Lanterns illuminated the vibrant streets of the Flower Capital.
Sitting atop a banquet table, the rubber captain chewed happily on a bone-in roast. Zoro sat cross-legged on the cobblestones nearby, tipping a large barrel of sake. Standing a few feet away, Sanji balanced a tray of freshly prepared seafood skewers.
Despite the deafening music and cheering citizens surrounding them, the three top fighters of the Straw Hat crew paused their celebration.
Closing their eyes simultaneously, their Observation Haki reached far beyond the capital walls. Spanning the distance to the ruined Udon wastelands, they felt the clash of power. The presence of the Navy Admiral spiked before vanishing from the island, replaced by the familiar, calm aura of the magician.
Opening his single eye, Zoro offered a knowing, sharp smirk.
Taking a long drag from his cigarette, Sanji exhaled a puff of smoke, a quiet laugh escaping his lips. Shoving another piece of meat into his mouth, Luffy simply grinned, chewing loudly. The threat had been handled. The party could continue without interruption.
Miles off the coast of Wano, the dark ocean churned gently against the hull of a galleon.
Standing on the figurehead of the Red Force, Red-Haired Shanks stared through the thick fog toward the towering cliffs of the closed country. The Emperor kept his hand resting casually on the hilt of his sword, Gryphon.
Sending his spiritual perception across the water, Shanks monitored the fading auras.
The opportunistic spark of the Navy Admiral had also been extinguished.
A fond, proud smile crossed the Emperor's scarred face.
Turning away from the bow, Shanks walked back onto the main deck.
"Captain?" Benn Beckman asked, lowering his rifle. "Are you going to help?"
"No need," Shanks replied, settling down onto a wooden crate. "The kids handled it perfectly. Turn the ship around. We have other business to attend to."
Following the command, the crew of the Red Force adjusted the sails, turning the vessel back toward the open waters of the New World.
Back in the Flower Capital, the festive atmosphere reached a fever pitch.
Stepping out of a quiet alleyway, the magician rejoined the celebration. Adjusting his dark sunglasses, Ben walked smoothly through the dancing crowds.
Reaching the central square, a beautiful sight greeted him.
The tragic curse of the SMILE fruits had been broken. Utilizing Rule Breaker dagger during the restoration process, the lingering, artificial defects of the failed fruits had been cut away.
Standing near a food stall, Shimotsuki Yasuie held his daughter, Otoko.
For years, the cruel side effect had forced them to laugh through agonizing pain and sorrow. Now, fresh, genuine tears streamed down the former Daimyo's face. Otoko buried her face in her father's shoulder, weeping openly without a single trace of forced laughter. Nearby, the residents of Ebisu Town shared the same miracle, experiencing a full range of human emotion for the first time in two decades.
Walking past the crying citizens, a soft smile touched the magician's face.
Taking the center stage built from broken banquet tables, Brook adjusted his microphone. Standing on either side of the skeletal musician, were Merry and Sunny held small percussion instruments, ready to back up the Soul King.
"Listen up, Wano!" Brook shouted, his voice echoing through the massive speakers set up by Franky. "The night is still young! Let the music move your souls! Yohohoho!"
Strumming a rapid, infectious beat on his guitar, the skeleton launched into a high-energy, rhythmic song.
"¡Wuh!
Si el ritmo te lleva a mover la cabeza
Ya empezamos como es
Mi música no discrimina a nadie
Así que vamos a romper!"
The driving, heavy bassline shook the cobblestones. The music pulled everyone onto the makeshift dance floor.
Luffy stretched his arms, grabbing Usopp and Chopper, spinning the sniper and the reindeer in circle. Zoro, attempting to sneak away for a quiet nap, found himself dragged into the fray by a laughing Yamato and a very energetic Carrot. The horned warrior stomped her feet, abandoning traditional Wano dances for the loud, bouncing rhythm of the pirate crew.
"Toda mi gente se mueve (rra)
Mira el ritmo cómo los tiene (okay)
Hago música que entretiene
El mundo nos quiere, nos quiere, me quiere a mí!"
Sanji spun across the floor, performing breakdance moves while holding a platter of drinks, passing them effortlessly to the cheering crowd. Nami laughed, swaying her hips to the beat. Franky struck a series of super poses, shooting small, harmless sparks from his shoulders to add to the light show.
"Toda mi gente se mueve (rra)
Mira el ritmo cómo los tiene
Hago música que entretiene
Mi música los tiene fuerte bailando y se baila así (let's go)!"
