Alright, time to officially enter the Skypiea saga, the fandoms (and mine) most well known and fav arcs! Trust me, I can't wait to get to Sky Island myself because ooooooh man, do I have plans for that place! It's gonna be awesome!
We all look up as the pebbles get bigger and get mixed with larger and larger bits of debris as a shadow looms over us. Oh, it's a falling ship.
...WAIT WHAT?!
We all scream as a giant ship falls into the ocean with a huge crash. The waves immediately rise, dangerously rocking the ship. "Grab hold of something!" Zoro yells.
I'm thrown nearly three feet into the air from the wave and I slam right into Sanji's chest. Sanji wraps an arm around me and we all grapple for something solid.
"Why are there ships falling from the sky?!" Nami shrieks.
"I know! This is all just a bad dream!" Usopp says.
"Great, I love dreams!" Chopper exclaims as they're thrown this way and that. More and more debris rains down on us, all of it big enough to cause some decent damage if we're hit directly.
"It won't stop falling!" Sanji exclaims, covering me as best he can with his arms. I squeal and cover my head with my paws, hoping that nothing too big falls on us.
"The rudder, turn the rudder!" Nami yells.
"That'll never work in these waves!" Zoro argues.
"Luffy, you've gotta protect the ship; she's taking a beating!" Sanji yells.
"Right!"
Luffy's about to spring into action when he sees Usopp. I peek out from Sanji's arms to see him sitting with his legs folded on the deck, "I cast aside my worries and reach deep within to find my happy place."
"Pika pikachu!" 'It's gonna take more than a happy place to forget about this!'
Usopp opens his eyes and lets out a scream as something floppy and dirty falls onto him. "A skeleton dead guy!"
My eyes widen as he's right; it's a skeleton! Usopp tosses it at Nami, "Don't throw that thing at me, you idiot!" She screams.
Sanji and I both cringe as another slams onto the railing, staring at us with empty eyes before slipping into the ocean and we both yelp as another lands dangerously close to us. "They're falling everywhere!" We all move around frantically as more and more skeletons fall around us along with more debris.
"I'm surrounded by dead people!" Usopp moans.
"When is this stuff gonna stop falling?!" Nami yells.
"Pika pika!"
After what feels like forever, the commotion finally dies down. No more debris and the fallen ship is safely sinking into the ocean. "Okay, how did a ship fall from the sky?" Luffy asks.
"Captain error?" Sanji tries.
Zoro shrugs, "The sky's clear, so who knows."
"I knew coming to the Grand Line was a bad idea!" Usopp whimpers as he and Chopper cling to each other. "First we sail over a ship graveyard and now they're falling out of the sky with skeletons!"
"Pikaaaaa…" I whine, drooping over Usopp's head. I know Grand Line weather is unpredictable but c'mon! Freaking ships and skeletons raining from the sky?! For all we know next we could be eaten by a ship full of zombies! Or it could rain candy! At this point, I'm willing to believe anything!
"Oh no!" I perk up as I hear Nami. "The Log Pose is broken; it's pointing at the sky!" Oh man, did it get hit by some wood during the scuffle?
"It's not broken." Robin speaks up. "The needle is reflecting a strong magnetic pull, and if it's pointing towards the sky, then it must be pointing towards Sky Island."
Wait what?!
"Sky Island?!"
"Pikachu?!" I listen intently as Robin explains that there's an entire ocean up in the sky, where islands inhabit the clouds. Holy crap, does that mean there are people living in the sky? What I would give to see that!
"Alright!" Luffy exclaims. "Raise the sails and set a course for Sky Island!"
"Point the rudder down and face the helm towards the sky!" Usopp adds.
I roll my eyes and Robin makes hands appear to give them a smack. "Did it just hit you that we can't, you know, fly?" Sanji asks flatly.
"Pikachu…" I shrug helplessly.
"To be honest, I've only ever heard of Sky Island through rumors, I've never actually seen it." Robin says.
