Chapter 38

"Discovery! The true Lost Island and the return of the whirlwind!"

We all looked at some drawings painted on the ceiling. There was a big house… and dragons, for the little I could see.

Luffy: "Wow! That's huge! But what's that image?"

I asked: "What can it possibly mean?"

"It looks like a kind of map… ow! Ow!", Usopp said, while still standing up.

Sanji: "But… it's everything crumbling apart, we can't see it properly. By the way, what's all about this place? Shouldn't it be the Dragon's Nest?"

Me, still looking at the ceiling: "It should… but there are no dragons here… and this definitely doesn't look like a nest…"

Luffy: "What do you think, Apis?"

Apis, standing close to Ryuuji, said, looking worriedly: "I don't know… Ryuuji also told me that he doesn't know this place either…"

Usopp: "Frankly… yet again, there's the old dragon that doesn't help in nothing!"

"Say what?", Apis asked angrily.

Usopp: "Isn't it true?"

Apis: "And what about you, in what did you help so far?"

Usopp: "Me?"

"Hey, guys! Come here check this out! A chunk of the ceiling's fallen down here.", I blinked and turned when I heard Luffy saying this. And I saw him looking at a giant piece of rubble that had a dragon painted in it. I decided to take a closer look.

I heard Apis saying: "How big!"

I completed: "And it has a dragon painted."

Usopp, getting close of the rubble: "Ahhh… it looks like this place's gonna fall apart! If we don't hurry, we're going to be in danger! Let's get the hell outta here quick!"

Apis: "But we're possibly at the Dragon's Nest!"

Usopp: "Even if you say this, not counting Ryuuji, there's no dragon around here!"

"Wait a minute…"…I heard this and turned to Nami.

Sanji: "What's up, Nami-san?"

"This… might not be the Lost Island.", Nami said.

"See?", Usopp told to Apis.

Apis got annoyed and replied: "Don't behave like a wise man since you don't know anything!"

Luffy: "And how do you know this, Nami?"

"Look to the ceiling.", Nami said.

And we did so. As we looked the ceiling, Nami explained: "Look it closely. This is map that shows the location of Lost Island. That island that has a building in the shape of a dome… It represents this island… and this dome is where we are now."

Sanji: "It makes sense."

Nami continued: "So, these people surrounding the island must be the ones who first inhabited it a long time ago. Maybe they're Apis's ancestors or something like that."

Me: "Yeah… when you look closely… they dress just like Apis. You have a point."

"Our… ancestors?", Apis asked.

"Do you remember what grandpa Bokuden said?", Nami asked us.

Luffy, plainly: "No. I slept."

Nami: "Come on! Don't you remember he telling us that the inhabitants of Warship Island came originally from a different island?"

Luffy: "Hmmm… You sure?"

Me: "Hmmm… I think I remember that he said this… since this part was before I slept."

Usopp: "So does it mean that the royal court he told us about belonged to this island?"

Nami: "Probably."

Me: "That maybe explains why we saw so many statues and sculptures of dragons since we set foot on this island… Maybe humans and dragons lived together…"

Nami: "And that's not all. Maybe the humans of this island treated the dragons like gods, worshipping them. Long ago, the Sennenryuu might have flown freely around here."

Usopp: "I see… That makes the chances of the Dragon's Nest being here very low…"

Apis: "But… If it's like this, then where's the true Lost Island?"

Zoro, looking above: "Isn't it in that island that has a dragon painted next to it?"

Usopp, Apis and I looked above as well. Meanwhile, Nami explained: "Exactly. You can note that there's an island before the place where the people are praying, right? This may be the true Lost Island… and it also may be where the Dragon's Nest is!"…but while I looked at the painting, I couldn't help but notice something. The island Nami talked about had a very familiar shape… it took me some thinking… until I finally noticed!

"Hold on a second!", I said.

"What's up, Dan?", Usopp asked.

I was still looking above when I said: "This same island… the one before the people praying… don't you think it has a very familiar shape?"

Apis: "Wait… the shape of the island…"

Nami completed: "Yes… if you look closely to the shape in which this island was painted… you'd deduce that the Dragon's Nest is at Warship Island."

Usopp: "But… Nami! Didn't you tell us that there wasn't any Dragon's Nest at Warship Island?"

