A Princess or A Pirate?

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Chapter 55 (The Land of God), Chapter 56 (Enemies of The God), Chapter 57 (Luffy, The Enemy of God), Chapter 58 (The Wings of Ra), Chapter 59 (Straw Hats Vs God's Army), and Chapter 60 (Love is The Death of Duty), and Chapter 61 (Back at The Sea) are already available for Patrons.

Despite their arrival in the Sky Island, the crew maintained an unusual silence. Rather than being filled with cheer and excitement, they were gripped by an anxious anticipation, anxiously awaiting Luffy's emergence from his cabin.

Occasional whispers punctuated their silence as they harbored uncertainty about the extent of their captain's injuries. Amidst this tense atmosphere, the three monkey brothers stood out as the only ones engaged in any activity. Armed with binoculars, they tirelessly scanned the distant horizon, their eyes straining to penetrate the billowing clouds that enveloped them. With each passing moment, it became increasingly apparent that their ship was navigating through clouds.

Lacking any comprehension of the underlying mechanism, each one among the crew shared absolute bewilderment as to how such a peculiar occurrence could ever be possible: the ship found itself gliding effortlessly through the boundless expanse of clouds. Usopp had daringly proposed the notion of testing whether one could gallantly stride upon these fluffy masses by plunging into the watery abyss below.

However, Zoro swiftly told Usopp to remain on the deck; he shouldn't do anything until Luffy returns.

Cricket, filled with curiosity, diligently peered through the binoculars, desperately scouring the vast expanse of the sky in search of something other than the obscuring clouds. However, much to his disappointment, their ship remained enveloped by an endless sea of billowing white. Despite the disappointment that engulfed him, Cricket's infectious grin persisted, unaffected by his inability to spot what he had eagerly anticipated.

"It's here," Cricket suddenly claimed with confidence; despite having no real proof, Cricket was convinced this was where the Golden City was, somewhere around here, and all left would be for him to find it.

"How can you be so sure?" Shoujou questioned, his voice filled with a subtle sense of disbelief, as he leaned forward and cupped his hands above his eyes to shield them from the piercing sunlight. With squinted eyes, he strained to catch even the slightest glimpse of the distant horizon, desperately hoping to find some evidence. However, as his gaze extended towards the expansive sky, all that greeted him were billowing clouds.

"I just know it, the city of gold was never sunk, it was thrown in the air by the Knock Up Stream, and part of the island ended up here. We just need to find it now, I will prove once and for all that Noland was never a liar," Cricket claimed with a raised fist.

Masira and Shoujou couldn't help but notice the resolute gleam in his eyes, akin to radiant gems reflecting his inner resolve.

"Do you think there are people here?" Masira suddenly asked.

The question seemed to hang in the air, lingering for a moment before catching the attention of a few crew members. "People?" The mere thought of people inhabiting this desolate place hadn't crossed their minds until now.

"Yes, while we just arrived here, we don't know how this place works, but there's a chance there are people that live in this place, that call this place their home," Masira explained.

"Do you think these people might be hostile towards us?" Usopp questioned with a hint of concern in his voice. His hands subconsciously brushed against one of his trusty revolvers, as if preparing himself for any potential hidden attack.

"They might be, after all, if there are people here that call this place their home, then right now we are intruders, people they don't know and don't trust. There might be a chance they might be the type of 'Attack first, and ask questions later,' " Masira explained with a nonchalant shrug of his shoulders. Standing beside him, Cricket couldn't help but frown, knowing his brother was right. However, this realization did not falter his determination in the slightest – he had come so far and would persist in his pursuit without hesitation.

"If these people of the sky try anything," Zoro started, a mischievous glint in his eyes as he spoke with a confident grin, his fingers expertly unsheathing one of his swords. With a swift and fluid motion, he positioned the blade over his shoulder. "They will meet their maker sooner than they thought," he finished, his grin now transforming into a knowing smirk.

"Huh, I wonder if there are any unique animals around here, I wonder what their meat tastes like," Sanji wondered out loud. With a cigarette between his fingers, Sanji took a deep drag, finding solace. The nicotine-laden smoke filled his lungs, providing a momentary escape from the multitude of concerns. As the gray wisps dissipated into the air, Sanji's mind became clearer.

