THE CHILDREN Set Sail!

Disclaimer: I am not Usopp; I'm not lying. One Piece and Zettai Karen Children is not mine!

"Listen carefully and listen good," Cricket announced, "I've decide to tell you guys everything I know about Sky Island…"

Everyone, aside from Sanji who was cooking, is now outside the house. Zoro and Aoi were off to the side training. Shiho was beside Robin with a notebook, ready to jolt down any details Cricket gives that proves interesting. Kaoru, like the remaining members, just sat eagerly around the tree stump ready to listen.

"However," Cricket warned, "most of these are rumors and hearsays, and not everything can be proven true, it's up to you to decide whether you believe me or not…"

"Okay," Kaoru and Luffy nodded, "I believe you-!"

"Don't make that decision yet!" Usopp dope slapped the two for their thoughtlessness.

"Alright," Cricket began as he point out towards the sea, "to begin with, there something very strange that happens in this very ocean: in some part of the sea during the middle of the day, it would suddenly become dark as if it was nighttime…"

"Oh!" Luffy exclaimed, raising his hand for attention "I've seen that!"

"The same thing happened to us!" Kaoru added in the same manner, turning to Usopp, "Right?"

"Yeah!" Usopp admitted, "It suddenly became nighttime, as if the sun vanished, and these enormous monsters appeared!"

"So you saw the giants," Cricket noted, "For the giants, I have a few theories about where they came from, but I won't concern you guys with that now. In regards to the sudden arrival of 'nightfall', it is caused by shadows cast by a very dense cloud…"

"…! Dense clouds!" Shiho blinked, pausing her note taking.

"You mean like Nimbostratus?" Nami wondered, "Clouds like that don't cause the sky to turn completely black though; it was too dark for that…"

"Mister, are you stupid?" Luffy bluntly noted, "Days with lots of clouds are just 'cloudy'…"

"Yeah," Usopp and Chopper nodded in agreement, "Cloudy…"

"Even I know that if clouds are dense, they fall," Kaoru added, "It was more like an eclipse-!"

"Be quiet and listen!" Cricket shouted.

"But-!"

"Everyone shut up!" Shiho huffed, "You guys keep forgetting this is the Grand Line. Robin had said that most basic logic doesn't apply here, remember?"

"Ah-!"

"Anyway," Cricket continued, "The cloud formation I'm referring to called the 'Millennium Cumulonimbus'. It doesn't ascend or rain and has no internal air currents, but when it appears in the sky, the light gets blocked out completely. The 'Daytime' on the ground, or sea-level, becomes 'nighttime'. Some say that the 'Millennium Cumulonimbus' has been in existence for millions of years. It won't change form, and continues to float around in the sky as if it's a 'Cloud Fossil'…"

"It won't produce precipitation even at great density?" Nami gawked, "It's impossible…"

"Hey, I'm only telling you what people told me. It's up to you to believe me. I didn't say you have to believe me…"

"Ah~!" Luffy suddenly awed, "So it's an Impossible Cloud?"

"Yeah~, I guess that more or less sums it up. It's something that still can't be explained…"

"Luffy, you're so smart!" Chopper complimented.

"So here's the deal! If Sky Island does exist, it must be in that cloud…"

"That makes sense," Shiho nodded, "a sky island is still an island; it has be 'solid' enough to land on at least. And being in a cloud formation that doesn't change may be how it's possible…"

"ALRIGHT~!" Luffy cheered, "I GOT IT~! LET'S GO TO SKY ISLAND~!"

"Oi~! Aoi!" Kaoru called to the sword wielders, "Time to go~!"

"Huh?" Aoi paused her training with Zoro, "Already?"

"Everyone, man your position~!" Usopp cheered, "Turn the ship towards the clouds in the sky~!"

"Yeah~!" Kaoru cheered, "Thanks for telling us, Old Man-!"

"Like. I. Said!" Nami yelled, walking over to the three, "We don't know how to get there! How many times do I need to tell you that!?"

-Intermission-

"Yeah, that's going to be the hard part. The real deal is just starting now," Cricket began again, "I'll warn you all first, you need to risk your lives!"

"…We do that every day with her around," Luffy, Kaoru and Usopp mumbled with beat-up swelling face, evidently receive from Nami.

"The only method I know to get up there is by riding the 'Knock-Up Stream'…"

"…? Knock-Up Stream?" Shiho pondered the unfamiliar words.

"It is 'the current that shoots upward'. If you can get on this current, theoretically you can get up to the sky too, understand?"

"…Wait a minute," Nami blinked, "Are you trying to say this current can actually send ships flying?"

"Really!?" Luffy exclaimed excitedly, "Great! Then it'll be a snap! All we need to do is hitch a ride up! We just need to get blown up to the sky, on top of the cloud?"

"Using this ocean current?" Usopp hummed.

"But then," Nami frowned, "I heard that the ships that get blown into the sky will crash back down into the sea…I heard that in Mock Town…"

"Normally, that's the case," Cricket admitted, "the key here is timing! First, you get blown up into the sky, which sounds easy and comfortable while sitting here talking about it, but it isn't as easy as one may think. The Knock-Up Stream is actually…a disaster, as dangerous as any hurricane. It's something people normally avoid…"

"…Wait," Shiho suddenly raised her hand in question, "how exactly can a current of water raise up in the air in the first place? Come on, we have never heard of anything like that before…"

"The reason behind that monstrous current remains just theories because no one is dumb enough to rush into it to investigate! There was only one that had ever made any sense to me. The theory is this: in the bottom of the sea, there's some large sea cavities filled with air. The cold sea water seeps into the cavities, and then is heated up by the geothermic energy, creating a lot of water vapor, or steams, that creates a very powerful pressure over time. The pressure creates an explosion at one point when the pressure becomes too great. This kind of explosion shoots sea water straight into the sky for about a minute, connecting the sky to the ocean…"

"…! To be able to shoot water upward for one minute," Nami awed, "What kind of explosion is that!?"

"Is that even possible?" Kaoru wondered.

"Ever heard of a Geyser?" Aoi suddenly called out in the midst of her spar with Zoro.

"…A what!?" Everyone aside from Cricket and Robin noted.

