Chapter 110: May the Moonlit Night Last Forever

A fish-belly white dawn broke on the horizon. Gradually, the light grew brighter, shifting from pale white to tangerine orange, then blushing into pale red. Moments later, it was blazing crimson, then brilliant gold, mingling with hues of half-purple, half-red, and other colors never before seen, impossible to name. Truly a vibrant tapestry, the forms of the morning clouds shifted endlessly – now resembling a hawk spreading its wings for flight, now like a bright red scarf fluttering in the breeze, only for the scarf to vanish and be replaced by a galloping steed... a thousand shapes, ever-changing.

A ray of sunlight pierced the window, illuminating the room and revealing two figures on the large bed, intertwined after the previous night's intensity.

"Time to get up," the man murmured gently.

"Yes, my Lord," the woman replied respectfully.

"How many times have I told you? Just call me Doffy," the man chided softly, a hint of reproach in his voice. "We're so close now... connected body and soul so many times. Why still so formal?"

"I... I understand... Doffy," the woman stammered shyly, tentatively trying the name.

The man watched the blush deepen on her cheeks, wondering if it was from the rising sun's glow, the aftereffects of their passion, or perhaps both.

Hearing her shyly call his name, he grinned, pleased. He gently pinched her cheek, then pulled her back into his embrace. What followed next was not for outsiders to know.

By the town's coast, Robin, Enel, and a handful of subordinates were already waiting. Finally, they saw Doflamingo and Ibes approaching.

"Onii-chan! Ibes-neechan! What took you so long!" Robin complained, puffing her cheeks slightly.

"Ahem," Doflamingo cleared his throat, looking slightly awkward. "Yes, well, we were a bit delayed!"

Ibes simply gave Robin an apologetic little wink.

"Alright, men, let's move out!" Doflamingo quickly took command, eager to get underway.

Once again, Doflamingo set sail with his crew. This time, everyone accompanying him had been to Sky Island before; they were veterans of the Family. Before departing, Doflamingo had instructed Diamante to strictly warn them all to keep their mouths shut – not a whisper about Sky Island was to reach Rosinante, or even the other Family members unaware of its existence.

Purupurupuru...

In a hidden room back at the base, Rosinante once again contacted Sengoku.

"Doflamingo has left the North Blue with several people," Rosinante reported concisely. "Their destination is unknown for now."

A voice quickly responded from the other end, "Alright, I understand. Rosinante, be careful."

"Understood," Rosinante acknowledged and immediately hung up. This was the Donquixote Family headquarters, no place for casual chat. Caution was paramount. Still, a faint thread of unease lingered in his heart, its source unclear.

Meanwhile, Doflamingo's ship sailed further away from their North Blue base, charting a course towards Sky Island.

Onboard, Robin vibrated with excitement. It was her first real trip to Sky Island, and her expectations were sky-high. Besides Enel and Ibes, who felt a sense of homecoming, the other crew members also looked upon the journey with a degree of nostalgia.

"Enel, let's begin," Doflamingo said once his Observation Haki confirmed the surrounding waters and skies were clear of prying eyes. Time to get down to business.

"Yahahaha! Allow this great one to show you a trick!" Enel responded enthusiastically.

"Hmph, conceited jerk," Robin muttered under her breath. Enel heard her but didn't deign to argue with a little brat.

"Watch closely! Riding the Clouds and Mist - Rise!" Enel boomed, seizing the chance to impress. Vast banks of clouds materialized beneath the ship, lifting it smoothly into the air and carrying it towards the heavens.

"Whoa! Lord Enel, you're incredible!" "So strong, Lord Enel!"

Enel basked in the subordinates' flattery, his mood soaring as he laughed heartily.

"Wow... so this is the sky? It really is beautiful," Robin murmured, leaning over the ship's railing, captivated by the endless blue expanse and the clouds below. She'd flown before, briefly, when Doflamingo carried her, but she hadn't had the chance to truly appreciate the view like this.

