The news of Enel's defeat spread considerably faster than I'd expected. By the following morning, practically everyone on Angel Island had heard some variation of what happened in Upper Yard. Unfortunately, those variations ranged from reasonably accurate descriptions of a Blue Sea traveller defeating their ruler to claims that God had been murdered by an enormous, eight-armed demon who'd descended from the heavens specifically to challenge him.
Eight arms? Fucking amateurs. I had two perfectly good arms, thank you very much. Occasionally they became considerably larger, and one could produce a rather magnificent sword, but that was hardly grounds for such irresponsible journalism.
The more amusing part was that nobody seemed entirely certain whether they were allowed to celebrate. When Robin and I arrived at Lovely Street that morning, merchants stood outside their shops discussing the previous afternoon, people gathered around Tone Dials playing recorded eyewitness accounts, and several particularly nervous individuals kept glancing toward the sky as though expecting lightning to interrupt their conversations.
Which, to be fair, was understandable. For six years, these people had lived beneath a ruler capable of hearing conversations across enormous distances and killing whoever displeased him without even being physically present. Enel hadn't exactly encouraged healthy political discourse. I could sympathise. Imagine complaining about your electricity bill when the electricity itself could hear you.
"Apparently, one of the merchants believes you ate Enel," Robin remarked.
I turned toward her, offended. "What?"
She lowered the newspaper she'd acquired from a nearby stall. "According to this account, an enormous creature emerged from Upper Yard after devouring God."
"Robin, that's disgusting."
"Quite."
"I wouldn't eat that bastard. Do you have any idea how much electricity he's carrying? I'd probably spend three days burping up lightning."
She folded the paper, smiling. "I'll make sure the merchant knows."
"Thank you. My reputation is important."
"Naturally."
We continued down the street, attracting considerably more attention than we had during our first visit. An older woman arranging bread outside a bakery stopped when she saw my face, stared for several seconds, then carefully lowered the loaf she was holding.
"You're the Blue Sea man."
I glanced down at myself. "Last I checked."
"The one who defeated Enel?"
"Ah! Yes, that'd be me."
Her expression tightened, and for one horrible moment, I thought she was about to start crying. Instead, she grabbed my hand with both of hers. "Is it true?" she asked quietly. "He's really gone?"
Well, that was a complicated question. "He's alive," I explained. "But he's not ruling anything anymore."
Her fingers tightened around mine. "You're certain?"
I considered mentioning that I'd personally punched the bastard into unconsciousness, but her eyes kept drifting toward the sky, and I could feel her trembling. "Yeah," I said, a little more gently. "I'm certain."
She nodded slowly and released my hand, then stood there for several seconds before taking the largest loaf from her display and pushing it against my chest.
"For you."
Oh. Well, shit. "That's very kind of you."
"Please," she insisted.
I accepted it, thanked her properly and continued walking beside Robin, who'd watched the exchange without interrupting. The bread was excellent, by the way. Beautiful crust, soft inside. Whoever said overthrowing dictators didn't pay clearly hadn't considered complimentary baked goods.
Unfortunately, the attention only increased as we travelled farther through the settlement. Some people recognised me immediately; others apparently needed convincing, which wasn't surprising, given the rather unfortunate condition of my clothing. I'd borrowed a shirt from Pagaya after discovering that practically everything I'd worn during the fight had been reduced to expensive memories.
The poor garment was doing its best, but it was approximately three sizes too small. My shoulders were already testing the seams, and every time I raised my arms, the fabric threatened to resign. Robin had suggested finding a tailor before I accidentally exposed myself to an entire civilisation. I thought that sounded rather dramatic, then sneezed and lost a button. Anyway.
By the time we reached the path leading toward Upper Yard, a small crowd had gathered near the entrance. Gan Fall stood among them, speaking with several older Skypieans and a handful of Shandian representatives. Wyper was there too, looking about as happy as you'd expect, which was to say, not particularly.
He turned away from the discussion as we approached. "You're late."
I raised the loaf of bread. "Breakfast."
He stared at it, then at me. "You were supposed to meet us earlier."
"Brother, I defeated your oppressive ruler yesterday. Surely I've earned a little morning tea."
Gan Fall cleared his throat, although I noticed the beginnings of a smile beneath his moustache. "Your assistance has certainly been appreciated, young man."
"See?" I gestured toward him. "That's gratitude."
Wyper folded his arms, and Robin stepped forward before I could continue improving international relations. "Has there been any further trouble?"
"Some," Gan Fall admitted. "Several of Enel's former subordinates have abandoned their positions, while others are refusing to believe the reports. His priests are scattered, and we have yet to establish how many intend to resist."
"Shura won't be resisting anything for a while," I offered helpfully.
Wyper gave me an irritated look, but Gan Fall continued. "Word has reached most of Angel Island. However, many people are still afraid that Enel will retaliate."
"Hard to blame them," Robin replied.
"Indeed." He glanced toward the Skypieans watching us from the crowd. "Which brings us to another matter. Some believe that, having defeated Enel, you may intend to assume his position."
I blinked, then started laughing. "KAH-RA-RA-RA! Oh, fuck no!"
Several nearby Skypieans flinched. Gan Fall's eyebrows rose, and Wyper looked deeply unimpressed.
"Absolutely not," I continued, still chuckling. "Do you have any idea how much work that sounds like? Governing an entire civilisation? Dealing with taxes, trade disputes, political arguments, whatever passes for legislation up here? Brother, I can barely manage my own finances."
Robin made a quiet noise beside me. "Your finances are considerably better managed than you suggest."
"Because you keep stopping me from spending everything!"
"An arrangement you agreed was necessary."
I waved her off. "Under emotional duress."
Gan Fall watched us for a moment while Wyper rubbed his forehead. Eventually, I returned my attention to the former ruler. "Look. I'm not interested in becoming King, God, President, Supreme Chancellor or whatever else you've got available. I've got places to visit and people to punch. You lot can decide how you want to govern yourselves."
He nodded slowly. "That is reassuring."
"Although..." I rubbed my chin thoughtfully.
Robin closed her eyes. "Kai."
"God Kai does sound pretty fucking good, doesn't it?"
She turned toward me. "Haven't you been mocking Enel for calling himself God since we arrived?"
"Yes."
"And now you're considering adopting the same title?"
"Well, when you put it like that, it sounds hypocritical."
"It is hypocritical."
I folded my arms. "Fine. I'll settle for Divine General."
Robin laughed, and Wyper looked toward Gan Fall. "Are they always like this?"
"I'm afraid so," Robin answered pleasantly.
Rude. Absolutely no respect for greatness.
…
The discussions continued for another hour, and I gradually discovered that defeating a tyrant left behind significantly more administrative nonsense than the actual defeating. Gan Fall had been speaking with representatives from Angel Island since the previous evening, attempting to prevent panic and organise a temporary system of authority. Wyper and the Shandians, meanwhile, wanted to secure Upper Yard and ensure that Enel's remaining followers couldn't reoccupy their territory.
Understandable. The problem was that those two objectives weren't entirely compatible. Several Skypiean representatives still referred to Upper Yard as sacred land belonging to their civilisation, which understandably irritated the people whose ancestors had actually lived there before the Knock Up Stream launched half of Jaya into the sky.
One particularly enthusiastic older gentleman suggested that the Shandians might finally be permitted to establish permanent settlements in certain designated areas. Wyper nearly introduced him to his bazooka. I considered intervening, then remembered that I'd specifically refused responsibility for governing these people. Beautiful decision, that.
Gan Fall calmed the situation before anything exploded, though the subsequent discussion wasn't particularly pleasant. The Shandians demanded recognition of their ancestral claim, several Skypieans argued their own people had occupied the land for centuries, and everyone seemed to have a completely different idea of what reconciliation should involve. Robin listened carefully while I ate my bread.
