This is the 43rd chapter. I don't own the series of One Piece.
No flame reviews.
1,000 Year Legend Lives Again!
Somewhere at sea
After the Marines fired the cannons at Grandpa Ryu, killing him when the Millennial Dragon crashes down to the sea, Apis and the Straw Hat pirates were shocked when they saw Commodore Nelson and the Marines have shot the Millennial Dragon so with cruelty. Both Luffy and Ventus landed on Grandpa Ryu's back, notice that the elder Millennial Dragon is on the brink of death.
Grandpa Ryu is slowly sinking into the sea as Luffy spoke.
"Hang in there! Look, I've never been to the Dragons Nest, but I don't think it's down there!" Luffy said, trying to pull the Millennial Dragon, but no avail. Ventus knew that the Marines were suppose to be honorable soldiers, but after seeing what's in front of him, Commodore Nelson only cared about is the Dragonite which greed could get them do worse things and doing some bad decision.
"Please don't die." Apis pleads, crying.
"Grandpa Ryu!" Nami calls the Millennial Dragon with dread.
"Damn those Marines!" Usopp cursed with a scowl.
"Not good." Zoro said seriously.
"Yeah, it looks like the dragon can't swim." Sanji added with an agreement.
"Those bastards!" Anna cursed the Marines with her venomous tone.
The Straw Hat pirates were very angry that the Marines are doing so cruel to the Millennial Dragon, all for the Dragonite, the elixir of immortality. Both Eric and Commodore Nelson were very greedy for getting their hands on Grandpa Ryu, which the Straw Hat pirates were doing everything they can protecting the elder dragon. However, the Marines have really cross the line by surrounding them and shooting down the Millennial Dragon.
"Ah, what a relief." Commodore Nelson said with relief, waving his fan on his face. "That beast was heading right for me."
One of the Marines is looking through the telescope, seeing the Millennial Dragon is sinking along with Luffy and Ventus.
"Commodore! The Millennial Dragon is sinking!"
"It's fine, there's still time to reach him." Commodore Nelson shrugs. "Dragging the carcass with the harpoon."
The Marines comply to his order when they drag the harpoon cannon to the deck, adjusting the aim as they're aiming at the Millennial Dragon, Luffy, and Ventus.
"That's it, aim high." Commodore Nelson ordered with a smirk. "Now, take your best shot!"
With that, the Marines fired the harpoon spear at the Grandpa Ryu and its head towards them really fast, leaving the Straw Hat pirates in shock, Apis in horror, and Commodore Nelson evilly smirk. As soon as the harpoon spear gets closer, Luffy is able to grab hold of that harpoon, leaving Commodore Nelson shocked.
"That wasn't nice." Luffy growled with anger when Commodore Nelson laughed.
"You have idea the value of this stupid animal you're standing on." Commodore Nelson shouts with a sinister grin, laughing. "You can keep the dragon, I just want its bones! With the Dragonite in my possession, nothing can prevent me from attaining the ultimate power, everlasting life."
That got both Luffy and Ventus enraged when they clench their fists tightly as the young Dragoon spoke while turn his eye pupils into a dragon eyes.
"YOU SHUT YOUR DAMN FAT MOUTH, YOU FAT TUB OF LARD!?" Ventus yelled in pure anger with his dragon roar. "IF YOU SAY ONE MORE WORD ABOUT GRANDPA RYU, I'LL KILL YOU RIGHT WHERE YOU STAND!?"
Luffy looked at Ventus surprisingly, seeing the young Dragoon is really angry at the Marines. The rubber captain then remembered about the young Dragoon's rage when he transformed himself into a dragon back at the Cocoyasi Island where he massacred the entire Arlong pirates, leaving Hachi alive, and destroyed the entire structure of Alrong Park. Anna can feel that Ventus is starting to get angry.
"Crap, he's pissed." Zoro said with shock.
"Yeah, he's about to use his Dragon Rage." Sanji agrees. "That's what happens when you make the dragon angry."
"Luffy, give me that harpoon." Ventus growled without looking at him, extends his hand.
Luffy complies when he give the harpoon to the young Dragoon as he then pulls his arm back.
