Chapter 1: Warnings and Miscellaneous
Chapter Text
Well, I thought it would be good to clarify a few things before we embark on our adventure.
The main character will not have a physical description, allowing each reader to identify with her. However, clothing will be based on canon designs. I'll create some artwork as examples.
I'll follow the events of the manga to make it easier to follow all the sagas without getting too lost. It will keep everything more focused.
The story will be described from the protagonist's point of view, which means events happening away from her won't be described. After all, you'll only know what she knows.
I'll start in Sabaody. After much thought, I concluded that it would be a good place to introduce her into the story.
Besides the main character, there will be some other OCs, while the remaining characters belong to Eiichiro Oda as intellectual property of One Piece.
Our beloved (Y/N) Gyldepts will be around 26 years old at the beginning of the story. For the sake of the plot, she will be one of the Worst Generation Pirates, with a bounty of 120 million Berries at the time. Due to certain circumstances that unfold throughout the story, she arrived in Sabaody without a crew.
She excels in physical strength and hand-to-hand combat and is a natural gunslinger. She is not a user of any Devil Fruit power, but she has some peculiar abilities that will be explained over time.
Without further ado, let's set sail!
ps: This is Y/N's clothes when she arrived at Sabaody.
ps: This is Y/N's clothes when she arrived at Sabaody
https://i.pinimg.com/750x/3c/cb/84/3ccb844af30406a7d5dfb2d786f56d09.jpg
Chapter 2: The Auction
Chapter Text
"(Y/N) Gyldepts! Oh, we've got a big fish this time!" exclaimed one of the lackeys with excitement, checking a list attached to a clipboard.
"But, boy... This woman is a Pirate of the Worst Generation. What is she doing in a place like this!?" asked another, incredulous, peering through the metal bars at a young woman, sprawled on the ground, barely conscious.
"In this world, no matter how powerful you are, you'll never be safe if you trust someone...
************************
Muffled voices brought your consciousness back as you struggled to open your eyes. Your head was throbbing, and your thoughts were scattered. What was happening? You tried to stand up, but your legs felt numb, causing you to fall back to the ground. Laughter in the background reminded you that you weren't alone. You took a deep breath and focused, feeling your muscles tingle. After some time, you managed to sit on an old bench, probably where you were lying before.
You opened your eyes with difficulty, adjusting to the dim light in the room. You breathed deeply as your disjointed mind tried to recall the events that brought you to this mysterious place. And then you looked at your hands. Chains. You were bound by sturdy shackles. You tried to force them in every way, but without success. They must be made of Kairoseki, you thought. Even though you weren't a user of Devil Fruit powers, the material was known to be one of the most resistant.
You then worried about how you ended up there. What was this place? You looked ahead and saw several other prisoners, equally chained. One of them caught your attention. He was older but had a confident posture. He emitted a strong and oppressive aura, but he didn't seem to pose a threat to you. He noticed that you were staring at him and gave you a small smile.
"Are you alright, young lady?" he asked politely, catching you off guard. You smirked.
"As fine as someone who woke up chained would be," you shrugged. "Where are we?"
"Oh, this? It's a warehouse, part of an auction house. They're going to announce us soon and sell us as slaves," he said nonchalantly, as if it were the simplest thing to happen, just another Tuesday. Your eyes widened in disbelief, and your heart raced.
Then you remembered everything that had happened to you. Your crew, your ship, and everything that unfolded so quickly on that unmapped island. You clenched your teeth, consumed by anger. Killing was all you could think about. Your father always warned you never to trust anyone but yourself, but you didn't listen, and now you would become a slave.
"What a wonderful ending," you thought with sarcasm, leaning your back against the wall. Your chained hands rested in your lap.
Your lost gaze wandered around the cell as you observed each poor soul in the place, wondering what terrible events led them to end up there. You sighed and brought your hands to your head, where your characteristic hat concealed your biggest secret. What would become of your life now, becoming a commodity ready to be sold to the highest bidder? You took a deep breath and promised yourself that you would never trust anyone again.
"It seems you haven't had much luck, Miss Gyldepts," the older man spoke, and you looked at him attentively. "Your face is quite well-known, and your bounty is high," he chuckled at your confused expression. "I couldn't help but notice such a cute newcomer." Your face immediately blushed, and you crossed your arms over your chest.
"You old pervert," you rolled your eyes, and he burst into laughter. "You don't seem too bothered by the situation," you inquired, as the man hadn't taken his eyes off you.
"Not at all," he laughed. "I have a feeling that everything will turn out fine." He took a deep breath and smiled, catching you by surprise with such confidence.
"He's been calm like this since he arrived," interrupted a third person. A giant, sitting next to the old man. Only now did you notice him? "People who remain calm like that... are dangerous," he warned, while the old man continued to smile, sending a shiver down your spine.
Before you could say anything, the sound of a door opening and raised voices could be heard. It was a female voice screaming while people held her back.
"Let me go! It hurts!" she whimpered as she was dragged into the room. "Hatchin will show up and deal with you!" she growled, but the man in the hat ignored her, making relevant comments about who sold her and the auction.
You quickly noticed the commotion caused by the young woman, and it became clear why there was so much uproar. She was a mermaid. Your face paled, and your heart sank. The topic of fish men had always affected you deeply. You found yourself standing up and walking towards the bars when he began talking about the "merchandise," violently holding the young woman's face. She retorted by sticking out her tongue, earning a slap across her face.
That was the last straw. Your grip on the bars could easily crush a human bone; your teeth were clenched, and your eyes lacked any sparkle. You wanted nothing more than to snap his neck right there when he knocked her to the ground and began kicking her. Just as you were about to say something, the second man interrupted, restraining him from harming his precious cargo. The young woman took a deep breath and summoned all the courage she had, shouting.
"Hatchin will... SMASH YOUR FACE!" she yelled with all her might, a smile creeping across her face. You felt proud of the girl.
The man prepared to strike back when suddenly you felt a powerful energy filling the room, hitting the man and causing him to faint instantly. In disbelief, you turned around and searched for the source of that power.
"Hey, old man... Don't play dumb," the giant said, breaking the palpable tension in the air. "It was you, wasn't it?" You immediately looked at the old man, who continued to smile. "That Haki... Who are you?"
Both of you stared at him intently, and you were sure that was Conqueror's Haki. And it came from that man. You swallowed nervously, impatiently waiting for his answer. He took a sip from a flask he had with him and looked into your eyes.
"I'm just an old man who repairs ships... and enjoys the company of a beautiful young lady."
Chapter Text
The young girl was seated on a bench, her arms now bound by chains. A sort of collar had been placed on her, and only now did you notice that you were wearing one too. You overheard the slaves commenting that trying to remove that thing would make your head explode. You swallowed hard; it wasn't something you wanted to try.
The girl trembled timidly, her face injured, and tears streamed from her eyes. Your heart twisted, and you stood up, walking calmly so as not to alarm her. You sat down beside her, and she stiffened, afraid that you might do something.
"Please... Don't be afraid," you said in a gentle tone, your voice smooth as silk. She looked up. "Does it hurt a lot?" you asked, pointing to the cut on her cheek. She nodded. You then tore a piece of your shirt sleeve and used the fabric to clean the girl's wound. She recoiled slightly, but seeing that you had no ill intentions, she let you work.
"Who... are you?" she asked timidly, now with a clean face, the bleeding stopped.
"(Y/N) Gyldepts. And you?" you smiled at her, and she returned it.
"My name is Camie."
Before you could say anything else, you heard a joyful voice in the background announcing that the event was about to begin. You felt a knot in your throat as he said there were two surprises for the end, and you knew he was referring to Camie and, well, you.
You were something rare, something that couldn't be exposed. None of the dangers you faced in your pirate life would compare to what you would experience if your secret were discovered. You sighed deeply; you had to find a way to escape from there.
Some men entered the cell and grabbed both of you. You tried to fight back, but the chains on your hands and feet restricted your movements. With some difficulty, they managed to take Camie away from your protection. They placed her in a large round aquarium. And you were placed on a wooden platform with a pillar in the center. Your arms were raised above your head, and a muzzle was placed on your face after several violent attempts to bite your captors.
And then, the curtains opened. Everything started spinning too fast for you to keep up. You struggled, trying to force the chains to free yourself, but in vain. One by one, the slaves were presented and soon sold, and as you realized that only a few remained, you knew you had to do something, or it would soon be your turn.
Another captive pirate was presented next, and as Disco introduced him, something happened. You couldn't see from where you were, but you heard screams in the background and concluded it was the audience. Then the curtains closed abruptly, and the lifeless body of the pirate fell to the ground, blood flowing from his mouth. Disco's assistant tried to help him but seemed to be in vain.
"Hurry up, prepare the mermaid!" he paused and looked at you. "And Gyldepts too! Let's bring this house down!"
"It's all ready!" one of the men responded. "We'll take them next!"
**********
After the commotion settled down in the show's venue, Disco emerged from behind the curtain and resumed his show. You could hear the excitement in his voice as the aquarium and your platform were positioned in the center, now hidden only by the thin curtain. Your heart started racing at an alarming rate, and your wrists already hurt from the constant movement as you tried to free yourself from the chains.
"... However, we have two surprises that will make you forget any lousy image that may remain! - You heard him say as a light turned on behind you, making your silhouettes appear to the audience, and you could hear several voices speaking up.
"IT'S A SUPER SPECIAL ITEM!!! " he shouted to the audience, eliciting excited sighs from the crowd.
"But" he paused. "I'll show them one at a time! First: An animal that many have tried to capture, but few have succeeded! Ladies and gentlemen, prepare your eyes! I'll let her speak for herself!
The curtain then suddenly opened, exposing both of you to the public.
"Directly from the Fish-Man Island, the mermaid Camie!"
The uproar that ensued was unparalleled. Everyone seemed ecstatic, and as you looked into their eyes, you felt disgusted. How could they even think of buying a person!? You glanced at the audience and saw some "familiar" faces. Two captains of the Worst Generation were there, and they seemed bored to say the least. What could they be doing there? You ignored the fact when Disco walked closer to you and pulled your platform to give it more prominence.
"And that's not all! Here we have a face that may be familiar to you. "
he held onto the muzzle you are wearing and ripped it off your face, earning some surprised gasps from the audience.
"(Y/N) Gyldepts, a pirate captain with a bounty of 1.2M berries! This one gave us a lot of trouble, see how strong she is!"
he said, pointing to the pillar, which was almost giving in to your efforts.
"Perhaps you're wondering: what's so special? After all, two great surprises were promised. What could rival a mermaid? Well, my dear and esteemed customers " he said ominously, placing his hand on your faithful hat, and you froze. " after the sale of the mermaid, I guarantee you that your eyes will witness an epic event.
"I offer 500 million Berries!" a Celestial Dragon shouted ecstatically, and your face contorted with pure disgust. "I want the mermaid!!! " you looked at Camie, who seemed confused, probably prevented from hearing what was going on by the aquarium. The whole place fell silent; no one could even come close to that offer. You sighed, wanting to help Camie but still unable to free yourself.
"And it's over! - Disco exclaimed. - Our first super special item of the day, the mermaid Camie, has been sold for 500 million Berries to the World Noble Charlos-sei!" the audience seemed disappointed, especially a group of people in the back. You could see what looked like a fish-man among them and concluded that they were there for Camie. You felt even more frustrated. You saw one of the pirates standing up and starting to leave the room when a shrill cry could be heard, and something crashed violently against one of the walls of the grand hall.
No one could have imagined that Monkey D. Luffy, the Straw Hat Pirates' captain, would appear in that place with such a dramatic entrance. You seemed shocked; what was happening?
Everything turned into complete chaos when the young pirate laid eyes on the mermaid.
"CAMIEEEE! - He yelled, his voice echoing throughout the venue. "There you are! That's great! " he said, opening a huge smile and running down the stairs towards the stage. Soon, you confirmed your suspicions when the fish-man jumped onto the young man, trying to prevent him from getting closer. More arms emerged from his clothes, revealing his identity to everyone in the hall. Several screams of horror echoed through the place, many looks of fear and disgust directed at the poor man.
But the Straw Hat didn't back down and continued his path to the stage.
"Someone! Someone stop that kid with the straw hat!" Disco shouted furiously, and the guards rushed toward the pirate to intercept him. They all pounced on him, grabbing him, but he kept walking.
But then, the sound of a gunshot drew everyone's attention. Your gaze quickly shifted focus, and your eyes widened in shock. The fish-man was lying on the ground, blood dripping from a gunshot wound. Beside him, the Celestial Dragon stood still, wielding his precise and powerful weapon, smoke coming out of the barrel. That was the last straw for you, and you felt a surge of adrenaline rushing through your body.
"YOU BASTARD!!! - You screamed, and with a violent pull, you broke the wooden pillar, and the chains that bound your hands came loose. You took a firm step towards the Celestial Dragon but were stopped by Disco.
"Hold on there, Gyldepts! Did you forget that you're merchandise? " he raised a kind of control device with a button. "Did you know that if I press this, the collar also explodes? " you froze in place, your eyes filled with pure fury. "You better stay right there. " You had no choice but to obey. With your movements still restricted by the chains, you wouldn't reach him before he could press the button.
Your gaze fell on the straw hat, and your expression mirrored his. You exchanged glances quickly, and you nodded to him, which he subtly returned. Now, your attention was focused on the Celestial Dragon. He was now jumping and dancing near the wounded man on the ground.
