The journey to the sky was as followed.
Katakuri wasn't faze by the sudden ascend to the heavens, he had experienced a different parts of sky island before. Specially with a mother like Big Mom.
Ace and Yamato cheered as they went higher and higher, both of which had never experienced such an amazing feeling. Ace always bound to the sea, while Yamato was bound to Onigashima.
Baby 5 had experienced flight before, this was just 100 times more fun. Gem had passed out way before they were even launched to the sky.
Reiju was indifferent, having flight as one of her modified abilities. She then looked over to the Captain, who looked determined.
"What is it Captain?" She asked. Luffy looked serious, as if he had discovered something troubling.
"I have this feeling that we are being watched." Luffy looked around, his senses heightened due to a compromising position. They were on a rapid descent up and had no defense for anything that could attack them. He then looked towards the East, a feeling of unease passed through Luffy for a moment. And then, he saw him, those piercing black eyes that could only belong to someone with advanced observation haki.
'I can see you.' Luffy emitted his own glare, countering whoever was watching them. They were on it for some time until the glare from the other side simply disappeared.
"Whoever it is, they have a strong will to forcefully push me out and keep you engaged Captain." Katakuri leaned against the railing besides Luffy, with the captain nodding his head. This opponent was
Coincidentally, they arrived at the white white sea.
"Captain you missed the weird old lady, she took everyone's picture." Yamato said, catching her breathe from the different altitude that they were in.
There was no wind, no waves, they were just stuck in the middle of the cloud sea.
"We need to go to that island, to gather information." Katakuri pointed at a distant island, by its appearance, it looked big enough to hold a city.
"On it." Ace rubbed both hands together before standing on the back of the ship, directly behind the captain's quarter. "FIRE!" He unleashed his flames to launch the Going Merry to the direction of the island.
It didn't take long for the ship to pick up momentum, swiftly floating to the island that they have learned to be called, Angel Island. For at the shore of the island that they had landed, they were greeted by a father and daughter.
"I am Pagaya and this is my daughter, Conis. Welcome to Angel Island."
It was then that the crew split into groups, they wanted to gather information on the island. The more they know, the better.
Luffy stayed with the overly friendly father and daughter. They both insisted that the crew stay at the beach and have fun, but Luffy had other thoughts of the matter.
"I'll stay here to guard the ship, and pardon my rudeness but we really need to explore." Therefore, per captain's orders, the crew have went out and gathered information.
Luffy, Pagaya, and Conis sat around a cloud structure, made similar to a cottage. They had given him a unique skypien drink.
"Thank you for the hospitality." Luffy could notice their discomfort, he knew something was wrong, or else they wouldn't have insisted so heavily to keep them at the white beach.
Maybe 2 hours had passed, Luffy hadn't touched his drink. They offered him food which he politely declined. They sat in silence for the entire time but Luffy was listening the entire time. It could be the voices of the villagers, or the small hint of breeze that passes by every now and then.
Nothing too major, not even the stare from the unknown entity has tried to intimidate him. Not that it worked anyway.
Just as Luffy had thought, the two overly kind host were just stalling. The White beret had arrived, about forty of the strongest fighter in Angel Island had surrounded Luffy.
"I'm sorry, if we don't, we'll be killed by God." Conis was crying, unable to hold her tears any longer. She had been holding it in as betrayal is not in her true nature. Though in order to survive, she had to abide by the laws of the new God.
"I'm sorry sir." Pagaya could only bow in an apologetic manner. He didn't want to, but for his daughter to survive...
"No need to apologize, you've been nothing but kind." Luffy smiled at them, standing up and looking directly at the white beret. "I'll give you one warning, surrender or I will make you."
None of the military believed him, with the leader of the group going as far as to shoot Luffy with his strange sky island pistol. The pressurized air passed Luffy, narrowly missing him.
"That was a warning, the next one, I will go for the kill." The leader of the white beret was determined. But his determination was immediately put out as Luffy appeared beside him in a matter of seconds, chopping him on the shoulder and knocking him out. His body collapsing on the ground like a ragged doll.
