"So, you've been watching an anime about villains all this time. Don't you have anything better to do?"
On that Monday, Shinso looked up from his phone, stopping in the hallways of the school to see a couple students from 1-A and 1-B were... well, confronting, if that's what you would call it.
"Don't act like you haven't watched the anime yesterday." Mina sighed.
"Didn't you cried over the backstories? All of them so far?" Itsuka said.
Monoma's face froze for a moment until he went back to the students of 1-A. "Didn't we all?"
"I mean, yes, duh." Denki shrugged.
"And you're going on episode 41 and beyond." Sero added on. "Since you're still watching it, then it must mean you like One Piece in some way."
One Piece? Shinso tried to remember this season's anime out on TV. While Shinso wasn't completely up to date with anime and whatever else is running on TV, One Piece wasn't a familiar name. And an anime about villains?
I mean, in this age of heroes, their media usually centers around heroes, and the occasional vigilantes to stir up some opinion, but villains? He's certain that wouldn't fly by.
"They're only considered villains under the World Government, but they're practically good guys, though not like vigilantes." Mina tried to say.
"Then again, they've-" Sero was interrupted.
"Ah, ah, ah, no spoilers, would you really go that low?" Monoma said in mockery.
Kirishima gotten closer to his friends, arms trying to wrap around their shoulders, and whispered, "Don't let him bothered you. Remember what Shanks did."
"Oh, Shanks was awesome. Does he appear in the later episodes?" Tetsutetsu had to ask, hand up.
"No spoilers!" Monoma shouted, a little frustrated.
"I just wanted a hint!"
Kirishima steeled his face towards Tetsutetsu, placing a hand on his shoulder. "Yes."
He quickly pushed his friends forward, as Monoma barked up a laugh. "Ha! You really are low!"
As Itsuka sighed, shaking her head, Shinso tried to remember something about a few months ago, a reason why Aizawa had delayed their lesson a hour later: "Sorry, my class wants to watch this anime and forced me into it, so I hope you don't mind this."
I guess One Piece is that reason. Shinso had thought, moving his way down the hallway. Is One Piece really that great?
Well, that information is already in his hand; searching through the internet through his phone.
...And that episode count made him stop, eyes widening. Did they really think they can finish this within the school year? Or do they have more time than I thought?
There was a part of him who was curious about this anime, but... look at the episode count. It looked impossible to finish for the average person, and yet there's two rivaling classes who are willing to watch it. It must be on some level of good if that was the case.
But do I really want to? Shinso thought to himself.
He know that he'll get the chance to join the Hero Course, and that means he'll have to join either 1-A or 1-B if he does well. Since the Hero Course is apparently watching the same anime, does it mean he has to watch along too?
I'm not here to make friends. He reasoned to himself, though there are definitely certain others who think otherwise. I doubt they'll just force me to watch whatever episode number they're at. It's a waste of time.
Shinso let out a sigh, walking away, nearly having to dodge some girl with pink dreadlocks. He has to stop himself from getting curious.
Onto episode 193, after skipping the opening, the recap, and title, the class could see both the bell and Enel as Luffy screamed for Cricket and his men.
From the Blue Sea, the three looked up.
"The city of gold... was right here!"
Kirishima grinned impossible wide, hoping that the alliance has heard it, the ringing.
Usopp cried, Chopper and Robin thought it sounded beautiful, as Aisa and Gan can't believe it finally happened. Conis wondered if the vearth is singing as McKinley wondered if God does exist as this is a miracle. The chief of the Shandians wondered if Calgara heard it. The Skypieans themselves couldn't believe it as Wyper hoped Noland hears it, apologizing for taking so long and wishing it reaches his descentents. For Nola, the giant snake cried.
Just from this ringing. Izuku smiled, just a bit, amazed by the impact Luffy had done for this land.
Down below to Jaya, the ringing has reached Cricket and his men, signaling them of the sky islands' existence.
Kirishima let out a happy gasp at this, glad that finally, Noland and Calgara will be put to peace now.
Cricket remembered a story that reminded him of the monsters that appeared with the cumuloregalis clouds; one where there was a human far up in the sky, and with the sun shinning down in him, his figure was reflected in the deep mist of the far sky, so the shadow would look like a huge monster.
