Night on the open sea.
The stars glittered overhead, mirrored by the gentle shimmer of the waves below. Inside the large igloo made of ice, the newly reunited group of pirates sat in a circle, warmed by lanterns and steaming bowls of food.
"So, you guys stayed on an island called Winter Island?" Sanji asked between bites of stew.
"Yeah," Zino nodded, leaning back with a relaxed expression. "We got stuck there after we got separated. Found an old vessel at Drum Castle, but... well, let's just say it didn't float too long."
Mikita chuckled. "He froze us a road across the sea instead. We've been ice-skating ever since."
Sanji blinked. "Seriously? You made a frozen path... across the ocean?"
"He did. Our travel was so fast because of it," Kaya added proudly.
"What about you guys?" Zino asked, turning the question back. "Where were you all stranded?"
"We were stuck on Autumn Island," Sanji replied, nodding toward the young man beside him. "It's Stev's homeland."
Zino's eyes narrowed slightly, recognizing the name. He glanced at the boy. "So... this is Stev. One of the ghost names on my crew list."
"Ghost?" Alvida raised an eyebrow.
"Er... nothing. Just... system things," Zino waved off the question with a dry laugh. He then asked the new guy. "So Stev, can you tell me about yourself?"
Stev perked up, noticing Zino's gaze. He looked to Sanji for guidance.
"He's our captain," Sanji said simply. "Zino. Captain of the Orca Pirates."
"O-Oh!" Stev's mouth formed an exaggerated O of surprise. He immediately jumped to his feet and gave a deep, theatrical bow. "Nice to meet you, Captain Zino! I'm Stev! Jovus D. Stev! Seventeen years old, single, and a genius inventor!"
There was a moment of silence. Even the wind outside the igloo seemed to pause.
Zino blinked. "...A genius, huh? Confident, aren't you?"
Stev straightened, puffing his chest out with pride. "Of course! That confidence is my fuel. My dream is to revolutionize the seas with my inventions! Whether it's tools, weapons, or ships, I want to create things the world has never seen!"
Zino studied Stev for a moment. The boy was clearly eccentric, but that fire in his eyes—he knew it well. Determination, vision, and a spark of madness. All traits of someone who might just make a difference in this wild world.
"Very good," Zino finally said, a small smile tugging at his lips. "Welcome aboard, Stev."
Stev's fist clenched tightly in triumph. "Yes! I've finally joined a real pirate crew!"
Nojiko chuckled. "Just make sure you don't blow up our ship like you did the last one."
"Noted!" Stev said quickly, sweat already forming on his brow.
The group laughed, and the warmth of camaraderie filled the icy shelter. The night continued, stories were shared, and under the vast sky, the crew of the Orca Pirates grew just a little stronger.
The Next Morning.
With the first light of dawn gleaming off the endless icy path, the group stirred from their rest inside the large igloo. The cold air nipped at their cheeks as they stepped out into the morning chill, greeted by the faint crackling of frost and the soft rustle of wind skimming the ocean's frozen surface.
Sanji was already up, a cigarette tucked behind his ear as he moved about preparing breakfast with practiced ease. With the help of Zino's seemingly endless storage of fresh ingredients, he whipped up warm, hearty meals—rice, miso soup, grilled fish, and buttered bread with sea berry jam. The aroma alone was enough to lift the spirits of the crew.
Outside, while breakfast was being prepared, the rest of the group had decided to make the most of the unusual method of travel Zino had created—ice skating across the sea.
"We've decided," Alvida said confidently, adjusting the gloves on her hands. "No more burdening Zino with pushing the sledge. We'll skate ourselves."
Kaya, Nojiko, Mikita, Alvida, Stev, and even Karoo had all agreed. While Zino's powers were impressive, they didn't want to be dead weight. Inspired by the smooth path of ice he laid down, they had resolved to learn how to skate.
As for using ship, Zino was not keen on that idea. Firstly they only have that broken ship that belong to Stev, and Zino kept it. Secondly, skating on ice is faster than running, and even faster than ship sailing on sea. They could cut the travelling time to more than half.
This is proven when Zino's group who started traveling on the third day after the seasonal storm, manage to catch up to Sanji's group, who travelled a day earlier. Well, that thanks primarily to Zino's skating speed, and the damages on Sanji's ship.
Back at the moment, Zino was helped out by shaping small sled-like supports for the less confident skaters. These looked like miniature walkers, allowing them to maintain balance without falling. They weren't glamorous, but they did the job.
Among all of them, Alvida stood out as the most naturally skilled. Thanks to her *Smooth-Smooth Fruit* ability, her body glided almost effortlessly over the ice. With each movement, she skated like a professional, twirling with grace and ease, leaving everyone else in awe.
"I didn't know you could move like that!" Mikita said, wobbling slightly.
"It's in the fruit, darling," Alvida winked, skating backward just to show off.
Kaya and Nojiko managed to find their rhythm after a few tries. Though unrefined, they were steady and improving.
Stev, on the other hand, was an absolute disaster. His legs wobbled like jelly, arms flailing every few seconds. Even with the stand, he kept slipping, crashing onto the ice with a dramatic yelp every time.
"It's a frictional miscalculation!" he shouted, adjusting his homemade goggles.
Karoo tried skating for a while but gave up quickly. The duck shook his head and opted to sprint across the ice on all fours, using his sharp claws to dig in for grip. It wasn't as elegant, but it was fast.
"Alright, breakfast's ready!" Sanji called out, clapping his hands together.
Everyone returned to the igloo, cheeks flushed and breaths misting the air. They ate quickly but happily, the warm food restoring their energy.
Once the meal was done, they packed their supplies. Zino sealed away the cooking gear and igloo using his system storage, and after that, he checked everyone's footing on the ice.