Eventually, Gan Fall suggested establishing a joint council to discuss access to Upper Yard, the preservation of Shandora and the future relationship between their peoples. That sounded reasonable enough. Wyper didn't immediately agree, but he also didn't threaten anyone with explosive weaponry, which I considered excellent progress.
"There's something else," Gan Fall said when the larger gathering began dispersing. He glanced toward the Shandian warriors stationed near the path. "Enel."
Ah, our favourite unemployed deity. "How's Thunder Boy doing?"
Wyper's expression darkened. "He's awake."
"Oh! Already?"
"He regained consciousness during the night. He's injured, but his powers remain."
Well, obviously. The Goro Goro no Mi wasn't going to stop working simply because I'd given Enel an unpleasant introduction to blunt-force trauma. They could station as many guards around him as they wanted, but ordinary weapons weren't particularly useful against someone who could become lightning. Even injured, he could escape practically any conventional confinement. As far as I could tell, the only thing keeping him there was the knowledge that I could still beat the shit out of him. Wonderful deterrent.
"And?" I asked.
Wyper's jaw tightened. "He demands to speak with you."
I smiled. "Aw. He missed me."
"He's threatened to kill you seventeen times."
"Only seventeen? Fuck, he must be feeling terrible."
Robin sighed, although she was smiling again. Gan Fall looked considerably less amused. "Young Kai, I must ask that you exercise caution. Enel has not accepted his defeat, and I fear his anger may lead him to harm others."
My smile faded slightly. "Yeah. That's something I'll need to sort out."
Wyper studied me. "You intend to speak with him?"
"Yep."
"And if he attempts to reclaim his position?"
I shrugged. "Then I'll introduce his face to another mountain."
Nobody laughed—honestly, tough crowd.
…
Enel was being held in an old stone chamber near the Shandian settlement, although calling it a prison would've been rather optimistic. The building had thick walls, a heavy entrance and several armed warriors stationed outside, none of which would meaningfully inconvenience someone capable of turning into electricity. Wyper had insisted upon keeping guards nearby anyway. I appreciated the sentiment, although the guards didn't seem particularly enthusiastic about it.
One immediately stepped aside as we approached, looking deeply relieved to see me. "He's inside."
"Lovely! Thank you, my good man."
"He hasn't stopped talking."
Ah, so he was recovering. Robin followed me through the entrance while Wyper remained outside with his warriors. He'd made it abundantly clear that letting Enel live was already more consideration than the bastard deserved, and I couldn't exactly argue with him. Six years of killing people who opposed him and treating an entire civilisation as disposable entertainment hadn't suddenly become irrelevant because he'd lost a fight.
Still, killing him would've been an enormous waste for several reasons. Some considerably more selfish than others.
He sat against the far wall, one leg extended and the other bent beneath him. Bandages covered part of his torso, though several had already come loose, revealing the bruising beneath. His jaw remained swollen, and a rather magnificent purple mark spread across one cheek. He looked terrible. Absolutely fucking beautiful.
Electricity crackled across his shoulders when he recognised me. "You."
I grinned. "Me!"
His fingers tightened around a golden staff resting beside him, apparently reshaped from what remained of the last one. "You insolent insect."
"Aw, come on. Don't be like that. We had such a lovely time yesterday."
"YOU DARE MOCK ME!?"
I glanced toward Robin. "See? Feeling much better."
She smiled politely. "His recovery does appear remarkable."
Enel glanced at her, then back at me. "You believe this changes anything?"
"Well, you've lost your kingdom, your priests are scattering, and everyone knows I punched you through a mountain. I'd argue it's changed quite a lot."
"Your victory was an aberration."
"Oh?"
"A peculiar ability. An unnatural resistance to divine lightning. Whatever trick you employed against my Mantra..." He stopped.
I folded my arms. "Yeah, keep going…"
"You did not surpass me through ordinary strength!"
"Pretty sure I did punch you quite hard."
"Your ability interfered with my perception!"
"Also true." I nodded.
"And your body altered itself against my lightning!"
He leaned forward. "It was simply your Devil Fruit that defeated me!"
I stared at him, glanced toward Robin, then looked back. "Mate."
"What?"
"Where exactly do you think your lightning comes from?"
His mouth opened, closed, then electricity erupted around him. "YOU DARE COMPARE YOURSELF TO GOD!?"
"KAH-RA-RA-RA! YOU'RE A DEVIL FRUIT USER TOO, YOU FUCKING IDIOT!" I pointed at him, laughing.
Robin covered her mouth. God, I'd missed this bastard. Every attempt to rationalise his defeat seemed to require increasingly creative definitions of legitimate power. My Devil Fruit was unnatural; his was divine. Improving against his attacks was cheating, while transforming into lightning and predicting people's movements was perfectly reasonable. Honestly, I respected the mental gymnastics—Olympic-level performance.
Unfortunately for him, I wasn't interested in listening to excuses all morning. "Anyway," I said, lowering myself onto a nearby stone bench, "we've established that you're still extremely upset about yesterday. Lovely. What happens next?"
"What happens next?" His expression darkened. "I shall reclaim what belongs to me."
Ah, there it was. I sighed. "See, that's gonna be a problem."
"I do not require your permission."
"Probably not. But you'll need to get past me, and I don't think either of us wants another eight-hour thunderstorm."
"It was not eight hours."
"Felt like eight hours." I leaned forward, resting my elbows on my knees. "Listen, Enel. I'm not interested in ruling this place, and I'm certainly not interested in spending the next several weeks repeatedly knocking you unconscious because you can't accept losing. Your time as God of Skypiea is over."
"YOU..."
"And before you start shouting again, let me finish."
I wasn't particularly loud, but he stopped speaking, electricity still crawling across his fingers. "These people aren't yours. You don't get to decide whether they live or die because somebody annoyed you, and you definitely don't get to start killing civilians to make yourself feel better about losing."
"You presume to dictate the actions of God."
"Yeah, apparently I do."
For a moment, he seemed ready to attack. I watched his fingers while he watched my hands, and neither of us moved until the electricity faded.
Robin stepped closer. "Perhaps it would be more productive to consider what you intended to accomplish before becoming ruler of Skypiea."
Enel turned toward her. "What?"
"Surely governing these islands wasn't the entirety of your ambition."
Oh? I smiled slightly as she glanced toward me. That woman was always finding interesting ways into conversations.
Enel studied her for several seconds. "Such matters are beyond your understanding, woman."
"Possibly," she replied pleasantly. "Although I would be interested in hearing about them."
He scoffed and turned away. We weren't getting anything more useful from him just then, but Robin had planted something interesting. His fingers tightened around the staff, and I suspected he was still considering her question.
…
We spent the following two days doing something considerably more productive than arguing with unemployed gods. Archaeology! Well, Robin did archaeology. I provided transportation, heavy lifting, occasional security and extremely insightful commentary on ancient architecture. It was a demanding profession.
With Enel's authority broken, Upper Yard became easier to investigate. The Shandians remained protective of Shandora, understandably, but Wyper had granted us access to several areas previously considered too dangerous because of the priests. Gan Fall also arranged for us to examine older Skypiean records that had been inaccessible during Enel's reign.
Most initially concerned settlements, religious ceremonies, the distribution of Vearth and disputes whose participants had probably been dead for centuries. Historical paperwork. My favourite. Robin, however, was practically vibrating with excitement. She'd commandeered a broad stone table inside one of Shandora's surviving chambers. She covered it with notebooks, copied inscriptions, sketches and bundles of old documents that Laki had helped us retrieve.
