A/N: Hello, I do hope you like this chapter and will continue reading.

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Disclaimer: I do not own One Piece or its characters


Chapter Twenty-Nine: Eric and Nelson Arrive

Luffy's POV

"Look at the Hieroglyphs!" I smiled, looking at the huge picture. "It looks like a kind of Map… Ouch…" Usopp cried. "We can't even make sense of this though" Sanji said exasperated. But we do know someone who can.

"Nami? Can you make sense of these?" I asked her. Turning to her I saw she had a shocked but serious expression. Walking over to a picture that was on the ground, when Usopp and Apis started arguing for some reason, I smiled.

"Look at this picture!" I smiled, turning my head to Nami. "That's big!" Usopp and Apis said in shock. I was glad it stopped their arguing. "Try to make sense of this while you can Nami" I said, looking over my shoulder at her.

"This place is about to fall apart!" Usopp worried. The duo started arguing again before Nami spoke, interrupting them.

"I think Luffy's right, this place is a Map to Lost Island" Nami told us. I smiled as I nodded at this. "Look at the ceiling" Nami told us before she started explaining. "That Island, with the dome building on top, is this Island"

"It does look like it…" Sanji commented.

"The people around the Island are people who once lived here. I'd bet that they're probably Apis' ancestors" Nami suggested. Apis was in awe of that idea. "Do any of you remember what old man Bokuden told us about the legend of Lost Island?" Nami asked us. "He told us that their ancestors traveled here from another Island"

"He did say something like that, now that I think about it…" Usopp commented.

"I think all the Dragon statues and paintings on the way here were used by the people living on this Island as a way to worship the Millennial Dragon as a God" Nami theorized. "That would mean the Dragon's Nest isn't on this Island then" Usopp concluded.

"Then… where is it?" Apis asked Nami. "Wouldn't it be the Island with the Dragon on it?" Zoro asked.

I looked into my Staff when I saw smoke appear in the gem. When it cleared I saw that Eric was on the surface, and he's listening in on what everyone is saying. They mentioned that the Dragon's Nest was on Warship Island but they couldn't believe that.

"It is on Warship Island. The Dragon's Nest was sunk so it would be harder for people to find it and take the Dragons" I told my crew. I already showed Apis this so she wasn't surprised by it. That doesn't mean she isn't still worried that it is sunk though.

Apis ran over to Ryu telling him to look at the paintings and remember if the Dragon's Nest is still at the bottom of the Ocean. The five birds that were on the windowsill above us flew inside as they chirped. "Thank you, birds" I smiled because they helped Ryu remember.

"I'm sorry for asking you to help me find something that is sunk in the Ocean" Apis apologized.

"It's no big deal!" Usopp said shocking Apis. "The Dragon's Nest could've been somewhere unexpected and there's no way to know unless you check it out, right?!" he asked her cheerily. "He's right! Getting so easily discouraged isn't like you Apis!" Nami smiled at her.

"You don't get anything done if you're afraid of failure" was Sanji's advice. "Nothing is wrong with living a roundabout life" was Zoro's piece of wisdom. "Let's go! Ryu won't get any better if we stay here" I smiled, knowing he will be reborn soon. Apis nodded happily.

A roundabout adventure is better than going straight to the end. "Someone's here," Zoro said when he flicked up Kurikara's hilt, ready for a fight. "With bloodlust"

"Thanks for the explanation, now I know where the Dragonite and the Dragon's Nest is" Eric thanked. I was annoyed with him. "There's no use for it at the bottom of the sea, so I'll just take yours" Eric informed with a grin. "No! We don't know if it is at the bottom of the sea or not!" Apis yelled, standing in front of Ryu. "So, you would rather the other Dragons be killed Apis?" I asked her.

"What? No!" she said making me frown. "That's what you said though. Why not say 'we won't let you hurt the Dragons' instead?" I asked. "Luffy!" Zoro said getting my attention.

"You go ahead and take Grandpa Ryu to the ship! I'll catch up later" Zoro told me. "Alright!" I smiled. "We don't even know where the exit is!" Usopp tried to reason.

"Then we'll make one" I smiled, running full speed at the wall. I hit the wall with my head, hearing a distant crack before I fell back on my butt.

