This is the 4th chapter. I don't own the series of One Piece
I Will Make It Bloom!
Somewhere at sea
After the Straw Hats were able to get away from the Marines without getting caught while both Nami and Usopp given Luffy an earful, it started raining at sea on the next day. The Straw Hats, except Zoro, are inside of the room while the swordsman was outside on the crow's nest to keep an eye on the sea in case if he either saw an island or the Marines. Ventus is inside of the lower deck, napping, while Sanji was cleaning the dishes, Nami was reading a newspaper, Chopper is steering the helm, Usopp is making something, Robin is reading a book, and Luffy is groaning while lying his head down at the table, which he's bored.
"Oh, man...AAAAH! When is this stupid rain going to stop!?" Luffy yelled in frustration with white eyes and shark-like teeth while slamming his hands at the table, and rise his fists in the air, but felt bored when he lays back on the table as he turns to Usopp. "Hey, Usopp? Do you have anything we can have fun with?"
"Hmm...I do have a firework we can shoot off, if you wanna." Usopp suggests, showing a small ball of firework. "Want it?"
"Do I?!" Luffy exclaims in excitement with stars in his eyes.
"That's not a good idea, you guys. For all we know, there could be hostile ships nearby." Nami points out. "And if you two woke Ventus up from his nap, he'll kill you."
"Yeah, you've got a point there. Don't want to unleash a dragon rage from Ventus." Usopp agrees, putting his firework on his pocket while Luffy's jaw dropped.
Even though, Luffy knows that Nami is right and not even wanted to get on Ventus' bad side which he did it many times since he doesn't learn. Luffy then turns to Robin, who's reading a book.
"Hey, Robin, what's that book you've had your nose in all this time?" Luffy asks curiously when he leans next to her which it got her attention, leaving Nami, Sanji, Usopp, and Chopper shocked.
'Luffy's interested in the book?!' Nami, Usopp, Chopper, and Sanji mentally exclaims which it got Luffy's attention.
"What? Is something wrong?" Luffy asks, turned to his crew.
"Uh, no! It's nothing!" Nami, Usopp, Chopper, and Sanji answered quickly, returning to their activities.
"It's called a 'The Rainbow Mist', and it's an incredibly fascinating reading." Robin explains, showing the book to Luffy. "It's about the adventures, someone had in the part of the sea known for an unusual phenomenon."
"Hmm, adventures, huh? Sounds pretty cool." Luffy states with interest, grabs it and looks at the book.
'I don't believe this...' Nami mentally thought, turns to Luffy in shock.
'Wow, he must be bored!' Usopp mentally adds, turns his eyes to Luffy.
'Speaking of unusual phenomenon...' Chopper mentally thought.
Sanji was also shocked while being silent, knew full well that Luffy isn't much of a reader, but doesn't blame him for being bored. Zoro went inside with a yawn as he spoke.
"So, I saw an island." Zoro informed them.
"An island?!" Luffy exclaims excitedly, quickly got up and then left the room, causing Nami and Usopp to groan.
"Okay, what's wrong with you guys?" Zoro questions when he turns to his crew.
"Nothing." Nami, Usopp, Chopper, and Sanji answered with a groan.
Fireworks Island
After a few long hours of rain, it stopped at the island called Fireworks Island, which it has a basic shape with mountains at the top and the girl arrived at the cemetery to pay respects to her late parents.
She's a young girl with short, black hair parted in the middle over a red, knotted headband. She has purplish-red kabuki makeup under her eyes. She also wears a blue robe with yellow spiked designs at the edge of the sleeves, as well as near the bottom of the robe. Under her dress, she wears an orange shirt. She also has an obi tied around her waist. She wears a brownish-white shorts and light brown flip-flops.
"It's stopped!" She said happily, looking at the sky. "Then it's okay, right mommy and daddy?"
As she got up, she then ran out of the cemetery and heading at the mountains. Little did she know, the Straw Hats are landing at the side of the cliff. Usopp, Luffy, and Sanji were at the cliff while Robin, Zoro, and Ventus stayed behind to watch over the ship and keep an eye on either the enemy pirates or the Marines are coming. Nami took off her shoes, balancing herself as she ran out of the mast, made it at the cliff while Sanji catches her. Chopper then got off the crow's nest and making his way at the cliff.
