Y/N burst through the pile of roof debris that had trapped him underneath. He rubbed his head, trying to shake off the disorientation. The only thing he could hear was the roar of the blazing fire surrounding him. At least the devilish whisperings in his ear were gone.

As he surveyed the chaos, Y/N spotted Chopper lying under a pile of debris. Without hesitation, he rushed over, lifting the rubble and pulling Chopper out.

"Chopper..." Y/N called.

Chopper coughed, his voice weak. "Y-Y/N...?"

"Are you all right, Chopper?" Y/N asked.

"Y-Yeah," Chopper replied, slowly standing up. But his relief was short-lived as he gasped, noticing Iceberg and Paulie tied up across the room.

Y/N clenched his fists. "We need to get out of here now! Where's Nami?"

Before Chopper could respond, a sudden mini-explosion nearby sent Y/N hurtling out of the mansion. He landed roughly in the courtyard below.

"Y/N!!!" Chopper's voice rang out behind him.

Groaning, Y/N pushed himself off the ground. Around him, shipwrights stood in shock, their attention divided between him and the burning mansion. His eyes locked on Nami lying unconscious nearby.

"Nami!" he shouted, starting toward her.

One of the shipwrights pointed accusingly. "H-Hey, you're one of the Straw Hats! I bet you're responsible for all this! Y-You're under arrest!"

"I mean this in the nicest way........piss off," Y/N snapped, standing up.

A shipwright lunged at him, but Y/N knocked him down effortlessly. The group stared in shock, unsure of what they'd just witnessed. Behind Y/N, the mansion burned relentlessly.

"Chopper, hang on!! I'm going back in!" Y/N called out, turning toward the flames.

Just then, Chopper burst through a window in his reindeer form, carrying Iceberg and Paulie on his back. Bloodied and exhausted, he staggered forward, one of Zoro's swords clamped in his mouth.

"A reindeer!!!" one of the shipwrights exclaimed. "It's carrying Mr. Iceberg and Paulie!"

Chopper collapsed to the ground. "Y/N!!" he cried weakly.

"No!!" Y/N rushed to Chopper's side, kneeling beside him.

The shipwrights followed, panic evident on their faces. "Hurry and treat them! Those burns are awful!" one shouted. Another added, "What about this reindeer?"

"Treat him too! He saved their lives!" someone else ordered.

The shipwrights turned their attention back to Y/N. "You stay away, okay? After we treat them, you're going to tell us where the other Straw Hats are hiding!"

"What?" Y/N asked, deadpan, rising to his feet. "Listen, you morons. We didn't try to assassinate Mayor Iceberg or set the mansion on fire! It was some secret government agency."

"And we're supposed to believe that?" a shipwright retorted.

Rolling his eyes, Y/N sighed. "Just treat them. When Mayor Iceberg wakes up, he'll clear this up."

The shipwrights grumbled but got to work. Frustrated, Y/N sat next to Nami, keeping a close eye on the others.

-x-

Eventually, both Iceberg and Nami regained consciousness. Nami blinked, dazed, before her gaze landed on Y/N.

"Y/N... Y/N!" she cried, throwing herself at him in a hug and then a quick kiss. "I thought you were dead when the roof fell on you!"

"It'll take more than a mere roof to kill me," Y/N reassured her with a smirk, though his expression darkened. "But Chopper's in bad shape..."

"They'll tend to him, right?" Nami asked, her voice trembling.

"Of course," Y/N said. "He's the one who got Mayor Iceberg and Paulie out of there."

Iceberg, despite the shipwrights' protests, stood up and motioned for them to give him space. "Men, step back. I want to speak to these two alone."

The trio—Y/N, Nami, and Iceberg—moved to sit beneath some trees as the shipwrights tended to Paulie and Chopper.

-x-

"To begin with," Iceberg said, his tone grave, "I must apologize. I wrongfully accused your crew. I'll rectify that immediately. But first, we need to talk about Nico Robin."

Nami's eyes widened. "Do you know something?"

"When you arrived in this town, did that woman start acting strangely?" Iceberg asked.

"Yes," Y/N replied. "Right after we got to Water 7, she just disappeared."

"This morning," Nami added, "she became the supposed criminal behind your attempted assassination. When some of our crew finally found her, she said she wouldn't be returning to us."

"We didn't know what was going on," Y/N continued, "so we came here tonight to ask her directly, one last time, why she was leaving us..."

"What sort of wish can't be fulfilled because she's with us?" Nami asked, her voice breaking.

Iceberg sighed, leaning forward. "Let me tell you what I know. Around the time you lost sight of Nico Robin, the government's operation had already begun. There's a reason for her actions, but bear in mind this: Nico Robin and I both have the means to awaken an ancient weapon capable of destroying the world."

Nami gasped. "The world?!!"

"An ancient weapon?" Y/N repeated.

"That's right," Iceberg confirmed grimly.

-Flash-Back-

Iceberg's voice trembled with anger as he confronted Robin. "If you hate the government so much, why are you helping them with this?!"

Robin's expression was calm but pained. "Because there's a wish I want to fulfill, even if it means throwing everything away. In town, CP9 presented me with two conditions. The first was to pin the assassination on the Straw Hat Pirates. The second was to turn myself over to the government and obey their orders."

Iceberg slammed his fist on the table. "If you do that, you're a goner! Why would someone who's been on the run for 20 years accept those conditions?"

Robin's gaze darkened. "CP9 has been granted permission to activate a Buster Call against the Straw Hat Pirates, just once."

Iceberg froze, his voice dropping to a near whisper. "A Buster Call?"

Robin nodded solemnly. "An emergency order in which five vice admirals from Marine Headquarters and ten warships assemble at the same location. The target of such a national war-class military force cannot survive. Even in the Marines, only the three admirals and the fleet admiral have the authority to command it. But this time, through Admiral Aokiji, CP9 obtained the right to activate it, just this one time. If I hadn't accepted their conditions, we would've been the target of a Buster Call."

Her voice faltered as she continued. "When I heard Aokiji's name, I gave up. For the past 20 years, I've been able to run away and survive, no matter the circumstances, because I had nothing to protect—because I could betray others and use them to take the fall for me. But now, I...I just can't do that."

Iceberg's eyes narrowed. "Why not?"

Robin's voice quivered, yet there was a fierce conviction behind her words. "I've found companions who believe in me. In me! The life I once threw away, the heart I lost, the dreams I thought were dead... They bring these back to me, every time."

Iceberg leaned forward, his expression stern. "Then what is this wish of yours?"

Robin's eyes softened, but her resolve was unshaken. "Myself excepted, I want the seven remaining Straw Hat Pirates to sail from this island in safety."

Iceberg's voice rose, a mix of frustration and disbelief. "And for that, you'll awaken a deadly weapon? Don't you care what happens to the world?!"

Robin's expression turned cold. "I don't."

-Present-

Iceberg looked at Nami and Y/N with a mix of disbelief and admiration. "Can you believe it? Of everyone living on this planet, that woman chose to protect the seven of you."

Nami and Y/N sat still, wide-eyed and shocked beyond belief.

Nami's thoughts raced. All for us...?!

Iceberg sighed heavily. "Now that it appears likely the blueprints for my weapon will be stolen as well, I can't rightly blame her, but..."

Y/N covered his face, his lip trembling. Robin... You wanted to protect us...

Beside him, Nami suddenly collapsed to the ground.

Iceberg panicked. "Hey! What's wrong?!"

To his surprise, Nami was smiling. "I'm so happy. Robin... She didn't betray us!!!"

Y/N stood up abruptly, wiping his teary eyes. "We need to tell the others right away, Nami."

Nami rose to her feet with renewed determination. "Right! Thank you, Mr. Iceberg!"

Iceberg frowned. "Wait! The Straw Hats are already defeated. What can you do now?!"

Nami's voice rose, fierce and unwavering. "Now, you say? This starts now!!! Luffy and the others are fine. They can't be done away with that easily! We're going to get Robin back! Hesitating makes us weak. Now that we know she needs to be saved, our strength will be infinite!!!"

Y/N smirked, his confidence returning. Robin, I'm coming to save you. We devils are supposed to stick together, remember?

Without another word, the two rushed over to where Chopper lay unconscious.

Nami knelt down and started smacking his head. "Chopper, wake up!! We've gotta go find everybody!!!"

A nearby shipwright sweat-dropped, alarmed. "Hey, lady! That guy's seriously injured!!"

Nami continued shaking Chopper. "Wake up, Chopper!"

Y/N grimaced. "Nami, maybe don't hit him so hard?"

-Minutes Later-

Chopper's eyes sparkled with joy. "So, Robin doesn't hate us after all?!"

"That's right!" Nami replied firmly.

"She never betrayed us!" Y/N added, his voice steady with conviction.

"I'm so glad!" Chopper exclaimed, leaping into Y/N's arms.

Nami knelt beside them, determination shining in her eyes. "So, Chopper, we have to find Luffy and the others right away and go rescue Robin!"

"Okay! Let's go find them! Where are they?"

"I don't know," Nami admitted. "That's why we have to look for them."

"Okay!! I'LL DO MY BEST!!" Chopper declared, transforming into his human form.

The Galley-La workers recoiled in shock.

"WHOA!! HE TURNED INTO A GORILLA!!" one of them cried.

Iceberg stepped forward, his tone serious. "Wait, you guys. I don't care if you go after Nico Robin. But the sea train for government personnel will depart at 11 tonight. Well... this is just my guess, but it's highly possible that they'll take that train. In other words, Nico Robin will, too."

"What?" Y/N asked, narrowing his eyes.

"After that train, the sea train will be suspended for the time being, since Aqua Laguna is coming soon," Iceberg explained.

"Then... that means..." Nami's voice trailed off.

"Yeah," Iceberg confirmed. "If you miss that train, you can't sail out, which means there's no means to leave this island."

"Oh, no! This is bad! What time is it now?!"

"It's 10:30," Iceberg said, glancing at his watch.

"30 MINUTES LEFT?!" Nami panicked. "Can't you do something? Stop the sea train for a while."

Iceberg shook his head. "Its destination, Enies Lobby, is an island off-limits to anyone other than government personnel. The engine driver is also from the government. He won't listen to me."

"Oh, no!!" Nami cried, her hands trembling.

Y/N placed his hands on her shoulders, his voice calm and steady. "Nami. Breathe. Don't panic. Let's go to the station and convince Robin."

Nami took a deep breath, steadying herself. "Chopper," she said, turning to him, "I'll tell you the directions in which Luffy and Zoro flew."

Y/N nodded. "Go search those areas. If you find them, tell them to come to the station immediately. I believe in you, Chopper."

"Okay. Got it!!" Chopper said, determination shining in his eyes.

Paulie, groaning, slowly sat up.

"Hey... guys...!"

"Ah! Paulie-san! You're okay!" one of the Galley-La workers exclaimed.

"Let them a hand," Paulie said weakly.

"Let them a hand?!" another worker echoed, incredulous. "These are the criminals that went after Iceberg-san's life, Paulie!"

"We should restrain these guys...!"

Y/N smirked and muttered under his breath, "Heh. You wish you could."

