This is the 40th chapter. I don't own the series of One Piece.
Island at the Distant Sea! Lost Island!
Somewhere at sea
As soon as the Straw Hat pirates got out of the situation, the Marines are repairing the main mast since it's snapped into two and they're stuck at sea. The Marine ships were gathered around the other Marine ship to help them out.
"All Squad Captains, assemble on the deck of the flagship, on the double!"
"Where's the Quartermaster?"
"Turn the yard this way!"
"No, no, to the right!"
"We're gonna need all the repair planks from the other ship!"
"The flagship has to be fixed and ready to sailing within the hour! Move it!"
With that, the Marines wasted no time as they head to the storage room to get the repair planks while calling the fellow Marines for help. The Lieutenant Commander of the Marines was very upset that the Straw Hat pirates manage to get away.
"Damn those pirates, we'll lose them if these repairs take too long."
"No we won't. In fact, letting them go now would be to our benefit." Eric said, walking towards the Lieutenant Commander which left him confused.
"What do you mean?"
"It's simple really, they would to dangerously escape from this island. Now why do you think they did that?" Eric questions with a smirk, leaving the Lieutenant Commander ponder. "Have you forgotten that this island has a legend? Let me refresh your memory, it's about dragons and the fabled nest on Lost Island."
"Wait, are you saying that-?"
"It's only a guess." Eris said with a smirk, adjusting his sunglasses. "But it is an educated guess. If I'm correct, those Straw Hats will lead us right to it."
When Eric is walking away, the Lieutenant Commander is looking at him slightly, had feeling that the mercenary is up to something suspicious. While most of the Marines are pulling the main mast up on the deck, one of the Marines is about to send a message to Commodore Nelson, but was stopped by Eric as he spoke.
"Making a report to Commodore Nelson, are we?" Eric said, earned his attention. "There's no need for that."
"Um, but sir...I...understood."
Eric then left the room with a smirk on his face, walking towards the hallway.
'Dragonite, the elixir of immortality. It's finally within my grasp, I'm not about to turn it over to a slob like Nelson. It's mine and mine alone! And with it, Eric 'The Whirlwind' will become Eric 'The Unstoppable'.' Eric mentally thought with an evil smirk as he made his way towards the deck.
Meanwhile at the Marine Ship of Branch 8, Commodore Nelson is starting to grow impatient while wondering what's keeping them as he spoke.
"Where is it?" Commodore Nelson questions as one of the Marines rush towards him with the food on the stand.
"Your lunch, Commodore. Here it is."
"No!" Commodore Nelson shouts, smacking the stand with his fan, leaving his food on the floor. "That's not what I meant!"
One of the Marines rushed towards the Commodore as he him a salute and spoke.
"I have news for you, sir!"
"It's about time. It took him long enough." Commodore Nelson said with a smirk, unfold his fan. "That's a report from Eric, I assume?"
"Uh, no sir. It's a message from one of the Marines at Warship Island that states: 'Eric has found a Millennial Dragon. He goes on to say the fleets busy repairing damage that the flagship has sustained."
Commodore Nelson wasn't too pleased of that report and what Eric have told him, he then crumples the fan with anger, leaving the Marines worried.
"Curse you, Eric. You find a legendary Millennial Dragon and you don't report it to me. Why? You're planning to take all the Dragonite for yourself, aren't you? You've got some nerve, you mercenary." Commodore Nelson cursed the mercenary with anger, but turned to smirk for a few seconds which he had a plan. "We'll see who has the last laugh. Captain, deploy the fleet to Warship Island. All ships, move out!"
Meanwhile, the Straw Hat pirates were sailing towards the Lost Island, but the problem was that they don't even know where it is and the name of the island is not on the charts. The elder Millennial Dragon is watching the flying fish leaping at sea when he woke up from his nap.
"No wonder it's called Lost Island." Nami said, looking at the map. "It's not on any of the charts, its description doesn't even match any of the islands in the waters around Warship Island."
