The sea breeze off the coast of Nanohana was crisp, carrying the scent of salt and the lingering spice of the desert. The Going Merry, recently restored to her full glory from the size of a bath toy, bobbed gently on the waves. Her white hull gleamed under the midday sun, a stark contrast to the deep blue of the Grand Line.
Ben stood near the helm, looking at Sabo and Koala, who were leaning against the railing, watching the coastline fade.
"So," Ben started, his hands in his trench coat pockets. "How were you two planning to get to your next destination?"
Sabo adjusted his top hat, grinning. "We have a small vessel stashed in a cove about three miles north. It's a single-mast sloop developed by the Revolutionary Army's inventors. It's fast and discreet."
Koala nodded, checking her log pose. "We were going to hike there, but... well, teleportation was faster. We can just swim to the cove from here if needed. We're both decent swimmers."
"A sloop?" Ben raised an eyebrow. "For the Chief of Staff of the Revolutionary Army? That seems a bit... understated."
"Understated keeps us alive," Sabo shrugged. "We don't exactly travel in convoys."
"True," Ben mused. "But sometimes, you need more than just 'understated.' Sometimes you need 'dominance.'"
He gestured toward the open sea. "Stay on board for a bit. We're going for a little ride. I have something to show you."
Sabo and Koala exchanged a confused glance but shrugged. "We're in no rush," Sabo said. "Lead on."
Ben turned to the figurehead. Or rather, the avatar sitting on it.
"Merry. Set a course due West. Full sail."
"Aye aye, Ben!" The android avatar of Merry saluted, her holographic eyes flashing. "Deploying the mainsail!"
As the canvas caught the wind and the ship surged forward, Sabo leaned in, whispering to Koala. "Talking ships. Android avatars. Giants. Magic. Enhancement Serums. Enchanted rings. Every time I think I have a handle on Luffy's crew, they throw something else at me."
Koala giggled. "It's charming, isn't it? But also... terrifying."
---
They sailed for about an hour, the laughter of the crew filling the air. Luffy was trying to climb Dorry's back like a jungle gym, while Sanji was serving drinks, swooning over the fact that he now had Nami, Vivi, Robin, and Koala to serve.
Suddenly, Merry's voice cut through the noise.
"Ben! Alert!" Merry chirped, her tone shifting from cheerful to professional. "Satellite sweep detects three Marine Battleships on an intercept course, ten kilometers to the North-North-East. They are flying Vice-Admiral flags."
"Satellite?" Koala blinked. "What is a satellite?"
"Just a very high bird," Ben lied smoothly. "Merry, adjust course. Heading South-West. Let's find a dead zone."
"Calculating route to avoid visual range... Course adjusted," Merry responded. The ship heeled sharply as the rudder turned, the precision of the turn unnatural for a wooden caravel.
Sabo stared at the android girl. "She can see ten kilometers away? That's beyond the range of most Observation Haki masters."
"Merry has good eyes," Ben said, checking his system panel. He needed privacy for what came next. The gift he had prepared was not something that could be handed over in a port. It was something that shifted the balance of global power.
For the next two hours, Ben retreated to the lower deck, tinkering in his expanded workshop. He could hear the giants singing overhead, a deep, rhythmic thrumming that vibrated the hull. He finalized the programming on the gift, ensuring the biometric locks were keyed to Sabo's signature.
Finally, the Merry entered a vast, empty stretch of ocean. The sky was clear, the water a calm, glassy mirror.
"Alright!" Ben shouted, emerging from the hatch. "Everyone, eyes forward! Show and Tell time!"
The crew gathered on the foredeck.
Luffy sat on the figurehead. " Is it meat? Is it a giant robot?"
Usopp adjusted his goggles. "Is it a new weapon?"
Nami crossed her arms. "Is it expensive?"
Ben walked to the railing. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a small, grey model. It looked like a toy ship, no bigger than a shoe.
"Sabo," Ben said, holding up the toy. "The Revolutionary Army fights a war of information and guerilla tactics. But eventually, you're going to have to hit the World Government head-on. And when you do, a sloop isn't going to cut it."
"What is that?" Sabo asked, squinting at the model.
"This," Ben grinned, "is air superiority."
He tossed the model over the side of the ship.
It spun in the air, arcing toward the water.
As it reached the apex of its arc, Ben's eyes flashed green.
"Magic: Command T - Expand."
THRUM.
The air pressure dropped instantly.
The tiny model began to expand.
And expand.
And expand.
"WHOA!" Chopper screamed, holding onto his hat.
The object grew exponentially. It eclipsed the sun. A shadow the size of an island fell over the Going Merry.
It hit the water not with a splash, but with a displacement event that looked like a tsunami.
BOOOOOOOOOM!
The ocean roared as thousands of tons of grey metal slammed into it. A massive wave, thirty feet high, rolled outward from the impact point.
"Hang on!" Merry said. "Stabilizers deployed!"
The Going Merry rode the wave, tilting dangerously, sending Sanji sliding across the deck into Zoro.
When the spray settled, the crew of the Straw Hats and the Revolutionaries stood in stunned, absolute silence.