A collective round of shock filled the beach, as their strongest fighter was easily put out.
"We outnumber him! Attack!" Exclaimed the second in command. They are the white beret of Sky Island, they can't lose.
...
They lost.
Not a single member of the white beret remained standing in less than a minute, Luffy barely sweating at his show of power.
Conis and Pagaya looked stunned, each of them on the ground, scared of their own life.
"Nothing to worry about my kind host, you did what you had to." With that Luffy went to the massive starewell that led to the town.
It was at the top that Luffy met with Gem, who was first to return.
"So it seems like the people here are tongue tied they worship a 'God' but can't name them." The information that Gem gathered was so minimal but any information in a foreign land is good information. "I also found these cool contraption, they have different purposes, storage of light, wind, fire, sound, and it can even absorb other things." Gem presented Luffy with a bag full of Dials. They would have to investigate on these later.
Next to arrive was Ace. He was told of what the group knows before adding to the information. "So there had been several gods in the past year alone. The first of which is named Gan Fall, he was overthrown by another who people did not want to name him in fear of judgement."
"Apparently this God's judgement is some sort of energy beam that levels a pretty sizable area. And some sort of forbidden land that nobody comes back from alive. That's where this God resides." Yamato arrived next and placed her hands on Ace's shoulder, leaning into him.
Within the 2 hours the group had explored, they could only really gather a small picture of the status quo in Sky Island.
"This is a different god then. I witnessed a judgement while walking through the market place, with a citizen bad mouthing this God. Instead of this grand judgement, a hole pierced through his skull. With a mere piece of rock going through his skull." Katakuri had returned to deliver the news of a new God. But who?
"Anybody seen Baby 5?" Gem looked around worriedly, she should've been back by now. Nobody had the answer.
"Your friend was captured by God's Army, specifically Yama." The voice came from someone unknown. "I can help you get to the forbidden land." It was a new voice, Reiju held him up by placing his arm around her neck.
"I found an interesting guy." Reiju said with a smile, it was the information they needed, the one that will help them solve the problem that was Sky Island. Though it was news that nobody wanted to hear. Baby 5 had been captured by God's Army.
But why?
Earlier with Reiju
"Where do I go?" Reiju had been casually going through the busy town, with people doing their usual business.
She stood out since her outfit was her stealth pink attire, as she never went out without her raid suit. Though something peculiar caught her eye.
First there was an explosion near the area, then a crowd gathered. Then they cleared out quickly and despite all the commotion a man continued laying on his side, on the cold hard cloud floor. He looked battered and it seemed like his will had been taken from him. He had a certain empty look in his eyes, on that Reiju remembered from her own younger brother when he was being beaten by her brothers.
Reiju leaned down to look at the man, his eyes looking at the distance. They remained fixed despite Reiju looking directly at him.
"You okay?" She immediately noticed the man's bloody back, where his scapular was located, there were two holes. Possibly where some sort of metal rod had gone through, even wings. Though through her question, there was no answer. Which irked Reiju a little bit since she always got an answer by simply her looks alone.
She would have walked away too, she would have, but he had something about him that drew her in. She was curious.
"Okay then, if you won't answer then I will talk until you do." So she did, relaying random stories about her former family life, to her current crew, and even some random mishaps like the Bellamy fellow and the disrespect he showed her.
It must've gone for hours, with Reiju just talking, and the man just laying on the ground in self pity. She had even laid on the ground beside the man and was just talking to the sky at this point. Eyes wandered and thought that she was weird but who cares about other people, Reiju did her own things, her way.
"Well so Sanji, my brother you know, he started to work at this..."
Until finally, he spoke.
"I used to be a god and earlier I watched a girl get taken by God's Army, right in front of me..." He spoke weakly but Reiju leaned in to listen to him. "I thought of myself to be immortal. My ego bigger than the world." His voice grew a bit as anger filled his very soul. "I ruled off fear, treating my subordinate like trash." He paused for a moment, collecting his thought. "My reign was short lived as I was overthrown by someone who showed me that I was nothing, my abilities were lacking and he was far superior than me."
