Chapter 116: The Dawn of Uncertainty
The southeastern coast of the Sandora River delta was a place of serene beauty, especially in the early hours of the morning. The sun had yet to fully rise, and the sky was painted in hues of deep blue and soft orange, with the faintest glimmer of sunlight peeking over the horizon. The air was cool and crisp, carrying with it the faint scent of saltwater and the earthy aroma of the nearby desert. The gentle lapping of the river against the shore provided a soothing rhythm, a stark contrast to the tension that hung over the Going Merry.
The ship was anchored just off the coast, its sails furled and its deck bathed in the dim light of dawn. The crew was gathered on the deck, their faces etched with worry and impatience. Nami leaned against the railing, her arms crossed as she stared out at the horizon. Zoro sat cross-legged near the mast, his three swords resting beside him, his expression as stoic as ever. Usopp paced back and forth, muttering to himself, while Gin leaned against the ship's wheel, his sharp eyes scanning the shoreline. Chopper sat on the deck, his small frame curled up as he nervously fiddled with his hooves. Sanji stood near the galley door, a cigarette dangling from his lips, his usual calm demeanor replaced by a furrowed brow. Princess Vivi stood near the bow, her hands clasped tightly in front of her, her loyal duck Karoo by her side.
The silence was broken by Usopp, who stopped pacing and turned to face the others. "Okay, I can't take this anymore! Where is he? He said he'd be back by now, right? It's been hours! What if something happened to him? What if he's been captured by the Marines? Or worse—what if he's been double-crossed by that informant?!"
Nami sighed, pushing herself off the railing and turning to face Usopp. "Calm down, Usopp. Goku's not the kind of guy who gets caught easily. You know that. He's probably just… busy. Or maybe he's still hiding from Smoker. You saw how intense things were back in Nanohana."
"Busy? Busy doing what?" Usopp exclaimed, throwing his hands in the air. "He went to meet some informant, and now he's just… gone! What if this informant is actually working for Crocodile? What if they lured him into a trap?!"
Zoro, who had been silent up until now, opened one eye and glanced at Usopp. "Relax, Usopp. Goku's not an idiot. If he thought this informant was dangerous, he wouldn't have gone alone. He's probably just… taking his time."
"Taking his time?!" Usopp repeated, his voice rising an octave. "We're in the middle of a mission here! We don't have time for him to be 'taking his time'! What if Crocodile's already moving his plans forward while we're sitting here waiting for Goku to show up?!"
Vivi, who had been quietly listening to the conversation, stepped forward, her voice calm but filled with concern. "Usopp, I understand your worry. I'm worried too. But we have to trust Goku. He's the captain, and he's proven time and time again that he can handle himself. If he's not back yet, there must be a good reason."
Sanji took a long drag from his cigarette and exhaled a plume of smoke. "Vivi's right. Goku's not the type to leave us hanging. He's probably got his hands full with something. Maybe he's still dealing with Smoker. Or maybe he's gathering more information from that informant. Either way, we just have to wait."
"Wait?!" Usopp shouted, his voice cracking. "That's all we ever do! Wait for Goku to show up, wait for the next disaster to happen, wait for Crocodile to make his move! We can't just sit around forever!"
Chopper, who had been nervously fidgeting, looked up at Usopp with wide eyes. "Usopp, please calm down. Getting worked up isn't going to help anyone. Goku will come back. He always does."
Usopp groaned, running a hand through his hair. "I know, I know. But it's just… frustrating, you know? We're supposed to be a team, but sometimes it feels like Goku's off doing his own thing while the rest of us are left in the dark."
Gin, who had been quietly observing the conversation, finally spoke up, his voice low and measured. "Goku's not the type to leave his crew behind. If he's not back yet, it's because he's dealing with something important. We just have to trust him."
Nami nodded in agreement. "Gin's right. Goku's not the kind of captain who abandons his crew. He's probably out there right now, gathering information or planning our next move. We just have to be patient."
"Patient?" Usopp muttered, slumping down onto the deck. "I hate being patient."
Zoro smirked, closing his eye again. "Then maybe you should take a nap. It'll make the time go by faster."
Usopp shot Zoro a glare. "Very funny, Zoro. Real helpful."
Vivi walked over to Usopp and placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder. "Usopp, I know it's hard, but we have to stay strong. Goku's counting on us to be ready when he gets back. We can't let him down."
