The Return Of Joyboy!

The perplexed crew stood on the deck of the Going Merry, watching as the massive sea turtle disappeared into the depths of the ocean.
"Bye! Bye! Mr. Turtle! Thanks for showing us the way!" Luffy hollered, leaning the ship's railing as his hands waved enthusiastically as if he could see the retreating back of the monstrous turtle.
Behind him, the rest of the Straw Hat Pirates were silent, their faces a mix of exhaustion and disbelief after the whirlwind of events that had unfolded over the day. A day that, remarkably, was far from over.
"I can't believe it," Sanji muttered, lighting what had to be his twentieth cigarette. He inhaled deeply, his hands trembling slightly. He couldn't tell whether it was from the absurdity of the situation or the sheer amount of nicotine coursing through his system. "Today's been one hell of a strange day." Not even the absurdity in the fairy tales could compare to what had occurred in just a mere few hours.
Usopp, leaning heavily against the railing, nodded weakly. His wide eyes darted across the ocean's surface, as if half-expecting another colossal creature to emerge. "A huge galleon falls out of the sky..." His voice wavered, and he wiped the sweat trickling down his temple. He shook his head vigorously, trying to forget the terrifying images of those colossal creatures but it didn't help! Not when his scared mind was supplying the possibility of the same creatures belonging to the Sky Island, where Luffy was hell bent on going.
Nami, standing nearby with her arms crossed tightly over her chest, shot Usopp a look that was equal parts exasperation and unease. "The log pose is still pointing up." She said, her voice tense and eyes locked on the needle of the log pose, which stubbornly aimed skyward, defying all logic. The navigator hugged herself as though trying to fend off a creeping chill. "This shouldn't even be possible..."
Chopper glanced at Luffy, his wide eyes filled with admiration. "Luffy made friends with a giant sea turtle," He recounted, his voice tinged with awe. "It's like... creatures can't help but flock to him." A small smile crept onto his face. He knew better than anyone how magnetic Luffy's presence was! His unnatural warmth was what had drawn him to Luffy, after all. "Still, it's amazing every time."
Robin stood apart from the others, her arms folded as her sharp eyes scanned the horizon. "The day turned to night without warning," She noted, her voice calm and measured. But beneath her composed exterior was a hint of unease that only those paying close attention could detect.
"And then those huuuuuge figures appeared!" Luffy chimed in, his grin spreading ear to ear. He turned to face the others, his excitement undimmed. "But..." His expression shifted, his brow furrowing as if he was in a deep thought. "They didn't feel alive. It was like... like they were too far away or something. Maybe they were from the Sky Island?" He scratched his head thoughtfully, before a huge warm grin spread across his face. "If they're there, I wanna meet 'em again! They were so cool!"
"I suddenly have I-can't-go-to-the-sky-island-itis!" Usopp uttered in fear, clutching his heart and pretending to faint on the deck, causing Chopper to scramble over to him in concern.
"Leave it to Luffy to always say and do the unpredictable." Sanji muttered, shooting a glance at Zoro whose eyes were looking far to the horizon, as if he was contemplating everything. But there was something there that told Sanji that Zoro knew far more about Luffy than any one of them. Sanji's jaw tightened at the thought. Was he jealous that Luffy had let Zoro in on his secrets and left him and the entire crew out of it? Sanji didn't know but he sure damn well would love to not freak about Luffy's constantly paling skin and finding him sleeping with sand—where the hell did that even come from in the middle of the ocean—and unnatural glow every fucking morning on the figurehead or the crow nest! He would really–
GROWL!
"Sanji! I'm hungry~!" All the brooding thoughts and the look of contemplation on the faces of the Strawhat pirates vanished as Luffy's giggles filled the atmosphere on the deck.
"I'll warm up your breakfast." Sanji spoke, his boots clattering on the deck as he walked towards the galley to warm up the breakfast which Zoro and Luffy had missed completely due to all the events. The rest of them had some but he would make sure to give everyone some snacks and warm chocolate milk after all that had happened.
Meanwhile on the deck, the others were finally coming out of their shocks and looking forward to the island which was getting clearer and clearer with each passing moment.
"I wonder what Jaya would be like," Usopp muttered from the crow nest, feeling a little better right now and trying his best to think that the colossal figures won't be there out in the Sky island and if there were any, Usopp gulped, at least Luffy would be there with him and the crew, right..?
"Awesome! It has to be awesome!" Luffy grinned, rocking on his place on the figurehead, while stuffing his face with the Takoyaki which Sanji passed on to everyone. "It even looks like one fun town to me!" Luffy grinned happily.
"Yeah, it looks like a mini resort." Usopp commented, agreeing with Luffy as a smile came over his face. "But is it just me or are the ships docked at the port all pirate ships?" Usopp questioned with a sweatdrop as he noticed the ships using his goggles.
"Don't be silly, Usopp! There's no way pirate ships would brazenly dock right in front of the town." Nami was quick to argue with Usopp.
"Jaya is a lawless island far removed from the reaches of any government!" Luffy chimed in. "Not even the World Government or the P.P.P.! It's free! And full of pirates and other criminals!" Luffy grinned happily, sharing his knowledge with the others and not noticing the utterly devastated look on Nami, Usopp and Chopper's face.
"Sounds like fun." Zoro grinned.
"NO WAY IT'S FUN!" Nami screeched, belatedly hearing the shouts and ruckus coming from the town. She could already see that Chopper and Usopp wouldn't be leaving the ship in fear and Robin preparing to leave to gather information on the Sky island while Sanji.. For the first time, Nami noticed the deep-in-thought face of Sanji, stealing glances between Luffy and Zoro. What was wrong with him? What's going on?
"We are almost there! Jaya! Jaya! Jaya!" Luffy was happily chanting, bouncing all over the place when all of a sudden the winds picked up, shielding him and batting away the bullet which came dangerously close to hitting him straight in his temple. Luffy's body tensed and jaw clenched, as an unforgettable Haki signature made itself registered with the attempted assassination. Albeit being faint and the person trying to conceal himself too, well, Luffy, for the sun's sake, couldn't ever forget the malicious, venomous presence. It was as if the very air around him thickened, weighed down by a dark, oppressive force.
