Ch. 55- A Fight for a Dream
One Piece © Oda
Blizzard, Monkey D. Aika, Kumi, Kovar, and Monkey D. Star © Me
Shade © Gakuto1991
The Straw Hats stood within the void, taking a moment to let what happened sink in. They didn't know why, but they felt this uneasy chill as they thought about what Blackbeard had said to their captain back then. It felt like hours until someone finally said something.
"...I don't like that guy," said Aika. "He's creepy."
"I'm not very fond of that guy, either," Kumi added.
"Trust me, we're not fond of him, either," said Zoro.
"You know," Usopp began, "he kinda reminds me of...well..."
"...Luffy?" Zoro concluded, causing the sniper to gulp nervously.
"Well...yeah," Usopp answered. "I mean...that guy talked about dreams and stuff, just like Luffy did...which kinda has me thinking..."
"Don't even get me started," Franky said. "The thought of our captain having anything in common with that fatass is unsettling enough as it is!"
"I don't really like the idea of it, either," Nami murmured as she rubbed her arm. "I actually try not to think about it."
"You know," Sanji began, "I can't help wondering that maybe Luffy sensed that something was off about that guy."
"How so?" asked Brook.
"I dunno," Sanji admitted. "I mean...Luffy, as dense as he is, would never just outright pick a fight over something trivial like what food tastes bad or whatever. I think he was looking for an excuse to fight him because he sensed that something wasn't right about Blackbeard."
"In that case, I can't blame him," said Blizzard. "The very moment I saw Blackbeard way back in Impel Down, my instincts were going nuts."
"Jimbei did say that Blackbeard is one of the Four Emperors now, right?" asked Robin.
"Ahh, don't even start!" Usopp exclaimed as he covered his ears. "The fact that eventually, we'll run into him already gives me bad dreams at night!"
Before they could discuss it further, the memories began to return, causing the group to look up. This time, it showed the Past Straw Hats walking around inside someone's house. Nearby, lying on a bed was a tall, shirtless man of middle age. For a man his age, he was very well built, his body having a toned and muscular physique. For some reason, there was what looked like a giant chestnut on his blonde hair.
"Who's that guy?" asked Aika.
"That's Montblanc Cricket," Robin said. "A descendant of the Montblanc Family."
"M...Mont-blank...Mount-blink...Monty-blankie..." Aika tried to repeated, but then she giggled as she stumbled on her words.
"Hahahaha! That's a mouthful!" Kumi laughed.
"Montblanc..." Brook whispered. "I dare say that name sounds familiar."
"Perhaps you have," Sanji said. "Ever heard of Noland the Liar?"
"Oh, yeah! That old fairy tale!" Franky exclaimed. "But what does that have to do with any of this? And how come that guy's in bed?"
"You'll see," said Chopper while he watched his past self examine Cricket.
"What's wrong with him, Chopper?" asked Past Nami.
"He's got decompression sickness, otherwise known as 'the bends'," Past Chopper replied.
"The bends?" Past Zoro repeated.
"The old guy's sick?" asked Past Luffy.
"It's a condition that divers get, sometimes," Past Chopper replied. "It's not a chronic illness, though. It happens when a diver comes up from deep water too quickly. The sudden decompression causes air bubbles to form in the bloodstream and tissues. The bubbles expand and can cause problems in the vascular system, muscles, and joints."
"So it's a mystery sickness, then," Past Luffy said as he looked out an open window.
"This man has probably been diving deep, day after day, without giving his body any time to decompress," said Past Chopper.
"But why would he do something like that?!" Past Nami asked.
"I don't know," Past Chopper answered, "but it's very dangerous. In some cases...people can die from decompression sickness."
"Wait...was he like that when you found him?" Aika asked.
"Not really," Sanji said. "You see, we came here, trying to find a clue on how to get to the Sky Island and...well...he attacked us."
"What?!" Brook questioned. "But whatever for?!"
"Well, we were trespassing," Nami answered. "Not just that, but he also thought we were trying to steal his gold."
"He had gold?" Franky asked. "Jeez, no wonder he got so protective."
All of a sudden, two large apes came barreling into the house, but they were so huge, they could barely fit through the door. One looked more muscular with spiky hair and had a long tail while the other was a bit more stout, looking like an orangutan that wore typical pirate clothes.
"Hey, Boss!" shouted the first one. "Are you okay in here?!"
"What's going on in here?!" questioned the second one.
"AAAH!" Past Usopp and Past Chopper screamed. "IT'S THEM AGAIN!"
"Are those...monkeys?" asked Aika.
"Those two are Masira and his brother, Shoujo," Sanji answered. "They're members of the Saruyama Alliance, which the old man is the founder of."
"Yeah, and lemme tell ya, they were a handful," Usopp said. "Shoujo's screeching was one of the reasons why poor Merry got all busted up!"
"Really?!" Aika asked, worriedly.
