoke. Then—
Nami burst into a grin. "Well, if Nolan says it, it must be true!" She patted the railing affectionately. "Thank you too, Merry! We'll take care of you!"
Luffy beamed. "Yeah! Let's keep sailing together!"
Usopp, caught up in the moment, threw his arms wide. "To the best ship in the world!"
And then—something incredible happened.
The Going Merry creaked softly, the wood groaning in a way that almost sounded like a happy sigh. The mast swayed gently, as if nodding in agreement.
Zoro smirked. "Tch. Even the ship's dramatic now."
But no one missed the way his hand rested briefly on the railing, a silent acknowledgment.
Nolan stretched lazily on his nimbus cloud before glancing at the smiling crew. "You guys... bored?" he asked, his voice slow but carrying that dangerous edge of someone about to suggest something ridiculous.
Luffy's head snapped up so fast his hat nearly flew off. Chopper and Usopp perked up instantly like excited puppies. Nami had mentioned it would take two full days to reach the next island - two days with nothing to do but stare at waves.
"YEAH!!" Luffy shouted, already bouncing. "You got something fun?!" Usopp and Chopper crowded behind him, eyes shining with anticipation.
Nolan's lazy smirk made the smarter crew members immediately suspicious. Sanji took a subtle step back toward the kitchen. Zoro pretended to suddenly find his swords very interesting. But it was too late.
The moment Nolan explained his "game," Nami's face went flat. "Absolutely not." She turned on her heel to leave, only to find Luffy's rubbery arm already looping around her waist.
Sanji made it exactly two steps before Luffy's other hand clamped onto his shoulder. "C'mon Sanji! It'll be fun!" the captain cheered, completely ignoring the cook's protests.
Zoro thought he might escape unnoticed - until he felt tiny hands lock around his ankle. Yachiru beamed up at him with terrifying innocence. "Zo-chan's playing too~!" she sang, her grip somehow stronger than seastone.
"Let go, you little-!" Zoro's complaint died as Luffy's stretching arm wrapped around his torso. Within seconds, the entire crew found themselves unwilling participants in Nolan's ridiculous "dance practice."
The demonstration began. Nolan moved with surprising grace for someone usually half-asleep, but the dance itself was... questionable. Arms swung in odd patterns, legs kicked at strange angles. (+1,000,000,000 credits! Iykyk)
A choked snort broke the silence. Sanji's face turned red as he desperately tried to hold in laughter. Zoro wasn't faring much better, his shoulders shaking. Even Robin had to turn away, her usual composure cracking.
Nolan paused mid-step. "...What?" His cheeks held the faintest pink tint, a rare show of embarrassment from someone who usually didn't care about anything.
"N-nothing!" Usopp gasped between giggles. "It's just... your face when you do that hip thing... PFTHAHA!" He collapsed onto the deck, holding his stomach.
Nami wiped tears from her eyes. "I didn't know you could look that stupid."
The realization hit Sanji like a kick to the head - if they were learning this dance, that meant they'd all look equally ridiculous soon. His laughter died instantly. "Wait no-"
Too late. Luffy was already attempting the moves with terrifying enthusiasm, his rubber limbs making the dance somehow even more absurd. Chopper copied him perfectly.
As the Going Merry sailed onward, unaware that their next island would be a hectic one.
.
.
.
The grand chamber of the Five Elders was filled with the quiet rustling of papers and the low hum of discussion. The Gorosei sat around their ornate table, their expressions grim as they reviewed the latest reports from the Grand Line.
One of them, a tall man with a long beard, placed a bounty poster on the table—Ranvil D. Nolan's current bounty, 100,000,000 Berries.
"His influence is spreading too quickly," the bearded elder muttered, rubbing his temples. "He hasn't even declared himself a conqueror, yet his mere presence is destabilizing entire regions."
Another elder, with a sharp sword resting beside him, scowled. "He's more dangerous than the Yonko. At least with them, we know their ambitions. But this one? He doesn't seek territory. He doesn't build armies. And yet, wherever he goes, people follow him like a god."
The third elder sighed. "And now, the Jaya Island incident. The pirates and marines have united under his name. If this continues—"
KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK!
A frantic officer burst into the room, sweating profusely. "E-Elders! Urgent report!"
The bald elder with a scar across his face frowned. "Speak."
The officer swallowed hard. "Another Celestial Dragon has issued a direct order… to capture Nolan D. Ranvil and deliver him to Mariejois."
Silence.
Then—
"Again?!" the youngest-looking elder snapped, slamming his fist on the table. "This is the twentieth time this month!"
The bearded elder massaged his forehead. "They never learn. Every single one of them sees him and immediately demands him as a 'prize.' Do they not understand that this man is a walking calamity?"
The sword-wielding elder leaned back in his chair, exhausted. "At this rate, we'll have to raise his bounty just to deter these fools from trying to capture him."
"But if we raise it too high, it will only make him more infamous," the bald elder countered. "The people will see him as an even greater figure—someone who even the World Government fears."
The fifth elder, who had been silent until now, finally spoke. "Then we have no choice. We must increase his bounty, but we must also make it clear—anyone who attempts to capture him will face consequences. Even the Celestial Dragons."
The others exchanged glances. It was a risky move, but they were running out of options.
"Very well," the bearded elder said, signing the order. "Raise Nolan D. Ranvil's bounty to 400,000,000 Berries."
The officer paled. "T-That's higher than some of the Shichibukai!"
The sword-wielding elder smirked darkly. "Let the world understand—this man is not a toy. He is a storm."
---