'Teach.'
Luffy's breath hitched and his usual grin faltered. The winds around the Going Merry suddenly began to howl, a howling growl that carried the brunt of his anger. His strawhat shifted slightly as his face became obscured in shadow. The Haki itself was so suffocatingly dark that it seemed to distort everything it touched. It was more than what he had previously felt when he had met Teach for the first time. The Yami Yami no mi, the fucking devil fruit, was oozing and laughing at him, as if taunting him.
Luffy growled under his breath, his fists tightening as the memory of that vile, toxic presence flooded his mind—the cruel laughter, the manipulative words, the coldness that seeped into his bones. He couldn't avoid it. Teach, the bastard was off calling himself Blackbeard, was here and destiny wants him to go after Ace. Luffy would not let that happen. Not even in his dreams. He will tear Teach limb to limb, incinerate his body to ashes, crush that devil of Yami Yami no mi with his own two hands and make sure that destiny would fucking know what happens when it crosses him for the second time to claim their hands on his brother, on his possession!
"Luffy?" Luffy briefly registered the concern and worry evident in Sanji's voice, despite him wanting to shoot questions at him.
Luffy could even feel the worried gazes of the others on his person, his grip on the railing tightened and his knuckles whitened. The air around him seemed to shift—winds whipped past the deck , fierce and howling, as though reflecting all of the inner anger which Luffy felt towards just one thing.
"What's wrong? Is something going to happen again?" It was Usopp who stammered, his nervous eyes darting between Luffy and the horizon.
Luffy didn't answer right away. His gaze was fixed on the distant shore, his eyes hidden from others but dark and unreadable. And then, low and guttural, a single word let out from Luffy's mouth. "Teach."
"Eh? What?" Nami questioned, even though she was standing closer to Luffy than the others, she couldn't hear the word which Luffy uttered, but whatever it was, it had to be concerning to make their sunshine incarnate this angry. Nami hadn't seen Luffy this angry ever, not even when he was fighting Arlong, or when the sandstorm was engulfing Yuba.
The winds were howling all around him, whipping through the sails of the ship while the sea churned violently beneath them, leading everyone to hold onto something to keep themselves from toppling over.
"Oi, Luffy! What's going on?" Zoro questioned, his eyes narrowing at Luffy. He didn't know what was going on, but something in the island has gotten the golden hellish opportunity to incur the wrath of the Nika, that Zoro was sure about.
"Luffy! The winds will tear apart the sails!" Sanji shouted over the whooshing and angry sounds of the wind, knowing full well that it was Luffy who was losing control of his emotions. But wasn't the weather responding more strongly than before?
"NIKA!"
Luffy took a deep breath, his grip frighteningly tight on the railing yet he commanded the winds to slow down, assuring them mentally that he was fine—even if he felt far from it— but right now, he didn't need them to bring forth the chaos which was sure to happen, soon. He was not going to let Teach—
"Nika, don't fight against destiny. You can't stop what's already been set in motion."
Luffy could hear the soft yet commanding voice, full of desperation and concern from his mother, which was cutting through his anger like a sharp blade, cooing at him to calm down and not go after that blasted man. The very blasted man, whose Haki's pitch black, suffocating and utterly vile. The same fucking man who will lead his brother to death—
'Destiny cannot take what's mine!' Luffy growled out mentally to his mother, forcing himself to calm down. 'Also, Blackbeard has already started it and he would regret it.'
"Luffy," Zoro called firmly, stepping closer. "What's going on? Why are you so on edge?" Zoro whispered the last part only for Luffy to hear as he belatedly noticed that the winds calmed down and they had finally reached the island.
Luffy forced himself to relax, loosening his grip on the railing. His eyes remained hidden beneath his hat. "It's nothing," He said, his tone quieter but firm. "I'll handle it." Yeah, he will handle it on his own. There was no need to drag his crew in this mess.
The crew exchanged uneasy glances, but Zoro's sharp gaze lingered on Luffy longer than anyone else's.
"Nika... don't. Don't chase after that thing!"
Luffy ignored his mother for the first time, his eyes set on the approaching island.
"..We need to find information about the Skypiea, if you still want to go there, that is." Nami spoke, trying to ignore whatever weird thing that happened with Luffy right now. Yeah, she was concerned for him, but in no way she was going to ask him about it. The past questions and answers had given them enough information to be hunted down by the World Government if they ever got wind of it. So, who knows what would happen if she questioned Luffy right now? A war?
"Yeah, we need information!" Usopp was happy to distract himself from something, anything to not question Luffy about what was happening. He was sure that if there is something out there in the island which could be a.. threat then he was sure that Luffy or Zoro or Sanji will handle it easily. He trusts them but if they can't t-then Captain U-Usopp will t-take the c-charge and rescue his friends!
"Yeah! To the Sky Island!" Luffy finally allowed a grin to spread across his face as he noticed that they were docked on the island and bounced over the railings of the ship to land on the solid ground. "I can't wait to get there!" Luffy chirped happily, as he glanced at the lawless streets of Jaya.
The town sprawled before them like a wild, untamed jungle of pirates and criminals, some fighting off with another, some gambling, some playing rough and many more. The air was also thick with the smell of sweat, rotting food and the stench of unwashed bodies, making the cleaner members of the crew scrunch their noses in disgust. The buildings were haphazardly thrown together, with windows boarded up and doors that creaked on their hinges. Pirates walked freely, their eyes scanning the streets with a predatory gleam while others sat on crates or leaned against walls, exchanging deals and dirty secrets.
Luffy's sudden bright, infectious energy seemed at odds with the dark atmosphere oozing out of the town, but it didn't faze him at all. He was far too excited about finding information from their next adventure to care about the surrounding chaos, especially after he had shoved the problem with Blackbeard for later and in the back of his mind.
