Hello again, everybody. I hope everything is good for you all. We are back for a new chapter of this adventure in the sky islands. Enjoy !

P.S. : I'm not the one who own One Piece. Just Ash.

Chapter 2 : Angels and God

It has now been several minutes since the Vogue Merry, towed by the huge lobster, began climbing on a cloudy road surrounded with clouds. This vertical tunnel was so long that they couldn't see the end of it, and had lost sight of the entrance a while ago already.

Ussop: " How is this happening ? The cloud is shaped like a long stripe, like a river ! Really look like something not naturally formed ! This thing was artificially made, right ?! "

Nami: " There is something written on top ! It's the exit ! "

Indeed, against the cloud tunnel, an huge sign could be seen, where were written the words ' Godland Skypiea '

Chopper: " the exit(release)! "

Ash: " Godland Skypiea!? It's not an exit ! It's an entrance ! "

Propelled by the lobster which released them when they reached the end of the tunnel, making them take off above the White-White Sea, giving them a wonderful view over the landscape in front of them. In the middle of the clouds, they could saw building as white as the shining clouds surrounding them, surrounded with a forest of an emerald green. Next to the ocean, they perceived what seemed to be a beach of a spotless white, which made it the best place to moor the boat. Obviously, the first person to react was Luffy.

Luffy (with a big smile): " There's an island! It's a SKY ISLAND, YEAH ! "

The boat just had time to get near the beach that the 3 kids of the crew (Luffy, Ussop and Chopper) were already running everywhere on the beach, being amazed at everything and anything, the others always on board. Talking about the other, Zoro had just dropped the anchor, Robin had changed and Nami, who also had changed, now wearing a blue camo bikini top and pants reaching just below her knees, turned to Ash who looked at her with a neutral expression on his face and having exchanged his long sleeved vest for an open sleeveless jacket, trying to settle a last detail.

Nami (pointing at Ash): " You there. You aren't part of the crew then we are going to establish some rules".

Ash: "And since when it's the navigator who decides who joins the crew ?"

Nami (ignoring the comment): " First, if you attract us problems, you pay for all the disputes which they will create me. Secondly, if you find a treasure, he is for me. And thirdly, if you need money to buy something, I will lend it to you, but with a 500 % interest rate. "

Ash (Mumbling): " And I thought that the 1 billion extols fee by people were exaggerated. It's not sea urchins she has in her pockets, but porcupines. And hedgehogs. And cactus. And nails. "

Nami: " Oh, and since I don't trust you, you will stay constantly under my supervision. Besides, if there are houses, there are inhabitants, thus shops and I need a carrier. "

Ash (Mumbling): " What a cold hearted bitch. "

Nami (turning around, a vein pounding on her forehead): "Excuse me ?"

By turning, she was surprised when she end up facing Ash, who had an ice cream brought out of nowhere between in his hands.

Ash: " I said ' What a cool cleaned beach. ' (gesturing to his ice cream) Want some ? "

Nami (recovering): " No, no, no. That won't work. I clearly heard you say… "

Ash (pointing behind Nami, wide eyes): " Wow! An island covered in gold! "

Nami (turning around, Berry shaped eyes): " WHERE !? "

RUN LIKE A BITCH NO JUTSU !

Obviously, there was absolutely nothing and Ash took advantage of it to disembark, rushing to the 3 kids, already joined by Sanji, under Zoro satisfied look, delighted to see somebody deceive the one who had long ago reach the rank of witch in his eyes. Soon, everybody was on the beach, discovering what this very particular environment had to offer. Plants looking like balloons, a kind of hard rock square watermelons, but also of the beach furniture, mainly deckchairs made of clouds. Ash, lost in his though, was pulled out of them by some kind of small fox with an extremely pale purple fur. And almost immediately, they heard a soft melody reaching their ears. They then saw a person, standing on a cloud.

Sanji: " Hey ! Someone's there ! "

Ussop: " Is it… Another rider ?! "

Chopper (Panicking): " Whistle! Where's the whistle ?! "

Sanji: "Wait, That's not it ! It's an angel ! "

Indeed, the silhouette of the person became clearer, showing that it was a young woman, who held a harp in her hands, with a pair of wings on her back. She stopped playing, turning to the pirates, letting the latter see her dark eyes.

