Ship's Log 19: The Fall of a God
Nami had been chased into the forest by a snake that had swallowed Luffy. Everyone else, including the Shandian Wyper, ended up in the ruins and were defeated by Eneru. Nami went with him to save her own life until she could find a chance to escape. I had to smile when she told me how Zoro caught Robin with the backs of his swords when she was struck by lightning. He may not trust her in the slightest, but his actions remind me that he is a true man. I respect him for actions like these. I also admire Robin for being willing to die to protect the crew. Maybe she was fighting to save her own life, or she still has a death wish, but I find I trust her a little more now. Maybe Zoro does too.
Luffy fought Eneru on his flying ship and ended up with a golden ball on his hand. Usopp and Sanji fought bravely to help Nami escape Eneru. Sanji sabotaged the ship and took the full brunt of an attack so the others could get away. Our little poetic chef can be really manly when he defends a pretty woman. I get really annoyed by him sometimes, but he's reliable when it actually matters. I'm proud of Usopp for facing a Logia on his own for so long and then returning to ensure the safety of our cook. I truly admire these men.
Karmen briefly stops writing as Sanji reads over her shoulder and begins asking if she loves him now. She beats him with the open logbook, but says she respects everyone's strengths. Dancing off with a goose egg, Sanji says he'll make her some tea and a snack. She sighs and continues to write.
Due to the metal items I keep in my boots, I was burned so badly with only one shot of electricity that I cannot stand on my own. I cannot help the crew if I stupidly get myself killed. Also, I'm down another pair of shoes. Maybe Usopp can repair the scorched leather and replace the laces for me. Kaya had better appreciate everything our Usopp goes through.
Luffy climbed a giant beanstalk to finish Eneru. That's when the lightning bolts started falling. Conis and I could do nothing but stand on the deck of the ship hoping everything was alright. She's a brave girl, this sky person. She stood next to me, unflinching, as we prayed for the safety of the crew and sky people. I wondered who she prayed to, if not the two Kami she had known all her life. I was mixing burn cream and biting my lip too hard to ask. I have faith in the crew, but that Kami guy packs a wallop. My ankles still sting even now that Chopper's patched me up properly.
Nami carried Luffy to the top of the toppling vine on the waiver where the captain dispersed the storm clouds by absorbing the electricity with the golden ball stuck to his arm. With one final punch, he both took out Eneru and rung the golden bell that was far above the ruined city. The sound of the bell reached us as the skies cleared. I dropped my crutches and fell to my knees when I heard it. Our captain had won. I knew in my heart that Montblanc Cricket down below in the Blue Sea heard it as well.
Wyper tells us that he fought for the return of his homeland to honor his ancestor Kalgara's friendship with Montblanc Noland who had saved his people from a deadly plague. He had been drawn to Jaya by the sound of the golden bell and the Shandians wanted to ring it upon his return to announce their location in the sky. They were driven from their homeland by the sky people. Both Noland and Kalgara were killed, separated by both sky and sea.
Can you hear the bell, Cricket? This proves it. Noland wasn't a liar and he had a dear friend here in this city of gold. Luffy rang the bell so you won't spend the rest of your life searching the ocean floor. Have pride for your ancestor, just as the Shandians here do. I held the "X" tattoo on my arm for an hour just thinking about it. If a promise between friends can be kept after 400 years have passed, anything is possible. Upon hearing the significance of this golden bell, the spark of hope I carry in my heart became a flame. That is all I will write on the matter here.
Conis went on ahead once I said I would catch up on Teeth, my lovely little trained-with-a-threat sky shark, with the burn cream. He carried me to the edge of the ruins and I walked most of the way into the city. Sanji saw me coming and carried me the rest of the way, despite my protests that I was one of the least injured members of the crew. Chopper treated everyone who needed aid. He's such a good little deer and a brave warrior.
Luffy and Usopp built a celebratory bonfire. I wished I could have danced but I couldn't even stand without my burns opening again. Luffy picked me up and swung me wildly at one point, but I don't entirely count that. I spent the evening catching up on everyone's stories and being glad I was nowhere near the ruins at the time. Even the ever serious Wyper joined in on the festivities, once he was awake. At some point Zoro was shoving a mug of beer in my hands and Sanji made sure I had plenty to eat. Usopp promised to look at my boots later to see if they could be saved. Nami says we could sell some artifacts and have plenty of shopping money. Chopper carried me around on his back so I could participate in some of the festivities. I made sure to leave a bottle of booze as far into the ruins as I could for people not wanting to join the fun too closely. The party lasted four days. On the second day the alcohol I left out stopped disappearing.