Bonney ignored the dancing initially, sitting near a barrel of roasted pork, chewing rapidly while bobbing her head to the heavy bass. Vivi spun elegantly alongside Carue, the giant spot-billed duck squawking in perfect time with the music.
Dorry, Brogy, Oimo, and Kashii stomped their boots in rythm.
"Estamo rompiendo la discoteca
La fiesta no para, apenas comienza
¡Eh! C'est comme ci, ¡eh!, c'est comme ça
¡Eh! Ma chérie, la-la-la-la-la!"
Joining the chaos, the Red Scabbards formed an awkward, stumbling circle. Kin'emon attempted a traditional sword dance, failing to match the modern beat, causing Denjiro and Kawamatsu to burst into laughter.
Running through the legs of the taller adults, the young lord Momonosuke chased Otama and Otoko through the square. Escaping the heavy burden of leadership for a single night, the child Shogun laughed freely, playing tag amidst the celebrating warriors. Standing near the edge of the square, Hiyori watched her younger brother play, smiling softly while clapping her hands to the music.
"Eh, Francia, eh, Colombia, eh
Me gusta (¡freeze!)
Eh, Brook, eh, Merry , eh Sunny
Me gusta (¡freeze!)"
Stepping through the dancing crowd, the magician found his target.
Robin stood near a quiet lantern, watching the crew celebrate with a beautiful smile on her face. Wearing a dark purple dress that hugged her curves perfectly, the archaeologist tapped her foot slightly to the rhythm.
Offering a hand, Ben stepped into her line of sight.
Accepting the invitation without hesitation, Robin stepped closer. Slipping an arm around her waist, the magician pulled her tight against his chest.
"Los DJs no miente', les gusta a mi gente
Y eso se fue mundial (¡freeze!)
No le bajamos, mas nunca paramos
Es otro palo y, ¡blam!"
Moving smoothly to the heavy beat, the couple commanded a small section of the dance floor. The calm demeanor of the magician melted away. Letting his hands wander freely over her hips and ass, squeezing them. Robin did not pull away, leaning into the touch, a soft, teasing laugh escaping her lips as they swayed together.
Across the square, a sudden burst of intense heat flared.
Sanji stood frozen in place. The cook bit down on a white handkerchief, tears streaming from his eyes. Blue flames of jealousy erupted from his suit jacket. Watching the magician openly grope the beautiful archaeologist pushed the chef past his breaking point, sending him spiraling into a pit of despair.
"¿Y dónde está mi gente?
Mais fais bouger la tête
¿Y dónde está mi gente?
Say yeah, yeah, yeah!"
The music echoed into the early hours of the morning.
"¡Un, dos, tres, leggo! (Ay, di que sí)
Esquina a esquina, y ahí nos vamo
El mundo es grande, pero lo tengo en mis manos
Estoy muy duro, sí, okay, ahí vamos
Y con el tiempo nos seguimos elevando, yeah!"
Bottles were emptied. Banquets were devoured. The exhausted, victorious warriors slowly began to collapse onto the cobblestones, falling asleep right where they stood.
"Que seguimos rompiendo aquí, yeah
Esta fiesta no tiene fin, yeah
Botellas para arriba, sí
Los tengo bailando, rompiendo y yo sigo aquí (yeah)!"
Slipping away from the dying embers of the celebration, Ben and Robin did not join the crew sleeping on the hard ground.
"Que seguimos rompiendo aquí, yeah
Esta fiesta no tiene fin, yeah
Botellas para arriba, sí
Los tengo bailando, rompiendo
¿Y dónde está mi gente?
Mais fais bouger la tête
¿Y dónde está mi gente?
Say yeah, yeah, yeah!"
Wrapping an arm around her waist, the magician activated a spatial tear. Vanishing from the quiet alleyway of the capital, the couple teleported back to the Thousand Sunny anchored safely in the port.
The night remained young for the two of them, the quiet privacy of their cabin offering a perfect conclusion to the long, grueling war.
---
Morning light filtered softly through the porthole of the galleon.
Sitting up in the comfortable bed, Ben stretched his arms, feeling the satisfying ache of the previous night's activities. Looking down at the mattress, Robin remained fast asleep. The white sheets tangled loosely around her waist, leaving her bare back and shoulders exposed to the cool morning air. A peaceful expression rested on her face.
Pulling the blanket up slightly to cover her shoulders, the magician leaned down, placing a gentle kiss on her forehead.
Stepping into the adjoining bathroom, Ben turned on the shower. The hot water washed away the lingering exhaustion of the raid and the celebration. Turning the tap off, he dressed quickly in fresh clothes, a crisp white shirt and dark trousers.
Business required immediate attention.