"So that's where the mega giants came from!" Mina slapped her forehead in shock.
"So the proof of their existence was there all that time." Iida smiled.
So they already have proof of people living in the sky, that the city of gold exists, that Noland wasn't a liar!
Cricket could tell Luffy had rung the bell just for him, seeing his figure in the sky.
Smiles came around at the magical sight, especially seeing Cricket's tears for the Straw Hat pirates.
The gold bell fell into the clouds, and soon, the Skypieans saw it sink as well with Enel.
"Ha! Not so high and might now, aren'y ya?!" Denki grinned triumphantly at this, finally getting some sort of victory for himself.
Gan shed tears, so glad that the promised ring had finally happened as celebration came around.
Luffy hoped the old guy and his crew heard it.
"Don't worry, they did." Toshinori grinned.
After the eyecatches, Skypieans climbed to the Holy land, celebrating the vearth.
From the forest, Aisa saw Laki come out of the forest with her treasure, but Aisa doesn't care about it anymore, running to her.
There were sighs of relief, seeing the Shandian warriors are alright, along with a couple of 'aw...' when Aisa considered Laki her treasure.
Chopper wants Zoro get treated, but Zoro wants Wyper to get treated first. Sanji didn't think they owe him anything.
"He was the one who knocked the Giant Jack down!" Toru argued.
For Zoro, he thought Wyper was going all out.
Aisa asked Chopper if Wyper's alright, glad to hear that he is.
"That's good." Jiro let out a sigh of relief.
As Gan and Pierre checked the area Enel's ship rested before, Sanji noted how the bell and Enel's ship fell, a little disappointed that Shandora is the city of gold only in name, though Usopp prefer the dials since they won't get them in the Blue Sea.
Iida nodded. "The dials would be of use on your adventure."
"They're basically like portable quirks." Sato reasoned.
Among the Shandian warriors, while there are some worry with leaving Wyper to the Blue Sea people, Braham wanted to banish the priests to the clouds.
"Would that be enough?" Todoroki asked.
"I mean, they don't have 'God' to guide them, so I don't think they'll be back." Ochako shrugged.
While Chopper bandaged Wyper and Zoro up, Luffy, Nami, and Conis came to them with a large bag.
Conis cried for them, but they were able to find the priests' food storage on their way back through the forest.
"That was convenient." Tokoyami said.
"After all they went through, they deserved it." Momo smiled.
Zoro asked about Conis's dad, and she was sadden by this reminder, recalling that he protected her, much to everyone's shock... including Pagaya.
"What?!" "How are you alive?!" "You should be very dead right now!"
Katsuki's eye twitched violently.
Conis hugged her father, as Pagaya explained he was in the White Sea on the lower level after being knocked off, where those who came down to the lower level heading towards Cloud End are also coming back to the White-White Sea via restored Milky Roads right now.
Mina readied her pillow, but Katsuki held a hand up. "Don't worry. I got this." He shoved a pillow into his face, screaming every swear he could into it.
"...I mean, in all honesty, that was kind of bull." Denki admitted.
"OF COURSE IT WAS!" Everyone jumped as Katsuki shoved the pillow back into his face.
Since there's no more Angel Island, the Skypieans are headed towards Upper Yard.
As said Skypieans rejoined in the cave, the people thanked Gan as their God, but he refused the title, apologizing that they had to work here for six long years.
Still, the Skypieans had lost Angel Island as the Shandians had lost their village hidden in the clouds. Is the battle really over?
"I mean, do you still want it?" Hizashi tried to playfully shrug.
While the Shandians discuss the same topic, the Straw Hats were relaxing after finishing the supply already, Nami suggested that they go back to the ship, but Luffy and Usopp refused, saying that it's terrible to think so after seeing 'that.'
"And what's 'that?'" Momo asked.
Enel's Ark fly across the sky as he aimed for the moon.
"He's still alive?!" Katsuki complained, throwing the pillow across the room.
"Does that mean we're going to see him again?" Denki deeply frowned.
