Hey everyone, sorry for the late update. I have been busy with visiting the hospital within the last month in a half due to two car accidents within a week of each other and with almost losing my hand at work, so my updates won't be every two weeks like before, so I am sorry for that. Updates will pretty much be when i complete a chapter as I am taking some heavy medication and don't quite have the full use of my hand back yet.
"Speech"
'Thoughts'
[Creature speech]
/Radio communication/
:Demonic Speech:
Disclaimer: See heading to chapter 1.
Chapter 10: Rendezvousing at the Altar
With Luffy's group
Luffy and the others were locked in a fight with Satori, who used his mantra and Surprise Clouds to fight against them.
"Hold still!" Nojiko shouted as she and Usopp shot at Satori, who kept on jumping from cloud to cloud as he read their movements.
"Useless." Satori said with a smile before he dodged a glob of red paint flying at him. Sanji tried a kick to his legs, only for Satori to jump and blast Sanji away again.
"This is getting us nowhere." Sanji wheezed as he picked himself up.
"I told you. You have to surprise him." Luffy said as he watched from the boat with his scythe and Nodachi out.
"IT'D HELP IF YOU'D LEND A HAND!" Usopp yelled.
"Even if he did, it wouldn't make a difference. Ho-Hoooo!" Satori laughed while he danced before he kicked the cloud he was dancing on straight towards Elizabeth at a rapid speed. Elizabeth tried to run, only to trip over a root and fall to the ground. She turned to the cloud and screamed before the cloud exploded a few feet away from her, causing them all to wonder what just happened.
"Phew. That was close." Luffy sighed while twirling his scythe and Nodachi.
'What was that? How?' Satori thought.
"EXPLODING STAR!" Usopp shouted as he fired at Satori again, only for Satori to easily dodge it. "Shit! Missed again!"
"It's impossible to defeat me. I am a Priest who serves under the almighty God Enel! Ho-Ho-Hoooo!" Satori laughed while dancing.
"God? Don't make me laugh." Everyone turned to see Luffy standing there tightly gripping his scythe and Nodachi, a look of anger in his eyes. "That bastard Enel is no God."
"H-HOW DARE YOU!" Satori yelled at Luffy. To hear anyone talk smack about God Enel was downright blasphemous. "I'LL TEACH YOU TO DISRESPECT GOD ENEL! I WAS SAVING THIS FOR LATER, BUT I'LL USE IT AND KILL YOU RIGHT NOW!" He then pulled out a cane that looked to be a giant candy cane as a Surprise Cloud with a dragon mask was connected to a long string of Surprise Clouds behind it. "SURPRISE CLOUD CHAIN! CLOUD DRAGON!"
"What is that thing?!" Usopp yelled as they all stared at the dragon.
"My masterpiece!" Satori said, a dark smile on his face. "A string of Surprise Clouds containing shrapnel and explosives. Touch the one containing flames, and you'll die in a fabulous explosion! Now, DIE!" He yelled as he sent the dragon directly at Luffy, who ran away from the dragon. "HOLD STILL!" Satori yelled before Luffy vanished. "What?! Where'd he go?"
"Looking for me?" Luffy asked from right behind him, causing Satori to stiffen as he felt the scythe and Nodachi touching his neck in an x-formation.
"WAH! How'd you get there?!" Satori yelled as he tried not to move where he might get cut.
"Hey Luffy!" Satori and Luffy both looked down to see Nojiko, Usopp, Sanji, and Elizabeth standing below them with a smile. Nojiko held her hand up that was now holding onto a familiar cane before asking, "Can you hold him there while we decide what to do with this?"
"Huh?" Satori said dumbstruck before his mind caught up with what he was seeing. In his fit to throw Luffy off of himself, he had released the cane that was connected to the dragon via a string. Now it was in the hands of his enemies. "AAAAAHHHHHHH! MY CANE! MY DRAGON! GIVE THAT BACK! LET GO OF ME!"
"Alright!" Luffy said as he put more pressure on his scythe and sword. Satori was now kicking and thrashing to get Luffy to let go of him, claiming that they were cheating and ganging up on him and that not being judged by a Priest was a Class-1 crime, the same as declaring war on God Enel himself.
"Blah blah blah. Shut up." Usopp said in annoyance as the others wondered what to do with the Cloud Dragon.
"Hmmm. Well, we could use it to finish that dumpling guy off." Nojiko thought out loud.
