This is the 27th chapter. I don't own the series of One Piece.

A Trap on Lovely Street!

Luffy and his crew have managed to avoid White Berets demands, but Eneru's Super Express Lobster dragged away the Going Merry with Nami, Zoro, Robin, Chopper, Ventus, and Leon aboard.

Skypeia, Angels Beach

After witnessing their crew getting taken to the Upper Yard at Forbidden Island, Pagaya went through the trouble of explaining how they can get to where they'll be, using a map that Usopp still had on him. Going over of how to get to the sacrificial altar, they're determined to get their friends back, but Luffy is too determined to save them because he'll mostly cause trouble by picking a fight against Eneru and the priests, also enough to forget the logic in White-White Sea is different from the one in Blue Sea. Apparently, Luffy went on ahead without his crew, with the bag of supplies on his back, but he still don't know where he's going or how to get there.

"Hey, Luffy!" The voice of Usopp called out when he, Sanji, and Caius ran down the stairs, earned his attention which he now wears a murky green shirt underneath his overalls and a bandanna around his head.

"Wait up a minute!" Sanji adds, now wears a pink dotted shirt with knee-length black pants.

"Yeah, what is it?" Luffy inquires.

"What's the big idea? Why did you just up and leave all of a sudden?" Sanji questions.

"You heard Nami. If we stay, we'll just cause more trouble for Conis and her dad." Luffy told him.

"It's already too late for that since Pagaya told us everything about the island." Caius points out. "And I have a feeling Conis is hiding something."

"What makes you think that?" Sanji asks, turns to the Reaper.

"I notice the expression on her face and from the looks of it...she's been following orders from the White Berets Luffy just beat a while ago." Caius told him with a ponder. "It's just my state of opinion."

Sanji however thinks otherwise, remembered of Conis given off a guilty look on her face and shrugs it off like it was nothing.

"You know, I think you're on to something." Sanji states which it got his attention. "But let's say your assumption is right, and what I want to know is why would she do that?"

"Possibly because the White Berets were also following orders from Eneru, and he wants new targets at the Forbidden Island, by sending his priests to kill them for his own twisted entertainment." Caius explains. "But even so, I'm afraid our crew are in for a fight."

Sanji and Usopp widen their eyes in shock, but remembered of what Nami have told her crew of what she had witnessed at the Forbidden Island. But they don't have time to think about what comes next as Sanji turns to Luffy.

"Anyway, where are we going then?" Sanji questions.

"Where do you think? The Sacrificial Altar." Luffy answered simply.

"And how you planning to get there?" Sanji asks again, but Luffy thought about it for a few seconds. "You have to think about it?!"

"There you go, we can just swipe one of those boats out there and head up for Milky Road, easy." Luffy said when he points at the sea, which apparently there aren't any boats.

"Easy huh? Do you see any boats out there?" Sanji questions in annoyance, but Luffy thinks again. "Oh, just stop trying to think!?"

"A boat won't do us much good anyway." Usopp states, pulls out a map from his satchel and shows it to them with his raised eyebrow. "Not if all we have to go on is this old map, I can't even tell where we are on this thing. And look, the Milky Road isn't even on here at all."

"Man, what a pain in a butt." Luffy said with his hands on the back of his head when he and his crew turned their attention to Conis, who approaches behind them.

"Excuse me." Conis said.

"Conis, sweetheart~! You came all this way to give me a 'goodbye' kiss, huh?" Sanji asks sweetly.

"Well actually, I'm here because of my father. He asked me to help you find your way to the Sacrificial Altar." Conis explains.

"Aw, that's sweet." Usopp said with a smile.

"I can accompany you as far as the Angel Island Docks. We should be able to find you a suitable boat there." Conis told them.

"You got a definite plan, unlike a certain little scatterbrain I know." Usopp said.

"Yeah, right?" Luffy agrees with a chuckle which he's oblivious.

"I MEANT YOU!?" Usopp yelled at him with white eyes and shark-like teeth.

"You're gonna be our escort, Conis~? Great~! We'd be delighted to have you, right Luffy~?" Sanji said, gone goo-goo eyed with a goofy grin.

However, both Luffy and Caius looked at Conis a serious look on their faces, knew that something was definitely wrong.

"Of course we would, lead on lady." Luffy replied with a fake smile.

"Great." Conis said.

While Conis led Luffy, Sanji, Usopp, and Caius out of Angels Beach, McKinley was watching from the bushes with a smirk on his face. He knows where Conis is taking them.

