Chapter 15 – Arrival at Skypiea: First Contact and Exploration

The Queen's Grace sailed smoothly across the white sea, gliding as if the ship was born to fly among the clouds. The crew had survived the terrifying ascent of the Knock Up Stream, but what lay ahead was unknown territory.

The Grand Line was already dangerous enough, yet now they had ventured into a place that most sailors never dared to dream about.

The Sky Islands.

A realm built on the sea of clouds, where the rules of the blue sea no longer applied.

Kaito stood at the bow, his arms resting casually against the wooden rail as the ship slowly approached the edges of an island suspended on the white sea.

Angel Island.

From this distance, they could see modest homes built from strange materials. The people walking along the docks had small wings on their backs, though they did not appear to use them to fly.

The crew was silent for a long moment, drinking in the sight of an island floating in the sky.

It was surreal.

It was beautiful.

Nojiko finally spoke, her voice breaking the quiet. "I've checked the maps again. Skypiea isn't on any known sea charts. This is a completely unrecorded civilization."

"Just the way I like it," Kaito replied with a grin.

Carmen adjusted her chef's hat and crossed her arms. "Let's hope the local food is as good as the view."

Khalifa brushed strands of hair behind her ear, her gaze sharp. "Let's proceed with caution. We know nothing about their social structure, their power system, or their hostility level."

Kaya nodded in agreement, tucking a medical pouch into her satchel. "And we should watch out for diseases or environmental differences."

Kuina checked her swords, her face calm but attentive. "We're not here to conquer. We're here to explore. But if they threaten us, we defend ourselves."

Kaito's smile never left. "Exactly."

As the ship docked along the soft cloud pier, the crew prepared to disembark.

A group of Sky Islanders approached, their expressions wary but not immediately aggressive.

One of them, an older man with a gentle face, stepped forward and raised his hand in greeting.

"Travelers from the blue sea?" he asked carefully.

Kaito stepped onto the dock, his boots sinking slightly into the cloud surface. "Yeah. We came up through the Knock Up Stream. We mean no harm. Just curious explorers."

The man's gaze flicked over the crew, lingering briefly on Kuina's swords and Khalifa's gloves.

"My name is Pagaya," he introduced himself. "We don't often receive visitors from the blue sea. In fact, it's… extremely rare."

"I can imagine," Kaito replied.

From behind Pagaya, a young woman with long blonde hair emerged, her expression curious but guarded.

Her harp was slung across her back, and there was something gentle in the way she observed the crew.

Pagaya noticed Kaito's gaze and introduced her. "This is my daughter, Conis."

Conis offered a polite bow. "Welcome to Angel Island."

Kaito smiled warmly. "Thank you. I'm Kaito, captain of the Queen's Grace."

The introductions rippled through the rest of the crew.

Kuina offered a small nod. Nojiko greeted them with a calm smile. Carmen waved lazily, while Khalifa's sharp gaze never softened. Kaya's gentle hello was met with Conis's faint smile.

There was something about Conis's presence that caught Kaito's attention.

She carried herself lightly, but the sadness in her eyes betrayed a deeper story.

"Is it common for people here to welcome outsiders?" Kaito asked.

Pagaya shook his head. "Not particularly. There are… laws. Restrictions. Especially since the current God took power."

"God?" Carmen raised an eyebrow. "What kind of god exactly?"

Pagaya's face tensed. "A man named Enel. He rules this island, and the others surrounding it, with absolute authority. His priests enforce his will, and those who disobey are punished severely."

Kaito's grin faded slightly. "I see. Sounds like the kind of place where freedom is in short supply."

Conis lowered her gaze. "Most people are too afraid to challenge the system. They live quietly, follow the laws, and try to avoid attention."

"But you don't seem like the type to just accept that," Kaito said, studying her carefully.

Her fingers brushed the strings of her harp as if in response.

"I used to play music for the people here," Conis admitted softly. "Publicly. Until it was forbidden. Now, I just… play quietly, for myself."

Kaito's smile returned, but there was something sharper behind it now. "Freedom starts small. A song that refuses to die, even in silence."

Conis blinked, caught off guard by his words.

Nojiko quickly steered the conversation back to practical matters. "We'd like to restock supplies, if possible. We won't overstay our welcome."

