The waters of the New World, just beyond the Red Line, were notoriously unforgiving. The weather was erratic, the waves were jagged, and the Marine presence was vastly different from the bureaucratic, structured patrols of Paradise.
Here, the Marines of the G-5 Branch operated. They were known as a unit of rogues, misfits, and brutal fighters who bordered on being pirates themselves.
Currently, a squadron of G-5 Marine battleships had formed a tight, aggressive blockade near the surfacing point of the underwater currents. They were waiting to intercept any pirate crews attempting to enter the New World from Fish-Man Island.
"Captain!" a scarred, unruly G-5 Marine shouted from the crow's nest. "A pirate ship just surfaced from the deep currents! They're trying to break through the right flank!"
"Sink them!" another Marine yelled, loading a cannon. "Don't let a single piece of pirate trash into our waters!"
The pirate ship, desperate and panicked, fired a preemptive cannonball directly toward the lead Marine vessel. The heavy iron sphere arched through the air, whistling dangerously as it aimed to shatter the main mast.
Before the cannonball could strike, a blur of motion launched from the deck of the Marine ship.
Clang-shing!
With a flash of polished steel, the heavy cannonball was cleanly sliced in half mid-air. The two halves flew harmlessly past the ship, splashing into the turbulent ocean.
Landing gracefully on the railing of the ship was a young woman wearing a pink floral shirt, a heavy Marine Captain's coat draped over her shoulders, and rectangular glasses. Tashigi sheathed her beloved sword, Shigure, with a sharp click.
She turned around to face her cheering, rowdy subordinates.
"Captain Tashigi is so cool!" a G-5 Marine cheered, waving his rifle.
"Don't just stand there and cheer, you idiots!" Tashigi scolded, her brow furrowing in strict reprimand. "You left the right flank completely exposed! Maintain the formation! If they try to board, repel them immediately! We are Marines, act like it!"
"Yes, Ma'am!" the rough Marines saluted, oddly terrified and deeply respectful of their bespectacled captain.
While Tashigi directed the naval combat, a much quieter, more intense scene was unfolding below decks.
Inside the brig of the command ship, Vice Admiral Smoker sat on a wooden crate. He wore his thick, fur-lined white coat, two cigars burning simultaneously in his mouth, filling the damp room with a thick haze of smoke. His heavy jitte rested against his shoulder.
Kneeling on the floor in front of him were several battered, exhausted human pirates. They were the men who had been enslaved by Hody Jones and forced to attack the Hard-Shell Tower. They had managed to escape Fish-Man Island after the Straw Hats defeated the extremists, but their luck had run out the moment they surfaced into Smoker's blockade.
"I'll ask you one more time," Smoker growled, exhaling a thick cloud of white smoke. "You claim Hody Jones took you hostage. You claim an army of a hundred thousand fish-men extremists were planning to overthrow the Ryugu Kingdom."
"Y-Yes, sir!" the pirate captain stammered, sweating profusely. "It was hell! We were slaves! They were going to force us to open the gates to the palace!"
"But you're here," Smoker noted, his sharp eyes narrowing. "And according to our intelligence wire, the Ryugu Kingdom is perfectly intact. Hody Jones is currently rotting in a palace dungeon. So... who stopped him? Because it certainly wasn't you weaklings."
The pirates exchanged nervous, terrified glances.
Before leaving Fish-Man Island, they had all silently agreed to keep the Straw Hat Pirates' involvement a secret. Despite being pirates themselves, they recognized that Luffy and his crew had inadvertently saved them from a life of slavery. Ratting them out to a Marine Vice Admiral felt like the ultimate betrayal.
"Uh... it was... the King!" one pirate lied poorly. "King Neptune's army! They fought them off!"
"Don't lie to me," Smoker said, his voice dropping an octave. The tip of his jitte sparked. "The Neptune Army is strong, but they don't have the numbers to instantly neutralize a hundred thousand extremists without a massive, protracted civil war. Something else happened. Someone else was there."
Smoker leaned forward, the smoke curling around his hardened face. "Who defeated Hody Jones?"
The pirates gulped. The pressure in the room was suffocating.
"N-Nobody!" the captain insisted, his voice cracking. "Hody just... tripped! He fell down the stairs and knocked himself out!"
Smoker let out a long, heavy sigh. He stood up, his body slowly dissolving into thick, swirling white smoke.
"I don't have time for this," Smoker grunted.
"Wait! Wait! We'll talk!" a younger pirate in the back shrieked, completely breaking under the Vice Admiral's intimidation. "We didn't see it all, but we heard the guards talking! It was a human! A human stopped the invasion!"
"Shut up, you idiot!" his captain hissed.