"Keep close watch on the ship while we're gone, okay?" Nami told him, looks down.
"Yeah, okay, I got it." Zoro replied with a shrug.
"Just don't take too long. We only came here for the supplies." Ventus suggested.
"Got it!" Nami said when Luffy was at the top of the hill.
"Hey, guys! Check this out!" Luffy shouts to his crew, turns to the port side of the town.
"Hey, Luffy! Wait up, will ya!?" Usopp shouts back when he and Chopper were able to catch up to Luffy by walking up on the hill.
"A town!?" Chopper exclaims when he and Usopp notices a town, smiled.
"Ah..." Usopp muttered with awe, then chuckled as they entered the town. "It may be small, but it looks like a happening place, don't you think?"
Chopper replied with a nod while Luffy looks around the town, and both Nami and Sanji were able to catch up to them.
"It should have the supplies we need, and that reminds me..." Chopper said, earned Usopp's attention when the reindeer turns to him. "What was it that you said that we needed really bad right now?"
"Let me think here." Usopp answered, pondered for a few second when he's about to give him an answer.
"Guys, come get a load of this!" Luffy shouts to his crew, earned their attention when he saw the number of fliers on the wall.
"What is it, Luffy?" Usopp inquires when he, Sanji, Chopper, and Nami catches up to him as they look at the fliers.
"Not 'Wanted Posters' I hope!" Nami said, but sighed in relief. "Thank goodness."
"Hey, a fireworks festival!" Usopp exclaims excitedly. "And best of all, it's today!"
"Cool!" Luffy said, also excited.
"All right! I haven't seen fireworks since so long!" Nami adds, clasping her hands with excitement when Sanji wrapped his arm around her shoulder.
"You will tonight, and I'm going to be your escort." Sanji suggested with a smile.
"Thanks, but no thanks. I'm going alone." Nami politely declines, leaving Sanji depressed. "After being cooped up with you guys, I'll finally get a break."
Usopp, Luffy, and Chopper looks at her in disbelief which they find it hard to believe when one of the civilians noticed the Straw Hats.
"Say, I haven't seen you folks around here before. You guys here for a famous festival?"
"No, not really." Nami answered simply, waved her hand.
"'Famous'? So, this thing is really well-known, huh?" Luffy questions.
"Yeah, it's a yearly tradition we celebrate."
"And with that, it's been going on for 400 years now."
It got the Straw Hats amazed that the fireworks festival lasted for only 400 years, and it's still ongoing as Usopp spoke.
"400? That long?" Usopp asks surprisingly.
"That's right. You see that tower up on the mountain over there?"
The Straw Hats turned to the mountain, noticing a building.
"The family who lives in the house next to it has been making fireworks for the festival for generations. Although now, the only people who live there are an old man and his granddaughter."
"Oh, so I guess it's just the old man making the fireworks by himself then?" Usopp inquires curiously.
"Actually, the little works as his apprentice and they make them together. They're really something, they spend the entire year making fireworks just for this day."
The Straw Hats, except Luffy, were surprised that the old man and the little girl were the only ones making the fireworks.
"Really, a whole year? So, why does it take them so long?" Luffy questions, crosses his arms.
"Well, because..." Nami was about to answer, but decided to use another approach. "...Well, there all sorts of reasons, but if I told you, you wouldn't understand."
Though, Nami does make a valid point and knows Luffy too well since he doesn't understand any of it while always thinking about food and any other of his antics. Usopp then pressed his fist next to his hand, thought of something that pops into his head.
"That's it!" Usopp said with a smile, earned their attention. "That's what we need really bad now, gunpowder! I wonder if those guys could spare a little for us!"
"Who knows?" Nami said.
"Well, I'm gonna find out! See ya!" Usopp said as he then left the town, heading towards the building.
"You know what? I hope we don't have a repeat of what happened last year."
"Yeah, I do too."
It got both Nami and Luffy curious, wondering what do they mean by 'repeat'.
"What happened at last years fest?" Nami inquires, earned their attention.
"It was terrible. Everything was wonderfully..."
"Easy there. These nice folks came here to have a good time. We don't need to ruin it by telling them about last year."
"Yeah, that's true. Sorry, it's nothing. Forget what I said."
Though, Nami was curious about last year, but Luffy doesn't care as he turns around and spoke.
