Water Seven.
"So, are we just going to wait here for Zino and hope he finds us?" Stev asked, breaking the silence.
Gin crossed his arms. "What if Zino arrived already—but on a different part of the island?"
The question stirred unease. Everyone knew how massive Water Seven was. Its many channels, docks, and neighborhoods made it easy for someone to slip by unnoticed.
"We need to have someone scout inland, just in case," Nami said firmly.
"Then let's divide up," Zoro suggested. "One group stays to guard the ship, the rest spread out to search."
"You're definitely on ship duty," Nami cut in without missing a beat.
Zoro blinked, then muttered something under his breath but didn't argue.
"We also need to resupply food and water," Sanji added, already making a list in his head.
"And that gold we brought down from Skypiea is too flashy to keep around like this," Galdino pointed out. "We need to convert it into Berries before it draws attention."
With the plan taking shape, the crew split into groups.
Sanji's group—tasked with gathering food and supplies—headed into the market district. Alongside him were Moris, Chloris, Gin, and Usopp. Their mission was simple: blend in, stock up, and keep an eye out for any signs of Zino.
Nami's group, in charge of converting the gold into spendable currency, moved cautiously through the merchant district. Alvida, Kruz, Stev, and Galdino went with her for protection and negotiation support.
For active search and reconnaissance, four were chosen: Hibari, Binko, Nojiko, and Mikita. With their mastery of Rokushiki, they could traverse the island quickly. Mikita and Nojiko took to the sky using Geppo, while Hibari and Binko sprinted along the streets using Soru.
The rest—Zoro, Kaya, Marianne, Robin, and Baral the mimic—stayed aboard the ship.
Kaya stood at the railing, her eyes locked on the sea. The wind tugged gently at her hair, but her expression remained troubled. "Zino... where are you?" she murmured.
Behind her, Robin leaned silently against the mast, arms crossed, gaze thoughtful. She hadn't said much since they'd docked, but her mind was far from still. Aokiji's sudden appearance... Zino's unknown fate... It stirred too many memories. Too much uncertainty.
After a long silence, Robin turned and quietly stepped into the cabin.
Kaya blinked when she saw her re-emerge minutes later, now carrying a small pack slung over her shoulder.
"Robin?" she asked. "Where are you going?"
Robin gave her a calm smile. "I'm going to gather some information. I have a few leads I want to follow."
"Oh… I see." Kaya nodded, though her worry was plain.
"Don't worry. I won't be long." Robin waved lightly as she stepped off the ship.
Kaya watched her walk away, a strange feeling stirring in her chest. She wasn't sure what it was—only that Robin's departure felt heavier than just a scouting trip.
She brushed the thought aside. Maybe I'm just too anxious about Zino... she told herself.
Behind her, Zoro had taken a seat on the deck, arms behind his head, eyes closed—but not asleep. The ship was quiet, yet there was a quiet tension in the air. Everyone was waiting—for news, for a signal, for their captain.
...
Elsewhere, on the open sea.
Lightning flashed across the sky—not from a storm, but from a single figure blazing across the waves.
It was Zino.
Crackling with residual energy, he zipped low over the water, his eyes scanning the horizon. His body flickered in and out of lightning form as he searched.
"Where the heck is Water Seven?" he muttered.
He zipped past a half-destroyed pirate ship, then another. Nothing helpful. No signs. No landmarks. Even the Sea Kings offered no clue.
Just then, in the far distance, he caught sight of a ship sailing smoothly on the water.
He slowed down slightly, cautiously approaching.
"Hm? That flag…" he narrowed his eyes. A clown face wearing a straw hat waved in the wind. "That… looks familiar."
It was a Jolly Roger—of the Straw Clown Pirates.
Zino stopped midair and observed.
Onboard the ship, music blared and laughter echoed across the deck.
Luffy was raising a turkey leg like a trophy, and clinking mugs with Buggy. "To our victory!" he shouted.