"There's no way I'll let you escape. I'm going send all of you to Upper Yard to receive Heaven's Judgement." McKinley muttered with a sinister smirk, but at the house, Pagaya can only sigh with guilt since he helped the Straw Hats and being ordered to have his daughter leading to Lovely Street.


Skypiea, Lovely Street

Once Conis led them out of Angel Beach, she's now guiding them to Lovely Street which it got Luffy's attention.

"What's that?" Luffy asks.

"Oh, that's Lovely Street." Conis answered as they turned to Lovely Street from the distance while continuing at that direction. "If you want a closer look, you're in luck. We actually have to pass through it to reach the docks."

While they're continuing to make their way to Lovely Street, the White Berets quietly follows them without getting caught and hiding from the cloud.

"Captain, aren't they already heading for the Upper Yard?"

"Yeah, what are we sneaking around for?"

"Idiots!" McKinley scolds, making his men flinched. "You both know how those Blue Sea people are, they're all the same. Oh, sure they talk about excitement and an adventure, but when they actually face danger, they cry and run for their lives."

"Exciting, huh? Upper Yard, here we come!" Luffy said with a grin.

"You realize there's a chance you all be killed out there?" Conis points out.

"Well, everyone's gotta go sometimes." Luffy said which Conis was surprised at that.

"So, you're not worried at all?" Conis questions.

"Are you serious? Why would I be worried?" Luffy said with a big grin and a causal tone.

But it got Conis and Caius' attention, noticing both Sanji and Usopp beating their rubber Captain silly for not taking the situation seriously.

"Okay, I'm sorry." Luffy groans in pain.

Then, they finally made it to Lovely Street, taking in the view.

"This place is great!" Luffy said with awe.

"Lovely Street is the center of commers on the island, it has everything." Conis explains which Luffy is excited as he looks up.

"Check it out! Floating stores!" Luffy said.

"It takes a special variety of island clouds to build those." Conis told him.

"So, where's all the floating restaurants?" Luffy asks.

However, Caius, Sanji, and Usopp notice something really off and really obvious. While they walked, the citizens of Lovely Street all backed away from them. Although, Sanji, Caius, and Usopp were aware that they're criminals, but their behavior was a bit too suspicious.

"Hey guys, I notice everyone's avoiding us, again." Usopp said.

"Can't say I blame them. Words probably already gotten out that we're criminals." Sanji points out. "So, what else is new?"

"Ah, let 'em be that way! That means we got downtown all to ourselves!" Luffy said with a laugh.

'There's more about them being frightened of us as criminals...something's wrong.' Caius mentally thought.

"All these gorgeous angels and they're avoiding me." Sanji complains with a groan.

As they continue to walk, McKinley quietly crawls out of the alley and watches Conis guiding the Straw Hat crew with a smirk on his face. However, Luffy is at the food market since he never seen something like it before.

"Huh, sure is a lot of weird stuff for sale here." Luffy said, looking at the unusual plant as it pops up, revealing some kinda fruit in it. "Oh man, too bad I don't have any money. Hey mister, do you take treasure?"

The manager can only respond by shaking his head frantically. Luffy then left, but notices a rope as he grabs hold of it and it got him dragged right up to the cloud that has dials inside which it got him excited.

"This must be a Dial Shop!" Luffy states, then noticed a big spikey dial as he walks toward it. "Wow, these Breath Dials are huge! I should put a couple on the Going Merry, we'd be fast as the waver!"

But unfortunately, Luffy accidentally presses the apex and it causes the Breath Dial to blow him out of the shop as he crashes into the cloud, earned his crews attention.

"Hey, Luffy! When you're done fooling around, there's still the matter of rescuing Nami and the others." Sanji told him in annoyance. "If you don't get serious and soon, they're gonna be sacrificed, you know that?"

"You worry too much, they're fine." Luffy said in a dismissive tone. "Don't forget, Zoro, Ventus, and Leon are with them."

"Ventus, I can count on, because he's a lot of help to all of us and we can depend on him. Leon, he's just apart of our crew, and he protects Nami from Blackbeard and his crew." Sanji points out. "Zoro? Like we can really count on that guy!"

"I just hope the ship hasn't sustained anymore damage. I mean, she's had more share of abuse lately." Usopp adds.

Conis looked at them with worry when Luffy notice something.

"Huh? There's something in the middle of the street." Luffy said as he, Conis, Usopp, Sanji, and Caius walk towards the statue. "What a weird face. What's it supposed to be? A seal?"

"Looks a figure mad out of mud." Sanji states. "Knowing this place, I bet it's some kinda religious statue."