"All good." Zino nodded. "Alright, let's move out."
With that, they resumed their journey.
Zino took the lead, skating effortlessly at the front as he laid down a new path of smooth ice. The others followed, their movements varied but determined.
...
Open Sea – En Route to Alabasta.
Somewhere between the edges of the Grand Line and the shifting winds of the calm belt, a sleek, black ship glided across the ocean waves with quiet elegance. The vessel was none other than the Silent Orca, a name that suited both its appearance and the mood of those aboard.
The wind was steady, the skies clear, and the sails were full. Yet, despite the ideal sailing conditions, the ship's deck was wrapped in an unusual calmness. Not the silence of tension—but that of focus.
At the starboard side, Gin stood shirtless, sweat beading across his body as he practiced the piercing technique of *Shigan* against a wooden dummy he'd set up.
Each jab left visible indentations in the wood, his fingers nearly blurring with speed. But even as he trained, his mind drifted toward the mystery of *Armament Haki*. He paused between strikes, focusing, clenching his fist, trying to feel it. So far, it remained elusive.
On the upper deck, Vivi leaned on the railing, her eyes distant and fixed on the horizon. Somewhere beyond that endless blue lay her homeland—Alabasta. The closer they got, the heavier her heart seemed to feel. She said nothing, but her hands clutched the edge of the railing just a little tighter.
At the helm stood Hibari, calm and composed as he adjusted the rudder with precision. A navigator in training, his posture was relaxed, but his eyes sharp. The Eternal Pose to Alabasta sat snugly in a holder beside him, its arrow unwavering.
Nearby, Usopp sat cross-legged with tools and parts scattered around him. He was in the middle of building a new series of slingshot ammunition—smoke pellets, fire stars, and even a sticky trap bullet. His tongue poked out the side of his mouth in concentration as he carefully assembled each piece, muttering to himself about "impact radius" and "launch velocity."
By the central mast, Chloris sat cross-legged in front of Moris, holding up cards with simple drawings and speaking slowly. "This is a fish. Fiiisshh." Moris tilted his head, repeating the sound. The dryad boy was eager to learn the human language, and Chloris was proving to be a surprisingly patient teacher.
Below deck, inside the captain's quarters, Miria was seated on a cushioned bench, speaking into a Den Den Mushi she had brought from her homeland. The snail's eyes blinked softly, transmitting her voice to someone far away.
"About the news that you told me yesterday, are you...sure? Is it really him?" Her voice was low, thoughtful—tinged with heavy and worried moods. "I see. I'll try to go there as soon as possible."
Suddenly, a shout came from the crow's nest.
"Ship sighted—off the port side!"
Instantly, heads turned. Hibari adjusted the wheel slightly while the others stepped to the railings. On the distant waves, cutting a white line across the sea, was a vessel with tall masts and a distinct insignia flapping in the wind—a Marine ship.
The crew instantly tensed, but no one panicked. Gin stepped away from the dummy and reached for his weapons. Vivi narrowed her eyes. Hibari checked the course. Usopp pocketed his tools. Chloris pulled Moris close.
As the marine ship faded into the distance, the crew of the Silent Orca gathered near the railing, watching in silence.
Miria, having just stepped off her conversation with the Den Den Mushi, emerged from the cabin with a thoughtful expression. Her long coat fluttered slightly in the wind, and there was a strange calmness in her demeanor.
"What now?" Usopp asked, raising an eyebrow.
Miria's lips curved into a faint smile, her eyes sparkling with unspoken intent. "You guys stay here. I'll go drive them off."
"Wait, what?" Hibari blinked.
Before anyone could object, Miria casually walked over to the edge of the ship, preparing to leap. Just as she bent her knees to launch, she paused—almost theatrically—and turned back.
"Oh, right." She reached into her coat and pulled out a plain, sealed envelope. She walked over to Gin and pressed it into his hand.
"Hold onto this for me. If I get wet, I don't want this getting ruined." She gave him a wink.
Gin frowned in confusion, looking down at the envelope. "Uh… sure?"
Without another word, Miria leapt into the air, using Geppo to propel herself gracefully across the sea. Each step on the air left a faint shimmer behind her. The others rushed to the railing, watching her figure grow smaller as she closed the distance to the Marine ship.
She landed effortlessly on the deck of the Marine vessel. From their perspective, it looked like she spoke to someone—brief words exchanged—before the Marine ship slowly turned. Within minutes, it adjusted course and quietly sailed away, disappearing into the distant sea.
The crew stood in awe.
"She actually made them leave…" Usopp whispered.
"That's our sister Miria," Vivi said, smiling in admiration.
But as time passed, the admiration turned into curiosity.
Ten minutes… twenty… a full hour.
Still no sign of Miria.
"Okay, now it's getting weird," Usopp muttered.
"Is she chasing them?" Hibari joked, but even his voice held concern.
Then, Vivi pointed at Gin's hand. "Wait… look at the envelope."
The once-blank surface was now scrawled with delicate handwriting—words that hadn't been there before.
*I'm leaving — Miria.*
Gin's eyes widened. The others closed in around him, their expressions turning serious. Carefully, he unsealed the envelope and unfolded the note inside.
The message was short, handwritten in a neat, familiar script.
*Zino,*
*I'm going back, to see your elder brother, Yohan. He's still alive.*
*So, I'm leaving. Good luck with your adventure.*
*~ Your Mother, Miria ~*
For a long moment, no one said anything. The only sound was the gentle lapping of waves against the hull.
"She… left?" Vivi said softly.
"Just like that?" Usopp added.
Hibari's grin had vanished completely.
Gin silently folded the note back up and slipped it into his coat.
There were no dramatic goodbyes. No long explanations. Just a few quiet words and a decision made in silence.
Miria left.