The sound of hurried footsteps on broken glass pierced through Luffy's unconsciousness like needles through fog. His eyes cracked open to find himself staring at a sky that had shifted from the chaotic storm clouds of battle to the pale gray of approaching dawn. The mark on his chest pulsed with a faint glow that seemed to sync with his heartbeat.
How long was I out?
"Captain!" Zoro's voice cut through the morning air. The swordsman appeared at the edge of the crater. His loyal swordsman was usually without much emotion, but now, Luffy could see the concern in his eyes. Behind him came Sanji, his black suit torn and stained, a cigarette hanging forgotten from his lips.
Yamato stirred beside him, groaning as she pushed herself up from where she'd been unconsciously shielding his body. "Ugh... note to self: never get punched by mysterious red-haired maniacs again." She blinked at the approaching crew members. "Oh good, the cavalry's here. Fashionably late, but better than never."
"What the hell happened here?" Sanji demanded, his visible eye wide as he took in the devastated plaza. Buildings had been reduced to rubble, the ground itself transformed into twisted glass sculptures, and the air still crackled with residual electrical energy. "It looks like a hurricane hit a lightning storm."
Close enough, Luffy thought, struggling to sit up. Every muscle in his body screamed in protest, and the mark on his chest sent waves of unfamiliar sensation through his nervous system. That bastard really did something to me.
"Where's..." Luffy's voice came out as a croak. He cleared his throat and tried again. "Where's Robin? Nami? The others?"
The silence that followed his question was deafening. Zoro and Sanji exchanged a look that made Luffy's blood run cold, while Yamato's expression shifted from casual humor to grim understanding.
"Luffy," Zoro said carefully, his hand resting on his sword hilts. "We need to talk."
"Just tell me," Luffy said, forcing himself to his feet despite Yamato's protests. The mark pulsed brighter as his emotions spiked, and he could feel storm clouds beginning to gather overhead again. "What happened?"
Sanji's cigarette finally fell from his lips, landing in the debris with a small hiss. "CP9 got them," he said, the words coming out flat and emotionless. "Robin and Nami. They took advantage of... whatever the hell this was." He gestured at the destruction around them.
No. The word echoed in Luffy's mind like a death knell. No, no, no...
"While you were fighting that monster," Zoro continued, "we were holding our own against CP9. Me, Nami, and the cook were giving those bastards a real fight."
"We had them on the ropes," Sanji added, his jaw clenched. "Then that red-haired freak showed up after he finished with you. Took us all down like we were children playing at being pirates."
"He came after you too?"
"We know what you were trying to do," Zoro said, stepping forward. "And you kept that monster busy as long as anyone could. But once he was done with you..."
"Red-haired?" Yamato looked between them with interest. "So you saw him too? Weird guy, right? Called himself some kind of God Knight or something. I've never heard of anything like that, and trust me, I know my way around powerful weirdos."
"God Knight?" Sanji frowned. "What the hell is a God Knight?"
"Apparently something way above our current weight class," Yamato replied, wincing as she touched a bruise on her ribs. "Guy hit like a mountain made of swords. And that transformation technique with his blade..." She shuddered. "I've seen some crazy Devil Fruits, but that was something else entirely."
Shamrock. The name echoed in Luffy's mind along with those final words: trust no one completely. He knew this would happen. He kept me busy, then went to help them finish the job.
"Where did they take them?" Luffy asked with a growl in his voice. Lightning flickered between his fingers as the mark on his chest pulsed brighter.
"We don't know," Zoro admitted grimly. "That bastard knocked us all unconscious before we could see where they went. At least he didn't kill anyone—seemed more interested in making sure CP9 got what they came for."
"Iceberg's hanging on," Sanji added. "Chopper think he'll pull through, but it was close."
All of this... because I wasn't strong enough. Luffy's hands clenched into fists, electricity arcing between his knuckles. Because I couldn't beat that monster fast enough to help you.
"Captain," Zoro said quietly, recognizing the look in Luffy's eyes. "We all knew what we were getting into when we took on CP9."
"That red-haired freak was on a completely different level," Sanji said, lighting a fresh cigarette with slightly trembling hands. "None of us could have handled him. Hell, you threw everything you had at him and barely made him break a sweat."
