Meeting

Knowing that the Straw Hats have arrived, Zeph stopped his training and went back to his shack. He picked up a few things lying around on the floor and packed them into his sack. Coming out of the shack with a golden staff holstered on to his back, Zeph walked at a leisure pace towards the place where the Straw Hats would arrive knowing that they would take a while to arrive at Angel Beach.

On his way to the beach, he saw Conis playing with her cloud fox named Su. She was also carrying a small golden harp. She didn't notice his presence as she continued playing with Su as the cloud fox ears perked.

"Yo!" Zeph greeted her. Conis while crouching turned around saw that it was Zeph who greeted her.

"Heso, Zeph-san." Conis greeted in return as she stood up holding Su in her arms.

"Are you busy with anything?" Zeph asked.

"No. I'm not, Zeph-san." Conis replied, shaking her head.

Zeph smiled and continued, "Good! Come with me. We've got somewhere to go."

"Su su su" Su happily sounded out and the young Skypiean nodded.

For the past few months aside from Zeph training his Devil Fruit powers, he occasionally visited Lovely Street. During one of his visit, he met Conis and they got along pleasantly. Well, mostly because of Conis and her bright personality. Zeph would periodically help the Skypieans with chores related to heavy load, mainly because it would help with Zeph's training. Gan Fall has been doing his job as God very well by looking at the faces of the people. There is no longer the gloomy atmosphere surrounding Angel Island but instead replaced with a peaceful atmosphere. The Shandians have settled at Shandora and immediately started to repair the damage caused by Enel's army. They have also sent out a few people in search of the Golden Bell that once occupied the City of Gold.

"Zeph-san" Conis quietly called out, without looking at him.

"Yeah?" Zeph looked at her.

Conis continued, "The island is finally bathed by a light that we haven't felt in a long time. The people are happy knowing that Gan Fall is the new God. Compared to before, everything feels so wonderful." Conis took a deep breath and looked at Zeph with worry in her eyes, "But what if someone like Enel appears again? What if you're not here to stop it? We will all be living in fear and misery."

Placing his hand on her shoulder, Zeph assuredly said, "Don't worry, Conis. No one will come, the blue sea dwellers are busy with their own situations. But if someone does come here, they will be in for a surprise."

"How?" Conis asked in confusion.

"It wouldn't be a surprise now, would it?" Zeph chuckled This seemed to have lifted up her mood as Conis smiled and Su snuggled happily in her arms.

"Now, let's go. It's time!" Zeph said, looking ahead. Conis nodded and hurried after him.

__________________________________

"Nngh, Awesome!!" Luffy excitedly said.

"Damn that giant shrimp." Nami said while clutching the mast. Chopper and Usopp were holding each other with their teeth clattering in fear.

"Look. An island." Robin said while pointing ahead.

"IT'S SKY ISLAND!" Luffy shouted. Chopper and Usopp exclaimed and stared at the island with gaping mouths. The rest of the crew followed suit.

"Skypiea.." Robin muttered.

"Let's go ashore." Sanji said while taking off his shoes. Nami and Robin went to their rooms to change. Zoro dropped the anchor to set the ship in its place.

Jumping out of the ship, Luffy, Chopper and Usopp ran and started playing with the clouds. Seeing the trio having fun, Sanji did a flip and followed them. Nami and Robin came out with their clothes changed. Nami hopped on to the rail and jumped, landing on the sea of clouds.

"It feels.....so good." Nami smiled and continued before running away, "Join me, Robin!"

Robin smiled and took a light breath muttering, "The smell of adventure....! Aren't you coming, Zoro?"

"Hmm, I'll come." Zoro replied. Soon, Zoro and Robin joined the rest of the crew exploring and playing around. After a while, Nami could hear a melody being played out from somewhere.

"Everybody, listen! I can hear something." Nami informed the rest.

Everyone stopped their shenanigans and listened carefully, they could all hear the melody and the gentle stoke of strums accompanying it. They followed the source of the sound and saw a young woman with tiny wings on her back, playing a harp and a small white fox running around her. They also saw a dark-blue haired young man lying beside her, seemingly enjoying her music.

"An A-Angel?" Sanji looked at the young woman in wonder. The young woman stopped playing the harp and looked at all of them.

"Heso" The young woman greeted.

"Heso?" Nami said in confusion.

"Bellybutton?" Zoro thought out loud. Sanji, being the usual, twirled around with hearts spewing out from his eyes.

"My name is Conis. Are you from the blue sea?" Conis asked.

