#si chapter

“... Goodbye, Big Brother...”

“Nobody deserves to be judged for their family and their actions, whether they were good or bad, recent or in the far past! The only way they should be judged is based on who they themselves are, and what they themselves have done!”

“You're far too kind for your own good. Especially given what you've gone through.”

“What will you do? Will you stay here in Skypiea?”

“I can't quite explain it, but I've already deeply bonded with them, even after only being with them for a few days... I'm gonna stick with them.”

~ * < Down to the Blue Sea! Sakidō Tenshi the Sailmaster! > * ~

The celebrations went on for another three days, leaving everyone passed out around Shandora in a state of utter exhaustion. Even the Cloud Wolves, having survived the near destruction of Upper Yard and joined in, were scattered about.

In between the festivities, Tenshi was able to get a complete recounting of the story of Kalgara and Noland meeting from Wyper, the Shandian chief, and even the snake, thanks to Chopper translating her speech—they found out her name was Nola, named after Noland. She wrote down every single detail so that not only she could remember the true history, but could share it with Cricket if they came across him again.

It made the Shandian chief weep when she explained Noland's reputation after Shandora was sent flying up into the sky, and he was eager for her to someday tell Cricket the true history. “I would like to meet him as well,” he said.

But, for now, everyone was asleep and snoring.

At least, Tenshi was, alongside the rest of the Straw Hats on a platform. Until she was startled awake by a loud argument between Luffy and Nami. “'s not m'shift t'day,” she mumbled sleepily, patting around for her glasses.

The others around her were woken up, whether because they couldn't sleep, or because they were accidental collateral damage from their tantrums. Their angered or affronted shouts filled the ruins, shattering the peaceful early morning air.

Tenshi just sat off to the side, having found and pushed her glasses onto her nose, and watched the spectacle with a smile. “... I love this crew.”

But once they all calmed down, they gathered around to hear what Luffy had suggested to Nami, which led to the argument on who was talking too loudly: he knew where there was actually some golden treasure, and that they could swipe it and take off.

“So, that's the plan,” he concluded.

“Sounds good to me!” Usopp declared. “It's not often we come to a place like a sky island! You ought to make sure you leave without any regrets!”

Everyone nodded in agreement.

Later, once morning properly broke, and everyone else had awoken, the crew was split; Zoro and Usopp remained in the ruins to make sure nobody went looking for them—and so Usopp could barter for dials—Robin wandered off, presumably to look for the Poneglyph she mentioned wanting to find, and Luffy took Nami, Sanji, Chopper, and Tenshi inside of Nola, who was still asleep with her mouth propped open. Both he and Nami remembered seeing ruins that she had swallowed, and he said he had also found treasure.

“What the heck?!” Sanji said, glancing at the ruins in surprise. “What does this snake eat?”

“She kept smashing her head against ruins when we were fighting her,” Tenshi recalled. “She probably swallowed some ruins by mistake over the last four hundred years. I'm just surprised her venom didn't melt it all, least of all her stomach acids.”

“Are we there yet, Luffy?” Nami asked in exasperation. She had already been complaining about the creepy dampness and pungent smell of Nola's esophagus and stomach.

“Look! There it is!”

Sure enough, there was an area where there was various treasure scattered about. Gold, silver, and gems, various types of crowns and jewelry, swords, ingots, crosses, and statuettes.

“So amazing!” Nami cheered, nuzzling her cheek against a red velvet and gold crown.

“This is the real thing!” Sanji declared, looking at a golden cross that was encrusted with green gems.

“How pretty!” Chopper exclaimed, admiring an ingot. “Just like the salvaged one from Tenshi's pops and little brothers' house!”

"This must all go back hundreds of years!" Tenshi added, polishing a South Bird statuette with her sleeve. "Depending on how fast Nola grew up and started eating it all!"

“See?! See?! See?!” Luffy said proudly. “There's so much here!”

As they began to gather as much treasure as they could stuff in sacks they brought, Tenshi found a small wooden box. She flicked it open, and found a pair of earrings sitting on a velvet pillow. They were big dangling earrings, each the size of her thumb, and were shaped like the ingots—or, rather, like the Golden Bell, which Wyper had told her was called The Light of Shandora by the Shandians.

“Hey, Nami. You think I could keep these earrings for myself?” she asked, showing her the box. “Just as a souvenir of this place.”

“Sure, go ahead!” she said happily.

With a pleased smile, Tenshi carefully stuck the hooks into her pierced earlobes, making sure they dangled just right. She even found an ornate mirror to look at her reflection with. The bells were big, but not too heavy. And they sparkled brightly, even in the dim light of their lantern.

“What do you guys think?” she asked.

“Ohhh! You look beautiful with those, Tenshi-sama!” Sanji exclaimed.

“They're so sparkly!” Chopper said, climbing onto her shoulder and gently poking at one of them with his hoof.

“Gold jewelry really compliments your eyes and hair, Tenshi,” Nami added approvingly. “And the purple stones on your necklace and ring add to it!”

“You're a proper pirate now, Tenshi!” Luffy said, happily grinning.