"Lucci-san and Kaku-san are still missing and—"

"THE ASSASSINATION CULPRITS ARE NOT THE STRAW HATS!!!" Paulie bellowed. "THEY'RE INNOCENT!!! We were tricked by the real culprits, and so we falsely accused them! I don't know the true identity of those masked men, but the Straw Hats fought against them for us! As a matter of fact, Iceberg-san and I are still alive because of them, right? You don't have to look for Lucci and Kaku. We may not see them again."

The workers gasped. "Eh?! Do you know what happened to Lucci and the others?!"

"They're visiting their hometowns," Paulie replied.

"That can't be! Why, during an emergency like this?!"

"JUST GO FIND THE STRAW HATS!!" Paulie roared. He turned to Nami and Y/N. "Hey, shameless woman. One Eye."

Nami bristled. "That again... Hey, stop calling me that!!"

Paulie smirked. "You're going to the station, right? I'll guide you."

"Yeah... Thanks..." Nami said reluctantly.

"Paulie-san! Oi!! Is what you just told us true?!" one worker asked nervously.

"QUIT YOUR JABBERING AND HELP THEM ALREADY!!" Paulie shouted. "ARE YOU TRYING TO HURT GALLEY-LA'S NAME?!"

"N-No, foreman!! We apologize!! We're sorry!!"

"We'll follow orders and help out!"

"Release the Yagara!! Open their cages!!"

Iceberg walked up to Paulie, his expression pensive. "Visiting home, huh...?"

Paulie sighed. "If I told them everything, it'd be bad. It's enough that you and I already have these feelings..."

With their spirits renewed, everyone took off to search for Luffy and Zoro.

-x-

Nami and Y/N sped through the canals atop a Yagara. The urgency in their movements mirrored the fire in their hearts.

"Chopper! We're counting on you!" Y/N shouted as the Yagara he was riding veered down a different canal.

"Yeah!! I'll be sure to bring them!!" Chopper called back, determination in his voice.

Paulie, riding his own Yagara, was guiding Nami and Y/N through the intricate waterways.

"Turn down that canal! It's a shortcut to the station!!" Paulie instructed, pointing ahead.

Y/N turned to Nami, his tone sharp and focused. "Nami! How much time before the train departs?!"

Nami quickly took out her watch and checked the time. "Twenty minutes," she said, her voice tight with tension.

Y/N's eyes narrowed, his resolve hardening. "Don't you dare leave, Robin. You clearly don't know us well enough if you think we're just gonna let you sacrifice yourself like this."

Nami leaned forward, gripping the reins tightly. "Yagara-chan!! Please!! Go faster!!" she urged, her voice filled with desperation.

The Yagara gave a determined cry, speeding up as the trio raced against time, their goal clear and their spirits unwavering.

-x-

Somewhere else on the island it was revealed that both Luffy and Zoro were stuck in between building.

-x-

Back with Nami and Y/N, the tension was palpable as they raced toward the station.

Nami perked up, her ears catching a distant sound. "Hey! Did you hear a steam whistle just now?"

Paulie, steering his Yagara, nodded with concern. "Yeah. But it's strange. It's not the departure time yet. There are no public passengers. It's possible they're leaving earlier because of the weather! Hurry up! We can see the station now!"

Nami leaned forward, her voice urgent. "Please stop! Sea Train!!"

From the speakers ahead came the dreaded announcement:
"This is the Sea Train's last departure for today. We are now leaving Water Seven. Destination: Enies Lobby. We are now departing."

The Yagara surged forward, carrying them to the station. They jumped off as soon as they arrived.

"We're here!" Y/N shouted, landing swiftly.

"Thanks, Yagara-chan!!" Nami added before turning to Paulie.

Paulie pointed. "Take the stairs down to the middle entrance!!"

"Got it!" Y/N called back as they dashed forward.

Nami's voice rang out, filled with emotion. "Robin!! Don't go!! Get off the train! We'll fight for you no matter who we're up against!!"

They burst into the terminal, but their hearts sank as they saw the final wagon of the train disappearing into the distance.

"The train...! WAIT!" Nami shouted desperately.

Y/N gritted his teeth, unwilling to accept defeat. "NO!" He broke into a sprint, running along the tracks as fast as he could.

His legs pumped harder, his mind consumed with one thought: Robin. As he reached the end of the terminal, he leaped with everything he had, his hand reaching out for the train.

But it was just out of reach. The train's speed was too great, and his fingers grasped only empty air. Y/N fell into the water below, the icy chill a stark contrast to the burning frustration inside him.

He surfaced, gasping, his voice raw with emotion.
"No...

"ROBIIIIINNN!!!"

The cry echoed through the night as the train carried Robin further and further away, leaving them with the crushing weight of loss—and the burning resolve to bring her back.

-x-

Nami and Y/N stood at the station, their spirits crushed as Robin's train disappeared into the distance.

Y/N emerged from the water, dripping and defeated. His head hung low, fists clenched tightly. Nami knelt nearby, her face buried in her hands. The weight of their failure hung heavy in the air.

"I wasn't on time..." Y/N muttered bitterly, approaching Nami.

Paulie joined them, his expression solemn. "So, you didn't make it."

Y/N sighed deeply but straightened his posture. "No. I didn't. But it ain't over yet!"

Paulie turned to Nami, his voice softening. "Hey, you... Once the train has left, we can't stop it. It's not easy to say this, but this Enies Lobby place is—" He paused, noticing Nami's trembling. "Are you crying? Hey, boy, shouldn't you comfort her?"

Y/N glanced at Nami. "No need. She's fine. Trust me." He pointed to two nearby workers. "Anyway, who are those two?"

"They work here," Paulie explained, attempting to console Nami. "Um... well, I do understand how you feel, but—"

"Dude, I'm telling you she's fi—"

Before Y/N could finish, Nami abruptly stood and swung her fist, accidentally clocking him in the nose.

"WE'RE GONNA GO AFTER THEM!!" she shouted, her fiery determination cutting through the despair.

Paulie jumped back, startled. "OH, SHE WAS ANGRY!!"

Y/N clutched his nose. "Ow."

Nami looked at Y/N before kissing his nose. "Better?"

"Yeah."

"Good, now where was I?", Nami clenched her fists, glaring at the horizon. "THOSE IDIOTS FROM THE GOVERNMENT!! THEY'RE NOT GONNA GET AWAY WITH THIS!! HEY, LET US BORROW A SHIP!!"

Paulie balked. "What's with you all of a sudden?!"

"A HUGE AND STRONG SHIP!!"

Paulie waved his arms frantically. "Are you trying to sail out in weather like this?! Don't say such stupid stuff when you don't know how awful Aqua Laguna is!"

Nami's eyes burned with conviction. "We'll make it through!!"

"This is a whole other level from the type of storm surge you're thinking of!" Paulie argued. "The sea will now get terribly rough!! You can no longer sail out! If you did, you'd basically be sailing to your deaths!!"

"But Robin is throwing her life away for our sake! And—"

A sudden rush of water interrupted them. As it surged into the station, Y/N reacted quickly, scooping up Nami, Paulie, and the two workers.

He carried them to higher ground, panting as he set them down. "That was close."

Nami looked up at him, grateful. "Th-Thanks, Y/N."

Y/N smirked before flicking her forehead playfully. "You're welcome, but stop hitting me!!"

"Ow! Ow! Okay! I'm sorry!" Nami yelped, holding her forehead.

The workers bowed deeply. "You saved our lives! We are eternally grateful!"

Paulie gestured to the schedule board, now destroyed by the waves. "Look at that. The big schedule board got torn apart by a wave. That's never happened before, not even once. What's with the strength of this tide?! And it's still approaching... Right now, Aqua Laguna's wave velocity is... abnormal!!"

Y/N frowned. "Is the sea train Robin is on okay?"

Paulie crossed his arms. "It'll probably get through the stormy area before the storm surge hits. Unless it gets hit directly, it'll make it through most of the big waves."

Suddenly, a Galley-La worker arrived. "Hey, are you Nami?"

"Hm?" Nami tilted her head.

"An inconspicuous letter was left in the station plaza. It's probably from one of your friends."

"A letter...? From whom? I'm surprised you even found such a small thing."

-x-

Y/N's looked confused as he said, "What part of this is inconspicuous?"

Paulie leaned over as Nami opened the letter. "What does it say?"

Nami scanned it, raising a brow. "Hmm... hold on. The first half is just a pointless love letter, so—"

"Oh my god." Y/N said, annoyed.

Nami smirked, clearly enjoying his reaction. "Here's the important part."

Sanji's Card read: P.S. Since I saw Robin-chan on the 11 o'clock train, I'll get on board, too.

Y/N's grin widened. "Whoa! So he got on that train?! Nice! He's actually being useful for something besides food! And Usopp is also on that train?"

Nami nodded. "Also, 'This thug with a punk hairstyle'... Who's that?"

Paulie groaned. "There's no one like that except Franky."

The worker added, "Oh yeah, there was also a small Den Den Mushi with the letter." He handed it to Nami.

Nami smirked. "I see. He's going to send a message through this!"

Paulie crossed his arms. "That guy was able to predict where Nico Robin would go. Amazing!"

Y/N clenched his fists. "So, Sanji is with Robin right now! Let's not let him have all the fun! We're going to Enies Lobby!"

-x-

Now regrouped with Chopper, Nami and Y/N brought him up to speed. The team, along with the Galley-La workers, combed Water 7 for Luffy and Zoro as Aqua Laguna loomed closer, the rain now falling heavily.

While searching, Y/N encountered Grandma Kokoro, Chimney, and Gonbe.

"Oh! Grandma Kokoro!" he called out.

Kokoro pointed toward the water. "Look at that, boy. The stronger the ebbing is, the larger the waves are that will come back. If you look at the ebbing of the water... you can tell the size of the high tide..."

Chimney clung to a rope, giggling. "I'm being blown away~!"

Y/N approached the edge, his eyes widening in astonishment.

"Whoa... The roar of the sea had stopped."

Chimney exclaimed, "Oh?! Hey! Hey! Grandma! Monster-boy! Look, look! There's something there! There's something between two houses!"

Y/N looked up, puzzled. "Huh? What are you talking about?"

Nami arrived at the scene, her voice cutting through the commotion. "Y/N! Kokoro-san!"

Kokoro turned her gaze to Nami. "Hey, you, Pirate girl."

Chimney ran up, waving her arms. "Ah! Pirate lady! Hey, look over there! There's something there!" She pointed ahead.

Nami's face twisted in confusion as she noticed the environment. "Hey! What's with this dried-up sea?!"

Y/N's eyes widened as they spotted something unusual. "Wait! Nami! Look, over there!"

The sight that greeted them was unexpected—Luffy stuck between the walls of two buildings.

Nami gasped. "Luffy!!"

Kokoro observed the situation calmly. "Hmmm. That straw hat. Isn't that your King of the Pirates?"

Her question was met with silence.

"Hm?" Kokoro turned to find Nami and Y/N gone, already racing toward Luffy in the backstreets.

-x-

Meanwhile, Chopper was still searching for his friends when he spotted Zoro's legs sticking out of a chimney. His worry doubled as he noticed the Aqua Laguna wave approaching. Without hesitation, he sprinted toward his Nakama.

-x-

Nami and Y/N jumped from roof to roof, quickly closing the distance to Luffy.

"LUUUFFYYY!!" Nami shouted.