"Piercing Talon" Ventus then threw the harpoon while letting out his enraged cry, the harpoon is coming towards the Marine ship really fast as it hit right towards the Marine ship. Ventus nearly killed Commodore Nelson and the Marines which they're really shocked and stunned of his strength. "THAT WAS A WARNING! IF YOU EVER TRY THAT AGAIN, YOU'LL DIE FIRST!?"
"You tried my patience! For your insolence, you can sink to the bottom of the sea with your dragon! Now, prepare for you punishment!" Commodore Nelson shouts, snapped. "Destroy that obnoxious brat!"
"Um...but sir, we can destroy those boys without obliterating the dragon!"
"So what? Bone fragments will serve my purpose fine." Commodore Nelson told him heartlessly.
As the Marines were about to ready the cannons, Grandpa Ryu is starting to sink as the elder dragon opened his eyes, which it got Luffy's attention as he spoke.
"You're fine with staying here? Well I'm not, you gotta fight back." Luffy told the Millennial Dragon. "You haven't accomplished your goal, remember? What happened to to going home to your nest? Don't give up on your dream when you've gotten this close."
But Luffy then widen his eyes when Grandpa Ryu is telling the rubber captain something.
"Sure I will." Luffy accepts, earned the Millennial Dragons attention. "Don't worry about Apis, I'll protect her. You need to stop worrying about everyone else and think about you-"
Before Luffy could finish his sentence, the sea then begins to shake along with the loud noise. The sea is not the only thing that's shaking, the Warship Island is shaking and the locals from the island is starting to panic. Usopp was able to grab hold of Apis while getting up on the ship, tied himself along with her.
"Please, you got to untie these ropes! Grandpa Ryu needs my help and it's up to me!" Apis pleads with a shout. "And can't let him down!"
Usopp then turned his head to her as he spoke.
"He'll be safe with Luffy and Ventus, I promise." Usopp told her seriously.
"No, you're not listening! I have to go!" Apis shouts, trying to struggle from the binds.
"If anyone can save the dragon, it's them." Usopp reasoned with her, seeing Nami looking at the sea.
"The entire sea is shaking!?" Nami exclaims. "Oh come on, as if we don't have enough problems!"
Luffy then tried pulling Grandpa Ryu up, but no avail as the sea is starting to disappear because of the earthquake, which the land is starting to rise up. Luffy stopped while he and Ventus scan the area of the sea as he spoke.
"What's going on?" Luffy asks with confusion.
Soon as the sea next to the Marine ships are disappearing, Grandpa Ryu widen his eyes a little.
"Really?" Luffy said, listening to what Grandpa Ryu is telling him. "Oh so that's it."
The Marines weren't even able to fire the cannons because of the tremors, which they're in a disarray.
"What's going on?!" Commodore Nelson shouts with a question, demands an answer.
"I don't know, sir! There aren't any underwater volcanos in this area!"
Commodore Nelson is also confused, but too frightened since the sea is disappearing and the tremors as he spoke.
"No matter, fire! Fire! Fire!" Commodore Nelson ordered.
The Marines then started firing at the Millennial Dragon, but it got Luffy and Ventus' attention as Grandpa Ryu raise his head up to the sky, roaring to the Heavens and calling out the Millennial Dragons. Both Luffy and Ventus then realize what Grandpa Ryu is doing.
"Is he...calling out the Millennial Dragons?" Ventus questions.
"Yep, he's calling out his friends." Luffy nods with a smile.
Grandpa Ryu continued calling out the Millennial Dragon, Apis was able to notice that the elder dragon is calling his friends thanks to her Devil Fruit powers.
"He's calling them." Apis said.
"Calling them? Exactly, who's he calling?" Usopp asks with confusion.
"The others." Apis answered, earned Nami and Usopp's attention.
"What do you mean?" Nami asks curiously while hearing Grandpa Ryu roaring.
"He's calling out to other Millennial Dragons, telling them it's time, finally." Apis explains.
"Time for what, precisely?" Nami asks with confusion, looking at the Millennial Dragon. "I'm confused."
Usopp sighed and feeling confused like Nami, but notice something from the sky as the figures flying toward their direction.
"Wh-Wh-Wh-What's that?!" Usopp shouts with panic, pointing at the sky as Nami and Apis look at where he's pointing.
