The Sunny had never seen a party like it. Goku ate with an enthusiasm that matched Luffy's, creating a bottomless pit of appetite that Sanji struggled to keep up with. Vegeta sat apart, nursing a drink and pretending not to enjoy the grilled meat Sanji had prepared specially.
"This is amazing!" Goku yelled through a mouthful of fish. "I've never tasted anything like it! What's in this sauce?"
Sanji, pleased by the compliment despite himself, lit a cigarette. "Trade secret. But I'll tell you since you're a guest—a hint of cola, some sea king liver, and a dash of love."
"Love?!" Luffy laughed. "Sanji puts love in everything! That's why it's so good!"
Vegeta snorted. "Love doesn't make food better."
"Then why have you eaten seventeen plates?" Bulma asked, appearing beside him. She'd arrived through the dimensional tear with Goku, eager to see the strange new world Luffy came from.
Vegeta's face reddened. "I'm maintaining my energy levels! It's strategic!"
Robin smiled, observing the chaos with academic interest. "This is fascinating. Two universes, completely different rules of physics and energy, yet the fundamental social dynamics remain similar."
Brook approached Goku with his violin. "May I play you a song? I recently composed one called 'The Ballad of the Golden Warrior.' It's quite moving—Yohohoho!"
Goku clapped enthusiastically. "I'd love that!"
As Brook played, the crew relaxed. For the first time since Luffy's return, they felt safe. The Void Eater was gone. Frieza was gone. The immediate threats had been dealt with.
But Piccolo, sitting apart from the celebration, looked troubled. Goku noticed and approached.
"What's wrong, Piccolo?"
The Namekian glanced at him. "The Void Eater said something before it dissolved. 'I am eternal.' What if it was telling the truth? What if we only dispersed it again?"
Goku's expression sobered. "You think it'll come back?"
"I think beings like that don't die easily. And if it does return, it'll be angrier than before. It'll target Luffy directly, not through proxies."
Goku looked at Luffy, who was currently attempting to stuff an entire roast sea king into his mouth. "Then we need to make sure he's ready. And maybe..." He glanced at the dimensional tear, still hanging in the sky. "Maybe we need to make sure he has allies in both worlds."
Piccolo nodded slowly. "A bridge between universes. It's risky. It could attract more attention from beings like the Void Eater. But it might also be the only way to prepare for when it returns."
Across the deck, Luffy caught Goku's eye and waved, meat juice dripping down his chin. "Goku! Come try this! It's a whole octopus!"
Goku grinned and jogged over. Whatever challenges lay ahead, they'd face them together. That's what friends did.