SALUTATIONS EVERYONE!
Another year comes to an end, and it has been wild for me. NOt what I expected but what ever is. There are so many new projects, from a new business, to new stories, and a newsletter I've started which I'll be sharing soon. It'll all be on my Tublr Page for updates and voting.
As I wrap up this year, I'm already prepping for next year 2026, where I hope I can create more delights of works for you all.
Enjoy the Chapter!
Chapter 40: To the Sky or To Heaven
They were greeted by a horrific sight as they broke through the jungle, intending to regroup with Cricket and his salvage companions. However, this was what they were welcomed to.
In the few hours they were gone, the Going Merry that had been sitting on calm seas waiting for moderation for her voyage to the sky looked as if she had been swallowed by storm waves several times over.
The feeling Sakura felt creep up in her chest, she could only akin to wanting to come home and finding it destroyed by a calamity, that's the only explanation she had for the bubbling anger that was starting to boil. The front had been shattered, torn clean from the hull like a limb ripped from its socket. The mast leaned at a grotesque angle, its splintered remains jutting into the sky like a grave marker. And the Going Merry wasn't the only one suffering injuries.
Sprawled across bloodied grass were Cricket and the Ape Brothers, bruised and battered, their breaths ragged as if each inhale was a battle.
Before they could even comprehend the full picture, Luffy was kicking up sand behind him. He approached Cricket, crouching next to him. "Hey, mister. You okay?"
Cricket coughed in response despite the ringing in his ears. He spoke, is voice a raw scrape of pain. "I'm sorry… We couldn't stop them. But there's still time before sunrise. We can still fix the ship."
Sakura and Chopper weren't far behind Luffy, moving to assess the three. They picked up the brother's after making sure their injuries weren't too extensive for movement so that they could work on all three of them swiftly. While they had clearly taken a beating that would fracture bones, it wasn't so severe that they wouldn't be able to move after proper treatment.
er to the ape brothers to assess the extent of their injuries.
Nami stormed out of Cricket's makeshift house, her face pale. "The gold ingots. They're gone!"
Gold would've been the least of their worries, but they knew that to Cricket, it had been something of significance. For carrying the burdened disgrace of his ancestor, for being isolated from the world, for diving and crushing his body under the seabed for years. This had been his only reward. Those gold ingots that gave him a sense of hope, that perhaps there was some truth to what had followed him his entire existence.
Cricket, now propped up by Sakura's steady hands, gave a weak chuckle. He had seemed to have taken the extent of this attack. But the kunoichi's medical skills were fast acting against this degree of injury, and he was already feeling the pain dull into a patter compared to previous throbs that traveled through his bones.
"Yeah. Gone. But it doesn't matter. Forget about them."
Usopp's face clenched, "HOW CAN YOU SAY THAT?! You dived for ten years to find that gold! You almost killed yourself for it!"
"Quiet!" Cricket's voice was sharp. "It doesn't matter. That's our problem. Listen, if the entire Monkey Mountain Allied Force gets to work, we can still fix your ship by morning. You people get ready to sail. I will not fail. You're going up to the sky!"
While this wouldn't come out in voice, everyone was moved by how far Cricket was willing to go to help their ragtag group. Even willing to dismiss his entire life's work to make their captain's goal a reality.
And they probably would've allowed him to do so without push back or delay if it wasn't for Zoro's sharp gaze noticing something on the cardboard wall of Cricket's house. A crude insignia, painted in haste, still dripping wet. A smiling face, crossed out with a single stroke.
Nami's breath hitched. "That's… Bellamy's mark."
"Bellamy?" Sakura asked, walking over to inspect the insignia that was clearly a pirate's symbol.
"The bastard who laughed us out of the bar," Zoro growled.
"And beat you up," Nami added bitterly.
"No," It didn't take her more than a second to conclude Luffy's actions, and unfortunately, her prediction was correct. She saw her captain already looking towards the other side of the island they came from.
Luffy's fists clenched. "I can handle them."
"NO WAY, LUFFY!" Nami snapped. "We have to sail in three hours!"
Luffy ignored her. He turned to Robin. "If I follow the coast, I'll come to that town, right?"
Cricket tried to push himself up, but Zoro's sheathed sword pressed gently against his chest, a warning, not a threat.
"If you want to stop him," Zoro said quietly, "you'll have to go through me."
Luffy cracked his knuckles. "I'll be back by sunrise."
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..
The straw hat was already becoming a distant blur in the distance, with Luffy dashing towards the shoreline. It was a straight follow-through to town, so there was little to no chance of him losing his way, but that didn't do much to alleviate worries. Things had rarely fallen cleanly into place for them, but they were on a deadline.
Sakura watched him go, her arms crossed tightly over her chest. "Is he going to be alright on his own?"
Zoro, standing a few paces away with his arms folded, gave a low grunt. "Luffy's tough."
