The Blood of Shandora

Disclaimer: Don't own One Piece.

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As the Axe-Heads followed Gan Fall and Aisa, they changed into fresh, dry clothes since the ascent soaked theirs, and sailed their ship up a large, puffy white slide that seemed to be made out of clouds, much like everything else, and at the top of the slide was another ocean of clouds. Their guides revealed to them that the seas of the sky were two separate areas. The lower one was called the White Sea, and the upper one was the White-White Sea.

If that wasn't enough to surprise the group of pirates, then the very large floating island with gigantic trees growing on top of it was the one that practically gave them all heart attacks. Even as the ship sailed towards the island, the crew stood at the side, staring up at the huge chunk of earth, the sides of the island covered with vines and roots.

Devon's jaw was currently resting on the wooden planks of the deck, "This island is enormous!"

"No kidding, look at those trees!" Niri rubbed her neck, "I'm getting sore just lookin' at 'em,"

"Dude, this can't be real, what the hell am I drinking?!" Azu looked at the clay jug currently in his hand, "Oh yeah...," he looked a bit longer at the jug, shrugged, and took another drink from it, "Ah, that's the good stuff,"

Kirsty looked Devon, "You okay?"

He nodded slowly and gulped, "This...this is where my father comes from?"

"Guys, look, people!" Dusty pointed ahead towards the top of a nearby cliff, where a small number of people where standing at the edge of the cliff near some ropes, looking down at them, "They all got wings just like Aisa, Devon and Austin!"

"I guess this means these are the sky people," Axe thought aloud as Gan Fall's horse flew up to the top of the cliff, "Guess that means we follow?"

"How, you plan on flying, 'cause I'd love to see that," Niri challenged.

"We climb the ropes," Chizuru replied as the ship came closer and closer to the island, "That seems to be the only way up there. Once we get up there, we should be set to get some answers and look for that City of Gold,"

"You guys can look for that city," Devon muttered, hopping onto the railing, waiting as the ropes came closer, "While we're here, I have no interest in that sort of thing. Austin and I are here to learn about our family, so you guys can go and do what you want...just don't make enemies. I really don't wanna kill any of these people, in case they know something,"

After the ship came as close to the island as it could, Herman threw the anchor over the side as the others began to climb. It wasn't that hard to climb up the ropes, but the idea of falling off and into the clouds below made some of the crew nervous. In fact, that was the reason Devon stayed behind his brother up the rope, so he could catch him just in case.

When they reached the top of the ropes, the crew of pirates were helped onto the land by the winged people on the top. They all took a look at the people and noticed that they seemed to be two different groups. One group of people were dressed in nice clothing and had two odd looking pom-poms coming out of their hair. The other group were dressed in rougher looking clothes, had the look of fighters, and a lot of them had bandages wrapped around their bodies. The only two things these people had in common were the wings on their backs and the nervous looks that they gave the pirates.

Dusty kept close to DJ, "These people are giving me the creeps,"

"No kidding," DJ looked around, "Don't worry, Dusty-chan, they won't lay a hand on you, I swear!"

"If you follow us, we will take you to the village,"

They looked ahead to see Gan Fall, Pierre (who was now a large pink bird) and Aisa waiting for them. Niri pointed at the bird, "What the hell's going on? First he's a pegasus, now a normal, polka-dotted bird?"

"The bird seems to have eaten a Devil Fruit," Chizuru mused, "So, they have those here in the sky...interesting,"

Gan Fall nodded, "Pierre," he pointed to the bird, "Ate the Uma Uma no Mi, so he can take the form of the horse, but keep his wings,"

"A horse Zoan fruit?" Dusty's ears twitched, "Man, the Grand Line is nuts,"

"So are you, so we're good," Devon walked up to Gan Fall, "Lead the way, old man,"

As they followed Gan Fall, Devon couldn't help but notice that Aisa kept looking back at him and Austin, who was walking alongside him. Devon nudged his brother with his hand and nodded to Aisa when she wasn't looking. Austin glanced at her, then up at his sibling.

Devon couldn't help but grin, "Nevermind...,"

"What happened to these people?" Kirsty asked, concerned at the number of bandaged people she saw, "Many of them are hurt...or at least, look hurt,"

"They suffered injuries in their fight for Upper Yard, which is what we call this place," Gan Fall explained, looking over his shoulder as they walked, "For hundreds of years, these people have fought a war for Upper Yard which ended recently,"

"Why would they fight over a big island?" Herman asked, "Couldn't they share it?"

Gan Fall sighed, "This island is, or was, considered to be a most holy place because it had so much Vearth, which is rare here in the sky,"

"Vearth?" Axe raised an eyebrow, "Say what?"

"Vearth is the dirt you see around you," Aisa explained, walking backward, "We consider it to be sacred, so it's very precious to us,"

Gan Fall nodded, "Since this was considered a holy place, God lived on Upper Yard and from here, he governed over Skypeia,"

"God?" Devon looked at him, "My father's journals mentioned a God on Upper Yard. Who is this God?"

