So this is where the story really starts to deviate from the cannon story. For one thing, I can say right now that there's likely nothing in this story that will involve the golden bell (though plans may change). ...Sorry if you were looking forward to something like that. Also, the divider just says the title in Japanese. Lastly, I am deeply sorry for the wait! I hope you can enjoy this chapter despite the obnoxious delay!
伝説の
There was something wrong about all of this. For one thing, it was way too quiet. And, for another thing, shouldn't they have reached land by now? "I just don't understand it," Namie sighed, staring down at the map Luffy had found and the Log Pose on her wrist. Surely this sea of clouds couldn't be that large... right?
"Hey! Come back here with that! Luffy...!"
Sighing and rolling her eyes, Nami left her desk and the map and stepped out of her room just in time to see Luffy shove a large slab of meat into his rubbery mouth. He was running for his life as he chewed with Sanji not far behind. As they passed by Usopp, the sniper let out a shout of alarm from where he was fishing on the railing, ducking just in time to avoid Sanji's angry kick which had only just missed their captain. Seconds later, Chopper's terrified squeak could be heard as he dove out of the duo's way near the middle of the ship. In the crow's nest above, Robin watched the events unfolding with a small shake of her head. Finally, the pair raced to the back of the ship, and Nami hurried to follow, if only because she wanted to see it when Sanji finally smacked Luffy with that iron foot of his. Honestly... you'd think that by now Luffy would have learned not to steal from the kitchen.
Just as Nami rounded the corner, she finally heard the kick she'd been waiting for; however, much to her surprise (though at this point, little that this certain crew-mate of hers did could truly surprise her), it wasn't Sanji's foot that had connected Luffy's face. "What the hell are you doing?" asked a calm voice. Zoro, standing on one foot with the oter still squishing Luffy's face and his arms crossed, stood by patiently and waited for an answer from somebody.
"He stole meat from the kitchen, again," Sanji replied, glaring with gritted teeth at Luffy, who seemed as unrepentant as ever.
"I was hungry!" their captain whined, his voice somewhat muffled by his squished cheek.
Zoro sighed and removed his foot, seeming to have lost whatever slight interest he'd had in the quarrel before that point. Luffy then grinned at him before turning and walking away with a hand on his hat as a breeze whispered past, exclaiming at how much better he felt now that he'd had a snack. Letting out a sigh of her own, Nami approached the two lingering males. "So, this is new," she said conversationally.
Zoro said nothing, but Sanji was quick to jump in, apparently having caught on to what Nami had seen as well. "Hey, that's right. Since when can you kick hard enough to stop Luffy dead in his tracks?"
Zoro merely shrugged and turned away, returning to his standing place at the back of the ship. Sighing again, Nami began heading back to her room while Sanji shook his head and walked back to the kitchen. Alone again, Zoro focused on the waves left behind as the ship continued it's journey through the sea of clouds. He still couldn't shake the feeling that he needed to be somewhere or doing something or maybe even both, but he couldn't explain either of these feelings. Why would he need to be anywhere but here, on this ship, with his crew? And for that matter, what could he possible need to be doing? His only job right now was to help keep an eye out for enemies, which he was doing. So why, then...?
伝説の
Back in her room again, Nami decided to set aside the map for now. We'll reach land eventually. There's no point in worrying about it so much. Besides, this provided her with a great opportunity to just sit back and relax for once. It had been a while since they'd been on such calm seas... or clouds, as it were. She could work on her maps, she could sunbathe, she could probably get away with taking a nap... Her eyes drifted to the nightstand beside her bed, where her present from Vivi rested. Or I could read. She hadn't actually had a chance to try and read it yet, and a part of her felt guilty for it. She had been given it with the understanding that she would actually read it, after all. Well, I'm not likely to get another chance like this, so I may as well take advantage of it. With that in mind, she stood and picked up the book before returning to her seat at her desk. She ran her fingers lightly over the cover, smiling softly to herself as she did so. This book was centuries old, maybe even older. I think I'll enjoy this. Laying the book down on it and resting her cheek in her hand, she began to read, intent on burying herself in whatever story was hidden within these pages.
