"Do you think Midnight and Vlad King are dating?" Mina whispered towards her friends on that Friday.

"What?!" Ochako exclaimed in surprised.

"Where did that come from?" Jiro asked.

"I heard that there were 1-B students who've seen them going to the same place for the past few days." Mina soon looked excited. "I've never thought of them as a couple, but I think there's a chance that-"

Mina let out a soft squeak when Aizawa tapped a folder on her head. "Don't spread around rumors. They're definitely not dating."

"How do you know that?" Toru asked.

"They're just watching One Piece to catch with us." Aizawa sighed.

"Well, I don't think they'll ever going to reach our episode count if they're going at our pace." Tsuyu said.

"I mean, they're watching 10 episodes a weekday, so they'll have a better chance than 3 episodes."

"'We have jobs and lives,' my ass." Hizashi let out a scoff, making the other students look at each other.


Onto episode 150, they skipped the opening, recap, and title to see the South Bird smirking as Luffy and Chopper ran away from the giant praying mantises.

"Oh god, it's gotten worse!" Hizashi exclaimed in horror.

Chopper figured that the bird is the bugs' control tower, which Luffy is confused by.

Soon, Nami, Usopp, and Sanji heard the call of the South Birds, but boulders- no, wait, they're ladybugs rolling down the hill, trying to crush them.

Meanwhile Zoro was face to face with a mole cricket army.

"Seriously, why are there so many giant bugs?" Hizashi shivered.

"To spite you, I guess." Aizawa slightly smirked.

"Wait until you heard about Australia." Toshirnori let out a soft chuckle.

"Australia is already on my hit list." Hizashi rolled his eyes.

Robin could head the birds call, but can't see it.

As Usopp, Sanji, and Nami attacked a giant slug with salt, Luffy wanted to fight the bear-bees, but Chopper tried to stop him, saying that they're really poisonous.

"And if this place was real, it would also be on my hit list too." Hizashi quickly added.

The crew kept being attacked by the forest creatures as the Saruyama Alliance fought against the Bellamy Pirates pretty well, but Bellamy himself wasn't bothered by this. In fact, the midnight show was just starting.

"Spring... Snipe!" His legs turned into springs, allowing himself to attack Masira from behind.

"He's a Devil Fruit user too?!" Ojiro shouted in surprise as the others gasped at the blood coming out of Masira.

Jumping off of Masira, Bellamy punched Shojo in the face. Bellamy continued to jump after Cricket. While he did missed, landing on the boat, jumping off the boat alone shown that the impact was strong enough to break it in half, allowing him to punch Cricket in the face.

"Old man!" "Cricket!"

"No, not Merry!" Toru shouted.

Sarquiss asked him what he thinks of his captain's Bane Bane no Mi, stepping onto Cricket's back.

The alliance were beaten up as the Bellamy Pirates laughed at their faces, taking their gold bullion and ingots. Cricket told them that they aren't qualified to have that gold, which Sarquiss took offense to.

As the man tried to attack Cricket, Masira took it, blood spurting from the chop.

"No!" "Masira!" Students gasped in horror.

Sarquiss was going for another attack, but Shojo sand out his Havoc Sonar to cause the crew to stop and the ground to break up. Still, Bellamy used his Spring Snipe to punch Shojo so hard that it contorted his body, sending him flying right into the house itself.

Anger and horror flared within the students, seeing that Bellamy Pirates has ruined his life's works, his friends, and yet they had the gale to tell Cricket to grow up, that he need to realize that dreams never come true.

Still, despite the fact that he's bloodied and bruised beyond hell, Cricket has some fight in him, telling Bellamy that a 'hatching who doesn't have guts to pick fights with dreams... is in no position to talk about pirates.'

Filled with anger, the students so desperately want Cricket to be able to beat Bellamy to gain back his treasure and pride, but there was a sense of dread that held them back from doing so.

After the eyecatches, the Straw Hats couldn't find a single South Bird, or at least catch one. Usopp couldn't believe it, telling them to get it together.

Still, they were tired... and a South Bird appeared, mocking them to catch him.

"After this adventure, we're going to have a roasted bird." Katsuki gritted his teeth.