"Alright, let's go tell Zoro, Robin, and Ventus about the fireworks." Luffy suggested.
"Good idea~!" Sanji agrees excitedly, raised his arms in the air. "In fact, I'll tell Robin myself~!"
"Eh, maybe we should eat first." Luffy suggests with a groan, crossed his arms.
"WHO ASKED YOU?!" Sanji shouts in annoyance, turns to him with white eyes and shark-like teeth.
However, Nami was curious about the last years fireworks festival, which it got her wondering when she turns to the fireworks festival poster.
While at the mountains, Usopp is making his way towards the building with the small ball of firework in his hand, hoping that he can convince someone that he needs gunpowder.
"This firework I made myself is my sure fire ticket in." Usopp said to himself. "This baby will knock the socks off of them. They'll say, 'If you're skill enough to make a firework like this, then take as much gunpowder as you like and for free!' I'll get all the gunpowder we need!"
However, it didn't go as planned then he made it at the building that looks like a workshop, which the old man says otherwise when Usopp showed him a firework and try to convince him of the gunpowder he needed.
The old man is a tan-skinned man with prominent wrinkles, a long nose, thick black eyebrows, and long hair combed back in a white headband. He wears a brown shirt with cross-hatched pattern rolled up to his forearms, a dark blue apron, beige pants, and black geta sandals. He also wears kabuki-like makeup.
"Hell no!" The old man blatantly refuses, holding the pipe.
'Maybe that guy is just an apprentice.' Usopp mentally states as he then spoke. "Hey pal! I wanna talk to the head of the firework maker!"
"You are, genius! I'm Boss Odama, the pyrotechnist and the answer is still no!" Odama told him.
"Please reconsider, sir!" Usopp protests, showing the small firework to him. "I'm a firework maker too! You could spare just a little bit, can't you? Huh?"
"Not one who's a novice wannabe!" Odama refuses again while slamming the pipe at the bench, getting the ash out as he stood up and heading to the workshop. "Now get out of here! I'm pressed for time today and I've already wasted enough on you!"
"Just a minute, old timer! You can write me off as novice until you've checked out my work first!" Usopp argued, entered inside while try to show him the firework. "Like this shell here..."
Before Usopp could even finished his sentence, he noticed an 8-foot firework which it got him screamed in shock with his jaw dropped.
"...That thing is huge! It's gigantic!? It's ginormous!?" Usoppe exclaims which it got Odama's attention.
"I didn't give you permission to cross my threshold!" Odama told him in annoyance, grabbed his blue jacket.
"Old timer, that thing can't be real!" Usopp retorted, points at the 8-foot firework. "It's paper mache, right?"
"What would paper mache be doing lying around a firework masters home?" Odama rhetorically questions, placing his coat around his shoulder which it got Usopp confused. "Yes, it's real! So, what were you babbling about? A shell?"
Usopp was trying to find the words about his own shell, but turns to the huge firework as he then hides it from his back with a nervous chuckle.
"Shell? What shell? You must've heard me wrong..." Usopp said, but the little girl grabs it which it got his attention.
"A 3-gauge shell, huh? Fills like it's pasted together a little loosely, but I think it would still function." The little girl told him, looks up with a smile. "Why were you hiding it? It's really not a bad piece of work, you should finish it."
"Huh? Who are you, squirt?" Usopp asks in confusion.
"I'm Kodama, the granddaughter of Boss Odama over there." Kodama introduces herself, then gives the firework back to Usopp and then passes him.
"Oh, so, you're the little girl who makes the fireworks with the old man, huh?" Usopp questions surprisingly.
"Yep, that's me alright." Kodama answered, turns to him with her hands on her hips. "But don't let my age fool you, I'm pretty skillful. And my not-so-humble opinion maybe is as much as grandpa."
However, it got her bonked in the head by Odama's pipe, making her yelp in pain while having a bump on her head.
"If you're done, there's work to do!" Odama berates his granddaughter. "I thought I told you to contact the launch team!"
"I did! They're going to be here shortly, they'll carry the shells!" Kodama shouts, rubbing her sore head. "I was just on my way to get them now!"
"But before you do that, you've got to prepare the mortars and get the wagon ready first!" Odama suggests.