Until, the entire flock of Millennial Dragons are flying towards the sky, leaving Usopp panicked and Nami and Apis awed at the sight. The Straw Hat pirates and the Marines are watching the Millennial Dragons flying through the ships.
"Who knew that Grandpa Ryu had so many friends!?" Usopp exclaims.
"The whole army of dragons." Nami said with awe, leaving Apis nodded with an agreement.
"What the?" Zoro said in confusion.
"Where did these things come from?" Sanji asks.
"They must've come here for the Dragons Nest." Anna said with amazement.
Luffy laughed while Ventus smiled with awe, seeing the sight of the Millennial Dragons.
"Huh? Oh my!" Commodore Nelson said with a grin, laughing. "Look at this, a whole fleet of Dragonite."
Suddenly, one of the Millennial Dragons swoop up towards the Marines, causing Commodore Nelson getting tumbled down to the wooden floor while the entire flock of Millennial Dragons flying through the Marine ship.
"Idiots, what are you doing?! Shoot them all down!" Commodore Nelson ordered, pointing at the Millennial Dragons.
"We can't! Our cannons just can't reach high enough for that, Commodore!"
Grandpa Ryu is watching his fellow Millennial Dragons fly as he then give a final roar before collapsing down to sea. Luffy and Ventus then look at him with worry when the elder dragon opened his eye one last time, saying something to Luffy.
"Yeah, don't worry. I'll tell her for you, I promise." Luffy said with a smile.
With that, Grandpa Ryu then closed his eye as he rest in peace. The flock of Millennial Dragons then mourn the elder Millennial Dragon as he sinks down into the sea. Commodore Nelson then laughed at the death of Grandpa Ryu, leaving Ventus enraged and Luffy angry when they heard that laugh coming from the greedy Commodore of the Marines.
"Ventus, lets finish that jerk." Luffy ordered, earned a nod from the young Dragoon.
"Gum-Gum: Rocket" Luffy then stretch his arm out to grab hold of the Millennial Dragons neck, launched himself while Ventus take a huge leap up in midair. Luffy then stretches his leg high into the air. "Battle Axe"
Luffy then descends down while bringing his leg down towards the Marine ship.
"Dragoons Pride" Ventus then descends down towards the Marine ship.
Both Luffy and Ventus then destroyed the Marine ship by splitting it in the middle, leaving the Marines going down to the sea along with the Commodore of the Marines and making a big splash. The Straw Hat pirates, the Marines, and Apis are stunned with shocked, seeing Luffy and Ventus destroyed the Marine ship with one blow.
"Ah, ship down!"
The battle had stopped when they heard a loud splash as the Marines were in complete shock, looking at Commodore Nelson's ship being destoryed.
"AAAAAHHHH! WHAT JUST HAPPENED?!"
"The Commodore's ship has been destroyed!?"
As soon as Luffy and Ventus were within all the Marines sight, the two then glared at them. It was enough to scare them and have them in full retreat.
"Yep, never fails to take out the leader and the troops all run for cover." Sanji stated. "I was hoping these guys would stay and fight."
"We better get going ourselves." Zoro told them as he left the Marines.
"Right." Sanji agrees as he follows Zoro and Anna.
But, both Sanji and Anna stopped when they notice the Millennial Dragons circling around the sun, wondering if that's got something to do with Grandpa Ryu's death.
"They're circling, I wonder why?" Sanji questions.
"I don't know. It probably got something to do with Grandpa Ryu." Anna guessed.
"Hey, let's go." Zoro shouts.
Sanji and Anna then snapped out of their thoughts as they leave the Marine ship to head toward the Going Merry. The Marine ship then crashing into each other because of the steel chains were still hook to each other and the formation that is right now in a complete disarray. Even though, the Marines were scared to fight because the leader, Commodore Nelson, is completely taken down from Luffy's Devil Fruit power and Ventus' Dragoon ability.
"Whoa, that was awesome!" Usopp exclaims with awe.
"Nami, I've defended your honor~!" Sanji shouts, waving at her with goo-goo eyes.
"Get on board already!" Zoro shouts with annoyance as he, Anna, and Sanji then got on the deck.
After the scene, Luffy wrapped his arm around the young Dragoons waist.