He continued to remain on his side, unmoving despite finally speaking.
"I noticed the errors of my ways, but not before it was too late. I have succumb to such pitiful state, hardly eating... I am nothing but a shadow of what I used to be." This man had been utterly humiliated.
"Who was it?" Reiju finally spoke to which the man looked at her directly in the eye.
"It was..."
Earlier with Baby 5
"Where should I go look?" Though she was unable to move on further for there was an imposing giant before her.
As it turned out. Luffy destroying the white beret single handedly had warranted the attention of God's Army.
Though they did not aim for the captain, they aimed for one of the members. Why? To cripple them, weaken them slowly while subsequently interrogating them for information as well.
Yama, the head of God's Army personally arrived at Angel's Island, blocking the way of Baby 5.
Not one to ask questions, Baby 5 turned her upper half into a canon. She then unleashed an explosive directly to the face of Yama.
Too bad it had no effect. And the leader of God's Army chopped the neck of Baby 5 and picking up her collapsed body.
Before passing out, her eyes were fixated on a man laying on his side, dread filled his very being. 'Who are you stranger, and why don't you help me...'
And then, nothing.
Present - Angel Island
"I can help you get to the forbidden land." It was a new voice, Reiju held him up by placing his arm around her neck.
"I found an interesting guy." Reiju said with a smile, it was the information they needed, the one that will help them solve the problem that was Sky Island.
The crew had been invited over to Pagaya's residents. He insisted as it was the least he could do for betraying their trust. Luffy agreed to it and off they went.
The whole way to the residents, Conis had been stealing worried looks at the person that the crew had brought with them. He had decided to walk on his own two feet albeit he was struggling greatly.
"I don't know, seems like you are a piece of shit." Ace commented as the group had settled in Pagaya's residents. "But we do need you."
Katakuri stood in the balcony, his arms crossed as usual and staring at their new guest dead in the eye.
The living room had a three sectional couch, a kitchen with four chairs, and it was nice and small but it was enough for the father and daughter.
"That is true, I can't argue with that." The defeated man looked down on his feet, directly in front of him was the Captain of the Straw hats, Luffy.
Ace had his arms around Yamato and she held his hands. Gem sat in the kitchen table worried about Baby 5, and Reiju was helping Conis prepare a meal for the group.
"You have a beautiful home." Commented Reiju. "We'll reimburse you on all the food we are going to eat today."
"Thank you. But that won't be necessary, really." The two had small talks in the kitchen while the rest of the crew were interrogating the fallen god.
"We are the Straw Hat Pirates, and we are sailing with the next King of Pirates." It was Yamato who spoke, causing the rest of the crew to smile. "I am Yamato."
"Ace."
"Reiju."
"Gem."
"Katakuri."
"I am the Captain, Luffy."
"You can call us one dysfunctional family." Said Reiju causing laughter from some of the crew members. Interestingly enough, Luffy remained deep in thoughts.
"My name is Eneru. I was formerly a tyrant. My sins will never be washed but all I can do is help balance the world once more. I realized my sins and now I wish to right them, before it's too late." The former god had compassion, one that he had lost for a long time.
The world had treated him poorly and he responded in a negative way. But he still chose to be the way that he is, and after being rudely awakened, humbled by someone superior to him.
Eneru wanted to be better. Even if it kills him. "I will put an end to the god of sky island!"
Luffy then lifted his hands suddenly, his palm catching a peculiar item. It had come from a distance if it was enough to force him to use his red dragon scale.
A rock, one that was aimed for the head of their guest. He then looked at Eneru then back to the rest of his crew.
"Seems like Baby 5 got herself caught in a bad situation." Luffy began observing the rock that was aimed at Eneru. He brought up the issue being more pressing than the attempted 'judgement' of Eneru.
"So we save her right?" Gem was uneasy. Though Luffy looked at Gem, with his expression never wavering.
"No." Causing confusion to fill the room. "I told all of you that if you are weak, you will die."
Yamato dropped the cup that she was holding and it shattered into many different pieces. She saw a little bit of her father in the young captain. "Brother...this is not you."
