On a Marine ship, a man was busy folding an origami figure. As it happened, his fleet was in the middle of trying to attack the Going Merry.
"Jeez, give us a break already!" Usopp called out.
"Is this gonna become a regular thing?" Luna groaned in annoyance.
On the Marine ship, a soldier knocked on the door.
"Lieutenant Commander Pasqua! We need you on the bridge!"
Pasqua finished his origami and opened the door. He then proceeded to hit the soldier with a powerful flick to the forehead.
"I'm not deaf, you idiot. You only need to knock once."
"Sorry, sir, but we're currently engaging the Straw Hat Pirates."
Pasqua quickly ran up to the deck, where he was greeted by his fellow officer Isoka.
"You almost missed a historic encounter."
Pasqua took a look through the binoculars and nodded his head as he took note of the Jolly Roger.
"That's the Straw Hat's flag. No doubt about it."
"We've been firing warning shots, but they've shown no signs of stopping. We'd appreciate it if you'd do your special technique." A soldier said.
"I suppose I could," Pasqua said as he took off his coat and pulled out a Berri coin from his pocket.
With a single flick, he sent the coin flying like a cannonball. This was his special Finger Bomb technique, one that had sunk countless pirate ships in the past.
"Think he's heard us?" Pasqua asked.
Isoka nodded. "Obviously they would have. And Ariala starts aiming right about... Now."
A sudden gust of wind hit Pasqua right in the nose, causing him to sneeze and accidentally fire his Finger Bomb right into another Marine ship.
"Sorry!" Ariala quickly apologized.
"Well, it gives us a chance to escape while their formation collapses," Hilda said.
Grahambel was looking back at the flagship, which didn't go unnoticed by Lassoo.
"Something wrong?"
"For some reason the officers on that ship knew that would happen, but they didn't do anything to stop it."
Pasqua and Isoka watched as the Merry sailed off while the soldiers scrambled to rescue the floaters.
"Looks like the wheel of fortune is starting to turn," Isoka said.
"Right as history required. From here we should be able to let the Straw Hats do the rest." Pasqua noted. "Once the wounded are tended to, we sail for Ruluka Island as scheduled."
"After fifty long years, we'll finally be able to end our home's misery," Isoka said.
"Looks like we lost them," Robin noted.
"They've been coming after us a lot lately," Boss noted.
"Eh, don't worry about it, almost all the Marines want to kill us," Lara said.
"Our crew's total bounty is reaching the 400 million Berri mark. Can't blame them for going all out." Zoro pointed out.
"Looks like we're coming up to a harbor," Chopper said.
"Finally, a chance to stretch out. Sea life's been getting rough." Johnny said.
"Well, at least I'm not getting scurvy anymore," Yosaku said.
The Merry approached a seaside town near a tower of some kind. As they started to dock near the tower, a patrol officer stopped them.
"Hold on there! All ships docking, even at the rocks, must pay harbor dues!"
"A tax just for docking?! That never happened at any other island we were on!" Nami complained.
"Why's it so different here? What kinda scam are you pulling here?!" Eddy demanded. "I'm the one who does the scams here, pal!"
"Because it's your duty!" The officer said, pointing his rifle. "Now pay up or pay the consequences!"
The rifle was then shot out of his hand by Lassoo.
"Neither."
"That's a fine for damaging tax official property!"
"You're down one gun and facing down people you really are outmatched by. I'd move on if I were you." Sanji said.
The officer took a fighting stance, refusing to back down. Then Boss slammed his Buru Buru Blade into the officer's skull, knocking him out.
"Mm-hm, definitely worth every Berri..."
"Excuse me! I'd like to ask you all something!"
Everyone looked to see an old man appearing near the cliff. He was wearing a lab coat and had a large metal backpack, with a helmet and visor covering his face.
"Some new kind of clown?" Robin wondered.
"Nah, he's not even in Buggy's league," Ferros said dismissively.
"Maybe he's just a salesman," Usopp suggested.
"I'm neither!" The old man declared as he lifted up his visor. "Have you seen a rainbow-colored mist at all?"
"I don't think so," Luffy said.
"Hang on, I think that was the title of Robin's favorite book." Chopper said.
