---
After leaving Drum Island behind, the Straw Hat Pirates sailed smoothly toward their next destination: Skypiea. The Log Pose was already pointing them in the direction of the sky islands, a mysterious region of the Grand Line where the sky itself was home to a forgotten civilization. The promise of adventure was too enticing for Luffy and his crew to resist.
"Skypiea... sounds exciting!" Luffy grinned as he leaned against the mast of the Going Merry.
"It's not exactly the safest place," Nami warned. "There's a lot of dangerous history up there. You'll have to be careful."
"History? Pffft! Sounds like fun!" Luffy shouted, pumping his fist into the air.
Sabo and Ace exchanged amused looks. "This should be interesting," Sabo muttered.
Chopper was wide-eyed. "A whole island in the sky? Are there animals up there too?"
"We'll find out soon enough," Ace said, grinning.
Vivi and Nami kept busy making sure they had all the supplies necessary for the trip. Nami was especially concerned about the unknown dangers of Skypiea. It was said that the island was made of clouds and that some of the locals were not too welcoming.
---
The Voyage Begins
As they sailed through the Grand Line, the Going Merry was slowly carried by an unfamiliar current, moving upward rather than forward. The water beneath them seemed to shimmer with a faint glow, and the crew noticed that the air was getting thinner.
"What's going on?" Zoro asked, looking around.
"This current's strange," Nami said, inspecting the navigational charts. "We're nearing the Calm Belt, but we're not getting pulled in. We should be experiencing some sort of turbulence, not this smooth sailing."
"What if this current is connected to Skypiea?" Chopper asked, his eyes wide in fascination. "Maybe it's some kind of natural phenomenon!"
Before they could discuss further, the Going Merry suddenly tilted violently, throwing everyone off balance. The ship was dragged upward at an alarming rate, rising higher and higher into the clouds.
"We're heading to Skypiea!" Luffy cheered as the rest of the crew scrambled to hold on.
---
The Sky Island Entrance
With a final jolt, the Going Merry broke through the last layer of thick clouds and entered an entirely new world. Below them, the vast expanse of a floating island spread out, with a network of massive, interconnected clouds serving as platforms. The island's structure seemed unnatural, with towering temples and mysterious ruins scattered across the landscape.
"Wooooow..." Chopper exclaimed, staring in awe. "Is this... really the sky?"
"This is incredible," Vivi whispered, her eyes wide as she looked out over the landscape. "How can something like this exist?"
The ship floated slowly toward the floating city of Angel Island, a settlement made of cloud stone and wood. In the distance, a tall Enel-shaped cloud loomed, hinting at the mysterious and powerful force that controlled this land.
But as they descended, something strange happened. They were not alone. A group of sky pirates appeared on the horizon, their ships made of what seemed like giant, floating clouds. They were armed with thunder spears and strange weaponry.
"Pirates?" Sabo raised an eyebrow. "And from the sky too?"
"Looks like we'll be making new friends," Luffy said, grinning.
The sky pirates approached with a sharp turn, preparing for a clash.
---
The Sky Pirates' Challenge
The leader of the sky pirates, a tall man with white wings and a tough-looking appearance, stepped forward on his cloud ship. "Well, well, what do we have here? Foreigners trying to land in Skypiea? This is our territory!"
Luffy's face lit up with excitement. "This is gonna be fun!"
Nami frowned. "I knew this would happen."
The pirate leader raised his hand. "I'll give you one chance to leave peacefully. If you don't, we'll have no choice but to destroy your ship."
Luffy crossed his arms, his expression unshaken. "We're not leaving. We're here to explore Skypiea. And I'm going to be the Pirate King!"
With a quick command, the sky pirates drew their weapons and prepared to fight.
---
The Battle in the Sky
Without hesitation, Luffy jumped from the deck, activating his Mythical Nine-Tailed Fox Fruit powers. His body expanded, forming multiple tails that whipped through the air, and his enhanced strength caused a shockwave when his fist collided with the first pirate ship.
"I'll take care of the small fry!" Ace shouted, igniting his fists with fire. He leapt into the air, hurling powerful fireballs that scorched the pirates' vessels, causing them to splinter and fall apart.
Sabo, his hands crackling with lightning, unleashed a storm of bolts that struck down the remaining pirates' ships, short-circuiting their weapons. His power sent the sky pirates retreating in fear.
The battle was over quickly, with the sky pirates scrambling to escape. Luffy, Ace, and Sabo stood triumphantly, their enemies scattered.
"That was easy!" Luffy grinned. "Let's go meet the locals!"
---
Skypiea's Mysteries Unveiled
As the Straw Hats landed in Angel Island's floating port, they were greeted by a strange group of locals—people with small wings, dressed in clothing made from light, airy materials. They were clearly not accustomed to outsiders, and their eyes were wary.
"We don't get many visitors," one of the winged men said, watching the crew closely. "Who are you?"
"We're the Straw Hat Pirates!" Luffy declared proudly. "We've come to explore and have some fun!"
The locals exchanged uneasy glances but soon warmed to the crew's friendly demeanor. The leader of the island, a dignified woman with golden wings, stepped forward. She introduced herself as Conis, the protector of Angel Island.
"I've heard of pirates before," Conis said. "But none as bold as you. Skypiea is a dangerous place, even for its own people. The God Enel rules from the Maxim, a floating palace above us."
"Enel?" Sabo raised an eyebrow. "Is he the one who controls this whole place?"
Conis nodded gravely. "Yes. He's the Thunder God. His power comes from the Rumble-Rumble Fruit, and he has ruled Skypiea with an iron fist for years. Many of our people live in fear of him and his Priests."
"I'm not scared of him," Luffy said confidently. "I'm gonna take him down and become the Pirate King!"
Conis smiled, though there was a hint of worry in her eyes. "You're brave, but you might be getting in over your head."
"Well, if we don't take him down, who will?" Ace asked, his flames flickering. "We're not just here for the treasure. We're here to set things right."
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End of Chapter 17
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