"Yeah, which is why we freaked out so bad," said Chopper.
"What are you guys doing here?!" Shoujo questioned.
"What did you to the boss?!" screeched Masira.
"The old man's sick, so we're treating him," said Past Luffy, holding a basin of water. "Get outta here."
"Luffy, there's no point in trying to reason with them!" Past Nami shouted. "Quick! Let's get out through the window!"
"Wait for us!" Past Usopp and Past Chopper cried as they prepared to follow her.
A pause...until Masira and Shoujo started to cry.
"That's...so kind of you!" they said.
"THEY ACTUALLY LISTENED?!" Past Nami, Past Usopp, and Past Chopper questioned as they crashed into the wall, causing the others to laugh.
"Uh...well, I could be wrong, you know," Nami admitted.
"What a lively bunch," Robin smiled.
Soon, Past Luffy was sitting outside with the apes, along with Past Zoro and Past Usopp, who were both sitting by the door.
"So you guys live here, too?" asked Past Luffy.
"That's right," said Shoujo. "The Boss's house is the headquarters for the Saruyama Alliance!"
"We usually sleep on our own ships since the house is too small for us, though," Masira added.
"That's right," Shoujo agreed. "After all, his house is a bit too small for us!" He then burst into laughter.
"Yeah, you guys are pretty big," Past Luffy concurred. "I mean, compared to a giant, you're really puny! Shishishishi!"
"They sure get along, huh?" Blizzard asked.
"What'd you expect?" asked Zoro. "They are monkeys, after all."
"True, true," Blizzard nodded.
"I have to admit, I'm amazed that a little guy like you could kick Masira off your ship like that!" Shoujo said as he smacked his brother on the back. "It takes a lot of strength to overpower him!"
"Ah, it was nothing, really," Past Luffy shrugged.
"Huh? What's that?!" Shoujo asked in surprise.
"I bet you could kick his ass," Past Luffy said.
"Hey, Luffy!" Past Chopper called from inside the house. "The old man's awake!"
"Oh, great!" Past Luffy said as he headed inside...not seeming to notice that Shoujo had indeed managed to send Masira flying.
"Wow, he was right," said Franky. "He could kick his ass!"
Soon, the Past Straw Hats were inside the house, where they found Cricket sitting up on his bed, smoking a cigarette.
"Sorry about the fuss," he said. "I just thought you guys were after my gold, that's all."
"You have gold?! Really?!" Past Nami asked with Berry signs in her eyes.
"Settle down, Nami," Past Usopp scolded.
"Now then," Cricket said, "I was told you had something you wanted to ask me. What is it?"
"We wanna go to the Sky Island!" Past Luffy answered. "How do we get there, Diamond Head Pops?!"
"The Sky Island?" asked Cricket...before he burst into laughter. "You actually believe that fairy tale?!"
Past Nami was prepared to tear the ailing old man apart had Past Usopp not grabbed her and held her back in time.
"Sheesh," Franky muttered. "Bellamy's guys sure pissed you off, huh, Nami?"
"More than that," Nami muttered with disdain.
"So you're saying it's not real, after all?!" Past Luffy questioned, which caused Cricket to smirk.
"Well...there was this one man who said that it did exist," he said, "but he went down in history as a liar and his descendants have been the objects of ridicule ever since."
Past Luffy turned and gaped at Past Usopp.
"IT'S NOT ME, LUFFY!" he shouted.
"His name was Noland the Liar," said Cricket. "It's a very old tale from centuries ago."
Past Luffy turned to Past Usopp, again, gaping in shock.
"AGAIN, IT'S NOT ME!" Past Usopp shouted.
"Are you sure about that, Usopp?" Aika asked.
"You did attempt a similar lie in Dressrosa, didn't you?" Robin inquired.
"Oh, come on, get off my back!" Usopp shouted. "Besides, that saved our skins! ...I mean...sort of."
It was then that Cricket that revealed that Noland was his distant ancestor from many years ago and that everything that happened in the fairy tale happened here on Jaya, on the very spot where he made his home, to everyone's shock (at least to the ones who weren't there at the time).
"He's descended from Noland?!" Brook questioned.
"Who'd have thought!" Franky exclaimed.
"Even I've heard the name 'Noland' when I was a pup!' Blizzard added. 'I never thought he actually had any descendants, though!'
"He was my great-great-great-great-great..." Cricket said before he scoffed. "Well, the long and short of it is he was a distant ancestor of mine. I bet a mosquito wouldn't even be able to find even a drop of his blood in me." He looked to the Past Straw Hats. "The Montblanc Family was sent into exile and forced to live a life of shame. To this day, we're still ridiculed...but no one in my family has ever once blamed Noland."
"Why's that?" asked Past Usopp.
"Because Noland was a lot of things," Cricket began, "but he sure as hell was no liar."
"Wait...he wasn't?" Aika asked.