Luna nodded. "That's one of my favorites too."
The old man, named Henzo, treated the crew to lunch at a local restaurant.
"So what's your deal anyway?" Sonson asked.
"I'm a scientist researching the Rainbow Mist. You mentioned a book you were reading regarding it."
Robin nodded and showed him the fourth volume she had started. Luna also presented the other three volumes she had on hand.
"Just where did you get this?" Henzo asked.
"It's a popular story in my home country of Alabasta. The name of the author was never given, but it was written 40 years ago." Vivi explained. "According to the story, the Rainbow Mist is believed to be the garden of the gods."
"Some stories even claim it's the entrance to the city of gold," Robin added.
"Nami, Eddy, don't even think about it." Romaz chided.
The aforementioned two just grumbled into their food without saying a word.
"I too have heard all the legends, b can tell you for certain that most of them are complete bunk. Any adventurer that has ever gone in search of the Rainbow Mist has never returned." Henzo said before frowning. "That includes... My own friends..."
"Don't take what he says seriously. He's one of Mayor Wetton's dogs. He's just a flimflam scientist receiving research funds and living the easy life." A waiter said.
A sudden drum procession was suddenly heard outside, causing the waiter to groan.
"Oh great, it's the tax collection squad. Better hurry and finish your... Meal?"
He noticed the food was already gone. The other customers were already scrambling to finish their own food. The officers entering the restaurant were led by a red-haired man with a sinister face.
"Greetings, citizens. I hope you're enjoying your meal today."
"I wanna punch this guy," Luffy said.
"Get in line, Bro." Ferros sneered.
"I agree, he does not look like a respectable authority figure." Double-D muttered.
"Let's wait and see what he's about," Lithos said.
The man started looking at everyone, doling out what seemed to be extreme taxation. One man got taxed for drinking liquor even though he'd already paid for it.
"A citizen's obligation is to pay taxes. Those who neglect their obligations have no right to live in this humble town."
"This is just horrible!" Vivi whispered. "Yeah, taxes are an important part of the economy, but if Father saw this he'd tear the city apart."
"I know I'm tempted," Noctis said, summoning the Sword of the Mystic into his hand.
"How do the taxes work in Alabasta?" Kuishi wondered.
"Each town only has to pay a bi-monthly tithe based on five percent of their total sales. It adds up really quick." Vivi explained. "But this is less taxes and more bleeding the citizens dry."
"So who's this charming fella?" Boss wondered.
"He's Mayor Wetton's son, Flip. A disagreeable sort who extorts all sorts of tax money out of us." The waiter explained.
"How has your economy not collapsed under its own weight?" Lassoo wondered.
Flip overheard and grinned when he saw Henzo.
"Well, well, what a surprise. I didn't expect you to be here, Professor. Father was actually looking for you regarding your mist research."
Henzo just glared. "The same as it always does. Like I said, there's no telling when or where the rainbow mist will appear."
"You do realize your research is being supported by the citizens' tax Berris. And that sort of research does not come cheap." Flip pointed out. "The Rainbow Tower alone cost a small fortune. And the slower your research goes, the more taxes we have to collect. That just makes everyone more upset."
He noticed Carue, Lassoo, Boss, Chopper, and Harvey.
"There's also a pet tax."
"They're not our pets. They're our crew members." Luffy said firmly.
"And they talk to!" Ed added.
Flip raised an eyebrow. "Devil Fruits?"
"What? Is there a tax on that, too?" Merone asked.
"With how rare they are? Of course not." Flip replied. "Anyway, if they're not pets that's fine."
He left without another word.
"You see what I mean? If you don't want people thinking ill of you, you'd be better off not hanging around Henzo." The waiter said.
"How about blaming the mayor for the unfair taxes instead of blaming the scientist who's clearly hurt by your words?" Robin said with a glare. "Would you think the same if the mayor simply raised the rational taxes instead of making up so many extortionate ones?"
That actually seemed to hit a chord in the waiter and the other customers.
"All of you should be ashamed with yourselves!" Double-D admonished. "If you are quick to lump in an innocent man with the real corrupt individuals...then I believe you all deserve to be taxed like this!"
"Damn, Double-D..." Choi muttered in surprise.