"Huh, well if there are animals here, I think they might be flat, and not have much weight in them," Robin added in the conversation; this earned a look of intrigue from Sanji, who wondered how the meat would taste like.

"Has anyone noticed that it is kind of hard to breathe in here?" Usopp wondered out loud, his eyebrows furrowing in concern as he meticulously cleaned his revolver with a napkin.

Ever since they arrived in the Sky Island, one of the first things that struck them immediately was the undeniable difficulty in drawing breath. It felt as if an invisible force was gripping their lungs, restricting the influx of air, no matter how many times they attempted to inhale deeply.

"The higher we are, the more difficult it becomes to breathe, this is why climbers of very high mountains sometimes bring tanks with oxygen before climbing," Robin elaborated, her eyes scanning the surroundings with a sense of wonder.

Robin couldn't help but flinch just a little bit as she felt a tingling sensation in her arms. The excruciating pain caused by the burns she had sustained seemed to persist, refusing to subside. Her arms were noticeably scorched, the once smooth and unblemished skin now bearing the evidence of her recent ordeal.

Robin found solace in Chopper's reassurance. The doctor informed her that he had already treated some of her wounds. Fortunately, her burns weren't as severe as she initially feared.

The pain sensation was relatively bearable as Robin gently ran her finger along the raised, discolored burn mark on her arm, she knew she wouldn't be much of use when it comes to fighting for a few days.

'The captain of the Ship is Sakazuki, ' Robin remembered; the name had been burned on her brain since she heard it, yet, last night, Robin had been frozen by fear; she had hardly fought against him; the man was a Demon after all.

Robin escaped her thoughts when she heard Sanji say, "Where are Vivi and Nojiko?"

Zoro scoffed loudly as soon as he caught wind of the mention of Vivi's name. This reaction did not go unnoticed by Sanji, who immediately grew wary of Zoro's behavior and narrowed his eyes.

"Is there something you'd like to say, you stubborn moss head?" Sanji's glare intensified, his gaze fixated on Zoro's defiant expression.

Sanji swiftly snatched the cigarette from between his index and middle fingers, launching it disdainfully into the sky before it plummeted into the abyss below.

"Yes, I understand that Vivi is sad over what happened in Alabasta, but I can see in her eyes that she now regrets joining us, and I find that pathetic. One can't just join the crew and decide that they don't like it within a few weeks of staying. A crew can't be strong if one can just walk in and walk out every time they feel like it." Zoro said bluntly; he wasn't one to keep his thoughts inside. His words were genuine, but Sanji's glare towards Zoro grew.

"She doesn't regret it, Vivi might not like what happened, but remember that she has a strong will, if she didn't, she would have died a long time ago," Sanji reminded Zoro; the latter had a thoughtful look.

"Perhaps, but she should have seen this outcome, pirates are hated by the majority of the world, the world government and the marines. As far as they are concerned, everyone under a pirate flag deserves to have their heads on top of spike for everyone to see. Vivi was a princess of a country that has direct links with the world government, I find it difficult to believe that she thought she could just join a pirate crew and for there to be no reaction from the World Government, she's a princess after all. This is treason to them, and they wouldn't just stand around and do nothing," Zoro explained with irritation. As his scabbard rhythmically tapped against the ship's wooden floor, Usopp anticipated a response from Sanji. However, much to Usopp's surprise, Sanji's reaction was quite the opposite. Rather than confronting Zoro, Sanji simply averted his gaze, appearing disinterested, and silently made his way into the kitchen, leaving Usopp and Zoro.

Vivi

"Vivi, you can't stay here forever," Nojiko gently and compassionately reminded Vivi, her voice filled with concern. She sat beside her on the bed, the room enveloped in an eerie darkness despite it being the middle of the day. The heavy curtains, tightly drawn over the small windows, the silence broken only by the heart-wrenching sound of Vivi's inconsolable sobs.

Vivi didn't say anything. Instead, she kept sobbing, her arms covering her face. She tried to stop, but all she could think of was Alabasta. She had no doubts that her father was forced into marrying again; Vivi knew how much his father still loved her mother; it would crush him, the thought of marrying another woman and having children again.

My country will be torn apart, Vivi thought; all of them would want to know why the Princess wasn't in Alabasta anymore, and when they were told the truth, Vivi had no doubts, many of them will curse her, the people will be split into two groups, after all they just had a rebellion, the city was still in shambles, and Vivi, the Princess had left her home to go out in the seas.