"Hmm...Probably because the island itself doesn't want to be found from anyone." Anna guessed, ponders.
"Hey Grandpa Ryu, which way should we go? Where's Lost Island?" Usopp shouts with a question.
However, Grandpa Ryu didn't listen as he look at the flying fish, imaging a Millennial Dragon flying in the sky. Luffy leans himself upside down, looking at Grandpa Ryu as he spoke.
"Hey." Luffy said, leaving Grandpa Ryu closed his eyes again. He then straight himself up while turned his head to his crew. "I think he went to sleep again."
That didn't help much because of the elder dragon sleeping and they don't blame him due to aging.
"Sorry for the wait everybody." Apis said, earned their attention when she and Ventus arrived at the deck with the pot of rice and onions. "I hope you're all hungry."
"Oh no, don't tell me she cooked again." Zoro muttered, not looking forward for her cooking with a sweat drop.
"No one was waiting for her food." Usopp added with his face pale and a sweat drop.
Nami couldn't help but chuckle nervously. As soon as Apis and Ventus were here in the deck, Sanji is right behind them, carrying a rope and a basket.
"Oh, Sanji, what a relief." Usopp sighed with relief. "For a minute there, I thought you weren't the one who made the meal. I'm so happy-AH!?"
Before Usopp could finish his sentence, Apis stepped on his foot with angry look on her face while heading next to the wooden rail and Ventus is next to her.
"Lunch time!" Apis shouts with a smile, lifting the pot up. "Now eat up, Grandpa Ryu."
"Food, alright!" Luffy shouts excitedly, stretching his arms to grab hold of the pot, but instead, Ventus breath fire at the rubber captains hands. That got Luffy shouts in pain as he dipped his hands down to the ocean. Ventus have landed right towards the cart, placing Apis down as she feeds Grandpa Ryu.
"Hey! Why'd you do that?! I was just hungry!" Luffy yelled with anger.
"Shut up!?" Ventus yelled right back at him, dilating his eyes into a dragon eyes. "That was for Grandpa Ryu! If you hadn't been acting like a glutton, then we haven't wasted food in the first place!? And guess who's fault is it?!"
Luffy was about to argue, but feeling speechless when the young Dragoon questions that.
"Uh-huh, that's what I thought. If you have anyone to blame, it's only yourself." Ventus points out.
The Straw Hats knew that the young Dragoon has a good point about Luffy, which the rubber Captain has always been stealing food from time-to-time. Of course, Ventus and Sanji always caught him red-handed whenever the young Dragoon caught his scent from the cabin in the kitchen.
When Apis is busy feeding the elder dragon while Ventus is keeping a watchful eye on him, Grandpa Ryu widened his eyes, starting to see the images of the Millennial Dragons flying in the sky.
"Okay, all done, Grandpa Ryu." Apis said with a smile when Grandpa Ryu look at her.
"Good thing Ventus save me all the trouble for not wasting anymore food." Sanji stated with a small smile.
"We told Luffy many times not to provoke Ventus, but he doesn't listen." Anna points out.
"But we still need to have something to eat. You can make more though." Usopp suggests.
"Yeah, but the point is, we should never waste food." Sanji told him.
"Tell that to that idiot." Anna and Ventus said in unison with deadpan expression, pointing at Luffy.
Apis then looks at the sea, the young Dragoon notice as he spoke.
"What's wrong?" Ventus asks curiously.
"I know where Lost Island is." Apis said, looking at the young Dragoon. "The Dragon's Nest is somewhere in the east of Warship Island."
That got Luffy smiled as he spoke while taking his hands out of the sea.
"That's great, how'd you know where to find it?" Luffy asks.
"Grandpa Ryu just remembered." Apis told him, causing the two to chuckle with excitement.
The Straw Hat crew were curious to find out why are the two was laughing, Ventus turned his head to them as he spoke.
