I still can't believe I allowed Nami to talk me into wearing this Toffee thought with a nervous smile as she held onto a pair of tan sandals, walking upon the soft and spongy pure white ground barefoot. The young navigator insisted Toffee needed to learn how to be bolder, and while she had refused to wear a bikini top like the one Nami donned, she had eventually settled on a light green tube top, but had chosen to wear an open beige short sleeved shirt to at least hide her bare shoulders, while her legs were covered by white Capri pants.
"Toffee-chan! You look lovely! Here. A beautiful flower to help add to your look!" Sanji chirped out, resembling a ballerina when he pirouetted over toward the petite female to place a red tropical flower behind her ear.
"Thank you, Sanji." Toffee said, shaking her head in mild amusement when he dashed over toward Robin and then Nami with the same flowers. Stretching her arms above her head, she couldn't help but watch the others with a soft expression. It was nice seeing everyone getting a chance to relax and just goof off as they tended to do. Up here, at least they wouldn't have to worry about avoiding their usual enemies.
Well, she noticed that Zoro and Robin were still remaining cautious and not enjoying the paradise-like atmosphere the way the others were.
"Kyuu!"
Toffee also realized Zoro seemed to be dangling what looked like a snow-white fox with a rather long snout by its bushy tail, and this caused the gray-haired female to frown and run over toward him. "You shouldn't torture the local wildlife, Zoro!"
"How the heck was I supposed to know this thing was an animal! I thought it was a towel!" the swordsman huffed out as he had been using the foxes tail to wipe at his damp ankles, placing the odd creature back on the ground. "And I already apologized."
Toffee bent down to examine the little animal as it was shaking out its wet fur. "I wonder what sort of creature this is? It's so cute!"
"You think every weird looking animal is cute," Zoro muttered, his face indifferent.
"I don't know. I'd have to agree with her." Robin mused, kneeling down where she reached out toward the animal, letting it sniff at her hand before the fox allowed the archaeologist to rub its head.
Shaking his own head at the two females who were continuing to gush over the creature, Zoro tensed up when hearing the melodious sound of a harp. He hadn't realized there was anyone else around...The others seemed to be in the same mindset as no one was expecting to find a young female standing on a set of clouds, that resembled a large rock formation, not too far in the distance.
"That's...an angel..." Sanji whispered out speechless, seeing the beautiful white wings upon the lean girls back.
After completing her melody, the golden-haired angel turned to the pirates with a kind smile where she greeted, "Heso!"
"Did she say heso, like belly button?" Usopp inquired with a confused tilt of his head.
"What did she mean by 'heso'?" Chopper asked in confusion, giving a little tug to Nami's brown Capri's.
"Well, heso is heso." Zoro stated like it wasn't a big deal, crossing his arms.
Calling the little fox to her, the angel scooped what must have been her pet up into her arms after she had approached the group. "Did you come from the Blue Sea?"
"Yeah, we flew up here from below," Luffy answered. "Do you live here?"
"Yes, I'm a resident here. Welcome to Skypiea's Angel Beach!" Noticing the large fruit Luffy was holding in his arms, the girl's smile brightened. "Would you like to drink what's inside?"
"Hm? Yeah..."
"A conush's skin is hard like iron, so you can't bite it. You cut it at the bottom," she explained, flipping the green pumpkin-like food over where she used a knife to make a small hole. She then place a straw inside of it. "Here you go."
"YUM!" Luffy shouted, his tongue lolling out of his mouth.
While Usopp and Chopper were trying the drink for themselves, their faces breaking out into the same elated expressions as Luffy's, the angel's features grew more gentle and she politely introduced, "My name is Conis. This is Sue, a cloud fox. If there is any way that I can be of help, please let me know."
"Well, you see...your gaze is setting my heart on fire..." Sanji uttered out, earning a painful tug at his ear from Nami.
"It's nice to meet you, Conis. Your cloud fox is adorable!" Toffee addressed, having lifted her own shadow into her arms.