?: " Heso! "

Ash: " I beg your pardon?"

?: (walking to the group): " Are you guys from the Blue Seas ? Come here, Sue. "

The small fox, called Sue, rushed to the winged stanger, who approached more and more the group with each step.

Luffy: " … We flew up here from the bottom. Do you live here? "

?: " Yes, I live here. This is the Angel Beach of Skypiea. "

Now that she had reached the crew, she turned her head to the 2 square watermelons which Luffy had under his arms, laughing lightly.

?: " Haha. That's gaunasu, you want to drink it ? All the skin is as hard as steel. Biting won't do anything. Must go from the bottom... "

At those words, she took one of the gaunasu from Luffy and, using a small knife, made a hole on the bottom of the fruit and put a straw inside, before returning it to Luffy, who was thus able to drink the contents of the fruit and judging by his expression, it seemed to be really delicious. The young woman finally introduced herself, the small fox in her arms.

?: " I'm Conis. And there, it's Sue, my pet cloud fox. If there is any problem, I am willing to help you. "

Sanji: " Yes, I have a problem. Your gaze burns a hole in my heart…" he began before being interrupted by Nami, pulling him by the ear.

Nami: "Go away"

Ash : "Yeah, if you could keep it in your pants, it would be nice."

Sanji : "Shut up, scarf boy. You have no right to talk to me like."

Ash : "I'm 25, respect your elder."

Sanji : "I DON'T GIVE A FUCK !"

While Sanji began running after Ash, trying to kick his ass at the same time, Nami just sighed and turned to Conis.

Nami : " Let's forget them. There are so many things we want to know. To start up, everything here is unbelievable. "

Conis: " Yes, don't hold back. Ask anything. "

But before going farther, they were interrupted by a noise, accompanied with a shape on the ocean approaching the beach.

Conis: " Ah, it's my dad. "

Father of Conis: " Heso, Conis! "

Conis: " Oh. Heso, father. "

Ash: " I'll never get used to this way to say Hello. "

The unknown, now known as Conis's father, was a man with a beard and the same kind of hairstyle as the girl, meaning styled in 2 small antennas. He was driving some strange vehicle, wearing on his back some kind of basket. He approached the beach, but without slowing down, which meant that he was sent crashing in the palm trees on the other side of the beach, ending face first on the floor.

Father of Conis (getting up): " Is anybody up ? "

Zoro (shark teeth) : " Ask yourself that first ! "

Conis's father: " Are they your friends, Conis? In this case let me introduce myself : my name is Pagaya. "

Once the introduction were made, as well as an invitation to have dinner, quickly accepted with pleasure by the pirates, Luffy tried to control the mysterious vehicle, called a Waver, and tried to pilot it, but alas for him, it was far from being that simple and he end his race in the ocean of clouds, into which he sank, like if he was in the Blue Sea. Shortly after, just after the pirates fished up Luffy, but also Chopper, who got the good idea to dive after him to try to save Luffy, Pagaya explained to them how a Waver work.

Pagaya: " In order to fully utilize th power, the hulls of the Wavers are made very light. So even the smallest wave will cause it to turn. Thus one must understand the sea very well, at least able to predict waves. Please pardon me ! With training, it only takes about 10 years to learn. "

Ussop (shocked): " That's a long time ! It would need a lot of focus and endurance ! "

Ash: " A perfect understanding of the sea? I wonder if … "

Nami: " Heyyyyy! "

When they heard Nami's voice, the crew, Pagaya and Conis turned and they saw Nami, standing on Waver, driving it as if she did that all of her life.

Ussop (shocked even more): " SHE DID IT !"

Ash: " She seems to have a blast. Hopefully she'll forget all those fucking rules she tried to impose to me. "

While Nami had fun with the Waver, the rest of the pirates were guided by Pagaya to his home, taking a huge staircase, where from they could see workers cutting clouds, as it was did for stone on the Blue Sea. On the way, Pagaya explained the differences between the 2 types of clouds on the sky islands: the sea clouds, composing the White Sea and White-White Sea and islands clouds where the cities were build and used for construction. They finally arrived to Conis and Pagaya's home, a house which looked more like a villa than a house.

