The Crew Reunion

We safely secured The Adam Wood in the hold of Merry's Revenge, but I wasn't ready to celebrate just yet. As the ship sailed smoothly away from Rubeck Island, my thoughts raced. Heading straight back to Swallow Island seemed too obvious. If Doflamingo's people—or worse, the Marines—were already on our trail, returning to Wolf without thinking things through could risk everything.

I leaned against the railing, watching the horizon. Aerwyna stood nearby, humming a shanty song; her calm voice relieved me. Kaya was below deck, resting, likely exhausted from her titan transformations.

"Wyna," I said, breaking the silence.

She glanced up, her sharp eyes catching mine. "Yes, Usopp Kun?"

"We're not going directly back to Swallow Island," I said firmly. "It's too risky. Doflamingo's men won't just let Adam Wood go. They'll be looking for us, and I'd bet my last bolt that they guess where we're heading."

Aerwyna gave a slight nod. "So, what's the plan, Usopp Kun?"

I pulled out the transponder snail hijacker Wolf had given me and placed it on the railing. Its cobbled-together appearance belied its importance. "We'll lay low for a while, monitor the airwaves, and see if Gladius or anyone else is closing in on us. Then we'll create a distraction to throw them off our trail."

She tilted her head, intrigued. "What kind of distraction?"

I grinned, tapping the pouch at my side. "The kind that goes boom. Gladius won't have time to look for us if they chase shadows."

Aerwyna smirked faintly, returning to her task. "That is clever Usopp Kun, and after that?"

"We circle back to Swallow Island," I said, pulling out the map and spreading it on the deck. "But not directly. We take an indirect route to throw them off. There are enough small islands in the North Blue to give us cover."

I fully formed my plan when we anchored off the coast of a minor, uninhabited island. Kaya joined us on the deck as the hijacker crackled to life. Static filled the air, followed by faint snippets of conversation.

"…Gladius is moving toward Swallow Island…"

"…Trebol is furious…"

"…Marine presence increasing around the Rubeck route…"

I frowned, piecing together the threads of information. It was clear they were organizing to block our path to Swallow. I turned to Kaya and Aerwyna, both of them watching me closely.

"They're expecting us to head back to Swallow Island directly," I said. "That means we need to give them something else to chase."

Kaya looked worried. "You're not thinking of making another scene, are you?"

"Not a scene," I said, grinning. "A diversion."

I pulled out a few of my compact bombs and started tinkering with the fuses. "We'll fake a signal—make it look like we're heading toward another island. I'll rig a few of these bombs to go off near a decoy ship. We'll be long gone when they realize it's a trap."

Aerwyna nodded approvingly. "It's risky, but it could work. Where do we set it up?"

"Right there," I said, pointing to a small, rocky island not far from our current position. "It's close enough to the main shipping routes to catch their attention but far enough from Swallow to misdirect them."

The plan went off without a hitch. I rigged a small fishing boat we'd found near the island with a transponder snail broadcasting a faint signal. As the decoy sailed away, I set the bombs to detonate once anyone got close enough to investigate. We stayed hidden on the Merry's Revenge, watching from a safe distance.

The explosion lit up the night sky, and soon after, the hijacker picked up frantic chatter.

"…possible sighting near the rocky outcrop… investigate immediately…"

"…must be the thieves…"

"…Gladius is en route…"

I breathed in relief as the trap worked as planned. Aerwyna placed a steadying hand on my shoulder. "Well done, Usopp Kun."

Kaya smiled, her earlier worry fading. "That should buy us enough time to reach Swallow safely."

"Let's not waste it," I said, turning to the helm. "We sail for Swallow now. Wolf's waiting, and we've got work to do."

As the Merry's Revenge cut through the waves toward Swallow Island, I couldn't help but feel a sense of pride. We weren't just running—we were thinking ahead, outsmarting our enemies. This escape plan wasn't about luck anymore. It was about strategy, teamwork, and using every resource.

***

The Merry's Revenge sat anchored in the secluded bay of Swallow Island as we gathered around Wolf's workbench again. We stacked The Adam Wood in a secure corner of the workshop, but our current location felt more like a trap waiting to spring. Wolf's words about Aquaferrum still echoed in my head.

Calm Belt. Dangerous. Volcanic. This journey was going to be one hell of an adventure.

