The Nexus cut steadily across the waves, its polished black hull gleaming in the light of dawn. Behind it, the Sorbet Kingdom disappeared into the distance, its frozen spires and frost-bitten slums reduced to a shadow on the horizon. The winds that swept over the deck carried the faint sting of ice, a lingering reminder of the misery they had left behind.
Jason stood at the helm, silver hair whipping across his face, golden eyes fixed on the open sea. For a long time he said nothing. His aura was calm, but the stillness carried a weight that pressed upon the entire ship. No one dared disturb their captain just yet. Everyone had seen the way his gaze had lingered on Sorbet as they departed—half promise, half threat.
The Sorbet Kingdom had been a land of contrasts: within its inner walls, nobles feasted beneath golden chandeliers, sipping wine in palaces shielded from the cold by ingenious heating systems. Outside, in the wastes, the poor shivered in rags, clutching scraps of bread while children fought over frozen puddles. A kingdom of cruelty, sanctioned by the World Government itself.
Jason exhaled slowly, gripping the helm. That is the face of the world they protect.
Reflections on Sorbet
Bonney sat on a barrel near the railing, wrapped tightly in the fur cloak Monet had given her. She had barely spoken since they left the church. The pink-haired girl stared at the sea, her violet eyes haunted. Every so often she rubbed at her wrists as though she could still feel chains around them.
Sugar sat beside her, swinging her legs over the edge of the ship. She glanced at Bonney curiously, her own youthful face softened by empathy.
"You keep staring like the ocean's gonna give you answers," Sugar said.
Bonney blinked, startled by the bluntness, then turned away. "I'm just… thinking."
"About your dad?"
At the mention, Bonney's lips trembled. She clenched her fists tighter.
Jason, still at the helm, let the conversation play out but kept one ear tuned. He had seen that look too many times—men and women clinging to memory like driftwood.
Issho's Resolve
Issho, the blind swordsman, stepped quietly to Jason's side. His cane tapped softly against the deck with each step. Though his eyes were closed to the world, his senses painted the sea and the crew in strokes sharper than sight.
"You feel it too," Jason said without looking.
Issho tilted his head slightly. "The kingdom we left behind? A stench that clings to the heart. Children starving in alleys while nobles fatten themselves within gilded walls… yes, I felt it." His voice was calm, but the grip on his sword's hilt was tight.
Jason finally turned. "And that is the justice you wanted to serve under the Marines? That's the peace the World Government preserves?"
Issho sighed deeply. "I once believed that justice was a single path, paved by law and order. But after seeing what they allowed, what they perpetuate… I realize true justice cannot be dictated by corrupt men in ivory towers." His blind gaze lifted toward the rising sun. "That is why I follow you now. Not because you are a pirate, but because you fight to tear down that corruption."
Jason smirked faintly, a rare warmth flickering in his eyes. "Then you're exactly where you belong."
Issho chuckled. "I hope so. I have thrown away the banner of the Marines before ever taking it up. If I am to wield this sword for change, then I pray I've chosen rightly."
Jason clapped a firm hand on his shoulder. "You have."
Bonney's Breaking Point
The words had carried across the deck. Bonney's fists trembled as she finally spoke, her voice cracking.
"Did you… did you know him?"
Issho turned toward her. "Who?"
"My father," Bonney whispered. "Bartholomew Kuma."
At that name, a hush fell over the deck. Even the waves seemed to pause. Everyone knew of Kuma—the Tyrant, the Warlord of the Sea, the man who had become a living weapon for the World Government. But to hear Bonney speak his name with such tenderness…
Issho lowered his head. "I met him once. He was kind. Too kind for the fate he was given. The Government turned his body into a shell… but his heart… no, his heart was never theirs."
Bonney's eyes brimmed with tears. "I hate them," she choked. "I hate the Marines, the Celestial Dragons, the Government. They took him from me. They stole everything."
Jason moved at once, crouching before her. His golden eyes caught hers, unyielding. He placed a hand firmly on her shoulder.