"Whoa! Time out! Luffy's the only reason he's even able to be hit now!" Usopp argued. "If we hit him with the dragon, we'll blow Luffy up as well! And if Luffy moves, that Priest is gonna dodge! It's a lose-lose situation!" Nojiko and the others went back to thinking for a bit before Sanji spoke.
"Hey Luffy! You have that technique that makes your body like iron or something, right?" He asked.
"Yeah! Why?" Luffy asked.
"Good! Use it!" Sanji yelled with a smile before looking at the others. "Don't worry. Luffy'll live."
"Wait! Are you sure?!" Usopp yelled before Sanji took the cane and waved the dragon around in the air.
"Okay, so that's left. That's right. So this," He said before pointing it at Satori and Luffy, causing the dragon to fly at them. "Is forward!"
"AHH! THE DRAGON'S COMING THIS WAY! MOVE! GET OFF! LET GO! HELP ME!" Satori screamed as Sanji and the others took cover behind a tree far away from them. The last thing they heard after Satori's scream was an enormous explosion that rocked the entire area.
"Wow! That was loud!" Elizabeth whispered as they slowly got out from cover. They peeked out to look at the damage to see weapons and other such objects scattered around a scorched crater on the ground. Sanji whistled at the damage before looking around the area for Luffy.
"Luffy! Where are you? Answer us!" Nojiko called with her hands cupping around her mouth.
"I'm right here." Said Luffy as he appeared behind them with a smile.
"Luffy!" His friends cried in joy, glad to see he was okay.
"Hey, where's that Priest guy?" Usopp asked.
"Over there." Said Luffy as he pointed to Satori's body, which was charred, scratched, bloody, and unconscious.
Nojiko looked up at their ship. "We still have to rescue the others."
"She's right. The ladies on the ship are waiting for me to rescue them." Sanji said after lighting a cigarette.
"There are other members besides women on the crew you know." Usopp said in a deadpan voice.
"Alright. Hang on!" Luffy said as he waved his hand and a band of black mist surrounded their wrists.
"What are the-" Usopp started to ask before they all vanished in black mist and appeared on the boat. Usopp, Nojiko, and Elizabeth quickly leaned over the edge and emptied their stomachs and Sanji dropped to his knees with rugged breath after having experienced Luffy's teleporting before and knew what to expect.
"New move...Luffy?" Sanji asks after taking a breath.
"Yeah, took awhile, but now I can teleport with people without having to touch them." Luffy says with a smile.
"That's good and all...but give us warning next time." Nojiko says standing back up.
"No promises." Luffy says with a laugh.
Jones's group
Jones, Gin, Vivi, Luna, Arlong, Kuro, Kaya, Merry and Carue had just came back to where the Iowa is , but to stop short to see the Iowa is gone.
"What the? Where the hell did the ship go?" Gin asks with wide eyes.
"How the hell should I know? I have been with you the whole time since we left the ship." Arlong says just as surprised.
"Well, what do we have here?" A voice interrupts. They all turn to see a man in an aviator style outfit on a bird. "Nine of you hmm? Well, more for me to kill than the others." The man says not noticing Vivi put a whistle to her lips.
FWEEEEEEEEEEEE!
Somewhere far from Upper Yard
Gan Fall, Conis, Pagaya, Su, and Pierre were all at Gan Fall's home, safe from Enel's wrath. Gan Fall was calmly watering his pumpkin patch while Conis played her harp. Pagaya stared at his drink while Su and Pierre rested. Gan Fall, Conis, and Pagaya began to discuss a few things, such as Luffy and his friends being pirates, the war between the Shandians and the Sky People, and the Song of the Island.
"When the Island sings once more, the war between the Shandians and Sky People will finally end." Said Gan Fall, a smile on his face. "And one day, that song will be heard." His good mood faded when Pierre began crowing in panic, signaling that someone was calling him.
"Where are you going?" Pagaya asked as Gan Fall donned his armor.
"I've got work to do! WATCH OVER THIS PLACE WHILE I'M GONE!" He shouted as he and Pierre took off into the sky. Conis and her father watched him fly away as Pagaya fixed the broken Waver that Luffy and his friends had. Conis drank her pumpkin juice while Pagaya suggested something out of the blue.
"Conis my child. What would you say to helping the Blue Sea Dwellers?" He asked.
"Help them?" Conis asked in surprise.
"Yes. Help them escape back to the Blue Sea?" Conis only smiled, fully approving that idea.
Jones's group
Jones and the others were having their hands full fighting against the man named Shura and his bird Fuza as they kept on attacking with Shura's Heat Lance and Fuza's Fire Breath.
