Summary:
The game had officially started! The Strawhats were in their maximum power, speed and desperation to defeat the two other teams: Kuja Pirates and Galley La Pirates! What will be the challenges that our main characters will encounter? Will they be able to win and continue their adventure of finding One piece? Or Will they lose and surrender their own dreams? Find out and read this final chapter of Love Poneglyph! LuffyXNami [Assuming (2 years after) the strawhats were in a journey to an island before the Fishmen Island.]
Author's Note: Actually I was about to abandon this project because I ran out of inspiration… But two guest reviews of Yahaha and hawk. rocketed back my ideas so I then decided to open MS word and write the two parts of the final chapter. I now present to you the first part of the final chapter. Hope you may like and enjoy!. I hope you will not be disappointed in the ending also.. Lols. I do not own One Piece but I sooo love this anime show till death..! :')
Love Poneglyph
It was such a fine and calm morning. The morning dew shone like jewels hanging from the leaves of few trees and vast plain of grasses. The fresh scent of various flowers mixed perfectly in the air that created a natural perfume to the place. The birds chirped their usual morning song when all of a sudden they were interrupted insolently by some wild human creatures…
Ah.. The Strawhat Pirates running desperately to their first destination called Forest of Wisdom.
"Oi Nami! You told earlier that our first destination is a place called the Forest of Wisdom but how come I do not see any forest from afar?" Usopp asked.
"Yeah. I have been wondering that too." Nami replied while eyeing the map, "There are nothing here but few trees and a wide field of grasses and some flowers."
"Are you really sure this is the way Nami?" Zoro asked and wiped his sweat in his forehead.
Nami gave Zoro a fierce look and said flatly, "Of all the people that may doubt the crew's navigator…"
"Heh? Are you insulting me?! Give me that map and let me direct our way!" Zoro yelled angrily.
All the strawhat members except Robin covered Nami and muttered, "Oi..Oi.. Zoro you've gone too far.."
"NaaAAni?!" Zoro exclaimed further.
Robin ignored their scene and focused on her own. She then noticed in the far northeast area an ancient wall covered with green mosses.
"Nami, there is a large and long ancient wall built over there. I presume that wall is huge enough to cover a thin forest."
"Whoah! Nice observation Robin!" Nami exclaimed as she pushed her way out of Luffy's group.
"Wow! I never thought that's a wall!" Luffy exclaimed like a child, "Very huuuggeeee!"
Franky, Usopp, Brook and Chopper gave Robin thumbs up and said, "Sugoi Robin!"
"That's my Robin-chwan!" Sanji wiggled in his love-love eyes.
Robin looked at them seriously and muttered, "Actually from this distance any person can notice that wall immediately. It is only that the rest of you were not focusing their attention well."
The remaining strawhats were choked silently and blushed shamefully.
Zoro thought, She really had said it… Tch.
"Gome Robin," Luffy apologized cutely, "YOSHA! From now on, each member should direct full focus on getting our one goal! Enough with some stupid comical scenes and be serious!"
"Aye…" the crew replied flatly.
I am impressed with this man's way of conviction but―, Sanji thought as the captain called out Chopper to help him in catching a red dragonfly.
"Ah… As expected of our great and persuasive captain…" Usopp sighed flatly.
Just then, a flash of wind passed in front of Usopp and he saw already the poor Luffy filled with bruises and black eyes.
"Thwranks Nwami for spa—ring the dd-dra-gon fly's life…"
Chopper rushed to Robin and posed his usual hiding move.
"Chopper, you are hiding wrongly," Nami said flatly.
"Kyaa!" Chopper's hairs rose and he corrected his hiding position.
Suddenly the ground shook!
"KYAAAHHH! AN EARTHQUAKE!" Usopp and Brook exclaimed while hugging each other tightly.
Nami was shocked. She never sensed any weird signs of an earthquake occurring.
"This might be one of the things that Caroline referred to in her warning," Sanji muttered as he tried balancing himself.
"Tch. Hellish paradise," Zoro added.
Just then the earthquake intensified and the path that led to the wall suddenly cracked.
"We must run now before the ground breaks totally and separate us from our way!"
The strawhats ran as fast as they could. But they were too late. A very large portion of their way gave in. They were already separated from the main land where the wall was standing.
All of them were stunned for a moment as the earthquake faded gradually.
"We're screwed…" Usopp whispered and cried again, "WE'RE SCREWED!"
Chopper stuck his two hoofs in Usopp's mouth to stop his long scream. Sanji lit his cigarette seriously and Zoro asked Luffy, "Now what are we going to do?"
"Think of a plan?" Luffy replied innocently.
Everyone sighed when Nami said flatly, "Each one of us has our own unique power to get away from here. But as the navigator of this pirate crew, it is my duty to lead you the way."
Everyone looked at Nami who started using her ability. Then the rest of the members witnessed the milky road they once experienced at Sky Island.
Everyone was amazed and followed Nami who began walking towards the other end.
"Wow Nami! So this is one of the abilities you gained from your training!" Luffy exclaimed happily.
"Yep!" Nami replied proudly.
"Oi Usopp! Walk fast!" Zoro complained.
"Safe…" Usopp muttered while walking slowly and extending his two arms laterally.
Zoro sighed and added a little patience within him.
Nami got first at the site and studied it.
"VERY HUUUGGGEEEE!" Luffy commended again.
Robin ran excitedly from the right portion of the huge gate of the wall. Then she removed carefully some of the vines that covered few odd ancient writings and began decoding the message.
"This wall is pretty strong to stand still despite the long decades," Brook said.
"Whoah! Zoro! This is a fateful reunion of your clan!" Sanji mocked while caressing the wide wall covered with green mosses.
