Dock #1 was reduced to Bedlam. The crowds were cheering for the capture of Nami and Luffy. They even managed to grab the redhead while the shipwrights went after the rubber man. Nana couldn't even move as she watched all that was happening around her. Icy had said he saw Nico Robin, who was confirmed to be part of the Straw Hat...but after Luffy's declaration, she couldn't shake the feeling that maybe he was telling the truth and he honestly knew nothing about the attack.
"Stop...meddling into my fight!" Franky yelled from the side.
Nana's head turned sharply towards the cyborg when she heard the sounds of metal clanging together. Franky was in the middle of connecting his forearms to a T-shaped pipe. "Don't tell me..." Nana gasped as his arms started to expand.
----------
- Flashback - 3 years ago (Nana - 13-ish, Franky - 31) -
"Ow! Ow! Nana-brat!"
Nana let out a little squeak and dropped the metal pipe she was holding. She looked guiltily behind her just as the cyborg shined a flashlight in her face. She had sneaked into his scrapyard in hopes to find some metal pieces she could use for her next project. She tightened her hold on her newest blueprint. Busted...she thought to herself with a nervous frown.
"What are you super doing here this late? Go home already!" Franky shouted as he stomped down a mound of metal scraps towards her.
Nana gulped but then raised her chin up at the cyborg. "What are you doing out this late?" she shot back.
"Don't turn this on me, Nana-brat," Franky snapped. When he got to closer to where she was standing, he snatched the blueprint out of her hands. He held it above her head while he took a closer look at it, "What's this? A toy?"
Nana jumped up and attempted to grab it back but the cyborg was just too tall for her. On her third jump, she lost her footing and fell hard on her backside. "Give it back," she winced, "That's mine."
Franky raised an eyebrow at the paper and then squatted down in front of her. "This, Nana-brat, is a cannon. You think Iceberg is going to let you build a cannon?"
"It's not just any cannon," Nana said exasperatedly, "It's a water cannon! It'll shoot out a stream of sea water with enough force as a waterfall."
"Who are you trying to shoot? Devil Fruit users?" Franky asked.
Nana scoffed. "Of course not! Those cannons can help put out fires."
Franky blinked and stared at Iceberg's ward. This brat's got heart, he mused as he looked over her blueprint again, And talent...But terrible penmanship.
"You know, you super forgot to put in a pipe to connect to the water source," he said casually as he handed the blueprint back to its owner.
"No, I didn't," she snapped and pointed at her drawing, "Do you need to fix your eyes? It's right there!"
"Ah, my mistake," Franky said and then he grinned, "I see the pipe...but where's the water source?"
"It's going to be the sea. Duh!" Nana scoffed again.
"And how is the pipe going to connect to the sea?"
"Obviously, through the hole of the ship."
"You're going to put a hole in the ship?"
"Yeah! Right at the bottom so that the cannon can suck up the water and..." her voice began to fade when she realized her oversight. She blinked and looked over at Franky, "The ship will sink, won't it?"
"Yep! Like a super rock," Franky said with a thumbs up and started to walk back home, "Unless..."
"Unless what?!" Nana shouted as she scrambled to catch up to him, "You know how to fix it?"
Franky flashed her a confident grin and took the blueprint out of her hands. He placed his flashlight between his teeth and started to draw over her design. "See...if you make a hole right here on a ship and then you do this...and then you add that..."
Nana's eyes widened and they grew brighter and brighter with every edit and tip Franky made on her blueprint. When he was done, he smacked it hard against her chest. "Here you go, Nana-brat. This cannon is now officially Franky approved."
"Oof," she grunted and caught the paper, "Thanks, Franky!"
Then she realized something and her eyes widened again but this time with fear. "You're not going to tell Icy that I was here, will you?"
Franky smirked, "What's in it for me?"
"Please don't tell him!" she panicked, "He's going to get mad at me for being here again and he'll take away all my tools for good this time. I'll do anything!"