The old man looked ahead, "Until six years ago, I was God,"

"WHAT?!"

Both Aisa and Gan Fall turned to see the group of pirates had stopped walking, staring at them both. Devon pointed a finger at the old man, "You were the God? You're the all powerful being who gives life?"

Aisa shook her head, "He doesn't give life, but many people come to him for advice. People in the Blue Sea have their interpretations of God, but up here, God is a ruler that does what is best for everyone,"

Devon looked at her, "Geez, you learned a lot from the Blue Sea didn't you?"

Aisa smiled and put her arms behind her head, "Yep! I wouldn't have learned a lot or even made it back here if it wasn't for Shidyk-aniki!"

"I'm kinda surprised the assassin went out of his way to help you, though," Axe mused, "He doesn't look like much of a guy to have a soft spot,"

"How do you know?" Aisa asked him.

Axe grinned, "Because I fought him in a duel once, Aisa and-,"

"Oh, so you're the rock-headed baka that got his butt kicked!"

Axe fell over, "What?!"

Aisa shrugged, "That's what aniki told me after the fight...,"

The treasure hunter's eye twitched as he kept following the, "Shadow bastard...one of these days, I'm gonna kick his ass!"

-----

After a long journey through the giant forest, the Axe-heads, led by Gan Fall and Aisa, came to a very large city that looked ancient, given the fact that it had jungle growth on the ruined buildings. Devon looked around to find more and more people walking back and forth, carrying what appeared to be supplies and other things to parts of the city.

"What is this place?" he asked, eyes scanning the area.

Gan Fall sat down and removed his cloak, revealing a suit of cracked, rusted armor, "This is an ancient city that the Shandians belonged to centuries ago. When Upper Yard appeared, they fought for this land because this was their home, but the Sky Angel people drove them off and took it for their own. Since then, the different Gods of Skypeia have resided here," he began to remove his breastplate, "When I was God, I wanted to return the city to them, but before I had a chance-,"

"That bastard Eneru came and usurped God!" Aisa interrupted him, clenching her fists, "But he got what he deserved with Shidyk-aniki and Luffy came here!"

"You two shouldn't go and tell complete strangers the story of our past," a gruff voice interjected.

Everyone turned to see a tall, dark skinned man wearing many bandages, as well as numerous tattoos on his upper body. Aisa walked over to him, "Wiper, if God says that-,"

"I don't care what God says," the man shot a glare at Gan Fall, "There are dumb things and then are just plain stupid things. What you two have been doing, is stupid,"

Aisa puffed out her cheeks, "But they know Luffy and Shidyk-aniki!"

Wiper looked at the pirates, "Prove it,"

Axe shrugged, "Alright...Monkey D. Luffy wears a straw hat, is an idiot, and can stretch like rubber,"

"Roronoa Zolo carries three swords,"

"Nami is a thief,"

"Robin can make arms and legs come out of anywhere,"

"That shithead Sanji is a perverted cook,"

"Chopper's a reindeer and a doctor,"

"And Usopp is both a coward and a liar,"

"To top it off," Axe grinned, "Shidyk's got gray hair and has a bandage on his arm,"

Gan Fall couldn't help but grin, "Well, Wiper? What more proof do you need?"

Wiper opened his mouth to retort, but before any words could come out, he took a good look at Devon. Face turning red, Wiper turned away from him, picked Aisa up by her waist (which made the girl protest), and walked off towards another part of the city.

"Wow...," Dusty shook her head, "See, Devon, even that asshole thinks you're ugly,"

WHOP!

Dusty went down with a lump on her head.

"First off, that makes no sense, and secondly, shut the hell up," Devon turned back to Gan Fall, "What the hell was his problem?"

The old man sighed, "First off, do not mind Wiper, he's usually like this with every stranger. He didn't warm up to Straw Hat or his crew until he defeated Eneru,"

Devon took a seat on a stone block nearby, "I understand that, old man, I do, but that look he gave me made me feel he really hated me, just by looking at me! Why was that?"

Again, Gan Fall sighed, "Well...,"

-Meanwhile-

"Wiper, put me down! I'll scream for Laki!"

The Shandian Warrior dropped the girl to the ground and looked down at her, "Aisa, I don't want you anywhere near those Blue Sea dwellers, especially those two," he pointed to Devon and Austin, "I mean it,"

Aisa dusted herself off, "Why not? Wiper, be nice to them, they're just like us!"

"Feh!" Wiper glared at Devon, "I know his face...that's the face of an outcast! A traitor who abandoned the war and left the sky for a woman!" he looked back down at Aisa, "I see you talking to them, or even passing by them, I'll feed you to Nola!"