Nami: "But that's what's drawn on the map! Or do you think the ancestors drew all of this without any purpose?"

Me: "It looks to me that we ended up losing a trip, that's it! Ah… after all that toil, we're gonna get back to the start! So why didn't we stay there to begin with?"

Nami: "If we stayed there, how were we supposed to know?"

Sanji: "There's no way Nami-san can be wrong, guys! Probably, the Dragon's Nest is in some part of the island. If we get back there, we'll find it for sure!"

Nami: "But… I'm also considering the chance of this island already being sunk at the sea… Yes, that's perfectly possible that it was what happened."

Me: "It can also explain why no one has ever found it before."

Nami: "Yeah…"

I saw Apis running to the dragon… and begging him: "Ryuuji! Oi, Ryuuji! Please, you gotta remember, Ryuuji! Where's the Dragon's Nest? We thought we have found it here, but there's nothing! Only drawings… Ryuuji! Look at those paintings! Do you remember something? We have nowhere to go unless you remember! Please! Remember where it is, Ryuuji!"

There was some silence… when I was looking above, I noted a small group of green birds entering and flying around the ceiling… and then I saw Ryuuji widen his eyes.

"Oi! Ryuuji's eyes have changed… I think he remembered something!", I said.

Apis: "Ryuuji…"

There was a pause.

"Yosh… I think this Dragon's Nest is really at Warship Island.", Luffy said.

Apis turned to him and asked: "Huh? And how do you know that?"

Luffy: "Dunno. I just know and that's all."

Apis: "You're right… Ryuuji just told me he remembered!"

"See?", I said.

"East from the top, in a place which looks like a warship… there's where the Dragon's Nest is!", Apis said.

I sighed and said: "So we really need to get back to Warship Island…"

Usopp: "Well, well… We came all the way to here for what again?"

Me, trying to consolate him: "Maa, maa… I think it wasn't a complete waste of time… At least we got to know that we have to get back to Warship Island because there's where the Dragon's Nest is."

"Sorry…"…huh? It was Apis, saddened, her head lowered: "I knew that this island could have sunk in the sea long ago… and, still, I dragged you all here to search for it… I think it was a waste of time, after all…"

Usopp: "Don't say that… we still have a chance!"

Apis then turned to him.

"Who knows, maybe this Dragon's Nest is in some unusual place! But we don't have how to know if we don't search for it, right?"…Usopp continued.

"That's right! To get all depressed just because of that isn't anything normal of a girl like you, Apis."…Nami said.

Sanji: "Being so afraid of making mistakes leads a person not to want to do anything."

Zoro: "Learning with life isn't that bad after all."

"Guys…"

Me, while approaching her and crouching: "Yes, yes. And… besides, we already decided that we would help you find the Dragon's Nest, didn't we? Everyone makes mistakes, Apis. Nobody's perfect."…I then caressed the little girl's head while telling her, grinning: "And if we got everything right, our life wouldn't be nearly as fun as it is, right?"…I then stood back up and said: "Yosh! And now… let's go?"

Luffy: "Yeah! Ryuuji's not gonna get better if we keep here and do nothing, right?"

"Ou! Thanks!", Apis replied.

There was a silence and everyone grinned to each other… then Zoro readied his sword. I couldn't help but notice.

"Zoro-san?", I said.

Nami: "Something wrong, Zoro?"

"There's somebody else here."

Usopp: "Huh?"

"It's up there.", Zoro said.

I looked up to the great hole through which we fell and surely, there was someone standing there.

"Who's there?", I shouted.

"Heheheh… Thanks for the guidance. Now I know where to find the Dragon's Nest…"…this voice…

"You again?", Luffy said…

"The Erik who ate the Okama no Mi!", I said.

Usopp: "Okama no Mi?"

"IT'S KAMA KAMA NO MI!", Erik shouted… then calmed down and said: "Although it's already known where the Dragon's Nest is, it's worth nothing if it's underwater. Then I decided that I'm taking this Sennenryuu with me."

"What you say?", I whispered, while pulling out my pencil.

"No! We barely know if the Dragon's Nest is submerged or not!", Apis screamed.

Sanji: "What a pain… having to deal with weirdos like him…"

Zoro, walking and looking above: "Luffy… get Ryuuji and get back to the ship."

"Hm?"

"I'll go later.", he said, grinning.