Nami yelled, "YOU MORON!! WHAT'RE YOU DOING UP THERE?!"

Luffy, struggling to speak clearly, responded, "Nyo-Nyomi?! Y/in?! You behi'n me?! Jeez, hey, pleash liseen t'me. I was flun'ay dat pigeon guy, an sho I flew an' kin'a got shtuck in thish coven'nt plashe!!"

Tears welled up in Nami's eyes. "DON'T JOKE AT A TIME LIKE THIS!! WHILE WE'RE SCREWING AROUND, ROBIN'S BEEN TAKEN AWAY!!"

Luffy's eyes widened. "EH?!"

Y/N clenched their fists. "LUFFY!! ROBIN INTENDS TO DIE FOR US!! SHE SACRIFICED HERSELF IN ORDER TO PROTECT US FROM AN ATTACK BY THE GOVERNMENT!! WHEN SHE KNEW THAT SHE WAS GOING TO BE KILLED IF SHE WAS TAKEN IN!!"

Luffy's voice trembled. "So, Robin... was lying after all...!"

Nami sobbed. "YES!!!"

A moment of silence passed before Luffy spoke, his determination renewed. "Thank goodness..."

Y/N shouted, "SO, WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR?! LET'S GO SAVE HER!!"

The Aqua Laguna loomed closer as Y/N pointed toward it.

"What is this...?" Nami murmured.

Luffy, now resolved, broke free from the walls, shattering the buildings around him.

"Yes!" he exclaimed.

Y/N quipped, "Okay. That's cool and all, but now..."

Without missing a beat, Y/N scooped Nami into their arms and ran away.

With Luffy in tow, they leapt from building to building, barely making it back to the stairs. At the same time, Zoro and Chopper reached the stairs, everyone pausing to catch their breath.

-x-

"Phew. That was really clo—!" Y/N began, but their words were cut off as the wave swallowed them.

A shout rang out. "The Straw Hats... THEY WERE SWALLOWED BY AQUA LAGUNA!!"

Paulie's voice cut through the chaos. "NOT YET!!"

Ropes shot out, pulling the crew from the water just in time.

Y/N coughed, sprawled on the ground. "Ugh... I spoke too soon."

Paulie urged, "We're not safe yet! Run!! Run to the shipbuilding island!!"

Y/N quickly lifted Nami again as the group sprinted toward safety. The bridge behind them collapsed, succumbing to the wave.

"EVERYONE, JUMP!!" Y/N commanded.

They landed at the dock, barely escaping disaster. Once safe, Y/N gently placed Nami down.

"Thanks for the help, rope guy," Luffy said, grinning.

Nami trembled. "How terrifying... So, that was Aqua Laguna... I'm still shaking from the fright!!"

Paulie frowned. "No, were it like that every year, this island would've been long gone. It's abnormally strong this year!"

Y/N muttered under their breath, "Oh, wow. What a coincidence that just when we are here, it's suddenly all strong and intense. Pretty sure this is just to keep the story intense and interesting, that damn author, making everything more difficult than it needs to be..."

Kokoro chuckled. "Even I was scared for you. You're very lucky to have survived that."

Luffy blinked. "Ah! Monster Granny! You're here too?"

"Of course. If I'd stayed at sea, I'd have drowned and become fish bait already. Ngagagaga!!"

Zoro pulled Chopper away from his face, looking exasperated. "BUHAAH! I ALMOST SUFFOCATED!! You idiot! Don't grab onto my head and then pass out...!"

Y/N raised an eyebrow. "Eh? Zoro? Why were you also being chased by the wave? Were you in the lower side of town?"

Zoro shifted uncomfortably, avoiding eye contact. "...! W-Well... Not exactly..."

Chopper, without hesitation, blurted out, "He got stuck in a chimney!"

Zoro slowly turned toward Chopper, his face darkening, before pressing down hard on his shoulder.

"Guh!" Chopper squeaked under the pressure.

Y/N stepped in immediately. "Zoro!"

With a swift motion, Y/N pulled Chopper away from Zoro's grip, protecting the little reindeer from further harm.

-x-

As the group gathered, Nami quickly explained everything to Chopper, Luffy, and Zoro.

Luffy, eyes shining with excitement, shouted, "What's there to think about?! Let's set sail and go after them!!"

Y/N crossed their arms. "Hold on-"

Luffy turned to Paulie, determination in his voice. "Hey, rope guy. Please let us use a ship. No, rather than a ship, isn't there any other sea train leaving?"

Paulie's eyes widened in surprise. "Puffing Tom is the only sea train in this world. It's a miracle that the legendary carpenters spent 10 years in cooperation to create."

Luffy grinned wider. "Then let us borrow a ship! Give the strongest and fastest that you have!!"

Y/N added, with a smirk, "And if we get desperate, I'll use my eye to get us there."

Paulie stared at Y/N, dumbfounded. "Are you brainless or something?!"

Y/N's expression didn't change. "No. I'm the First Mate."

Paulie, clearly not impressed, shook his head. "Don't you see how rough it is out there?! In the past, it's always been impossible to set sail during the Aqua Laguna. And now, look at the ruins beneath us! Before now, Aqua Laguna hasn't ever caused even close to this much damage! Even if we gave you the biggest warship we have, it'll shatter into pieces against these monster waves! I won't give you a ship so you can just die out there!! Wait 'til morning. After the tides subside, I'll give you a ship. The rest of you, go to the shelters. We're done with the search."

Nami's eyes flashed with urgency. "If we wait until morning, won't it be too late? I know Enies Lobby. When I heard it was a Government island, I remembered something. Isn't that place... Isn't that place where the Gates of Justice are?"

Zoro frowned. "What's that?"

Y/N spoke up. "The judicial island of the government, Enies Lobby, is where the infamous criminal court is! The fact that someone is being taken to Enies Lobby is evidence enough for the crime. The accused would simply be taken through an empty courthouse to a giant, cold, iron gate. After the criminal passes through that gate, they will never again see the light of day, because there are only two places that you can go from that island..."

Nami picked up where Y/N left off. "One is the heart of 'Justice'—the Marine Headquarters. The other is an island covered with interrogation chambers and an execution room housing all kinds of dangerous criminals from all over the world. The great prison of the deep blue, Impel Down."

Y/N and Nami spoke in unison, their voices rising. "Enies Lobby is a judicial institution where criminals are just dumped into without being shown any mercy! Isn't that right?! Robin's got a bounty on her head. No matter where she's taken, she'll see hell beyond that point! Each moment we sit here talking, she gets closer to the Gates of Justice! THERE'S NO WAY WE CAN WAIT UNTIL MORNING!!!"

A shipwright, looking between the two, shook his head in disbelief. "Did you two rehearse that or—"

Zoro, ever blunt, shrugged. "They're a couple, they practically finish each other's sandwiches."

Y/N rolled their eyes. "You mean sentences?"

Zoro grinned. "No."

Paulie, now visibly irritated, raised his voice. "IF YOU KNOW THAT MUCH, DO YOU STILL PLAN TO WAGE A WAR IN THE CENTER OF THE WORLD GOVERNMENT?!"

The group of onlookers murmured among themselves, fear evident in their voices.

GLW 1: "H-He's right! You should give up!"

GLW 2: "You can't sail out until morning because of Aqua Laguna!"

GLW 3: "Even if you go after them, you'll get killed!"

Nami glanced at Y/N and Luffy, a mix of desperation and determination on her face.

Luffy stood tall, resolve hardening. "In that case... WE'LL TAKE THE SHIP BY FORCE!! WE'RE LEAVING NOW!!"

Y/N grinned like a fox, cracking his knuckles. "Gates of Justice... Gates of Iron... Gates to Hell... Does it look like we care?"

The crowd watched in shock.

GLW 1: "Wha... He's going all out?!"

GLW 2: "Shocking..."

Chimney, who had been watching from a distance, couldn't help but comment, "Even the waves are angry!"

Luffy roared, his voice full of fury. "OUR FRIENDS ARE WAITING FOR US!! DON'T GET IN OUR WAY!!"

Paulie stepped forward, blocking their path. "Fine. You'll have to go through me first."

Kokoro's voice rang out, stopping everyone in their tracks. "HOLD IT RIGHT THERE!!"

Nami looked over in surprise. "Kokoro-san?"

Kokoro stood tall, hands on her hips. "It's you who's wrong here, Straw Hat."

Luffy furrowed his brow, irritated. "You're annoying! It's not like you know—"

Kokoro cut him off. "You think I don't know? You should hear me out first. If we let you go like this, you'll just end up dead in a flash. Listen carefully, if there's anything that can survive this unprecedented Aqua Laguna, it's 'The Sea Train' made by the man in the legend."

Y/N raised an eyebrow. "Yeah, but we can't do anything about that here. We have to use a ship." Y/N smirked. "Unless you've got something stronger."

Kokoro grinned. "If you're determined to put your lives on the line for this, then follow me. I'll start 'The Sea Train' for you."

-x-

The group followed Kokoro to an abandoned warehouse, the walls cracked and faded with age.

Kokoro smirked. "This warehouse has been abandoned for 8 years. The train hasn't been touched in 12 years. It might not work anymore. Ngagaga!"

They descended a set of stairs, stopping in front of a locked door. Kokoro fumbled for her keys. "I have a key for the lock on the front door... Hm? It's open."

Luffy's eyes sparkled. "WHOOAA!!!"

Chopper's eyes grew wide. "AMAZING!!"

Y/N shook their head, equally impressed. "Incredible."

Kokoro laughed. "I'm warning you, this is a crazy train. Its name is 'Rocketman.' We can't even allow passengers to be on board. Cause it's a runaway sea train."

In design and size, the Rocketman was broadly similar to the Puffing Tom, complete with 4-4-0 wheel arrangement. Its smokebox was distinctively cone-shaped, and jokingly painted to resemble a shark's head; to this was linked the standard driver's cab, coal-tender, and a single passenger car. As it was never publicly used, its exterior was mostly unpainted.

Luffy's eyes sparkled as he gazed at the train. "ROCKET MAN~!!"

Chopper's eyes mirrored Luffy's excitement. "It sounds fast!!"

Zoro, on the other hand, couldn't help but sweat drop at the sight. "What's up with that face? That shark head is attached as a joke?"

A door from the train opened, and Iceberg stepped out, drawing attention from the crew.

"Straw Hat..." Iceberg called, his voice tinged with surprise. "So you really were okay. It's just like what the pirate girl said. Kokoro-san, you brought them here?"

Kokoro, with her usual boisterous tone, responded, "I see you're still alive, Iceberg. What're you doing here?"

"If I'm here, I must've had the same idea you had," Iceberg explained. "We just can't leave idiots be."

Kokoro chuckled. "Ngagaga!"

Iceberg smiled faintly. "Use it. I've prepared it for you... It has water and coal; it's gathering steam now."

Y/N bowed his head gratefully. "Thank you, truly."

However, Iceberg's expression turned serious. "Celebrate after you survive. The Rocket Man is a failed prototype that was built before the Puffing Tom. No matter how you adjust the steam rate, you just can't slow down. You'll easily lose control. I can't guarantee your safety."

Luffy, ever the optimist, grinned wide. "Okay!! Thanks, Ice Pops!!"