"I got him! I caught the fish-man! " he happily sang, and that infuriated you even more if that was even possible. You saw the young pirate calmly walking back towards the two of you. You knew what was going to happen, and it made you smile.
As he passed the injured fish-man, the man weakly held onto the boy's clothes and said something that you couldn't hear because of the damn celestial singing further up the stairs. He crouched down as the wounded man spoke, and his expression became even more severe and hurt. You could feel all the emotions involved in that conversation, and it broke your heart and fueled your hatred even more. You wanted to go there and kick that damn celestial's face until he stopped laughing.
Not satisfied, the Celestial Dragon wanted to silence the fish-man for good and pointed the gun at him again. However, the young pirate stepped forward, standing up once again and heading toward his target.
Everything happened in the blink of an eye, but it all felt so slow for you, and you savored every detail. How delicious it was to see the dragon miss the shot he fired at the young man. How perfectly he spun his body at an angle, his fist clenched so tight it could cut off blood circulation. How his arm muscles tensed as he made his way towards the Celestial Dragon's face. And when he hit, oh, what a magnificent sound of bones breaking you heard.
The straw hat had just committed one of the worst crimes imaginable, without even thinking twice, and you had to admit, it was incredibly amazing.
Notes:
until next week!
Chapter 4: Helping out
Summary:
another chapter for you all
Notes:
some artwork i did for the chap
https://br.pinterest.com/pin/340373684352828126
Chapter Text
The unconscious body of the celestial dragon soared through the arena, crashing into several of the audience seats and falling into a pile of debris it created itself. The straw-hat boy snapped his fingers, while the silence in the arena was deafening. Everyone, except the other two captains, was in a state of absolute bewilderment at what the young pirate had just done. You, like the other two, simply smiled. He was bold and very brave, and you admired him for that.
He began to apologize to his companions, who joined him immediately, rushing to aid the injured fish-man on the ground. Soon they divided themselves between saving their friend's life and finding the key to Camie's collar. Another celestial dragon began to threaten them, pointing another pistol when one of the crew members, dressed in a suit with blond hair, kicked the weapon away in a smooth and powerful motion. Soon, one of the dragon's guards attacked him, and he quickly defeated him. More guards came, and the crew members began to defend themselves. The audience ran desperately from the scene when he ordered an admiral to be summoned. Things quickly spiraled out of control.
Amid the chaos, a green-haired swordsman delivered a powerful blow that knocked down several guards and came toward you. You ducked to avoid being hit, while Camie's aquarium shattered, and she could finally hear her friends.
Disco drew a pistol and stood next to the aquarium.
"You damn bastards! Protect the mermaid with your lives! She was sold for 500 million!! 500 million!!!!!!!"
The chief of the celestial dragon family seemed ready to act when another person fell from the sky, landing right on top of him. It was enough to knock him out instantly. You started laughing, but your laughter quickly died down as you noticed the celestial dragon's daughter coming towards you, holding another pistol in her hands. She aimed it at Camie, and you found yourself walking towards her. She noticed you and fired, but you skillfully dodged and continued your march. Seeing in your eyes that you wouldn't stop, she pointed the gun at Camie.
"I'm going to kill this mermaid they want so badly!" she growled, as you got closer and closer. "Fish, time to die!!!!" she exclaimed, and everything went slowly.
You saw her finger flex on the trigger, and then you ran. You spun your body, the chains attached to your wrists following your movement, and then you threw them at the woman. The metal hit her arm directly, causing her to miss the shot, which hit the aquarium, creating a hole and more water gushing out. She staggered back, screaming in pain, but she wasn't willing to give up. You were very close to her, and when you saw her arm rise, it was already too late. You saw the barrel of the gun pointed at the center of your forehead, and the woman smiled.
"(Y/N)!!!!!" Camie screamed in desperation, unable to do anything to prevent your end. You opened your eyes in shock, there was no time to dodge.
What the hell, was it going to end like this?
And then, that same wave of energy from before flooded the area. The woman immediately passed out, and the gun fell loudly. Soon, Disco also fell. You blinked several times, feeling a little confused until you heard a familiar voice in the distance.
"See what I told you? This place is chaos!" the old man exclaimed in an ironic tone, accompanied by the giant.
They casually conversed, the old man occasionally laughing while the guards seemed completely shocked. How did they escape from the cages and chains?
"Ray... Rayleigh!" exclaimed the fish-man and the name froze you in place. Could it be him?
"Ohhhh!" The old man's face lit up, and a huge smile spread across his features. "Look who it is, Hachi! Long time no see! What brings you here? And what's with all these injuries?" He paused and looked around, his expression changed, and he became serious. You swallowed hard. "You've gotten yourself into quite a problem, huh, Hachi... And did you guys save him?" he asked the straw hat, who seemed confused. "Well..."
He looked around, and once again that immense energy emanated from him, practically knocking out everyone in the room except the pirates. You were certain that it was the purest form of Haoshoku Haki. Without a doubt, the old man in front of you was Silvers Rayleigh. Your eyes sparkled with excitement. You would never admit it, but you were a big fan of the Pirate King's crew.
"That straw hat... suits you well," he commented, staring fixedly at the young man. "I've been wanting to meet you, Monkey D. Luffy!" he exclaimed, grabbing everyone's attention. "But first, allow me." He then walked up to you, who were standing there completely confused. "Thank you for saving that beautiful young lady, Miss Gyldepts," he smiled, and you shyly returned the smile. "If you'll excuse me." He held onto your arms and slid his hand until he reached the handcuffs that held you. He took out a key from his pocket and unlocked your hands and feet. Unfortunately, he didn't have the keys to the collar.
You nodded and stretched, feeling your muscles ache from the now-removed restraints.
"Thank you, Mr. Silvers," you said politely, and he burst into laughter."Wow, your behavior has completely changed!" he winked. "Does that mean I have a chance to score a date now?" " Don't push it, you dirty old man," you huffed and crossed your arms. He laughed even more and held your hand, pulling you along toward where Camie was."Can you stand beside her? It won't take long," he said confidently, and you positioned yourself next to the aquarium, exchanging confused glances with Camie. You both looked back at Rayleigh as he placed both hands on you. Each hand held one of your collars. You swallowed hard. He didn't have a key. What would he do?
You heard voices arguing, telling him not to touch those artifacts, but he completely ignored them. He simultaneously pulled the locks of the collars, and they started beeping. With each beep, your heart beat faster. It must be a countdown. My God, was this how you were going to die???
But before it could happen, he pulled both collars off at once, tossing them into the air, and a few meters above you, they exploded.
You felt all strength in your legs give way, and you leaned against the aquarium to keep from falling. What was that? How did he do that? You were stupefied, to say the least. Soon, a man in a Hawaiian shirt and a thong arrived, holding a bunch of keys in his hands.
"What the hell is this? She's not wearing collars or chains anymore!" he exclaimed angrily, raising the bunch. "I even managed to get the keys!"
"Ah, that's great! But you don't need them anymore!" he laughed. "But you can get this girl out of the aquarium." He pointed to Camie.
"What the hell is going on? And who are you?"
he asked, then looked to the side, at the slaves presented earlier. "Take them and run," he threw the keys, and the slaves began to cry gratefully as they freed themselves.
"Oh!" Rayleigh said, noticing the duo of captains in the background, watching everything with interest. "Are you just spectators? To have withstood my attack, you're not amateurs."
"Who would have thought we'd find someone like him here..." the first one began, his white plush hat drawing attention.
"'Dark King' Silvers Rayleigh..." the redhead said. "What is such a legend doing here?"
"On this island, I'm just a shipwright," he smiled confidently. "I'm old now, I just want a peaceful life." He knelt next to Hachi, and they began to talk.
You took the opportunity and went to the unconscious body of the dragon's daughter. You picked up the pistol she had dropped and placed it in your holster. You were unarmed and didn't have time to look for where they had left your belongings. You also took the pistol Disco had dropped; after all, your fighting style required two. You grabbed all the ammunition you found on them and stored it in your pockets, and now you were ready to get out of there. You knew the place was probably already surrounded.
"It seems we're involved in this problem, whether we like it or not," said the young man in the yellow shirt. "They probably think we're accomplices."
"I've witnessed firsthand how crazy the straw hat is," the redhead laughed. "I'm not complaining, but I'm not staying to face an admiral." He turned his back and headed toward the exit.
"Don't count on me anymore," Rayleigh retorted. "I don't want my identity revealed to the Marines, so I can't use 'that' anymore. You'll have to handle it on your own."
"Don't worry!" the redhead exclaimed, waving. "We'll go ahead and defeat everyone for you." He left accompanied by a blond man wearing a mask and two other companions. The straw hat and the other pirate didn't seem pleased with that.
You saw your body move on its own, walking toward the exit as the straw hat also started making its way there. As you passed Rayleigh, he looked at you and smiled, nodding his head. You returned the gesture. You would help in that fight. After all, they saved your life, and you had to repay them. In the end, the four of you walked out the door together. You looked at each other.
"You can stay back here, I don't need any help," said the straw hat confidently, crossing his arms over his chest. You rolled your eyes.
"I think I told you to stay inside," the redhead repeated the gesture. The other man unsheathed his sword and raised his hand.
"If you try to order me around again, I'll take you out first, Eustass."
"Men are so stupid," you scoffed, preparing to fight.
"Hi, thanks for helping Camie," he looked at you, and you smiled briefly. "I'm Luffy, and I'm going to become the Pirate King!" he exclaimed happily, a confident smile on his face. His words were not empty; you knew it was his lifelong dream. You nodded and firmly adjusted the hat on your head.
"Camie deserved to be free," you looked at him. "Gyldepts, (S/N) Gyldepts." You introduced yourself quickly.
"Another high bounty head," the dark-haired man interjected in the conversation. "How did someone like you get captured?" he asked.
But the expression of complete hatred and fury you displayed made the three of them nervous. He swallowed hard.
"Sensitive subject? Whatever. I didn't want to know," he shrugged, avoiding the stern gaze you directed at him.
The Marines positioned themselves a few meters in front of you. They prepared to shoot. The four of you assumed a fighting stance.
Now it was time to fight for your freedom.
Chapter 5: The Escape
Notes:
https://br.pinterest.com/pin/340373684352886244/
this is the pose that Y/N has on her wanted poster (art by me)
Chapter Text
You noticed a unit with different uniforms and special rifles stepping forward in front of all the other sailors. They aimed and prepared to shoot. The other three seemed quite confident, but you knew something was wrong.
"Aim... Fire!!!" shouted the leader of the platoon, and the men opened fire.
The pirates were ready to take the shots, but you immediately realized the threat that those particular bullets represented. You clapped your hands on Luffy's chest, tapped Law, and kicked Eustass Kid, knocking the three of them to the ground at the same time. You also crouched down, and the bullets missed you. The three of them had irritated expressions and were blushing—was it embarrassment?
"What the hell, girl?" Eustass spoke up first, getting up. "I could have stopped those shots with my power!"
"I was going to stop them!" Law retorted, also getting up.
"I'm telling you," you sighed, drawing your pistols. "Devil Fruit users are just trouble. Idiots. These bullets are made of Seastone!" You growled sternly, standing up. "You would have taken them and been incapacitated!" Curious, Luffy picked up one of the bullets from the ground and immediately made a face. The hand holding the bullet became weak, and he couldn't move it. You rolled your eyes and took the bullet from his hand, and he instantly recovered. "You're welcome!" you said sarcastically, pointing at the special squad.
You took a few steps, deftly spun the pistols, and fired six shots. Your accurate aim made the projectiles enter the barrels of the six rifles, and when they tried to shoot again, the weapons exploded. The three men looked at you in surprise.
"How did you know? They don't look any different from regular bullets visually," Law inquired.
"Seastone emits a different energy, and I can sense it," you shrugged. "Now, there's no one else armed with this ammunition among them. Feel free to proceed." You bowed with a smile. "It was a pleasure helping you, incapable ones." They blushed.
"Mortars, prepare!" shouted a sailor and a squad armed with cannons positioned themselves in front, aiming at you all. "Fire!"
Cannonballs came flying towards you, but before you could do anything, you heard Straw Hat shout and inflate like a giant balloon, one of the balls hitting his huge body and bouncing away. Eustass Kid extended one of his arms and created a kind of magnetic field that stopped and returned a large number of shots. The remaining shots were left for Law, who gestured with his hand, and you could see a kind of circle forming around you all. Incredibly, he was able to manipulate everything within the circle, exchanging the heads of the marines (who remained alive) with cannonballs.
You looked astonished at the three of them—their bounties were certainly justified.
And then the fight became your playground. As you fought, you saw people being sliced alive, debris flying, and giant arms standing out, and disrupting the enemy formation. Amidst all this, your fluid movements and flying bullets caused even more havoc among the already chaotic platoon. Despite not knowing each other, you fought in complete synchrony, complementing each other's attacks. Soon, you noticed the captains' crews leaving the auction site, and you knew it was time to escape.
"You guys are all so bizarre," you commented, seeing Straw Hat small, the size of a child.
"You're not far from that," Law remarked, crossing his arms.
"You're the bizarre one with those strange substitutions," added Kid. "Well, we're leaving now, and next time we meet, I won't be so merciful." Luffy then gave a huge and confident smile.
"I don't care because I will be the one to find the One Piece!"
You opened your eyes in complete shock. Your hands trembled, and your heart raced. They were such simple words, yet they swept through your entire being. You looked into his eyes for several seconds, trying to find any trace of a lie or insecurity in his words, but you found none. You knew he was serious. Your eyes sparkled for a split second, but then you sighed and shook your head.
Soon, the masked man accompanying Kid passed by your side, cutting down a marine who was approaching you, but you didn't notice because you were distracted by that brat, Straw Hat. You adjusted the hat on your head, embarrassed that you had let yourself get carried away in the middle of a fight, and made a small gesture of thanks to the man, who gave you a thumbs-up.
"Hey, Kid, something wrong?" he asked, preventing anyone from getting close to his captain. He was agile, his razor-sharp blades cutting down anyone in his path.
"You know, Killer, where we came from, saying something like that was a joke. Still, we killed anyone who laughed. But now, we're going to a place where not having the courage to say that means death. We'll meet again in the New World."
You all looked at each other and smiled. What kind of feeling, what kind of rivalry had begun there?
Soon, all the crew members were fighting to escape with their captains, but you were alone. You fought for yourself, clearing a path. Then you saw Camie being carried out by the man in the skimpy outfit from before. A marine was about to attack them, but you quickly stepped in front and easily defeated him.
"(Y/N)!" she shouted happily, waving fervently. You returned the gesture with a smile.
"Hurry, move!" you ordered. "You have to get out of here quickly!"
"But what about you, Miss Gyldepts?" Rayleigh asked, who was by your side, carrying the injured Fishman "You're alone, aren't you?"
"I'll manage," you shrugged.
"Come with us, at least for now. Let's wait for things to calm down. It will be safer for everyone, I guarantee it. You don't have anywhere else to go." He smiled, and you knew it was true. You had nothing to lose, so you went with them.
You went with Rayleigh's group to the bar he indicated, being carried by a peculiar group piloting flying fish. As you disembarked, you all rushed inside with the injured fish, intending to provide first aid. Soon, everyone entered, but you weren't sure if you should. They probably had a lot to discuss, and you had nothing to do with it. You sat down on the grass, leaning against the wall of the building. You adjusted your hat on your head and sighed deeply. Since waking up in that place, you hadn't been able to stop and think about everything that had happened to you.
The screams of your comrades, your ship being taken, the pain you felt in your heart—everything came rushing back. Tears filled your eyes, and taking advantage of the fact that no one was around, you cried.
You cried until you started to sob, your eyes and nose red. You were furious, frustrated. You wanted to scream until your lungs burst. Then, after a few minutes, you regained your composure. You remembered the phrase from that damned man. "I will become the king of the New World!" He shouted happily, and you became furious.
You were determined. Screw being the Pirate Queen, screw fame and fortune. You would make him pay for everything; you would have your revenge. You no longer cared about honor, friendship, values, or laws. You would kill him.
But how would you reach the New World without a ship and a crew? Then you remembered the group inside the building. If they were on Sabaody, they were headed to the New World. You took a deep breath as you placed your hand on the doorknob. Would they give you a ride?
Chapter 6: The Agreement
Chapter Text
You gently tapped on the wood, but before hearing a response, you turned the doorknob. Everyone in the room stopped talking and stared at you as you took cautious steps inside, closing the door behind you. Rayleigh looked at you and smiled, motioning for you to sit on the stools at the counter, next to him and the beautiful woman on the other side. You walked confidently, feeling all eyes in the room on you. You took a seat a bit away from everyone, and soon the woman came and placed a glass in front of you, filling it with delicious wine. You thanked her and took a sip.
"Gyldepts, I'm glad you joined us," he began. The Straw Hat crew seemed even more curious.
"So, you're a captain of the Worst Generation," said a woman in the background, with black hair and a soft, calm voice.
"Another deadly threat!" exclaimed a young man with a prominently large nose, trembling in fear.
"Another beauty!!!" a whirlwind came towards you, and before you could react, it grabbed your hand and planted a kiss on your soft skin. "My name is Sanji, but you can call me the love of your li-" he was interrupted by a kick from a young woman with orange hair, who sent him flying across the room.
"Leave the woman alone, Sanji!" she shouted angrily, and you almost laughed.
"Yohohohoho!" a melodic voice cut through the air, and when you noticed him, you spit out all the wine in your mouth.
"It's a skeleton! The damn skeleton laughed!" you pointed incredulously as he stood up and walked towards you. He bowed, removing his top hat.
"I apologize for the rudeness! I am Brook! Can I know the color of your underwear?"
"It's black, lacy," you answered immediately, taking everyone in the room by surprise.
"You're not supposed to ask that to every woman you meet!" the redhead intervened again, punching the bony man in the face. "And you, you're not supposed to answer that kind of question!" You raised your hands in surrender, and everyone in the room started laughing.
These people are crazy you were sure of that.
**************
After brief introductions, you sat quietly, observing the crew while Rayleigh told his story to the enthusiastic bunch. How he met the fish-man and became the first mate of the Pirate King's crew. You felt you shouldn't interrupt, so you casually looked around, studying the personality of each of them. After all, if you were going to hitch a ride with the crew, it was better to know them well.
Your eyes then fell on the woman behind the counter, and you noticed the cigarette between her fingers. You didn't smoke often, but after everything that happened, you felt an almost inhuman urge. You searched your pockets, but as expected, when they captured you, they took away your faithful pack and lighter. Seeing your restlessness, the woman slowly approached you.
"Do you smoke, (Y/N)-chan?" she inquired.
"Only when necessary, like now," you shrugged, and she smiled. She took out her personal pack and handed it to you, also offering a lighter. You quickly smiled and reached for one, but she stopped you.
"Take them all, as a small gift," she insisted, extending the pack to you. You smiled and took one to your mouth, lighting it and taking a slow drag.
"We weren't captured; Rogers turned himself in," hearing that sentence, everyone seemed completely shocked, including you. Your eyes drifted towards Mr. Silvers as he talked about the Pirate King's condition and the doctor who helped him survive for three years, the same period in which he conquered the Grand Line.
You trembled timidly; these stories were what motivated you to move forward, to set sail, to aspire to be the Pirate Queen.
But now, your dream had died. There was no hope left in you, only bitterness and a desire for revenge.
Rayleigh's story continued, filled with nostalgia and melancholy, but you were lost in your own memories. Tears welled up in your eyes once again, but you held them back, staying strong. It wasn't the time to cry anymore.
You heard vaguely about pirates from the East Blue, and the name Shanks stood out among them. A shiver ran down your spine. The Redhead always brought about mixed feelings in you. Unconsciously, you slid your fingers along the edges of the headscarf you wore, releasing a brief sigh.
~~~~~~
"Yep, perfect. Wear it all the time, and even if your hood or any other ridiculous thing you wear falls off, your secret will still be intact, you brat!" exclaimed the Redhead, happily, despite the grimace you were making.
You stuck your tongue out at him, which only made him laugh even harder, and you almost, almost smiled.
~~~~~~~
"What exactly is the 'Will of D.'?" Nico Robin, if you remembered her name correctly, spoke up, and refocused your attention on the conversation. "Do you know about what happened during the Lost Century, 900 years ago?"
"Yes, I do. We've uncovered the whole history," he replied, and her eyes widened in shock. But you played it cool, taking another drag from your cigarette and leaning back, releasing the smoke between your lips.
And then he offered to tell her everything right then and there. You let out a little chuckle, and a few glances landed on you.
"And what fun would that discovery be, coming from someone else's testimony? The excitement about treasures isn't in knowing what they are, but in finding them ourselves," you said and she looked at you dumbfounded and then smiled.
"I agree with the gunslinger," she said bluntly. "Thank you for the offer, but I kindly decline. I will continue on my own path and find the answer myself."
"Hey, Robin, are you sure about this?" the long-nosed guy asked, standing up immediately. "It's the chance of a lifetime. Are you really going to let it slip away? Hey, old man, I have a question too: the legendary treasure, the 'One Piece,' is it really-?" before he could finish the sentence, his captain stood up and let out a furious shout.
"USOPP!!!!!!" he exclaimed. "We're not going to ask where the treasure is, or even if it exists! If you ask anything, I'll quit being a pirate right now!" with that statement, Rayleigh smiled. "I don't want to go on such a boring adventure!"
"Are you really going to conquer the most dangerous seas?" Rayleigh asked, and Luffy just smiled.
"I don't want to conquer anything, I just want to be the freest man on the seas, the Pirate King!"
You couldn't hold back the laughter that escaped your throat. You looked into his eyes and were certain that nothing would stop him. You envied him for that; the same fire once burned within you. But not anymore.
"What are you laughing at?" he asked, cheeks puffed out as he made a face. You adjusted your hat and stubbed out the cigarette in the ashtray.
"Oh, it's nothing, monkey-chan," you repeated the nickname Shakky had given the guy. "I'm just lost in thought. Anyway, sorry to interrupt, but I have something to ask you."
All eyes fell on you, and everyone was in complete silence.
"I... need to reach the New World," you began, considering how much information you would give to convince them to give you a ride. "So, I wanted to know if you wouldn't mind giving me a ride, since I'm s-"
"Sure, come along."
"What?!" you exclaimed, surprised.
"What?!" the redhead, Nami, exclaimed, just as surprised as you. "Luffy, we barely know her!"
"Yeah, don't you even want to know my reasons?" you stood up and walked over to him, hands on your hips.
"You helped save Camie and fought alongside us, you're cool," he shrugged, how could he be a pirate and be so innocent?
"How do you know she won't attack us along the way?" Usopp asked, looking suspiciously at you.
"You guys are the future Pirate King's crew; she wouldn't defeat us alone," he smiled confidently, and for a moment, everyone froze. Then they all started laughing, flattered by the captain's compliments. You sighed and brought your hand to your face, what a bunch of crazies. But soon, your body stiffened as you saw the swordsman, Zoro, staring at you intently, his hand resting on the hilt of his sword.
You knew he would keep an eye on you.
"Listen, even if you don't want to know, I'll explain myself," you sat back down, this time facing them all. "I had a major 'incident' with my ship and crew, and now I'm without both. I won't say anything more about it; it's pointless for anyone to ask." You raised your index finger, putting an end to any questions that might have come from the crew. "The fact is, I need to go to the New World to meet the person responsible for this incident and make them pay." Your aura became heavy, your eyes lost their sparkle instantly, and some of them shrank back. "I no longer have my treasures since they were on the ship, but all I have left are these bracelets," you extended your left arm, adorned with four thick golden bangles. "These are from a final treasure we acquired, solid gold encrusted with jewels. Each one is worth at least 10 million berries, and I can offer two of them in exchange for a ride."
Nami came towards you with an unreadable expression, and when she was close enough, she hugged you tightly, her eyes gleaming like berries; you almost laughed again.
"Welcome aboard, (Y/N)!" she exclaimed happily, making everyone in the room laugh.
It was official; you were going to the New World with them.
Or at least, that was the plan.
Chapter Text
"Is your boat at Dock 41, right?" Rayleigh asked, his hands on the doorknob, getting ready to leave. "I'll take care of the rest, but what about you guys? There must already be an admiral on the island."
"Well, we don't want to cause any trouble. How about we go shopping?" Nami suggested, and the long-nosed guy didn't seem pleased.
"Are you crazy? They're after us. It's better if we hide!" he exclaimed, crossing his arms over his chest, wearing a Hawaiian shirt.
"If we all go with him to the ship, it'll attract the Navy's attention to the boat. Our best chance is to wander around the city like crazy people."
"Then let's split up and meet again when the boat is ready," the swordsman spoke up this time.
"As if you could say things like that!" the blond guy yelled at him, seeming irritated about something you couldn't tell.
"Shakky, do you have it?" the old man looked at her, and she smiled.
"Yes, I still have one copy."
"I'm also wanted, you know? I'll take the boat to a safer place to work on it. As you've noticed, this is a Vivre card. Each of you will keep a piece." He said firmly, while Shakky handed out a piece to everyone, including you. "I don't know which dock I'll be at, but as long as you follow the vivre card, you'll find me. I'll need three days."
"THREE DAYS?!" the straw hat guy shouted in irritation, and you rolled your eyes.
"If he rushes it, we'll die before reaching Fishman Island," you finally spoke up after a while, shaking your head in disapproval. Rayleigh smiled at you.
"Exactly. The quality of my work will determine whether you live or die, and three days is the fastest I can do it."
"So we have to survive for three days! Yohohoho! Scary!" Brook said, and you couldn't tell if he was laughing or crying.
Camie and Hachi thanked everyone and wished them good luck. They promised to guide everyone to the island once Rayleigh finished the job. Now, all you had to do was wait for three days.
Simple enough, right?
No.
************
You were walking a few steps behind the crew, lost in thought, as you distanced yourselves from the cabin while the crew excitedly talked about their encounter with the Pirate King's companion. You didn't pay much attention. What would you do on that island for three long days? You sighed and decided to approach the captain and follow him around. After all, the other crew members seemed wary around you. Without knowing anyone else on the island, you had no choice but to follow the crew.
Suddenly, everyone stopped. Someone was standing in front of you. You swallowed hard, and the straw hat guy spoke up.
"Who... Who are you?" he asked, but you knew the answer.
You grabbed him and pulled him when the man extended his hand.
"It's Bartholomew Kuma! A Shichibukai!" you growled, pulling the captain with you and getting out of the way of any attack that could come. And to your surprise, it was a laser attack. Thanks to you, the captain dodged it, and the crew managed to escape in time.
