I do not own One Piece or Legend of Zelda
A few days before Straw Hats arrive. content warning brief scene of bullying /
The night was silent, except for the tortured cries of a young man writhing in agony, in his bed. His dreams were plagued by the sounds of a brutal battle, echoing through his mind as he screamed for someone, anyone to save him from the chaos. The thick mist obscured his vision, leaving him helpless as he watched a monster covered in scales roar triumphantly, ready to devour him whole. Suddenly, the deafening clash of steel ceased, and in the heart-stopping stillness, the creature's jaws loomed closer, ready to claim its prey.
Link was abruptly awoken by the sound of his loftwing, Crimson, screeching through his window. His nightmares had become more and more vivid lately. Was something trying to warn him?
Since Link knew that his loftwing always squawked when there was mail, he finally noticed the letter that was waiting for him. "Wake up sleepyhead! Did you forget about your dare with Groose? If you win, I'll meet you at our special place, make sure you do not get caught though, he would be furious!"
Zelda
As he read the letter, Link was reminded of his promise to Zelda all those years ago.
Link wore a tan shirt with brown and red stripes running along the bottom. His pants were a plain brown color. Notably, he was lacking wings and the normal hair fashion of Skyloft. His blond hair was in a spiky mess despite his efforts to comb through it.
The only attractions in Skyloft were the bazaar where various goods were sold, and the Pumpkin Café famous for its soup. In addition, there was a small school run by an old soldier who trained all the young boys in the village. The village was made from clouds shaped into sweeping arches and small domes over each house. He knew very little about the world below the clouds of the town other than the rumors about a vast ocean made entirely out of water.
How did he get into these messes?
Link vaguely remembered going out to drink with Zelda and Groose at the Pumpkin Café. several other patrons were inside, enjoying themselves and dancing to the music that filled the air. Groose began to flamboyantly brag about his exploits in the sacred grove having hunted down several monsters. As usual, his red hair was perfectly styled in a pompadour.
"And then I took down the beast with one blow!" he laughed jostling Link with his elbow before he continued "This one couldn't hit the side of a giant pumpkin with no wings!" Groose continued teasing his friend about a sore subject.
Zelda blushed at Groose's antics and tried to interrupt "Now Groose you know he beat you at our last race!"
"No, he didn't he had you bail him out when he was tangled up in some vines." Groose continued. Although, the statement was true Link had only become tangled because Groose had cheated with an egg thrown right in his face.
"Oh yeah, you couldn't beat me at a race through the sacred forest any day of the week!" Link challenged back.
"Bring it on but no flying first one to our meeting place wins!" Groose had shouted right back.
"The winner gets to spend time with Zelda alone at the sacred ceremony," Groose proudly exclaimed.
Zelda was wearing a simple white dress with her bow slung behind her wings. Her blonde hair in two braids and two antennae.
"Who decided that all of a sudden you can both come to my coming-of-age ceremony dummies!" Zelda yelled into the conversation knocking a large goose egg on both of their heads.
Like all Shandanians, she would soon have a ceremony at the Goddess statue to officially become an adult. The actual ceremony was a very quiet affair meant for the Shandanians alone, Link was lucky to be able to witness the event if Zelda's father let him.
Both boys grinned knowingly at Zelda, she loved the idea of competition just as much as they did. They just had to make sure not to get caught. Memories flooded back to him - memories of racing through the sacred forest with Groose, the wind whipping through his hair, the thrill of competition pumping through his veins. It had been years since they had last dared each other to race, and he felt a familiar rush of excitement at the thought of testing his skills once more.
Link hurriedly grabbed his shield and sword handed down from his grandfather many years ago. The shield was reinforced on the edges with sea prism stone had a triforce symbol on it. While as far as he knew the sword was ordinary with a purple pommel.
He often snuck into the skyberets camp or even watched the guerillas fight so he could train. Despite that, he never earned the SkyKnights' respect because he was rejected by their leader. Even after he found and tamed his Loftwing they would never let him prove they were wrong.
Ever since he was a child, Link had dreamt of being a hero. He had idolized the legendary knights of Skyloft and had always felt a burning desire to follow in their footsteps. And now, as he rode through the skies on the back of a Loftwing, he knew that he was closer than ever to realizing that dream.
But it wasn't just a desire for glory that motivated Link. He knew that there were people counting on him, people who needed him to save them from the darkness that threatened to engulf Skypie. As he thought of the innocent villagers who had been forced to flee their homes, or the families who had lost loved ones to the conflict between the Shandanians and Skypiens, he felt a deep sense of responsibility. Link knew that he couldn't let these people down. He had trained tirelessly for months, honing his skills and preparing himself for the battles to come.
/ In one instance while he was trying to train some of the other recruits started to push him around.
"What's the matter freak no mommy or daddy to cry to?" the leader mocked laughing along with his friends.
"Even God has rejected him." one of the minions replied.