"Do we know where CP9 operates from?" Luffy asked, his voice steadier now as determination replaced self-recrimination. "They must have a base, somewhere they take prisoners."
"Enies Lobby," Yamato said right away. "The judicial island. It's where the World Government takes people they want to disappear forever. At least that's what I heard," She said at the end with an uneasy smile. Luffy wondered how she knew that, but now wasn't the time for questions.
Enies Lobby. Luffy had heard whispers of that place—the island where justice was just a word, where trials were foregone conclusions and executions were the only verdict. If Robin and Nami were there...
"Then that's where we're going," he declared, taking a step forward despite his injuries. The mark on his chest pulsed in rhythm with his heartbeat, and he could feel something changing inside him—his powers growing stronger, but also... different. More dangerous.
"Luffy," Zoro said carefully, "we don't even have a ship. The Going Merry is—"
"Then we get a ship," Luffy interrupted, his eyes blazing with determination. "We find a way to Enies Lobby, and we bring them home. All of them."
Yamato grinned, her earlier humor returning despite their desperate situation. "Now that's the kind of crazy plan I can get behind. Count me in, Storm King."
"This isn't your fight," Sanji pointed out.
"Like hell it isn't," Yamato replied, hefting her club with renewed strength. "Those government bastards interrupted my perfectly good meal schedule. That's a crime against nature in my book."
"Alright then," he said, straightening up despite the pain. Above them, the storm clouds were beginning to clear, revealing the first rays of dawn breaking over Water 7's damaged skyline. "Let's go get our friends back."
The mark pulsed once more, and for just a moment, Luffy could have sworn he heard Shamrock's voice echoing in the back of his mind: The real test begins now.
Bring it on, he thought, electricity crackling around his fists as he turned toward the harbor. I'll show you what happens when you take my nakama.
Later
Luffy's feet felt like they were filled with lead as he climbed the steps to Galley-La headquarters. Every muscle in his body screamed from the battle with Shamrock, but the pain in his chest wasn't just from his injuries. The mark that bastard had left pulsed with each heartbeat, sending strange sensations through him that he couldn't quite place. But that didn't matter now.
Robin. Nami. Gone.
The thought made storm clouds gather overhead without him even trying. Lightning flickered between his fingers as his emotions spiraled. He needed to control it. Needed to focus.
Zoro walked beside him. The swordsman kept glancing at him, probably worried he might collapse again. Sanji was ahead, chain-smoking like his life depended on it. Yamato brought up the rear, whistling some tune Luffy didn't recognize like this was just a casual stroll.
"You okay?" Zoro asked quietly.
"I'll be fine when we get them back," Luffy growled.
The Galley-La building was a mess. Windows shattered, walls cracked, and workers were still clearing debris. Some of them stopped to stare as Luffy's group entered, but no one tried to stop them. They knew who was responsible for the destruction, and it wasn't the Straw Hats.
The main office had been converted into a makeshift medical room. The first thing Luffy saw was Chopper, his little reindeer doctor, working on Iceberg.
On the main bed was Iceberg, looking like death warmed over. Nojiko stood beside him, her hands hovering over a nasty wound on his side. Water flowed in a thin stream from a basin nearby, surrounding the injury in a glowing blue barrier that kept the blood from flowing out.
"Keeping pressure on the wound," Nojiko explained when she saw Luffy looking. "And cleaning it without disturbing Chopper's stitches."
Vivi rushed to Luffy the moment he entered. "Luffy! I tried to stop them, I swear!" Her eyes were red from crying. "They took Nami and Robin. I couldn't... they had some kind of power that solidified my sand. I couldn't transform, couldn't fight back."
"Haki," Yamato chimed in from behind. "Armament Haki can neutralize Devil Fruit powers temporarily. Not many people can use it effectively."
"Not helping," Sanji muttered.
Luffy placed a hand on Vivi's shoulder. "It's not your fault." The words tasted bitter, because he knew whose fault it really was. His. If he'd been stronger, faster, if he'd beaten Shamrock quicker...
"Captain." Chopper's tired voice broke his spiral of self-blame. The little doctor looked ready to collapse. "I've stabilized Iceberg's wounds, but he's lost a lot of blood. After the battle, I went and checked on Usopp. He is fine, but he needs rest."
"You need rest too," Luffy said, noticing the dark circles under Chopper's eyes.