Usopp was about to shoot him until Robin used her ability to restrain it and throw it to the ground.

"...Holy shit, it was that simple." Denki stared in disbelief.

"I mean, she can make limbs appear anywhere. Of course it was simple." Ojiro sighed, though feeling slightly frustrated.

The crew got back to Cricket's house to show the alliance the bird, but they soon discovered that they were beaten, and all the damages that happened.

"Okay, Straw Hat can't walk away from this." Katsuki growled.

Kirishima nodded. "This time, it's much more personal."

Cricket was still conscious, apologizing for what has been done, but he believes that there's still time to strength the ship before sun up.

"You were beaten up! You need to rest." Ochako exclaimed.

Luffy wanted to know what happened, but Cricket refused to do so, happy that they caught a South Bird.

Soon, Nami yelled that the gold has been stolen. Cricket told them to forget about it, but Usopp was angry for him.

"What the hell, men, you worked so hard for that gold too." Jiro said, looking upset about the whole thing.

Cricket was still focused on their ship, determined to send them to the sky, but Zoro noticed that the Bellamy Pirates has left their mark.

Luffy stood up, and Zoro asked if he wants help, but the captain believes he could do it alone.

"Fuck yeah, we're getting a beat down." Sero grinned, as the others brightened up at the news.

Nami warned him that they'll set sail in only three hours, but Luffy asked Robin if he'll reach the town if he run along the coast, which she confirmed.

Cricket was shock, telling him not to be a fool, but Zoro held his sword to him, saying to use it if he wants to stop him.

Luffy will be back by morning.

"Yes, nothing will stop him now!" Kirishima wildly smiled.

A drunk man was pissing into the sea, but he became more sober once he found the updated bounty poster of Luffy.

"Oh, this gotten much better!" Katsuki wickedly smirked, enjoying the pale face of the drunk man.

Luffy ran along the coast, remembering all that had happened to Cricket, steam coming out of his nose.

At Pub and Pies, the Bellamy Pirates had a grand time recounting the fight against the alliance til the drunk ran in, attempting to warn Bellamy.

As Luffy dodged the giant praying mantis, the bar was rendered silent, seeing Luffy and Zoro's bounties.

"This is the best feeling ever." Ochako enjoyed seeing the people panic over their mistake.

Still, Bellamy laughed at them, saying that there was once pirates who faked their own wanted posters to make names for themselves. This seemed to convinced the others, saying that Luffy hasn't been in the papers.

"Well, blame that on the Government for trying to hide all that stuff from Alabasta." Mina said.

Their moment of relaxation ended when Luffy called for Bellamy. The others were shivering, but Bellamy wasn't afraid to come out, looking up to see Luffy on top of a tower. He asked what business he has with him.

Luffy demanded that he gives back the gold, as the two stared each other down.

"To Be Continued."

"This better has a satisfying ending." Katsuki hoped.


Onto episode 151, they skipped the opening, recap, and title to see Luffy and Bellamy on top of a roof. Bellamy laughed, asking if he knows how to fight, at least a punch.

"Oh, he definitely does." Denki grinned as the others hoped for an amazing beat down.

The drunk could see that Luffy's the same one from the poster. Sarquiss told him to throw it away, but the drunk was worried for Bellamy if it was real. Sarquiss said it's ridiculous, seeing the runt here.

"Hasn't anyone told you to not judge a book by its cover?" Hizashi teased, feeling eager as the other kids.

Bellamy claimed he won't steal anything from him, but Luffy is sure this time will be different, which Bellamy laughed at.

His legs turned into springs, and by jumping off, the impact caused the roof to collapse.

"Spring... Snipe!" Leaping off against another building, Bellamy launched himself at Luffy, but he leap off to another building, landing mostly safe.

Bellamy tried again. This time, Luffy nearly fallen off the room as the Bellamy Pirates mocked the straw hat boy.

"Hey, Luffy hasn't gotten a hit in yet!" Ochako glared at the group.

Bellamy thought this was just like this afternoon as Luffy climbed back on top of the roof. Another launch sent Bellamy and Luffy onto the ground, as Bellamy continued to mock him for being a weakling and believing in dreams.