"EHHH?!" Zoro locked his stare to the cook.
"Moss Family, I would like to introduce to you one of your lost member the Moss Head, Baka-Marimo, Zoro…" Sanji teased.
"I'LL KILL YOU NOW!" Zoro yelled angrily and attacked Sanji.
"Bring it on!" Sanji exclaimed and blocked his attacks.
The strawhats laughed out loud except for Robin who had a hard time in keeping her laughter gentle.
"That was a funny joke Sanji-san!" Brook chuckled.
Zoro eyed the skeleton angrily.
"SKULL JOKE! I was just joking Zoro-san..Ahehehe.."
"Tch," Zoro reacted.
"Robin, what have you discovered there?" Luffy asked.
"It simply says here: THE FOREST OF WISDOM."
"Eh?… So our presumption is right after all…" Usopp said.
"So how are we supposed to enter this?" Franky asked.
Without any delay, Sanji used his Sky Walk ability to see and observe the safety of that wall.
"Sanji-kun! What have you found there?" Nami asked.
Sanji was unable to response. He was intimidated of the unbelievable size and dense of the forest! The forest stretched widely and he could not see clearly its ends!
"Sanji-kun?" Nami called again but to no avail.
The cook jumped off inside and observed the surroundings. The only things he could see were the dark forest waiting to be explored and the huge closed gate behind him.
"Eh?" Sanji reacted as he saw the huge bolt of the gate. Then without any doubt, he unlocked the huge bolt with his monstrous strength and the big gate opened on its own.
"Be alert everyone..," Zoro muttered as he prepared his swords.
Everyone followed him and posed their fighting stances.
After a couple of seconds, the dusts that blocked their view receded. Then they found Sanji standing and lighting his cigarette calmly.
"Welcome to the Forest of Wisdom," Sanji muttered seriously.
Nami rushed towards Sanji and knocked his head.
"I was calling you for several times already and you did not bother answering me even once!" Nami complained.
"Gomenasai!" Sanji apologized and knelt before Nami, "Please forgive me my one and only love! Nami-swaaannnn!"
"Tch. Baka-cook," Zoro interjected and passed in the middle of the two conversing.
"Heh.. Jealousy?" Sanji mocked.
Zoro sighed and followed Robin and the others.
"Just don't do it the next time Sanji-kun," Nami ordered flatly.
"Hai Nami-swan! I will never ever make you worry again.." Sanji promised happily.
As they entered slowly the premises of the forest, the Haki users casted off their Observation Haki. It had made the Strawhats to walk more safely since Haki was good in locating hidden enemies.
"Wow… I never thought this forest will be this dense considering the size of the wall which covered this. The sunlight cannot even penetrate through its thickness," Franky said, "But how lucky we are that we have my built in lights to illuminate our way…"
"Sugoi!" Luffy, Chopper and Usopp screamed in unison.
"It's too cold and eerie here…" Nami said shakily.
"Don't be troubled Nami-swan… Your knight and shining armor is right in your side to protect you," Sanji flirted as he put his coat to Nami and drew the lady closer to him.
"Arigato, Sanji-kun," Nami acted to flatter her protector.
"How about us Sanji-kun?" Usopp, Chopper and Brook asked flirtatiously.
"URASAI!" Sanji yelled, "I only protect fragile ladies…"
"Booo…." The three mocked.
"GET LOST IDIOTS! THE THREE OF YOU ARE RUINING OUR SWEET SCENE!" Sanji fumed.
Suddenly a deafening growl was heard from afar.
"It's not a big deal. Let's continue walking," Luffy muttered.
"Oi Luffy? Are you kidding me? That might come from an enormous and powerful monster!" Usopp worried.
Luffy took another step. Then a black buffalo monster appeared inches away from Luffy! The sequence of events happened so quickly that the next thing Usopp found was the monster lying unconsciously.
"Eh?" Usopp responded, "Done already?"
Luffy used his Conqueror's Haki ability that put the monster to deep slumber.
"Oi, Luffy. Don't hog all the monsters here. We would like to test our power and strength here as well," Zoro grinned.
"Shishishishi, Wari Zoro."
Then the Strawhats continued walking and fighting different monsters like huge flying mosquitoes, arachnids and some filthy giant leeches.
It was such a very tormenting experience to the part of Nami, Usopp and Chopper. On the other hand, it was such a very enjoyable time for the monster trio together with Franky, Brook and Robin to manifest their courage and power.
"HOW THE HELL DID THEY REFER THIS AS THE FOREST OF WISDOM?!" Usopp yelled angrily while gasping for breath.
"This should be rather called as the Forest of Monsters!" Chopper added.
"SO WHAT'S THE CONNECTION OF WISDOM HERE ANYWAY?!" Usopp yelled further, "ALL WE CAN SEE HERE ARE SWAMPS, RIVERS, FERNS, VINES, HUGE AND OLD TREES! JUST HOW THE HELL WISDOM IS RELATED HERE?!"
Suddenly Luffy's stomach growled and Usopp freaked out!
"KYAAAHHH! LUFFY! ARE YOU GOING TO KILL ME WITH A HEART ATTACK?!"
"I'm so hungry now…" Luffy whined.
"I'm so damn tired too..," Nami said, "But we do not have a choice. We should push this through or else the other teams will find the Love Poneglyph first…"
Silence caught each Strawhat member.
"Let's go and finish this! Then we'll eat up to our hearts' content!" Luffy roared.
"AYE!"
~~~~~0~~~~~
"Hachoo!" Hancock sneezed and blushed, "Oh.. Luffy might be talking about me…"
Then her two other sisters sneezed too and said, "And so are we…"
The Gorgon sisters were caught up totally by their wild and romantic imaginations just as the same situation they were currently in.