"I think we've overstayed our welcome. We should leave this town before those tax jerks try to bilk us again." Zoro said.
As the group started check out the shops, they were suddenly stopped by a man in a mech suit.
"I am Mayor Wetton's grandson, Lake! The officer who seizes unpaid taxes from the insolent!"
"These guys are really trying our patience," Sanji sighed.
Lake charged forward, only for Luna to move in. Suddenly, she swelled up into a massive ball with her head, hands, and feet remaining intact. This was the power of her Berry-Berry Fruit, which let her inflate into a giant blueberry and spit out juice that she could manipulate.
Lake stumbled back before moving to attack again, only for Lara to summon a pair of giant ornate gauntlets behind her that she manipulated with motions from her hands, grabbing the mech as it began to short out.
"Nice use of the Grab-Grab Fruit, Lara!" Hilda cheered.
"Good thing these big hands I summon are zap proof!" The whiskered girl giggled.
Lake growled. "Dynamo Squad, increase output!"
"Sorry, pal! But that ain't gonna work!" Lara taunted. "Something tells me if you try to push this, that suit might blow up!"
Lake looked nervous. But suddenly a bell sounded through the town.
"Hey, a galleon's approaching!"
A massive ship with a bull figurehead approached the harbor.
"Oh! It's the Talielisin!" Henzo exclaimed.
He hurried over to a motorcar he created called the H-1 and headed over. As it leapt off the dock, the vehicle turned into a hovercraft. Everyone was watching, when a sudden explosion was heard. Lake coughed as he got out of his power armor.
"Hey, pal! The lady tried to warn ya!" Hsiao taunted.
Henzo searched the galleon, checking through all the rooms.
"Rapanui! Isoka! Rongo! Pukau! Akibi!"
But the galleon appeared to be completely empty. Distraught, Henzo walked back onto the deck, only to be shocked at the sight of Luffy and the Children of Whitebeard leaping up from the Merry using their Devil Fruit powers.
"You five ate Devil Fruits?"
"Sure! I ate the Gum-Gum Fruit, and it made me a rubber man!" Luffy said as he stretched his cheek for emphasis.
"I ate the Earth-Earth Fruit, which made me an earth man," Lithos said, forming a large lump of rock in his hand that he then crushed by turning his other hand into a stone hammer.
"I ate the Metal-Metal Fruit, turning me into a metal man," Lithos smirked as he changed his body into gold, then liquid mercury, then bronze.
"I ate the Water-Water Fruit, making me a water woman," Merone said as she waved her hand, creating ripples of floating water around her.
"And I ate the Gust-Gust Fruit, making me a wind woman!" Ariala finished, turning her lower half into a condensed tornado.
"So what was that machine you were using earlier?" Luffy asked.
"It's called the H-1. A creation of my own deisng." Henzo explained.
The five siblings, Robin, Hilda, Luna, Lara, and Grahambel joined Henzo as he checked the galleon.
"This ship looks like an old model," Robin noted.
"And with plenty of battle scars," Thomas said.
"But all the food looks fresh. Like there were people here only a little while ago." Luffy noted.
"It was actually fifty years ago. That's when this ship first went adrift." Henzo clarified.
"Pretty good condition for a fifty year old ship," Grahambelnoted.
"Yes, it would be," Henzo said before the radar dish on his backpack went off. "It's reacting! And the reading is stronger than anything I've ever gotten! We need to head outside!"
Just outside the island, a large rainbow-colored mist was approaching.
"Damn it, the H-1 is too small to take on the open sea."
Luffy looked at him.
"Harvey, call the crew to board the Merry. We're helping Henzo reach that mist."
Henzo was surprised. "You'll actually take me out there?"
"I don't buy all the mean things the townsfolk are saying. That Rainbow Mist is a dream of yours, yeah?"
"Well, I suppose that's accurate," Henzo agreed.
"We happen to be in the business of helping people with their dreams whenever possible. And our crew is one of the finest." Lithos explained.
The Merry was up and ready within seconds and started sailing for the mist.
"Why couldn't we take the galleon for this?" Usopp asked.
"The Talielisin's helm is still broken by Wetton's hand. I know, because I was aboard that vessel fifty years ago." Henzo explained.
