As the Going Merry and Black Pearl continued their journey through the Grand Line, a bizarre event hit the Straw Hats. Almost literally. It started when bits of debris started to rain down. The next thing the crew knew, a ship fell down directly on top of them. Luckily it didn't hit them directly, but they still had to scramble when the ship hit the water and created a large tidal wave.
"Why are ships suddenly falling out of the sky?!" Nami wailed.
"You got me!" Nojiko said.
"Even for the Grand Line that's a weird occurrence!" Vivi added as she threw up a sand dome to block the still-falling debris.
"Not good! Not good! Not good!" Double-D panicked as he followed Vivi's example and threw up a water dome to protect the Pearl.
However, one thing wound up falling through. A long-dead skeleton. As the debris finally stopped falling, Boss picked up the skull.
"Alas, poor Yorick. I knew him well!"
A mighty slap on the back of his head stopped the renactment.
"Have some respect for the dead, He-Who-Is-Part-Turtle-Part-Manatee!" Rolf barked.
"That ship fell straight down on top of us. Not even hitting a Knock-Up Stream could account for that angle." Axol noted. "Almost like it was hanging in the air until just now then decided to plummet."
"Well, it had to have fallen from something," Usopp pointed out.
Robin took a look at the skeleton. "Judging from these bones this person had to have been dead for decades. The weathered look of the boat certainly lends itself to that idea. It's a very old-fashioned model."
"Uh, guys, I think the Log Pose is broken." Double-D spoke up.
"Not unless all three we have are broken," Rosa said.
She, Nami, and Double-D were in charge of their Log Poses. And all three were pointing directly upward, in the direction the ship had come from.
"How is this possible?" Saiko asked.
"If the Log Pose is pointing up it has to be pointing at something," Draco said. "Remember, the log compass registers an island with a strong magnetic pull, not the planet's true north pole."
"Which means the Log Pose must be pointing to a sky island," Hilda noted.
"There are islands in the sky?" Kaya asked in intrigue.
"Then why aren't we seeing any?" Kuina wondered as she looked up.
"It's not the island that's floating. It's an entire sea." Robin clarified.
"But that's scientifically impossible!" Double-D exclaimed. "I get that the Grand Line is different, but an entire floating sea is just way too impossible!"
"Really, Sockhead?" Eddy asked dryly. "After all we've been through so far, THIS is impossible?"
"Actually, something that's rarely mentioned is that one of Roger's crewmates was a woman with wings. And not some decoration, but real wings" Ben said.
Draco nodded. "Shanks mentioned how she came from an island in the sky but went back after Roger's execution to return to her husband."
"So there has to be a sky island we have to go to!" Sonson realized before thinking of something. "And if that ship came from the sky... It might have something useful on it!
"That winged woman used potent devices called Dials. Perhaps there are some on the ship we can make use of." Draco noted.
"How's our dead guy looking, Chopper?" Luffy asked.
"Autopsy isn't really my strong suit," Chopper admitted.
"It is mine," Luna said as she checked out the skeleton. "From the looks of the holes in the skull, our deceased friend underwent a certain medical procedure."
She tapped on two particular holes right next to each other.
"These marks indicate craterization. It's an old-fashioned procedure where they make holes in the skull to constrain brain tumors. Meaning this skeleton has likely been dead for at least 200 years."
"Whoa! So smart!" Gonta praised.
Robin had finished reconstruction of the corpse's coffin.
"Looks like the tumor is what killed him, and he was buried right on the ship. Chopper, is there any trace of tar on his teeth?"
"Yes, actually," Chopper said.
"So he was likely a man in his thirties who was native to the South Blue. Using tar to preserve the dead for long sea voyages is a common custom in that region." Robin said as she checked the log book found with the body. "According to this, the ship is called Saint Briss of the Briss Kingdom. It set sail from South Blue 208 years ago."
"The illustration does match the ship," Choi noted.
"The Saint Briss was on an exploration voyage. So it should still hold records and evidence." Robin said.