The Shandians found the golden bell and pulled it from the ocean. I'm glad they have this piece of history to hold onto. Robin was ecstatic that the attached poneglyph was recovered as well. Usopp made a killing by trading useless Blue Sea junk like rubber bands and tin sheets for dials. I'm going to fill the liquid dials with poisons and ink. That is, if I can get Usopp to stop running around and talking about his plans for them long enough to get my hands on some. Zoro, despite having been shocked twice and drinking half the sky people under the table, spent the day training. Conis made me a cloud boot for my left ankle so that I'll be able to walk on it before it heals completely.
Luffy said we were going to make a break for it with the gold they found in the snake's stomach. Chopper carried me to Teeth so I could wait for them back at the ship with Nami and Conis. They showed up with huge bags of gold on their backs. Conis and her father led us to Sky's End with horns blaring from their boat. I rode Teeth all the way to the gate before saying a tearful goodbye to my beloved sky shark as Luffy pulled me aboard. There was a sudden drop and a sky octopus carried the ship down to our ocean like a hot air balloon. The sound of the bell carried us on our way back to the Blue Sea.
"Are you caught up, then?" Robin asks as Karmen shuts the log.
"Finally." She nods. "Though I get the feeling I'll be pulling them out again soon."
The women watch the usual bustle of activity on the ship as well as Nami building herself a couch out of treasure. "They certainly keep you busy."
"Busy?" Karmen examines the ropes that bind her to her chair. "They won't let me do anything until my ankles heal."
Sanji saunters up then, carrying tea and cakes. "Now, now, Karmen. We're doing this for your own good. If you force yourself to work you'll never heal properly."
Karmen glares at him. "If you get a nosebleed because I'm tied to a chair I'll poison you."
"What would ever give you that idea, my beautifully fierce secretary?" says his mouth, but his eyes are full of hearts and his nose twitches dangerously.
Karmen switches tactics. "At least carry me into the anchor room so I can work on my Angel's Trumpet. It's going to dry out if I wait much longer."
"It will last," Chopper says, snatching the weakening Sanji away by the ear. "You have to stay off your feet until you heal."
"But I'm bored." Karmen lays her head down and groans loudly. Robin chuckles. "And I miss Teeth."
"You like the strangest animals," Zoro comments.
"Of course she does," Sanji retorts. "She's keeps you around, doesn't she?"
"I'll cut you into stew meat!"
They fight until Nami stops lounging and punches them both.
A pile of paper hits the table in front of her nose. Karmen looks up at Usopp who's pulling up a chair and gnawing on a pen. "It's about time to write your father again, isn't it?"
Karmen lays her head down again. "All that's in my head is the truth of what we just went through. If he figures out where I am it would be bad."
"That's why you have your friend Captain Usopp, great exaggerator of the sea." He sits down and starts scribbling notes on a piece of paper. "What do you think of a giant robot?"
"Let's save that one for later."
"A firebird that swallows the ship without it being singed?"
"Didn't we use that one five letters ago?"
"A giant that has islands spring up in his footsteps."
"That might work. I think there's a legend about that." Slowly Karmen comes out of her stupor and they write a three page letter together. Sealing the envelope, she tucks the letter into the logbook for easy access when the mail bird comes along. "In the next letter we should say I've been cursed to always have an echo to my footsteps, causing constant paranoia and eventual madness. I have to appease the spirit following me to free myself by finding a shell in a fish's stomach."
"You seem to be feeling better," he grins. "Just as Captain Usopp predicted."
"You too, right?" Karmen asks. "You've seemed down ever since you went to put the breath dials on the keel."
Usopp's smile falls. "Let's save that until we've gone a little further."
Karmen understands instantly.
Valentine's Log 19: Accidents
Conis gave me some embroidery floss made out of string clouds. It's so soft and doesn't weigh down the fabric at all. I'm going to start working on adding some flair to my red outfit.