"AHHH!" Kaya screamed as she and Carue jumped out of the way.
"A Logia-Type power, huh?" Shura said before Kaya snuffed the flames out by coating them with candy syrup.
"Shit! Where is the ship!" Gin snarled as he swung his tonfa in a circle.
"Of course," Said Shura as he rode Fuza. "Your ship and lives are to be offered to God, but I see that your ship is missing, which is strange."
"LEAVE US ALONE!" Vivi yelled in a panic while Carue ran behind the nearest tree. Shura only sighed as he rubbed his head like he had a headache.
"You don't want to die. You don't want to lose your ship. You want this, you want that. Greedy little bastards, aren't you all?" Shura said.
"WHAT'S WRONG WITH NOT WANTING TO DIE?!" Luna yelled.
"For one to live, one must die. That is the way of the world." Shura explained. He then went on to tell them that they were on the Sacrificial Altar, and that means they were to be sacrificed.
"That much we understand." Arlong said. "What are you getting at?"
"Simple. I and the other three Priests each guard a section of Upper Yard with an Ordeal. When a criminal enters one part, the other Priests are forbidden to interfere. The Sacrificial Altar however, is a free zone."
"So you decided to take time off your busy schedule and take our lives?" Gin summed up.
"Precisely, though normally we leave those on the altar alone unless certain situations come about." Shura explained before pointing to the vines in the tree branch above them. "Like when eight individuals leave the altar by swinging away on a vine."
"Oh, that kind of situation..." Said Kaya as she stared at the vine before her jaw dropped, her mind going to Zoro and the others that left.
"So, because our friends left to explore the island, you're here to punish us?" Kuro asked.
"Exactly. You eight, your pet, will make up for the eight individuals that left and for the disappearance of your ship." Shura declared as he expertly spun his lance in his hand. "Now, offer your lives to God!"
"NO WAY!" Arlong yelled as he threw a punch, only for Shura to skewer his shoulder with his lance at the right time. 'How? Did he predict my moves?' Arlong thought as he grabbed his wounded shoulder.
"Arlong!" Kaya yelled in worry before glaring at Shura. "You'll pay for that!" She then formed her arms into hardened spikes before thrusting them at Shura, whose only reaction was to grin and swipe them away with his lance, melting them on contact. "What?!"
"He melted her candy arms?" Jones said in surprise before Shura thrust at him.
"However," He said as he threw his lance up, blocking the strike from Gin's tonfa. "It won't matter after I've killed you all."
"I'd like to see you try!" Gin grunted as they pushed off each other, with Shura landing on Fuza and Gin on a tree branch. Shura prepared to strike again before turning to block a strike from another foe. One that Vivi and Kaya were all too happy to see.
"KNIGHT OF THE SKY!" They cried out as Gan Fall and Shura glared at one another.
"My apologies for being so late!" Gan Fall shouted.
"So, you came to fight as well?!" Shura snarled as the two began to duke it out in the air with their lances and birds.
"Heh. Kind of glad you blew that whistle." Gin smirked as they all caught their breath while watching the two combatants fight. Shura seemed to be having trouble fighting Gan Fall, who had blasted him away somehow just by holding his hand up to him.
"How'd he do that?" Vivi asked as the two fighters began to fight in the sky, a blur of movements the only thing they could see.
"I can't see them." Luna whispered as their eyes tried to catch up to their quick moves.
"Hey," Gin said as he looked at the others. "He looks like he can handle himself, but get ready just in case he needs help." The others nodded before looking back to the fight, only to see a strange sight. Both Gan Fall and Pierre were in the air, but looked to be struggling in vain to move.
"What's going on?!" Vivi yelled in panic as the others watched Shura close in on his target.
"It's time to die, you relic!" Shura yelled with a grin before a massive wall of blue goop forced him to fly away. "Tch. Annoying pests!" He growled as Kaya reformed near Gan Fall and was now on Pierre's back with him.
"What happened?" She quickly asked as Gan Fall struggled.
"I don't know! I can't seem to be able to move!" Gan Fall said as he kept his eyes on Shura. Kaya looked up at Shura, who had turned and was now heading straight for them.
"You're wasting your time! All you've done is allow me to finish you both off at once!" Shura shouted as Fuza flew closer to them. Kaya glared at him before hugging Gan Fall and forming a sphere of candy syrup around them both. "Ha! You've seen that my lance can melt that-" He stopped when he picked up on her intent and his eyes widened. "FUZA! AWAY!" His command came too late as the sphere exploded, sending candy syrup everywhere. Fuza tried to get away, only for the candy syrup to catch his wings, causing him to fall towards the water and knock Shura off. 'Shit! I couldn't dodge that attack!'