The collection was becoming ridiculous. I was beginning to suspect she intended to reconstruct the entire history of civilisation using paper and sheer stubbornness, which, considering who she was, might actually work.
"Look at this," she said one afternoon, beckoning me toward the table.
I approached, carrying an enormous stone panel we'd recovered from a partially collapsed passage. "Where do you want this?"
She glanced up. "Against the wall, please. Carefully."
"Always."
The panel struck the floor with a heavy thud, and Robin closed her eyes. I smiled. "Carefully."
"Of course."
Once I'd finished rearranging the local architecture, I joined her at the table. The page she'd opened contained drawings of winged figures, old symbols and a series of decorative patterns that looked vaguely familiar.
"Recognise these?" she asked.
I leaned closer. "Some of the stuff from Lulusia?"
"Yes." She placed another sheet beside it. "The records here preserve a similar account of people descending from the heavens, although they disagree about the circumstances. Some describe a migration, others an expulsion, and a few appear to describe a journey undertaken willingly."
"So they can't agree where everyone came from?"
"Not quite. Several agree that their ancestors arrived from somewhere above the world they inhabited. The disagreement concerns where they originally lived and why they departed." She indicated three groups of drawings. "These figures also possess different wing structures. The distinctions are consistent enough that I suspect the artists intended to represent separate populations."
The first resembled the ordinary Skypieans we'd encountered on Angel Island, with their relatively small wings. The second looked more like the Shandians, while the third had an arrangement that reminded me of Enel's homeland. Birka. Oh, now we were getting somewhere.
"You think they're related?"
"Possibly. Their decorative traditions share certain features, and several accounts describe ancestors who travelled between settlements. But we don't yet know whether the similarities indicate a shared ancestry, cultural exchange or later imitation."
I nodded thoughtfully. "Fair."
She looked rather pleased that I hadn't immediately announced I'd solved eight hundred years of history, then placed another drawing on the table. "And this is considerably more interesting."
It showed a circular symbol surrounding what looked like a sphere. Several lines extended toward smaller figures, and unfamiliar characters occupied the lower portion. I tilted my head. "Another wheel?"
"Perhaps. Although this one differs from the Makora symbol."
The circle was divided into sections, but the arrangement wasn't the same as the eight-spoked wheel I'd become intimately familiar with. "Could be the moon," I suggested.
Robin's pencil stopped. "Why do you say that?"
Ah. Well. Fuck. I really needed to stop. "Just looks like one."
"Kai."
"Robin."
"Is there something you know that I don't?"
"Statistically? Several things."
She smiled. "About this particular subject."
I scratched my cheek. "Maybe." She continued watching me until I sighed. "Look, there are stories about people living on the moon, alright? Ancient civilisations, weird technology, that sort of thing. I don't know how accurate they are, and I definitely don't know whether they've got anything to do with Makora."
Robin slowly returned her attention to the drawings. "The moon... An actual civilisation?"
"Potentially."
After considering that for several seconds, she reached for another notebook. "That would explain certain inconsistencies. Several accounts describe people descending from the heavens, but some distinguish their original homeland from the sky islands themselves. I initially assumed the language was religious."
She placed two inscriptions side by side. "This passage refers to a place above the heavens. The distinction could be poetic, but if these records preserve memories of a migration from somewhere beyond the sky islands..."
I leaned closer, grinning. "Oh, we're cooking."
Robin gave me a curious smile. "I believe we may be."
Beautiful. Absolutely fucking beautiful. We spent the next several hours examining the records, and the more Robin compared them, the more interesting the picture became. Several ancient populations appeared to have preserved traditions of journeys between different regions of the sky. Some described their ancestors descending to the Blue Sea, while others associated their origins with a distant celestial homeland.
None provided a complete account, naturally. Ancient historians apparently possessed the same irritating habit as modern governments: recording just enough information to make everybody curious, then ensuring the important bits disappeared.
Still, there were other discoveries. One damaged panel depicted what Robin believed might have been a complicated mechanical structure, with repeating components, channels and circular arrangements unlike the ordinary architecture we'd encountered around Skypiea. Another inscription referred to objects capable of storing or transferring energy, although the surviving text couldn't establish their function.
Robin wondered whether they represented predecessors to Dial technology. I wondered whether ancient sky people had been casually building advanced machinery while everyone down below was busy figuring out which end of a sword belonged in the enemy. Honestly, considering this world, both possibilities seemed equally reasonable.
Then we found another reference to Makora, inside damaged ceremonial records recovered near the older sanctuary. Unlike the carving we'd examined earlier, these were later copies, presumably made by people trying to preserve traditions that had already become ancient. Robin spent nearly an hour comparing the surviving passages. The turning wheel appeared again, along with a warrior associated with calamities, a distant conflict connected to his arrival, and people who supposedly carried his story during their migrations.
Unfortunately, none established who he actually was. Some accounts treated him as a warrior, others used language suggesting religious worship, and one particularly damaged passage appeared to describe him as a protector. Robin wasn't convinced that translation was reliable, but I considered it for a while. Protector, huh?
Interesting.
"Anything about where he was born?" I asked.
She shook her head. "No."
"Parents? Family? Favourite food?"
"Nothing of the sort."
"Tragic. History has failed us."
"Not entirely." She tapped another line. "These records suggest that the Makora tradition travelled alongside at least one of the populations associated with the heavens."
"So whoever first told the story might've come from up there?"
"Perhaps. Although the people who preserved it may have inherited the story from another civilisation entirely."
"And the war?"
"There are several possible references to an ancient conflict, but the names are missing. I couldn't even establish whether the accounts describe the same event."
That was annoying. Very annoying. We had a legendary warrior whose abilities matched my Devil Fruit, ancient populations associated with the sky, evidence suggesting some might have originated from the moon, and fragments of a conflict important enough to survive centuries of historical telephone. Yet we still didn't have the original story. Every document was a copy of something older, every account referenced another tradition, and every surviving fragment seemed determined to end just before the interesting part.
I folded my arms and stared at the inscription. "Robin, I think we're looking in the wrong place."
She glanced up. "How so?"
"Not wrong exactly. We're finding useful stuff. But all these people are talking about things their ancestors supposedly knew."
"That's generally how historical traditions survive."
"Yeah, but I wanna know who first wrote the story down."
"The source." She looked toward the scattered records. "If it still exists."
I grinned. "Then we find out where it came from."
Her expression softened into a smile. "I was hoping you'd say that."
I loved this woman. (○｀ 3′○)
The following morning, our research acquired a rather unexpected participant. Unexpected for Robin, perhaps. Personally, I'd been considering the possibility ever since our first conversation with Enel. The bastard possessed exceptionally powerful Mantra, knowledge of Skypiea's older traditions and information from Birka, a civilisation whose history might prove extremely relevant. He was also a murderous, narcissistic megalomaniac who considered himself superior to practically every living creature.
Nobody's perfect.
Anyway, Robin was examining a series of drawings when a familiar voice interrupted from the entrance. "Such pointless curiosity."
I turned to find Enel near the doorway, leaning against his golden staff. His bandages remained visible, although he'd recovered considerably since our previous meeting. Two Shandian warriors kept their weapons raised behind him, with Wyper between them, looking furious. Naturally.
Apparently, Enel had demanded to know what we'd been investigating, and Wyper had decided that letting him ask in person was preferable to listening to him threaten everybody for another afternoon. I respected the decision, mostly because I found the resulting situation hilarious.
"Thunder Boy!" I spread my arms. "Welcome to the library!"
"Do not address me by that ridiculous name."
"Would you prefer Winnie?"
"NO!"
"Alright, Thunder Boy it is."
Robin sighed. Enel ignored me and approached the table. "These records concern the ancestors of this land?"