"Of course not!" Nami says. "Because it's a lie, islands don't float in the sky; our Log Pose is broken, that's all."
"Not quite, Miss Navigator." Robin responds. "No matter how illogical of a situation we finds ourselves in, you must never doubt the Log Pose and it's pointing to an island, I bet my life on it."
After that, Robin decides to take a look at the skeleton that fell onto our ship, while Luffy and Usopp check out the remains of the ship. I watch in amazement as Robin carefully puts the broken skull back together expertly, until the entire thing is fixed good as new.
I listen as she examines the skull and deduces that the holes in its skull were from removing a tumor and that the man was probably in his early thirties on his voyage before dying. She then puts together that this man was with an exploratory party since his teeth were healthy using methods from the South Blue.
A few moments later, she pulls out a book and finds the ship that fell on us, which was an exploratory vessel launched from the South Blue over 200 years ago. Holy crap, she found all that out from a skull?! That's amazing!
I guess we'll be able to find more info on the ship, but the ship's already sunk and Luffy is currently drowning. "What the hell are you doing?! You know you can't swim!" Nami yells.
After we fish him out, Luffy is smiling like he just found a boatload of meat. "I did it!" He cheers. "I found the best thing ever!" He holds up a roll of paper and unfolds it revealing a map, but not just any map.
"A map of the Sky Island?!" Wow, lucky find!
Nami takes it and examines it, "It's called Skypiea?" I jump onto her shoulder, looking the map over. This thing looks pretty old; I'm surprised Luffy managed to find it in such good condition. I nod as Luffy, Usopp and Chopper start dancing happily; I say that seals it, Sky Island's real.
However there's still one problem...how the hell are we even supposed to get there?
I leap off Nami's shoulder as she and Luffy begin arguing until she finally ends it with a punch to his head and pointing out that we don't know how to get up into the sky safely. We just need to figure out how that fallen ship got up there.
"I think that ship's at the bottom of the ocean by now." Usopp says.
"If it sunk, then we'll salvage it!" Nami declares.
Salvage a ship that's five times the size of the Merry? What kind of magic we'll we have to work to make that happen?
A while later, Usopp's made three underwater suits out of barrels connected to air hoses on the ship. I really need to stop shortchanging these guys. Luffy, Zoro and Sanji all put on the suits and we lower them into the ocean.
I watch them vanish from Usopp's shoulder. "Pika…" I say uneasily.
"Don't worry, they'll be fine!" Usopp says, giving me a pat. "Those barrels are my special design, they've never been busted!" I smile and nod; you're the expert. Chopper continues to lower them when my ears twitch. We all turn as we hear noise that sounds like chanting.
"What's all the noise?" Usopp wonders, pulling down one of his goggles.
"Pika?" I move to the top of Usopp's head to get a better look. I cringe as the high pitched noises of whistles and cymbals grate against my ears and a giant... monkey-banana boat(?) stops right near us.
My ears droop as a giant monkey appears near the bow, "Prepare to raise the ship!" he yells. "What lies on the bottom now belongs to the King of Salvagers, Masira of the Masira pirates!"
"Great, a boat of unstable men led by an unstable monkey…" Nami mutters.
"Pika pika…" I say, slipping back down to Usopp's shoulder. 'You can say that again…'
"Hey, what are you people doing here?!" Masira demands. "In case you didn't know, all these waters belong to me!"
"They do?" Nami asks while Usopp sinks behind the pulley and continues lowering Luffy, Zoro, and Sanji.
"That's right; every vessel that sinks in these parts automatically becomes mine!" Masira answers. "You're not trying to take what's mine are you?"
"So they're going to raise the ship." Robin muses. "Easier for us."
"But not for our three guys already down there!" Usopp points out.
"We should just keep our mouths shut and let him do it!" Nami hisses. She then waves to Masira, "Excuse me, can I ask you a question first?"