"My… my… Just how long will we be able to escape this huge and annoying quick sand?" Ran asked.
"Zehahaha! Maybe we can never get away from this!"
"Daisy, how many times do I have to repeat myself?" Rindo said flatly, "Your laugh is too unrefined."
The entire crew of the Kuja Pirates was stuck in a huge and misty forest packed with dangerous wild beasts and quick sands. It was true that their team was the first one to arrive in their second destination going to the Underground Wisdom. But unfortunately they were not able to make any progress from there.
~~~~~0~~~~~
"Kaku what have you found out?" Paulie asked.
"If we continue to walk this straightly we will reach the end and there are three bridges that stretch so long that I could not even see their ends."
"Three bridges?" Kalifa wondered.
"Yosh! Blueno use again your Doa Doa power," Paulie said.
"Air Door!"
Blueno created a gateway through the walls of the atmosphere and all of them entered in that door he made.
In just a blink of the eye, they reached the misty far end of the forest. They were now in a peak and they saw the said three bridges. Under the bridge, was a big portion of sea water.
"So which bridge are we going to take?" Kaku asked.
"Hmm, what do you think Lucci?"
"These bridges," Lucci said while rubbing his hand, "are made of Kairouseki."
"Kairoseki?" Kalifa repeated, "So what's our plan now?"
"Since the four of us are devil fruit users so we are going to use Geppou and elevate ourselves to move forward," Lucci said.
"Okay. Got that. I will be the only one who will take the bridge," Paulie said.
Lucci continued, "The middle bridge has the most tolerable risk and the one that I consider as the safest among them."
"The first bridge is too narrow and the third bridge is too wide. We better agree with Lucci's assessment," Kaku said.
"Right," Paulie, Kalifa and Blueno said.
~~~~~0~~~~~
"Eh? Another swamp?" Chopper remarked.
"B-but I have a b-bad feeling to this swamp… Why is it getting darker and more foggy?" Usopp said in a trembling voice.
"L-Luffy? Can we take another―" Nami asked sweetly.
"A-A-A-A-A-A-a-a-a!" Luffy and Zoro chanted.
"WHAT THE HELL! WE'RE NOT DONE DECIDING HERE YET!" Nami roared, "GO BACK HERE YOU IDIOTS!"
"Shishishishi! Oi Nami, why you can't you just take a bagging and chant the yell of courage?"
"AND GET EATEN BY THOSE HIDING PIRANHAS AND CROCODILES?"
"But there's none," Luffy said and went back to Nami's area, "See?"
Nami hit Luffy's head immediately.
"Zoro! You go back here too and we will take another route!" Nami ordered.
"No Zoro! We will continue this route!" Luffy said.
"Are you really planning to endanger the whole crew?!" Nami asked angrily.
"We are always in danger!" Luffy said angrily.
"Tell me the reason why you really want to go there!"
"Oi.. Oi.. This is not the time for arguing.. Luffy, Nami…" Usopp interrupted.
Luffy was put to silence. He fixed his hat and muttered, "I am so disappointed with you Nami… Until now, you don't trust me completely…"
Nami was shot directly to the heart. She did not expect her captain to response that way!
All the strawhats were also surprised silently. They were all waiting for Nami's answer.
"This has nothing do with trust! I TRUST YOU COMPLETELY AS THE CAPTAIN OF THIS PIRATE CREW. NO QUESTIONS ABOUT THAT. What I am only concerned is the safety of the other members! IS THAT WRONG!? LUFFY?!"
Luffy rubbed his chin and tilted his head skeptically, "Well if there are some lurking dangers there then I would just kick their asses to ensure the safety of the entire crew."
Nami left her mouth open. She could not really win an argument with her captain. If she will continue arguing, she knew that it will only refute her own statement of trusting her captain wholeheartedly.
Also, she just knew to the very depths of her heart and soul that she really trusted her captain very much.
"Tch. I'm done expressing my side. You won Luffy," Nami said in a very annoyed voice.
Chopper, Brook and Usopp cried and got scared instantly.
"YOSH!" Luffy raised his fist excitedly.
"One more thing Luffy," Nami said and narrowed her eyes to her captain, "Just limit your childish behavior and act as a real man in making decisions for the whole crew."
"ROGER THAT!" Luffy exclaimed and put his fist to his chest, "NOW LET'S GO!"
Luffy grabbed Nami and he took off instantly.
"Wahhhhhhhh! ! !" Nami yelled in a very frightened voice, "WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING YOU BAKA CAPTAIN!"
"Nami-swaannnnn?! HOW DARE YOUuuu Shitty Gomu!" Sanji yelled, "Taking advantage of my Nami-swannn!"
"Come on Nami you are doing it wrong!" Luffy said, "It should be like this: A-A-A-A-A-A-a-a-a!"
"Wahhhhh!" Nami closed her eyes and hid in Luffy's chest, "I DON'T WANT TO DIE HORRIBLY! SO YOU MAKE SURE TO KICK ANY MONSTERS THAT WILL APPEAR BELOW!"
"Shishishshi! Okay!"
It was the first time Nami felt that way. It was a mixed sensation of fear, joy and the guilt of love…
Nami shook her head instantly so Luffy wondered, "What's wrong Nami?"
Before Nami could deny, Sanji kicked the face of Luffy and caught the navigator instantly.
"Nami-swan are you okay?" Sanji muttered.
Nami turned into a stone and Sanji exclaimed, "NAMI-SWAANNN?!"
The poor Luffy landed on the sleeping Zoro.
"GYAAAHH!" Zoro exclaimed.