Luffy nodded. "Axol. Ruby. Boss. Start running a salvage operation. Focus on those Dial thingies, as well as any books that are still intact."
"AYE-AYE!"
Nami then found a map attached to the jacket of the skeleton. She gasped when it turned out to be a map of a place called Skypiea.
"There really is a sky island?"
"And judging from the fact that the ship fell right on top of us, I'm willing to bet the crew found a way up there and it spent the next 200 years in this Skypiea before finally falling off at some point." Robin said.
"That's amazing," Hobbes noted.
"See if you can find any other corpses. It might give us an idea of what happened that caused the ship to drift off the sky island." Ben ordered.
Luckily, the Merry was equipped with a diving bell. And with Boss being strong and amphibious, there was no need for scuba equipment. Gottfried stayed up top and kept a careful ear out for any passing giant Sea Kings, as well as kept communication with the salvage crew.
"Ruby Gillman, reporting in! It looks like the ship sank on top of a giant sea snake's nest. The good news is none of them are interested in us, so we should be able to pass through without incident."Ruby's voice came in.
Suddenly, another ship with a banana motif and a cymbal-banging monkey figurehead approached, with the crew banging out cymbals and their ape-like captain blowing a whistle to tune.
"Ahoy there, Straw Hats! Pleasure to meet the famous voices behind the We Are Broadcast in these waters."
"The monkeys have been unleashed!" Ed exclaimed.
"Well, if isn't the Masira Pirates. They're a well-known band of salvage masters in this area." Vivi said. "The big ape guy is their captain Masira. So what are you doing out here?"
"We saw the falling ship and headed out for the salvage. We've claimed these waters and any wrecked ships that find their way here as our own." Masira explained.
"We already have a few of our crew members down there gathering records and Dials. You're welcome to any treasure that happens to be found, however." Vivi said.
Nojiko whacked Nami over the head before her sister could argue.
"Let's compromise on that; me and my crew are big fans of yours. So we'll let you have all the records and Dials and split the actual treasure fifty-fifty. You got here first, after all."
"Well, that's very nice, a thank you." Double-D said gratefully.
Vivi nodded. "Sounds fair. Our salvage team is just above a sea serpent nest right now."
"You heard her, boys! Start raising the ship above the nest so their team can get at the goods!" Masira said to his crew.
The salvagers got work with metal diving suits. Meanwhile the figurehead of the Victory Hunter was deployed, revealing it to be a high-powered winch called the Barco Hunter.
"Our team down there is two Fishmen and a Kung-Fu Dugong." Draco explained. "You'll know 'em when you see 'em."
Masira nodded and spoke into the tubing to repeat the information.
"Thanks for the info, Captain! We already see them. The one named Axol is signaling us with a undersea lamp that he...apparently drew with a giant pen."
Masira nodded. "I gotta say, this is a great opportunity. We rarely get to show off our salvage skills in front of others, and this is the first time we've done a joint salvage operation."
"Ship's confirmed in position! We may begin the operations."Boss rallied in.
"Hold up a second! I just had to redirect some giant turtle swimming nearby." Gottfried said.
Said turtle surfaced not too far away from the two ships. Nami, Usopp, Eddy, Gin, Saiko, and Kaizo felt their jaws drop due to the turtle being the size of an island.
"I like turtles, Double-D!" Ed said.
"The beast is truly a sight to behold!" Rolf declared.
"That thing's tooth is as big as our ship...," Nami murmured. "It could have EATEN all our ships... Including the one we're salvaging..."
Suddenly, the entire sky went completely black just as the Saint Briss was fully hauled up.
"Night already?" Calvin wondered. "But I'm not tired!"
"No, even the Grand Line has a normal day and night cycle, and it's too early for night," Mifune said.
"Maybe rain starting soon?" Gonta suggested.
"I'm rot smelling rain," Lassoo chimed in.
The salvagers were concerned it was a bad omen, but Masira calmed them down.
"Storms happen all the time, boys. There's no need to panic."
"Uh, guys, I don't think that darkness is nighttime or clouds." Usopp said.