Y/N nodded. "Alright! Let's go! Everyone, get on board! We're leaving as soon as Nami arrives!"

As they boarded, however, both Y/N and Luffy fell to their knees, breathing heavily and sweating from exhaustion.

Chopper, concerned, rushed over. "Y/N! Luffy! Are you okay?! You've both been wobbly since earlier."

Y/N panted, struggling to catch his breath. "I don't know. I think I might have been surviving on adrenaline, and now... all the exhaustion has caught up to me."

Luffy, equally breathless, managed a weak smile. "If only we had some meat..."

Just then, Nami appeared, running toward them. "Hurry, this way!!"

Train staff followed her, pulling a cart that contained a huge bag.

"Sorry it took so long!" Nami apologized.

Y/N grinned. "Nami..."

Luffy, not missing a beat, shouted, "What're you doing?! Hurry up and get on board, you idiot!"

Nami blinked in surprise. "Wow, is this a Sea Train, too?"

Train Staff 2, confused, looked around. "There's another one?!"

Luffy, impatient, scowled. "Where were you?! Who's the one that said there wasn't any time?! WHAT'S ALL THAT STUFF?!"

Nami smiled innocently. "Meat and sake."

Luffy immediately forgave her. "I'm sorry I complained!!"

Y/N grinned. "Nami, I love you."

Nami, blushing slightly, responded quickly, "I love you too."

Zoro, with a bottle of sake already in hand, raised an eyebrow. "Lovebirds."  shook his head, muttering, "They practically finish each other's sandwiches."

Meanwhile, Iceberg was briefing the crew. "If you go through the water tunnel out to sea and latch on to the rails, you'll make it."

Kokoro, ever the expert, reassured the crew. "It's alright. I'm more experienced in operating it than you are. You just rest for now."

Suddenly, the Franky Family arrived at the scene, with Zambai leading the charge. "STRAW HAT!!"

Luffy, distracted by food, barely looked up. "These guys..."

Nami groaned, recognizing them. "The Franky Family!"

Y/N sighed, clearly not in the mood. "Not now."

Zambai, tears streaming down his face, pleaded. "PLEASE!! TAKE US WITH YOU!! We heard from the guys at Galley-La that bro's going to Enies Lobby!! He's being escorted by the Government! We want to go after them but... We can't get past Aqua Laguna!!"

Kokoro, more cautious, frowned. "You'd be going against the World Government though..."

Zambai's resolve didn't waver. "WE DON'T CARE WHO IT IS!!"

The rest of the Franky Family voiced their support. "We're getting our bro back!!"

Mozu, gritting his teeth, added, "We'd throw our lives away for our bro!!"

Kiwi, on the verge of tears, shouted, "Please!!"

Nami, frustrated, crossed her arms. "You've gotta be joking!! Do you realize what you've done to us?!"

Luffy, however, was undeterred. "GET ON!! HURRY!!"

Nami, looking to Y/N, found him placing a comforting hand on her shoulder. "It's cool. The fact that they're willing to go against the World Government and even ask to come with us... it's admirable."

Zambai's eyes filled with gratitude. "One-eye... THANK YOU!! WE'LL REMEMBER THIS!!"

Y/N nodded. "Okay. Now move your ass into the train."

Zambai scratched his head, grinning. "Ah! But we don't have to get on the train. We'll jump out to the sea using our King Bulls at the same time you do. So all you need to do is let us hold on to the end of the train."

Zoro raised an eyebrow. "King bulls?"

Zambai smiled proudly. "Thanks for letting us go with you! Well then, see you later!"

The Franky Family took off, running in the direction of the ocean, ready for their part of the journey.

Y/N raised an eyebrow. "Huh... Okay, then. All aboard!!"

The train began moving quickly, with everyone aboard. Kokoro called out, "You pirates better not get thrown off!! Now departing Water Seven for Enies Lobby... Here comes the sea train Rocket Man!!"

Luffy and Y/N sat atop the train, the wind whipping through their hair. Y/N raised his fist. "All right! Depart!!"

Luffy grinned fiercely. "We're gonna get everything back!!"

The Rocket Man surged forward, blasting out of the canal, with the Franky Family in hot pursuit, their giant Yagara Bulls pulling them along.

Zambai cheered, "Alright! The Sea Train has left!! We're heading out, too, boys!! Fly, Sodom!! Gomorrah!!"

Zambai shouted out his thanks. "Thank you for helping us, the entire Franky Family!! Fire the Link cannons!!"

The Franky Family fired two harpoons, which connected to the back of the Rocket Man. Luffy, grinning from ear to ear, stretched his arms out to hold onto the train, while Y/N, equally determined, used his sword to anchor himself.

Luffy laughed. "Whoa! Cool!"

Y/N, though impressed, noted, "Damn, no wonder they're kings. They're huge!"

Kokoro, calm and collected, assessed the situation. "Those must be the highest-grade bulls. Let's see... so the rail's gotten washed away by the waves... But that's no problem. I've been monitoring the Sea Train since it was built, so don't underestimate me!!"

She glanced at the waves. "Over there!!"

Kokoro called out through the speakers, "Urgent message from the control room! We will be latching onto the rail soon, and that means our speed will increase considerably! Please brace yourselves so you'll only receive minor injuries!"

Nami, who was at the back of the train, couldn't help but sweat drop. "So, we'll get hurt no matter what...?"

Kokoro, undeterred, shouted, "Here we go!!"

Chimney, her usual playful self, grinned. "A little more!! Grandma, a little more to the right!!"

Kokoro, focusing intently, responded, "Just wait and see! I'll make it next... HUH?! CHIMNEY?! GONBE?! YOU TWO FOLLOWED US?!"

Chimney waved cheerfully. "Yeah, we did!! Ahaha!!"

Kokoro's voice became stern. "You get here right now or you'll get blown away!!"

Y/N, always quick on his feet, sprinted toward Chimney and Gonbe, grabbing them with his left arm before they could be swept away by the force of the train's motion. "Don't worry, Granny! I've got her!"

Chimney grinned mischievously. "Oh! One Eye Brother! Hello!"

Y/N, exasperated, scolded them. "Don't you 'One Eye Brother! Hello!' me, young lady! What the heck are you doing here?"

Before he could get an answer, the train landed on the track with a sudden jolt, and immediately began accelerating faster.

Y/N barely managed to hold on. "Ah, geez!" He yelled, struggling to stay in control.

Luffy was blown away by the force, but was fortunately caught by the giant members of the Franky Family.

Y/N, ever the protector, carefully made his way back to the control room.

Chimney, unable to contain her excitement, laughed. "Ahahah!! That was so much fun!!"

Chopper, looking worried, called out, "Are you okay, Y/N?!"

Y/N, his body finally succumbing to exhaustion, sighed. "Yeah. I'm just gonna rest for a bit."

And with that, he passed out on the floor of the control room, his body finally giving in to the overwhelming fatigue.

-x-

Inside the Rocket Man, the atmosphere was electric, filled with the mixed emotions of excitement and apprehension as the crew sat in a circle, each person processing the chaotic experience they just endured. Among them was Y/N, wedged comfortably between Luffy and Nami.

Luffy broke the silence, panting with exhilaration. "That was an amazing acceleration!" His eyes gleamed with uncontained energy.

Kokoro, the train's conductor, countered, her laughter echoing through the cabin. "Ngagaga! It's not acceleration; it's gone out of control!"

Lulu, rubbing her back with a wince, chimed in, "My back..."

Tilestone echoed his sentiment, eyes wide with disbelief. "That scared the hell outta me!!"

Zoro leaned against the wall, his shark-like grin revealing his amusement. "Hold on a sec... There are weird guys in here."

Chimney, ever the optimist, burst out laughing. "Ahahah! That was so fun!"

Lulu and Tilestone exchanged puzzled glances. "What? Who are they?" Tilestone asked, clearly lost.

Paulie, realizing the confusion, pointed towards the newcomers with urgency. "You guys!"

Zoro sneered playfully, "YOU, TOO!!"

As the banter continued, Paulie stood up, determined. "Listen up! I want to take revenge on the Government for all the wrongs they've done!" His voice was filled with conviction.

Tilestone leaned in closer, brow furrowed. "Paulie! Explain something to us first!!"

Lulu pressed further, "You know who the real criminals are... so tell us yourself. We're not stupid. We've pretty much figured it all out. We won't be surprised."

With a sigh, Paulie began, "Well, you probably figured it out since they all suddenly disappeared, but I'll explain it fully. Those guys with the masks were actually Lucci, Oiwa, Kaku, Kalifa, and Blueno from the bar. Those five people were actually spies for the World Government."

Their jaws dropped in unison, faces frozen in shock. Paulie's shout of disbelief echoed in the cabin, "YOU DIDN'T KNOW!!? WHO DID YOU THINK THEY WERE?!"

Tilestone hesitated, scratching his head as if trying to remember. "Michael and Hoyker from the old town?"

Paulie's frustration peaked, "WHO THE HELL ARE THEY?!"

At that moment, Luffy raised a determined fist, "So, Franky Family and Galley-La shipwrights! Even though we had some problems with each other in town, our enemies are the same now! In the upcoming fights, the strongest guy is that pigeon bastard! I will definitely kick his ass!!" His serious expression inspired those around him.

Zoro clenched his fists, "It won't end until we get them."

Chimney interrupted with wide eyes, "Grandma! Grandma! It's the Aqua Laguna!"

"WHAT?!" Nami shot up, panic setting in. "Chimney! Let me see it!"

As Nami rushed to the window, her expression darkened. "This is bad! Kokoro-san! Is it okay for you to leave the engine room at a time like this?! We need to dodge that high wave!"

Kokoro shrugged nonchalantly, "Ngaga! I told you, didn't I? That we can't control Rocket Man. Even when we want to operate it, nothing works, including the brake. My job ended when the train got on the railway. Hence, the train is always running at full throttle. No one can stop it anymore."

Panic spread among the crew as Nami turned to Y/N and Luffy. "Oh no... Y/N! Luffy! If we don't do anything, the train will crash into the big wave!"

Luffy held out his hand, determination radiating from him. "When we have the same goal... it's senseless to fight separately."

Zambai, inspired, added his hand to the mix. "Yeah."

Paulie followed, "You're right." Together, they formed a triangle with their arms.

"Listen. We're comrades. Our friends are also in the train that left before us. Our fighting force will only increase. Guys! Don't let that big wave beat us! We'll all achieve our goal!! LET'S GO!!" Luffy shouted, filling the cabin with resolve.

"YEAH!!" everyone replied in unison.

Outside, the gigantic wave loomed ominously, and Kokoro clapped her hands together, urging the crew, "Ngagaga! Okay, people, see if you can do something about this wave!!"

Just then, the portable transponder snail began ringing, interrupting the hustle. Nami rushed to answer it. "Ah! The portable transponder snail is ringing!"

"THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT I JUST—whatever..." Y/N muttered, rolling his eyes.

"Answer it! It must be Sanji." He urged.

Nami picked it up, her voice shaking with urgency. "Sanji-san! Nami-san, can you hear me?!"

"Yep, is that you, Sanji-kun?!"

"Things are taking a turn for the worse here." His voice coming through was tense.

"Turn for the worse?" Nami echoed. She strained to hear amid the chaos behind him. "Sanji-kun! What was that voice?! Hey! What's going on?!"