"Come on! Let's go!" Luffy cheered, bouncing on the balls of his feet, eager to explore the chaotic town.
"I'll tag along." Zoro muttered, recovering from the shock of Luffy's emotions first and jumping off the ship after Luffy. He wanted to say that he was tagging along to keep Luffy in check and away from trouble but in reality he wanted to make sure that Luffy was okay. The surge of unpredictable emotions and the unfamiliarity of them on Luffy's face was worrying enough. The grief, anger and now.. something more darker, which Luffy was concealing very well with his joy and happiness. He wanted to make sure Luffy didn't get too deep into whatever had been bothering him.
"It's impossible.." Nami muttered, holding the railing and peeking out towards Zoro and Luffy. "There's just no way those two are not gonna cause trouble." She spoke as a matter of fact.
"Yeah.. that town already looks like trouble. There's no way. Not now. Not ever." Usopp agreed from beside her, as he and Chopper watched the backs of Luffy and Zoro, about to disappear with the bustling crowd.
"I can't leave them be," Nami stated, climbing on top of the railing to hop down the ship. There's no way that she was going to let them get chased by pirates now in this town. "Wait! Zoro! Luffy!"
"There she goes.." Chopper murmured with a sweatdrop, watching as Nami caught up to Zoro and Luffy.
"Well, I'm sure she'll be safe with those two." Usopp commented with a sigh.
"Nami's out with those two? And even Robin left to gather information on the Sky island!" Sanji spoke, lighting another cigarette, which might be his fortieth since the morning. "I'm outta here too then." He really needed to have a stroll to clear his mind and digest the information. But before he could leave, Usopp and Chopper, both with snot and tears dripping from their noses and eyes latched onto his leg, begging him to not leave them alone.
Meanwhile, as Luffy, Zoro and Nami walked through the streets, they encountered a number of shady figures eyeing them—pirates with greasy hair and bulging muscles, drunks slumped on corners, and even a few women wearing far too little clothing to be considered respectable. All of them watched them like vultures sizing up their next meal, but they weren't approaching them, even if some of their eyes felt practically glued to Luffy's bracelets or Nami's body. It was as if something was warning them to not take a single step and indeed there was.
Luffy, even though he was in a far better mood after his realization of Teach being in the island, couldn't help but not want to bother with the weak pirates littering all over the town, sizing him and his friends. Hence, there was a little bit of his Haki, a mere drop of it, leaking from him, giving the dumb pirates and criminals a warning to not approach or it would not end up well. But was he even in the mood to engage with some weak pirates? Nah, he has better plans than that!
"Alright, Luffy, promise me something," Nami suddenly said, her voice firm as she grabbed Luffy by his wrist, stopping him in his tracks. "Don't cause a ruckus." She couldn't help but feel that Luffy was going to do it nonetheless but they can't do it this time. "We're here to gather information and if you or Zoro fight then we can't get enough information to get to Sky Island. So, please promise me you both will not fight." Nami proclaimed, her eyes darting to Zoro as well, giving him a fair warning.
For a split second, there was a frown on Luffy's lips before he grinned widely and gave a casual playful salute to Nami. "Of course! I won't fight until we find out how to get to Skypiea! After that, no promises!" He added, his voice full of mischief.
Zoro's sharp eyes narrowed at Luffy's wordings. He caught onto the unspoken promise that Luffy wasn't fully intending to avoid trouble, and a frown tugged at the corners of his mouth at the meaning behind it. There was trouble—an enemy— on the island, which Luffy knew from the moment they reached here and he wasn't going to back down. Hell, he was walking straight towards it for all he knows.
The trio started walking once again, looking for a bar or tavern to find information but all they could see was uneven buildings and hear noises. The clink of glass bottles, the cries of street vendors hawking their wares, and the raucous laughter of pirates filled the air. The walls of the buildings were coated in grime, and the ground was uneven, littered with discarded garbage and broken bottles. And every so often, a fight broke out between the pirates, but the city was so used to it that no one seemed to even bat an eye.
As the trio continued walking, an old man, hunched and sickly, suddenly fell from his horse, collapsing in the middle of the road, right in front of them. His horse stumbled and fell beside him, its eyes wide with fear, before getting up after coughing some blood. The bustling crowd didn't seem to care much, as they walked around the fallen man, ignoring his pleas for help.
"Huh? Who's he?" Nami questioned, backing away from the strange man.
"Look, he fell off his sick horse." Luffy pointed out nonchalantly.
"Yeah, he fell off his sick horse." Zoro spoke, agreeing with Luffy, as they both watched intently on the next move of the sick man.
"Ughh.." The fallen man groaned, coughing up blood on the streets, his droopy, tired eyes looking straight at Luffy, which was giving bad vibes to Luffy, who had stopped leaking his Haki the moment he had promised to Nami to not cause any ruckus.
"He's coughing up blood." Zoro pointed out this time.
"Yeah, he's coughing up blood." Luffy repeated, happily playing along with Zoro.
"You two.. I'm sorry but.. could you help me get back up..?" The sickly man croaked, his voice was frail and his shaking hand extended towards them. It almost appeared that he was one step away from death.
"You just don't want to stand up on your own, don't you?" Zoro sweat dropped but nonetheless moved forward to throw the man back on his horse, which surprisingly held onto the weight of the sick man.
"Allow me to thank you.." The sickly man, trembling all over and hunching on his horse, whose name was ironically 'Stronger', spoke, extending his hand, holding a gleaming, red apple. "Here, have this apple, kid." He presented the apple towards Luffy with his eyes gleaming with something dark.

"Yeah, that totally ain't suspicious. Move along, buddy." Zoro uttered with a sweatdrop, standing between the man and Luffy. No way, was Luffy an idiot to take the apple too—
"Free apple?"
"Don't take that, Luffy!" Nami was quick to yank Luffy away from the suspicious sick man, her instincts warning her something was totally wrong with the apple like Zoro.