They began to marvel at the man's abilities while also mentioning something about an island called Thriller Bark. You didn't know or care about that. You drew your guns and aimed at the man, taking an aggressive stance. Surviving three days wouldn't be easy, that much you knew. You gritted your teeth.
Out of nowhere, the man was thrown several meters away. By your side, Luffy was ready to fight, and a thin smoke emanated from his body, his skin appearing hot with a different hue.
"I know you're strong, so I'll go all out," he declared.
********************
The fight didn't seem to be in your favor. Long-range attacks made it difficult for the crew, who focused mainly on avoiding getting hit. Besides his hands, he could also release lasers from his mouth, making openings in his defense increasingly challenging. Although you landed all the shots you fired, his skin seemed to be made of steel, causing the bullets to ricochet. You holstered your guns and started running toward him. Hand-to-hand combat was your best chance.
Also ready to attack were the captain, the blond guy, and the swordsman, whom you deduced were the strongest members of the crew. The four of you ran in sync toward the target, preparing your strikes.
"Diablo..."
"Gomu gomu no...."
"Santouryuu...."
They said simultaneously, while you delivered a powerful punch, your fists clenched, and your focus on the man's face.
You let them have a split-second advantage, and the three of them hit the man's stomach, causing him to stagger. Coming right after, you leaped and spun your body, bringing your hands together and delivering a direct hit to his face, driving him into the ground. The force you used was enough to finish him off. You were panting, some scratches already showing on your bodies, and you were tired. You exchanged glances.
"You fight well, woman," the swordsman said. You grimaced.
"And yet my bounty is the same as yours. Shame on me. I promise to try harder." You taunted, which annoyed him and made the blond guy burst into laughter beside you.
"I think I'm in love!" he exclaimed happily, and you rolled your eyes.
But then you felt a shiver run through your body, and your expression turned serious. The man rose back up and violently struck at you all. You managed to dodge in time, but you couldn't warn the others, and the swordsman was hit head-on. You returned to aggressive stances, while the green-haired man didn't seem well, trembling and spitting blood. You knew that blow wasn't enough to have caused that, and from the blond guy's expression, you understood. He was already injured before.
Everything started unfolding very quickly. The other crew members began to fight and landed good blows, but nothing seemed to affect him. He prepared to shoot, and the redhead was dangerously close; she wouldn't be able to dodge. Your body moved on its own, and you threw yourself onto her, knocking her down and taking her place, right in the line of fire.
What were you thinking? You barely knew these people, yet you were protecting them? But you knew she wouldn't survive that blow. You would.
But it never came. Before the man could complete the attack, hands sprouted from his neck and head, shutting his mouth just in time to prevent the explosion. Glancing, you saw Nico Robin give you a small smile. You turned your attention back to the redhead and quickly extended your hand, helping her up.
You needed to defeat that man, or you wouldn't make it to the New World.
***************
You were lying on the ground, panting. A cut on your eyebrow bled, and your body ached. Next to you, the straw hat was shrunken in size, equally injured. Everyone was in pieces, but finally, the man was down on the ground, seemingly defeated. You stood up and took a few steps toward him. He seemed to have lost the ability to move, and you breathed a sigh of relief. Soon, the blond guy joined you, and both of you noticed something written on the man's chest.
"Px4?" he asked, but it didn't make sense to either of you.
"Well, I think we should take a break... I didn't expect to fight for our lives so soon..." Luffy said, returning to his normal size.
"Then it's better to find a hiding place. If they catch us now, we'll die," you said, still staring at the man lying on the ground. You had a bad feeling, and your body was still tense.
"She's right, Luffy. If we get attacked, they can easily wipe us all out." The blond guy sighed and seemed as troubled as you.
"URGH, THESE TROUBLEMAKERS PISS ME OFF!" a voice spoke up, and your hands instinctively reached for the pistols resting in their holsters.
Then he fell from the sky. A big, round man with a massive axe. Behind him, your eyes couldn't believe what they saw: another Bartholomew Kuma.
"You must be from the Marines, right?" you spoke up, pointing the pistols at him, while he maintained the same stern expression. "Who are you?"
"I don't have to tell you anything, you bandit," he huffed, annoyed, and your idle fingers hovering over the trigger.
"Fine," you shrugged.
"My name is Sentomaru. But I said it because I wanted to, not because you asked, gunslinger!" He made it clear, and you mentally rolled your eyes. Moody.
"Now, get them, Px1!" as soon as he shouted, the Kuma behind him raised his hand, and you knew what would come next.
************
You fought again, but you were exhausted. Dodging the blows became increasingly difficult, your strength gradually waning. The Straw Hat crew didn't seem well, and any minute now, one of them would be hit, you knew it.
"It's time to escape!" the captain shouted, and you breathed a sigh of relief. "But not together, let's split up! We'll meet again in three days!" You started running, and the group closest to you consisted of the captain, the small reindeer, and Nico Robin, so you decided to follow them.
Unfortunately, your path was soon blocked by Sentomaru, who wouldn't allow you to escape. You charged at him, shooting precisely, but he seemed to know the trajectory of your projectiles and skillfully evaded them. Closing the distance, you crouched and lifted your leg, aiming a kick straight at his face. However, he quickly grabbed your ankle and tossed you aside. You flew toward a tree, but before you could collide with it, you felt something collide with you, a tangle of hands, preventing you from being thrown away. Probably the work of the brunette.
As you stood up, you ran at your enemy again, and you saw him land a blow directly on the captain. He was also thrown, and you threw yourself, colliding your body against his and stopping his advance, unfortunately, causing you to fall in the process. You grunted as he groaned in pain. Being made of rubber prevented physical blows from hurting him, but for some reason, that one hurt.
"ZOROOOOO!" someone's shrill cry distracted you from Sentomaru, and in the distance, you could see the swordsman falling to the ground, bleeding. He had been hit by something, but Px1 was not in sight. From the smoke of the attack, you managed to see a tall and distinct silhouette, and your face lost color.
"It's about time you showed up, Kizaru!" Sentomaru shouted in irritation, confirming your suspicions.
"Now it's over, it's the damn admiral!" you exclaimed furiously, and everyone seemed in complete shock. He glanced briefly at you and lazily smiled. You felt the air get trapped in your lungs.
And then, you saw him lift his leg, and a ray of light formed beneath the sole of his shoe. He was a Devil Fruit user, you could sense it. Below him, the swordsman was prostrated and unable to move. That was it, he was going to die right there. Nearby, the long-nosed guy trembled, but he had his weapon aimed at the admiral, willing to sacrifice himself to save his comrade, and you saw the brunette trying to make a move, to get him out of harm's way before it was too late. You drew your pistols and shot at him, but the bullets passed through his body as if it were made of light—perfect, a Logia.
You found yourself running toward the scene when the captain desperately shouted that his comrade was going to die.
~~~~
"Captain... I'm sorry for... not being strong enough..."
~~~~
You shook your head, trying not to be overwhelmed by painful memories at a time like this. But it was too late, the fatal blow was coming. And when he slid his leg down, someone kicked it, preventing the strike. The laser shot off into the distance, exploding in the background. You were in shock as you faced none other than Silvers Rayleigh, confronting the admiral.
Notes:
See you next week!
Chapter Text
"Usopp, Brook, grab Zoro and run!" shouted the Straw Hat. "Getting out of here is all that matters now! In our current state, we won't be able to win!"
The order was straightforward and deeply shook the crew. They had probably never had to retreat before a fight. They promptly obeyed as Rayleigh held off the Admiral. You also joined them, running towards safety. You glanced back briefly, and your eyes gleamed. He indeed was the companion of the Pirate King. Even old, he was still much stronger than all of you.
Kizaru tried to attack you from a distance, but Rayleigh wouldn't allow it. Your relief quickly faded upon hearing Sentomaru order PX1 to execute the swordsman, who was on the verge of death. You could only watch as chaos ensued, and Kuma clashed with the man.
Brook was the first to intervene and was struck full-on by the beam of light, falling to the ground almost unconscious. The blond rushed to his aid but soon found himself being hit. The long-nosed guy tried to protect the swordsman but was shot in the process. Seeing his comrades being defeated one by one, the small reindeer ran to them, ingesting something and undergoing a transformation. Your eyes widened in complete shock at the size the small animal now possessed.
He went towards PX1, seemingly with no more extended reasoning but acting purely on instinct. You thought it best not to get too close.
Meanwhile, Sentomaru approached you and the captain, who was nearby. He raised his palm again, ready to strike the young man when you pushed him out of the way, spinning your body to dodge, completing the turn, and landing a punch on the man's face. He seemed shaken for a split second before returning to his default expression and hitting the palm of his hand against your abdomen, sending you flying. The Straw Hat extended his arms and tried to stop your fall, but you both ended up on the ground, rolling through the grass, somehow entangled in his outstretched arms. You cursed at him while trying to free yourself and get up.
You barely had any time when you saw the enormous creature attacking indiscriminately, and its massive hand hovered over the two of you. You grabbed the young man and jumped away, rolling a few more meters and avoiding being crushed. You were on top of Luffy, and your eyes met for a fraction of a second. You quickly got up and pulled him along with you.
******************
The long-nosed guy tried to wake up the blond and the skeleton while firm footsteps approached from behind him. As he turned around, he nearly fainted in surprise. It was another Kuma, standing right behind him. This one appeared more serene and had a book with him. You could sense his calm breath, and you knew that, whatever the Pxs were, this one wasn't like them. This was likely the real Bartholomew Kuma.
Then everything happened too quickly for you to process.
"If you were to travel, where would you like to go?" asked Kuma, after congratulating the swordsman for surviving. He took off the glove he was wearing and raised his hand, revealing what looked like paw pads on his palms. He brought his hand down towards the man, and upon touching him, the man simply vanished. There was no blood, no trace, nothing.
It was as if his existence had been erased right before your eyes. A scream of pure horror lodged in your throat as your trembling hands dropped the guns.
Terror like you had never felt before.
The crewmates seemed to be experiencing the same thing, and for a few seconds, silence became deafening.
"ZOROOO! WHERE ARE YOU? WHAT DID YOU DO TO HIM?!" shouted the furious captain by your side. You couldn't move; it was like reliving a scene from your past.
"I won't say anything; my mouth is a tomb!" began Sentomaru. "But I've heard that anyone touched by those paws is sent flying, and no one knows where!"
"Usopp, watch out!" someone shouted as PX1 prepared to attack the long-nosed guy. Kuma then touched PX1, making it vanish and preventing the man's premature demise. Kuma raised his hand, moving towards the sniper. Brook quickly stood between them, spreading his thin arms in protection.
"Run away from here, I'll protect you!" But then Kuma touched him, and he disappeared too.
And so, with each name the captain shouted, Kuma made them vanish. You could feel his frustration, and helpless as his crew was decimated, and your heart grew heavy, just as it had happened to you.
He approached you, as he made each of the Straw Hats disappear. Nico Robin tried to escape, reaching out her hand to the captain, who tried to grab it, but the woman disappeared before he could get close.
Now only you and Luffy remained; everyone else had vanished. He fell to the ground, frustrated, crying, and violently pounding his fists against the ground. The force of the blows made his hands bleed, but he didn't care. Kuma approached him, and you saw your body move on its own, stopping in front of the young man. He raised his head, incredulous, not understanding what you were doing.
"(S/N) Gyldepts, what are you doing? You're not part of this crew. Why are you protecting him?" he asked, his hand hovering in the air, unmoving. You knelt and grabbed the straw hat, placing your body in front of him, protecting him.
"Just don't make him suffer anymore... Enough. I'm tired. Everywhere I looked this past week, all I saw was suffering. You can kill me, make me vanish like you did with everyone else; I don't care, but leave him alone." You pleaded, tears welling up in your own eyes.
Luffy seemed perplexed by your words and grabbed onto your blouse. You looked at him.
"Run! Get out of here! You still have a chance!" he shouted at you, but you held him firmly and shook your head.
"I have no ambitions or dreams left, but you do. I'll try to buy you some time, get out of here and find your comrades." You gently released him and stood up again, ready to use the last of your strength to buy him some time.
"I understand. You deserve to rest. I know where you should go. So, rest in peace. And please, take care of him." He whispered the last part so only you could hear.
Everything seemed to be in slow motion. You saw Kuma's palm nearing you, and your body froze in place. You couldn't move, not even blink. As it was about to hit you, you felt arms wrap around your waist, and a body pressed against yours. Then you looked down and saw the young man's bloodied hands holding onto you tightly as the soft palm of your enemy made contact with your skin.
You felt your body being forcefully thrown, moving at incredible speed. The shock was so intense that your consciousness faded within seconds.
But you were at peace; it was all over now. You were exhausted. It was a fitting end.
Notes:
see you all next Saturday <3
Chapter Text
~~~~~~~~
Your little feet left a trail of footprints on the white sand of the beach. The sun was shining brightly and you could hear the distant seagulls' song. The tranquil sound of the waves and the gentle breeze calmed your heart as you ran towards the modest anchored boat, its proud black flag fluttering. Men disembarked, but you only needed to see one.
And there he was.
He quickly ran and knelt on the sand, opening his huge arms, and you closed the distance, throwing yourself into the embrace you had been longing for. He lovingly brushed his hand over the funny hat you were wearing and chuckled.