"Then fight with us. If you want to make them pay, then stand beside me. I swear to you, Bonney—I'll help you find your father."
She searched his face for any sign of doubt, but found none. For the first time in years, she saw someone who didn't pity her or dismiss her pain—someone who promised action. Slowly, she nodded. "Okay."
Jason smiled faintly. "Good. Then welcome to the Nexus Pirates."
Mikita's Interruption
A lazy voice cut in. "Touching."
Everyone turned. Mikita leaned against the mast, tossing an apple up and down with one hand. She bit into it with a crunch, smirking.
"So, you're the new kid." She flicked the apple core overboard. "What's your trick?"
Bonney blinked, wiping at her eyes. "…Who are you?"
"Mikita," she replied. "Used to work for Baroque Works. Now I just nap on this ship and hit things when Jason tells me to." She stretched. "Heard you've got a fruit that messes with age."
Bonney's expression darkened. "…Yeah."
Mikita shrugged. "Useful. Me, I can make myself weigh a feather or a battleship. Guess together we cover the weird party tricks category."
Sugar clapped her hands. "That's so cool! We're like… the special squad!"
Bonney almost smiled despite herself.
Crew Conversations
Koala crossed her arms near the railing, watching with a half-smile. "Looks like the kid's fitting in."
Reiju joined her, brushing frost from her sleeve. "Jason has a way of pulling people in. Makes you believe in things you never thought you would."
Robin, reading a book nearby, smirked. "Dangerous, isn't it?"
Reiju tilted her head. "What do you mean?"
Robin closed her book. "When someone inspires such loyalty, it can either build an empire… or a tragedy. I'm curious which path Jason will walk."
Koala frowned. "You sound like you expect him to fall."
Robin's smile lingered, enigmatic. "I expect the world to fear him."
Strategy for the Future
Later that evening, Jason gathered his officers around the main table below deck. A map of the seas was spread before him, marked with pins and inked notes from the System's treasure coordinates.
"Our next course is the East Blue," Jason announced. "We'll resupply first, then begin recruitment. There are talents in that sea I intend to claim."
Law leaned forward, tapping the map. "We're running low on medical stock. If we hit Loguetown first, I can restock."
Jason nodded. "Do it. Koala, I want you to scout local revolutionary contacts discreetly. Robin, keep digging for information on the Void Century—anything we can use against the Government."
Reiju crossed her arms. "And Sorbet?"
Silence fell again.
Jason's golden eyes narrowed. "We'll come back for it. But not now. To tear down the Government, we need power, fleets, and allies. Charging in now would be suicide."
Reiju scowled but didn't argue. "Fine. But when the time comes, I'll be the first to burn their palaces."
Issho's deep voice rumbled. "And when that day comes, I will drop the heavens themselves upon their walls."
Jason smirked. "Good. Then it's settled."
Bonds Forged
Later, the crew gathered for their nightly meal. Sōma had outdone himself again, experimenting with his new Gourmet-Gourmet Fruit. The galley smelled of spices and roasting meat, each dish bursting with flavor.
Bonney, hesitant at first, took a bite—and her eyes widened. For the first time in years, she ate without fear of it being her last meal. Tears stung her eyes, though she quickly wiped them away, embarrassed.
Sugar giggled. "Told you our chef's crazy."
Mikita leaned back, sipping sake. "Crazy's one word. Obsessive is another."
Reiju smirked. "Obsessive chefs make the best meals."
Even Jason laughed quietly, the sound rare but genuine.
Night on the Deck
As stars blanketed the sky, Jason stood once more at the helm. The sea stretched endless and dark, but within his chest burned a fire brighter than ever.
He thought of Sorbet's starving children, of Kuma's stolen humanity, of CP8's ambush. Each memory was fuel for the storm he carried.
He whispered into the wind: "The World Government… your days are numbered."
Behind him, Bonney slept peacefully for the first time in years, wrapped in the warmth of her new family.
The Nexus Pirates sailed onward, their bonds stronger, their resolve sharper.
The sea was vast, but Jason's ambition was vaster still.
This was only the beginning.