"A geyser or blowhole that shoots up water usually found near volcano areas where the ground heats up underground water. Some geyser can shoot water up high into the air constantly for several minutes. I guess the Knock-Up Stream follow the same basic principle…"

"Heh~!"

"Pretty much," Cricket nodded, "For the Knock-Up Stream, the location of the explosions are widely different each time, but the frequency of appearance is five times a month…"

"Five times a month!?" Shiho exclaimed, "That's like an average one explosion every six days!"

"… …And we may crash down to piece if we try that," Usopp sweated in fright.

"Furthermore," Cricket began only to shake his head, "Never mind. Trying to use logic and words to describe such a grand natural even is foolish…"

"…So, in other words, the Sky Island needs to coincidently be there…though these currents only happen five times a month!?"

"Yeah. It's a big chance to take. If you miss you'll fall back down and everyone will become fish food. Even if you successfully enter the Millennium Cumulonimbus, if Sky Island doesn't exist and all our theories are wrong, you will still crash down and blown into fish food, just like you said …"

Usopp comically gawked at this before turning to Luffy desperately. "I-In that case, we'll forget about Sky Island, right!? So~ unfortunate, Luffy. This can't be helped~! Only the luckiest among the luckiest among the luckiest can get there~!"

"Don't worry," Luffy laughed excitedly, "Let's just go!"

"…Don't worry~?" Usopp wept as he pointed sadly at the Merry Go, "How can you say that it'll be okay~? You mean you trust that kind of thing without proof? Just look as the Merry Go's current condition~! Like this, it's impossible to withstand such giant disaster in her condition~!"

"True," Cricket nodded, "He's absolutely right; it's worthless. But even if that ship is new, that wreak still wouldn't stand a chance…"

"Say WHAT!?" Usopp angrily glare at Cricket for doubting their ships capability.

"Speed, weight, force…judging from those points, the ship will be blown to pieces by the current…"

"He's right," Shiho nodded, "Our ship isn't even close to sky-worthy…"

"But-!" Usopp began to argue, "…Ah-! Yeah, see!? It's hopeless. So it just can't be done!?"

"However," Cricket huffed pointing at his house where Shoujou and Masira stuck themselves outside the window after somehow getting in, "don't worry. I can have those two help you solve this problem. We need to reinforce that ship's hardness first, of course…"

"You bet~~~!" Masira and Shoujou cheered, "Don't worry, we're all over it! You can count on us~~~!"

"Thanks for your help~~!" Luffy and Kaoru called.

"…Yeah~, thanks a lot~," Usopp and Nami sarcastically grumbled.

'…Can't they mind their own business?' Shiho sweat dropped in worry.

"Luffy, have you really thought about this!?" Nami suddenly stated, "We can't stay here any longer than about at most one day!"

"…! Oh yeah!" Shiho palmed her face, "I forgot; after that the Log Pose will start pointing to the next island and we have to move on…"

"Yeah! Yeah! There's no time!" Usopp nodded before turning to Cricket, "Hey, Cricket! You can't predict the future so you won't know when the Millennium Cumulonimbus will happen to be above of a Knock-Up Stream, right? It could be a few days, months, or even years, right?"

"Yeah," Shiho nodded, "We can guess that we only need to wait at most a week for a Knock-Up Stream, but to have a Millennium Cumulonimbus above it is a-!"

"It'll be tomorrow at noon!" Cricket informed, "So you need to get ready. We need to start preparing if we want to go…"

"…EH~~!?" Kaoru and Shiho gasped, "T-T-Tomorrow~~!?"

"WHAT!?" Usopp exclaimed in comical shock, "It's not too late!? You mean we can make it!? Damn it!"

"I'm afraid so," Cricket gave Usopp a tired look. "If you don't really want to go, then don't go…"

"…He got us there," Shiho sighed before noticing Usopp taking a step forward, "…? Usopp?"

"…Y-You're lying!" Usopp suddenly declared as he pointed an accusing finger at the confused Cricket, "Come to think about it, there's something fishy about this; we only met you today, less than 24 hours! Yet you're being so nice and helpful to us, isn't that suspicious!? Furthermore…!"

"Hey, Usopp-!" Luffy began only to have Shiho to hold out a hand to stop him. Though she hates to admit it, but what Usopp was saying has some truth. Cricket has been awfully friendly with them despite just the other hour or so ago he was fighting to kill them. Sure they heal him, but even then it shouldn't compel him to do any more than just pointing the way and let them figure out the rest.

"You say that the best opportunity to reach an uncertain location like Sky Island just happen to be tomorrow at noon!? You're going to even help remodel our ship and sail us there…for nothing!? These things are too 'perfect'; when something looks too good to be true, it probably is! What kind of sinister plan do you have in store for us!? You ARE the descendant of the infamous Noland the King of Liar! So how do we know we can trust you!?"

Cricket and Usopp glared at each in a standoff until Sanji, Shoujou and Masira erupted from the doorway, competing to see who would get out first.

"Boss~~~!" Masira called, "The meal is ready~~~! Today's food is really special!"

"This guy's a really god cook!" Shoujou added, "I'm so edgy!"

"I told you I'm a first-class chef!" Sanji affirmed, before swooning towards the girls, "Nami-san~, Robin-chan~, dinner is-!"

They soon got completely quiet when they notice the tense situation.

"…W-What is it?" Usopp held up his hand in defense when he notices Cricket walking towards him, "You want to fight me!?"

Cricket took a long drag of his cigarette before speaking, still moving forward. "Masira said that in the territory that he own, two days after the 'nighttime' incident happened, the Millennium Cumulonimbus will appear in the sky in the south. Judging from the usual cycle by calendar, the special current will also happen tomorrow, and this time it would also take place south from here. Even though I can't give 100% guarantee, tomorrow will very likely be a perfect chance for the two events to coincide…"

By then, Cricket had walked pass Usopp and continued onward towards the house.

"I am proud and happy to meet a bunch of fearless idiots like you; you're true pirates. Come, let's go eat! Just enjoy my hospitality in my home for today…my friend!"

Usopp gawked a bit when he heard that as he collapse the ground in regret while Luffy simply giggled at Cricket's words.