"Among other things," she replied.
He scoffed. "How insignificant. The people who inhabited these islands were scarcely more enlightened than their descendants."
Wyper's fingers tightened around his bazooka, and I raised one hand toward him. "Easy, bud."
Enel noticed, naturally. "Still hiding behind your champion, Shandian?"
Ragebait? Really Enel!? We weren't doing that. "Enel. Watch your fucking mouth."
His smile disappeared. He watched me for several seconds, then clicked his tongue and returned his attention to the records.
Robin moved one of the drawings toward him. "These inscriptions may concern the origins of several ancient sky populations. I was hoping to compare them with traditions preserved elsewhere."
"Then you waste your time."
"Possibly."
"Such knowledge is irrelevant to those who already understand their proper place."
She smiled faintly. "And what would that place be?"
He spread his arms. "Beneath God, naturally."
"Oh, brother," I groaned.
Robin remained composed. "Then perhaps you could tell us about the traditions of Birka."
That got his attention. His eyes settled on her, and the smugness faded for a moment. "What of Birka?"
"Certain accounts suggest that the ancestors of several sky peoples may have shared an older civilisation. I'm interested in whether your homeland preserved similar traditions."
"Birka possessed knowledge far older than anything these fools have preserved."
Wyper took a step forward, and I placed a hand against his shoulder. He looked ready to commit several crimes. Understandable.
Robin opened another notebook. "Then perhaps you'll recognise this."
She showed him the circular symbol we'd discovered the previous afternoon, accompanied by fragments describing a distant homeland associated with the heavens. Enel glanced at it, then leaned closer, his fingers hovering above the page.
"Where did you find this?"
"In the records recovered from Shandora."
"This symbol..."
"You're familiar with it?" Robin asked.
He remained silent for several seconds before straightening. "The scholars of Birka preserved accounts of our ancestors. Old stories, mostly. Some described a land far beyond these miserable islands."
Robin's pencil stopped. "A land?"
Enel smiled. "The true homeland of God."
Ohhhhh. I grinned. Here we fucking go.
"Fairy Vearth," he declared.
Robin repeated the name quietly. "Fairy Vearth..."
His gaze travelled through the open doorway, beyond the distant clouds. "A world of endless Vearth. Land untouched by the pathetic disputes of those who dwell here. A place worthy of my presence."
I folded my arms. "The moon, you mean."
Enel froze, then slowly turned toward me. Robin glanced up as well. Ah. Shit. Again.
"How do you know where it lies?" he demanded.
I shrugged. "Natural intuition."
"Do not insult me."
"Wouldn't dream of it."
Robin watched us for a moment. "Enel, are you saying Fairy Vearth is the moon?"
"That is where the true land awaits."
"And you believe your ancestors came from there?"
He hesitated. "Our traditions speak of a homeland beyond the heavens. Whether the fools who preserved those stories understood their meaning is another matter."
"Some of the records here may support that possibility."
His attention snapped toward her. "What?"
She moved several drawings closer. "Certain passages distinguish their ancestral homeland from the sky islands themselves. Others suggest they possessed knowledge of technologies their descendants no longer understand."
This time, he actually examined the pages. I watched with enormous satisfaction.
Ladies and gentlemen, Nico Robin had accomplished something truly extraordinary: she'd made Enel interested in archaeology. I considered applauding and decided against it.
"These structures," he muttered, indicating one of the mechanical drawings. "Where were they recorded?"
"Inside an older section of Shandora."
He examined it more carefully. "The arrangements resemble certain designs preserved in Birka."
"Designs?"
"Ancient mechanisms. Records of vessels and methods of controlling energy."
I leaned forward. "Oh?"
Enel ignored me, but Robin continued. "Do those records still exist?"
He paused. "Some."
"Where?"
"Most were destroyed alongside Birka."
Ah, there it was. Robin lowered her pencil. "You destroyed your homeland, didn't you?"
He regarded her without shame. "It had served its purpose."
The chamber became very quiet. Wyper's expression twisted with disgust, and Robin carefully placed her pencil beside the notebook.
"I see."
Her voice remained perfectly calm. Somehow, that made it considerably worse. Even I stopped smiling, although Enel appeared entirely unconcerned. Typical.
Eventually, she continued. "Then whatever records survived may be particularly valuable."
His eyebrows rose. "Valuable?"
"To understanding your ancestors. And perhaps the history of Fairy Vearth."
His attention returned to the documents immediately. "What have you discovered?"
Robin explained her findings, carefully distinguishing what the inscriptions stated from the possibilities they suggested. She described similarities between ancient winged populations, recurring references to migrations, and evidence that certain technologies might have existed long before modern Skypiea. Enel listened. Actually listened. The man who'd spent six years treating practically every living creature as beneath his notice was standing beside a Blue Sea archaeologist, asking questions about ancient history. I nearly fucking died.
When she mentioned the possibility of a civilisation on the moon, he straightened. "Then there are structures?"
"Possibly."
"Cities?"
"We don't know."
"Ancient records?"
"Perhaps."
His expression tightened. "Do you know anything?"
Robin smiled pleasantly. "I know what the evidence supports."
I started laughing. "KAH-RA-RA-RA!"
Enel turned toward me. "What is so amusing!?"
"Nothing, mate. Absolutely nothing. Please continue."
He glared, then returned to Robin. "Surely these accounts establish the existence of the ancient civilisation."
"They suggest it," she corrected. "We would need more complete records, or physical evidence from the moon itself, to establish precisely what existed there."
"Such excessive caution."
"An unfortunate habit of scholarship."
"Then your scholarship is flawed."
"Perhaps," she replied pleasantly. "Although I imagine you'd prefer reliable information before travelling somewhere you've never visited."
He opened his mouth, then stopped. Oh, beautiful. I covered my face. Robin was cooking this man alive, and the funniest part was that she wasn't even trying.
…
By the time Enel finished questioning Robin, we'd learned Birka's older traditions preserved accounts of a distant ancestral homeland, some of which he associated with Fairy Vearth. He also knew about ancient mechanisms, although his explanations were annoyingly vague. More importantly, he'd retained documents and technical records before destroying the place. Those could be particularly useful, assuming we could convince the bastard to share them.
Robin, meanwhile, had provided historical context he hadn't possessed. The records from Lulusia and Shandora suggested that stories of celestial migrations hadn't originated solely within Birka. Several populations had preserved related traditions, and at least some accounts might refer to the same distant civilisation. That didn't prove the moon contained ancient cities, that Makora had ever lived there, or that Enel was a god. I suspected that last point would remain particularly difficult to argue.
Still, the possibilities were fucking incredible. Watching him examine Robin's drawings with more attention than he'd given anything else since waking up, I returned to an idea I'd been considering since arriving in Skypiea. It was beginning to make considerably more sense.
"Hey, Enel. Ever considered leaving Skypiea?"
His fingers stopped moving. Robin glanced toward me, and Wyper's expression tightened as Enel slowly raised his head. "Explain yourself."
I grinned. "Come travelling with us, on the Blue Sea"
There was absolute silence, then he started laughing. "Yahahahaha!"
Ah, there was the laugh. I'd almost missed it.
"You presume to invite God aboard your insignificant vessel?"
"Yep."
"After daring to challenge me?"
"Yep." I nodded.
"After humiliating yourself by relying upon some unnatural ability to resist my divine judgement?"
I raised an eyebrow. "Dude… I won."
"YOU..."
"Anyway!" I clapped my hands. "Hear me out."
Robin crossed her arms, watching with the familiar expression she wore whenever I was about to create an extraordinary amount of additional work for her. Unfortunately, she'd already learned that expression was usually justified.
