A.n I own Nothing.
Also special thanks to fictionmaster96 for inspiring this story, without his original One Piece of Eden fic this story would probably never have taken off. So to fictionmaster96 i tip my hat to you sir.
The Straw Hats ran over and Zoro pulled the sword out of Connors arm, the boy fell to the ground leaving a smeared trail of blood on the wall.
"CHOPPER, GET IN HERE NOW!" Sanji screamed.
Chopper came running in and when he saw Connor he ran over to him. Thankfully the blade had not pierced an artery so he was in no danger of bleeding out. Chopper instantly bandaged the boys arm up, while he was doing it Connor eyes opened and he looked up at the Straw Hats.
"S…S…S…Sorry I couldn't stop them," Connor said weakly.
"It's alright, I'm sure you did your best," Usopp said.
"Who did this kid?" Zoro asked.
Connor weakly pointed at the opposite wall, the Straw Hats turned and saw Bellamys mark painted on the wall. Zoro walked up to it and then glanced at Luffy; he had been pretty quiet this whole time.
Once Connors arm was bandaged Chopper shifted to his human form and carried him outside, he sat the boy down against a part of the house that was not torn apart and went over to the Saruyama Alliance and went back to treating them.
Luffy looked at Connor with a very serious expression.
"L…L…Luffy, H…H…He took all the gold," Connor said weakly.
Luffys face became very dark and he looked at the Saruyama Alliance members who were starting to come round. Cricket sat up and looked very disappointed.
"Old man, are you okay?" Usopp asked.
"Yeah…nothing done that won't heal," Cricket said.
"Cricket…I'm sorry to tell you but you're gold is gone," Nami said sadly.
"I figured, those idiots said they were going to rob me," Cricket sighed.
"But all your gold is gone, it took ten years to collect that and…" Usopp started.
"MIND YOUR OWN DAMN BUSSNISS!" Cricket shouted causing Usopp to stop.
"Our gold being stolen is our problem, don't go meddling in the affairs of others," Cricket said, he then looked over at the Straw Hats damaged ship.
"You'll never get to the sky in a ship like that…there's still time, we'll repair and reinforce it for you," Cricket said as he tried to stand up.
"Oi what are you doing? You're badly hurt, you need to rest," Chopper urged.
"I have a job to do, I won't let my weakness stand in the way of getting you to Sky Island," Cricket declared.
"You're injured, you need lots of rest," Chopper argued.
"Chopper let them be," Luffy ordered.
"But…" Chopper started.
"Come boys, stop being lazy we have a lot of work to do," Cricket claimed.
Masira and Shoujou both staggered up, they headed over to the ship and began to start the repairs Cricket joined them while Chopper protested but no one was listing to the doctor. Luffy watched them work for a moment and his face turned dark.
"Robin if I follow the coast, will I get back to the town we were at today?" Luffy asked.
"Yes, you'll reach it," Robin assured.
"Need a hand?" Zoro asked.
"Nope, stay here encase something happens," Luffy ordered and he began to walk off.
"Hey brat, you had better not be meddling in my business," Cricket warned.
Luffy didn't respond.
"Luffy be back in three hours, if you're not back by dawn we will have missed our chance to go to Sky Island," Nami warned.
"Got it," Luffy acknowledged and ran off.
The Straw Hats watched Luffy run off and once he was out of sight Robin looked at the Merry, she doubted that it would be repaired on time especially with the injuries Cricket, Masira and Shoujou had. Robin walked over to the coat and looked up and down it.
She didn't see anything other than the ocean; she closed her eyes for a moment and then opened them again. Robin turned and started walking down the coast.
"Oi where are you going?" Zoro demanded.
Robin glanced back at him and gave him a smile before she continued on.
"Creepy lady," Zoro muttered.
Usopp walked over to the Merry, he looked at it sadly and then up at the Saruyama Alliance.
"Hey…need an extra hand?" Usopp asked.
Cricket looked over to him.
"Didn't I just tell you to not mind your own business?" Cricket scolded.
"Well yeah but that's our ship, so it's our business to fix it," Usopp pointed out.
Cricket sighed, he could not argue with that.
"Fine grab a hammer," Cricket agreed.
Usopp nodded and came on board he went into the men's room and came back out with a tool box. Sanji spied Masira struggling to lift some wood; the cook went over to him.
"Here let me get that for you," Sanji said and lifted the pile of wood with ease before carrying the supplies over to where they were needed.
Zoro found some rope and tied the south bird to the mast so it would not escape and then he went over to the broken figure head and lifted over his shoulder with ease.
"Hey where do you lot want this?" Zoro asked.