The Children smiled as well. Truth to be told, they too had share a bit of Usopp concern. But after hearing and seeing Cricket's response, they understood. Cricket has decided to help them out because he considered them his friends; it was pure and simple. It may be so, but back in their world it wasn't so easy to see or claim. But here, with the Straw Hats, they learned that just being friends with someone is enough to help them at least this much.

"Right~!" Kaoru cheered as she began to race Luffy towards the house, "Let's eat~~!"

"Let's go, Zoro-han," Aoi parry her teacher's attack, "We wouldn't want to give Sanji-han an excuse to call us slow…"

Zoro huff a chuckle as he sheathed his swords. "I agree…"

"Let's go Robin-nee-chan!" Nami invited, "Or Luffy WILL eat our portion…"

Robin chuckled. "We wouldn't want that, would we?"

"Are you coming Chopper?"

"I'm on my way," Chopper cheered as he followed the two towards the house.

"…Seems this is the best opportunity to try our best to reach the sky," Shiho noted to the only person in hearing distance, "It'll end up depending on our luck…"

"… …Shiho," Usopp managed in remorse, "Tell me the truth, am I coward-?"

"Yes, an incredibly huge one! So much that I can give you the trophy of the highest honor for it. Not only that, you are also an idiot…But I—or rather everyone, including Cricket—understand your feelings…"

Usopp remained silent at Shiho's response.

"…Well, what are waiting for? An invitation? Go and apologize already. I'm not kind enough to tell him for you…"

With that, faster than anyone Shiho has ever seen Usopp got up and dash over to Cricket and tackle his leg, holding it apologetically while crying.

"WAAH~~~!" Usopp cried, "Cricket, I'm so sorry-!"

"Hey! What are you doing!?" Cricket yelped in surprise as he comically punched him off of him, "Don't wipe your nose on my pants! It's disgusting, you idiot!"

Shiho giggled at this sight, before racing to keep up with everyone.

In a matter of minutes, the dinner broke out into a party, despite the house being rather small. Everyone was enjoying themselves to the fullness.

"The wine tastes extra good today~~!" Cricket laugh, chugging down a bottle of wine as he did.

"Eat all you want!" Sanji declared as he and Shiho continued to serve out food (of course having a bite every now and then themselves), "There's a lot more~!"

"It's special summer cuisine~!" Shiho added, "…Ah-! Kaoru! Get your hands out of that noodle pot! Use the chopsticks like you're supposed to!"

"But it's easier this way~!" Kaoru pouted as continued to use her hand to pick up noodles.

"There's something call hygiene, you know!" Aoi dope slapped Kaoru, "Only babies eat like that!"

Luffy laughed at the idea. "Kaoru eats like a baby~!"

"What-!?" Kaoru blushed before pointing an accusing finger at Luffy, "I don't to hear that coming from someone who eats like a tornado!"

"Oh, thanks!"

"I wasn't complimenting you!"

"Jeez," Aoi shook her head with a sigh, "I feel as if we're losing more of our common sense with the time we spent here…"

"Correction," Shiho sighed, "Only Kaoru is losing any of that-Hey! Masira! You nearly ate my hand there!"

"Sorry~!" Masira apologized.

"This can't be settled with an apology! I literally felt your teeth on me!"

"Oi, Shiho-chan," Sanji called, "Help me distribute these dishes already…"

"Have Aoi do that, I'm busy!"

"…Okay~! Aoi-chan!"

"On it!" Aoi coolly distribute the dishes with a flick of her finger.

"Perfect…"

"That power of your is so handy," Shoujou hummed in awe, "It makes me so edgy…"

"I bet you'll be a great thief," Nami chuckled at the thought.

"I-I'm no thief!" Aoi exclaimed frantically.

"… … …Don't you dare steal from me though, or I'll boot you off this ship-!"

"I told you I'm no thief! Are you listening!?"

"GAH~~~!" Masira mouth suddenly erupted fire after Usopp handed him a dish.

"Whoa-! What happen to you-?" Shiho exclaimed in shock, since she was in the middle of lecturing him.

"I got you~!" Usopp suddenly declared shamelessly, "My Hot Sauce Bomber Jet worked like a charm~!"

"Damn you, Long Nose~~!" Masira growled in anger as he began chasing after Usopp.

"Hey! Get back, I'm not through with you!" Shiho exclaimed as she chased after Masira.

"Hey, good looking!" Cricket called to Nami, patting the empty spot next to him, "Sit here~!"

"Wow~! Shift down a gear old man!" Sanji growled, placing a foot on Cricket's forehead to keep him from moving any closer to Nami, "You want Nami-san to sit with you!? You're a hundred years too early!"

"Don't you mean too late?" Kaoru chuckled.

"..Ah-! Yeah! That's right-!"

"Who are you calling an old man, you brat!?" Cricket glared.

"Who's a brat, old man!?" Kaoru glared back in challenge.

"You're a good drinker~~~!" Shoujou smirked after gulping down a mug full of ale.

"I can still drink more!" Zoro smirked in challenge.

"Alright," Aoi nodded determinedly, "I'll be the judge then. We'll decide once and for all who the best is!"

"Deal!" Shoujou and Zoro nodded and began their drinking contest.

In the midst of this, Robin was silently off to the side. She held Noland's Captain Log in her hand, carefully skimming through it while eating.

"Damn! That overgrown monkey has enough stamina to really be of a different species!" Shiho panted, having given up on pursuing Masira, and took notice of Robin, "Hey, Robin. What are you doing?"

"I'm reading through Noland's entries," Robin informed, "They may hold other facts that we can use later on…"

"I suppose," Shiho glance over the Archeologist's shoulder as she flipped to the final entry page, "…? This page seems different from the earlier ones…"

"Indeed," Robin nodded in interest.

"In the Skull's right eye, Gold was seen," Cricket noted. He had closed in without the two noticing, causing them both to sweat drop nervously in shock.

"Gold!?" Nami noted off to the side. Hearing that key word, everyone stopped what they were doing to listen.

"The page, that has tear drop on it, contains Noland's last words. His sentence was carried out that day. I still don't understand what that passage means. The Skull's right eye!? Is that the city that was here before? Or is it poetically hinting his own death? It's all blank after that…"

"It certainly is a big mystery," Shiho nodded.