"A human?" Smoker paused, his smoky form solidifying back into his physical body. "What human?"
"I-I don't know his full name!" the terrified pirate cried. "But the guards were all talking about him! They said their captain wore a Straw Hat or something!"
The brig went dead silent.
Smoker's eyes widened slightly. He slowly reached up, adjusting the cigars in his mouth.
A slow, fierce, highly anticipated grin spread across the Vice Admiral's scarred face.
"Straw Hat," Smoker muttered, the name tasting familiar and satisfying on his tongue. He turned around, walking toward the door of the brig. "So, you finally made it to the New World."
Smoker slammed the iron door shut behind him. "Tashigi! Tell the navigators to recalibrate! We're shifting our patrol grid! The prey is finally surfacing!"
Fish-Man Island - Coral Hill
Far beneath the aggressive waters of the New World, Fish-Man Island was peaceful. The chaotic events of the past few days had settled, leaving a profound sense of optimism in the kingdom.
Inside the dimly lit Mermaid Cafe, Camie was wiping down a table, humming a cheerful tune. The Straw Hat Pirates were scheduled to depart in an hour, and she wanted to finish her shift early so she could see them off.
The door to the private lounge opened. Madam Shyarly, the towering shortfin mako shark mermaid, glided into the room, her long pipe resting in her hand.
"Madam Shyarly," Camie smiled. "The Straw Hats are leaving soon. Are you coming to the docks to say goodbye?"
Shyarly paused. She looked at the young, energetic mermaid, then let out a slow puff of purple smoke.
"I will permit you and the rest of the staff to go," Shyarly said softly. "But I will stay behind for a bit."
Camie frowned, setting her rag down. "Are you still worried about the prediction, Madam?"
Shyarly walked over to a small cabinet and opened it. Inside, resting on a velvet cushion, were the shattered, jagged remains of her massive crystal ball.
Camie gasped. "It broke!!!"
"I smashed it myself," Shyarly confirmed, closing the cabinet door. She looked at her hands. "I have no desire to see the future ever again, Camie. Knowing what is to come is a curse, not a gift. It robbed me of the ability to hope."
Camie looked at her boss sympathetically. She knew Shyarly had been deeply tormented by the vision of Luffy standing amidst the island's destruction. Even though the Straw Hats had saved the kingdom, the vision was absolute. It hadn't come to pass yet, which only meant it was waiting in the near future.
"I understand," Camie said softly.
Shyarly turned to Camie, her sharp eyes softening. "Camie... when you see Straw Hat Luffy at the docks... please apologize to him for me. Tell him I am sorry for suspecting him, and for raising the alarm."
"I will," Camie smiled warmly. "I'll tell him."
Ryugu Palace Docks
The harbor near Ryugu Palace was absolutely packed. It seemed as though half the population of Fish-Man Island had gathered to see the famous pirate crew off.
The Thousand Sunny was fully prepped, looking pristine and majestic within its newly applied, heavy-duty Yar Yarman resin coating. The massive bubble enveloped the ship perfectly, shimmering in the artificial sunlight.
Standing on the docks were King Neptune, his three sons, the Ministers, Jinbe, Hatchan, Pappag, Camie, and hundreds of royal guards and civilians.
And towering over all of them, currently back in her original, fifty-foot-tall giant mermaid form, was Princess Shirahoshi.
Ben's transfiguration magic had safely worn off the previous night. She was back in her natural state, but the fear that used to bind her was completely gone.
"WAAAAAAAAAH!"
Or at least, the fear was gone. The tears, however, were currently flowing like dual waterfalls, splashing heavily onto the stone docks.
"Luffy-sama!" Shirahoshi bawled, wiping her massive eyes with her hands. "Please do not leave so soon! You just saved us! We haven't even had a proper picnic in the forest!"
Luffy, standing on the deck of the Sunny, crossed his arms and scowled.
"Stop crying, Scaredy-Cat!" Luffy yelled back. "You're flooding the dock! We're pirates! We can't just stay in one place forever! We have to go to the New World!"
"But I will miss you all so much!" she sobbed, completely ignoring his scolding.
While Luffy argued with the weeping princess, Nami was standing near the gangplank, engaged in a very serious conversation with the Minister of the Left.
"Navigator Nami," the Minister said, holding out a beautifully crafted, polished wooden box. "Please, take this. It is a gift from the Ryugu Kingdom. You will need it where you are going."
Nami opened the box. Inside was a specialized Log Pose. It was larger than her standard wrist compass, and instead of a single glass dome with one needle, this device had three distinct glass domes, each housing its own needle.
"A Log Pose with three needles?" Nami frowned, strapping it to her wrist. "Why do I need three?"
