South Bird
"Listen carefully. I'll tell you all I know about Sky Island." Cricket placed his hands on his hips. "However, no everything I know can be proven true. It's up to you to decide whether to believe me or not."
"I believe you," Luffy said.
"Don't make that decision yet," Usopp said.
"I some parts of the sea during the day, it would suddenly become dark as if it was night." Cricket pointed to the sea.
"That happened to us before," Cade said.
"Yeah! It suddenly became night time and monsters appeared." Usopp waved his arms.
Cricket said, "For those giants, I have a few theories about where they came from, but I won't mention it now. In regards to the sudden arrival of night, it is caused by shadows cast by a very dense cloud. Millennium cumulonimbus is the name of that piece of cloud. It doesn't ascend or rain. But when it appears in the sky, the sun light gets blocked completely. The day time on the ground becomes night. Some day that it has been in existence for millions of years. It won't change form and it continues to float around in the sky as if a cloud fossil."
"It won't produce rain even at a great density? It's not possible," Nami said.
"It's up to you if you believe. I didn't say you have to believe," Cricket said.
"So it's an impossible cloud," Luffy said.
"More or less. It's something that still can't be explained," Cricket said. "Listen, if Sky Island does exist, it must be inside that cloud."
"All right! I got it! Let's get onto that cloud! Zoro, wake up! Everyone, man your positions! Turn the ship towards the cloud in the sky! Thanks for telling us those things, mister!" Luffy said.
"We don't know how to get there! How many times do I need to tell you that?!" Nami snapped.
"The real deal is just starting now. I'll warn you first. You need to risk your life," Cricket said. "The current that shoots upward. If you can get on this current, you can get to the sky, understand?"
"You mean the current that blows the ship upward?" Nami asked.
"A sea current can do that?" Cade asked.
"But then, I heard that the ships that gets blown into the sky will crash back down to the sea," Nami said. "I heard it in Mock Town."
"Normally, that's the case. The key here is timing." Cricket crossed his arms. "First, you get blown into the sky, which sounds easy, but it's not as easy as one may think. The knock up stream is actually a disaster. It's something people normally avoid."
"Why does the sea current blow upward? We've never heard of that before," Nami said.
"The reason behind that monstrous current is believed to be because of caves at the bottom of the ocean," Cricket explained. "Cold water flows into the caves, and then is heated up by the earth, creating a lot of water vapor that causes a very powerful pressure. This kind of explosion shoots water straight into the sky for about one minute. The location of the explosions are different each time, but the frequency is five times a month."
"We may crash into pieces!" Usopp shivered. "In that case, we'll forget about Sky Island. Sorry, Luffy. It can't be helped."
"Don't worry. Let's just go," Luffy said.
"Don't worry? You mean you trust that kind of thing without proof?" Usopp pointed at Merry. "Look at our ship. There's no way she can do this."
"True. But even if that ship is new, it still can't withstand the current," Cricket said. "Speed. Weight. Force. Judging from those, the ship will be blown into pieces by the current. However, I can have Masira and Mori help you solve this problem. But we need to reinforce that ship's hardiness first."
"You can count on us!" Masira and Mori pop out of the windows.
"Thanks for your help!" Luffy said.
"Did you forget? We can't stay any longer than a day. After that the log pose will be set," Nami said.
"Hey, Cricket, when will this knock up steam occur?" Cade asked.
"Probably tomorrow at noon. We need to start preparing if you want to go," Cricket said.
"What?! It's not too late?!" Usopp whined.
"If you don't want to go then don't go," Cricket said.
...
Cade followed behind Zoro and Robin. While they were suppose to be looking for a South Bird, her mind kept on the island in the sky. Did it really exist? Would it be like any other island? How high would the island be in the sky?
"I hear screaming," Robin said.
Cade's thoughts paused. Being her attention back into focus she found they were surrounded by centipedes.
"Ignore them," Zoro said, knocking out centipede. "Centipede. An annoyingly overgrown one."
"They're all big," Cade said.
"Killing every one of them is probably bad. They're so pitiful," Robin said.
"They attacked me first. Don't give me any suggestions." Zoro tossed the bug away. "By they way... I know you're hiding your true intentions. I still don't trust you. Don't forget that." He walked away.
"Just so you know..."
"What?"
"The way you're going is heading back to the ship."
Choh
"What was that?" Cade asked.
"Chriping sound," Robin said. "Come this way. Be careful not to step on the slime."
Cade sidestepped the puddle of slime only to come face to face with a grasshopper like bug that was almost as tall as she was. "Huh. Luffy would love to play with you. He probably is playing with some bug right now."
Zoro knocked one on the head. "There's no end to this! Why are you beetles fighting me?! Getting in my way?! You actually think you can win?!"
"I heard the sound again," Robin said.
"Such a strange forest." Cade looked around. "We're not getting anywhere. We should regroup with the crew."
They gathered with the others.
"Any luck?" Cade asked.
"No. We heard one but couldn't find it," Usopp said.
"We saw one, but the bugs are everywhere, there was no time to catch the bird." Luffy said.
"I can't take it! We have eight people but can't even catch one?!" Usopp crossed his arms. "You guys should try harder."
"Speak for yourself," Sanji said.
"I don't have any more strength to run," Nami said.
Choh
"Ah!" Usopp gasped as a bird landed on the branch above him.
The bird squawked.
"It said 'Did you catch anything, morons?'" Chopper said.
"What?! He showed up on purpose to say that!" Usopp said.
"Sounds like it was watching us the whole time." Cade eyed the brightly colored bird.
"I'll knock it down!" Luffy wound up his fist.
Hands and arms sprout on the bird and throws it down to the ground.