"This is the Law of Nature. The strong remains alive, while the weak dies." Luffy said simply.
"Fuck that! She has been sailing with us! She is our friend!" Ace voiced out his concern right away.
"If you want to save her, go do it yourself." The cold hearted Captain had revealed that he still had the heart of the Dragon, the heart of Kaido.
Everyone who sat down got on their feet. The lines have been drawn.
Luffy, Katakuri, and Yamato on one side. Ace, Gem, Reiju and interestingly enough, Eneru had sided with them. He had watched her being taken away and he felt like he owed her for not helping. Plus he had a grudge against those in God Island.
"Yamato, you can't..." Ace couldn't help but felt betrayed. Yet he knew she was only loyal to him due to their parentage, how they grew up together. Anger flared the flame user. "Fine. I challenge you Luffy to a fight. If I win, we will all save Baby 5 as a crew! If I lose then..."
"You will lose, so do whatever you want. I don't need a prize." Luffy replied confidently. It was set now, Luffy vs Ace. With Baby 5's future at stake.
The crew was experiencing a civil war.
All because of Luffy's cold heart, one given to him by Kaido.
They made their way to the white beach, Luffy standing with his group, while Ace stood with his own group.
Gem remained uneasy but the fight was commencing soon.
Ace stepped away and met Luffy face to face. The two staring daggers into one another.
"If you got caught, I would expect you to find a way out yourself." Luffy said with a serious expression on his face.
"We are suppose to be a family!" Ace delivered the first blow, his fist covered in fire as he aimed directly at the face of Luffy.
He simply moved to the side, the flame fist narrowly missing a direct hit. Luffy then grabbed the flaming fist of Ace with his barehands and twisted him all the way up to his elbow. Ace could only grimace before being tossed to the ground.
The flame user groaned inwardly but he was quick back on his feet. Luffy did not let up, grabbing Ace into a rear naked choke. He held onto him trying to cause him to pass out. Though Ace had the bright idea to set his neck ablaze. Luffy could have used the resistance of his cursed Eastern Dragon, but instead, he let go. He would not use that power. He won't.
Ace unleashed a flurry of flame bullets, with them hitting Luffy but barely doing any damage.
Despite being apparently heartless, Luffy wanted to end the match quickly. Why? Yamato noticed this and so did Katakuri. It was as if he was trying to hurry it along so that they can get on with it.
Luffy unleashed a flurry of punches, each one connecting against the embodiment of flame. Though Ace showed his resolved by kicking with boosted flame strikes, Luffy blocked with his forearms before connecting with another punch to the face and a body shot.
Ace was getting weathered slowly, the difference in the flame logia and the captain was now apparent. The Captain was trained by Kaido and his calamities, there was a difference in training by himself and someone like that.
So Ace dove in desperation, embracing Luffy tightly, his thoughts were win or die trying. A bit morbid yet he was angry beyond rationale.
Luffy tried to break free on his own abilities but he could not break the grip from Ace's embrace. It was then that he felt his body engulf in flames, Ace was really going to try to roast him alive.
Yet as the flame user realize how far he had gone, he had done enough damage to force the captain to use it.
The western dragon's scale covered his body, protecting him from the flame user's attack.
Ace looked dejected, he thought he had him, but he remained unfazed, now covered in scales of the dreaded red dragon.
For Luffy he was both pissed and impressed that Ace forced him to use the ability which he cursed. So Luffy delivered a final blow, directly to the gut of the flame user.
He felt it in his very body, finally succumbing to the power of the future king. Ace collapsed on the ground, thus finally losing to the Captain.
The air remained silent, not a single member of the crew could utter a word. Only Gem's restlessness finally broke the silence.
"Screw this! I'm going to save Baby 5 myself!" Exclaimed Gem before leaving. Gem grabbed one of the wavers and drove towards the direction of the island.
"Wait Gem!" Reiju revealed her butterfly wing and flew after Gem.
"I'm sorry..." Yamato could only mutter as she initially sided with Luffy but she ran after Gem.
"You know for a supposed family, you sure don't act like a unit." Enel looked at Luffy for a final time before disappearing in a cackle of electricity.