"If your God wants a life offered to him," Gin shouted as he ran across the Branch towards Shura and jumped towards him, spinning his tonfa at full speed. Shura's eyes widened when he saw he had no way to dodge the attack that was aimed for his head. "THEN YOU CAN GIVE HIM YOURS!" Gin finished as he smashed his tonfa down on Shura's head. Blood spilled from Shura's mouth as his eyes rolled back before he and Fuza fell into the water, which was soon covered by a group of skysharks. Gan Fall and Pierre were soon freed from their invisible restraints before they dived for Gin, catching him just before he fell into the water.
Hidden Guerilla Village
A little girl was spying on the top fighters of the Shandians, who were talking about Gan Fall entering Upper Yard, before she gasped and collapsed forward, sending her sprawling in the middle of them all. She glanced up to see the great warrior Wiper glaring down at her before she shrieked and hid behind a female warrior, Laki.
"Something wrong, Aisa?" Asked the woman warrior as they all looked at the little girl named Aisa.
"Two voices...have vanished." She quietly said.
"Hmm? Your Mantra?" Wiper asked.
"Yes." Aisa said as she kept her gaze at the ground.
"And? Who were they?" Asked a fat fighter named Genbo.
"They were...two Priests of Enel's." Aisa said.
"Are you serious?!" Another fighter named Braham asked in shock.
"Yes." Aisa answered.
"It seems that our prayers have been answered." Wiper said as he stood and gave them all an order. "Tell the others to get ready! With only two Priests in our way now, we have a good chance to defeat Enel! Prepare to attack!" The others all nodded and moved to prepare for battle.
"All this time and you're still afraid of Wiper." Laki said to Aisa before pulling her away from her leg to join her comrades.
"Wait!" Aisa cried out, which Laki turned to listen. "The ones who defeated them wasn't only Gan Fall, but others as well!"
"Others? You mean those Blue Sea Dwellers?" Laki asked.
"Yes. And they're all really strong." Aisa said before staring down. "And..."
"And?" Laki asked.
"And...one of them...their voice...I don't know what to make of it."
"One of the voices?"
"Yes. This is...is strong. Crazy strong. But also kind." Aisa said in a quiet voice.
"Strong and kind...I see." Laki said before asking for Aisa's bag, whispering that she'd get her more 'treasure' before speeding away with everyone to fight.
"Everyone! Our goal is God's Shrine! Today, WE LIGHT THE FIRE OF SHANDORA!"
"AYE!"
Zoro's group
Nami and the others wondering about Upper Yard were walking towards the shore after Nami stated that she had seen something strange. Robin was also curious, as she felt that a reason for her to live was on this island.
"What did you see? Was it God?" Zoro asked for the umpteenth time before hearing explosions in the distance.
"What was that?" Johnny asked.
"First that big explosion earlier, now smaller ones." Yosaku said.
"Sounds like the others might be having fun." Anna laughed as Nami continued on, leaving the others to chat about Luffy and Jones's groups before they saw Nami near something in the distance.
"Hey Nami, what'd you-" Zoro said before stopping, his and everyone else's eyes widen at what they were seeing. Before them, at the very edge of the land, was half of a two story building. The half that was missing from Cricket's house on Jaya below.
"There's no mistaking it." Nami said as they stared at the house. "They match...This island...used to be a part of Jaya."
"But...but how is it up here?" Chris asked in disbelief, Johnny and Yosaku's jaw wide open.
"I thought that Cricket's ancestor Noland said that it sunk in the sea!" Yosaku said.
"It must've come up the same way we did." Nami surmised, thinking of the Knock-Up Stream from this morning.
"No way. I knew that current was powerful, but..." Anna whispered trailing off.
"What other proof do you need?" Nami asked as she looked back at the house. "This island, the other half of Jaya, has been floating up here in...in the sky."
Jones's group
Jones and the others were on the altar talking to Gan Fall and Pierre while they were all recovering from their battle with Shura and Fuza.
"I must admit, I had no idea that you would be powerful enough to defeat one of the Priests of Upper Yard," Gan Fall said. "And you're not all even here. Truly impressive."
"You make it sound like everyone who comes from the Blue Sea are weak." Gin said with a smirk.
"Many others have come before you since Enel's reign, and each have either been defeated effortlessly by the Priests, or have run." Gan Fall replied.
