♩Solar ♩ Gravitas & Vitas♩Strong Bird♩Blitz Sticks♩Oto Oto♩Oto Tier 3 ♩Nitufia♩Santufia♩Nitufia - Tier 2♩
"We're all caged song birds, waiting for someone to hear our sound"

As the Flying Dutchman loomed across the surface of the Ocean, Charlotte sat in the navigation room, crunching the numbers for the upcoming natural phenomenon that was Knock Up Stream. The weather was fairly cloudy, as the currents rocked aside the hull of the ship. "If we continue sailing starboard, we'll be in the eye of the geyser, trust me Junbei we don't want that." Charlotte stated, as the pirate Captain sat calmly underneath the room's window, positioned exactly west, in full view of everyone who enters the room. Looking up to the pane above him, the light ushered through dimly, as to indicate a shift in the weather. However, even those who knew nothing about the sea charting could feel the change in the atmosphere, as it became slightly humid. "Drop the anchor!" Charlotte announced to the ship via snailcom. The ghost oaring halted, as Harvey appeared in the room between the two. "You summoned for us to stop mistress." Harvey said with affection his eyes from gazing upon Charlotte's body, beautifully dressed in a flowing summer dress with quite the frills in it's garment. "Y-Y-Yeah. Good job." Charlotte said, still slight freaked out from the ghastly haunting that occurred on the ship. Charlotte informed all of the crew members to report to the navigation room, she'd wait approximately fifteen minutes before speaking again, as Caprice walked in cracking his belly and yawning like a cat disturbed from it's sleep. "I'mma fine you for waking me up in the middle of the day-" Caprice said in and out until the yawn finally interrupted his sleep patterns. The five members of the White Lotus group, entered the room, walking with barrels of rum on their shoulders. "Drink boss?" Jacob inquired. "You again with this boss thing... We're family now Jacob, call me Junbei." Junbei responded, grinning as he pointed towards the man to pour him a drink from the barrel.

"Alright." Charlotte said as the room began to look a bit more festive. "I'm only going to say this once. Travelling to Skypeia isn't a walk in the park. It's a science really. I've currently position our ship, approximately seven meters or so away from the geyser's estimated break point. As it rises, it'll drift our ship in closer and closer regardless of the anchoring. When you feel the suction, I'll need either Jade or Caprice to pull up the anchor. Position it in the centre of the ship." Charlotte ordered. "From there, everyone needs to get into a room. I can't afford any you humans falling off midway up-stream." Charlotte said sternly. "Jacob and gang... I'll need you guys to man the sails. When I command, you'll open them but not until then. Last time we went to Skypeia with Kipp, they open the sails too early and the ship nearly fell back into the sea." Charlotte warned. "The rest of it just finding the current of the geyser, that'll be my job." Charlotte stated proudly. "I might need your help as well Junbei. I need you to listen to flow of the current, trying to find the direction it's most calm at, that'll be the current we ride all the way up to Skypeia. In the map we got from Holly, it's called the Sweet Spot." Charlotte stated. Walking over to the barrel and dipping her cup into the ale.

"That's enough of my babble. I hope you guys are in for a rocky ride." Charlotte said, sipping on the cup's contents. "Well! Sounds like a fun trip." Junbei stated, hopping up off the floor. "I'm going to play us a symphony on our way up! I'll listen out for your current, Charlotte." Junbei said running off towards the piano room below the deck.

