*The First Day After The Seasonal Storm.*
Autumn Island.
Early morning light filtered through the palm leaves of Autumn Island, casting gentle shadows on the sand.
Sanji was already awake, his hair falling into his eyes as he stretched and yawned. Seating not too far from him, Alvida adjusted her coat with one hand, her mace leaning against a nearby rock. Nojiko secured her satchel, and Karoo, the oversized duck, flapped his wings lazily as though he'd only just woken up.
"We should head out," Sanji said, glancing east toward the dense jungle. "The others might be somewhere here."
Alvida grunted. "Let's get this done quick."
Nojiko nodded, pulling on a pair of gloves. "Some villagers offered to help. I say we take them up on it."
Moments later, the group walked down a sandy path leading away from the shore, a team of four villagers trailing behind them. The villagers carried tools, flashlights, vines, and ropes—ready to scour the tropical terrain for signs of their missing crewmates.
They split into four smaller groups, each moving through thick undergrowth, across rumbling streams, and up steep moss-covered slopes.
After hours of searching, the sun climbed high overhead and the heat grew heavier. Sanji wiped his brow. "No luck so far."
Alvida's face was tight with frustration. "We should've seen something by now—tracks, voices, anything."
Nojiko crouched down by a clearing, brushing aside leaves. "Nothing. I can't find any fresh footprints."
They gathered at a small clearing, with the village search groups behind them. The villagers shook their heads, each offering sorrowful looks. The realization settled in: the missing crewmembers were not on this island.
The four pirates exchanged troubled glances.
"So what do we do now?" Nojiko asked quietly.
Karoo let out a small quack, and Karoo's simplicity broke the tension.
Sanji crossed his arms and gave a determined look. "We head to Alabasta."
Alvida raised an eyebrow. "Why Alabasta of all places?"
Sanji's expression softened as he thought of Princess Vivi. "Because Vivi's going there. We know she's going there. That means our crew—Zino, Miria, the rest—they'll head there too. It's the most likely meeting point."
Nojiko nodded. "If we head there now, we'll get there with Vivi and minimize the risk of losing everyone."
Alvida exhaled slowly. "Alright. Then we'll prepare for departure."
The group looked toward the shore only to remember: they don't have a proper ship. None at all.
"This...where do we get a ship?" Nojiko asked.
Silence hit the clearing.
Just then, Jovus D. Stev—the boy that liked to create weird invention—who was among the village search group stepped forward, wiping his hands on a grease-stained cloth. "I've got something that might help," he said with a grin. "A ship, I built it myself over the last few months. She's small, but sturdy."
Sanji raised an eyebrow. "You built a ship?"
"Sure did," Stev replied proudly. "Come, I'll show you."
He led Sanji, Alvida, Nojiko, and Karoo through the village and down a narrow path toward the cove. There, nestled beside a small dock, floated a modest but well-crafted vessel. It was compact—just enough space to house five or six people—but its sails were new, and the hull gleamed with fresh coats of sealant.
Alvida gave a low whistle. "Not bad."
Sanji inspected the rudder and deck planks with an approving nod. "She'll sail."
"Then it's settled," said Nojiko. "We depart tomorrow."
Karoo flapped his wings excitedly, as if already imagining the sea breeze.
The crew thanked Stev, who beamed with pride. After getting a promising ship, they then made their way back to the village to prepare. But as they stepped into the central square, something was wrong.
A tense crowd had gathered, villagers standing frozen in fear. At the center, a group of rough-looking pirates—armed, loud, and demanding—stood with weapons drawn.
One of them sneered, holding a shaking elder by the collar. "Hand over the Autumn Core, now! Don't make us burn this place down!"
Sanji narrowed his eyes. "Autumn Core?"
Alvida stepped forward with a scoff. "Doesn't matter what they want. Pirates threatening civilians? That's all we need to know."
"You talk as if you are not a pirate." Sanji said.