"But that doesn't make sense," Franky muttered.
"Yes, I also find it rather strange," said Brook.
"In the book, Noland's last words were 'The City of Gold must have sunk into the sea!'" Cricket explained. "In the book, he was shown with a big, dopey grin on his face...when in reality, he died with tears falling from his eyes. The island they reached was undoubtedly Jaya...the same island that held the ruins where the City of Gold was said to be hidden...I honestly don't believe he made it up. Noland believed that the ancient ruins sank below the sea due to the shifting of the earth's crust. Everyone thought he only made it up as a last-ditch effort to redeem himself...but he was executed while everyone laughed at him."
"So, the City of Gold really did disappear?" Brook asked.
"Yeah, but it didn't sink into the sea!" Usopp answered. "In reality, it was actually shot straight up into the sky!"
"Wait! The sky?!" Franky questioned. "You're kidding me!"
"We don't really know the whole details about what happened to Montblanc Noland," said Robin, "but we do know that he definitely wasn't lying...at least, not completely."
"So in order to clear your family name," Past Usopp began, excitedly, "you've been diving down to the ocean floor in search of the City of Gold?!"
"CUT THE CRAP!" Cricket shouted as he fired a shot at the sniper, but luckily, it missed him, but it doesn't stop everyone from getting tense.
"What'd you do that for?!" Past Luffy questioned, angrily.
"So what if Noland was telling the truth?" asked Cricket. "So what if he was a great explorer?! I DON'T GIVE A SHIT ABOUT ANY OF IT! Because that bastard's blood flows in my veins, ever since I was a kid, I've been ridiculed and picked on by complete and total strangers! DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA WHAT THAT SHIT'S LIKE?!"
Past Luffy gasped quietly...and for a moment, images of himself as a child being bullied and scorned by the other children appeared, which made the Straw Hats' hearts sink. They knew that must have struck a deep chord with their captain.
Cricket then went on to explain how for 4 centuries, countless members of his family went out to sea in order to restore honor to the Montblanc name, but none have ever been heard from, again. Cricket was so ashamed of his lineage that he left his home and became a pirate. He didn't really want to become one; he just needed a reason to escape from Noland's curse as he put it. That's when he happened upon Jaya, 10 years prior to meeting the Straw Hats. Despite how much he despised Noland and his family name, Cricket was the only member of the Montblanc Clan to make landfall here, and as he stood at the cliff that overlooked the island and found no trace of the City of Gold, he surmised that it had been fate that brought him to Jaya and that there was no way to escape it.
Of course, his crew thought that he was crazy, so they left him there, and ever since that day, Cricket dove into the sea, every day and almost every hour, searching for the City of Gold.
"How awful," Brook commented. "Since when did pirating ever become so...shallow?"
"Sheesh, talk about nerve," Blizzard muttered in disdain. "Pirate crews are supposed to stick together until the very end! I've had fleas that were more loyal than those scumbags!"
"This isn't about clearing my family name," Cricket said, "and I don't even care if I do find the City of Gold. This is a battle with a man who ruined my life long before it even started...but before I die, I intend to set the record straight!"
By now, Past Usopp was in tears...and even his present-day counterpart, and even Franky and Brook were in tears.
"What a brave old-timer," Franky wept. "Able to face his fears with no regrets like that! I wish I could have met him for real!"
"Such a...sad tale," Brook muttered.
"Poor Mr. Cricket," said Aika, sadly.
"Yeah...I really can't help but feel bad for him," said Kumi.
"Don't feel pity for him!" Usopp said. "That guy was as manly as he could get! He didn't do what he did to make you feel sorry for him! He did it because he felt like it was something he had to do! It takes true bravery to do something like that!"
"Hey, Diamond-Head Pops," said Past Luffy. "What about those two monkeys? How did they come to live here with you?"
"It must be a true tale about men who risk their lives in the ocean's depths behind it!" Past Usopp exclaimed.
"...Well...not really," Cricket answered. "They're just fans of the story, that's all."
"WHAT?!" Past Usopp questioned.
"Really?" Past Nami asked, incredulously.
It was then Cricket went to explain how he met Masira and Shoujo, who were outside making some big ruckus, about 5 or 6 years ago. They had heard about him and sought him out, believing that what Noland said about the City of Gold was true, as well. Despite the circumstances, Cricket accepted them due to years of loneliness and believed that they had come into his life to save him.
Once again, Past Usopp was moved to tears while the Straw Hats smiled...and then they heard Past Luffy's thoughts.
'So the old man has friends, now...that's good...'
"Are you done talking about monkeys, already?" asked Past Luffy. "I'm getting bored."
"THEN GRIT YOUR TEETH AND BEAR IT, YOU UNGRATEFUL BRAT!" Past Usopp shouted as he bopped him on the head, but Past Luffy promptly shoved him aside.
"Like I said, old man," he said, "we wanna go to the Sky Island!"