♩Solar ♩ Gravitas & Vitas♩Strong Bird♩Blitz Sticks♩Oto Oto♩Oto Tier 3 ♩Nitufia♩Santufia♩Nitufia - Tier 2♩
"We're all caged song birds, waiting for someone to hear our sound"

"Jeez... Ya'll are gonna leave a fifteen year old for such an important job. Savages." Caprice said, scowling, kicking against the ground. Appearing next to Caprice, Hennessy towered over the five foot thief. Raising his hands in defence, in a karate stance, Caprice looked up to the giant Lotus Gang member. "P-P-Problem?" the thief inquired, nervously stuttering in fear. "I'll help you, if you wish." Hennessy said, patting Caprice on his head. "I'm not a brat okay! I can handle this by my goddamn self!" Caprice shouted blushing, storming out of the room. The skies overcast covered the sun's luminance, tinting the atmosphere in a night time type setting. The currents roughly crashed against the anchored Dutchman, knocking the boat left to right from the force of the now developing waves. As Junbei walked onto the deck, Jade followed shortly afterwards as the remainder of the crew fell into their positions. Several ghosts began to usher from the vessel, howling and swarming around the Dutchman, as it's image loomed ominously in the sky. Approaching the staircase to the lower deck, Harvey phased through the walls, shrinking to a small crow on the Captain's shoulder. "I told the boys you'll be playing a new piece today Capt'!" Harvey chirped in his bird form. "Mhm... I can't exactly play any of my older pieces for an occasion like this!" Junbei exclaimed. As the pianist approached the piano room with a glass ceiling, several ghoul sat in the room, mugs in hand, filled with ounces of the finest ghastly ale. "Oh!" Junbei exclaimed, looking back to Jade. "Jade. This is Harvey." Junbei said, pointing to the tiny crow as he entered the room, looking over his shoulder to Jade. "This whole vessel is technically haunted with souls who couldn't move on and were bounded to the Dutchman apparently." Junbei explained.

The torrential surges rushed against the vessel with immense cruelty. Poseidon had truly lost a son on this day, and this was the fury of a parent's love now scorned by the cruel world's frailty, even for Gods. Sitting at the grand piano's chair, Junbei pulled closer to the instrument, lifting up the lid, using his hands to wipe the dust off the keys. Shimming his fingers against the keys, a quiet and simple, yet beautiful melody bled from the piano. "This one's for the song birds... I think I'll call it. Gazing Moon!" Junbei thought. Turning towards Jade, the Captain patted the padding of the elongated chair, "Have a seat!" Junbei said calmly, his voice lowering two octaves in volume, he'd genuinely be very relax and spaced out during his performances. The progression began. Below the oceanic surface, the tectonic plates shifted, causing the ocean's lining to spew volcanic gases, which heated the water's temperature several meters below. As the melody began, all of the ghosts began to float around the piano's vicinity. Junbei closed his eyes as his fingers scuttled against the keys, switching between C F# A D. "Taunting against the Dutchman's board, We rise and fall the seas decor. Away... Away... To unknown lands. Gazing at the Moon...." Junbei began to sing. Junbei's body simply oozed charisma as his body shifted from side to side, at times bumping into Jade's shoulder, almost forgetting of the teen's existence. Not in a disregarding manner, he'd even forget about Isabella when he used to play as a child. "Sing it with me everyone! Taunting against the Dutchman's board!" Junbei got slightly louder, as the Ghosts tried to join in catching onto the melody. "We rise and fall the seas decor. Away... Away... the Sky Awaits!" Junbei belted melodically.

It happened almost instantly. The tremendous geyser shot from below the oceanic surface. Releasing his radar waves, Junbei sensed beneath the hull's structure, waiting for a disturbance in the tides. Five meters before the geyser's impact was nearing, the change in vibrations touched his waves, coupled with his Kenbunshoku. Continuing his melody, Junbei ceased his singing to shout, "Five minutes Charlotte!" Junbei screamed, turning his voice into a speaker box. "You heard the man!" Charlotte shouted through the Den Den Mushi intercom system. "One- Two- Heave!" Caprice shouted on the deck, pulling up the anchor with Hennessy's assistance onto the deck. "Cast the sails!" Charlotte shouted. As the sails expanded, the Dutchman was set into motion, circling in the now apparent whirlpool that manifested on the surface. Stopping the music momentarily, Junbei zeroed into the sound of the currents. "Five... No Six... Ten... Different currents... How am I suppose to know which one?" Junbei thought, slightly sweating in frustration. "Junbei! I need like some instructions now! Which current should we sail along!?" Charlotte shouted through the intercom, balancing the helm. "I don't know! There's like ten of them... Maybe eleven... hitting against my waves... Besides... It's not as strong as a vibration, the sea water isn't exactly playing well with my sound-waves..." Junbei shouted using his voice-box as a speak-phone.