"You've got questions for me?!" Masira exclaims. "Fine, whatever, ask away."
"Are all you big strong men gonna salvage that ship?" Nami asks sweetly.
Masira freezes before blushing and grinning, "Stop, you're making me blush!"
"This...is disturbing…" Usopp mumbles.
"Pika…" I grimace; Nami's charm can work magic on just about anything.
"What a loser…" Nami grumbles before putting on a smile again. "Do you mind if we watch you big strong men work?"
Masira laughs, "You just watch us to your heart's content!" Well, that was easy.
"Captain, we have a problem!" One of the salvagers yells. "Something happened to the guys who were trying to set the cradle; it looks like this thing went to town on them with their fists!"
"What?! You mean someone else is down there?!" Masira demands. Arceus dammit, Luffy…
"I'm gonna kill him…" Nami whines.
"You may not get the chance." Usopp says.
"Listen up!" Masira yells to us, making us jump. "There's someone else down there, so be careful!" ...Seriously?
"Oh sure!" Nami says.
"Pikachu…" 'What a moron…' I say, deflating on Usopp's shoulder.
We watch as Masira barks orders and sends more people in suits under the water. I move from Usopp's shoulder to the railing and watch the water intently. This Masira guy is a loudmouth, but I'd be lying if I said I wasn't curious about how they're gonna get this ship up. Nami and Usopp manage to keep Masira from suspecting anything but our cover is almost blown when Luffy speaks through the hoses, probably startled by the salvagers.
After that, the salvagers begin turning a big wheel and we all stare in amazement as the figurehead of the ship is lifted out and lowered under the water. Once it's in place, Masira holds up a giant air hose. "No way…" Nami says. "He's really gonna raise the ship with his breath?"
Masira blows into the hose and a giant bubble of air travels down the hose and into the ocean. He then connects the hose to a bigger air pump and the salvagers begin pumping even more air as the ship slowly starts to come up. Just then, screaming can be heard from the air hoses of the salvager's ship. "Talk to me, what's going on down there?!" Masira demands. "Is it the intruders?!"
"Yes sir, they're in the ship!" The voice responds frantically before the screaming dies away. Geez you three, show a little sympathy, you're beating up people underwater with no air!
I flinch as Masira stands on the railing and lets out a loud cry. "How dare you intruders lay a hand on my hard working men!" Masira yells. Silence then envelops the area as Masira freezes in his pose. I sweat drop; are those guys holding a flaming background behind him?
"Uh, we're not gonna take your picture or anything!" Nami calls.
"You're not?"
"He was giving us a photo op?" Usopp asks weakly. I sigh and put a paw on my head; having to deal with a monkey other than Luffy on the same day really can't be good for one's mental stability. Our eyes widen as Masira then jumps into the ocean. I know they're pulling the ship up but can he really swim all the way down there?
We all wait when my ears twitch; I'm getting a whole lot of movement down there, and it's not from our guys or the salvagers. The area starts to rumble and a giant shadow movers under both our boats. I flinch as I hear what sounds like a faint crunch and the waves start to move rapidly. We all stare as the biggest sea turtle ever rises out of the ocean.
"Does anyone else see the monster the size of an island in front of us?!" Nami shrieks. Uh yep, this is really happening. Though after seeing so many sea serpents this size, I'm not sure why this is so surprising.
"One tooth is the size of our boat!" Nami yells.
"There's no way this is real!" Usopp agreed. "This is all just a messed up dream that we're all having together for some reason!"
"A dream, great!" Chopper chimes in.
"You know...our boys we're just eaten by that turtle." Robin remarks. My ears droop as I spy the turtle chewing on wooden remains. "So did that ship we were trying to salvage."
"How can you be so calm?!" Usopp wails.
Oh crap… I try to keep myself from shaking in fear, but Chopper running around screaming in panicked circles really isn't helping! I hope those guys are okay! I know they can handle a lot of stuff but this...this is new territory!