/-A little later-/

Luffy (speaking in a seashell): "Ussop is stupid!"

Ussop: "Why me ?"

Conis: "Now, please press that button on top of the shell."

Luffy: "Where? Here?"

By pressing the shell, it began repeating the words pronounced by Luffy, Ussop and Conis just now, with the same voices.

Ash: "I see. This thing record sounds. That's what you call a Dial?"

Arrived in the lounge of their house, Conis had taken the initiative to talk to the pirates and their 'guest' about the Dials, shells found on sky islands who had all kind of purpose. Lamp Dial used as lamps, Tone Dial, the one that Ussop and Luffy had just tried, Heat Dials, used as heating device or as oven and plenty of others, with a lot of different use. Ash, visiting the house, end up in the kitchen, where Sanji helped Pagaya to prepare the meal and took advantage of it to learn more about the sky island cooking when he began coughing violently.

Paddled: "What is it ?"

Sanji: "I rarely see these cyan-colored sauce, so I tasted it … How do I put it… This taste is very strong… I can't feel my tongue…"

Paddled: "Ah, it's gone bad already. Please pardon me."

Sanji (throwing the jar on the ground): "Don't keep stuff like that !"

Ash shook his head looking at what happened before locking his eyes on what seemed to be fried fish which made is mouth water. Reaching out to take one, he almost got his hand stabbed by a knife, courtesy of Sanji.

Sanji: "Hands off, Mr ' gatecrash'. Nobody touches it as long as Nami and Robin are not ready to eat.

Ash (looking behind Sanji): "Ah, Nami. What are you doing topless ?"

Sanji, heart-shaped eye, turned around all at once, ready to get an eyeful of a topless Nami, but by turning around, he saw that Nami was not there. Frowning, he looked back towards the plate of fried fish and saw that they had disappeared.

Sanji (in flames): "BASTARD! GET BACK HERE!"

Sanji arrived in the lounge, throwing himself on Ash to send a kick to his face, but when his foot just touched his face, its leg was throw back with force, as if it had just hit a bumper which sent him flying at the other end of the room, under the surprised looks of the other persons.

Chopper: " Heee ? But how did he do that ? He hasn't even moved. "

Zoro: " I don't know what he did, but if he can floor the cook, then it's good for me. "

Ash: " Hehe. I would love to explain it, but later. In the meantime, I think that it would be wiser to eat, isn't it ? "

Sanji (getting up): " We will settle that later you and I. On the other hand where is Nami? I don't see her anymore. "

Hearing those words, Pagaya and Conis suddenly became much more worried.

Conis: " Father … Will it be alright ? "

Pagaya: " Yes, Conis, my daughter, I have a bad feeling about this, too... "

Ash (frowning): " What are you talking about ? "

Conis: "In Skypiea, there is one place where no one should ever enter. That place is very close to this island, with Waver, one can reach there very fast… The place no one should ever enter… It's the holy land. It's where god lives… Upper Yard."

This revelation caused diverse reactions within the crew. In the case of Luffy, for example.

Luffy: " God is there ?! In the place that no one should ever enter ? "

This seems to made Luffy smile more and more, so Ussop intervened, catching Luffy by the collar of his jacket.

Ussop: " Hey ! Luffy ! Listen to what she said !? 'No one should ever enter' means you can't go no matter what ! "

Luffy (with a big smile) : " Oh, Really, there is a place that nobody may go to ? (eating and whistling) Yeah ? So nobody should go in no matter what … ? "

Nobody could see his face, but it was easy to guess what he was thinking about.

Everybody (thoughts): " He's going for sure… "

Ash (thoughts): " it looks like this guy has no notion of danger. How were they able to survive up to this moment with a guy like that leading them ? Ah yes, he is excessively strong. "

/- Meanwhile, Upper Yard -/

Nami: "Wow. These trees are all gigantic, I wonder how old they are. I can't even see the top."