"Can't you find out with your powers?" Robin inquired.

"Normally, yes," Shiho placed her hand on the book, her hand glowing bright blue, "But this last page that was filled out were written with intense emotions, which interferes with the information behind the meaning of his words…"

"So there are limitations to your powers…"

"Yeah. A fortified locked mind, intense emotions, jamming thought waves, and powerful mental attacks are some of my known weaknesses that could interfere with my reading. So for cases like this last page, we can only dream what it's about…"

"That's why we need to go undersea!" Masira cheered, "To daydream at the bottom of the sea~~!

"Yeah~!" Luffy and Usopp cheered, "We're going to fly~~~! Fly into the sky!"

Shiho sighed. "Well, it's not like I expect you idiots to understand the excitement of mysteries even my power can't solve…"

"HOW RUDE!" Kaoru and Aoi exclaimed, "We're not idiots!"

"Aoi, maybe, but Kaoru you have no right to complain!"

"EH~~~!?" Kaoru exclaimed in comical shock.

Everyone laughed at her reaction in response.

Nighttime fell and the party was still ragging on.

"The Captain Log Entry, the 21st day of the 5th month of the year 1122: Today I arrive on Jaya," Cricket narrated, performing as he did, "Shortly after making landfall, we heard a peculiar chirping sound from a mysterious bird deep in the forest and soon after a very, very loud tolling sound of great bell. The ringing from those gigantic bells made of gold can heard from all corners of the sea, as if sending a message delivering the city's glory in the old days…"

"A-A gigantic golden bell~!?" Nami swooned suddenly.

"HUSH~!" The Children shushed Nami's outburst, "We're trying to listen!"

They weren't the only ones; everyone was listening. Masira and Shoujou acted like kids eagerly listening to their parent's wild tales of excitement. Even Luffy had slowed down his eating to listen.

"The change in civilizations throughout the ages in the endless oceans," Cricket continued without minding, "is for us, who lived but a few dozen years, a grand matter that leave us speechless! For a while after that, we would always feel uneasy when we heard the bells~~~!"

"YEAH~~~!" The Children, Luffy, Masira and Shoujou cheered, "NOLAND~~~!"

"By the way you're preforming, Cricket," Usopp chuckled, "I say you do actually are fond of Noland after all~!"

"Heh, did I really sound like that?" Cricket chuckled with amusement before head over to one of the shelves and grabbed four large bundles, "Well, I'll leave that up to your imagination then…"

"…? What are those?" Shiho inquired the bundles Cricket brought over.

Cricket smirked before unwarping one of them. "Take a look…"

"… … … …! A-A-A-A G-G-Golden Bell~~~~!" The Children and Nami exclaimed once they saw the bell.

"That's right, Masira found this one…"

"C-C-Can I hold it?" Nami asked and once Cricket nodded, she nuzzled it affectionately, "Ah~~~! Treasure~~~!"

"A-Amazing!" Shiho awed, after touching it with a bright blue glowing hand, "I-I-I never touch something this pure in gold! With the little amount of copper in it, I'm surprise it remained in this shape!"

"Could this be the bell in Noland's entry?" Kaoru exclaimed excitedly.

"I don't think so," Aoi readjusted her glasses with a sweat drop, "Didn't the entry say it was gigantic?"

"Yeah~," Usopp sweat dropped as he stared at the bell Nami was still swooning over; it was barely bigger than her head, "How is this considered gigantic?"

"Definitely doesn't seem enormous to me," Shiho sweat dropped.

"This isn't the one mentioned in Noland's log," Cricket chuckled at everyone's nearly disappointed reaction, "This is a bell-shaped token…"

"Token?" Aoi blinked, "Like a farewell or welcome gift?"

"Yeah, we found three in the sea bed…"

"T-Three~~~!?" Nami awed in love-struck.

Cricket nodded and unwrapped two more bundles, revealing two more golden bells.

"WAAH~~~!"

"So the Golden City did exist after all, right?" Kaoru eagerly guessed.

"Not necessarily," Shoujou informed, "Small amount of gold like this is common in any old ruins…"

"Yeah, that makes sense," Shiho nodded, "Every ruin should have at least one jewel or valuable of some sort in it…"

"What exactly is a token?" Chopper inquired.

"Tokens were made to organize gold pieces into tradable units, meaning they were used for trade…"

"Regardless," Robin smiled, "at the very least they prove that ancient 'civilization' existed in this area…"

"That's right," Cricket nodded, "Also, the mysterious birds that made those strange sounds…Masira, if you would do the honor…"

"Okay," Masira smiled proudly as he unwrap the last and largest bundle.

"Wow! There's more gold!?" Usopp and Aoi exclaimed in shock.

"This one's much bigger," Zoro noted.

"Look at the size of it," Shiho managed, "It's almost as big as Chopper!"

The gold, to the Children, this time looked like a strange exotic bird holding a small bell in its "hands". And as Shiho describe its height is only an eye-short from Chopper's height.

"This is the last of them," Cricket reported, "Ten years and this all I could find; hardly worth the show…"

"Who cares~!?" Kaoru awed, "It's so pretty!"

"…What is this?" Aoi adjusted her glasses in confusion, "A penguin?"

"It looks more like a Hornbill, if you ask me," Shiho guessed.

"A bird holding a bell," Sanji hummed in amusement, "Could it be the symbol of Jaya or ancient civilization?"

"Not sure," Cricket shrugged, "However I believe that this is a part of some greater symbol. The bird is called the 'South Bird', they still exist on the island and you can still find them…"

"Wow, and they have a peculiar call, right?" Luffy remembered.

"Yes, like described in the diary…"

"Speaking of South Bird," Masira laughed, "There's a story behind them…"

"Yeah," Shoujou also laughed, "Ever since long ago, sailors would-!"

"… …Hmm?" Kaoru hummed in confusion when Shoujou didn't continued.

"…? W-What's wrong?" Aoi noted when she the brothers suddenly stared at each other in worry.

"…?" Shiho then notice the horrified expression on Cricket's face, "You too, Cricket-?"

"DAMN IT~~~~!" All three of them suddenly shouted, "OH, NO~~~!"

"Whoa-! W-What was that for!?" Aoi hyperventilated in shock; she wouldn't say it, she nearly wetted herself from their combine shouting.