I finally convinced the crew to let me work on my poisons again. I'm down to my last three doses of bloodroot, so I have to work quickly on the angel's trumpet. I've started four different dosages, extracting different types of toxins from the roots, leaves, seeds, and stalks. I set the flowers aside for modifying the caapi tea. I can't wait until I can send people screaming in terror with just half a cup. I'm going to be the best pirate secretary the Grand Line has seen.
Later:
The antidote is trickier than the sunblade's. This toxin has heavy effects on the heart and brain, so I have to make the antidote concentrated enough that it prevents lasting damage. Even in this state, no one should go more than thirty minutes before receiving treatment. Mihawk helped me get some scary stuff.
The next day:
The slide tests have come out great. There are no lasting effects once the antidote activates. I have to keep in mind that the process is slowed if ingested. To prevent people from dying when using this I'll either have to force them to swallow reversing agents immediately or inject it directly into their bloodstream.
Testing:
All that's left is to start human testing. And by human I mean me. Luffy's been poking around again. I swear. If he gets himself killed by taking my things I refuse to let him haunt me. Chopper and I have set up a system. When testing new poisons, I'll tie my wrist to a small golden bell that we brought back from Skypia. I keep the clearly labeled antidote nearby or tied to my wrist. If I pass out, the bell will ring and he comes in to give me the antidote, given I fall instead of just passing out over the table. Maybe I should put pillows on the ground… except they won't let me walk… I'll just have to make sure I don't cause them to worry. I'll start with a small dose of the less potent version.
Outside on the deck Chopper's ears twitch as a bell crashes. The entire crew looks towards the anchor room. "Don't tell me…" Zoro growls.
Chopper takes off, throwing the door open. Karmen is laying on the floor, chair and bell knocked over. On the desk, partially splashed with poison, is a note held down by a small bottle. Chopper checks her vitals. "Her blood pressure is dropping rapidly and her pulse is threatening tachycardia. Her temperature has already risen four degrees. What do her instructions say?"
Nami picks up the note and reads quickly, but she slows her pace as she goes along.
"Chopper, if you're reading this then I accidentally grabbed the seed extract instead of the stem extract. If you find me dead, then I didn't have a chance to fall properly and am probably leaving all kind of bodily fluids on this note. I hope you can read it afterwards if that is the case. My hands may become paralyzed so if you have to administer the antidote yourself here are the doses: Stem- 5 drops under the tongue or 2 cc's injection. Seed: 10 drops under the tongue or 5 cc's injected. If I'm alive when you find me, don't be alarmed if the antidote doesn't take effect right away. This one's a doozy. -*heart* K"
"How can she write stuff like that so casually?" Usopp asks as Chopper injects the treatment.
"How is she, doctor?" Robin asks.
"She seems to be stabilizing." Sanji and Usopp melt to the floor in relief. Nami pulls Luffy's cheek before he can touch any of the equipment.
Karmen comes around ten minutes later and gives everyone a weak smile. "I guess I did grab the wrong bottle. I misjudged the dosage. Sorry about that, everyone."
Zoro waves the note in her face. "This has got to stop."
"If you find me dead!" Usopp quotes. "You're as morbid as Robin!"
"Don't look so worried. I told you before, I don't test anything without a sure antidote ready."
"That's it. I'm taking all your quills."
Karmen desperately tries to crawl after Zoro, but her muscles are weakened and her ankles hurt. "Wait! Wait! Ouch. I'm sorry. Zoro, please don't. I'll die from boredom. Sanji, stop him. Don't let him take my pens. Zoro, I swear if you get cut by the ones dosed with deadbolt I'm not going to give you the antidote until you're about to suffocate!"
"What kind of swordsman do you think I would be if I cut myself on one of your darts?" he calls back.
"Zoro! You heard the lady, don't touch a single feather!" Sanji chases him.
"Where do you think she keeps them?" Nami asks from the doorway. "You're climbing into the crow's nest!"
"That's right, Zoro!" Karmen calls. "I keep all my pens in the crow's nest. Keep climbing. I'm just going to crawl into the dining room and-"
Chopper sits on her back. "You're going to bed."
"I feel better, Chopper, honest. Let me keep one pen, please? For target practice?"
Chopper grows into his man-beast form and picks her up, swiping a pen off her workstation as he leaves the room. "One, but I'm letting Zoro take the others for a day. Doctor's orders."
"I don't suppose you'd let me have my bloodroot tea, would you?"
"You've had enough for one day."
"Yes, sir."