I stared at my old journal, its pages worn and yellowed but still readable. The detailed but vague map of Pirolyth Island, the volcanic island rumored to hold Aquaferrum, marked the place treacherous, with volatile terrain, wild creatures, and unpredictable weather. Yet it was the key to building the airship.

The crew was seated around me: Kaya, Reiju, Aerwyna, and Carrot. Even Wolf leaned against his workbench, arms crossed, as we reviewed the situation. I turned to Wolf.

"We need to relocate to Ironroot Island," I said firmly. "Swallow isn't safe anymore. But while we're there, I want to plan our next move to the Calm Belt."

Wolf rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "Ironroot is a good choice for now, but the Calm Belt isn't a place to take lightly. If you're heading there, you'll need to prepare—not just for the Aquaferrum, but for the hell that route throws at you."

Carrot's ears twitched, and she leaned forward with excitement. "So, what's the plan, Long-Nosed Captain? Are we going to go straight to the volcano? Oh, are there big monsters there?"

"Probably," Reiju said with a faint smile. "But I imagine the real danger will be the island itself."

I nodded, feeling the weight of their trust. "We're not rushing into this," I said. "We'll relocate first, fortify our base, and train. But we can't do this alone."

I reached for the Den-Den Mushi on the bench and turned the dial for Bellemere. After a few tense moments, the snail's face shifted to Bellemere's casual smirk.

"Captain Longnose," Bellemere's voice crackled through. "To what do I owe the pleasure?"

"Bellemere," I said, unable to keep the grin off my face. I hope your mission with Germa is going well because we're moving locations. I'll need you, Sham, and Nojiko to regroup with us on Ironroot Island."

Her voice became more serious. "Moving already? What happened?"

"We stole Adam Wood from a Doflamingo-run auction," I said bluntly. "And now everyone's after us—Doffy's men, Marines. Staying here would be suicide."

There was a pause before Bellemere responded, her tone full of approval. "You know how to stir up trouble, don't you, Brat? Fine, we'll head to Ironroot. Do you have the coordinates?"

"Sending them now," I said, turning to Reiju, who jotted them down and passed the note to me. I read the coordinates into the Den-Den Mushi.

Bellemere chuckled. "We'll make it there, Captain. Just try not to blow anything up before we arrive."

"No promises," I said, grinning before hanging up.

Turning back to the crew, I gestured to the journal. "We'll need everyone at full strength for this. The Grand Line will test us in ways we haven't seen yet, especially if we're heading there through the Calm Belt."

Reiju leaned forward, studying the map in the journal. "The volcanic island will be unstable. If the Aquaferrum is as rare as you say, there will be competition—and likely hostile locals."

"And monsters!" Carrot added, her enthusiasm undeterred.

Always the voice of reason, Kaya placed a hand on the table. "We'll need more than just strength. Supplies, strategies, and training. We're strong, but we can't underestimate the Calm Belt."

Aerwyna nodded in agreement. "Especially if we encounter dangerous pirates or Doflamingo's agents on the way."

Wolf cleared his throat, drawing our attention. "If you're serious about this, I'll accompany you to Ironroot. We can set up shop there and get the airship's frame started. But for the Aquaferrum, you're on your own. I'll give you the necessary tools, but I'm not sailing into that madness."

"That's fair," I said, feeling excitement and apprehension. "Once we're at Ironroot, we'll gather resources, train, and plan our journey to the Calm Belt."

The next few hours were a whirlwind of preparation. Kaya and Aerwyna secured the Adam Wood in the Merry's Revenge's hold while Reiju and Carrot gathered the remaining supplies from Swallow Island. I worked with Wolf, ensuring the Den-Den Mushi's hijacker was fully functional to monitor any incoming threats.

As the sun set over Swallow Island, our ship was ready to sail for Ironroot. The Den-Den Mushi sat quietly on the bench, but my thoughts lingered on Bellemere's mission. Sham, Carmen, and Nojiko would need to regroup with us quickly—the Grand Line wouldn't wait for anyone.

Standing at the helm, I took a deep breath, the journal clutched tightly in my hand. The Calm Belt was daunting, but with my crew and the dream of the airship driving me forward, I felt ready for the challenge.