Conis looked at Heartless curiously, giving a light poke to the creatures cheek and making the funny antenna's on it's head twitch. "The Blue Sea certainly has some unique looking animals,"
"I wouldn't say Heartless-kun is exactly an animal, but he's definitely strange," Nami sighed out, causing the shadow to stick it's tongue out at her. She then grinned at Conis. "There are actually a lot of things we'd like to know. To us, this place is filled with mysteries."
"Okay. Please ask me anything."
Nami was unable to do so when Zoro mentioned that something was heading their way, though Conis reassured the Straw Hats that the person was only her father.
"Conis-san, heso!"
"Yes, heso, father!"
"Hey, what're you guys saying?" Luffy questioned with a bewildered expression.
"Skypiea probably just has it's own unique way of greeting each other," Toffee mused, placing a finger against her lip thoughtfully.
"That's weird. They should just say hello," Luffy voiced, crossing his arms and giving a firm nod of his head.
"Hm...Conis-chan might think 'hello' is a strange word come to think of it...Maybe even some of the other words we've been using don't make sense to her!" Toffee declared, hitting her fist on her palm.
"Really?!"
Nami gave Toffee and Luffy a blank expression from their rather bizarre conversation, before turned to Conis, pointing out at where her father was. "What's that thing your father is riding on, Conis?"
"Oh, are you talking about the waver?" Conis asked, her words causing Nami's eyes to grow bigger.
"I'm sorry! I'm coming to a stop!" the dark bearded male exclaimed; his stop being a painful impact into one of the trees. He then struggled to pull himself up off the ground. "Is everyone all right?"
"ASK YOURSELF THAT FIRST!" Zoro couldn't help but shout out.
"Hey, Luffy. Didn't you bring back something like that from the seabed before?" Nami asked.
"Yeah, I did, didn't I?"
"That's the boat I read about in Noland's diary...The boat that can be propelled without wind!"
Surprisingly uninjured, Conis' father approached the group with the same friendly smile his daughter sported. "Are they your friends, Conis-san?"
"Yes. We've just become acquainted. They said they came from the Blue Sea."
"I see. Then there must be many things that you're puzzled about," the bald-headed male, (other than the dark pieces of hair that resembled antennas on the very top of his head), brought up. "I'm sorry, this place is the White-White Sea."
"Oh, no need to apologize..." Usopp spoke up sheepishly.
"Excuse me for not introducing myself sooner, but my name is Pagaya. I'm sorry," Conis' father continued, giving a slight bow.
"You really don't need to apologize so much," Toffee assured with a faint smile, her words causing Usopp to nod in agreement.
"Father, were you able to catch some fish?"
"Yes, it's good timing. I caught the most delicious food in the White-White Sea. They are the 'Sky Lobsters'. Please come to my home. I'll treat you with the sky's special cuisine," Pagaya offered.
Luffy and Sanji both were ecstatic by this idea while Nami had approached the waver where she brought up, "Before we go, can I ask you a question? This boat doesn't have a sail, and you weren't paddling, either. How did you propel it on the sea?"
"Oh, you mean you're not familiar with dials?" Conis spoke up with mild surprise.
"Dials?" Luffy questioned while sucking out the last remains of his conush's juice. He followed Conis over to the waver when she motioned for the dark haired male to do so, stepping upon the odd boat where the angel told Luffy to press down on the accelerator with his foot. "Accelerator? So I just step on this-WAAAAAAAAH!"
"Wow! Look at how fast he's going!" Toffee said in awe as the screaming male shot off across the white sea.
"He doesn't look like he's doing so hot, though..." Sanji mentioned considering Luffy was shaking a lot more than Pagaya had on the boat, casually shoving his hands in his pockets.
"Oh, no! Is he all right?!" Conis cried out in horror, covering her mouth when Luffy went flying off the waver; him and the boat both doing multiple flips in the air.
"Heavens! I'm sorry I let him use the waver," Pagaya said with clear guilt.
"Speaking of which, I wonder how this sea treats those with powers," Sanji mused, not seeming all that worried about the teen.
"Oh yeah...this isn't an ordinary sea," Zoro added, shocking Chopper that he didn't seem all that concerned either. "So he may just float."
"...He sank,"
"So, he doesn't float."