"WHAT!?" Kaoru exclaimed, "What happen-!?"

"This is really bad!" Cricket announced, "All of you! Go get to the forest quickly! It's south from here!"

"Huh!?" Luffy sweat dropped in confusion, "What are you saying? Are you stupid?"

"Don't waste a minute!" Cricket went on, ignoring Luffy's insult, as he pointed to the golden bird statue. "Catch one of these birds right away!"

"WHAT!?" Usopp exclaimed, "WHY!?"

"The Bird?" Sanji inquired, "What for?"

"Now listen carefully!" Cricket suddenly instructed, "Tomorrow you're going to sail to the Knock-Up Stream that exists directly south from here. How are you going to get there!?"

"…? We just sail the ship due south of course," Kaoru answered, "Even I know-…"

"You idiots! Have you forgotten this is the Grand Line!? You're heading for open seas; you won't be able to get your bearings! Once you set sail, you lose all sense of direction!"

"…! Ah-!"

"T-That's right!" Shiho gasped, "Since we're not heading to an island, we can't use the Log Pose!"

"Then how do go south!?" Nami inquired.

"That's why I said you need the bird!" Cricket affirmed, "It is said that certain animals contain bio-compass enhancing their directional sense…"

"Ah~! I heard that pigeons also have this ability…"

"So Zoro is worse than a bird," Luffy laughed, "he's dumber than a bird~!"

"SHUT UP!" Zoro shouted, "Who are you to judge!?"

"At the very least, Luffy won't start heading back the way he came after a few sec-OW!" Shiho yelped in pain when Zoro bonked her on the head, "What was THAT for!?"

"He's just mad because he got serve-," Kaoru laughed before getting a punch on the head by Zoro too, "Ow!"

"Among those animals, South Birds has one of the best senses of direction," Cricket informed, "No matter how you move the bird, it will always point itself someway south. In other words, if you don't have this key animal guiding you to the Knock-Up Stream, you're going to have to kiss your only chance to get to Sky Island goodbye!"

"EH~~~!" The Children, Luffy, Chopper and Usopp comically gasped in shock, "HOW COME YOU ONLY MENTION THIS JUST NOW!?"

"MY BAD! I forgot! Okay!?"

"It's way past midnight!" Aoi screeched, "Yet you expect us to go into the forest bird-hunting!?"

"Quit complaining! There's no time! While you guys are doing that, the three of us will enhance your ship for the journey ahead…"

"But even so!" Kaoru frowned, "How are we going to find some bird in the middle of the night!?"

"You figure that out yourselves!"

"Now you tell us that!?"

"That's too irresponsible!" Aoi yelled.

"…Come to think of it," Shiho sweat dropped, "This isn't exactly the time for that party either-!"

"NOW YOU SAY THAT!?" Aoi and Kaoru dope slapped Shiho.

"You should have said that earlier~!" Nami, Usopp and Chopper exclaimed.

"Remember!" Cricket called as everyone hurryingly gather their nest and rush into the forest, "Before daybreak, bring back a South Bird~~~!"

"Wah~!" Luffy awed, "It's pitch black~!"

"…Why are you hiding behind me, Usopp!?" Kaoru grumbled as she tried to push Usopp off her back, "I'm shorter than you here!"

"I feel safer behind you," Usopp admitted.

"And who's supposed to be the Brave Warrior of the Sea here!?"

"Oh~!" Chopper groaned as he held his stomach, "I ate too much…hard to move~! I couldn't catch a bird if I saw one…"

"Are you okay, Chopper-han?" Aoi wondered in worry, "Should I go back and get some stomach medicines?"

"Naw, I'm okay…"

"…If you say so…"

"Let's hurry up and catch one," Zoro huffed, "I want to get back to drinking…"

"How can you be thinking about drinking more!?"

"Would someone remind me how we end up in this mess~?" Nami shivered on the spot.

"It's because a certain someone didn't informed us about the South Bird sooner," Shiho sighed.

"Damn~!" Usopp bite his nails, "This kind of thing should be done during the daytime~!"

"It can't be help," Kaoru shrugged, "We were partying…"

"So…where's the bird?" Luffy asked.

"If I know that," Zoro rolled his eyes, "we wouldn't have to all come…"

"Don't they have some special habitat?" Aoi wondered, "Or maybe some sort of habit we can use?"

"You're asking the wrong people here," Shiho dope slapped her glasses-wearing friend, "and unfortunately the only people that may have that answer isn't here…"

"The only clue we got," Sanji searched his memories, "are its strange chirping sound and the look of the golden bird statue…"

"It kind of hard for me to believe that any bird could look that screwy in real life," Zoro hummed.

"And the 'peculiar call' is too vague!" Usopp added, "How are we going to ID it from that?"

"Wouldn't it be easier to catch all the birds we find and have Cricket check to see which bird is the correct one?" Kaoru suggested.

"That would take too long!" Aoi sighed, "And we don't have any bird cage big enough to house them all!"

"Cricket said we'll know what he meant by 'peculiar call' once we enter the forest," Shiho scratched her head in confusion, "But…"

"…JYOH~~~!" a noise suddenly echo through the forest.

"…Ah-! That sounded peculiar!" Everyone, aside from Nami and Robin, noted.

"Oh, you think~?" Nami sweat dropped.

"Yosh!" Kaoru grinned as she held up her nets, "Let's do it~!"

"We'll split into four teams since there are four nets!" Sanji declared, holding up his net.

"Alright~!" Luffy cheered, raising his net, "Let's go~! Punch that bird into flying bits~!"

"Yeah-!" Usopp began, as Zoro simply raise his net, before performing a comical face fault, "No, wait! It's catch, not punch!"

With that, they divide and spread out.

Usopp, Nami and Sanji form the first team; Robin and Zoro formed the second team; Luffy and Chopper formed the third team; and the Children formed the final team. But it hasn't even been five minutes since they separated from the others when the Children heard some of the collective screams from some of their crewmates a while away.

"I think I just heard Nami-han and Sanji-han screeching," Aoi sweat dropped.

"I heard Luffy's and Chopper's screams," Shiho added.

