Scene 1: Garp's "Surprise Inspection" and Donut Diplomacy
With the Navy's reorganization temporarily concluded, Monkey D. Garp finally had some free time. Carrying his signature bag of donuts, he swaggered into New Dawn Plaza. He didn't go to see his son Dragon, who was now the leader of the Revolutionary Army, nor his grandsons Sabo and Ace, who held high positions. Instead, he went straight to the headquarters of the Civilization Barrier Army.
"Hey! You there! Time Traveler!" Garp's booming voice echoed down the corridor, "Where's my grandson? That rubber idiot!"
Allen's adjutant, a stern-faced former Revolutionary Army soldier, tried to stop him. " Vice Admiral Garp! Please wait a moment, I need to inform the Commander-in-Chief..."
"Announce my ass!" Garp shoved him aside and barged into Allen's office, just in time to see Allen carefully repairing an ancient-looking hourglass (found in some ancient ruins) using the Power of Zhulong.
"Oh? Playing in the sand?" Garp leaned over, glanced at him curiously, and then casually placed the donut bag on Allen's desk. "Here, a little gift! Where's my grandson? Did that brat Luffy cause you trouble again?"
Allen glanced at the greasy paper bag on the table, then at the enthusiastic Garp, paused for a moment, and pointed out the window in the direction where the Freedom Ark was docked. "Mr. Luffy... should be on the ship." He paused, then added, "Also, Mr. Garp, I'm stabilizing the internal structure of this time-space hourglass. Your sonic vibration just now accelerated its time flow by 0.3%..."
Garp: "??? What flow rate? Never mind! Thanks kid!" He rushed out, leaving behind a half-open door and a table full of donut crumbs.
Allen watched the sand flowing rapidly through the hourglass, sighed, and continued his meticulous work.
Scene 2: A grand banquet in the Foosha Village (illegal?)
Garp found Luffy in a simple way—just follow the smell of meat and the noise. Sure enough, the "Ancient Banquet Recreation Project (Failed but Happy Version)" was taking place on the deck of the Freedom Ark.
"Grandpa?!" Luffy incoherently, his mouth stuffed full of the huge steak Sanji had just grilled.
"You brat! You've become the 'Symbol of Freedom' and you don't even go back to Foosha Village!" Garp threw a Fist of Love, but Luffy dodged it by shrinking his rubber neck.
"Hehe! Can't hit me~" Luffy made a smug face.
Garp glared, but seeing the lively group of young people around him, especially Ace and Sabo (who had been urgently summoned by Luffy via Den Den Den Mushi ), a smile involuntarily crept onto his face. He waved his hand dismissively. "What kind of banquet is this on this crappy ship! If you're going to have one, go back to Foosha Village! Makino has definitely prepared better meat! The whole village is waiting!"
So, at Garp's "encouragement" (and Luffy's cheers), the Straw Hat Pirates, Ace, Sabo, and even Allen, whom Garp dragged along ("You come too! Keep an eye on things so the timeline doesn't get messed up again!"), "smuggled" themselves back to Foosha Village in the East Blue.
Makino's tavern was indeed overflowing with food. The entire village had come, making for an unprecedented feast. Luffy, Ace, and Sabo seemed to have returned to their childhood, fighting and scrambling for meat. Usopp boasted about his new adventure, Sanji was surrounded by the aunties praising his culinary skills, Chopper exchanged medical knowledge with the village doctor, Franky and Brook's performance drew laughter from everyone, Nami and Makino calculated the feast's expenses (and tried to get Garp to reimburse them), Robin smiled as she told the children the history of Foosha Village (omitting the dangerous parts).
Garp, holding a wine glass, watched this scene, laughing heartily, though his eyes were a little moist. He nudged Allen, who was sitting quietly beside him. "Hey, Time Traveler, isn't this scene great? Much better than your cold, impersonal office!"
Looking at the bustling yet warm scene before him, feeling the cheerful mood free of any gloom in the air, Allen nodded gently. "... Yes. Time here... flows warmly."
Scene 3: A Belated Birthday Gift
During a break in the banquet, Makino took out a carefully preserved, slightly worn box and handed it to Ace.
" Ace, this is Dadan asked me to give you. They said it's... a belated birthday present for you. They've never had a chance to give it to you before," Makino with a gentle smile.
Ace paused for a moment, then took the box. Inside was a hand-knitted, somewhat rough-looking but sturdy orange cowboy hat, with a crooked "A" embroidered on it. There was also a small note in Dadan's scribbled handwriting. "You brat! Now that you're a big shot, you don't even come back to visit! I wanted to give you this hat a while ago, but I forgot! Just make do with it!"
Ace held the hat, silent for a long time. Sabo laughed and put his arm around his shoulder, "Wow! Dadan and the others still remember! Even if it's late... by many years."
Luffy peeked over. "Hey? Ace has a new hat too! Try it on and see!"
Ace pulled the hat down his head; it fit perfectly. He suppressed the stinging in his eyes, grinned, punched Sabo, and ruffled Luffy's hair. "Stop nagging! Go eat your meat!"
The orange hat seemed out of place with his white uniform, but he didn't take it off all night.
Scene 4: The Promise of Fireworks
At the climax of the banquet, Garp brought out several large boxes of fireworks from who-knows-where.
"Come on! Let's set off fireworks! To celebrate the brats... uh... to celebrate the new era!" Garp yelled.
Luffy excitedly reached for the fire, but Usopp and Chopper held him back tightly. "Idiot! It'll explode!"
Sanji a cigarette and elegantly stepped forward. "Leave such dangerous tasks to the men." Then Nami punched him, knocking him to the ground. "Don't use a cigarette lighter to light your cigarette!"
Finally, Allen went over. With a gentle flick of his fingers, a tiny wisp of Torch Dragon Flame leaped onto his fingertip, precisely and steadily igniting the fuses of all the fireworks in turn.
Whoosh—Bang! Crack!
Brilliant fireworks lit up the tranquil night sky above the Foosha Village, illuminating the smiling faces of everyone.
Luffy, watching the fireworks, suddenly shouted, "Next time! We'll put the fireworks as high as the moon!"
Zoro (hugging a barrel of wine): "Idiot, the moon is far away..."
Luffy: "It's okay! Let Allen use his time... uh... space... that force! To send him up!"
Allen: "..." (Starting to seriously consider the feasibility?)
Sabo and Ace exchanged a smile and clinked their glasses.
Garp looked at his grandsons, at the peaceful scene of the village he had protected all his life, gulped down his wine, and laughed louder than fireworks.
This night, there were no enemies, no conspiracies, only family, companions, simple food, and dazzling fireworks. For those who have weathered so many storms, this was the best gift. Their short break is over, and they will return to their posts, but this warmth will be the strength that sustains them as they move forward.