"The Lost Island is in the east of Warship Island." Ventus told them. "Grandpa Ryu have just remembered."
"Usopp, take the helm." Nami ordered as she rush towards the deck.
"You got it." Usopp accepts while following Nami, head toward the helm.
"Right, we've spend enough time here! And now, to Lost Island!" Luffy shouts excitedly.
With that, Usopp turns the rudder, changing course to east as they set sail towards the Lost Island.
Meanwhile, the Marines have informed Eric that the Straw Hat pirates have change course and set on sight to Lost Island as he spoke.
"So, they've changed course?" Eric questions.
"Yes, a pirate ship appears to be headed for the waters east of Warship Island."
"They're making their move." Eric said with a smirk.
As soon as the Marines sound the alarm, the Marines were heading to the deck as they ready the sail.
"Come of our piece working, now! Full speed ahead! We're gonna show those Straw Hat pirates what Marines are made of! Cannoneers, get to your gun batteries! All hands, prepare for combat! This is not a drill! Are destination is-!"
"Lost Island, of course." Eric finished his sentence with a smirk.
And with that, the Marines then set sail and head towards Lost Island while pursue the Straw Hat pirates.
"All ships, move out!"
Meanwhile, the Straw Hat pirates are heading to their destination to Lost Island. Both Sanji and Ventus are cleaning up the dishes after lunch since they're having big lunch instead of something small and not to waste the entire, but Luffy insists.
"Ventus, I've been meaning to ask you something." Sanji said, earned his attention. "What do you think of Apis?"
Ventus is caught off-guard as he blushed with embarrassment, but Sanji can see that look, plain as day.
"W-Where did that come from?" Ventus questions.
"Well with the way you look at Apis, I'd say you like her." Sanji guess with a smile, leaving the young Dragoon gawked. "Despite your height, you're still a kid and a year older than her."
"And you, a sous chef, still flirts around between Nami, Anna, and any random women you set on sights on." Ventus retorts with a sly smile. "Maybe, you should get a woman of you life too, if you get what I mean."
"Touché." Sanji counters. "But the point is, if you want to love a lady, you should try make a lady happy. Now let me give you some tips on how to make a lady happy."
'Oh boy, here we go.' Ventus thought as he rolled his eyes with annoyance.
"The first thing you need to make a lady happy is-"
Zoro walks in on the scene and punched Sanji in the head. Even though, the swordsman doesn't want the young Dragoon to grew up like the cook, but he does want him to grow up at his own way.
"He doesn't need that kind of advice from you." Zoro told him.
"Oh, like you'll give him any better advice!?" Sanji retorts angrily.
"Yeah I would, in a few more years!"
"Old geezer told me this stuff when I was younger than him!"
"Well that explains a lot, but not why you're an idiot with talent in the kitchen!"
"What was that, you third rate swordsman?!"
"You heard me!"
"That's it! You're dead!"
And with that, Zoro and Sanji begin to fight each other for no reason at all. Ventus shook his head with annoyance as he walked out of the cabin, not wanting to be in the middle.
As soon as Ventus got out of the cabin, he joins Anna looking at the sea. Luffy is sitting on the figurehead while Nami and Usopp is up at the crows nest.
"So, Lost Island is supposably out in this direction somewhere. Wonder what it looks like and when we're gonna see it?" Luffy muttered with a smile, looking up at the crows nest. "Hey! Can you see anything from up there, Usopp?"
"Nope, not a single thing." Usopp answered, sighed. "We've come a long way, but there's still no sign of this Lost Island. I hope this doesn't turn out to be a wild goose chase."
Nami couldn't help but agree on Usopp's assumption because they're having no luck on finding the Lost Island.
"And then there's Grandpa Ryu." Usopp continues, lifting his goggles while turn his head to Nami. "I wish there was someway we can help him remember a few more details."
Usopp then come up with an idea as he lifts up an anvil.