"And to our newest crew members—Helia and Sauri!" Buggy added with a huge grin.
"YEAHH!!" the crew roared together.
Helia and Sauri, two young sisters the crew had recently rescued from a pirate ship, sat nearby—still a bit shy, but smiling. They were slowly adjusting to the wild energy of the crew.
Tensuro, their chef, rushed around with trays of steaming food. "Eat up, eat up! Celebration food is here!"
Chopper and Mohji were having a meat-eating contest. Cabaji elegantly sliced up grilled fish. Richie the lion was happily slurping down soup straight from the pot.
The party was loud, cheerful, and chaotic.
Until—
CRACKLE!
A bolt of lightning struck near the deck.
Zino appeared silently on the ship's railing, lightning dancing along his arm. His coat flapped in the wind as he stared at the festive gathering with narrowed eyes.
The noise died down immediately. All eyes turned to the unexpected guest.
Buggy squinted. "Huh? Who the hell—wait…"
"You… Monkey D. Zino?!" he blurted.
The crew stood up in alarm. Some reached for weapons, unsure of the intent.
Chopper was mildly surprised to see this guy who freed the Drum Kingdom from Wapol reign. "Zino?"
Zino raised both hands, palms open. "Relax. I'm not here to fight."
Luffy tilted his head. "Zino…? As in Ace's little brother?"
Zino's lips twitched as he heard that. "Who told you that?"
"It was Ace," Luffy said. "He came to our ship just like you did. He landed on our ship all of a sudden."
"When you put it that way, they really do share the same habits," Mohji said.
"No wonder they are brothers," Cabaji chimed in.
Zino blinked, speechless. How did they come up with such a conclusion?
On the side, Buggy stepped forward. "What do you want?"
"I'm not looking for trouble," Zino said calmly. "I got separated from my crew. I'm trying to find Water Seven. I figured… if anyone's out here, maybe you've seen something."
The tension eased slightly.
Luffy grinned. "Buggy said, we're heading to Water Seven! Hop aboard if you want."
Buggy frowned. "Hey, we didn't agree to that—!"
But Chopper had already run up with a med kit. "You look exhausted! Are you okay?"
"Oh Chopper. You finally joined a pirate ship." Zino gave a nod. "I'm just a bit drained."
Tensuro pushed a plate into his hands. "Here. You'll feel better after this."
Zino blinked, surprised. Then slowly took the food and sat down at the edge of the deck.
The party atmosphere returned, a bit more cautious than before.
As he ate in silence, Zino's thoughts drifted.
Did my crew reach Water Seven?
...
Back on Water Seven.
The sun dipped below the horizon, casting golden hues over the canals and rooftops of the city. The sky turned indigo, and the stars began to twinkle above the sea.
At the Silent Orca, anchored in a quiet dock far from the city center, the Orcas regrouped after a full day of searching.
Everyone had returned—except for one.
"Wait… Where's Robin?" Sanji asked as he stepped onto the deck, looking around.
Kaya, who had been sitting quietly near the ship's railing, looked up. "She left not long after your group departed. Said she was going to gather intel in the city."
"Oh, I see…" Sanji gave a slow nod. He glanced toward the city lights in the distance but didn't press further. Instead, he moved to the ship's kitchen. "Well, I better start on dinner."
Meanwhile, the rest of the crew had gathered by the shore, settling near a campfire. With no news of Zino, a quiet unease lingered among them.
"So, I assume none of you saw Zino out there?" Nami asked, glancing around.
Binko shook his head. "No sign of him. We checked from air and land."
Hibari, Nojiko, and Mikita also shook their heads in agreement.
"What about you guys?" Nojiko asked, turning to Nami's group.
"No luck," Nami replied. "But we did run into some locals."
Alvida snorted, stretching her shoulder. "Yeah. Some thugs called themselves Franky's Family. Thought they could rob us."
"They made a poor choice," Kruz smirked.
"I gave them a taste of my mace." Alvida added with satisfaction.
