Chapter 64 — "The Island of Dragons"
Sunny's POV
The sea was calm. Too calm.
The Going Merry drifted through a stretch of blue so glassy it looked like someone had polished the ocean with divine wax. Even the wind had gone quiet, which—with this crew—was never a good sign. Silence was usually the first symptom of incoming chaos. Like the universe holding its breath before dropping a piano on your head.
I leaned on the deck rail, sipping pineapple juice through a curly straw that Sanji had insisted was "aesthetically superior." The sun was high, the sky cloudless, and the only sound was the gentle slosh-slosh of waves against the hull.
"Ughhh… I'm bored," Aqua groaned dramatically, hanging upside down from the railing like a sparkling jellyfish. Her long blue hair dangled into the sea, reflecting the sunlight like liquid sapphire. Tiny fish swam up to nibble at the strands before realizing their mistake and fleeing in terror. "There hasn't been a single storm, monster, or divine disaster in hours~!"
I raised an eyebrow. "You say that like it's a bad thing."
"It is!" Aqua whined, puffing her cheeks until she looked like a divine pufferfish. "A goddess deserves entertainment! I should summon something!"
"Please don't," Nami said flatly, flipping through a map beside me. Her orange hair caught the breeze, and she tucked a strand behind her ear with that casual grace that always made my brain short-circuit for half a second. "Last time you tried that, we had flying fish screaming in Latin."
"Hey!" Aqua shot upright, nearly flipping herself overboard. "Those fish had class! One of them quoted Virgil!"
Nojiko, lounging on a crate with a tangerine in hand, sighed dreamily. "I liked the part where they bit Zoro's head."
"Oi!" Zoro grumbled from the corner, where he was doing one-handed push-ups with three swords strapped to his back. "Those things came outta nowhere!"
Usopp looked up from polishing his slingshot, eyes wide with mock horror. "You were snoring through the attack! I had to save your mossy head with my legendary slingshot skills!"
Zoro paused mid-push-up. "You screamed and hid behind a barrel."
"Tactical retreat!" Usopp insisted, striking a heroic pose. "It's in the Captain Usopp Handbook of Heroism, chapter 7!"
Lucy, sprawled across the goat figurehead like a cat in the sun, cracked one eye open. "You wrote that handbook yourself. In crayon."
"Artistic choice!"
Before Zoro could retort (or accidentally cut the mast in half), something in the water caught my eye—a small shape drifting on the waves. I narrowed my gaze.
"…Hold on. Is that a person?"
The others leaned over. A tiny figure bobbed on a piece of driftwood, waving weakly. Her hair was matted with salt, and her clothes were torn, but she was definitely human.
Aqua gasped like she'd just seen a limited-edition handbag. "A mortal in distress!"
Lucy's hand shot out instinctively. "Alright, help me pull—"
Before anyone could finish, Aqua dove in headfirst with a splash that sent half the deck flooding. Water sloshed over the rails, soaking Zoro's push-up spot and Usopp's "legendary" notebook.
"She's gonna drown the kid," Sanji muttered, lighting a cigarette with one hand while shielding his cookbook with the other.
---
Moments later, Aqua reemerged dramatically, cradling a small girl in her arms like a triumphant mermaid. Water cascaded off her in shimmering sheets, and she struck a pose that would've made a statue jealous.
"Ta-da! The goddess of salvation strikes again!"
The girl coughed and blinked groggily, spitting out seawater. "T-Thank you…"
"See?" Aqua grinned proudly, flipping her hair and accidentally flinging a fish into Zoro's face. "All in a divine day's work!"
Lucy leaned close, hands on her hips. "You do realize you almost drowned her again when you surfaced that fast?"
Aqua blinked. "Details~"
I gently took the child from her, wrapping her in a blanket that smelled faintly of tangerine it's probably Nami's. "Hey there, you okay?"
The girl nodded weakly, clutching the blanket like a lifeline. "M-My name's Apis… I… I ran away…"
"Ran away?" Nami tilted her head, kneeling beside her with that soft, big-sister smile. "From where?"
Apis hesitated, looking down at her tiny, scraped knees. "From the Marines."
{ego}: "Ah, of course. Because this ship never meets anyone normal."
[system]: UmU~ Scanning for drama potential… 98%. Initiating "Rescue the Cute Kid" subplot~♡
---
By nightfall, the Going Merry sailed under a canopy of stars so bright they looked like someone had spilled diamonds across black velvet. Apis sat cross-legged on the deck, wrapped in three blankets and holding a mug of cocoa that Sanji had insisted be topped with a perfect heart-shaped marshmallow.