"Ugh, yeah, because of that idiot..." Sanji responded, irritation seeping through.

"I-Idiot? Ah! Again! What?! Are you okay?! What's going on?!" Nami's anxiety peaked at his tone.

"Actually, there are two idiots."

Meanwhile, Franky and Usopp struggled atop the train, trying to hold on as it shot towards the incoming wave.

"AHHH!! WE'RE GONNA CRASH!!" Franky's voice echoed, fear palpable.

"WE'RE GONNA DIE!!" Usopp chorused in terror.

"Oi. Luffy. You heard that?" Y/N asked, now serious.

"Yeah. Let's go! Zoro! Y/N!" Luffy rallied, leading the charge to the front of the train.

Paulie glanced anxiously, "Are you guys trying something?!"

"Keep firing!" Zoro instructed.

As they reached the front, the massive wave crashed forward.

Luffy looked deep in thought. "How much is 3 times 108?"

"324," Zoro answered, barely keeping his focus.

"What?! But that's so hard to pronounce..." Luffy whined, causing the Franky Family, who were trying to keep a steady aim in the chaos, to complain.

"What are they doing?" one of them shouted.

"Keep firing!" Zoro barked, focusing again.

"Then 400." Y/N answered.

Zoro snorted, "Fine."

"GOMU-GOMU NO...!!" Luffy shouted, his signature attack echoing through the air.

"400 POUND..." Zoro joined in, swinging his swords with precision.

"RED..." Y/N announced, energy coiling through him like a spring, as he prepared to unleash his power.

"WE'RE GONNA CRASH!!" yelled the Franky Family, voices rising in panic.

"CANNON!!" roared the trio in unison, their powers converging into a single bolt of destructive energy as it tore through the wave.

Amid the chaos, awe washed over everyone in the Rocket Man, and their collective voice rang louder, "WE MADE IT THROUGH!!!"

Zambai gasped in disbelief, tears in his eyes. "Ooh!! I thought we were dead!!"

Kokoro laughed, a glitter of pride in her eyes. "Ngagaga! That was impressive! You guys sure are something!"

The Franky Family couldn't help but nod, "They would be terrifying if they were enemies! But as allies, they're more reliable than anyone!"

"I was ready to die... these guys really are..." Paulie murmured in sheer admiration.

"Don't relax, crew! We're not through the storm yet!!" Zambai warned, still caught up in the moment.

Retreating inside the train, Nami called out, "Luffy! Y/N! Come here. It's Sanji-kun."

She handed them the transponder snail. "Oh, Luffy?! Y/N?!" Sanji's voice rang through, tizzy with urgency.

"oh, Sanji! How's it going over there?" Luffy asked, eyebrows knit in brotherly concern.

"Robin-chan is still in their custody. Nami-san just told me the reasons for her actions. Every single thing..."

"I see... Yeah... Well... that's what's going on. Go kick their asses!!" Luffy encouraged, fire igniting in his spirit.

"Luffy, don't mess around!! Tell him to wait for us !! Hey, cook! Do you hear me? There are crazy guys on that train, so—" Zoro tried to bark out a warning.

"That's okay." Y/N interjected calmly. "Zoro... What would you do if it were you?"

"Hm?" Zoro grunted, momentarily distracted.

Y/N continued, "After hearing that Robin lied and was taken into custody in order to save us, could you just stay put? It's no use trying to stop him."

Sanji chuckled on the other end, "You know me well. Hey, Moss Head! Are you worried about me?" His tone teased.

"LIKE HELL I AM!!" Zoro snapped back, frustrated.

"Unfortunately, after hearing about Robin's reasons, even if the captain ordered me to, I would not stop... no matter what!!" Sanji finished with fierce conviction, his words shattering the tension in the cabin as he broke the transponder snail's microphone.

In the train, the silence fell heavy, and the transponder snail fell asleep, its eyes drooping.

"Will he be okay?" Nami asked suspiciously.

"Don't worry. I'm sure he'll be fine. Mainly because the situation involves a lady. So he'll have an extra boost." Y/N reassured her, a hand resting gently atop her shoulder.

"Granny, make this train go faster!!" Luffy shouted, enthusiasm returning.

Y/N grinned. "Yeah! Like whoooosh!!"

"Want it faster?! It's already way past its safe maximum speed! It's out of control! I don't know if we'll even be able to stop! Ngagaga..." Kokoro replied, smirked.

"Is that so? In that case, we might as well use this opportunity to—NAMI?!"

Y/N turned around, only to find Tilestone, Lulu, and Zambai gaping at Nami, who was changing into her battle attire in the limited space.

Nami, oblivious to their stares, announced, "Okay! Ready for battle!! Hm?"

Her voice interrupted by the sight of the trio holding their bleeding noses.

"What's wrong with you guys?" she asked innocently.

Paulie jumped up, "DON'T 'What's wrong with you guys?' US!! HOW DARE YOU SO OPENLY CHANGE IN FRONT OF EVERYONE, SHAMELESS GIRL?!"

Tilestone, Lulu, and Zambai gave her a thumbs up, murmuring, "Nice shamelessness."

Before they knew it, Y/N surged forward, his fist steaming as he knocked the three of them to the floor. "I'd be lying if I said that wasn't satisfying."

"No, really, I couldn't help it. We only have one car," Nami clarified nonchalantly.

Paulie groaned, cradling his stomach. "COVER UP YOUR STOMACH!! YOUR STOMACH AND LEGS!! YOU GUYS, TOO, SQUARE SISTERS!!"

Mozu retorted, "Shut up, you shy man."

Kiwi joined in, "Shy man!"

"WHY YOU...!!" Paulie grew furious.

Kokoro eyed them with amusement. "Ngagaga. If you like, I'll change, too."

In an almost magical moment, Tilestone, Lulu, and Zambai awoke from their stupor and bowed before Kokoro with wide eyes. "I'm sorry, but please don't! Seriously!"

Kokoro raised an eyebrow, "What rude guys."

Amid the playful chaos, Nami approached Y/N, moving closer to him, whispering in a sultry tone. "Did you like what you saw~?"

Y/N, looking around to ensure no one was watching, swiftly took hold of Nami, bringing her close. "You know you really shouldn't play with a fox like that; you may get bit~," he teased, gently biting her neck, drawing a muffled gasp from her lips.

As he released her, Y/N turned toward Luffy, leaving a blushing Nami behind. "I should've brought an extra pair of underwear..." she muttered, flustered.

Luffy, ever oblivious and focused on his stomach, grumbled, "Man, these black pants. I wish their pockets were bigger. My lunch won't fit!"

Inside, he tightly controlled his panic but appeared outwardly calm. Y/N approached Luffy's side, "Do you really need it? By the way, try not to get stuck again somewhere."

"I'll be fine! I've got a reason I won't lose this time!" Luffy proclaimed confidently.

"A reason?" Y/N raised an eyebrow, curiosity piqued.

Nami interrupted as she approached the boys. "Did you change weapons, Nami?"

"Hm? No. After we came back from Skypiea, Usopp improved it and made it stronger using dials. It's the Perfect Clima Takt." She smiled proudly.

Zoro nodded, "I see. So it's Usopp's..."

"That's right! It's Usopp's..." Nami's voice faltered, her expression growing somber.

"Yeah... It's his last work," she whispered despondently, and a heavy sigh escaped both her and Luffy's lips.

"DON'T GO BUMMING PEOPLE OUT!!" Zoro barked, trying to change the mood.

Y/N, feeling the weight of the moment, decided to take a quick nap. "I'll take a quick nap. Wake me up when we've caught up with the other train." He closed his eyes, sinking deep into the comfortable sofa.

Suddenly, he felt a gentle hand moving his head. He opened his eyes to find his head resting in Nami's lap, and a smile crept across his face. Just as he began to drift off, Kokoro's laughter cut through the air. "Ngagaga! Ah... young love."

-x-

Time flew by, and Luffy's sudden shout jolted Y/N awake. "Hey, guys! I see a train ahead of us!"

"PUFFING TOM?!" everyone shouted in unison, rushing outside to get a glimpse.

Kokoro groaned, "It's too soon..."

Zambai pointed at the view ahead. "Hey! It's a sea train without an engine!! It's just two cars stranded there!!"

The realization hit everyone at once. "What?!" Zoro exclaimed.

"They got detached," Y/N concluded, crossing his arms.

"Chopper!" said Mozu, "Maybe Sanji and Usopp are inside!!"

"Maybe Bro's inside, too!" Kiwi added cheerfully.

But the mood darkened when Paulie yelled, "This is bad! We're going to crash!! Granny, hit the brakes!!"

Kokoro shook her head forlornly. "It's impossible. I told you already. Ngagaga!"

"Chimney!" Chopper looked panicked, "What're we gonna do?"

"I'll go check inside! Gomu Gomu no... ROCKET!!" Luffy launched himself towards the two cars, everyone else watching with bated breath.

A few moments of silence passed as they anxiously waited for news from Luffy. Suddenly, he reappeared, arms crossed in an X, while incoming bullets rained around him.

"He says they're not there, and he's being shot at!" Zambai cried, anxiousness creeping into his voice.

"Then those people must be from the Government," Y/N said, his tone sharp and focused.

Kokoro blinked, "So what now?"

"If we don't get rid of it, we'll be in danger, too!" Paulie shouted.

"Okay! Then we'll dismantle it in an instant before we crash!" Zambai declared fiercely.

"Tilestone! We'll help too!" he turned to his allies, who were equally charged with adrenaline.

"Hey! Zoro! Y/N! Cut it! It's in the way!" Luffy called back.

"You've got this covered, right, Zoro?" Y/N nodded toward his comrade.

"Yeah." Zoro firmly agreed, his conviction decisively strong.

"Hey. Make sure to show off a bit," Y/N smirked, as Zoro walked to the front of the train.

"The ego of the entropic world....can be slashed into pieces. Two-Sword Style Sword Draw...Rashomon!" Zoro yelled dramatically as his attack cleaved through the cars effortlessly.

"What?! WHAAAAT?!" The simultaneous exclamations erupted from both the Franky Family and the Marines.

Y/N couldn't help but smirk at the chaos they left in their wake, fist bumping Zoro as he leapt back to the Rocket Man.

"Could you at least warn us before you do that sort of thing?!" Lulu exclaimed, flabbergasted.

"I did say 'Cut it'," Luffy replied innocently.

"But we wouldn't have dreamed it was that!" Lulu complained further, disbelief still written across her face.

Zambai, jarred by the display of raw power, exclaimed, "He's so terrifyingly strong, and he's not even the captain!"

Y/N glanced ahead, catching sight of a massive Sea King that had careened into the chaos. "Um."

"Sashimi!" Luffy cheered, while Chopper was aghast, "It's been split in half!"

"Grilled fish!" Luffy added excitedly, imagining a feast already, pulling out a griller and fan.

"Zoro," Y/N said, narrowing his eyes.

"Yeah, there's someone stronger further ahead," Zoro acknowledged.

"I'll handle this one," Y/N declared, a fierce glint in his eyes.

Zambai pointed ahead as tension built again. "Someone's there!"

"That's Ship-Slasher!" he announced, his voice a mix of fear and awe, "He's Ship-Slasher T-Bone, a Captain at Navy Headquarters! He cuts pirate ships up like steaks!"

