Eric was completely distraught by what had happened; he still couldn't believe that his battleships had been used to hurt Tom. Iceberg was furious at him, promising that he would never forgive him.

"Never, you hear—"

"Stop it!" Tom yelled.

Iceberg turned to Tom. "Tom?"

"It's not his fault, don't blame him," said Tom weakly. "He didn't do this."

"You still believe that? After everything that happened?" Iceberg stared.

"Oh no," said Eric quickly rushed to Tom's side. "Is this? This is one of the special harpoons I made! Once it pierces its target, you can't pull it out! I'm so sorry."

Tom laughed. "Don't apologise; it's barely even a scratch."

"Over there! We found them!"

They turned around and saw citizens from Water 7 had now gathered around, and they weren't looking particularly happy.

"Tom's been injured!"

"Wait, why is he hurt?"

"Aren't they the ones behind this attack? It doesn't make any sense."

"The townspeople, they're here," said Iceberg.

They then turned around and saw that the townspeople were the only ones here as Spandam and his agent had arrived.

"Now then… I believe this is the part where you come along quietly," said Spandam.

"Damn you, Spandar!" Eric snapped.

"Spandam, you fool," Spandam corrected. "Now, let's get going, you criminals."

They were escorted back to the harbour; the judge had managed to survive the onslaught and was sitting behind a table. The three of them were tied up and placed in front of the judge as Spandam accused them.

"Here are the culprits behind the attack," said Spandam. "Rest easy, everyone, we, the men of CP5, have destroyed their attack ships. They will cause no more trouble."

The citizens were still a little confused, especially considering Tom was injured.

"I'm sure that judge would have acquitted him of those old charges today."

"If so, then why would he do something like that?"

"He was friends with the King of the Pirates, who knows what he's capable of."

Spandam then approached the judge and held out his hand. "Pleased to meet you, your honour. My name is Spandam. I'm with CP5."

"Pleasure and thanks," said the judge shaking his hand. "You saved us."

"We can take over the investigation from here if you don't mind; we'll give them a full interrogation."

The judge nodded.

Spandam smiled evilly. 'Just try talking your way out of this one; the trust they in you has been shattered. Soon those blueprints for the ancient weapon will be mine.'

Coco and Magni had just arrived, and both of them were completely horrified.

"How could this happen?" said Coco.

The judge then began banging his mallet on the table. "First off, about the sea train, magnificent work. With its help, Water 7 will continue to grow and flourish, for that the previous charge of building Gold Roger ship your acquittal today had already been pretty much decided. Knowing that, why in the world would you commit such a heinous crime and erase that opportunity? Please explain yourself."

"That's a lie!" Eric yelled angrily. "It wasn't Tom or any of us then attacked the judiciary ship. It was that idiot Spandam! He's the one responsible!"

Silence fell across the harbour, and then everyone burst out laughing.

"Sure it was?"

"He's not, is he? What kind of crap is he trying to pull?"

"Why would a Government agency like CP5 attack on judiciary ship? There's no way."

"You're going have to come up with a better lie than that, Mr Apprentice."

Spandam laughed. "Your name is Eric Earlson, correct? I believe that is the name we took down from you when we caught you red-handed on board are one of those treacherous raid ships. And correctly if I'm mistaken, but were those very same raid ships made by your company?"

"Ships which would do such a horrible thing… something so awful," said Eric, still distraught about what happened. "Are no longer my ships!"

Tom then suddenly used his strength in order to free himself from his manacles, and then, to everyone's surprise, he punched Eric across the face. He had so hard that he was sent flying into some crates.

"Tom tore off his chains! He's on a rampage!"

"Take aim!" said a Marine, and the Marines immediately aimed their rifles at him.

Iceberg just stared at Tom. "He just hit him? Tom has never hit Eric before."

"What did you do that for?" said Eric as he picked himself up.

"They're no longer your ships, huh?" said Tom. "Don't you ever say that again?"