"I have no interest in accompanying ordinary mortals," Enel said.
"That's unfortunate. Because I think you've got a much better chance of reaching Fairy Vearth with us than sitting around here plotting revenge."
His eyes narrowed. "What?"
I leaned against the table. "Think about it. You've spent years ruling this place, gathering technology and planning your grand journey. Fair enough. You're an ambitious bloke."
"Please don't encourage him," Robin murmured.
"I'm building toward something!" Enel looked deeply offended by the interruption, but I continued before he could complain. "You've got the Goro Goro no Mi, ridiculous Mantra, and apparently enough engineering knowledge to make half the Blue Sea look like a collection of cavemen. But you don't know much about the place you're actually trying to reach."
"I know enough."
"Do you? What's waiting there?"
"Fairy Vearth."
"Yes, mate, we've established the name. What's actually on it?" He opened his mouth, and I raised one finger. "Cities? Ruins? People? Some enormous ancient civilisation waiting to welcome its long-lost god? Or maybe just a whole lot of rocks?"
His jaw tightened. "You speak of matters beyond your understanding."
"Maybe. But Robin's already found evidence your ancestors might've come from there, and she's only been investigating this particular connection for a few days."
She glanced toward me, and I returned her look. She understood where I was going and apparently didn't entirely disapprove. Wonderful.
"The Blue Sea's enormous, Enel. Ancient kingdoms, ruins, Poneglyphs, libraries, scholars and entire civilisations whose histories have been buried or deliberately erased. You think everything worth knowing about Fairy Vearth is sitting on these sky islands? Because if it is, you should've figured it all out by now."
That one annoyed him. Excellent. He took a step forward. "You believe your woman possesses knowledge superior to mine?"
Robin's eyebrow rose, and my grin widened. "Oh, absolutely."
She gave me a warning look, which I ignored. "She can read ancient languages you've probably never even heard of. She's spent years uncovering records the World Government would rather burn than let anybody study. And she's already connected your precious Fairy Vearth to historical accounts from the Blue Sea."
Enel glanced toward her. She smiled with subtle blush. "He's exaggerating my accomplishments somewhat."
"Am I?"
"Only slightly."
I pointed at her. "See? Humble, too. You should try it sometime."
His eyes narrowed, but I continued. "Point is, you need information. Robin wants to investigate the origins of the sky peoples. I want to find out who the fuck Makora actually was, and there seems to be some connection between those ancient traditions. Three interests, one direction. Beautiful arrangement, no?"
Enel considered that, then scoffed. "And why would I require your presence?"
"Because I'm fantastic company."
Robin made a quiet coughing sound.
"Also, you might find the Blue Sea considerably more dangerous than you expect."
"Nothing beneath the heavens can threaten God, Yahah-"
I stared at him, then very slowly raised my fist. He stopped laughing, and Robin covered her mouth.
"Right. Anyway." I leaned closer. "You can stay here plotting your comeback, get punched through another mountain, and find yourself no closer to Fairy Vearth. Or you can come with us, see the world, learn more about your ancestors and eventually reach the moon."
His eyes sharpened. "Eventually? You would truly attempt to reach Fairy Vearth?"
"Absolutely." I smiled genuinely.
Robin turned toward me. "Kai, that is quite an ambitious promise."
I smiled. "My dear Robin, we launched ourselves into the sky using an underwater volcano."
"A feat that nearly destroyed our ship."
"And now we've got a man who can produce enough electricity to power an entire country." Enel straightened slightly, and I pointed toward him. "See? Useful."
He looked considerably less hostile. Robin considered it, then nodded. "If Enel possesses knowledge of advanced aerial technology, investigating those possibilities would certainly be worthwhile."
"Exactly!"
She turned toward him. "A shared historical objective might make the arrangement mutually beneficial."
"Hmph."
Oh? Was that progress? I think that was progress. Then he asked something I hadn't quite expected.
"Why would you assist me?"
Ah, fair question. Considering our last major interaction involved trying to beat each other into geological features, my enthusiasm for cooperative space exploration probably needed explaining.
I rubbed my chin. "Well, several reasons. First, you're strong. Your lightning's ridiculous, and your Mantra is some of the best I've encountered."
Was it the best in the series? Definitely not, but it was best so far!
His expression improved immediately. Naturally.
"Second, you've got knowledge and technology we don't have access to. You could be extremely useful when it comes to travelling through the sky." I raised another finger. "Third, you're hilarious."
He frowned. "What?"
"You spent an entire afternoon screaming about divine judgement while I was punching you through mountains."
"YOU INSOLENT..."
"See!?" I pointed excitedly toward Robin. "HE DOES IT AGAIN!"
She laughed. Wyper, still near the entrance, looked as though he regretted every decision that had led him into the room. Beautiful.
I allowed Enel another moment to recover his dignity, then continued. "And honestly? I wanna fight you again."
"Fight?"
"Yeah. Train. Spar. Whatever you wanna call it. Your lightning's excellent for my adaptations, and I'd love to see how much stronger we could both get." I grinned. "You've been relying on that Devil Fruit and Mantra for years. Imagine actually learning how to fight somebody who can keep up with you."
"Are you suggesting I lack skill?"
"I'm suggesting you could be better."
He watched me for several seconds, then looked toward the records. I could practically hear the calculations behind those ridiculous eyebrows. He wanted Fairy Vearth badly, and although he had the power and technology to try to reach it, Robin had shown there might be far more to his ancestral homeland than he'd understood. Information he couldn't obtain by electrocuting random civilians. Tragic limitation, really.
Still, we hadn't addressed a problem, and it mattered far more than his wounded ego.
"Before you make any decisions," Robin said quietly, "there is something we need to establish."
He turned toward her. "What?"
"Your treatment of the people here."
Wyper straightened near the entrance, and Enel's expression hardened. "I owe these insects nothing."
Robin closed her notebook. "That wasn't what I asked."
For several seconds, nobody spoke. "You've spent six years ruling Skypiea through fear," she continued. "You've killed people for opposing you, displaced others and treated entire communities as though their lives belonged to you."
He scoffed. "The weak have always existed beneath the strong."
I sighed. "Ah. Don't start."
"You disagree?"
"Yeah." I folded my arms. "Look, I like fighting. Love it, actually. Strong opponents? Fantastic. Dangerous people? Even better. But going around murdering civilians because you're bored or somebody said something rude? That's pathetic."
"Pathetic?"
"Yep." I stepped closer. "You're one of the strongest people I've met in this world, Enel. You've got powers most people couldn't dream of, and you've spent six years using them to terrorise people who couldn't fight back. Where's the fun in that?"
He stared at me. Robin remained quiet, and Wyper tightened his grip on his weapon.
"Now, I'm not pretending I'm some perfect saint. I've killed people. Done plenty of questionable shit. But I don't enjoy watching innocent people suffer, and I'm certainly not interested in travelling with somebody who thinks murdering children is an acceptable response to being annoyed."
"You would dictate how I conduct myself?"
"On our travels? Yeah."
Electricity crackled along his fingers. "And should I refuse?"
"Then you don't come."
"Simple as that?"
"Pretty much." I gestured toward the entrance. "You can leave Skypiea and travel with us, but your rule here is finished. Permanently. No returning to reclaim your throne, no punishing people for your defeat, and no treating random civilians as disposable."
His jaw tightened. "And if I disregard these conditions?"
I grinned. "Then I'll beat your arse again."
Beautiful silence. He studied me, and I watched him until the electricity faded.
"Hmph."
I raised an eyebrow. "That a yes?"
"It is an insult that I should be expected to accept conditions imposed by a mortal."
"Yeah, well, life sucks."
Robin smiled slightly. "Enel, nobody is asking you to enjoy the arrangement."