"Ship-Slasher?" Luffy pondered, intrigued.

Zambai nodded, adrenaline coursing through him. "He cuts pirate ships up like steaks!"

"Hey, guys! Get ready to fire! Hurry up!" Zambai encouraged his crew.

"Wait!!" Luffy held up a hand, his expression grim.

"What? If we don't hurry, he'll chop us in half, too!!" Zambai cried.

"Leave it to Y/N. Don't interfere!"

Taking a step forward, Y/N readied himself, the tension in the air thick.

"I'll tell you only once, step aside," he commanded, energy radiating from him.

"Then come!!" T-Bone shouted, gripping his swords with determination, his eyes locked onto Y/N.

They charged toward each other, T-Bone swinging wildly, "I hate swords that don't go straight!! Right-Angle Flying Bird... Bone... PHOENIX!!"

Y/N weaved gracefully, dodging each strike with fluid precision. "He dodged all of them?!" T-Bone exclaimed in disbelief.

Y/N closed the distance, slashing through T-Bone's chest with a single, swift movement.

As T-Bone fell into the ocean, Y/N returned to the train with a satisfied grace.

"Did all of this happen because of Sanji's handiwork?" Nami quipped, looking impressed.

"We're almost there, huh?" Y/N responded, crossing his arms with a confident grin.

"OKAY!! CHARGE!! ROCKET MAN!! OUR ENEMY IS CLOSE!! I'M GONNA KICK THAT PIGEON GUY'S ASS!! NOTHING CAN GET IN OUR WAY!!" Luffy roared, leading the charge with fervor.

-x-

But then time seemed to slip through their fingers.

"You jinxed us, Luffy." Y/N rolled his eyes as the frog, Yokozuna, derailed the train and the Franky Family's ship got detached.

"Stupid frog!!" Luffy yelled angrily at the creature.

Yokozuna croaked ominously, "Gero!"

"oh, boy..."

"Say gero again and we'll get you!!" Luffy declared determinedly.

Meanwhile, in the control room, Kokoro focused, sweat beading on her forehead. "Hush! I'm trying, but the current is too strong."

"Kokoro, do we know the direction to the island?" Nami questioned, urgency evident in her voice.

"We sure do! We have an eternal pose to every station aboard!!" Kokoro replied.

As Nami glanced out the window, she locked eyes with the currents swirling beyond. "Then that's fine! I'll observe the currents. Just turn following my directions!"

"Huh? You..." Kokoro replied incredulously.

"I'm a... Navigator!!" Nami exclaimed confidently.

"That's marvelous!! Ngagaga!!" Kokoro agreed, grinning widely.

Kokoro stepped towards another window. "Yokozuna!! Come here for a moment!"

Yokozuna jumped down in response, and Y/N found himself atop the frog's back.

"Good to see you in One Piece! No, no! They didn't kidnap me!" Kokoro giggled.

Chimney gasped, "Ah?! Granny's talking to Yokozuna!!"

Kokoro's voice was filled with warmth. "Seriously, what happened to your body? It's full of scars! Since... that day eight years ago... since that incident where Tom-san was taken away... you've been challenging the sea train every single day. You... wanted to become strong, right? So that you wouldn't lose those you love again... so that you could protect those you love..."

Y/N was enraptured, listening carefully as Yokozuna nodded solemnly in response.

Kokoro paused, her eyes softening. "Yokozuna... now is the time for you to show the results of that training!"

Yokozuna's gaze firmed. "GERO?!"

"Franky, the one you love so much, has been taken away just like Tom-san was. This train is currently headed toward where he is, too. Do you wanna come along?" Kokoro could hardly contain her excitement.

"GEROO!!" Yokozuna cried affirmatively.

"Straw Hat! One Eye! We've got one more comrade!" Kokoro announced triumphantly, her laughter breaking the tension.

"Nice," Y/N smiled, lifting his chin appreciatively toward Yokozuna.

Luffy let out a spirited whoop. "You can understand him?! Granny, are you actually Frog Granny?"

"Or are you something else, Monster Granny?" Y/N quipped teasingly.

"Ngagaga! Who cares?" Kokoro chuckled.

Nami screamed, "Kokoro-san! I found a good current! It's in the eight o'clock direction!"

"Okay! Let's charge towards it!" Kokoro encouraged, excitement bubbling in her.

"Alright! Let's do it! Froggy!" Luffy whooped, mounting Yokozuna's back.

"Gere Gerororo!!" Yokozuna croaked in delight.

Y/N stood beside them, the stirring atmosphere fueling his resolve. "Hm? Oi, Luffy! Look!"

Luffy's eyes widened. "Eh? Oohh! We found them! Huge Yagaras! Ahoy!!"

"LUFFY!! Y/N!!" came a simultaneous shout from Sanji and a masked figure standing atop the Franky Family's ship.

"EH?! Who's that?!" Luffy exclaimed.

"Usopp?" Y/N pondered, scratching his head, trying to grasp the situation.

"Captain Straw Hat!!" The Franky Family chanted in support.

Kokoro paid no heed, her focus on the horizon. "Ngagaga! It seems that we were able to join up with them smoothly, huh?"

Nami's smile brightened, "They all look so energetic! Ready to siege the front door of the World Government!!"

With charismatic bravado, Kokoro spoke through the speakers, rallying everyone's spirits. "Enies is in sight!! All crews, prepare for battle!!"

"YEAH!!" the crew roared, their voices echoing as they steeled themselves for the imminent clash.

-x-

In the Rocket Man

[There should be a GIF or video here. Update the app now to see it.]

A lively melody filled the air, punctuating the tense atmosphere as Sogeking burst onto the scene, performing an upbeat tune that drew the crew's attention.

"♪ I was born on the island of snipers ♪

♪ I never miss my mark ♪

♪ Lulu lala lu ♪

♪ Whether it's a mouse's eyeball, lock on! ♪

♪ Or even your heart, LOCK ON!! ♪

♪ The man who hails from the island of snipers ♪

♪ Lululu, lulu lala ♪

♪ Now... run away! ♪"

A sparkling aura surrounded Luffy and Chopper as they watched in awe.

Luffy and Chopper exclaimed in unison, "Sogeking from the island of snipers?!"

"That's right. I'm Ussop-kun's best friend. I'm here because he requested that I assist you," Sogeking announced proudly.

Y/N, amused but hiding the fact that he knew it was Usopp, played along. "Were you with him recently? You smell just like him."

"Y-Yes! I was with him recently! But the smell is probably because we both use the same perfume," Sogeking stammered, trying to maintain his cover.

"Ah, yes. That makes sense," Y/N replied, unconvinced.

Amidst Luffy's innocent adoration for the hero standing before them, Chopper marveled, "So, just because he's wearing a cape, he's a hero?"

"Yes! Cape equals hero!" Luffy affirmed, his eyes shining with admiration.

Chopper hesitated, "Really?!"

In the background, Zoro raised an eyebrow, deep in thought. "Isn't that Usopp?"

Nami's thoughts echoed Zoro's sentiments. "I'm glad Usopp's safe."

Zambai mused silently, "Isn't that the long-nosed idiot who charged into Franky House alone?"

Mozu and Kiwi exchanged glances, similarly puzzled. "Isn't that the long-nosed guy who was arrested along with our Bro?"

Chimney squealed, "It's that guy we met at the shift station!"

"We're counting on you!" Luffy said earnestly, extending his hand toward Sogeking.

"Okay!" Sogeking replied enthusiastically, shaking Luffy's hand. Meanwhile, Chopper fished out a small whiteboard.

"Autograph, please!!" he squeaked, presenting it to Sogeking with a marker.

Luffy asked, "So, where'd Usopp go?"

"He's safe. So don't worry about him. He told me that saving Robin is my top priority, and then left," Sogeking reassured them.

"Oh, I see!" Luffy nodded, excitement bubbling within him.

Chopper's eyes sparkled with curiosity. "Oh! Oh! Where's sniper island?!"

"Yeah. It's..." Sogeking sang, the melody flowing effortlessly, "♪ I was born on... ♪

... in your... hearts.

♪ ... the island... ♪"

With shared enthusiasm, Chopper's and Luffy's eyes lit up. "Our... hearts!" they chorused.

"♪ ...of snipers... ♪" Sogeking finished, a proud grin on his face.

"Where's that?!" Nami interjected, cutting through the moment.

"Uh, Nami-san..." Sanji began, concern threading through his tone.

"What is it, Sanji-kun?" she asked, shifting her gaze.

"And all you idiots here with Nami-san..." Sanji responded, but the group's focus was redirected as Luffy and Chopper ceased their singing, returning to serious business.

"Before we go rescue Robin-chan, let me tell you one thing."

In a flashback, Sanji recalled a critical conversation aboard the train.

"Blueno," M. spoke, his tone somber, "That Buster Call is indeed the problem. Many years ago, an island ceased to exist. Five vice admirals and ten battleships... To that woman who witnessed their overwhelming military power, Buster Call is an inexpungible nightmare. If the terror planted in her heart during her childhood is directed towards her friends, she can no longer have the spirit to resist us."

"Don't tell me... you're doing this knowing all that..." Sanji questioned, alarmed.

"Of course," Blueno affirmed.

Back in the present, Sanji added with conviction, "So, CP9 is taking advantage of the roof because of Robin-chan's vulnerability. It's not that I'm trying to make excuses for not being able to get her back. But even if we march into our enemy's territory, it doesn't necessarily mean that she'll let us help her."

Y/N spoke thoughtfully, "Knowing her, she most likely wants to die by the end of all this. But this is going to get dangerous; even the strongest pirates won't survive a Buster Call."

Luffy's eyes narrowed in anger as he yelled, "I don't care!! I won't forgive them!!"

"WOOOOO!!" Chopper screamed in agreement, channeling Luffy's ferocity.

Luffy shouted passionately, "Robin, that stupid—!"

"Why Robin?!" Nami interjected, bonking Luffy on the head.

"Why not?! Why the heck doesn't she want us to come rescue her?!" Luffy responded, throwing his arms up dramatically.

"She's suffering thinking about what might happen to us after she's rescued!" Nami argued, her worry palpable.

"Who cares about that?! If we don't do anything, she'll be killed, right?! There's no way she wants to die, so we'll rescue her!" Luffy shouted, determination gracing his features.

"Of course that's true, but..." Nami said, her voice shaky.

"Nami, you should know by now that you won't be able to stop Luffy," Y/N reassured her, a steady hand on her shoulder.

"But...!" Nami pleaded, but Y/N cut in.

"It's fine. Either way, what we have to do is the same," he replied with a serious face.

Luffy declared, "We'll bring down the whole place! There's a technique that I wanna try, too!"

Nami sighed and nodded, a faint smile creeping back to her lips.

Paulie interrupted, holding up a map of Enies Lobby. "Hey, guys, take a look at this. I've been here once before for railroad maintenance. I drew this based on what I could remember; this is what Enies Lobby looks like. The Gates of Justice are in the back of the island, and they seem to be accessible only via the Tower of Law."

"What's that black stuff?" Luffy asked, pointing at the map.