As the leader's fist connected with Link's face, he felt a searing pain shoot through his skull, and he stumbled back, his vision blurring. He tasted blood in his mouth and could feel the warm liquid trickling down his chin. He tried to steady himself, but his legs felt like jelly. The mocking laughter of the other boys echoed in his ears, and he felt a surge of shame and humiliation. Determined to show the boys what he was made of Link stumbled to his feet with his fists raised.
"What are you all doing?" An angry feminine voice echoed down the alley the fight had started in. A furious looking Zelda stomped her way right into the leader's face drawing her bow on the way. Being stubborn and fiercely independent, Zelda was never afraid to speak her mind, especially when it came to her friend Link.
Knowing better then to face an experienced warrior all the men rushed out of the alley "Still need a woman to save you? Coward!" one man shouted as they retreated. This only the first of many times where he was teased or bullied.
While Zelda tried to encourage him to keep going part of him took the words to heart because he was different. Because he was rejected years ago by his mentor his dream of becoming a knight was useless but still, he fought every time the Shandians would invade the sacred forest. /
Groose had told him about how some of the Skynights had ambushed women and children driving them from their homes in the Sacred grove. All in effort to obtain Vearth. Link tried to explain he was just defending everyone from being hurt but his friend turned away bitterly every time the subject came up. While often flamboyant and boastful Groose was also very loyal to the friends he had, despite his growing jealousy.
Shaking his head at the memory Link rushed out to the very edge of Skyloft and jumped whistling as he jumped down. He would never get tired of the sheer freedom he felt as Crimson came rushing underneath to catch him and lazily soared closer to the main city of Skypiea it was a short-hour flight. As Link soared through the skies on the back of his trusted Loftwing, the wind whipped through his hair and the rush of air against his face made his eyes water.
He could feel the muscles in the giant bird's wings working hard beneath him, as they rose higher and higher into the clouds. The warm sun on his skin and the scent of the fresh sea air filled his senses, as he scanned the horizon for any signs of danger.
The exhilaration of flight coursed through his veins, and he couldn't help but let out a whoop of joy as he and his faithful companion rode the currents of the sky. While in the sky he could forget the constant bullying he received for not having wings. He could forget the growing tension between him and Groose that still confused him. He wished that their normal dynamic of just hanging out as friends together could return. His other friend Zelda was easier to figure out she just wanted to adventure and see the world for herself.
Link enjoyed every minute of it, not bothering to strategize. He expertly somersaulted onto the main square, where Zelda and Groose were waiting in front of the statue of Vearth on Lovely Street on Angel Island."
"All right Zelda what are the rules this time?" he asked rolling his eyes at Groose who was posing in the background.
"You two start at the milky road River of Trials the first person to the altar wins but Link you cannot use your Loftwing to just fly over everything. You know what happens if you get caught." Zelda exclaimed.
Both Link and Groose, sweat dropped as they thought of the Vassals also guarding that area. The vassals would brutally kill or maim anyone they saw in their territory. Neither of them was willing to back down Groose because of pride, and Link because he had his bravery to prove. While usually they raced just for fun this one felt different, they were showing off to a girl they both liked.
"I'll be following behind to watch and to see who the winner is, let's borrow a ride and start," Zelda said as they made their way to Angel beach it was the closest location to the Sacred Ground and happened to rent out wavers.
Conis and her father Pagaya happily shouted after them "Be careful!" waving from their repair and waver shop. Of course, they had no idea the friends were headed straight for trouble.
Conis was a young lady with a long dress decorated with flowery symbols along the left side, her white cloud fox Suu always curled up on her shoulder. Her hair was in a long braid and the usual style. She was also one of Zelda's best friends often gossiping with her about what was happening in the village.
Paquya had a bushy brown beard that covered his mouth and short antennas on his bald head. His demeanor was that of a weird uncle always encouraging Link to experiment with inventions.
As the trio approached the end of the River of Trials, they could see the grand statue of the goddess looming in the distance. Its intricate details and imposing height were awe-inspiring, even from afar.
"All right here's the plan we go as fast as possible to avoid being noticed if we don't make too much noise the vassals should leave us alone. We back each other up if we get caught. We each choose the same challenge, so we don't get separated." Link said seriously that if it came down to the wire, he would defend his friends with his life.
"Ready set go!" Zelda called quietly carefully following in her waver and then leaping onto her skyskates to hover over the river her bow ready.
Groose let his hair writhe along his head, while Link had his shield ready. Soon they came to the scythe section the deadly blades crossing their path. Groose grew out his hair further and let one of its lengths catch the ropes tangling up the traps.
"Yeah, baby the power of the hair-hair fruit!" he shouted over. Groose had one of the infamous devil fruits that granted him the power to manipulate his own hair, but he could not swim.
Link meanwhile used his natural athleticism to dodge each one relying on the maneuverability of the waver. His shield easily caught one blade and deflected it away.
Zelda was calling from behind "Scythe from the left Link!" or "Duck Groose." The boys obeyed her words without question. Smoothly sailing down the river the three friends grinned at each other as they watched for the next danger, huge shark-like creatures called sea lampreys.