"Wow...and here I was, thinking Luffy didn't care," Usopp said.
"I think Luffy wanted to make sure that Cricket wasn't lonely before he decided to ask," Robin mused.
"You know...that actually does sound like Luffy, now," said Nami. "I think Luffy sympathizes with people like him: people who were lonely and had no friends. Remember, he didn't have it easy, growing up, either."
"Yeah, that's true," said Sanji. "Luffy just wanted to make sure that the old-timer was done speaking about everything that happened to him. I guess that's just his way of being polite...in a kind of rude way."
"That's Luffy for you," Zoro shrugged.
Despite Past Luffy's bluntness, Cricket grinned at him.
"Quite the straightforward kid, aren't you?" he asked. "I admit, I like that tenacity of yours, boy." He then reached over to a bookshelf and pulled out a rather aged-looking book. "However...I told you before, the only one who spoke of the Sky Island was Noland. If you believe his tales, you're sure to become a laughing stock, just like me."
"So you mean Noland went to the Sky Island, too?!" asked Past Luffy in excitement.
"Well...he didn't actually say that he went there," said Cricket as he flipped through the pages of the book.
"Wait...is that Noland's logbook?!" asked Past Nami.
"Sure is, little lady," Cricket replied as he tossed the book to her. "Go on. Read that passage."
Past Nami looked down at the book and read the pages, amazed at Noland's findings, such as the Sky Fish and even the waver that was said to be created in the Sky Island, as well as many other fascinating treasures. The navigator expressed a desire to have one for herself while the boys urged her to keep reading. By the time she was done, everyone stared at her in excitement as if she was reading some fabulous fairy tale.
"Guys!" she exclaimed. "Do you know what this means?!"
"The Sky Island IS real!" Past Luffy exclaimed. "Just like Robin said!"
"Yeah, and according to Noland's log, people actually believed they existed, 400 years ago!" Past Usopp added while Past Chopper remained stunned from the shock...and it was then that the memory faded to black.
"Wait! Don't stop there!" Brook cried. "I want to hear more!"
"Me, too!" Franky exclaimed. "It was just getting good!"
"So...I'm a bit confused," Aika said. "If Mr. Cricket says he hates Noland, how come he's trying to prove that the City of Gold does exist?"
"I guess it's more because he wants closure, Aika," Robin noted.
"Closure?" Aika repeated. "What's that mean?"
"It means to resolve an emotional or traumatic conflict you've had in life," Brook answered.
"It makes sense," Sanji said. "The old man spent the next ten years, trying to find the answer he was looking for...but he was just looking in the wrong place."
"...Closure..." Nami whispered as she put a hand to her chin in pondering.
"What's wrong, Nami?" Usopp asked.
"Uh...nothing," Nami answered. "Don't worry about it."
Soon, the memories began to return, this time showing the Past Straw Hats all in Cricket's house. It was dark out and they were all on the floor, eating food, drinking grog, and just having a hell of a time.
"All right, a party!" Franky exclaimed.
"Yeah!" Aika and Kumi both cheered.
"What was the occasion?" Brook asked.
"Ah, you know," Usopp shrugged. "Just having fun for the sake of having fun. That's how we Straw Hats roll!"
As everyone was partying, they noticed that Past Robin was sitting in a corner of the room, all by herself, smiling in amusement while quickly drinking her drink while she glanced down at Noland's logbook, which was lying in her lap.
"Hey, Robin!" Past Luffy called, his cheeks full to bursting and his stomach bloated to twice its size. "What are you doing, sitting all the way over there? Come and eat with us!"
"Don't be shy, Robin, dear!" Past Sanji exclaimed. "I made sure there's enough even for you!"
"I'm just fine, Captain, thank you," Past Robin assured.
"Aunt Robin, why are you just sitting there, all alone?" asked Aika.
"Like I said," Robin began, "I didn't quite trust them, yet. I was so used to being on my own that I pretty much distanced myself from your brother and the others."
"But that's so sad!" Kumi added.
"Yeah, you're missing out on all the fun!" Aika exclaimed.
"Oh, sweetheart," Robin smiled. "Thank you for being concerned."
"Well, at least you don't distance yourself, anymore," Zoro said as he put an arm around Robin's shoulders, causing her to chuckle.
As everyone ate, Cricket approached Past Robin almost eerily, causing her to gasp due to being a bit startled.
"The City of Gold is in the skull's right eye," he said with a flushed face, indicating his intoxication.
"Huh?" Aika muttered.
"The skull's right eye?" Brook repeated.
"It was the last thing that Noland wrote in his log before he was executed," Robin said. "I was trying to figure out what it meant."
"That tear-stained sentence," Cricket began, "was the very last thing that Noland wrote...on the very day he was executed. Even after all this time spent on Jaya, I still have no idea what he means." He took a sip of his grog before he continued to speak, almost poetically. "The skull's right eye! Was that the lost City of Gold was called?! Or was it...an omen of death?! The remaining blank pages in the log provide no clues..."