Usopp sighed, his shoulders slumping. "I know, Vivi. I just… I just wish we knew what was going on."
Sanji flicked the ash off his cigarette and leaned against the galley door. "Well, until Goku gets back, there's not much we can do except wait. And maybe eat. I could whip up something to pass the time."
Chopper's ears perked up at the mention of food. "Really, Sanji? That sounds great! I'm starving!"
Nami rolled her eyes. "Of course you are, Chopper. You're always starving."
Chopper pouted. "Hey, I'm a growing reindeer! I need my nutrients!"
Sanji chuckled, pushing himself off the door. "Alright, alright. I'll get started on breakfast. Maybe by the time it's ready, Goku will be back."
As Sanji disappeared into the galley, the crew fell into a somewhat uneasy silence. The tension was still there, but the promise of food seemed to have lightened the mood slightly. Nami walked over to the railing and stared out at the horizon, her arms crossed. Zoro remained seated near the mast, his eyes closed as if in meditation. Usopp sat on the deck, his chin resting on his knees, while Chopper leaned against him, his small frame trembling slightly. Gin stood by the wheel, his sharp eyes still scanning the shoreline. Vivi stood near the bow, her hands clasped tightly in front of her, her gaze fixed on the distant horizon.
The minutes ticked by, the silence only broken by the occasional sound of Sanji cooking in the galley. The sun was slowly rising, casting a golden glow over the river and the surrounding landscape. The crew's worry was palpable, but they all knew that there was nothing they could do except wait.
The crew's silence was interrupted by a sudden gust of wind that swept across the deck of the Going Merry. The sails flapped loudly, and the ship rocked slightly as the wind intensified. Chopper, who had been leaning against Usopp, yelped and clung to the sniper's leg. Usopp, startled, looked around wildly. "What's happening?! Is it a storm?!"
Nami's eyes narrowed as she scanned the sky. "No… it's not a storm. The wind's coming from… above?"
Before anyone could react, a familiar voice rang out from the heavens, loud and full of energy. "Hey, guys! Did you miss me?"
The crew's heads snapped upward, and their eyes widened in shock as they saw a figure descending rapidly from the sky. It was Goku, his silhouette framed against the rising sun. His straw hat, which had been knocked off by the force of his descent, was spinning wildly through the air, while his tail—wrapped tightly around his waist—swayed slightly as he fell. His spiky black hair stood tall, defying gravity as usual, and his trademark grin was plastered across his face.
"Goku!" Vivi exclaimed, her voice filled with relief and surprise.
Usopp's jaw dropped. "He's… he's falling from the sky! Is he crazy?!"
Zoro smirked, crossing his arms. "Of course he is. That's just how he rolls."
Goku's descent slowed as he neared the ship, his body glowing faintly with a golden aura. He landed on the deck with a soft thud, his feet barely making a sound as he touched down. The crew stared at him in stunned silence for a moment before chaos erupted.
"Goku! Where have you been?!" Nami shouted, her hands on her hips as she marched over to him. "Do you have any idea how worried we were?!"
Goku scratched the back of his head, his grin turning sheepish. "Ah, sorry about that, Nami. Things got a little… complicated."
"Complicated?!" Usopp screeched, waving his arms wildly. "You disappear for an entire day, and all you can say is 'things got complicated'?! Do you know how many horrible scenarios we came up with?!"
Chopper, still clinging to Usopp's leg, nodded vigorously. "We thought you'd been captured by the Marines! Or double-crossed by that informant! Or worse!"
Goku chuckled, his tail unwrapping from his waist and swishing lazily behind him. "Well, I'm here now, aren't I? And I've got some important news."
Sanji, who had emerged from the galley with a plate of food in hand, raised an eyebrow. "Important news, huh? Did you at least get something useful out of that informant?"
Goku's grin widened. "Oh, you could say that. But first…" He reached out and caught his straw hat as it finally descended, placing it back on his head with a flourish. "Let's eat! I'm starving!"
The crew groaned In unison, their worry and frustration melting into exasperation. Nami pinched the bridge of her nose, muttering under her breath, "Of course. Of course he's thinking about food."
Sanji, however, smirked and set the plate down on the deck. "Well, at least he's got his priorities straight. Dig in, Captain."
Goku didn't need to be told twice. He plopped down on the deck and began devouring the food with his usual gusto, his tail wagging slightly as he ate. The crew gathered around him, their earlier tension replaced by a mix of relief and curiosity.
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