When the creatures were spotted this time, Link sliced some of them up with his sword leaping into the air to meet them and then landing again on his ride. Groose sharpened his hair into sword-like points and pierced the fish's bodies. Zelda supported them both with her bow the arrows flying with deadly accuracy.
With the way clear it was easy enough for her to catch up just before they saw the four doorways each displaying its challenge.
"Zelda?' Link asked relying on her perception to sense anyone nearby.
"We go through the string challenge it's clear." She replied.
Link growled under his breath he had a grudge against that vassal but hurried through the tunnel. He still remembered exactly what that man did to crush his dream. The group rushed through the rest of the forest keeping an eye out for trouble. As the group rushed through the forest, branches and leaves whipped past them. Suddenly, they burst into a clearing, and their eyes fell upon the altar they had been seeking. Without hesitation, they pushed their wavers to the limit as they raced towards their goal.
Groose and Link were side-by-side as they grinned at each other. Groose let his hair grow out further, using his devil fruit powers to manipulate the strands with ease. His hair reached out like a living whip, tripping up Link and nearly sending him flying into the clouds.
Link took a swipe with his sword in return as they both wrested with each other.
"Tie, you guys' better luck next time." Zelda laughed at their antics.
"Meet me at the Goddess statue Link," Zelda exclaimed leaving them in the dust, Groose had a blushing red look on his face. Groose angrily glared at Link as he shoulder-checked him and marched off back the way they came.
"Playing favorites were we princess?" He asked as he disappeared.
Link and Zelda made their way to the top of the Goddess statue to spend some time together.
"Link do you remember that promise all those years ago?" Zelda asked her feet dangling off the edge of the statue.
"Of course, I'll never forget that!" Link exclaimed.
"I have something for you," Zelda said bringing out an elaborate sailcloth embroidered with the triforce and a stylized loft wing.
"So that you can always fall with style when you catch me!" She said mischievously as she leaped off the statue.
Link never hesitated, he used the sailcloth to slow his fall so he could catch Zelda in midair and lower them gently to the ground. Except Zelda somehow ended up on top of him uncomfortably close when they hit the ground.
Link gasped in surprise gently stroking Zelda's cheek "Are you alright." He asked.
Zelda and Link's lips were just about to meet when suddenly, a loud crash shattered the tranquility of the moment. Wyper, the fearless warrior, burst into the clearing, his sword drawn and ready for action. Startled, Zelda and Link quickly pulled apart and turned to face their unexpected visitor.
"Ah-hem" a voice interrupted the moment as they both scrambled to their feet. It was Wyper glaring at Link especially.
"Zelda, I forbid you from coming here again, especially with that wingless one." He said
"But" Zelda protested barely containing her frustration.
"I'm your chieftain that is my final word on the matter now we are going home." Wyper demanded.
Zelda muttered a goodbye and whispered something under her breath before resigning herself to walk away. Link hurried away before Wyper to do something worse, going back to Skyloft to rest from the long day.
Day of straw hats arrival
As Link and the crew of the Going Merry explored their respective skies, they had no idea that their paths would soon cross in an unexpected way. Link immediately goes to Ganfar to ask to go on patrol with him. Everyday there was the same answer "When you are strong enough you may follow me."
Link muttered under his breath and waited for the knight to go over the horizon. He called Crimson and flew behind anyway. The man was still rejecting him, and he wanted to know why. He was just in time to see Ganfar defending a small ship from one of the guerillas. Link grinned, it was time to prove himself to the blue sea people if Ganfar would not accept him perhaps they would.
He flew up above the ship and skydived onto the deck "What you need is a guide, not some old man." He blinked as he realized there was a foot, a sword, and a fist ready at his throat. These people were the strangest he had ever seen.
A few minutes earlier
The Going merry had finally came to rest after flying from the knock up stream. The ship had a prow shaped like a sheep's head with a makeshift collar and horns. The main deck featured a small cabin holding the kitchen. Above the cabin was a grove of tangerines. Above the mast was a giant sail with a skull and cross bones bearing the famous straw hat with a pirate flag to match. Further back was the smaller yellow and red striped sail for tacking.
Just a few hours earlier they had avoided a falling ship, visited the island of Jaya, and met a man searching for a lost treasure Monteblanc Cricket. Luffy, eager for another adventure, had decided to explore the lands above with his crew.
They had already heard the tale of Noland the liar who claimed that there was a city of gold on Jaya six hundred years ago. When the king who financed the return trip heard that they had found nothing he had the man executed.
Mone Blanc who was one Noland's descendants wanted to find proof one way or another to beat Noland at his own game. Luffy quickly made friends with the old man and was determined to find that proof, he was always eager to support another man's dream.
Everyone gasped and coughed as they recovered from the shock. Of course, the captain Monkey D. Luffy was first to recover. He was wearing his usual red vest and blue shorts with his straw hat thrown back to hang behind. His black hair was a spiky mess from the wind.
"Hey you guys look! Look where you are! Luffy called excited about a new place. It was one more step towards his goal to be king of the pirates.