"Guess that makes us the odd ones out." Luna said with a smile while Kaya and Merry examined those who had got injured. "Something wrong?" She asked when she noticed Merry's expression.
"I couldn't...I couldn't do anything." Merry confessed. "He was just too strong. And I was scared!"
"Merry," Gin started before Vivi held a hand up to stop him and walked over to Merry.
"There's nothing wrong with being afraid," Vivi said in a soft voice as she gently placed her hand on his shoulder. "Even if we don't say it, we're all afraid."
"You...you were?" He asked as he looked up at her, then the others. Vivi nodded with a smile while the others just shrugged and looked away. Merry couldn't help but stand up and shouting out, "I PROMISE TO DO BETTER AND BE A MORE RELIABLE MAN!"
"Okay then," Gin said.
"By the way, who exactly is Enel?" Vivi asked as they began milling about and talking amongst themselves. Gan Fall placed his hands together before resting his chin on them, deep in thought as to where to begin.
"Enel is this land's current God." Gan Fall started. "He appeared six years ago with his army and effortlessly dethroned the last God that ruled over this land."
"So, he's not really God?" Kuro asked as they all began to listen to the story.
"No. God is just a title up here. But...his powers are terrifying enough that everyone considers him a God." Gan Fall explained. Vivi's expression hardened at his words as she thought of the similarities between her home and Sky Island. She was broken out of her thoughts when they all heard shouting coming from the shore.
"Hey! Anyone alive over there?!" Anna yelled.
"It seems that your friends have returned." Said Gan Fall as they all looked to see Zoro and the others on the island.
"Not all of them." Said Gin.
"All we need now is for those who were with Conis and her father earlier to show up and we'll all be together again." Said Kaya.
"Speaking of Luffy and the others, do you think they got mixed up in those explosions we've been hearing?" Vivi said to them all.
"Knowing Luffy, probably." Gin replied with a knowing smirk.
Luffy's group
Luffy, Sanji, Usopp, Nojiko, and Elizabeth were sailing upon the Milky Road as they made their way towards the Sacrificial Altar. If they weren't in a hurry, most of them would be enjoying the hazardous ride as the Milky Road spiralled and looped many times before coming out into a clear plain.
"This doesn't look good." Sanji said as he exhaled some smoke.
"OF COURSE IT DOESN'T LOOK GOOD! LOOK AROUND US! THERE ARE SKULLS MOUNTED ON SPIKES EVERYWHERE!" Usopp shrieked as he looked around, a crazed and scared look in his eyes.
"Is this another Ordeal?" Nojiko asked as Elizabeth stuck close to her.
"Wait!" Usopp whispered. "I thought I heard something!"
"We've got company." Luffy said, a serious look on his face. Just as he said that, a group of Shandians appeared and flew over their heads, surprising them before Wiper turned upside-down and fired a shot at them with his bazooka, which was deflected by Luffy's Nodachi.
"That was close!" Elizabeth sighed as Usopp still looked ready to pass out.
"What the heck was that?!" One of the warriors asked as they stared back at the ship. "How'd he do that?!"
He then glared at them all before shouting out to them. "YOU MUST BE THE BLUE SEA DWELLERS THAT HAVE BEEN CAUSING AN UPROAR ON SKYPIEA! IF YOU VALUE YOUR LIVES, LEAVE NOW! OTHERWISE, WE'LL KILL YOU ALONG WITH ENEL!"
"What's his problem?" Elizabeth asked while Usopp tried to tell Luffy that they should go.
"YOU'RE NOT THE BOSS OF ME!" Luffy yelled, though he was smiling.
"Oi, Luffy! Don't piss those guys off!" Usopp begged as they continued on, the Shandians already leaving to deal with the remaining Priests.
"I know you love fighting, but let's not ask for trouble. Alright?" Nojiko asked as she sat near the mast. "That attack from that fat Priest still stings."
"Alright." Luffy whined before looking ahead. They kept on sailing until the sky turned red, signaling that night was coming soon.
"Looks like we may be going for another ride." Sanji stated as they climbed up the tallest tree around.
"Oh no! Not another spiral!" Usopp yelled.
"Oh look! Skysharks!" Luffy said with a big grin as they began falling towards them.
"Oh good. No more Priests for us to-WAIT! WHAT?! SHIT! SKYSHARKS!"
"Luffy! Do something!" Nojiko yelled.