Wyper woke up to find himself to be inside the ruins of Shandora with Gan Fall and Conis there. With the Chief also there, Wyper asked if they've been captured by the Skypieans.
"Hey, don't be like that." Mina frowned.
"He've been in war for his entire life. It would be a little hard to believe that everything would be finally over." Aizawa explained.
Hearing drums, Wyper thought it meant battle, but the Chief reminded him that this sky is their home and their land isn't refusing anyone.
Out there, no one wants to fight.
"Ah yeah, party!" Denki cheered with the others, seeing the festivities outside, that everyone, Skypieans, Shandians, Nola, Straw Hats, are partying.
"Well, we got to party at the end of the battle." Toshinori grinned at the sight of joy in front of them, and Kirishima smiled brightly at the quick image of Noland and Calgara drinking together. He hoped that would mean they're finally meeting each other in heaven.
After skipping episode 194's opening, recap, and title, the class could see the party has died down, everyone sleeping on the ground... except for Luffy.
"What are you doing, Luffy?" Iida asked since he's been sneaking around for some reason.
Once he found the other Straw Hats, he woke Nami up so they can steal the gold and run, much to Nami's delight.
"...I'm sure they would had given you the gold if you asked." Momo said, a little confused.
"I guess they have to act like pirates sometimes." Hizashi playfully shrugged.
"Wait, didn't Enel take all the gold?" Izuku remembered. "Unless they know where the bell went."
The two argued about who's being the loudest, leading Usopp to get grumpy and hit Chopper, which lead the Skypieans and Shandians from waking up by their loudness.
They assumed that Blue Sea people like to party since this it the fourth day in a row.
"God, I want their vitality to party that hard." Denki gaped.
"I wonder if, by the end of the series, there will be a year long party?" Izuku joked.
Once their arguing has died down, the Straw Hats made a plan.
Later, a Shandian told the Chief that they've found the golden bell stuck on the fallen Giant Jack.
"Thank God." Kirishima felt some relief, glad that the Shandora's legacy could continue one.
At the western seashore, that's where the belfry can be found, and Robin came along to see the Shandians try to pull the belfry, hard enough to have their hands bleed but not enough to get it out.
"Pull!" Toru cheered the Shandians on, and soon enough, with the help of the Skypieans, they were able to pull the bell up.
"It's great to see them work together." Toshinori grinned.
Usopp had shown the Skypiean his rubber bands and iron sheets, but the Skypieans definitely wanted his rubber bands in the trade.
"Oh my god." Katsuki shook his head.
"I mean, rubber is what saved the day." Izuku shrugged, slightly smiling.
All the while, Zoro was training, thinking of elements to cut a rock as Usopp got his dials, celebrating his victory.
Usopp tried to have Zoro used the dials, but he refused, so Usopp thought about making Nami's Clima Takt stronger instead.
"Oh, that would be great." Momo seemed overjoyed at the idea.
"The dials would definitely be an upgrade for the takt." Ojiro said.
Usopp asked about the Straw Hats. Well, Luffy and the others went inside, and Robin went somewhere else.
They saw Nola asleep, and Zoro hoped the others come out before he wakes up since he could give them a hard time again, much to Usopp's surprise.
"Oh yeah, you were asleep during that whole time." Mina realized as the others snickered at Usopp's little prank with the Tone Dial.
Inside the snake, the other Straw Hats had found gold.
"Oh yeah, the only gold around would be inside the snake." Denki slapped his forehead at the realization.
After the eyecatches, the people of the sky looked at the gold bell in awe, but one of the side columns has been broken. Then they found the Poneglyph, the stone their ancestors tried to protect, though they have no clue what's written on it.
"Robin, come in now. It's your time to shine." Kirishima grinned.
The Chief thought it was better off not knowing what's on it, but Robin approached it, translating its words: "Hold our true motive in your hearts and speak not of it. We are the ones who weave history... with the sounding of the grand belfry..."
The Chief was shocked that Robin could do so.
On the belfry, with the people of the sky's eyes on her, Robin explained that there's an ancient weapon, Poseidon, named after a God, and its whereabouts.
"Another weapon?" Ochako said with some awe. "Is it in Skypiea?"
