Original Post By: aloe vera
They set sail upon the great ocean.
...They were buffeted by tempests and attacked by sea monsters. By the time they reached the island, only the king, Noland, and 100 soldiers remained. But instead of finding a mountain of gold, there was only jungle. Noland was sentenced to death for lying. Before he died, his last words were... "I know! The mountain of gold must have sunk into the sea!" The king and the others were flabbergasted. No one believed Noland, but he stuck to his lies to the very end... (Noland the Liar, a North Sea folktale)
"UWAAAAAAAH!!!" Vera burst into tears as she closed the book, revealing the picture of the front cover, where a chestnut-headed man could be seen riding on a ship. "Wh-Why would Red-chan lend me such a... gloomy book?! She did tell me it was a funny one, though!!"
Ever since they had departed from the Twin Peaks Lighthouse, Vera had stayed in the Sea Pixie's library. She was no bookworm, but the constant rolling of the waves against the ship's hull had made her a bit seasick. Putting the book she had just finished reading, Vera approached a bookshelf and climbed on a ladder as she was looking for a new one to read.
"Let's see... Sora, Warrior of the Sea... Nay... Devil Fruit Encyclopedia? That should ne better!" As she tried to pull it from the bookshelf, however, the heavy book was stuck. Vera tried to forcefully take it out, only for the ladder she was standing on to fall over. "Ouch..."As she opened her eyes, Vera was laying on the ground. Beside her, the Devil Fruit Encyclopedia had opened on a random page that was providing information on a certain Devil Fruit. The Boom-Boom Fruit? Sounds really cool!!!, thought the young girl as she read about it.
Suddenly, someone knocked on the door, pulling Vera out of her thoughtful state. An as serious as ever Sophie entered the room. Seeing Vera laying down on the floor and the ladder resting beside her, Sophie took on a falsely worried air: "Miss Vera, is something the matter?! Anyway, the officers will soon hold a meeting, and Madame Jade wants you to be present. Please meet with us without delay.", she strictly said, pushing her glasses up with her fingers before closing back the door.
"What a bummer", Vera muttered under her breath after Sophie had left the library. Tidying the room a bit, she then headed for the meeting room, still thinking of her read about Devil Fruits.