"That should do the trick." Usopp said. "So, what say we bonk him on the head with this anvil. That should loosen up some memories in his old noggin alright."
"No, that's mean." Nami told him, smacking his hands which it caused him to drop the anvil right into his foot, leaving him winced. She then notice Apis leaning next to the Millennial Dragon, leaving her smile. Sanji also looks at the window, seeing Apis talking to Grandpa Ryu. Ventus and Anna walked up the stairs on the deck, seeing Apis talking to Grandpa Ryu as the two smiled. Usopp was about to yell at the navigator, but stopped for a few seconds as he look at Apis, leaving him smiled.
"Can you believe it Grandpa Ryu, we're almost there, we're almost to Lost Island." Apis told the Millennial Dragon with a smile. "And it's there, right? The Dragon's Nest you told me about, and if you go there, you get all better, won't you?"
Apis then dropped her smile when Grandpa Ryu is telling her, thanking her from her thoughts thanks to the Devil Fruit power.
"Hm, what?" Apis said with confusion, smiled. "You're so nice, but you don't have to thank me, we're not even there yet."
Unfortunately, this has turned into an argument when Apis argues Grandpa Ryu. Ventus ignores them as he caught the scent, sniffing the air when Zoro came out of the cabin, walking up the stairs as he spoke.
"Kid?" Zoro said.
"I know." Ventus nods with his serious expression on his face. "So they finally make their move."
Luffy is looking at the image of an island with confusion as he spoke.
"What's that?" Luffy asks himself. "Smoke?"
Luffy then looks around between left and right, looking back at the figure.
"Oh well, guess we'll know when we get closer." Luffy shrugs.
Until, they heard Apis complains while arguing Grandpa Ryu which they heard her shouting.
"At some point, it turned into an argument." Nami said with confusion.
"It sounds like Apis is the one who's arguing, listen to her." Usopp added.
Before Nami could ask, she then looks at the image which happens to be the reflection of the Going Merry as he spoke.
"A...ship? It looks like one, but somethings weird about it." Luffy said in confusion as the pirate ship gets closer to the reflection when the rubber captain move his foot towards it, tapping it as it shows the reflection of himself and the Going Merry. When it gets closer, some of figurehead disappears. "Whoa! Awesome! Hey Nami, do you see this?"
Apparently, both Nami and Usopp saw that with shock and horror, scared of what lies on the other side.
"Yes...But I don't believe it." Nami said with her eyes widen with dread.
Luffy is now goofing around, but failed to realize that he's also vanished along with the figurehead, leaving Nami and Usopp really scared as they scream. It earned the rest of the crews attention along with Apis. The Marines were completely shocked and stunned when they saw the Going Merry is vanishing along with Grandpa Ryu.
"What the?!"
"What's going on?!"
"The ship...it just..."
"It vanished..."
"Are we seeing things?"
"Hey! What just happened? How'd they disappeared like that?!"
"..Uh...I have no idea, sir!"
The Lieutenant Commander won't take any risk of losing his men nor pursuing the Straw Hat pirates any further.
"Drop anchor!"
"Yes sir!"
"All ships are to standby until further orders!"
"Sir!"
"Continue moving forward." Eric ordered, wanted to pursue the Straw Hat pirates.
"Are you mad?! There's no telling what's in those waters up ahead. No!"
"That again?" Eric comments rudely as he walks off. "Have your men prepare us a small craft for me."
Then the Lieutenant Commander of the Marines realize what the mercenary is planning as he spoke.
"You mean? You're actually-?"
"That's right. I going after them." Eric told him.
Unknown Area
As soon as the whole ship passed through the strange mirage, the Straw Hat pirates are sailing towards the fog which it's really thick.
"What gives? It's just fog." Zoro said with wonder.
"From the way Nami was screaming, I thought we were in danger." Sanji said.
"What in a world is going on?" Nami asks.
"Can somebody please explain this to me what just happened?" Usopp added with a question. "I mean, our own ship was in front of us, but somehow we pass straight through it, right?"
