Under the crescent moon, in the moonlit desert of Alabasta, the Super Spot-Billed Duck Troop thundered across the sand, carrying the Straw Hat crew toward the upstream of the Sandora River.
Thump, thump, thump…
"Mr. 2 Bon Clay—can we really trust that guy?" Usopp frowned as he bounced unsteadily on the duck's back. "What if this is a setup? He said he took the Going Merry and wants us to meet him upstream…"
"He might be trying to lure us into a trap," he muttered suspiciously.
"Awoo!" Luffy munched down on a giant piece of meat, grinning widely. "If he tricks us, we'll just punch him in the face!"
Sanji glanced back toward the capital, his cigarette glowing faintly. "Was it really okay to leave Vivi behind like that?"
Shirogai sat atop a duck, Chopper perched on his shoulders. He smiled casually. "We made a promise. East Port, noon sharp. If Vivi really wants to sail with us, she'll be there."
"Still…" Sanji sighed, crestfallen. "I really wanted her to come with us…"
Zoro crossed his arms and closed his eyes. "She's a princess. Tempting her to abandon that responsibility to join pirates would be wrong."
Sanji, unusually solemn, nodded. "Yeah… She has a whole kingdom depending on her."
Then his gaze turned to Shirogai with narrowed eyes. "What did Vivi say to you when she pulled you aside earlier?"
Shirogai shrugged. "She thanked me. Gave me something called the Peacock Slash. A kind of farewell gift."
"A token of love, you mean!" Sanji's jealousy exploded. "Damn you, Shirogai!"
He grabbed Nami dramatically. "Nami-swaaan! Please give me a love declaration too! I want a parting gift!"
…Nami, however, hadn't spoken a word during the entire trip. Her expression was distant.
"Nami…?" Usopp asked carefully. Everyone turned to her.
Sanji, more composed now, offered gently, "Are you missing Vivi? You two were pretty close…"
Nami sighed and gazed out over the desert. "I gave up the one billion Berries I bargained from Igaram… all for her."
"That's what you're upset about?!" the crew shouted in unison. "You money-obsessed witch!"
…
Meanwhile, in the palace.
Karoo snored peacefully beside the bed. Vivi lay awake, her eyes wide open as she whispered softly.
"It's so quiet now, Karoo. There's no captain laughing about adventure. No navigator half-asleep tossing her pillow. No chef fussing over the kitchen. No swordsman clanking around with his training. No doctor running away blushing, and…"
She paused, her voice lower now.
"No Shirogai-san, calmly watching everything from the corner, smiling at us like he's already five steps ahead…"
A tear rolled down her cheek and disappeared into her pillow.
Should I go with them? Or should I stay here and help my people?
"Shirogai-san… what would you do?"
…
Upstream of the Sandora River.
The Going Merry was docked quietly, sails fluttering gently in the night breeze. High above, a lean figure stood in the crow's nest, one hand on his hip, the other waving proudly.
"Ahoy! I've been waiting forever! Welcome back!"
It was Bon Clay.
But no one answered him.
The Straw Hats were all gathered around the Super Spot-Billed Ducks, bidding them farewell.
"Take care!"
"Tell Karoo to stop drinking!"
"Say hi to Igaram and the king!"
"Quack! Quack!"
The ducks waved their wings in farewell, sprinting away through the dunes.
"Damn it! You all ignored me!" Bon Clay sulked. "Aren't we friends?!"
Luffy tilted his head. "Weren't you our enemy?"
"You attacked Vivi," Usopp reminded.
Bon Clay puffed his cheeks in frustration. "I was under orders! I didn't know the truth then! I apologize!"
Shirogai boarded the Going Merry calmly, carrying two bags of provisions. He glanced at Bon Clay with a faint smile. "Step aside, you're blocking the gangplank."
Bon Clay moved reluctantly, pouting.
Shirogai turned to the others. "We can trust him. Without Bon Clay, the Going Merry would've been seized by the Marines by now."
"What?!" Luffy was stunned. "You helped save the ship?!"
"Why?" Chopper asked, suspicious.
Bon Clay lifted a thumbs-up, wiping tears away. "Because… we're friends!"
…
"Little Bon is a friend! Through rain and wind, friendship never ends~!"
Luffy, Bon Clay, Usopp, and Chopper began dancing in ridiculous unison on the deck.
"Friends! Friends!"
Nami, facepalming, muttered, "Idiots."
"Heh," Shirogai chuckled. "Let them have their fun. Sometimes, the joy of fools can ease the pain of farewell."
He lifted his hand. A plume of black smoke emerged from his palm, activating his [Smoke-Smoke Fruit]. The smoke coiled around the crew's luggage on the shore and floated it aboard.
Sanji opened the cabin door just as the bags landed.
"Everything's packed! Let's go!"
Shirogai looked toward the still river. "Little Bon, get your crew ready. Without us, you wouldn't escape the Marine blockade."
Bon Clay teared up again. "Shirogai-san… you're the best!"
Shirogai's gaze shifted downward, past the deck, toward the cabins.
"…Seems like Bon Clay isn't the only stowaway."
…
Across the sea, on a Marine warship—
"Report! The Going Merry has been found!"
Marine Captain Hina adjusted her gloves with deliberate calm, her lips curving into a knowing smile.
"Finally. Prepare for battle."
…
The sun climbed higher as the Going Merry drifted into open waters.
They didn't get far.
Ten Marine warships quickly surrounded them, keeping a consistent distance, never approaching directly.
Bon Clay's eyes widened in horror. "Ten ships… This is Captain Hina's 'Black Cage' unit!"
He trembled. "They'll use the Black Spear Formation next—long-range attacks that can pierce any hull!"
Sure enough, the warships turned, their massive black spears aimed at the Going Merry and Bon Clay's boat.
"Fire!"
Forty spears launched at once.
"They're not cannonballs?!"
Luffy's jaw dropped.
"We're finished!" Chopper squealed.
Everyone froze, watching death rain from the sky.
"Shirogai!" Luffy shouted.
A booming laugh echoed from above.
"Heh, leave it to me, Captain."
The sky darkened.
Thick black smoke churned from a cloud above. It swirled like a cyclone, reaching toward the incoming spears.
The smoke stretched out like arms—grabbing the spears mid-air and tossing them into the sea with ease.
The sea sizzled as the spears sank.
Bon Clay gasped. "H-He actually stopped it…"
From above, Shirogai descended, still in smoke form, floating calmly over the deck.
"Hey Marines," he called out with a lazy smile. "Try not to break what doesn't belong to you."
The crew erupted in cheers.
"Shirogai is amazing!"
Usopp, Chopper, and Nami hugged each other in tears.
Far off, aboard her flagship, Hina watched the scene unfold.
"So this is… The Plunderer, the one who defeated Smoker?"
She narrowed her eyes.
"Sail forward. Hina will face him herself."
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Milestones
100 Power stones = 1 Bonus Chapter
200 Power stones = 3 Bonus Chapters
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My patreon link: patreon.com/Zphyr_