"That black thing is the waterfall; you'll see it when you get past the gate. Anyhow, it's a straight path from the main gate to the Gates of Justice. If we can't get to Robin and Franky before they reach the end of the path, we fail! Even if we all charge into the island, the only ones who'll have any chance against CP9 are you guys! I've seen how strong you guys are on the way there. So, you guys should wait for 5 minutes at the beach. Then, charge in with Rocket Man, right through the gates and into the island itself!" Paulie said earnestly, eyes wide with genuine concern.

Zambai added, "Before that, the rest of us will go in there, open up the main and front gate to make way for Rocket Man! No matter how many of us die, don't stop, just charge right through!! There are only 60 of us, but there may be two to three thousand enemies. Straw Hats!! You should avoid unnecessary fights and just focus on CP9!!"

"Okay, got it," Luffy replied, brimming with determination.

Kokoro's voice suddenly crackled through the speakers. "Okay, guys! We're now at the front of the island! Take a good look at the sky behind Enies Lobby. Those are the Gates of Justice."

"WWHHHAAATT!!? IT'S SO BIG!!" the crew gasped together in amazement.

"They never open all the way. When criminals go through them, they open just a little. And behind those doors is a nest of large Sea Kings, just like the Calm Belt, the sea areas that lie on both sides of the Grand Line. So no ordinary ships can go in there. I don't know how, but the Navy has a means of passing through there safely. In other words, just like the pirate girl said, if you want to get back the criminals taken away, you've got until the moment before they go through those gates to do it! Now, there's no time to lose!" Kokoro warned.

"Let's stick to the plan!! We'll go first!" Zambai called out, his resolve steadfast.

"Hey, you two! Aren't you supposed to be with us?!" Zoro yelled, pointing at Nami and Sogeking, who stood nervously behind Zambai and the Shipwrights.

Chopper tilted his head in confusion. "Um, where's Luffy?"

"Huh? He was here a second ago," Nami remarked, scanning the area around her.

"Oh, found him," Y/N declared as everyone turned to see Luffy launching himself toward Enies Lobby and landing on the fence.

Paulie shouted, "Why the hell is he doing things on his own?!"

"That man doesn't have a clue about the plan at all!" Zambai yelled, exasperated.

Nami knelt, facepalming. "It's useless."

"I thought he said, 'got it!'" Sanji added incredulously.

Sogeking stated bluntly, "He's not the type who can wait five minutes."

Zoro sighed, "We should've known."

"At least you're still here, right Y/N?" Chopper asked hopefully.

No response met him.

"Y/N?" Chopper's voice quivered with worry.

"Eh?" the Straw Hats echoed, looking around in confusion, unable to spot Y/N.

"Hey, don't tell me he..." Zoro muttered, a sinking feeling creeping through him.

Once again, everyone dashed to the window, just in time to see Y/N flying off the roof and crashing into the fence at Enies Lobby.

"Y/N!!" the Straw Hats shouted in unison.

"Not you, too!!" Nami exclaimed, bewildered.

"Ngagaga, those kids sure lack patience!" Kokoro chuckled.

"Go! Pirate guys!!" Chimney cheered.

With Y/N and Luffy...

"Oh, Y/N! You came!" Luffy shouted excitedly.

"Someone has to make sure you don't get lost," Y/N replied with a hint of amusement.

"Shishishi!" Luffy laughed.

"Gomu Gomu no... Rocket!!" Luffy declared as they launched upward, landing on a prominent flag that allowed them to observe the entire island from above.

"Whoa! What's this? What a big hole! The island's floating midair!" Luffy exclaimed, eyes wide.

Y/N explained, "Sort of... with the exception of a single bridge of land connecting the island to the sea, the island is basically floating above a hole in the ocean."

But trouble was imminent as the marines below spotted the boys. "Who's on top of the gate?!" a marine yelled.

"Intruders spotted! Kill them!" said another marine with urgency.

"Uh oh," Y/N muttered.

"They found us. Let's go!!" Luffy shouted, and the two jumped down the wall, sprinting towards the main gate.

"They went inside!!" Marine 1 shouted, pulling out a transponder snail. "This is the Main gate, reporting to the front gate officers!!"

A purple-haired man wearing a mask answered, "What is it? Is something wrong?"

Marine 1 replied urgently, "Two intruders have climbed over the main gate and are quickly approaching the Front gate!"

"If it's only two intruders, just kill them," Spandam commanded nonchalantly.

"No, they're—!" the marine was cut off as another marine interrupted.

"This is the Front Gate. We see the intruders. We'll get rid of them!" Marine 2 boasted confidently as he caught sight of Luffy and Y/N rushing toward them.

"Oi! Brats! Stop!" Officer 1 yelled.

"Do you know where you are?!" Officer 2 added, brandishing his weapon as a warning.

"Be careful, everyone!! If I'm not mistaken, the intruders are 'Straw Hat' Luffy and One Eye' Y/N!!"

"WHAT?!" Officer 3 exclaimed, stunned.

"SAY WHAT?!" Officer 4 joined in the shock.

"With a 100 million bounty!! And an 80 million bounty!! They're the Straw Hat pirates!!" the marine shouted.

"WHERE'S ROBIN?!" Luffy yelled, bulldozing his way through the ranks of marines.

Y/N grabbed a marine and tossed him into the air before kicking him into a group of other marines, clearing a chaotic path.

Suddenly, cannonballs and bullets began raining down on the duo, but Y/N floated effortlessly, halting the deadly barrage in mid-air.

"How is he—wait, I know that eye, it's the demon Red Eye!" one of the panicked marines shouted, recognition crystallizing in their minds.

The sight of Y/N sent shockwaves through their ranks as they panicked, some believing the rumors of his death were not true after all.

Through it all, Y/N maintained his cool demeanor, unfazed. He noticed two marines charging at Luffy with their swords and swiftly flew towards them to knock them out.

Against the onslaught, both boys continued to press forward, kicking and punching marines left and right until they finally arrived at the gate.

"Hah! Wah...!! Hold on there!!" an officer shouted directly in their path.

It was too late; they had forged ahead.

-x-

As Luffy and Y/N advanced, the Franky Family breached through the Main Gate, and the two boys found themselves suddenly surrounded by a multitude of marines.

"Hey, Straw Hat Luffy! Red Eye! So, where's the rest of your army? Hahaha!" one marine jeered.

"Just give up! You're completely surrounded!" another marine sneered.

"There are 10,000 soldiers in Enies Lobby!" came the boastful reply from the crowd.

Y/N scoffed, "Actually, considering the fact that you guys are just pawns."

"PAWNS?!"

"Yeah, pawns. The Marines usually send out their weakest soldiers to lower the enemy's stamina before the real soldiers arrive. If most of you leave now, I guarantee that you might just make it out of here. And to be honest, have any of you soldiers ever fought pirates with a bounty as high as Luffy's?"

Some marines began to look uneasy, stirred by the audacity of his words.

"What if he has a point?" one murmured.

"Yeah, what are we thinking?!" another voiced their concerns.

"Let's get out of here!" a few marines shouted in panic.

To their astonishment, over 1,000 soldiers abandoned their posts, leaving a stunned group in their wake.

"Now there are only about 7,500 soldiers left. This should be easy," Y/N grinned with a fox smile, cracking his knuckles.

"Yeah, and we're just two..." Luffy said, looking fired up as he cracked his knuckles, filled with the thrill of battle.

-x-

In another part of the chaos, Spandam paced nervously as he spoke through a transponder snail to one of his Marines. "So, what's the current status?"

"Sir. Kashii and Oimo should be dealing with them right now in front of the main island front gate. So I don't think there'll be any issues," the marine reported, his voice trembling slightly.

"I see. So, did you capture Straw Hat and Red Eye, the ones who infiltrated the main island?" Spandam probed impatiently.

"Well... er... this is just an estimate, but it's about six hundred—"

"Four hundred? What're you talking about?" Spandam interrupted, confused.

"Our casualties, sir!" came the hesitant reply.

-x-

Meanwhile, Luffy was still causing unchecked destruction to the main island, taking down several guards as he fought alongside Y/N, who also engaged in the fray with newfound vigor.

As Y/N turned around, spotting a large group of marines charging toward him, he built up energy for an attack. "Red Tornado!!"

He twirled in a whirl of power as his slashes sent marines flying into a daze.

"Wait?! Our casualties?! Are you saying that six hundred guards have been taken out?!" Spandam's voice squeaked with disbelief.

"It looks like there are 200 more down... and we heard that some soldiers have abandoned their post," the marine replied, crestfallen as he witnessed the aftermath of chaos caused by the two relentless Straw Hats.

"Uh... well then, here is the report. The current casualties we have are..." Before he could finish, another marine hit him with one of the soldiers that Y/N sent flying.

"Eight—gah!!" he squeaked before collapsing to the ground.

"Eight are down?! So it was actually just eight guards?! Geez... You can't even make a report properly?!" Spandam shouted in frustration.

-x-

Then there was a lull before chaos erupted again.

"Oi! Where did those two go?!" one marine cried, standing atop a building.

"They're right below you!!" another marine shouted.

"Gomu-Gomu no... Volcano!!" Luffy proclaimed, launching his signature attack in a building.

Marines nearby were blasted away in an instant.

Meanwhile, Y/N pushed on, shoving one of the walls toward the marines below. "Luffy!!"

"Yeah!!" Luffy responded, ready to unleash his next attack.

"Gomu Gomu no Gatling!!" Luffy bellowed, encompassing the marines in an onslaught of punches.

"AH!! WATCH OUT!!" cried one of the marines below as they witnessed the incoming destruction.

Above, Spandam received the alarming report from his marine below. "Spandam, sir, please respond!! Tell us how to proceed!! Straw Hat Luffy!! And Red Eye!! Have gotten through!!"

The marine was about to report further, but a shadow loomed above him. Looking back, he froze as Y/N glared menacingly down at him.

"Don't call me that," Y/N growled, his voice low and threatening before he knocked out the marine with a swift punch.

Clamor ensued as Luffy and Y/N felt a rumble during their fights.

"Whoa. That must be Nami. Oi, Luffy, looks like they're here," Y/N noted, briefly taking his focus from the fighting.

"They're here?! Great! Now, this should be fun! By the way, how many did you take down? I've taken down like 2300!!" Luffy boasted smugly.

"Whoa! That's amazing, Luffy! But unfortunately, I took down..." He punched down another marine. "4500..."

Luffy's eyes widened comically, "EH?! HOW?! THAT'S TOO MANY?!"

Y/N shrugged, "Well, you spent a lot of time running."

"Grrr! Whatever!! Just see! I won't lose! I'll beat up way more and take down that pigeon guy!" Luffy promised, his competitive spirit igniting.

As another wave of marines approached, they charged into battle, ready to fight once more.

"Luffy! Stop wasting time with these guys and go!" Y/N said insistently.

Before Luffy could respond, Y/N grabbed him by the vest and flung him toward the roof of the courthouse.

"Eh? EH? EH?! EEEEHHH?!!" Luffy yelled in confusion as he hurled through the air.

"Now, excuse me," Y/N said, diving headfirst into the fray, relentlessly punching, slashing, and kicking marines, causing chaos throughout the ranks.

Cries of fear echoed among the enemy soldiers. "GYYAAA!!!"

"C-COMMANDER!! HE'S SO SCARY!!" another marine squeaked in terror.

"HE'S A DEMON!!" another shouted.

