In a quiet town nestled in the East Blue Sea, a towering man with a scar shaped like a "C" on the left side of his face strolled through the streets. His powerful presence made passersby step aside instinctively, and his grin widened when he spotted a cozy bar tucked into the corner of the town square.
With a casual push, the door swung open, and the lively chatter inside fell silent. The lowlife pirates lounging at the tables froze mid-laugh, their eyes wide as they registered the hulking figure standing at the entrance. The giant of a man gave them a bright, dangerous smile.
"You've got three seconds to leave…" His voice was calm, but it carried a weight that made the pirates' blood run cold. "Before I kick you out myself."
For a moment, the pirates hesitated, unwilling to back down despite the obvious danger. Then someone shrieked, "IT'S GARP! THE MARINE HERO!"
And just like that, chaos erupted. Pirates tripped over themselves in their mad scramble to escape. Some smashed through windows in blind panic, while others shuffled past Garp with nervous mumbles, careful not to touch the Marine Hero on their way out.
As the last of the pirates fled into the night, Garp's once-serious face split into a wide grin. With a hearty laugh, he sauntered toward the bar counter.
"Lucy!" Garp boomed, spotting the bartender behind the counter. "How's my sweet daughter-in-law doing?"
Lucy, a striking woman with long black hair and a warm smile, looked up from the glass she was polishing. Her eyes sparkled with mischief as she stepped out from behind the bar. "Father!"
Without hesitation, she ran to him and threw her arms around his thick neck. Garp, towering and muscular as he was, carefully lifted her into the air, holding her like she was made of glass. There was something about Lucy that even she didn't know, something that made Garp handle her with unusual care.
Lucy leaned back with a curious tilt of her head. "Where's Dragon?"
Garp let out a deep chuckle, setting her gently back on her feet. "That idiot son of mine? He'll be here soon enough."
Sliding onto one of the bar stools that looked comically small beneath him, Garp rested his elbows on the counter and gave Lucy a knowing grin. "So... are you pregnant yet?"
Before Garp could blink, Lucy's fist connected with the side of his head. The force sent him flying across the room, crashing into a wall with a grin still plastered on his face.
"How many times do I have to tell you, Father?! We're not ready yet!" Lucy fumed, her fist still clenched, a tick mark pulsing on her temple.
Rubbing the fresh lump on his head, Garp laughed heartily. "I just want a grandson already! I'll train him to be a great Marine, just like me— I mean Dragon!" Smiling deceivingly
Lucy sighed, exasperated, and returned behind the bar, pouring Garp a drink as he dragged himself back to his stool.
Just then, the door swung open, and a figure entered, breathless and sweating. His youthful face broke into a smile as his gaze landed on Lucy.
"Lucy!" the young man called, rushing forward to embrace her.
It was Monkey D. Dragon, without his iconic tattoo. The two embraced warmly, laughing.
Garp chuckled, watching the reunion. "Dragon! You idiot son of mine! Are you impotent or what?! Where's my grandson?! You're almost 30, for crying out loud!"
Lucy and Dragon exchanged a glance before both teleported to either side of Garp and smacked him across the head.
"We're not ready yet!" they shouted in unison.
[Skypiea]
Back on the sky island, Draco and Buggy made their way deeper into the Upper Yard. The sky darkened overhead as they wandered through the dense forest. Draco, holding a Den Den Mushi, called Roger.
The snail ringed for a moment, and then Roger's voice crackled through, full of excitement. "Draco! There's a city of gold! You have to see this!"
Amused, Draco replied, "Yeah, yeah, we'll be there soon. We're in the same forest."
As the call ended, Draco's senses sharpened. A crackling noise echoed through the forest—not fire, but lightning. He stopped in his tracks, eyes narrowing as his observation haki spread out like tendrils, locking onto the source of the sound.
High above, perched on a massive tree branch, stood a tall, long-eared youth with short, curly blonde hair. His delicate wings fluttered behind him as he stared down with cold, uncaring eyes. Enel.
Without warning, Enel extended his hand, sending a crackling bolt of lightning toward Draco and Buggy.
The attack blitzed through the air towards Draco, who remained still, his gaze locked on Enel, while Buggy a meter away from Draco—caught off guard—was blasted backward, flying through the trees with a startled yelp.
Buggy crashed into a tree before falling, coughing and dazed. "What the—?!" He struggled to his feet, charred and smoking, his eyes darting around frantically.
Before Buggy could react further, lightning sparked beside him. Enel's body materialized out of thin air from the tree, stepping effortlessly through the tree that Buggy leaned against.
The air buzzed with static as Enel shocked and charred Buggy, afterward sneering at the situation. "I've dealt with the weak ones. Now it's time to eliminate the stronger threat at the ruined city!", takes 6 steps away before his eyes widen hearing Buggy standing back up.