"Yeah, we came up here from the blue sea." Luffy replied.

"Do you live here?" Chopper asked.

"Yes, I do. Welcome to Skypiea's Angel Beach!" Conis welcomed them.

"Awesome!!" Luffy exclaimed in wonder.

"Su su su"

"This is a cloud fox." Conis picked the fox up and continued, "Her name is Su."

"Who is that?" Usopp pointed at the sleeping man.

"Oh. He is Zeph-san, our saviour!" Conis replied smilingly. The young man opened his eyes groggily and stood up, rubbing his eyes.

*Yaaaaawn*

"That was a nice, short sleep." Zeph said. He then looked at the newcomers and thought, 'Finally, they're here!'

"Yo" Zeph greeted them.

"Are you an Angel as well?" Chopper asked.

"Nah, I'm not. I'm from the blue sea, just like you guys." Zeph replied.

"W-Wait, how did you know that we are from the blue sea? Weren't you just sleeping?" Usopp asked.

"Well..." Zeph looked deeply at them and continued, "You and the rest of your friends do not have those tiny little wings and antennas like the ones Conis have right now."

"..I guess that makes sense." Usopp said, believing him.

"How did you come here?" Nami asked.

"I don't know" Zeph replied.

"Huh? What do you mean 'I don't know'??" Nami asked, confusedly.

"Well, I honestly do not know." Zeph said. At the same time, he was having different thoughts, 'Better to say that than say some made up stuff. I hope they won't press me.'

"I see" Nami gave up.

"Why did everyone of you come here?" Conis asked

"That's because we have to ring a Golden Bell!!" Luffy said.

"W-Wha.." Conis stuttered.

"LUFFY!!" Nami smacked Luffy's head and said, "You were supposed to keep quiet about it!"

"Sorry, Sorry~!" Luffy laughed.

"We can talk about your goal later. Why don't you guys follow us and ask Conis if you have have any questions regarding the place." Zeph beckoned them over.

The Straw Hats followed them, constantly asking Conis questions about the island. They walked for a few minutes before they ended up reaching a pathway. Following the pathway, soon the view of a bustling street came into their view.

"Wow!" Luffy uttered.

"It's really beautiful" Nami was amazed.

"This is Lovely Street, the main marketplace of Angel Island." Conis explained.

"Maybe we can check out one of those dials here!!" Usopp blurted out. "C'mon, let's goo!"

Luffy, Chopper and Usopp went ahead, exploring the shops. Nami went and scoured for clothing shops and had Sanji tag along with her to be her luggage carrier. Zoro was accompanied by Conis before they went ahead in search of a weapon store.

"Do you not want to join them?" Zeph asked.

"I'm sure they will be fine. How about you accompany me?" Robin asked with a small grin.

"Hmm...Sure." Zeph replied.

The pair walked along the street and stopped by many shops with Zeph explaining her things she wasn't familiar with. After a while, they stopped by and sat on a bench near a fountain. Robin had bought a few things, indicative of the two bags next to her.

"I have something to ask of you, Zeph-san." Robin said.

Zeph looked at her and said, "Go ahead."

"Recalling the conversation that happened at the beach, I heard Conis refer to you as 'Our Saviour'. May I ask why does she refer you as that?" Robin asked.

"There was once a tyrannical God ruling over Skypiea. His goals and rules have brought about the misery of the poor Skypieans. So, I just killed him with the help of others and Skypiea is currently managed well by a worthy God."

Robin's eyes slightly widened before asking, "A God? A real God?"

"Hahaha, a self-proclaimed one. God is the title given to the ones who rule over Skypiea, it's a tradition here. It's just a title." Zeph replied.

"I see. No wonder the people around here are looking at you with revered eyes." Robin lightly said, looking around and continued, "Defeating a God must mean you are strong."

"Maybe I am or maybe I'm not." Zeph didn't give her an exact answer and asked her something instead, "So, you guys want to find a Golden Bell?"

"Yes, that's why we came up here." Robin replied.

"Is it perhaps a huge kind?"

"It might be. We'll get to know once we see it."

"I have an inkling on where it is. I...can take you and your friends there tomorrow morning." Zeph states, smilingly.

"Oh my, that's very kind of you." Robin thanked him.

"Also, you might see something interesting there." Zeph mysteriously said.

"What is it?" Robin asked.

"We'll see about that tomorrow. Anyways, I'll get going. " Zeph laughed and waved goodbye at her. Robin responded likewise and chuckled.

"Interesting~!"