"Then what are you asking?"
"Whether your desire to reach Fairy Vearth matters more to you than your pride."
Oh. Oh, that was nasty. I slowly turned toward her, and she continued smiling. Fucking hell. That woman knew exactly where to stick the knife.
Enel remained silent for a long time, then closed his eyes. "Very well. I shall accompany you."
KAH-RA-RA! YES! FUCKING BEAUTIFUL! I threw both arms into the air. "LET'S FUCKING GOOOO!"
Robin laughed, Wyper looked horrified, and Enel immediately raised his staff. "HOWEVER!"
I stopped celebrating. Ah, terms and conditions.
"I am not joining your crew and I DO NOT recognise you as my superior."
I nodded enthusiastically. "Of course."
"And our cooperation is temporary."
"Absolutely."
"And when we reach Fairy Vearth, I shall claim what is rightfully mine."
I smiled. "Whatever you say, Winnie."
"DO NOT CALL ME THAT!"
"KAH-RA-RA-RA!"
…
Unfortunately, convincing Enel to travel with us was the easy part. Explaining the arrangement to everyone else was much harder. Wyper was furious, understandably. Once he'd established that I intended to take the former ruler of Skypiea aboard the Vesper, he demanded an explanation. I gave him one. He didn't particularly enjoy it.
"You would allow him to escape punishment?"
I sighed. "Look, mate, I'm not asking you to forgive him."
"Then what are you asking?"
"That you let me take him away."
His jaw tightened. "He murdered our people."
"I know."
"He destroyed our homes. Hunted our warriors. Ruled this land as though everyone living here existed for his amusement. And now you want him to sail away with you?"
"Pretty much."
He looked ready to shoot me. Not an especially promising diplomatic development. Fortunately, Gan Fall arrived with several Skypiean representatives before the argument could progress much further. He'd apparently heard about the proposal, because of course he had. News travelled quickly up here, especially when the subject involved their former dictator becoming a travelling companion to the man who'd defeated him.
Gan Fall listened while Robin explained the historical investigation and Enel's ambitions. He didn't look particularly pleased. "I cannot pretend this is an easy proposition to accept."
"Wasn't expecting you to."
"Enel has committed terrible crimes against these people."
"Yep."
"There are those who would demand his execution."
"Also fair."
He studied me. "Then why should we permit him to leave?"
I considered my answer. "Because I don't think you can keep him here."
That earned several unhappy looks. "Enel can become lightning," I continued. "He can travel enormous distances almost instantly, hear conversations across half the island and destroy entire settlements without physically approaching them. You can station a hundred guards around him, and it won't make much difference if he decides to leave."
Gan Fall remained silent, and Wyper didn't argue. Good. They understood.
"Right now, he's injured, humiliated and well aware that I can beat him. But eventually, he'll recover properly." I glanced toward Upper Yard. "If he stays here, you'll spend the next several years wondering when he's going to start throwing lightning again."
Gan Fall slowly exhaled. "Whereas if he travels with you..."
"He becomes my problem. Yes"
Robin glanced toward me. "An arrangement you seem remarkably enthusiastic about."
I grinned. "He's hilarious, Robin."
She sighed. "Of course."
Wyper wasn't amused. "What guarantees do we have that he won't return?"
"None that I'd expect you to trust."
His eyes narrowed. "Then..."
"But I'll make sure he understands the consequences. Enel wants Fairy Vearth more than he wants this island. I've made it clear he can pursue that dream with us, provided he leaves Skypiea alone."
"And if he breaks his word?"
I smiled. "Then I'll come back."
Wyper studied me for a long moment. He didn't look satisfied, and frankly, I wasn't either. Still, we had few alternatives.
"Perhaps his departure would allow both our peoples to begin rebuilding without fearing his immediate retaliation," Gan Fall said.
"That doesn't mean he's forgiven."
"No. It does not."
Robin nodded. "Nor should it."
After a while, Wyper turned toward me. "If he harms our people again..."
"He won't."
"You cannot know that."
I sighed. "Fair." He stared at me while I rubbed the back of my neck. "Look, I can't promise he'll suddenly become a lovely, well-adjusted bloke who donates money to orphanages and spends his evenings knitting blankets. That would be fucking ridiculous."
Robin's mouth twitched.
"But I can promise that if he starts acting like the bastard who ruled this place, I'll put a stop to it."
Eventually, Wyper lowered his weapon. "Then see that you do."
I nodded. "Will do, mate."
With that, the matter was settled, well, settled enough. Unhappy people remained, along with heated discussions and a lengthy argument over whether Enel should surrender certain possessions before departing. Apparently, former dictators possessed surprisingly complicated property rights. Who knew?
By the following afternoon, preparations were underway. Gan Fall and the Shandians had begun organising their temporary council, and the former priests were being sought across Upper Yard. Some had surrendered; others apparently intended to disappear into the clouds and hope everyone forgot they'd spent years assisting an oppressive government. Good luck with that.
Robin had permission to copy additional inscriptions before we departed, and Pagaya had nearly finished the Vesper's repairs. Beautiful. Everything was coming together, then Enel mentioned something that made the whole arrangement considerably more interesting.
We'd gathered near the entrance to Upper Yard when he approached, carrying bundles of documents and unfamiliar mechanical drawings. Robin immediately took an interest. I was more concerned with the enormous structure he'd casually mentioned possessing.
"Hang on." I raised one finger. "You built a what?"
He stopped and regarded me with obvious irritation. "An ark."
I began smiling. "Oh?"
"A vessel worthy of God. A machine designed to ascend beyond these miserable islands."
Robin stepped closer. "You constructed an aerial vessel?"
"Naturally."
"Does it have a name?" I asked.
Enel folded his arms. "Maxim."
Ohhhhh right, how could I forget it.
The Ark Maxim.
I'd been wondering how much progress he'd made on that particular project. In the original story, the enormous golden airship had been one of his most ridiculous achievements, designed to reach the moon using the Goro Goro no Mi. Now the bastard was mentioning it as though he'd built himself a particularly fancy fishing boat.
"Show me."
He raised an eyebrow. "What?"
"Show me the ship."
"Such a vessel is not meant for the amusement of mortals."
"Mate, you just told me you've built an airship. I'm absolutely gonna look at it."
Robin smiled. "I would certainly appreciate examining the technology."
He hesitated, then looked suspiciously pleased. Ah, of course. He wanted to show off. Understandable. I'd probably do the same.
We followed him toward a concealed section of Upper Yard, passing through older structures before reaching a broad excavation hidden beneath the surrounding terrain. And there it was. Holy shit. The Maxim was enormous.
Even partially concealed by the construction, it made ordinary ships look embarrassingly small. Heavy structural components formed its central body, with enormous sections of gold and complicated mechanical arrangements occupying much of the visible framework. Several components remained unfinished, and workers had apparently abandoned the site after Enel's defeat, leaving tools and materials scattered across the platforms. But the vessel itself was beautiful. Absolutely fucking beautiful.
Robin stood beside me, studying the machinery. "Remarkable..."
"RIGHT!?"
Enel smiled smugly. "Yahahaha! Naturally. A vessel designed through my understanding of ancient knowledge and powered by divine lightning."
I approached one of the enormous mechanical assemblies. "How far along is it?"
"Most of the essential mechanisms are complete. There remain adjustments and preparations to be made before its intended journey."
That explained why the bastard hadn't simply fucked off to the moon already. Robin examined several diagrams. "You based some of these mechanisms on the records from Birka?"
His smile widened. "Among other sources."
"Then preserving those documents becomes even more important."