"Shishishi!" Past Luffy laughed as he kept eating.
"And that, my friends, is why we dive!" exclaimed Cricket. "We see our dreams at the bottom of the sea!"
"Hell yeah, we do!" Masira cheered.
"You said it, Boss!" agreed Shoujo.
"Shishishi!" Past Luffy laughed as he ate some grilled fish. "We're gonna go flying!"
"Not with the way you eat, we won't!" Past Zoro quipped before everyone broke into laughter.
As the night went, Cricket began to tell the tale of Noland's adventures in Jaya, telling them how when he and his crew first made landfall, the first things they heard was the call of a peculiar bird and the tolls of a giant golden bell, and how he found the City of Gold hidden at its source. By the end, the Past Straw Hats were left cheering along with Masira and Shoujo.
"Yeah! Noland!" Past Luffy hollered. "Whoo-hoo!"
"I'm actually starting to like that guy!" Past Usopp added.
"Oh, wow!" Past Nami exclaimed. "A bell made out of solid gold!"
"Man...what a story!" Blizzard gaped.
"This Noland was quite the adventurer!" Brook chimed in. "Yohohohoho!"
"OW!" Franky exclaimed. "A SUPER adventurer if I heard one! Wish I could have met the guy! Sure sounded manly!"
"All right, Noland!" Aika and Kumi both exclaimed while pumping their fists (or paw in Kumi's case) in the air.
"Here," Cricket said as he placed several golden bell-shaped ingots on the floor in front of him, one of which Past Nami immediately hugged. "Feast your eyes on these."
"Wow!" Past Nami exclaimed with Berry signs in her eyes. "A bell made of pure gold!"
"Uh...it looks kinda puny, huh?" asked Past Usopp.
"Hahaha!" laughed Cricket. "I didn't say it was the actually golden bell. This is just an ingot. I found three of them on the ocean floor."
"Then that means that the City of Gold does exist, right?!" Past Luffy asked.
"Naw, not really," answered Shoujo. "Just because we found gold down there, it doesn't really prove it existed. An amount this small could come up, just about anywhere!"
"What's an ingot?" asked Past Chopper as he inspected the small bells.
"Even so," Past Robin began, "it does indeed prove that there was a civilization here, long ago, doesn't it?" She then glanced at Past Chopper. "And to answer your question, ship's doctor, ingots are created as a weight standard. It's used for training."
"There's also that strange bird that was mentioned in the passage," said Cricket. "Masira...bring it out."
"Got it, Boss!" Masira replied as he put down another gold statue, this one depicting a strange bird with a square crest and a large beak.
"Whoa, there's more?!" Past Usopp questioned.
"That's a big one," Past Zoro pointed out.
"This is the last one," said Cricket. "Not really much to show for ten years of diving, eh? Hahahahaha!"
"What's he talking about?!" Franky questioned. "That's a SUPER impressive haul, if you ask me!"
"Just wait until we get to Skypiea," Nami replied. "It'll really knock your socks off!"
"It's beautiful!" Past Nami exclaimed.
"What is that, a penguin or something?" asked Past Luffy.
"Bells of pure gold and a bird," Past Sanji mused. "Perhaps those were the ancient symbols of Jaya, 400 years ago, wouldn't you say, old man?"
"Can't really say for sure," answered Cricket as he blew a puff of smoke. "I think it might have been part of some statue. You see, this here is called a South Bird. They're indigenous to this island."
"Does it have a weird call?" asked Past Luffy.
"Sure does," Cricket answered. "Just like how it was mentioned in Noland's log."
"Speaking of the South Bird," Masira began, "old sailors would speak of it..." Suddenly, he trailed off...and a look of shock and horror overcame his, Shoujo's, and Cricket's faces.
"CRAP!" they all cursed, causing everything to come to a halt.
"Hey, what's going on?!" Past Usopp asked.
"This is bad!" Cricket shouted. "You kids have gotta go into the jungle and go south! Right now!"
"What do you mean, Diamond-Head Pops?" asked Past Luffy.
"What's gotten into him, all of a sudden?" asked Brook.
"You'll see," Sanji replied.
"Listen to me!" Cricket urged as he pointed to the statue of the bird. "You gotta find one of these birds, on the double!"
"How come?!" Past Usopp questioned.
"Why do we need a bird, anyway?" asked Past Sanji.
"Listen very carefully," Cricket answered. "The Knock-Up Stream is located directly south of here, but just how do you plan on getting there?!"
"We'll just go straight, plain and simple," Past Luffy answered.
"THIS IS THE GRAND LINE, YOU IDIOT!" Cricket barked. "ONCE YOU'RE OUT AT SEA, HOW WILL YOU KNOW WHERE WE'RE GOING?!"