"Sorry Zoro!" Luffy said, "I got kicked."
Zoro analyzed the culprit of the current situation and attacked the cook directly.
Sanji continued carrying the navigator and upon reaching the next portion of land the swordsman leaped and attacked him instantly.
"ERO-COOK!"
"Eh?! Don't you see that our Nami-swan needs help?!" Sanji yelled and blocked the attack of Zoro.
The two started fighting and Robin giggled from afar.
Usopp sighed and said, "So I think this big, silent swamp is free from any lurking danger. Though its unusual silence still creep me out…"
"Don't worry Usopp! We will ride this new and tentative creation of mine!"
"SUGOI!" Usopp, Chopper and Brook freaked out.
Franky pushed the small boat he created while the Strawhats were still doing comical stuff.
"ARIGATO FRANKY!" the three continued.
"No problem, AW!" Franky exclaimed.
Robin, Franky, Usopp, Chopper and Brook finally reached the other area.
"Nami! Oi Nami! Wake up!" Luffy yelled.
Then Luffy saw Usopp's group approaching.
"Chopper! Please help Nami! She is still―" Luffy got distracted to the new creation of Franky, "EH?! WHY DID YOU NOT TELL ME ABOUT THAT FRANKY?!"
"I just finished this few minutes ago―"
"Boo. Franky. Boo."
"Nami! I'm glad you're awake now," Chopper said happily.
"Huh? Chopper?"
Suddenly Nami realized what had happened and rushed directly and kicked the cook.
"Na-Nami-swann?"
"Oi.. Minna.. It's getting colder and the mist is getting thicker as well," Usopp said shakily.
"Huh?" Nami sensed and said, "We better find a place to stay for the whole night. It's going to rain few minutes from now."
"Nami-san. Please come over here," Brook called.
"I think we are now at the heart of the forest," Robin muttered.
"Whoahhh! What a very old and huge tree!" Luffy remarked.
"Kyaaa! There are some skeletons out there!" Chopper exclaimed.
"Yohohoho… I am also scared and I definitely don't want to have some reunion with them," Brook whispered.
"This is bad! Maybe we have awakened some evil spirits now!" Usopp said in a shrill voice.
"Stop that Usopp! You are scaring us further!" Nami said while trembling.
"But we do not have any choice. It's the only place we can have right now," Franky said.
Zoro yawned and said, "Let's go there now and have some rest."
Luffy's stomach rumbled and he said, "Sanji… Meshi…"
Sanji lit his cigarette and waited for the entire crew's decision.
Nami looked at Robin and Robin nodded.
"Okay but just be alert everyone," Nami said.
They walked slowly towards the tree. Its size was so unusually big that you have to bring several groups of people just to measure its diameter.
The rain started to fall and a loud thunder came.
"KYAAAAA!" Nami, Usopp, Chopper and Brook screamed, "Let's run now!"
It was already six-thirty in the evening when they reached the huge tree. The Strawhats were so wet and cold and all they could hear were the sounds of the rain pouring harder and some loud thunder.
"Nyahhh.. I am very hungry now," Luffy said weakly and leaned his back to the tree.
"GYAAH!" Luffy exclaimed and found himself lying inside the tree!
"A SECRET DOOR!" Usopp yelled.
"Wait! Zoro, Luffy, Franky and I will check what's inside first," Sanji said.
The rest of the crew nodded and waited outside.
Franky turned on his built in lights and they were astonished to what they saw. The big tree was filled with several layers of books. There was also a spiral staircase that was located in the middle that led to the topmost floor.
"This tree has only a ground and a topmost first floor," Sanji said.
"The rest are just books…? How am I supposed to eat them?!" Luffy complained.
"I guess this is where now wisdom is related to this vast forest," Franky remarked.
"Who knows? But we have to go back and inform the others now," Zoro said and left.
~~~~~0~~~~~
"Wow… So this is really the Forest of Wisdom…" Usopp said in awe.
"Yeah…" Chopper said in sparkling eyes.
"Yosh! This will be a loooong and tiring job for us. But as of the moment we will go there at the topmost floor and have some rest and preparation for this great task," Luffy ordered.
"AYE!"
They climbed the long and spiral staircase and they were all amazed to those big, dusty books arranged in the giant shelves.
"I felt dizzy just by looking at these books all around me. Oh! Although I have no eyes at all! Yohohohoho!" Brook said.
"Yeah, I don't even know how and where to start reading about the Love Poneglyph," Nami whined.
"IT'S Ooo-KAY! We have Robin who will use her power to spread her eyes all over the books to find only those that are related to Love Poneglyph!" Luffy suggested.
"Eh?!" The strawhats were surprised silently and they all thought, Luffy's simple logic is really reliable sometimes.
Robin giggled and agreed.
"We will be able to finish searching in few minutes!" Chopper rejoiced.
"Yeah! Hahaha!" Usopp agreed.
"That's our ROBIN-CHWAANN!" Sanji exclaimed.
The Strawhats reached the topmost floor and they arranged everything there immediately. Sanji gathered the ingredients they had found along the way and started preparing the food.
"Thanks for the gathering job well done everyone!" Sanji remarked.
"AYE!"
They also used some existing things in there like the fireplace and some lamps.
Usopp sighed in relief and said, "I first thought that we will be spending our night sleeping in the grasses."
"Me too!" Chopper agreed.
"Too good for us that we have that SUUPER lucky guy over there!" Franky commented.
All of them laughed while their captain was busy assisting the cook.
"Oi Luffy, you can just sit over there and let the cook do the things here," Sanji ordered.
"Nah, I'm just okay here…" Luffy said happily.