"I'm just following Captain Zino's example." Alvida smirked. Without another word, she lunged, mace in hand. "Scumbag, let go of the farmer!"
"Huh? Who are you—"
Boom!
A heavy mace struck the pirate leaders on his left shoulder, hurling him to the right. Without checking the man, Alvida run toward another pirates, using Soru, and started bashing left and right.
Sanji followed, a swirl of black-leg kicks and sharp motion. Nojiko and Karoo moved to help the villagers flee to safety as the fight broke out.
The battle was swift. Alvida's blows sent pirates flying into walls, and Sanji's precise strikes disarmed the rest before they could even react. Within minutes, the pirates were sprawled on the ground—groaning, unconscious, or desperately trying to crawl away.
The villagers erupted into cheers. Children peeked out from doorways, and the elders clapped with teary eyes.
"Finally!" one of them exclaimed. "These scum have been harassing us for weeks!"
"We didn't know what to do," another added. "But now, finally… they're caught!"
One of the younger men turned to Sanji. "We owe you everything."
Sanji scratched the back of his head. "Just doing what's right."
Alvida asked. "What do you guys plan to do with them?"
"We'll send word to the nearby Marine base," replied the village chief, stepping forward. "They'll come pick up these criminals. And we'll claim the bounty on their heads—use it to repair damage and strengthen our defenses."
Stev grinned. "Guess your timing was perfect."
Sanji shrugged with a smirk. "We just wanted a ship. Didn't think we'd be mopping up scum before we left."
As the sun dipped lower in the sky, the villagers began tying up the unconscious pirates, while a few others ran off to send word to the Marines. Laughter and relief filled the air. The threat was gone—for now.
The crew returned to their temporary quarters, readying supplies for the journey ahead.
...
Reverse Mountain.
The sea raged beneath a crimson sky as a ship adorned with a clown-faced Jolly Roger surged forward, waves crashing against its worn hull.
The Straw Clown Pirates were making a desperate dash toward Reverse Mountain, the towering gateway into the Grand Line. Spray misted over the deck as the looming peak grew ever closer, a jagged line against the horizon.
"FASTER! I said FASTER, you fools!" shouted Captain Buggy, gripping the ship's rail so tightly his fingers turned pale. His red nose twitched with stress as he glanced nervously over his shoulder.
Behind them, gaining fast, was a Marine battleship, its white sails stark against the sea. Standing firmly at its bow, a familiar figure exhaled smoke that coiled around his shoulders.
Smoker the White Hunter.
Buggy's face contorted in panic. "Why?! Why is he the one chasing us?!"
"I think they are the marine ship, the one who has been tailing us since we left Loguetown!" shouted Mohji, wrestling with the sail ropes.
"Tail this! He's going to smoke us if we don't lose him!" Buggy snapped. "and you, Luffy! Stop looking so excited!"
A few days ago, they already planned to head to Reverse Mountain from Loguetown. However, Mohji saw a marine ship in the distance, docked in the port. Some marine were watching them.
So he informed Buggy. Buggy hearing it become somewhat worried. Cabaji suggested for them to head to Baratie restaurant, before turning toward Reverse Mountain. Luffy and Buggy agreed.
Going through the plan, the did go to Baratie, then headed here, but they still couldn't escape the marine pursuit.
At the front of the ship, Luffy stood on the figurehead, his face lit up with pure thrill as the colossal structure of Reverse Mountain loomed closer.
"Wooooah! That's it! That's Reverse Mountain! Let's gooooo!!" he cheered, completely ignoring the threat closing in behind them.
"We're not going to make it if we don't shake them!" growled Cabaji.
"Why don't we just shoot them down?" Mohji offered.
Buggy blinked. "Nice idea… SHOOT MY FOOT!! That's Smoker behind us!! SMOKER! You wanna anger a man made of smoke?! Are you trying to die early?!"
Mohji flinched. "S-Sorry, Captain."
