Under the power of the Float-Float Fruit, the Sky Garden floated at an altitude of ten thousand meters.
This terrifying height was on par with Sky Island and the White-White Sea, as if one could reach out and touch the drifting clouds around them.
If someone living at sea level looked up at the sky, they would only see a tiny black dot at most, unable to glimpse the full grandeur of the Sky Garden.
Due to the altitude, the air in the Sky Garden became extremely thin.
Just moments after ascending, Nami had been brimming with excitement and energy.
But before long, she seemed to suffer from "altitude sickness," feeling dizzy, lightheaded, and utterly exhausted.
Now,
Nami could only lie flat on the ground of the Sky Garden, like a fish out of water, her eyes wide open, mouth gasping silently without the strength to make a sound.
Just then,
Storm walked over, with Golden Lion II no longer by his side.
Moments earlier, Storm had made some minor modifications to the entire Sky Garden.
The Float-Float Fruit allowed objects to shed their gravity and float freely in the sky.
If the user continuously manipulated these weightless objects, they would respond to their control.
But if the user didn't exert additional control, these gravity-free objects would be influenced by other natural forces—such as the ever-present "wind."
Decades ago, during the Battle of Edd War,
Golden Lion Shiki's flying pirate fleet was nearly wiped out by a sudden superstorm.
Storm, of course, had learned from Shiki's costly lesson.
So he made a few small adjustments to the Sky Garden.
Specifically,
Storm used his Clay-Clay Fruit to create simple porcelain clay propeller thrusters for the Sky Garden, ensuring it wouldn't be blown off course by the high-altitude winds.
Other modifications would be implemented gradually in the future.
"Nami, your physical condition is far too weak."
Storm stood beside Nami, looking down at the little thief cat lying stiffly on the ground, and shook his head.
"I'll design a training regimen for you later."
"Huff... huff..."
Nami gasped for breath, forcing out an awkward smile.
"Lord White Dragon, I have to study... Can I skip the training...?"
"Those two things don't conflict."
Storm said what seemed perfectly ordinary to him.
"Study first, train when you're tired from studying; rest when you're tired from training, then continue studying.
"After all, how can you know your limits unless you push yourself?"
Nami's face grew even paler as she listened.
...
Storm's modifications to the Sky Garden proved effective.
In just half a day, the Sky Garden traveled from the waters near Ant Nest Hell back to the Konomi Islands.
Storm had planned to reunite with Kuma, Robin, and the others immediately.
But an unexpected Den Den Mushi call interrupted his plans.
The one who contacted him was none other than Portgas D. Ace, whom he had successfully recruited earlier!
Storm exchanged a few brief words with Ace before hanging up the Den Den Mushi.
He turned his gaze toward Nami, who was overlooking the Konomi Islands below.
"Nami, how about taking a break first? Go home and rest for a while. I need to pick someone up right now."
Storm calmly gave Nami two options.
"Or, I could drop you off at the Germa Kingdom first to meet the other companions?"
After some thought, Nami decided to return home first.
From Storm's tone, she understood he had urgent matters to attend to and wouldn't be staying by her side the whole time.
Given that, Nami didn't want to meet those "companions" she hadn't officially met yet all by herself.
I'll wait until that last guy comes along!
Having made up her mind, Nami was ready.
Storm had no objections.
First, he escorted Nami back to Cocoyasi Village, then immediately activated his [Thunderclap Ring], speeding like lightning toward Dawn Island, where the Goa Kingdom was located.
Dawn Island, Mt. Colubo, Dadan's House.
Ace, fully prepared for departure, bowed respectfully to the mountain bandit Dadan, who had raised him.
"All these years, I've been in your care, Dadan."
"Little Ace, you're not even an adult yet. Are you sure you don't want to stay home for another year?"
The towering, burly Dadan wiped her tears with a handkerchief, her voice choked with emotion.
"And that old geezer Garp… he's always wanted you… to join the Navy with him."
"Even if the Navy isn't anything great, it's still better than being a pirate who doesn't know where their next meal is coming from!"
"Dadan, I won't join the Navy."
Ace spoke with unwavering determination.
"Besides, I've already found my companion!"
"We made a promise—I'm setting sail with him!"
"Dammit!"
Dadan clenched her fists, frustration boiling over.
"Are you being lured away by a man like that too?"
She remembered clearly—when Luffy was little, it was because he met Red Hair that he decided to become a pirate.
Though Ace had resolved to become a pirate from a young age, just a week ago, he was still saving up money, planning to set sail only after coming of age.
Now everything had changed…
Garp, you old fool, what exactly have you been protecting?!
Dadan cursed the "Hero of the Navy" vehemently in her heart.
Ace is about to leave, and you still haven't come back to see him!
"Alright, Dadan."
Ace shook his head with a smile, glancing around but not spotting the straw-hat-wearing kid.
"Luffy… never mind."
Ace had decided to set sail a year earlier.
This had deeply upset Luffy.