The view was amazing with white clouds stretching out in all directions almost like the sea.
Rornoa Zoro the first mate and swordsman got up water dripping off his face. "Blast what happened? We lose anybody?" he huffed. He had on a white shirt and dark black pants. His three swords hung in a green sash. To match he had a green bandanna wrapped around his arm and green hair. He was eager to fight another swordsman in order to become the best in the world.
"We are sailing on the clouds?" Nami the navigator asked. She was wearing a striped halter top with a super short skirt. She had short red hair and a tattoo of an orange and pinwheel on her right shoulder. She carefully drew more charts in order to map the entire ocean.
Usopp the sniper was still lying on the deck sleeping his long nose had a large snot bubble dripping from it. He had a polka dotted bandanna on his head and brown coveralls. He also had a white sash around his waist and a pack was always around his shoulder. He had joined in order to become a brave warrior of the sea just like his father.
When Chopper suggested giving Usopp mouth to mouth. Sanji the chef shouted, "Okay I'll give Nami mouth to mouth." With hearts in his eyes. Sanji was wearing his black suit over a blue collared shirt. His blonde hair was parted to cover one of his eyes displaying one curly cued eyebrow. As a cook he was eager to find the legendary "All Blue" a place where every fish would gather in a chef's dream.
Chopper the doctor was checking over the sniper and determined that he had just fainted. Chopper was in his small reindeer form his usual red hat with a white cross sitting on his head with his antlers poking out. His dream was to cure every disease there was including the heart. He had eaten the human-human fruit which allowed him to transform his body into various forms, and gave him his intelligence.
"Idiot" Zorro muttered.
Finally, there was Robin the archeologist who was helping Nami examine the compass the logpose. She had short black hair and piercing blue eyes. She was wearing a yellow halter top with a black pattern on it and long dark pants. Her motives were to discover the lost history of the void century.
"This must be the middle of the empire cloud the logpose is still pointing up." Robin hypothesized. The compass used magnetic fields to lock onto different islands. Resetting after a certain time period.
"How do we go even higher?" Chopper asked. In the background Sanji was yelling at Zorro again.
"Did you just call me an idiot?" Sanji asked.
"I forget." Zoro replied right back.
Usopp finally got up and announced, "First course of action Captain Usopp will go for a swim." Even taking his shirt off for the experiment. He was too wrapped up in excitement to even think about being afraid of the dive.
"Hey, be careful we don't know anything about this ocean." Sanji called over. Off course Luffy and Chopper were cheering Usopp on.
"All oceans are the same!" Usopp laughed manically as he leaped over the railing.
There was hardly any resistance as the visibility dropped and he fell deeper and deeper.
Above the straw hats realized he was not coming up.
"I was thinking does this ocean have a bottom?" Robin asked calmly. More used to adventure than the panicking Nami and Chopper, Luffy leaped up.
I'm going to stretch as far as I can." Luffy His rubber body letting his arm go deep. "I can't see through the clouds!" he glanced at Robin fully trusting her to help.
"Leave that to me. Ojus Fleur" Robin replied as she used her power to blossom eyes along the captain's arm. "There he is! Seis Fleurs!" this time Robin sprouted hands "Okay pull him up!" she called. She had the flower-flower fruit which let her blossom her body parts anywhere.
Surprisingly Luffy was struggling with weight as he reeled in not only Usopp but a giant skysquid. Even before Nami and Chopper finished yelling Zoro was already leaping up to meet the beast "It's not so scary." He scoffed as he landed. The creature collapsed having been cut in half with one slash.
Finally, there was a moment for the straw hats to examine the creatures. "That octopus was like a balloon I guess we should think of this as a sea. "Sanji explained thinking about how the thing could be cooked.
Somehow Usopp managed to get a flounder type fish in his pants. Chopper was muttering about how the sky island was scary. Robin was just as excited to examine the skyflounder.
"Noland mentioned this in his diary, in order to survive in in this bottomless ocean the fish are flat and balloon like. Their bodies are like airfoils since the air is less buoyant than water. "Robin referred to the old tale that had led to their hunt for the sky island in the first place.
"They even have sail like feathers and teeth like carnivores." Nami said. Before they even finished Sanji had sauteed it and Luffy had scarfed it down.
Unnoticed Chopper was watching through a pair of binoculars seeing another ship and a person in the distance.
"Listen I saw a ship, but it is gone now. It looked like a man attacked it and he's coming this way! There is a bull running over the clouds, we might be in big trouble." Chopper yelled.
Everyone turned to see a man running over the clouds wearing an elaborate mask resembling a boar. Even as Sanji yelled for him to stop the man was relentless. "I'm going to get rid of you." The stranger said. He easily carried a large cannon and shield. All he had on was short grass like pants.
Taken by surprise Sanji, Luffy and Zoro all took heavy hits collapsing onto the ground.
"You wimps, there are three of you and only one of him!" Nami yelled. Usopp was pretending to be down and muttering "sky island is scary" over and over.