"Tch. I know what you are planning so GO BACK THERE OR ELSE YOU WILL NOT HAVE YOUR MEAL!"
"Gyaah!" Luffy exclaimed and ran.
"Okay so let's now start planning on how we run things tomorrow," Nami said.
All of a sudden they heard Zoro snoring.
"Tch. Zoro! Why can't you at least pay attention when we are in a serious matter!" Nami exclaimed.
"We're done fixing this place so why can't we just rest now and leave things tomorrow…" Zoro murmured.
Usopp winked to the rest of the Strawhats and exclaimed, "KYAAA! There's a strong swordsman over there!"
Zoro got adrenaline rush and stood up.
"Where?! Where Usopp?!"
"Okay so Zoro's awake now," Usopp said happily.
Zoro narrowed his eyes to Usopp and his long nose comrade shifted his gaze away from the irritated swordsman.
Robin suddenly turned silent so Nami asked the archaeologist, "Robin? Are you okay?"
Robin smiled and tried hiding her true emotion but Nami insisted, "I know that you feel something wrong. Please tell us…"
"What is it Robin?" Luffy asked.
Robin stared at the window and a flash of lightning entered their scene. The rain continued pouring harder outside and she muttered finally, "I wonder why Lucci's group wanted to make Nami and I as their nakama…"
The Strawhats wondered too as Robin continued, "I know that Lucci is up to something… and―"
"Don't worry Robin!" Franky exclaimed, "We will protect one another."
"Shishishishi, besides I had defeated that pigeon guy already! So let go of your worries," Luffy added.
"We are in a different level now,"Zoro said, "We're stronger than before."
Robin's eyes lightened and Usopp said, "And remember this is just a game! They cannot hurt us as what Caroline said."
"But still above all, WE MUST WIN," Nami muttered seriously.
The Strawhats nodded intensely in return.
"IT'S TIME TO EAT NOW!" Sanji exclaimed.
Sanji saw their intense facial expressions so he asked, "What's up with those serious faces?"
"YOSH! LET'S EAT NOW TO OUR HEART'S CONTENT AND PREPARE FOR TOMORROW'S SECOND DAY OF BATTLE!" Luffy roared.
"AYE!"
Sanji thought, Okay? I'm lost.
~~~~~0~~~~~
Meanwhile, the Kuja Pirates were still stuck in the giant quicksand. Boa Hancock was getting more furious because several hours had passed already and their situation was just getting worse and worse.
"I think we will be totally sucked up in no time," Ran muttered sadly.
"I CAN'T TAKE THIS ANYMORE!" Hancock yelled, "WE HAVE TO GET OUT OF HERE NO MATTER WHAT!"
"Sister! Calm down! Just be more patient! We can still perhaps get some help from anyone!" Sandersonia said.
"THERE'S NO ONE TO HELP US EXCEPT OURSELVES!"
Hancock was sucked further and the sand reached her neck already.
"Please sister! Any restless movement you will do will only be futile! Please do not give up and let's continue hoping!" Marigold said.
"NO! I'M DONE HOPING AND WAITING ALREADY!" Hancock exclaimed, "I HAVE- TO-GET OUT OF HERE AND-WIN THE GAME!"
"Sister!"
Sandersonia and Marigold tried to save their sister but they too got drawn in the quicksand.
"Noooo!" the Kuja pirates exclaimed, "SNAKE PRINCESS BOA HANCOCK!, MARIGOLD-SAMA!, SANDERSONIA-SAMA!"
The Gorgon Sisters were gone totally and the Kuja Pirates were left dumb founded. They did not know what to do and they just cried silently.
~~~~~0~~~~~
"This is weird…" Paulie said, "We have been running here for three and a half hour already!"
"Could it be…," Lucci muttered.
"Lucci, there's a ship at two o'clock," Kaku warned.
"Do not falter," Lucci said, "But just be alert."
All of them nodded when all of a sudden the ship flashed a red light.
"A red light?" Kalifa wondered.
"Shall I check it out?" Blueno asked.
"No," Lucci said, "Let's wait for their additional signals."
Then the Galley La Pirates saw someone went to the deck of the ship and waved a white cloth.
"Oi! Oi! Oi! Please stop for a while!" someone called out.
"Lucci, what are we going to do?" Paulie asked.
"Let's take the risk. Maybe we can get some clues why can't we make any progression from here."
"Yosh! Let's just be ready from any ambush," Paulie said and grinned.
They reached the spot where the ship was waiting. Lucci stared coldly at the strangers.
"A-ano…? Thank you so much for stopping. By the way I am Captain Lucas and we are the Santelmo Pirates."
"Are you one of the participants in the game?" Paulie asked.
"Yeah―"
"Let's go," Lucci muttered.
"But wait! We are the participants five years ago!" Lucas exclaimed.
Kalifa's eyes widened when Lucci said coldly, "We don't have enough time to waste on your group."
Before Lucci could move again Lucas said immediately, "But believe it or not, you have already been exerting great effort in vain."
Lucci appeared suddenly in front of Lucas and said, "What do you mean? Are you saying that you are the one responsible to this?"
Lucas trembled and replied, "No! No we're not! Why don't you look up and see for yourself."
Lucci looked above and he saw nothing but dark and cloudy night skies.
"Where's the bridge?" Lucci muttered, "What's the meaning of this?"
"You were deceived by your own conviction that the bridge was the sole way that you could take," Lucas explained, "You saw the three bridges and you became focused and convinced that it would be the only way that will lead you to the Tower of Wisdom but sadly the bridge itself was a mere trap and illusion. Those were built so that you would get distracted and would eventually ignore the sea water under the bridge."
"How do you know about this?" Lucci asked seriously.