"Hey, hey" they repeated making me stand up with a smile. "Just wait" I said. Some small rocks fell before the next part of the wall broke apart, opening a doorway. "See?! It worked!" I smiled happily. Walking over to the minecart I smiled the whole way there.

When Zoro and Eric were fighting I looked up at the ceiling with a smile. The Dragons went past Warship Island to another one, likely where they migrate to Lost Island from. "Get going Luffy!" Zoro yelled before I nodded. "Gomen, there's a piece of the Map missing" I smiled as I grabbed the reigns.

I made sure everyone was on before I pulled the minecart out of the Ruins. There was miles of air in front of us before we hit a large root. Pushing off when we started sliding down it I landed on Ryu's snout. "So fast!" I cheered happily.

Whenever the root turned, we turned. We reached a bundle of roots, breaking them when we bounced off of them. "Hang on everyone! We'll get to the ship really fast like this" I smiled happily.

"Luffy?! Do something! We'll end up in pieces before we reach the ship!" Nami yelled at me. "It's going to be fine Nami!" I yelled back. She didn't believe me, but that's fine. I stood on the minecart before Apis spoke. "Will Zoro be alright?! No matter how strong he is, he is fighting someone with a Devil Fruit!"

"He'll be fine Apis!" I smiled happily. We looked ahead of us to see a tunnel. "This'll be fun!" I smiled, but Apis didn't agree. "Do something!" she yelled at me. I didn't and we got out of the tunnel just fine.

We continued hitting dead-ends, annoying me. "There's another dead-end Luffy!" Apis warned tiredly. "This one has a Cliff behind it, right Nami?" I asked the girl. "Do something Luffy!" Nami and Apis yelled when I asked that. I pulled the reins, so we would go left, which is likely a bad idea.

We kept hitting the walls of the stairs that made us go down another thing of stairs on a loop, scaring a majority of the passengers.

We finally made it to the ship before the minecart stopped when it hit a rock. Apis and I were the only ones who didn't fall in the water because of it though.

"Do you guys need medical attention?!" I yelled to my crewmates who were in the water. "If you don't, we need to be ready to sail by the time Zoro gets here!" I told them.

Nami: "No more…"

Sanji: "Frutex…"

Usopp: *Gargle* "You're… gonna pay!" *Gargle*

A bird landed in front of Apis. 'Zoro's in trouble' the bird told Apis. "This is bad! He says…"

"I know what he said, Apis" I interrupted making her nod. "Zoro!" I yelled making sure the whole Island heard me. I threw my arm towards where I know Zoro is, grabbing his shirt. "Amazing!" I heard Apis praise.

Jumping up, I pulled my arm back when I was sure I had a tight grip on him. When I saw him, I made sure to catch him. When I did my head collided with the Mast. I slid down the Mast before I let Zoro go when we were on the deck.

"Are you okay Luffy?!" Apis asked me. "I'm fine" I smiled happily, holding the back of my head. "Why are you asking if he's okay?!" Zoro and Usopp yelled at her. "His head is bleeding" Apis told them. They all looked at me in shock, but I shook my head. "It's no big deal, used to it" I smiled.

Scene Change: Outside of Mirage

"We're out!" I smiled.

"That's definitely weird…" Sanji commented.

We were followed by Navy ships, but those ones won't get to us in time. "Of course they won't catch up so easily Usopp, the Merry is faster and more agile than their Warships. What do we do when we get to Warship Island?!" Nami asked. "We don't go there" I told her.

"What do you mean by that?! The Dragon's Nest is there" Nami asked in anger. I just shook my head at her.

"No, it isn't. In your explanation you stopped at Warship Island, but the Dragons continued to a place no longer on the Map" I told her, looking out at the sea. "Either way, we don't have time to mess with the Navy" Nami said. I just smiled at that. We don't have a choice in the matter.

"That's gonna be a problem, Nami" Sanji said.

"Cool! A Chinese Lion head!" I smiled excitedly when I saw the Warship that Commodore Nelson is on. "Oi!" Zoro warned, angry with me still. He didn't get hurt, I made sure of that, so I don't know why he's mad at me.