While Luffy was midair, Bellamy was able to attack him, sending him crashing into the ground.

"Come on, don't let this fucking hyena throw you around like that!" Katsuki ordered as others yelled at Luffy to do something.

Seeing that Luffy is still alive, Bellamy decided to use "Spring... Hopper!"

He bounced all over the place, gaining more and more speed. The citizens claimed Bellamy did this when Roshio the Executioner was killed.

Students held their breaths, seeing the dark look on Luffy's face as Bellamy mocked the dreams of his friends.

Just as Bellamy went in for the kill, Luffy slammed Bellamy right into the wooden walkway, leaving a large crater around them. The blond spurt out blood from his mouth, the imprint of Luffy's fist embedded into his face.

The audience were rendered silent as the people of Mock Town, seeing the blood drip sown Luffy's knuckles.

Sarquiss wanted Bellamy to stop acting, but reality soon hit as they all remembered the updated bounty.

There was a sense of satisfaction within the students as Luffy ordered others for the gold back.

"I think that was the most satisfying punch I've ever seen." Kirishima admitted, almost in awe in that one punch.

The alliance was repairing the Going Merry as Usopp was impressed with the fact that they recovered so soon.

"Already?" Momo said, almost aghast.

"Well, I wish I could recover that quick." Sero sighed.

Nami asked Zoro why didn't he come with Luffy, and he was more annoyed that she kept changing her mind. Nami thought he would since those guys beat him up, but to him, they weren't really standing in their way as fights that leave nothing but sympathy are rough.

"...He felt... sympathetic for them?" Toru said, clearly confused.

The two argued, with Usopp attempting to stop them.

Back in Mock Town, Luffy left with the gold as Sarquiss claimed the fight was a fluke.

"He defeated your captain with a single punch. That's not a fluke; you're just in denial." Aizawa dryly said.

Sarquiss wanted to fight him, demanding on where's he's going, but he stopped once Luffy showed his bloodied fist, seemingly like a threat. "Where?"

He pointed his finger up. "The sky!"

The audience smiled among themselves, seeing that Luffy still has that on mind.

In the morning, on his coffin boat, Mihawk looked at Luffy and Zoro's bounty posters, seeing that they're the ones who defeated Crocodile, and was impressed with how they've grown.

"Wait, you know?" Denki said with wide eyes.

"Maybe the government wanted to warn the other Shichibukai about them." Izuku guessed.

"At least someone knows the truth." Katsuki sighed.

In the Holy Land of Marie Jois, a marine man has told the World Government Supreme Authorities, the Five Elder Stars, about Red Hair acting disturbingly, saying it would too dangerous for him and Whitebeard to make contact, though the Elder Stars believes that they should be patient and watch.

"Whoa, wait, are these guys like the really higher ups of the World Government?" Toru asked.

"And what would happen if Shanks and Whitebeard did make contact?" Kirishima wondered, almost worried.

Why does that samurai sounds kind of familiar? Toshinori thought, thinking of Gran Torino for some reason.

They should be looking for a replacement for Crocodile as the collapse of the Three Great Powers will fracture the world itself, and that balance must be maintained.

Others looked flabbergasted at such a balance, but Jiro pointed out, "Well, Crocodile didn't want to maintain that balance since he wanted to make Alabasta into a pirate hub."

That's why they called the Shichibukai here, thought they don't know how many till show up as they are pirates. One of the Elder Stars dread what Crocodile has done as they can't let Luffy be left unchecked.

"I'm sure he'll do the least amount of damage compared to the others." Iida said.

"I mean, he won't do damage on purpose." Todoroki added.

It was announced that Donquixote Doflamingo and Bartholomew Kuma, the other Shichibukai, has arrived.

Several students sputtered out laughs at the way Doflamingo walked.

"340 million, and 296 million." Izuku noted their former bounties.

Suddenly, a man was strangling another, though it was against his will.

Soon, students looked alarmed at this, though Denki quietly cursed when Vice Admiral Tsuru was shown.

"What?" Tsuyu asked.

"We were so closed to have a character with the same name as you." Denki sighed in disappointment.

Tsuyu blinked. "...And?"