"Set sail!" I shouted, my voice ringing out across the deck. "Next stop, Ironroot Island!"

Beyond that, the CalmBelt and then the grand line awaited.

***

Week Three on Ironroot Island

The shipyard Wolf and the crew had built on Ironroot Island was bustling with activity. The frame of our airship was nearly complete, and the Adam Wood gleamed under the sunlight as it was carefully shaped and placed into the vessel's skeleton. My crew worked tirelessly, from Kaya using her Titan mode to transport wood to Aerwyna using her six-sword style to chop down wood to a desirable form.

Wolf stood at the ship's base, barking orders as he sketched out final adjustments to the blueprint. "Keep that frame steady! If it shifts even an inch, we'll be starting over."

Carrot scrambled up the scaffolding, as energetic as ever, while Reiju calmly handed Wolf tools, her sharp gaze never missing a detail. As the captain, I focused on the finer mechanisms, tinkering with a prototype for the airship's steering system.

That's when familiar voices broke through the hammering and shouting.

"You call that stitching? I've seen drunken fishermen sew nets better than that, you cat servant!"

"And I've seen a stray cat with better posture than you, Cookycook!"

Sham and Carmen's bickering was unmistakable. I turned to see them emerging from the forest trail, Nojiko following behind with a calm smile and Bellemere taking up the rear with her usual confident stride.

"They're back," I muttered, a grin spreading.

The reunion was as chaotic as expected. Carmen and Sham immediately began arguing, their voices echoing through the camp as the rest of the crew laughed or sighed in exasperation.

"You wouldn't know good cooking if it hit you in the face!" Carmen snapped, flipping her hair dramatically.

"And you wouldn't know practicality if it bit you," Sham shot back, holding up a torn piece of fabric she had found.

"Enough!" Bellemere barked, her voice cutting through the noise. "The both of you need to grow up. We're not here to play house."

The camp fell silent, all eyes on Bellemere. She smirked, clearly enjoying the attention, and then turned to me. "Bratty Captain, I've got something to show you."

I raised an eyebrow. "A surprise? Should I be worried?"

Bellemere chuckled, stepping forward. Her stance shifted, and in an instant, her body began to change. Her skin darkened, and smooth feathers grew on it; her shoulders became bat-like wings, and her face elongated into something almost avian. Her entire form shifted into a massive creature—a mix of dinosaur and bird. She stood before us in her transformed state, towering and fierce, her eyes glowing with primal energy.

"I ate a Devil Fruit," she said, her voice sharp, high-pitched. "An ancient Zoan. The Ryu-Ryu no Mi model: Dimorphodon."

The crew who stayed with me gasped, and I stepped back, trying to process what I saw. "Bellemere… that's incredible. But also terrifying. What made you eat it?"

She transformed back into her human form, brushing dirt off her clothes like it was nothing. "Ran into some trouble on the way back," she said casually. "A pirate crew tried to ambush us. The fruit was in one of their loot crates. Figured I might as well give us an edge."

Nojiko smiled faintly. "She scared the life out of them. They didn't stand a chance."

Carmen crossed her arms. "It's a good thing too. Otherwise, The Cat Servant might have had to do something useful."

"Oh, shut up," Sham shot back. "I kept them off your back while you threw torches at them."

"Enough!" I shouted, throwing my hands up. "We've got more important things to focus on."

As the crew settled in for the evening, Bellemere and I sat near the fire, discussing her newfound abilities.

"An ancient Zoan," I said, still marveling. "That's no small thing. You'll be invaluable on the Grand Line later with your strength."

Bellemere smirked, her confidence as unshakable as ever. "Just don't think I'll take orders without a fight, Captain."

I chuckled, leaning back against a log. "Wouldn't dream of it. But seriously, this changes everything. We're getting stronger every day. By the time we finish building the airship, we'll be ready for anything."

She nodded, her expression turning serious. "We'll need to be. The Grand Line isn't forgiving, and the Calm Belt, you've read your journal. You know what we're walking into."

I glanced at the unfinished airship, its skeleton glinting in the firelight. The journey ahead was daunting, but with my crew by my side, I knew we could handle it.

"Let's finish this ship," I said, my voice filled with determination. "Let's show the world what we're capable of."

Bellemere grinned, her sharp eyes glinting with excitement. "You've got it, Bratty Captain."