Luffy, still feeling a bit hungry but not trusting the old man, specially after feeling his malicious intentions, stared at the apple for a long moment before a pout formed over his lips. "It's no big deal. Keep the apple, sick guy." He said with a slight grin. "I'm not hungry enough to take something from a stranger."
Luffy refusing free food and not fighting for it? A big sign of something being wrong. But Luffy of all people out there in the world, remembering 'Stranger Danger' has to signal the end of the world.
"LUFFY! ARE YOU OKAY?!!" Nami hurriedly checked over Luffy, placing her hand on his forehead and checking his temperature, which was slightly higher than his 'normal' temperature. While Zoro stood there shocked, his jaw dropping as Luffy whined childishly at Nami's fussing.
None of the trio, in the midst of their fussing and whining, noticed the old man's face fall, his grin tightening as his eyes narrowed darkly at Luffy but he was quick to mask the change with another sickly smile and move away as his captain had ordered him. They can't show all their moves yet.
After the fussing of Nami and worries of Zoro and whining of Luffy, the trio finally moved on, unaware of the danger they'd just narrowly avoided but as they walked further into the town, a loud shout rang out from behind them.
"Someone exploded after eating that apple!" The shout came from a nearby merchant, his face pale with terror. He pointed toward the crowd where the old man had disappeared, his voice shaking. "That old man... he's trying to poison people!"
The air around them seemed to thicken with tension but Nami, Zoro and Luffy all looked at each other, relieved that Luffy hadn't taken the apple.
"That was a close call," Nami muttered, eyes scanning their surroundings, searching for any signs of the sickly old guy who had disappeared.
Luffy didn't reply, his eyes hovering over to the alley the sick guy disappeared to. This was the second attempt on his life, not that they would be able to kill him, but Teach better pray to his demons to help him when they face each other, because no one could save him.
Zoro, on the other hand, wasn't so sure of Nami's words. Sure, Luffy had avoided getting blasted but it didn't mean he had to like it. That had been too close. The old man had left quickly, and something told him they'd barely escaped a bigger trap. His hand tightened around his swords. If this was a sign of things to come, they would have to be extra careful on this island.
"Well," Zoro said, his voice low. "Let's keep moving. This place is getting weirder by the minute." The sooner they get any info on the sky island, the sooner they can leave the weird town.
"Yeah!" Luffy chirped, enthusiastically leading the way happily once again.
The trio soon found themselves standing before a lively tavern, the scent of grilled meat and the sound of boisterous chatter luring them side. They settled on the counter, placed their orders and began to enjoy their drinks and food, deciding to gather information after filling their bellies a little. Around them, the bar bustled with an unusual harmony of locals and pirates. The two groups seemed to coexist in a delicate balance, their loud conversations and hearty laugh overlapping without much conflict.
But the calm bustle was shut down with a loud bang as the wooden doors of the tavern were slammed open and a spiky, blonde haired man with a hyena-like grin strolled in.
"It's Bellamy.. The Hyena!" Someone whispered fearfully.
The entire bar fell silent, save for the murmurs of the terrified patrons. Pirates and locals alike recoiled slightly as Bellamy scanned the room, his eyes gleaming with amusement. "Alright," He said, his voice dripping with mockery. "I heard there's a pirate wearin' a strawhat around here. Care to point him out?"
The crowd hesitated for a moment, before parting slightly, revealing Luffy casually sitting casually at the counter. He was entirely unfazed, his focus solely on his food as if he hadn't noticed the growing tension.
Bellamy's grin twisted into a sneer. "So, you're the one they call 'Strawhat' Luffy, huh? A bounty of 50 million berries.. and this is what you look like? Ridiculously childish!" Bellamy laughed, a sharp and cruel sound which echoed through the now silent tavern. He swaggered over, the crowd parting to let him through. "Hey, barekeep!" He called out, slamming a fist on the counter. "Give me the most expensive bottle you have. A glass for me and.." He spoke and then pointed to Luffy, who was curiously looking at him. "One for my lil friend here."
The barkeep hurried to comply, clearly wanting to avoid trouble. Bellamy grabbed his glass and shoved the second one toward Luffy, who paused mid bite to glance at it with curiosity before raising it to his lips but before he could even take a sip, Bellamy suddenly lunged forward, aiming to slam Luffy's head into the table. But his attack never landed. Luffy, quick as ever, dodged effortlessly, landing on Zoro's stool, and plopping into his lap.
Bellamy's grin vanished, replaced by a scowl as he realized his attack had failed. "You little—!"
Zoro, his patience already thin, grabbed Luffy with one hand to keep him steady while unsheathing his sword with the other. The blade gleamed dangerously as he pointed it directly at Bellamy's throat, his sharp gaze promising no mercy.
"And what do you think you're doing?" Zoro growled, his tone low and threatening.
Bellamy's lip curled in disdain. "Are you the kid's babysitter?" He sneered, looking between Zoro and Luffy, who was sitting casually on the swordsman's lap and had returned to sipping his drink and scrunching his nose at the taste before dumping its content on the floor.
"The drink tasted yucky." Luffy said simply, placing the glass back on the counter and resuming his meal as if he wasn't the center of the growing tension.
Zoro's grip on his sword tightened, his glare sharp enough to cut through steel. "You've got ten seconds to back off before I make you regret it." He was already not feeling good that the old sick guy had attempted to kill Luffy earlier. But now this? He for sure won't let the bastard touch his captain.
But despite Zoro's threat, Bellamy wasn't backing down. If anything, the threat seemed to embolden him. "What's a bounty kid like him even doin' here, huh? Probably some unwanted little brat with no parents to keep him out of trouble. Isn't that right, Strawhat?"
The casual insult struck a nerve. Luffy's irises flickered to a dangerous shade of red as he glared at Bellamy, his usual carefree demeanor replaced by something far colder.