"Later," Chopper insisted. "After we get Robin and Nami back."
Paulie emerged from a side room, rope coiled around his shoulders as always. His face darkened when he saw them. "You've got some nerve showing up here."
"We need a ship," Luffy said, cutting to the chase. "The Sea Train took our friends. We're going after them."
Paulie's laugh was harsh and humorless. "You're all out of your minds! No ship can navigate those waters. The currents would tear apart anything smaller than a battleship, and anything larger would be too slow to catch the Sea Train." He gestured wildly with his hands. "Those tracks were built specifically because ships couldn't make the journey reliably!"
Lightning crackled between Luffy's fingers as his temper flared. "I don't care what it takes. They have my nakama."
"And what are you gonna do? Swim after them?" Paulie snapped back.
A weak voice interrupted their argument. "I might be able to help you..." Iceberg had opened his eyes, struggling to sit up despite Nojiko's attempt to keep him still. "But I need something in return."
Luffy moved to the bedside, meeting the shipwright's pained gaze. "What do you want?"
"Save Franky. CP9 took him too."
That wasn't what Luffy expected. "The weird guy with blue hair? Why would they take him?"
Paulie stepped forward, his anger temporarily redirected. "Boss, you need to rest. These pirates cannot—"
"These pirates," Iceberg cut in with surprising strength, "are our only chance to save him." He looked back at Luffy. "They took Franky for the same reason they came after me. We both have something they want."
Something in Iceberg's tone made Luffy's instincts prickle. This wasn't just about a kidnapped friend. There was something deeper here, something that had the World Government sending their attack dogs.
"The blueprints," Zoro said suddenly from beside him. "That's what they were after when they attacked you."
Iceberg's eyes widened slightly. "You're sharper than you look, Roronoa."
"What blueprints?" Luffy asked, the mark on his chest pulsing in time with his curiosity. Something told him this was important.
"It's... complicated," Iceberg said, wincing as he shifted position. "And we don't have time for the full story now. What matters is that CP9 has Franky, and they're taking him to the same place as your friends."
"Enies Lobby," Yamato supplied helpfully, examining a model ship on a nearby shelf with casual interest. "Island of perpetual daylight, home to the Gates of Justice, and the most secure Marine facility this side of Impel Down." She noticed everyone staring at her. "What? I read."
"Wait," Luffy said. "You're not telling us everything."
This caused Iceberg to look at him, while Luffy looked strange; there was a strange look on his face.
"I will go there to save my nakama, but why should I risk my life for Franky," Luffy continued. "I think we deserve to know why the World Government wants him so badly."
Iceberg exchanged a glance with Paulie, some silent communication passing between them. Finally, the shipwright sighed and motioned for Luffy to come back to his bedside.
"You're right," he admitted. "You should know what you're getting into."
Luffy approached, his crew gathering behind him. Even Yamato looked genuinely interested now.
"It's a long story," Iceberg warned.
"Then tell it quickly," Luffy replied.
Iceberg pushed himself up against his pillows, wincing slightly. Nojiko adjusted her water manipulation to maintain pressure on his wound while giving him room to move.
"Before the Sea Train, Water 7 was dying," Iceberg began. "The shipbuilding industry was our lifeblood, but without a way to transport materials and finished ships..."
"The currents," Zoro supplied. "The same ones Paulie was talking about."
Iceberg nodded. "Exactly. Supplies couldn't come in, finished ships couldn't go out. Our economy was collapsing." His eyes took on a nostalgic gleam. "Then Tom changed everything."
"Tom?" Luffy asked, unfamiliar with the name.
"My master," Iceberg explained. "Tom was a fishman who lived here in Water 7. The greatest shipwright who ever lived."
"A fishman shipwright?" Sanji's eyebrows rose as he lit a fresh cigarette.
"Yes. Being a fishman gave him natural advantages in understanding how ships move through water," Iceberg said with clear admiration. "But his true genius was in design. Tom could look at wood and steel and see possibilities others couldn't even imagine."
Luffy nodded, understanding the respect in Iceberg's voice. Every crew member had their specialty, their passion. This Tom had clearly been to shipbuilding what Sanji was to cooking or Zoro to swordsmanship.