"Anything?" Franky said with a raised eyebrow, "Well...you could always call me your Big Bro and join my family."
"Tch," Nana scoffed, "I will never call you my bro. You might want me to join your family but who says I want you to be in my family?"
"What?! You little brat-" Franky snapped but then took a moment to collect himself, "Fine. How about this? I am looking for some parts myself. If you can help me find all of them within the hour, I won't say a word."
"How many parts?" she asked suspiciously.
"36."
"36 parts in one hour?!" Nana gasped.
"Alright. I guess I'm going to super call Iceberg now and tell him that his little brat has been sneaking out late at night, diving into my scrapyard, and having me look over her designs again," Franky said with an exaggerated sigh as he walked away.
"No no no!" Nana scrambled to catch up to him again. "I'll do it. Just tell me what parts you need!"
Franky casually handed out a list to her. She scanned through it and a curious look crossed her face. "You're building a vent?" she asked.
Both of Franky's eyebrows raised this time. "Good eye, Nana-brat...Good eye. Yes, I'm building a vent but not just any vent. It's going to be like an air cannon. It'll shoot out a burst of air that's faster than the speed of sound."
"Cool..." Nana breathed.
"I know. Super cool," Franky agreed, "I'm going to call it..."
----------
"Coup de..." Franky shouted as he fired a blast of air towards the shipwrights. The people around them screamed and ran out of the way. Nana darted forward as fast as she could. She skidded on her knees at the last second and pushed Franky's arms up by his elbows, "...Vent!"
She didn't get there fast enough and instead of pointing straight up, the bullet flew at an elevated angle towards the tip of a crane. "Don't hurt my dock!" Nana seethed.
The bullet hit the crane and sent it crashing down on the people below, creating a huge cloud of dust. Nana sighed in relief since she managed to at least save the half built ship under the crane. The shipwrights had scattered in order to avoid Franky's attack and so had most of the crowd. Nami and Luffy were making their way out, while the dust was still settling, in an attempt to escape during the chaos. Nana dashed forward and grabbed them each by the shoulder.
"Nana!" Nami pleaded, "Please you have to believe us. We had-"
"You said you wanted to see Iceberg?" Nana asked stonily.
"Ah," Luffy replied, "I want to hear it from him...If he really saw Robin..."
Nana took a deep breath and nodded. "Come with me. I can sneak you in."
"Oh, thank you-," Nami started to say but Nana shot her a glare.
"I'm not doing this for you. I'm doing this for Galley-La. I want answers," Nana hissed as she pulled them behind some rubble.
----------
Kalifa could not believe what she was seeing or hearing. She had opened the door expecting to see Nana and the shipwrights but instead it was Nana and two of the Straw Hat pirates. "You want me to what?!"
"Let us in so they can talk to Icy," Nana replied solemnly, "And stand guard so that no one else comes in."
"But, these people attacked Iceberg-san! They're going to-"
"Kalifa," Iceberg interrupted from inside the room, "Please do as she says...As a favor to me."
"Iceberg...san..." Kalifa's eyes widened as she looked at her boss. He nodded at her from his bed. She hesitantly opened the door and obeyed. "I'll be outside then if you need anything."
"Thank you, Kalifa," Iceberg said
Nana walked over to Iceberg, the door clicking softly shut behind her. He was stroking Tyrannosaurus with his hand, while Pygmy was licking his other. She gave Pygmy a pat on the head and she sat down on the edge of Iceberg's bed. She put a protective hand on his leg. Nami sat on the armchair next to the door, while Luffy remained standing.
"Thanks for agreeing to see me, Ice-pops," Luffy said.
"I doubt Nana would've brought you here if you intended to kill me," Iceberg replied, "She's very trusting but she's not stupid."
"Thanks, I think," Nana grumbled.
Iceberg took a deep breath and he stared Luffy right in the eyes. "Last night, I saw Nico Robin, a member of your pirate crew, with my own eyes...That's the honest truth. "
"That can't be right," Nami protested.
"Was it really Robin?" Luffy asked.