"What's wrong with saying that? I wish that I never made them! If those ships didn't exist, then no one would have gotten hurt."

"When a ship is built, no matter what type," said Tom and pulled the harpoon out of his shoulder. "It's neither good nor evil; I don't care what kind of ships you choose to me for the rest of your life. Remember, even if the ship you built hurt someone, even if they destroy the world, even if no one else does, their creator must love them unconditionally. The one who made them must never deny them, do not push the blame onto the ships! You must be proud of every ship you have ever created!"

Everyone just stared at him, and Spandam had been taken completely by surprise; he hadn't expected this to happen.

"Iceberg… Eric…" said Tom. "Whatever happens, don't interfere with what I'm about to do. No matter what."

Two of them just stared at him, not like where this was going.

'It's the World Government who pinned this crime on us, and it will be the World Government who will judge it. There's no way for us to be cleared of these charges; it's over,' said Tom and looked at Eric. 'It must be tough to see your ships being used for something as horrible as this. Either you really want Hitler going, don't you, Eric?'

Tom then suddenly launched himself in that everyone shock he punched Spandam across the face.

"What are you doing?" Eric stared.

"He's going crazy again," said a civilian as more people began running away from the harbour.

"What is he doing?" said Coco looking confused.

"Stop it, please!" Iceberg pleaded. "You're making things worse than they already are."

Tom stood over Spandam and grasped his throat. "Can you even comprehend the pain you put that boy through?"

"Fire!" Spandam ordered.

The Marines then fired upon Tom, and everyone just looked in shock.

"They shot him."

"Tom, no!" Eric cried.

Tom had hoped that they would use real bullets, but they had been using tranquilisers instead. It would only be a matter of time before he would lose consciousness, and all would be lost then.

'Tranquilisers, huh?' said Tom.

Spandam then laughed. "Not so tough now, are you? Serves you, right, Fish-Man!"

Eric quickly rushed over to him. "Tom, wait. Why are you doing this?"

Spandam looked at his men. "What are you standing around for? Get over there and apprehend him! We're going to take Tom and every last one of his villainous workers down to Enies Lobby."

"Who would have thought that Tom could be such a dangerous guy?"

"What the hell was he thinking?"

"Just what you expect from a man who sold his soul to pirates!"

"He made those battleships and waited for around for a chance like this to use them?"

Eric was absolutely furious at everyone. "How dare you talk about him like that, you bastards!"

"Stop it!" Tom snapped. "It's all right."

"Tom?"

"I'd like to confess," said Tom looking to the judge. "The raid on the judiciary ship was led by me."

Eric's eyes widened in horror. "That's not true! Why would you say that?"

"I have a request," Tom continued.

"Save your breath, Fish-Man!" Spandam yelled. "Nobody gives a damn about your—"

"Shut your mouth, CP5," the judge glared, much to Spandam surprise, and then he looked back at Tom. "So, what is this request?"

"If building the Sea Train was supposed to be considered to be a pardon from one shard against me, then I would like to be pardon for today's charges," said Tom.

"Even if that request was granted, you'd be right back to where you were, to begin with," the judge pointed out. "With a charge of building a ship for the King of the pirates, which would result in the maximum penalty."

"Sounds good; I like that better anyway," said Tom. "Giving a hand that Roger guy is something that I will never forget. In fact, it's something I take great pride in!"

Everyone was completely stunned.

"He's proud of that?"

"I can't believe he would make such a bold claim for something so despicable?"

"Traitor!"

"You'll regret that!"

Eric just stared at Tom. "Why Tom? Tell me…"

"It's for the best," said Tom. "Now listen, don't blame yourself for this. I never thought the World Government would go to such extremes to get the blueprints on the situation with Roger only makes the matter worse."

"Even so, it doesn't have to be this way!"

"No, it's fine. Look around you; even if I'm charged with a crime for 14 years ago, nothing else about this town will be the same as it was back then. This island is alive and strong; this is only the beginning. No matter what ends up happening to me, I was still able to help this town… my dream has finally begun to run."