"Tom was more than just a shipwright," Iceberg continued. "He was a visionary. The man who built Gold Roger's ship."
Luffy's attention sharpened instantly. "The Pirate King's ship?"
A hint of a smile played at Iceberg's lips. "The Oro Jackson. The finest vessel ever to sail the Grand Line. Tom was immensely proud of that work, even though it ultimately led to his downfall."
The mark on Luffy's chest pulsed stronger, sending a jolt of something that wasn't quite pain through his body. It felt almost like... anticipation. As if something inside him was hungry for this information.
"After Roger's execution," Iceberg continued, "the World Government began hunting down anyone connected to him. Eventually, they came for Tom."
"For building a ship?" Chopper asked. "That's hardly a crime."
"The World Government didn't see it that way," Iceberg replied. "They called it 'contributing to piracy at the highest level.' A capital offense."
Luffy felt his teeth grinding together. Even in his own world of pirates and Marines, there were rules, codes of honor. But the Government seemed to make up their own justice as they went along.
"Tom knew they were coming," Iceberg said. "So he proposed a deal. He would build a Sea Train to connect Water 7 with nearby islands, revitalizing trade despite the dangerous waters. In exchange, they would postpone his trial for ten years."
"And they agreed?" Chopper asked incredulously.
"The local judge did," Iceberg nodded. "He saw the potential economic benefit. So Tom, myself, and another apprentice named Cutty Flam began the work."
"Cutty Flam," Sanji repeated. "Franky?"
"One and the same," Iceberg confirmed. "Though he was quite different back then. Smaller. Less... metallic."
Luffy raised an eyebrow at that cryptic description but didn't interrupt.
"We worked for those ten years," Iceberg continued. "Through storms, setbacks, and more than a few disasters. Franky was brilliant with mechanics—a genius, really—but reckless. He focused on building powerful ships capable of fighting sea kings sometimes while Tom and I worked on the train."
Iceberg's eyes grew distant. "When we finally completed the Sea Train, Water 7 celebrated for days. The judge was true to his word—Tom's contribution was recognized, and he was to be pardoned for his role in building Roger's ship."
"But something went wrong," Luffy guessed.
Iceberg's expression darkened. "CP5 happened. Not CP9—a different branch, but cut from the same cloth. They didn't care about Tom's pardon. They wanted something else he possessed... plans for an ancient weapon."
Luffy's eyes widened. "Weapon?"
"Pluton," Iceberg said quietly. "A warship of unimaginable destructive power, dating back to the Void Century. The World Government has been searching for it—or the means to recreate it—for centuries."
The air in the room seemed to grow colder. Luffy had heard whispers of ancient weapons before, but never anything concrete. The mark on his chest burned now, almost as if responding to the name.
"Tom refused to give them what they wanted," Iceberg continued. "He was the last in a line of shipwrights entrusted with those plans, sworn to keep them safe. When CP5 realized they couldn't persuade him, they decided on a different approach."
"They framed him." Luffy guessed right away, taking Iceberg a little by surprise.
"Worse," Iceberg said, his voice hardening. "They stole Franky's battleships—his pride and joy—and used them to attack Marine vessels in broad daylight. A perfect frame. The ships were distinctive, immediately recognizable as Franky's work."
"That's..." Vivi struggled to find words.
"Standard Government tactics," Yamato supplied, her tone unusually bitter. "Why fight fair when you can rig the game?"
Iceberg nodded grimly. "They came for both Tom and Franky the next day. With the attack so fresh, the original pardon was revoked. Tom knew what would happen if they took Franky too, so he..." Iceberg's voice caught. "He confessed to everything. Said he had ordered the attack, that Franky was just following instructions."
"He sacrificed himself," Zoro said quietly.
"For his apprentice," Iceberg confirmed. "They bound him in seastone and loaded him onto the very Sea Train he had built, to transport him to Enies Lobby for execution."
The irony wasn't lost on Luffy. To be carried to your death by your own creation.
"Franky couldn't accept it," Iceberg continued, his voice breaking slightly. "He broke free from the Marines holding him and ran to the tracks. He thought... he believed he could stop the train with his bare hands."
The room fell silent, everyone able to picture the desperate scene.
"Franky stood on those tracks, determined to stop the train... his mentor being carried away on his own creation." Iceberg's voice grew hoarse. "The train didn't even slow down."
