All the Straw Hat crew members were standing on the shore, cheering as they gazed at their new ship. The boat was magnificent, with a majestic lion's head figurehead. It was a vessel that you couldn't help but fall in love with at first sight.
Before Franky could even say a word, Luffy, Usopp, Chopper, Jango, Sanji rushed onto the ship. The others weren't far behind. This boat was much larger than the Going Merry, so there would be plenty of space for everyone.
Carl joined them to explore the new ship. It was perfectly equipped, with everything from a special mess hall and bathhouse to an infirmary, a training room, and a storage room. Franky had even built a huge glass fish tank where they could toss in any fish they caught.
There were also plenty of rooms. Carl immediately claimed a single room using his status as their teacher. Robin and Marie used their "lady privileges" to take the room next to his. The others would have to explore and choose their own rooms as they sailed.
The ship was incredibly sturdy, built to withstand a barrage of cannonballs. Even if it did get damaged, the crew had the best shipwright in the world to fix it. Everything was ready. The Straw Hats' journey would continue!
"Does this ship have a name?" Law asked from the deck.
"A name?" Luffy responded. "Then I'll name it! I've already thought of a really cool one! It's called 'Bear-White Bear-Lion!'"
Usopp immediately complained, "Why such a weird name?"
"Then how about 'Tiger-Wolf-Lion'!" Luffy shot back.
"Stop with the animals! It's bad luck!"
The two of them were like a comedy duo, and Law couldn't help but rub his forehead. He wondered again why he had chosen to put his trust in such a bizarre captain. Was it too late to regret it?
Franky's mentor, Iceburg, smiled and offered a name. "What about the Thousand Sunny?"
"Wow! That's so cool!" Luffy, Chopper, Sanji, Jango, and the others all loved the name.
Zoro added, "It's better than the 'Lion Boss' I was thinking of."
"It's better than my 'Dark Pill,' too," Robin said.
"Better than my 'Sunflower Master,'" Sanji mumbled.
Marie offered, "Or 'Sunflower Teacup'."
Tashigi muttered, "The 'Justice of the Sun'..."
Even Carl joined in. "Or how about the 'Lion King,' hahahaha!"
Usopp was speechless. "Are you guys serious? What are these awful names?"
"Hold on, you guys, I've got the real name!" Franky yelled. "Listen up! The ship's name is, 'The New Battle Machine Franky the Lion Brutal Champion'...''
"Let's just use the name that Iceburg-san picked!" Luffy said, interrupting Franky and making the final decision.
Franky started to tear up. As the shipwright, he had the perfect name, but Luffy, as captain, had the ultimate say. So, from now on, the new ship would be called the Thousand Sunny! It would sail across a thousand cruel miles of sea, as free and bright as the sun.
"Alright! The ship is ready, and we've been in Water 7 for too long. It's time to continue our adventure!" Luffy shouted from his perch on the lion's head. "Let's set sail!"
Everyone had been in Water 7 for so long that they prepared quickly. They moved all their belongings onto the new ship and restocked their supplies of fresh water and food. After waiting for the Heart Pirates' submarine to arrive, they said their goodbyes to Iceburg and the others and set off.
They all felt a little sad to leave Water 7, but the thought of the adventures that lay ahead filled them with excitement. The ocean breeze felt wonderful, a reminder of the freedom and ease of life at sea.
Luffy, Chopper, and Usopp immediately started to play on the ship. They climbed all over the rigging and even put Momoo, the Sea Cow, into the new fish tank. It was a great idea; the tank was big enough that Momoo could be a permanent part of the crew now.
Carl, however, didn't join the fun. He found a comfortable spot on the deck, which was covered in fake green grass, and lay down. He was so relaxed that he soon felt sleepy.
Marie laid out some cushions next to him and started her routine of making tea and eating snacks. Robin sat beside them, calmly reading a book.
The ship was a mix of chaos and serenity, but it was all peaceful. Nami took her place at the helm, checking the log while tending to her orange tree.
Franky took over the steering, occasionally running into his workshop to study the blueprints of a Pacifista. Sanji, Jango were all gathered, telling each other tall tales. Zoro and Tashigi headed to the training room to work out.
The ship was full of harmony, except for when Luffy, Usopp, and Chopper would run by and knock things over, making everyone both angry and amused. As long as they didn't get on Nami's bad side, everything would be fine. If Nami got angry, she would either use an Armament Haki-infused punch or sacrifice Marie to appease Luffy.
The Heart Pirates' submarine followed silently behind. They had already decided to follow the Straw Hats, and anyone who had a problem with it would have to go through them.
As the Straw Hat crew set sail once again, the New World was in turmoil.
After the Blackbeard Pirates arrived, they immediately began taking over territories, quickly conquering any that did not belong to the other Four Emperors. They soon began encroaching on Whitebeard's territories as well.
The Whitebeard Pirates hadn't even returned to their home territory yet when they received the news. They immediately turned back, but the Blackbeard Pirates seemed unwilling to confront them so quickly. They would just raid a territory and flee, leaving a trail of destruction.
Seeing their home territories in a state of ruin, the Whitebeard Pirates were furious.
"Dad, that scoundrel Teach has gone too far. This is a direct declaration of war!" Ace yelled.
"Dad, the Blackbeard Pirates have dared to challenge our authority. We have to wipe them out!" Vista and Jozu said, readying for battle.
Marco was more hesitant. Whitebeard was still recovering from his injuries, and none of his sons could defeat Teach, who now had three Devil Fruit powers. If they faced him, would they really have a chance? It was hard to say.
Whitebeard spoke up. "For pirates, the sea is our home. The land isn't important. That scoundrel Teach now has three Devil Fruits. None of you are his match. Let them have the territories for now. When my injuries heal, I'll settle the score with Teach myself!"
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