Luffy is now looking around left and right, but couldn't see anything as he spoke.
"This stuff is so thick, I can't see a thing." Luffy said with a grin.
"What did you expect?" Anna rhetorically questions. "Neither of us can see anything when we're in a fog."
"It was almost like...well, a mirage." Usopp said, making Nami realize.
"That's it. A mirage, I remember reading about it once." Nami told him. "When warmer air in the sky collide with cooler air near the ocean's surface, it can create mirages at sea."
As soon as the fog clears up, thunder is starting to roar and started to rain heavily.
"What about this? Is this a mirage too?" Usopp asked.
"Not likely." Ventus muttered.
"AHHHH!? WHAT'S THE DEAL WITH THIS OCEAN?!" Nami shouts with irritation.
Just as soon as she asked, the Going Merry is started rocking because the waves are pushing the ship roughly it cause them to stumble. Luffy grabs hold of the figurehead while Ventus holds Anna. Zoro is knock over by Sanji when he grabs Apis.
"Damn it! Thanks for knocking me over!" Zoro cursed.
"We didn't do it on purpose, jerk! It's the storms fault!" Sanji retorts with a tick mark on his head.
"SANJI! ZORO! QUIT FIGHTING AND RAISE THE SAIL! HURRY UP!" Nami yelled at the two.
"Yes Nami, dear~" Sanji complies with goo-goo eyes.
"You'll be safer inside." Zoro told her, attempting to get Apis inside.
"No! I have to stand here and help Grandpa Ryu!" Apis protests, running to the back.
"Don't be an idiot! It's too dangerous for you to be out in this storm!" Zoro warned her, but she didn't listen.
"I can't leave him alone in this! I can't-!"
Before Apis could finish her sentence, the ship leaned to the side, causing her to trip and slide down to the side that was leaning on. Ventus rush towards her as he manage to grab hold of the little girl, preventing her from crashing into the side of the ship.
"Listen Apis, I know how you feel about Grandpa Ryu, but this is one of the situation where you can't really help him." Ventus told her.
Usopp, Sanji, Zoro, and Anna then starts working on raising the sails since the storm is growing intense when they saw a lightning strikes the ocean.
"Get moving! If we keep drifting out, that lightning is gonna hit us!?" Nami shouts with a warning.
The storm is starting to grew more intense when thunder roars while the waves pushing the Going Merry, Luffy is standing and watching as he spoke.
"It almost seems like the ocean is trying to push the ship back from something." Luffy muttered. "But what?"
While Ventus got Apis inside, promised her that he'll do what he can to help Grandpa Ryu. He made his way towards the back, seeing Grandpa Ryu is still holding on, but the waves are making intense. Until, the waves hit the ship as the rope starts to loosen the grip, forcing the Millennial Dragon to separate from them. The young Dragoon doesn't want Apis to be sad about breaking her promise as he quickly grab the ropes with his dragonic strength. Luckily, Zoro is here to help when he grabs hold of the rope.
"Luffy! We could use a hand right now! The ropes to Grandpa Ryu's cart are slipping!" Ventus shouts, calling him.
As soon as Luffy heard the call, he rush towards the back, grabbing hold of the mast.
"Gum-Gum: Lasso" Luffy then stretch his arm to grab hold of the cart, lassoing it.
Sanji then saw a light that was coming from an island as he spoke.
"Nami! I see a light over there!" Sanji shouts, earned her attention.
"That must be the Eye of the Storm." Nami said seriously.
"That means there's an island this way." Anna added with a gesture.
"She's right, there's an island below the light!" Usopp shouts, pointing that direction.
"Then that's where we're heading! Come on!" Nami said as she rush the rudders while Sanji and Anna head towards the sail, changing course as they head towards the island.
Lost Island
Few minutes later, the Straw Hat pirates were finally out of the storm. The strangest thing about it was that the storm have surrounded the island as Nami spoke.