"But what can Poseidon do?" Iida had to asked, as Robin remembered what Crocodile had said about Pluton and its great power. If these ancient weapons had done the same thing, it would had felt a bit unnecessary.
Robin was disappointed in the result, but one of the Shandians pointed out the engravings in the gold, one of the same characters.
"Gol D. Roger...!"
Loud gawks and gasps came around, along with jaw drops.
"Roger came to the sky islands too?" Ojiro asked in shock.
"I made it here. I will guide this text to the ends of the earth. Pirate Gol D. Roger."
"He knows about the Poneglyph?" Izuku said, curious.
Robin was in shocked and confused by this, though Gan had recognized Roger from 20 years ago, and Robin doesn't understand why Roger was able to reach the bell as well, but it's proof that he did.
"What does it mean? Why must he leave proof?" Momo wondered.
Robin remembered that there are two kinds of Poneglyph stones: ones with information, and others that indicate their whereabouts.
This stone has information.
For a moment, Robin wondered what 'guide' could mean in this context til the realization came, that it could involve the Rio Poneglyph. She theorized that the Poneglyphs with information will become one text that will fill the Void Century for the first time, and Gol D. Roger has delivered this text.
Students looked on in fascination, excitement brimming from within and yet there were so many questions left unanswered.
Just who are you, Gol. D Roger? Izuku had to wonder.
The Chief asked if this means that their duty has been fulfilled as well... that they don't have to fight any longer, that their ancestors' wish has been fulfilled.
There was a sense of relief the class had felt for the Chief, especially when Robin had said yes to his question.
Now, she has to guide the text to the end of the Grand Line... to Raftel...
Gan thought Luffy reminded him of Roger, and Robin admitted that her interest in the rubber man never fades. Gan took notice of the D in his name.
"Yeah, what's that about? What does that even stand for?" Denki wondered, but his questions were never answered.
The Chief noticed that she and her friends wanted gold, so they're thinking about giving them the broken belfry column as appreciation.
"See? You didn't need to steal all that gold?" Mina said.
"Would it even fit on the ship?" Shoji wondered, seeing the size of the broken column.
"How much money can you get from all that gold?" Ochako almost drooled.
In the ruins, the other Straw Hats were waiting for Robin, but Luffy was getting hungry. Sanji took note of how quiet it is, wondering where the guerrillas and angels go, though Usopp thought it was for the best since they'll chase them.
"The opposite, honestly." Ojiro said, almost amused.
With Nami and Conis are preparing to set sail, they have to hurry. Zoro wants to just leave already, but-
"Idiot! Don't!"
"Idiot!"
"Idiot Moss Head!"
"Moss Head Idiot!"
Surprised laughter came out at the scene as the four fight each other (with Chopper already knocked out).
"Even they're aware of how lost he get." Toshinori laughed, seeing the reason for this bit.
Soon, they saw Robin, but were shocked to see the Shandians, Skypieans, and their huge 'cannon,' so they ran.
"I guess they're not going to take the big gold then." Ochako frowned.
"Though it wouldn't had fit on the ship." Shoji shrugged.
Usopp made sure to strike a pose, declaring their gold thievery, confusing the people of the sky. Robin decided to run off with them.
The students laughed at their 'victory' as "To Be Continued" had ended this episode.
Episode 195 had shown the class the Straw Hats still running away after skipping the opening. After skipping the title, the class could see the Shandians and the Skypieans were confused on why they left without their gift.
"Probably a good thing Nami isn't going to learn they left a big piece of gold behind. She would had made them haul the whole thing onto the ship someway." Ojiro mused.
Gan believed that the Straw Hats has no idea what he feels as Laki gave Aisa a haircut, commenting on the Straw Hats' leave, though Aisa had no hard feeling, having said her thanks already, and she wishes to be strong like Luffy; strong.
"Aw, that's precious." Mina said.
"Luffy did left a lasting impression on them, considering he saved their entire land." Izuku said.
Laki thought Aisa should let her hair grow, especially since the kids don't need to carry arms anymore and now they can live freely. Aisa made fun of her for being ladylike.
