Chapter 24: Back to the blue sea
Shayla went into the snake's stomach and it felt like she was entering a dark tunnel without any hope of the end. She landed on some old buildings that she assumed were part of the city of gold because inside there was a lot of what blue sea people would call treasure.
She looked around in search of new her friend, a little girl, and the weird knight. She lit her hand on fire to see the place more clearly. It was quite spacious inside the snake and she somehow expected it to be less cave-like and more looking like she was inside a living thing.
It didn't take that long to find them, but she saw another person she didn't except. Because next to Nami was Luffy with a confused look, "What do you mean by a snake?" he asked, and his navigator explained that they were inside a snake.
"We need to get got quickly," Nami said, "That's what I'm here for" Shayla appeared and shocked some of them. "You came in to save me?" the orange-haired girl asked in happy tears. When the other pirate nodded, she came over and hugged her, "I knew you were more useful than these idiots"
"So, how do we get out?" She asked as she let go and looked at Shayla, "I have a few ideas" she smiled and lit her hand on fire once again, but that didn't make Nami all that confident. "You are going to start a fire inside the snake's stomach?".
"No, that would be stupid. I'm going to hit a lot of stones against its inside so it can throw us up" she smiled. All of them looked at her in disbelieve and Shayla started laughing, "You should see your faces right now."
It took her a while to got control over herself and she whipped her one tear away. "I'm kidding. I was thinking we could go to the snake's mouth and forced it open with one of the bigger stones" she suggested and at least it was something they were open to.
They started going in the direction Shayla came from and everything was going well. Until they weren't touching the bottom anymore and they were falling back to their previous place.
The snake must have opened its mouth and they could see the light as well as the end of the jungle.
The weird knight jumped onto his bird-horse creature. Nami quickly got her weaver and Luffy grabbed onto it while holding the little girl. Shayla flew herself out of there and when she finally looked back, she saw Luffy and the little girl still inside the thing. The knight fell off but told his partner to go get the others inside.
Shayla sighed and was preparing for a hard landing but aim for the clouds instead. It was certainly softer but what got her on guard again was the giant snake screaming in tears.
She wondered, 'Why?'
She jumped onto one of the buildings at saw a beautiful yet ancient city. Was this the city of gold, if so where was all the gold? A familiar long-eared god wanna-be attacking the creature with his lightning, "Oh no Nami, Shay!" Zoro screamed but soon saw them both and quickly calmed down.
"We're okay. But inside that thing is Luffy." Nami said and they all started to wonder why he was in there, to begin with.
"Eneru" the wild man from before shot his bazooka at him. He easily dodged it and used one of the shell thingies to make a ball cloud before sitting on it. "The game isn't over yet for you and the other players behind you".
"I predicted that there would be six survivors at the end. Three minutes remain until three hours limitless are up. Which means I can't have seven are left. The kami cannot make a false prophecy. Let's see who shall disappear? Will you fight among yourselves, or shall I obliterate one of you?"
"Do you want to be obliterated?" Zoro suddenly asked
"Nah, I'll pass" Shayla replied
"I rather not" Robin answered
"Me either," he said
"I'll pass too" Wiper added
"I absolutely refuse" sky knight responded
Everyone pointed their weapons at him, "You're the one who should disappear" they said together. Eneru looked at them in amusement, "Bad choice" he said with a creepy smirk.
"Do you know who you're speaking to? It seems like none of you understand the true meaning of god" he said but changed the topic to a place he must return to with endless Varse, a land that stretches far as they could see. It was that place god lived.
Eneru didn't stop talking nonsense there and kept talking about, "You're not clouds but you were born in the sky. You're not birds but you live in the sky. The foundation of this country is unnatural. Land is a place for land! Humans have a place for humans and God has a place for God. Each has a place to return to"
Shayla stood there before sighing. To her, he sounded like a crazy person with a superiority complex. Nothing she hasn't faced and defeated before. Her attention got back to the fight when the old man attacked the man that took his position.
Eneru dodged with ease, and he shot him with lighting. When the old man passed out, he looked at them like he was going to tell them some great news; apparently, he was going to Varse now, and he was going to take them along with him.
"What if we refuse" Robin started, "Refuse, why would you? I've decided. If you stay, you'll simply fall to the ground with this country" he answered. The older female pirate tried to tell him that if he destroyed the country, the things he would want and, the golden bell would be destroyed too.
