70 Skyward Bound

The crew aboard the Kuja Pirate Ship felt no force or restraint as Veyron accelerated, clouds shifting before them like a white tsunami. After a few minutes, Tsuru glanced at an unusual compass in her possession and waved towards Veyron, who hovered at the center of the ship.

"Stop here!"

"Are you sure?! We're in the middle of the sky!"

"Yes, here!"

Aware that Skypea lay high in the sky but uncertain of its exact altitude, Veyron followed Tsuru's instructions. He gradually reduced his psychokinesis, causing the ship to slow and eventually come to a halt. He then relinquished all control over the ship, and it began to descend.

!!!

As gravity took hold, panic gripped everyone on board as the ship plummeted from the heavens in free fall.

"Baby!"

Primrose, more affected than the others, flickered to grab his arm, paying no heed to anyone else, including her astonished daughters who looked at her, aggrieved at her betrayal.

BOOM!

The ship's deck absorbed a heavy impact as if it had landed on the water, yet there were no splashes. It took several moments for everyone to regain their composure and stand up, starting with Robin, who rubbed her aching head and surveyed a scene of boundless whiteness against a blue sky.

The clouds had transformed into a sea.

"I've heard legends of the legendary sky islands, but to think such a fantastical place exists in this world—a sea high up in the skies," Robin marvelled at her experiences in less than half a day. She had ascended to incredible heights in just five minutes, now sailing among the clouds.

'If I were to recount this adventure, no one would believe it.'

Tsuru dusted herself off and received assistance from Gion, who wore a similarly awestruck expression. Even Veyron couldn't help but ponder an explanation for the ship floating on the clouds. It defied physical laws, but he knew that in this world, such rules either didn't exist or were fundamentally different.

"This is known as the Cloud Sea and differs from the 'Blue Sea' we are familiar with," Tsuru began explaining, though a white-haired boy interrupted her.

"I'd love to hear more!" Veyron chimed in eagerly.

"Ask the mad scientist Vegapunk, not me; he can explain it better."

"Party pooper."

"In all my years, I never imagined such a place existed. How long has this been here?" Primrose reached out to touch a cloud, finding it soft and dense like flower leaves.

"They have existed as long as our race or even longer. It wasn't until recently that the Marines learned about them."

"Marines?" Gion, a vice admiral, appeared stern, surprised that she had not known of this.

Tsuru shrugged. "Some things are better kept secret, Momousagi. But from the moment I realized Peter was a Bilkan, I suspected we would have to come here. So, I obtained this from HQ."

She indicated the peculiar compass she held—a cylindrical meter with a red arrow pointing in a specific direction, swaying with the ship's motion.

"Where is the island we're searching for?" Sandersonia, Marigold, and Hancock, still reeling from their newfound skyward adventure, were eager to know.

"The island should be in that direction." Tsuru pointed to a cluster of clouds in the distance, aligning with the device's orientation.

"What is this device?" Veyron, understanding that Tsuru might not provide a detailed explanation, at least asked for its name.

"It's a Boreas Compass," she replied. "It's a device created using the World Government's budget, employed by high-ranking Marines to detect flying islands."

"Where is the island we're looking for?" Sandersonia, Marigold and Hancock had yet to recede from the shock of being in the skies, two years ago they learned the marvel of flight, and now their beliefs were further shattered by their lover. 

"The island should be in that direction" She pointed at the place where the device was pointing which was a cluster of clouds in the distance. 

Veyron snatched the compass away for analysis without seeking permission, flying away from an irate Tsuru.

"That's why I dislike dealing with kids!"

"Yes, granny... this seems to function like a barometer," Veyron noted. "It measures atmospheric pressure and points toward the area of highest pressure. Does this mean sky islands exert pressure on the sea clouds?"

"..." Tsuru was astounded. 'He analyzed it just by looking at it!'

The vice admiral was rendered speechless, but the others, including the Boa sisters, who were already aware of Veyron's genius, accepted it as ordinary. Robin was amazed that he understood the device's function, despite her extensive reading.

"What's a barometer, Veyron?" Robin inquired, realizing that such a device might have a different name in this world.

"It doesn't matter," Veyron replied dismissively. "According to what you've said, it seems the sky islands have an impact on the sea clouds."

"That is correct," Vice Admiral Tsuru finally acknowledged, her voice measured and filled with conviction, "this device merely detects the closest sky island to us. But I know for a fact that Shandora is not far away."

"Shandora?"

A heavy silence hung in the air, the mysteries surrounding the ancient city and Tsuru's reluctance to share information leaving the crew with more questions than answers. Tsuru extended her hand forward to retrieve the device from Veyron, who complied but not without voicing his own inquiries.

"Why are you so adamant about protecting a government that doesn't have your best interests in mind, Tsuru?"

Tsuru remained silent, her expression unyielding. Veyron pressed on, frustration lacing his words.

"I always wondered the same about old man Garp. He knows what his son is doing. He supports it, which is why he doesn't hunt Dragon. Then why stick with the government?"

Tsuru finally spoke, her voice unwavering, "Once a marine, forever a marine."

Her answer did little to appease Veyron's growing frustration. He saw her unwavering loyalty as blind and stubborn, unable to comprehend why she would defend an organization that often acted against the principles of justice.

"Why?" he pressed further.

"If the only moniker of justice in this world is sullied, what awaits us except anarchy?" Tsuru responded her words carrying the weight of years of dedication to her ideals.

"But the government—"

"There will come a time when the government is cleansed. But the marines will always remain a symbol of justice."

"This justice is being sullied as we speak... by the world nobles,"

Tsuru bit her lip and moved away from the conversation, her silence speaking volumes. Veyron knew that changing her mind was nearly impossible, just as it was with Garp. However, there was someone else present who understood the complexities of the situation, even if she couldn't find the right words to convince the young genius.

Gion looked down in apparent shame, torn between her loyalty to the marines and her understanding of the flaws within the organization. She knew that the very reason they were on this mission was tied to the corruption within the marines, and she understood that Veyron would seize upon this as a point of contention.

When Veyron's eyes met Gion's, he realized that she was about to be questioned as well. He grasped her wrist, determined to understand her perspective.

"You're hunting an ex-marine," he stated.

Gion nodded in acknowledgement, her eyes betraying the conflict within her.

"Then you must understand what I'm talking about. No newspapers, ever mentioned that Peter Hornigold was an ex-marine. Why conceal the truth?"

Gion's reaction was swift, pushing Veyron's wrist aside rather harshly, prompting a frown from Hancock. But Veyron indicated for her to stop, realizing that Gion never let her guard down.

"This world is more complex than you think, boy... sometimes sacrifices must be made for justice," Gion finally replied, her voice tinged with regret.

"When does it stop being the world's justice... and become your own?" Veyron challenged, his determination unwavering.

A sudden thunderstrike reverberated in the distance, drawing their attention to the impending danger. The crew's focus shifted from their internal debates to the ominous threat that lay ahead.

"A lightning bolt in broad daylight?" Sandersonia frowned, sensing an ominous aura emanating from the direction of the lightning strike.

"That wasn't just any lightning bolt. That's Skypea! Everyone get ready!" Veyron exclaimed.

Aware of the need to reach their destination, Veyron once again assumed control of the ship, propelling it toward the source of the lightning and the mysteries of Skypea that awaited them.

This conversation of justice would have to be left for a later date.