This left Luffy, Ace who was knocked out, and Katakuri. His loyalty was unwavering but Luffy had a troubled heart.
"Go." Was his simple command. Katakuri immediately understood and went on his way after the rest of the crew.
"What was all this survival of the fittest huh?" Ace coughed heavily, finally on his back as he could barely move. The Captain sure did some damage on him.
"I do care. It's just if I keep trying to protect everyone, how can you all protect yourselves?" Luffy sat besides Ace, conversing with him as if nothing had happened.
"Captain you idiot." Ace had a hard time speaking. "If we can't protect ourselves, we have each other to lean on. That's what a crew is for. That's what this family is for." Despite being a stowaway at the beginning of their journey, Ace had quickly become a believer of the crew. His friends.
"Well then, that was good punch but not enough power." Luffy commented, letting what Ace said sink in.
"You got a hell of a combo yourself." Ace remained flat on his back. "We should probably get up soon huh? To help the others..."
"Come out whoever you are, you've over stayed your welcome." Luffy had been sensing the presence of a stranger for a long time. Even Katakuri had noticed it, but Luffy told him to ignore it for now. They had a more pressing matter in the God of Sky Island and an even stronger presence.
"Ah crap..." From the Going Merry, a head popped up that looked at the two pirates on the shore of the white beach. "Seems like this is not Dressrosa yet Mugiwara-ya."
"Who the hell are you?" Luffy yelled at the stranger on his ship. Though he was on the beach for one second and the next, he was standing mere inches from the stowaway.
Interesting enough, the stowaway didn't flinch. He had an arrogance about him, but mostly a calm aloof characteristics. What an interesting guy indeed.
"Trafalgar Law, pleasure to meet you."
Present - Upper Yard
A man stood in between four strong figures, the four being the strongest guardian of god.
The man had traveled quiet the distance, following the lead that he was given in order to get here. He had mourned the death of his wife, the disappearance of his son. He then confided in his captain of the loss but the combined efforts of his crew had given him information found in the sky.
And now he had found himself caught, a barbed sword , a closed fist, a lance, and an open palm, pointed in all directions at his throat.
"I have only come here to find my son, and I know that this God of yours knows something about him!" He was unwavering in his resolved, despite not having a weapon, he was the god damn sniper of the Red Haired Pirates. He was no push over.
"Your son." It was a massive monk man who spoke, the head of God's army, Yama. "There is no child here pirate."
"I know you know something about him!" It was then that Yasopp grabbed Ohm by the throat and threatened to choke him to death. Though the other priest did nothing but laugh. They did not care for one another, they were no comrades.
"Let him go." It was then that Yasopp's knees weakened. That voice was ever so familiar, one that could only belong to someone he knew dearly.
The entire room kneeled before the arrival of the new voice. He wore all white, a clothe that wrapped around his body, sealed at the shoulder. He carried two massive slingshots on his back.
Even Yasopp had fallen on his knees, but not out of respect, it was out of disbelief.
"My son."
"I am not your son." His glare was undeniably more intimidating than ever, he had lose himself in darkness that he had to grow into this God. "I am God Usopp." Suddenly, Usopp retrieved one of his slingshot, pulled a rock from his satchel and launched it without looking.
"It's god's undeniable vision!" Exclaimed Yama, the leader of the army then looked around the room. "If you defy God! You will meet your end!"
Gan Fall was a fair God, he tried to work together with the Shandian and the Skypien to no avail. He was overthrown by Eneru who ruled with an iron fist, his judgement was El Thor, a lightning powered beam from the heavy that descends upon the offender. He was overthrown by Usopp, the new god who remains a mystery.
But it was undeniable that his strength was beyond comprehension.
"What happened to you?" Yasopp could only mutter, it was his son in appearance, but it wasn't in personality. What happened to his fun loving child.
"I asked myself after my mortal mother passed, what I should do. Should I be King? And then I came to a conclusion, why be a king, when I can be a God." Usopp replied simply. "They are coming, prepare the army." His last words before disappearing once more into his resting quarters.