The pale man calmly said that he already had an idea where the bell could be and shoot lighting at her, "I despise scheming women". Before she hit the ground Zoro quickly turned around and caught her, "She's a woman" he hissed, "I can tell".
Zoro charged towards him, but Eneru jumped over him, and that was when Wiper shot his bazooka at him. Shayla was observing him as he dodged that too and sat down on one of the ruins, "You still don't understand? The energy you possess is nothing compared to mine!"
The whitebeard pirate stepped up, "You sure have perfect control over your devil fruit" she said, "Oi, Shay. What are you saying" Nami yelled, "You recognize your own weakness, girl" he smirked.
"First of all, don't call me girl. Second, you made me released how much stronger my lightning could be and by challenging you at your fullest I can reach that level and surpass you"
"So, you know that I'm stronger than you," he said, "Calm yourself. The only thing you have that is stronger than me is your lighting. Anything else you're inferior" she smirked.
Eneru disappeared right and appeared right in front of her with his hand stretch out right next to her.
But before he could hit her, she coated her hand in haki and punched him in the face. Eneru fell back and into a building. She looked back the other with a thumbs up, but they stood there in disbelieve, "How did you do that?" Zoro asked screaming.
"Uhm willpower?" she said hesitantly but her senses were telling her that he was on his way over to her, so she turned around ready for whatever attack he was going to do. Eneru once again tried to recruit them, but of course, they refused, and Zoro attacked him this time.
The swordsman cut him, yet he resembled himself before grabbing his sword and burned him. Wiper threw his bazooka and jumped onto Eneru before he yelled, "Reject". This shockwave was massive, and Shayla could feel the air's vibration going wild.
Zoro jumped back before that and they all looked at Wiper standing over Eneru's body, but suddenly lighting was around his lifeless body. He stood up with a sinister smile on his face, "People don't fear kami. The fear is kami".
Wiper fell to his knees and started saying that eight hundred years ago proud shandian warriors protected this city and that they were their descendants. For the last four hundred years, their ancestors had yearned for this place after it was taken out of the blue. They vowed to avenge the great warrior Kalgara and the only thing standing in his way was Eneru.
He was beaten by the lightning man after he hit the drums on his back and a huge bird-form shock hit him once again. Zoro had seen enough and took his sea prism shoes to hit Eneru, but he too was hit by the element.
Shayla took her stand ready for anything when she saw Wiper stand up yet again. He gave the reason for his determination was his ancestors and the young woman smiled a bit. Soon there was a familiar light in the sky and without thinking, she jumped into it.
She pushed him aside and took the full force head-on. At first, it didn't hurt but for some reason, he kept hitting her with it because she refused to fall like the others or scream for that matter.
Shay felt real pain for the first time in a long time and fell to her knees.
"See now that position is more fitting when you stand before me" Eneru smirked. She gritted her teeth and tried to come up with some sort of plan. Fire won't burn him because he's already lighting. She can't smash him with a rock or blow him away with the wind.
Maybe she could drown him but there wasn't any water anywhere close, and she had trouble moving probably which ruled out the possibility of using haki. She won't get anything from the air since it's so thin up here.
Eneru just watched her before going over to Nami, "You're the only one left" he said as lightning appeared again. "Please… take me with you. I'll go with you to the dream world," she said with a shaky voice.
"Yahahaha, fine come then. That's how it should be. Hearts that can't be swayed by fear can sometimes be inconvenient" he started, "Uh, yes I agree" Nami quickly said. "I don't. Fear will only be an excuse for not doing something". Shayla interfered.
"Oh, what do you call your case, then?" Eneru asked, "I'm not, not attacking you because I'm afraid. Sadly, I'm in great pain" she answered. "Then this should shut you up permanently!" he replied before shooting lightning at her.
Shayla quickly leaned back and fell into a hole behind her. She slid at the side of the wall and landed on her back next to Wiper.
The young pirate sighed and felt Nami going with Eneru. Well, at least she was saved for now. There wasn't much for her to do so she just looked at the sky singing a little to herself. "I'm out. I'm finally free" someone's voice echoed through the city.
"When I get back to my crew, I have to fight the commanders and even dad without anyone holding back. A real fight" she said pissed off. She blamed them for going easy at her and not giving her a real challenge.