She was still smiling herself, even as they exited Nola's mouth with their bags of treasure in tow. She was just happy she was able to take a piece of Skypiea with her, even after they spent all of their treasure. From now on, whether I make it myself, or I get something, I'm going to have trinkets and other things that will remind me of the places I visited; maybe even of the people I encountered.

She eventually found herself in the ruins of Shandora again, with the rest of the crew, save for Nami and Robin.

“What do you think will happen to this place?” Chopper asked.

“From what the Shandian chief told me, he and their tribe will start living here,” Tenshi said. “This is their ancestral home, after all. And there's even talks of the Skypieans living here as well. Now that their four hundred-year war is over, and the six-year reign of a false god is too, there can be proper peace.”

She laughed softly and added, “And to think it's all because of a group of pirates. Hella ironic.”

“We helped our friend save her kingdom too!” Chopper said.

“Yeah, Robin mentioned that. Princess Vivi of Arabasta, right? I heard a couple of Marines saved it, but I guess it was a cover up.”

Chopper nodded happily.

“I wish you could have met her, Tenshi-sama,” Sanji said with a morose sigh. “She was so lovely! Always concerned for the well-being of her people, and so strong! She even stayed behind so she could help her people more.”

“She sounds like a great girl,” Tenshi remarked. “I'd love to meet her someday.”

Luffy, who had been looking out at the entrance to the ruins, whined, “Robin's laaate! What's she doing?”

“Maybe trying to find a Poneglyph,” Tenshi suggested. “She mentioned there might be one here.”

“In any case, this place has been so empty,” Sanji said. “Where did all the guerrillas and angels go?”

“Better for us, I'd say,” Usopp stated. “If they spotted us with their gold, they'd probably chase us off! They probably won't just let us get away with it.”

“Well, Nami-san and Conis-chan did take most of it back to the ship, and are preparing to shove off,” Sanji pointed out. “But you're right, we do need to hurry.”

“I almost feel bad for taking it out from under their noses,” Tenshi said softly. “Especially after all they've been through...”

“If it was in the snake this whole time, they don't know it exists. And you're gonna have to get used to it,” Zoro said. “You're a pirate now.”

“I'm still getting used to it.”

“What's your role gonna be on the ship, Tenshi?” Chopper asked, intrigued.

“Well, Robin did mention that me setting the sails and taking care of them was like that of a sailmaster,” she recalled. “So, I guess that's what I'll be: a sailmaster.” She pumped her fists and declared, “And I'll do my damn best at it!”

“Yaay!” Chopper cheered. “You'll be the best sailmaster ever!”

Suddenly, the rest of the guys broke out into a fistfight. She could barely hear what they were arguing about, only that Sanji kept calling Zoro 'Marimo', and Usopp shouting that he would get lost within three steps of the jungle.

When she glanced down, she saw Chopper 'hiding' behind her leg with wide eyes. “You really need to learn how hiding works...”

“Hey, look! It's Robin!” Usopp suddenly exclaimed.

Sure enough, Robin was returning to the ruins.

“Robin-chan!”

“Oooiii, Robin! Hurry up! We gotta run! We stole some gold!”

Tenshi flinched in realization and exclaimed, “Luffy, are you fucking blind?!”

“Exactly!” Sanji snapped in agreement. “Take a good look behind her!”

There was a crowd of sky-people behind Robin. And they were carrying something. It was huge, round, and looked long. And it was wrapped in a giant tarp. It took dozens of sky-people to carry it.

“They're all coming at once!” Sanji concluded.

Chopper screamed in fright, hugging Tenshi's leg tighter. “There's a ton of them!”

“This is bad!” Usopp cried out. “This is super bad! They got a giant cannon!”

“Is that everyone?” Zoro groaned in exasperation.

“Robin, you snitch!” Tenshi yelled.

“Hurry back to the ship!” Luffy shouted loudly. “We can't stay here any longer!” He twisted his body around to show the mouth of his sack of gold. “Lookee here! We got a big haul! We're rich now!”

The crowd of sky-people did stop, but they began to shout as well. Tenshi could just barely hear them telling the crew to stop and wait a minute.

“See there?! They found out!” Sanji said. “We're busted!”

“Run away!” Luffy laughed, taking off towards the jungle.

As the others started to follow Luffy, however, Usopp doubled back to strike a pose on a large piece of rubble. “You guys keep yelling, 'Wait! Wait! Stop! Stop!' But you listen here! We-”

But he was interrupted when Tenshi grabbed the back of his overalls' straps to drag him with her. “We need to book it, on the double!” she yelled.

“Hey! Y-you interrupted my cool speech!” he protested as he struggled to keep up with her.

“You wanna stop and go back for a do-over?!”

He glanced back as she let go of his overalls, and realized the crowd of sky-people were running after them now, and still shouting for them to stop and wait. He gulped, and answered, “N-nope!”

“Then, get those feet moving!”

“Robin-chan!” Sanji called out happily. “Hurry!”

“Keep going, guys!” Luffy shouted. “Keep running all the way to the end of the sky!”