"Oh, you're both morons!" Usopp said in annoyance. "This is art, I can tell."

"This is Verth." Conis explains. "You might say it represents the eternal yearnings of the people in the sky."

"Verth, huh?" Sanji said in confusion.

"Really? So what, you guys pray to this thing?" Luffy asks. "That's pretty crazy."

It got Conis giggled of his respond, but Luffy scoffs.

"Well, I guess it would be difficult for someone from the Blue Sea to understand." Conis told him when she noticed the docks as she walks away. "Oh, we're almost to the docks. Right this way."

"Aw! We're leaving town already?" Luffy whines.

"Already? We were never planning on stopping here in the first place." Usopp reminds him, who follows Conis.

"I know, but I don't see why we couldn't stick around a little bit longer." Luffy complains.

"Our crew are in danger and they're at the Sacrificial Altar as we speak. We don't have time for sightseeing." Caius points out which both Sanji and Usopp agrees.

But once Conis and the Straw Hats left the town, the Skypieans watches them and they quiet chatter to each other, telling them that the plan is working because they thought they'll be saved by Eneru. McKinley crawls quietly, seeing that they're heading for the docks and the plan is working. Then, they finally made it at the docks that was known as Gondola Port. Luffy was excited when he, Usopp, Sanji, and Caius noticed the boats.

"Look at all these boats!" Luffy said excitedly.

"Yes, you'll notice there are boats of all shapes and sizes anchored in this harbor." Conis explains, showing them the boats. "From luxurious hotel ships where you can spend the night to sleeker models that are made for speed and loaded up with giant dials. If you look over there, they're even more types."

"Whoa! That one...it's perfect!" Luffy interrupted, looking at a fancy oriented-red gondola with an ox figurehead. "I always wanted a gondola! We'll take it! Ooh, look back there! I bet those dials make this move quicker than lightning! It's gonna a whole lot of fun! Come on, let's go for a spin!"

"You idiot! We've got to rescue the crew first, remember?! Get serious, will ya!" Sanji scolds him when Conis walk past them.

"Actually, your boat is right over here." Conis said as they follows her.

"Great!" Sanji said with a smile.

"Oooh! Is it even awesomer than the Gondola?! Man, I can't wait to see it!" Luffy said with a big grin.

While Conis can only respond in silent and guiding the Straw Hats, McKinley continued following them. She then showed a gondola that has the sight of a black boat with a black bird figurehead which it's something they didn't expect.

"Presenting, the 'Crow'." Conis said which it got them dumbfounded.

"You're kidding me, right?!" Luffy exclaims with his jaw dropped.

"That's not what we've had in mind." Caius quietly muttered.

"Uh, crows don't even swim." Sanji stated.

"I only learned to ride a waver recently. Before then, I use the 'Crow' to get around." Conis explains. "It's not as fast as the waver of course, but it has two Breath Dials and it's quite reliable. Please, feel free to use it."

The Straw Hats were about to accept her offer, but Luffy says otherwise.

"Wait, I'm not going." Luffy said, much to their shock and McKinley somehow grabs hold of the gondola, overhearing the conversation.

"Aha! I knew he finally show his true colors!" McKinley quietly said with a smirk. "No one in their right mind doesn't value their own life!"

Luffy turns, but McKinley quickly ducks his head in order to stay out of sight.

"Unless I can take that." Luffy said, points at the gondola as Conis turns, noticed the same one which Caius sighed.

'Of course he wants to ride that.' Caius mentally thought, tipped his hat at Luffy's selfishness.

"He's not scared, he's selfish." McKinley quickly said in annoyance as Conis turns to him with an awkward smile.

"That one, huh? You don't like the 'Crow'? I'm sorry..."

Conis cuts herself off at the sight of Sanji repeatedly kicking Luffy in the face, causing her to sweat drop.

"The only thing is sorry is this guy! Apologize you ingrate! She goes through the trouble of getting us a boat while you do is complain?! What's wrong with you?!" Sanji scolds, then stops kicking and turns to her. "I'm sorry he doesn't appreciate your help like I do, Conis."

"I'm sorry." Luffy groans when he turns, revealed his face is being bruised as he bows to her.

"I-It's okay." Conis accepted, guides the Straw Hats while the Skypieans looked at the pirates with dirty look on their faces.

"Is he always that selfish during his time as a pirate?" Caius asks quietly.

"It just so happens I was thinking the same thing." Usopp agrees.

