Chapter 22: Discovering a way up
Dialogue "sample"
Thoughts 'sample'
Author notes -sample-
Disclaimer: One piece and all of its characters belong to Eiichiro Oda.
Chapter 22: Discovering a way up
"What about the two monkeys? Why are they following you?" Asked Luffy while looking at Masira and Shoujou.
"That's another emotional story, right?" Said Usopp with great expectation.
"Nah, they are just fans of the story," Montblanc answered dryly.
"Eh? just fans?" Said Usopp with a mix of surprise and disappointment.
"That's a rather simple relationship…" Commented Nami.
"Mister Montblanc, there is one thing I would like to ask." Said, Vivi.
The man turned to her.
"Yes?."
"You have spent years diving into these waters. That means that you think the island that Norland discovered must have sunken down for some reason. Is that correct?."
He nodded.
"That's also what Norland claimed. It seems like the most plausible scenario."
"But when Luffy asked about the Sky island, you mentioned that the one who would believe in that island would be Norland. So, is the mysterious missing island at the bottom of the sea or floating in the sky?." Vivi asked.
"Is not that, hold on, I think I put it somewhere here."
Montblanc then took an old-looking book and gave it to Vivi after marking a page.
"Read the first line."
"Let's see. It talks about Norland's crew meeting a merchant ship that had a bizarre object. A small snowboard-like vehicle called 'waver'. The energy source of the waver seems to only exist in Sky Island. He also mentions meeting another explorer who showed him a living 'sky fish'." Vivi finished reading.
"It seems like Norland meet with at least two different crews who visited the sky island." Said Nami.
"Then it must exist!." Luffy said with enthusiasm.
"If it does, there is only one way I could think of getting there. And you are going to need our help." Said Montblanc.
"Boss!, you don't mean!... that's very dangerous!." Masira said from outside the window.
"You actually know a way?" Asked Usopp.
"I'll tell you what I know. Whatever you decided to do after that is up to you." Said Montblanc.
The Strawhat crew stood expectantly, waiting for the explanation.
"In some parts of the sea during the day, it would suddenly become dark as if it was nighttime."
"Oh!! We have seen that! Right?" Said Luffy
Usopp nodded. "It suddenly became dark and monsters appeared."
"For those giants, I have a few theories, but I won't mention that now. In regards to the sudden arrival of night, it is caused by shadows cast by a very dense cloud. Its name is 'millennium cumulous nimbus'. It does not ascend nor rain but it appears in the sky."
"How can something like that float?." Vivi wondered.
"I don't have the answer to that. Some say that these clouds have exited for millions of years and continue to float through the sky as some sort of fossil clouds."
Nami had a hard time believing it.
"A cloud that dense that doesn't produce precipitation? That should not be possible."
Montblanc shrugged.
"Is up to you to believe it or not. But if Sky Island exists, it must be on top of that cloud."
"You seem to have an idea of how to get up there." Vivi pointed out.
Montblanc noded. "I will not sugarcoat it. You will be risking your lives. In these waters, there is a current that shoots upwards. If you can get on that current while the millennium cumulous nimbus is there, you may be able to reach the Sky Island."
"A current that goes upwards…" Nami seems to be in deep thought.
"Really? we just need to get there?" Asked Luffy.
"Didn't we hear about this in Mock Town? They mention that ships sometimes get hit by those currents and then crash back into the sea." Said Nami.
"That's normally what will happen. The knock-up stream is considered a natural disaster and people do their best to avoid it." Said Montblanc.
"So, if we get hit by that current while there is no island in the sky, we will crash and die." Concluded Vivi.
"Indeed. Getting the timing right will not be easy. I know of something that can help. But before that, we will need to reinforce your ship, otherwise, it will break apart the moment is hit by the current." Said Montblanc.
The more information was given, the paler Usopp's face was getting."Do we really need to go up there?...."
"Don't worry Usopp. It will be fine! shishishi" Luffy laughed.
"Did you guys forget? We cannot stay on this island for more than one day or the log pose will record this position and point to the next island."
Said Nami.
Usopp saw a chance.
"Ohh, that's too bad, the next knock-up stream will probably take a few days or even weeks, right?."
"No, there is actually going to be one tomorrow at noon. We need to hurry up with the preparations." Montblanc called Masisa and Shoujou to get started.
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An hour later, the Strawhat crew Montblanc and his two primate friends were inside the house, celebrating with drinks and food.
Montblanc was telling stories about his adventures and the treasures that He has found over the years.
"Take a look at this!" He placed a small bell made of gold on top of the table.
"Wow! Is that the golden bell mentioned in Norland's book? It seems very small" Asked Usopp.
"No, this is just a bell-shaped token we found a few years back. We have three of these." Answer Montblanc.
"So, the golden city does exist then?." Asked Luffy.
"Not necessarily. A small token like this is common in ancient ruins." Answer Shoujou.
"Regardless, it does prove that an ancient civilization existed in this area. Tokens were used to trade, like coins are used now." Explained Robin.
"Oi!, Masira. Show them the last one we got!." Asked Montblanc.
Masira brought back a gold statue of a bird.
"Wow, that's bigger than the other ones!." Said Usopp.
"Yeah…ten years and I only got a few gold statues. Can't say it was worth it." Chuckled Montblanc.
"What bird is this? it looks like a penguin." Asked Chopper.
"This one is called south bird. They actually still exist on this island." Said Montblanc.
"This must be the strange-sounding birds described in Noland's book." Said Nami.
"Speaking of the south bird. Ever since long ago, sailors hav-" Masira was interrupted all of the sudden by Montblanc who stood up.
"Ohh!! Dammit!!. How can I forget!!"