As time passed, the Straw Hat Pirates continued their daily routines. Douglas, aware that their next destination would be Sky Island, began preparing the crew for a safer and more efficient journey—making sure to improve on certain parts of the original plan. His first major project was to create a specialized cloth with extraordinary properties. The goal was twofold: to construct a parachute strong enough to guarantee a safe descent without relying solely on an octopus, and to develop a protective suit that could shield the crew from the devastating lightning strikes of Enel.
Douglas envisioned a material that combined the immense tensile strength and elasticity of spider silk with added heat resistance and conductivity, yet without the natural stickiness of actual spider silk. Achieving this with the limited resources aboard the Going Merry required innovation. Using salvaged metals and scrap components collected from islands they had visited—and even a large cache of parts abandoned by a terrified salesman they had once rescued—Douglas constructed a custom spinning and weaving machine.
The material's creation was a meticulous process of trial and error. Douglas experimented with various chemical blends, synthesizing polymers and reinforcing them with micro-scale conductive fibers derived from modified plant cellulose and fine metallic threads. The result was a lightweight composite that could endure extreme forces: in testing, a strand with a mere 0.01 mm² cross-section withstood a tensile load of 100 newtons, matching the strength-to-size ratio of spider silk. It was also heat-resistant, surviving direct exposure to his laser arm for five full seconds before degrading—a remarkable feat for a fabric. Additionally, by integrating the conductive fibers, the cloth could harmlessly channel electrical energy away from the wearer, providing both insulation and redirection against lightning attacks.
Once the optimal formula was perfected, Douglas scaled the fibers up to 1 cm² cross-sections, weaving them together into a smooth, non-sticky fabric. The weaving process was painstakingly slow, so he enlisted the entire crew's help to accelerate production. The final product was used to create an enormous parachute with enough surface area to slow the Merry's descent safely. In addition, Douglas tailored a custom gear for each Straw Hat, ensuring full-body protection without sacrificing comfort or flexibility.
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One day, while the Straw Hats were gathered on deck, Zoro noticed a faint thudding sound on the Merry's planks. At first, he thought it was just rain. But then, heavier impacts began to follow—solid objects hitting the deck with sharp thuds. Before anyone could make sense of it, an enormous shadow loomed above. A galleon—massive and ancient—was falling straight out of the sky.
The sight was so absurd it froze them in place. A ship of that size shouldn't even be up there, let alone plummeting toward the sea.
Panic broke out across the crew. Meanwhile, in the cannon room-turned-laboratory, Douglas was putting the finishing touches on the tailored suits he'd made for them. Hearing the chaos outside, he rushed up to the deck—just in time to see the galleon crash into the sea with a colossal impact.
The resulting shockwave sent towering waves toward the Going Merry, rocking her violently. The crew clung to the railings until, after several tense minutes, the sea calmed again. The strange galleon still floated in the distance, creaking and groaning on the swells.
The tension eased—until Nami's voice cut through the air.
"The Log Pose is broken! It keeps pointing upwards!" she shouted, holding it up for everyone to see.
Robin glanced at the needle, her expression calm. "No, it's not broken. It's tracking a magnetic field… in that direction." She pointed skyward.
The others turned to her in disbelief.
"If there's one thing you should know when sailing," Robin continued, "it's that the Log Pose is never wrong. It doesn't matter where it points."
"But… it's pointing straight up," Nami argued, frowning.
The crew began speculating about the bizarre behavior of the Log Pose. That was when Robin, with her usual quiet certainty, began telling them about a legendary place—an island in the sky. Sanji smirked knowingly; he'd heard similar tales from a certain habitual liar.
Meanwhile, Luffy and Usopp had already leapt into action, clambering aboard the fallen galleon to hunt for clues.
Back on the Merry, Robin's attention was caught by a coffin that had landed on deck during the chaos. She and Chopper carefully examined it. Inside was a well-preserved corpse, its body marked with medical techniques not seen for two centuries.
A tattered journal found in the coffin seemed to support the theory—it referenced dates and places lost to history. That only deepened the mystery: why would a ship from 200 years ago suddenly fall from the sky?
Before anyone could answer, Luffy and Usopp returned, grinning from ear to ear.
"Hey, look!" Luffy said, shoving a weathered map into Nami's hands. "It's a map of a place called Skypiea! See? The Sky Island is real! Shishishishishi!" Usopp beamed beside him, nodding eagerly.
Hearing the words "Sky Island," Chopper's eyes lit up, and he joined the celebration, imagining an entire island floating among the clouds.
But Nami's skepticism cut through their excitement. "You know there are a lot of fake maps out there."
The trio's smiles vanished instantly, replaced by matching looks of despair. Guilt flickered across Nami's face.
"…But," she added quickly, "that one might be real. Either way, we should search the galleon for more evidence."
Their enthusiasm returned—at least until Usopp sheepishly admitted, "Uh… about that. The ship already sank."
Nami's mood shifted sharply, her earlier excitement for Sky Island vanishing. She crossed her arms and scowled, declaring that it was now impossible to know whether the floating island even existed.
Douglas, unfazed by her frustration, smiled faintly. "Ah… I guess it's time to give you your gifts," he said, standing up from his seat. He disappeared into his makeshift laboratory and returned carrying seven small items, each clearly crafted with care.
He handed them out one by one: Luffy received an armlet, Zoro a set of earrings, Sanji a pair of cuff links, Nami a delicate necklace, Chopper a pair of sunglasses, Robin a sleek bracelet, and Usopp a sturdy belt. The crew looked at him in confusion—none of these seemed even remotely related to reaching Sky Island.
"Ahhh, thank you, Douglas… but what's this for?" Luffy finally asked, tilting his head.
Douglas didn't answer immediately. Instead, he adjusted his glasses and grinned. "Here. Watch closely." He pressed a small red button embedded on the side of his frames.
In an instant, the glasses shimmered and shifted into the familiar mask Douglas always wore. At the same time, his entire outfit transformed into a long coat, sleek and reinforced, clearly made from the same high-strength fabric they had all helped to weave earlier.
The demonstration left Luffy, Usopp, and Chopper wide-eyed, their jaws practically hitting the deck. They frantically searched their gifts for the same hidden button, and when they found it, they pressed it without hesitation.
Each of them transformed instantly, their clothes replaced by form-fitting combat suits tailored to their size and personality. Unlike Douglas's coat, theirs resembled superhero-style uniforms—complete with protective masks.
"Woooaaahhh!!!" Luffy cheered, spinning around to admire himself. Usopp struck an exaggerated hero pose, while Chopper was already darting around the deck in excitement.
Robin raised an eyebrow, her bracelet still untouched, while Zoro and Sanji inspected their gear more quietly—though Sanji's glance toward Nami's necklace suggested he was already imagining her in the full suit.
"It's a suit that's completely impermeable to seawater," Douglas explained, his voice carrying a hint of pride. "The mask has an internal air supply that can keep you breathing underwater for up to six hours. And, if you press the side valve, it can release a burst of compressed air strong enough to launch you into the air. It's not constant flight—more like a powerful jump boost—but it could save your life in a pinch."
Luffy, Usopp, and Chopper practically vibrated with excitement at the possibilities, their eyes sparkling. Sanji and Zoro, though far less expressive, exchanged a glance and nodded, clearly impressed by the craftsmanship.