The Minister adjusted his glasses. "The first half of the Grand Line—Paradise—relies on magnetic chains to guide you from island to island. The standard Log Pose locks onto the magnetic force of the next island and guides you safely."
The Minister's face turned incredibly grim.
"The New World is entirely different," he warned. "In the New World, the magnetic fields are chaotic, erratic, and constantly shifting. A normal Log Pose will spin wildly and become completely useless. If you rely on it, you will be lost at sea forever."
Nami swallowed hard. "Okay... so how does this one work?"
"The New World Log Pose locks onto three separate islands simultaneously," the Minister explained, pointing to the three needles. "From here on out, you will not have a set path. You will have to choose your own route by following one of the three needles. But there is a catch."
"A catch?" Usopp squeaked, leaning in closer. Chopper hid behind his leg.
"Yes," the Minister nodded. "The islands in the New World are incredibly dangerous. The more a needle shakes and vibrates inside its dome, the more erratic and hazardous the magnetic field of that island is. In short... the more the needle shakes, the more dangerous the island will be."
Nami looked down at her wrist. All three needles were locked onto different paths. One needle was perfectly still. The second needle was twitching slightly.
The third needle was vibrating so violently it looked like it was having a seizure, practically vibrating out of its casing.
Nami's face drained of all color. She slammed her hands onto her cheeks. "WHAT?! SO WE HAVE TO CHOOSE BETWEEN BAD, WORSE, AND ABSOLUTE HELL?!"
"Exactly," the Minister confirmed solemnly. "You must always choose the most stable needle to ensure your survival."
"Oooooh!"
Luffy's head suddenly popped over Nami's shoulder. His eyes locked onto the violently shaking third needle. A massive, ear-to-ear grin spread across his face.
"Look how much that one is shaking, Nami!" Luffy cheered, pointing excitedly at the erratic needle. "That island must be super dangerous! I bet there are giant monsters and volcanoes! We have to go to that one!"
"WE ARE NOT GOING TO THAT ONE!" Nami shrieked, punching Luffy in the head. "ARE YOU INSANE?! WE ARE GOING TO THE QUIET, PEACEFUL ISLAND!"
"I agree with Nami!" Usopp wailed, crying anime tears. "The shaking needle means death! I have 'Can't-Go-To-Shaking-Islands' disease!"
"Me too!" Chopper sobbed, hugging Usopp's leg.
"Shishishi! But danger is fun!" Luffy laughed, rubbing the bump on his head.
While the cowardly trio argued with the captain over navigation routes, Ben walked to the edge of the ship, looking down at the massive, still-crying Princess Shirahoshi.
"Princess," Ben called out smoothly.
Shirahoshi sniffled, wiping her eyes. "Y-Yes, Magician-sama?"
Ben reached into his suit jacket. He pulled out a delicate, beautifully crafted silver locket attached to a long, sturdy silver chain.
With a flick of his wrist, Ben tossed the locket. It floated gracefully through the air, expanding in size as it flew, until it was large enough to fit perfectly around the giant mermaid's neck.
Shirahoshi caught the pendant, looking at it in surprise. It wasn't a standard locket. The silver casing had two small, distinct buttons embedded in the side.
"The transfiguration magic I used on you yesterday was temporary," Ben explained, adjusting his glasses.
Shirahoshi nodded sadly. She had loved walking on legs, but she knew it was fleeting.
"However," Ben smiled faintly. "I don't like leaving jobs half-finished. That locket is enchanted using the core properties of my spatial and transfiguration powers. It is permanently bound to your blood."
Ben pointed to the device. "If you press the top button, the magic will temporarily compress your mass, shrinking you down to the size of a normal human. If you press the bottom button, it will transfigure your tail into legs, along with a suitable outfit. Press them again to revert. The effect lasts for twelve hours before needing to recharge."
Neptune, Jinbe, and the Princes stared at the locket in absolute, jaw-dropping shock.
"You... you gave her the ability to change forms at will?!" Fukaboshi gasped.
"It's just a bit of advanced alchemy," Ben waved a hand dismissively. "You spent ten years locked in a dark room, Princess. When you feel brave enough to explore the surface world, or if you just want to walk through your own city without knocking over buildings... use the locket."
Shirahoshi's tears of sadness instantly transformed into tears of overwhelming joy. She clutched the silver locket to her chest, bowing her massive head as deeply as she could.
"Thank you, Magician-sama!" Shirahoshi wept happily. "This is the greatest gift anyone has ever given me! I will treasure it forever!"