Thankfully, it didn't take them long to reach the jungle. They were barely even slowed down by their bags of gold.

“How's it look?!” Usopp asked. “Have we lost them?!”

“Looks like they gave up!” Sanji declared as he ran backwards, shielding his eye with his free hand. “I can't see them anymore!”

“That huge cannon will be a pain in the ass to get through these trees!” Tenshi added.

Usopp sighed with relief. “Anyway, that humongous cannon sure did scare me! Where the heck were they hiding that thing, anyway?!”

“A cannon?” Robin asked in confusion.

“Yeah, you know! That huge thing the warriors were carrying!” Usopp explained.

Robin simply laughed in response.

“Hey, it's no laughing matter!” Usopp protested. “It was really scary!”

“He's right!” Chopper chimed in, bouncing up to make himself heard better. “Don't laugh!”

“Hey! There they are!” Luffy exclaimed. “Nami and Conis!”

“And Gan Fall and Pierre are with them!” Tenshi added, seeing them near the ship through the trees.

“What?! Nami-san! Conis-cha-ow!” Sanji yelled out, having gotten clotheslined by a low-hanging branch.

“... Are you alright?” Robin asked over her shoulder.

“Of course!” he declared, leaping back to his feet.

Before Nami could ask what was wrong as they ran to quickly board the ship, Tenshi said, “No time for questions! Just shove off!”

“Well, do your job, then!” Nami answered, half-affectionately and half-seriously.

“Aye-aye, Navigator!” she exclaimed happily, throwing her bag of gold aside to climb up the mainmast. She grabbed the clewlines for the mainsail and jumped back down to tie them to their respective cleats. “Hoisting the sails! Off for Cloud's End!”

The whole time, she didn't notice Gan Fall watching her proudly.

~ * <|> * ~

As the Merry sailed along the White-White Sea, Gan Fall and Conis rode on Pierre, who was in his horse form and flying alongside them. Tenshi, having set the sails properly, was now sitting on the yardarm, watching Skypiea disappear in the distance. She felt sad that she was leaving, especially because she didn't recover as many of her memories as she hoped she would. And because though she knew who her people and home island once were, they were all gone.

But at the same time, she was excited for any adventures that awaited her along the Grand Line. Never before did she feel more sure of her path. She had escaped Mock Town and left Jaya. She was finally going to see the rest of the world.

She looked over her shoulder at the rest of the crew—her crew. Her new friends. Maybe even, dare she think it, her new family?

Luffy, who had been the first to invite her to the crew, and had defeated her brother when nobody else could.

Zoro, who never once judged her for how she looked, and called her a great fighter.

Nami, who though started off wary of her, found a sense of female camaraderie in her.

Usopp, who trusted her to help keep the Merry in good sailing condition, and made her feel protective.

Sanji, who though could be annoying with his fawning and flirting, still treated her like a lady as nobody ever did before.

Chopper, who was always cheerful to her, and made sure she didn't go without untreated injuries.

And Robin, who while still a little distant and cold, could trust her secrets with her.

This was her crew, her friends. And she trusted that as she would help them go the distance, they would with her as well. But she would still miss the friends she made in Skypiea: Conis, Wyper, and Gan Fall.

“I wish there was a way to write to you guys to tell you about our adventures,” she said across the way to Gan Fall and Conis. “I'll miss you guys a lot; especially you, Gramps,” she added with a grin.

Gan Fall laughed heartily. “Ah, what cheek you have!” His expression became more somber and reminiscent as he added, “I remember seeing off an old friend many years ago at this very route: Captain Gol D. Roger.”

Tenshi's eyes widened in shock. “Gold Roger came up here?! And you knew him?!”

“Indeed. Over twenty years ago; if memory serves right, likely twenty-four.”

“Twenty-four years ago... I would have been five years old...” I wonder... Did I ever meet the King of the Pirates? Did he once come to Birka? And come to think of it, is this why he sounds so familiar? Not that I know of him because of people talking about him... but because I might have met him? There is a tiny hint of nostalgic déjà vu...

“How do you know about Roger?” Gan Fall asked curiously, interrupting her thoughts. “Is he still alive down in the Blue Sea?”

“From what I know, he became the greatest pirate of his time! He gathered a great deal of treasure, and everyone's out to find it and claim his former title of King of the Pirates. But about twenty-two years ago, he was caught and executed. He was the one who set off everyone to find his treasure just before he died.”

“Ahh, I see.” Gan Fall nodded with a sad sigh. His eyes brightened back up as he continued, “But I'm happy he led a great life. I shall drink and toast in his honor tonight.”

“Everyone! We can see it now!” Conis announced from Pierre's back. “Please look to the front! For we are reaching Cloud's End!”

Several meters up ahead, they saw what looked like a grand gate. It was white, with red roofing and gold trim, had a few towers, and statues of sky-fish spitting up sea clouds like water fountains. A rainbow was arched over it.

Everyone gasped in admiration. “Alright! So we can get back down through there?” Luffy asked.