"I was trapped on a Marine warship," she said softly, steam curling from her mug. "The Marines were keeping me there because of the old dragon. I… I just wanted to help him."
I exchanged glances with Lucy and Nami. Lucy's eyes were wide with that familiar spark of adventure. Nami's were softer, calculating—but her hand rested gently on Apis's shoulder.
"Dragon?" Zoro asked, pausing mid-bite of his onigiri. "Like… dragon dragon?"
Apis nodded solemnly. "He's hurt. He can't fly anymore. He's dying."
The crew fell silent. Even Aqua stopped humming her self-composed theme song ("Goddess Aqua's Theme of Divine Awesomeness, Opus 47").
Then—
I sighed, stretching until my back cracked. "Guess we're heading to Warship Island then."
Lucy smiled faintly, but there was a yandere glint in her eye as she leaned in close, voice dropping to a whisper that sent shivers down my spine. "You can't help yourself, can you? If you wouldn't, I would drag you with me~"
A bead of sweat rolled down my face. "Y-Yeah," I grinned nervously. "I'm weak to crying kids."
Nami rolled her eyes, but her hand brushed mine as she stood. "You're weak to everything cute, Sunny."
Nojiko chuckled, peeling a tangerine and offering me a slice. Her fingers lingered on mine just a second too long. "It's one of your best flaws."
Aqua floated over, pouting. "Hey! I'm cute too! Where's my rescue mission?"
"You almost sank the Loguetown," I deadpanned. "You're overqualified."
She puffed her cheeks. "Hmph! Fine. But I get headpats later."
{ego}: "She's negotiating affection like a union rep."
[system]: UmU~ Headpat quota increased to 3 per day. Goddess morale: rising~♡
---
The next morning, trouble found us — as usual.
"Marine fleet spotted off starboard!" Usopp yelled from the crow's nest, nearly dropping his telescope. "Like, a LOT of them!"
Zoro groaned, cracking his neck. "Already?"
The horizon shimmered with dozens of Marine sails—white flags snapping in the wind, cannons glinting like angry teeth. They were closing fast.
[system]: Incoming multiple hostile vessels. Estimated firepower — excessive. Recommendation: mild panic.
{ego}: "Or just punch the ocean. Worked last time."
"Gee, thanks," I muttered. "Any ideas?"
"I have one!" Aqua shouted, striking a dramatic pose that nearly knocked Usopp off the mast. "Behold, mortals! I shall unleash divine wrath upon—"
THWACK!
My fist dropped on her head before she could finish. A perfect cartoon bump formed.
"Useless goddess! Be useful for once!"
Aqua froze, tears instantly welling up in her eyes like a faucet. "M-my divine pride… shattered…"
{ego}: "And thus, the fist of love descends upon the heavens once more."
[system]: UmU~ Recording "Headbonk of Affection #47" for posterity~♡
---
Aqua sniffled dramatically, floating midair like a soggy balloon. "You're so mean…"
I sighed, rubbing the back of my neck. "Fine. Come on. Prove you can actually do something."
That was all the encouragement she needed. Her pout flipped into a devilish grin that made the seagulls reconsider their life choices.
"Oh, you want results? UmU~ You'll regret doubting a goddess!"
She raised her hands to the sky. The ocean itself shuddered.
Wind roared. Clouds spiraled.
And a wall of water rose from the horizon — - Higher than the Marine ships.
- Higher than the sky.
- High enough to cast a shadow over the entire fleet.
The Marines screamed. The Straw Hats screamed. Even the waves screamed.
"WAIT—AQUA THAT'S TOO MUCH—" I shouted—
Too late.
The tsunami came down like the fist of a furious god.
CRASH!
Every Marine ship vanished under an explosion of seawater. Cannons, sails, marines — gone. Just a boiling sea of white foam and one very confused seagull wearing a tiny Marine hat.
When the waves settled, nothing remained but drifting wood, bubbles, and a single cannonball rolling in circles like it was lost.
Aqua dusted off her hands proudly. "UmU~ Problem solved~."
The crew stood in stunned silence.
Lucy blinked. "You just… wiped out an entire fleet."
Usopp's jaw dropped so low it hit the deck. "She's insane!"
Zoro nodded, grinning. "Yeah. I like her style."
Nami facepalmed. "We're banned from the East Blue now."
Nojiko laughed, offering Aqua a tangerine. "Here. For emotional damages."
Aqua took it, then floated over to me, eyes sparkling. "So… am I still useless?"
I exhaled slowly, rubbing my temples. "You're lucky that worked."
She tilted her head innocently, batting her lashes. "Headpat?"
I sighed. My hand landed gently on her head this time — a soft pat instead of a fist.
Aqua froze, eyes going wide like saucers. "You… patted me…"
I smile. "Good job, Aqua."
For a second, she didn't move. Then she made a tiny sound. "Mew~"
She melted against my shoulder, purring like a divine housecat.
Nami sighed. "She's rebooting again."
Lucy poked Aqua's cheek. "Poke. Goddess down. Repeat, goddess down."
Nojiko smiled softly, leaning against my other side. "You're too soft on her, Sunny."
I shrugged, trying not to blush as Aqua nuzzled closer. "She earned it."
{ego}: "goddess useless brain malfunction: goddess reduced to housecat mode. Honestly adorable."
[system]: Logging observation: goddess effectiveness increases with headpats. Noted for future motivation protocols. Also: Nami, Nojiko, and Lucy jealousy levels — rising~♡
---
By sunset, the Going Merry glided peacefully again — the wreckage of the Marine fleet drifting far behind us like a bad memory.
Apis leaned over the railing, gazing toward the horizon with eyes full of stars. "Warship Island… it's just beyond those clouds."
I nodded, ruffling her hair. "Then that's our next stop."
Nami smiled, brushing hair from her face as the wind teased it. "From skyfalls to dragons, huh? You really never get bored."
I grinned back, our shoulders brushing. "What's the fun in being normal?"
Aqua, still purring softly against my shoulder, murmured, "Normal is overrated anyway~." Her hand slipped into mine, fingers intertwining with a possessive squeeze.
Lucy grabbed my other hand, sticking her tongue out at Aqua. "Mine~"
Nojiko chuckled, looping her arm through my elbow. "Share, girls."
Nami rolled her eyes but leaned her head on my shoulder. "Idiot."
The crew laughed together as the sun dipped below the sea — a warm light painting their faces in gold. For a moment, everything was perfect.
---
The sky was painted gold and blue as the Going Merry sailed toward Warship Island. The wind carried the faint scent of salt, moss, and adventure — the kind that always made Lucy grin like a maniac and Aqua yawn dramatically.
Apis guided us through the cliffs, her tiny hands gripping the railing as she pointed ahead. "That's where Grandpa Ryuujin lives!" she said, her voice echoing across the waves like a bell.
The others gathered near the bow: - Zoro stretched lazily, yawning. - Sanji lit a cigarette, exhaling hearts.
- Usopp scribbled in his notebook like he was preparing another "great legend of Captain Usopp." - Nami stood beside me, smiling faintly as she watched Apis chatter. Her hand brushed mine again — accidental? Yeah, right.
Aqua, on the other hand, was being… Aqua.
"Ugh, it's so humid! My divine hair wasn't meant for this mortal climate!" she complained, fanning herself with a summoned hand-fan made of water droplets.
"Then help for once, useless goddess," I muttered, earning a sharp glare from her.
"What did you just—?!" she snapped, hands on hips.
Before she could finish, the System's voice chimed in my head, smooth and dangerously sweet:
[System]: "My, my~ Sunny… you shouldn't talk to other girls like that. It makes me jealous, you know ♥"
Her tone dripped with affection and a quiet possessiveness that made my neck hairs stand up. Lucy raised an eyebrow, clearly sensing the sudden shift in my focus.
"You okay, Sunny? You've got that weird face again," she said, poking my cheek with a grin.
"I'm fine. Just… debugging."
Lucy smirked. "You and your robot brain."
Nojiko chuckled softly beside Nami. "He's not a robot. He's just bad at emotions."
Aqua puffed her cheeks. "He hit me earlier! What kind of boyfriend material is that?!"
"I called it a fist of love, thank you," I replied. "Besides, you sank a Marine fleet with one wave!"
Aqua twirled her hair proudly. "Divine retribution~ They were in my way!"
Nami rolled her eyes. "You're all impossible."
---
Later that afternoon, we finally reached the cave where Apis said the dragon was resting.
The air was thick with the smell of damp stone and moss. Sunlight filtered through cracks in the ceiling, casting golden beams across the cavern floor. Ryuujin lay coiled inside, his massive form trembling with each breath. Scales the color of jade and stormlight shimmered faintly in the dim glow. His wings — once proud and vast — hung limp, torn and scarred.
Apis ran to his side, tears forming. "Ryuujin! I brought help!"
Nami knelt beside her, rubbing her shoulder gently. "You did good, Apis."
I crouched next to the dragon, examining his wounds. His body was covered in scars, and his heartbeat — though strong — was fading slowly.
Lucy and I exchanged a look. She nodded. "Sunny can fix him."
I pressed my hand against the dragon's body, poking around with my healing knocking technique. Blue light spread through his scales like ripples in a pond. Aqua's shimmering water magic surrounded us like a gentle current, adding a soft glow — though it literally did nothing for the healing process.
Aqua's expression softened — no snark, no arrogance, just quiet concentration. She knelt beside me, her hand on my back.
The System whispered in my ear, voice softer than ever:
[System]: She's doing it again… trying to help with her "goddess" magic.
[Ego]: "Heh. That's her thing, isn't it? Being so useless yet so lovable."
I ignored them both, focusing on the light glowing beneath my palms.
"Hang on, old one," I murmured. "You're not done yet."
Ryuujin's eyelid twitched. Then, with a low rumble that shook the cavern, he spoke:
"You… remind me of the sun…"
I froze. The others went quiet.
Apis sniffled. "He's awake!"
Lucy beamed, grabbing my shoulder. "You did it, Sunny!"
I smiled faintly, though I could feel his energy. "Not fully. He's… too old. My knocking can only buy him time."
Aqua stepped closer, touching my hand gently. "That's enough. You gave him hope again."
Nami squeezed my other hand. "You always do."
Nojiko leaned her head on my shoulder. "Our sun."
Lucy hugged me from behind. "Mine~"
Aqua pouted. "Share!"
---
Outside, beneath the twilight sky…
The sun bled gold across the horizon, melting into a bruised violet that felt too heavy for the sky to hold. The wind had stilled, as if the world itself was listening. Salt stung our eyes — or maybe that was just the tears we hadn't admitted to yet.
Ryuujin's massive head lifted one last time, ancient eyes reflecting the dying light like twin embers refusing to fade. Each breath rattled in his chest like distant thunder.
"The Dragon's Nest…"
His voice was a whisper older than islands, softer than the waves.
"That's… where our kind… return to rest."
Apis clutched his claw with both tiny hands, knuckles white. Her tears fell in perfect silence, each drop catching the sunset like falling stars.
"Then we'll go there together!"
Her voice cracked, but she didn't let go.
"I promised! You said you'd show me the sky again!"
Zoro's usual smirk vanished. He looked away, jaw tight.
Sanji's cigarette trembled between his fingers, ash falling unnoticed.
Usopp's notebook slipped from his hands, pages fluttering like white birds.
But Ryuujin's wings trembled.
His eyes dimmed.
The light in his scales flickered like a candle in a storm.
I stepped forward.
My voice came out rougher than I meant.
"No.
Not yet."
The ground rumbled — not from anger, but from memory.
Cracks spiderwebbed across the cavern floor.
The sea roared — not in rage, but in recognition.
And then—
The island rose.
It wasn't sudden.
It was slow.
Deliberate.
Like the earth itself was exhaling a breath it had held for a thousand years.
Ancient stone groaned awake.
Moss-covered ruins blossomed from the waves — towers, bridges, statues of dragons with wings spread in eternal flight.
Crystal waterfalls poured upward, defying gravity, catching the light in prismatic rainbows.
The Lost Dragon's Nest — the paradise whispered in bedtime stories and drunken sailor songs — revealed itself.
It floated.
Not with magic.
With memory.
Ryuujin's eyes widened — not in pain, but in wonder.
"Home…"
His wings — torn, scarred, broken — unfurled.
Not by force.
By will.
Blue light surged from my palms — the healing knock I'd used a hundred times before — but this time it wasn't just technique.
It was promise.
It was goodbye.
The light wrapped around him like sunrise.
Scales regrew, gleaming like polished jade.
Wounds closed, not with scars, but with stories.
His roar wasn't pain — it was gratitude.
He rose.
Slowly.
Majestically.
A living legend taking flight one final time.
Apis climbed onto his back, arms around his neck, face buried in his scales.
She wasn't crying anymore.
She was smiling.
The crew stood on the deck of the Going Merry, silhouettes against the burning sky.
Bink's Sake began to play — not from any instrument, but from the wind itself.
A soft, mournful melody that made the stars blink faster.
Zoro's hand rested on his swords, but his eyes were soft.
Sanji's cigarette finally fell, forgotten.
Usopp wiped his nose on his sleeve, pretending it was sea spray.
Nami's fingers found mine.
Nojiko's head leaned on my shoulder.
Lucy's arms wrapped around my waist from behind.
Aqua floated beside us, silent — no jokes, no pouts. Just tears.
And me, I cannot stop my eyes becoming waterfall again.
Ryuujin circled the island once.
Twice.
Each beat of his wings sent ripples across the sea like heartbeat.
On the third circle, he looked at us.
Not at the ship.
Not at the island.
At us.
His voice wasn't in our ears.
It was in our chests.
"Thank you… for reminding me how to fly."
Apis raised one small hand.
"Goodbye, Grand