(Author's note: I invite you to go back to the previous chapter — I added a little gift in the final comment.)
The Merry was cutting through the waves serenely, the noise of the port behind us now just a distant echo. On the horizon, the sky opened up, clear and almost calm after the chaos of Kotzia.I could even make out, far away, the silhouettes of Eisah's mimic fleet — returning to port to reassert control. A symbolic chase, a show staged for the eyes of the world. From now on, East Blue had a new leader for their bounty hunters.
I turned to the crew, a slight smile at the corner of my lips."Now that we're far enough away… I want to show you something."
Sanji raised an eyebrow, blowing out a puff of smoke."What are you up to now, Jordan?"
"Two things. But first…" I said as I placed my hand on the railing. "I'd like to show you the true form of the Merry."
All heads turned.I glanced at Kazuki.Her heart shone with warm, peaceful gold the sign of a just soul — but I preferred to be clear.
"What you're about to see is a crew secret. Nothing leaves this deck."
Kazuki nodded immediately, her expression serious but respectful."Understood. I'm one of you. I won't betray anything."
I stepped up to the figurehead — the sculpted sheep's head.I placed my hand on it…and my Keyblade materialized in the other hand, light and familiar.
"Open," I murmured.
The invisible lock, which only I could see, clicked.And then…
A gentle light neither blinding nor burning enveloped the Merry.The planks vibrated.The ropes pulled taut.The wood began to breathe.The hull expanded, growing larger.The deck widened.The masts stretched skyward, becoming three tall sails, tense like wings.
It was no longer a caravel.It was a clipper fast, elegant, made to sail the seas of the world.And before us, in a halo crackling like an aurora…a figure appeared.
She looked like a young girl, maybe fifteen or sixteen, wearing a soft white coat and a round hat topped with little sheep horns.Her eyes were gentle, almost shy, but as bright as sunlight on water.
"Hello…" she said in a calm, almost singing voice. "I am Merry. Thank you for bringing me to life."
Around her appeared four small creatures, like elemental familiars:A black turtle, seated on a small floating rock — symbol of earth and stability.A tiny phoenix, its feathers tinged with a soft orange flame — warmth and courage.An azure dragon, winding through a ribbon of floating water — calm and intuition.And finally, a baby white tiger, its fur streaked with little golden sparks — symbol of protection and loyalty.
Luffy's eyes widened, his mouth gaping."WOOOOOOAH!!! MERRY IS ALIVE!!!"
Nami froze, a hand over her chest, her throat tight with emotion."She's… she's a ship fairy…" she whispered, almost trembling.
Usopp's eyes were damp, as if he were witnessing a miracle he'd always wished for.Kaya took three seconds to realize what was happening, then smiled like the sun had risen in her heart.
Zoro?He looked on, shrugged softly, but his smile was sincere.Kuina placed her hand on Zoro's, awestruck.
Sanji lowered his head slightly in instinctive respect before murmuring:"Welcome among us, Lady Merry."
And Merry smiled a pure smile."Nice to meet you. Thank you for taking care of me from now on," she said.
With the transformation of the Merry, something in the air had changed — as if a living presence was now breathing alongside us on the deck. It was no longer just a ship, nor a Heartless like mine. She had become a new existence, born from the harmony between our journey, our battles, our will… and the four elemental Heartless that had fused with her.
The black turtle reinforced the ship's stability, making its hull nearly indestructible against impacts, and even allowed it to push aside land in its path.The little phoenix maintained the internal temperature of the wood, preventing mold, cracks, and making it practically fireproof.The azure dragon subtly controlled the currents around the hull, improving maneuverability and speed.The white tiger could generate electric charges around the ship's surface, preventing direct boarding or cannonballs from penetrating its perimeter.
In short, the Merry breathed, reacted, and protected.
And above all, because she was born from my power, I could now heal her. A green Requiem, a basic heal, a simple will was enough to repair this ship that would sail with us for a long time.
"I will never let the Merry's farewell happen. Even in my original world, that moment shattered me. So here… no. Not a second time," I thought as I watched the cute little girl being pampered by Kaya and Nami. In her human form, Kaya didn't have the temperament of her hybrid one — much to Usopp's relief.
"The second reveal concerns a Devil Fruit I analyzed recently. A fire-type Paramecia. Its user can generate and intensify flames proportionally to their strength and will. A fruit made for close combat."
Sanji stepped forward, a familiar spark in his eyes."Jordan… this fruit is perfect for me. Could we do it like the others? With a Heartless, so I don't lose my ability to swim? I… I don't want to give up the All Blue."
No one contradicted him. On the contrary, several smiles supported his request. He was the only pure close-combat fighter. This fruit seemed made for him.
"Yes. We'll do the fusion. I'll never take away your ability to swim. I'll never take your dream from you," I said with a smile.
Sanji clenched his teeth, more moved than he would ever admit.
Nami placed her hand on the helm, looking toward the horizon."There's an island nearby, about half a day away. We can stop there to eat, rest, and Jordan can go retrieve the fruit quickly."
Luffy burst into a wide grin, already standing on the railing."Then let's go! We move forward! Just a few more islands in East Blue, and after that… we'll explore another sea! We're gonna see everything! Live everything!"
His cry was carried off by the wind.
Nami quickly noticed a major change in our daily life: no one really needed to steer the ship anymore.It was enough for her to say "half sail," "heading northeast," or "slow down," and the Merry responded, naturally as if those orders were as instinctive for her as breathing.
The helm turned by itself.The sails adjusted with a soft flutter.The hull tilted gently, as if it could feel the sea.
Nami was left speechless the first time."I… I didn't even have to touch it. She did it before I finished speaking."