The navigator, like Pagaya and Conis feared, got to far away and had eventually reached the edge of Upper Yard, god's land. While she was looking at the local vegetation, while asking herself a lot of questions, she heard a noise coming from the forest. She tried to leave but didn't have time to move when she heard a click behind her. Turning around, she was faced with the mask wearing guy who had attacked them on the White Sea. But the masked man didn't shoot at her, but at the forest from where the noises were coming from. When the smoke cleared, they saw a man, covered with wound and blood, laying on the ground.

Wounded man: "Hey! Help me! Let me get on your boat! I … beg of you. I'll do anything you want to repay you !"

But regrettably, Nami had no time to answer that an intense bluish light appeared in the sky and all at once, a mass of energy of the same bluish tint fall down on the poor man in a deafening crash, leaving him no chance to survive.

Masked man: "Damn … Is it Enel! He actually did that to 'Vearth'…!"

Hardly had he finishes his sentence that he jumped back, evading another discharge of energy appearing out of nowhere before running away, leaving only Nami in front of Upper Yard. Hearing voices, the red-hair hid behind a tree, to be able to listen without being seen. She however had time to perceive 4 people and 2 animals talking between them of it which had just taken place.

Stranger 1: "I think that person was talking to somebody ..?"

Stranger 2: "It was a Raider, who got away just now."

Stranger 3: That guy was begging for his life right !?"

Stranger 4: "Next up. 'Illegal trespasser ' have entered this country. We got amazon message. 8 citizens of Blue Sea came up on a ship."

Unknown 3: "Only 8? Doesn't sound exciting."

Unknown 2: "Nevertheless, we could easily divide them between us 4."

Now that those guys had left, Nami began thinking about what she had just heard, and for her nothing looked good, the words of that Amazon old woman Heaven's Gate returning to her head.

' Each people have to pay 1 billion extols entry fee. '

Nami (thoughts): "8 immigrants? Maybe because we didn't paid? Oh no. That means that we are going to finish like this guy ?! Come to think of it, what was that earlier ?! Who are they and where is this place ?!"

Nami went back up on the Waver and returned to Angel Beach.

Nami: "This is bad …! I must warn everyone fast !"

/- Angel Beach -/

Pagaya: "This is really old ! "

Luffy was with Pagaya and Conis at Angel Beach, the old man inspecting the Waver the crew had found in the Blue Sea. The rest of the crew was on the Merry, ready to search for Nami. But while Luffy wondered if this Waver was repairable, he was interrupted by a whole platoon clad in white uniform, crawling on the 'sand', without any discretion.

Leader: " Squad… halt ! "

They got up putting a hand behind their back and the other one behind their head, 2 fingers raised up towards the sky, like rabbit ears.

Troop: " Heso ! "

Conis and Paddled: "Hey there, Heso".

Leader: " You ! You are those citizens of Blue Sea, who illegally entered Skypiea. There is no point denying. We already received this from the watchers of Heaven's Gate, Amazon… It's a picture taken with Video Dial. "

Those words took Conis and Pagaya by surprise, who didn't know this detail concerning the pirates. Nevertheless, they tried to support them.

Pagaya : " This can't be ! There may be a mistake, captain McKinley! They are not bad guys … "

McKinley: " Please stop arguing. Just admit it ! The situation is not serious enough to cause a panic. In Heaven's Judgement, illegally trespassing is only a class 11 crime. After the punishment, you will immediately become regular tourists. "

Ash: "Ok, and what is the punishment? "

McKinley: " it's very simple. Just pay a fine that is 10 times the entry fee ! Each person is 1 billion extols…which means 8 billion for you 8. Pay now and your criminal status will be erased immediately ! "

Ussop: " 7 billion?! How much is that in Berry ? "

McKinley: " Berry… That's the value of the Blue Seas ? In Berries… 10.000 extols is 1 Berry. "

Ash: " It's a little better, I'm sure you have enough money to pay, paying would be the easiest way to avoid getting any problem. Where is your money ?"

The whole crew turned to Ash, wide eyes. Ussop then got up and got really close to his face.