He regarded her with obvious interest. For several minutes, they discussed the Maxim's construction while I wandered around examining the machinery. Honestly, it was fascinating. Enel's Devil Fruit wasn't simply useful for blowing things up. Generating and manipulating electricity gave him possibilities that ordinary engineers in this world could barely imagine. Combine that with ancient technology and a completely unreasonable gold budget, and apparently you got a fucking flying battleship. I loved it. I loved it so much.
Eventually, I returned to the others, rubbing my hands together. "So, we gonna bring this thing?"
Enel regarded me as though I'd suggested lending a holy relic to a particularly irresponsible child. "Certainly not."
"What?"
"The Maxim remains under my authority."
"Yeah, I gathered that."
"And it is not yet prepared for the journey I intend."
Robin nodded thoughtfully. "Then perhaps we should examine what additional work is required once we've gathered more information."
"Hmph. Perhaps."
I sighed. Fine, fair enough. The Vesper was still our ship, and I wasn't particularly interested in abandoning her after everything we'd put the poor girl through. Besides, the Maxim wasn't exactly inconspicuous. Imagine trying to dock that bastard at an ordinary Blue Sea port. Actually... Hmmm. No. Robin would murder me.
"Alright," I told Enel. "We'll sort the Maxim out when we're ready to attempt Fairy Vearth."
"You speak as though my vessel belongs to our little arrangement."
I grinned. "Doesn't it?"
"No."
"Fine. 'Your' vessel, which you'll use to take us to the moon!"
He paused, then folded his arms. "That remains to be determined."
"Sure, mate." I smiled
…
By the time we returned to Angel Beach, the sun had begun descending toward the distant cloudbanks. The Vesper waited at the dock, looking considerably healthier than she had when we'd arrived. Pagaya had replaced the damaged fittings, reinforced the mast and repaired the worst of the damage along the hull. New sections of timber remained noticeably lighter than the older planks, but the repairs looked solid enough to survive our next adventure. Hopefully, I'd rather not repeat the whole exploding-underwater-volcano situation, at least not immediately.
Robin joined Conis beside the ship to discuss our supplies while Murdoch supervised from the railing with his usual extraordinary sense of entitlement. The little bastard had been eating exceptionally well. I suspected half the island's fruit supplies had suffered as a result.
He noticed me approaching, screeched enthusiastically and spread his wings. "Murdoch!" I caught him against my shoulder as he flew toward me. "There's my beautiful boy!"
He pecked my ear. "Ow! Fuck you!"
Robin laughed from the dock, then Murdoch noticed Enel. He went still, his head tilting as our newest companion regarded him with obvious contempt.
"What is that ridiculous creature?"
I gasped. "Excuse you!" Murdoch squawked, and I stroked his feathers. "That is Murdoch. A distinguished member of our travelling party."
"You travel with an animal?"
"Yep."
"How…primitive."
Murdoch promptly launched himself toward Enel's head. I watched with enormous satisfaction as the former God of Skypiea recoiled from an angry bird attempting to peck his enormous earlobes.
"REMOVE THIS CREATURE!"
"KAH-RA-RA-RA!"
Robin covered her mouth, Conis looked horrified, and Pagaya apologised to approximately everyone. Beautiful. Absolutely fucking beautiful. Eventually, I retrieved Murdoch before Enel could commit poultry-related murder, and we finished preparing the ship.
There was still plenty to organise. Robin wanted to secure her notes and compare additional documents, Pagaya wished to inspect the repaired fittings one final time, and Conis had prepared supplies for the journey. Gan Fall arrived shortly afterwards with Wyper and Laki, attracting a small gathering near the dock. Nobody approached Enel particularly closely. Can't imagine why.
He stood some distance from the others, his golden staff resting against one shoulder. His injuries had healed considerably, but the bruising along his face remained. I hoped it stayed there a while, for educational purposes.
Gan Fall approached me first. "Young Kai."
"Heso!"
He smiled faintly. "I understand your preparations are nearly complete."
"Yep. Just about."
"Then I wished to thank you once more."
I waved him off. "Ah, don't mention it."
"Whatever your reasons for challenging Enel, your victory has given our people an opportunity we have not possessed for many years."
I nodded. "Make something good of it, yeah?"
"We shall try." He looked toward Wyper, who stood nearby with his arms folded, watching Enel with undisguised hostility. "There is much to resolve. The ownership of Upper Yard, the preservation of Shandora, the grievances between our peoples..."
"Yeah. You've got your work cut out for you."
He smiled sadly. "Indeed."
For a moment, I considered offering some particularly insightful political advice, then remembered that I'd recruited a former dictator because I thought he'd make an excellent training partner. Perhaps political philosophy wasn't my strongest subject.
Wyper approached shortly afterwards, his attention settling on Enel. "You remember what we discussed."
I nodded. "Yep."
"See that he never returns to rule this land."
"Gotcha."
He studied me for another moment, then extended his hand. Oh? I grinned and accepted it. His grip was firm.
"Thank you," he said.
I blinked, then smiled. "You're welcome, mate."
He stepped back and returned toward the other Shandians. Laki gave us a small wave, which Robin returned. For a moment, everything felt rather pleasant: a peaceful departure, a beautiful island, discoveries and a ship ready for another adventure.
Then Enel opened his mouth. "Are these farewells truly necessary? Such excessive sentimentality."
Oh, for fuck's sake. I turned toward him. "Enel."
"What?"
"Shut up."
"YOU..."
"Beautiful. Thank you."
Robin laughed. God, this was going to be a long voyage.
...
We finished loading the remaining supplies shortly before sunset. Robin had secured her notebooks inside the cabin, along with copied inscriptions and the documents Enel had reluctantly agreed to provide from his collection. The Vesper's repaired mast stood firmly above us, her red sails ready to catch the wind, and Murdoch had claimed his usual position near the railing.
Enel stood near the gangplank, staring at our ship as though he'd been personally insulted by its existence. I approached him. "Something wrong?"
"This is the vessel upon which you intend to travel?"
"Yep!"
"It is... small."
I raised an eyebrow. "She's a perfectly respectable ship."
"Compared to the Maxim, it is scarcely more than a fishing vessel."
I gasped. "TAKE THAT BACK!"
Robin called from the deck. "Kai, please don't start another argument."
"HE INSULTED THE VESPER!"
"I heard."
"THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE!"
Enel scoffed. "A primitive vessel for primitive travellers."
"Listen here, Thunder Boy..."
"Kai."
I sighed. "Fine."
Enel smiled smugly. Asshole. I stepped aside and gestured toward the gangplank. "After you, Your Divineness."
He regarded the ship for another moment before slowly stepping aboard. Robin watched him approach with a small, thoughtful smile. "Welcome aboard, Enel."
"Understand this, woman. I am not joining your crew."
"Of course."
"My presence is merely a temporary arrangement."
"Of course." She nodded.
"I shall depart whenever I deem our cooperation no longer necessary."
Robin nodded pleasantly. "Provided you've fulfilled your part of the agreement."
His eyes narrowed. She smiled, and I grinned. Oh, those two were going to get along wonderfully. Or murder each other. Either outcome promised excellent entertainment.
I followed him onto the deck, pausing beside the railing to examine our newest travelling companion. A former God, a Logia user, one of the most powerful Mantra practitioners I'd encountered, an engineer capable of constructing a vessel designed to reach the fucking moon, and apparently a man whose ego was large enough to require its own cabin. I'd made some questionable decisions throughout my life. This one was definitely up there.
But watching Robin explain where he could store his belongings, and Enel respond with increasingly offended declarations about his divine status, I couldn't help grinning. Robin had a new collection of historical records. Enel had gained a path toward Fairy Vearth that might reveal far more about his ancestors than he'd imagined. I had a fascinating travelling companion, a ridiculously powerful training partner and a potential means of reaching the moon, not to mention the possibility of uncovering the source of Makora's legend.