While the Straw Hats continued to follow her, Conis had a guilty look on her face as she stops to get a view of the path before them. Conis then turns to them with a smile on her face, which Caius notice that look on her face. Luffy also noticed something about Conis faking her expression while Sanji and Usopp were confused.

"Your exit is Gate number 2." Conis told them, points at the gate. "It leads right to the Milky Road and that will take you all the way to Upper Yard. Just...Just follow it, and you'll be fine."

Caius raised his eyebrow in suspicion at her hesitation.

"Hey, Conis." Luffy said, earned her attention. "You've been trembling ever since we left, is everything okay?"

It got Conis flinched at that which the Skypieans looked at them with dread, felt like Luffy and his crew are on to her while McKinley watches from afar.

"Can't here." McKinley muttered. "What are they talking about?"

"I-Is it that noticeable?" Conis asks with her eyes widen.

"Yeah. It's like you're scared or something." Luffy points out, causing the Skypieans to panic a little.

"No wait, she wouldn't." McKinley said, but Sanji jumps to conclusions.

"Don't you get it?! She's worried about us~! Oh Conis, that is so sweet of you my dear~!" Sanji said sweetly with a goofy grin as Conis sighed with relief.

"Idiot!" Caius said in annoyance, hitting Sanji in the head with the flat side of his scythe. "That's not what he meant."

"Speaking of being worried, are you and Pagaya gonna be alright?" Usopp asks with his eyebrow raised, earned her attention he mentions her and her father. "I mean, everyone in town is avoiding us like the plague, but you're leading us around, lending us your boat, given us directions? Is helping us gonna get you in trouble? Doesn't that make you like...our accomplices?"

Conis kept quiet at his question which she knows that Usopp made a valid point.

"Conis. Tell us exactly what is going on!" Caius said with a stern look on his face. "You're hiding something and we want to know what it is!"

Conis was silent at the question and the demand from the Reaper. She really wanted to tell them by telling the truth, but apparently, she and the Straw Hats are being watched from the Skypieans and McKinley.

"It...It's not what you think..." Conis said quietly, which the Skypieans and McKinley are realizing what she's doing.

"She wouldn't dare!"

"Don't say anything you'll regret." McKinley warns.

"...Don't you get it? Even after I told you how terrifying the Upper Yard is, I still lead you here. I even got you a boat and told you which route to take. Don't you find that odd?" Conis said. "Isn't it obvious what's going on?"

The Skypieans and McKinley are starting to realize why she's asking the Straw Hats, about to come clean.

"Watch your tongue little girl! Don't say anything foolish!" McKinley shouts.

"Did you hear something?" Usopp asks, turns when McKinley quickly hides.

"'Foolish'?" Caius repeats, now realizing what she's telling them.

The Straw Hats then realizes the Skypieans around then were starting to back away from them, more tensed than before.

'Don't tell me they're all in on this.' Sanji mentally thought, catching on to what was really going on while Caius thought the same thing.

Conis is starting to look down, couldn't believe what she was doing to the Straw Hats. Guilt was starting to overwhelm her and remembered of her father given her the task.

'But why?! We shouldn't do this! They're not like the others! Besides, there's no need for me to guide them, they're already headed for the Upper Yard.'

'Conis, if that were truly so, I would not have to burden you with this task, but we must face facts. You see now other Blue Sea Dwellers act when they come here. These four are probably no different. Once the initial excitement wears off, the reality of what they're facing sets in, they get scared and we get to value their lives over their dreams of adventure. That's why we must lead them to Milky Roads end all the way to the Upper Yard.'

These words have echoed on both Conis and Pagaya's mind, which he too felt guilty of what he just did and placing a heavy burden to his daughter. Conis is starting to tremble as she collapses down to her knees, surprising the Straw Hats.

"Just run away! Please!" Conis pleads as tears starts filling her eyes. "I'm so sorry you guys!"

The Skypieans were panicking as she was starting to confess the true intentions behind her actions.

"Oh no! Stop!"

"What do you think you're doing?!"

"I called the Super Express Lobster! It was all my fault!" Conis confessed which the Straw Hats shocked about that.

"You mean that thing that took Nami and the others away?! You called it, Conis?!" Sanji shouts with a question.

"While you were inside talking to my father, I went aboard and lied to your friends about the current that leads to Cloud End. They believed me and they had to raise anchor." Conis explains. "That was the signal that summoned almighty Eneru's Super Express Lobster."

McKinley was able to overheard their conversation which he didn't like her confessing everything to them.

"What?! Do you want to die?!" McKinley shouts quietly. "You stupid girl!"