"I mean, I thought it would be cool to share the same name as a character from an anime."

"Well, we still have a thousand episodes left, so there has to be at least one." Jiro rolled her eyes.

Others had told Doflamingo to knock it off, though the feathered man was more amused, demanding that they just start talking already.

What is he doing with his hand? Izuku furrowed his eyebrows, trying to think up theories of the man's abilities.

Against his will, the man pulled out his sword, and the two would had attacked until Fleet Admiral Saint Sangoku came in with his goat, deciding that two out of six is better than he expected.

"I believe Fleet Admiral is the highest Marine rank." Izuku said, remembering his research (and trying his best not to spoil himself as well).

"Really? Does that mean he's the most powerful guy there?" Toru asked.

"I mean, there must be a reason why he has it." Mina shrugged.

"But you should know that ranking doesn't always mean power." Toshinori glanced at the floor.

Doflamingo admitted that he came here out of sheer boredom while Sengoku found that to be disconcerting as nothing is as depressing to them as a booming pirate industry.

"Then why is the Shichibukai a thing?" Denki asked.

"I guess that the Elder Stars, or at least someone. in the government made it." Sero shrugged.

Hawk Eye soon came in, though only as an onlooker here since he was interested in some pirates involved with the issue at hand.

...though there was another onlooker here too. Well, not exactly an 'onlooker.'

"And who the hell are you, extra?" Katsuki asked, raising an eyebrow.

The tap dancing man was here to join in, as one of the Marines knew him as Lafitte; he used to be a well-known peace officer in West Blue, but he was chased from his country being excessively violent. Here, Lafitte wanted to recommend a man for the title of Shichibukai.

Eyebrows were raised at that, wondering who he wanted to suggest.

Out at sea, a pirate captain, hidden in the shadows, was reminiscent of the name Shanks, as he was given a letter from him, though the deliverer, Rockstar, was new to the Red-Haired Pirates.

Rockstar was thinking of making a name for himself, though the others don't know him.

"Well, I like your name." Jiro tried to offer a compliment.

Rockstar was shock to see the man rip up the letter, finding it insulting that Shanks would do do.

He's Whitebeard. Even though he's connected to medicinal machinery, he gulped down tons of alcohol.

The audience looked at each other in shock, remembering that this man is considered to be the strongest man in the world, second to Roger.

Rockstar claimed that it must be urgent, but Whitebeard could tell that it's about Ace and Blackbeard, so he could just tell Red Hair that he should go to him himself with some good booze. He ordered him to go, not wanting to deal with runts like him.

The audience gaped at the sheer size of Whitebeard, Edward Newgate.

"He's like four times the size of an average person!" Mineta pointed out as others became even more interested in how he gotten such a title.

On a snowy island, Shanks simply laughed at what was relayed to him without much care, pretty much expecting it already. He ordered Rockstar to come back, reminding him that his life is more important than his pride.

Kirishima nodded as Mina wondered, "Does his crew only party?"

"I mean, I would love to party on forever too." Denki said.

Shanks has decided to set sail to see Whitebeard, not caring if the government won't keep quiet, just as long as they don't get in their way.

Meanwhile Lafitte has suggested that Teach, captain of their pirate crew. Sengoku doesn't want some random, unknown guy to join, and Lafitte knows that, but they've carefully devised a plan, so he wants a little more time. He made sure to remind them to remember the Blackbeard Pirates.

"Wait, the guys who've destroyed Chopper's kingdom?!" Ochako shouted in shock, making the other girls growl.

Back in Mock Town, news of Bellamy's defeat has spread.

The cherry pie stranger has found Luffy's updated bounty. Sarquiss bumped into him, complaining that he's just gawking, but the stranger suddenly slammed Sarquiss into the ground. He's looking for Luffy, planning to join the big leagues.

Several students nearly jumped from the man's change in attitude as Toshinori felt his unease return, remembering the events earlier at Marie Jois with Lafitte. Is he really...?

Side by side, the wrestler, the sickly man, and the sniper walked side by side along the stranger, glad to get some prey, thought the helmsmen of the Blackbeard Pirates, Jesus Burgess, asked his captain that aren't they supposed to meet Lafitte in this town, The captain, 'Blackbeard' Marshall D. Teach, simply laughed it off, saying that's how luck is, asking Auger, the sniper, about it, while the sickly man, Doc Q, agreed.