“We got here a lot sooner than I thought,” Usopp remarked.

Luffy slumped down on the Merry's figurehead. “Do we have to leave already?” he whined.

“I know how you feel,” Sanji said. “Now that we're finally on the cusp of going back down, I admit I hate to leave.”

“Time to say goodbye to this pure, white sea of clouds,” Zoro remarked.

“The sky island was fun,” Chopper added, leaning over the taffrail and letting his feet dangle below him. “Even though it was scary.”

“Once we pass through this gate, we'll take the Milky Road straight down to the Blue Sea?” Usopp asked.

“You think we'll be able to visit this sky island again?” Nami wondered out loud.

“Hard to tell.”

As the Merry sailed through the ship, Pierre landed on the gate so he was running alongside it. “This is as far as we can take you, folks!” Gan Fall called out.

“Take care, everyone!” Conis shouted, waving her arm in the air.

“Thanks for seeing us off!” Nami answered.

“Conis-chan! Take care of yourself!”

“Say hello to the others!” Usopp added.

“Thanks for everything!” Luffy said.

“No, we should be thanking you!” Conis countered, her eyes already shining with tears. “I'll never forget you all! I hope you regain your memories, Tenshi!”

“I do too! Thank you!”

“Conis, Tenshi's gramps, and little white thing! You all take care!”

“Yes!” “Yes!”

“Now, furl your sails immediately and hold on tight!” Gan Fall commanded.

“Furling the sails!” Tenshi jumped down from the yardarm, untied the clewlines from their cleats, and quickly began to furl the sails. She was surprised when the others jumped in to help, but bit her tongue so as to not protest.

If she was going to be a part of a crew, she would have to learn to accept help from them. Even when she thought she could do it herself.

Suddenly, there was a loud, strange chirping. Something bright and colorful flew down and attacked Luffy, sending him sprawling onto the deck.

It was the South Bird, now perched on Luffy's back. It squawked angrily.

“He's saying, 'Don't forget about me.'” Chopper translated.

“Oh, yeah... That is the South Bird we brought with us,” Nami recognized.

As the ship sailed into the small tunnel of the gate, the sails were all furled. “Alright, Captain!” Nami announced, adjusting her Log Pose. “We have the log for our next island!”

“Hell yeah!” Luffy exclaimed, now back on his feet. “Once we get back down, we'll start our next adventure!”

“LOOK OUT, GRAND LINE!” Tenshi declared as loud as her lungs and throat would allow it, now in the crow's nest. “THERE'S GONNA BE A NEW PIRATE ON THE SEAS! I MAY NOT HAVE AN EPITHET OR BOUNTY YET, BUT I AM SAKIDŌ TENSHI! SAILMASTER OF THE GOING MERRY AND THE STRAW HATS!”

The crew down below cheered in response. “Ready, guys?!” Luffy shouted. “WE'RE GOING BACK TO THE BLUE SEA!”

“YEAH!” “YEAH!” “YEAH!” “YEAH!” “YEAH!” “YEAH!” “YEAH!”

“BE CAREFUL WHILE DROPPING, EVERYONE!” Conis called out as loud as she could.

The ship exited the gate, and slid down a Milky Road, eliciting more excited cheers. They had sped up, making it all seem like a fun ride.

But it wasn't until the Merry had leaped completely off of the Milky Road, which took a sheer drop, that they realized what she had just said. “Dropping?” “Dropping?” “Dropping?” “Dropping?” “Dropping?” “Dropping?” “Dropping?” “Dropping?”

They barely heard Conis calling out one last “Heso!” as gravity began to take hold. The ship was free falling, and fast, nearly knocking everyone off of their feet and into the air. And soon, they were all screaming in fright.

“I WISH WE HAD A MORE DETAILED WARNING EARLIER!” Tenshi shouted indignantly.

“HOLD ON, TENSHI-SAMA! I'LL CLIMB UP AND HOLD ONTO YOU!”

“DON'T GRAB ME!”

Suddenly, a giant pink and purple-spotted octopus burst out of the clouds and grabbed the Merry in its long tentacles. Everyone was slammed onto the deck with how sudden the ship stopped falling. Once they got their bearings, they could only look up in shock at the giant cephalopod that was now cradling the ship in its tentacles. Several of the suckers were bigger than their heads.

“Hey, look!” Luffy called out from where he was perched on the bulwark. “This is so cool!”

As everyone else staggered to their feet, they exclaimed in realization. “It's like a hot air balloon!” Chopper realized.

“This is so much fun!”

“We've slowed down!” Nami pointed out.

“Uggghhh... I really thought we were gonna end up in the afterlife...” Usopp moaned.

** GONG! ** ** GONG! ** ** GONG! **

Everyone looked up with delight gasps as they heard The Light of Shandora ringing. The gongs were loud enough that it sounded like the bell was right next to them.

“I'll never get tired of hearing that beautiful bell...” Tenshi whispered, feeling herself tear up again.

