To Sorbet Kingdom

Briss, a coastal city, emerges from the misty haze as dawn's first light gently breaks through the horizon. The streets are silent, save for the occasional sound of footsteps or the creaking of wooden carts as fishermen prepare their boats. The scent of saltwater lingers in the air, mingling with the earthy aroma of damp stone and aged timber at the docks. In the distance, the soft, rhythmic crash of waves resonates, a steady pulse that fills the city's silence. Only the occasional call of seagulls soaring overhead breaks the stillness. Shipyard workers begin their day under the watchful gaze of the rising sun.

Three days passed in a blur as the newly formed crew completed every preparation. They ate together, spent time bonding, and got to know one another before the big day—all on Alva's dime, of course. Gilly and Brody spent their savings, originally meant for the ship, on last-minute upgrades they had long envisioned.

When Harding's men learned that a young man had purchased the Misty, they sympathized with Gilly. But once she revealed that she and Brody were also joining the voyage, Harding's men worked overtime to prepare the ship. Harding, who saw the siblings as his own children, felt relieved knowing they'd be sailing under a capable captain with a power user by their side. He often assisted Gilly with her designs for the Misty, a gesture of apology for any past wrongs.

Alva personally oversaw the upgrades and modifications. Knowing little about ships, he mostly kept to himself, allowing the professionals to work. His involvement was limited to approving or vetoing Gilly's ideas. Some of her designs left everyone in awe of her genius, but like many visionaries, she struggled to reign in her imagination. Alva had to step in to keep things practical.

"Hey, set those down over here," Brody called to Revy.

Revy groaned as he hefted a heavy box. "Man, what's in here? This thing weighs a ton."

"That's the special ammunition for the cannons. Gilly helped with the details, but the concept was mine," Brody said with pride. "You should've seen Alva's face when I showed him the designs. He lit up like it was Christmas."

"Ooh, cool! I want to see," Revy said, eyeing the box labeled 'Explosive.'

Brody grinned. "Just wait till you see these wicked boys in action. It's a surprise."

"Everybody, come here! It's ready!" Gilly called out, excitement radiating from her voice.

They gathered at the helm, where Gilly stood next to a control box full of levers, switches, and dials.

"Is it really done?" Brody asked, eyes wide with anticipation.

"Oh yeah," Gilly replied with a proud smile as she pulled the levers. A mechanical pulley spun, and the black sails shifted, furling, unfurling, yawing, and turning.

"From right here, we can control all the sails!" she said, beaming.

"Gilly, you're amazing," Alva remarked, clearly impressed.

"And it's the same for the gun deck! One person can control all sixteen main guns."

"Whoa, that's awesome," Revy exclaimed, eyes lighting up.

The next morning, friends and family gathered on the dock to see them off. Sakura, Lisa, Clyde, and Harding's crew were all present, waving farewell.

"Revy, visit me sometime!" Gizelle called out.

"Be safe, young master!" Another voice shouted.

"I'm proud of you, Gilly!" someone added.

"Set sail," Alva ordered.

"Aye, Captain!" the crew responded in unison.

The Misty circled Briss before charting a course for the next island in the South Blue, a destination Gilly had eagerly requested. The ship's black sails, adorned with a large heart-shaped skull and crossbones Jolly Roger on the main foresail, billowed in the wind. Revy and Brody designed it after a heated debate, while Alva left the decision to them, not particularly caring about the design.

Halfway between Briss and the Sorbet Kingdom...

"A pirate ship, port side, heading our way!" Brody shouted from the crow's nest.

"Gilly, take the helm! Revy, stop the incoming fire! Brody, get down to the gun deck! Let's intercept—these guys want a fight," Alva ordered.

"Let's show them what the Misty can do!" Gilly shouted, gripping the wheel.

With ease, the Misty outmaneuvered the oncoming ship, pulling alongside it. Alva aimed the mounted gun on the top deck at their sails and fired. A flaming canister shot out, sending eight fiery pellets into the enemy's main sails, setting them ablaze. Panic spread aboard the pirate ship as flaming sails rained down on the crew. The pirate captain barked frantic orders, but their return fire barely scratched the Misty.

"Brody!" Alva shouted.

All eight port-side cannons erupted with a thunderous roar, six shots hitting their mark. Shrapnel flew across the deck, scattering bodies. A secondary explosion crippled their rudder.

"YAHHH!" Brody screamed, adrenaline pumping through him. It was his first time firing the guns in a real battle.

"Nice work," Gilly nodded in approval.

"Circle around! She's dead in the water. We're boarding," Alva commanded.

Gilly spun the wheel hard, and the Misty glided effortlessly alongside the flaming ship. Brody fired a grappling hook from the harpoon gun.

"Shoot them! There are only three of them!" The enemy captain shouted, desperation creeping into his voice.

Boom! Crack! Bang!

Revy dashed forward. "No, you don't! Tiger's Roar!" A powerful sound blast came from his mouth, stopping bullets midair and sending them back toward the pirates.

Alva swung across the grappling line, landing on one of the pirates and running him through with his sword.

"What the—?" The enemy captain shouted in disbelief.

Alva rose beside the fallen pirate. "Are you the captain?" he asked, locking eyes with the man wearing the large black hat.

"My name is—" (Bang!) Before the man could finish, Alva drew his haki-infused pistol and shot him point-blank, blood and bone splattering through the air.

"Captain!" one of the pirates screamed in horror.

Gilly blocked an incoming sword with her mechanical arm, countering with a swift kick to the pirate's groin. As he doubled over, she delivered a powerful uppercut, sending him crashing into the mast. Revy sprinted past her and cut down the remaining pirates.

By the time Brody reached the deck, the fight was over. "Already? Come on!" he groaned, holding two grenades, clearly disappointed he hadn't seen more action. Alva smirked at Brody's reaction, holstering his pistol as he surveyed the scene. "Looks like you missed all the fun," he teased, earning a laugh from Revy as he wiped blood from his swords.

"All right, take everything useful—food, water, medicine, and medical supplies. Leave the rest."

Alva remained focused on the task at hand, eager to finish and move on to the next location.

"The treasure is mine!" Brody shouted with a crazed look in his eyes as he ran towards the locked chest in the captain's quarters.

"Booze!" Revy yelled, heading straight for the rum stored in the ship's pantry.

"Hey, these ones are still alive," Gilly noted, prodding a groaning man with a stick.

"Throw all the survivors on the lifeboat and escape before the ship sinks!"

Back on the Misty, the crew huddled around the chest they'd taken from the pirates.

"Oooh, treasure!" Brody sang a tune as he cut the final lock.

The chest was completely empty.

Brody's face sunk; tears nearly filled his eyes.

"Hey, what's this?" Gilly pulled out a sheet of paper stuck to the side of the chest.

Wanted dead or alive "Wetbeard" 20,000,000 Belly

"Twenty Million! He was the treasure; quick, let's grab him and collect the bounty." Brody scrambled to his feet.

"Yeah, I don't think so." Gilly looked over at Wetbeard's ship, completely submerged beneath the waves.

Alva stood next to Brody. "Do you really think we could ever collect a bounty with our ship looking like this?" Alva looked up, a deadpan expression on his face.

Brody turned his head upwards. The heart-shaped skull and bones of the of the jolly roger stared mockingly back at him.

Two Marine battleships broke over the horizon, heading towards Alva's ship.

"Guys, lets go!"

The Misty was the fastest ship in the South Blue, outrunning the Marines in pursuit. 

By early morning the following day, they had docked at the Sorbet Kingdom on the south side of the island.