"On it!" Luffy yelled as he sat on the ship's figurehead and unleashed a Water Water Gatling upon the sharks, knocking them all out and leaving the area safe for them to sail. "That was easy." He said before his grin widened. "Look! It's the others! HEEEY!" He shouted. Those on the Altar and on shore saw the Little Crow approaching, with everyone yelling and asking if everyone was alright.
"It appears that all of your crew are together again." Gan Fall stated.
"Seems that way." Arlong said with a smile as the Little Crow sailed towards the steps of the altar just as those on shore swung back over by vine.
"Are you ladies alright?!" Sanji asked as he looked at the women in worry.
"And what about the rest of us?" Johnny asked. Sanji just looked at them for a moment before taking of puff of his cigarette.
"You look fine to me." He said as he exhaled smoke.
"That's all?!" Yosaku yelled.
"Why are parts of the altar covered in candy syrup?" Usopp asked as he looked at the bits of blue goop everywhere.
"Oh yeah!" Vivi yelled before looking at Zoro's group. "Some mean jerk riding a bird came here after you guys left and wanted to burn the ship and us to ashes!"
"Is that why the altar looks like this? And where is the ship?" Zoro asked as he looked around as well as the others trying to find the ship before spotting Gan Fall. "Oh, the weird knight's here too."
"I am the Knight of the Sky, Gan Fall." Gan Fall stated.
"Still, I'm just glad everyone's okay." Usopp said while smiling down at Chopper, who smiled back up with tears in his eyes.
"AH! What happened to you Kaya?!" Sanji yelled in panic when he saw her bandaged arm.
"Oh this?" She asked as she looked at her arm. "That guy with the hot lance just burned me. Nothing too serious."
"That bastard!" Sanji growled, a dark look in his eyes and a muscle on his forehead. "I'll kill him!"
"Too late." Gin grinned as he looked over to a red area of sea cloud. "I already took care of him."
"So that means two of the four Priests are down." Nojiko said.
"Two?" Gan Fall said in confusion.
"We ran into another Priest named Satori." Elizabeth answered.
"But thanks to my quick thinking, I easily overpowered that fat ball of crap!" Usopp boasted.
"With our help, right?" Nojiko asked while shooting him a dark grin.
"Uh, yeah! It was a team effort!" Usopp quickly stated with a nervous laugh.
"Two Priests in one day?" Gan Fall whispered in amazement, with Pierre wearing an equal look of shock on his beak. "Unbelievable."
"Actually, it's pretty much the norm for our crew." said Nami with a smirk as Luffy wraps his arms around her and rests his chin on her shoulder.
"Alright everyone," Usopp said. "Let's get to the shore." After a few trips by boat and vine, everyone was now on the shore. Vivi, Carue, Arlong, Jones, Gin, Kuro, Nami, Luffy, Sanji, Chopper, Usopp, Gan Fall, and Pierre stayed behind while everyone else ventured off to gather food.
"Hey old knight. Is Conis-chan okay?" Sanji asked as he barbecued a Skyshark for Luffy.
"She and her father are alright. They are both safe at my home, safe from Enel's wrath." Gan Fall explained.
"That's good." Sanji said with a smile before looking at Luffy. "Hey! The Skyshark's ready."
"Alright!" Luffy yelled before he began chowing down on the skyshark.
Soon the crew came back and were now getting prepared for dinner, which was Hot Rock Stew. While the food was cooking, Usopp had everyone say what had happened to their groups.
"Well," Sanji started. "We ran into a Priest named Satori, who used these weird clouds full of just about anything you could think of to attack us. He had Observation Haki, though those guys up here call it Mantra. Still, nothing we couldn't handle."
"We also encountered a Priest. He rode upon a bird that spewed fire, and had a lance that was hot enough to set whatever it touched ablaze." Vivi explained.
"But that guy's history now." Gin added with a dark chuckle.
"Scary." Chopper whispered as he backed away.
"Sounds like you guys had a tough time." Nami said.
"Kinda sad I missed all the fun." Zoro said with a grin.
"Well, we discovered that Skypiea is actually a part of Jaya. The City of Gold didn't sink all those years ago. It was blasted up here." Nami finished.
"Alright! So here's what we know!" Usopp yelled while pointing at the chalkboard. "The Priests up here use Observation Haki, or Mantra as they call it! Birds spit fire and lances burn you! But the most important piece of news...The City of Gold did not sink, but flew up into the air 400 years ago!"
"The City of Gold is up here?!" Some of them yelled.
"That's right!" Nami answered with a big smile.
"Oh no. She's not going to let us leave until we get all the gold up here." Nojiko groaned.