Ussop : "DON'T. TOUCH. THAT. MONEY. Not because I don't want to pay, I know it's probably the best idea, but no one, and I say NO ONE, touch this crew money without Nami knowing."

Ash : "Come on, she can't be money hungry to the point of putting everyone in harm way just because she don't want to pay ?"

On the beach, Luffy was about to beat up McKinley, who was trying to find others crime, inspecting the Waver already talking about thieving and vandalism. Suddenly, they heard a noise coming from the ocean. The pirates, the White Berets, Conis and Pagaya turned to the sea of cloud, seeing Nami approaching the beach.

Nami: " Please wait ! Luffy ! Don't oppose those men ! "

Nami, on Waver, was rushing towards them, to announce to the others what she had witnessed in Upper Yard.

Ussop: " Don't oppose them … ? Hey, Nami ! Can we afford to pay a fine of 7 millions Berries. "

Nami's position prevented the others from seeing her face when she pronounced the following sentence.

Nami: " … Oh… So we just need to pay a fine… 7 million Berries… "

Ash : "See ? She is wise enough to know when she HAVE to pay."

Nami: " IT'S TOO EXPENSIVE ! "

In her anger, she rammed in McKinley with the Waver, sending him flying at the other end of the beach.

Ash: " … Forget what I just said. Talk about an abusive reaction. I don't know why, but I got the feeling that we won't be able to leave quietly now. "

Nami returned the Waver to Pagaya and Conis, thanking them, before grabbing Luffy's arm and pulling him towards the boat, not wanting to stay one more minute here. But regrettably for them, it was too late.

McKinley (getting up): " Hold it ! There's no escape ! Not only were you impolite to us, her action was hindering our duty, it's a class 5 crime. With the power invested in me by god Enel, I sentence you to Drifting Cloud ! "

Ash (a cup of tea in his hand): " Drifting Cloud ? I don't know why but I don't think it's as funny as it seems. *take a sip* "

Zoro : "Where did that cup come from ?"

Conis: " Indeed. They put your boat on a cloud and we let you drift in the sky until you die. It's a death penalty! "

McKinley: " GET THEM! "

Once the signal was given, the soldiers took their bows and aimed at the pirates always on the beach, mainly Luffy.

MILKY ARROW!

Arrows were shot, heading toward Luffy, who put Nami out of harm way, leaving behind them a cloudy trail and if the arrows were easy to evade, it was because these shots weren't meant to hurt, but to set up cloudy roads, on which the White Berets could move on thanks to their Dial-powered skates. But Luffy evaded the attacks, stretching to reach for a tree before returning towards the soldiers, spinning quickly on himself.

GOMU GOMU NO HANABI!

All at once, fists and feet sprang almost simultaneously in every direction, striking the soldiers, putting them all offside in a blink of an eye, much to the surprise of the soldier.

While the other crew members thought about what they were now going to do, Ash was still surprised by what he had just seen.

Ash: " Did I dreamt or I just saw him stretch, right now ? "

Robin: " Indeed, I imagine that it is normal to find it surprising when one see it for the first time. He ate the Gomu Gomu no Mi, making of him a rubber man. "

Ash: " Given that he doesn't look like the kind of guy who fight with a weapon and seeing the reward on his head, I knew that this had to be the case, I just didn't expected that kind of power. "

While Luffy was joined by Sanji and Zoro to finish the rest of the White Berets, McKinley had just got up and had begun laughing, a bad smile on his face.

McKinley: " Hahaha, you fools … It would have been fine if you had done as I said.. We, the White Berets, are the nicest law enforcers in God Land. They, on the other hand…Won't be so forgiving …! With this, you have become 2nd class criminals. No matter how you cry or scream, the priest of Upper Yard will personally judge you. "

Once the White Berets left, the pirates had all gathered on the beach, Nami explaining to them what she had saw earlier at Upper Yard. Right now, she just got to the fact that it all began with this entry fee.