Standing in the center of the cabin. Opening a tear in the fabric of reality, he stepped out of the physical world and into his own private spatial dimension.
The environment inside the pocket reality had changed drastically over the past few weeks.
No longer a blank, infinite white void, the dimension now featured a sprawling, beautiful landscape. Green hills rolled toward a clear, blue artificial sky. In the center of the grassy plain, a massive, imposing stone castle stood tall.
Approaching the right wing of the castle, Ben entered the reinforced detention block.
Rows of cells lined the stone corridor. Seastone cuffs bound the prisoners.
Walking down the hall, the magician observed the captives. King, Queen, and Jack occupied the first row. The Tobiroppo—Ulti, Page One, Sasaki, Who's Who, and Black Maria—sat in the adjoining cells. Further down the block, Perospero, Smoothie, and the rest of the Big Mom commanders captured during the raid glared through the iron bars.
Stopping in the center of the cell block, Ben snapped his fingers.
A comfortable leather chair materialized out of thin air. Settling into the seat, the magician crossed his legs, resting his hands casually on the armrests.
A tense silence filled the prison block.
"Kaido is dead," Ben announced, his voice echoing cleanly off the stone walls. "Big Mom is dead. Both of your crews have been dismantled. You are all without a captain, without a territory, and without an army."
The blunt statement caused a ripple of grim reactions. King lowered his head, accepting the reality of the defeat. Queen gritted his teeth, while Ulti glared furiously through the bars.
"I have a proposition for you," the magician continued smoothly. "Swear loyalty to the Straw Hat Grand Fleet. Fight under our banner, and you will be granted your freedom. Refuse, and I will extract your Devil Fruits right here, right now, leaving you powerless before tossing you into Marine prison."
The audacity of the demand stunned the commanders.
"Why should we ever work under you?" Sasaki growled, pulling against his Seastone chains.
"Because you have no other option," Ben replied.
Leaning forward slightly, the magician changed his tone, shifting from a warden to a strategist.
"Do not misunderstand the situation," Ben explained. "You will not be treated as slaves or mistreated prisoners. You are simply pieces on a very large chessboard. Once the opposing King falls, the board is cleared, and the surviving pieces are set again for a new game. But this time, the opponent is not another pirate crew. We are playing against the King of the World."
Confusion rippled through the cells.
"The stakes are higher," the magician noted. "The collateral damage will be unprecedented. If we survive the coming war and live to see the new dawn, we will have successfully turned the world upside down."
Sitting in the first cell, King raised his head. The Lunarian's eyes narrowed, processing the cryptic terminology.
"What do you mean, King of the World?" King asked, his voice sharp and focused.
Snapping a finger toward the former right-hand man, Ben offered a small nod of approval.
"You caught on quickly," the magician praised. "The Five Elders are not the true rulers of the World Government. An entity has sat upon the Empty Throne since the Void Century. A King named Imu."
The revelation landed like a blow. The foundation of the world's political structure, a secret guarded with genocidal violence, hung casually in the air of the prison block.
"Luffy will be the one to drag that King off the throne," Ben stated with certainty. "Because Monkey D. Luffy is this era's Sun God Nika. The man the people of the Void Century called Joyboy."
The silence in the room grew suffocating. King's eyes widened to near-comical proportions, staring at the magician in shock. The legend he had waited for, the mythical figure Kaido had obsessed over, was the very boy who had just crushed them into the dirt.
"The King of the World and the Sun God are on a collision course," Ben finished, leaning back in his chair. "That clash will alter the very landscape of the world. So, get ready to be involved in the fight, even if you don't want to be. Because when the world breaks in half, everyone has to choose a side."
Looking around the cell block, the gravity of the situation settled over the commanders. They were not being asked to join a simple pirate crew; they were being drafted into the final war for the fate of history itself.
Taking a deep breath, King closed his eyes. The search was over. The legend was real.
"I accept," the Lunarian stated firmly, bowing his head.
With the right-hand man submitting, the rest of the Beast Pirates quickly followed suit. Queen grumbled but nodded his consent. Jack remained silent, offering a slow bow. The Tobiroppo surrendered without further argument.
Looking past the ancient Zoans, the magician focused on the Big Mom commanders.
"No," Perospero spat, his long tongue rolling out defiantly. "We will not bow to the brats who killed our mother. We refuse your offer."
Smoothie and the other Charlotte siblings nodded in agreement, maintaining their family pride.
"I thought you might say that," Ben sighed, adjusting his dark glasses. "But I think you are lacking crucial context about the real world."
Resting his chin on his hand, the magician dropped the second revelation.