"You said earlier that no one who ever sailed into the Rainbow Mist ever returned. What do you expect to find in there?" N'Doul asked.
"That is something you need to see to believe," Henzo replied.
And with that, the Rainbow Mist enveloped the Merry.
Within the mist, the Merry came out into a ship graveyard.
"What is this place?" Robin asked.
"Are we dead?" Ed asked.
"It's called Ape's Concert, an infamous location that is said to be impossible to escape from. Hence all the wrecked ships." Henzo explained.
"What have we gotten ourselves into this time?" Zoro wondered.
"At least we don't have to worry about crazy taxes out here," Bella said.
"According to the story, beyond the Rainbow Mist lies the Land of Eternity, the final paradise remaining in the world." Robin said.
Carue cringed. "Sheesh! Some paradise!"
"But Land of Eternity might be appropriate. For some reason none of these ships smell of wet or rotting wood." Delphia noted.
"Supposedly the Land of Eternity is filled with gold and silver. In Alabasta it's used as a cautionary tale. For desert dwellers water is more valuable than gold." Vivi noted.
"Also, the people who live in this land are said to have eternal life without aging and never feel hunger." Noctis added.
"That sounds horrible! Who would want eternal life?! Not to mention never needing to eat?! What good's living if you can't enjoy food?!" Luffy cried.
"Yeah!" Hilda said in agreement. "I'd rather be dead!"
"Me three!" Sonson chimed in.
"I fourth this notion!" Choi added.
"Belly needs food!" Ed cried.
"A world without good food for people to enjoy is a world that shouldn't exist!" Kuishi snapped.
Henzo chuckled. "Well you've certainly got a wise way of thinking, but like I said earlier, that story is nothing more than legend. Fifty years ago I got a brief glimpse of this place. My friends, however, were swallowed up by it. I've been researching the Rainbow Mist ever since, hoping to rescue them. In the process, I became Wetton's dog, forced to endure the scorn of the people so that I could reach my goal. When the Talielisin returned I had hoped they returned with it, but no such luck."
"But why would Wetton be willing to fund your research?" Romaz asked. "Everyone in the village seems to think it's a crock."
"Take a look at all these ships. Most of them are pirate vessels that have gotten lost over the last fifty years. Many of them likely still have treasure aboard." Henzo said.
There was a splash heard, and Nami coughed and sputtered as Johnny and Yosaku pulled her back up onto the ship.
"You really need to soak your head sometimes," Merone said dryly.
"Sue me for being money-hungry!" Nami called out.
Robin giggled. "Got the Berri fits again, huh?"
"Hey, I would've jumped in as well." Eddy shrugged.
"How poor were you as a kid?" Vivi asked.
"Let's just say I was on the other end of the spectrum from you growing up," Nami explained.
A sudden ringing sounded through the sea, catching everyone's attention.
"Who dares disturb the eternal rest of the dead?" An echoing voice called out.
"THE PLACE IS HAUNTED BY THE SOULS OF HADES!" Ed cried as he hugged onto Eddy, causing the shorter boy to fall over from his friend's greater weight.
"Anyone else feeling deja vu?" Zoro asked.
"Grahambel, give it the old echo test," Ferros said.
The Transponder Snail nodded and created an echolocation with his Devil Fruit powers.
"I'm picking up a few heartbeats, meaning we aren't the only people here. There's definitely someone living among those ships."
"Hey, no fair! We were supposed to scare you out of this place!"
There was the sound of something being struck, and the second voice yelped in pain. Then, several figures draped in white sheets with eye holes cut into them approached, making the scariest noises they could. The crew just stared at them in bemusement. Suddenly an arrow wedged itself into Lithos' stone body.
"You know I could see that coming, right?
"AH! It's a monster!"
"Over there!" Grahambel called out, pointing to a nearby ship.
Merone, Luffy, Delphia, and Robin all quickly used their Devil Fruit powers to gather up the figures behind the voices. Henzo was stunned when he saw the five kids that had been brought out.
"And just who are you guys?" Luffy asked.