"Repeat that," Luffy said, his voice low and edged with a warning. Sure, Luffy's immensely loved by his dad and even brothers but the fight with his mother recently and his real father, the freaking Almighty, who never pays attention to him, hurt damn bad.
The shift in Luffy's mood was enough to make Nami and Zoro tense. They exchanged a quick glance, both knowing that Bellamy had unknowingly hit a sore spot.
But Bellamy, oblivious, continued his taunts. "What? Hit a little close to home? Kids like you—dreamers—are all the same. No family, no future. You think that bounty on your head means anything? It's just a price tag on a dumb little kid who doesn't know his place."
"That's enough," Zoro snapped, his sword pressing closer to Bellamy's throat.
Bellamy stepped back with a laugh, raising his hands in mock surrender. "Relax, swordsman. I'm just havin' a bit of fun. Besides..." His eyes gleamed with an idea. "A kid with a bounty like his would fetch a pretty price. Maybe I'll sell him to someone who'd appreciate him more—someone like Doflamingo."
That was the last straw.
Luffy tugged down his hat, his jaws clenching and his ears momentarily catching the angry growls of the winds which wanted to tear the tavern down, tear the man who was insulting their king and bring them to his knees. "Zoro." Luffy simply said, his voice calm but resolute.
The swordsman smirked, understanding immediately. He adjusted his grip on his sword and faced Bellamy fully. "You heard him. Time for you to leave, bastard."
Bellamy's grin faltered, replaced by a scowl. "You wanna fight me over this brat? Fine by me. Let's see what you've got, swordsman."
Before the tension could erupt into a full-blown fight, Nami slammed her hands on the counter, drawing everyone's attention. "Enough!" She snapped, glaring at both Zoro and Bellamy before turning to the barkeep. She was angry at Bellamy for saying such words about Luffy but right now they needed to find a way to the Sky island too. "We're here for information, not a bar fight." She said, her expression softening when she saw the flicker of sadness in Luffy's eyes before he nodded and held onto Zoro, keeping his promise to not start any ruckus. "Barkeep, we want to go to Sky Island. Do you know anything about it?"
The question hung in the air for a moment before the entire bar burst into laughter.
"Sky Island?!" One pirate wheezed, clutching his stomach.
"Did you hear that? She actually believes that nonsense!" Another chimed in.
Bellamy laughed the loudest, slapping the counter as tears streamed from his eyes. "You've gotta be kidding me! You're chasing dreams? What is this, the Age of Gold Roger? The age of pirates who can dream is over!"
Nami's cheeks flushed red with embarrassment and frustration, but she stood her ground. "The Log Pose is pointing up. It's proof—"
"'The Log Pose is pointing up!' Do you even hear yourself?" Bellamy cut her off with a mocking imitation.
The trio didn't wait to hear more. Luffy tugged his hat lower, turning toward the exit. "Let's go," He said, his voice firm. He wouldn't guarantee that the island would stay floating if he spent even a mere minute inside the tavern.
Zoro growled and Nami seemed angry at the pirates but none of them uttered a word as they followed Luffy out of the tavern, on the way of which, the patrons jeered and threw scraps of food and empty glasses at them. Zoro shielded Nami while Luffy dodged effortlessly, as they stepped out into the cool evening air and headed back to the ship.
As they made their way out, the patrons jeered and threw scraps of food and empty glasses at them. Zoro shielded Nami while Luffy dodged effortlessly, the three of them stepping out into the cool evening air and heading back to their ship.
. 
The walk back to the Merry was far from peaceful. Nami had stomped ahead, her face flushed with anger as scraps of food and splinters of wood clung to her clothes and hair. Luffy followed behind, eerily quiet, while Zoro walked alongside him, his usual calm tempered by subtle glances at their captain.
"They're nothing but a bunch of rotten bastards! Mocking us and throwing garbage like that!" Nami fumed as they reached the shore and were far away from the bustling streets crawling with lowly criminals and pirates. "And you guys! What the hell was that?! If you call yourselves men, you should unleash some whoop-ass when jerks come askin' got it!" Nami snapped turning to face Zoro and Luffy. Her temperament was nowhere near calm.
"You're the one who told us not to cause trouble," Zoro grunted, brushing the glass splinters from his clothes, while Luffy said nothing as he climbed on the ship with his strawhat tipped low to obscure his face.
"THE PAST IS FOR THE PAST FOR A REASON! DON'T DRAG IT OUT TO THE PRESENT!" Nami shouted angrily at Zoro. "OR I'LL MAKE YOU PHYSICALLY UNABLE TO BRING IT UP!"
"What's with those wounds!? What happened?!" Usopp freaked out the moment Luffy landed softly on the deck and vanished to the men's cabin without a word.
"Nami! Nami, are you alright?!" Sanji came out rushing from the galley to see his beautiful Nami covered in food and glass splinters. And was that Mosshead, behind her with his face drenched in a sticky liquid?
"AGHH!!! DOCTOOOOR!" Chopper shrieked, leading Usopp to remind him that it was him, who is the doctor of their crew. Chopper rushed towards Zoro to give him a check up and patching up his wounds, as even Nami disappeared in the woman's cabin, muttering something about needing a bath.
Sanji, standing further back, clenched his jaw as he took in the sorry state of Nami and Zoro and after a moment, of Luffy, who came out of the men's quarters after washing his face and changing the clothes. "What kind of trash town lets this happen?" He questioned, his hand clenching on his cigarette the moment he saw the closed off expression on Luffy and allowed Chopper to fuss over him.
"It's not worth it." Zoro answered as he looked at Luffy, who was sitting cross legged near the mast, staring at the horizon with an unnerving calmness as his strawhat remained tipped forward to shadow his face. The only sign of his mood was the occasional tightening of his jaw and the winds that had been sweeping through the town and now across the ship, careful to not snap any rope or tug hard at the sails.
Meanwhile, Nami stepped out of the bath with steam billowing around her as she dried her hair. The warm water had washed away the grime and splinters but it hadn't down much to soothe her mood. The memory of those jeering voices and mocking laughter still clung to her like a stubborn stain.