Closing his eyes tighter, Junbei tried to visualise the ship's mass, being pressed against the soaring waves. Maintaining the motion of the vessel in his head, as the ship shifted along the ten currents in the whirlpool, after each lap, it drew closer to the mouth of the sinkhole from which geysers will spout from. "I think it's the fifth one. Shift the ship to nine' o clock!" Junbei shouted. "That's closer into the whirlpool! Are you nuts!" Charlotte shouted. "Oi! We don't have much time! Just trust me! If it's the softer current your looking far, it's the fifth one from the centre at nine!" Junbei shouted. "Fine! If our ship goes down, it's all on you!" Charlotte shouted, spinning the helm, shifting the ship closer to the outer eye of the whirlpool. "Stop!" Junbei shouted. Balancing the helm to maintain the vessel position, moments later, "It's coming!" Junbei shouted.

The geyser shot upwards, the force of the wind ushered the sails of the vessel against the geyser. As the rudder of the ship glided against the pillar of seawater, the Dutchman hoisted it's course against the fifth current, shooting the ship upwards. Tying themselves onto the mast, Caprice, Iley, Hennessy and Jacob spun around the mast as the ship shot upwards. "The sails will rip! Hoisting them inwards!" Charlotte shouted as she tumbled around the navigator's room. "I can't exactly right now!" Caprice shouted, as his body was shot backwards onto the outside of the navigator's chambers. Twenty-five thousand feet upwards, seven thousand more until Skypeia.  

♩Solar ♩ Gravitas & Vitas♩Strong Bird♩Blitz Sticks♩Oto Oto♩Oto Tier 3 ♩Nitufia♩Santufia♩Nitufia - Tier 2♩
"We're all caged song birds, waiting for someone to hear our sound"

Swinging around the mast of the inclining ship, Caprice, hugged the mast, tugging on the ropes and slowly retracted the main sails, but the force of the air pressure was so great, the elements were working against him. Meanwhile, below the deck, Jade's body hugged the wall of the piano room, as the air pressure now also pressed Junbei moments after his Vice Captain's descent, against the wall, a few inches apart from Jade. With his jaws and cheeks expanding from the air pressure, "S- o- r- t- o-f-" Junbei attempted to respond to the teen's question of if he thought the journey was fun. However, Junbei was exhilarated. As the ship climbed higher and higher, the man's body trembled with excitement so much that his fist begun to shake. Meanwhile, Charlotte adjusted the ship's rudder and hull to the momentum of the upward spiral of the geyser. Holding onto dear life onto the helm, Charlotte worked hard to maintain the current the Dutchman was currently on, as it was imperative to the crew's survival. The reinforced Adam's wood vessel shudder at the changing air pressure but it was strongly fortified to maintain these immense speeds. "If this was a lighter vessel, I'd be harder to maintain balance against this geyser." Charlotte thought. "Thank God for the Dutchman I guess." Charlotte commented, holding onto to dear life onto the helm, swinging in mid-air. On the outside, Hennessy, Jacob and Iley continued to swing in mid-air from the force of the immense incline. 5,000 Meter mark was achieved and the ship started to tip backwards, as the air pocket, began to lift the ship off the current, into mid-air off the geyser's upkeep. "Shit!" Charlotte shouted. Clutching for the intercom, "Open back up the sails now! If we don't the ship will literally flip upside upright!" Charlotte shouted.

