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The deck shuddered.
~CRASH~
A flash popped nearby—smoke burning sulfur down their throats.
“That wasn’t a Coup de Burst!”
coughed Usopp.
Sawyer froze.
“Let’s go!”
No hesitation. They bolted for the deck, kicking open the hatch into chaos.
Brook and Chopper clung to the mast while Franky muttered over exposed wires. At the prow, Luffy grinned into the gale like it owed him lunch.
Jinbei was at the helm.
“I’m not steering. She’s not responding.”
He tried not to show it, but Jinbei knew this was something beyond his control.
“Nothing’s explaining this!”
Nami said.
“…But we’re still locked on Graycliff.”
Sawyer pressed her hand to the rail. The Sunny’s wood always felt alive—but this hum was amplified.
“The sea’s pushing us. It wants us to go faster.”
“You’re saying the sea’s driving us?”
asked Nami.
Sawyer nodded.
“It’s trying to help—but it’s overdoing it.”
Studying Sawyer, Jinbei said,
“The sea doesn’t answer to anyone. But from what I’ve seen… I won’t question it.”
He didn’t understand—but her depth had never been clearer.
Usopp tilted his head.
“So when you said the sea’s never tried to drown you, it’s more than just water-breathing?”
“YOU CAN BREATHE UNDERWATER?! AWESOME!”
Luffy shouted.
“Even unconscious. The sea decides where I go, like a guardian,”
confirmed Sawyer.
Sawyer was a paradox. Still, Robin wasn’t surprised.
“So you’re the opposite of a Devil Fruit user.”
“Well, whatever’s happening, we’re riding it,”
Luffy grinned.
Zoro grunted.
“Let’s not get carried away.”
“We don’t have a choice,”
said Sawyer.
“What makes you say that?”
“The sea’s a lot like Luffy. Once it commits—good luck stopping it.”
Then Franky cut in,
“But it’s putting super stress on the drive systems.”
Even his engineering had limits—and the coating was already damaged.
Sawyer nodded.
“Usopp, I need to get closer to the water.”
His eyes went wide.
“That’s suicide!”
“I have to slow us down.”
“Why me?!”
Sawyer, whispering.
“Because I trust you. Also, you and Luffy are the only ones with zero motive to drop me.”
“Rude but... fair?”
“Exactly… I can’t drown. So, worst case? The moment I drop, the ship slows and I vanish forever...”
“What?!”
“For all you know, I could show up at Graycliff.”
Sanji stared down Usopp.
“Drop her, and I’ll drop you—before diving in myself.”
“She just said she can’t drown!”
Barked Zoro.
“Prices must be paid for failing a woman,”
Sanji declared.
Fumbling, Usopp fought the rope.
“—So I tie you like bait. No! Not bait—bad analogy—”
Snatching the rope, Franky helped.
“Relax. The winch’ll do the heavy lifting. You keep control.”
But Usopp still shook—tying the cord around Sawyer.
“You’ve got this,”
Sawyer said softly.
Afraid this might be the last time he’d ever see her, he grabbed her hand.
“Yeah. But if something goes wrong—”
He didn’t finish. But his grip said more than words.
And suddenly, his fear subsided.
“So… you’re still in?”
he asked.
“Nope,”
she said, climbing the rail.
“That’s why we go now.”
Shocked, Usopp said,
“Right… lowering the ocean whisperer…”
Above, the crank spooled cable through pulleys—For one awful second; she hovered. One slip, and she would vanish.
Her eyes fluttered shut. Weightlessness set in—
Then the line lurched.
On deck, everything snapped into chaos.
Usopp fought the winch, but the gears screamed and spun free, nearly taking his fingers.
“It’s slipping!”
he screamed.
Franky jumped in.
“I’ve got it!”
Chopper clung to his med kit.
“She’s still attached, right?!”
Nami gripped the rail, eyes fixed on the rope.
“She’s speaking to something,”
murmured Robin.
Zoro stood silent, hating that this couldn’t be fixed with a fight.
Sanji tossed his coat.
“If that rope goes, I’m diving. I don’t care what she says.”
Luffy waited on the figurehead, trusting.
That’s when the rope stilled, and the ship groaned with relief.
“We’re slowing!”
shouted Jinbei.
Usopp’s knees buckled.
“It worked!”
“SUPER!!”
Franky roared.
“You did it!”
Luffy cheered, already halfway overboard.
Zoro yanked him back by the collar.
“Don’t fall over, idiot!”
“If I had a heart, it would be racing!”
Brook cackled.
Franky reached for the lever.
“Hauling you back!”
~Clunk~
“Oops.”
“What do you mean oops?!”
Snapped Sanji, ready to jump.
Suddenly, the rope slackened.
Usopp’s heart dropped.
Then—
Sawyer went airborne—falling—like a glowing cannonball.
~KERTHUNK~
Usopp flinched instinctively, stomach shooting up into his throat.
She hit the deck. A ribbon of water floated before her face.
She stared at it like it had made a rude joke.
“Thanks…”
It twirled—as if it knew exactly what it had done—vanishing over the rail.
“Holy shit,”
Usopp breathed.
“Did the ocean throw you back?!”
“SO COOL!”
Luffy howled.
Chopper scanned her body.
“Sawyer! Are you okay?! Did you grow gills?!”
“No,”
she groaned.
“But I’m bruised.”
Franky stared.
“Well, that was horrifying.”
Draping a fresh towel across her shoulders, Sanji said,
“You are drenched, mon ange.”
“Can’t believe you did it,”
Nami said.
“We’ll be in port in a few hours!”
“SUPER!”
Franky shouted.
“Secure the sails! Reduce drag!”
And just like that—chaos became motion again.
Jinbei gave her a small nod. A sailor’s gesture of respect.
But even as we the crew, sprang into action—Sawyer stayed still.
The sea was still humming in her skull.