As dawn broke, Lost Island, encircling Warship Island, sank back into the sea. The Thousand-Year Dragons flew to their respective homes, leaving the island as it was. Yet, the four who raised Lost Island stayed, dwelling there as guardians of the Dragon's Nest, as Apis explained. While they slumbered, Ryu-ji had protected the island. Now awakened, Ryu-ji, reborn, lived with Apis.
Things returned to normal, yet felt new. The crew, realizing their adventure's end, decided to rest on Warship Island for a few days, staying at Apis and Bokuden's home.
The next morning, on the beach, Luffy, the crew, Apis, and Ryu-ji chatted noisily.
"I'm swimming today!" Luffy declared, arms crossed, gazing at the sea.
All eyes turned to him, puzzled.
"What's up, Luffy? Suicidal?" Silk teased.
"Nah! Sometimes you just wanna swim. I feel like I can do it today," Luffy replied.
"No way. You're a hammer. And with Silk unable to swim now, we've got fewer rescuers," Zoro said.
"Oh, didn't think of that," Luffy admitted.
"Get your swimsuits. The islanders are lending us some," Nami said.
Despite varied expressions, no one truly objected. After an intense day, they craved relaxation. Swimming was a way to heal. Even Zoro, grimacing, didn't refuse, just dreading the hassle of saving drowners.
Nami stretched under the sea breeze, basking in the sun. The storm and battle felt distant. A skilled swimmer, she smiled at Luffy. "It's fine. They're hammers, but splashing in the shallows should be okay."
"You don't know, but some idiots forget they can't swim and drown anyway," Zoro grumbled.
"Swimsuits… been since I was a kid," Silk mused.
"Listen, idiot. I'm talking about you," Zoro snapped.
Luffy, Nami, and Kiri were eager, exasperating Zoro. He knew he'd clean up their mess. Why they'd swim despite their weakness baffled him, but he gave up reasoning—they weren't logical.
Zoro crossed his arms, visibly annoyed, while Nami, cheerful, headed to the village, calling, "Apis, Silk, let's go. Swimsuits!"
"Okay! It's been ages since I swam," Apis chirped.
"Me too?" Silk asked.
"You can't be the only one not changing. Come on," Nami urged.
"Uh, wait…" Silk stammered.
Nami pulled Silk along, Apis leading to her house. Luffy, undeterred by yesterday, grinned at the others. "Kiri, Zoro, let's go!"
"Goddamn, don't you realize how annoying this is?" Zoro muttered.
"Swimming's great. Maybe I'll practice," Kiri said.
"Pointless. And you're still not over yesterday?" Zoro retorted.
Grumbling, Zoro followed, with Kiri trailing. Midway up the path, Kiri glanced back at the sea, unsure why. Shrugging with a wry smile, he turned back.
"Sorry, go ahead," Kiri said to Zoro.
"What's up?" Zoro asked.
"Forgot something. I'll catch up."
"Alright…"
Zoro glanced back, sensing the reason, and moved on.
"Don't drown," Zoro called.
"I'm just talking. Probably," Kiri replied.
On the beach, Kiri spotted a figure approaching—Wendy, atop Donny the polar bear. Unlike her stiff suit from before, she wore a casual aloha shirt, shorts, hat, and sunglasses, like a tourist.
"Hey, long time no see. Or, since yesterday?" Wendy said, raising a hand.
"Hey," Kiri replied.
"You're cheerful today. Wish you were yesterday," she teased.
Donny paddled ashore, Wendy perched on his back, starting a casual chat. She seemed non-hostile today.
Wendy had named Nelson Royale, revealing his naval prowess. Her quick intel—deploying ships at night for the dragon—felt excessive, sparking suspicion. Had she orchestrated the clash, leaking fleet tactics to the pirates and the dragon's existence to the navy? If so, she was formidable.
"Nelson Royale's missing, huh? I'm kinda relieved," Wendy said.
"Was it all planned? Our escape, the fleet's collapse?" Kiri asked.
"Who knows? You outsmarted me, though. My ship's wrecked, and my ride's delayed," she replied, chuckling.