No more worries about war and fighting. That does sound like a nice future. Toshinori mentally sighed.
In front of the statue of Calgara, Wyper and his men stood, telling him of their completed goal, asking him to continue to watch over them. They swear to never let go of Shandora's fire again.
Kirishima smiled, becoming teary eyed once more.
Gan reminded the Chief that he's the Sky Knight, though the Chief believes the land doesn't need one. Instead, this land needs someone to govern it, and he wants it to be him. Gan believed the Chief should take it, but the Chief reminded him that no one owns vearth, and 'God' is their support. He believes the only one to unify the Shandians and Skypieans is Gan as he was anguished by the battle.
"I think you should take it." Aizawa said, hearing the support on all side.
Gan Fall had to agree, though he though the could finally enjoy growing pumpkins.
Loud cheers came from everywhere to the Shandians to the Skypieans to Class 1-A.
As the Going Merry sailed across the clouds with Conis and Pagaya ("He should had fucking died!"), they reach Cloud's End, though Luffy's disappointed that they have to leave.
"I will miss this land's great history." Iida sighed.
"I don't know, I kind of miss their adventures in the Blue Sea." Sero shrugged.
"So, how are they getting down safely?" Izuku wondered.
Pagaya and Conis got on the Cloud's End, running along their ship to say their goodbyes and thanks, promising to not forget them.
With the orders of unfurling the sails and to hold on tight to the ship, they were about to do so when they were attacked by the South Bird they've brought along.
"Oh yeah, almost forgot about that thing." Sato said, scratching the back of his head.
With their log pointed to the next island, they're ready for their next adventure. As they slide off the Milky Road, Conis warned them about the drop.
"...Drop?" Several students said at the same time.
Bursts of laughter came out at the eye popping horror the Straw Hats were facing, but soon, Conis summoned an Octopus Balloon.
"T-That's a big octopus." MIneta stuttered at the sight.
Before the Straw Hats could continue to fall, the Octopus Balloon latched itself onto the ship, its head blowing up like a hot air balloon as they floated down slowly.
"I guess the lobster isn't the weirdest thing now." Hizashi mused.
"Really? I don't think the Octopus Balloon is the strangest thing here." Aizawa said.
From below, the Straw Hats watched fondly as the sky islands disappeared from sight, the gold bell ringing in their honor.
"When you look up, you see the sky. Is this God's Land on the clouds a dream or reality? 10,000 meters far up in the sky... If you listen carefully, you can hear the sound of the bell. It rings today, and it will ring again tomorrow. The sound of the bell that echoes in the sky glorifies, and sings about the wandering land..."
The students can't stop smiling at the whimscial story, and soon their was celebration once Cricket had decided to call of the search for the city of gold was in the sky. This is their end.
Kirishima let out a small somber sigh, "At least your family can be in peace now."
Cricket thanked the monkey brothers for joining him to pursue his dream for years... and he wondered what kind of romanticism shall they go after next.
It's nice to see that you still know what you want after all of this. Izuku thought with a smile.
There were chants of 'gold!' as Luffy wondered what they'll use the money for. He wanted a huge bronze statue.
"Why would you want bronze when you have gold right there!?" Katsuki complained, and he let out an annoyed huff when Usopp agreed. He suggested to get cannons while Sanji wanted a lockable refrigerator and Chopper wants some books.
"I guess the giant rat trap would only last them so long." Shoji mused.
"Get Chopper his books!" Toru demanded.
Nami told everyone that they need to split the treasure up once they get back down, but Robin then wondered where the ship is heading, making Nami scream in horror, realizing that they're riding on an air current and now they're drifting.
"Is that a problem?" Denki asked, which Luffy asked the same thing.
As Nami pointed out, they won't know on the sea they'll land. They can't control the ship right now, though Luffy seems easy going about it. Then, Sanji noticed something from above, but past it off as his imagination.
"No, say it so we have some idea of what could happen." Jiro said, a little annoyed.
"I mean, this is not a horror movie." Sero snickered.
Suddenly, Zoro yelled out that there's a problem... which was actually a dream.
There were a few puffs of laughs and some eye rolls at that, especially when some of the other Straw Hats got angry at him.