"Like God, the Chief, or Laki would let you!" Aisa challenged, "I like them, Wiper! If you have a problem with them, than that's your problem, not mine!"

Stunned at her behavior, Wiper watched as Aisa walked away, "What did you learn while you were down there, Aisa?"

-Back with the pirates...-

"You and that asshole knew our father?"

Gan Fall nodded, "Yes, we did. He was a strong warrior of the Shandian Tribe at the time, and he fought alongside his tribe for Upper Yard, wanting to take it back just as badly as they did. Wiper was a boy at the time, but he greatly admired your father. He was heartbroken when his hero was leaving the sky for a woman he had just met,"

"Mother...,"

Again, Gan Fall nodded, "Yes. Your father, Sefu, loved your mother, Celeste, very much. Even though they had just met, they knew they were meant for each other," he looked up at the sky, "It was over 20 years ago, when she came to the sky. She was traveling with a group of people not too different from your or Straw Hat's group, and the first time she had met Sefu, they clashed weapons in a battle. I tried to intervene, but as fate would have it, when the fight ended, they were in love," he looked at both Austin and Devon, "Despite our differences, I became friends with your parents, and your mother's friends. When they left, I hoped that they would come back someday, but I also hoped that they would bring their children with them so that they may learn of their heritage,"

Devon lowered his head, "My parents...they couldn't make it, though,"

"They left you to find the island on your own?"

Austin shook his head, his eyes filled with sadness.

"My father...," Devon took a breath, "He left the family when we were very young. He said he knew a place to get a treasure that would make our family happy. I guess he was making his way back here, to the City of Gold,"

"But he never came back," Gan Fall crossed his arms, "So, he is still down there somewhere...,"

"Our mother," Devon's voice began to crack, "When I was a child, she was killed when thieves broke into our house. Since our father was nowhere, she was slain and my brother and I became orphans who wandered the seas for a few years,"

Gan Fall looked at them shocked, "Celeste is...dead? Oh, my. I'm very sorry to hear that, boys, I am. I was hoping that both of your parents would come back and see us, but I now see that will not be happening," he rubbed the back of his neck, "It's strange, though. Celeste was a strong woman, I cannot see her being killed by petty thieves. I'm also surprised that her nakama didn't take you boys in, raise you as their own since they were so close to your mother,"

"Who were her nakama?" Devon asked him, "Our mother never told us she went to Sky Island...,"

"Then she must have never told you that she was a pirate," Gan Fall reasoned, earning surprised looks from the entire group, "I thought so. I thought she would've told you at least, but since she didn't, I suppose I must tell you to clear all confusion,"

"Yeah...that'd be pretty helpful," Devon leaned forward, anxious to hear.

"Your mother's nakama, the pirate group she sailed with, are the only other people besides you and Straw Hat to ever make it up here. Their leader was a good man, a friend that I will never forget, as well as some of the people who sailed with him,"

Devon leaned in closer, as did Austin, "Who was he? This man who my mother sailed with?"

Gan Fall leaned back and looked at the sky, "His name was Roger, and he accepted Sefu among his group with open arms, which made it easier for Sefu and Celeste to be together,"

"WHAT?!" everyone crashed to the ground at the news.

"Roger?!" Axe sat up, wide-eyed, "Gol D. Roger?!"

Gan Fall nodded, "That woman, Robin, from Straw Hat's group was amazed to hear he had been here as well,"

Everyone in the group turned to Devon and Austin. The latter had fainted, and the former was shaking rather noticeably, his eyes wide and mouth agape.

"Our mother was-?!" Devon shook his head, "No way! It's just not possible! She would've told us!"

Gan Fall nodded, "I speak the truth, Devon,"

"Mother...," Devon felt the area around him start to spin, "...was a nakama to...the Pirate King?!"

With that, he blacked out and joined his brother on the ground in a state of shock.

-----

At that moment in the New World...

"Red-Hair Shanks" sat on the deck of his ship, a bowl of drink beside him and the poster of Devon and Austin in his hands. He looked at the two posters and smiled, "Celeste, you're a lucky woman. Two good looking sons who are following in your footsteps...you must be so proud," he sighed and took a drink, "Wonder how you're doing nowadays?"

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Kilnorc: My, what a revelation, eh? Mwahaha...okay, I'm done. Now, I am a big fan of the Skypeia arc, but after Enel/Eneru is beaten, I wouldn't know how they are with more outsiders so...I do my best. I also know that the python's name is either Nola or Norla, but I decided to go with Nola. Why? I do not know.

On the next chapter of Homeland...

Axe: I cannot believe that the mother of my First Mate was on the same crew as the Pirate King!

Chizuru: A strong warrior for a father and a pirate for a mother. Nice combo.

Niri: Waver? Never heard of it...

Dusty: Check it out, more of the Dial doohickies!

Fun Time in Skypeia!

Axe: Whoa...a Poneglyph? Here?!