"We're the Pumpkin Pirates and Ape's Concert is our territory!" The lead kid said. "My name is-"
"Rapanui...It is you, isn't it?" Henzo interrupted. "And Isoka, Rongo, Akibi, and Pukau."
The four boys and one girl stared at Henzo in shock.
"It's me Henzo. We all used to play together on Cape Ruluka."
"Is that really Henzo?" Isoka asked.
"It can't be. He's an old man, but Henzo's our age."
Henzo took out a small round device that Rapanui had and pressed the button on it. It created a flash of light before popping open to reveal a spring-loaded Jolly Roger with a pumpkin for a skull.
"The old Kaboom Mark III, my earliest invention. A gizmo created for bluffing."
Rapanui looked shocked. "But how...?"
"You have no idea how long it's really been, do you?" Henzo said.
He started to explain his history with these kids. Fifty years ago, the six kids were playing together at a cape on the edge of the island. In those days, pirates were seen as explorers, so it was common for kids to band together and playfully call themselves a pirate crew. And these six, Rapanui, Isoka, Rongo, Akibi, Pukau, and Henzo, called themselves the Pumpkin Pirates.
Unfortunately, it wasn't long before tragedy struck. One day the Talielisin pulled up to the island, led by Wetton and his crew, who were aiming to plunder the island for all its valuables.
The Pumpkin Pirates tried to flee, but Wetton intercepted them and tried to attack. Luckily, the kids proved craftier and even with the fires they knew the town well enough to stay ahead of him. The struggle reached the Talielisin, which the kids managed to set off despite Wetton's best efforts. That was when the Rainbow Mist appeared. Unfortunately, Wetton had wound up destroying the helm during the struggle, so it was impossible to turn the galleon around.
"It was only because of Rapanui's finger strength and me tackling Wetton off the ship that we even survived. But the Talielisin wound up swallowed into the Rainbow Mist." Henzo finished.
"But hold on, all that is true, but that only happened a few days ago," Rapanui said.
"Not from outside the Ape's Concert. Time in here is different from outside." Henzo said. "Think about it. Do you really think all these ships would have been swallowed up over the course of a few mere days?"
The kids looked at each other, dreading what Henzo would say next.
"It's been fifty years since I last saw you. Fifty years I've been trying to unlock the mystery of the Rainbow Mist to find you again."
"Uh, not to interrupt the moment, but if time is compressed in this place then... DON'T YOU THINK WE SHOULD FIND A WAY TO ESCAPE?!" Usopp screamed in terror.
"He's right. If we don't find a way to leave we'll be stuck for fifty years as well." Robin said.
"Maybe even longer, and it would only feel like a month at most. Perhaps the story has some clues." Luna added.
Bella fired off a mana bolt behind them from where they came in, only for it to impact right in front of her as it came in from behind.
"I'm afraid the local space is completely distorted. This place is like a maze that doesn't let anyone leave." Henzo said.
"No, a maze would still have an exit of some kind. This is more like a trap." Ferros said.
"But there has to be some way out. The Talielisin eventually made it back, sans any passengers, so it's not like escape is completely impossible." Merone added.
Henzo nodded. "True...come to think of it, what happened to Wetton's raid officer Ian?"
"We have him locked up in a wrecked Marine vessel not far from here. We made the place our HQ for the time being." Rapanui said.
"I just had a thought; If the Talielisin was Wetton's old ship, and he's been looking for a way into the Rainbow Mist to reach here, surely he'd have the means to safely enter and then leave, correct?" Robin said.
"The Rainbow Mist did remain for at least a few hours the last time. Meaning it's likely still hanging near Ruluka." Henzo noted.
"So we just have to wait for a bit. I'll make us something to eat." Sanji said.
The kids enjoyed the best lunch they'd had in ages as the crew told them of their adventures.
"And then when I hit the commanding officer with my Wind Bullet technique. He wound up flicking the coin right into a nearby Marine ship. Not my brightest moment." Ariala giggled sheepishly.
"So you four are really Edward Newgate's kids?" Isoka asked. "He's the Quartermaster for the Rocks Pirates."
"The Rocks Pirates have been defunct for decades. Then came the time of Gold Roger, the King of the Pirates. Now we're following in his footsteps." Vivi said.