Buggy, gritting his teeth, forced himself to stand despite his injuries. Though new to armament haki, he unsheathed Kitetsu and coated it and lunged at Enel, slashing with all his might. The blade grazed Enel's back, nearly severing his Birkan wings.
For the first time in his life, Enel felt pain. Blood trickled down his back, and he stumbled forward, eyes wide in disbelief.
"You... hurt me?!" Enel hissed, rage flaring in his eyes. With a snarl, he extended his palms toward Buggy.
{VARI}
A wave of lightning surged forward, but in light speed, Draco appeared infront of Buggy grabbing his collar and switching spots with him. With his left hand extended, he absorbed the lightning.
Enel's eyes narrowed in surprise as Draco absorbed the strike, his body crackling with residual energy. A slight smile spread across Draco's face as he charged forward without missing a beat.
In the blink of an eye, Draco closed the distance. His right palm slammed into Enel's stomach with pinpoint precision, driving him backward with terrifying force.
Enel's body shot through the forest, smashing through tree after tree before finally embedding into a massive trunk, the impact splintering the wood around him.
Draco exhaled, watching calmly as Enel slumped against the shattered tree. Beside him, Buggy limped over, panting and bloodied, his hands on his knees.
Draco patted Buggy on his shoulder. "Good work, Buggy."
Buggy, still catching his breath, blinked in confusion as his wounds began to heal rapidly. "What the—?!" He patted himself down, disbelief etched across his face. "How am I healing?!"
Draco chuckled but didn't bother explaining. "Let's finish this."
With that, he strode confidently toward Enel's body which slumped down.
[Deeper into the Upper Yard]
The moon above Skypiea cast a bright glow across the ruins as Gol D. Roger and his crew ventured deeper into the Shandian structures. The echoes of their footsteps intertwined with the rustling of ancient vines and the soft hum of the clouds beneath their feet. These ruins were a forgotten labyrinth of treasures, old stone murals and ancient statues stood watch, draped in overgrown moss, whispering stories of ancient history.
"Look at this," Roger called, kneeling beside an intricately carved tablet, running his fingers along the worn letters. The crew huddled around; their interest piqued. Oden's eyes glimmered with fascination, eager to find anything worth looking into for, while Rayleigh's gaze remained sharp, scanning for traps or dangers hidden within the relics.
"Seems older than I expected…" Roger muttered, his thumb brushing over one of the carvings that depicted strange figures, possibly ancient Birkans or Skypieans in ceremonial armor. Nearby, Scopper Gaban sifted through a pile of treasure, picking up unusual artifacts and giving them a casual toss to test their weight.
"These aren't just ordinary trinkets. Look at this one." Rayleigh held up a small golden orb, its surface engraved with what looked like primitive celestial maps. It hummed softly, and the sound made Roger's grin widen. They'd found more than just gold; this place held the knowledge of an ancient civilization.
"Man, it's a shame no one's written a guidebook for places like this," Scopper joked, pocketing a particularly shiny piece of jewelry.
Just as Rayleigh reached for another artifact, an explosion rumbled through the forest outside, sending a shockwaves through the sky. Dust fell from the walls of the ruins as the ground beneath their feet trembled, and Oden's hand instinctively moved toward the hilt of his sword.
"What the hell was that?" Rayleigh asked his calm demeanor momentarily shaken.
Roger's grin only widened, his adventurous spirit igniting. He could feel the thrill of the unknown in his bones.
"Looks like a party's starting without us!" Roger said, already moving toward the nearest exit.
The crew quickly climbed to the highest structure in the ruins, a half-collapsed temple overlooking the forest canopy. From their vantage point, they could see the trees swaying violently as smoke and flashes of light emerged from the distant treetops.
"Looks like someone pissed off the snake," Scopper chuckled, leaning over the edge. "Maybe it finally woke up and is out for revenge."
Rayleigh crossed his arms with a lazy grin. "We pissed it off remember... maybe the Skypieans just realized someone's been stealing their gold."
Roger laughed, slapping Rayleigh on the back. "I bet it's Draco, he always goes on about not fighting but he's always in the fight!"
Oden grinned from ear to ear, eager for battle. "I hope it's something strong." His hand itched toward his swords, as though hoping they would jump into his hands on their own.
But just then, they heard the faint whinny of a horse, high and sharp.
"A horse?" Scopper said, eyebrows raised. "Here? at night... In the sky!?!?"
The crew turned their heads toward the sound, squinting against the bright moonlight reflecting through the misty air. And there, coming toward them with deliberate grace, was a pink, speckled horse with a mysterious rider seated firmly atop it.