"An island hidden by a mirage and surrounded by stormy seas." Nami said out loud. "Well that certainly explains why no ones ever found it. It's not lost anymore though, now that we found it."
"It's like the mirage and the storm are here to prevent any intruders from entering." Anna added. "It explains why no one was able to get here nor the charts was never marked on the island."
They're looking at the island which it was surrounded by ruins taken over by nature as the rubber Captain spoke.
"Looks more like a castle that sank into the ocean instead of an island, if you ask me." Luffy stated.
When they got to the island, the Straw Hat pirates saw some several stones that looks like a dragon.
"Whoa, check out that stone work. It actually looks like a dragon." Usopp said with awe. "You know, betcha those Millennial Dragons built this place themselves."
'I highly doubt that.' Ventus thought with a sweat drop.
"Wow, I never knew dragons were so good at building stuff." Luffy added with a smile.
"They're not you morons, it's pretty obvious that humans built this place." Sanji points out.
"Well whatever, who cares." Zoro said dismissively.
"Yeah, who cares? We made it to Lost Island." Luffy said.
When they disembark, the Straw Hat pirates have made their way towards the Lost Island as they look around the area, seeing that no one is living on the island.
"No signs of life, I wonder if anyone lives here anymore?" Sanji questions, wondered. "Looks like this place is reclaimed by nature."
"I'm afraid this island is abandoned." Ventus guessed, sniff the air. "It's obvious that no one comes here anymore."
"Does anyone know, where the Dragons Nest could be?" Nami asked.
"Hey." Apis called the elder dragon, earned their attention. "Grandpa Ryu! Hey, I'm talking to you! Geez, we're on the island with the Dragons Nest! Would you wake up and tell us where it is?"
When Grandpa Ryu opened his eyes, Apis had a sad look on her face.
"What's wrong?" Ventus asks with concern.
"Well he said he's not sure." Apis told him. "But he said that this place might not even be the actual Lost Island."
"What?" Zoro asked with his eyes widen.
"You can't be serious!" Sanji said.
"So we went through that freaky mirage and that storm for nothing?!" Usopp complains.
"Hey Apis!" Luffy called her, earned her attention. "See that? If the Dragons Nest is on the island, I bet we can spot it from up there."
"Right, we can't see anything down here. So, why don't we go take a look? What do you say?" Nami suggests, earned a nod from Apis.
"Great, let's go." Luffy said with a smile.
And with that, the Straw Hat pirates, except Nami and Apis, began to walk to the top of the mountain, Usopp, Sanji, and Ventus are pushing the cart while Luffy, Zoro, and Anna are pulling the cart.
"Ah, it's not fair! We men have to do all the work while Nami gets to take a stroll! She should be back here pushing with us!" Usopp grunts with complaining.
"Hey back there, less caterwauling and more dragon hauling!" Nami ordered.
"Sure, that's easy for you to say." Usopp retorts.
"Would you shut up and push!" Sanji grunts with annoyance. "Nami's so gorgeous when she's ordering us around~."
"Oh brother." Usopp said with annoyance.
'I feel like wanting to throw up, hearing that perverted cook say these kinds of things to Nami and Anna.' Ventus mentally thought with annoyance.
They kept pushing the cart until they get to the top. On their way there, they ended up in a town that's in ruin. All of the buildings were destroyed, which confirms that no one lived there anymore.
"It's a city." Nami silently mutters.
"This proves that no one lives on this island anymore." Ventus said.
As they continue towards the mountains, Luffy then spoke.
"Whoa, check out. It looks all abandoned and broken down." Luffy said. "Do you guys think people really use to live here?"
"Of course, who else do you think lived in these houses?" Zoro rhetorically questions.
"Well, why did they leave then and where did they go?" Usopp grunts with a question.
"Who knows. Maybe they just found a better island and live one and moved away or something." Sanji stated.
"It might be possible." Anna agrees, notice Apis isn't here.