"Since I could see it I could grab it," Robin said.
"Way to go, Robin, my sweet!" Sanji said.
"Let's head back." Zoro grabbed the bird.
They stepped up to the house to find the three they left behind battered and beaten. Even Merry had been damaged.
"Did they attack the ship on purpose?" Cade asked.
"Who did this?!" Sanji asked helping one out of the water.
"Oh!" Chopper rushed over.
"Ah! Merry! What did they do to you?! Who did this to you?!" Tears poured down Usopp's cheeks.
"Sorry," Cricket said.
"Ah! You awake?" Luffy squatted next to the man.
"Really... sorry... We tried to... couldn't help," he said. "But... there is still time, before dawn, we must enhance the ship."
"Hold on! Tell me what happened," Luffy said.
Cricket sat up. "It's okay now. Don't worry about it. It's all right now. More importantly you guys caught a south bird."
"The gold was taken?!" Nami gasped.
"Doesn't matter. Things like that should just be forgotten," Cricket said. "You guys..."
"What do you mean by 'things like that'?!" Usopp shouted. "You spend ten years and even lost your health to find those pieces!"
"Shut up. It doesn't matter. It's my problem," Cricket said. "Listen to me. With the entire ape-yama alliance fixing and enhancing the ship is not a problem. We can have it done by dawn. It won't hinder your schedule. I will send you to the sky no matter what. Therefore you should..."
"Hey, Luffy." Zoro jerked his thumb to a smiley with a slash through it.
"It's Bellamy's symbol!" Nami said.
"Want my help?" Zoro asked.
"I can do it alone," Luffy said.
"No way, Luffy! Quit fooling around! We have less than three hours before dawn!" Nami said.
"If I run along the beach, I can reach that city we were in, right?" Luffy asked.
"Yes, you can," Robin said.
"Hey, kid, where are you going?! Don't mind my business! You already know who-"
"If you want to stop him, you have to use this." Zoro crossed his sword over to Cricket. "But watch yourself. Cade won't stand for anyone hurting her brother."
"I'll be back before dawn," Luffy said.
"Take care, Luffy." Cade watched her brother run off before turning back to the others. "All right. Let's get this ship into shape!"
...
"Hey! I did it!" Luffy came running over to them.
"Luffy, hurry! We are already behind schedule!" Nami said. "What took you so long?!"
"Look at this!" Luffy held up a bug. "It's a hercules beetle!"
"What the heck were you doing?!" Zoro, Sanji, Usopp, and Nami's mouths drop.
Cade laughed. "I should have known."
The crew climbed on Merry. With the larger ships on each side of them, they sailed off into the water.
Cade stood on top of the mast while trying to figure out how to protect the crew if they come crashing down. Could she possibly lower the entire ship back to the sea if they fell?
A dark cloud rolled in about them. A large whirl pool appeared. Followed by a sea king eel like creature appeared and got sucked into the whirlpool.
Cade jumped down to stay close to Luffy. He smiled at her, ready for this adventure.
"All right then! From now on, do your best with your own strength."
"Okay! Thanks for escorting us here!" Luffy waved to their escorts.
Nami, Chopper, and Usopp freak out as the whirl pool drew them closer.
"This island of the fantasy of a fantasy. If we miss the chance for a grand adventure like this, we'll regret it for the rest of our lives for sure!" Luffy grinned.
Usopp, Chopper, and Nami gasp.
"Seriously. Just leave the crew if you're going to act like that," Cade said.
"Hey, we're about to get swallowed by the whirlpool," Zoro said.
"Come, my Nami, lay on my chest!" Sanji said.
The whirlpool disappeared.
"It disappeared. What happened?" Sanji asked.
"That's not it." Nami looked over the side. "It's started. The whirlpool has only disappeared in the seabed."
"Wait!" someone shouted.
Cade looked out the see a three headed Jolly Roger.
"I finally caught you, Straw Hat Kiddo, Luffy!"
"Who is that?" Cade eyed the fat curly black haired man.
"He was in Mock Town," Nami said.
"We are here to take your head that is worth a hundred million! Surrender to us!"
"Did he say a hundred million?" Cade asked.
"Sounded like it," Sanji said.
"There's a bounty on your head with a hundred million! Also, the pirate hunter has sixty million."
Usopp grabbed the binoculars. "It's true! They have the posters with new bounties!"
"Wow. That must have happened after Luffy defeated Crocodile," Cade said.
The ship rocked. The ocean surface began to rise.
"Hey! Everyone hold on or get inside!" Sanji said.
Usopp shrieked.
Cade stepped closer to Luffy. "Stay close."
The ship shot into the sky.
Cade grabbed Luffy and anchored them to the ship.
"All right! We're going to the sky!" Luffy cheered.
"Wait a second. It's not as easy as you think," Sanji said.
"What is it?" Luffy asked.
"Did you forget some luggage?" Luffy asked.
"The ship is beginning to leave the stream," Sanji said. "If this goes on much longer, we will get bounced off."
"What?! What are we going to do?!" Chopper asked.
The sea king from before falls beside them.
"We're going to fall like that if something isn't done soon," Sanji said.
"We're going to die! We're going to fall like that other ship!" Usopp cried.
"Let down the sail! Hurry!" Nami ordered. "This is still the ocean. It's no mere stream! It's a sea current that's flowing up. Coming from below are water vapors from the explosion. It's an up drift!"
The sails released. Wind filled them and they sail upward faster than a ship should be able to travel. Clouds surrounded them for several seconds.
A tight pressure filled Cade's chest. She opened her mouth to speak but nothing came. A light flashed into Cade's eyes before everything went dark.
