Cursed Seas and Slashing Tides

"It looks awesome!!" Luffy shouted, grinning from ear to ear as he stared at the newly improved Merry.

"It's the Going Merry, flying version!" Usopp added, gesturing proudly toward the ship, now outfitted with wings.

"Are you coming with us?" Ryomen asked Cricket, who simply shook his head.

"If I did, those two idiots would follow me." He gestured toward Masira and Shoujou. "They've already done enough. I don't want to put their lives in any more danger."

Ryomen nodded in understanding. "I get it. Well then, thank you…for your earlier words. You gave me a lot to think about." His voice softened with a smile.

"Hmph, enough of the sentimental stuff! Go on already." Cricket waved them off, attempting to hide his emotions.

Suddenly, Masira shouted, "Everybody, get on board! You're running out of time!"

"We'll lead you out! Just follow us!" Shoujou added.

The Straw Hats hurried aboard the Merry, excitement and anticipation bubbling in the air.

"Saruyama Alliance!! Don't screw this up!! Whatever happens, give it your all for these guys!!" Cricket bellowed.

"Alright, let's set sail!" Luffy declared with a grin.

"This is where we say goodbye." Cricket called after them. "But remember one thing! No one has ever proven that El Dorado or Skypiea doesn't exist!" His words were filled with a quiet conviction.

"Of course not!" Luffy yelled back.

"People might laugh and call them silly legends, but let 'em laugh! That's what makes it a great adventure!!" Cricket's declaration lit up their faces with smiles.

"Good luck! Don't fall out of the sky!" Cricket waved as the Merry sailed away.

"Bye, mister!!" Luffy yelled, waving wildly.

"Thanks for everything, Cricket!" Chopper added cheerfully.

"I'm sure you'll find El Dorado someday, mister!" Usopp shouted.

"Don't dive so recklessly!" Nami warned.

"Mind your own business!" Cricket snapped, but the fond smile on his face lingered as the ship faded from view.

…

A few hours later, the Straw Hats, along with Masira, Shoujou, and their crews, rested as they neared the Knock-Up Stream.

"Boss! Bad news!" A frantic man approached Masira. "To the southwest, night is coming! It's the emperor cloud!"

"Are you sure? What time is it!?" Masira asked urgently.

"It's only ten o'clock! We weren't expecting it this early!"

Tension mounted as the ship rocked near a massive whirlpool.

"It's the sign of the Knock-Up Stream! Head straight for it!" Masira commanded. "We'll tow you into the whirlpool!"

"What happens after that!?" Nami yelled over the roaring water.

"Once you're in the current, sail into the center! That's your best shot!" Shoujou advised, his voice nearly drowned out by the noise.

"No one said anything about this!" Nami screamed, panic creeping into her voice.

"Nami, stay calm!" Ryomen said, trying to reassure her as Chopper clung to his back, eyes wide but filled with excitement.

"We're counting on you, Nami! You're the navigator!" He added, his voice steady.

"I'll protect you and Robin-chan, don't worry!" Sanji called confidently, eyes on the two women.

"I've never seen such a massive maelstrom." Robin murmured, seemingly fascinated.

"I don't wanna see it either!" Usopp cried, shrinking in fear.

"Sorry, Usopp." Zoro said with a smirk. "But it's too late to turn back now."

"Sky Island, here we come!" Luffy yelled, arms outstretched in excitement, completely unfazed by the chaos around them.

As the Merry drew closer to the center of the ocean's churning whirlpool, the crew watched the intimidating sight with a mix of excitement and dread.

"You're on your own from here!! Good luck!!" Masira and Shoujou shouted from a safe distance.

"Okay! Thanks for everything!" Luffy called back with his usual grin.

"Wait! Give me a break! I'm scared! I wanna go home! We're all gonna die!" Usopp cried, with Nami and Chopper echoing his panic.

"No one said anything about a giant whirlpool! This is fraud! Fraud!" Nami shouted in exasperation.