"This is all your fault! You said the bottom of the Grand Line would be safe!" Usopp snaps at Nami. "I don't know what qualifies as safe in your book, but in mine, it's not man-eating turtles!"
This isn't helping either! Why must my sixth sense for these guys always act up when I don't want it to!
"You're right…" Nami says softly. She looks directly at the turtle. "Sorry!"
"This is as good as it's gonna get…" Usopp whimpers, falling to the ground.
"Pika pi…" I say shakily. C'mon, where are they?! They should've been back by now! The boat suddenly tips and starts to move as the air hoses pull tight.
"If we don't cut the air hoses, that beast will drag us to the bottom of the ocean." Robin remarks. Oh please tell me that's just the guys wreaking havoc in there! C'mon, any second now they're gonna come busting out of the ocean completely unharmed!
"Usopp!" Nami says. "Cut the air hoses and get us out of here!"
"This is what we're made of?!" Usopp demands, falling over.
"Coward!" Chopper agrees.
"Pika pika pi!" 'Can't you have a little faith in them?!' Just then the sky goes dark. We all blink; what just happened?
"It suddenly got dark?" Usopp wonders fearfully.
"Scary…" Chopper squeaks.
"This can't be right, it's not that late to be this dark…" Nami muses, looking at a pocket watch.
Yeah, it isn't cloudy, Nami would've known if it was. It's like someone put a giant shade over us. A chill runs down my spine as I leap off the railing and look around. What the heck could've caused-
I look out ahead and freeze. I blink a few times to make sure what I'm seeing is real. I rub my eyes just to make sure and I feel the color drain from my face. My mouth hangs open and my eyes become as big as the moon. The voices of the others are drowned out as I stay rooted to the spot, completely paralyzed.
I barely register that Luffy, Sanji, and Zoro have all made it back to the ship safely along with Masira. I continue to stare ahead, my heartbeat in my ears and I hear the salvage crew say that this is a bad omen. Bad omen is right; we need to get out of here. Now.
"What's up with the rodent?" I hear Zoro. "It's just standing there."
"Pika-chan, are you okay?" I feel Chopper's hoof on my back, "You haven't moved for a while."
A hoarse squeak comes from the back of my throat and I lift a shaky paw. "Pi...Pi...Pi…" I can't even get the words out as I point up and ahead, making everyone look ahead with me.
Silence envelops the entire area as everyone else finally catches on. It's not dark...we're in something's shadow. Three gigantic figures tower over us, bearing wings and spears. They're miles away, but they're easily taller than the clouds. I feel everyone's fear pile on top of mine as my vision becomes blurry; I'm even getting fear from Zoro and Robin, that's how bad it is!
"Pi...Pi...Pi...Pi…" I continue to stutter like a broken record. One of the giants raises his spear and Luffy and Masira break the silence along with me as the word I couldn't get out before is finally said.
"SEA MONSTER!"
"PIKACHU!"
The boys get the oars out and ready faster than you can say 'Run for it!' and the Merry zooms across the water like a rocket. Soon, we're out of the dark and back in the sunlight.
I continue staring blankly into space as everyone collapses from the adrenaline rush. That was so scary I think I'm about to cry...
"That couldn't have been real…" Zoro breathes.
"Those things were taller than the sky…" Usopp whimpers.
"Man, today has just been a nightmare." Sanji comments, taking a drag.
"First that galleon nearly falls on top of us…" Zoro starts.
"The Log pose starts pointing to the sky…" Nami continues.
"A psycho monkey shows up and blocks our way…" Usopp adds.
"A gigantic turtle eats our salvage ship…" Chopper says.
"And then darkness fell…" Robin starts.
"Because the biggest monsters I've ever seen in my life blocked out the sun!" Luffy finishes.