"And despite all of that," Kaoru grumbled, "We still can't find a single bird that looks remotely like the golden statue…"

"Yeah, you think it'll be a bit easier to spot a hornbill with a strange call…"

"…JYOH~~~!" a noise echoed through the forest.

"Oh!" Kaoru grinned, "Looks like we're on the right track!"

"…!? Do you hear something?" Aoi suddenly perk her ears, "It sounds like-!"

"A stampede!" Shiho suddenly cried out.

"Exactly!"

"No, a stampede! Twelve o'clock!"

Kaoru and Aoi turned to see a herd of boar racing towards them.

"GEH-!?" Aoi gasped in shock, "What the heck!? Aren't most animals supposed to be asleep by now!?"

"Actually, boars are one of the few animals that are nocturnal," Shiho informed.

"Is this really a good time for a lecture!?"

"Psychic~~~!" Kaoru called out before causing the stampeding boars to become entangle in the nearby vines, "Boar Rodeo~!"

The Boars squeaked in surprises as they struggle to escape from the vines.

"…I guess there's no point in worrying," Aoi sweat dropped. She had spent so long in the company of monstrous people she forgot that everything else doesn't even hold a candle to her and her two friends if they try.

"Ne~, Shiho~!" Kaoru called out as she stared with a drooling mouth at the tangled boars, "You think you can cook these guys up~?"

"Kaoru, you're starting to sound too much Luffy," Shiho rolled her eyes.

"Well, can you?"

Shiho glared at the panicking boars, before smirking. "I can do it with my eyes closed~!"

"Hey~!" Aoi sweat dropped as the boars squealed in horror, "Don't you feel sorry for them?"

"What?" Kaoru blinked, "You don't want any Boar Meat? I heard they're good~!"

"That's not the point! We don't have time, we got to find the South Bird, remember?"

"…Good point," Kaoru sighed before using her powers to untangle the boars, "Run off now; don't let us catch you again!"

The boars squealed in appreciation before bolting off.

"…Was it just me?" Shiho hummed as she watches them scamper off, "Or did they understood us?"

"Who knows," Aoi shrugged as the three trudges onward.

"Seriously! Enough is enough~!" Kaoru yelled in frustration.

Not long after releasing the boars, they encounter a number of other forest creatures: bees, coyotes, giant ladybugs, and iguanas are but a few they end up encounter. Each time, the Children fought them off without much difficulty. Each time Kaoru and Shiho falls into the discussion of whether to cook them up or not. Each time Aoi would convince them to the creatures go. They have done this routine eight times already.

"I'm ready to sauté these guys this time around~!" Shiho growled in annoyance, glaring at the gators that just put down.

"Isn't it strange?" Aoi suddenly noted, wiping her swords clean of blood, "Every time we hear the strange chirping noise, some random animals pops up to delay us…"

"Now that you mention it, yeah~!" Kaoru glared at the gators, "Could it be these guys are under the bird's command?"

"I'm starting to consider that~!" Shiho glared evilly at one of the frighten gators, "I think I'll get something out of you first~! Before butchering you into edible pieces, seasons them over a hot burning open fire, and feasting on your flavor carcasses~!"

The gators growled in horror as Shiho approach them.

"…JYOH~!" the strange chirping noise echoed again.

"Ah-! The peculiar chirp!" Aoi called, "It came that way!"

"Let's hurry!" Kaoru called as she used her powers to levitate her friends to fly towards the sound.

"You all better hope I don't see you all again!" Shiho threated the gators as she got dragged off, "Or. We. Will. Continue. This!"

"No animal attacks this time around," Kaoru noted, "That's strange…"

"Maybe, by now every one of them is aware that they could a potential meal if they run into us," Aoi sweat dropped.

"They'd better," Shiho grumbled, "Because the next one WILL be provision materials!"

Aoi nervously chuckled before noticing something up in the tree. "…! Is that it!?"

Shiho and Kaoru stared up to see a toucan-like bird with a heart-shape comb on its head.

"COWA~!" The bird called off.

"…It looks…similar," Kaoru sweat dropped, "and the chirp is…strange. But it's not the one we've been hearing…"

"Not to mention the comb is different from the statue," Shiho hummed.

The bird meanwhile flew down to their level, but kept its head point in one constant direction.

"…He certain seems friendly," Kaoru noted.

Shiho gently groom the bird, with her hands glowing bright blue, before sweat dropping. "It's not the South Bird…"

"He isn't?"

"No, she isn't!

"…!? S-She!?" Kaoru apologetically to the bird, "S-Sorry!"

"COWA~!" The bird chirped; it didn't sound offend.

"It's actually a closely related species known as the North Bird…" Shiho informed.

"N-North Bird?" Aoi sweat dropped, "Don't tell this bird's head always pointed north…"

"I hate to say it, but yeah it does…"

Aoi's glasses comically slide a few centimeters in exasperation.

"So there's a North Bird," Kaoru hummed, "…I wonder if there's a West Bird and an East Bird too…"

"…JYOWA~!" a chirp called from above.

The Children stared up to see two more bird, both facing opposite direction and somewhat smaller than the North bird. One had a "W" shape comb one its head while the other had an "E" shape comb.

"COH~!" the bird with the "E" shape comb called.

"…Don't tell me," Aoi sweat dropped.

"They're the Eastern Bird and the Western Bird," Shiho informed, "And I don't think I need to elaborate which is which…"

Aoi's glasses comically slid off her nose completely, causing Aoi to comically struggle to catch it.

"Hey, Shiho," Kaoru suddenly noted, "you think we can just ask for these birds help instead?"

Shiho gave Kaoru's idea a thought. "…True, just having one of these birds can help us figure out which direction is south. But that's really up to the others to decide really…and the birds…"

"I guess," Kaoru shrugged before turning to the North Bird, "Ne~, North Bird, we're trying to sail south from here but we can't find the South Bird. You think either you or your friends up there are willing to help us out for a little while…"

Anybody else would have thought Kaoru was crazy for asking a bird for assistance. But the Children had learned that it's not wise to underestimate animals. Various cartoons and anime had shown that people who often overlook the quality of other species had paid a heavy price. In fact, some of the most powerful esper they know are animals: an experimental flying squirrel and WWII veteran dolphin. So far as they have seen, the animals here in this world possess an unusual amount of awareness above the animals they are mostly used to; Chopper, Eyelash and Carue are but few examples.