Dozens of ships appeared on each side of the Warship. "Are they serious?" Sanji panicked. "How many ships does the Navy have?!" Zoro complained, annoyed. I heard the grinding of gears and the rattling of chains not long after they said that. They're chaining the ships together to make a wall. It was in hopes that we can't get past them.

"What do we do now?!" Apis worried. "The only way we can get through is to jump on the ships, beat them, and cut the links!" Usopp suggested. He was trying to sound brave and the idea of Usopp doing that enamored Apis. "Luffy! Zoro! Sanji! Go!" she is no longer enamored by him. "Thought as much" Apis said.

"Doesn't sound too bad to me!" Zoro said, flicking his Sword up, getting ready to use it. "Sounds fun to me!" I smiled happily. Taking care of the Navy Warship that Commodore Nelson is on is going to be way more fun though.

"There's no way you would survive if you tried that though!" Apis worried. "It's going to be alright, Apis. Things will work out" Nami reassured her. "Make it quick, guys!" Nami encouraged. Cannons were aimed and fired making me grin.

"This is great! Let's go!" I was excited about this. I want to help Ryu to and this is the only way I can.

~East Blue Saga~

We continued evading the Cannonballs that were fired at the ship, making me smile. I have yet to fall off the Figurehead which I am very happy about.

*Thud* "Go back inside Apis!" I heard Usopp yell making me sigh. Why can't she just stay inside during times like these? "I can't leave Grandpa Ryu by himself!" was her answer. It made me smile, if even a little, because she cares so much about him. She's a good friend to Ryu who is soon to give his life away.

The front of the Merry dipped forward when I heard one Cannonball land on each side of the Merry. "We've been hit from behind!" I chuckled when Usopp freaked. The Merry wasn't hit by the Cannonballs. "Keep going! Keep going!" I cheered as I kneeled on the Figurehead. This is too much fun!

"Another Cannonball is coming our way!" I smiled happily as I sat cross-legged on the Figurehead. "Do something on your end!" Nami yelled at me. I don't want Merry doing all the work so I'm glad someone can navigate their way around a ship.

"Gotcha'!" I smiled, running along the railing. I reached the middle of it before I grabbed the raised railings on either side of me. "Gum-GumBalloon!" I smiled, taking in air. I caught the Cannonball, so before I lost my grip, I aimed it at the Mast of one of the Navy ships. It ended up snapping in two making me smile.

I heard alarms being rung before I saw a big Cannon being rolled out of one of the ships. It was aimed at us making me grin. It was a part of Commodore Nelson's ship. "You two will work the Rear Sail!" Nami told Zoro and I. I nodded before we went to do that.

"An eye for an eye! I have a shot ready for you to!" I heard Usopp declare. I pulled the Rear Sail out over the railing, not afraid that I would fall into the water. If there were Electric Eels below I probably would be afraid to fall into it.

I smiled when Usopp fired a Cannonball into the larger Cannon. Great aim. I wonder if he'll reach the 'Zone of the Marksman'?

Usopp bragged about the hit when the large Cannon blew up.

Sanji: "For a fluke, that's not too shabby"

Zoro: "You're full of it"

"I can do that anytime!"

"So cool Usopp!"

I smiled at what Apis said. It was really cool.

Looking at Ryu I smiled. "We'll get you home, Ryu! Just keep Apis safe for right now, alright?" I asked him happily. "Why are you talking to Grandpa Ryu?" Usopp asked me. I shrugged before I heard Nami speak. "It's time for you to act quickly and cut some links to open a path for us!"

"Luffy" Zoro said before I nodded with a smile. "Gum-Gum…" I threw my arm back before pulling it forward. "Bridge!" I yelled when I had a tight grip on the ship's railing. Zoro and Sanji ran across my arm before I jumped up to go with them. I swayed a bit so when I arrived I wouldn't hit Zoro and/or Sanji.

"Steel Chains?" Zoro observed. I leaned forward slightly, arms crossed behind my back, so I could look up at his face. "Think you can cut them?" I asked. The Chains were the width of my waist.

"There's nothing I can't cut!"

"We'll leave them to you then" I smiled. Marines came out of the ship like woodwork making me smile.