"My little (Y/N)! How much I missed you," he affectionately stroked your cheeks, and you smiled even wider.
"I missed you too, Daddy!"
~~~~~~~~~~
You slowly opened your eyes, feeling the trace of a tear escaping them. You quickly wiped it away and tried to sit up, but your body protested. It was numb as if you hadn't moved in a long time. You looked around but couldn't remember where you were. You glanced at your clothes and realized they certainly weren't yours.
Finally managing to sit up, it suddenly clicked in your mind. Bartholomew Kuma had made you disappear, but apparently, it didn't mean ceasing to exist. You sighed with relief for some reason, thinking about the fate of the Straw Hat crew. At least they were alive.
Then, the door to the room you were in opened, and a tall young woman walked in. She was wearing an outfit that left little to the imagination, her long wavy hair reaching her waist, and her brown eyes shimmered. She almost dropped the tray she was holding when she noticed you were awake.
"Oh, my apologies, Fromm Göttin! I didn't know you were awake!" she exclaimed, regaining her composure. You opened your eyes in complete shock upon hearing how she addressed you.
You quickly stood up and approached her, grabbing her by the neck and throwing her against the wall.
"How do you know those words?! Who are you, and where am I?" you shouted in confusion, tightening your grip around her neck. She remained calm and timidly pointed to your head.
You released her and ran your fingers through your loose hair, realizing no hat or scarf was covering the top of your head. You began to hyperventilate.
"Where... is my hat?" you managed to ask, looking menacingly at the woman, who shrunk in the corner.
"Apologies, Göttin, but when we found you, it was heavily damaged... Your clothes too. The only thing we managed to save was the scarf," she pointed to a bedside table next to the bed, where the piece of fabric lay, clean and folded. You rushed over and grabbed it, sliding it through your hair and styling it as usual. Even without the hat, the scarf would do the job.
You looked around and spotted a sort of red kimono hanging on the wall. You quickly threw it on over the outfit you were wearing; after all, you were feeling way too exposed.
The woman bit her lips and looked at you expectantly as you seemed to ponder something. You glanced at her and noticed the animal pattern on her clothes, letting out a small sigh.
"Judging by your dressing style and knowing that word... I presume I'm in Amazon Lily, right?" you crossed your arms over your chest, and she gave a shy smile, her cheeks blushing slightly.
"Yes! That's correct!"
~~~~~~~~
"You know, you should take her away from here. It's not safe, and it never will be. Take her to Amazon Lily and leave her there; the Amazons will take good care of her. It's for the best, Edward."
~~~~~~~~~
No matter how much you tried to avoid it, inconvenient memories continued to haunt you. You looked at the woman again.
"Can I ask two things... Uh... Miss?"
"Sypr, my name is Sypr!" She exclaimed happily and bowed respectfully. "I will be your servant, Fromm Göttin! It's an honor!" She seemed excited, but you crossed your arms over your chest, furrowing your brow in the process.
"First thing, never call me that again!" You said softly, dangerously. She swallowed nervously. "My name is (S/N) Gyldepts. Either one is fine, but never by that name, understood? If possible, I'd prefer never to hear it from anyone again."
You made a grimace, and she seemed saddened for a few seconds, but her expression softened when she noticed your troubled state.
"As you wish, Fro-" She paused and cleared her throat.
"As you wish, (S/N)-sama!" Well, better than nothing.
"And what would be the second thing?"
"Can you show me around?"
*************
Both of you walked through the streets of what seemed to be the central area of the island. Several women walked back and forth, occasionally stopping to bow briefly to you before continuing on their way. You noticed a kind of hood adorning the kimono you were wearing and didn't hesitate to put it over your head. You felt naked without your precious hat. Sypr explained that they were waiting for the Empress of the island to return to introduce you. You didn't care at all, but upon learning that she had the only way to leave that place, you had no choice but to wait. Soon, you saw a small commotion ahead, a gathering of women in front of a cage, curious about what was inside.
Getting curious as well, you approached them, closely followed by Sypr.
"The man woke up!" Someone exclaimed, and you became alert. The woman accompanying you explained that foreigners were not allowed there, and a man definitely wasn't a native. You tried to push through the crowd to see who it was.
You couldn't believe your eyes when you approached the bars and saw none other than Monkey D. Luffy stretching inside the cell. Some bandages wrapped around him, and he was covered only by a thin sheet.
He seemed confused and muttered, probably trying to remember what happened, when he suddenly stood up.
Your face turned all shades of red upon noticing the completely naked young man in front of you. You looked up and tried to maintain a serious expression, but you were dying of embarrassment.
"Ah, my hat! Give it back!" He shouted, reaching his arm a few meters in front of him and grabbing it from the head of one of the Amazons. They screamed in pure shock at the fact that he could do that.
"Ah! I'm naked!" He exclaimed and laughed, putting his hands on his hips. You facepalmed, he was such a goof!
"Before you get dressed, could you answer what's hanging in the middle of your legs?" A blonde Amazon asked, with short hair. Your eyes widened in shock as Luffy explained in a completely wrong way what it was, while the women looked amazed. Had they never seen a man before?
They handed him clothes, which he reluctantly put on. As he sewed the pieces, they decorated them with flowers.
"Can you please not ask that ever again?" You protested as the woman asked to see the 'jewels' that Luffy had hidden inside his shorts. "That's not something men should be showing around!" You looked at them, who seemed surprised by the new information. "And ladies shouldn't ask to see it either!" You added, and they nodded fervently. Soon, Luffy's face turned sharply towards your voice, and upon seeing you, his entire face lit up, and a magnificent smile spread across his features.
You blushed a little; his smile was incredibly cute.
"Ah! You're okay! And alive! And here!" He exclaimed, extending his hand toward you and pulling you abruptly, causing you to hit the bars. He approached and tried to hug you but was stopped by the metal between you. You didn't dare to return the gesture, but you knew that after everything that had happened, seeing you there, the closest thing he had to something familiar, made him want to touch you.
But the faces of the Amazons were filled with horror, and the atmosphere became threatening in a matter of seconds.
"What do you think you were doing with Fromm Göttin?!" One of them spoke up, drawing her sword. "No one has the right to touch a single strand of her hair! You impure being!" She growled, and Luffy looked at you confused.
"But your name isn't... Is it... Gyl...? Ah! (S/N), right?" He asked, his arms managing to snake around your waist through the bars.
"Yes, it is. Gyldepts, (Y/N) Gyldepts."
"And please, only call her by that name!" Sypr shouted, standing between you. "It was a request and an order from our (Y/N)-sama!"
The women looked at each other, and upon seeing your expression, they swallowed nervously and bowed slightly.
"You won't be forgiven!" One of them shouted, and Luffy let go of you, while several Amazons aimed arrows at him. "Not only did you invade our empire, but you dared to taint our guest with your filthy hands!" She looked at the others. "If our Empress returns and finds out about this, she will never forgive us! Let's eliminate him here and now!"
Before you could intervene, they shot their arrows.
Luffy jumped onto the roof, creating a hole in the process, and ran across the rooftops. Soon, a larger Amazon stood in his way, and he collided with the woman's soft and enormous breasts, falling to the ground. But before they could attack again, he jumped up, stretching both arms in different directions. One of them reached out and encircled your body, pulling you along. The other did the same with the blonde Amazon, who had returned his clothes a few moments ago. He pulled both of you with him and dashed away from there.
Notes:
This is Y/N clothes : https://br.pinterest.com/pin/340373684353117983
Chapter 10: The Pirate Empress
Notes:
(See the end of the chapter for notes.)
Chapter Text
You guys ran away and soon fell into the forest. Luffy inflated himself and cushioned your falls, and soon all three of you were on their feet. The Amazon pointed a knife at the man. She threatened him not to come near her. You sighed and took a few cautious steps toward the woman, and she relaxed a bit.
"It's okay, he's with me. He won't harm you. We were sent here by accident," you said softly. She lowered the knife.
"Hey, do you find something in the pockets of my shorts?" Luffy asked her, and she quickly raised a small piece of paper.
"Is this it?" He ran and snatched the paper from her hand, smiling. His eyes lit up. Soon, you realized that you had lost yours since your clothes were discarded.
"Thanks for keeping it safe! Without this, we would have been lost! Thank you so much!" he exclaimed happily. She gave a shy smile.
"Well... Since there was something written on it, I didn't want to throw it away..."
"A lot has happened and..." Luffy paused, and you instinctively approached him. "We ended up getting separated from the crew... But since each of us received one of these, we can find each other again!" He seemed relieved, and you sighed. "It seems I owe you a lot, is there anything I can do to thank you?"
"Can you give me your 'treasure'?" She asked, and you facepalmed.
"Don't ask for things like that!" you scolded her. "Besides, it's not something he can give!"
"If it won't come out, you can just cut it off!" she exclaimed happily, holding the knife in her hands. You positioned yourself between them.
"Sorry, but no!" she pouted, but the intense look you gave her made her step back.
"As you wish, Fromm G-" she immediately stopped and remembered your request. "Sorry, (Y/N)-Sama, we shouldn't address you that way."
"What's the deal with that name they keep calling you, huh Gyl?" He asked, securely keeping the paper with him. You looked at him and shrugged. "Do you know them?"
"Don't think too much about it, Straw Hat, it's not important," you said somberly, and he shrugged.
"You're pirates, aren't you?" The blonde asked, and both nodded. "Our empress is also a pirate, she's very strong!"
"So you're a crew formed only by women? Are you strong?"
"Only the strongest warriors can come aboard the ship! Of course, they are strong! Our empress and her two younger sisters protect and keep our island immaculate!"
"Speaking of the empress, when is she going to arrive?" you interrupted, getting closer. "I know we're in the Calm Belt and her ship is the only way to leave the island. Sypr told me."
"What?! Calm Belt?!" Straw Hat took a huge fright, losing his balance on the edge where he was and falling into the sea.
You promptly jumped after him and quickly rescued him. You grunted as you pulled him out of the water.
"Honestly, Devil Fruit users stress me out!" you exclaimed, wringing out the now-soaked kimono. Luffy wriggled on the ground like a fish that fell out of the aquarium, but upon realizing he was safe, he quickly stood up and threw himself at you.
"Thanks, Gyl!" he said, laughing, squeezing you in a tight hug. You almost smiled, but you noticed Margaret's expression darken.
"You keep daring to touch her! Enough, I can't be nice to you anymore!" she exclaimed angrily, pointing her bow at the man who quickly let go of you to avoid putting you at risk.
He started running from her attacks, and you had no choice but to follow them. You could probably order the woman to stop, but you didn't want to. While she attacked him, she explained how she coated her arrows with a type of Haki, and that interested you a lot. If you could do the same with projectiles...
"We better get out of here! Let's go!" he suddenly went towards the woman, catching her off guard when others arrived. As he passed by her, he entangled his arms around your waist and started jumping through the branches, gaining more and more altitude. You screamed as you practically flew and reached the wall separating the citadel from the forest.
You walked up to him and hit him on the head.
"Are you crazy?! What's with tossing me around like a rag doll?!"
"Ow ow ow, sorry!" he raised his hands in surrender. "But she wouldn't stop attacking us."
"Attacking you. She would never lay a finger on me!"
"And why is that?" he tilted his head to the side.
"Forget it!" you crossed your arms. "What do we do now?"
"Let's go after the empress, after all, she has a ship! She can give us a ride out of here!" he exclaimed happily, proud of his idea.
"And do you think she would accept that without a fuss?"
"Yes," he smiled even more, and you facepalmed.
"You're unbelievable, Straw Hat!"
"Let's go find her right away!" He took your hand and dragged you towards another edge. Too late to realize what he was going to do, all you could do was scream as you fell towards a huge roof.
You landed safely, but the old structure couldn't withstand the impact and collapsed. You held back a scream as you fell once again, this time into the water. You felt the warm and comfortable temperature as Luffy struggled in the water that reached his knees. You rolled your eyes and grabbed him by his shirt, lifting him.
"Ouch! Help! I'm gonna drown, I'm gonna die!" he flailed in the air, suspended by your firm grip on his shirt.
"Snap out of it, you idiot! It's just a fountain, the water doesn't even reach your knees!" He stopped and looked at the ground, his face turning red. You let go of him, and he quickly stood up, laughing. But then, you heard another voice.
"What the... A man!?" The strong and soft voice said, enraged. You looked ahead, and a naked woman was bathing in the water where you fell. She had her back turned to you and slowly turned around. On her skin, you saw a mark you never wanted to see again. You swallowed hard, if it weren't for the straw hat, there would now be an identical mark on your back.
"There's a mark on your back... I've seen this somewhere before," he pondered, and you couldn't believe how clueless he was. But the woman's pure hatred made you freeze for a few seconds.
"You saw it...!" Suddenly, two more women rushed in. One of them promptly dressed the woman in a robe.
"They saw my back...!" she exclaimed, while both seemed incredulous. You could imagine why they were so nervous about it. Having a symbol like that carved into your skin was shameful.
"So they have to die, there's no other solution," the taller one said, gripping the spear she carried.
"Wait...!" You interrupted. "It was an accident!"
"It doesn't matter! You saw it, and now you'll take that information to the grave!" the furious woman shouted, gesturing and pointing at you. "MERO MERO MELLOW!" she exclaimed, as a beam shot from her hands towards you.
You closed your eyes, waiting for something to happen, but you felt nothing. Confused, you opened your eyes and looked at the guy, who seemed just as lost as you.