"No Den Den Mushi on your ship. You hid it," Kiri said.
"Hide? I just slept somewhere else. Weird, it moved on its own," she said coyly.
"Den Den Mushi don't move. Not modified ones," Kiri countered.
Wendy giggled; Kiri sighed. He'd been naive, too focused on wrecking the ship to secure communication. A costly oversight.
"No big deal. It's over," Wendy said.
"Not at all. We almost died," Kiri shot back.
"But you won. You're alive," she countered.
"The dragons won, not us. We'd be dead otherwise," Kiri said, his smile fading.
Individual skill wasn't enough for a pirate crew to rise. They needed allies. The battle taught him that. Half grateful, half resentful, he met Wendy's gaze. She shrugged.
"So serious. Most pirates say a win's a win," she said.
"Enough. Why're you here? Not dressed to fight," Kiri said.
"To say goodbye. Can't chase you now, so until next time," she replied.
"That's it?"
"I'm polite. Plus, this guy wanted to see you," she said, patting Donny.
Donny looked at Kiri fondly. Kiri, conflicted, asked, "What's your deal with that pirate?"
"Tricky. Grandpa's rival and enemy. But we couldn't hate him. That's the vibe," Wendy said.
"His end?" Kiri asked.
Wendy removed her sunglasses, smiling. "Not yet. He's alive."
Kiri groaned. He'd heard hints before—still alive? Unsure if it was good news, he looked down, pensive. Wendy pulled a paper from her pocket.
"That's…" Kiri started.
"A vivre card. Made from a person's nail, it points to them—'life paper.' As long as it doesn't burn out, he's alive," she explained.
"I've heard of it. You could find him with that," Kiri said.
"Possible. But I'm not looking," she replied, waving the card.
"Want me to split it and give you half?" she offered.
Kiri hesitated but shook his head, smiling. "No need. I'll meet him if it happens, but I'm not searching."
"Got it," Wendy said, pocketing the card.
Her business done, she turned to leave as a figure ran from the village. With a wistful smile, she and Donny headed offshore.
"We'll meet again," she said.
"Rather not," Kiri replied.
She laughed, and they left. Kiri stood alone on the beach until Luffy, in a swimsuit and float ring, ran up.
"Kiri, check it! Float ring!" Luffy grinned.
"Nice idea. Swimming with that?" Kiri asked.
"Shishishi. Hammer or not, I'm good," Luffy said.
"Hope it works. Don't try without Zoro or Nami," Kiri warned.
"I know. Here, your swimsuit," Luffy said, tossing it.
"Not changing here, right?" Kiri asked.
"Why not? No big deal," Luffy replied.
Nami's voice interrupted. "Stop it. That's harassment."
Nami approached in a borrowed bikini, bandaged shoulder but stunning. Silk followed, shyly covering herself in a similar bikini. Apis joined, in a one-piece, clutching Ryu-ji.
Seeing Luffy's float ring, Apis lit up. "Wow, Luffy! Can we swim with that?"
"Great idea, right? I'll lend it to you later," Luffy said.
"Really? Awesome!" Apis cheered.
"Have fun, but be careful. You're hammers. Drowning's the end," Nami warned.
"I've got the float ring!" Luffy countered.
"That's not enough if you lose strength," Nami sighed.
Luffy's carefree grin eased tensions. Nami sighed, but Kiri, trusting her, headed to change. "I'll be back after changing."
"Hurry up!" Luffy called.
"Nami, if anything happens, you're in charge. Three non-swimmers," Kiri said.
"Got it. Four, including you," Nami teased.
Kiri passed Zoro, already in a swimsuit, swords still belted to his waist for comfort. As Zoro reached the beach, Luffy sprinted to the sea, unable to wait, diving in with his float ring.
"Yahoo!" Luffy shouted, hitting the water.
His strength sapped, but the float ring kept him afloat in the shallows. Slumping into it, he barely "swam," but survived. Zoro sighed.
"Feels like my strength's draining," Luffy mumbled.
"It's not a bath. That's not swimming," Zoro said.