Crickets jaw dropped when he saw Zoro carry the Merrys front like it was nothing. Soon all of the Straw Hats were helping the Saruyama Alliance fix the ship with the exception of Robin and Connor. Connor was still sitting watching as Chipper had told him to rest his arm, even with his enhanced healing it would still take some time before it would be usable again.
Robin walked down the coast in the direction Luffy had run but she changed dirction and eventully found herself in a cove that housed two familiar pirate ships. The crews of both ships were sitting around and looked like they were having a late night party.
"Hello boys," Robin said, announcing her presence.
The two crews stopped what they were doing and looked up at her.
'GHAAAA IT'S YOU!" Masira's crew yelled.
They recognised Robin form there encounter with the Straw Hats earlier.
"Oh good you remember me," Robin smiled.
"If you're here for the captain than he's not here," one of Masira's men said.
"Oh I know, he's at Crickets house," Robin agreed.
The crews started at her in shock and fear.
"What did you do to our boss?" one member of Shoujou crew accused.
"Noting, we had lunch and he told us about the city of gold he was trying to find," Robin claimed.
"So…why are you here?" another man asked.
"Cricket Masira and Shoujou were injured pretty badly tonight during a raid by another pirate crew, one of our own crew was injured as well," Robin claimed.
"WHAT?!" the crews screamed.
"My captain has gone to get back the stolen gold; however Cricket has promised us he'd repair our ship,"
"They're doing it while their injured aren't they," one of Masira's crew asked.
"Yes, seeing as there is no talking them out of it I thought you lot might want to help. After all the more help they get the less stress they will put on their injuries," Robin pointed out.
"They're at the cape right?" one man asked.
Robin nodded.
"Alright boys let's go help the bosses,"
"YEAH!" the crews cheered.
Robin watched as the two crews banded together, they all left the cove carrying as much ship repair supplies as they cold and headed to Crickets house.
Mock Town
The town's people were in shock, it had been a regular night at the local tavern when Luffy had barged in demanding that Bellamy return the gold he had stolen. Naturally the pirate refused and a fight ensured with Luffy the victor.
Luffy took the stolen gold and headed back to the cape to meet up with his crew leaving a stunned town and the Bellamy Pirates behind.
"I told you, I told you those posters were real," a drunken man said.
He had come into the bar not long before Luffy and had taken Bellamy out in a single punch everyone his wanted poster, but no one had listened.
The man was still going on about how they should never have beaten Luffy up earlier in the day. Suddenly the man felt someone tap him on the shoulder.
"Hey, can I see that poster?" a light hearted but deep male's voice asked.
The man turned and saw that there was a larger man standing behind him. The man was a massive; his body was round with relatively thin limbs. He had a big mouth with several broken or missing teeth a crooked nose and a very large and hairy chest and torso. His hair was long, thick and woolly; it fell down the back of his neck, underneath a black bandana and he also had a small scruffy black beard
He wore an open buttoned white shirt with rolled up sleeves, green trousers with black line patterns, a yellow sash around his waist and classic black swashbuckler boots complete with large bronze buckles.
"Here," the drunken man said and handed over the poster.
The larger ma looked at it and grinned.
"Well…well…look whose worth something," the larger man grinned wickedly.
"Find something interesting Teach?" a muscle man, who was dressed like a champion, asked.
"Take a look," the man known as Teach said and handed over the poster.
"He…Heh…Heh…Ha Ha Ha," the champion laughed "Looks like we found our prize,"
"Yeah we've been looking for a man worth at least 100,000,000 belis and now we find one on the same Island," Teach said "Gather the crew, we've got a bounty to collect,"
Back at Crickets house the Straw Hats were helping repair the Merry but it was very slow, Chopper was treating the Saruyama Alliance members as they worked because they would not sit still.
"We'll never get this done by dawn," Usopp sighed.
Zoro had to agree with Usopp, there was just too much to do and too little help. He then noticed that Robbin was coming back and Zoro went up to her.
"Where have you been, give us a hand," Zoro said.
"My apologies but I went to get some help," Robin smiled.
Zoro and the others then noticed Masira and Shoujou crews were approaching as well, they took one look at the merry and got to work.
"Hey boss, we're here to help," the two crews announced.
Cricket, Masira and Shoujou looked up at their crews and huge smiles appeared on their faces.
"Don't just stand there, get to work," Cricket ordered.
The three crews worked through the night and with the extra help the Merry was completed on schedule, though it look very different once it was done. The Merry now had wings a tail and a chicken crest on its figurehead.