"You wouldn't dare." Ventus said with a weary tone, which his hope is shattered.
"Gum-Gum: Rocket" Luffy then stretch his arm to the back of one of the Millennial Dragons neck, launching them up in the air as they head towards their destination. Apparently, Luffy then crash down to the Going Merry and landed on his feet, but Ventus' head got stuck in the mast.
"Yo." Luffy greeted while Ventus tried to get his head out of the mast.
"YO YOURSELF!?" Nami yelled at the rubber captain, showing her white eyes and shark-like teeth. "DO YOU HAVE TO SLAM INTO THE DEAK?! YOU'RE GONNA DESTROY THE SHIP IF YOU'RE NOT MORE CAREFUL!?"
As Nami continued scolding Luffy, the rest of the crew heard a muffling sound. They turned to the sound and saw Ventus, trying to pull his head out of the mast.
"Hey! Guys! Little help here!" Ventus shouts in a muffling voice.
"Ah, Ventus! Why is your head stuck in the mast?" Luffy asked with confusion.
Ventus heard his question loud and clear as he grab hold of Luffy's head, slamming it into the mast with his dragonic strength.
"You're the one who got me into this situation!" Ventus shouts. "Now hurry up and get out of here! I'm losing air in here!"
All of the Straw Hat pirates, except Luffy, helped Ventus get his head out while he's still alive. At the same time when Ventus got his head out with their help, Luffy got his head out of the mast as well.
"What was that for, Ventus?!" Luffy asked angrily. However, his anger change into a relief when he saw that his head got out. "Oh! You got your head out of the mast. That's great!"
And that was enough to get the young Dragoon really angry.
"I'LL TIE YOUR NECK INTO A KNOT SO YOU WON'T BREATHE AGAIN!" Ventus yelled with anger, not forgiving his captain for that landing, even though it was an accident. He was held back by Anna, Usopp, and Nami, so he wouldn't really kill his captain, who's scared of the young Dragoon.
"Grandpa!?" Apis said with her crying voice, changing the situation when she saw Grandpa Ryu has sunk down into the sea. The Straw Hat pirates are starting to feel sorry for her, both of losing her only friend and for not being able to her complete that promise.
The sad atmosphere ended when tremors begin shaking again.
"An earthquake?" Sanji said out loud.
"Again?" Nami said with panic.
'Now what's happening? There's no way that this is an earthquake, what's going on?' Ventus mentally wondered, Anna notice the young Dragoon is thinking which she's thinking the same thing.
"It's not fair, why did you have to die? Now I can't keep my promise to you." Apis said in a sad tone when Luffy walk towards her. "I couldn't help you realize your dream of returning to the Dragons Nest."
"That's not true, he got his wish." Luffy told her seriously, earned her attention. "Can't you hear the voices of the other dragons?"
Apis is starting to realize what Luffy is talking about until, the shockwave came in and the tremors is starting to grew even worse than it is. The people from the Warship Island is starting to panic when they felt the tremors are growing worse by the minute, but soon they notice the sea is disappearing and next thing they knew, the water shot out of the sea, only reveal to be rocks. Nami, Anna, and Ventus look below down in the sea, notice the island continues to rise. Nami then realize about the Lost Island from the ancient ruins a while ago as she spoke.
"That's it. So that's what it means." Nami said, earned their attention.
"What? What's what mean?" Sanji asks in confusion.
"The Dragons Nest, it really is here." Nami explains, leaving Apis shocked when she heard from the navigator. "The name Millennial Dragon, why didn't I see it before? The reason why they're called Millennial Dragons has nothing to do with lifespan."
The island continues to rise and the rocks are rising right towards the Marine ships, causing the Marines to fall off while trying to hold on for their dear life.
"It's because they migrate to this island only once every thousand years, but no means that an arbitrary schedule they've decided to stick to either." Nami continues explaining. "They only visit every one thousand years because that's the only time the island surfaces, that's why they call it Lost Island. Anyone who is around the sea last time is long gone."
Apis then look back at the Millennial Dragons circling around the Warship Island and the island continues to rise with awe.
"And here we are, the next generation to bare witness, to the rising of the Lost Island and the Dragons Nest." Nami finished explaining.