** GONG! ** ** GONG! ** ** GONG! **

She was reminded, again, of Cricket, Masira, and Shoujou. She wondered what they were doing when they first heard the bell. Were they watching the sky, wondering what they themselves were doing? What would they do, now that they knew the city of gold was up in the sky?

“Keep an eye out for my first bounty poster, Pops, little brothers,” she said, gazing off into the sunset.

** GONG! ** ** GONG! ** ** GONG! **

*** To Be Continued ***

“You've changed so much, sister.

“T-Tenshi... You're crying.”

“This is the Ark Maxim! And this ship will deliver us to Endless Vearth!”

“... Enel... Big Brother.”

“... You remember.”

“You did this to me. You almost killed me, all because I was trying to do the right thing.”

“While you still have the nerve... tell me what you want.”

“TELL ME WHO I AM!”

“... Why? Why won't you tell me anything?”

“I want to keep things the way they have been for the last six years.”

“Wh-what?”

“You've been dead to me in spirit for six years, dear little sister. And when we all reach Endless Vearth, I'll make sure that you are not only dead to me in truth, but that you stay dead, this time.”

~ * < Luffy vs Enel! Rubber is Immune to Lightning! > * ~

Tenshi fell to her knees. She felt so numb, the physical pain didn't register. But she could feel the emotional pain. Her scarred heart pulsed in her chest, but she couldn't lift her hand to rub at her chest. Every sound around her faded away until she felt completely deaf. There wasn't any ringing in her ears, nor her heartbeat, whether loud or fast. She couldn't feel the tear tracks drying and becoming cold, nor the fresh tears trickling down.

All she could feel was the complete devastation.

She finally registered a new feeling. There was a pair arms wrapped around her from behind, and a warm presence against her upper back. A voice whispered into her ear, “I'm so sorry.”

“... I'm going to die,” Tenshi said quietly. “This time, I'm actually dying. Pops can't save me again. And Enel... He's going to destroy more islands and people... Like he did to ours.”

Nami's arms tightened around her. “I won't let you die,” she said, her voice growing a little stronger.

“... I don't know if I want that,” Tenshi continued. “For the past six years, there was only one thing I wanted, more than anything in the world: my memories. All of them. It's my only dream... But I can't have them. Not all of them. Not any happy ones; no childhood memories, no recollections of my people or family, nor any reminders of my culture. The strongest memory I have is of the worst day of my life.”

She sniffled, and let her chin drop against her chest. Her hands, resting on her thighs, slowly tightened until she was gripping her ripped skirt in her fists. “If I'm meant to die to my own brother's lightning... I would have preferred not remembering anything at all...”

Nami didn't say anything. The only thing she did was give Tenshi a brief squeeze and lean her head against her cheek.

But her head snapped up when Enel began to laugh. But it wasn't at Tenshi and her despair. He sounded genuinely amused, which could only mean it wasn't anything good.

“That girl from Angel Beach... She seems to be causing a commotion on Angel Island,” he remarked, holding a hand to his chin.

“Conis?!” Nami exclaimed. “It can't be... She should be on our ship!”

“There's quite a bit of commotion out there, too,” Enel continued. “But, those are trifling matters.” He laughed it off.

“Um... Th-that Mantra ability you have... You can even identify the person?”

“I'll admit, it isn't perfect. But my case, in particular, is special. In addition to my strong Mantra, I can use my lightning powers to read electric signals and listen in on conversations. Should I hear some disparaging conversation, I cast my judgment. The entire territory of this country is within my range. It proves especially useful if new people enter my range...” He sent a pointed smirk in Tenshi's direction.

That's why he wasn't surprised to see me... He knew, ever since we stepped foot on Angel Beach, that I was here...

“It is truly a power fit for a god! My dear little sister possessed it as well,” he conceded, though he still remained arrogantly smug. “Why, her ability could almost compete with mine, especially before I received my lightning powers. It was part of what made her such a strong, formidable warrior. It is almost a shame, seeing such an ability go to waste. If only you could still use it, perhaps then you'd be able to remember your past, little sister! Or, at the very least, remember what a fighter you once were!”

So, I could use Mantra. That must have been how I heard the priests' voices. And how I sensed Ohm's attack. Perhaps I can still use it... But I don't remember how to consciously use it... There's no point in remembering, anyway...

“Ya-hahaha! Try as hard as you wish to run and escape, sky-people!” he taunted. “But this is the end of Skypiea! There will be such a party to close out the chapter! Full of dancing angels falling from the sky! Say, you two, have either of you ever seen the expression of someone who has suddenly lost their footing? Do you remember that feeling, little sister?” He laughed even harder.

Nami's arms tightened again around Tenshi. It felt like she was trying to both comfort and protect her. Though she didn't see the need for such things, she still appreciated it.

I'm sorry... I'm sorry, Skypieans and Shandians, that I couldn't even try to help stop this... I'm sorry, my people, that I failed at saving and remembering you... I'm sorry, Straw Hats, that I wasted so much of your time and resources...

“Just as I thought... There is someone who was not one of the six survivors...”

Tenshi's head snapped up in surprise and confusion. Enel was now walking to the port-side bulwark of the ship. “But where could they have been hiding this whole time?”