"Dreams are for fools!" "Sky Island? What a joke!" 
Their words rang in her ears, fanning the embers of her frustration. Pulling on fresh clothes, Nami muttered under her breath, "Stupid pirates. Stupid town." As she walked onto the deck, the afternoon breeze greeted her, but her eyes immediately landed on the quiet figure near the mast. Luffy sat cross-legged, his straw hat tipped slightly forward, staring at the horizon.
Nami paused mid-step. Something about the way he was sitting, the stillness in his posture, made her chest tighten. She even noticed Zoro and Sanji stealing occasional glances at Luffy as if waiting for him to snap out of it. Nami's lips pressed into a thin line. Luffy's silence was unsettling and Zoro's watchful attitude only made it worse. She hesitated. A part of her wanted to leave him alone, to give him space but another part refused to ignore the shift n his demeanor. But before she could make up her mind, the sound of footsteps drew her attention.
"My, my, doesn't things seem awfully quiet here?" Robin's voice was calm and cTomposed as she emerged onto the deck, carrying a bag slung over her shoulder.
Nami turned sharply towards Robin, her lingering frustration finding a new target. "Where the hell have you been, Robin?!" She snapped, her hands on her hips.
Robin raised an eyebrow at Nami's tone but didn't lose her composure as she spoke with a calm smile, not failing to notice the tension surrounding them all. "I was shopping for clothes and..." She reached into her bag and pulled out a rolled-up parchment. "...to gather information about Sky Island."
Nami's anger flared. "Sky Island again! You're the one who started this whole mess, and now you're off doing your own thing while we're—" She stopped herself, biting down on the words.
Robin remained calm, as if she hadn't just been accused. "I found something useful," She said, pulling out a rolled-up map from her bag. "This is a map of Jaya. We're here in Mocktown, but on the other side of the island, there's an outcast named Montblanc Cricket. He was chased out of Mocktown for speaking of dreams. I thought he might be of interest to us."
Nami stared at the map, her anger dimming but her frustration still evident. "An outcast..." She repeated, frowning as she studied the map. Her frustration seemed to ease slightly, replaced by a glimmer of curiosity.
"A man chased out of this town for talking about dreams." Robin offered a faint smile and handed the map to Nami. "Seems like we may have mutual interests, doesn't it?"
For a moment, there was only the sound of the wind rustling the sails. Then, Zoro turned to Luffy. "What do you think, Captain?"
Luffy's gaze didn't leave the horizon as he finally spoke, his voice calm but resolute. "Let's go."
.
Cricket's lungs burned as he surfaced, the salty tang of the ocean filling his senses as he gasped for air. His latest dive had yielded nothing but debris—broken shells, rotting wood, and the mocking emptiness of the ocean floor. Gold, it seemed, continued to elude him. He wiped the water from his face, his sharp eyes narrowing as something caught his attention: the faint shadow of a ship passing overhead.
A moment later, muffled noises reached his ears, carried across the water from his house. He frowned, instinctively clutching his spear. 'Intruders?' His mind leapt to the worst conclusion: thieves, likely from Mocktown, come to plunder what they assumed was his treasure.
Without wasting a moment, Cricket lunged out of the water, his powerful frame cutting through the waves as he made for the shore. The adrenaline pounding in his veins drowned out the strain in his chest that had been bothering him for weeks. He reached the house in seconds, his muscles coiling as he launched himself toward the source of the noise.
The first thing he noticed was a kid with a straw hat, who was curiously looking at him. Cricket didn't hesitate—he swung his leg at the intruder, aiming to knock him aside. To his surprise, the kid dodged with an almost casual ease, leaping back with a pout.
Before Cricket could react, a blur of motion caught his eye, and the next thing he knew, a sharp kick landed against his side. He staggered, his teeth gritting as he turned to face the attacker: a blonde man with a sharp suit and a cigarette clamped between his teeth.
"Oi, what's your problem, old man?" The blonde snapped, landing lightly on the balls of his feet.
"You pirates think you can just waltz in and take what's mine?" Cricket growled, tightening his grip on the spear.
The blonde sneered, raising his leg for another strike, but before either could attack, a sharp, stabbing pain exploded in Cricket's chest. His breath hitched, his vision blurred, and his legs gave out beneath him. He hit the ground hard, clutching his chest as the world tilted around him. His heart felt like it was being squeezed in a vice, every beat a jagged stab of pain. He could hear muffled voices around him, distant and distorted, as his body gave in to the weight of exhaustion.
When Cricket came to his senses again, he heard the familiar voice of Mashira and Shoujou chatting happily with a childish voice. When he finally opened his eyes again, the familiar wooden ceiling of his house greeted him along with his throbbing head and the same ache in his chest which lingered like a dull, insistent drumbeat.
"Diamond-head mister is up!" The childish voice pointed out, allowing Cricket to match the voice to the same kid who he had tried to attack before. But why was he, right now, treated by the very same people who are trying to steal his gold and whom he had attacked? Strange. Truly strange pirates.
"Boss! You're awake!" A familiar, booming voice exclaimed, and Cricket turned his head to see Mashira and Shoujou standing by his side, their faces filled with relief.
Cricket groaned, trying to sit up, but a gentle, furred hoof pushed him back down.
"Don't move too much," A soft voice said. Cricket blinked, his gaze falling on the strangest sight he'd ever seen: a small reindeer wearing a hat, holding a stethoscope in one hand—or hoof, rather.
"What the hell..." Cricket muttered, his voice hoarse.
"Relax," The reindeer said, his tone brisk but kind. "You've been overexerting yourself. You have diver's disease—symptoms like chest pain, dizziness, and fainting spells happen when you dive too much without taking proper care of your body."
Mashira and Shoujou both looked alarmed. "You've been diving too deep, Boss! We told you to take it easy!"