Sanji was annoyed with the Marines though. "It's fun when things are lively!" I smiled widely. "I'll leave the small fries to you" Zoro told us. "Yeah!" "Yep!" Sanji and I told him, respectively, at the same time.

"In the name of Nelson's Fleet, we won't let you get through!" the Marines yelled. They charged at us before I punched and kicked some. Sanji just kicked them. I, personally, have nothing against them. They likely don't know about what happened in the Void Century.

"Gum-Gum…" jumping into the air I pulled my arms back. "Gatling!" I rapidly punched every soldier in front of me, making them fly off the ship. "Here they come! Here they come!" I cheered happily as a crowd was running after me.

I stretched my arms to the sides, grabbing the railings on each side of the ship. They finally stopped in fear when my arms were stretched wide. They were either too dumb or too disorganized to do anything with their Swords.

"Gum-Gum…" I said taking my feet off the deck. "Slingshot!" I shouted when I was pulled backwards. The Marines flew into the water because of my move. The Merry came towards us but was put off course by Eric.

"What is he doing?" I asked when I stood in between Zoro and Sanji by the railing. They were watching Eric and three other Marines taking Ryu away in their paddleboat.

"It looks like they're planning to take Apis and Grandpa Ryu hostage" Zoro told me. I nodded, not even thinking of doing anything yet. It looked kind of hard since the minecart was heavy for a small boat like theirs to pull.

"Well done, Eric! Now bring it here!" I heard Nelson tell the man. "Eric wants the Millennial Dragon for himself, he doesn't want to give it to you. You shouldn't call greedy people for jobs like this" I mumbled with a shake of my head.

Eric decided to tell the Commodore why he wasn't obeying him anymore making him angry. Cannonballs were fired at them "Stop harassing Grandpa Ryu!" I sighed at this.

"You're going to get yourself killed doing that. Sure, it takes guts to go against someone bigger and stronger than you, but still" I grumbled. Eric picked up Apis by the back of her collar telling her that she's just a hostage.

"I'll chop you to pieces if you don't be quiet" Eric threatened her. She bit his hand making him shout in pain. He threw her to the ground. If someone doesn't do something, I will.

I laughed hysterically when I heard the Marines scream in terror, jumping into the water, when Ryu stood. My sides were hurting from the laughing.

When Ryu knocked Eric off the paddleboat, I smiled. He's protecting Apis like he promised he would. The man cursed when he flew into the air.

Ryu spread his wings wide, his roar reverberating through the air. His roar shook the Oceans, the ships, and hurt everyone's ears. Despite my enhanced hearing they didn't hurt mine for some reason.

When he stopped I saw Apis get up. 'I'm going to fly now' Ryu said as I heard Apis happily laughing. He flapped his wings repeatedly, at a slow pace. "That's it Ryu! Fly!" I encouraged with a smile, leaning over the railing of the ship.

Cannons started firing at him as he flew higher into the air at a slow pace, making me angry. "Stop that!" I yelled punching the Cannons closest to us. The front of the ship split in half so the Cannons stopped working.

Ryu roared as he turned to fly towards us. Another roar vibrated the ships after the Commodore had more Cannonballs fire at him.

*Splash* Turning around at that, I saw that Ryu fell into the water. I looked at his body but didn't see any wounds from here, even with my enhanced vision. He's just getting too old to fly very far when he's being shot at.

Stretching my arm, I grabbed the top of the Mast, flinging myself over to him. "Ryu!" I yelled worried. Just because I know it's old age, doesn't mean I can't still be worried about him.

Landing on his back I ran up to his neck. Kneeling down I stroked his feathered neck to get his attention. "Hang in there a bit longer!" I encouraged worriedly. 'It's my time to die' he said making me sigh. "I know it is, but not yet… just soon" I smiled sadly.

'Save Apis' he told me, finally looking at me. "Of course! You know I will!" I smiled happily. "I'll also take you to the Dragon's Nest though! Try hard to stay alive till then" I told him. 'I will try' he promised me.

"Grandpa Ryu!" Apis yelled making me smile. "She'll really miss you" I told him.


A/N: Hello, I finished writing this at 5:32 P.M. on August 5, 2017.

I finished rewriting this at 6:53 P.M. on September 25, 2018.

I do hope you like this chapter and story and will continue reading.