"So...?" you asked nervously, as everyone looked at the two of you with serious expressions.
"MERO MERO MELLOW!?" She repeated, and once again, nothing happened.
You and Straw Hat crossed your arms and tilted your heads in opposite directions, confused.
"Why doesn't it work? They saw me naked, and still, they felt nothing?! It's impossible!"
Taking advantage of the three's perplexity, Luffy started running.
"I don't know what's going on, but I'm getting out of here! Come on, Gyl, let's go!" He grabbed your wrist and pulled you along, both running towards the window.
"Wait, Luffy, I think she's-" Before you could finish the sentence, you were falling again out of the enclosure. As you screamed, something like a shot hit both of you, causing you to descend quickly and crash violently to the ground.
Your senses faded slowly due to the impact, and all you could hear were voices approaching. You managed to hear one of them say to chain both of you up, and then everything went dark.
Notes:
Until next Saturday!
Chapter 11: Fury of the empress
Notes:
(See the end of the chapter for notes.)
Chapter Text
You woke up feeling a bit dizzy, with your muscles tingling. As you opened your eyes, you found yourself sitting, with your hands tied behind your back. You were at the bottom of a staircase, surrounded by hundreds of Amazons seated in a sort of coliseum. In the arena, in front of you, was the straw hat, also chained up at the center. When your eyes met his, he smiled at you.
"So tell me, man, what are you doing here?" A voice asked from behind you, and as you turned around, you could see the woman from before, now properly dressed, sitting on a throne at the top of the staircase where you were. Your deduction was correct; she was the empress.
"How did you get here and how did you get your hands on the Fromm Göttin?" She inquired, looking directly at you. "Even worse, how did you convince her to follow you?"
"I arrived here, I can't explain how! And Gyl came with me, she's my friend!"
"Friend is a strong word, but yes, I came here with him." You spoke up, making the women around you startle.
"How dare he lay a hand on you, invade our immaculate realm!?" She exclaimed, causing the audience to cheer. "I have no choice, he won't leave here alive!"
"Wait, Your Majesty, I think this man isn't evil! He was unconscious in the forest, and we brought him here!" Margaret spoke up from the audience, and you could see her and two other women rushing toward the arena. "It's true!" another one said. "We found him covered in mushrooms in the forest and brought him here!" the third one added.
The three of them knelt. You heard footsteps, and soon the empress passed by you on the staircase and stood in front of them. She then made the same hand gesture as before and repeated the same words, but this time, the trio turned into stone.
"What the hell is this?! Akuma no Mi?" You questioned, getting up and trying to free yourself from the restraints. Luffy seemed distraught.
"What happened? What did you do to them? They... turned into stone!?" He shouted. "Why... They saved my life!!!" He yelled furiously, while the empress simply resumed her place on the throne.
"That's reason enough for their punishment! Bring in Bacura!" Soon, an enormous black panther entered the arena. "This is the island of the Amazon Lily warriors, where the strongest are the most beautiful! You'll die fighting while we watch!"
"What did you do to them, is there a way to reverse it?" He asked nervously, but the riled-up audience wouldn't let him speak. The animal started growling and lunged at the man. Just as his body was about to move, he broke free from the restraints and punched the animal, sending it flying and defeating it with a single blow.
"She turned your friends into stone, and you're all sitting there laughing!?" He shouted furiously, and you managed to free yourself from the bonds, running towards him.
"That's how you take care of each other?!" You exclaimed, shouting at the audience. "I'm not staying here for another second. You, bitch, give me your ship now!" You pointed at the empress, and everyone in the room let out worried gasps. No one spoke to the empress like that.
"How dare you speak to me like that?! Even though you are what you are, you have no right to call me such a lowly name!"
"Those who treat their subordinates like this deserve something far worse! Bring them back!"
"Now!" The young man interjected, assuming an aggressive stance.
"I don't backtrack on my decisions!" She yelled at you. "Because no matter what I say, everyone will forgive me, and you know why? Because I'm beautiful!" She dramatically tossed her hair as the audience went wild, but you didn't seem impressed at all.
"Don't you all agree?" She asked, and you sighed.
"You're pretty average, actually." You said, leaving her astonished.
"You truly annoy me!" the young man exclaimed with anger that you had only seen him display when he punched the Celestial Dragon. The empress became ill upon hearing those words, the shock of not getting what she wanted from you was too much for her. No one had ever been able to resist her before.
"The existence of this man, I can't bear it! Sisters, kill him now!"
The two women who had rescued her in the bath appeared, entering the arena and standing in front of you. You and the young man prepared to fight, knowing that a tough battle was about to unfold.
"Spare the Fromm Göttin, but give her a good beating so she learns to respect me! But him, I want his head!"
Soon, the two women began to transform, revealing themselves as users of the Zoan-type Devil Fruit. You knew this wouldn't end quickly.
Luffy tapped your shoulder and gestured toward the statues of the women.
"Hey, Gyl, can you give me a hand here?" You nodded, and carefully, you placed the petrified women in the lower area of the arena, to prevent them from being hit in any way during the fight. If there was a chance to bring them back, they would likely need to be intact. Then you turned your attention to your opponents.
********
The fight didn't seem to be going well for you. Just like against Sentomaru, the gorgon sisters were able to anticipate your attacks, and their Haki made their blows much more impactful. Nothing you tried seemed to have any effect, and there was still the venom to deal with. You needed to think of something quickly, or they would quickly emerge as the winners.
Eventually, they grew tired of beating you and, at the empress's request, decided to end the fight. One of them wrapped her tail around Margaret's statue and lifted it, threatening to break it.
"You can't do that! She's one of you!" You shouted, getting up from the last blow you took.
"Stop this! This fight is between us and you, she has nothing to do with it!"
"You're the only one who thinks this is a fight, it's a public execution!"
"She admires you! Idolizes you! How can you treat her like nothing?" You shouted furiously, running towards her, but the second sister struck you with her tail, sending you rolling across the arena.
"Gyl!" Luffy yelled, growing even angrier. "Stop this now!"
"I'll count to three, pay attention, pathetic little man! One... Two...!" She raised the statue, about to smash it on the ground.
"I said stop!" Luffy ordered angrily, and a powerful energy emanated from him, sweeping through the entire area. It felt just like when Rayleigh saved you at the concert hall.
"That was... Conqueror's Haki?" You whispered, getting up. The Gorgon sisters seemed perplexed, dropping Margaret's statue in the process. "Oh shit, Luffy, Margaret!" You shouted to him.
The young man ran and tried to stretch his arms to catch it, but he wouldn't reach in time. You were closer, so you ran to try to catch it, but you wouldn't make it in time. It was going to fall right into the pit full of spikes, and then it would be the end.
Nevertheless, you kept running. You extended your right hand toward the statue and took a deep breath. You had no choice.
"Damn, I haven't used this in so long... I hope I still remember..." You whispered to yourself.
"Earthbound: Rise!" You quickly uttered the small command, while your hand remained extended. Cracks started appearing all over the ground, throughout the arena, frightening everyone. From the cracks near the pit, thick vines and roots emerged, intertwining and moving toward the falling statue.
They wrapped around the statue, holding it in the air, trapped by multiple plant-made cords. Everyone in the venue seemed completely shocked to see that you were the one causing it. You moved your hand, and the roots moved in the same direction, safely placing Margaret back on the ground. You fell to your knees, panting, as the roots dispersed. You hadn't used that in so long; you didn't remember how exhausting it could be. Luffy looked at you in awe.
"Gyl! That was amazing! What was that?" He asked, and you caught your breath, standing up.
"That's who I am. It doesn't matter now." You said, looking at him intently. He didn't push the matter further. You turned your attention back to the gorgon sisters, and Luffy stood by your side.
"Let's kick some ass!" He declared, smoke emanating from his skin. You snapped your fingers.
"Let's go!"
*******
One of the sisters attacked him, using her hair as an extension of her own body, creating multiple snake heads to strike the straw hat. Even so, his speed surpassed hers, and despite using her Haki, she couldn't avoid a direct hit that sent her flying. She was thrown several meters away, while her other sister went towards the man, attempting to attack him. You decided to use the same tactic, increasing your own speed to outpace her predictions.
You started running, increasing the frequency of your breaths. Your heart raced, and your tense muscles propelled you forward. You narrowly dodged her spear thrown in your direction, and leaping into the air, you landed a kick on her face, sending her flying. The empress didn't seem pleased to see her sisters losing the advantage.
"What do you two think you're doing?!" She snapped angrily, and both sisters cowered in fear.
"It's okay, sister! We'll finish this!" She declared, and her body burst into flames.
You took a few steps back, your back hitting the straw hat. You were covering each other's backs as the two sisters prepared their strongest attacks against you. Several snakeheads, while the other sister was engulfed in flames, came charging towards you. But you waited until they were close enough, and as if you could read each other's thoughts, you dodged the attacks at the last moment. You both jumped, and each of you grabbed the tail of the nearest snake, throwing them toward each other and binding them together. The fire ended up engulfing Thundersonia, who began to struggle, pushing her sister to the side and losing her balance in the process.
She fell but managed to stop herself from falling into the pit of spikes, her hands gripping the walls of the arena, her body stretched out. But she was still on fire, and the thin piece of clothing covering her breasts and back started to burn. Noticing this, you nudged the young man.
"Hey, doesn't she also have... that mark?" You asked, recalling the conversation among the three sisters inside the bathhouse. "If her clothes burn..."
He didn't wait for you to finish the sentence and ran to her, throwing himself onto her back. He embraced her, his chest covering her entire back. The Amazons screamed in horror, saying he wanted to finish her off, but then she stopped moving. The expression on her face confirmed that she understood the gesture, as did her two sisters.
"The ceremony is over! Before the gaze of the gorgons turns you into stone, leave the arena!" The empress ordered, and panic took hold of the place. The Amazons ran out, and soon the area was completely empty, except for the two of you.
"We... We're enemies... We were just fighting, so why?" Thundersonia questioned, incredulous.
"That mark has nothing to do with our fight." He simply stated. You gave a barely perceptible smile.
******
Everyone was gathered in the arena, and the atmosphere was uncertain.
"We beg your forgiveness, nee-sama!"
"Not only did we fail to defeat them, but we were also saved by them!"
"Now, are you going to fight us?" Luffy asked, crossing his arms. You stared directly at the empress.
"That's enough. I'm not in the mood for this."
"Oh, great, the statue is intact." He said, checking the statue of Margaret that you had saved earlier and giving you a thumbs-up. "So, miss, bring them back. You can do it, right?" He asked the empress, who seemed to ponder over it.
"I can. But if I recall correctly, you wanted my ship to go somewhere, right? I will grant only one wish." She looked at you with superiority, and you crossed your arms. You knew exactly where this was heading. You had known the straw hat for a short time, but you could already imagine his response. "Bring these women back to normal or leave this island. Choose one and give up the other forever!"
"Ahahaha! See, Gyl!? She's going to bring the girls back!" He enthusiastically bowed, hitting his head on the ground in the process. "Thank you so much!"
"Yes, she will, Luffy." You joined him, bowing in gratitude to the empress, who couldn't believe what she was seeing before her.
Notes:
Till next Saturday!
Chapter 12: News From the Outside World
Notes:
(See the end of the chapter for notes.)
Chapter Text
After the empress brought the women back and dismissed them, you made your way to her castle. Once inside, you went to the main hall, where you sat down and waited for something. The two gorgon sisters were on either side of you, and the young man with the straw hat was in the center.
"What are we doing here, anyway?" the impatient guy asked. You bit your lip. "Seems like there's going to be a feast after the battle! In that case, count me in!" he said excitedly, and you were about to protest when your stomach growled.
Your face turned as red as your outfit.
"What? I haven't eaten since... since before Sabaody! I'm famished!" you justified, while the gorgon sisters laughed.
"I think we owe you thanks."
"No need, gratitude doesn't fill your belly," the young man replied, and you hit him on the head.
"Don't be rude!"
"If they had seen what we have on our backs, we wouldn't be able to stay on this island any longer," the second sister added, and you nodded in agreement.
"Come in!" the empress's voice came from behind the curtains. "You, young man... and (Y/N)-sama, enter." She seemed uncertain, and you both stood up.
"Yay! Is there food behind the curtain?" Luffy asked, drooling from the corner of his mouth.
You walked towards the curtains and passed through them. Inside, the empress awaited you in a... peculiar way.
"Oh! There's no food... and why are you standing there naked?" he was highly disappointed, and you avoided looking at the woman.
"Your manners irritate me... but never mind." She held her hair and turned around, exposing the mark that stained their honor. "You said you've seen it before, do you remember where?"
You looked at the straw hat guy expectantly. He had to remember, right?
"Hmmm..." After thinking for a while, he frowned. "Sorry, I got it mixed up!" You facepalmed. "I have a fish-man friend, and he has a similar mark on his forehead!"
"If you don't know, then I'll tell you!" an older voice echoed in the room, gaining everyone's attention.
"Granny Nyon! How did you end up here again?!" the empress asked impatiently, and the woman sighed.
"You've seen how kind-hearted this boy is. There's no need to fear, tell him the truth." She looked at both of you and, upon seeing you, she got scared and threw herself to the ground, bowing. "Oh my... so you really are Fromm Gottin?!" You rolled your eyes.