The two crews got a better look, and it turned out to be a giant shadow of some humanoid beings.
"What the heck am I looking at?!" Hilda exclaimed.
"Not even Giants can get that tall!" Vivi said.
"And I should know!" Calvin added. "I've lived with Giants!"
Draco then noticed the figure had wings.
"Hold on... It's just a shadow. That figure has wings like the sky woman from Roger's crew."
"So it's just the angle of light that's causing the giant shadow," Robin realized. "The closer an object is to a light source, the bigger the shadow becomes. Which means... The figure must be close to the sun."
Eddy smirked. "Well, Double-D? Convinced there's a sky island yet?
"Okay... Okay... You win..." Double-D sighed.
Everyone else breathed a sigh of relief, but of course, the Sea King didn't have the cognitive processes needed to realize what they did. And it wound up submerging and swimming off.
"Poor thing," Noire said sympathetically.
The shadows eventually passed, leaving the sun shining again. The crews then got started sorting out the haul. Nami, Eddy, and Calvin were at first upset that there was no gold or jewels.
"Don't go throwing it out just yet. Antiques like this can go for tens of thousands of Berris. And every town along the Grand Line has a dealer who can give you top coin for them, even in pirate towns." Masira said.
Ben was busy polishing off the Dials to examine, showing one to Penny.
"Oh my, they look just like sea shells!"
"Hey, Usopp, can you help us with these later?" Draco asked.
"Sure thing."
"How did the ship look?" Robin asked.
"Like it had been attacked and raided. Other than the terminal case we first found, there was only one other corpse on the ship. Which had a spear through its skull." Ruby said.
"We managed to recover some logbooks and charts. But they all cut off midsentence." Axol added.
"So they were attacked without warning and likely ambushed." Zoro noted.
"So you guys are planning to reach the land of Skypiea?" Masira asked. "Well then, you'll want to speak with my good buddy Cricket. He's over in Jaya, where Mock Town is situated."
"Sounds perfect!" Luffy grinned. "We were heading there anyway!"
"Let's set sail, lads and lasses!" Ben said.
"We'll only get a week while at Jaya to find a way to the sky island," Draco warned. "After that, the Log Pose will reset. At that point we might as well move on to Water 7."
"Looking to upgrade your ship?" Masira asked. "Can't say I blame you. I'm impressed you were able to take a caravel this far into the Grand Line. Selling off those antiques will definitely go a long way for that."
"Yeah, but the Black Pearl ain't no caravel now, is it?" Ben smirked as he patted the deck of his ship. "Not to worry, the Going Merry will match eyes with her soon."
As it turned out, the Straw Hats weren't the only ones finding success on the Grand Line. Despite having to reveal a bit more of his true strength, Buggy found it worth it as he and his crew successfully looted another treasure from an abandoned island.
"That's the third big score this week! Not to mention our bounties are starting to pick up!" Cabaji noted excitedly. "You've actually reached triple digits, Captain!"
"And just in time too. Those Straw Hat brats managed to take down Crocodile and one of their members even outright KILLED him." Buggy said as he smirked. "Could you imagine the prestige we'd get if someone like me took his place? Now there's some real flash!"
"That would mean working for the World Government, though," Mohji pointed out.
"Let me fill you in on a little secret, Mohji, The World Government might be holding the Warlords on a leash, but it's longer than they realize. None of them are truly loyal to their masters; most do as they please while occasionally dealing with the odd pirate target here or there." Buggy said.
Alvida chuckled as she slung an arm around Buggy's shoulder, the two grinning lovingly at each other.
"How about I go smooth talk the people discussing the new Warlord, hun?" she cooed, scratching his chin.
"If anyone can convince the old Buddha and Tactician it'd be you."
"Even since her new crash diet, Alvida and the Captain have really gotten smitten." Cabaji chuckled.
Mohji nodded. "Who would have thought Iron Mace Alvida and Buggy the Clown would work so well together?"