The North Bird was no different. Perhaps appreciating their respect for its decision, the North Bird chirped in what sounded like agreement. To affirmed it even further, it gently perched itself on top of Kaoru's head.

"Looks like we got ourselves a friend willing to help," Kaoru chuckled, though she did sweat dropped a bit since it was on her head; had it not been for the fact that birds are generally light in weight to allow it to fly the North Bird being half of Kaoru's height would have crushed her.

"Great," Aoi nodded, having repositioned her glasses properly on her face, "Let's regroup with the others and then-…"

"COH~!" the Eastern Bird suddenly called before promptly landing on Aoi's head.

"… …Okay~?" Aoi managed as she watch the Western Bird perched itself on Shiho's head, "What's going on!?"

"…Seems like these two birds also want to tag along," Shiho guessed with a sweat dropped.

"JYOWA~!" the Western Bird called.

Out of curiosity, Shiho decided to try reading the Western Bird's thoughts, having the area where it had landed glowed bright blue to activate her powers.

"…Huh~!" Shiho hummed, "I see…"

"See what?" Kaoru blinked.

"You see, these two birds are nephew and niece of the North Bird on your head. She's taking care of them and, by per chance, all three of them have a passion for adventuring…"

"Ah~!" Aoi chuckled nervously, "That explains everything…"

"Well then," Kaoru started onward, "Let's not disappoint them~!"

The Children returned to the spot they had separated from; it was their agreed meeting spot. They were waiting there for about five more minute before familiar voices closed in.

"Damn those giant insects," A voice that sounded like Sanji echoed, "Why of all things we keep running into shitty insects?"

"I didn't know you were afraid of insects, Sanji," Usopp's voice echoed in dumbfound, "You ran as fast as Nami did when you notices those Centipedes and Moths-…"

"Shut your Trap!"

"I'm shock by the fact you actually picked up those tarantulas~!" Nami's voiced wailed, "You even pet one of them!"

"Like I said," Usopp's voice ranged out, "They won't bite unless provoke. They don't bite just for the hell of it…"

"…I feel muddy," Zoro's voice echoed from another direction.

"It's your fault for falling in the same pit of quicksand…twice for that matter, Mister Swordsman," Robin's chuckles echoed from the same direction.

"Shut up! You didn't do a thing when those bugs attack!"

"You didn't give me a chance…"

"Ugh-!"

"Ah~~!" A groan that sounded a lot like Luffy's echoed from another direction, "I lost the Atlas Beetle when we got chase by those bees and wasps~!"

"There was nothing we could do about it," Chopper's voice comforted, "The bees were poisonous and mantis cut up our net…"

"But I could have at least kept the Atlas Beetle~!"

"So between One Piece and the Atlas Beetle, which would you want to keep more?"

"Ugh-! That's hard to decide~!"

"…Seems like you guys had a hard time," Kaoru noted as soon as everyone came into view.

"Ah-! Kaoru~!"

"Yo~! How did it go~!?"

"It was awful~!" Usopp wailed, "We keep getting attack~!"

"It seems like the South Birds are controlling the animals here to attack us," Chopper added.

"We can hear them," Zoro sighed, "But never see one…"

"We saw one," Luffy informed, "But the bugs were everywhere so there was no time to catch them!"

"We just kept running," Chopper sighed as collapse on the ground in exhaustion.

"I don't have any more strength to run~!" Nami groaned tiredly.

"I can't believe it," Usopp grumbled, "we have ten people but we can't even catch one!? You guys should try harder!"

"Speak for yourself," Sanji grumbled.

"… …Oh my~!" Robin blinked when she saw the Children.

"…? What's wrong, Robin-chan?"

"COWA~!" The North Bird suddenly chirped from on top of Kaoru's head.

"JYOWA~!" The Western Bird chirped on Shiho's head.

"COH~!" The Eastern Bird chirped on Aoi's head.

Everyone stared at them for moment before budging their eyes out comically (of course Robin sustains her calm face).

"WHAT~!?" They exclaimed, "YOU CAUGHT THREE~~~!?"

"Uh, no~!" Aoi sweat dropped, "We didn't catch any birds…"

"And they're not South Birds either," Shiho added, "They're related to South Birds, only pointing north, east or west…"

"They say they don't mind helping us," Kaoru added, "And as long as we have even just one of them, we can tell which way is south, right? So can they tag along for now?"

"You girls are amazing~~~!" Luffy, Zoro, Sanji and Usopp exclaimed in amazement.

"No need to be that impress…" Despite Kaoru's humbleness, the three still blushed at being complimented.

"So~!" Nami sweat dropped as she inspects the birds, "These guys are going to help us in place of the South Bird?"

"…Actually," Shiho sweat dropped, "The North Bird, the one on top Kaoru's head, and the Eastern Bird, on top of Aoi's head, are girls. The one on my head, the Western Bird, is the only boy…"

"Ah~!"

"Well," Robin chuckled in amusement, "They are right; with all three of these directional birds helping us, we can tell which direction we need to go instead…"

"Thanks birds~~~!" Luffy thanked happily, to which the birds chirped in appreciation.

"…JYOH~!" a mockery sounding chirp echoed from above.

"…Ah-!" Chopper exclaimed when everyone glances up to see a toucan-like bird perched on a tree branch, "It's a South Bird!"

"Seriously!?" Usopp gawked, as the South Bird chirped even more, "…What's it saying!?"

"…It said, 'Too bad~! You dumbass in the end couldn't catch me~!'…"

"WHAT!? He shows up now on purpose just to say that!? I'll shoot it down!"

Suddenly, hands popped out from the side of the startled bird, binding it and causing it to fall from the tree branch.

"As long as I can see," Robin simply shrugged as the South Bird struggled to break free.

"Ah~!" Everyone else sweat dropped.

"Well, that was anticlimactic," Aoi sighed.

"Well, we might as well have him help out too," Kaoru grinned as she held the bird up by its legs, "We already have three directional birds, we might as well complete the whole set…"

"Yes~!" Shiho glared evilly at the South Bird, "Why not~! He has been giving us a lot of trouble to answer to~…"

"…You three as well?" Nami sweat dropped.