"Why does everyone keep calling me that?" She was startled by your sudden outburst, and seeing that, you sighed, calming down. "Just call me (Y/N) or Gyldepts, that's fine." You offered your hand to her, and she promptly took it, looking at it in wonder.
"I never thought I'd see one of you with my own eyes!" She hugged you, and due to her diminutive height, she only managed to hug your legs. You froze, not knowing how to react to the sudden affection. Hancock came and pulled the woman away from you.
"Leave her be, old lady!" The woman sighed and cleared her throat.
"Anyway, young man, you are Monkey D. Luffy, right?"
"Yes, that's me! How do you know me?"
"You are quite humble for a man who shook the world!" Everyone looked at her curiously. You bit your lip, having a vague idea of what she was referring to. "This man is the main culprit behind the incident in Sabaody, where he knocked out a celestial dragon with a single punch...!"
Boa Hancock seemed utterly astonished by the news and looked at both of you in disbelief. You just shrugged.
"But it's hard to understand how you miraculously escaped from the World Government's most powerful force and ended up on this distant island in just two days!"
"I already said I was launched here!"
"It's true! We were launched here by a Devil Fruit ability. We had no idea we'd end up here."
"I don't even know where this place is! And let me tell you, I don't regret what I did! Do you know what that bastard was doing to my friend?! He was going to kill him and take my mermaid friend as a slave! And they had Gyl there too!" He looked at you. "I don't regret what happened. I'm glad I saved everyone and Gyl too!" He smiled at you, and you turned your face slightly embarrassed but gave a small smile.
"So, there are still fools like him in the world?!" the empress said incredulously, her face hidden in her hands. "A man who defies the 'heaven' without fearing for his own life... a man like him..."
"Him?"
"I'll tell you everything!"
********
After a painful explanation about the sisters' past, you found yourself biting your lips almost to the point of bleeding. You felt awful for judging the woman, but deep down, you knew that her petty behavior couldn't justify how rudely she treated everyone, though it certainly explained it. After wiping away the tears, Boa Hancock smiled.
"And then, where do you want to go? I'll let you use my ship."
"Really?" His eyes gleamed with anticipation.
"Your name is Luffy, right? We'll set sail tomorrow morning. The Kuja Pirates will take you to Sabaody! But what about you, (Y/N)-Sama? You're not part of his crew, right? Is there anywhere you'd like to stay?" She looked at you intently, and you played with a strand of hair.
"To tell the truth..."
"She's coming with me to the New World!" the pirate exclaimed happily. "She's my friend!" You sighed.
"I'm going with him."
"Well, if that's your wish." She gave you a questioning look but decided not to insist. "For now, you can head to the banquet hall; we have a feast waiting for you!"
"Really!? Thanks!!!" His eyes sparkled like stars, and you couldn't help but chuckle.
"Well, it doesn't seem like a bad idea... Shall we, Luffy?" You got up and started to leave the room; he was soon by your side, arm linked with yours, smiling cheerfully. You gave him an annoyed look but didn't complain, and you both made your way to the banquet.
Once there, the party turned into chaos. While you dug into the food, replenishing all your energy, you noticed in the background the commotion caused by the young man's presence. He danced and made faces, and the women were simply enchanted, while you only had time to eat. When you felt satisfied, you ordered them to bring you the strongest drinks available. With each empty glass, the Amazons became more amazed by your resistance.
As you savored your various drinks, you could see a line forming in the background, poking and tugging at the young man, who seemed quite bothered as he couldn't eat properly with all the fuss. You started laughing at the scene, especially after realizing that he probably needed some help.
"It seems like he's in trouble." A familiar voice said, and looking to the side, you saw Margaret coming your way, accompanied by Sypr. Both of them bowed slightly.
"Definitely." You gave them a not-so-sober smile and shook your head. "Girls, do you mind helping me save him?"
*********
You and the others were walking along the rooftops, Luffy carrying a huge piece of meat on his back while you had a half-empty bottle in your hand. The night was serene, and a delightful breeze caressed your body, making your hair gently sway. You sighed deeply, not paying much attention to their conversation as you silently followed them. After everything that happened to you, this seemed to be the most peaceful moment you had. You looked towards the horizon, and from this height, you could see the sea, the moonlight reflecting timidly on the waves, and a tear stubbornly escaped your eyes. On nights like this, you and your crew used to stay on the deck until dawn, singing songs, eating, and drinking. Oh, how you missed them, so much that it hurt your heart. Sensing your melancholy, Sypr approached and gently touched your shoulder.
"(Y/N)-sama, are you okay?" She asked, worried, and you wiped the tear that rolled down your face.
"I'm fine, don't worry. It's just... nostalgic memories." You reassured her, and she nodded.
Soon, you all arrived at a balcony where Granny Nyon was resting on a chair, reading a newspaper. You jumped into the place, startling her.
"Sorry for intruding, granny, but Luffy became too popular with the women, so we had to run away."
"That's alright, no problem. It seems you have something to eat... Margaret, prepare some tea for him, Sypr, accompany her, please."
The two left the scene while you leaned against the balcony, still looking out at the horizon. Lost in your world, you didn't pay much attention to what they were saying, and you didn't care much either. Should you keep your agreement with the young man and go with him, or should you ask Hancock to take you directly where you wanted to go? You pondered over it, biting your lips, confused, the drink starting to cloud your thoughts. You finished the rest of the drink and leaned more on the railing, letting your head rest on the wood.
"Is the HQ going to war against Whitebeard's pirates?" Luffy asked, pulling you out of your drunken trance. Suddenly, your sobriety returned.
"The World Government caused it. Whitebeard wouldn't allow one of his companions to be killed. They announced the public execution of the commander of Whitebeard's 2nd division, Portgas D. Ace..."
"W-who...!?" He asked in shock.
"Ace 'Fire Fist.'"
"Something wrong?" Margaret asked, entering the scene with a tray and two cups of tea. You took one and thanked her.
"Ace is going to be executed?..." He asked again, looking pale, like someone who had just seen a ghost.
"Yes. It seems a pirate called Blackbeard captured him and handed him over to the authorities, earning the title of Shichibukai for himself. Having such an important member in their hands, the government decided to use it against Whitebeard and..
." She was interrupted by Luffy, who held her firmly by the shoulders.
"Granny, granny!!! Ace... He's my brother, my brother!!!"
Notes:
Till next Saturday!
Chapter 13: Love sickness
Chapter Text
"Wait, so Fire Fist is your brother?" You asked incredulously, and he nodded vigorously. "Well, that explains a lot. He's really strong, and so are you."
"What should I do? Where will the execution take place?"
"At the headquarters... Marine Ford. In a week."
"Why the rush? I've never seen a capture and execution happen so quickly," you pondered.
"They probably want to use him to lure Whitebeard and fight him, and hopefully kill him too!"
"How long from here to Sabaody?"
"Definitely more than a week."
"By the time you get back to your friends, your brother will have..." You looked firmly at Luffy, who nodded in agreement.
"So, how long from here to where Ace is?"
"A week on a regular ship, four days on a Marine ship. They have faster, exclusive routes."
"So what are you going to do, Straw Hat?" You asked, looking at him intently as he pulled a small piece of paper from inside his hat. "Is that a vivre card?"
"Yes... This one is Ace's."
"He's... really small." You bit your lip, he looked at you anxiously. "Luffy, he doesn't have much time." He looked into your eyes.
"My brother is living his own adventure, and he's really strong... If I were to save him, he'd just get mad, but..." He paused and thought deeply about something. "Sorry, everyone, but I have to make a little detour. Gyl, I want to save my brother!"
***********
"Your best chance is to catch him at Impel Down. If he's taken to Marine Ford, he'll have to face the entire Marine fleet," you commented, and he nodded.
"Impel Down is the most secure prison in the world! How do you plan to get him out of there?" Grandma inquired, and you looked at him expectantly.
"I'll figure that out later, I just need to get there!"
"Are you really going there?" You asked, approaching, an unreadable expression on your face.
"Yes, I am."
"Then Luffy, take me with you."
"WHAT???!!!" Everyone exclaimed in shock and looked at you incredulously.
"But why, Gyl? This has nothing to do with you!"
"You're right, it doesn't. But it's a once-in-a-lifetime chance, to get into Impel Down, I can't pass it up!" You said urgently, and he seemed confused. "There's someone... locked up there that I would like to see, at least once in my life." You said uncertainly and sighed. He looked at you for several seconds.
"It won't be easy, you know? I don't want to get you into trouble."
"Ever since I met you, that's all we've been getting into! I'm going!"
"Really?"
"Really."
*********
After learning about Hancock's possibility of hitching a ride on a Marine ship for you guys, you rushed to her quarters, where she was already waiting.
Arriving there, one of the Amazons came running toward you.
"Granny Nyon, I'm glad you're here! I was about to call you!"
"What happened?"
"It's the Snake Princess, it seems she's suffering from some illness we can't identify!"
"Whatttt!?" The three of you exclaimed incredulously.
"At a time like this???"
You rushed into the palace, heading to the empress's room. They ordered you to wait outside, and even though it was urgent, you waited.
Soon, the empress came out of the room to meet you. She seemed sweaty, probably from a fever, but her strong demeanor remained.
After listening to the plea from the straw hat, she sighed, and her sisters shouted from the upstairs window, saying how unreasonable he was being, demanding something so absurd from her.
"So, you want me to accept the Shichibukai's call? If that's your request, then... I will go wherever you want!"
"Whatttt!!!???" You exclaimed incredulously. "That easy!!?"
"Really!? Thank you very much!"
*********
Soon, you packed your things and went to say goodbye to the Amazons. While you talked, Hancock came to fetch you. You knew it was going to be quite an adventure.
"Before we board the ship, I made a request to the Marines. I'm taking a 'lady' companion with me, and she's the only person they authorized to accompany me." She held a mask in her hands and turned to you. "(S/N)-Sama, put on the hood." You promptly obeyed. "You're wanted, as soon as they see you, they'll know who you are. Don't take it off during the journey, and don't say anything." She placed the mask over your face, hiding it.
You headed to the ship, which soon anchored next to the Marine ship. Through the mask's lenses, you could see everyone and felt nervous. It was never a good sign to have the Marines so close.
"My conditions are as I stipulated on the den-den mushi." Hancock said, her arrogance evident. The Vice Admiral looked at you. "Is this the servant you mentioned?" He asked, not breaking his focus from the food he was eating.
"Exactly. I need her to accompany me, to ensure all my needs during the journey. I won't go without her."
"I know, I know. You made it very clear." He sighed, thought about saying something, but refrained. "Is she armed?" You shook your head. "Show me."
You sighed and opened your kimono, showing that you weren't carrying anything, while a slight blush appeared on the Vice Admiral's face. You closed your clothes again.
"Board the ship, both of you." You looked at the empress and bowed slightly, while she nodded and went ahead of you. You glanced once more at the Amazons and, determined, boarded the warship.
Let Impel Down come.
_______________
N/A: Maybe the chapter has some punctuation errors, etc. I moved to a new city, but for now, I'm staying in a hotel
until I find a permanent place to stay, and I'm writing from my phone.
Thanks and see you next Saturday!
Chapter 14: Journey to Purgatory
Chapter Text
~~~~~~~~~~~
You trembled shyly, tears streaming from your eyes. Holding a rifle in your hands, you positioned it and aimed at the man who had a sword pointed at your father's chest. Hidden in the crow's nest, the enemy hadn't noticed you; it was the perfect moment. You brushed a strand of hair from your face and positioned your finger on the trigger. You were far away; you couldn't hear the conversation they were having, but the man seemed ready to take the life of the only person you had in your life, and you wouldn't allow that to happen.
You squeezed the trigger, and the sound of the shot cut through the scene, causing seagulls to flutter. But before the bullet could reach its target, another man alerted the attacker, pulling him out of your line of fire, causing your shot to hit the ship's deck. He ordered his men to find the shooter, and it didn't take long for his lackeys to get their hands on you. You struggled, the hooded vest you wore threatening to slip off at any moment as you fought to break free. They dragged you into the presence of the man you had just tried to assassinate and threw you at his feet. Looking up, you stared at him. His red hair danced in the wind, a scar adorned his attractive features. He wore a black cape. He observed you sternly, his hand resting on the hilt of the sword at his waist.
"So, what do we have here?" He asked as you sat, held in silence by a gun pointed at your head.
"Leave her out of this!" Your father shouted, lying behind the red-haired man, a cut on his forehead oozing blood timidly.
"So, you had an assassin ready to kill me, and you still want to claim innocence!?" The Redhead asked sternly, making your father shrink back.
"He didn't know I was there!" You retorted, courageously rising to your feet and ignoring the threat. "I saw him being attacked by you from afar and came!" You growled, the redhead stared into your eyes. He then looked you up and down and gave a barely noticeable smile.
"Listen, brat, you shouldn't get involved in matters that don't concern you! This man offered me a peace offering and lured me into a trap, tried to poison me!"
"I'm not a brat, I'm already 15 years old! What did he do!?" You were shocked by the accusations. "My father would never do something like that!"
"Ah, so she's your daughter?" He smiled with superiority as your father tried to get up.
"I said leave her out of this!" He tried to attack the redhead, who easily dodged the punch, and knocked him to the ground, drawing his sword again and pointing it at him.
"Look, I would hate to be the person to break up a family, so calm down." He assured, and you both looked at each other. "Your father made a serious mistake with me and needs to pay. But I'm not a monster; if he gives me his reasons and pays me with treasures, I'll let him go." The pirate reassured you.