"You...!" "What?!"

Wide eyes appeared, staring at the group, the very group who had destroyed a kingdom with only five people, whose captain had said such encouraging words to Luffy...

...Whose captain wants his head. Toshinori's unease spiked, especially knowing that this man is Blackbeard, the same man who happened to sound like All for One, and this man has some kind of goal involving Luffy.

Luffy ran as fast as he could with Cricket's gold.

"To Be Continued."

Let Luffy be safe. Izuku could only hope that Blackbeard doesn't reach Luffy. He doesn't even know if Blackbeard has a Devil Fruit, and yet he's almost afraid to know if he does. Was he afraid to know if Blackbeard has more similarities to All for One than he thought? I mean, he shouldn't be afraid since this Blackbeard is a fictional character; he shouldn't be able to do any harm to them, and yet Izuku doesn't like the idea that there could be anyone, fictional or not, like All for One before the era of quirks ...And what does D mean? Blackbeard has it too, but I don't think they're all blood related.

Still, there has to be some kind of connection, right?


Onto episode 152, they skipped the opening, recap, and title to see it was morning, and Nmai was complaining about Luffy's whereabouts since he's not here, though Nami suggested that it must be that gold weighing him down. Chopper wondered if he's been beat in Mock Town.

"Hell no, the exact opposite actually." Katsuki smugly said.

Nami would had beaten him if that was the case. They were quiet until they heard Luffy's shout, seeing him run along the coast with a hercules beetle that took him forever to find.

"That's why it took you forever to get there?!" Jiro complained.

"Lucky!" Sero whined, remembering his childhood memories of trying to catch bugs.

Luffy saw the Going Merry Flying Model, so excited to see it, though Zoro thought a pigeon would've been better than a chicken.

"At least pigeons can fly." Todoroki pointed out.

"Why not just give it the wings in the first place?" Iida sighed.

Luffy returned Cricket's gold, though the old man told him to just set sail. Even when Luffy thanked him, Cricket passed it off to the monkey brothers, who were given his hercules beetle.

As luffy got on his ship, Cricket remembered what Bellamy has said before. He yelled to the Saruyama Alliance to not mess up.

As the ships sailed south, Cricket declared that this is where they part ways, but he made sure to remind Luffy that no one has disproven the city of gold or the sky island. Anyone else might laugh, but it's enough for him. That's what romanticism is all about.

"Romanticism?" Mina repeated in confusion. "What does romance has to do any of this?"

"I believe it's more referring to things like idealism, imagination, things like that." Hizashi defined.

As the three ships sailed away, another followed them. Blackbeard wants to take care of them before they go to the sky island.

"No!" "You bastard!" "You know he wanted to go!"

Toshinori tried to swallow the lump in his throat, wishing that the Blackbeard Pirates won't hurt them.

As Masira gave the Straw Hats instructions, Luffy played around with the South Bird, seeing that it really does only face one direction. It attempted to face north, but it doesn't feel right to him.

At first, Shojo was annoyed by Luffy's casualness, but Luffy pointed out that there's no point in being anxious, which Masira agreed. So all three ships relaxed as they sailed.

Soft scoffs and laughed came out at the scene until the students saw the Blackbeard Pirates found the cumuloregalis clouds at the southwest, and way earlier than they expected.

Through the sound waves they were able to locate the whirlpool when they felt the sea rock harshly, meaning it's a pre-explosion earthquake.

"We're getting closer and closer to the sky island!" Kirishima exclaimed in awe.

Nami could see that the log Pose is pointing right up as the clouds are heading straight for the center of the whirlpool.

Luffy doesn't see the whirlpool, but the monkey brothers could tell that it'll be a nice-sized explosion.

Masira's ship latched onto the Going Merry, where he'll take them to the inner edge of the whirlpool, and instructed them to get on the flow. Once they get to the center, things should work out.

"As long as they don't fall into the watery abyss, and drown to their doom." Tokoyami added.

"...I don't think you're usually this morbid." Mineta said with a slight shiver.