Three people, three rather different ambitions, and one very unfortunate ship.
I folded my arms while Enel explained why he required considerably more accommodation than the Vesper could reasonably provide. Robin listened patiently, then informed him that the available cabin space was already allocated. His expression was fucking priceless.
"KAH-RA-RA-RA!"
He turned toward me. "WHAT ARE YOU LAUGHING AT!?"
"Nothing, Winnie!"
"DO NOT CALL ME THAT!"
I laughed harder, Robin sighed, and Murdoch squawked. Somewhere behind us, the people of Skypiea continued preparing for a future that no longer involved a madman throwing lightning at anyone who annoyed him, a very promising development.
Enel seemed convinced that accompanying us would eventually let him claim his rightful place on Fairy Vearth. Robin seemed pleased with Birka's surviving historical material and someone capable of explaining ancient technologies. I was already wondering how much stronger I'd become after another few months of training against the Goro Goro no Mi. Everybody seemed remarkably satisfied with themselves. Including me. Especially me.
I glanced toward Enel, still arguing about the sleeping arrangements, then toward Robin, who appeared to be enjoying herself far more than she was willing to admit. God, this was going to be fun.
"Hey, Enel!"
He turned sharply. "WHAT!?"
I grinned. "Welcome to the crew, mate!"
"I AM NOT JOINING YOUR CREW!"
"KAH-RA-RA-RA-RA!"
Yeah. This was definitely one of my better ideas.
…
End of Chapter!
Word Count - 9732
a/n -
HELLO AGAIN, MY BEAUTIFUL PEOPLE!!!
AND JUST LIKE THAT, WE HAVE OURSELVES A NEW CREW MEMBER!!!
Well, according to Kai anyway. I don't think Enel would appreciate me calling him that.
BUT WHO CARES! THE GOD OF SKYPIEA IS COMING WITH US!
I have been looking forward to this chapter for quite some time, especially because I've always thought Enel was one of the most interesting characters in One Piece. The man has one of the most ridiculously powerful Devil Fruits in the series, some incredible Observation Haki, and enough arrogance to make the Celestial Dragons look humble.
And now we've put him on a relatively small ship with Kai, Robin and a bird that apparently wants to eat his earlobes.
GOD HELP US ALL.
First things first, I wanted to spend some time exploring the aftermath of Enel's defeat. I think it's easy to forget that simply defeating the big bad doesn't magically solve every problem they've created. The Shandians and Skypieans have been fighting over Upper Yard for CENTURIES, and Enel's six-year reign only made things worse.
There's still a lot of resentment, political disagreements and rebuilding to be done. I wanted to acknowledge that without spending another ten chapters having Kai negotiate land ownership.
Because let's be serious, that man should NEVER be allowed anywhere near a government position.
Now, ENEL!
I know some of you are probably wondering why on earth Kai would recruit someone who has spent years terrorising innocent people, and that's something I deliberately wanted to address.
Enel is NOT suddenly a good person because Kai punched him through a mountain. He's still arrogant, cruel, selfish and completely convinced of his own divinity. He hasn't apologised for anything, and I don't intend to magically erase his personality just because he's travelling with our protagonists.
That's actually part of why I wanted him around.
Kai isn't exactly a saint himself, and while he has certain moral boundaries, he's also perfectly willing to work with questionable individuals if there's something to gain. Enel is ridiculously powerful, possesses knowledge Kai and Robin lack, and has an ambition that happens to align with their growing investigation.
Plus, Kai genuinely thinks the bastard is hilarious.
Which, honestly, is probably the most Kai reason imaginable for recruiting someone.
I'm particularly excited about the dynamic between these three. Kai and Enel are both absurdly arrogant in their own ways, and neither particularly enjoys being told what to do. Robin, meanwhile, is somehow the most reasonable person aboard the ship, despite being a wanted archaeologist who's entirely comfortable breaking into government facilities to steal books.
I also wanted Robin to play an important role in convincing Enel to accompany them. Her knowledge of ancient history gives her something that neither of them can simply obtain through brute force, and I really enjoy the idea of someone as prideful as Enel gradually recognising her intelligence.
Not that he'd ever willingly admit it.
AND SPEAKING OF ANCIENT HISTORY!
WE'RE GOING TO THE MOON, BABY!!!
Well, eventually.
I've always found the history of One Piece's sky races fascinating, especially the connections between the Skypieans, Shandians, Birkans and the mysterious civilisations associated with the moon.
There's so much potential there, particularly when we start connecting those mysteries to the Void Century and the strange history surrounding Makora.
I wanted this chapter to expand upon those possibilities without immediately giving away every answer. Robin and Kai have now uncovered several references to ancient migrations, forgotten technology and a warrior whose abilities sound suspiciously familiar.
But who exactly WAS Makora?
Why do different ancient civilisations preserve stories about him?
And what does any of this have to do with the moon?
Hehehehehe.
I HAVE PLANS, PEOPLE.
I HAVE PLANS.
Another thing I wanted to bring back was the Ark Maxim. I absolutely LOVE that Enel, for all his stupidity and god complex, is genuinely capable of constructing something as ridiculous as a flying battleship.
It's easy to focus on his lightning and forget that he's also an incredibly capable engineer. And considering the direction this story is heading, having someone with that combination of abilities could become very interesting indeed.
Plus, the thought of Kai getting his hands on the Maxim genuinely terrifies me.
That man should not be allowed to operate heavy machinery.
EVER.
And finally, MURDOCH!!!
My beautiful feathered menace has officially met Enel, and within approximately thirty seconds, he tried to assault a former god.
I'm so proud of him.
I also really enjoyed writing the interactions between Kai and Robin throughout this chapter. Their relationship has developed quite a bit since they started travelling together, and I want to continue showing that through their conversations, shared interests and increasingly questionable decisions.
She's becoming much more comfortable with Kai's ridiculous personality, and he's genuinely beginning to appreciate having someone who shares his curiosity about the world.
Of course, now she has TWO idiots to manage.
Poor woman.
Anyway, this chapter came in at another ridiculous 9,732 words, and I think it's safe to say we're well past the days when I was trying to keep everything under 4,000.
I'm enjoying having more room to let the characters interact and the story develop naturally, particularly as we're starting to explore some of the larger mysteries I've been setting up.
As always, I'd LOVE to hear what you thought!
How do you feel about Enel travelling with Kai and Robin? Do you think their arrangement will actually work, or is the Vesper about to become the world's most dysfunctional travelling circus?
Are you excited about the moon and the ancient history we're starting to uncover? And what are your theories about Makora?
I'm especially curious about what you think of Enel's inclusion. I know he's a controversial character, and I'm interested in seeing whether you enjoy this direction for him.
Thank you all again for reading, voting, commenting and continuing to support this ridiculous story. It genuinely means a lot, especially when I see people discussing theories and picking up on the little details I've been leaving throughout the chapters.
You guys are amazing.
AND ONE LAST THING!
DON'T FORGET ABOUT THE 50K SPECIAL!!!
I'm still collecting your questions for the 50K special Q&A, so if you've got something you've been wanting to ask me, whether it's about the story, the characters, my writing process, future plans or anything else, NOW'S YOUR CHANCE!
MAKE SURE YOU GO BACK TO THE PREVIOUS CHAPTER AND LEAVE YOUR QUESTIONS THERE!
That's where I'm collecting them for the special, so please make sure you comment on that chapter if you want your question answered!
ANYWAY, THAT'S ENOUGH FROM ME!
THANK YOU ALL AGAIN, AND I'LL SEE YOU IN THE NEXT CHAPTER!
Bye bye!