"These words arelikely the last that I will ever write. My name... is Alkahar Nueve. I am a man who loves history. However, due to illness, my future is uncertain. I may not live to see the next week. As such I have decided to document all that I have learned throughout my many years of research. These stories are true beyond a shadow of a doubt. However, many will not believe so. Some have even been hidden away from the general public by the leaders of the world. However, have uncovered them with much pain and effort. I hope you will see as I do just how true these tales are. To start with, let me tell you the story of a young man who was both a brave warrior and a great king..."
Nami smiled contentedly as she read story after story of ancient people, places, events, and adventures, none of which she had ever heard of. That lone fact made the stories all the more enjoyable in her eyes. There was the story of the warrior king at the beginning of the book, a story of a small girl who loved flowers and used that love to stop a war, a story of three friends who achieved their dream while traveling the world while conquering entire lands as she went... the list went on and on.
Toward the back of the book, (though still technically in the middle, more or less), an old and fading sketch caught her eye. It looked to be some three-dimensional rectangular stone with a pyramid-shaped top. The whole thing was covered from top to bottom with characters from a language she didn't understand and had never seen before. The structure was very tall, if the two tree sketched by its side were any indication. Several smaller drawings to the other side showed the structure's back, left side, right side, top, and bottom, whereas the main drawing only showed the front. Thought it certainly must have been extraordinarily difficult, the characters were again drawn onto the stone, and with great care. Frowning, she turned the page and began reading quickly.
"I have had the privilege of studying a fair few works of history in my lifetime, but this one in particular has certainly held my interest more than the others. I will do my best to tell you the story engraved on this ancient stone structure as it was originally written.
'Many years ago, in the sacred heavens, there lived a powerful god. Though mostly human in form, he was known to possess the traits of an animal as well. This great god, with his one white sword, ruled over the heavens. He was stern but fair, fought for the sake of others, and never abused his power. He was not, however, truly a king, for he did not wish to be. The other gods, however, were happy to be ruled by him and treated him as the supreme authority regardless. They bowed willingly before the God of Gods. However, one god sought power only for himself. He was unhappy with the way things were in Heaven, and decided to do something to change the order in his favor. One day, the dark seed of ambition, greed, and power-lust blossoming in his heart like a black flower, he and his followers struck the One True Ruler in a cowardly attack in the dead of night. That same night, the sky found itself under new leadership. The fate of the good god remains unknown. To this day, the people of heaven have not given up hope. Even now they are fighting, rebelling against their new king. His name burns like a fire in their hearts... a fire of anger and hatred. His name is...'
Unfortunately, someone scratched out the name some time ago. It is a a terrible thing, but it cannot be undone. Nonetheless, I believe a may have discovered the name of the cruel god from this tale.
Eneru.
By studying other works wiriten during this time about heaven as well as other gods, I have learned that there was a great deal of ire directed at this Eneru, to put it quite lightly. That doesn't sound much like the first 'good' god, now does it? However, Eneru was, and may still be, the ruler of Heaven. Perhaps his cruelty merely inspired the story above, meant to be nothing more than a legend or a fairy tale. However, I am inclined to believe otherwise. Now you, dear reader, must decide for yourself what to believe.
There remains a lingering question of the stone on which this story was written and which I illustrated on the page before (I have decided to call it a Poneglyph). Where did it come from? And, for another thing, why was it hidden away as though some group of people did not wish for it to be found? I hope to learn more about this soon."
Despite what the author had said, however, there was nothing more written on the subject of this "Poneglyph" anywhere in the book. There was, however, a startling revelation at the very end of the book. The second to last page had a single short entry written on it.
"I have learned the name of this 'Heaven' that was mentioned in the story of the two gods I told to you before. Skypiea."
Shocked, Nami's eyes flew to the last page to the right of the entry she had just read. On that page was a drawing of a map... the very same map that still rested on her desk.
伝説の
So this is a bit shorter than I would have liked, but I hope you enjoyed nonetheless.