"And Dad has been a captain himself ever since that time," Ferros added proudly.
"It really has been fifty years. There's so much we missed." Rongo said sadly.
"And you're a princess and prince in Alabasta? Does that mean you know King Amun?" Isoka asked Vivi and Noctis.
"That was our grandfather, and he actually died a few years before I was born," Noctis explained. "Our father Cobra is the current king."
"What about the Giants said to be on Little Garden?" Akibi asked.
"We actually got them to call their duel a draw. I'm not sure if they're still on the island or if they already sailed off to find their friends." Luffy said.
"But you're looking at the three who trained under them during that time!" Hunter smirked as he pointed two thumbs at himself.
"Easy on the ego, Hunter." Katsu giggled.
Suddenly, Henzo's Transponder Snail started going off. Grahambel grinned and cleared his throat as he turned to Henzo.
"Go ahead and answer it, but don't actually respond."
Henzo nodded as he did just that.
"Henzo, are you there?" Wetton's voice came out.
"Captain?" Grahambel called out in a different voice.
The kids were all shocked.
"He copied Ian's voice," Rapanui said.
"Wait, that voice... Ian, is that you? I haven't heard from you in fifty years."
"It's been that long? Felt more like days." Grahambel said. "Those brats had me locked up in a wrecked Marine ship after the Talielisin sailed off without us."
"Is there an old professor with you?" Wetton asked.
"Yeah, but I killed him when he got close. That's how I got this Transponder Snail."
"Well, that's fine. I was really only using him to get the treasure inside Ape's Concert. Poor fool thought I'd actually help him find his friends. Still, his genius was the real deal. Thanks to him I was able to successfully construct a tower that can connect the Rainbow Mist with Ruluka."
"What's he talking about?" Nami whispered.
"What did you think the Rainbow Tower was for?" Henzo whispered back. "It makes a poor lighthouse, I can tell you that."
Meanwhile, Luffy was sitting with Rapanui.
"I can't believe fifty years have passed. Seeing Henzo so old like that... I hate that he has to feel what I felt." Rapanui said as he got out a locket with a picture of his father. "After Dad became a Marine, he left on a journey. I waited years for him to return, but he never did. The Marine ship is actually his. When we wound up here, I recognized it, and searched for him. But there was no sign of him anywhere."
Suddenly, a large metal ship started floating through the waters. It was Wetton's forces.
"Now's our chance! It's time to get out of here!" Luffy said.
"CHAARGE!" Eddy declared as he used his Clank-Clank Fruit to tear apart the nearby ships and create giant weapons to use.
The tax officers were shocked by the sudden attack as they were assailed by the Straw Hats.
"What the heck's going on out here?!" Wetton demanded, stepping out in another powered armor, this one with attached flamethrowers.
"We're what the heck is going on out here!" Ariala said as she, Lithos, Ferros, and Merone landed in front of the corrupt mayor, whose eyes widened in recognition.
"Hold on...those faces...those grins... I've seen them before on only one man! That monster Edward Newgate!"
"You're not the only pirate who decided to start a family after fifty years. The former quartermaster you knew became quite the big deal since then." Lithos said. "He became a captain in his own right, got strong enough to become a Yonko, now being known as Whitebeard."
"And he fathered us four badasses!" Ferros grinned as he turned his arms into metal blades. "Metal Machine Ferros!"
"Tremor Lithos!" Lithos cried as he formed his arms into rock gauntlets that he banged together.
"Water Queen Merone!" Merone declared as her lower half turned into a tornado of water.
"And Wind Dancer Ariala!" Ariala proudly concluded as the wind kicked up around her.
Wetton unleashed his flamethrowers, but he was shocked when Noctis jumped down and summoned the Shield of the Just to block them.
"Relax, Noctis, we have it covered!" Ferros smirked. "HYPER DRILL RUN!"
Wetton quickly abandoned his armor as Ferros struck it with a spinning metal drill formed from his arm, causing a massive explosion that caused a chain reaction and collapsed the Rainbow Tower.
"No! My ship!" Wetton cried. "How am I supposed to haul off all that treasure?!"
"I'm pretty sure our navigator's already gotten what we can carry on our own ship," Ariala quipped.
