Destroying the New World

The Friendship sailed over the waves beneath golden sunlight, the sea as blue as the sky rocking the ship like a cradle.

In a cabin, a pair of eyes opened on a spotless white bed. After a moment of confusion, Zephyr came fully awake. He sat up, rubbing his forehead as he surveyed the room.

"Where am I?"

The decorations and pink curtains made it obvious that this was a woman's room.

Zephyr spread his Observation Haki. It covered the entire ship in an instant. The wariness in his eyes faded, replaced by puzzlement.

He opened the door and felt the hot sun overhead. His sharp gaze fell on a cherry tree growing from a patch of grass nearby. Beneath it, an odd group sat absorbed in a card game, slips of paper stuck to their faces.

There were two young women, a white bear, a human, a winged girl, and a white fox. An odd group indeed.

At the sound, Sakura was the first to look toward the cabin.

"Grandpa, you're awake?"

Her face covered in paper slips, Sakura pulled them off and walked up to Zephyr.

Conis and the others rose too, watching him with curiosity and caution.

"Did you save me?"

Zephyr felt he had seen the pink-haired girl before, but he couldn't place her.

"Yep. We saw you floating in the sea, so we brought you aboard."

Sakura nodded as she answered.

Grrr.

Zephyr's mouth twitched. His stomach had growled.

"Conis, it's time for lunch."

"Of course, Captain. Just a moment."

Conis studied Zephyr briefly, then went into the kitchen.

"Grandpa, what's your name? Why were you floating out at sea?"

Sakura was curious about Zephyr, especially his Seastone arm. She thought it looked incredibly cool.

But Zephyr didn't answer. Instead, anger spread across his calm