Luffy grinned back. "Got it."

"Back to the ship, you say… but… I see no exit around here!"…Usopp said.

"If there's no exits available… let's just make one!", I said… "Enpitsu…"

"Wait!"…Luffy interrupted me.

"Huh?"…oh man! I hate being interrupted when I wanna do something and nobody lets me!

Luffy: "I'll take care of this!"…he then suddenly dashed… heading towards a wall…

"ORYAAAAAAAAA!"…he headbutted the wall… and fell in the ground.

"Oi, Luffy! What the hell was this?", I snapped.

"Huh? Are… I was sure I was gonna break the wall…"

Oi, oi, oi, oi, oi, oi, oi, oi, oi…

"You're really…"…I was about to finish the sentence when I saw, moments later… the part of the wall at Luffy's right crumbling and making a huge hole! "…AMAZING!"

Luffy, sitting: "Hehe! Look, it's done!"

"Ih… that's something out of a caveman…", Sanji said.

He then stood up and rushed to the car… "Yosh! It's alright, alright! Let's dash off!"

"You're not gonna escape!"…Erik… he jumped from where he stood and started attacking Zoro… moments later… they kept fighting… and Luffy spaced out…

"LUFFY, YOU DUMBO! QUIT FOOLING AROUND AND GET OUTTA HERE!", Zoro shouted.

"Ah, sorry.", Luffy replied… "Guys! Board the cart, quick!"…Luffy ordered us.

We all boarded the cart and tugged to the dragon. Luffy went to the front.

Nami: "Luffy… hold on… what are you gonna…?"

"We're going outta here!"…he said this and suddenly, he pulled the car and we started moving, going through the hole… and plunging into a fall several hundred feet tall!

"Aaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhh! We're gonna die, we're gonna diiiiee!", I screamed desperately when I saw that there was a very wide gap between the wheels of the car and the ground! That together with my irrational acrophobia… "I don't wanna look!"…then I closed my eyes, feeling strong bangs as we went forward.

Usopp: "I still don't believe how we manage to get our asses safe…"

Nami: "This is anything but safe, you jerk!"

"We're gonna die, we're gonna die, we're gonna die, we're gonna die…"

"STOP MUTTERING IT! WE'RE ON GROUND NOW! OPEN YOUR EYES!", Nami then hit me in the head… I opened my eyes… then looked behind… to see ground! We're on the ground!

"Yay! We didn't die!", I screamed

"AHO!"…Nami… "Luffy! Do something! If it stays like this, we're gonna turn into shreds before we get to the ship!"

Luffy: "It's alright, alright!"

Nami: "WHAT'S 'ALRIGHT'?"

We progressed for some while…

"Luffy! Is Zoro gonna be alright? His opponent is a Devil's Fruit user!", I could hear Apis asking.

"He's gonna be alright! Don't worry!", I heard Luffy replying.

Apis: "But no matter how strong Zoro is, he's not a match!"

Luffy: "Still, he's gonna be alright!"

"LUFFY! LOOK OUT!"

Me: "What's wrong?"

Apis turned to me and said: "There's an entrance and I think the car won't fit!"

Me: "NANI?"…and I thought: "Oh shit."

"I WANT MY MOMMYYYY!"…yet again, I desperately shouted… closed my eyes… and then I felt the cart jumping and hitting the ground again. I opened my eyes to finally realize that the cart kept in its path.

"Ah… another dead end! What do we do?", Apis shouted.

Luffy: "Dunno… let's crash it?"

Nami: "NO! As per I can remember, this is the same hill we passed by! If we do that, we're gonna plunge into a cliff and be dead meat!"

"I'm very grateful for all the moments I went through with you all…"…I said, already defeatist…

"STOP SA-"…Nami stopped midsentence when we realized that the car had just lost one of its wheels and was going outta control! We arrived at a downhill part… where there were walls! We went down a bit, then crashed into a wall… going down again and crashing again… all in a zigzag motion… and my body was thrown back and forth… we then spun, to keep going down, but with only three wheels and the car had already left debris on its way.

And the car came on "reverse" when we finally arrived at the shore where the Going Merry was anchored!

Nami: "It looks like we made it safely…"

Usopp: "I would keep it to myself, considering our luck today…"

And suddenly, the car hit something that stopped it immediately… and there was no strength that made us withstand the shock and be still on the car. We got thrown out and ended up flying to splash in the water… I mean, Sanji, Nami and Usopp fell on the water. I crashed on the ship to, then, fall on the water.