Cricket ignored them, his attention shifting to the group of strangers standing further back. The kid with the straw hat was there, along with the blonde man who had kicked him earlier, a swordsman with green hair, and a girl with orange hair holding a map.
"Diamond head mister! I got stuff I wanted to ask!" The strawhat kid exclaimed, stepping closer with an eager grin.
"Who's asking?" Cricket frowned, his instincts still wary.
"I'm Monkey D. Luffy, and we wanna go to Sky Island! Teach us how!"
Cricket froze for a moment, stunned by the sheer audacity of the request. Sky Island? He almost laughed, but the sincerity in the kid's voice stopped him. "You folks seriously believe in that?!" He asked dryly, leaning back against the wall.
"WHAT WAS THAT?!" The orange haired girl growled with a muderous glare, only stopped by the long nosed teenager who was keeping her from reaching him in the leu of him being a 'sick patient'.
"But sky islands exits." Luffy stated as if he was stating a fact not a myth. "We just need you to show us how to get there."
Cricket sighed, running a hand through his disheveled hair. He had no idea what to make of them yet. But the earnestness in the boy's words tugged at something Cricket hadn't felt in a long time. He glanced at the map they had, noticed the eagerness in their eyes, and sighed. "Let me tell you a story first."
The room grew quiet. Even the monkey brothers, Mashira and Shoujou, sat down, listening intently.
"My name, Montblanc Cricket, comes with a heavy burden. You might've heard of my ancestor—Montblanc Noland." He pulled out a weathered logbook from a nearby shelf, running his fingers over its cover. "Noland was an explorer, a dreamer, and my ancestor. He discovered the legendary city of gold on Jaya and returned to his homeland with stories of wealth that could change the world. But when he brought his king back to see it.." Cricket paused, a bitter smile crossing his face. "The city was gone. Sank beneath the waves. He was executed as a liar, and the name Montblanc became a curse. A joke." He lighted a cigarette, despite the frown on the doctor's face. "Growing up, I hated that name. People mocked me, called me a liar before I even opened my mouth. I wanted nothing to do with my family's so-called legacy." He leaned back, staring at the cracked ceiling above.
"So what changed?" The cook, Sanji, asked, his voice unusually soft. That pointed about their knowledge that they knew that the very island they were on was the island which Noland claimed to have gold in.
Cricket gave a dry laugh. "I ended up here by accident one day, chasing something completely unrelated. But as I stayed, I realized I couldn't escape it. This island was tied to my family's story, whether I liked it or not. Eventually, it became personal—not about proving Noland right, but about settling things between me and him." He spoke, getting full attention from his listeners. "I don't care if there really was gold or not. I didn't come here to find gold and clear up my ancestor's name. It's a personal fight between me and the man who had ruined my life." Cricket inhaled the smoke, allowing it to wash over him. "Before I kick the bucket, I want to settle the issue once and for all.."
The room was silent for a long moment. Then Nami spoke, her voice surprisingly gentle. "So that's why you stayed here." While Usopp's cried at the story, murmuring about a true man.
Cricket shrugged. "More or less." He stood up, stretching his arms. "But enough about me. If you're serious about reaching Sky Island, I can help you. It's not easy, though. You'll need guts, luck, and a hell of a lot of preparation."
Nami's eyes narrowed. "We've got all of that. Just tell us what to do."
Cricket smirked. He liked their spirit, even if they were crazy. That's why he told them about the phenomenon that occurs in the seas when the day turns night, about the emperonuimbus cloud where the sky island had to be, if it does exists. He told them about the knock up stream which would throw them to the sky with the right timing and right force, but if not then they would end up dead. A part of him wondered if that would deter the pirates from believing on their crazy, foolish dream and it did deter the long nosed teenager but the others didn't sweat a drop.
"So we're gonna get blasted to bits if a single thing went wrong..?" The long nosed teen, Usopp, trembled and shook in fear at the very thought of death.
"Yes, if your ship would fail to catch anything up in the sky then your ship will come crashing down to a watery grave for all for your crew." Cricket announced, being frank and serious, while he watched as tears started falling from Usopp's eyes and stars started shining from Luffy's. Strange. "Also, even the emprornimbus located at the right spot, if it turns out the sky island doesn't exist, then again, the end result are your deaths."
"A..Alright! We'll just give up on sky island then!" Usopp's voice cracked as he tried to persuade Luffy against it. "Right, Luffy?"
"It'll be fine. Let's go." Luffy cheered, batting away Usopp and his insecurities to the corner.
"It'll be fine?! There you go again, making light of danger without even a shred of proof." Usopp cried in the corner. "Just take a look at the poor Going Merry for god's ake! Look how beaten and battered she is! There's no way she could stand up to one of nature's greatest calamity in her current state."
And true to Usopp's words, Luffy knew the fact that Merry's spirit was flickering. Even though they have kept her safe from harm's way, she just wasn't meant for the treacherous seas of Grand Line.
"Yes, it would be impossible for your ship even if she were brand new." It was Cricket who spoke this time, sparing a glance at the small caravel ship from the window. He spared a glance at Mashira and Shoujou who seemed to like their dreamer guests.
"WHAT?!"
"Considering the speed, weight and strength.. that ship of yours would be blasted into bits and pieces at the same time as the exploding stream." Cricket continued speaking ignoring the angry glare which Usopp sent him. "But don't worry about that point at least. Masira and Shoujou can guarantee your ship will stay intact on the ride up, by giving it the needed repairs and strengthening reinforcements, that is."
"Hell yeah, we can!" "Just leave it to us!" The two Monkey brothers reaffirmed happily.
"What about the time? When will the next knock up stream occur?" Robin asked the main question.
"Yeah, we need to leave this island in a day, so that our log doesn't get rewritten." Nami spoke looking at her log pose.
"It should happen tomorrow around noon. Get ready if you're set on going." Cricket answered back, eliciting cries from Usopp, clearly wasn't ready to risk his life so soon.
.
