The sea was calm.
Too calm.
After their encounter with Aokiji—after ice that could swallow ships and power that felt utterly unreachable—the stillness pressed in on them like a held breath.
The Going Merry cut smoothly through the water, her battered hull groaning softly with each wave, as if even she felt the weight of what they had just survived.
Usopp leaned over the railing, squinting hard at the horizon.
"…Hey," he said slowly. "Do you guys see that?"
The others turned.
At first, it looked like a mirage—something long and thin slicing through the mist ahead of them. Then it moved.
Fast.
Far faster than any ship had a right to move.
A thunderous roar split the air.
A massive iron structure burst into view, steam billowing violently as metal wheels screamed against rails that shouldn't have existed.
A train.
On the ocean.
"…WHAT IS THAT?!" Chopper shrieked, his hat nearly flying off.
The Sea Train tore past them, its sheer speed sending shockwaves across the water. The Going Merry rocked violently, sails snapping as wind and spray slammed into her sides.
Usopp lost his footing.
"WHOA—HEY—!"
He tumbled backward, barely catching himself on a rope.
"IT'S RUNNING ON THE OCEAN?!" he screamed, pointing wildly.
"That's illegal!! That's gotta be illegal!!"
Luffy leaned over the bow, eyes wide, mouth stretched into a massive grin.
"COOOOOL!"
He laughed like a kid seeing fireworks for the first time.
Nami stared, speechless, one hand gripping the railing as the train vanished into the distance.
"…A train," she said slowly. "…on the sea?"
Robin watched the fading steam trails, a faint, knowing smile on her lips.
"The Sea Train," she explained calmly. "It connects the islands surrounding Water 7. It runs even through storms."
Zoro blinked once. "…Huh."
That was all he had.
Sanji exhaled smoke, eyes narrowing as he followed the rails disappearing into the mist.
"Tch. Figures," he muttered. "Only a city like that would build something this insane."
The ocean ahead began to change.
The fog thinned.
Shapes rose from the horizon—at first vague shadows, then clearer forms. Tall towers of stone and wood, windmills spinning lazily, bridges arching over shining canals. Water glinted everywhere, flowing through the city as naturally as blood through veins.
Water 7.
Sunlight reflected off the canals, scattering light across walls and windows. Gondolas drifted along the waterways. Voices echoed across stone walkways. The air carried the scent of salt, iron, wet wood—and something else.
Craft.
Creation.
Usopp stared, his mouth slowly falling open.
"…It's beautiful."
Even Nami forgot to complain about docking fees.
The Merry pulled into a smaller outlying port, wooden planks creaking as they tied her down.
Waiting for them was an elderly woman with sharp eyes and a cigarette dangling from her mouth, hands planted firmly on her hips.
She eyed the crew, unimpressed.
"You pirates lost?" she barked.
Before anyone could answer, a small girl popped up beside her, goggles perched on her head and energy practically spilling out of her.
"I'm Chimney!" she chirped happily. "And this is Granny Kokoro!"
Kokoro squinted at the Going Merry, gaze lingering on the cracks in her mast, the worn planks, the tired tilt of her hull.
"…That ship's seen better days," she said flatly.
Usopp immediately bristled. "Hey! Don't talk about her like that!"
"She's just tired, okay?!"
Kokoro snorted, taking a drag from her cigarette. "Hmph. Ain't no shame in bein' worn down."
Her words lingered longer than Usopp liked.
Chimney beamed, already climbing onto the dock like she owned the place.
"You guys are funny! C'mon! Water 7's this way!"
With that—and Chimney immediately deciding she liked all of them—the Straw Hats followed, the sounds of the port fading behind them.
Stone streets. Flowing canals. The hum of life everywhere.
Water 7 opened before them.
And without realizing it—
They had sailed straight into a city where ships were born…
And where one would soon meet its end.
—————————-
Later that day, the noise of Water 7 swallowed them whole.
The trading hall was enormous—arched ceilings supported by iron beams, sunlight streaming through tall windows and glinting off piles of coin, jewels, and rare artifacts. Merchants shouted over one another, deals were struck in hurried whispers, and the clink of money echoed endlessly.
At the center of it all stood Luffy, Nami, and Usopp.
Several heavy sacks sat at their feet.
Gold from Skypiea.
The merchant across from them—a thick-necked man with sharp eyes and rings on every finger—slowly reached out and lifted a single piece of gold. He weighed it in his palm, biting down on it for good measure.
His eyes gleamed.
"Hm," he hummed thoughtfully. "I'll give you… one hundred million."
The room seemed to tilt.
Nami's smile vanished instantly. "…Try again."
The merchant blinked, then laughed awkwardly. "Well, you see—this kind of gold isn't exactly in high demand these days, and transportation costs, and market volatility—"
CRACK.
