After the ridiculous news of Luffy's true dream, the Thousand Sunny drifted through the New World, its sails full and its crew buzzing with new energy.
Ryo lay lazily on his hammock, the sun warming his skin as the sea breeze ran through his long crimson hair. His single red eye was shut, the other hidden beneath a black eyepatch — a scar from Marineford, from the day Ace died and his uncle Hiroto nearly finished the job.
The ship rocked gently. Jimbei's booming laughter rolled across the deck.
Jimbei (laughing): Hahaha! Seems I've boarded a ship with a stork for a captain! What luck I have! You certainly are a handful, aren't you, Luffy?!
Luffy lay sprawled on the grassy deck, laughing in response. Ryo couldn't help but chuckle too.
Ryo (thinking): Yeah... my brother's dream is the best.
Chopper bounced across the deck, eyes sparkling.
Chopper: Luffy! Your dream is great! I love it!
Luffy: Oh yeah?
Chopper: I'm so happy!
He launched himself straight into Usopp's chest knocking him to the ground.
Usopp: Whoa— easy there, buddy!
Brook: Yohohoho!
Sanji: We're in real trouble if there's a medical emergency.
Chopper flailed wildly while Usopp tried to pry him off. Zoro cracked a small grin; Nami smiled too, resting her chin on her hand as she gazed at Luffy.
Nami: Crazy... but it's just perfect for you.
Luffy chuckled again, eyes shining.
From up on the mast, Franky's voice echoed down.
Franky: No way that's gonna happen till you're King of the Pirates, though! Better get crackin'! Heheh! One more Road Poneglyph till Laugh Tale — we're in the homestretch now!
Ryo sat up, stretching, hair fluttering in the wind like a red banner.
Ryo: Yes... but it definitely won't be easy.
Robin, seated gracefully on the stairs, folded her newspaper and set it aside.
Robin: We have a dangerous journey ahead. The last Road Poneglyph will be the most difficult to find.
Ryo: Especially since we don't have a single lead. No one knows where it is. We're sailing into uncharted waters.
The words hung heavy in the air for a moment.
Chopper hopped off Usopp's lap, determined.
Chopper: But we can still do it, right?
Franky: Course we can! Our captain's dream is on the line, isn't it?! We'll find that thing no matter what it takes!
Nami: I agree!
Chopper: Let's go find that Poneglyph!
Usopp: Yeah!
⸻
Hours later, the Sunny rode the edge of a raging snowstorm. The sky was gray, the waves mountainous. They soared over a massive breaker, spray exploding into glittering shards of ice.
Ryo perched high atop the mast, a fur cape wrapped around his shoulders. The wind whipped his hair into a crimson blur, but he grinned like a madman. The cold never bothered him — he liked it.
Brook screamed. Usopp wailed something about dying.
Nami: Here we go!
The Sunny crashed through another towering wave, water surging over the deck. Out of the foam, a colossal eel-like Sea King burst from the sea, arcing high before slamming back down with a thunderous splash.