Zoro and Nami were not impressed with the design. Sanji walked over to Connor who had fallen asleep some time ago and gently shook him awake.
"Oi time to wake," Sanji said and gently nudged the boy.
Connor opened his eyes and looked up at the cook tiredly.
"We're leaving soon," Sanji said.
Connor rubbed the sleep out of his eyes and nodded, he stood up careful not to knock his sling. Chopper decided to check over Connors injury while they waited for Luffy to return and he was relieved that it was heling nicely.
"So dose it still hurt?" Chopper asked.
"Yes…though it's not as bad as before," Connor answered.
"How long do you think it will take for it to fully heal?" Chopper asked.
"Another few hours at least
"It'll take at least three hours to get to where the Knock upstream is, sill that be enough?" Chopper asked.
"Should be," Connor claimed.
Chopper nodded. Luffy came back about thirty minutes later, he was out of breath and had a sack tied to his back.
"Hey Luffy did you get Bellamy?" Zoro asked.
"Yep, took him out in one punch," Luffy smiled.
Well while you were off playing hero, look what we did," Usopp said and gestured to the ship.
Luffys eyes sparkled with excitement as he saw the upgraded Merry.
"SO COOL!" Luffy cheered "does this mean we can get to Sky Island now?"
"Yep the Merry has a flight mode now so let's go," Usopp claimed.
"Right, just a second," Luffy said.
Luffy walked over to Cricket and he put the sack in front of him.
"Here you go, it's all there," Luffy said with a grin.
Cricket looked at the sack and then back at Luffy.
"Didn't I tell you to stay out of my business?"
"I did, I went to get payback for Connor but I saw your gold and though I'd save you a trip," Luffy claimed.
Cricket sighed.
"You'd better get on board your ship, you're already running late as it is," Cricket claimed.
"Right, bye old man hope you find the city of gold," Luffy said and he ran up and jumped aboard the Merry.
The Merry set out with Masira and Shoujou ships as they were going to guide the Straw Hats to the location of the Knock-Up-Stream. Once they were out at sea, Luffy started playing with the south bird and trying to make it point in another direction.
Connor came over and examined the strange bird as well; he'd never seen one like it. The bird tried to point in another direction to mess with the crew but wound up pointing south anyway. After a few hours of sailing the ships approached a familiar dark cloud.
"Oh that's not good," Masira said.
He then ran over to the railing.
"Hey Straw hat, the Cumulus cloud is earlier than expected, we need to find the current quickly," Masira said.
"What's that mean?" Luffy asked.
"I think it means the knock upstream is going to appear early and if we don't find it we won't be going to Sky Island," Robin said.
"WHAT?!" Luffy panicked.
"All divers get in the ocean and find the current," Shoujou ordered and his men dove into the ocean.
Shoujou cried out with his sonar powers and a minute later three divers resurfaced.
"Echo conformed strong ocean current at 12 o'clock," the first one said.
"Large creature at 9 o'clock, most likely a Sea king," the second one said.
"Opposing ocean current at 10 o'clock, it might be a whirlpool," the third said.
"That's it, all divers get back up here. All ships turn to 10 o'clock," Shoujou ordered.
The divers climbed back on board and the three ships started to turn, once they were on the correct heading the waves started to get rougher and it began to rain. The Saruyama Alliance ships seemed fine but the Merry struggled due to its' small size.
"We're going to sink," Usopp cried.
Masira threw a couple of grappling hooks that latched onto the merry and the smaller ship stabilized somewhat, though it was still quite rough.
"We'll take you into the current, but after that you're on your own," Masira said.
"Nami, what does the Log Pose say?" Robin asked.
Nami looked at the Log on her wrist and it was pointing directly up.
"It's pointing directly above us," Nami answered.
"That means we're right below, the Sky Island," Robin said.
"Really?" Luffy asked excitedly.
"Yes, it should be directly above us," Robin reasoned.
Suddenly the grappling hooks came loose and Masira's ship changed direction.
"What are you doing?" Chopper panicked.
"You're in the current now, we have to pull out before it's too late," Masira answered.
"Wait what do we do? How will we find the Knock-up stream?" Nami asked.
"Don't worry about that, just stay in the current and get as close to the centre of the whirlpool as possible,"
"Whirlpool…What whirlpool?" Nami asked.
"N…N…Nami," Connor said with fear in his voice.
Nami looked over at Connor and he was pointing out at something, Nami followed what his arm and saw a giant whirlpool.
The Straw Hats jaws dropped at the sheer size of it. Usopp, Nami and Chopper began to panic.
"Good luck and remember go with the flow," Masira said and his ship pulled out of the current.