Nami smiled, seeing Luffy enjoy himself, and turned to Apis, who'd barely swum since becoming a Devil Fruit user. "Apis, wanna try? I'll watch you."
"Yeah! Ryu-ji's good at swimming, too," Apis said.
Ryu-ji chirped, walking to the shore with steady steps, unlike a juvenile dragon. As Apis and Ryu-ji approached the water, Nami glanced at Silk, who was quiet, clutching herself, unaccustomed to exposure despite her toned physique.
"You're not standing like that forever. You're a pirate—own it," Nami said.
"This… isn't it too skimpy?" Silk muttered.
"Everyone wears this. You're gorgeous, so drop your hands," Nami encouraged.
"W-Wait…" Silk stammered, reluctantly lowering her arms, blushing.
Nami nodded, satisfied. "You joining? We can watch them in the shallows."
"I'll pass. Wanna practice my ability," Silk said.
"Now? You don't have to," Nami replied.
"Gotta be ready for emergencies," Silk insisted.
"So serious. Take a page from him," Nami said, eyeing Luffy.
"That takes courage," Silk laughed.
"Fair. You'd die. Smarter choice," Nami said.
"Maybe I'll swim later. Can you watch me?" Silk asked.
"Sure, after Apis," Nami agreed.
Nami spotted Zoro doing handstand push-ups on the beach, looking absurd yet impressive. "What are you doing?"
"You can see," Zoro grunted.
"Not what I meant… Ugh, you're all weirdos," Nami sighed.
"Shut up. I'm saner than those two," Zoro retorted, focusing.
Nami headed to Apis, feeling closer to the crew. Silk, inspired, raised her hand to practice. Without her sword, she focused on her finger, imagining wind.
Her Kama Kama no Mi activated, wind swirling around her finger, a natural phenomenon she controlled. Not Logia, but a potent weapon. She concentrated, guiding it.
Zoro, mid-handstand, noticed. "Not bad. Heard abilities are tough to master."
"I practice whenever I can. Now for the hard part—" Silk said, eyeing the sea.
She swung her arm, releasing a small wind blade. It flew, a slicing gust from her hand.
"Yes!" she cheered, thrilled at controlling it. But the wind hit Luffy's float ring, popping it with a light snap. He sank instantly.
Silk and Zoro gasped in unison. As she screamed, Zoro dove in.
"Sorry!" Silk cried.
"Idiot! Watch your aim!" Zoro yelled.
Zoro hauled Luffy to shore, his rubber stomach swollen with seawater. Dropping him, Zoro stomped his belly, forcing a fountain of water from Luffy's mouth. Gasping, Luffy lay sprawled, narrowly escaping death—a Devil Fruit user's vulnerability.
Silk knelt beside him, hands clasped, guilt-ridden. "Sorry, Luffy! My aim slipped!"
"Shishishi, no biggie," Luffy grinned.
"No biggie? You almost died!" Zoro snapped.
"What's the commotion?" Kiri asked, arriving in a swimsuit.
His relaxed demeanor returned, guessing the situation from Luffy's state. "Drowned again? Where's the float ring?"
"Silk popped it with her ability," Zoro said.
"It wasn't on purpose! I need practice," Silk protested.
"Shishishi, it's fine. I'm having fun," Luffy said.
His words drew surprised stares. Sitting up, Luffy looked ahead. Nami and Apis held hands in the shallows, Ryu-ji nearby, reborn last night. The sea had vanished, replaced by Lost Island—a grand adventure.
Grinning boyishly, Luffy looked at his crew. "Being a pirate's fun, right?"
"Totally. Scary when we almost died, though," Silk said.
"Worry more about drowning, idiot," Zoro grumbled.
"We've seen and done so much. Not even in the Grand Line, yet it feels so far," Kiri said.
"We'll go farther, see more!" Luffy declared.
Nodding, the four gazed at the sea. Luffy leapt up, stretching his arms. "Let's swim! It's experience!"
He grabbed Silk and Zoro, pulling Kiri along. They crashed into the shallows, nearly drowning. Zoro scrambled to save them as Apis laughed and Nami smirked, enjoying the clear sky and sparkling sea.
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