Before the stranger could attack again someone said "Enough." An armored knight fought the figure off with a few well-placed blows. While the crew wondered who the man was the guerilla finally retreated.
"I am the sky knight Ganfar." He said revealing himself to be an old man with a long white beard. He was wearing what looked like old heavy armor with a helmet and was wielding a lance.
Nami was on a rant again "What the heck? You guys were pathetic. He clobbered all three of you."
"Thank you for saving us" Chopper said giving a cute little bow.
"Um yes, I had no choice it was my duty." The knight replied.
"How could I lose like that?" Sanji lamented.
"I can hardly move" Luffy complained.
"That is probably because the air is so thin." Robin thought aloud.
"Now that you mention it you must be blue sea people from below the clouds. Most blue sea people can't tolerate these altitudes." Ganfar explained.
As soon as the knight finished, he was flabbergasted as Luffy, and Zorro declared they were already used to the atmosphere.
"Who was the man who attacked us?" Chopper asked. "One moment no doubt you have many questions but let's talk business first. I am a soldier of fortune this sea holds many dangers. Those unfamiliar with sky fighting are targeted by guerrillas and become food for the sky fish. But I can save you from them. One whistle for five million extols. "The knight explained.
There was a moment of silence because no one had an idea what he was talking about.
"Don't be stingy! That's an incredible bargain! I won't go one extol lower I have to make a living!" Ganfar declared.
"What the heck in an extol? And what's this about a whistle? Sanji asked.
"Didn't you people come by way of the peak of high west? Then you must've got here by island hopping. Don't tell me you rode that beastly sea current!" Ganfar said.
"We didn't have to ride the current. "Nami sweat dropped.
"Want is the big deal? We made it." Luffy asked.
"We were almost killed! We should've gotten more information! "Nami yelled back anima teeth showing.
"You're lucky you did not lose any crewmembers. The knock up stream is one of those gambles where either everyone makes it, or no one does. There aren't many who'd take the risk especially these days. You must have both courage and skill your worthy see dogs." The knight exclaimed impressed.
Usopp took the opportunity to brag "It was all thanks to me actually! The others were all in tears and had given up, but I said, "Never fear I'll get us there!"
Ganfar did not even pay attention but dropped his whistle on the deck "Here is one whistle blow it once and I will come down from the heavens to save you! By rights you should pay me five million extols in sky currency for that. But you may have that one for free in honor of your courage. You can use it to summon me anytime."
"For I am Ganfar the skyknight with my partner Pierre" All the straw hats watched in astonishment as Pierre transformed from a horse to a Pegasus. "Piere is a bird with the power of the horse-horse fruit!" the effect was rather thrown off as Pierre was pink with blue polka dots and was rather ugly.
"Good luck brave ones!" Ganfar called as he flew away.
"What a strange creature but we did not really learn very much from him did we?" Robin remarked the others agreeing.
As they were talking a young man dropped from the sky right onto the deck, rather jumpy from the experience Luffy, Sanji, and Zoro all prepared attacks.
"What you need is a guide, not some old man." He spoke. Link held up his hands sweat dropping a little not expecting the reaction. "I will even not charge an extol." Link said figuring Ganfar had tried his usual spiel.
"I'm Nami welcome aboard!" the red-haired woman said berry signs in her eyes.
A foot, sword, and fist appeared suddenly at Link's throat, taking him aback the man with the sword interrupted Link as he tried to introduce himself. "Who are you and what are you doing here?" he demanded.
Link gulped but decided to stand his ground. "I am Link, and I am here to help you. I saw you were in trouble, and I wanted to offer my services."
The man with the sword snorted. "We don't need your help. We can take care of ourselves."
"Zoro, let him go," said a voice from behind Link. He turned to see a group of people standing on the deck of the ship. They were all staring at him with curiosity.
Link breathed a sigh of relief as the man called Zoro lowered his sword. "Thank you," he said. "I'm sorry if I intruded."
The man who had spoken stepped forward. "I'm Monkey D. Luffy, the captain of this ship. Who are you and why were you following us?"
Link introduced himself again and explained that he had been following the group in order to prove himself to the Blue Sea people. He told them about his desire to and stand up to bullies he was not quite ready to express his dream yet.
Luffy listened intently and then grinned. "That's cool! We're pirates on a mission to find the One Piece and become the King of the Pirates!"
Link stared at him in shock. Pirates? He had always been taught to hate pirates, but these people seemed different. They had a sense of adventure and a desire to do good.
"Um, how do we go higher up? I want to blow the whistle so badly." Luffy pouted.
"That is for emergencies besides the entrance is right there." Link pointed to the giant cloud waterfall in the distance.
"That settles it then we sail forwards!" Luffy called with enthusiasm.
Soon the ship sailed closer to the cloudfall before seeing a cloudbank of the thicker clouds in the way. Nami suggested coming to a stop briefly to investigate.