Vivi knew that her decision to join the Straw Hats and leave Alabasta right after a massive Rebellion was perhaps selfish, but Vivi had never predicted it would come to this. She had thought that perhaps her father would rule until her journey in the seas ended, but it seemed the World Government had somehow learned the truth about her becoming a Pirate.

Vivi wasn't sure what to think anymore; being in the seas was the most fun she had ever had; she felt alive, she felt like she belonged in the seas with her friends, yet, now that she knew about the situation in Alabasta, Vivi could perhaps lie to others but not herself, she wasn't sure anymore what she wanted.

My father is alone, and instead of being with him...Vivi's thoughts trailed off; she forced herself not to think like that. She had made the decision herself; no one had forced her, yet here she was, regretting her decision, wishing to be back with her father.

No, Vivi thought, almost shouting the word, not sure herself how to feel; a part of her wanted to return back to her father and be there for him, yet another part wanted to sail all the seas and do what she truly wanted, to explore the whole world, to feel alive.

"Vivi, what do you want?" Nojiko questioned softly, her voice laced with genuine concern as she leaned closer to Vivi, their faces almost touching. Her gentle touch met Vivi's forehead, leaving behind a lingering warmth.

"I Don't Know!!" Vivi snapped, her face red with anger; she didn't even know what to feel anymore.

"Who should know if you don't know?" Nojiko questioned, tilting her head to the side and looking at Vivi, who seemed lost in her thoughts. On the other hand, Vivi refused to meet Nojiko's gaze, her eyes fixated on the blankness of the wall in front of her. Her eyes were now red and bloodshot, her cheeks swollen and marked with traces of dried tears.

"Vivi, before last night, you enjoyed every minute of being a pirate, but it changed last night because of the consequences that come with it," Nojiko soothingly conveyed, her hand gently caressing the middle of Vivi's back in an effort to provide comfort and solace.

"That shows to me that you like being a pirate. It is not my place to tell you what to do, but you should decide; no one can decide for you, not Luffy, not your father, only you can decide, it is not my place to tell you what's best for you, Vivi, but you should ask yourself. Are you a Princess or a Pirate?"

Swiftly, Nojiko leaped off the bed, she strode towards the floor-to-ceiling curtains that concealed the outside world. As she reached out her hand, her fingertips grazing the fabric. She forcefully drew the curtains back. The room, once cloaked in darkness, was now alive with vibrant hues of golden rays cascading through the window, instantly illuminating every nook and cranny.

With a furrowed brow and narrowed eyes, Vivi squinted intensively as the warm, glowing rays of sunlight made their way through the windowpane, delicately brushing against her face.

"It does you no good to stay in the dark, you're from Alabasta after all," Nojiko said assertively, her voice resonating with concern. As she approached the sturdy wooden door, a solemn expression crossed her face when she caught a glimpse of Vivi's defeated countenance once more.

Nojiko paused momentarily, her hand reaching out to grasp the cold iron handle. With a firm grip, she slowly swung open the door. With a lingering glance, Nojiko left Vivi grappling with her thoughts and feelings.

6 Hours Later

Zoro quickly stood up as did the rest when they heard the sound of a door opening.

It was Luffy, emerging from his quarters with Chopper and Nami trailing behind him.

His gaze momentarily flicked towards Luffy's arm, which was encased in a multitude of bandages. The arm hung limp at his side, barely mobile.

"Luffy!"

"Captain!!"

"Luffy, how are you feeling?"

As Usopp attempted to rush toward Luffy, his instinctive desire to embrace his friend was quickly thwarted by Nami's swift intervention.

Luffy leaned in towards Usopp and gave him a small smile, but one could easily tell it was a forced one.

Luffy swiftly shifted his gaze towards the rest of the crew gathered on the main deck. A genuine sense of happiness washed over him as he realized everyone, including Vivi, was accounted for. Yet, Luffy's observant eyes did not fail to notice the traces left behind by tears emanating from Vivi's reddened eyes.

Luffy wanted to ask Vivi if she wanted to return back to Alabasta after everything that had happened, but knew that would be pointless to ask right now; from what he could tell, they were in the Sky Island, and they knew nothing about the place, or how to even go down back to the Sea surface, so instead, Luffy walked up to Vivi, placing his left hand on her shoulder, making Vivi look up at Luffy.