"Don't we already have a ship full of treasure? Speaking of which where is the ship?" Elizabeth asked.
"She's right. I don't think we can fit anymore on. And that is a good question." Vivi added. As the crew began to speak about gold, Gan Fall watched them all with a critical eye.
'They've defeated two of Enel's Priests, treaded upon Upper Yard, and are in constant danger of death. And yet, they speak of venturing further in for something they call gold?' He thought. 'Do they not fear death?'
In another Part of Upper Yard
The two remaining Priests were fighting against the Shandians, who were fighting with everything they had to destroy them. The battle raged on as the Priests used Mantra to predict and avoid practically everything that the Shandians threw at them before the sun began to set. Wiper knew that nightfall would be to the Priests advantage and called for a retreat. The Priests would've followed, but they were summoned by God Enel.
Hidden Shandian Village
The Shandians had returned to their village to treat the wounded and rest after their assault on Upper Yard.
"Is this why you couldn't fight at your fullest?!" Wiper growled as he held the bag Laki had with her. "Is this why you nearly got killed?! Why Kamakiri had to step in and save you?!"
"Give it back! I promised Aisa!" Laki begged as Wiper nearly threw the bag, only for a wounded Kamakiri to stop him. "Kamakiri! Your wounds!"
"I can still fight!" Kamakiri said as they both let the bag of Vearth drop to the ground. "This absense of Satori and Shura were evident. We must mount another attack tomorrow. And then, we will no longer have to die for just one measly bag of Vearth." Wiper agreed, while Laki glared at them.
"Spread the word!" Wiper ordered. "Tomorrow, we head for God's Shrine!"
God's Shrine
"God, the Priests are here." Said a giant fat angel.
"Send them in." Said a bored voice.
"At once." Replied the angel as he had the doors opened, only to see the two Priests, Ohm and Gedatsu, fighting against each other. "Not again. Every time you Priests see each other, it always ends in a fight."
"Hmph. With this fool, it is not even a fight." Said Ohm.
"What?!" Gedatsu yelled before sucking in his bottom lip as he tried to cross his arms, only for an angel to tell him how it was correctly done. "Ah! How careless!"
"Calm down! You are in the presence of God!"
"Is that so?" Ohm asked as he and Gedatsu looked around. "Well, where is He?"
"Didn't He summon us here?" Gedatsu asked before the area sparked with electricity.
"SURPRISED YOU AGAIN!" Called a voice before a man with long earlobes and a golden staff appeared from the lightning and back flipped into the chair, leaving the two Priests to spiral away from the attack. The Priests stopped their rolling and looked to see Enel sitting in his chair, a bored look across his face. "I am God. I am right here. That was a pitiful display. I do not wish for failures akin to what happened to Satori and Shura.
"What was that for?!" Gedatsu yelled.
"Making light sport of us." Ohm muttered. "Why have you summoned us here?"
"I was bored." Was Enel's answer as he tossed an apple around in his hand. He laughed before telling them to sit down. "You two don't seem to be preoccupied by the Blue Sea Dwellers."
"Enel-sama, it this is about Shura and Satori, then those two were just inexperienced fools." Said Ohm as he and Gedatsu walked forward and sat before Enel.
"Their choice of Ordeals were nothing but weak." Gedatsu stated.
"Maybe, maybe not." Enel said, his bored expression still present. "Still, the Blue Sea Dwellers managed to defeat them."
"Did you summon us here to warn us to be careful?" Gedatsu asked with a glare.
"Or is this about something else?" Ohm asked.
"Indeed. I summoned you here because I have a little game happening tomorrow, and everyone's participating. The Blue Sea Dwellers, Gan Fall, the Shandians, you two, and myself. As of tomorrow, the rules that each of you follow, in which you cannot interfere with another's Ordeal and such, is changed. You have free reign to fight where ever you want and however you wish."
"Why are you suddenly granting us so much power?" Gedatsu asked.
"Because the Maxim is complete." Enel stated as he bit into his apple, a smile on his face. "It's time to leave this island, and travel to the World of Dreams."
With the Straw Hats
The Straw Hats had set up camp and were now sitting around eating stew, with Gan Fall and Pierre as their guests.
"I don't want to impose." Said Gan Fall.
"Don't worry about it. Think of it as a thank you for helping protect our friends." Sanji said before bonking Luffy with the ladle. "Wait until the others have gotten their first bowl before you ask for seconds!"
"Everyone! Gather around!" Nami called as she pulled out two maps.
"Something up?" Nojiko asked.