Then he toppled over as the tranquilisers finally took effect and fell unconscious.

"Tom, don't please!" Eric pleaded.

"Tom, no!" Iceberg yelled.

Silence fell across the entire harbour as Eric and Iceberg looked down at their mentor, looking completely distraught.

'Iceberg… Eric… take care of the blueprints,' said Tom. 'Coco… Magni… thank you, for everything.'

Spandam then burst out laughing. "The tranquilisers finally kicked in! Capture those three for the judiciary ship attack!"

"Yes, sir!" said the Marines began to move in.

"Hold it," said the judge and everyone stopped. "I'm amending the charges. For the crime of designing and building a ship for Gold Roger, the King of the Pirates Tom and Tom alone will be apprehended and taken to Enies Lobby. That is all."

The judge then stood up and began to leave, much to Spandam's frustration.

"What in the hell has gotten into that old geezer head," he grumbled. "Whatever, I don't need his lackeys. Release those two apprentices!"

The Marines then began unlocking their cuffs and then started bringing the stretcher for Tom.

Coco now down to Iceberg and Eric with tears in her eyes.

"Tom can't be saved from this; it's the Government we're up against," she said. "There's nothing we can do. Endure it… Tom traded his life for yours. If you make them your enemy, you won't be able to win no matter how many lives you had to give. Enies Lobby lobby is the Governments personal judicial island. Not one single person who has been centre that dreadful place has ever been seen again."

Marine then approached Spandam. "The Sea Train is ready for departure, sir! We can leave anytime you like."

"Very good," Spandam nodded.

Eric was absolutely furious that Spandam was getting away with everything. To make matters worse, he was taking Tom onto the train he built to his death sentence.

"Coco…" he said.

Spandam laughed as he looked down at Tom. "Let's get moving man, load up the prisoner!"

"…I can't…" said Eric with gritted teeth.

Spandam then stepped on Tom's face. "This bloated fish-man is going for a little train ride."

"…do this!" Eric roared.

Eric then immediately charged at the newest Marine, grabbed his rifle, and swung it at Spandam with all his strength.

"Stop it!" Iceberg yelled.

Upon seeing this, everyone immediately panicked and ran.

"Whoa, he really messed up his face!"

"Now Tom's apprentice is the one on a rampage!"

"No, stop!" Coco pleaded.

"Capture that criminal! The rest of you take Tom to the train!" a Marine ordered.

The Marines began moving in towards Eric as he stood guard over Tom's body.

"That's not going to happen!" he yelled defiantly. "Nobody is taking him anywhere!"

"Fire at will!"

Eric began beating down the Marines they charged in towards him. "Tom is staying right here!"

He was then shot in the shoulder and was pushed back towards Iceberg and Coco, who caught him.

"Are you okay?" Coco asked.

Iceberg saw the Marines running towards them. "Hurry, get out of here!"

Eric then began running towards Scrapheap Island as the Marines fired.

Several hours later, Spandam was on the train with bandages covering his face. Eric's attack had broken several bones leaving it very scarred, and he was in constant pain, possibly for the rest of his life.

"Dammit!" he yelled furiously. "He got away! I'll get back Eric Earlson brat if it last thing I'll do! That little criminal will pay for what he's done! Mark my words, once this case is over, I will have sent to the gallows!"

"Spandam, he's here!" said an agent entering the cab.

"What now?" Spandam yelled.

"It's—it's Eric Earlson, sir!"

"What? Where?"

"Standing out all the tracks ahead of us, and it appeared he's holding some sort of weapon."

Eric was indeed standing on the tracks, with a bazooka strapped to his back; he had sailed all the way in order to block the Sea Train's path. He took a small boat, and Magni was watching as the train got closer and closer.

"Stay right there, Magni," Eric ordered.

Spandam poked his head out of the window. "He's out of his mind."