"Hey! Everyone!" Franky yelled from the helm, his metallic arms locked onto the ship's wheel. "The buoyancy chambers are primed! The coating is stable! The Thousand Sunny is SUUUUPER ready for liftoff!"
"It's time to go," Zoro grunted, stepping up to the railing.
"Goodbye, everyone!" Vivi waved enthusiastically.
"Quack!" Caroo saluted.
"Take care of yourselves!" Sanji called out to the mermaids, weeping heavily. "I will return to this paradise one day!"
"Jinbe!" Luffy yelled from the bow. "We'll see you in the New World! Tell Ace we're coming!"
Jinbe smiled warmly, bowing his head. "I will, Luffy-kun. May the currents favor you."
"Release the anchors!" Nami ordered.
Clank!
The heavy iron anchors detached from the seafloor. The Thousand Sunny, encased in its massive resin bubble, immediately began to rise. The ship floated upward, leaving the docks of Fish-Man Island and ascending into the dark, open water of the deep sea.
"Goodbye! Goodbye!" the citizens of Coral Hill cheered, waving their hands as the pirate ship rose higher and higher.
The ship drifted up into the ocean column. The lights of Fish-Man Island slowly began to shrink below them.
Just as they thought their farewells were over, a massive shadow appeared outside the bubble.
Shirahoshi had swum up after them. She hovered right outside the resin coating, looking at the crew through the shimmering film. She wasn't crying anymore. She had a wide, determined smile on her face.
"Luffy-sama!" Shirahoshi called out, her voice muffled but audible through the water.
Luffy walked to the edge of the deck, looking out at her. "What's up, Scaredy-Cat?"
"I made a vow!" Shirahoshi declared proudly. "The next time we meet, I promise I will not cry! I will be a brave Princess of the Ryugu Kingdom!"
"Good!" Luffy grinned broadly. "Crying is annoying anyway!"
Shirahoshi pressed her massive hands against the resin bubble. "Luffy-sama... if we meet again... will you take me on another walk? But next time... will you take me on a walk in a real forest? Under the real sun?"
Luffy didn't hesitate. He stretched his rubbery arm forward, pressing his pinky finger against the inside of the bubble, directly mirroring where Shirahoshi's massive pinky rested on the outside.
"It's a promise!" Luffy declared loudly. "When we come back, we'll take you to the surface! We'll show you the whole world!"
The rest of the Straw Hat crew stepped up to the railing, standing shoulder-to-shoulder with their captain.
"We'll hold him to it," Nami smiled, pressing her hand against the bubble.
"It is a knight's vow," Sanji added.
"We will show you the trees of Elbaf!" Dory and Brogy roared.
"We'll bring you the best medicines from the surface!" Chopper cheered.
"And I'll sing you a song under the sunlight!" Brook tipped his hat.
Shirahoshi beamed, her heart soaring. "Thank you! All of you! I will wait for you!"
With a final, joyful wave, Shirahoshi turned and swam gracefully back down toward the glowing lights of Fish-Man Island.
The Thousand Sunny continued its ascent, rising steadily through the dark, cold waters of the deep sea.
The atmosphere on the deck shifted. The vacation was officially over. The crew looked upward, staring into the dark blue water that separated them from the surface.
Luffy walked to the sun-lion figurehead. He sat down, crossing his legs, his hands resting on his knees. He looked up, his dark eyes burning with an intense, unyielding fire.
He thought about his brother, Ace, ruling as an Emperor. He thought about Rayleigh, the Dark King who had tested his strength.
But mostly, he thought about the man who had given him the straw hat currently resting on his head.
"Shanks," Luffy whispered to himself, a massive, excited grin stretching across his face.
He was finally doing it. He was finally entering the sea where his idol sailed. The sea where the strongest monsters in the world fought for supremacy.
"Alright, guys," Ben said, stepping up behind the captain. He adjusted his glasses, looking at the rapidly brightening water above them. "Check your gear. Secure the loose cargo. The currents above the Red Line are unforgiving."
"We're ready," Zoro grunted, drawing Wado Ichimonji slightly and clicking it back into the scabbard.
"Let the New World try and sink us," Franky grinned, his Arc Reactor glowing. "This ship can survive anything."
"I've got the route," Nami said, staring determinedly at her three-needle Log Pose, specifically keeping her eyes off the violently shaking one.
Luffy stood up on the figurehead. He threw his arms wide open, welcoming the challenge.
"BRING IT ON!" Luffy roared, his voice echoing through the bubble. "WE'RE COMING FOR THE ONE PIECE!"
The water above them grew blindingly bright. The Thousand Sunny breached the surface, bursting out of the ocean and catching the violent, erratic winds of the final sea.
The Straw Hat Pirates had officially entered the New World.