"He survived?" Chopper asked softly.
"Barely," Iceberg replied. "I found him afterward, more dead than alive. His body was... broken beyond repair. Or so I thought."
"He rebuilt himself," Sanji realized.
Iceberg nodded. "Using the technology he'd developed for his ships. Mechanical arms, reinforced skeleton, weapon systems integrated into his own body. When he recovered, he abandoned his name, calling himself Franky instead of Cutty Flam."
"And the plans?" Luffy asked, unable to help himself. The mark on his chest seemed to be waiting for this answer.
Iceberg's expression turned guarded. "Tom entrusted them to me before they took him. CP9 believes Franky has them, or knows where they are. That's why they took him along with your friends."
Something didn't quite add up in that explanation, but Luffy didn't press. The important thing was that Franky was on the same train as Robin and Nami.
"So now you understand," Iceberg said. "Why I'm asking you to save him. This isn't just about an old friend—it's about preventing the World Government from obtaining a weapon that could destroy entire islands with a single shot."
"And if they get these plans..." Vivi began.
"Then nowhere in the world will be safe," Iceberg finished for her.
"We'll save him," Luffy said finally after a long moment of silence. "Along with Robin and Nami."
"Thank you," Iceberg said, genuine relief in his voice.
"Don't thank us yet," Luffy replied. "So how do we get there if ships can't make it?"
A ghost of a smile crossed Iceberg's pale face. "With another Sea Train. One that was deemed too dangerous for public use."
"The Rocketman," Paulie said, eyes widening. "Boss, you can't be serious! That prototype is a death trap!"
"A working death trap?" Luffy asked, a dangerous gleam in his eye.
"It works," Iceberg confirmed. "Too well, in fact. It's faster than Puffing Tom, but nearly impossible to control. We mothballed it years ago."
"Perfect," Luffy said, the beginnings of a plan forming in his mind. "We don't need control. We just need speed."
Vivi stepped forward. "Luffy, these waters... if Paulie says they're too dangerous—"
"Then we'll weather the storm," Luffy cut in. Storms were his element now. "My crew, my responsibility. I'm not leaving Nami and Robin with those government dogs."
"Nor Franky," Iceberg reminded him.
"Nor Franky," Luffy agreed.
"You realize you'll be declaring war on the World Government," Paulie said, his voice deadly serious. "Nobody attacks Enies Lobby and lives to tell about it."
Yamato laughed, twirling her kanabo like it weighed nothing. "Sounds like my kind of party! Government facilities are all the same—big, imposing, and full of themselves until someone knocks on their door with enough force."
Luffy found himself appreciating her attitude. Most people would be terrified at the thought of doing such a thing against the world government. "You don't have to come," he told her. "This isn't your fight."
"Are you kidding?" Yamato grinned, revealing slightly sharp canines. "I haven't had this much fun in years! Besides, someone's got to make sure you don't fry your brain with that lightning trick of yours."
The mark on Luffy's chest pulsed again, sending a sharp pain through his torso. He managed not to wince, but Zoro noticed his tension.
"Captain?" the swordsman asked quietly.
"I'm fine," Luffy lied. "So where's this Rocketman?"
Iceberg tried to sit up further but fell back with a groan. "Maintenance shed three. I'll have Paulie take you. I've already sent workers to prepare it."
"Boss!" Paulie protested.
"It's either help them or lose Franky forever," Iceberg said firmly. "You know what the Government will do to him once they get what they want."
Paulie's shoulders slumped in defeat. "Fine. But when this goes sideways—and it will—I reserve the right to say I told you so."
"Fair enough," Luffy said, already heading for the door. Every minute they wasted was another minute Robin and Nami spent in the hands of CP9. Another minute for that red-haired bastard to hurt them.
"Luffy," Chopper called after him. "What about Usopp?"
The question hit like a punch to the gut. Their last interaction had been that terrible duel. The words they'd exchanged...
"His worst wounds are healed," Luffy said finally. "He's safer here."
Luffy had hoped he would never make a decision like this one, but Shanks' words returned to him once again. This is the job of a captain; it is not just adventure, joy, fun, and friends. Sometimes, one had to make the difficult decision to say goodbye to a friend...even if it hurt.
"Let's go," he said to the others. "We've got a train to catch."