"What should we do, sir?" an agent asked.

Spandam then grabbed the hem of his jacket. "Are you out of your mind too? We keep on going; that's what he wants us to do, right? Don't worry about him!"

"Right. Yes, sir."

Eric aimed the bazooka and aimed it directly at the Sea Train. "All right, Puffing Tom. That's far enough! What you think you're doing? Where are you taking your creator?"

He then fired at the train, and it was a direct hit, but the Sea Train was designed to handle all kinds of weather, so it had no effect. Despite this, Eric kept on firing, not wasting a single second.

Magni croaked frantically, telling him that it was no use, but Eric wouldn't listen. So he stood there the train got closer and closer.

"I won't let you pass!" Eric yelled defiantly and tossed his bazooka side. "Give me Tom back! You hear me, stop Sea Train!"

As the train got close, he remembered meeting Tom for the first time.

Tom laughed after he explained his predicament. "I see, so your parents just abandoned you, huh? That's terrible."

"Hey, stop laughing at me!" Eric snapped.

"Fine then, come and stay with me."

'Tom, I don't want to build ships anymore. I can't love ships that hurt people that I care so much about. I won't do it, even so… my goal in life is to be just like you.'

Eric braced himself and grabbed the plough of the train, and held his ground as much as he could, but he knew deep down inside that it would never be enough. He was then tossed into the air, and Spandam laughed as he fell into the water.

'Comeback… come back and teach me once again. Because someday, I want to build my own dream ship. A ship that will proudly sail, bravely over uncharted waters all the way to the ends of the world.'

The storm was gaining strength back in the present, and Eret was still tied up as he was being questioned by CP9.

"We've heard that Tom was an excellent craftsman and a creative genius," said Lael. "But he was also an uncontrollable Fish-Man with superhuman strength. When we asked the citizens here about him, they don't have much to say. It must be difficult to apprentice under a man like that, right, Eric Earlson?"

"That ridiculous question doesn't even deserve a reply," Eret spat. "You Government goons are piles of crap!"

"Take it easy," said Snotlout.

"During that incident, more than a hundred people, including Marines and Navy officers, were severely injured here in Water 7," said Lael. "And the culprit behind it was you, causing the World Government that much trouble is a serious crime, but because you were confirmed dead in a Sea Train accident later that same day, all the charges against you were annulled. Since your actually still alive, you will be taken to Enies Lobby as a criminal, there you can take your time answering this one simple question. Where are the secret blueprints for the ancient weapon known as Odin?"

Eret merely glared at them.

Lael then turned to Burl. "Now, Burl."

"Right," he nodded as he picked up ta transponder snail. "I was just able to get a connection."

"When I reported our latest findings on this case to our superior, he said that he wanted to speak to you directly and immediately," said Lael, and Burl approached him.

"Superior, huh?" Eret scoffed.

"All right, chief, go ahead," said Burl bringing the receiver down to Eret.

"Hot! Hot!" a snivelling voice yelled on the others end. "Ouch! Ouch! Ouch! I spilled coffee all over myself, dammit! Stupid coffee!"

They then heard the sound of a cup being smashed.

"What the heck?" Snotlout stared.

"So you're still alive, greetings, Eric Earlson," said a voice on the other end. "Long time no see, it's hard to believe that you somehow managed to survive the accident. Hard to believe, but good news nonetheless."

"Is that so?" said Eret narrowing his eyes. "Who are you?"

"For the past eight years, every time my scars start to hurt, I was tormented by an unquenchable anger that I couldn't take the proper vengeance that I deserved. Because the criminal responsible for those scars was did you see."

"I said, who in the hell are you?" Eret repeated angrily.

"Don't you remember me? I'm the man from Cipher Pol Number 5 that arrested Tom's Workers when I caught them red-handed for savaging the attacking the judiciary ship eight years ago."

On the other end, holding the sword smiling evilly, was Spandam now wearing a metal brace covering portions of his scarred face.