"If my calculations are correct, Whole Cake Island is currently burning," Ben noted casually. "The Blackbeard Pirates are launching a full-scale raid on your home territory as we speak."
Perospero stiffened, the defiance faltering slightly.
"Nonsense," the eldest son scoffed, attempting to maintain his composure. "Katakuri is there. He, along with Oven and the rest of the defensive fleet, will crush Blackbeard easily."
"Katakuri is strong," Ben agreed. "But he cannot be everywhere at once. Especially since Kuzan—the former Marine Admiral Aokiji—has recently joined Blackbeard. I assure you, an Admiral and the Blackbeard fleet are currently tearing your home apart. They will successfully steal the Road Poneglyph rubbings, and they will kidnap your sister, Pudding, for her ability to read them."
The color drained from Perospero's face. The other Charlotte siblings gasped in horror, realizing the vulnerability of their territory without Big Mom present to defend it.
"I... I will need some time to think on this," Perospero stammered, the family pride shattered by the impending disaster.
"Take your time," Ben offered generously.
Standing up from the chair, the magician walked over to the Beast Pirate cells. With a wave of his hand, the Seastone cuffs unlocked and clattered to the stone floor, freeing the Zoans.
"Ulti. Page One," Ben ordered, looking at the dinosaur siblings. "You two will remain here in Wano. You will serve as guardians for the country while the new Shogun consolidates his power. Understood?"
Rubbing her wrists, Ulti opened her mouth to complain, but a sharp nudge from her brother silenced her. "Fine," she muttered reluctantly.
"The rest of you are relocating," the magician stated, raising a hand.
Spatial energy swirled around the remaining Beast Pirate commanders. In a flash of blue light, Ben, King, Queen, Jack, Sasaki, Who's Who, and Black Maria vanished from the prison block.
Materializing in a dark, gloomy courtyard, the group found themselves surrounded by thick fog and dead trees.
The haunting castle of Thriller Bark loomed behind them. The island-ship had been repaired and repurposed, serving as a secure stronghold for the Grand Fleet.
Sitting on a massive stone throne in the center of the courtyard, Gecko Moria looked down at the sudden arrivals. The pale warlord narrowed his eyes, immediately recognizing the towering figures standing behind the magician.
"Kaido's dogs," Moria growled, gripping a large pair of scissors tightly.
"Stand down, Moria," Ben instructed, stepping between the two factions.
Turning to face the warlord, the magician offered a brief nod. "I have kept my part of our arrangement. Kaido is dead. His empire is ashes, and Wano is free."
Staring hard at the former enemies, Moria's grip on the scissors slowly loosened. The decades of hatred and trauma warred against the reality presented before him. The tyrant of Wano was finally gone.
Letting out a sigh, the warlord nodded his head.
"Then the deal is sealed," Moria declared, leaning back in his throne. "I and the forces of Thriller Bark will officially work under the banner of the Straw Hat Grand Fleet."
"Excellent," Ben replied smoothly. Gesturing to the massive Zoans behind him, he added, "These guys will be staying here from now on to bolster your defenses. They take orders from the Fleet now. Do not fight amongst yourselves."
"Kishishishi," Moria laughed weakly. "As long as they stay out of my way."
Having completed the political maneuvering, Ben activated another spatial tear. Stepping through the portal, the magician teleported back to Wano, leaving the strange, newly formed alliance alone in the foggy courtyard.
An awkward silence fell over the gloomy castle grounds.
King stood still, arms crossed, staring blankly at the fog. Jack shifted uncomfortably on his massive feet. Sasaki and Who's Who avoided making eye contact with the warlord sitting on the throne. The tension hung in the air, thick and suffocating.
Deciding to break the silence, Queen stepped forward, a wide, confident grin stretching across his face.
"Hey, giant onion man!" Queen shouted, pointing a finger at Moria. "Why did the Brachiosaurus cross the road?"
Moria blinked, staring at the cyborg in bewilderment.
"To get away from the rubber chicken!" Queen roared, slapping his own mechanical knee. "Zoom zoom zoom! Get it? Because the captain is rubber, and he beat us like chickens! Zoom zoom!"
The silence returned.
It was heavier, darker, and infinitely more awkward than before.
King slowly closed his eyes, a sense of embarrassment washing over him. Jack stared at the dirt, wishing he were back in the prison cell. Moria continued to stare at the cyborg, devoid of amusement. Not a single chuckle, snicker, or smile graced the courtyard.
Lowering his hand, Queen coughed nervously, the confident grin melting into a puddle of cringe as the cold fog of Thriller Bark swallowed the terrible joke.