Olga came skipping along the cloud path, clutching a lopsided flower made entirely from shell-clouds. It was rough and uneven, clearly the product of small, earnest hands.
"Look! Daddy taught me how to make it!" she said proudly, standing on tiptoe as she held out her creation to Ritter.
Ritter blinked out of his thoughts and accepted the "masterpiece." His fingers brushed over the uneven petals, feeling every ridge and imperfection. Still, he smiled. Ritter was never one to crush a child's enthusiasm.
"Not bad at all, Olga. You've improved so much since the last one," he said warmly. "Our little Olga is really talented."
Olga puffed out her tiny chest in pride. "Daddy said my crafts are good enough to sell in the Blue Sea now!"
"Oh, really?" Ritter played along, lips curling in amusement. "Then when you go down to the Blue Sea, tell people my name. Say, 'My big brother taught me how to make this!' If they don't like it, I'll go ask them what's wrong with it myself. And once I come back, I'll tell you their suggestions so you can get even better, alright?"
The little girl nodded eagerly, eyes shining like the clouds around them. For all her years, Olga's heart was still untouched by the cruelty of the world.
"Okay! But, Ritter, you have to ask them carefully," she insisted. "I'll really fix whatever's wrong!"
"Deal," Ritter said.
"Pinky promise?"
"Pinky promise."
After their solemn "pact," Ritter's gaze drifted toward the approaching figure in a white lab coat. The doctor once a gaunt and sleepless man buried in regret now looked almost rejuvenated. His eyes gleamed with life again, though his glasses were still smudged with ink and soot.
"The Sky Island's shell technology has more potential than I ever imagined," the doctor said, pushing his glasses up with a spark of excitement. "Captain Ritter, would you like to see the new defense system I've installed?"
"With pleasure," Ritter replied with a faint smile.
They followed a winding trail of cloudstone to the edge of the floating isle. The doctor pulled a lever, and from within the mist, rows of concealed turrets emerged, their surfaces glinting coldly beneath the morning light.
Ritter let out a low whistle. The sight had an unmistakable air of grandeur like a fortress in the heavens.
"These Impact Shells have been modified," the doctor explained, pointing to the sleek barrels. "They can release compressed air at triple sonic speed, covering the entire sky around the island." He motioned toward a distant veil of mist. "Over there, we've deployed a heat-sensing grid. Any intruder who crosses it will trigger an immediate alert."
Olga bounced up and down, excited to join in. "And Daddy made this too!" She pressed another switch, and several small airships floated out from the clouds, each embedded with shimmering Imaging Shells. "Scout airships! They can patrol the whole sky!"
Ritter watched the two of them father and daughter moving in perfect harmony. The sunlight spilled through the clouds, wrapping them in a halo of warmth. For a fleeting moment, the scene blurred into another memory, long buried deep in his heart.
He saw Gol D. Roger crouched on the deck, showing a young Shanks how to adjust a compass while Buggy fumbled nearby, nearly toppling over a barrel. Ritter had stood then, arms crossed, feigning disdain.
"Captain, if you keep spoiling them, they'll tear down the whole ship one day."
Roger laughed heartily, lifting both apprentices by their collars. "Kuhahahaha! Ritter, didn't you nearly destroy my steering wheel when you first learned to swing a sword?"
"And remember when I had to fish you out of the sea after you tried practicing your Black Tide Slash on the tide itself? I didn't even charge you for that rescue."
Roger's grin softened. "Take this," he said, pressing a weathered compass into Ritter's hand. "You'll need it. I'll be gone soon and there's something important I need from you."
He hesitated, his voice dropping to a rare whisper. "When they're born… please make sure Rouge and the child are safe. I've already asked Garp for help, but he's stubborn. He'll need someone like you to remind him what's at stake."
"Take care of my younger brother too," Roger added, eyes glimmering with the weight of unspoken farewells.
Blood mist flashed in Ritter's mind the final battle, the end of an era. His fists clenched unconsciously, knuckles whitening. The ache of old loyalty filled his chest, a pull stronger than the wind itself. Someone was waiting for him… back in the East Blue.
"Ritter?" Olga's voice broke through his haze. "Are you okay?"
"…I'm fine." He ruffled her golden hair gently and turned his gaze toward the horizon.
Moments later, his calm voice echoed through the ship. "Everyone, gather in the main hall. There's something I need to discuss."
When the crew assembled, Ritter stood tall at the center, his cloak fluttering faintly from the island's breeze.
"I'm heading back to the East Blue," he announced. "It's been too many years. It's time I went home for a while."
A ripple of reactions spread through the crew.
Tesoro rolled the gold ring on his finger, one arm casually resting around Stella's shoulder. "Perfect timing. Stella and I were planning to visit Water Seven for some business… and maybe a little vacation."
Stella's cheeks flushed as she added, "The Sky Island's shellcrafts are popular in the Blue Sea. It'll be a good opportunity to expand our trade network."
Their fingers intertwined unconsciously, twin golden rings catching the light like twin stars.
Ritter raised a brow. "You two seem… very invested in this 'business trip.'"
"Woof, woof," came a playful bark from the ship's hound mascot, followed by a lazy burp. Ritter winced, torn between laughter and despair.
Then his gaze drifted to another corner. "What about you, Enel? Any plans?"
The moment the words left his mouth, Ritter regretted them. Of all the people he could've asked…
A sharp crack echoed through the hall Enel had snapped his fork clean in half.
"Boring!" Enel grumbled, his face turning red all the way to his ears. "A god like me has no time for—"
"—for what, exactly?" Ritter teased, leaning forward with a comical grin. "Take a deep breath, no need to get nervous. Come on, say it again, what were you about to—"
Before Enel could retort, the shy navigator, Lina, stepped forward, wringing her hands. "M-Maybe Mr. Enel could… um, help me buy some fruits from the Blue Sea? The Sky Island doesn't have, uh, many kinds…"
Enel froze. "Hmph!" He turned away, though his ears were burning bright red. "W-Well, since you've begged so sincerely…"
Ritter silently screamed inside. You idiots are flirting right in front of me!
He bit back a groan, wanting to slap himself. You had to talk to Enel, huh? You just had to feed the fire!
From the corner, Moria's shadow stretched into a heart shape. "Fufufufufu… young love, how delightful."
Perona floated lazily above him, hugging her bear plush. "Lord Moria! Let's go collect more shell-clouds with Olga! We can make accessories together!"
"Yohohoho!" Laboon slapped his fin against the floor in agreement.
Olga's eyes sparkled. "I'll make everyone matching necklaces!"
The doctor chuckled softly, adjusting his glasses. "Perfect. I can test the new Imaging Shells while we're at it."
Soon, the group prepared to depart. Lina, now red-faced but smiling, came running up to Ritter, arms full of maps and navigation tools.
The ship's deck glowed beneath the sun, the wind humming through the clouds. Ritter stood there quietly for a moment, watching them all with a faint smile the laughter, the noise, the warmth of this family he'd built among the sky and sea.
For the first time in a long while, the ache in his chest didn't feel so heavy. The horizon called to him again not as a battlefield, but as a promise.
Home awaited.
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