"Zoro! Hey, what are you doing? How can this happen with you here." Luffy said a little away from her. Shyla closed her eyes and felt someone going next to her, "Waaah, Wiper too?" a little girl asked. "I'm surprised he didn't die long ago. He was pretty reckless" Shayla said surprising the girl.
"Shay! Are you okay? What happened?" Luffy said while lifting her a little. "That bastard burned us all with his lightning and Nami had no choice but to follow him" she informed. "How can you get burned? Don't you control lightning, too?" he asked.
Shayla smirked before turning to Luffy, "I just realized how much I still have to learn when it comes to lightning. Go, save your navigator. I'll be fine" she smiled. "I can tell two voices are moving around the island," the girl said.
'She must have a strong observation haki for her to know that'.
"Alright but let me get you out of here first," he said before holding her back and under her knees to she lifted her. He jumped up and laid her next to a building she leaned against. There was suddenly a sound behind them, and they looked to see Robin.
The young captain went over to her, "Listen closely. This island is going to be destroyed and everything in it. He said he would return everyone in the sky to the blue sea," she said. 'Oh, right I forgot' Shayla thought.
"Take me to them, Aisa" Luffy said, and his form was suddenly serious. He stood up and ran toward the forest. "We need to get out of here or at least get up to the top level, Hell-bender-san. I won't be able to carry everyone at once" Robin started.
"I know. Leave it to me" Shay answered and tried to stand up, yet she was struggling. "I just need a little more time" she sighed, "Of course after all that I'm surprised you are still alive. As expected of Whitebeard's daughter". The older pirate praised. "My father wouldn't be down like this" Shayla pouted.
It wasn't long before she could move again and weirdly enough, she almost felt completely fine.
Well, it wasn't time to think about it now. She turned to face Robin, but she had already started to move the guys up the bean-stock. "Let me help" Shayla started and made holes into the giant plant so the older woman could walk on it better.
"Thanks, but it's getting darker which means he'll start the annihilation soon," the black-haired woman said. "I know, so I'll go ahead to help stop him." she was about to go when Robin stopped her. "If you want to stop him then destroy his ship".
"Interesting idea." She commented and ran over to the upper part of the island. She went further to the forest to get 'the better earth'. Shayla took a deep breath as she raised her hands into the air and big boulders emerged from the ground. She smirked before kicking them at the flying thing.
It made a big hole when it hit the ship. She smirked before firing the others at the ship too. She kept going until she saw two people falling but one of them hooked himself to the ship again. The one that fell was Nami and Usopp went back up.
Surprisingly brave for a coward.
Shayla stopped when the ship made some weird sounds and she hurried over the orange-haired navigator. But when she arrived everyone was there except Luffy who was climbing up the great vine. Soon lightning had started raining down on the island, ready to destroy it.
Nami told them to go back to the ship before she took her waver and drove after him. None of them listened and they watch the battle intensely. "He going to ring the bell, right," Usopp asked Robin.
"Ring the bell…" Wiper stood there confused, "Once he puts his mind into something there's no changing it. Even if Nami tries to bring him back he won't go with her. He and Eneru are after the same thing" Zoro said.
Not long after a big leaf fell from above and with a message on it, "Cut down the giant vine so it falls to the west" Robin read. Shayla could feel a very big electrical charge and they all looked up to see a huge black source of energy.
Zoro was the first one to run toward the vine and cut a huge piece of it. Then a familiar light from the sky appeared and struck him. Even the snake helped, and Shayla was about to do the last push. That was until, "It's the shandians who inherited Kalgara's will. It only gives meaning if we ring it. So, what does Straw-hat have to do with it?" the wild man asked.
"Four hundred years ago a certain explorer lied and said he'd seen the golden city in the blue sea. He was ridiculed by sociality, but his descendants believed his words. Even now one of them is searching the blue sea for the city of gold". Robin explained.
"The boy with the straw hat thinks if we ring that bell, we'll be able to tell the people that the city of gold was in the sky. Isn't that a wonderful reason? He's a romantic. Even when things look so hopeless, he would give up his chances for escape just for that. He's a bit crazy" she said smiling.
A lightning bolt hit right behind them, "What is the name of the descendant" Wiper started, "Montblanc Cricket" the older pirate answered, "Then this ancestor from four hundred years ago, his name must be Noland" he said in tears.