"He was beaten last time, so were you."
"Last time we didn't fight back."
"Yeah, and why is that again?" Sakura asked.
"Nami made us promise not to cause trouble," Zoro stated as if that had been the obvious explanation for everything. But it just left Sakura incensed. "Luffy can handle that guy by himself."
"That's not my concern," Sakura snapped, turning sharply on her heel.
Zoro's brow furrowed. He reached out, fingers brushing her shoulder-
She swatted his hand away like it was a fly. "We should all get ready to set sail the moment he comes back," she said, voice clipped. "Let's get going."
And then she was striding off, leaving Zoro standing there, his hand still half-raised in the empty air.
Sanji, leaning against the broken hull of the Merry, exhaled a slow stream of smoke. His visible eye flicked between Sakura's retreating back and Zoro's stiff posture.
..
..
..
"Oi, moss-head, we need to talk." Sanji hissed. He approaches Zoro, hands stuffed in his pockets till he was right in front of the swordsmen.
He grabbed Zoro by the collar without explanation, dragging him away from the wreckage of the Merry, where repairs were starting, with enough force to leave furrows in the sand. Ignoring Zoro's protests the while, and the threats of flaying him.
"What the hell?! You looking for a fight you fu-
"Shut up."
Since the rest of Masira and Shoujo's crew were starting to pull in, the others were occupied in organizing the repairs for the Going Merry, and that left a wide blind spot of time for them to move away.
When they were far enough, that's when Zoro had had enough and shoved him off with a grunt. "The hell's your problem, Dartbrow?"
Sanji looked at him with eyes that burned like a lit fuse. "Chopper told me what you said about Sakura-chan in the forest."
He noticed something was off about Sakura; her entire posture was rigid with contempt. And he wanted to find out why. Sanji did not enjoy seeing any lady in distress. So he went to Chopper, the little reindeer might be human but he still had a natural honesty . The moment Chopper relayed the overheard conversation between Robin and Zoro to Sanji, the cook's cigarette nearly fell from his lips. He could hardly contain himself before he snapped into motion. He knew Zoro had held some unexplained hostility towards Sakura since she arrived, but she was a member of their crew, not to mention a lady. And there was no compromise when it came to their comfort.
Zoro stiffened, which didn't go unnoticed by Sanji's eyes. That was not the usual reaction he would receive from Zoro. "Tch. That's none of your damn business!"
"Anything to do with the ladies on the ship is my business," Sanji said with just as much push back, "You've been treating her like the plague ever since she got on board with us, and I've had it up to here with you!"
Zoro gripped his bicep hard, "This is stupid,"
He attempted to push past Sanji, but the cook wouldn't budge and kept tracking his steps. One heel always slightly raised, ready to counter any sword swings. However, Zoro wasn't tempted to fight and prolong this quiet time with Sanji, which was unusual. Since he would take any chance he could get to pull his blades on the crew's cook.
"How could you say you don't like her?"
"I only said that because of something stupid that Robin told me!" He said this, attempting to dismiss any responsibility that Sanji was clearly holding over him.
"Now you're blaming Robing-chan!? You really are the worst Moss head!"
If it were anyone else, Zoro would've been able to walk away. But it was Sanji. He had a way of detonating Zoro and making the swordsmen forget any form of discipline and rationality.
And now he was babbling on about how everything was his fault with the girls.
"Just because you're paranoid and too scared to deal with beautiful women doesn't mean that they should have to suffer! You're the one who can't get that stick up your-
"SHUT UP, IDIOT COOK! IT'S NOT ME WHO SAID SOMETHING STUPID, IT'S HER, SHE'S THE ONE WHO SAID I LIKED SAKURA!"
A beat of silence.
"OF COURSE WHAT'S NOT TO LIKE?!" Sanji exploded, throwing his hands up. "She's brilliant, she's strong, she's got those eyes that could cut a man in half AND HER HAIR, THAT SHADE OF PINK LIKE A SUNSET OVER THE-"
Zoro's eye twitched. "That's not what she meant, idiot."
Sanji's rant died mid-breath. His cigarette hung limply between his lips as the realization hit him like a kick to the gut. Slowly, his head tilted down, his blond bangs shadowing his eyes.
"…Moss-head," he said, voice eerily calm. "Did she say… you have a crush on Sakura?"
Zoro's face darkened. "I didn't-"
"HELL NO!" Sanji's scream tore through the island, sending some birds in the trees scattering. "YOU DON'T! YOU ARE NOT GETTING ANYWHERE NEAR MY SWEET SAKURA, YOU HEAR ME?! YOU DAMN PREDATOR!"
Zoro's patience snapped. He looked around to check if anyone had overheard the moron's outburst, but thankfully, they were far enough and the wind hadn't carried any of the sound towards the ship.