Floating before them was a leviathan.
It was a S.H.I.E.L.D. Helicarrier.
It was immense. Easily four hundred meters long. Four massive lift turbines, currently powered down, sat at the corners. Two parallel runways stretched across the deck. A command tower filled with glass windows overlooked the flight deck. It looked like a floating fortress, a city of steel on the sea.
Luffy's jaw unhinged. It literally hit the deck planking with a wooden thunk.
Usopp's eyes popped out of his skull, extending a full foot from his face.
Chopper fainted, foaming at the mouth.
Even Zoro's eyes widened. "That's... a big ship."
Sabo and Koala were frozen. Their brains simply refused to process the scale of the object. It dwarfed Marine Battleships. It made the Merry look like a splinter.
"Ben..." Nami whispered, her voice trembling. "What... is... that?"
"That," Ben said, adjusting his collar, "is the Liberator. And it's for Sabo."
---
"Snap out of it!" Ben clapped his hands, the sound echoing in the silence.
Luffy shook his head, physically grabbing his jaw and snapping it back into place. "SUGEEEEE! BEN! IT'S HUGE! IT'S SO COOL!"
"How?!" Usopp grabbed Ben's coat. "The metal alone! Where did you get the materials? That's enough steel to build ten Buster Call fleets!"
"I have my ways," Ben smiled mysteriously. "Come on. Let's go aboard."
Ben grabbed the group—Luffy, Zoro, Sanji, Nami, Usopp, Chopper, Robin, Vivi, Sabo, Koala, and the Giants—and teleported.
POP.
They reappeared on the flight deck of the Helicarrier.
Up close, it was even more intimidating. The floor was a non-slip, high-grade polymer alloy. The wind whistled through the massive fan blades of the turbines.
"Welcome to the Flight Deck," Ben announced, playing the tour guide.
Sabo walked around, his boots clanking on the metal. He ran a gloved hand over the hull of a parked jet.
"Ben," Sabo said, his voice serious. "This... this is too much. This is a weapon of war that could conquer nations. The Revolutionary Army... we can't accept this."
"It's not just a ship, Sabo," Ben said, walking over to one of the chained aircraft. "It's a mobile base."
He patted the sleek, black wing of a Quinjet.
"These are Quinjets. VTOL capable—that means Vertical Take-Off and Landing. Four times the speed of sound. Stealth capability. They can drop a squad of Revolutionaries into Mary Geoise and be gone before the guards even look up."
Koala was inspecting the runway. "What are the markings here?"
"Sharp eye," Ben nodded. "The entire carrier is equipped with Pym Particle emitters. It would take a lot of time to explain what they are. Just know that you can shrink this entire fortress down to the size of a briefcase for transport, then deploy it instantly anywhere in the world."
"A briefcase..." Koala looked like she might faint. "A portable fortress?"
"Exactly," Ben said. "No more hiding in caves. No more running from Cipher Pol. You carry your base with you."
Sabo looked torn. The sheer strategic advantage was undeniable. It would save thousands of lives. But the debt...
"Ben, I can't. I don't have the authority to accept something of this magnitude. Dragon-san..."
"I already spoke to Dragon-san," Ben lied. He did it with such casual confidence that not even a lie detector could catch him. "I already talked with him last night. He knows about the ship. He said, and I quote, 'If the winds of change offer you a ride, take it.'"
Sabo blinked. "He... he said that?"
"Sounds like him, doesn't it?" Ben smirked.
Sabo sighed, a smile finally breaking onto his face. "Yeah. It does. Okay. If Dragon-san approved it... then we accept."
"Good," Ben clapped. "Now, let me introduce you to your helmsmen."
"Helmsmen?" Koala asked. "We don't have a crew for this yet."
"You don't need one," Ben said. "Not for sailing."
"Red Queen"
On the flight deck, a holographic projector whirred to life.
A beam of red light shot up, forming the avatar of a woman. She was dressed in a red dress, her image flickering slightly with digital noise. She looked sharp, intelligent, and slightly dangerous.
"System Online," the hologram spoke, her voice echoing through the ship's PA system. "I am the Red Queen. Awaiting orders."
"A ghost!" Ussop screamed.
"It's an Artificial Intelligence," Ben explained. "Meet the Red Queen. She controls every aspect of this ship. Navigation, propulsion, weapons systems, life support, stealth protocols. She can fly this ship with zero human crew, though she prefers having someone to talk to."
Ben looked at the Red Queen. "Queen, authorize new Admin: Sabo. Secondary Admin: Koala."
"Scanning..." A red laser swept over Sabo and Koala. "Biometrics confirmed. Welcome, Commander Sabo. Welcome, Officer Koala. The Liberator is yours."
Sabo looked at the hologram, then at the massive ship around him. "We have a mobile base... piloted by a ghost... that can shrink into a briefcase."
He looked at Ben. "You are one hell of a magician."
---
"Let's go to the bridge," Ben suggested.
They walked into the command tower. It was like stepping into the future. Screens lined the walls, displaying global weather patterns, marine traffic, and thermal scans. The captain's chair sat in the center, looking more like a throne.