The explosion seemed to be causing a distortion in the Ape's Concert.
"Oh dear, now what?!" Double-D cried.
"Not good, that explosion disrupted the delicate balance of this space!" Henzo exclaimed. "The warping effect is quickly expanding!"
Rapanui then noticed something.
"Hey! There's a crack with the sun shining through it!"
"Guys, we need to scramble!" Luffy ordered.
Eddy took charge, using his Devil Fruit powers to tear apart the nearby ships some more to create footholds for the crew to pile back onto the Merry.
"We're not moving fast enough! If that light disappears we could be stuck here!" Nami said.
Rapanui quickly dove into the water and swam for the ship.
"We'll detonate my dad's old ship! It's fully loaded with explosives, so it should be enough to get a tailwind!"
Isoka, Akibi, Pukau, and Rongo dove after him to help.
"Wait, Rapanui! You don't know what will happen to you if you stay behind!" Henzo called out.
"We're already fifty years out of time! At this point we've got nothing to lose!" Rapanui pointed out.
"We'll find someway to come back!" Isoka promised. "Just don't give up hope! That's the Pumpkin Pirate way!"
Merone then realized something.
"A bumpy ride like that could damage the Merry! We need to create a barrier!"
"On it, sis! WIND DOME!" Ariala cried.
"AQUA BUBBLE!"
The two sisters generated a large bubble around the Merry just as the Marine ship's powder magazine was detonated, creating a powerful tailwind that launched the Merry out of the Ape's Concert through the crack. The cushion prevented catastrophic damage as the Merry hit the water just outside of Ruluka. Meanwhile, the collapse of the Rainbow Mist created a vacuum that destroyed Wetton's mansion, dropping all the tax money he extorted in the process.
"No... All my peaceful days..." Wetton weakly uttered in despair.
"Your days of extorting this island have finally come to an end, Wetton." Noctis declared.
"Can explain to me what the hell is going on?!" Ian asked.
Wetton was confused. "You... You called me in here. And what is Henzo doing still alive?"
"I was locked up in an old Marine ship the entire time until that short kid busted me out telling me we were escaping. I didn't think to question it until just now." Ian pointed out.
"Hey, I resent that!" Eddy complained.
"Funny how easily you can be tricked," Grahambel said in Ian's voice before switching back to his real voice. "You must be going senile."
"Alright, that's enough, you pirates."
Hearing the new voice, the Straw Hats looked to see the same Marine fleet that had chased them to Ruluka in the first place.
"Thank goodness you're here! Those terrible criminals have taken every last bit of the mayor's property!" Flip cried.
Pasqua suddenly grabbed Flip's hand and looked at his ring.
"Interesting. This is the ring of Princess Illusia. As I recall, it was stolen by pirates years ago. So what's it doing sitting on your finger now?"
Flip was stunned. "Uh... This was part of a treasure that was resting inside Ape's Concert! We pulled it out of a shipwreck!"
"That means it doesn't really belong to anyone," Pasqua noted.
"That ring is property of my family!" Wetton demanded. "And I'll thank you to leave it with us!"
"Ah, give it a rest, you old fart!" Haruo snapped as he kicked Wetton in the stomach to knock him onto his knees.
"Any treasure without an owner belongs to the World Government," Pasqua pointed out. "If you're claiming it's your property, then that confirms it's been obtained illegally and it will be considered an act of piracy."
"That's fine by me, I'm already a pirate to being with! Whatever I want, I take by force!" Wetton said as he picked himself up, only for Pasqua to flash step in front of him.
"The years have not been kind to you, Wetton. You're not nearly the terror you were fifty years ago."
He then flicked Wetton right in the forehead, sending him flying back. Henzo was stunned as a flicker of recognition hit him.
"It can't be..."
"Good to see you again, Henzo," Pasqua said before noticing the confused Straw Hats. "Ah, I should introduce myself. Though you all technically know me. Lieutenant Commander Rapanui Pasqua, at your service."
"Say what now?" Ariala asked with a blank look.
"We promised we'd come back, didn't we?" Isoka said as she stepped forward.
Akibi, Pukau, and Rongo were right behind them, all of them properly aged by fifty years.
