Nami came rushing back toward the crew, jumping off the waver and breathing heavily.
"I—I just saw someone die right in front of me," she gasped.
"What?!" Noah stood up instantly. "Where?"
"Not far from here," Nami said. "I rode a little past the clouds and saw an island—but not like this one. It had trees and vines. Real ground."
"That doesn't make sense. Isn't Skypiea made out of clouds?" Noah asked.
"Interesting…" Robin murmured.
Nami turned to Conis and Pagaya. "What do you two know about that place?"
Pagaya's face darkened. "That place is known as Upper Yard… and it's where Eneru and his priests reside."
"WHAAAAAT?!" Usopp and Chopper screamed, hugging each other.
Emma looked up and noticed lightning flickering in the sky, even though it wasn't dark and didn't look like rain.
"Lightning…?" she whispered.
Usopp froze. "C-Chopper… this is it. God's wrath!"
Chopper trembled. "We're sorry, God! We'll stop breathing your air!"
"Shut up, you two!" Nami snapped.
"Everyone, get back on the ship," she ordered. "We'll spend the night here and leave early tomorrow morning."
Everyone nodded.
"Nami," Noah said, "before that, Emma and I will head into town. We'll try to get some supplies."
"Fine," Nami replied. "Better you two go than these idiots."
"Conis, can you show us the way?" Emma asked.
"Of course," Conis said.
The three walked toward town.
Pagaya cleared his throat. "While you're staying here, why don't I take a look at your ship?"
"That would mean a lot," Nami said.
The others boarded the Going Merry.
Later That Day Around 7pm…
"Where are Noah and Emma?" Nami asked, pacing.
"I dunno," Luffy said, stuffing his face.
Usopp and Chopper ran in circles around the deck chanting some nonsense song.
"STOP IT, YOU TWO!" Nami yelled.
Zoro suddenly sat up. "…Huh?"
Everyone froze.
"Don't move," Zoro warned.
"What is it?" Chopper whispered.
"Don't you feel that?" Zoro asked.
"Feel what?" Usopp asked.
Sanji lit a cigarette. "He's right… we're being watched."
Suddenly, a small metal can hit the deck.
A smoke bomb erupted.
"I can't… breathe…" Chopper wheezed before collapsing.
"What the hell—" Nami stumbled and fainted.
"Sleeping gas…" Robin managed before falling.
One by one, the crew dropped.
A few hours later…
Noah and Emma returned to where the Going Merry should've been docked.
"Umm… Emma," Noah said slowly. "Where's the ship? It was right here."
Emma stared at the empty clouds. "…Noah."
They exchanged a horrified look.
"Oh no."
They sprinted to Conis's house and banged on the door.
Pagaya opened it in a panic. "Emma? Noah? What's wrong?"
"The ship—It's gone!" Emma said.
"No, forget that," Noah said. "Tell us how to get to Upper Yard. We need to go now."
"I can show you in the morning," Pagaya said calmly. "For now, stay the night."
"We can't wait!" Noah snapped. "We have to find them—"
"Noah," Emma said softly, holding his arm. "It's dark. We don't know the terrain. And if Eneru's priests show up, we'll need our strength. We have to rest first."
Noah clenched his jaw… then sighed. "…You're right."
Pagaya led them inside and opened a door leading to a small room.
"You can stay here tonight," he said gently. "Goodnight."
The door closed.
Noah and Emma sat down on the bed.
"Guess I'll be sleeping on the floor," Noah said with a sigh.
"Or… we could both sleep on the bed," Emma replied, smirking.
"Are you sure?" Noah asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Yes. It's not like we're going to do anything but sleep, right… Captain?"
"Right. Sleep. That's exactly what we're going to do… my favorite navigator."
"You know, I suck at navigating," Emma said, nudging him playfully. "And yet, I still said I'd be your navigator."
"I suck at being a captain," Noah muttered. "All I do is get us into trouble."
Emma chuckled softly. "Fun trouble."
"I'm happy I joined your crew," she said quietly.
"I'm glad you came," Noah replied.
"You remember when we first met?" Emma asked, eyes twinkling.
"Feels like years ago," Noah said. "But it's only been a few months."
"The boy who almost drowned," Emma teased, laughing.
"And the mean merchant," Noah shot back, sighing.
"I wasn't mean! And I'm not mean," Emma protested, sticking out her tongue.
Noah chuckled. "I don't know where we'll end up, but… I think it's going to be okay as long as we're together."
"I agree," Emma said, resting her head on his shoulder.
"Emma," Noah said after a pause, "I think it's about time we start building our crew. After we leave Skypiea, let's get our own ship… and a cook."
"I agree," Emma said, yawning.
They fell into a comfortable silence for a moment before Noah asked. "So… you think the cook should be able to fight too, or is cooking skills enough?"
Emma laughed. "Depends. If they can't fight, I hope they can at least throw food at our enemies."
"Imagine that," Noah said, grinning. "A flying roast chicken taking down pirates."
Emma snorted. "I call dibs on slingshot duty!"
Noah laughed, shaking his head. "And what about the first mate?"
"Hmm…" Emma pretended to think. "Someone who knows when to keep you out of trouble. Basically, me."
"No complaints here," Noah said, rolling his eyes but smiling.
"And," Emma added, "they better not steal my snacks. I will fight them with the frying pan."
"Noted," Noah said, mock-saluting. "Crew rules: don't mess with the navigator's snacks."
Emma nudged him. "See? You're learning captain skills already."
"Nope," Noah said, laughing. "Still getting us into trouble."
"Fun trouble," Emma said, grinning.