"Tell me. What was written at the end of Norland's Logbook?" She asked with a smile.
"The last entry of Norland's Logbook stated that the City of Gold is located in the Skull's Right Eye." Robin answered. "I'm still curious as to what that means."
"Take a look at this." said Nami as she had the two maps close together. "The reason no one's been able to figure that out is because Jaya looks different. But if you connect these two maps at the point where Cricket's house was on the shore with the other half up here, this is what you get." Everyone looked at the two maps from above and saw something amazing. The two halves of Jaya looked just like a big skull. "This is Jaya's topography 400 years ago."
"It's a skull!"
"Oh wow! It is!"
"That's really cool!" The Straw Hats all smiled at the picture as Sanji praised Nami for her genius in discovering all this.
"So the lost City of Gold spoken in legend is right here?" Vivi asked as she pointed at the part map that had a little building drawn in the center of the right eye.
"That's it!" Nami answered with a smile. "And it's not far from here!"
"AHAHAHAHA! A GRAND ADVENTURE'S CALLING US!" Luffy yelled out loud. Nojiko stared at them, wondering how they could be excited about gold when they already had so much treasure.
'Ah well. It'll still be fun!' She thought with a smile.
"Still, all that hunting for gold will have to wait until we find the Iowa." Nami stated before the men started arguing with the women about having a bonfire, saying that having one should be a law when camping. "Are you all stupid or something?!" Nami asked angrily.
"Hey Luffy! This enough firewood?" Sanji asked as he, Zoro, Jones, Kuro, Merry, Arlong, and Gin stood next to a huge pile of stacked logs.
"YOU ALL REALLY ARE STUPID, AREN'T YOU?!" Nami roared before they realized that they were surrounded by Cloud Wolves.
"Where'd they come from?!" Usopp yelled in fright as the leader, a Cloud Wolf with a scar over his eye, started barking and howling.
"What did he say Chopper?" Robin asked.
"You lot are keeping us up! It's the middle of the night, and we're trying to sleep! Why don't you shitheaded humans can it already?!" Chopper said, immitating the wolf.
"What'd you call us?!" Some of the men snarled at Chopper.
"I was just translating!" Chopper yelled in fear before he translated again for the wolf, who said that this was their turf and that they have no business here. That earned him a bump on the head from Nami, who was not going to let wolves stand in the way of her and her gold. The wolves looked ready to attack before the leader told them to back off, claiming that he had respect for Nami.
"So, no fighting?" Elizabeth asked as she stood behind Anna.
"I guess not." Usopp said.
"In that case, LET'S PARTY!" Luffy yelled. Next thing anyone knew, the Straw Hats and Cloud Wolves were all dancing around an enormous bonfire. Singing, dancing, howling, drinking, and laughing was heard all around the area.
"IT'S THE FESTIVAL OF THE EVE OF THE GREAT GOLD HUNT!"
"GOLD HUNT!"
"GOLD HUNT!"
[Are they always like this?] Pierre asked Carue in their native animal tongue.
[Almost always.] Carue answered back while Gan Fall stared in disbelief before smiling.
"You all seem very lively, despite the situation that you're all in." Gan Fall said as he sat next to Zoro and Robin a bit away from the party. "To cause such an uproar on Enel's land is quite a rare sight."
"Is it now?" Robin asked with a smile.
"Yes. No one has ever had the courage to do so since his reign began six years ago." Gan Fall stated.
"Then I guess that makes us the odd ones out." Zoro said with a smile. "Thanks for appearing and helping out our friends earlier."
"Shall I ask the cook to bring you more stew?" Robin asked.
"No thank you. I've had my fill." Gan Fall politely declined before they spoke about Skypiea being Jaya once, about the Shandians, and how they call it Vearth, the Eternal Yearning of the people. The party lasted lasted for a long time before the women retired to the tents, while the men passed out and slept outside, none of them knowing the Survival Game they were about to undertake.
And there is the end of chapter 10. Again I will not be able to do updates every two weeks due to my injuries.
"Your injuries are that bad?" Vivi asks in concern.
"To my right hand especially. I got off lucky. My right hand should have ripped off just below my elbow." Straw Hats stare at me in shock and horror. "I have to walk with a cane for a little bit since I detest crutches, so it will be a while. Nami, do you mind signing off for me?"
"S-Sure. As always please leave reviews and keep an eye out for the next update since even we do not know when it will be." Nami says.
"And don't leave flames, ElderH doesn't bother reading them." Jones says with a glare.
"Thanks Jones, will till next time., ElderH signing off."