"NNNOOOOO WAIT COME BACKKKK!" Usopp yelled in terror.
"NO ONE SAID WE HAD TO GO INTO IT!" Nami cried out.
"Luffy lets turn back, sky Island is just a legend," Chopper pleaded.
"A legend?" Luffy asked.
"Yeah that's right it doesn't exist, after all what island requires a massive explosion to get to it?" Nami said.
"A mysterious Island that's in the sky and the only way to it is through a giant whirlpool…how can I possibly ever turn away form an adventure like that?" Luffy asked excitedly.
"STOP ENJOYING YOUR SELF!" Nami screamed.
"Nami we're about to go over the edge," Connor cried.
"What…why is this so fast?!" Nami panicked.
The Merry had indeed reached the edge of the whirlpool and was about to go over but it suddenly stopped. Luffy looked around he was hoping for something more dramatic.
"Oh thank god," Usopp breathed a sigh of relief.
"Perhaps we should pull in the sails so we do not move while waiting for the Knock-Up-Stream," Robin suggested.
Nami agreed with the archaeologist and had Zoro and Sanji pulled in the sails.
Suddenly they herd Masira and Shoujou voices yelling, the Straw Hats turned back to the two ships and saw that a third ship was heading in there direction.
This one looked like a giant raft and had a black pirate flag with three skulls lined up next to each other, tow were on the side and one was facing the front and six bones that were crossed into a star shape behind them.
"Who are they?" Usopp asked.
He pulled out his binoculars and saw a man standing on the front of the ship.
"Hold it Monkey D. Luffy, I'm here for the 100,000,000 on your head," Teach called out.
"My head? Luffy asked in confusion "What's he going on about?"
He leaned over the railing.
"WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT?!" Luffy yelled at the top of his lungs.
Teach held up two pieces of paper, Usopp saw them through his binoculars and looked at them.
"Oh Luffy you've got a new bounty," Usopp said "its 100,000,000 belis,"
"Really?" Luffy asked getting excited.
"Yeah…looks like Zoro has one too," Usopp responded.
"Nice how much?" Zoro asked.
"Only 60 million," Usopp said.
"Oh is that all?" Zoro asked disappointed.
"Why are you disappointed?" Nami scolded.
"Oi what about me do I have one too?" Sanji asked.
"Mmm nope sorry," Usopp said.
"You sure? Look harder," Sanji urged.
"Yep just Luffy and Zoro," Usopp confirmed.
"Damn it how dose moss head get one and I don't," Sanji complained.
"It must've gone up after Alabasta," Nami realised.
Suddenly the ship started to rise and the water around the merry began to gently lift the ship up.
"Now what?" Nami asked.
"It's starting," Robin announced.
"Everyone brace yourself, grab onto something," Zoro yelled and the Straw Hats quickly grabbed onto varies part of the ship.
The ocean rose until it was the size of a small mountain but then it went back to normal sea level.
The Straw Hats waited and then a massive explosion shot the ship upwards and a huge column of water filled the area connecting the sea to the sky. Black beards ship was torn apart instantly.
The Merry sailed vertically up the pillar of water and Luffy was the only one fully enjoying himself, the others were frightened and were hanging on to the ship for life. Robin Nami and Connor were standing on the wall of the cabin.
"THIS IS AMAZING!" Luffy cried in happiness.
"NO THIS IS CRAZY!" Usopp cried back.
"I can't believe it, we're actually sailing upwards," Connor said as he peered over the edge of the cabin.
"Connor don't fall off now," Robin advised.
Connor backed away from the edge. Nami looked around and was curious as to why she could feel the wind.
"Hang on…the hulls coming loose," Sanji said "we'll fall back down,"
"What no!" Chopper panicked.
"Unfurl the sails," Nami ordered.
The Straw Hats looked at her in confusion wanting an explanation.
"Just do it," Nami said.
Robin used her powers to reopen the sails but the Merry did not seem to stay on the pillar.
"Nami it's not working, what do we do?" Luffy panicked.
"We could start prying," Robin said calmly.
"No we'll make it," Nami said.
The Merry came fully of the pillar but instead of falling down it soared higher into the sky.
"W…W…We're flying? How is this possible?" Usopp asked.
"The force form the explosion has created a hot air current, pair that up with the sea water and you've got yourself the exact same conditions for sailing on a normal sea. If it's got a sea and wind we can sail on it," Nami said.
"So we're still going to Sky Island?" Luffy asked.
"Yep, we're just not sailing there, we're flying there," Nami assured.
"ALRIGHT SKY ISLAND HERE WE COME!" Luffy cheered as the Merry ascended into the clouds.