The sun has set. While there are a few relaxed moments, Nami and Robin were worried about their destination. Usopp joked that they could drift all the way to Raftel, but Robin knows they still have more than halfway around the Grand Line to travel.
"She's right." Tsuyu admitted.
"But it's a fun thought." Ochako shrugged.
Zoro was bored, and Luffy told him that he should come 'here.'
"Here?" Todoroki repeated, wondering what he meant.
Well, 'here' is on the Octopus Balloon as Luffy bounced on top of it.
"Luffy, don't jump on it!" Iida scolded him.
What's worst, Sanji realized that the octopus is shrinking, so they have to do something.
"Luffy, don't pop the octopus!" Mina shouted as Koda gasped at the idea.
Sanji climbed up the octopus as the others were in a panic. On top of the Octopus Balloon, Sanji told Luffy to knock it off, which lead Luffy into bouncing right into him and off the octopus.
Students gasped, seeing the danger, though Katsuki thought, This feels like... filler. as if it was a sixth sense to him now.
Luckily, Luffy was able to catch both Sanji and the ship.
There was a moment of relief until the ship started to fall.
There was panic among the students, but Aizawa blinked, trying to remember something. Wait...
Mustering all his bravery, Usopp equipped himself his octopus shoes and Usopp Aa-aa-aa, and leaped off of the ship.
"Whoa!" Students were agape, watching Usopp swing under the falling Merry to place all the Breath Dials he had. With this, the ship's fall had slowed.
"Magnifique!" Aoyama exclaimed as the others were amazed by his quick thinking.
Then the Octopus Balloon suddenly shrunk, causing the Going Merry to fall right back into the water.
"Honest, this seems so fun right now." Mina gleamed.
The octopus fall on Luffy's face, who thanked them. Still, Sanji and the others felt like they were dreaming from all of this.
As the cook went to make coffee, the crew realized that they were surrounded as spotlights flashed on them.
"To Be Continued."
"Whoa, they're face to face with the marines in their own territory." Denki grinned.
"And after they fell from the sky," Ochako sighed, but was excited to see this next arc.
Aizawas took a look at the sticky note. "Ah, wait, that part was filler."
There was a moment of silence for the class, though Katsuki said, "Great, we can skip it."
"...But it seemed to be a lot of fun." Toru said. "How about we watch this one? It has to be, like, 5 episodes or something."
"But do we really want 1-B to catch up?" Denki sighed, stretching his arms out behind his head.
"They're literally over 100 episodes behind us. They're not going to catch up unless Vlad King is letting them watch 20 episodes a day, or this arc ends up being 100 episodes long." Mina rolled her eyes.
"Alight, how about after we finish One Piece, you can watch all the filler you want." Katsuki complained.
"I mean, it would be great to tease 1-B with spoilers." Sero grinned.
"Oh, now spoilers are fine." Izuku bitterly murmured.
"Alright, Bakugo, once we finish with canon One Piece, you can be all alone and bitter when we watch the fun filler." Ochako pouted.
"Fine, whatever floats your fucking boat." Katsuki glared.
AN: Little did Katsuki knows, he would definitely prefer G8 over Long Ring Long Land.
I feel like I should apologize to the readers because I'm skipping G8 for now, but not the Long Ring Long Land arc. I don't hate filler, and who could hate the G8 arc? My plan is to have a section of the fanfic be dedicated to the pre-timeskip filler and movies at a certain point, than later on, have a section be dedicated to post timeskip filler and movies when I ever managed to catch up with the anime (and might take years, so yeah). That's why I am skipping the filler now. I am not getting rid of the filler completely. You just need to wait.
Also, I want to apologize for taking so long to make the chapter because I want point out that 1-B technically won't be joining them in their watchings, but they are watching One Piece on their own until they reach 1-A's episode count. I didn't realize people would think the 1-B would actually join them right away despite the fact that they've only watched 40 episodes. Adding a little hint that Shinso might be watching One Piece someday was a bonus for me.
Anyway, I'm glad I was able to finish the Skypiean arc before the anime finished the Wano arc. Now, onto the Water 7 Saga.