"I know, I know! I'll get right on it, you mean grump!" Kodama retorted, rushed out of the shop to get the wagon and the mortars, leaving Usopp and Odama alone.
"You still here?!" Odama questions, turns to Usopp as he points his finger outside. "Well don't just stand there, novice! Go help her!?"
"Why?" Usopp asks surprisingly.
"Because I told you too!" Odama yelled as he throws the pipe at Usopp, causing the liar to duck and ran out of the workshop.
Soon as Usopp managed to get out of the workshop, he stops running and turns back to the building with a grunt, raising his eyebrow.
"What's with this guy? First, he tells me to leave, and then he tells me to help." Usopp said to himself. "No gunpowder is worth this crap!"
And just as Usopp's about to leave the workshop, Kodama spoke.
"Hey!" Kodama called him, earned his attention when he noticed her carrying the mortars. "Slacking off? Come on, give me a hand."
After that, Usopp decided to help her carrying the mortars to the wagon since it'll take more than her to get it loaded up. Usopp then gives Kodama an explanation of the real reason why he's here.
"What?!" Kodama exclaims shockingly, after loading the mortars on the wagon. "You're not here to become an apprentice?!"
"Nope, not me." Usopp told her, grabs hold of the mortars and then walk towards the wagon. "The only reason I came here was to hopefully buying some gunpowder off of you guys."
"You made your own firework, I thought for sure you wanted to be an apprentice." Kodama states, grabs the mortars and loaded in the wagon.
"Well, I just made that one for fun." Usopp admits with a chuckle, walking back to the workshop to get some mortars. "I hate to admit it, but I'm not really up to a pro."
"Okay." Kodama said with an understanding. "But honestly, that shell is well put together. I think you should just hurry up and finish the thing."
"Hey, that's the second time you said that to me." Usopp points out, grabbed another load of mortars and heading towards the wagon. "What do you mean? You saw the shell, it is finished already."
"No it's not." Kodama disagrees, grabbing the mortars. "A firework is never truly finished until it blossoms beautifully in the night sky. Because of that, we consider all of the fireworks in the storehouse as unfinished."
Usopp then understands what Kodama is telling him as she loads them in the wagon.
"Same thing with these launching mortars." Kodama continues. "They're not considered finished, either, until they fired their shells."
"Wow, squirt, you're pretty deep for a kid." Usopp states surprisingly.
"It's just like I said, 'I'm young, but don't let my age fool ya'." Kodama told him with a smirk, turns to him.
"I won't." Usopp replied with a smile, crossed his arms as he turns to the shop. "So, what about that big on in there? Can you say the same that it's not considered finished either until you set it off? Man, I love to be around to see that thing go kablooey."
Kodama turns her expression to sad and turns away for a few seconds while Usopp chuckled, excited to see that big firework explodes in the sky.
"Last year, we've tried to launch a big one, just like that." Kodama explains, earned his attention.
"Whoa, you mean another gigantic one like that?" Usopp asks surprisingly, earned a nod from her.
"But it didn't work, the equipment was flawed. There was an accident." Kodama told him, remembering the last year's festival.
"Wait, you don't mean that..."
"Both my mommy and my daddy...they died..." Kodama said. "It was a year ago today. The launch of a 200-gauge shell went wrong."
It got Usopp shocked, learning of the last year's festival and the death of Kodama's parents. Odama also remembered of the last year's festival, feeling sad of his family while try his best to take care of his granddaughter.
Few minutes later, both Usopp and Kodama were able to load up the mortars to the wagon before the clouds were moving, which they're able to move the wagon inside of the shop when the clouds began to rain.
"The weather's really crummy today, huh?" Usopp inquires. "Do you still hold this part if it rains?"
"Uh-uh, if the weather allows it, I promise you I'll do it." Kodama answered sadly.
Then, Odama walk towards between the two as he looks at the flag was blowing by the winds, noticing that the weather will be clearing out soon.
"Continue with the preparations." Odama suggested, walked away while Usopp turns to her.
"Promise to do what?" Usopp asks curiously.
Kodama turns around to make sure that her grandfather was out of earshot, then turns to Usopp while lending his ear as he leans to his level.
