Chapter 73: Sky Bunnies
The Merry sailed around Jaya to the back end before it saw what looked to be a castle.
Of course, Thirteen didn't see it. He was currently working out and ignoring the outside world. White was with him, training as well as the crew was stopped by an orangutan looking man.
The ship sped away after a quick distraction and docked near the house, away from the Orangutan man.
Thirteen got up and looked at the half of the house in confusion. There was a large cardboard house taped to a small hut. He followed the group to the house and looked inside, only to find it empty.
The group heard Nami call from outside "Hey guys! Come here!" Thirteen looked around at the books before pulling out one that said 'How to prove to the world that your ancestor wasn't a liar.' He scratched his head and Robin looked over his shoulder to see the title, she furrowed her brows and muttered "What the…"
Thirteen put the book back, but slipped and the book flew out of his hands. It flew by Robin's head and curved out the door, hitting Usopp in the back of the head, knocking him out.
Robin blinked and said "Well, that was strange!" Thirteen caught himself and stood up, turning around to leave. He didn't notice Usopp on the ground and walked on him, going to the group at a stump nearby.
Robin did notice and stepped around Usopp, patting his head as she giggled "That's not a safe place to sleep, Long Nose-kun." following after Thirteen.
Usopp woke up and shook his head before noticing the book near him. He looked at it and read the first page, his eyes widened and he tucked it in his overalls, looking around before scurrying after the crew.
Nami said "Nolan the liar." Sanji nodded and said "It's a Fairytale from the North Blue." everyone looked at him and he added "I'm from the North Blue." now they were confused.
Nami waved her hand and said "Anyway! Listen to this! The story of Noland goes that while exploring the Grand Line hundreds of years ago, Noland came across a City of Gold. He returned to his home and informed the king, who accompanied him on the next journey to the island. However, when they reached the island, the City of Gold was gone. Angered, the king sentenced him to death for lying."
Sanji nodded as he remembered the story, before anyone could say anything a man jumped out of the water near them, pointing a gun. They were stunned and watched as that man fell to the ground face first.
Chopper ran over and gasped as he checked the man's pulse, saying "Bring him inside!" Zoro and Thirteen looked at Sanji, who looked at them and frowned "What? Why me?" Zoro replied "Because you're the weakest one, you need the workout." Thirteen just blinked at him.
Sanji trembled in anger before grabbing the man and throwing him through the wall into the bed in the house, saying "THERE! HAPPY?!" Zoro gave him a slow clap and Thirteen yawned.
Sanji growled "Why you-" before getting punched in the back of the head by Nami, who shouted "Why did you throw him?! Idiot!" as she went to the house with Chopper. Luffy followed along while laughing, Usopp slipped away, Robin covered her mouth and smiled as she hid behind Thirteen.
Zoro smirked and walked to the house as Sanji jumped up and kicked at him, starting another dust brawl.
Thirteen walked to the house and stepped on Sanji and Zoro, walking through the dust brawl. Robin walked around it and smiled as the duo went back in the house, leaving Zoro and Sanji to continue outside.
Chopper treated the man as the rest of the crew sat around in the house, looking around.
Suddenly!
The man sat up and looked at the crew, saying "What are you doing in my house." they all paused and Chopper asked "Are you okay?" the man looked around before sighing "Yeah, I'm alright." he rubbed the back of his head and said "Who are you people?"
Luffy asked "Are you Cricket?" the man nodded and Luffy added directly "We want to get to the Sky Island!" Cricket laughed before stopping and saying "You serious?"
Luffy nodded and Cricket fell silent for a moment before speaking again "There's only one way to get to the Sky Island." he made a dramatic pause and looked around, after confirming he had everyone's attention he said word for word "The knock up stream."
The crew all acted like Thirteen and blinked at him with blank faces and his lips twitched "You don't know what that is, do you?" they all shook their heads and Cricket explained "The Knock up stream is an accumulation of hot air that gets trapped at the bottom of the sea before erupting into the sky with such a force that it propels everything in the air! It's extremely dangerous and only theoretically survivable."
Luffy's eyes started shining as Nami shouted "WHAT?!" Robin smiled, Chopper gasped, Usopp turned white, and Thirteen blinked. Cricket grinned as Usopp said "But the Merry won't survive that!" Cricket grinned and said "Not without a reinforcement!"
He patted his chest and said "I can do that for you with a little help!" Luffy handed his hands and said "REALLY!?" Cricket nodded before becoming solemn again as he said "Though you'll need a Southbird to actually get to the Knock up stream as it's directly south from Jaya. They're in the forest not too far from here…"
Thirteen pushed Usopp out of the way and looked at Cricket with burning eyes. Cricket looked at him and said "Woah! A cat person!" The group looked at Thirteen in bewilderment as he leaned in close to Cricket and said quietly "Are there bunnies in the Sky Islands? With wings?"
Cricket scratched his head and said "I guess so…" Thirteen's figure disappeared and a new hole was in the wall as he ran off into the forest. Luffy burst out laughing and ran after him.
Robin covered her mouth and walked out of the house, the rest followed her with listless faces.
Zoro and Sanji were sitting on Masira and the Orangutan guy, saying "Oh hey guys! What's up?" Nami asked "What are you doing?" Sanji pointed under him and said "These guys wanted trouble."
Cricket walked out and said in shock "Masira! Shoujou! What happened?!" Masira cried "Boss! We thought these guys killed you! Then we got beat up!" Zoro and Sanji got off as Cricket laughed.
After finding out that Thirteen and Luffy went into the forest, the rest decided to follow along with Zoro and Robin going together and Sanji going with Nami, Usopp, and Chopper.
Conveniently, Cricket showed them what the South Bird actually looked like as he didn't get a chance to before.
Meanwhile~
Thirteen was dragging a dozen birds behind him as he hunted for a South Bird, not knowing what it looked like at all.
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone