The Calm Belt was still.
No wind, no waves — only the quiet hum of a sea too deep to measure. The Oro Jackson glided forward, its sails filled by Enel's controlled lightning, light crackles of static pushing it through the glassy waters.
Beneath, the shadows of colossal Sea Kings drifted lazily, their enormous eyes following the ship with silent curiosity.
Ada stood at the bow, her dress brushing against the rail. The faint sunlight turned her red hair gold. For once, there was no fire, no battle — only calm.
Lilith approached, adjusting her goggles as she scanned the calm horizon. "Strange readings. It's almost… peaceful."
Ada smiled faintly. "Even the sea listens sometimes."
Enel snorted from above, sitting cross-legged on the mast. "Too quiet if you ask me. No thunder, no storm — I'm getting bored."
Bullet leaned against a crate, arms crossed. "You could always jump in and wrestle one of those giant fish."
"Pass," Enel muttered, glaring down. "They don't conduct well."
Mihawk, silent as ever, sat by the starboard rail, sharpening Yoru with precise, unhurried strokes. The rasp of metal on stone blended with the soft hum of the ship's motion.
Fisher Tiger stood near him, arms folded, watching the Sea Kings below with a wary eye. He had seen too much of the world's cruelty to ever trust the calm.
At the stern, the Boa sisters — Hancock, Sandersonia, and Marigold — huddled together. Their eyes darted from the deep blue beneath to the towering cliffs ahead that marked the edge of Amazon Lily. The place they once called home.
Ada turned to them, voice even. "You're safe now. The Calm Belt won't touch us."
"Because of you?" Hancock asked quietly, her voice still young but proud.
Ada nodded. "The sea remembers who walks it."
They didn't understand what she meant, but they felt the truth in her tone. Even the Sea Kings didn't approach; they merely watched, parting around the ship like old guardians.
The mist thinned ahead, revealing green cliffs crowned with waterfalls. A wall of fog rolled aside, and there it was — Amazon Lily, the Island of Women. Trees shaped like serpents rose into the sky, their vines curling around old stone towers. Bright banners fluttered along the cliffs, and the faint echo of drums rolled across the wind.
The moment the Oro Jackson neared the shore, horns blared.
Dozens of Kuja warriors appeared along the ridges, bows drawn, their snakes coiling and hissing. From the beach, more approached — fierce women with painted faces and polished armor, their serpent companions poised to strike.
Lilith frowned. "They don't seem… welcoming."
Ada raised a hand calmly. "They're protecting what's theirs."
She turned toward her crew. "We follow their law. No men step on that beach."
Bullet groaned but didn't argue. Mihawk inclined his head in silent acknowledgment. Fisher Tiger simply smiled faintly. "A fair rule."
Ada looked to her female crew members. "Lilith, Okiku, Hiyori, Perona — you're with me. Boa sisters, too."
Lilith nodded. "Got it, captain."
As their small boat reached the sand, the Kuja warriors raised their bows. One stepped forward, voice sharp.
"State your purpose! No outsiders are permitted on Amazon Lily!"
Ada stood tall, her heels brushing the ground. "We come to return what was taken."
At her gesture, the Boa sisters stepped out from behind her. Gasps rippled through the line of warriors.
"The Boa sisters…?"
"They're alive?"
For a heartbeat, no one moved — then a commanding voice, older and filled with authority, broke through the silence.
"Lower your weapons."
The Kuja obeyed instantly. From the cliff path descended a woman in a crimson robe, her white hair pinned with jade, her eyes sharp as a hawk's — Elder Nyon, known long ago as Gloriosa.
Even age hadn't dulled her presence. She walked straight toward Ada, her cane striking the stone rhythmically.
When her eyes met Ada's, something ancient stirred between them — a shared memory of roaring seas, burning ships, and a name long erased.
"Nyx D. Ada," Gloriosa said softly. "I thought I'd never see your face again."
Ada smiled faintly. "It's been a long time, Gloriosa."
The warriors looked at one another, confused. None of them knew what tied these two legends together.
Gloriosa's gaze moved to the Boa sisters. She touched Hancock's cheek gently, her expression softening. "You've come home."
Tears welled in Hancock's eyes. "We… we never thought we'd see this place again."
"Then thank her," Gloriosa said, nodding toward Ada. "You owe her more than words."
Ada stepped back, letting them have the moment. She wasn't one for sentiment, but something in the way the island air smelled — wild, free, untouched by kings — made her chest tighten.
The Kuja warriors lowered their heads slightly. Even if they didn't fully trust this stranger, they could feel the weight of her presence. The air around her seemed alive — not heavy with threat, but with purpose.
——————-
Inside the City
The Kuja village was a mosaic of colors — purple stone paths winding through bright jungle flora, serpent statues guarding every door. Curious eyes peeked from windows as Ada and her companions followed Gloriosa up toward the palace.
Perona floated lazily above them, umbrella twirling. "Creepy island. No men, no ghosts."
Okiku chuckled softly. "Perhaps peace is strange to you."
"Peace is boring," Perona muttered.
Lilith recorded the environment through her mechanical denden mushi. "Fascinating. A self-sufficient society isolated for centuries, thriving without outside interference."
Ada walked quietly, observing the murals painted on the palace walls — women slaying sea beasts, leading fleets, protecting each other. Power without tyranny. Freedom without cruelty. She respected that.
Inside the grand hall, Gloriosa stopped at the foot of an empty throne draped with flowers and white silk.
Ada noticed instantly. "No empress?"
Gloriosa's eyes lowered. "She passed years ago. A fever. The island hasn't chosen a successor."
Ada bowed her head slightly. "Then I'll pay my respects."
Gloriosa studied her for a long moment before speaking again, her voice softer. "You've changed, Ada. The fire's still there, but it burns… differently now."
Ada smiled faintly. "Fire changes shape, not purpose."
Gloriosa chuckled, lowering herself into a chair. "Still poetic, even after all these years."
Lilith glanced between them. "You two know each other?"
Gloriosa looked up at the younger woman. "Once, in a life the world has tried to erase. We sailed under Rocks D. Xebec." She smiled wryly. "Back when we were foolish enough to think we could rewrite the world in one lifetime."
Ada's gaze softened. "You haven't changed much, Gloriosa."
Gloriosa chuckled lightly. "Neither have you. Still carrying that same look in your eyes — the one that used to scare half the crew."
Ada smiled faintly. "Back then, you were the only one who could get me and Shakky to stop arguing long enough to do our job."
Gloriosa waved a hand. "Those were different times. We were all too young and too stubborn for our own good."
Ada nodded. "Maybe. But I'm glad we made it out."
Gloriosa's expression gentled. "So am I."
They shared a quiet smile — two survivors of an age buried beneath centuries of lies.
Gloriosa's eyes then narrowed slightly as she looked at Ada. "You're not wearing it."
Ada paused, tilting her head. "Wearing what?"
"The necklace," Gloriosa said quietly. "The one from Rocks. You never took it off — not once."
For a moment, Ada said nothing. Her hand drifted instinctively to her collarbone, where the old pendant used to hang. Then she smiled — small, almost wistful.
"I gave it to someone destined."
Gloriosa raised a brow. "Destined, huh? You don't part with things easily, Ada. Not that one."
Ada's eyes softened. "He will need it more than I ever did."
The old woman studied her carefully, then exhaled through her nose, a faint smirk tugging at her lips. "You always did have a strange sense for people. Let me guess — another fool chasing a dream?"
Ada's smile deepened, a quiet pride in her tone. "Maybe. But this one… will change the world."
Gloriosa chuckled under her breath. "Then I hope your faith isn't misplaced."
Ada looked out toward the Amazon Lily horizon — the sea shimmering gold beneath the setting sun. "It never was."
———————-
By the Shore
Outside the palace, the rest of the crew waited on the beach.
Bullet paced, his fists clenched. "Tch. Sitting here while they chat on that island of flowers. Waste of time."
Mihawk was leaning against a palm tree, eyes closed, resting his hand on Yoru's hilt. "A swordsman's patience is as important as his blade."
Enel lounged on a sun-warmed rock. "You're all too tense. Maybe they're being pampered in a palace. I should've disguised myself as a woman."
Fisher Tiger gave him a side-eye. "You'd last five minutes before getting shot with arrows."
Lilith returned then, carrying a basket of strange fruits. "They trade these for my devices. Efficient society, very curious people."
Perona followed behind her, pouting. "They called me 'ghost girl.' Rude."
Hiyori laughed. "At least they didn't shoot at you."
A few Kuja warriors accompanied them, intrigued by the crew. They whispered among themselves — tales of the woman who burned Marie Geoise, the pirate who freed slaves and faced gods.
One of them, younger and wide-eyed, asked Lilith timidly, "Is it true? Your captain stood against the World Government?"
Lilith smiled. "She didn't stand against them. She tore it open."
The warriors exchanged awed looks.
——————
Back inside, Gloriosa poured two cups of herbal tea. The scent filled the room — calming, earthy, familiar.
"You've been stirring trouble again," Gloriosa said quietly, her eyes fixed on Ada. "The footage reached us. The Admirals… defeated. The slaves freed. You did all this with your crew?"
Ada sipped her tea, her expression calm. "Yes. It was necessary."
Gloriosa set her cup down, her gaze sharp. "You risked everything. Marie Geoise is the heart of the world government. Even the smallest mistake could have—"
Ada's eyes flicked to her, steady. "I know. That's why we planned carefully. No one else died because of this."
Gloriosa let out a soft sigh, leaning back in her chair. "It's incredible… and terrifying. You've done what no one else could even attempt."
Ada's gaze softened, almost reflective. "They needed to see the truth. Even if they can't understand it yet."
Gloriosa studied her, tilting her head. "And the world above? How will they react? People will see a pirate—your crew—outmatching the strongest Marines alive."
Ada's lips curved faintly. "Let them watch. Let them learn."
The silence stretched for a moment, only broken by the clinking of tea cups. Then Gloriosa smiled, a gentle, knowing expression. "You've always carried more than you should, Ada. That same calm strength… it draws people to you, doesn't it?"
Ada's eyes lingered on the window, where the sunset painted the sea gold. "It's not about drawing them. It's about showing them what's possible… when someone refuses to bow to fear."
Gloriosa nodded grimly. "So the truth finally walks again."
"It does," Ada said. "But it's not ready to stand."
Gloriosa looked at her gently. "You think you're not strong enough?"
Ada exhaled softly. "Not yet. Power isn't enough to end something built over centuries. It needs… the right storm."
Gloriosa smiled faintly. "You mean someone else."
Ada didn't answer directly, only gazed out the window where the waves shimmered like silver. "The sea has a way of choosing its own heirs."
——————
By sunset, the sky turned crimson — the same shade as Ada's cloak. The Oro Jackson waited offshore, sails ready.
The Kuja lined the docks, watching silently as Ada and her crew prepared to leave. The Boa sisters stood beside Gloriosa, tears glinting in their eyes.
Hancock spoke softly, her pride masking her emotion. "We owe you everything, Lady Ada."
Ada smiled gently. "Then repay me by living freely."
Gloriosa approached, staff in hand. "You've done more for this island than you realize."
Ada bowed slightly. "And you've done more for me than you know."
Gloriosa chuckled. "Still speaking in riddles."
Ada's tone softened. "If the world trembles again, remember — not every storm brings ruin."
The old woman nodded, her eyes glinting with both affection and sorrow. "You carry too many ghosts, Ada. Let some of them rest."
Ada smiled faintly. "Maybe one day."
She turned to her crew, her voice steady. "Let's go. We've still got seas to cross."
As the ship pulled away, the Kuja women lowered their heads in silent respect. The crimson sails caught the dying light, and the crescent flag of the Nyx Pirates fluttered in the dusk breeze.
On the dock, Gloriosa watched until the ship became a shadow on the horizon.
Her voice, soft but steady, carried on the wind.
"Nyx D. Ada… still walking between legend and storm.The sea's not done with you yet."
And somewhere beyond the Calm Belt, as night swallowed the world, Ada stood at the bow once more, eyes reflecting the stars.
The necklace she once wore was gone — but in her heart, she knew who carried it now.
And for the first time in years, she smiled — not as a pirate, not as a warrior — but as a mother watching the horizon her son would one day claim.