“Someone who wasn't a sixth survivor...” she finally spoke. “Could... could it be?”

Nami nodded against her ear, and let go of her. Tenshi stood up, a little shaky on her feet, but didn't collapse again.

Enel jumped onto the bulwark, gripping his pole. “How truly irritating!” he exclaimed. “It means my prophecy was inaccurate!”

Suddenly, from the cave's ground, a familiar voice shouted out, “ARE YOU THAT ENEL GUY?!”

Gasping, both Nami and Tenshi ran to the bulwark. Nami nearly threw herself over the edge in her excitement. Tenshi could only stand and look down, completely stunned. “... L... Lu... Luffy?”

“LUFFY!” Nami screamed, tearing up with joy and relief.

Luffy was standing down on the ground. His clothes looked ripped, he was covered in scuff marks, and his sandals were missing. Even from high up above, Tenshi could see his angry glare directed at Enel.

“What are you doing with my friends?!” he asked tersely. “What did you do to my crew?!”

Enel sneered down at him. “Which pieces of trash are you referring to?”

“You stay up there! I'm gonna beat the crap outta you!” Luffy declared.

“No! Don't do it!” Tenshi cried out, grabbing the bulwark next to Nami. “You'll be killed!”

“You watch your mouth! For I am God!”

“What makes you a god?!”

“H-hey, Luffy! Be caref-” Nami was cut off when Enel shot her a sideways glare. She stood up straight away from the bulwark, clasping her hands over her mouth.

Tenshi stood up straight too, but moved in front of her. Though she felt that cold, sick shiver run through her body when Enel's glare landed on her, she glared back just as harshly.

Enel threw his head back with another laugh. “I can hear it now! The dancing angels' party! The citizens seemed to have learned of Skypiea's fate. Ya-hahaha! I can only anticipate how far they can run before the ground disappears from under them!”

“You call yourself a god?!” Luffy yelled, sounding angrier than before. “I don't see anything godlike about you!” He began to charge at the Ark Maximum, even though the stairs leading up to it were long gone.

“... You'll understand soon enough,” Enel said coldly.

Luffy ran up one of the oars, and stretched his arm out to the side, wrapping it around one of the propellers' shafts. He launched himself up into the air, let go and grabbed the one of propeller's blades.

“Ah, I see. You're not an ordinary human, hm?” Enel observed. “But you're merely a Paramecia.” He lifted a hand in preparation for an attack. “You're no match for me!” His hand glowed with pale blue sparks.

Tenshi's heart shot up into her throat. “No! Don't do it!” she cried out, though even she wasn't sure if it was directed at Enel or Luffy.

“Before me, all is futile!” he continued, his hand brightening as Luffy launched himself off of the propeller to fly straight at him with a mighty battle yell. “Because I am God!”

Luffy pulled back his fist as he neared Enel.

“El... Thor!” A mighty blast of pale blue lightning shot at Luffy, completely encasing him.

“LUFFY!” “LUFFY!” Nami and Tenshi's screams could barely be heard over the loud crash of thunder. Tenshi had covered her face with both hands, her fingers spread out to reflexively protect her lightning scars.

As the attack and its sound and light faded, Nami was the one to collapse to her knees. “Luffy...”

Tenshi slowly shook her head, peeking out between her fingers. “No...” she whimpered numbly.

The smoke faded, revealing a hole in the opposite wall. And... Luffy. He was looking towards the attacked wall, lips pursed with confusion. But he looked completely unharmed. He looked back at Enel.

“... Wh-what?” Tenshi muttered, too shocked to even tilt her head. Though she was immensely grateful that Luffy, somehow, was alive, she was left wondering: what happened?

“Looks like you managed to dodge,” Enel remarked. “No matter. Sixty Million Volt...” He spun his pole around in his hand and tapped it against the two drums directly above his head.

Dodged? But... I could have sworn he didn't move a muscle...

“Jamboule!”

The electricity that came out of his drums formed a long dragon. It let out a crackling roar as it flew at Luffy. This time, it definitely hit him. He even let out a surprised yell.

“LUFFY!” Tenshi cried out, barely able to peek through her fingers. But when she did after the attack and smoke faded, she was left shocked and confused again.

Luffy was still standing there, looking much more irritated.

Enel disappeared with a crack of lightning, only to reappear above him. His hand was stretched out to cover his chest. “One Hundred Million Volt... Vari!”

This was the loudest and brightest lightning strike yet. Tenshi felt Nami huddling behind her legs as the attack went on. Even with her eyes closed and partially covered by her fingers, she could still faintly see the pale blue light.

But through the thundering cracks, she heard, “That's... ENOUGH!”

The attack was stopped. When she opened her eyes, Enel backflipped several times away from Luffy, who was still completely fine.

It suddenly hit her. “Luffy stretches like rubber... He's made of rubber... And rubber can't conduct electricity!”

She couldn't see Enel's face as he stood there. But she could only imagine the look on his face; the arrogant, cocky man who thought he was completely untouchable, even to the point of believing he was a god, unable to even injure a mere pirate from the Blue Sea.

