Chapter 38

An hour later, I woke up.

*YAWN*

'I guess I'll go for a swim in the pool. I don't feel like drinking saltwater.'

I found a pair of swim trunks in the closet. After I changed, I went outside to the pool.

When I arrived at the pool, I found everyone sitting around the pool in their swimming wear.

'Damn, those three girls look amazing.'

"Yo, Ken. Did you have a nice nap?" asked Ace

"It was good. But why is no one in the pool?"

"Devil Fruits and water don't go together." said Robin

"And we can't just go swimming and let them watch." said Deuce

"I see. Well, I don't care about anyone's feelings."

*SPLASH*

I jumped into the Swimming Pool.

"Aahh, you guys are really missing out."

I started swimming around.

(An: The pool is 1 meter (3 feet) deep.)

*SPLASH*

Deuce suddenly jumped on me and grabbed me in a headlock.

"Argh, you bastard!"

*PLONS*

Sabo suddenly also jumped in. He smirked at me.

"What are you two idiots planing!"

Sabo suddenly pushed my head in the water.

'These bastards!'

I forced myself free from their clutches and appeared on the other side of the pool.

I glared at them, and they glared back.

"You idiots started a battle that you can't will!"

*PLONS*

Ace suddenly jumped in next to me.

"2 against one isn't fair." said Ace

"I thought that you guys couldn't come into the water."

"If I let a little water stop me, I will never be able to surpass you."

(An: How weakened a Devil Fruit user gets by going into the water depends on how much their body is submerged into the water. The pools water reaches up to Ace's waist so he can still do move in the water. At least that is how I think it works.)

"Hahaha. Alright, let's get these bastards."

"Let's go."

"Soru!" x4

We appeared in front of each other in an instant. Instead of punching each other, we started wrestling.

I grabbed Sabo and pushed him into the water, but he grabbed my legs, taking me with him.

I smiled.

'I'm glad I choose to accept that cup of sake that day and become brothers with these lovely idiots.'

The four of us kept wrestling in the pool until it was time for dinner. I had to carry Ace on my back to his room since he was too weak to move. After bringing Ace to his room, I went on top of the room and looked out onto the sea.

'The Knock Up Stream appears five times a month. But it's almost impossible to calculate when it exactly appears, I think. I should just keep my eyes open, and when the Knock Up Stream appears, we should just race towards it.'

Laffitte suddenly appeared next to me.

"May I speak with you, captain?"

"Sure, what is it?"

"You haven't really been keeping your promise."

"What promise?"

"That you would let me have some fun."

"Wasn't today really fun?"

"I mean the other type of fun."

"Oh, we're talking about your kind of fun. We will be hopefully going to a place soon where there are supposed to be a couple of strong people that you can play with if you're strong enough."

"Do you think that I'm not strong enough?"

"I don't know their strength. I just know that they're strong."

He licked his lips.

"Well, I'm looking forward to it."

"How about you go and play with the pirates on this island?"

"Hm, that's a great idea."

"But before you go, I need to ask you something."

"Yes, captain?"

"Have you heard of the sky island."

He nodded.

"I've read about it in stories. But isn't that just a fairy tale?"

"Maybe, but what if it does exist? Wouldn't you want to find out about it?"

"I don't think I told you this, Captain, but I strongly believe in luck, fate, and dreams. So I actually do believe that it exists."

"It's good to believe in dreams. But we can't make dreams reality if we sit around and do nothing."

"That's true. So I presume that my brilliant Captain has a plan."

"Haha, stop flattering me. I do have a plan, but I will need your help to realize it."

"I will be glad to help."

"Do you know anything about the Knock Up Stream?"

"I'm sorry, Captain, but I've never heard of it. Can you please explain."

"The Knock Up Stream is a powerful pressurized water stream that shoots upwards to the sky from the sea. The Knock Up Stream is created by a giant underwater cave filled with gas. At some point in time, the gas pressure is too big and creates a crack in the ceiling, and then a giant whirlpool is created from the crack. Once most of the gas gets free, the seabed explodes, sending a giant stream upwards."

"Captain sure is a genius. We could use this stream to potentially shoot us up high enough to get to Sky Island."

"You're a genius yourself."

"You flatter me."

"Do you think that you're able to predict when the next Knock Up Stream appears?"

"Give me one week."

"Hahaha, you're such a reliable crewmate. With your help, it's almost guaranteed that I become the Pirate King."

He gave me a polite bow.

"Thank you for the praise. Then if you would excuse me, I have some pirates to play with."

"Hahaha, have fun."

*WOOSH*

He disappeared.

'If he really can find out when the next Knock Up Stream appears, I will be able to prepare accordingly. And since I know that the 1 billion Extol you have to pay at the gate is actually 100.000 berries per person. So if I just pay the old lady at the gate 900.000 berries, we will not become criminals, and we can wander the island freely, except for Upper Yard, of course.'

I disappeared from the roof and appeared in my room. I directly went to sleep.

[1 week later]

I'm was playing poker with Ace and Sabo when Laffitte suddenly appeared next to me.

"I have found out when the next one will be."

"When?"

"Tomorrow."

"Where?"

"It's too far for us to reach in one day."

"What do you mean?"

"It doesn't appear only around here, but in a lot of places."

'That must be something I forgot. Well, whatever. Let's just hope that one appears here soon.'

"I see. I'm right to assume that you have found out when the next one appears next to this island, right?"

"Yes, captain. It will appear in approximately one month and a half. I will be able to know exactly the day when it closer to happening."

Ace placed the cards in his hands down and smiled.

"I've won!"

"Keep dreaming."

I placed the cards in my hand down.

His smile immediately dropped.

"Ken is the winner." said Sabo

I took the 1 million berries on the table.

"Hahaha, better luck next time."

"Let's go another round!" said Ace

I stood up.

"I need to take care of some business first. Laffitte, follow me."

*WOOSH*

We disappeared and appeared in my room.

"How good are you at designing things?"

"I'm pretty good if I can say so myself."

I placed down two big papers on my desk.

"I need you to help me design two ships."

"Two?"

"It won't be convenient if we have to share a ship with the giants."

"That's true."

"Alright, first I want a Jacuzzi."

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[Does anyone know if there are Devil Fruits other than Enel's on Skypiea. And if you guys want, you can leave some design suggestions for the two ships down below. And maybe a name since I'm so bad at naming things. Oh, and if you guys have some information that you think will help me, please let me know down below.]

Random Facts:

Kuina defeated Zoro 2001 times.

All the members of the Monkey D. family have a mark under their left eye.

I love ya all! <3