On the deck, Caprice grumbled, "Open the sails... Close the sails... See this is why I favour money over women... Money's always the same currency ere' time. Especially old bats like-" Caprice said quietly, interrupted by Charlotte's rebuttal, "What's that you said about being old Caprice 'Love'?" Charlotte said in an ominous tone. "N-Nothing!" the child exclaimed, opening the sails once again, stuttering as shiver shot down his spine. As the sails spread, the wind shot the ship into mid-air, off the geyser, flying upwards from the suction alone. The sun peaked over the break of the clouds, and as the vessel passed, a beautiful moment where luminance of the sun could've been examined as the ship climbed. From the see through ceiling, Jade and Junbei got a clear image of the clear sky, free of clouds, simply a blue oasis with a vibrant goddess which was the sun. At 8000 meters, the ship landed back onto the geyser, shooting upwards once more, into one main rush, free of the several divergent currents and only one path. At 9,000 meters, from the deck of the ship, a light could've been seen, piercing through a cumulonimbus of clouds. As the ship rode towards the light, launching right into mid-air, the Dutchman landed on a series of fluffy white clouds, The White Sea, for as far as the eyes could see.

Gravity was restored and all of the Songbird's hit the floor wth a loud thud. Entering his intangible state of out fear, Junbei phased through the layers towards the deck, crashing into the mast, rolling onto the ground on top of Caprice. Scratching his head, Junbei picked himself up, dusting off his jacket, rushing to the forecastle deck of the ship. Letting out a huge roar, "It exists!" Junbei shouted, shooting a humungous grin. As the ship floated idle on the clouds, drifting closer and closer along a river, in the distance, a giant sign could've been observed, 'Heaven's Gate'.

♩Solar ♩ Gravitas & Vitas♩Strong Bird♩Blitz Sticks♩Oto Oto♩Oto Tier 3 ♩Nitufia♩Santufia♩Nitufia - Tier 2♩
"We're all caged song birds, waiting for someone to hear our sound"

As the shape's cadence shifted against the rippling cloud currents, the Dutchman pulled closer and closer along the stream which led towards Heaven's Gate. Sitting on the deck, Junbei checked the status of all the members of the Songbirds, making sure everyone was indeed okay. "Damn... That was one hell of a ride." Junbei exclaimed, scratching his head as he examined his surroundings. The whole from the geyser closed, as the ship drifted towards the entrance and the sound of the falling water pressure from the geyser could've been heard for first thousand meters. "Oi! Jade! Come to the deck you have to see this!" Junbei exclaimed, climbing onto the railing of the forecastle, gawking at everything within his peripheral with immense fascination. Finally, the ship arrived at the entrance of Heaven's Gate, however, in the small booth that was situated to the left, no was yet present to validate the Songbird's entrance. Setting anchor, the crew waited for the booth teller to appear, turning towards Jade, the Captain inquired on the man's health. "How are you feeling from the ride up!?" Junbei said super charged and excited, as Jade looked a bit sickly from his observations. Sitting on the deck of the ship, Junbei turned towards Charlotte, "What's the plan now Charley?" Junbei inquired, giving Charlotte a cute nickname. As the woman blushed, ignoring the Captain's naming, "W-We've got the map Holley gave us and from the looks of it, we're here!" the woman exclaimed, pointing to the section of the map entitled Heaven's Gate. Examining the map, Hennessy commented, "That means our next voyage is up this Milky Way?" the man said, hand firmly strapped to his beard. "Mhm looks like it." Charlotte commented.

As the ship drifted closer and closer to the entrance, the guardian, Merla, awoke examining the vessel as it approached. Picking up the Den Den Mushi, the woman Dailed towards the Royal Castle, "Sea Dweller's approach? Permission for entry?" the woman inquired. Meanwhile at the Castle, the King answered the phone towards Merla. "Yes?" the King commented in one simple response. "We have intruders from the land, orders my Sire?" Merla inquired. "You may let them enter... However the fine is as always... 5,000,000 Million." the King said coldly. "Yes please your highness" the woman announced as she hanged up the Den Den Mushi, now sitting up from her laying position to approach the window.