After the eyecatches, Cricket had commented how he've never met people like them as the Straw Hats were being sucked into the whirlpool, almost all of them are panicking, but Luffy is focused on the sky island.

Then a Sea King popped up.

"Oh come on!" Jiro shouted, but then she saw it sink into the whirlpool.

The monkey brothers left the rest up to them, which Luffy thanked them while Usopp begged them to come back. Still, no matter how much the Cowardly Trio panic, Luffy won't pass up the chance to go one a big adventure.

"Of course he wouldn't give it up! You guys made it this far." Sero said.

Soon, the Going Merry fell into the whirlpool. At first, they found themselves in calm waters, but Nami could feel it starting; the whirlpool only disappeared from the surface.

Then they saw the Blackbeard Pirates sailing after them.

"No!" "Let them enjoy their sky adventures!" Furious students yelled out as Toshinori grew pale.

Blackbeard's here to collect Luffy's 100 million bounty as the monkey brothers were confused by their appearance. The man noticed it was dark out as Luffy was confused on the bounty amount, leading Blackbeard to show him his and Zoro's new posters.

Usopp could see them with his binoculars, as Sanji asked if he has one, which is a no. Nami couldn't believe it went up that much while Luffy and Zoro were proud of the increase.

"Yeah, it really freaked out the guys back in Mock Town." Denki gave a wide grin.

The water under them started to rise as Shojo told them to get ready. This was soon noticed by the Blackbeard Pirates as the Straw Hats tried to hold onto their ship as the water went higher and higher til...

BOOM!

The audience gaped at the sight of the water column breaking Blackbeard's ship, seeing the sheer size of it compared to the others.

"That's what you get for having an oversized raft as a ship!" Katsuki shouted at the Blackbeard Pirates.

"GO!" Kirishima cheered, watching the Going Merry fly up the water pillar.

Sanji realized that the ship's hull started to float, and if that keeps up, they're going to keep it down, but Chopper saw the Sea King from before pass them; wreckage from past ships falling down on them.

The first opening theme song played as Nami ordered them to spread the sails. This is not just a pillar of water; it's the sea, a rising current, and she'll able to navigator them through it.

Students were in awe, cheering the crew, matching the alliance's energy on as the ship started to fly higher and higher.

"They're doing it! They're actually doing it!" Mina grinned.

Luffy asked where the sky island could be, and Nami pointed to beyond the clouds, filling the captain with excitement.

"To Be Continued."

The students were excited to see this adventure above the clouds, but...

"We're done for today." Aizawa ejected the disk, leading his class to let out disappointed sighs and aws... "We still have Saturday tomorrow."

"So, I'm sure we'll be able to finish this adventure in a day or two." Hizashi shrugged.

"Still, it was exciting just to get there." Toshinori said. Along with a couple of... uncomfortable moments with a certain someone.

"Yeah, Merry flew!" Toru bounced in her seat.

"I can't wait for tomorrow!" "It was crazy!" "Maybe we should get a flying ship." "Dumbass, we have planes already."

Toshinori sighed as the class left. Then he caught Aizawa's eye.

"Something the matter?" Aizawa asked.

"Ah..." Toshinori scratched the back of his head nervously. "I just can't help to wonder what's... Blackbeard's endgame in all of this. Is it just for power? Or is it something more?"

Hizashi nodded. "Well, we just needed to watch to see it."

Toshinori nodded in agreement. One Piece has an ending, and he's sure they'll reach it someday.


Fun Fact #15: One of the Elder Stars, the samurai looking one, and Gran Torino share the same Japanese voice actor, Kenichi Ogata.

AN: And so, we're about to enter the real meat of the Sky Island Saga: the Skypiea arc, an arc I've seen so many people thought it was pointless... until Wano came around.

By the way, I've never thought Skypiea was pointless. I mean, how could you say it's pointless when the Enel face exists? Come on.

Joking aside, I can't believe people are willing to skip the Skypiea saga when certain information here are mentioned in later arcs, like Sanji being from the North, Noland, Doflamingo, and freaking Blackbeard. Also, this is Robin's first canon adventure with the crew, so I feel like that's important too.