"You see, if the weather clears up, I'm planning on launching that big 200-gauge shell tonight." Kodama whispered, causing Usopp to shout when she throws the 3-gauge shell at his mouth. Odama turns, noticing Kodama was pulling that shell out of Usopp's mouth. "No, silly! Fireworks aren't food! I know some of them are firecrackers, but you can't actually eat them."
Odama then turns away as he then head towards the room, closing the door behind him which both Kodama and Usopp noticed that he's out of sight.
"It's a secret, you dummy!" Kodama berates him, pulling the firework out of his mouth.
"Oh, sorry." Usopp quickly apologizes. "But look, I don't care how old you are, you can't launch something that big by yourself."
"Yeah, I know, that's why I secretly ask the launch team to help me out and they said, 'they would'." Kodama points out as she got off of him, lands on the floor.
"Yeah, but one of those things failed a launch before, right?" Usopp asks when Kodama extends the firework, grabs it. "It's dangerous!"
"Don't worry! We'll take precautions, it's okay." Kodama assures him.
"No, it is not! Both you and the launch team could get blown into smithereens!" Usopp argued with a serious expression.
"We'll be careful. And just for the record, the launch team only has to set it up." Kodama said with confidence, turns away while walk a few steps, then turns to him. "They'll take cover and I'll launch the firework by myself."
"By yourself, huh?" Usopp said skeptically, but turns to serious. "No you won't! I'm telling your grandpa right now!"
And just as Usopp was about to head towards the shop to talk with Odama, Kodama stops him by tripping the liar in the leg, making him tumble down and hit himself in the chin with a grunt and a bloody nose.
"JUST WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU'RE DOING?!" Usopp yelled, turned to her with white teary eyes and shark-like teeth.
"That's what I was gonna say!" Kodama retorted. "I won't let you ruin mommy and daddy's dream!"
"Ruining your mommy and daddy's dream?" Usopp parrots with his raised eyebrow.
"That's right." Kodama simply replied, then walked to him as she tried to wipe the blood off of his nose with her sleeve. "My families been making for generations for over 400 years now."
Usopp grunts, protesting her to stop which Kodama insisted while continuing to wipe the blood off of his nose.
"Sometime in the past, my family have the technical skill to make a launch, 200-gauge shells." Kodama continues. "But at some point, those skills were lost and they stopped. It was my mommy and daddy's dream to bring back those skills and restart the old tradition again."
She then turns her head to the 200-gauge shell.
"And that's why I'm going to make sure their dream finally comes true tonight." Kodama finished her sentence.
"Hey, I understand how you feel, but..."
Usopp then stops his sentence, then turns to Kodama.
"...Hey, hold on! Why are you blabbing to me about all of your secret plan stuff?" Usopp questions.
"Want to know?" Kodama asks when she turns to him with a scary smirk on her face, making his face pale.
After a few minutes of discussion, Usopp walked out of the shop with his hands on his pocket, which it's still raining outside. He then remembered what Kodama said.
'Keep your grandpa occupied?'
'Yes, the guys from the launch team will be arriving soon to carry the shell away. While they're doing that, you keep grandpa busy inside so he doesn't see them. Would ya?'
'Geez, how can I in good conscience help you do something so dangerous?'
'Please, my mommy and daddy's dream is still only half-finish. All I want to do is finish it for them.'
Even though, Usopp still wanted to tell Odama about Kodama's plan despite doing something dangerous that could even kill her, but on the other hand, he wanted to help her finish the 200-gauge shell and have her parents dream fulfilled. Usopp turns his head at the shop and it got him noticing by looking at the tower next to the workshop.
"Hold on just a minute." Usopp muttered in shock.
Back at the workshop, Kodama was praying next to the 200-gauge shell, praying for her parents dream to be fulfilled when Odama and the launch team arrived.
"Praying, huh? That would be appropriate if you are going to launch that thing." Odama said with his arms crossed, earned her attention when she gasp. "However, you won't be, because I forbid it. You're only launching the small ones!"
"The launch teams here already? You bums! You told him!" Kodama said sadly, felt betrayed.
"You watch your tongue, Kodama!" Odama scolds his granddaughter. "They only did what they did out of concern for your safety!"
"My safety?!" Kodama shouts angrily as she rushes to one of the launch team, grabbing him the sleeve. "After all the begging and reasons I gave you! Now, you're concerned?!"