Nami slammed her Clima-Tact into the stone floor.
The sharp sound echoed through the hall, silencing nearby conversations.
"These," she said coldly, gesturing to the sacks, "are priceless artifacts from the sky. Pure gold, untouched by impurities, forged in conditions you couldn't recreate if you tried."
She leaned forward, eyes burning. "You think I don't know their value?"
The merchant swallowed.
Usopp leaned in from behind her, sweating bullets but trying to look tough. "Y–Yeah! And—and our captain—!"
Nami didn't even look back.
"Our captain," she continued calmly, "has a one hundred million berry bounty."
That did it.
The merchant's face drained of color.
Several nearby traders stiffened, eyes flicking toward Luffy—who was currently picking his nose and staring at a chandelier.
"If we walk out of here feeling cheated," Nami said sweetly, "you can imagine how… unpleasant that could be for business."
She smiled. "And just so we're clear—he doesn't like being lied to."
Luffy looked up. "Huh? Lied about what?"
The merchant nearly fainted.
"Ah—! No—! No lying! No scamming! Of course not!" he stammered, hands raised.
"Let's… renegotiate."
An hour later—
The merchant slammed a ledger shut with trembling hands.
"…Three hundred million berries."
The words echoed.
Usopp's eyes rolled back.
He dropped like a sack of potatoes.
"…We're rich…"
Luffy stared at the towering pile of money, eyes sparkling. "WHOA!! That's a lot!!"
He grabbed fistfuls of berries and stuffed them into his pockets like candy.
"That was easy!"
Nami laughed lightly.
But the sound didn't quite reach her eyes.
She carefully counted the money again. And again.
Something felt off.
Not the numbers.
Not the deal.
The city.
Her gaze drifted toward the window—toward the canals, the moving crowds, the sense that Water 7 was watching them just as much as they were watching it.
"…Let's get back to the others," she said quietly.
Usopp groaned from the floor. "Can I wake up now…"
Luffy grinned, slinging an arm around both of them. "Next up—fixing the Merry!"
None of them noticed—
That elsewhere in the city,
Eyes were already on Nico Robin.
———————-
Robin walked alone through the narrow back streets of Water Seven.
The lively sounds of the city—laughter, footsteps, the creak of gondolas—faded the deeper she went, replaced by the gentle echo of water lapping against stone. Canals reflected broken pieces of the sky above, fractured and distorted.
She preferred places like this.
Quiet. Forgotten.
Her footsteps slowed.
They're happy, she thought.
Luffy's laughter still echoed faintly in her memory.
Usopp's bragging.
Nami counting money with that satisfied smile.
Sanji arguing with Zoro.
Chopper clinging to the ship.
They don't know.
They don't know that this city is dangerous.
They don't know that the past always catches up to her.
Robin stopped walking.
Her reflection stared back at her from the dark water—calm on the surface, hollow underneath.
A voice broke the silence.
"You shouldn't wander alone."
Her body stiffened instantly.
She turned.
Men stood behind her—five of them. Dark suits. Expressionless faces. Their presence felt wrong, like stains on the city. They hadn't approached loudly. They hadn't needed to.
She recognized them at once.
CP9.
Her heart thudded—but she forced her breathing to steady.
"…What do you want?" she asked quietly.
Rob Lucci stepped forward, hands in his pockets, his gaze sharp and amused, as if he were observing something already decided.
"Cooperation."
Robin's eyes narrowed slightly.
"…Or?" she asked.
Lucci didn't hesitate.
"Or your friends die."
The words landed softly.
Casually.
Like stating the weather.
For a moment, Robin couldn't breathe.
Friends.
The word echoed inside her chest, reverberating against memories she had tried to bury.
A giant man laughing.
A warm hand on her head.
A voice telling her it was okay to live.
No one ever called me that… except Saul.
Her fingers twitched at her side.
She thought of Luffy standing in front of an Admiral without hesitation.
Of Nami trusting her with their lives.
Of Usopp laughing with her like she belonged.
Her vision blurred—but she didn't let it show.
"…If you harm them," she said evenly, "you'll prove exactly why the world should fear you."
Lucci smiled wider. "We already know."
She closed her eyes briefly.
If this is the price… then I'll pay it.
If disappearing keeps them safe—
If becoming the villain again protects them—
Then that's fine.
"…What are you doing in Water 7?" Robin asked quietly.
Lucci tilted his head, amused.
"You really don't know?" he said. "You can read the Poneglyphs."
Her eyes opened slowly.
"So you must already understand."
A pause.
"…Pluton?" she whispered.
Her breath caught.
An Ancient Weapon.
A real one.
Her mind raced—Ohara, the books, the lies, the massacres.
Why does the World Government want it?
But she already knew.
Power.
Control.
Fear.
The same answer as always.
Her shoulders relaxed—not in relief, but in surrender.