"That's right!" Past Nami cried. "The Log Pose can only guide us to the next island! It's useless when it comes to finding a part of the sea! And regular compasses don't work out here! So how will we know if we're heading south?!"
"That's why you need to find a South Bird!" Cricket answered. "You see, some animals have an innate sense of direction."
"Oh, yeah," Past Nami answered. "I've heard of that. Some of them have a homing instinct, like pigeons and salmon."
"Hahahaha!" Past Luffy laughed. "That makes Zoro dumber than an animal!"
"Like you have room to talk!" Past Zoro spat.
"He's not wrong, Moss-head," Sanji smirked. "If you ask me, you've gotten worse."
"Why don't you come closer and say that, Dartboard?!" Zoro questioned as he drew his swords.
"The South Bird is the best of them all," Cricket explained. "No matter where it is on land or sea, its instincts always show it the right direction, which is why you have to go out and find one, or else you'll never find the Sky Island!"
"EEEEEEEEEEEHH?!" the Past Straw Hats questioned.
"Why didn't you say sooner, old man?!" Past Usopp asked.
"It's the middle of the night!" Past Nami shouted. "You really expect us to go out there into the jungle, right now?!"
"Quit your bellyachin'!" Cricket barked. "This is no time for arguments! Listen, we'll get your ship ready to go. We should have been doing that instead of wasting our time, partying like fools!"
"Don't you think it's a bit late to be saying THAT?!" Past Zoro questioned before the memory faded to black, once more.
"You guys were sure in a hurry," said Aika.
"We had to," Nami answered. "The Knock-Up Stream was going to show up at exactly noon the next day, so we had only a few hours to find it."
"What is this...Knock-Up Stream?" Brook asked.
"It's a current of water that shoots way up into the sky," Nami answered. "That's how we got to the Sky Island...and believe it or not, that's also how the City of Gold ended up in the sky."
"Wait, say what?!" Franky questioned.
"We'll explain later," Robin answered. "The point was we had to find the South Bird before sunrise, or else we'd have missed our chance."
"Well, that sounds easy enough," said Blizzard.
"Yeah, sounds easy," Sanji snarled. "Truth is, that bird was really crafty."
"Yeah, he kept chasing us with giant bugs and dropping beehives on us!" Usopp added.
"Made damn fools of us..." Zoro grumbled.
"Thankfully, Robin managed to catch it," Nami said.
"It was easy, once I could see what we were supposed to grab," Robin replied.
Soon, the memory returned, again...only this time, the Past Straw Hats all gaped in horror at the sight in front of them: Cricket, Masira, and Shoujo were all lying on the ground, battered and bloodied, Cricket's house completely in shambles...and the Going Merry, her stern ripped off the foundation.
"Good lord!" Brook cried.
"What the hell happened here?!" Franky questioned.
"...Bellamy and his goons happened, that's what," Zoro answered, bitterly.
"While we were looking for the South Bird," Nami began, "they came and beat up Cricket, Masira, and Shoujo and trashed our ship...and that's not all..."
"Huh?" Aika asked, worriedly.
"Hey! Diamond-Head Pops!" Past Luffy cried as he kneeled beside him. "What happened?! Are you okay?!"
"Ugh...Straw Hat..." Cricket groaned while coughing up blood. "We're...we're sorry...we couldn't stop them...but there's still time. We'll fix up your ship and-"
"Never mind that!" Past Luffy shouted. "What the hell happened to you guys?!"
"It doesn't matter," said Cricket as he sat up. "So...you kids got the South Bird, right? Good..."
"Luffy!" Past Nami cried as she ran out of the house. "Old Man Cricket's gold...it's gone!"
Past Luffy and the others tensed as they heard this. Even Past Robin seemed a little stunned.
"They stole Mr. Cricket's gold?!" Aika questioned.
"But that's not fair!" Kumi shouted. "He earned that gold, fair and square!"
"They didn't care!" Chopper answered. "They were just a bunch of bullies who walked all over anybody they thought was weaker than them!"
"Yeah...they stole it," Cricket confirmed. "But...it doesn't matter. Just forget about them...you have to-"
"What do you mean 'forget about them'?!" Past Usopp questioned. "You worked 10 years to find that gold! You almost killed yourself over it!"
"I said it doesn't matter!" Cricket shouted. "Look...what happened between them and us is our problem, not yours. If the entire Saruyama Alliance works together and prepare your ship, you can still make it...we'll have ready for you by morning. You people should hurry and get ready to set sail. You guys are going to the Sky Island if it kills me!"
The Straw Hats, both past and present, all stared in disbelief at the old man.
"He was really determined to get you all up there, wasn't he?" Brook asked.
"Yeah, he was," Usopp answered, sadly. "He didn't care about what happened to his gold. He just wanted to help us."
"...Old Man..." Past Usopp whispered.
"Hey, Luffy!" Past Zoro called, causing Past Luffy to turn to the swordsman...who pointed at a familiar mark on the wall: a crossed-out smiley face.