"Take Wetton and his crew into custody," Rapanui said.
"Great," Ian said as he was arrested. "Out of one cell and into another."
Rongo chuckled. "We might be willing to go a little more lenient on you since you were our prisoner for what amounted to fifty years already."
"How are you guys even alive?" Usopp asked.
"Something of a miracle, actually. When we detonated the powder magazine on Dad's ship, the explosion threw us back into the outside world." Rapanui explained.
"But we wound up back fifty years ago, only a few days after we disappeared. And we were nowhere near Ruluka." Isoka added.
"I thought that might have been possible. Some of the ships in Ape's Concert looked to be two hundred years old. Which meant the Rainbow Mist likely has the ability to warp the axis of time." Robin said.
"Wicked," Luna muttered.
"But why didn't you come back sooner?" Henzo asked.
"What, did you forget the last time we fought Wetton? We only survived by the skin of our teeth." Rapanui pointed out. "We had to figure out a different way to defeat and punish him. And I knew we'd need help. So we trained up for several years, then enlisted in the Marines."
"During that time we saw all the amazing events you guys told us about. Heck, we were there at Loguetown for Roger's execution." Pukau said.
"So cool! I'm jealous!" Luffy beamed.
"It did take a while to get to a level where we could override Wetton's authority as mayor, though. But eventually Rapanui's strength and capturing so many bad pirates got him elevated to Lieutenant Commander." Rongo said.
"Then when we got the wanted posters of you following Crocodile's defeat. We knew it was time to put our plan into motion." Akibi finished.
"And so you started chasing us to herd us right to Ruluka in order for history to repeat and ensure you'd be rescued from Ape's Concert." Robin realized.
"Ugh! Time travel makes my head hurt!" Hilda groaned in frustration.
"We remembered the stories you told us, especially Grahambel's Noise-Noise Fruit and Ariala's Gust-Gust Fruit. We took that into account as we made our plans."
"You did all this for our home?" Henzo asked.
Rapanui smiled. "We may be wearing the uniforms of Marines, but at heart, we're still the Pumpkin Pirates. And we're still friends, no matter how many decades pass."
"That's all well and good, but aren't your superiors going to be mad if you wind up letting us go? I mean, we are still wanted pirates." Bella pointed out.
Rapanui chuckled. "Oh, I think they'll understand that we had our hands full escorting Wetton and his crew back to Marine HQ. Not to mention we do have to help the town stabilize now that Wetton's control over it has ended. Besides, a certain newly-promoted commodore suggested it was better that you continue to sail free."
Luffy and the Children of Whitebeard grinned at each other, knowing Rapanui was referring to Smoker.
And so the Going Merry sailed away from Ruluka.
"So in the end, Henzo was able to properly reunite with his friends," Chopper said.
"Yeah, since they wound up returning to the past, they got to take the long path back home." Lassoo added.
"And now Henzo's reputation with the townsfolk has improved. After all, just because Ape's Concert collapsed doesn't mean the Rainbow Mist is gone forever." Yosaku said. "Who knows when or where it will turn up again? And Henzo's the only one who's studied it enough to know how to help people survive it."
"That reminds me, I was thinking we'd find out who wrote that novel on the Rainbow Mist, but we never did." Kuishi said.
"Actually, it turns out it was Rapanui himself. Luna and I only just now got to the final volume." Robin revealed. "And take a look at the final illustration."
The group looked, and was shocked. Right there on the last page was a picture of the five friends, along with the pirate crew that had rescued them. The Straw Hat Pirates.
"Okay, I need a minute!" Lara sniffled with tears of joy. "I need a minute to cry my heart out!"
Noctis smiled. "It seems the Straw Hats' legend has already been cemented in this small town we helped rescue."
Well, that puts an end to the filler chapters! I'm gonna be updating more frequently because I want to catch up with mtnetsurfer's Ash & Rubber. He's put it on hiatus because he actually wants to do a chapter crossing over his story with this one. Cool, huh?
Look forward to me cranking these out at a much more rapid pace! Don't worry, I'll still make sure quality is assured!
Also, I might not do any more bios until the rest of the Straw Hats get their own epithets. Heck, I might just restart the bios just for the heck of it.