fierybluebird | [Video] In which phoenixes pirates and countries alike go exploring

Did you know there's a bird of prey called a secretary bird for how ridiculous it looks? It's actually extremely dangerous though. Its legs are so powerful that rather than divebombing enemy like a falcon or eagle or strange bird pinky -- [Wait, what was that last one? Yeah screw your normal birds, One Piece has weird things as you might know from the rapahn.] -- Instead a secretary bird uses its wings for balance and kicks snakes to death. For fun since snakes are shitty prey. I always thought that was a pretty cool fighting style.

Speaking of birds of prey, can anyone tell me more about birds in their world? Or mythological ones? Phoenixes, dragons, rocs, thunderbirds, anything like that, eh?

We're about 2 days out of Discedo now, and I've decided to completely map out the lake for Kiku's map program, eh. There are plenty of explorers in my world, technically the first pirate king started out that way even. But I'm wondering about everyone else's explorers. Is the world you come from all explored? Who first ventured to those far unknown reaches? Come on, I'm sure at least some of you have that adventurer's blood in your veins, eh?

Oh, and everyone in Spero, don't forget Ace is captain!

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Opium is what I call England, aru. For good reason too. [There's some bitterness in there.]

Like I said, I don't know all the things that happened there, but I do know that they did have several battles and wars over the newly discovered land. I also know that France and the Netherlands eventually lost most of their territory to Opium, aru.

Canada was raised by France after he was taken in by him, but after France lost his territory, Canada was then taken care of by Opium.

Oh? He really doesn't seem to get along with anyone besides America, eh?

Did you also lose a bunch of territory to him?

I wouldn't be surprised, aru. He's always been alone.

[China goes very quiet for a moment, but the anger is shining very clearly in his eyes. It is not directed at Marco, though.]

Not only land, but he took my brother from me and he was only a child. It's also his fault that I'm addicted to this, aru. [China picks up the Asian pipe the was lying beside him and takes a small drag from it, the sweet scent of the opium filling his senses.]

That sounds kind of sad. He didn't even have brothers like you?

[Arches an eyebrow.] How is that his fault?

No, he has brothers, except unlike me, he is the youngest, aru. I've heard that they enjoyed picking on him.

He was the one who helped bring opium into my country. So many of my people fell to its sweet scent, even I couldn't resist. I got so sick and then we had two wars, which I both lost.

I've tried so hard to get myself off the opium, but as you can see, aru... [He moves the pipe around in his fingers.]

Well, things like that make you weaker, eh. But whether he brought it or not, it's not like he directly hooked you onto it. Some people can handle trying it without needing more and more so there's no guarantee he'd have known. And even if he did, it's a habit, not something you can force someone into.

[A thoughtful look crosses China's face.]

Personal choice... right?

In that case, I guess this is one addiction I won't be getting out of anytime soon, aru. [He takes another small drag from the pipe.]

But that is why England and I don't get along very well.

...What about you, Marco? Being a pirate, I'm sure you must have seen a lot on your travels, aru. [Subject change get!]

Aye.

[Yay!] I'm used to traveling the New World, which is a lot more chaotic and eventful than this world, eh. In a fun way mostly. Not that Fortuna's boring, but there's no lightning rain, or random invisible cliffs, somehow it's missing something other than just the rest of my family.

Well, compared to the state of my world, Fortuna seems more peaceful--or, actually, peaceful is not the right word to use, aru. Fortuna is just... wasting away. There's almost nothing here.

By the way, have you ever encountered sea monsters, aru?

Decaying, yes.

I have. We have seakings all over the Grand Line. The calm belts which border the Grand Line on either side are nesting grounds for seakings, and the Grand Line is their feeding area.

Seakings?

Sea monsters. Enormously giant fish that could eat a marine galleon in one bite.

In China, we believe certain types of dragons to be dwelling the seas, aru.

Although, there is this one famous story about a dragon that caused a great flood. He is known as Gong-Gong, or Kung-Kung in some other versions.

Yeah? You're really into dragons, huh.

You don't say... Why did he do that?

[A chuckle.] Ever since I first heard about them, aru.

Because he was so devastated about losing the war with Zhu Rong over the throne of paradise that he smashed his head against one of the pillars, mountains, holding up the sky. That caused the sky to tilt and the earth to shift, as well as a hole to form in the heavens.

Understood. They say there used to be dragons on Wano Island, eh.

Eh?? Hardcore... What happened after the flood?

Gong-Gong was killed upon impact, which is what he wanted. The goddess Nu-Gua was unable to undo all the damage, aru. The very heavens were tipped sideways and they say that is why the Pole Star is no longer in the center of the sky.

Pole Star?

It is also called Polaris, or the North Star in our world, aru.

If it's off kilter what makes it "North"?

[China scratches his head.]

I do not really know, aru. Perhaps it was not originally in the north? There are other Pole Stars.

Eh, really?

There is one in the South, aru.

Wow, your world is lucky. Stars don't really work like that in mine.

Do people in your world at least use them to navigate?

[video]

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