Suddenly, with a yell, Luffy charged and kicked Enel in the stomach. Enel, who previously couldn't be touched by anyone, was caught off guard enough to be physically kicked down. He collapsed and skidded across the deck towards the bow.

“Of course!” Nami said softly as Luffy marched to where Enel lay. “Luffy has the Gomu Gomu no Mi, which makes him a Rubber Person! And because rubber can't conduct electricity, Enel's attacks can't hurt him! Maybe he can actually... defeat Enel!”

Luffy, you're my hero. Tenshi was starting to feel a little bit of hope.

~ * <|> * ~

Enel finally began to push himself up, gasping out in pain and shock. Spit and blood had dribbled down his chin. For a brief moment, as he glanced up at Luffy, Tenshi saw a brief hint of fear.

But it quickly disappeared as he launched himself backwards to stand on the bulwark, near the propellers. “What are you?” he asked, both appalled and shocked.

“I am Monkey D. Luffy!” he said firmly. “I'm a pirate and a Rubber Person!”

Enel's glare took on a hint of frustrated confusion. “'Rubber'?”

“I get it!” Nami exclaimed. “Rubber doesn't exist up here in the White-White Sea!”

Tenshi's watery smile widened. “Get 'im, Luffy!” she whispered, clasping her hands together tightly.

“Lightning doesn't work on me!” Luffy declared, charging at Enel while holding out a fist to the side.

Enel closed his eyes. He murmured something, but Tenshi wasn't able to hear it. When Luffy jumped up to punch him, he turned to the side, completely avoiding the attack.

Even though Luffy had launched himself clear off of the Ark Maxim, he turned himself around in midair. He stretched his leg until his foot met the deck again. “Gomu Gomu no...” He let his leg snap back to normal, and kicked his other foot at Enel's back. “Whip!”

But Enel disappeared with a crack of lightning, letting Luffy land back on the deck.

Hearing Enel reappear behind him on the bow's railing, Luffy leaped backwards into a handstand and launched his pressed-together feet at him. “Spear!”

But Enel disappeared again, and Nami and Tenshi had to duck out of the way of Luffy's attack. “Oh, fuck this Mantra bullshit!” Tenshi snapped angrily. “It's cheating, is what it is!”

As Luffy's legs returned to their normal lengths, Enel reappeared right behind him.

“He's predicting Luffy's moves perfectly!” Nami realized. “Mantra is powerful!”

With a smirk, Enel swung his pole at Luffy, knocking him off of his handstand, and slammed it down between his legs. And he kept hitting Luffy across the ship until he had him pinned against the golden face with the end of his pole against his throat clear off of his feet.

“Don't push your luck!” Enel warned him as Luffy tried to cough. “Lightning can do more than just cause electric shocks! Even if that won't work, I'll change my fighting style accordingly.”

Even as he was choking, Luffy lifted a hand to grab Enel's pole. He clenched his teeth and swung his leg around to kick him. “Physical attacks won't work on me, neither!”

Though Enel disappeared again, it still meant that Luffy was freed. But he still cursed out of frustration. “This guy has that annoying ability that lets him read my moves, too!”

“Lightning doesn't work. Physical attacks won't work, either. Just what is this 'rubber'?” Enel grumbled, frustrated as well. “... No. He's still merely just a Paramecia. No matter what, he'll retain his original shape.”

He held his pole out horizontally and shouted, “Gloam... Paddling!”

His pole lit up with lightning, letting off loud pale blue crackles. Tenshi took a step back, reflexively holding her hands over her face again. “Now what?!” she whimpered.

“I don't have the time to play around with the likes of you!” Enel declared.

“What's he doing?” Tenshi asked, her eyes shut tight.

“The pole... It's transforming into a bladed weapon!”

When the lightning finally faded with one last loud crack, Tenshi looked. The pole had been refined into a trident, with the middle blade being serrated.

She gulped, imagining what Enel could do if he got a hold of her golden needles. It sickened her.

“Think of this as lightning in physical form!” he said, wielding the trident. He leaped down at Luffy, setting it alight with more sparks, and stabbed it at him. Though Luffy dodged back, it tore through through his vest a little more and drew a few droplets of blood from his torso.

Luffy launched himself up until he was perched on the forehead of the golden face. Enel laughed triumphantly. “Just as I thought! Slashing attacks are your weaknesses!”

“Yeah, that's right!”

“DON'T TELL HIM THAT!” “DON'T TELL HIM THAT!” Nami and Tenshi yelled angrily.

Luffy leaped off of the golden face. “Gomu Gomu no... Gatlin-”

Enel disappeared again. But he didn't reappear in front of them, this time. Out of the corner of her eye, Tenshi saw pale blue electricity traveling up the golden face. And then, the pale shape of drums strung along a ring.

“He's traveling through the gold!” Nami exclaimed.

Tenshi felt chills run through her body. “Luffy, watch out!”

Enel leaped out of the gold, pale blue and covered in sparks, and stabbed Luffy's side with his trident. He cried out in pain.