The waves grew more violent as they approached the mountain's base. The sea current was starting to pull them into the upward stream—a natural path spiraling up the mountain's slope. It was their only chance to escape.
On the Marine ship, Smoker narrowed his eyes. "They're heading for the stream. Don't let them reach it."
Without warning, his body dispersed into a plume of smoke and launched forward at lightning speed, leaving his ship behind.
"He's coming!" a crewmember screamed as the billowing cloud drew closer.
"Captain Buggy!" Mohji cried out, eyes wide as he pointed toward the sky. "He's airborne!!"
Buggy's face contorted with panic. "Of course he is! He's a Logia-type! He can FLY, you idiot!*"
Mohji fumbled with the cannon. "Permission to fire?! Just a warning shot?!"
"Shoot if you want to die faster!" Buggy snapped, sweat pouring down his face. He was torn between diving below deck or jumping overboard, neither of which would save him from the White Hunter.
"Damn it! Why him of all people?!"
His crew scrambled around the deck, ducking behind barrels and rigging as Smoker, the infamous White Hunter, streaked through the air, trailing thick clouds of white smoke behind him. His eyes locked on the Straw Clown ship like a hawk targeting prey.
On the bow, Luffy turned back, and saw the ever approaching smoke guy.
"Yikes! It's Smoker," he trembled a little.
Memories flashed in his mind—*Loguetown*. That rainy afternoon when he almost got caught. The marine who never let up. The man who could turn into smoke and snuff out his every move. If it wasn't for that sudden wind blow back then…
"Luffy! What do we do?!" yelled Cabaji, gripping the wheel.
"Let shoot him!" Luffy took a cannon ball and hurled it toward Smoker.
Smoker neared, his form shifting into a swirling column of smoke, letting the cannon ball pass through his body.
"You're not getting away this time, Straw Hat!" he growled, metal jitte at the ready. "I'll capture you this time!"
Buggy cowered behind a barrel, muttering, "Why does this always happen when I'm with him?! I didn't sign up for this level of danger!"
Just as Smoker began to solidify, about to land on the ship's deck—
FWOOOOOM!
A sudden, violent blast of wind erupted out of nowhere. It hit with the force of a cannon, slicing through the misty afternoon and slamming directly into Smoker's smoke-form body.
"Wha—?!" Smoker's voice faltered.
The wind locked around him, swirling with unnatural force. Even in his intangible state, Smoker was yanked backward, helpless against the gale. His body spiraled uncontrollably through the air and was flung far from the pirate ship.
"Captain Smoker!!" cried Tashigi from the Marine ship, her eyes wide in fright as she saw his figure got blown toward the distance sea. She rushed to the edge of the deck, gripping the rail. "CAPTAIN!!"
Back on the Straw Clown ship, there was silence for a beat—then…
"WE'RE ALIVE!!" Buggy screamed, collapsing in dramatic relief. "SWEET MOTHER OF SEA KINGS, WE'RE ALIVE!!"
Luffy blinked. "...That wind… again?"
Mohji clung to Richie, trembling. "What the hell was that?!"
Cabaji looked up at the sky. "A sudden squall? A wind blast out od nowhere?"
Buggy stood up shakily, brushing himself off. "Who cares what it was? We're not questioning miracles today!"
Their ship hit the first surge of the Reverse Mountain current, the bow rising steeply as the water began pulling them upward, defying gravity.
"Brace yourselves!" Cabaji shouted. "We're ascending!"
The ship creaked and groaned as it began to climb the current, the rushing water carrying them toward the towering passage that led into the Grand Line.
Behind them, the Marine ship already changed course, moving towards the direction where smoker got sent away. They gave up pursuing the Straw Clown Pirates, who already rode the momentum of nature's wild design.
As the spray soaked the deck and the clouds thickened above, Luffy stood tall at the bow, wind in his hair, eyes bright with excitement once more.
"Grand Line… here we come!"
And Buggy, somewhere behind him, muttered, "Please let this be the last time I nearly die before dinner time."