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  Without a sed thought, Coby leaped from where he was sitting. In mid-air, he took a deep breath and quickly activated Ms. Valentine’s powers. His body became incredibly light, floating just above the deck as he prepared his move.

  The train was getting closer, the roar of its engine drowning out the crew's shouts. Coby focused, using his power to create a powerful gust of wind. He aimed it directly at the sails of the Going Merry, filling them with a sudden burst of air. The ship lurched forward, propelled by the wind Coby had created.

  The Going Merry surged ahead, narrowly avoiding the train as it thundered past. The crew held on tight as the ship sped out of harm’s way, the massive train just inches from scraping the hull.

  "That was close!" Usopp excimed, his voice shaky as he g to the railing, trying to steady himself.

  But the danger wasn’t over yet. Oher side of the ship, the frog that had inally caught Luffy’s attention was still ih. It stood defiantly in front of the train, raising its massive palms as if to stop it.

  "That frog's gonself killed!" Nami shouted, eyes wide as she watched the se unfold.

  The train didn’t slow down. It smashed into the frog, sending the massive creature flying through the air. The frog tumbled across the water, eventually crashing into the sea with a huge spsh. Despite the impact, the frog was unharmed, though thhly dazed as it floated on the surface.

  The train, now past the ship, tinued on its way as if nothing had happened. Its whistle bred loudly, fading into the distance as it sped off into the horizon.

  The crew finally took a breath, the tension easing as they realized they had narrowly avoided disaster. Luffy, still standihe edge of the deck, turo Coby with a huge grin on his face. "That was awesome, Coby! You saved the ship!"

  Coby floated down to the deck, his body returning to normal weight as he nded lightly on his feet. "Gd we made it out of that one," he said simply.

  As the crew watched the train disappear into the horizon, a voice suddenly rang out from the dire of the lighthouse. "It's terrible! Granny! Granny! Pirates!"

  The crew turned, surprised by the sudden shout. A small girl with bright green hair came running out of the lighthouse, waving her arms frantically. "Granny! Pirates are here!" she yelled, clearly panig.

  From ihe lighthouse, another voiswered, slurred and groggy. "What? Really? Hold on, ey!" The sound of shuffling footsteps followed, and an older peared at the doorway, her movements slow and unsteady.

  The woman, Granny Kokoro, had a round fad wore a patched-up outfit that looked like it had seeer days. She squi the crew, her expression fused, and fumbled with a Den Den Mushi in her hand. "I'll call for reinforts!" she muttered, but as she raised the receiver to her mouth, she hiccuped loudly and slurred, "What were you saying? Burp!" It was obvious she was dead drunk.

  The crew desded from the Going Merry to meet the odd pair standing before the lighthouse. Granny Kokoro, the Station Master of Shift Station, swayed slightly on her feet, clearly still uhe influence of whatever she’d been drinking. Beside her, her granddaughter ey, a lively girl with bright green hair, bounced ooes, excited to see the strangers. At her side, a small rabbit was seated. Acc to ey, it was a cat, so creted at it was—Gohe cat—eyeing the crew curiously.

  After some quitrodus, the crew settled down with Kokoro, ey, and Gohey offered some food and desserts, which they eagerly accepted. As they ate, ey chattered away, expining that the massive train they’d just seen was called the Puffing Tom, a sea train that ected several isnds, including Water 7, their destination.

  Luffy, still curious about the frog, asked about it. ey told them that the frog’s name was Yokozuna, and that it peted with the train nearly every day, trying to stop it. Yokozuna had been doing this for years, ae the frequent collisions with the train, it was strong and resilient. Luffy, who had initially thought about eating the frog, decided against it, deg that any creature that worked that hard deserved respect.

  As the versation shifted, Kokoro learhat the crew was heading south, specifically toward Water 7. Her eyes lit up as she began to expin a bit about the city, mentioning that it was famous for its shipwrights and shipbuilding industry.

  Coby, who had been quietly listening, finally spoke up. "We’re looking for shipwrights. Any reendations?"

  The rest of the crew exged fused ghey weren’t really searg for shipwrights, at least not in the usual sense. Normally, by this point in the ahe Going Merry would have been in terrible dition, and they would have been desperate to find someoo repair it or build them a new ship. But because Coby had always been careful not to let anyone damage the Merry, the ship was still in perfect shape. The only problem was that the ship was getting smaller and smaller, no longer suitable for the growing crew.

  Coby hated the idea of letting the Merry get hurt just so they could justify getting a new ship. But he also khat they couldn’t keep sailing on the Merry forever. They needed a ship that could hahe New World and whatever dangers y ahead. He was flicted, torween his love for the Merry and the reality that they would eventually need something bigger.

  Kokoro, oblivious to Coby’s inner fliodded sagely. "Water 7 has some of the best shipwrights in the world. You’ll find what you here. Just ask around falley-La pany. They’re the top shipwrights iy."

  As the crew prepared to set sail once more, Kokoro handed over a folded piece of paper. "Here, take this. It's a simple map and a letter of reendation," she expined, a zy grin on her face.

  Coby accepted the paper, tug it into his pocket with a nod of thanks. "Appreciate it."

  With that, the Straw Hat crew bid farewell to Kokoro, ey, and Gohe Going Merry departed from the station. Their destination was now clear—Water 7, the city of shipwrights.

  As the Going Merry glided over the calm seas, Nami opehe map Kokoro had given them. She expected something useful, maybe a detailed yout of Water 7, but instead, she was met with a crude drawing. The map was nothing more than three lines representing an isnd, a dot marked with the word "Here," and a name below it: Iceburg.

  Nami stared at the map in disbelief. "This is it? This is supposed to help us?" she muttered, clearly unimpressed.

  Coby, notig her frustration, chuckled. He moved behind her and ed his arms around her waist, resting his on her shoulder as he peered at the map. "It’s going to be useful," he assured her, a pyful grin on his face.

  The crew gathered around the table, enjoying a meal as the Going Merry tis jourhe atmosphere was light, their earlier worries temporarily fotten.

  As the sun stood at its peak, a faint silhouette appeared in the distahe nd of Water 7 came into view, its t structures gradually being visible against the darkening sky. The excitement on the ship greable as they approached their adventure.

  "Land ho!" Usopp shouted, pointing ahead.

  Nami quickly took the helm, guiding the Going Merry towards the bustling port. "Everyone, get ready! We’re almost there!" she called out, her voice filled with anticipation.

  Luffy, uo tain his excitement, leaped onto the railing. "Water 7, here we e!" he cheered, his enthusiasm iious.

  --

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