"Just earlier I told you that we were the participants five years ago and after so many years of trial and error and exhausting investigation, we were able to unlock this mystery."
"So you're saying that you found already the Tower of Wisdom?"
"And the book," Lucas added.
Lucci's eyes widened and he asked further, "Why are you helping us?"
"Because we wanted also to get out of here."
"I see. It's true that you were able to solve this particular problem but I suppose you haven't solved some of the mysteries in the book."
"That's right."
"I commend your practicality Lucas," Kalifa said and smiled.
"The long years of your waiting is over," Paulie said proudly, "You are just lucky that we, the Galley La Pireates have gotten this particular route so you will definitely be freed and continue your journey."
Lucas' eyes sparkled once again as he looked up to Paulie.
"A-ano Captain Lucas.. we still don't know their―" a Santelmo member said.
"Galley La Pirates…" Lucas muttered.
"By the way I am Lucci, the Vice Captain of our pirate crew."
"I'm Kalifa, nice to meet you all."
"Blueno…"
"I'm Kaku…"
"And of course the Captain of the Galley La Pirates, Captain Paulie!" he exclaimed and beat his chest, "Remember those names very well!"
"HAI!" the Santelmo Pirates yelled.
Paulie, Kaku, Blueno and Kalifa went down and boarded the Santelmo pirate ship.
"Our destination is the Tower of Wisdom!" Lucas exclaimed.
"AYE!"
~~~~~0~~~~~
Morning came. The Strawhats finished their breakfast and they went down to the ground floor. Robin started her main task and everyone except Luffy and Zoro read the books that Robin set aside.
"Minna! Please never hesitate whenever you need our assistance!" Luffy said happily.
Eh? Luffy will assist and read a book?, everyone thought.
"Is there any problem? Do you want us to help now?" Luffy asked again.
"Well we think that you might be more interested in your guarding task but okay! You may assist us whenever you want!" Usopp said happily.
"Just make sure to read and focus well Luffy!" Sanji warned, "Never take this for granted. Remember any detail counts."
"Roger that!"
Luffy caught a book and started opening it.
Is this for real? Monkey D. Luffy is opening a book?!, the Strawhats thought again.
Then suddenly a noise came from afar.
"Luffy," Zoro muttered and prepared his swords.
"Yah.. I heard it too," Luffy closed the book and stood, "We'll check it for a while Minna!"
The Strawhats sighed in disappointment.
"Franky and Brook please go and guard those two," Nami requested.
"Leave that to us Nami-san!" Brook said and left.
"Oi! Luffy, Zoro wait for us!" Franky called out.
Robin's team continued the long and tiring process but they were not able to find the referred book.
"My.. my… It's too impossible for us not to find that book in this very efficient way of searching…!" Usopp complained, "What if someone had taken the book already?"
"That's more impossible! It is stated here in the manual that the book will never be taken away. There is a very powerful force that pulls back the book whenever taken outside," Nami said.
"What if the book was burned here?"
"The book was very resilient from any forms of damages," Nami added.
"THEN-WHY-CAN'T-WE-FIND-IT?!" Usopp said in a very irritated tone.
"GOMU GOMU NO….."
"Eh? Luffy?" everyone heard him from the topmost floor.
"ROCKETOO00OOO!"
"Kyaaaa! Monster!" a small girl exclaimed, "RUFUS, CATCH!"
The remaining Strawhats did not have any clue about the sudden ruckus and they continued watching skeptically.
"GOT IT ALYA!"
"H-he's holding a book!" Chopper exclaimed.
"MINNA! THAT'S THE BOOK WE'RE LOOKING FOR!" Luffy yelled.
"YOSH!"
"Sanji-kun!" Nami exclaimed.
"Yes Nami-swaan?"
"Please go easy with the children," Nami said sweetly.
"No problem Nami-swaann!" Sanji left and rushed to the escaping boy.
"Eh? Where did he go?" Sanji wondered.
"Baka cook! BELOW YOU!" Zoro yelled from afar.
The boy made a surprise attack to Sanji using a sword! Fortunately, Sanji was able to dodge it.
"My.. my.. That was close!" Sanji said.
The kid faced the cook and said angrily, "YOU WILL NEVER GET THAT BOOK!"
"Oi.. Oi.. Kid what you're holding is not a toy…"
"Yeah and so?!" the kid rushed and attempted to kill Sanji again.
The cook dodged easily the kid's attacks.
"Wow… You have learned these moves at your very young age?"
"URASAI!"
"I wonder why your elders taught you these things instead of good manners…"
Then Sanji caught the kid's hand and his sword.
"LET GO OF ME, baka cook!"
Suddenly another kid tried to stab Sanji at the back but Zoro rushed and stopped the said kid.
"Tch. Careless as usual," Zoro said.
"Eh? I have noticed it but I was just waiting for the right timing," Sanji said, "Nami-swan told me to go easy with these kids!"
The boy and the other girl watched the two idiots arguing so they used that chance to fight back again. They signaled one another and they kicked their own captors' balls.
Sanji and Zoro groaned.
"Playing time is over…" Zoro muttered angrily.
"And it's time for observing good manners!" Sanji roared.
The cook and swordsman knocked the two kids unconscious.
~~~~~0~~~~~
"KYAAAaaaaa!― Huh?!" Hancock exclaimed, "I-I'M ALIVE?!"
"Wahhhh!― Huh?!" Marigold and Sandersonia exclaimed in unison, "SISTER!"
"Marigold! Sandersonia!"
"Thank goodness you're okay!" both of them said.
"Y-yeah…" Hancock replied, "I am sorry for my selfishness…"
"We understand you sister and we already forgave you…"
Hancock nodded prettily and said, "And I know the Kuja Pirates would also understand and forgive me because I am sooo beautiful!"