"Kodama, we're sorry, but it's just too dangerous. For all we know, it could misfire again."
"But you don't know that for sure!" Kodama argued. "I guess I'll just do it alone then!"
"You will not!?" Odama shouts. "Kodama, I'm sure your parents know how all of us left behind must feel, but this recklessness you insist upon is not the way to honor their memories."
And with that being said, Kodama ran and left the workshop in tears. The launch team are pleading, but Kodama ignored them. Usopp was going through some analysis on the how to make the 200-gauge shell launching up in the sky by going through in between the tower and the wagon, but noticing that Kodama left out of sight.
"We'll get things ready in the meantime, boss."
"Yes, of course, thank you." Odama thanked the team when Usopp walk towards the workshop.
"It's really coming down, huh?" Usopp asks, but the launch team started leaving the workshop, leaving Odama alone when the liar approached. "So, you're getting ready even with the rain?"
"It'll let up." Odama answered, puffing the smoke out of his mouth. "There's an easternly wind that will blow this rain out to sea, but I fear for what my granddaughter may try when it does."
"Has that tower been there the whole 400 years your families been making fireworks?" Usopp asks curiously, looking at the tower.
"It has, kid." Odama answered. "Why do you ask?"
"Well, I've got a hunch, old timer." Usopp told him with a smirk. "And I like to share it with you if you'll listen."
Odama is then interested as he turns to him and Usopp gives him the idea about launching the 200-gauge shell.
After Usopp finished the explanation, Odama told him that his granddaughter is at the cemetery which she usually visits to her parents grave to pay respects. Usopp soon arrived at the cemetery, noticing her wrapping her arms around in her knees with a sad look on her face because her parents dream will never be fulfilled.
"So, these are graves, huh? Wow, they're pretty funky." Usopp states, earned her attention when he's looking at the cemetery while approaching her. "Hey."
"Mommy and daddy, like I said, if this rain finally ends, I'll take it to me, and then I have your permission to launch the 200-gauge shell. And I can finish the dream you two had together." Kodama said when she turns back at her parents grave. "But if it doesn't stop raining, does that mean you don't want me, too?"
Usopp can tell that Kodama really wanted to launch the 200-gauge shell to fulfill her parents dream, but knows that she'll get herself killed and Odama would lose his granddaughter. He then thought of an idea as he spoke.
"'It doesn't mean that at all, we just don't want you to do it right now. We'll even stop the rain if you just shoot off regular fireworks.'" Usopp said with a smile which it got Kodama's attention.
"But...Mommy and daddy...they're dream, it won't be fulfilled." Kodama said.
"'Do you think our dream is just about launching a shell?'" Usopp questioned, imitating as her father which it got her gasp with her eyes widen. "'It's not, you're our dream, Kodama. We want you to carry on our family tradition and become the master pyrotechnist, but it's gonna take some time."
Kodama then remembered of her parents and her grandfather making some fireworks, but sometimes get into trouble and being scolded by her family.
"'After years of experience, you'll be able to make your own 200-gauge shell one day.'" Usopp continues. "'Don't rush it. If you can bring back our lost family tradition in the future, that's great. But honestly, as long as our little girl is safe and sound, then our dream has been fulfilled. So for right now, let grandpa handle the 200-gauge shell, you just keep showing us your beautiful fireworks and we'll keep watching them from heaven. Okay?'"
Kodama then finally realizing why Odama didn't want her make the 200-gauge shell or getting herself killed because he just wants her to be safe. And Odama can't afford to lose his granddaughter like last year. Kodama then wipe off her tears out of her eyes as she stood up.
"Okay, whatever you say, mommy and daddy! And just wait, one day, I will make a 200-gauge shell, you see!" Kodama shouts happily as Usopp smiled while looking up at the sky.
"'Thanks, sweetie. We both love you.'" Usopp said as the clouds clears out and rain stops. "'And now as promised!'"
Kodama couldn't help but look at the sky with a gasp, and then smiled happily because the rain has stopped and the sky is clear.
"The rain! It's stopped!" Kodama exclaims, turns to Usopp. "That was amazing! Who are you?!"
"Who me? I'm a special messenger sent from Heaven." Usopp answered with a smile, but thrust his thumb to himself with confident smirk on his face. "Call me Usopp, the angel!"