Ben reached into his inventory and pulled out a heavy, leather pouch.
"The ship is the big gift," Ben said. "But this... this is the personal touch."
He handed the pouch to Sabo.
Sabo opened it. It looked like a small bag, but inside, it was filled with items.
"What are these?"
Ben pointed to a few sets of Kimiyo beads.
"Give these to your Commanders. You'll never have to worry about the World Government tapping your Den Den Moshis again."
Next, Ben pointed to silver rings.
"Appearance Alteration Rings. Super Soldier serum. You already know them, no need to explain."
Then, Ben pulled out three fruits.
The first was metallic grey with blades for a stem.
The second was spiky and yellow.
The third was shaped like a dachshund dog.
"The Supa Supa no Mi (Dice-Dice Fruit)," Ben listed. "Mr. 1's power. turns the body into steel blades.
The Toge Toge no Mi (Spike-Spike Fruit). Miss Doublefinger's power.
And the Inu Inu no Mi, Model: Dachshund. That was... a gun."
"You... you extracted their Devil Fruits?" Koala gasped. "That's impossible. When a user dies, the fruit respawns elsewhere!"
"Like I said," Ben winked. "Magician. These are powerful fruits. Give the Supa Supa no Mi to a swordsman, and they become a living blade. Give the Spike fruit to an assassin. The dog fruit... well, maybe you have a lonely toaster that needs a friend."
Sabo laughed nervously. "We'll find a use for them. This... Ben, this is an arsenal. You've given us enough power to start a war tomorrow."
"Don't start it tomorrow," Ben advised. "Prepare. Build. Wait for the signal. The dawn is coming, Sabo. I'm just making sure you have the ammo to greet it."
Finally, Ben handed them two small, old-looking pocket watches.
"Portkeys. Two-way. If you are ever in need of us or we need you. It will teleport you to me. And vice versa."
Sabo gripped the pouch. His knuckles turned white.
He looked at Ben, his eyes fierce with gratitude.
"I don't know how we can ever repay you."
"Just win," Ben said. "Create a world where common people don't have to worry about Celestial Dragons."
"I promise," Sabo vowed. "We will."
---
"Alright," Ben clapped his hands. "Time to go."
Farewells were exchanged on the flight deck.
Luffy hugged Sabo so hard his neck stretched three times around him. "Bye, Sabo!"
"Bye, Luffy!" Sabo laughed, hugging him back. "Become the Pirate King!"
Koala hugged Robin. "Take care, Robin. Find the history!"
"I will," Robin smiled warmly.
Dorry and Brogy gave a giant (mini-giant) salute. "Fair winds, Little Warriors!"
Ben gathered the crew. "Teleporting back to Merry in 3... 2... 1..."
POP.
The Straw Hats reappeared on the deck of the Going Merry.
They looked up at the massive steel behemoth looming over them.
Sabo stood on the edge of the flight deck, waving. Koala stood beside him.
"Red Queen!" Sabo's voice was amplified by the ship's speakers. "Take us up!"
"Initiating Vertical Take-Off Sequence," the Red Queen announced.
WHIRRRRRRRRR.
The sound began as a low hum, deep in the chest. Then, the four massive turbines on the corners of the carrier began to spin.
Faster and faster.
The water beneath the carrier began to churn. A whirlpool formed.
The spray kicked up into a massive mist.
Then, with a groan of defying gravity, the Liberator began to rise.
Slowly at first, then gaining speed.
Tons of water cascaded off its hull like waterfalls.
"IT'S FLYING!" Luffy screamed, stars sparkling in his eyes. "IT'S A FLYING SHIP!"
"SO COOL!" Usopp and Chopper wept, holding each other. "IT'S THE ROMANCE OF MEN!"
Even Sanji looked impressed. "That is... admittedly... spectacular."
The Helicarrier rose higher, five hundred feet, a thousand feet. It hovered there, a shadow against the sun.
Luffy grabbed Ben's collar, shaking him. "BEN! BEN! MAKE MERRY FLY! MAKE MERRY FLY LIKE THAT!"
Usopp joined in. "CAN WE PUT TURBINES ON MERRY?! PLEASE BEN!"
Chopper jumped up and down. "FLYING MERRY! FLYING MERRY!"
Ben laughed, looking at the eager faces of his captain and crew.
"Of course, Captain," Ben said, looking at the wooden ship. "Merry will fly. Just... maybe with wings instead of turbines. More style."
"WINGS!" Luffy shouted. "EVEN BETTER!"
High above, Sabo looked down at the tiny speck of the Going Merry.
"Stealth Mode," Sabo ordered.
"Engaging Retro-Reflective Panels," Red Queen acknowledged.
From the bottom of the hull, the sky began to ripple. The blue of the atmosphere was projected onto the metal.
In seconds, the massive ship didn't just fly away—it vanished.
It was gone. Completely invisible.
"They disappeared!" Zoro noted, looking at the empty sky. "Handy."
"Good luck, Sabo," Ben whispered.