While Hancock was full of appreciation to her beauty, her other sisters started to survey the place they got into.
"There are several books here," Marigold muttered.
"No doubt, this is the Underground Wisdom," Sandersonia said.
"THIS IS TOO HUMILIATING! WHY WE HAVEN'T REALIZED IT SOONER?!" Hancock roared.
"Well… Who would have thought that the only entrance would be that giant and disgusting quicksand?" Sandersonia said.
"Yeah.. and come to think of it that we were just in the entrance and we wasted so much time thinking on how to get out of that filthy quicksand," Marigold added.
Hancock was still very angry when she realized and said, "But past is past. We should be moving now and find that book about the Love Poneglyph."
Her two sisters nodded together and said, "Let's do this for Love!"
~~~~~0~~~~~
Zoro and Sanji carried their captives and brought them to Robin's team.
"Kyaaa! Did you kill the children?!" Nami exclaimed.
"We just put them in a brief unconsciousness state," they replied.
Usopp tied immediately the two kids and Chopper helped the children recovered their consciousness.
"Huh?― Kyaaaa! A dog?!" the young girl exclaimed.
"BAKA! I'M A REINDEER!"
"Nyaaa! The reindeer is talking!" the girl yelled further, "LET GO OF US YOU STUPID PIRATES!"
The other boy was still silent so Nami tried to talk to that child.
"Hey… You are Rufus right?"
The kid looked at Nami fiercely and replied, "And your name is Witch right?"
Nami's vein in the head tingled in anger and she hit Luffy and Usopp for laughing.
"Hahahaha! That kid is funny!" Luffy exclaimed.
"Tch. Urasai, Monkey," Rufus insulted.
"Eh? How did you know my last name?"
Rufus turned into a stone for the unexpected truth he discovered.
"So you really are a monkey?!" the girl said, "That's why you can do those things earlier?!"
"Yep, I'm a monkey but more of a Rubberman," Luffy replied and stretched his mouth, "Like this…"
Nami who was more irritated than ever kicked Luffy away and said in a very furious tone, "WHERE-IS-THE-BOOK?"
"In your dreams Witch."
Nami tried to knock the boy's head but Usopp stopped her and calmed her down.
"I'VE HAD ENOUGH WITH THAT KID!" Nami exclaimed, "I'LL JUST GO AND OUT AND GET SOME FRESH AIR."
"Nami-swaaannn! I'll go with you!"
"No. You stay here Sanji-kun."
"Hai.. Nami-swan…," he replied sadly.
"Rufus, this is a serious matter. You have to give that book to us," Chopper said softly.
"Give? Are you crazy? We were the ones who found that book!" the girl interrupted, "If you wanted that badly… then you must use force to do that…"
"So how about killing you two?" Zoro suggested.
"Oi Zoro!" Usopp said.
"I guess these children were only controlled by some adults," Robin said.
"Yeah, I guess that too," Franky said, "By the way, we haven't learned why you children are here?"
"It's none of your business Ugly Cyborg," Rufus replied right away.
"I guess we have to trim down that sharp tongue of yours," Franky said.
"This is bad… We cannot have some decent information from these kids…" Brook said and went to them closer.
"KYAAAAA! THE SKELETON IS ALIVE!" the children screamed in unison.
"Yohohoho! Yep I am still kicking and alive! Yohohohoho!"
"Iyo, this group of pirates is really weird," Rufus whispered.
Iyo nodded and replied, "Their Captain must be some idiot to gather a crew like this…"
"Now what are we going to do Captain?" Zoro asked.
"Hmm… maybe we can just have some snacks first and rest," Luffy replied.
The two kids dropped their jaws and thought, So..? the monkey is really their captain? No doubt…
"KYAAAA!"
"Huh! Nami-swaann!" Sanji exclaimed and rushed outside.
"Sanji-kun," Nami muttered.
"Hello there, are you the Captain of your crew?" a huge and old hairy man said.
"I am the Captain of our crew!" Luffy exclaimed angrily, "Let go of her!"
"Luffy do not do any wrong move or else Nami-san will be killed!" Sanji yelled.
"I know," Luffy said and asked, "What do you want?!"
"We want the kids back and we will return this sexy and beautiful lady…"
The man's companions laughed at the Strawhats' worried faces.
"Okay, deal with that," Luffy said, "Bring out the kids."
"CAPTAIN PAPAVISH!" the kids exclaimed.
"Okay now hand them over first," Papavish said.
"No! We return the captives together!" Luffy yelled, "At the count of three!"
"Tch," the man muttered, "Runnig things on your own, huh?"
"3 – 2 – 1!"
They handed together their captives and the fight started.
Papavish put a Kairoseki handcuffs to Luffy to drain his devil fruit powers but too bad that the other Strawhat members were too strong for their team.
"What the―?! There are still some devil fruit users in their crew?!" Papavish exclaimed, "And the swordsman and the guy with a cigarette are also too powerful!"
Nami went to the badly beaten captain and knocked him immediately, "Go to sleep you stinky hairy man!"
"Captain!" the kids exclaimed and muttered, "That's too impossible… The entire crew of the Heartless Pirates was defeated in a minute…."
Usopp and the others tied together their defeated unconscious opponents and brought them inside the huge tree.
"What are we going to do Rufus?" Iyo whispered.
"Don't worry. They have not gotten the book yet so as of the moment we are somehow safe…"
"We have wasted so much time now," Usopp whined, "Why can't you just blurt the location of the book…?"
"Tch… Over our dead bodies…," Papavish muttered bravely.
"Captain..," the Heartless pirates whined.