He had thought he'd get to spend one more year with his brother…
But now Ace was leaving ahead of schedule.
Feeling betrayed, Luffy had gone into a "cold war" with Ace.
Even as Ace prepared to depart, Luffy hadn't come to say goodbye.
Suppressing the sorrow of parting, Ace hoisted his massive pack onto his back and waved to Dadan and the others.
"Goodbye, Dadan. Goodbye, everyone."
And then—
Without waiting for Dadan and the others to respond, Ace pressed his hat down slightly, shielding his eyes as he turned away decisively and headed down the mountain toward Windmill Village.
He had walked this path countless times since childhood, but this journey felt heavier than ever.
Yet in the end, Ace left Mt. Colubo behind.
After bidding farewell to his friends in Windmill Village, he borrowed a Den Den Mushi from Makino, the bartender, and dialed the number etched in his memory.
Ace had expected to linger longer in the village.
But less than half a minute later—
A thunderous crack echoed outside the small tavern, as if lightning had struck.
"Thunder?" Makino, working behind the counter, froze at the sound.
"My laundry!"
Before she could rush out to gather the clothes—
Storm appeared at the tavern's entrance.
"Ace, let's go!"
Amidst the astonished gasps of Windmill Village's residents, the Blue-Eyed White Dragon beat its wings and soared into the sky, leaving Dawn Island behind.
At the summit of Mt. Colubo—
Perched atop the tree that once served as Ace's secret treasure spot—
Luffy, straw hat secured firmly on his head, cupped his hands around his mouth and shouted toward the distant silhouette of the dragon.
"Ace!!! Next time we meet... I'll definitely surpass you!!!"
...
The Blue-Eyed White Dragon glided effortlessly through the heavens.
Though it was his second time riding the creature, Ace couldn't suppress his exhilaration.
This thing was way better than a ship!
Just then, he thought he heard something—twisting around to glance back at Dawn Island.
Was it his imagination, or had Luffy just called out to him...?
"What's wrong?" Storm's voice reached him.
"Already homesick?"
"Not a chance!"
Ace tore his gaze away from the island, dismissing the thought outright.
"I just remembered my little brother Luffy... I didn't get to say goodbye properly. Guess I'll have to wait till next time."
"Your brother..."
Storm side-eyed him before suddenly remarking,
"If I ever beat him up someday... would you mind?"
"...Huh?"
Ace paused, baffled.
"Did Luffy... do something to you?"
"Nope. But I just really dislike him."
Storm stated matter-of-factly.
"So I kinda want to punch him."
Ace scratched his head, bewildered.
He couldn't shake the feeling Luffy must've provoked Storm somehow—
But that was impossible... right?
"Luffy's my brother."
Ace asserted first, then added,
"But everyone has their own adventures.
"If you're gonna hit him... can you at least wait till he sets sail?
"He's still just a kid!"
"Seems we've reached an agreement!"
Storm extended his right hand.
Ace, confused, slapped it with a crisp clap.
"What's this? A pirate greeting?"
"Nah. Just a handshake."
Storm withdrew his right hand and pressed it against the Blue-Eyed White Dragon. Instantly, a vividly colored Devil Fruit appeared in his palm.
"Ace, are you interested in Devil Fruits?"
"Devil Fruit?"
Ace glanced at the brightly colored fruit in Storm's hand and raised an eyebrow curiously.
"So this is a Devil Fruit? It looks a bit strange."
"This is the Flame-Flame Fruit, a Logia-type."
Storm held up the Flame-Flame Fruit and briefly explained its abilities, effects, and weaknesses to Ace.
"Do you want to eat it?"
Despite the infamous saying—"Not even a dog would eat the Flame-Flame Fruit"—Ace's mastery of it was actually quite impressive.
Unfortunately, he always encountered opponents who countered him perfectly.
First Blackbeard, then Akainu.
Ace's Flame-Flame Fruit was completely suppressed by these two.
Add to that the fire-based abilities displayed by the various powerhouses in the New World, which far surpassed the Flame-Flame Fruit's potential.
Naturally, its reputation took a nosedive...
But just look at Sabo, who would later consume the Flame-Flame Fruit.
This Logia-type Devil Fruit is truly not weak!
If it weren't the case, Sabo wouldn't have earned the title "Flame Emperor."
Storm himself had little interest in the Flame-Flame Fruit.
He already possessed the Rumble-Rumble Fruit, which was stronger, so acquiring another Logia-type Devil Fruit didn't appeal to him.
If not for that, Storm wouldn't have previously considered giving the Flame-Flame Fruit to Nami—unfortunately, that money-obsessed little thief cat only wanted to sell Devil Fruits for cash.
No matter how much Storm might disregard the Flame-Flame Fruit, he would never stoop to selling it for money!
After twists and turns, this Flame-Flame Fruit had now ended up in Storm's hands again, presented to Ace.
Yet, unexpectedly, Ace outright refused.
"No!"
Ace stated bluntly.
"I have no interest in Devil Fruits."