"Shut up! Don't tell me what to do! I didn't even say I liked her!"
"YOU BASTARD!" Sanji's leg was a blur as he swung a kick at Zoro's head. "HOW DARE YOU HAVE IMPURE THOUGHTS ABOUT MY CHERRY BLOSSOM!"
Zoro ducked, drawing a sword in the same motion. "WHAT THE HELL, YOU DAMN MORON?! OPEN YOUR EARS AND THINK WITH YOUR HEAD FOR ONCE! I'M SAYING I DON'T LIKE SAKURA!"
"YOU CAN'T FOOL ME!" Sanji's kicks came faster, each one punctuated by a shout. "I KNEW SOMETHING WAS WRONG THE WAY YOU LOOKED AT HER! DAMMIT, YOU-MORON MOSS HEAD. STUPID THREE-SWORD STYLE!"
"WHY YOU!" Zoro had just about enough and was ready to throw in a counter when…
"HEY!" Nami's voice was a shield coming between the two and their conflict. Both froze mid-swing, as the orange-haired girl came up from the hills shoreline with a rather blazing expression.
"What are you idiots doing?! We have to get everything ready to leave! It's bad enough Luffy's gone, I don't wanna have to drag you two onto the boat! MOVE IT!"
Sanji's face transformed instantly, his rage melting into a lovesick grin as hearts filled his eyes and his legs turned into strings always being tugged in the direction of a woman, especially Nami, who had no problem using him like a love-sick puppet. "Oh, Nami! I'll be there in just a moment, dear!"
The moment Nami turned her back, his expression hardened again. He jabbed a finger into Zoro's chest.
"Hey, moss-head," he muttered, lighting a fresh cigarette. "Don't even think about it."
Zoro scoffed, sheathing his sword. "The hell is there to think about? I'm not like you, wasting my time on stupid crap like that."
Sanji took a long drag, exhaling smoke like he was breathing out his rage. "Right. Because you're so devoted to your damn swords, huh?" His eye narrowed. "Well. It'd better stay that way."
And with that, he turned on his heel and stalked off, leaving Zoro standing alone, the sea breeze carrying the faintest hint of something bitter, like regret, or maybe just the ashes of Sanji's cigarette.
..
..
..
The Going Merry was a cracked egg, with her hull split and her mast listing like a drunkard leaning against a wall. But she was still able to stand. And they were determined to bring new life in her so she could make it to the sky.
'The sky' Another day and Sakura would've been dislodging that argument, because ships did not sail in the sky and the world was on the ground, not above them. But this was not another day; none of her days had been like that. Since becoming a pirate.
The two ape captains, Masira and Shoujo, strained against the ropes binding the ship's fractured halves, their massive muscles trembling as they filled with strain, threatening to tear their flesh. Sweat poured down their faces as they growled through clenched teeth.
"Guh! This damn wood won't hold!" Masira grunted, his arms shaking.
"Just a little longer," Shoujo wheezed, his feet digging trenches in the ground. The ship groaned until a less formidable figure stepped forward.
"Move."
Sakura grabbed the ropes, her fingers tightening on the rough material. With a sharp exhale, she yanked, careful not to overburden the ship. The two halves of the Merry screeched in protest, but inch by inch, they slammed back together. Sakura held them in place.
"Whoa," Shoujo muttered.
"Damn, lady's got grip," Masira added, rubbing his sore arms.
Sakura didn't smirk. Didn't gloat. Just held the ropes steady, her arms taut, until she had to yell at them to scramble to hammer the metal reinforcements into place. Sparks flew as they worked, taking giant steel nails and hammering them into place. They were working quickly on repairs but lacked a lot of equipment that would've made for a proper job. But with their deadline, proper couldn't fit into the equation.
That became more obvious when Nami watched as Cricket's crew lashed massive wooden wings to the Merry's sides, their design crude but functional. But not the type of function you'd expect for a ship sailing the seas.
"You're turning our ship into a chicken," Nami deadpanned.
Cricket chuckled, wiping grease from his hands. "Not a chicken, a phoenix. You're not sailing the Grand Line anymore. You're flying above it."
Meanwhile, Sakura wasn't stopping, as she moved to help with the repairs, her strength taking up most of the attention to labor. She could practically feel the stubborn pulse of the Merry beneath her palms. It was strange. Seeing the Going Merry as anything more than a ship, a tool used to get through the seas. It was like holding a kunai and seeing it as a part of her team.
"Hey," Cricket called out to her, "You've done enough. Go with your crew. We've got this."
"Are you saying that to be nice, or are you saying that because tomorrow might be my last day?" There was no hesitation in her statement, and Cricket could tell she was a part of the crew that didn't care if they walked with death holding their hand.
"Nothing of the sort. But you've got your part for this, let us do ours,"
"...Fine."