Zoro frowned. "Franky's Family, huh… A bunch of them came to the ship too. Mistook Baral for a treasure chest."
The crew was speechless, and glanced at Baral.
"They tried to pry me open!" Baral said indignantly, hopping once in his mimic form. "The nerve!"
"And what happened?" Stev asked.
"They screamed like seagulls when he transformed," Zoro said, deadpan. "He turned into that giant furry form of his."
Kaya nodded thoughtfully. "Baral… he really is huge. I didn't realize just how tall he is until now."
"Heh," Gin grinned. "Hey, Baral, can you show us your true form? Just for fun."
Baral puffed up proudly. "Ah, you want to bask in my majestic presence, huh? Very well."
Before anyone could object, a swirl of clouds formed around him.
POOF!
In an instant, a towering, white-furred giant stood where the mimic had been. Standing easily between 20 and 24 meters tall, the Cloud Yeti form of Baral loomed above the group, glowing slightly under the moonlight.
"GYAAAHH!!" Usopp shrieked, nearly falling backward.
"This… is really tall," Gin said, craning his neck.
"With that kind of size, he'd be terrifying on a battlefield," Alvida said with a grin. "A good addition to the crew."
Baral let out a deep chuckle. "Impressive, isn't it? I can also fly, you know. But it's been a while since I last turned into this form. I'm a bit rusty."
"You can fly too?" Mikita blinked.
"Of course!" Baral concentrated, his small fluffy wings sprouting wider, easily sweeping the ground. "Cloud Yeti with aerial capabilities!"
"Alright, alright," Zoro waved a hand. "Shrink down before someone sees you. We don't need to attract the Marines."
"Fine, buzzkill," Baral grumbled, before transforming back into his small mimic form with another puff of smoke.
As the moon climbed higher into the night sky, the aroma of grilled food filled the air.
Sanji stepped out from the ship's kitchen, a large tray in each hand. "Alright, it's dinner time, you hungry sea rats!" he announced, flashing his usual smirk.
The crew gathered around the campfire turned toward him with eager faces. Sanji moved quickly and efficiently, handing out plates and bowls.
"Dig in, everyone," he said, setting down the last tray.
After a moment, he glanced around. His brow furrowed. "Robin's not back yet?"
Kaya shook her head. "No… still no sign of her."
"Maybe she was held back by something," Galdino offered casually. "Could be she found a lead and is chasing it down."
Sanji paused, his gaze drifting toward the glowing lights of Water Seven in the distance. The thought of Robin wandering alone in a place like this didn't sit well with him, but he said nothing more.
"…Alright," he muttered, forcing a smile. "She can handle herself. Let's eat."
With that, the crew began to eat, laughter slowly returning around the fire. Still, a quiet tension lingered in the background—two people missing. Robin… and Zino.
Meanwhile, on the far side of the island, hidden under the cover of darkness, a single figure moved silently through the shadows.
A small boat rested on the shore, already prepped to sail. The woman who approached it carried only a small pack over her shoulder, her dark hair swaying gently in the sea breeze.
Nico Robin.
She paused beside the boat, casting a long look across the dark waters, toward where the Silent Orca lay docked, invisible beyond the curve of the coastline.
"…Farewell, Orcas. Farewell… Zino," she whispered, her voice barely audible over the lapping waves. "It's been wonderful. But I can't stay."
A sad smile touched her lips.
"You welcomed me. Gave me a place. Even cared about me…" Her hand lightly traced the wooden frame of the small boat. "But the more you care, the more dangerous I become to you all. It's only a matter of time before the World Government comes knocking."
She stepped into the boat, untying the rope. Just as she was about to push off, her instincts screamed.
Robin's eyes narrowed.
Suddenly, she flipped backward out of the boat and rolled onto the sand.
Boom!
A sharp gust of wind and steel tore through the air—a flying slash—ripping the boat clean in half. The remains crashed into the water and began to sink.