66 Entering Paradise

Traversing stormy seas, a small unreliable looking ship was surrounded by dozens of Sea Kings. On board the ship was a group of 4. At the back was a young blonde stood at 4" 6 dressed in blue who looked to be 10 and was holding a long metal pipe in his hand as a staff. There didn't appear to be any fear in his eyes as you'd expect of a young boy surrounded by monsters, only excitement! This child was the newly recruited Heavenly Demon, Sabo.

"Woaah they're huge!"

In front of him was a 19 year old, red eyed, silver haired woman who was 5"8 and dressed in a white strapless dress. In her hand was a scarlet long bow as she took aim at the savage beasts surrounding them. Every time she released an arrow a Sea King would drop dead. This silver haired archer was Monkey D. Shaya.

"I'm sure there shouldn't be Sea Kings like this on the way to the Reverse Mountain!"

To her right was a large young man stood at 6" 5 with short black hair and golden eyes. He was dressed in a long sleeveless beige jacket with no buttons done up showing off his muscular physique, a pair of white bottoms that were cuffed by his ankles and a pair of black sandals. In his hand was a pitch black halberd that would reap the life of a beast with every thrust or slash. He was the Vice-Captain of the ship, Gol D. Roman!

"Shaya you got us lost again!"

Shaya turned to Roman on her right and glared at him as she snapped.

"Shut up, I already told you my navigation is average at best. It's your idiot captain who said we'll find a navigator when we find one and to just enjoy the adventure until then.

To her left was a young light skinned male who looked about 18. He stood at a height of 6" and was dressed in a long white shirt styled jacket that came down to his knees which was buttoned up to the bottom of his sternum and was held in place by a silver sash. He was also wearing a pair of black trousers tucked into a pair of black boots and a large rectangular shaped sword on his back.

He was the only one who wasn't holding his weapon in his hands as he looked at the trouble they'd gotten themselves in with an emphatic smile. That young man was Orion the "captain" of the "ship", Portgas D. Orion!

"Hahaha and I was right, it's been fun so far hasn't it?!"

When she heard that she couldn't help but give him a knock on his head as she snapped.

"Fun? We've been battling Sea Kings for 2 weeks in a storm and we have literally no idea where we are!"

Ori held his head where he'd just been hit with his hand as he happily replied.

"Maybe haha, but we've never run out of meat!"

Shaya could only roll her eyes at his "silver lining" as she replied.

"That's only a benefit for you and Roman with your never ending appetites!"

"Hahaha!"

"Don't "Haha" me. Hurry and get us out of here!"

"Alright alright!"

As he said that a sudden burst of wind came and lifted the ship into the sky. The bloodthirsty Sea Kings could only watch unwillingly as the ship with their food took to the skies eventually vanishing from sight.

Half an hour later Orion finally landed the ship back in the sea as he saw an island in the distance.

"Shaya do you know where we are?"

Shaya rolled her eyes as she replied with obvious displeasure.

"How would I know where we are? I didn't know where we were when we were fighting the Sea Kings, so how on earth would I know where we are after flying for half an hour in a random direction?!"

Ori scratched his nose as he smiled wryly not knowing how to respond.

Sabo who had been quiet for a while pointed to a spot on the map as he said.

"We should be here!"

Ori, Roman and Shaya looked at him in surprise. Ori asked the question that was on all their minds.

"How do you know?"

Sabo shrugged as he said.

"As a noble, we're forced to learn various subjects to a pretty high level. Navigation just so happens to be one of them."

Shaya glared at the blonde haired child as she scolded.

"If you knew how to read maps so well, why didn't you say something earlier?!"

Sabo took a step back with his hands raised in front of him.

"I thought you guys already had a plan. I mean what kind of pirate ship doesn't have a navigator?"

When they heard that Shaya and Roman both looked at Orion who merely laughed as if it had nothing to do with him! Shaya then turned back to Sabo and asked.

"How confident are you in your navigation abilities?"

"Quite, being able to navigate to a high standard is pretty much expected of all nobles! And as I've always wanted to be a pirate someday I made sure to pay extra attention during those lessons."

Hearing that, Ori put his arm round Sabo's neck as he said.

"Well then Sabo from now on you will be the official navigator of the Heavenly Demon Pirates!"

"Roger!"

Ori then looked at the position on the map Sabo pointed at and asked.

"What's that Island ahead?"

Sabo focused on the map before replying.

"According to the map, that should be Parch Island. If my memory serves me right, it should be an off route Island in Paradise."

As he said that Ori and the others looked at him with undisguised excitement.

"You mean…"

Sabo nodded with a smile as he finished off his sentence.

"Yup, we've crossed the Grandline and entered Paradise!"

Hearing that Ori couldn't help but turn to Shaya and proudly state.

"See, I told you we'd be fine!"

Shaya and Roman both rolled their eyes at his happy-go-lucky mentality.

Sabo couldn't help but think back to the words his navigation tutor told him during a lesson a couple years ago.

"There are only 2 safe passages over the Grandline into Paradise! Although there are many other ways across, they're all near enough suicide missions!"

As he remembered that, he couldn't help but look back at Ori and the others in awe.

[We crossed into the Grandline using a route that most would consider suicidal. Yet because of their strength, we did it with ease… I can't wait to be that strong!]

As Sabo was lost in his thoughts Shaya said to Ori.

"Even though Sabo's capable of being our navigator, there's still other positions that we need to fill on the ship!"

Ori nodded as he replied.

"I know. But between all of us we already have a Captain, a Vice-Captain, a helmsman, a sniper, a medic and a navigator. The only positions we're missing are chef and shipwright, but we can't just have anyone fill those gaps."

Shaya rolled her eyes as she said sarcastically.

"I'm the sniper and medic, Roman's the Vice-Captain and helmsman and Sabo's the navigator. As the Captain of the ship what is it you do exactly."

Ori replied as if he didn't even hear the sarcasm in her voice.

"It's my job to lead you to the very top of this world! And so far considering where we are, I'd say I've done a pretty good job!"

All three of them were rendered speechless by his shamelessness as they cursed him in unison.

"Idiot!"