The word was clipped, reluctant. She didn't want to leave. But she turned anyway, marching toward the others with stiff shoulders.
Cricket watched her go, then shook his head with a grin. "Damn. That one's got a captain's spirit."
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The ship was ready to go before daylight even broke, and so were Masira and Shoujo's crews, their ships docked and ready to guide them. However, the straw hats were still missing one crucial thing, their captain.
The sky had bled from dawn into full morning, the sun now glaring down with impatience. Forty minutes past the promised return time, and still no Luffy.
Nami tapped her foot, arms crossed so tightly her fingers dug into her own sleeves. "Where is he?"
Usopp chewed his thumbnail, eyes darting toward the tree line. "You don't think something happened when he went back into town, do you?"
Zoro clicked his tongue. "Don't be stupid. Luffy wouldn't lose to those morons."
"Oh, I'm sorry, I'm just remembering what happened to you idiots the last time!" Nami shot back.
"If he doesn't show up in the next five, I'm going to look for him," Sakura stated.
"And what if he shows up and you end up getting lost?"
Her mouth hung open as she looked at Zoro. She could ignore him for all other intents and purposes, but this topic should be taboo for him. "You of all people should be the last-
Before Zoro could retort, a distant crashing echoed through the forest, they heard branches snapping before Luffy emerged from the foliage, dishevelled but otherwise in high spirits. He was holding up something in his hand, and it was struggling against his grip.
"GUYS! LOOK WHAT I FOUND!"
In his outstretched hand, held triumphantly aloft, was a Hercules beetle.
"WHAT THE HELL WERE YOU DOING?!" Majority of his crew called out.
Luffy was oblivious to their enraged statues, not realizing they were missing their deadline. His gaze landed on the Going Merry, now sporting makeshift wings lashed to her sides. His eyes sparkled. "I BET IT CAN FLY!"
Usopp, despite himself, puffed up. "Right!"
However, not everyone was eager to set sail in the Going Merry's new upgrade, Nami for starters. "It makes me nervous."
"Yeah. A pigeon would fly better than a chicken," said Zoro.
"THAT'S NOT THE POINT, IDIOT!"
Luffy, already moving, bounded over to Cricket, who sat on a crate, a small mountain of cigarette butts piled in the ashtray beside him. The man's eyes were shadowed with exhaustion, but also full of pride. Even more so than when Luffy returned the gold ingots he had dived for over 10 years.
"Get on board,"
Luffy nodded, uncharacteristically solemn for half a second. "Right. Thanks for fixing up the ship."
Cricket jerked his thumb toward the two salvage ships anchored nearby. Masira and Shoujo, still sweating from their efforts, gave simultaneous thumbs-up.
"Thank those two."
"LET'S GO."
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..
So they began, an hour behind schedule. The Going Merry creaked under their feet, her newly attached wings stretching wide like a seabird ready to take flight. The South Bird perched on the railing, with its leg tied to the post and its beady eyes locked southward. Their living compass in a sea where direction was a luxury.
It was in these times that the crew could move as well as a machine, putting aside their own ambitions to work together. Sakura hoisted the anchor before the boys could get to it, the chains growing as she reeled it in. Zoro and Usopp went to adjust the sails. Sanji and Nami stood at the helm, her knuckles white around the wheel, while Chopper double-checked the reinforced hull.
Cricket watched from the shore, his arms crossed.
"People may laugh," he called out, his voice carrying over the waves. "They may say Sky Island's just a silly legend. Well, let them. That's what makes it a great adventure!"
"Thanks for everything, acorn head!" Luffy waved over the railing at Cricket.
"Thanks for retrieving my gold! Don't fall out of the sky now!"
"We really didn't need that reminder," Nami muttered, her stomach already doing somersaults at the thought of what came next.
Sakura sighed, rubbing her temples. "To the sky we go."
Robin glided past them. "Well. To the sky or to heaven."
THAT'S ALL MY LOVELIES! Hope you enjoyed this chapter and remember to stay strong and keep reading!
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EARLY CHAPTERS FOR MEMBERS NOW: BUYMEACOFFEE
-Kunoichi amongst Heroes chapter (92, 93, 94, 95)
-Kunoichi amongst Pirates chapter ( 41, 42,43)
-Crossroads of Fate chapter 32, 33, 34, 34
-Through the Looking Glass chapter 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45
- (Bleach crossover) Kunoichi amongst Reapers: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
-Commission: Demon slayer x My hero academia (PART 1 & 2)
- Kunoichi amongst Benders (Avatar x Naruto crossover) (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
-Kunoichi amongst Heroes WHAT IF SPIN OFF: Dorms and Exams
-(SEQUEL) Through the Spyglass chapter 1, 2, 3, 4, 5,6
-SPECIAL HALLOWEEN CHAPTER: Shinigami amongst Shinobi