Warship Island, Dragons Nest and Lost Island
After few minutes later, the tremors stopped shaking and the Dragons Nest have finally resurfaced. Apis and the Straw hat pirates stared at the island with awe, seeing the Millennial Dragons landed on the Dragons Nest.
"Is that what I think it is?" Apis asks, breaking the silence.
"Yeah, now I can see why Grandpa Ryu was so anxious to get back to this place." Luffy said with a big grin.
"It's here." Apis said, but notice Grandpa Ryu is there as she disembarks while running after the elder Millennial Dragon.
"Hey, Apis!" Sanji shouts.
"Come back!" Usopp shouts, but Apis ignored the shouts while rushing towards the Millennial Dragon while the Straw Hat pirates disembark. "And she's off, but where to?"
"Grandpa Ryu." Ventus answered, earned their attention. "He's home and for that simple reason, he can rest in peace."
The Straw Hat pirates then watch Apis rushing towards Grandpa Ryu when she finally reaches her destination as she spoke.
"Grandpa Ryu!" Apis called his name, but no respond. "Grandpa! Please get up! Grandpa Ryu!"
The Straw Hat pirates knew that Grandpa Ryu is gone which the Dragons Nest is his final resting place and where the Millennial Dragons live here once in every thousand years.
"How strange." Nami said sadly. "I mean, what are the chances he would fall directly on top of the Dragons Nest? I hope that brought him some peace."
"I think so, I heard him say his wish had come true as he was sinking." Luffy agrees.
Usopp then scan the area, notice the Millennial Dragon structures as he spoke.
"Strange place to put a nest." Usopp said in confusion. "I mean, what's with all these weird-looking rocks?"
"It's likely that there all made of Dragonite." Sanji guessed, looking at the dragon structure. "Notice the structure? They look just like dragons if you ask me."
"Oh yeah, right." Usopp said, realized when he look at the dragon structure. "So what, the dragons carve statues of themselves?"
"They're not statues, those are skeletons." Anna pointed out, earned his attention. "Fossilized Dragonite that's been preserved on the ocean floor."
"Oh yeah." Usopp said, crossed his arms, but still confused.
"You still don't get it, do you?" Zoro asks, raising his eyebrow.
"Nope, not a bit." Usopp admits with a shrug.
"Basically, it's like when an elephant that was about to die, they instinctively travel to a predetermined area, like an Elephant Graveyard." Ventus explains. "It also means that that the Dragonite the Marines went through all that trouble is actually a Lost Island. This place is also a graveyard."
"A graveyard?" Zoro repeats.
"It can't be?!" Apis shouts, earned their attention. "Because Grandpa Ryu promise that going back to his nest will make him better! It's not a graveyard! It's not!?"
"Apis." Nami said sadly.
'Apis, you don't even know that if he gets better or not.' Ventus thought, decided not to say that after what was going on with Apis' mind.
"Listen to me, Grandpa Ryu was lost and lonely." Luffy told her seriously, earned their attention. "He didn't have a friend, until you came along. Then, everything changed for the better."
Apis then begin to understand what Luffy is telling her, remembered how she first met Grandpa Ryu back in the cave from the Warship Island.
"And he wanted you to know that for all of the centuries he's been alive, this last year with you was the happiest time he's ever known." Luffy finished his sentence, leaving Apis in tears.
"Wait, are you saying you can understand a dragon?" Nami asks.
"It just came to me." Luffy confess.
"Are you making this up?" Usopp asks with disbelief.
"Nope, that's what he said." Luffy stated.
"You're a liar." Apis croaked, earned their attention. "If this is the place you always talked about, then it should heal you and make you strong again like you promised me. Talk to me!...You have to get better!"
The Straw Hat pirates then watch Apis cry with sadness, which it breaks the young Dragoons heart and they give her a sympathy. But even so, Grandpa Ryu wouldn't lie to Apis this long about the result for finding the Dragons Nest. If what Luffy said to Apis is true, then he wouldn't lie to her about what happens when they find the Dragons Nest.
"Ryu was telling you the truth, Apis." Luffy corrected her, leaving Nami surprised. "I'm serious. He said that Millennial Dragons returned to their nests every thousand years and are reborn again."
"Grandpa Ryu said all that?" Apis asks.