Nami
The rhythmic clacking of the Sea Train's wheels against the tracks might have been soothing under different circumstances. But for Nami, each metallic click only counted down the minutes until they reached Enies Lobby—a place pirates entered but never left.
Her wrists chafed against the seastone cuffs. The cold metal drained her strength, made her feel hollow inside where the power of the Ra Ra no Mi usually burned like a second heartbeat. Without it, she felt vulnerable in a way she hadn't since before meeting Luffy.
Across the small prison compartment, Robin sat with perfect posture, her face a mask of calm resignation. She hadn't spoken a word since their capture, hadn't even looked Nami in the eye. It was as if she had simply... accepted whatever fate awaited them.
"Robin," Nami whispered, leaning forward. "Robin, talk to me. What's going on?"
Nothing. Not even a flicker of acknowledgment.
The door to their compartment slid open, and Kalifa stepped in, adjusting her glasses again. Why did she need to adjust her glasses every time? Why not just take them off if it's really that bothersome?
The female CP9 agent smiled thinly as she observed the two prisoners.
"Such spirit," she remarked, noticing Nami's glare. "I can see why they're interested in you... and that unusual Devil Fruit of yours."
"What do you want with us?" Nami demanded, refusing to show fear despite the cold dread pooling in her stomach.
Kalifa's smile didn't reach her eyes. "With you specifically? That's classified information. Though I understand certain parties are quite interested in studying the mythical properties of your particular Zoan. Golden wings that burn like the sun... quite the rarity."
Nami fought to keep her expression neutral. The Ra Ra no Mi had been her secret weapon, her pride. The thought of becoming some government experiment made her skin crawl.
"And Robin?" she pressed.
"Miss Nico's situation is... complicated," Kalifa replied, turning her attention to Robin. "Though I must say, she's being far more cooperative than anticipated."
Robin didn't respond, didn't even seem to register the conversation happening around her. Whatever was going on behind those eyes, she was keeping it carefully guarded.
The door slid open again, and Lucci appeared, his imposing presence filling the small compartment. Behind him, Kaku peered in with his long nose and perpetual frown.
"Everything secure?" Lucci asked, his voice devoid of emotion.
"Perfectly," Kalifa confirmed, stepping back to allow him a better view of the prisoners.
Lucci's dark eyes assessed them with cold efficiency. "Good. Director Spandam is eager to begin interrogation once we arrive."
"The woman with the mythical Zoan and Nico Robin are secured," Kaku reported. "The weapon specialist too. We've exceeded expectations."
Weapon specialist? Nami wondered if they meant Franky, the blue-haired shipwright they'd grabbed during the chaos. What did he have to do with any of this?
"Excellent," Lucci said. "We'll be at Enies Lobby by morning. Make sure they remain... compliant."
With that, he turned and left, Kaku following close behind. Kalifa lingered a moment longer, studying Nami with an almost curious expression before departing as well.
When the door clicked shut, Nami slumped against the wall, exhaustion and fear finally showing on her face. The seastone drained not just her powers but her energy, making every minute a struggle to stay alert.
She glanced at Robin again, desperate for some sign, some hint of what her friend was thinking. But Robin's expression remained unreadable, her eyes fixed on some point in the distance that only she could see.
"Luffy will come," Nami whispered, as much to herself as to Robin. "He always comes."
The train lurched slightly as it picked up speed, racing across the ocean on its specialized tracks. Through the small window, Nami could see only darkness and the occasional spray of water as the Sea Train cut through particularly high waves.
How would anyone even find them out here? The thought sent a fresh wave of despair through her. Even if Luffy wanted to follow, how could he? The Sea Train was the only vehicle capable of traversing these waters.
As exhaustion began to claim her, Nami closed her eyes, trying to find some kernel of hope to cling to.
"Do you want to be free?"
Nami's eyes snapped open, her head whipping around to scan the empty compartment. "Who said that?" she demanded, heart racing.
Robin hadn't moved, gave no indication she'd heard anything.
"Who's there?" Nami whispered, more urgently this time.
Only the rhythmic clacking of the train answered her. But as she looked down at her hands, she noticed something strange—a faint golden glow emanating from beneath the seastone cuffs, pulsing like a heartbeat.
Like a flame refusing to be extinguished.