"…I'll do it," she said softly.
Lucci's smile vanished, replaced by something colder.
"Good."
Robin looked down at the water one last time.
She imagined the Merry.
The crew laughing.
Luffy calling her his friend without hesitation.
I'm sorry.
She turned back to CP9.
"But understand this," she added quietly, eyes sharp despite the pain. "I'm not doing this for you."
Lucci chuckled. "We know."
And as they melted back into the shadows of Water 7—
Robin stood alone again.
A smile formed on her lips.
Not one of happiness.
But of resolve.
If she had to disappear—
She would do it smiling.
—————————
The three of them stood at the edge of a wide canal, staring up at the tall, dignified building before them.
Water flowed quietly beneath the bridges surrounding it. The structure itself looked solid—stone, steel, and glass, the kind of place where important decisions were made.
Nami exhaled slowly.
"…This is it," she said. "The office Kokoro and Chimney mentioned."
Usopp adjusted the heavy case slung over his shoulder, the weight of three hundred million berries pulling him slightly to one side.
"So this is where the ship geniuses work, huh?" he muttered. "…Looks expensive."
Luffy grinned. "Awesome."
Usopp glanced back toward the direction of the docks.
"Alright," he said, forcing cheer into his voice. "I'll take the money back to the Merry. No way we're leaving this much cash lying around."
Nami turned sharply.
"Don't take any shortcuts," she warned.
"And don't let anyone see what you're carrying."
Luffy nodded seriously. "Yeah. Be careful, Usopp."
Usopp laughed and puffed out his chest.
"Relax! I'm the bravest warrior of the sea, remember?"
He turned and jogged off, weaving into the streets of Water 7, the money case bumping against his back.
Nami watched him disappear into the crowd, unease flickering briefly across her face.
"…He'll be fine," she said, more to herself than to Luffy.
Luffy nodded.
Then they turned toward the office doors.
⸻——————-
The room smelled of wood and ink. Blueprints lined the walls. Sunlight filtered through tall windows, glinting off metal tools arranged with meticulous care.
Iceburg sat behind his desk, rubbing his temples.
He looked up as they entered, expression immediately alert.
"…You're the pirates Kokoro mentioned," he said.
Luffy smiled brightly. "Yeah! That's us!"
Nami bowed her head slightly. "We were told you're one of the best shipwrights in the world."
Iceburg leaned back in his chair, studying them.
"Kokoro said you'd come," he replied. "Said you were serious about fixing your ship."
Luffy stepped forward eagerly. "Yeah! Can you fix it? We've got money!"
Iceburg's gaze sharpened.
"…I already know," he said. "And that's why I had one of my men take a look."
Nami's heart skipped. "…You already checked?"
Iceburg nodded once. "I sent Kaku to inspect your ship the moment Kokoro told me your condition."
He stood slowly, walking toward the window overlooking the city.
Then he stopped.
"…I'll be direct," he said.
Nami felt her stomach twist.
"…And?" she asked.
Iceburg stood slowly and removed his glasses, setting them carefully on the desk.
"…It can't be repaired."
The words landed like stones.
Luffy blinked.
Nami felt the air leave her lungs.
Iceburg continued, his voice calm, professional—but not unkind. "The keel is broken. That's the ship's spine. Once it's cracked, no amount of patchwork will make her seaworthy again."
Luffy stared at him, uncomprehending.
Iceburg stepped closer. "Would you force a horse to run with a broken back?"
The question hung in the air.
It wasn't cruel.
It was honest.
The words hit harder than any punch.
Nami swallowed, her throat tight.
"…I see," she said softly.
Luffy didn't say anything.
Iceburg watched them for a moment, then turned back toward his desk, giving them space.
"…I'm sorry," he said quietly.
They left the office without another word.
⸻——————-
Water 7 felt different now.
The canals shimmered as beautifully as ever, gondolas gliding by, citizens laughing and chatting—but none of it reached them.
Luffy and Nami walked side by side in silence.
After a long while, Nami spoke, her voice barely above a whisper.
"…How are you going to tell them?"
She hesitated.
"…Especially Usopp."
Luffy slowed his steps.
He didn't answer right away.
Images flickered through his mind—Usopp scrubbing the Merry's deck, yelling at her like she could hear him, calling her their friend.
Finally, he spoke.
"I know," he said quietly. "I know how much Usopp loves the Merry."
His fists clenched at his sides.
"…How much we all do."
They stopped at the edge of a canal.
The water reflected the sky above—blue, clear, indifferent.
Luffy looked straight ahead. "…But I'm the captain."
His voice didn't shake.
Not even a little.
"And I say…"
He took a breath.
"…we lay the Merry to rest."
Nami closed her eyes.
The city continued around them.
Unknowing.
Uncaring.
And far away—
A choice had already been made.