Chapter 16

Set Sail!

Barlin went to see the Guardian Dragons at Warfang, as they were thrilled to see him.

"Good to see you again and back on your feet," Volteer said.

"Yes, Spyro and his friends had saved you just in time," Cyril said.

"Indeed, thanks to Spyro and his friends, and Raymond for protecting us and getting help from the cheetahs," Barlin said. "I'm sorry about Ignitus' death. Spyro told me everything about his adventure. I could never imagine how Ignitus' death had affected him badly."

"Yes, I can still remember how heartbroken he was, losing someone very dear to him," Cyril said. "Ignitus was our dear friend too, and we still talk about him, looking back at the good times we had in the past."

"It must have been painful for you all. But as long as we remember Ignitus, he will never be gone from us."

"I agree," Terrador nodded. "So how about you, Barlin?"

Barlin looked at the side, as he had a thought in mind. "There is one thing I have in mind, Terrador."

Nighttime fell in the Dragon Realms, and the moon shone its bright light in the night sky. After recovering from their wounds, the Straw Hat Pirates were gathering supplies, as Spyro and the others are with them. Raymond was with them, as he held the map.

"So you wanna go back to Dante's Freezer, Barlin?" Spyro asked. "Whatever for?"

"I just wanted to see what was left of the village I grew up in," Barlin said. "I might expect it to be in shambles after that ambush from the Apes."

"But were the snow leopards really alchemists, or was it just you and your dad?" Usopp asked.

"I'm sure it was just me and my father. I don't know anyone else who is an alchemist."

"That's something there," Sparx said. "How do dragons know alchemy anyway? Do they know gold? Silver? Copper, perhaps? How can a dragon draw a symbol?"

"Sparx, you're asking too many questions," Cynder said. "Let's just head over to Dante's Freezer."

"That's no problem," Luffy smiled. "We can take the Thousand Sunny."

"The Thousand Sunny? What's that?" Spyro asked.

Luffy made a toothy grin. "Shishishishishi! You'll be amazed at our ship!"

In the coming of dawn, the group had traveled through the forest the Straw Hat Pirates had used when they first entered the Dragon Realms.

"Do you know where your ship is?" Sparx asked. "I don't remember this part of the forest."

"It should still be there," Nami said.

They passed by the campsite the Straw Hat Pirates had set up, and they continued down the forest. As they arrived at the shore, Spyro and the others gasped at seeing the Thousand Sunny.

"Oh... that's your ship?" Cynder asked in awe.

"Yeah, the very pirate ship I call the Thousand Sunny," Franky said proudly. "Isn't she a beauty or what?"

"Wow, that's some pirate ship I ever saw," Hunter said. "I'm guessing it's because of the sunflower on the bow."

Franky's proud expression changed to a mad one. "That's not a sunflower, it's a lion!"

"I'm assuming you built this ship?" Raymond asked.

Franky smiled again. "You bet. I'm a shipwright."

"You think that ship will take us to Dante's Freezer?" Barlin asked.

"I'm sure it will! There's nothing my ship can't handle!" Franky slammed his arms together, forming a star. "Super creative!"

"Oh, great," Sparx said, "we're going to set sail on a pirate ship with a sun on it."

Franky got angry again. "I said it's a lion! Didn't I just tell you guys?!"

"Let's not waste time talking, we have an adventure," Spyro said.

"Wait, where's Zoro?" Usopp asked.

Deep in the forest, Zoro had gotten lost, as he wandered around. "Hey, guys! Where are you?!" He scowled as he looked around. "How did they lose me so fast?"

"Hey, dumbass! Over here!" Nami, Usopp, Sanji and Chopper's voices call out.

Zoro flinched and ran toward the direction.

The Straw Hat Pirates sailed out to sea as they head for Dante's Freezer.

Spyro and Cynder laid on deck, having a dragonberry pie Raymond had stored in a bag, when Spyro turned his head, got up and approached the side, looking at the sea. Then he turned his head as he looked up, and he saw the Straw Hat Jolly Roger flag waving in the wind. Then he approached Barlin as he sat by the mast, looking at his necklace. "Barlin?" He asked, breaking the silence. "I'm sorry to hear what you went through. Those poor leopards should never have gone through something as awful as that."

"It's not your fault, Spyro," said Barlin. "I only wish I could have done better; I felt fate had other plans at that time. All that training, all this power..." he covered his eyes, "...where did I go wrong?"

"You tried your best, Barlin. I'm sure they knew you did your best."

"Still, I wish I could have done better to save everyone. Although, I once wonder if... if..."

"If what?" Spyro asked.

"If some of the leopards might still be alive somewhere. I don't know why, but somehow a possibility clicked in my head." He looked at the necklace. "If anything, I was grateful to them, and my father, for what I became today: an alchemist. But to think there might have been an ancient dragon who once was an alchemist..." He then sighed.

"Well, it's all about learning new things," Cynder said.

"Yes. Thank you, Cynder," said Barlin.

The Thousand Sunny continued to sail down the sea. Luffy sat on the bow of the ship, when Spyro approached him and sat next to him. "Oh, hey, Spyro. Came to enjoy the view?" he asked.

"I was thinking of a chat," Spyro said. "I do wanna ask, why did you become a pirate?"

Luffy grinned. "A long time ago, Gold Roger the Pirate King left his greatest treasure to anyone who finds it, the legendary One Piece. My destiny is to find that treasure and become King of the Pirates, and if I die fighting for that, then I die."

Spyro blinked, admiring Luffy's determination. "That's pretty motivational there, Luffy," he said, grinning.

"Shishishishi!" Luffy chuckled with a toothy grin. "Oh, you have no idea!"

"I liked that hat you have on. Where did you get it?"

Luffy took his hat off as he looked at it. "It belonged to my hero, Shanks. He's a pirate too. I keep my promise that when I become a great pirate, I will return it to him. I could still remember how he came to my rescue."

"I see. I bet one day you might become a hero yourself."

Luffy frowned. "I thought I told you. A hero would share his meat with others." He pointed at himself with his finger. "I'm a pirate, so I want to eat all the meat!"

"That is still not defining the proper difference!" Nami shouted.

Spyro gave a slight chuckle. Then his nose picked up a cold scent, as he looked ahead. "We must be getting close to Dante's Freezer," he said. "It's gonna be a cold adventure there, so you might wanna wear something warm." He then smiled. "It's your call... Captain Luffy."

Luffy then made a toothy grin, as he put his hat on. "Alright! Let's go!"