"Once we know someone's a criminal, we must lead them to Upper Yard! If we don't, then then the penalty is death!" Conis said which the Straw Hats are very furious of they have just learned, but the Skypieans around them tried to stop her for saying anymore.

"You idiot! You're going to bring us wrath down upon us all!"

"This is outrageous!"

"Somebody stop her!"

"It's our duty...the duty of every citizen..." Conis ended.

"That's crazy!?" Usopp exclaims.

"I know...I'm sorry." Conis apologizes. "I should've told you sooner!"

"Wait a sec, you're saying they forced you to lead us all here?" Luffy questions in a serious tone, earned a nod from her.

That got four of them glaring at Conis, darkened their expressions.

"If that's true...THEN WHY YOU EVEN TELL US AT ALL?!" The Straw Hats yelled as Conis looked up at them.

"Are you nuts?! Now your life is in danger!" Luffy adds, kneels down to her level and grabs her wing.

"It's all over! We're too late!"

"Get away from the girl!"

"It's judgment day!"

The Skypieans then backs away from Conis and the Straw Hats since the judgement day is approaching. Caius readied his scythe and cautiously looked around from any sign of threat, only to see none around her. Something was shining brightly above them, causing the Straw Hats to look up, shielding their eyes from the brightness. The next thing they knew, the lightning beam was shot down right to where Conis is. Caius use his scythe to slice the air, opening the portal as he drags Conis and Luffy, entered inside along with Sanji and Usopp. The lightning beam then hits the ground, leaving a huge cloud of smoke in its wake and the buildings were tumbling down along with a ground. As the Skypieans recovered from the sudden strike, they looked at the big hole with dread and horror. The dark portal opens when the Straw Hats walk through it, causing it to close behind them.

"What in the world was that thing?! It did that?!" Sanji exclaims in shock.

"This must be Eneru's work, he causes lightning to strike down." Caius states, turns to Conis who's unconscious. "I was lucky I was able to open the portal to get all of us out of the beam."

"No kidding, what was that?" Usopp questions, turns to the Reaper. "The portal thingy?"

"It's called Hell's Ingress, this allows me to create a portal. But only for the last resort." Caius explains. "And apparently, this is one."

"Well, it's a good thing you got us out of that beam." Sanji said, impressed as he turns to Conis. "But Conis..."

"She's unconscious, for now. I believe this caused her to pass out when Eneru fired his lightning." Caius points out.

Suddenly, Gan Fall and Pierre arrived from the hole in the ground and lands on next to the Straw Hats.

"Yes, it would appears so." The voice of Gan Fall said, earned their attention.

"It's him! Gan Fall!"

It got the Skypieans and McKinley shocked when they saw the Sky Knight next to the Straw Hats.

"Oh, the weird old man!" Usopp exclaimed in realization.

"Me? Weird? No, I am the Sky Knight, friend. And this ones on the house." Gan Fall corrects him as he carries Conis to Pierre.

"What are planning to do with Conis?" Sanji questions.

"I'm keeping her safe under my watch, you have my word. I shouldn't allow Eneru to harm her." Gan Fall assures them. "Now that you've seen the scope of Eneru's power and anger, what are going to do next?"

"The same thing we're gonna do from the start; go to Upper Yard and rescue our friends." Luffy answered in determination.

"I see. May luck be with you." Gan Fall said as he and Pierre took off with Conis, who opened her eyes.

"What about them?" Conis asks with worry.

"They have chosen their own course. Do not blame yourself, child." Gan Fall assures her.

"I...I know who you really are." Conis said.

"Of course, it's no secret. I am the Sky Knight." Gan Fall told her.

"No, it's...it's we all know." Conis corrects him. "Please come back to us, God."

Apparently, Gan Fall now realizes why Conis want him to come back because he's been hiding into his home for some time and protecting the people from Eneru. But he still need to get Conis to safety. While at the Gondola Dock, the Straw Hats are getting ready to leave as they, except Usopp, boarding the 'Crow'.

"Good luck, fellas. Hope aboard, get comfy. I'll give you a good shove-off." Usopp said, much to Sanji and Caius' annoyance.

"Get on the boat." Sanji said, drags Usopp on the boat.

"I don't wanna!?" Usopp whines.

But it's too late, Caius starts the boat and steer towards Gate number 2 to get to the Upper Yard to rescue their crew.

"Alright, Upper Yard, here we come!" Luffy said with determined smirk when McKinley watches them leave with shock.

"They...They went...without any fear or hesitation..." McKinley said as the Straw Hats now setting sail towards the Upper Yard.

That's it for the 27th chapter.