"This you have to discover for yourselves I think you'll love it." Link remarked grinning,
To Link's surprise, Luffy nodded and stretched his arm out to touch one of the fluffy clouds, bouncing back. Luffy had a rubber body because of the gum-gum fruit he ate.
"Oh, I should mention if you have devil fruit powers like my friend does you can't swim in the thicker areas either." Link said casually. Everyone who had powers sweat dropped. Link was referring to the how devil fruits gave extraordinary powers but at the cost of being unable to swim.
"But…" Link leaped onto the bouncy clouds "You can bounce on these all you want." He laughed at everyone's expressions.
Luffy, Chopper, and Usopp quickly joined him calling excitedly on how fun and soft the clouds were.
"Guys I need you to call directions the ship cannot pass through these clouds!" Nami called from below. The boys made their way to the top to see a giant heavenly gate peeking through the maze of clouds. Link made sure to pay attention and guide the ship to just outside the gate.
It was an amazing sightseeing a huge waterfall drop down and then bounce up again. It made room for a huge archway that proudly exclaimed "Heaven's Gate" The giant archway blocked the noise of the waterfall as only small drops could be heard coming from overhead.
Link could barely contain his laughter as he heard the crew discussing whether they were dead and in heaven. He quick ducked into the doorway of the cabin and whispered to Nami "Hey, um you're expected to pay a toll of about 5,000 berries per person." Next thing he knew was the deck in his face and a pounding headache. "Ooff pirates right." He had almost forgotten what Ganfar had told him about pirates because the crew seemed more goofy than murderous.
Link was just in time to see Amazon the gate inspector "If you want to go up to the upper stratum the entrance fee is one billion extols per person." Even to Link's hazy mind that seemed a bit much.
The crew shouted at seeing an angel for the first time "An angel isn't she a little pruny to be an angel? What is an extol? UM we don't have any money." Everyone said in a jumbled mess.
"You may pass." The gatekeeper winked at them. But the choice is entirely your own." Amazon said smiling sweetly. "I'm neither a gatekeep nor a guardian, I'm merely asking what you wish to do."
Link was too concerned about being caught with pirates to think of warning the crew. He still had that giant lump on his head from earlier.
Astonished Luffy replied honestly "then we're passing through to the sky island! "
"I see seven of you right?" she asked. Link was furiously shaking his head at luffy and waving his arms.
"…. Yeah, how do we get up?" Luffy's reply was cut off as giant crab like claws emerged from under the boat. The claws grabbed the railing and whisked them up the windy roads higher up.
"Great I hope she did not see me; I don't need to be reported." Link said worried.
Indeed, as soon as the boat was out of earshot Amazon had picked up a receiver snail and reported "Eight people have illegally entered Godland Skypia render heaven's judgement." She smirked.
The clouds spiraled out of sight as the crab rushed up the belt like a river. The exit is ahead Godland Skypie?" Nami read from the sign they sped past.
The Land of the Gods of the white white sea Skypie came into sight as the ship launched into the air. An island made of more clouds supported a large city in the distance. Most of the buildings were domed with roads shaped in archways going overhead.
The beach was made purely of more fluffy clouds with sparse trees and bushes trying to grow wherever vearth was found. "What about the anchor? There's no bottom to this ocean?" Zorro asked.
You can throw it to the more solid clouds on the island" Link suggested.
Luffy was completely ignoring their discussion "Never mind that the beach feels fluffy. Yippe!" he said as he leaped off the side of the ship with his usual enthusiasm.
"Look at those guys they're so excited, they're hopeless. Nami laughed, she was finally getting the chance to relax and take in a sunny day.
In the background the south bird the straw hats had brought with them hassled Usopp for forgetting to let him free. Usopp ran around a bit before finally watching the bird fly away. He began collecting any odd junk he could find on the beach to be cobbled together later.
"According to the map that Luffy found in the galleon that fell from the sky this is Skypiea." Robin commented. She was keeping an eye out for any writing or other ancient artifacts if the ship was any indication the whole island had a rich history.
Link boggled at Robin, surprised that they avoided a ship falling from the sky.
"Frankly when I heard about an island in the sky. I didn't believe it existed. But here we are It's real! Nami called as she leaped off too. Everyone else followed leaving Zorro and Robin behind briefly.
"What about you? Sailing the seas and exploring new lands is your idea of adventure?" Robin asked.
"I'm going ashore too. I never thought about it that way. Zorro replied surprised by Robin's question. They watched as the other crew explored the beach made up of fluffy clouds. There was even a small awning covering lounging chairs all made of the same material. As usual Zoro had his hand on his swords ready to draw them at a moment's notice, trouble always followed the crew around, especially their captain.
"Raaah, I love this place! The smell of adventure is overpowering! Luffy said.
Link, chuckled thinking about what adventure exactly smelled like as he enjoyed watching the crews' interactions.
Nami was now in her colorful bikini so she could enjoy the beach. "The navy will never find us here We can really relax at least! It's been so long since I went to the beach. We always stop at ports!" She spoke.