"We're here! Prepare the ship! We're going now!", Luffy said.

Nami: "No more of this, please…"

Sanji: "Bastard…"

Usopp: "I'm gonna kill you…"

"Ah… we're finally here… that was a hell of a ride…"…I said, still very dizzy due to the shock and passed out, floating in the water.

"Luffy! Luffy!"…huh?

I sit back when I heard this.

"The birds told me that Zoro's in trouble! What do we do? We gotta help him!", Apis said.

Me: "How are we gonna help him? We did all the way back to the ship! He's gonna have to handle it on his own!"

Luffy: "Hold it! I got an idea!"

Sanji: "I have sort of a bad feeling about this…"

Nami: "Let's board the ship?"

Me: "Yes. Let's go, Usopp?", I said, while making Usopp stand up.

Apis grabbed binoculars and searched for Zoro.

"There!"

"Hehe! ZORO!"…Luffy screamed while stretching an arm… "Ah… gotcha!"

"Sugoi!", Apis said.

Me: "Where did I see this scene again?"

Sanji: "My bad feeling's not over yet…"

Luffy: "Get back!"…he pulled his arm back, bringing Zoro with it. Then, he crashed into Luffy and both crashed in the main mast.

"Ah, sorry."…Luffy said while getting up again.

"I, someday… am gonna kill you, you…"…poor Zoro…

Nami: "Now hurry! We still have to face that storm again!"

Me: "What?"…I grunted annoyedly… but ended giving up. "Ahn… that's a pain…"

And we went through the same storm from when we came here. The ship swayed as hell… I was almost thrown out again… but to compensate, the ropes handled it and we could leave this sea through the "mirror".

"We're out!", Luffy said.

Sanji: "But it sure gives a weird feeling…"

Me: "Didn't you feel it when we got in?"

Nami: "We might have left this sea, but we're still gonna have to get around the Marine. Stay alert!"

All: "Right!"

Some minutes later, I went to the back of the ship to see a few Marine ships appearing on our horizons.

Me, while running back to the front of the room: "There's five Marine ships chasing us!"

Usopp, still looking back: "Oooo… it's true! They're coming after us!"

Nami: "Compared with that giant Marine ship, the Going Merry can be maneuvered more easily, but… Oi! What do you plan on doing when we get to Warship Island?"…she asked Luffy.

"It's alright!"…Luffy replied.

Nami: "BUT WHAT?"

Luffy: "It's only a matter of finding the Dragon's Nest first… and if we take Ryuuji there, he'll be healthy again, right?"

Sanji: "You talk as if everything's easy… Don't forget that the Dragon's Nest might've already sunk underwater, you see?"

Luffy: "Then, we search underwater!"

Me: "You, eh…"

Zoro: "A hammer like you doesn't have the right to say this."

Nami: "But for now… let's focus in getting outta here as quickly as possible! We can't waste time taking care of the marines!"

"Nami-san… looks like it's not gonna be possible.", Sanji said.

"Why?"

Me: "Look!"…I pointed to a ship coming in our direction. "It seems to me that it's their fleet's flagship."

Luffy: "COOL! It's like a sea gargoyle!"

Moments later… and in an instant… the ship revealed itself to be at the lead of a huge fleet of several ships!

Sanji: "That's impossible!"

Zoro: "Damn you, Marines… How many ships do they have?"

Me: "One, two, three, ten, twenty, uh… I lost it… Well, what matters is this: WE'RE COMPLETELY SURROUNDED!"

Usopp: "Aaaaahhh! We're completely surrounded! This is it! What do we do? We're gonna sink here!"

Zoro: "Calm down, Usopp! We're gonna pass through it somehow."

Dan: "Although I'm unsure about it... Will we be alright?"

Luffy: "It's gonna be alright for sure! Guys, let's go!"

On the next chapter: Even though they successfully escaped Erik's whirlwinds, they are currently facing an even more dangerous threat! The Marine prepared a trap to surround the adventurers and put an end to their hopes of proceeding until Lost Island! Will they be able to overcome this apparently impenetrable obstacle? Will they overcome the attack of the Marine forces?

Don't miss Chapter 39!