I fall onto my side like a wooden statue, still petrified with fear; it's okay, I didn't want to sleep tonight anyway. "Chuuuuu…" 'Why does karma love tormenting us like this…?'
"I must admit, even I was intimidated by those things." Masira says.
My ears twitch and I snap out of my stupor. Why is he still here?!
I make my tail iron and Luffy, Zoro, Sanji and I punt him into the ocean, "BEAT IT!"
"PIKA!"
A short while later, the wind has picked up again, and we're sailing along. I can't help but keep looking around in case anymore giants show up. Meanwhile, Nami looks through the haul that Luffy, Zoro, and Sanji brought back but all that's there is a bunch of artifacts and junk; nothing about Sky Island.
I lie on Robin's lap as she sits on the railing while Nami berates the boys for their lack of information. I sigh in relief as Robin gently strokes my back; this calm aura she always has around her is the most relaxing thing ever.
"Bad day?" Robin says as Nami storms up the stairs.
"It's only gonna get worse with these guys." Nami growls. "I'm gonna snap on them any second!" Honestly, I'm surprised you made it this far.
Robin reaches into her pocket, "Maybe this will help." I perk up as she hands Nami an Eternal Pose. "I took it off that salvager's ship a while ago just in case." Wow, I think she could give Nami a run for her money with burglary!
Tears of joy prick Nami's eyes, "You're the only one I can depend on."
I gotta say, it's nice having a full time respectable adult on the ship! Maybe Robin can finally help balance out the crazy on this voyage. Robin looks down at Luffy who's holding a decent sized octopus that got caught with the salvaging haul.
"Who's up for an octopus dinner tonight?" Luffy calls.
"That boy has got to learn to relax." Robin says.
I look up at her with an uneasy smile, "Pika pika…" 'I wouldn't count on that happening…'
"Jaya…" Nami says as she examines the Pose. "That must be their home port."
"Is that where we're going next?" Luffy says, hanging on the railing and eating some takoyaki; wow Sanji, record timing with the cooking!
"That would be your decision Captain!" Nami snaps.
Luffy nods and drops from the railing, "All hands on deck! Set sail for Jaya! ...Uh, anyone know which way that is?"
"Starboard." Nami answers flatly.
"Alright, you heard her Chopper!"
"Right!"
"Hold on." Usopp says. "If we go there won't the Log Pose reset? Then we won't know where Sky Island is anymore!"
"Whaaa?!" Chopper screams.
"All hands full stop!" Luffy yells. "Why are you messing with my head, Nami?!"
"I'm not, you're the one who wanted to go to Jaya." Nami responds easily.
"Oh yeah...but I didn't know it would ruin our plans to go to Skypiea!"
"It's not my fault you have the memory of a goldfish!" Uh, you know we could just go get directions and leave before the Pose resets...
"I doubt the needle would reset right when we got to Jaya; so why don't we pull into port and leave before it adjusts." Thank you, Robin.
"We do need directions to Sky Island." Usopp points out.
"Maybe someone in Jaya knows." Luffy agrees.
"Alright, Jaya it is." Nami says.
"Alright, set our course for Jaya!"
"You already said that!"
I sigh and deflate still on Robin's lap as Sanji brings us some more of that takoyaki. All that trouble just to figure out our next destination. I look out to sea, munching on my takoyaki, savoring the delicious tangy flavor.
Hopefully this Jaya place will have the answers we need, whenever we get there.
I remember what I first saw those giants I flipped my shit! That was the most terrifying and unexpected thing I ever experienced and I freaking loved it, cause you know shit is real when Sanji, Zoro, and even ROBIN are freaking out! XD
NOW LISTEN UP! This is where things are going to get different! Yes, we are on our way to Jaya, but before we get there, we're going to make a pit stop for... DEAD END ADVENTURE!
Yes, Movie 4 is up next! So get ready cause next chappie, it's MOVIE TIME! (Hopefully I'll survive finals weeks with enough brain cells to finish it XD )