"Um, shouldn't someone go get him?" Toffee meekly brought up when Luffy's hand disappeared. "Ah! I didn't mean you, Chopper!" Heartless hopping out her arms so Toffee could grab the panicked reindeer before he was able to dive into the clouds, a grumbling Zoro meanwhile went to retrieve their 'idiotic' captain.
Now knowing the sea was dangerous to Devil Fruit users, Toffee unleashed a disappointed sigh. "Too bad. I kind of wanted to try the waver..."
"Bad idea. You'd just end up flipping the waver the same way this guy did," Zoro grunted out, dragging a barely conscious Luffy rather roughly back onto the beach.
"Eh? You think so?"
"Do you really need to ask that question with your clumsy nature?"
"Oi! Don't insult Toffee-chan like that, Moss Head!"
"It's not an insult, Perverted Chef! It's just an actual fact!"
"I-I'm sorry. I never should have let a beginner use that boat," Pagaya awkwardly apologized when it seemed like Zoro and Sanji were about to engage in a brawl. "The body of the waver is made so light that its rudder can be taken over even by small waves. Unless you know very well about the sea, you can't handle it that easily. I'm sorry."
"Hm, it seems our navigator is handling it quite well," Robin casually brought up, causing Usopp, Chopper, and Pagaya to gawk.
"Nami-san! You're the coolest!" Sanji gushed, waving his arms excitedly in the air.
"Why is she able to ride that thing?!" Luffy fumed, even grinding his teeth.
"It sure does require you to to get the hang of it!" Nami admitted, easily maneuvering the waver from side to side. "This is too delicate for you to handle, Luffy!"
His face turning blue, Luffy bellowed, "Hey, Nami! We're going to the old guys house now, so get off already! You stupid head!"
"Don't take it out on her!" Sanji scolded, lifting his leg to kick Luffy in his hard noggin. Noticing Heartless-kun mimicking Luffy's anger upon the orange haired female, he scowled and kicked Toffee's shadow upside it's head as well. "And you knock it off, too!"
"You guys go on ahead! Mister! Can I stay out here a little longer and have fun?" Nami asked cheerfully, not the least bothered by Luffy's jealousy.
"That's fine! Be careful!" Pagaya cautioned despite the fact that the girl was clearly having the time of her life, not to mention, appeared to be a better wave rider than those who had sailed the unique boat for years. When something had caught Usopp's attention when they had started to head off, the winged male spoke up, "Oh, that's a cloud quarrying site. It's a site where they quarry out clouds to be manufactured."
"You can cut clouds?" Zoro inquired, his right green brow rising upwards.
"You took the Milky Road to get to the White-White Sea, right?"
"Milky Road? Oh, you mean that winding sea path?"
"That's a man-made canal. It's made out of the island clouds that are quarried out here. There's two kinds of natural clouds. The ones your ship traveled on are called 'sea clouds', and the ones floating there that you can walk on are called 'island clouds'."
"Either way, there not ordinary clouds," Zoro muttered, peering over at Chopper and Usopp who were happily bouncing along the path they traversed.
"Right. Their condensation nucleus is different from other clouds. I've heard that a mineral called the Sea Prism Stone exists in the Blue Sea,"
Robin perked up at this. "Sea Prism Stone? Is it something to do with those clouds?"
"Yes. When the corneous particles called pyrobrine contained in that stone are carried into the sky due to volcanoes and gain moisture, sea clouds and island clouds are formed depending on the density of the moisture,"
"I guess that explains why we're able to walk on some clouds without being affected while others take a toil on Devil Fruit users," Toffee said in wonder, peering down at Heartless who was creating balls with some of the clouds and tossing them at Chopper and Usopp. "Looks like we'll still need to be careful up here..."
"Yes. There are three different clouds here," Pagaya further explained. "Sea clouds and island clouds, which are natural, and man-made clouds made out of island clouds. "Now, this way, please."
The house they had been led to was quite cute. It was large and pink in color, and had a almost palace-like design to it similar to the other buildings on Skypiea. Though Toffee couldn't help but glance back at Nami when Chopper pointed out how they could see her even from all the way on the higher area.