Nami and Tenshi could only look on in horror. But when she looked closer, Tenshi realized there were droplets falling from the trident. Not blood, however.

They were droplets of gold, which melted through the deck when they landed.

And when she looked closer, Luffy had grabbed the trident and pushed it aside so it only grazed his side instead of stabbing clear through him. But he still screamed in pain as steam arose from his hands. “YEOWCH! IT'S HOT!”

Enel let out another triumphant laugh. “Even if electricity doesn't work against you, the electrical heat stored in the trident is different, eh?!” He looked like he was going to say more, but Luffy attempted to kick him upside the chin.

His leg kept stretching up and up, sending his foot up higher and higher. “Gomu Gomu no... Battle-Axe!”

His foot slammed down onto Enel's stomach, sending him plunging into the wooden deck with a loud crack, making the ship shake a little.

But it wasn't long before Enel emerged from the hole. “How dare you, you little twit?!” he roared.

“Gomu Gomu no... Gatling!”

Luffy's fist rained down upon Enel in a flurry. But, without even flinching, he grabbed his wrists. He slammed him down onto the deck by his arms, launching himself out of the hole in the process. “Your arms didn't even multiply!” he exclaimed, almost sounding offended. He landed back on the deck and began to walk back to his throne, spinning his trident by his side.

“Luffy!” Nami exclaimed when he didn't come out from the broken boards right away.

“Sight-seeing on a sky island, searching for lost memories... Such a bad time to come visiting, Blue Sea people.” He paused and lifted his hand to brush away the blood from the corner of his mouth, and looked up at the open roof of the cave. “I am God. I shall do everything I please! I will create a new world in accordance to my desires! I won't let some clueless Blue Sea runt, or my estranged apostate of a sister ruin my plans!” He sent Tenshi a poisonous glare that had her flinching back.

“Now, then!” he continued as he walked up to his throne. “That being said, shall we all watch the fall of this country together?” Instead of sitting on the throne, however, he placed his trident down to lean against it and put his hands on the golden orbs.

Nami and Tenshi blanched in realization. “Don't tell me...”

“Oh, no!”

His body began to glow. “Max Two Hundred Million Volt Vari!”

The orbs sparked to life. Electricity traveled up the pipes behind him. The giant glass orbs lit up from the inside with high-pitched zapping that made Tenshi's skin crawl. The propellers groaned as they began to turn. The whole ship was starting to shake.

“Behold! It's rising!” Enel declared gleefully. “The Ark Maxim will take me to the land without end, Endless Vearth!”

Just as he said, the ship began to slowly rise up. Nami's waver tipped over, startling Tenshi. “No! No-no-no! This can't be happening!” She clutched handfuls of her curls, pulling painfully at her roots. But as she looked up, the opening of the cave's roof was coming closer and closer. It was slow, but it was imminent.

“We have to escape!” Nami whimpered, clutching Tenshi's shoulders. “Luffy! Hurry up and beat Enel! No, wait! If Enel is defeated, won't this ship fall?!”

“W-we can't just ask him to go back down for the fight!” Tenshi pointed out, shaking in place. “B-but if he's not defeated, all of Skypiea will be d-destroyed!”

“But if we stay here, we'll be taken to who-knows-where!”

The top of the Ark Maxim began to scrape against the sides of the cave, sending rocks hurtling down onto the deck. Though it momentarily stalled its ascent, Tenshi knew it wouldn't be forever—not if Enel could help it.

“What're we gonna do, Luffy?!” Tenshi exclaimed, finally noticing that he had pulled himself out of the deck and was standing.

For a moment, he said nothing. But as he remained silent, he gently tossed his straw hat to her. It landed on her forehead. When she nudged it up with a hand, she saw he was looking at both her and Nami with a firm, determined expression.

“Don't get so rattled, you two,” he said. “You're both friends and crewmembers of the future King of the Pirates. Don't show such pitiful faces.”

“King of the Pirates...” Tenshi could only watch as Luffy marched onto the carpet that led to Enel's throne.

“'King of the Pirates'?” Enel questioned as he stood and took several steps toward Luffy. “Just what territory does this king govern?”

King of the Pirates. Even with her limited knowledge of the Blue Sea due to living exclusively on Jaya for six years, Tenshi knew about the King of the Pirates: Gold Roger, the greatest pirate who ever lived. She heard stories about the wealth, fame, and power he accumulated. How he traveled along the Grand Line, waging great battles and gathering grand treasures. But his greatest treasure was the one that almost all pirates sought to find: the One Piece. Many pirates dreamed of finding the One Piece and becoming King of the Pirates.

And Luffy was one of those people who wanted to become King of the Pirates?

Suddenly, his hat felt a lot more precious on her head. There was a sense of deep honor coursing through her body, both to wear his straw hat and be on his crew.

“He is the great king of the seas!” Luffy declared. The sunlight shone down on him, casting him in a gentle golden glow.

“My, how impressive,” Enel remarked with a smirk. “Why don't we settle our business in the sky... future King of the Pirates?”