Suddenly, Iceberg pulled out a pistol from under the blanket and cocked it. Nana's eyes widened. "Icy..."
Iceberg aimed it at Luffy. "Don't say a word. Your words no longer mean anything. I agreed to let you in here because I have a favor to ask. Let me see Nico Robin. Now!"
"But I don't even know where she is!" Luffy protested.
"Icy!" Nana immediately jumped up to her feet and stood in front of Luffy, "Don't shoot him!"
"Nana?" Luffy and Nami were aghast.
Iceberg's eyes narrowed at his ward. "Nana..." he warned.
Nana shook her head furiously. "I won't allow it! You can't kill him or Nami."
"Nana, it's fine. I'm a rubber man anyways and-," Luffy started to say but Nana held firm.
"No killing."
Iceberg sighed and lifted the gun up to the sky. "I wasn't going to kill him, Nana. I just wanted to try my chance in talking to Nico Robin."
"Oh..." Nana dropped her arms and stared at Iceberg. Does he believe Luffy is telling the truth?
"'Straw Hat' Luffy, I demand to see Nico Robin," Iceberg demanded again, "I don't care if you get her here or someone else from the city finds her. I'm going to pull the trigger in 5 seconds and people will come rushing in. What you decide to do at this point is up to you. 5...4..."
"Nami, let's go!" Luffy cried. He wrapped his arm around Nami's waist and jumped out the window.
"Ahhhhhhh!" Nami screamed as they fell out.
"3...2...1."
Bang!
Nana stood frozen in shock as dozens of craftsmen stormed into the room with Kalifa. Everything around her seemed to be happening in a blur. She fell back onto an armchair and tried to gather her thoughts. Someone had tried to kill Iceberg. That was for sure. Nico Robin had something to do with it but what her intentions are seem to be unclear as her own captain didn't even know. Nana took a deep breath. She really did want to believe in Luffy. Am I being naive again?
"Nana..."
Iceberg's voice broke her thoughts and she looked up at him. The room was now empty and only Nana and Kalifa remained with Iceberg. "Icy..." Nana asked quietly, "What's going on? Why would anyone want to kill you?"
"Aqua Laguna is coming," Iceberg said and stared out the window, "You should make sure all the docks are ready to house the evacuation and since I can't move right now, you'll also need to check the sea train for me. The people need us right now."
Nana slammed her fist down on the armchair. "How can you send me away at a time like this? What if that Nico Robin comes back? What if she brings more people? What if-"
"What if the storm comes and the city isn't ready?" Iceberg replied calmly, "The city needs our help, Nana, and you need to make the rounds for me."
Nana fell silent and she clenched her fists tightly to her side. She knew he was right but why did it feel so wrong? She turned her frustration on Kalifa, "Make sure all the craftsmen are guarding the main office. I want Paulie and the other shipwrights from Dock #1 seated right outside this door...and if anything happens to Iceberg, I'll be holding you responsible."
"How rude," Kalifa gasped and then adjusted her glasses. "I'll see what I can do, Nana-san."
Nana took one last look at Iceberg. He smiled grimly at her. "I'll be fine, Nana...Go...and take Pygmy with you too."
Nana gulped and begrudgingly left the room. Her feet felt heavy and everything in her gut was telling her to turn back. She took a deep breath. She passed by two craftsmen, who had been standing guard since this morning. They looked at her with concern. "Nana-san, is Iceberg-san okay?"
Nana sucked in a breath and put on a brave smile, "Yes. He just wants me to go check the docks and the sea train to make sure everything is in order for Aqua Laguna. Have you guys gone home and prepared for it? Are your family members packed for the evacuation?"
"Oh, Iceberg-san and Nana-san are so selfless!" one of them burst into tears, "Thinking of us at a time like this."
"Idiot!" the other one yelled and hit him in the back of the head, "Don't make Nana-san more worried than she is. The situation is tense enough as it is."