I hope Nami will be all right on her own. She seems like she's going out further...Toffee thought with a small frown.
"I can't wait to tell my brothers about this place. They'll never believe I was on an actual sky island!" Toffee voiced happily, glancing at the picture she had drawn of Conis and her father. Pagaya and Sanji had prepared a small feast, and they were all enjoying it after learning about the unique shells known as dials. Not only could they be used to record someone's voice, but they had multiple functions it seemed.
Letting out a hum as she ate on some of the lobster meat, Toffee blinked when she noticed someone hadn't joined them. Sanji was out on the balcony smoking, but she could tell he seemed tense. "What's the matter, Sanji?"
"Nami's not there anymore..."
"I did notice her sailing away from the beach, but I didn't think she'd go out of viewpoint..." Toffee confessed. Conis seemed even more uneasy than them, Toffee noted, as the dark green eyed female had placed her fork down upon her plate while looking hesitantly at her father.
"Father, I wonder if she's all right?"
"Yes, Conis-san. I'm a bit concerned myself,"
"Why? What's the matter?" Luffy questioned through a mouthful of food.
"Here in Skypiea, there's a place that we're never to step foot in no matter what," Conis explained ominously."That place is next to this island so if you travel a bit by waver, you can get there..."
"Never to step foot in?" Usopp asked taken aback. "Why's that?"
"It's sacred ground. We call that place...Upper Yard, the land where God lives."
"There's a God?! In a place where we've never set foot in?!" Luffy exclaimed in awe.
"God lives on the sky island?!" Chopper also expressed in amazement.
"Yes. Since Skypiea is God's Land, it's ruled by the almighty God, Eneru," Conis replied troubled. "God Eneru knows everything in this world. He's also watching us all the time."
"...Is that why you seem frightened, Conis-chan?" Toffee asked with a sad gaze.
"Wh-what? Frightened? Why would I be frightened?" Conis asked Toffee startled, giving her a weak smile.
Toffee could tell the girl was lying from her body language. She was honestly not sure if she believed in God, not after the things she had seen... but wasn't he supposed to be a benevolent being who people worshiped because he protected them? Why was Conis so on edge, then?
"So, have you seen that God who lives in Upper Yard, Conis-chan?" Sanji inquired.
"No! God forbid!" Conis gasped out, waving her hands at the very idea. "We cannot set foot in Upper Yard. Never...The sacred ground, Upper Yard, is forbidden."
A knowing gleam shone within Luffy's eyes when Conis repeated her warning. "I see. A place that we're not supposed to go no matter what, huh?"
"Ah! Your eyes! What're you thinking about right now?!" Usopp demanded, grabbing Luffy by the front of his red shirt and giving him a hard shake. "Listen good! 'Never step foot in' means you're absolutely not supposed to go there, Luffy!"
"Oh, I see...So there's a place that we're not supposed to go," Luffy restated with a laugh. "I see. A place that we're absolutely not supposed to go, huh?"
He's definitely planning to go there everyone seemed to think together.
"Hm? But if he's God, wouldn't he forgive you even if you go some place you're not supposed to? He's nice, right?" Luffy brought up.
"Well...but breaking God's rules is blasphemous, so..."
"I see. Well, I guess it doesn't matter either way," Luffy said nonchalantly while munching on his lobster.
Taking a small sip from the wine she was drinking, Robin turned to Conis, inquiring curiously, "So, what happens if someone goes into that forbidden Upper Yard?"
"The person cannot come back alive. Everyone believes so," Pagaya answered in his daughter's place when seeing her hesitation. "I-I'm worried about Nami-san...I hope she isn't near Upper Yard."
"Nami-swan! Stay where you are!" Sanji bellowed, his hands clutching at the balcony's railing.
Luffy simply laughed. "In any case, let's go there, to find Nami!"
Usopp's probably right that Luffy has ulterior motives besides just finding Nami Toffee thought, a small bead of sweat trailing down the side of her head when the sniper started to violently shake their captain once more while complaining. But to be honest, I'm pretty curious about this 'God' myself...