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The sunny had been sailing for days now. The grand line is packed with islands and one is to stumble upon one eventually; whether it will be habitable or not that's a different topic of discussion.
Most of the members have been quietly working, the fighters who had been previously suffering from grave injuries being forced to rest by chopper namely Zoro and Luffy.
Even though Sanji was in a similar state chopper allowed him to move around but still limited it to only a few hours.
Zoro was getting restless as he wanted to no, needed to train, to get stronger for his goals and for his crew's sake.
His wounds had been reopened which is mainly why chopper had been so persistent to make him rest. Giving him high dosages of sleeping meds to make sure he's knocked out and not faking his sleep like he usually does.
Luffy is a bit easier but in a sense also impossible. He's built a tolerance for most of the medicines as his body changes and adapts to an insane degree, maybe something is related to his devil fruit. So he still moves and runs around but he's not allowed to do any heavy work.
Nami and Robin work together to find out and piece together different information. Things are still incomplete but more and more is discovered as they spend hours pouring over the books and the inscriptions they've come across. Nami's upgraded log pose pointing the directions to the next islands.
"I see land! " Carrot screams.
All the straw hats come out of their rooms to see. Nami soon starts instructing people to prepare to dock at the island. The bright and sunny weather giving them no problems at all to do so.
As they all get to land they notice it's is very wet, the dirt stick to their shoes and the land gives way and leaves an imprint as they all walk towards the mainland.
They hear women giggling and speaking but it's indecipherable at this distance.
Sanji follows the sounds while Luffy starts to explore the place.
Sanji finds the women who's melodic voices he had been hearing at a distance. They seem to be carrying supplies back to their homes.
" Oh! Apnar nam ki? Apni toh ekhan theke na? "
Sanji stares at them in confusion. They're speaking in a foreign language that he's never heard of before. They laugh and walk their merry way one of them hold his hand as if asking him to follow them and he obliges.
Their skin is sun kissed blessed by this summer island, their clothing lose and they adorn flowers, shiny stones that accentuate their beauty.
Sanji is mesmerized at their sweet voices and their happy demeanor. All very young but strong as if they can hold their own whenever necessary.
He's lead to a village; toddlers playing, the men taking care of the children and the household chores.
He is taken to a man named Azha who speaks his language and looks a little different from the natives of this land.
Sanji assures him he's not here to harm the natives. He says he also has some friends who'll also be coming to take a break to replenish before continuing their journey and Azha translates for him.
There are people skinning and cutting flesh from cattle. Sanji picks up the knife and expertly glides it to get as much meat as he can away from the skin and bones.
The girls brighten up seeing his skill and sanji basks in what he assumes is praises.
On the shore Luffy encounters a tiger, it growls at him, trying to intimidate him looking as big as possible. It's almost 5 times his size but his gaze has it calmed down; letting luffy pet him like a house cat and get on it's back.
The straw hats are met with a child, not more than 5 years old. The kid pants as if they were being chased by something.
Nami questions the child and chopper asks if they're okay.
The boy answers in a language they don't understand....
They are lead to the same village Sanji had come upon. Sanji enjoying his time as the people there converse with him by gestures.
"Ah Sanji! We've been searching for you! "
"Sorry Nami. I didn't notice the time I was lead to this village I should've called for you, "
"Sanji I'm hungry, " Luffy beckoned at him.
The straw hats all met Azha. He says he'd been shipwrecked to this land a couple years ago and lived here ever since. He lost his family in that ship and didn't have the means to sail out to sea again.
The night falls as the straw hats gather round the fire to indulge in the culture, the wine and food plentiful.
The women dance, the men play instruments and sing their hearts out all after a day's work. As they soon get tired and huddle around to talk with each other and tell stories.
"Oh this is one of my favourite parts of the night, " Azha says
"Why? " Luffy asks.
His question is answered soon as one of the older women start throwing different herbs at the fire, a sweet smell surrounds them as they burn and if looked closely at it a face is seen.
The straw hats stare in awe as the fire grows and grows then... Starts talking. The citizens cheer and rejoice, some of them start tearing up as everyone speaks about something in excitement.
"Hey Zaza! What are they saying? "
" The fire has transformed into one of their dead ancestors, "
"What?!?! That's impossible, " Nami says dismissively.
" Wah so can we talk to people as well? "
Luffy asks his eyes sparkling in curiousity of a new mystery.
" Yes. But you have to perform a few rituals that I think is too much of a burden to do so, "
" What kind of rituals? " Sanji says taking the cigarette out of his mouth.
" A year of festivities and customs that's performed by the natives of this country. Only when the flame accepts you, that you belong here with the island and will live here in harmony. Only then you can request for a meeting with a lost loved one. " Azha finishes.
"A whole year? Isn't that too long? " Robin questions.
" Besides we don't even know if it's real or just a scam, " Zoro grumbles, his eyes closed but still listening in on their conversation.
"It's... Real. I've spoken to my family and friends. I'm not asking you guys to try it but don't insult the people of this village, "
Azha says his face stoic at Zoro's statement.
"Let's do it! " Luffy says enthusiastically.
" Captain! " Some of them squeal at this outrageous request.
" Alright we'll see how many days Luffy can stay here without getting bored, " Sanji gives a knowing smile and they all understand.
It won't be long till Luffy would want to set out to sea again.