Nana gave them a weak smile and then headed into her room. When she opened the door, it was stopped midway by something. She looked down and saw that it was her waterboard and her messenger bag that was blocking her way. She sighed and picked the messenger bag up, while Pygmy beelined for his bed. It had only been this morning since she got her stuff back but it felt like ages ago.
She walked across the room and placed her waterboard on the shelf where it usually sat, next to empty copper canisters and steel pistons. When she flipped open her messenger bag, she saw an envelope lying near the top. She took it out and slowly opened it to find a five page letter.
My Dearest Nana-chan,
How do I even begin to describe meeting you? A miracle bestowed from the grace of-
Nana exasperatedly shuffled through the first four pages of love notes. She couldn't help but notice, though, that out of all the love letters she had received in the past, his had the most flourish. When she got to the last page, she saw the point of his letter.
You left your precious possessions after aiding us at the Franky House. Please excuse us ill-mannered pirates as we didn't even get a chance to properly thank you for your help. You descended upon us like a heavenly angel and aided us at our time of need. I'd like to express our deepest gratitude on behalf of the rest of the crew, including Usopp.
Please do not worry if you have not found any information in regards to the blackmarket. You've been troubled by us enough.
I would say this to you in person but it appears that you are not allowed visitors today so I leave this note with your belongings and with great care and love. If you wish to see us, you are more than welcome to visit us at the local inn in the city. We are staying there until we can secure a suitable ship to take us to the New World.
Your servant,
Sanji
P.S. I hope Pygmy is healing up well.
"He's got good penmanship," Nana murmured as she read and re-read the letter, "And he remembered Pygmy..."
She folded the letter and looked over at Pygmy, who was sitting up in his bed and wagging his tail. "A person wouldn't write this if they just attempted to kill someone close to you, right?"
Pygmy shook his head and sniffed. Nana nodded. "That's what I thought..." she said and then re-read the letter again. She didn't know what she was looking for but she was trying hard to find it in his writing. Finally, she balled it up in frustration and threw it in her metal garbage can. "What am I even doing?! I barely know the guy!"
She took a deep breath, stared at the wad of papers sitting on top of her trash, and then groaned while taking it out. She smoothed it with the palm of her hands and reread it again. Pygmy barked and she looked over at her pet. "Yes, I know. I told him I hated him, punched him, and then told him I never wanted to see him again," she said, "And yes, maybe I was jumping to conclusions...but who was I supposed to believe? Icy or a group of pirates I met less than a day ago?"
Pygmy whined and lowered his head. Nana sighed, "It's not like I can go find him and apologize now. Aqua Laguna is about to hit and who knows if that Nico Robin person is going to come back and finish the job?! This is a serious situation." She looked frustratingly at the letter in her hand. She clenched her jaw and crumpled it back into a ball. "And this is not the time to be deciphering letters from strange men!"
She raised her arm back to throw the letter back in the trash can but found herself unable to move a muscle. She closed her eyes and took another deep breath before stuffing the letter in her pants pocket. She then started to repack her messenger bag with carefully selected tools.
"Come on," she mumbled to Pygmy and slung her messenger bag over her shoulder. She left the room with her hammer on her back and she picked up her waterboard on the way out.
As soon as she left Dock #1 to check on the other six docks, she was flooded with more concerned craftsmen and citizens. They all wanted to know what was happening and how Iceberg was. She had to pretend and tell everyone that everything was fine and under control. She had been around Iceberg enough to know when it was time to be honest and when it was time to do what was best for the people. Their focus should be on getting their affairs sorted before the storm hit. No use getting them all worked up over Iceberg. That's something Nana was doing enough for the entire city.
She put herself on auto-pilot and kept herself preoccupied with reinforcing walls, blocking in doors, shuttering windows, and anything else she could keep her hands busy with. Before she knew it, the sun had set and the first group of people were already heading into the docks for the night.
"Our thoughts and prayers are with Iceberg-san, Nana-chan," some older aunties said to Nana on their way into the dock.
"Stay strong, Nana-chan. We'll get whoever it is that did this," another group of men said to her.
She could only give them a brittle smile and nod. People were also starting to whisper about the Straw Hats and they were swapping theories on what had happened but every time one of them saw Nana heading their way, they would grow quiet out of respect. The fact that they were treating her differently was a constant reminder to Nana about the situation. It made her sick to her stomach. She could feel their pity and concern without even looking at them.
She was down to her last errand and it was late in the evening. She checked the sturdiness of the walls of Dock #7 one more time before turning to her pet. "Pygmy, let's go to the station," she said as she put on her goggles.
She held onto her waterboard tightly in one hand as she grabbed Pygmy's saddle horn with another. She jumped on Pygmy's back and they ran through the streets of Water 7. The winds were already blowing strong but her and Pygmy had learned early on that their combined weight, with the help of her hammer, was enough to face harsh winds. Her goggles also made sure she could see clearly. The only real threat of Aqua Laguna was the water because Nana didn't know how to swim, which was a very sore subject for her.
When she reached Blue Station, she was relieved to see that it was empty. Last year, a couple of people thought it would be safe to stay in there and she had barely gotten them out in time. The two station operators were busy prepping the track for the 11 PM train. One stationmaster was short and fat while the other was tall and skinny. They were surprised to see Nana when she came up to them.
"Nana-san!" the skinny one exclaimed, "What are you doing here? Shouldn't you be home?"
"Tch," Nana snorted as she rested her hammer against her shoulders and leaned her waterboard against a pillar, "And leave you two to take care of the Puffing Tom? Yeah right."
"Nana-san," the fat one laughed, "Everything is fine. We have already checked everything. The only thing left is to find out who these government officials are who requested the private train."
Nana was in no mood to gossip. "Did you check the engine room for blockage?"
"Yes," the fat one said with a solemn nod.
"Did you add the reinforcement to the tracks?"
"Yes," he said again
"Water supply good?"
"We have more than enough."
"Wind grate?"
There was a pause and Nana raised an eyebrow. "You guys didn't add the wind grate?"
"Ah...." The fat one started to sweat, while the skinny one wrung his hands nervously, "No."
Nana shrugged and headed towards the station's storage room, which was down the hall and away from the tracks. "Good thing I'm here then."
She paused when she reached a certain pillar. She placed her hand on it and looked it up and down. She turned her back on it and leaned against it. She lowered herself so her eye level was only 4 feet off the ground. Everything on the first floor of the station was visible from that point. It was a perfect place for a seven year old girl to sell her creations.
She looked at the Puffing Tom and she remembered how awestruck she was when she saw Iceberg come in with his tools. She tried to hide it and play it cool. She smirked as she remembered all that attitude she gave him in order to impress him. In reality, she was hungry, tired, and terrified. Nana's eyes started to get warm and she closed her eyes to stop the tears from falling. No, Nana! Now is not the time!, she thought as she knocked the pillar with the back of her head.
She got back up to a standing position and looked down at Pygmy, who wagged his tail. "You weren't even in my life then," she said quietly, "It was really when my life started, you know..."
She shook her head to clear it and made her way further into the station. When she got to the storage room, she opened the door with her key and set her hammer on the floor and her messenger bag on the table. She flipped it open and started to pull out various tools. "Let's see...I'll need...this....that...Definitely this..." she said as she placed them into an empty wooden tool box. She paused when she suddenly felt like she was being watched. She looked down at Pygmy, who sniffed the air.
Out of nowhere, Pygmy's eyes lit up. He barked and then stuffed his muzzle into Nana's pocket.
"What the-" she yelled as he yanked out the balled up letter. Small screws and cogs tumbled out of her pocket in the process and Pygmy raced out of the room. Nana scratched her head in confusion.
"Oy, oy! Don't rip my shirt!" came an indignant response.
Within seconds, Pygmy was back again and this time, instead of a crumpled paper in his mouth, he held the hem of Sanji's shirt. The blonde was holding the ball curiously in his own hands. When his eyes met Nana's, he gulped.