"That's Bellamy's mark!" Past Nami cried.
Past Luffy glared at the mark, then glanced at Past Zoro, who quietly nodded his head.
"You need some help?" he asked.
"Nah," Past Luffy answered. "I can handle those chumps."
"Wait a minute, Luffy!" Past Nami shouted. "You're not serious, are you?! We have to set sail in three hours!"
"Robin," Past Luffy called to the archaeologist. "If I just follow the coast, I'll end up in town, right?"
"That's right," Past Robin nodded.
"Good," Past Luffy replied before he turned and walked away.
"Wait a minute, kid!" called Cricket. "Where do you think you're going?! Don't do anything stupid! You don't know what you're getting yourself into-" He stopped when Past Zoro held out Wado Ichimonji in front of him.
"If you wanna stop him," Past Zoro began, "then you'll have to use this."
"Don't worry about me, you guys," said Past Luffy as he cracked his knuckles. "I'll be back in the morning."
And with that, he took off running down the shoreline.
"Luffy was determined to get that gold back, huh?" asked Blizzard.
"Old Man Cricket worked hard for it," said Sanji. "Luffy wasn't going to let Bellamy take it away from him...and besides...if the old-timer tried to take it back himself, he'd more than likely die before he could."
"Because he was sick?" Aika asked.
"Yeah," Chopper answered. "That's why Bellamy and his crew beat him up while they had the chance."
"Those damn cowards!" Franky cursed as he clenched his fists. "Makes me sick just thinking about it!"
"This is NOT the pirating way!" Brook agreed with a bitter scowl on his face.
Soon, the memories reappeared again, this time showing Past Luffy standing on a rooftop in Mock Town. The Straw Hats could see the bitterness and ferocity in his eyes...and it was then that they knew that he was beyond pissed. Down below, they could hear Bellamy and his men laughing in the tavern from earlier. That's when Past Luffy took in a deep breath...and then yelled at the very top of his lungs...
"BELLAMY! WHERE ARE YOOOOOOOOOOOOU?!"
The way he shouted...the very memory itself seemed to shake for just a moment. Then, after a moment more...Bellamy soon came outside, wearing that same smug grin.
"Well, well," Bellamy said. "We were just talking about you, Straw Hat. What do you want?"
"...Diamond-Head Pops' gold," Past Luffy answered. "Give it back!"
"Gold?" asked Bellamy. "You mean Old Man Cricket's gold?" Suddenly, he crouched down, causing his legs to turn into springs, which caused him to jump high up into the air.
"Goodness!" Brook exclaimed. "He has Devil Fruit powers."
"Yeah," Zoro answered. "The Boing-Boing Fruit. Eating it turned his legs into springs and gives him twice as much jumping power than your average man."
"Why should I give it back?" Bellamy asked. "I stole that gold, fair and square as a real pirate would!"
"Real pirates don't steal from old men!" Aika shouted.
"Yeah, you phony!" Franky yelled.
"You might be a pirate, too," Bellamy began, "but you're in no position to making demands, Straw Hat."
"Yes, I am," Past Luffy answered. "Those guys are my friends. I'm taking their gold back and you won't stop me!"
"Hahahahaha!" Bellamy cackled. "Such a stupid claim! Can you even fight?! Do you even know how to throw a punch?! What can a weakling like you do to me?!"
Past Luffy only scowled at him, causing Bellamy to smirk.
"Aww," he said, mockingly. "Did I hurt your feelings? Do you want me to call your mommy~?"
"My Mom's dead," Past Luffy answered, "but she loved me a hell of a lot more than yours ever did."
Hearing that caused Bellamy to tense up while the Straw Hats snickered.
"He's got him pegged, I guess," Sanji smirked.
"Damn, Luffy can be cold, sometimes!" Franky added.
"...Nothing but a lot of talk," Bellamy hissed. "You really are a coward, Straw Hat. You didn't even try to fight back, earlier! Just stood there like a deer in headlights!"
"That time was different," Past Luffy replied, causing Bellamy to laugh, once again.
"What's so different?!" he questioned before he squat down, again, his legs turning into springs. "This time...I'll be sure to teach you a lesson that you won't live to forget!" With that, he jumped off the roof of the tower, causing the roof to end up crumbling from the force while Past Luffy hung on tight.
"Spring SNIPE!" Bellamy yelled as he shot himself toward Past Luffy, who noticed him in the blink of an eye.
"Big Brother, look out!" Aika cried, and as if he heard her warning, Past Luffy jumped off the crumbling tower roof before anyone could so much as blink, sending Bellamy's goons scattering as he landed on the pier. After a moment, he stood up and dusted off his pants, then glared up at Bellamy, who smirked.
"This should end it," he said before he jumped off another building. "SPRING HOPPER!"