Nami: " We were tricked! Didn't that old lady say, 'You can still go…' but once we did, it became 'illegal trespassing' ?! This is a fraud ! They can't do this ! "

Ash: " I agree that it's not cool, but it would have been much more easier if we, no, if YOU had paid the entries fee, which you could since you seems to have the money. "

Nami (pointing at Ash): " Silence! You have no right to talk on this boat. "

Ash: " First, you can't deny that we are in this situation because of you. Second, I can't see why you have the right to talk when you use seem to use it only to yell or talk about money ? "

Nami (shark teethed) : " I'M GOING TO KILL YOU! "

Zoro: " I like that guy. "

After this little incident, the crew decided that it was better than they leave Angel Beach, if only to avoid getting Pagaya and Conis in troubles, even if Luffy was against leaving, before finally giving in because of Nami. Ussop, Sanji and Luffy volunteered to get some reserves, and tools for Ussop, with Pagaya while the rest of the crew prepared the boat to leave.

Nami: " Hey, you with your scarf. "

Ash: " I have a name, the redhead. What is it? "

Nami: " First , you owe me 2.000.000 Berries for what you dared to say just now about the entry fee. "

Ash: " WHAT THE FUCK ?! " He had roared, outraged by the exaggerated amount demanded by the navigator, while he had only been telling the truth.

Nami: " Then, go with the 3 idiots, at least you won't be doing nothing. "

Ash: " And what if I told you to go fuck yourself ? "

/- Later-/

Ussop: " If you want to survive, you will learn not to talk like that to Nami when she gives orders. And also to do what I say. I am the real brain of this crew after all. "

Ash had finally been forced to follow them, having been beaten up by Nami, who didn't liked at all the way he spoke to her. Thus explaining that he had at the moment a heavily swollen face, covered with bump, visible even in spite of his scarf which hid a large part of his face.

Ash: " First, I don't believe you. Second, the problem lies in 3 points : I say what I think without any filters, I don't like getting bossed around AND I love making people go mad. An explosive cocktail, isn't it. "

Ash, thus following Luffy, Sanji and Ussop head to Pagaya's place, getting reserves for the continuation of their journey when Ussop noticed that something was wrong with the Merry. Sanji seized Ussop's telescope, which he aimed at Nami one moment before he began crying.

Sanji: "Why did you put on that T-shirt ? AAAAAAH ! "

Ash: " Really, man? Is that all that matters to you ? Because T-shirt or not, it seems like they are in a dire situation. "

Indeed, thanks to their spyglass, they were able to see some kind of huge lobster under the boat, transporting the latter far off, some sort of huge snakes in their pursuits.

Sanji(Trembling): " why is she wearing a T-shirt ? "

Ussop (slapping the air): "Get over it ! "

Ash: " A gentleman, but also such a pervert. What a mix."

Ussop: " Luffy! This is bad ! What do we do now !? "

Luffy: " where are they going ? "

Ash: " I don't know, but we are not leaving them a choice about it. "

Pagaya: " This lobster is God's servant. Anything it transport is always a sacrifice for God. In other words, they are going to the northeast portion of Upper Yard. To the 'Sacrificial Altar'. "

Ash: " Sacrificial? AH! A nice place for relaxing, right? "

Paddled: " For sacrifices… I only heard about it. In Heaven's Judgement, There are two types of punishments for criminals. One is 'sacrifice' and the other is 'Trial'. That's what I heard. In other words, they are now in God's hands. They're called sacrifice's, but they are actually hostages. Which means the ones being judged… Are you 4 right here !"

Luffy: " I don't care for those sacrifice or I don't know what. No matter what is waiting for us there. I have to find Nami, and the other, so we can continue our adventure. So we are going to beat those trials !"

Pagaya: " Don't be careless ! Those four priest are stronger than you think ! Most importantly, God Enel himself is in Upper Yard ! "

Luffy: " I'm going to go anyway. I won't let my friends down. "

Seeing his determination, Ash smiled before getting up, turning to the others.

Ash: " Well, I think that we don't have that much of a choice. Let's go get a closer look at this God's domain. "

And done. I hope you'll like it. Don't hesitate to leave a review, to give me some advice or just say what you think about it. See you next time !

Next time : Let's go to Upper Yard ! Trial of the Balls and the Merry on the Sacrificial Altar !