The night was alive with the sounds of laughter and merriment. Around a roaring fire, the Straw Hats sat with Cricket and the Monkey Brothers, sharing food and stories. Plates overflowed with roasted meats, fruits, and the occasional exotic dish that Sanji had whipped up with whatever he found in the area. The air was light despite the looming challenge of the next day.
Cricket sat apart from the group, his rugged hands holding Noland's logbook. The weathered pages, thick with age and sea spray, seemed almost sacred as he flipped through them. Clearing his throat, he began to read aloud, his deep voice carrying the words into the night.
"And there it was—a city of gold, brighter than the sun itself," Cricket recited, his tone a mixture of awe and skepticism. "Every brick, every tile, gleamed as if kissed by the gods themselves..."
The crew listened intently, Usopp nearly falling over as he leaned closer, while Robin smiled, her curiosity piqued. Even Zoro, usually aloof, seemed captivated by the story.
"Too bad it was all a lie," Cricket muttered, his voice tinged with bitterness as he snapped the book shut. "Or so everyone said."
"It's not a lie!" Luffy grinned, his tone carrying absolute conviction. "It's real. We're gonna find it!"
Cricket chuckled, shaking his head. "You're something else, kid."
After a moment's pause, Cricket gestured to a small wooden chest near the corner of the room. Mashira and Shoujou eagerly brought it over, their movements brimming with pride. Cricket opened the chest, revealing a collection of golden artifacts he had dredged from the depths of the sea. "See this?" He held up a small statue shaped like a bird, its intricate details shining even under the flickering firelight. "Proof that the golden city wasn't just a myth."
The crew leaned in closer, their eyes wide with wonder. "Whoa!" Chopper exclaimed, his little hoofs clutching his cheeks. "That's amazing!"
Cricket stared at the bird statue, his brows furrowing as if a sudden realization struck him. His eyes widened, and he abruptly stood up, startling everyone. "I can't believe I forgot!" He exclaimed, slamming the chest shut. "You're gonna need a Southbird if you're serious about reaching that stream tomorrow!"
"A Southbird?" Luffy asked, his brow furrowed. "Why?"
"How do you plan to get to the knock-up stream?" Cricket countered, crossing his arms. "It's directly south of this cape. And if you think you can just follow the wind—forget it. This is the Grand Line. The winds and currents here don't play fair."
Luffy's eyes lit up with understanding, but he didn't really need the bird as he has H-Halad's friends, the winds to show him the way, after all, the winds are the best navigator out there! But this was his chance to finally to see if the coward Teach would finally get out of his hidden spot. So, he grinned instead and jumped to his feet. "I'll get the Southbird!"
"What?" Nami and Sanji shouted in unison, both moving to stop him.
"You can't go alone!" Sanji growled. "It's dark, and who knows what's in that forest?"
But Luffy was already darting toward the tree line, his straw hat bouncing on his back. "I got it!" He called over his shoulder.
"Luffy, wait!" Zoro stood, hand on his sword, but Luffy disappeared into the shadows before anyone could stop or follow him.
.
Luffy moved through the forest with quiet determination, his sandals crunching softly on the damp ground. The moonlight filtered through the canopy, casting eerie shadows that danced with the rustling of leaves. He could feel the forest watching him—animals peeking from hidden spots, their eyes glinting in the dark. Some seemed curious, inching closer as though tempted to emerge from their hiding places. He wondered if the Southbird would find him before he finds it.
"So, Southbird, huh?" Luffy mused aloud, his voice barely above a whisper. "How does it look?"
Luffy wandered deeper, his senses tuned to the slightest sound or movement. The forest's silence grew heavier, the tension thick in the cool night air. Suddenly, Luffy felt it: faint but unmistakable ripples of Haki along with Teach's. His eyes narrowed as he focused. Four people. One a lot weaker than the rest but he seemed to be closely accompanied by a creature. Maybe he could convince the creature to leave, though it would be difficult considering the strong connection between the man and the creature.
His thoughts were interrupted by a sharp shift in the air. His instinct took over as he ducked, narrowly avoiding a Haki coated bullet that ripped past his head and embedded itself in a tree behind him with a sickening thunk. His gaze darted toward the direction of the shot, his eyes sharp as daggers.
"Sniper," Luffy muttered, clenching his fists but before he could track him, the shooter was on the move, fast and unpredictable. Luffy didn't have time to focus before the sound of cracking wood reached his ears. His head shot up in time to see two massive apple trees hurtling toward him from above, their branches snapping as they plummeted.
"Damn it!" Luffy hissed, leaping to the side. The trees slammed into the ground with a thunderous crash, shaking the earth beneath his feet. Splinters shot out in every direction, several grazing his skin. He barely had time to regain his footing before the apples fell from the trees.
At first, they rolled harmlessly, but then—
BOOM! BOOM!
The apples exploded, one after the other, catching Luffy off guard as he didn't expect the apples themselves to be a weapon, sending fiery debris and shock waves through the clearing. Luffy instinctively coated himself in Armament Haki, bracing himself against the onslaught. Despite his defense, the force of the explosions hurled him backward, his body skidding across the forest floor.
He coughed, the acrid smoke stinging his eyes, and quickly assessed his surroundings. It didn't take long for him to realize where he'd landed—or more importantly, who he'd landed near. The oppressive weight of a dark and overwhelming Haki pressed against his senses.
Marshall D. Teach.
Luffy's jaw clenched as the towering figure emerged from the shadows, a sinister grin splitting his face and an awful sound erupting from his damned mouth. "Zehahahaha! There you are Strawhat!" Teach's voice rumbled through the forest, sending chills up Luffy's spine. "Been waiting for you! Thought you could sneak around, huh?"
Luffy's jaw clenched. His fists tightened, and his heart burned with anger as Teach took a deliberate step forward.
Suddenly, a loud, guttural laugh echoed from somewhere in the trees. "Zehahahaha! Or should I say.. Cyra!" The sound grated on Luffy's nerves, and his teeth ground together.