Soon, Bellamy started bouncing around the buildings, gaining so much momentum that he was barely seen to the naked eye.
"Damn, he's fast!" Franky exclaimed as he raised his sunglasses.
"Wait a minute...this is almost like...!" Blizzard whispered.
"You're their friend, you say?!" Bellamy questioned as he kept bouncing around, ricocheting off the walls. "Come to think of it, you're a lot like the old man and his two monkey pals! HAHAHAHAHAHA! You may call yourselves pirates, but you know nothing! There is no City of Gold! No island in the sky! Just oceans and ships and the men who sail them!"
A pause...before Past Luffy slowly raised his right hand.
"...You asked me...if I could throw a punch," he said in an almost sinister voice as his knuckles popped.
"...Do it..." Zoro whispered.
"Show him what you mean, Luffy," Usopp said with a serious glare.
"SO LONG, STRAW HAT!" Bellamy shouted as he flew toward Past Luffy...who roared as he reeled his fist back.
"FUCK YOU!" he yelled before he threw his fist down...and just like that, Bellamy's face met the floor...a huge, fist-shaped bruise in his jaw as he coughed up blood.
"YES!" Aika cheered.
"HE GOT HIM!" Chopper exclaimed. "WHOO-HOO!"
"WAY TO GO, LUFFY!" Kumi hollered before she howled to the sky.
"HAHA! Did you see that?!" Franky laughed. "POW! Right in the kisser!"
"Yohohohoho!" Brook chortled. "Masterfully done! That's the way to do it, Luffy!"
"About time someone shut him up," Sanji smirked.
"Thank GOD," Nami agreed.
Zoro chuckled, smirking proudly at his captain. He knew the moment he saw that look in Luffy's eyes that he was about to get serious. Bellamy may have humiliated him, once, but there was no way Luffy was ever going to take him beating up Cricket lying down.
In the end...Bellamy was the true coward.
By now, Sarquiss stood nearby, yelling at Bellamy to get up and stop joking around...but he just lied there, limp and motionless while Past Luffy's fist was dripping with blood. That's when this particular piece of paper came flying at Sarquiss and landed on his face...and as he pulled it away, he gasped in horror.
It was Past Luffy's bounty...of 100 million Berries.
As the Bellamy Pirates gaped, horrified, Past Luffy soon turned to them.
"...Old Man Cricket's gold," he said. "Bring it out here...NOW!"
"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHH!" the Bellamy Pirates screamed before they all turned tail and ran like the Devil himself was after them. "BELLAMY'S BEEN BEATEN!"
The Straw Hats, meanwhile, just laughed at their cowardice.
"What a bunch of wusses!" Franky shouted.
"Yeah, look at them run!" Blizzard added.
"That'll teach you!" Aika shouted. "You big...you big...um...uhh..."
"Big buttheads," Zoro whispered.
"Yeah! Big buttheads!" Aika yelled. "Thanks, Zoro!"
"Zoro, don't go teaching her that, please," Robin chided.
"Oh, come on, it's not like it's a real curse," Zoro said.
After a while, Past Luffy was seen cheerily walking out of the tavern, carrying a large bag on his shoulders.
"Shishishi!" he laughed. "I got the gold~! It wasn't too hard to find! They practically just left it out in the open like that!"
Just as he was about to turn and leave town...
"HEY! WHERE DO YOU THINK YOU'RE GOING, STRAW HAT?!"
That yell came from Sarquiss, who as being held by several other members of Bellamy's crew.
"DON'T YOU DARE WALK AWAY FROM ME!" Sarquiss yelled. "NO PRETEND PIRATE IS GONNA BEAT THE LIKES OF US! HEY, DID YOU HEAR ME, STRAW HAT?! JUST WHERE THE HELL ARE YOU GOING?!"
Past Luffy soon stopped in his tracks...and then he raised his fist, once again.
"Where am I going?" he asked, which caused Sarquiss to yelp as he fell down right on his butt...and the Straw Hats could see a puddle forming where he sat.
"...Up there!" Past Luffy answered as he pointed up to the sky...and with that being said, the memory faded to black, once more.
TO BE CONTINUED...
Next time on One Piece: The Fire Within...
Brook: So this is it, right? We'll finally see the Sky Island?!
Nami: That's right!
Past Luffy: Hey, guys! Look what I found!
Past Sanji: You spent all that time looking for a stupid bug?!
Past Nami: Come on, Luffy, we're gonna miss it!
Blackbeard: Hold it right there!
Chopper: Blackbeard, again?! What does he want?!
Past Luffy: Hey, cool! My bounty went up!
*Soon, the Knock-Up Stream sends the Going Merry flying into the sky*
Past Luffy: WHOO-HOO! SKY ISLAND, HERE WE COME!
*A while later*
Conis: Heso!
Aika: Huh? Bellybutton?
Next time: The Island in the Sky
And that's another new chapter.
Also, R.I.P. Kobe Bryant.