"Let's turn around, Luffy! There's still time!" Usopp begged. "Sky Island is a dream within a dream!"

"He's right, Luffy! It's impossible!" Nami agreed, trying to hold onto her resolve.

Luffy turned back to them with a big, excited grin. "A dream in a dream! Now that's a great adventure! If we don't do this, we'll regret it for the rest of our lives!"

Nami, Usopp, and Chopper's protests fell silent. They looked at Luffy, realizing how genuinely thrilled he was. His excitement was contagious, and despite themselves, they felt a thrill of adventure.

Ryomen, gripping a rope, gave a smirk. "Less talk, more bracing for impact!" He shouted, as Chopper started flailing in panic, his hooves hitting Ryomen's face.

"There's no time for regrets now!" Ryomen assured, trying not to laugh. "Focus on preparing!"

Then, just as the Merry was about to be swallowed by the whirlpool, it suddenly vanished. The sea went eerily calm.

"Wait, what's going on!? Are we safe now?" Usopp gasped, scanning the sea with wide eyes.

"No…It's already started." Nami said, her voice tense.

Suddenly, a booming voice interrupted them.

"Hold it!!"

Ryomen turned, eyes narrowing, as he a giant raft closed in on them. Three ominous figures stood onboard.

"Not good…" Ryomen muttered, feeling a familiar weight settle on him. "We can't fight them here."

"Zehahaha! Did you really think you could run after killing one of my own?" Blackbeard sneered with a wide, chilling grin.

His words sent a chill through the crew, but they braced themselves, ready for anything.

"So…They're the powerful pirates." Nami muttered, eyeing them warily.

"We're gonna take that hundred million head of yours as punishment!" Blackbeard growled at Luffy.

"Huh? I'm worth a hundred million? Really!?" Luffy beamed in surprise.

"That's right!" Blackbeard waved the wanted posters.

"Zoro, you're wanted now!" Usopp called out excitedly as he scanned the posters.

"What!? Hold on! What about me? Is there a poster of me?" Sanji demanded.

"Nope." Usopp replied bluntly.

"Look again."

"Nope."

Luffy laughed as he turned to Ryomen, who still looked wary. "See, I told you I'd surpass you in no time!"

"You sure did." Ryomen said, managing a smile. "But maybe leave the celebration for later."

Suddenly, Masira's voice called out urgently. "Hey, you guys! Pay attention!"

"The knock-up stream—it's coming!!" Shoujou yelled.

"Everybody, grab onto something secure or get below deck!" Sanji ordered.

And then, the sea erupted in a column of water, shooting the Merry high into the sky. The impact rocked the ship violently, sending the Blackbeard Pirates into chaos as they vanished in the stormy currents.

"They're going to Sky Island!" Masira and Shoujou cheered, watching as the Merry was launched upward.

"What's happening!? The ship is sailing vertically!" Usopp shouted, clinging to the mast.

"Alright, let's go to the sky like this! Go, Merry, go!" Luffy shouted, practically glowing with excitement.

Suddenly, debris from ships and massive fish from the depths began to rain down.

"These are all victims of the stream!" Chopper yelled.

"It's all over for us! We'll fall back into the sea and die!" Usopp wailed.

"Hoist the sail! Now!" Nami shouted, her voice cutting through the chaos.

The crew stared at her in shock. "Sail!? But we're going up!"

"We can sail on it like any other current! If we're just going up against the sea and wind, we can navigate it!" She explained with a glint of determination. "And who's the navigator of this ship?"

"You are!!" They all shouted in unison, rushing to their positions.

Through Nami's skillful guidance, the Merry balanced on the current, and soon, they broke free from the stream. The ship's wings, attached to either side, caught the air, and with one final push, they soared.

"We're flying!!" Luffy cheered, his eyes bright with wonder.

"Now, this is a real adventure!" Ryomen shouted with a grin.

As they looked up, the endless sky opened up above them, with the Emperor Cloud just waiting to be reached.