"Are the navy like the sky berets?" Link thought aloud. Everyone was ignoring him each exploring in their own way.
Chopper was excited because this was his first visit to a beach even making little cloud angels as rolled around in the fluff. He was exploring everything in childlike excitement and wonder.
"This is Captain Usopp. it's all so fun I don't know where to start. Why don't we stay here and relax a while?" Usopp asked. Examining everything with his spyglass.
"Proposal rejected!" Luffy said.
"Rejected you mean accepted" Usopp yelled now nervous.
Sanji was examining some balloon like flowers picking them to present to the ladies. He approached with his usual suaveness which turned into an akward dance as he followed the ladies around attentive to any food stuff he found.
Luffy was soon up a tree to pick a strange looking nut always thinking with his stomach.
Just as Luffy was trying to chew through the hard shell of the nut. Zorro had found a white fox named Suu who was carefully sniffed his hand. From a distance ethereal like music from a harp carried through the air catching everyone's attention.
Standing on a nearby hill was Conis playing her harp and humming along with her music. With a bit of nostalgia Link remembered how rare it was for his friend Zelda to play her own harp.
"Look a person! It's an angel!" Sanji exclaimed dancing excitedly.
Link braced himself for usual comments about how he did not have wings, but the group seemed more interested in meeting Conis.
"Heso" she said in greeting. Luffy got bumped on the head by the large nut mishearing the word to be slang for bellybutton.
"Did you guide these blue sea people here Link?" Conis asked, beckoning her cloudfox Suu closer. While initially shy Conis was also curious about the strangers visiting the beach.
"Yes, I think they flew up here on their ship. Conis lives here on Angel beach" Link explained. It was nice to have the crew accept him as a guide.
"Do you like conash? The top of the shell is as hard as a rock. It's no use biting it. Here you are." Conis deftly took the giant nut from Luffy cutting a hole in the top and adding a straw.
Everyone exclaimed how delicious the juice from the nut was.
"We have lots of questions all of this is very strange to us" Nami pointily glared at Link.
"Hey, you forgot to ask any questions while you were exploring! I would be glad to continue guiding." Link stuttered.
He was saved from further explanation as something was spotted on the ocean.
"Oh, that's my father. Heso father." Conis called.
"Conis Heso!" he called back.
"What does heso mean?" Luffy was confused from mishearing the word again.
Pagaya was riding on a small boat with a large handle up front for steering. It seemed to not to run on its own.
"That's pretty cool! I think we salvaged something like that. Nolan mentioned that a boat that runs without wind. What is that thing he is riding?!" Nami asked intrigued be the device.
"We call that a waver." Conis explained. Her father nearly crashed as he swept by the crew waiting on the shore.
Pagaya introduced himself "Oh you must be feeling pretty lost. I was just out fishing and caught some skylobster. Wont you join us for supper?" he asked.
Link sweat dropped as he was completely ignored as a guide again.
"Let me help cook!" Sanji exclaimed excited about skypien cuisine. Luffy was just excited at the mention of food "Really sure we'll come!"
"Before we go how does this waver operate? There is no sail to catch the wind and you were not rowing. How does it move over the waves?" Nami bombarded them with questions as the group headed to the more open area.
Luffy begged and pleaded in order to try out the waver, everyone stood back a fair distance expecting the inevitable. Luffy pressed the petal for acceleration and was soon bouncing along the sea.
"It won't stop!" Luffy shouted as he tumbled into the clouds. Link rolled his eyes and leaped confidently after him whistling for Crimson.
"You can fly! That is so cool" Luffy exclaimed stars in eyes not even caring that he was plopped on the ground not so gently.
"Really it's all my friends Crimson here." Link replied.
"Crimson says the flock leader is an idiot!" Chopper translated.
"You can talk to animals? That's cool!" Link said in surprise.
"Your complicate doesn't make me happy you idiot." Chopper smiled as he did a little dance confusing Link.
"I'm sorry I should have not let him ride it alone. " Pagaya cried.
"Luffy is an idiot he would have stolen a ride anyway." Zoro proclaimed deadpanning.
"Wavers are built to be very light for speed. But even a small wave can send it out of control. The operator must understand the sea and anticipate the waves. IF you practice you can be ready in ten years." Papaya explained.
Chopper was disappointed "I wanted to try too but it's too difficult."
"What that is a long time!" Usopp yelled. Out of the corner of his eye he could see Nami operating the waver like a natural. "She's amazing." He comically screamed.
"That's wonderful Nami!" Sanji yelled hearts floating in the air around him.
Luffy was jealous "How come she can ride that thing?" Link just laughed at the captain impressed by the navigator.
"Hey Nami! We're going up to the house now! Hurry up and get off! Stupid. Get off right now you dummy!" Luffy yelled angerly.
"Nice try." Sanji bumped Luffy's head with his foot for being rude to a lady.
"You guys go ahead! Can I ride it a little longer, mister?" Nami called back.
"Of course, but please be careful!" Papgaya called back.
