Luffy lifted his head, looking at the woman who had just appeared.
He smiled at her—simple and innocent, just as always.
Luffy:
"Hey. Who are you?"
There was no fear in his voice—only pure curiosity.
The woman stared at him for a long time.
Her gaze was like the moon hanging in a dark sky—cold, distant, yet quietly beautiful.
The sea breeze blew softly, as if the ocean itself was waiting for her next word.
Coby could barely breathe.
But Luffy simply stood there—relaxed, his straw hat tilted slightly by the wind.
Then, the woman finally spoke.
Morgan (her voice smooth, deep, elegant—yet weighted):
"My name… might only frighten you."
Silence.
Coby tensed even further.
The glow of the magic circle slowly faded, leaving behind an oppressive aura like a quiet, heavy fog.
But—
Luffy laughed.
Not mockingly.
Not challengingly.
Just freely—honestly.
Luffy:
"Shishishi~ Then that makes me want to hear it even more!"
The woman paused.
For the first time since she descended onto the sea, her expression changed—
not a dramatic shock, but a subtle shift, like someone witnessing something that should not exist.
Morgan (softly, almost to herself):
"He… does not fear me…?"
She looked at Luffy again.
Something faint flickered in her eyes now—
Not admiration.
Not pity.
But interest.
Yet, she still did not understand this world.
Its history, laws of magic, and fate were all foreign to her.
She drew in a slow breath—graceful like a queen seated upon her throne.
Then she spoke, clear and resonant like ringing crystal:
Morgan:
"I am Morgan.
Queen of the fae.
Sovereign of storm and night.
One who kneels to no one."
The name rippled through the air like a crashing wave.
Coby froze.
Luffy simply smiled.
Luffy:
"I'm Luffy! Nice to meet you, Morgan!"
No fear.
No caution.
No distance.
Morgan looked at him once more.
And for the first time—
the sunlight felt… warm.
Luffy looked at her with bright eyes, entirely unbothered by the regal, overwhelming aura that surrounded her.
Luffy:
"Hey, Morgan! How are you standing on the ocean like that? Is that a Devil Fruit ability?"
He leaned forward, his straw hat almost blowing away.
"And that veil—aren't you hot wearing that in the sun?"
Coby stiffened.
The question was too direct.
Too casual.
But Morgan… simply watched him.
She stepped closer—
Slow, elegant steps—as though the sea itself bowed beneath her feet.
She sat at the edge of the small boat, the thin black veil over her face swaying gently in the breeze.
She looked at Luffy from up close, her eyes as calm as a lake untouched by wind.
Morgan (softly):
"I do not need a Devil Fruit for this. The sea cannot overthrow a queen."
Her tone was not prideful—
It was the simple statement of truth.
Absolute.
She touched the edge of her veil, her fingers delicate.
Morgan:
"And this is not to avoid the sun. This veil… is a boundary. To keep what should not be released… contained."
Luffy stared at her.
He didn't understand.
And he didn't need to.
Luffy:
"Whee~ that's so cool!"
His smile was pure, warm, and childlike.
So human.
So bright that even Morgan's shadows felt just a bit thinner.
Morgan slowly turned her gaze toward Coby.
Morgan (cold, flat):
"And you. Who are you?"
Coby stiffened rigidly, his face pale.
Coby:
"I-I… I'm… I—"
Before fear could swallow him, Luffy clapped a hand on his shoulder and laughed lightly.
Luffy:
"He's Coby! He's going to be a Marine! And he's my friend!"
Morgan shifted her gaze back to Luffy.
Just for a moment.
And in a breath so soft it was nearly soundless—
Morgan:
"I see."
The tone was simple—not dismissive.
It was: If he is someone you call a friend, then there is nothing more to question.
Coby fell silent—shaken, but strangely… acknowledged.
Luffy just laughed again.
The sea breeze grew warmer.
The waves no longer raged—just swayed gently, like the sea exhaling after a violent storm.
Luffy:
"Coby, the ocean's calm now! Let's open the sail!"
Coby:
"O-Okay!"
They worked together.
The little ship came alive again, white sail stretching under the soft wind.
Morgan watched from where she sat, her eyes following not Luffy's body—but the way he moved.
When they finished, Luffy returned to Morgan.
No hesitation.
No second thoughts.
No shame.
Like the sun that only knows how to shine.
Luffy:
"Morgan! Be the first member of my crew!"
Morgan lifted her head slightly.
She was not used to being approached like this—without fear, without formality.
Morgan:
"Crew…?"
Her voice was soft, but she was clearly searching for the meaning of the word.
Luffy nodded enthusiastically.
Luffy:
"Yeah! I'm gathering a crew! We'll sail across the seas, see the world, meet strong people! I'm gonna be a pirate!"
Morgan looked at him for a long moment.
Morgan:
"A pirate… You mean those who pillage, burn harbors, steal, and bring destruction? You want me to be part of that?"
Her voice lifted slightly—not anger, but confusion at the concept itself.
Luffy shook his head quickly. His movements were broad, simple, and full of sincerity.
Luffy:
"I'm not interested in raiding or hurting people! That's not what I want!"
He tapped his chest with his usual wide smile—
A smile that never lied.
Luffy:
"I just want to sail! Explore! Find the One Piece! And become the Pirate King!"
He didn't shout it.
He didn't declare it dramatically.
It was simply his honest dream.
Morgan went silent.
The wind lifted her thin black veil, letting sunlight touch her skin briefly—like light and shadow meeting halfway.
Morgan looked at Luffy.
He smiled like the sunrise—unburdened, unwavering.
Not a king who ruled others—
but someone who lived entirely as himself.
Morgan (quiet, sharp):
"Pirate King, you said? You wish to be a king? One who rules others?"
Luffy shook his head quickly, rejecting the idea outright.
Luffy:
"It's not about ruling! The Pirate King is the one who's the most free in the whole ocean!
No one can stop him!
That's what I want to be!"
Morgan fell quiet.
Freedom.
A word her people never truly had.
A word she once resented—
yet in this boy's mouth, it sounded so pure.
Morgan (barely a whisper):
"A king… who embodies freedom."
She closed her eyes for a moment.
The wind touched her gently, carrying an answer only she could hear.
Then she opened her eyes.
Clear.
Decided.
Morgan:
"Very well. I accept your request."
Luffy:
"WHOOOAAA! I got my first crew member!!"
He threw both hands into the air, laughing wide as always.
"Shishishishiii!"
Coby let out a breath—somewhere between relief and disbelief.
But Morgan was not finished.
She raised one finger—
Graceful, composed, regal.
Morgan:
"I will become part of your crew… on one condition."
Luffy and Coby leaned forward in perfect synchronization.
Luffy & Coby:
"One condition?"
Morgan met Luffy's eyes directly.
Her gaze did not intimidate.
It did not force.
It was simply honest—just as he was.
Morgan (low, elegant, unwavering):
"You, Monkey D. Luffy… must become my husband."
Silence.
The waves disappeared from hearing.
Coby turned to stone.
Luffy blinked.
Once.
Twice.
Luffy:
"Huh? What's a husband? Is it food?"
Coby immediately collapsed onto the deck.
Coby:
"LUFFY-SAAAAAAN!!!"
Morgan looked at Luffy with a subtle expression—
Not anger, not insult—
Just the calm of someone realizing they are dealing with a being beyond logic.
Morgan (softly, almost to herself):
"…Yes. It seems we must start from the beginning."
And for the first time,
on the wide sea full of possibility—
the Queen smiled.