"A lot of them…" Aoi admitted.

Armed with a South Bird in custody and three more directional birds tagging along for the ride, the Straw Hats made their way back to the coast where they were expecting Masira, Shoujou and Cricket to be working diligently on enhancing their ship as promise. Unfortunately upon their return, they were in for a nasty shock.

"…!? Cricket!?" Kaoru exclaimed in shock.

"Old Man Chestnut Head!" Luffy exclaimed as well. The two ran over to Cricket who was on the ground, bloody with bruises and cuts; he was barely conscious.

"Masira!" Aoi and Shiho exclaimed in worried as they race over to the bloody downed of Masira.

"Shoujou!" Chopper and Sanji called as Sanji swam towards the bloody body of Shoujou, who floated unconsciously in the water.

"UWAH~!" Shiho managed, reading the body of Masira, "He was sliced up pretty badly by some sort of giant dagger weapons! Aoi!"

"I'm on it!" Aoi began hurryingly as she works to stabilize the critically wounded Salvage King.

"Damn, who the fuck did this!?" Sanji cursed as he finally managed to drag Shoujou back to dry land, "Chopper, give me a hand!"

"Yeah," Chopper turned into his Body Point and help Sanji pulled Shoujou onto dry land.

"WAH~~~!" Usopp cried when he saw that the Merry Go has been broken into two, the main mast had snap in two near the base, "Merry~~~! Who could have done this! How!? Why!?"

"AH~~!" Shiho exclaimed as well when she saw the ship's state, "All of our hard work patching her up~! Unforgivable~~~! Whoever did this is going to pay~~~!"

"Whoever did this," Robin examined the large hole that went through Cricket's house, "must have been really powerful…"

"…S-Sorry," Cricket suddenly managed.

"Ah-! Cricket!" Kaoru exclaimed when she heard him speak, "Hey, you awake!?"

"R-Really…Sorry…we tried to…couldn't help…! But…There is still t-time! B-Before dawn…we must enhance the ship…"

"Wait, Old Man!" Luffy exclaimed, "Tell me what happened. Tell me!"

"…It's okay now. Don't worry about it! It's alright now…More importantly…you guys…caught a South Bird…"

"JYOH!" The South Bird cried out in annoyance in Zoro's grip.

"…*cough* this should be fine then-…"

"Luffy!" Nami suddenly called from the house, "The gold! They're gone! They've been taken!"

"…WHAT!?" The Children couldn't believe their ears. The gold that represented Cricket's Ten Years of valiant search for truth, the result of his effort, was stolen. Everything that Cricket has to show for his efforts in fighting his past was taken by some lowlifes without a second thought.

Cricket sighed; he didn't want them to know. "Ah~, it doesn't matter…things like that should be forgotten! You guys…"

"What do you mean 'things like that'!?" Usopp exclaimed.

"You spent Ten Years and even lost your health to find those pieces!" Aoi added, "You can't possibly tell me that you're okay with it, right!?"

"Shut up!" Cricket sighed, "It doesn't matter…it's my problem! Listen to me. With the entire 'Mountain Monkey Alliance' fixing and enhancing is not a problem. We can have it done by dawn. It won't hinder your schedule. You guys… I will send you into the Sky no matter what!"

"…Cricket," Shiho awed.

"Therefore, you should-!"

"Oi, Luffy," Zoro suddenly called, "Take a look…" The Children and Luffy glance at the broken wall Zoro pointed out. On it a freshly painted symbol could be seen. It's a smiley with an eye-patch over its left eye.

"…! That's Bellamy's symbol!" Nami exclaimed when she recognizes the symbol.

"…? Bellamy?" Aoi noted the unfamiliar name.

"The guy that Luffy fought, or didn't fight, at Mock Town!"

"You mean the guy that beat up Luffy and Zoro while they didn't do anything?"

"Yeah!"

"Want my help?" Zoro noted to Luffy.

"No," Luffy simply answered, "I can do it alone…"

"…! No way, Luffy!" Nami suddenly called understanding what Luffy had in mind, "Quit fooling around! We have less than Three Hours before dawn!"

"If I run along the beach," Luffy questioned Robin, "I can reach that city we were in right!?"

Robin blinked at being questioned so seriously before replying. "Yes, you can…"

"How about if I fly both of us over there instead?" Kaoru asked as she egged the North Bird on top of Nami's head.

"What-!?" Nami managed, "Not you too, Kaoru-!?"

"If we do it like this, we can be back way before dawn, right?"

"I supposed," Shiho nodded after a moment of consideration, "Kaoru, even if it's just one punch or kick, get them for breaking our hard work on Merry!"

"Will do," Kaoru nodded before turning to Luffy, "if you don't mind, Captain…"

Luffy shook his head. "Not at all…"

"Hey kids!" Cricket exclaimed, "Where are you going!? Mind your own business! You already-!"

But before Cricket could go any farther, Zoro held up one of his katanas in front of Cricket.

"If you want to stop him," Zoro noted, "You'll have to use this…"

"…!" Cricket blinked in astonishment.

"Nobody can stop those two now," Aoi added, "At least not without killing them. We understand that much…"

"Remember you two," Shiho sternly reminded the two, "We've only got three hours! The majority of the rest of the time afterward will be spending to reach the Knock-Up Stream in the South by afternoon. So if you're late, our chance to get to Sky Island will be lost because of you two! Understand? Wrap it up and get back here by dawn on the point!"

Luffy and Kaoru nodded as they both began to levitate off the ground.

"We'll be back before dawn," They promised before rocketing off towards Mock Town.

Kaoru (fuming): "That Bellamy or whatever his name is; who does he think he is!?"

Luffy (Fuming): "I'm going to beat the snot out him~~!"

Shiho: Just be sure you get back or we'll never get to Sky Island, got it!?"

Kaoru and Luffy: "Got it~~~!"

Aoi: "Next time, Kaoru and Luffy enter Mock Town seeking justice, Nami and Shiho has a one-on-one talk with Shiho, and learn something frustrating about new bounties!"

Normama: "Curious? Well, tune in next time to find out what will happen!"

Aoi: "Until then, send us some of your reviews please~!"