Out in the white ocean Nami was enjoying herself. "I wish I could take one home with me but the one we salvaged is probably too damaged. She said to herself.
Meanwhile the rest of the crew was climbing up a long staircase to reach the house above.
"What is that over there it looks like a factory?" Robin asked curious about the quarry like construction they could see in the distance.
"You must mean the cloud quarry, it's a place we cut clouds for construction. We came in by the milky road when we used the sky lobster." Link finally got to explain something.
"You mean the road like a big noodle?" Zorro asked.
"There's a long explanation but basically that is a man-made canal. Different chemicals including sea prism stone are shot out of volcanoes and make clouds with different properties. There are the sea clouds which you can sail in and the island clouds which you can walk on. "Link explained half the crew was not paying attention already.
"Basically, the island clouds are squished and cut into the desired density so that we can make things." Link added noticing that Luffy had half fallen asleep. Shrugging to himself he followed everyone into Pagaya's house.
In the house Conis showed the group a tone dial. "You speak into it like this, and then press the top of the shell" she explained the shell repeating what she just said.
Luffy immediately recorded "Usopp you idiot," and Usopp saying "Huh what did I do?" laughing like an idiot as he did.
"We gather all sorts of dials from sandbars around the reefs. They can even be used for combat. I've been working on something with impact dials." Link said.
"I'm interested in learning how a waver moves?" Robin asked.
"Oh that's because of a wind dial, basically it stores moving air. You must spin it around for a minute to receive the wind back for minute. The larger ones can even propel a small craft. We use it for skates. boards, and all sorts of things." Conis took over explaining.
"We salvaged one but it's over 200 years old I doubt it will run." Usopp said sighing in disappointment,
"Actually, I think I can fix it up since the dial is just a shell it should be still functional. I'm a waver engineer after all." Pagaya explained.
Soon Sanji was helping in the kitchen discovering that the seasoning was a lot like regular seafood. His plates looked delicious as usual. After they were done eating Sanji looked out the window to check on Nami. "Hey where did Nami go?" he exclaimed.
"I forgot to warn her not to go to the sacred ground we are supposed to not go there no matter what." Link said sheepishly. Of course, he regularly ignored that rule.
Out on the clouds Nami was staring at a large forest where the trees were huge.
"A place where we can never go why not?" Chopper asked.
"It's sacred It's the upper yard the domain of God." Conis said seriously.
"A God? And a place nobody's allowed to go? Luffy exclaimed excited.
"Yes, this is Godland the realm of the omnipotent God Eneru." Conis explained.
"You don't want to mess with him, trust me." Link said.
Usopp spotted Luffy daydreaming and tried to snap him out of it. "Luffy, what are you thinking about? Listen to what she's saying! We must never go there! Do you understand what that means? Luffy?" he ranted.
"Huh, there's a place I can't go and a guy you don't mess with huh?" Luffy thought aloud stars in his eyes.
"You're going to get into so much trouble." Link sighed.
"But if he's a God, won't he forgive us? Gods are kind, right?" Luffy asked.
"I'm afraid not, we barely survived when he came." Link replied.
"I see, oh well it doesn't matter. All right! Let's go find Nami! Wait let me eat first." Luffy shrugged as he stuffed his face.
"Hey! While you're stuffing your face. Nami could be danger! Leave that we're coming right back." Sanji yelled.
"Please we don't know if she went that waver not. Please be extremely careful! You mustn't incur God Eneru's wrath." Conis hastily said.
"In the meantime, I should take a look at your waver." Pagaya said.
Meanwhile Nami heard something coming from the large trees of the sacred grounds. "This is creepy I'm getting out of here. I heard something, maybe voices?" Nami thought looking over her shoulder she heard someone yelling.
"Help me"
Further in the forest the man was running from several figures. He was easily cornered by a bird flying, and a gigantic dog. The figures argued with each other about interfering. The man scrambled away making it to shore.
"Hey, help me get out here! I'll pay you whatever you want." He shouted at Nami.
"But this is a one-man craft! I don't know if can carry us both. We might sink." She replied.
Before anyone could react, there was giant flash from the sky as a lightning bolt came out of nowhere. Destroying everything in its path.
Nami overheard some of the figures talking to each other.
"I don't get Lord Eneru sometimes. If He's just going to settle things himself. What are we supposed to do?
"He wanted to save time."
"More illegal trespassers have arrived. Old Lady amazon said there was a ship with eight blue sea people aboard."
Eight blue sea people poor Link were they talking about us? The amazon said we could go by without paying the fee. They hunt people down for that. What was that blast? Who were those men? Nami thought. She quickly turned around and rushed towards the beach.
On Angel Island Captain Mckinly was announcing "Be on alert! Several illegal entrants arrived at Angel Beach Today! The White Berets are now conducting a search for these criminals. "Each member was wearing a white cape with a beret. There were white clouds decorating their pants.
On the beach Pagaya was fiddling with the ancient waver when Luffy spotted something.
"Who are those guys?" he asked.
Link saw the berets coming in slowly "Oh boy" he said sarcastically.