The sky warrior ran towards the vine while stealing her chance to show a bit off. He pushed the long-nosed pirate back who have been attacking the tree during their little storytime. Shayla loved a good story and watched him destroy the last piece holding it together, "Reject" he yelled.
The vine started to fall with Wiper passed out at its root. She saw the two pirates racing to the top. Luffy jumped of the waver and started attacking the blackball thing and soon it had completely disappeared.
The young captain threw his arm back to twisting it. Eneru shot lighting at him, but it didn't work. Instead, Luffy kicked him in the face which was so satisfying. Earlobe had stabbed her brother in the back.
It only reminded her of a memory she was trying so hard to forget. Luffy fell but quickly bounced back by grabbing a cloud and shooting the giant piece of gold at him along with his fist he hit his entire body, but it didn't stop there. He kept stretching his arm until it hit something hard, "REACH." He yelled as he was falling.
Soon a loud beautiful sound echoed through the island along with the snake and every animal. People started gathering from every direction. Luffy, Nami, and Conis came running with a big bag of food.
As the sunset, a large position of woods was collected and Shayla was responsible for setting it on fire. This bonfire was much bigger than the last and all the people who were enemies earlier that day partied together.
They were dancing, drinking, and eating but must of all smiling while celebrating their freedom from Eneru.
-x-
Four days later in the middle of the night, someone started yelling and it happened to be the people she was traveling with, "Shay, get up. We are going to steal the gold and run" Luffy whispered to her, and the young woman barely heard what he said, "Whatever, have fun" she mumbled in sleep.
"What are you talking about? We are pirates and we love treasures" he defended, "I know, but if we do it later and I'm all in" but sadly they didn't leave her alone and she had to force herself to get up before the sun even arose.
Luffy, Nami, Sanji, and Chopper went into the snake's stomach. Shayla stayed out with Zoro who was training his skills. She doesn't know why she was suddenly interested, "Can I see your sword?" she asked and pointed at the last one on his hip.
He looked at her for a second before giving his white Wado Ichimonji to her, "I didn't know you were trained in the art of sword" he said surprised, "I tried to learn as a child, but I wasn't very good at it" she answered as she looked at the blade with admiration.
Zoro leaned back on one of the ruins and looked at her smirking, "Then show me what you got". Shay took a deep breath before cutting down a small branch, 'Alright, a great beginning' she thought.
"Good, now try something bigger," he said. She looked around in search of something else and a piece of stone was her next target. Shayla lifted the sword above her head and swung it at it. She looked to see it slides all the way through.
"Let's spar. It's easier-" the swordsman didn't have time to finish as the Hell-Bender attacked him. Zoro barely dodged and took a few steps back while looking at Shayla with shock. She on the other hand was smirking, "I see you were holding back" before he smirked himself.
"I'm not a very good swordsman, but it has nothing to do with my fighting skills. I give you your sword back. You'll need it if you're going to stand a chance against me" Shayla answered. "I see. I won't hold back" he said as took his weapon back and put it into his mouth.
"You'll only greatly underestimate me if you did" she responded and took her stand. The two charged at each other and Shayla coated her boat in Haki before clashing with Zoro's two swords. She overpowered him and he flew into a building and his weapon flew to the side.
The green-haired swordsman emerged and had trouble catching his breath, "You're quite tough" she praised and went over to pick up his katana. "It's been a long time since I was defeated by a girl" he responded before grabbing the hand offered to him.
"Well, get used to it" she smirked and helped his to his feet before giving it back to him. He continued training and Shayla to this chance to explore the island one last time. She reached the long vine and saw the people pulling something up.
Shayla helped the sky people get the bell. It was easier with her powers while getting them to pull it up. She heard them talk about the poneglyph, "We're the ones who weave history with reverberations of the great bell" Robin came from behind.
The chief of the shandians was shocked that she could read it and the woman went up to the old stone, "The ancient weapon with the name of god 'Poseidon' its location…" she said. Shayla listen carefully and was waiting for her to reveal its location, but she didn't and turned around to leave.
Well, so far there are two ancient weapons. One name was Pluton and was located somewhere in Alabasta. The other's Poseidon but so far, the location is unknown to her. For now at least. "Are you ready to go Hell-Bender-san?" Robin asked when someone pointed out the same language but this time on the side.
