Goro-Goro no mi

Lower's rebellion leader POV

'What the hell is going on?! Why now!'

A yellow, metallic, ship-like floating thing appeared, no, descended from the sky.

Silence across the whole plaza. The guards just finished forming the defensive formation around the saint.

I look around and observe the people in high positions only to realize that they too are clearly surprised by the sudden appearance of that thing.

The citizens on the other hand seem to be getting curious about that thing as some started chatting and whispering. Only a few, started to leave, thinking nobody is watching them.

To be fair nobody probably is watching them right now. I noticed that only because I am using my mantra, but not to watch the people in the plaza. I tried to use my mantra to figure something out about that thing floating up there, anything would have been fine.

"Gasp!"

I can indeed sense something. They are presences. Presences from people. Very strong people at that but…

"What in god's name is that?!"

A sudden and loud exclamation. The loud voice belongs to the saint. I turn my head from the flying thing to the saint, and see him standing amidst his guards covered in sweat.

If he also used mantra to check that thing out than it's understandable that he is shocked. It's understandable because there is a presence on that ship that is far stronger than any I have ever felt.

'God damnit!'

I couldn't help but course in my mind. Today was the big day. Everything was planned out. Today was the day when the saint was supposed to get killed by my supporters amidst the guards and soldiers just before he kills me.

A message, no, a declaration of war! My fellow comrades who are 'captured' would then free themselves like I would have done and we would have used the resulting chaos to deal a heavy blow to these bastards!

But with the appearance of these people everything could fall apart!

Suddenly the people from that flying thing appeared and jumped down. All nine presences I felt jumped down just before the soldiers who were guarding the stage on the ground.

The people quickly moved back leaving some space around the intruders so I could see them clearly. Young. Probably no one older than me. And also without wings.

'This… could this be a chance?'

Noticing that they are wingless like us, a possibility came up in my mind. Thinking about that I immediately turned my head back to the saint who also seems to have realized that they are wingless as a huge frown appeared on his face.

I looked back at the intruders. The boy in the front. A tall boy with a rare hair color stepped up. He is the one with the off-scale powered presence. He is looking around the plaza until his gaze stopped at me. Completely ignoring the authorities, the guards and the citizens alike he stares at me and spoke.

"You. What is your name?"

'Name? My name?"

I don't have any idea why he would ask for my name but at this point that doesn't matter. Because maybe, just maybe if I play my cards right… I could gain his support and end this rebellion today instead of just dealing a blow.

"Enel. My name is Enel."

————————————————————————

Jackson POV

'Wow it really is that bastard!'

A minute ago I felt someone's haki on me so I told everybody to get ready and jump down only to see Enel in chains.

When looking around, I see a lot of people gathered here. They are all whispering and chatting with each other. Some of them are even loud enough for me to hear.

Wingless, sinners, forsaken race and so on and on.

*tsk*

Listening to them made the situation a bit clearer.

'At least I think I might know why the people without wings are wearing metal collars and such shabby clothes. Also this should be the reason why people are looking at us like that.'

To me this looks like slavery based on racial discrimination. Something I vaguely remember from before my old world. There are many wingless people among the crowd actually but also some, who are in chains lined up as if awaiting their turn on the stage for something.

"Jackson."

"Jackson-nii."

Kuina and Sabo step forward while taking out their weapons. The battle intent was almost tangible. Obviously they reached a similar conclusion regarding the ongoing situation here but we still don't know anything for sure.

"Step back."

"! BUT-"

"Now."

Seeing those lightless eyes among the people without wings angers me almost enough to change my mind and follow their example but first of all we don't know whether our conclusions are correct and second I only came here to find the goro-goro no mi and not to fight a city-nation.

With that in mind I had told Sabo to go down, the idea behind being, to stealthily fly down without the ship and mix into the crowd and perhaps gather some intel.

Instead that idiot went down with the whole ship, totally exposing us because he misunderstood me.

'sigh… what a mess.'

"Who are you people?"

A loud voice interrupts my thoughts. Looking up, I can see an old man protected by a dozen guards. I can sense that he has awakened haki but I can't notice anything else that would be noteworthy.

So I ignored him.

Instead I looked towards Enel. He too has awakened his haki. I always thought he did that after eating the goro-goro no mi but seems like I was wrong.

"You insects! Immediately answer the saints questions!"

A shout unexpectedly came from somewhere amidst the crowd.

"Dirty bastards! You better kneel right now!"

"You wingless disgrace!"

More and more people are shouting together at us for ignoring that man. Soon someone threw something towards me.

*Bang!*

A shot was heard. Using his old rifle Augur shot

What looked to be a stone in midair before it could come even near.

"Room!"

*clang*

The others as well. Before I could register what was happening around me everyone got ready to battle and even though the civilians stepped back the soldiers instead stepped forward.

"Noisy."

Saying my thoughts out loud, I use conqueror's haki. It came like a tsunami drowning out all the noise. The sky's color changed as dark and red lightning streaks started to shoot through the air.

The civilians, the wingless people, the soldiers. Everyone beside my crew members was hit with conqueror's haki as tens of thousands of people fainted on place. Everyone except Enel and that old man on the stage.

"Finally it's quiet. Now we can talk."

Saying this I turn my attention back towards the now ghostly pale Enel and old man.

An hour passed. That's how long it took to get the whole picture of what is happening on this island.

I'm currently sitting on the same table with these two archenemies while listening to their versions of the story so far. Enel was eager to speak with me but the saint feared leaving him alone with me so they both sat down and told me what I asked. Almost all of my conclusions from before were spot on but as expected the details were even more disgusting than I could have imagined.

When that trash… I meant saint tried to justify that system with his religion and the best for Birka, I lost it and punched him straight out of the ship.

After that little incident it was only Enel and me left in my room.

"… so… does that mean you'll support us to gain freedom?"

'yes it fucking does!'

But I can't tell him that like this. I don't consider myself a hero or see myself as noisy enough to meddle in this shit just because for no reason, yet I felt disgust and rage after hearing about everything that went down here like never before.

'Regardless if they life above or below the clouds, some people are just revolting.'

Still if I'm going to do this I might as well benefit from this.

"I'll help free the wingless people. But not for free."

His expression and body language stiffens up and he looks at me strangely but I can't forget why I came here for in the first place. One of the strongest devil fruits in One Piece.

I then explained to him that I want his help with finding the goro-goro no mi after describing it to him in detail. As detailed as I could at least but the answer surprised me greatly.

"That fruit resembles the holy treasure in the palace. I've never seen it but it's an open secret here. I can lead you there and you can see for yourself wether it's what you are searching for."

…

"…resembles the what in the what?!"

(TIMESKIP!)(AN: Hey everyone! First time I've made up some lore and a semi presented background story in this and last chapter. Only semi because that kinda wasn't the focus, or wasn't supposed to be. As I said the ff are like training for my own novel I'd like to write one day so I wanted to try this here since not much relevant things happened on skyislands. Now let's talk about future plans. First of all TIMESKIP!!! I think that in about 10-15 chaps the first big timeskip will happen. I'll try to make it happen by then. The second thing is interaction with the world. Reading through my chapters I had the feeling as if everybody else is just an npc and I'd like to try and improve that but I would appreciate your input on that. Third thing is a spoiler so careful now. For those who don't want to know, stop reading here.

Spoiler: Mc not gonna eat goro-goro no mi. Hope you enjoy reading!)