"DON'T FALTER, YOU MORONS!!" the commander roared, but his bravado was short-lived when Y/N delivered a powerful kick, knocking him out of the battle entirely.

Taking a deep breath, Y/N slashed through the remaining marines, quickly showcasing his skill and prowess.

"Okay. Let's do this one final time," he said, gearing up for another rush.

With one decisive uppercut, Y/N defeated the last of the marines blocking his path.

"Phew. That was the last of them. I think..." he gasped, glancing around to assess his surroundings.

With determination, Y/N made a beeline toward the courthouse's entrance. "I hope you've already caught up to her, Luffy."

Some time later, upon arriving at the courthouse, Y/N was surprised to find the rest of the Straw Hats and Franky family already present, scattering into groups and planning their next moves.

"Frick!! I wasted too much time beating up the marines!!" he muttered to himself.

Peeking through the door, Y/N spotted Luffy standing in front of Blueno, who was bleeding. Luffy, visibly exhausted, held steam emanating from his body as he prepared for his next move.

"You really are tough. Then I'll show you something even more interesting," Luffy announced, his skin returning to its normal hue.

Luffy placed a thumb on his mouth, issuing forth with determination, "Watch this! Gear—!"

Before he could finish, Blueno fell defeated to the ground.

"Whoa. What was that?" Y/N asked, panting.

"Oh! Y/N! You made it. And that was a new technique that I created! But, man... I'm so exhausted," Luffy replied, wiping sweat from his brow.

"It must be some technique, huh? It looks like your body can't keep up yet," Y/N chuckled lightly.

"Well, I don't care about my body right now. I got set back quite a bit. That's where Robin is, right?" Luffy insisted, eying the main building intently.

"Yeah! That's the main building," Y/N confirmed.

-x-

Meanwhile, with Kokoro and Chimney:

"♪ Giants ♪ ♪ Giants ♪ Giants are our friends!!" Chimney sang happily.

"Ngagaga! Every single thing those guys do is interesting. Those who have common sense wouldn't meddle with this island. Just wait and see, Chimney. Whether they end up surviving this or dying, the entire world will be shocked to learn of this incident... Something that no one has been able to do in the past several hundred years. After this battle, the name of that straw hat kid and his crew will be known throughout the whole world!!" Kokoro proclaimed with pride.

-x-

Back with Luffy and Y/N, they walked to the edge of the rooftop and took a deep breath.

"ROOOOOOOBIIIIIN!! WE'VE COME FOR YOU!!!" Luffy shouted, their voices echoing through the air.

Luffy's stomach growled loudly, causing him to frown. "Ah... We did quite a bit of fighting, so... of course we're hungry!"

Y/N sighed, holding his stomach. "Yeah... Using the eye too much is burning more of my power."

"For a time like this, I packed... a meal!" Luffy exclaimed triumphantly, pulling out two pieces of meat one would love to devour.

"Oh! Great. If we each eat a piece, then I'm sure we'll have enough energy too..." Y/N started.

"Sorry. Could you say that again? I couldn't hear," Luffy said, mouth full of chewed meat.

"Yeah, I should have seen that coming," Y/N remarked, rolling his eyes.

Luffy swallowed the last morsel and announced cheerfully, "Yosh! My power's back!"

Y/N couldn't help but sigh. "Whatever."

Suddenly, a blast rang out from a nearby balcony as the smoke cleared to reveal Robin and Franky.

"HEEEY!! ROBIIIIN!!!" Luffy called out, joy radiating from him.

Y/N focused his gaze on Robin, noticing the bruise on her left cheek. "Robin..."

"Y/N... Luffy..." she replied, her voice filled with emotion.

Luffy noticed Franky beside her. "Looks like Franky's there, too. Yosh! Just wait there!" He took a step back.

Luffy turned with purpose, "It's far, but I'll try shooting myself there."

"I'll try flying there," Y/N decided, pulling off his eye patch.

Just as he was about to, Robin shouted, "WAIT!!!"

"Huh?! What's wro— OOF!!" Robin's urgent cry caused Y/N to trip, unwittingly sliding across the floor and crashing against the wall in an almost comedic fashion.

"Ow," he mumbled, rubbing his head in disbelief.

"I've told you so many times already! I won't return to you guys! Go away!! I never want to see your faces again!! Why did you come to rescue me?!" Robin erupted, her expression pained.

Luffy halted, disheartened by her words, while Y/N simply stood there, arms crossed.

"Robin! I JUST... WANT TO DIE!!!" she cried out, the weight of her despair crashing over them like waves.

A heavy silence enveloped the room, leaving everyone speechless.

Y/N broke the stillness, bewildered. "...eh?"

Franky stumbled forward to ask what on earth was going on but was silenced by a swift kick to the face from Robin.

In the vicinity, figures clothed in black suits emerged, their presence imposing.

"CP9..." Y/N whispered under his breath, tension mounting.

Luffy took a determined stance beside him. "You wanna die?!"

"That's right!!" Robin shot back defiantly.

A shadowy figure spoke from among them. "Hey, Chief. If we go over there quickly and eliminate those guys, wouldn't that end this whole thing?"

Spandam chuckled sinisterly. "Well, just wait. Those two, who came all this way to rescue their crew member, now find her turning down their rescue at the very end... Have you guys seen something that interesting before?"

"Robin! Is death what you want?" Y/N questioned with genuine concern.

"Wahahah!! Listen to his grievous screams!! I wonder what the look on their faces is going to be!!" Spandam cackled, enjoying the torment.

"What the hell are you talking about?!" Luffy queried, picking his nose with a casualness that caught Y/N off guard.

"And of all the ways to die that exist, you decide to do it with the Government? I thought you were supposed to be the smart one, Robin," Y/N remarked casually, leaning back on a wall, counting his money as if unfazed by the chaos surrounding them.

"EH!!? HE'S PICKING HIS NOSE!!! AND THE OTHER ONE IS SO RELAXED!!" Spandam shouted in disbelief.

"Listen, Robin!! We've come all this way!!" Luffy pleaded, and suddenly a massive hole opened up in the roof behind them.

Out through the opening, two figures flew downward.

Nami and Chopper landed, their entrance dramatic.

"Landed. Y/N, are you okay?!" Nami exclaimed, her voice sharp with concern.

"I'm fine. You?" Y/N returned with a calm demeanor.

"I'll live," Nami affirmed, though Chopper crashed disheveled, landing right on his head.

"Oof!" Chopper squeaked out, dazed.

Luffy suddenly turned serious. "If you still wanna die after that, you can die then!"

Zoro climbed out from above, appearing from the chaos. "I should've come up here like this from the start."

"Nami! So it really was you! We were okay because we were on the outskirts of the attack, but if we'd been right in the middle of it, we would've died!" Nami exclaimed, relieved.

"Huh? What happened to you guys?" Zoro asked in confusion.

Just then, Sanji blasted through another hole in the roof, landing victoriously. "Hiyaa!! Dash! Boar Stew Shoot!" He skillfully flipped before landing with a dab, his confidence brimming.

"I'm the first to arrive, without a doubt. Now, I've kept Robin-chan waiting. I'm coming to rescue—MOSS!!" he noticed Zoro, eyes blazing.

"Moss-head!! How come you got here before me?" Sanji challenged, eyes narrowing at Zoro.

"Hmm? What took you so long? Did you get lost?" Zoro teased back.

Suddenly, a distant scream echoed, drawing their attention.

"AAAAAHHHH!!!" Sogeking flew through the air, having been thrown by someone.

"Chopper!!" Nami yelled.

"He's flying!!" Chopper squeaked, amazed.

"What's he been doing all this time?" Sanji wondered aloud.

"Is he... gonna land safely?" Zoro asked, anxiety creeping into his voice.

Sogeking crashed into a heap at their feet.

Luffy stood up, ambiguity filling his every word. "Robin!! I don't know if you meant what you said!! But I don't care whether you choose to live or die!! But whatever you decide... SAY IT WHILE YOU'RE WITH US!!!"

"Luffy!" Sanji called out, urgency circling in his voice.

"Robin, come back!!" Chopper begged, fear painting his eyes.

Tears began to pool in Robin's eyes, doubt creeping into her heart.

Y/N stood between Luffy and Zoro, supportively leaning toward Robin.

"NOW, LEAVE EVERYTHING TO US!!" Luffy shouted, a wave of resolve washing over him.

"So, how do we get to the other side?" Y/N asked, breaking through the tension.

"There's a drawbridge down there," Zoro replied firmly.

"A drawbridge?" Luffy echoed, intrigued.

"Yeah. The Franky Family is currently fighting to bring it down. Once it comes down, we can go over to the other side at once," Zoro explained.

Sanji added, "Geez... When it's right in front of us..."

"HEY, CP9! LISTEN! I GIVE YOU PERMISSION TO WIPE 'EM OUT, BUT TAKE THEM DOWN AT THE 'TOWER OF JUSTICE'!! IT'S NOT LIKE THEY COULD GET UP HERE TO BEGIN WITH!!" Spandam yelled, his ego unwavering.

"WAAHAHAHA!! YOU STUPID PIRATES!! DO YOU REALIZE THAT NO MATTER HOW BRAVE YOU ARE, NOTHING WOULD EVER CHANGE!!? WE HAVE THE FULL STRENGTH OF AN ASSASSIN GROUP, CP9!! WE HAVE THE HEAVY 'GATES OF JUSTICE' THAT HUMAN POWER CANNOT OPEN!! MOREOVER, I NOW HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO USE THIS GOLDEN TRANSPONDER SNAIL TO TRIGGER THE 'BUSTER CALL'!!"

He held up a golden transponder snail, threateningly.

"!!! The Buster Call...!!" Robin gasped as horror filled her expression.

"That's right. It's the power that wiped out your hometown exactly twenty years ago, Nico Robin. I remember that the following year, the name 'Ohara' had been wiped off the map," Spandam sneered, relishing the anguish he stirred.

"Robin's hometown?!" Chopper cried out, shocked.

"Shitty mask. I wanna kick him down into the waterfall right now!!" Sanji fumed, fiery hatred fueling his thoughts.

"That would be too nice for him," Y/N added, glaring while steeling himself.

"I don't have anywhere to go. Nor anywhere to return to," Robin murmured, the weight of despair reflected in her eyes.

Luffy fell silent, his conscience churning with unease.

"STOP IT!! DON'T DO THAT!!" Robin shouted, desperately imploring Spandam to reconsider.

"Oooo, I like that response. It's very thrilling. Wha?! Does that mean I should press this Buster Call's trigger? Eh? Hm?!" Spandam mocked her, his sinister grin plastered across his face.

"Do you even know what'll happen if you press it?!" Robin seethed, emotions bubbling to the surface. "You mustn't use it. Not that. Never...! If you exercise a Buster Call right here, right now, you'll blow up too—along with Enies Lobby..."

"D-Don't be ridiculous! There's no way we'd be eliminated by our own people's attack! What're you talking about?!" Spandam protested, a hint of concern creeping into his voice.

"Twenty years ago... just one attack took everything from me and ruined the lives of many people! That is the Buster Call!!" Robin cried, conveying her painful history into the air around them.

Hope you enjoyed the story!!!

A/N: Will continue on One Eye Demon Eye 2!!!