Pagaya agreed to help, but his eyes lingered on Kaito's crew, as if weighing whether they would truly bring trouble or hope.

The crew spent the next day exploring the island carefully.

Angel Island was unlike any place they had seen before.

The buildings floated on the sea of clouds. The transportation was done by riding sky fish or using small dial-powered boats. The culture was rich, but it was muted, restrained under the heavy weight of Enel's rule.

Carmen found herself fascinated by the local food, especially sky pumpkins and cloud shrimp, which had a unique flavor profile.

Kaya spent her time studying the medicinal properties of the local plants.

Nojiko carefully charted the cloud currents and the unusual magnetic fields.

Kuina observed the townspeople quietly, always aware of the tension beneath their polite smiles.

Khalifa gathered information, her calm, analytical nature picking up on the unspoken fears of the residents.

Kaito wandered.

He found himself returning to the small plaza where Conis often sat, strumming her harp softly when she thought no one was listening.

Her music wasn't grand. It wasn't even particularly complex.

But it was honest.

And that mattered.

"You don't play for crowds anymore?" he asked, sitting nearby.

She didn't stop playing. "The priests would destroy my harp if they heard me. Music brings people together. Enel doesn't like that."

Kaito rested his arms on his knees, listening quietly.

"Freedom," he said, "isn't something someone hands you. You have to carve it out yourself."

She plucked a slow, thoughtful chord. "Is that why you sail?"

Kaito's gaze drifted to the sky. "I sail because I want to see what the world hides. I sail because I want to enjoy life with my crew. I don't need to be Pirate King. I don't need the greatest treasure. I just want the freedom to choose my own path."

Conis's fingers trembled slightly, but she continued to play.

"Have you ever been afraid that the world will take that from you?"

Kaito's smile was soft but unshaken. "Every day. But fear doesn't stop me."

For the first time, she laughed quietly, a sound as light as the clouds beneath their feet.

"You're strange," she said.

"Probably."

She set her harp down beside her. "There are rumors. Of other blue sea dwellers. A group that's also here. They call themselves the Straw Hats."

Kaito's interest sharpened. "Luffy's crew?"

Conis nodded. "They arrived recently. They've already clashed with Enel's priests."

So, they were here too.

Kaito's grin returned. "This just got more interesting."

Conis hesitated. "Do you know them?"

"Yeah. We've crossed paths a few times. Friendly rivals."

Her gaze flicked to his swords. "Will you fight them?"

Kaito's grin widened. "Only when it's fun."

She studied him for a long moment, then carefully asked, "If I wanted to… if I wanted to hear the songs of the world beyond the sky… could I sail with you?"

Kaito didn't answer immediately.

Instead, he let the breeze carry the silence between them.

Finally, he said, "Our ship's always open. But only if you choose it."

She smiled softly. "Let me think about it."

"Take your time."

He stood and walked away, leaving her with her music and her decision.

Later that night, the crew gathered aboard the Queen's Grace to share their findings.

Nojiko spread out the newly drawn maps. "The White Sea is massive, with several small islands scattered around. Most are uninhabited. The center is dominated by Upper Yard, which is forbidden territory under Enel's control."

Khalifa added, "Enel's priests operate in Upper Yard, and they're the ones who enforce his will. The people here live in constant fear of being punished."

Kuina crossed her arms. "We could remove them."

Kaito shook his head. "Not yet. This isn't our story to resolve. Luffy's crew is here. They'll handle it."

Carmen leaned back. "So what's our role then?"

Kaito's grin was sharp. "We explore. We learn. We strengthen our bonds. We make sure no one innocent gets caught in the crossfire."

Kaya looked thoughtful. "And maybe… we find people who need a place to belong."

Nojiko smirked. "Sounds like us."

Kaito nodded. "Exactly."

The crew agreed without argument.

The Queen's Grace would not interfere with Luffy's destined battle.

But they would carve their own path through Skypiea.

And perhaps, along the way, they would find those waiting to be set free.

The clouds shifted gently around the ship.

The next day would bring them deeper into Skypiea's mysteries.

And perhaps, a meeting with a fierce little girl who had been fighting alone for far too long.