"URASAI! We, the Heartless pirates will never give in to this stupid bunch of pirates!" Papavish exclaimed.
"Are you one of the participating groups in the game?" Robin asked.
"So what is it to you?"
"Since each of the participating group is given a separate route, I believe that you were some former participants who have not yet found the Love Poneglyph?"
The old man diverted his gaze away from Robin.
"No wonder why the hairs in his body are thick and long," Nami whispered to Usopp.
"Oi.. Hairy Ossan! Is that true?" Luffy asked.
The Captain of the Heartless Pirates did not reply but Chopper still bothered to ask him, "If it's true then why are you attacking us? What's your purpose of not giving the book to us?"
"Eh? Are you that stupid?" Rufus said angrily, "BECAUSE WE ARE PIRATES!"
"THE HEARTLESS PIRATES!" Iyo added.
"Heh?" Luffy tilted his head and said flatly, "What a stupid reason."
"You're not the right one to talk to us like that!" the kids exclaimed.
"Gyahahaah! Kid… Can you tell me your brilliant reason why you become a Pirate?"
"Because I want to find One Piece and become the Pirate King!" Luffy exclaimed proudly.
There was a brief silence and suddenly all the Heartless Pirates laughed at Luffy.
"You?! A Pirate King?! Impossible!" Papavish insulted, "Do you understand what it costs young man?"
Luffy nodded seriously and said, "I'll never regret dying for my dream… at least I know for myself that I have tried my real best to fight and live that dream!"
"Hoh?.. Are you really that hungry for wealth and power, Strawhat boy?"
"Nope."
"Gyahahaha! That's too absurd!"
Luffy took off his hat and gazed at it intently. Then he smiled and said, "What I am after is the greatest freedom that only the Pirate King can have…"
All the Heartless Pirates were struck by awe. Then Papavish muttered, "I have never encountered a pirate that has only pure intentions like you… Tell me your name kid."
"I am Monkey D. Luffy the captain of the Strawhat Pirates."
"D?― I see," Papavish muttered, "Strawhat Luffy, take Rufus with you and he will guide you to Alya."
"B-but Captain?!" Rufus exclaimed.
"We lost.. and they deserve that book…"
"Wohhh! Thank you so much Hairy Ossan!" Luffy said happily.
"Is this for real?" Usopp whispered to Nami, "It's a sort of a change of heart to Papavish?
Nami eyed suspiciously the hairy old captain of the Heartless Pirates and exclaimed, "I'm gonna go with you Luffy!"
~~~~~0~~~~~
The three walked slowly to the far northern part of the huge tree. Only the echoes of their footsteps were heard but Rufus decided to break the silence, "This is too crazy…"
Luffy and Nami wondered silently and waited for Rufus to continue.
"I can't believe that our most wicked and vicious Captain Papavish suddenly changed his heart today," Rufus muttered angrily, "I just don't understand what did he see in you to change his heart all of a sudden!"
Luffy rubbed his chin and said, "But? I did not do any―"
"I don't need your stupid answers!" Rufus said.
"Hey… Why can't you just accept the decision of your captain?" Nami said.
"As pirates we are labeled as cruel, bad and wanted criminals that do not have any position in the society! We kill and torture people! We enjoy just by looking at others' misery!" Rufus yelled at the very top of his lungs, "Then why did he just gave in and forget the plan of our revenge?!"
Luffy and Nami looked sadly at the kid as Rufus continued, "Papavish told us that we are going to have our revenge to those new group of pirates that will fall as victims to this shitty game!"
Nami's eyes widened, "So that's the reason why you are hiding the book and attempting to kill us?"
Rufus gave an insane laugh and said, "We wanted you to experience the same pain we had few years ago… The feeling of hopelessness and frustration and the pain of not sailing and having freedom again!"
"Heartless Pirates..," Nami muttered, "That's why you were not able to find the Love Poneglyph…"
Rufus looked angrily to Nami and said, "We don't need love to live!"
"Are you sure about that?" Nami asked.
Rufus clenched his fists angrily as Nami continued, "You did love… but unfortunately you chose to love wickedness that had brought you to your own misery and destruction…"
Rufus tears started to form in his eyes when Luffy patted his head and said, "I think your captain was able to realize certain new things in some point of his life. Maybe he was just waiting for the day that all complex questions in his mind will be cleared and I guess this is the day he has been waiting all his life…"
"The one or the thing that you value the most is the one or the thing that you really love…" Nami said and smiled.
Rufus thought of his Captain and all of his beloved friends.
"Rufus!"
"Huh! Alya!"
"Nyaa! What the hell is that guy doing here?!" Alya exclaimed.
"We lost so we have to hand that book to them…"
"What?! Are you kidding me?!"
Rufus shook his head and smiled, "We learned something more valuable than revenge…"
"What is it?!"
""It is very impossible to live without love," Rufus said and smiled.
~~~~~0~~~~~
The Strawhats untied their captives and Captain Papavish exclaimed, "Strawhat Luffy, I commend you for choosing to be a Pirate amidst the danger and bad reputation that it brings but most of all for going against the typical characterization of being a pirate."
Luffy stared blankly at Papavish and gave him thumbs up though Luffy had not understood his message well.
"So long Strawhat Pirates!"
"So… long?― KYAAAAAAAaaaaAA!" Nami, Usopp, Chopper and Brook screamed in unison, "THEY'RE GHOSTS ALREADY!"
Luffy, Zoro, Sanji and Robin gazed in amazement to the shining particles of light that their spirits had left.
"THAT WAS A SUPER SAD DEPARTURE!" Franky cried, "But I am also happy that finally they rested in peace…"
~~~~~0~~~~~