The Cloud-Cloud Fruit's abilities are certainly versatile, Doflamingo noted internally, watching the cloud-borne vessel ascend. A smug thought crossed his mind: Now the Donquixote Pirates are a flying pirate crew too!

With Enel providing the lift, their journey back to Sky Island was considerably faster than usual, yet it still took a full month before they reached the vicinity of Angel Island.

"Onii-chan, how much longer until Angel Island?" Robin asked, her initial boundless enthusiasm having gradually dwindled into restless boredom over the long voyage.

"Soon, soon," Doflamingo replied through slightly gritted teeth. Only he knew how he'd endured the past month, fielding Robin's near-constant inquiries.

"Onii-chan, you've said that eight hundred times already," Robin deadpanned, rolling her eyes.

"I...!" Doflamingo sputtered, momentarily speechless. "Have I really said it that many times?"

"Yes!" Robin nodded wearily, her voice flat.

"There! We're really here this time! Robin, look! That waterfall!" Doflamingo suddenly pointed, having spotted the iconic milky cascade that marked the entrance.

"Really?" Robin scrambled back to the railing, eyes wide. "Wow! What a beautiful waterfall!"

"Men, full speed ahead!" Doflamingo commanded, and the cloud-ship accelerated towards the Heaven's Gate.

At the gate, the attendant, Amazon, recognized the arrivals immediately. "Welcome back, God!" she greeted Doflamingo respectfully.

Doflamingo gave a nonchalant nod. The familiar procedure followed: the Sky Lobster Express swiftly carried them up the Milky Road to Angel Island itself.

Standing at the bow, Doflamingo surveyed the familiar landscape of Sky Island, his spirits high. Enel and Ibes also felt a sense of comfort, looking at their homeland once more. Only Robin gasped at everything, her eyes darting around, taking in the strange and wonderful sights. Everything here was fresh and new to her; her archaeologist's instincts surged, igniting a desire to explore this incredible place.

Gan Fall, alerted by Amazon, had already gathered a welcoming party. Accompanied by the Shandian Chief, both now acting as Doflamingo's 'Envoys,' and the Divine Soldiers, they approached respectfully.

"Welcome back, God!" Gan Fall and the Chief bowed in greeting.

"Gan Fall, Chief," Doflamingo acknowledged them with a nod. "It seems you two are getting along well."

"Hahaha, well enough, thanks to your guidance, Lord God," they replied humbly.

"Come on, Robin, we're home," Doflamingo called out, noticing her still engrossed in the scenery.

"Oh! Right!" Robin responded distractedly, finally tearing her eyes away.

A welcome banquet was quickly arranged. Doflamingo, the guest of honor – or rather, the returning ruler – made sure to circulate among the Angel Island inhabitants, subtly reinforcing who the true master of Sky Island was. God's majesty was not to be challenged.

After the feast, Doflamingo sought out Enel privately. "Enel," he began, "do you still feel the need to return to Birka?"

Hearing the question, Enel's expression grew complicated. After all, an enemy awaited him back in Birka.

"If you want to do it, then go," Doflamingo encouraged, clapping him on the shoulder. "I'll wait for you here."

Enel nodded, his mood visibly heavy, and departed alone.

Ibes arrived just as Enel was leaving. Noticing his somber demeanor, she approached Doflamingo. "Doffy, what's wrong with Enel?"

"It's nothing," Doflamingo said casually, pulling her into his arms. "I just suggested he pay Birka a visit. What about you?" he added, looking down at her. "Do you want to go back and see?"

Ibes hesitated for a moment, then shook her head firmly. "Me? No, I don't think so. Anyway, wherever you are, that's where I'll be."

"Fuffuffuffuffu," Doflamingo chuckled. "In that case, tonight, I'll just have to be inside your heart!"

"You're terrible!" Ibes swatted playfully at his chest, blushing.

While Doflamingo indulged in spring-like romance, Robin, on the other hand, was thoroughly exhausting Gan Fall and the Shandian Chief, bombarding them with questions about Sky Island's past, determinedly extracting every last scrap of history they possessed.

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