The little silhouette of Merry, sitting on the railing, nodded proudly, hands behind her back like a child pleased to be praised.
This scene reminded me of one from my old world: Blackbeard raising his hands, and the Queen Anne's Revenge obeying—rope by rope, sail by sail.But the Merry… did better. She didn't just move — she breathed the sea, sensed the wind, and manipulated the four elements around her as if the ocean, the sky, the earth, and the embers answered to her.
The journey suddenly became strangely simple, almost peaceful, which gave me the chance to resume group training.Since we no longer needed to watch the helm or maintain our heading, I had ropes installed off the back of the ship.
"Today, everyone in the water."
A chorus of sighs, laughter, and protests followed.Kazuki, arms crossed, stared at the sea.
"If I go in the water, I sink like a stone."She pointed to Luffy with her chin:"He floats because he's weird."
"I don't float, I sink!" Luffy protested with absolute seriousness, before dropping straight under the surface with a plop.
Kaya, Nami, and Usopp burst into laughter.They watched him pull himself back up with the rope before he began swimming—clumsily but with determination. Kazuki thought maybe it was just a matter of getting used to it.
Then she noticed Sanji looking at her with a calm smile."You won't be alone. I'm right here."
Kazuki took a deep breath and dove in—not out of bravery or pride, but because Sanji was swimming beside her, encouraging her at her own pace. Despite the weakness, she pushed herself, and after an hour of swimming, she felt her body slowly adapting to the sea's suppression.
Zoro swam like someone who didn't know whether he was swimming or fighting the ocean.Kuina matched his rhythm to support him, and Koby swam calmly nearby.
Usopp had taken a longer rope, swimming in bursts to improve his speed.Kaya and Nami stayed close to Kazuki, and Merry helped the weaker swimmers by softening the current, allowing them to improve more gently.
As for me, I swam ahead of the Merry.She adjusted the currents around her hull, reversing the water's flow to force my movements—like swimming against a raging river.
A smart current.A training session tailored just for me.I felt my muscles burn, strengthen, grow—yet the water was gentle, almost welcoming.
I laughed despite the effort."Thanks, Merry."
She replied with a soft wave that nudged me forward slightly, like a friendly pat on the back.
We moved forward, all together, drawn by the sea, our strengths connected.
After the training, the girls melted in front of Merry's little human form.And I don't mean "aw, she's cute."I mean high-pitched squeals of "Come here so I can hug you!" and "You're our child now."
The poor little mascot didn't understand a thing, but she quickly revealed a crucial talent: she could handle hot water, fire, and filter out salt and grime directly.
In other words:She had invented INFINITE SHOWERS.
Nami, Kaya, Kuina, and Kazuki disappeared into the bathrooms like a perfectly trained commando unit.We could hear them laughing, chatting, splashing water like a waterfall, and clearly… they were having fun.
Kaya: "Merry, a little warmer, please!"Merry: nods, and the water instantly became perfectly warm again.Nami: "Ah... this is paradise… We live here now."
We, the guys, looked at each other.Zoro shrugged.Sanji bit his lip, holding back the urge to peek.Usopp sat against the door, staring intensely at the cook.And Luffy was just eating an apple, not understanding the problem at all.
It went on.For a long time.A really long time.
So long that Sanji eventually knocked on the door:"Ladies, are you still alive, or should I start preparing a funeral service scented with essential oils?"
The response was a thunderous CLACK, followed by,"We still have shampoo to test, shut up!"
"What are you guys doing here?" I asked, coming back from the showers at the back, a towel around my neck."There are more showers further down, on the left."
The looks they gave me…A perfect blend of fatigue, humiliation, and masculine resignation.
Thankfully, thanks to Merry's transformation, multiple showers now existed: separated by light wooden partitions, almost like improvised public baths.But… everyone had crowded into the first one — the closest.Out of habit.Or collective stupidity.Probably the second.
We were still covered in sand, sea salt, algae, and crumpled egos — but at least we didn't have to wait for the girls to free up the sacred sanctuary of fragrant steam.
Luffy, true to himself, had just dumped a bucket of water over his head.Sanji couldn't let that slide.
Sanji: "SCRUB YOURSELF. WITH THIS. Now."Luffy, holding the bar of soap like it was a cursed weapon: "Why? I'm clean."Usopp, raising his hands like a tired teacher: "Luffy, we swam in saltwater full of fish for almost four hours. You can't just rinse off."Luffy: "… but soap doesn't lather in saltwater."Sanji: "That's why you have to SCRUB, you walking disaster."
As for me, I just shrugged after drying my hair, leaving Sanji to handle his "personal hygiene rehabilitation project."
Zoro didn't waste time: he washed quickly, rinsed even faster, and left like the room was on fire."Next time, I'm doing what Jordan did…" he muttered. "I'm showering before everyone."
He went straight up to the new crow's nest at the top of the main mast:Wide, covered by a small canopy, protected from the wind, with a telescope mounted on the side — clearly, Merry had thought about the lookout's comfort.
Zoro settled in, arms behind his head, ready for a well-earned power nap.But he stayed awake a few seconds too long.He felt… something missing.Not a thought.Not a word.Just… Kuina's absence who, at that very moment, was still laughing in the bathroom with the girls and Merry, letting hot water flow like a royal onsen.
Zoro sighed, eyes half-closed."… tch. She's taking too long."
Then he dozed off, a slight smile betraying that he wasn't as annoyed as he pretended to be.
(Author's note: I'll leave you with this short chapter and a mental image of Merry, the ship. Feel free to imagine her using real-world images ^^ Next week, or during the holiday, I'll begin the last island of the East Blue adventure.)