When they notice Apis is missing, she's in the grass when she saw some kind of a top that has a Millennial Dragon emblem.
"It's a Millennial Dragon emblem. I wonder if the children who lived her played with dragons like I did with Grandpa Ryu?" Apis asks with a smile, notice the bird flying in the sky. "Hi, do you know if there's a place here where dragons like nest?"
As the Straw Hat pirates continues to push the cart, Nami spoke.
"Hey Apis, come on you don't want to get left behind." Nami called her as she approaches the navigator.
"Guess what? I was just talking to a birds and they told me there's a building with a dragon emblem on it." Apis told her, leaving Nami surprised.
"Really?" Usopp grunts with a question.
"It could be the Dragons Nest! What are we waiting for!" Apis said excitedly, running ahead of them.
When Nami was about to catch up with the others, she notice the wind is blowing.
"Hey Nami! Are you coming or what?!" Luffy shouts, leaving Nami snapped out of her thoughts.
With that, Nami then catches up with her crew. When they finally made it to the top of the mountain, they saw a door that resembles a Millennial Dragon as they made one final push.
"Please tell me we don't have to push anymore?" Usopp pleads with exhausted sigh when the bird flies away.
"Thank you so much for showing us the way." Apis thanked the bird.
"Wow, what do you know? We traveled a lot further than I thought." Sanji stated, looking at the view.
'Hopefully we can get some answers about the Dragons nest and how are we going to find it." Anna thought seriously.
"Thank you all so very much." Apis thanked the Starw Hat pirates.
"Yeah, nice work guys." Nami said, looking at the door. "That painting must be the dragon emblem, huh?"
"Yep, guess so." Luffy nods.
"Wait, this little building is the Dragons Nest?" Sanji asks with wonder, scowling.
"This is it?" Usopp added with a question.
"Even if it is, where's the door?" Zoro asked, realized. "How are we suppose to get inside it?"
"The door is right there." Luffy said, points the door.
"No it's not, there's no handle or keyhole." Nami reminds him with annoyance. "If its a door, how are we suppose to open it, stupid?"
Apis notice a hole on the door that has a Millennial Dragons claw and it's almost the size of her pendant, probably a key to the door. She was holding it and walk towards the door.
"Hey." Usopp said, walking towards her.
"Apis...that pendant of yours...you mean it's a-?"
"So, it's a key that opens the door to the Dragons Nest, huh?" Sanji finished her sentence, earned a nod from Apis.
Apis then reaches up to put the pendant in the hole...well, tried to. Due to her height, she couldn't reach it.
"I can't reach it." Apis whined with her eyes watering.
"That's cuz' you're so short, silly." Luffy insults.
"Yeah, so?!"
"Here, let me do it." Luffy said when he volunteers, taking her pendant.
As soon as Luffy was about to place the pendant on the hole, the ground suddenly collapsed and they all fell down to who knows where. After that fall, they all landed hard on the big tree roots and crashed onto them while falling. With their eyes wide, the Straw Hat pirates, Apis, and Grandpa Ryu looked up at the hole that they fell in.\
"Um, hey guys, we're still alive, right?" Usopp asks.
"Well, sure feels that way." Zoro grunts.
"Who was it again that claimed to have a key that would open the door for us?" Sanji questions, leaving Apis chuckled with embarrassment.
"Here." Luffy said, extends the fang to her with a smile.
"Well, we didn't come in the front door, but we're in." Sanji said with a smirk, leaving Apis smile.
"So it all worked out." Apis stated with the thumb up.
"Yeah, but... just what is this place?" Zoro questions.
"Guys, you might want to take a look at this." Ventus said, points the paintings the ceiling.
They then look up at the ceiling which it's not only were there holes on them, but there were also paintings on them, makes them wonder what they are about and why since it might a clue that can lead them towards the Dragons Nest.
That's it for the 40th chapter. Sorry about the delay.