"Usopp...the angel..." Kodama muttered shockingly, but smiled. "You're so full of baloney!?"
Usopp groans when Kodama ran off with a laugh.
"Hey, Mr. Angel!" Kodama called him, earned his attention when he noticed her at the hill. "Thank you, though! And I will do what you said!"
And with that, Kodama waved her hand and left. Usopp smiled as he then left the cemetary.
Later that night, the Fireworks Festival began at the port town. Kodama and the launch team were launching the number of 3-gauge shells in the sky, igniting and exploding the colored sparks. The people were awed, including the Straw Hats, except for Luffy who's busy eating.
"They're pretty..." Nami said in amazement.
Kodama and the launch team continued launching the fireworks in the sky. Luffy continued eating the meat which both Zoro and Ventus were annoyed. Sanji was wrapping his hand around Nami's shoulder, but she slapped his hand, making him yelp in pain.
At the workshop, Odama is watching the fireworks ignited in colored sparks in the sky while Usopp was able to make a makeshift pulley before the event, dragging the 200-gauge shell in the tower.
"I must admit, I'm impressed." Odama said, turns to Usopp who's pulling the rope while dragging the 200-gauge shell inside of the tower. 'And speaking of which, by using the wheel on the cart in the yard as a pulley. That novice devised an ingenious way to drag that thing out of the storehouse, and his hunch is right. Who'd of thought that tower that stood here for 400 years was really a launch platform for our families 200-gauge shells? Amazing! Who is this kid anyway?'
While the fireworks continued exploding in the sky while showing the number of colored sparks, Usopp finally had that 200-gauge shell inside of the launch platform with a grunt which he felt proud of himself.
"Okay, time for the big finish!" Kodama shouts.
And with that, Kodama and the launch continued launching the 3-gauge shells from the mortars, making the number of fireworks ignite in the number of colored sparks which it got the people and the Straw Hats amazed. Even Kodama's parents were watching from above were very proud of their daughter.
"This is incredible, old timer." Usopp said, walking towards Odama while watching the fireworks in amazement.
"Yes, outstanding!" Odama agrees. "Is it ready?"
"Yep, sure is." Usopp replied with his hands on his waist.
"Last one!"
"This is it!"
"Right!" Kodama said.
And soon as the launch team passes the last 3-gauge firework to Kodama, she then launches the 3-gauge shell in the sky as it ignites and explodes in colored sparks. After they finished launching the 3-gauge shell, both Kodama and the launch team were proud of their work while having the people amazed of the fireworks. Usopp is right now about to launch his own 3-gauge shell, even though it's still not finished.
"Alright, bombs away!" Usopp said, dropped the match as the mortar fired the 3-gauge shell in the sky, which it explodes and show less colored sparks.
"What? But that one's so crappy." Nami states, raised his eyebrow.
"Usopp, guess he really kept himself busy." Ventus muttered. "Not impressed of his work."
"What the? So, that's how my first firework turned out?" Usopp asks himself, disappointed but he didn't care as he then turns to Odama. "Oh well, let her rip!"
Odama replied with a nod as he then slams the pipe at the socket, letting the ashes fell into the launcher as it ignites. Odama got off of the tower while 200-gauge shell was launched into the sky, explodes and blossomed the entire island with the gigantic colored sparks. The Straw Hats, the people around port town, the launch team, Kodama, Odama, and Usopp were completely stunned and awestruck. Soon as the colored sparks disappeared, everyone cheered while Kodama and the launch team were shocked. Kodama then finally realizes that the 200-gauge shell was launched.
'That firework...it was mommy and daddy's shell! To be able to make one that did all of that chose me what amazing and skilled firework masters they were!' Kodama mentally exclaims. 'I just hope I could follow in their footsteps and make a magnificent one like that someday!'
Kodama then smiled as she spoke.
"Mommy! Daddy! Thank you!" Kodama shouts, thanking her parents.
Back at the workshop, Usopp smiled after seeing the 200-gauge shell has launched and blossomed the entire island which he was proud of his plan.
"Old timer, can I please have some of that gunpowder now?" Usopp asks when Odama approaches him.
"Geez, novice, I don't know anything about you, you could be a pirate for all I know." Odama said, but begrudgingly accepted his offer. "Ah, take it as much as you want!"
That's it for the 4th chapter.