The door bangs open.
Franky and Usopp stride in, bringing the energy of the shipyard with them.
Franky strikes a pose, his massive arms flexing. "Yow! Repairs are complete! We are SUPER ready to set sail as soon as Brook and Yamato get back."
Usopp looks around the room. "Do we know where we're going?"
Nami nods. "Yeah. It looks like Elegia."
Usopp's brow furrows. He opens his mouth to question it—
"Hey everyone! We're back!"
Brook's voice echoes from the deck above.
Jinbe grunts as he pushes himself to his feet. "Good. We can set sail."
Everyone follows him out. Zoro steps behind Kaburo, his hand never leaving his sword.
---
The main deck is bathed in the pale illumination breaking through the gray clouds.
Yamato stands beside Mont Blanc Cricket, Masira, and Shoujou. In her hands, she holds a folded bundle of fabric.
Usopp grins. "Great, let's see it."
Yamato steps forward. She hooks the fabric to the rigging. Cricket grabs the rope, hauling it upward.
The flag billows in the wind.
It unfurls with a sharp crack. The Jolly Roger—the skull and crossbones wearing a straw hat—whips violently in the breeze, a black beacon against the gray sky.
Franky strikes a pose. "It looks SUPER!"
Usopp stands with his hands on his hips, looking up. A soft smile touches his face. "Just like new."
Cricket watches the flag. "I take it you'll be departing, then?"
Nami nods. "Yeah. We have a course."
Jinbe steps forward, offering his massive hand. "The wind is blowing in our favor. We should depart."
Cricket takes his hand, shaking it firmly. "I wish you the best of luck. Tell Straw Hat I look forward to our paths crossing again."
Jinbe bows his head. "Thank you for everything, friend. Who knows how things would have turned out if you had not come along to aid us."
Chopper bounces on his hooves. "Yeah, we may have had to pedal all the way here!"
Cricket laughs. Masira and Shoujou wave. The farewells are quick, but the gratitude runs deep.
---
The gangplank retracts.
The mooring lines are cast off.
Usopp stands in the middle of the deck. He puffs out his chest, planting his hands on his hips.
"OKAY MEN! THIS IS YOUR CAPTAIN SPEAKING! THE COURSE IS SET!"
He points a dramatic finger toward the open sea.
"FULL SPEED AHEAD! LET'S GET OUR CAPTAIN BACK!"
Sanji pauses, a crate of supplies in his arms. He glares at Usopp. "Shut up and help us already!"
Usopp jolts, his bravado evaporating. "Oh yeah. Right."
Nami stands at the helm, next to Jinbe. His hands grip the wheel. The wind catches her orange hair. She looks out at the horizon—at the gray sea stretching endlessly before them.
Her voice is quiet. A promise whispered to the wind.
"Hold on, Luffy. We're coming."