Yes, Alvida and Buggy had become a Captain Couple; two pirate captains in an alliance who it just so happened, where also dating. What few remnants of her old crew had joined up with the Buggy Pirates, who she'd decided to join until she caught the Straw Hats again. Now, many of the crew were elated to have such a beautoiful powerful new member, but Buggy remained nothing but professional and polite.
"There were a few lady guests on my old crew; Captain and Vice-Cap made sure I knew how to treat them." Buggy had explained to Alvida one night.
"Oh? And who were these poor souls?" She inquired.
"One of them was the wife of a member of our final voyage's crew; she brought her baby daughter and son with them for a bit. Vice-Cap's wife also visited on occasion…." Buggy explained, then suddenly became saddened. "…And the one woman the Captain ever loved."
The way he spoke made it clear that the Genius Jester had held an affection for the three women, the last in particular..and that something had befallen her. Normally, Alvida would question, but she moved the subject along:
"So, any other reason you're not drooling?"
"Well, frankly?" Buggy had teased. "…You're kind of….average."
THAT comment had sparked a battle between the two that lasted a whole night and morning, with insults hurled and screamed before Alvida had finally grabbed Buggy, kissed him, strung him back together and….
Well, lets just say that the jester's smile was a little different after that and Alvida lost interest in the male Straw Hat Captains.
"Speaking of which, we're not the only crew moving up. After they defeated Crocodile, the Straw Hats got some updated bounties." Alvida said as she showed the new posters.
Buggy looked them over. "We only just pulled ahead of them. My most recent bounty now holds at 120 million Berris. Still, it's an impressive jump for just starting in the Grand Line. Can't wait to see how they improve going forward."
"Come to think about it, you mentioned that Draco is the son of Whitebeard," Cabaji noted.
"Yes, the World's Strongest Man. I got to know just how strong he could be while I was still just a young cabin boy on Roger's crew. Whitebeard is a killer, born and bred. But not without his softer side. He values his crew more than anything. Do you know how plenty of captains see their crew as family? For Whitebeard, it's almost literal. There's one lesson everyone sailing the Grand Line must learn... Don't touch the Whitebeard Pirates. And Oda help anyone who thinks his son is the perfect weakness. Even if they could kill or capture him, all they'd do is bring Whitebeard's wrath down on their head."
"Is Whitebeard really so strong?" Alvida asked.
"He's the only man I've ever seen who could go neck to neck with Gol D. Roger. And don't forget, Roger was the King of the Pirates. Not even Whitebeard's former captain, Rocks D. Xebec, was a match for Roger, but Whitebeard himself was. Anyone who would pick a fight with him or a member of his crew and family is either insanely strong themselves, or stupidly ignorant. I certainly won't be doing it a second time."
Buggy then turned his attention to Ben's poster.
"Can't believe I didn't make the distinction before; old Jack's boy."
"You know him too, Captain?" Cabaji inquired.
"Less than Whitebeard, but on a far friendlier level." Buggy mused. "If I'm still kind of playing into my clown gimmick, Jack has full on embraced the look and act of a fool…and most would fall for that act."
"How come I've never heard of him, then?" Alvida asked her lover.
"He's a New World native; mostly sticks to that area and the end of the Grand Line." Buggy explained. "TRUE Pirate royalty, unlike the Emperors and, much as I loathe to say it, Roger himself. Second generation, never caught by Marines…and knowing he's Ben's father? Well, no wonder the kid could handle and wield three Devil Fruits."
Knightmare Lord A/N:
We're going to get into Jaya and then Skypiea! There will be some fun stuff that me and Mrotrax have planned to include going forward!
But the thing I'm most excited about is introducing Blackbeard as well as his own extended crew! We'll be getting into them in the next chapter, trust us! Buggy will also be expanding his crew as well! The Four Great Captains are going to get their own rival pirate crews going forward!
Anything you'd like to say, Mrotrax?
Mrotrax A/N:
Adding a bit more of Jack lore and making oit clear Buggy's mentors made sure he drank his 'respect women' juice...even if he needed a kick in the head and...other things to come around.
Stay safe and warm!