"Over there." Luffy told her, pointing at the fossilized dragon as Apis then look at where Luffy is pointing. The egg is starting to hatch and then out of it, is a baby Millennial Dragon as it then screeched, leaving Apis surprised when it did.
"A baby Millennial Dragon?" Apis said when a few Millennial Dragons came to its side, nudging the baby. The baby Millennial Dragon woke up, looking at Apis as she look at it surprisingly while the baby dragon screech. It seems Luffy is right about the Dragons Nest, it's a place that Millennial Dragons come for every thousand years where they be reborn. Apis then finally understands what Luffy is telling her as she shed in tears for a few seconds and approaching the Straw Hat pirates. She then took at Grandpa Ryu one last time before walking towards them.
"We were wrong, Apis." Nami said as Apis continues walking to them. "I don't think this is a graveyard at all. I think it's a place of renewal, a special location designed to bring old and new life together."
"Thank you so much." Apis thanked them. "You all risked a lot to bring Grandpa Ryu back to the Dragons Nest. I always know this place was important to him, but I never knew why until now."
"Apis." Nami muttered.
"This is the place of miracles." Apis stated. "Not I understand why ancestors went to so much trouble to build a temple."
For a few seconds, Apis then break the silence as she spoke.
"Thank you most of all, Luffy." Apis thanked him, smiled. "So, let's go home. Everyone's probably worried, won't they be surprised?"
The Straw Hat pirates then smiled, seeing Apis now cheered up because she finally understands why her ancestors built the temple in the first place and why the Millennial Dragons migrating to Dragons Nest for every thousand years.
"Yeah." Luffy agrees with a smile. "Alright, lets get Apis back home, it's time to celebrate!"
With that, the Straw Hat pirates then started heading to Warship Island so Apis can return home.
"I'm starving." Luffy said happily. "Hey Sanji, food, I need food!"
"Alright." Sanji complies with annoyance.
"I want meat, right on the bone!" Luffy suggests.
"We gotta have sprouts, I want sautéed bean sprouts!" Usopp added.
"Hmm, why does that sound familiar?" Sanji pondered, placing his hand under his chin.
"Man, these fossils are unlike anything I could imagined." Usopp said with a chuckle. "It's unbelievable that they all use to be living breathing dragons."
"But they were at first." Anna agrees.
"Even if the whole Dragonite thing is true, it can't be extracted from the current state." Sanji stated.
"Then the Marines whole elixir of immortality plot-"
"Was all but a stupid dream and an exaggeration." Ventus finished his sentence. "Basically, the Marines are left gone empty-handed since the elixir of immortality is nothing but dumb rumor."
"Right, because these fossils are covered in centuries of coral. Even if we took them back with us, we'd never get a drop of elixir from them." Nami explains, leaving Usopp nodded with an agreement.
"Mean those Marines did all that work for nothing." Zoro points out.
"Pretty much." Ventus nods with an agreement.
Unknown to them, Commodore Nelson is still alive and manage to crawl his way at the cliff as he panted heavily with exhaustion and coughed heavily. He then snickered as he spoke.
"Ignorant fools! They think they've won! As if I could be dispatched so easily." Commodore Nelson muttered with an evil smirk. "I must pay them back for their effort, but, first things first, look at them all. A limitless supply of Dragonite just waiting to be plucked."
As soon as Commodore Nelson look at the sight while still wanting to grab hold of the Millennial Dragons. Until, Eric revealed himself out of nowhere, which he's all wet and a bloody mess because of Ventus impaled him in the shoulder.
"Move." Eric growled.
"Eric look, a flock of Millennial Dragons." Commodore Nelson said, looking over his shoulder which Eric isn't in the mood. "How fortuitous for us both my friend. What's say we seal another deal? How much money would it take-"
"GET OUT OF MY WAY!?" Eric shouts as he use his Devil Fruit power, slashing at Commodore Nelson with his wind slash as he yelled in pain.
It was enough to get their attention as the Straw Hat pirates and Apis then turned the source to Eric when he straighten up his hair. Apis is scared of the mercenary and the Straw Hat pirates look at him with a serious scowl on their face, had a feeling that this is going to be a fight.
That's it for the 43rd chapter. Sorry about the delay.