The black-haired woman turned and frozen shock, "I hereby guide this text to its end – pirate Gol D. Roger," She read out loud. The daughter of whitebeard stopped too, "The pirate king? It can't be… on sky island. How does he know those letters?" Robin continued yet still could believe it.
"There was probably someone on his crew that could read it and it appears that he could write it as well" Shayla smiled at her old crewmate's work. So, Oden was here too. Her eyes soften, she missed his dearly. He probably went crazy up here.
"It says 'Roger' there?" the sky knight asked, "Did you know him?" the two females questioned. The old man explained that Roger was here over 20 years ago and that they were pirates of the blue sea, which they knew.
Robin was deep in her though as she kept talking, and it didn't look like she was talking to someone specifically. Until she turned to the chief and told them that their purpose for protecting the stone was done. They offered them a huge piece of gold, and Robin just accepted it.
"Miss, that boy with the straw hat had the same feeling around his as Roger" the sky knight started, "His name is Monkey D. Luffy. I'm quite interested in him myself" the older woman smiled. Shayla didn't say anything, but she agreed on what they were saying especially the 'His going to make his mark in history' part.
They went back to the city, "Hey, Robin. Shay hurry up! We're running away. We stole some gold" Luffy yelled from the other side. He turned around and saw them his catch, "We're rich now".
The sky people were shocked to see them leave already and were about to give them the piece of gold, but apparently, the other pirate misunderstood and thought they were angry they took the gold. Shayla cut a small piece of it off, "Looks like they don't need it" before they both ran over to the others.
They ran toward the ship and were ready to sail back to the blue sea. The only way down was to go to a place called clouds end. Everybody was kind of sad to leave but excited to go back, but Conis and her father were there to see them off.
The south bird they caught back at Jaya landed on the ship and the next island's course was already set, "Be careful during the drop" the blond girl yelled, and a second later the going Merry went for a free fall down 10,000 meters. Everybody's eyes were out of their skulls and screaming was heard throughout the sky.
Suddenly a giant octopus flew out of the sky and catch the ship with its tentacles. Zoro was about to cut it when most of them fell hard in the deck with the animals held them like a huge balloon slowly lowing them down to their sea.
Shayla smiled, 'This adventure has been amazing'. They descended and the Golden Bell sending them off made it perfect.
Shayla sat on the rail and enjoyed the ride down. The world was full of surprises, and it was never boring. It felt like they were floating in the sky.
The sun was about to set, and they were getting closer and closer to the sea. That was until Sanji noticed that the octopus was getting smaller and soon it shrunk completely.
There was once again a free fall down and Shayla leaned over the rail and made a spring of water to gently lowing it down. It was heavy and it was getting harder to hold but when the ship finally touched the sea Shayla could breathe again.
The thought of them sailing with a damaged ship had given her a bit of a scare, but it was understandable. They were falling 10.000km and the ship might not even survive.
Shayla was so happy to be back. She could at least do something now if the ship broke.
"It seems even further away after falling from it" Robin started.
"It's like we were dreaming," Nami said and looked up.
"Well, it was a country of dreams. Think you'll be able to go there again someday?" Chopper wondered.
"We'll be able to go there when we die or close enough". Zoro answered
"Zoro... You think you're going to make it to heaven" Usopp asked surprised.
Everyone laughed and Nami warned them that a wave was on its way towards them. Once everything was calm the orange-haired pirate took her waver and tried to see it if worked on water too. Much to her surprise.
The navigator got back to the ship and Sanji told everyone to get inside so they could eat something. While waiting Nami got the bags of gold and told them they were going to divide it between them, but she would get 80 percent of it.
Shayla found it amusing when the guys complained, "Just kidding." and she changed the topic for something else to use their share of money for, " I'm sorry, Shay. We have to fix the ship before we can divide it" Nami apologized.
"No worries. You guys can have my share too. I don't need it" Shay smiled. She stretched her hand out and a big piece of gold went up her arm. She shook her hand and it forms a long staff, "I have this one" she said happily. She always wanted to have a weapon and with her powers, she could form as she liked.
Shayla took her hands over the tip, she turned it into a spear and then a trident. As much as she hated to admit it, earlobes did give her a perspective of some things.
"Awesome" the silly trio yelled.
Shay kept admiring it and didn't really listen to their conversation, "Let's add a shipwright to our crew" Luffy yelled.
That was obvious to her but a good idea nonetheless and everyone agreed.