"What the hell is that?" Roger whispered, watching the strange figure approach.
The horse's hooves didn't touch the clouds, it glided across the air with ease, as though it were flying. The rider wore a suit of metal armor, his long black beard streaked with white, flowing beneath a weathered helmet that deepened the shadows across his face. As the horse slowed to a stop in front of the crew, the armored figure's piercing gaze swept over them.
"Who are you?" the man asked, his voice cold and commanding. "And what business do you have in Skypiea?"
Roger, momentarily stunned by the flying horse, raised both hands in surrender, flashing the stranger a grin. "We're just here for some adventure! And... maybe a Poneglyph or two. We mean no harm."
The knight watched them closely, as though weighing the truth behind Roger's words. Then, without a word, he removed his helmet, revealing a weathered but kind face. His eyes gleamed with the wisdom of an old protector, and a gentle smile crept across his lips.
"I am Gan Fall, the God of Skypiea," he said, sliding off his horse with ease.
As soon as his feet touched the ground, the pink horse shimmered and shifted, its form warping until it transformed into a large bird with bright pink feathers. The crew stared, wide-eyed with amazement.
"That bird… it must've eaten a Devil Fruit," Rayleigh whispered, nudging Scopper with a grin.
"Wouldn't be the weirdest thing we've seen," Scopper muttered back, but he couldn't hide his amusement.
Gan Fall approached Roger, eyeing him warily but curiously. Roger extended his hand, his grin never faltering. "Nice to meet you, Gan Fall. I'm Gol D. Roger."
Gan Fall studied Roger for a long moment, as though peering into the depths of his soul. At last, he gave a small, approving nod and took Roger's hand in a firm shake. "Welcome to Skypiea, Blue Sea people."
[Back to Draco and Them]
While Roger and his crew were getting acquainted with Gan Fall, Draco and Buggy stood over Enel's slumped body.
The self-proclaimed god lay on the ground, groaning in pain, his body twitching from the residual effects of Draco's controlled strike. Blood trickled from the corners of his mouth, and his golden bracelets clinked together as his arms trembled.
'I held back with the perfect amount of power!' Draco thought to himself, suppressing a smirk.
Buggy stomped a foot, crossing his arms over his chest as he glared down at Enel. "Hey, you! Talk, or I'll kill you right here and now!" he barked, his voice carrying a surprising amount of authority.
Enel struggled to lift his head, his eyes burning with a mix of fury and disbelief. "My name… is Enel," he spat, blood flecking his lips.
Draco crouched to meet Enel at eye level, his expression cold and unreadable. "I know who you are," Draco said calmly, his voice carrying a quiet weight. "But let's skip our introduction, Your tribe, do they know you left?"
Enel's eyes widened, a flicker of fear flashing across his face. "How do you know that?" he whispered, stunned.
"That's not important," Draco replied, watching him carefully. "What's important is that they don't find out... yet. So what's your plan?"
Enel, summoning every ounce of his power, pushed himself upright, towering over Draco and Buggy as he glared down at them, bloodied and bruised.
Clenching his jaw in frustration, Enel seethed. "I waited... I planned every step perfectly. No one even knows I'm her—"
Before he could finish, Draco delivered a swift kick to Enel's knee. Enel crumbled, landing on one knee, his right-hand bracing against the dirt.
Draco sighed, shaking his head. "If you want to survive, you'll follow my orders from now on. No more bullshit, no condescending tone"
Enel's blood ran cold at the sharp edge of Draco's voice. He wasn't used to being threatened, let alone forced into submission. But something about Draco, his presence, his strength, left no room for argument. Enel gripped the ground shoveling the dirt into his palms with anger.
"Fine," Enel muttered through gritted teeth, pride smoldering with resentment.
Draco nonchalantly smiles. "Good. Now get up, we're going to your base of operation. And from now on," Draco added with a faint smirk, "don't make me look up at you, I don't see you as someone to respect" - He paused, the smirk deepening just slightly. 'At least... not yet.'
Enel almost shot him a glare but obeyed, his hands clenched into fists at his sides. Buggy stifled a laugh as Enel awkwardly lowered his stance, his pride bruised.
With a satisfied grin, Draco turned toward the forest. "Come on. We've got things to do."
Draco paused for a moment, tapping his temple as if trying to jog a memory. "Ah, right… I told Roger I'd meet him soon, didn't I?" he muttered under his breath. A lazy grin spread across his face as he shrugged, unconcerned. 'Eh, I'll just tell him I got caught up with something else. He knows how it is.'
The thought of Roger's reaction made him chuckle. Roger probably wouldn't even bat an eye, he'd just laugh it off, figuring Draco found some new chaos to dive into.