"Head straight for the cloud!" Nami shouted.

"Yeah!!" Everyone responded, their voices ringing out with excitement.

…

"What do you know? They got away! Hahaha!" Blackbeard suddenly exclaimed.

"Our prey escaped, and you think it's funny!? I say we go after them, captain!" Burgess retorted.

"No need. We'll meet them again soon enough." Blackbeard replied.

"Aye. This world…Is one big, endlessly turning wheel." Augur added. "If our will is strong…We will meet them again."

…

The Straw Hats sprawled across the deck, already worn out from their ascent.

"Guys! Look where we are!" Luffy shouted.

They looked around, only to see clouds stretching endlessly in every direction.

"We actually made it!" Ryomen mumbled in awe.

"What is this place? It's all white!" Usopp questioned, wide-eyed.

"We're sailing on clouds, of course!" Luffy said with a huge grin.

"You can't sail on clouds!" Sanji, Zoro, and Chopper countered in unison, fingers wagging.

"This must be…The sky ocean." Nami told them, scanning her log pose. "But it's still pointing up!"

"This must be the middle level of the emperor cloud." Robin observed.

"So…We're going even higher? How?" Chopper asked nervously.

Suddenly, Usopp threw off his shirt and stood at the edge of the ship. "First order of business—Captain Usopp goes for a swim!"

"Yeah! Do it!" Luffy encouraged, laughing, as Usopp jumped off the ship.

Ryomen turned just in time to see Usopp dive, his eyes widening in alarm.

"Usopp!" He shouted.

"Relax, he's going for a swim!" Luffy shrugged with a grin.

"A swim in what!? He'll fall right through the clouds!" Ryomen replied, sending the crew into a panic.

"Usopp!" Luffy yelled, stretching his arms through the clouds, trying to grab him.

"Ojos Fleur." Robin whispered, sprouting eyes on the extended arm to search the clouds.

"Huh?" She muttered in confusion.

"What's wrong, Robin?" Ryomen asked.

"Someone…Already caught him."

"Who?" Sanji demanded, squinting into the clouds.

Their question was soon answered. Out of the mist, Usopp emerged, riding on the back of a massive winged horse.

"Whoa! That's awesome!" Luffy cheered, eyes sparkling.

"Isn't that…?" Ryomen trailed off, recognizing the horse.

"Yeah, the sick guy's." Zoro confirmed, eyeing it warily.

"Hahaha! Do you like my new pet?" Usopp called out, trying to sound confident.

The horse suddenly neighed and shook him off, sending him face-first onto the deck.

"Nehee!" It exclaimed.

"Oh, it says it wants to thank you." Chopper translated, looking at Ryomen.

"Thank me? For what?" Ryomen asked cautiously.

"Nehe!"

"Its master infected it with a deadly illness. After you killed him, the illness lifted." Chopper explained.

"Is that so?" Ryomen replied thoughtfully. "Well, you're welcome, I guess."

"Nehe!" The horse began looking around, and suddenly made a surprised sound.

"He's asking if we're…In the sky?" Chopper translated, astonished.

"You're just realizing that now!?" The crew shouted.

"Hahaha! I like you! Join my crew!" Luffy exclaimed to the horse.

"Nehee!"

"He says he wants to be free now, so he won't follow anyone." Chopper interpreted.

Before anyone could respond, a man wearing a bull mask and holding a shield landed on deck, riding what looked like black ice skates.

"Halt! What are you after?" Sanji demanded, moving into a fighting stance.

"I'm here to get rid of you!" The man proclaimed, preparing to attack, but before he could strike, a man in shining armor descended from the sky on a giant bird, striking the shield with his lance.

"Enough!" The knight declared.

"What the hell is going on?" Ryomen muttered, eyeing the newcomers with a mixture of surprise and suspicion.

"Who's that guy!?" Nami asked, taken aback.

"I am…the Sky Knight!" The man announced dramatically.