Vivi tightly embraced Luffy's chest, being careful to avoid touching his burned arm. Luffy gently ran his left hand through her silky blue locks, tenderly caressing her hair. He leaned down and gently kissed the top of her head to remind her that she was never alone.

Pulling away from the hug, Luffy turned his attention towards Robin, his eyes filled with worry and affection. Stepping closer to her, he tenderly reached out and gently clasped her injured arm, the sensation of her burnt flesh causing his heart to ache. "I'm sorry this happened to you,"

Despite her efforts to hide it, Robin couldn't help but enjoy the sensation of his hand on her arm and the genuine concern he showed towards her. It was a rare experience for her. It touched her deeply, knowing that he genuinely cared for her well-being.

"Thank you for your concern, Captain," Robin said with a small smile, her blue eyes briefly glancing at his bandaged arm, she wasn't a doctor, but she knew such an injury would take a long time to heal properly.

With his eyes fixed on Nami, Luffy swiveled his body to face her properly. His tone shifted to a more solemn one. "So what do we know about this place exactly?

Robin explained that the clouds function similarly to a sea, and with her abilities, she had been able to see creatures floating around and not much else.

Before Nami could say anything in response, Cricket suddenly exclaimed, "A Ship!" Instantly, all eyes were drawn to their right, where, in the distance, another vessel came into view.

However, upon closer inspection, it became evident that this newly spotted ship appeared to be in a considerably dilapidated state. With visible cracks and sections that had been partially destroyed. Furthermore, the flag fluttering high above the ship looked as though it had endured some sort of blazing fire, leaving it charred and only half intact.

"There's someone there," Luffy suddenly said, his voice cutting through the stillness.

Suddenly, a deafening explosion erupted. The force of the blast tore through the air, causing shockwaves to ripple through the surroundings. The entire ship now burst into flames, engulfed in a devastating inferno.

The resulting chaos sent debris hurtling into the sky. Some of the scattered remnants fell uncontrollably, descending like confetti, only to fall on the deck of Going Merry.

Luffy's unwavering gaze remained locked on the remnants of the destroyed ship.

"What Was That!!" Usopp shouted in fear, his heart pounding wildly against his chest, as he desperately scanned the surroundings with his trembling hands gripping his revolvers tightly. Beads of cold sweat dripped down his forehead; his face contorted with terror as he tried to comprehend the source of the sudden and unexpected explosion that had sent a shiver down his spine.

"Someone's approaching us!" Everyone's attention snapped upward, and a mysterious figure appeared, effortlessly traversing from one fluffy cloud to another, confidently walking atop the cotton-like formations. Until he abruptly ascended with a nimble leap, landing on the ship's main deck.

"Eliminate," the figure shouted with a fierce determination in his eyes, his voice echoing through the air. Without wasting a moment, he propelled himself towards Nami. Meanwhile, Nami was ready to sprung out her wings.

However, before Nami could unleash her attack, a sudden blow came out of nowhere, impacting the figure's stomach with a resounding thud. The punch's force was staggering, momentarily stunning the figure and causing him to stagger back, gasping for air.

Luffy's hands emitted a silver aura as he delivered a devastating punch directly to the figure's stomach. The sheer intensity of the attack compelled the figure to expel saliva mixed with blood.

Overwhelmed by the excruciating pain, the figure staggered, his knees buckling under his weakened state. He collapsed to his knees, his strength completely drained. The figure crumpled onto the wooden floor.

"It seems you were right, Masira," Cricket commented with a hint of surprise in his voice, his keen eyes immediately fixating on the strange mask the attacker was wearing.

However, before any of them could ask any question, Luffy's unmistakable voice rang out with a sense of urgency.

"There's someone else here," Luffy stated, as he craned his neck to look up at a figure standing atop the crow's nest of the ship.

The new guy. Standing at an average height. His long white hair cascades down to his shoulders, blending seamlessly with the well-groomed mustache and beard that frame his weathered face.

Donning a striking metal armor. The armor gleams under the sunlight. Beneath the protective plates, he wears a dark red shirt. For leg protection, he opts for sturdy brown pants.

He wears a long dark blue cloak that billows softly in the wind as he moves.

"Who are you?"

"I'm the Knight of the Sky!"