Sarquiss and Bellamy's men advanced slowly, their boots pressing into the damp jungle floor, grins wide and full of mockery. The air between them and the Straw Hats crackled with tension, like the moment before a lightning strike. The torn map fluttered like a dead leaf on the ground, its fragments a cruel symbol of shattered dreams.
"Well? Cat got your tongues?" Sarquiss jeered, stepping just a little too close to Luffy, his breath smelling of rum and arrogance. "Still pretending that fairy tales are real? Didn't you two learn your lesson back in Mock Town?"
Zoro's eyes narrowed but he didn't move, his hand resting on the hilt of his sword. The silence around him was louder than any shout. His stance spoke volumes, a quiet readiness that promised devastation should he be pushed too far.
Sanji cracked his knuckles, shifting his weight forward. His eyes, smoldering with restrained fury, locked onto the grinning intruders. "You think it's brave to mock dreams? That's what cowards do."
"Mock Town…" Usopp murmured nervously, recalling the earlier humiliation. His knees trembled, but he didn't step back. Chopper glanced between his friends and the hostile pirates, his hooves clenched into fists. He could feel his heartbeat pounding in his ears, his body tensed for a fight he hoped wouldn't come.
"You didn't lift a finger when Bellamy humiliated you," Sarquiss said again, but this time with more bite, poking at the same wound with a sharper jab. "What kind of pirates don't fight back?"
Sanji took a step forward, the crunch of soil beneath his shoe sharp in the silence, but Luffy extended his arm sideways, blocking him. His face was calm, almost too calm, his eyes unreadable beneath the brim of his hat. The gesture held the whole crew in place.
"I told you," Luffy said, his voice even but resolute. "You're not worth it."
Sarquiss scoffed. "Still hiding behind that nonsense about dreams?"
Zoro added quietly, "Fighting you now would be like drawing a sword against a mosquito."
The other pirates laughed but didn't push further. One of them shoved Usopp roughly as they turned to leave.
"Get out of the way, weakling."
Usopp stumbled but was caught by Chopper, who shot a worried glance at his crewmate. "Are you hurt?" he asked softly.
"No, just annoyed," Usopp replied, brushing himself off with a shaky hand. "Thanks."
Sanji grit his teeth, the cigarette between his lips burning down to the filter. The scent of smoke mingled with tension. Zoro's hand flexed, but he held his ground.
As they disappeared into the brush, their laughter faded, leaving an eerie silence behind. The Straw Hats stood quietly for a moment, the insult hanging in the air like a foul stench.
Robin knelt and gently picked up the torn pieces of the sky map, her fingers brushing away dirt with almost reverent care. "They don't understand. But they're not the first to mock the sky."
Nami walked over and crouched beside her. "Do you really think a Sky Island exists?"
Robin gave a soft smile. "There are too many legends to ignore. Carvings like those we saw earlier often spoke of a sea above the clouds. One account mentioned Mont Blanc Noland, an explorer who was ridiculed for speaking of a city in the sky."
Nami traced the edge of a torn piece. "It sounds ridiculous… but part of me wants to believe it."
"It's possible," Robin replied. "There's a natural phenomenon called the Knock-Up Stream. Some believe it can send ships flying into the sky. And there are even stories of a city of gold hidden above the clouds."
Luffy was sitting on a tree root nearby, staring into the jungle. His voice cut through the quiet. "We're going there," he said without turning. "No matter what."
Nami looked at him, surprised by the steel in his tone. No trace of doubt, no hesitation. His words had the weight of a promise. Chopper looked at Luffy with awe, inspired by his unwavering belief.
Back aboard the Going Merry, the wind had shifted. The mist had begun to lift slightly, revealing distant clouds rimmed with gold. Nami recalibrated the log pose, her fingers working quickly and carefully. Robin stood beside her, confirming their next course.
"It's pointing toward Mock Town," she said. "It seems that's where we need to go."
Zoro crossed his arms and leaned against the mast. "More clowns like Sarquiss waiting for us?"
Sanji scoffed. "Let them come. I owe them a few broken teeth."
Chopper handed Usopp a cold pack for the bruise on his shoulder. "Are you okay?"
Usopp nodded, wincing. "Yeah… I just hate being pushed around." He tightened his grip on his slingshot. "Next time, I'll be ready."
Robin spread out the torn pieces of the map, now carefully taped together on a piece of cloth. "We may find more clues in Mock Town. Stories have to come from somewhere. And where there are stories… there's truth."
The crew gathered near the helm, the atmosphere shifting from wounded pride to quiet determination. The sun began to dip beyond the horizon, casting orange light over the water. The ship's sails caught a favorable wind. The Going Merry began its journey once again, cutting through gentle waves as if drawn forward by destiny itself. The waves shimmered with flecks of gold, and the mist behind them seemed to vanish like the doubts in their hearts.
Luffy stood at the bow, hands gripping the figurehead. "They can laugh all they want. We're going to find the Sky Island. Just wait and see."
Below the surface of the water, a massive shadow shifted—long, serpentine, silent. It weaved just out of sight, a mystery yet to be revealed. A single fin broke the surface momentarily before dipping beneath again.
None of the crew noticed.
High above the canopy, hidden among the treetops, a figure crouched with a telescope aimed at the ship. Their face was hidden beneath a dark hat, a grin forming as they lowered the lens. A silver ring glinted on their finger, etched with a crude jolly roger.
"They're heading for Mock Town," the figure whispered. "Just as expected." The wind tugged at their coat as they vanished into the leaves.
To be continued...
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