~~~~~~~~~
"Dad..." You woke up groggily, sitting up from the couch you had been lying on. Looking around, Luffy was staring out the window while talking to Hancock. You felt the ship had slowed down. "Have... we arrived?" You asked, the empress looked at you.
"Yes... You slept a lot, (Y/N)-Sama, and kept repeating a name in your sleep..."
"That's true!" Luffy diverted his attention from the window and ran over to you. "You kept saying Shanks' name!" You opened your eyes in surprise. "Do you know him, Gyl?"
"Yes."
"Where from?"
"From the sea, Luffy."
"But how?"
"Here and there."
"Don't you want to talk about it?"
"No."
"Oh."
"That was a very... straightforward conversation," the empress interrupted. "It seems we've anchored."
You both turned your attention to the door, where you could hear a lot of commotion outside.
"Quick, Luffy, hide in my coat. (Y/N)-Sama, put on the hood and the mask."
You both promptly complied, and soon a sailor knocked on the door.
"Miss Boa Hancock, we've arrived!" he announced from behind the wood, and she walked confidently towards the area, Luffy hidden in her clothes, and you right behind, your identity concealed by the mask you were wearing.
You disembarked, walking close to the empress, the vice admiral in front of you as you listened to several sailors showering praises on the woman, while she didn't seem pleased with the situation at all.
"So noisy, I'd like to turn them all to stone!" She grumbled in annoyance, the vice admiral cleared his throat.
"Please don't, if possible! Now, as for your request, you want to see Portgas D. Ace, correct? As you well know, no pirate, even a Shichibukai, can enter here. Therefore, your entry was only permitted if you're wearing seastone handcuffs, and you and your lady will undergo a thorough search to prevent any attempts while you're inside."
Boa shrank back and whispered something, probably to Luffy, then adjusted her posture again.
"Very well!" she said confidently, and you all continued on your way until you stopped in front of the huge gates, which began to open slowly.
You entered, and Hancock stopped for a few seconds.
"What an oppressive atmosphere this place has... It's like we've entered hell itself!"
Standing just ahead, there was a tall man wearing a turban reminiscent of a pharaoh, accompanied by a female guard.
"Welcome to my prison! Well, actually, that was a bit pretentious. I'm just the vice warden Hannibal! Pleasure!" He extended his hand, and the vice admiral promptly shook it.
"Momonga," he introduced himself. Hannibal then looked at the empress and at you.
"I'm already aware of everything. This must be Empress Boa Hancock and her lady, correct? Please, come with me. The prison chief is in an office on level 4; we're going to meet him now. However, I'm afraid the lady won't be able to proceed from here."
"What? What outrage is this? This is not what we agreed!" Hancock retorted, annoyed, and Hannibal shrank back at her stern tone.
"Well, you see, they agreed to let her accompany you, not enter the prison." He looked at the woman with regret. "Unfortunately, there's no other way."
You delicately touched Hancock's shoulder, and she nodded her head.
"Alright! She will accompany me during the search and then return to the ship." She said, and you bowed slightly.
"Perfect, both of you please follow our guard, she will conduct the search on you. Vice admiral, wait with me for a moment."
The two of you followed the woman to a small room, the door of which was locked from the inside. She turned to face you.
"Please, lady, remove your kimono, and Miss Hancock, remove your cape. Those would be the easiest objects to hide anything." She said, and you both exchanged looks. "Not that we don't trust you, but we need to be sure. And to ensure that, there are surveillance den-den mushi throughout the prison, monitoring everything. Now, Empress, before we begin, please put on the handcuffs."
"Just... Be gentle with me," she used her sweetest voice, and the woman blushed immediately. Hancock made a hand gesture, and instantly turned the woman to stone along with the den-den mushi.
Luffy emerged from within the cape, and you both sighed in relief.
"Luffy, I can only bring you this far! Without my powers and without my cape, this is the most I can do. I'm sorry I can't take you directly to him."
"Are you kidding? If it weren't for you, I wouldn't even have made it this far! I'll always be very grateful for your help!" He grabbed her hand, and her face turned red. "Thanks, Hammock!" he said mistakenly, but the woman seemed stunned, totally infatuated with him.
"We don't have much time! Luffy, go out now and wait for me further ahead. I need to leave the room with Hancock, or they'll get suspicious."
He quickly left through another door, sneaking out and making sure the den-den mushi didn't see him. Meanwhile, you removed your kimono. Hancock released the effects of her fruit, and the woman returned to normal. She woke up confused, not remembering what was happening.
"So, you're not going to put the handcuffs on my lady?" You asked, and then she looked at both of you, who had already done as instructed.
"Oh, right...!" She blushed and quickly handcuffed the empress. "Well, the search is done, lady, you can get dressed again."
You promptly complied, and the three of you left the room. You took a few steps, and Hancock looked at you.
"You can return to the ship, my lady." You bowed slightly to everyone and left the area.
You walked until you were out of sight, and then took another path. You could feel all the den-den mushi around, easily avoiding all of them. You knew Luffy had gone down, and then, reaching a staircase, you descended as well. You needed to be quick.
Ace didn't have much time.
********
A/N: The last chapter was short, and not much was happening, so I decided to post another one! But don't worry, on Saturday there will still be the usual chapter of the week! Until then...
Chapter 15: The Levels of Hell
Notes:
(See the end of the chapter for notes.)
Chapter Text
You descended a flight of stairs and found yourself in a dead-end alley. You looked around and heard voices behind a massive door. You opened it just wide enough to slip through and closed it behind you. You kept your mask on; after all, you didn't want to be recognized. You took cautious steps through the area until you noticed several cells lining the scene. They were all occupied. As you passed one, someone grabbed the sleeve of your kimono.
"Hey... Hey!" He whispered urgently. "How did you get out of the cell?"
"I didn't get out of the cell; I came from outside." You tugged your kimono, and the man released his grip.
"Oh, a woman..." He paused. "Can you help us break free?" The other prisoners started murmuring, and the voices grew louder.
"Could you please keep it down? All this noise will get me caught by a guard!"
"Then help us! Find the key, or we'll make such a commotion that they'll discover you!" They began banging on the bars, making more noise.
"Alright, alright!" You sighed, and they quieted down. "I'll look for the key!"
You walked through the corridors, searching for anything that resembled a room where the guards might be. Was it a terrible idea? Yes, it was. But you couldn't afford to be discovered so soon. As you sneaked around, you found the room and two guards rushed out of it, saying a prisoner had escaped. You hid and waited for them to pass, then entered the room. There were some uniforms, Den Den Mushi communication devices, and several keys hanging on the back wall. But what caught your attention the most were the guns hanging on the wall, various holsters, and ammunition. You smiled.
Securely fastening them to your waist, you were now armed and loaded, with a bunch of keys in your possession. You took great care when leaving and returned to the cell where you had spoken with the prisoner. Upon seeing you, he rushed to the cell bars.
"How's it going?" He asked hopefully, you raised your hand, showing the bunch of keys, and he smiled in relief. "Pass them over!"
"Not so fast." You looked at him sternly, and even with the mask, he shrank back. "First, I need some information. Two things." He looked at you curiously.
"If I can help..."
"I'm looking for Ace, Fire Fist Ace, where is he?"
"Wow, this place is buzzing because of his imprisonment! They say he's really strong!" He got excited but swallowed hard under your oppressive aura. "Prisoners like him are usually taken to the lowest level!"
"I've heard of that, it's Level 5, right?"
"No! That's what they say outside! But the truth is, there are 6 levels!" You looked at him curiously. "Only the worst and most dangerous prisoners are kept there!"
"And do you think he'll be there?"
"I'm sure! He's one of Whitebeard's strongest commanders. If they want to keep him locked up, it has to be there!"
"Alright, perfect! Thanks."
"Uh... What about the second request?"
You stared at him intently.
After the question, everyone fell into absolute silence. No one dared to even breathe.
"Where did you... Where did you hear that name?" He mustered the courage to ask.
"Does it matter? Why do you all seem so anxious?"
"You have no idea who you're talking about, do you?" You shrugged. "For God's sake...! Stay away from that man, don't utter that name again!"
"Why?"
"It doesn't matter! He should be forgotten forever!"
"Is he that feared?" He swallowed hard. "I see... In that case, I'll find him on Level 6, right? Thanks for your help." You tossed the keys to them, and they became frantic.
"Are you crazy!? You can't go after that man! You'll regret it!"
"I didn't come this far to turn back now. Excuse me." You confidently walked away from the prisoners, while a commotion seemed to get closer and closer to you.
Without warning, someone collided with you, and in shock, you couldn't balance yourself and ended up falling with the person on top of you. He tried to get up, groaning in pain, while you were trying to make sense of the situation. When he lifted his body, arms around your waist, faces close, that's when you got a good look at him.
Blue hair, prisoner attire, and a large, red clown nose.
Wait, a clown nose?
"A... A... CLOWN?????!!!!!!" you tried not to scream, your eyes wide in shock.
"Who are you calling an idiot, woman!?" He yelled furiously, and you began to break out in a cold sweat.
"C-Cl-Clown....!!!!!" And then your senses simply vanished.
You were terrified of clowns.
You felt your body swaying; you were hanging, being carried, an arm securely around your waist. Your eyes slowly began to open, your face no longer hidden by the mask, which now hung around your neck. As you looked around, you could see the legs of the person carrying you, and you breathed a sigh of relief. You managed to see the denim shorts and flip-flops; it couldn't be anyone other than the Straw Hat. Thank goodness he found you. But what happened? You tried to remember.
"Hey, kiddo, looks like she's awake!" A voice beside you spoke, and they stopped running in a corridor. Luffy gently lowered you, and you were still a bit unsteady. He held onto your shoulders and grinned widely.
"(Y/N)! I got scared when you just passed out!"
"Straw Hat, when did you find me?"
"When that idiot over there bumped into you." He said, pointing with his thumb to the man next to him, then his gaze followed, and...
"C-Cl-Clown....!!!" You let out a small scream, your legs giving way again.
"Cut that out, woman, react!" He yelled, and you hid your face in your hands and crouched on the floor.
"I-I have...!!" You shrank even more, and Luffy, realizing it, burst into laughter.
"I can't believe it! You're always so tough!" He laughed, holding his belly. "Oh man, Gyl, check this out!" He wiped away a tear that rolled from his eye. "This clown is harmless!"
"Who are you calling an imbecile!?" The clown came closer to you, his cheeks flushed with anger. He crouched near you. "I know I'm fearsome, but I won't harm you. I promised Straw Hat to help him reach Ace. Are you with him?"
You gathered the courage and timidly removed your hands from your face. You took a good look at the man, who was closer than you would have liked. You nodded. You got up, and the three of you began running in the same direction.
Buggy the clown promised to lead you to Ace.
"Straw Hat, grab my feet!" He ordered, and Luffy did while the rest of his body floated. "So, miss, what's your name?" He asked as they made their way towards the exit.
"Gyl... Gyldepts. (Y/N) Gyldepts." Your voice trembled a bit, still wary of the circus figure.
"WHAT?!" He shouted in shock, crashing into a wall with force.
"Oh, so you want to go through the wall as a shortcut?!" Luffy grinned. "Genius! Leave it to me!"
"Wa-wait, Straw Hat...!" He tried to stop him, but it was already too late.
Luffy slammed his arms into the man, and they passed through the wall, with you following suit. You couldn't avoid the fall, and by the time you realized it, it was too late, and all three of you were plummeting into a crimson spike-filled abyss.
"A forest? Inside here?" Luffy questioned.
"It's not just a forest; this is the Crimson Hell, this is Impel Down! Prisoners here are impaled from all sides, forced to walk on grass composed of thousands of needles, enduring eternal torment, the trees turn red with their blood!"
"It does sound like hell; do you think Ace is going through something like this?"
"Don't dwell on it, Straw Hat." You intervened. "Let's focus on finding him. Hey, mister... Cl-Clown. Are we just going to keep falling?"
"This is perfect! Hold onto me and throw my feet down there!" You exchanged glances but didn't question it. Luffy had his arms around the man's neck, and you had to do the same, trying not to think about it. Just touching him made you want to faint again.
When his feet touched the ground, they spread out to avoid being impaled by the needles, and he started walking while his body floated in the air following his feet. The two of you were safely carried on his back. It was quite a useful ability, you thought.
"We don't need to find stairs leading to the next level! We won't even need keys! I remembered that on this level, there's an 'exit' for prisoners who can't bear this pain anymore!"
He continued running until they reached a massive hole.
"This hole leads directly to Level 2, where an even worse hell awaits! But no one's foolish enough to jump in!"
"So if we jump in, we'll get there faster? Great!" Luffy leaped from the man's back, and you quickly did the same.
What kind of hell awaits us this time?
Notes:
I'm sorry, I was so busy yesterday that I can't post it
but
until next Saturday
Chapter 16: further and further
Notes:
(See the end of the chapter for notes.)
Chapter Text
You guys were running in a panic, and somehow, the Clown was still with you. A massive beast was chasing you, while all you could think about was not being devoured.
"What the hell is that!?" You shouted to him as you both ran.
"That's a beast among beasts, a chicken-born snake! A Basilisk! This is level 2, the level of the beasts! It's infested with things like this!"
You stopped running and turned to face the approaching creature while they continued without noticing, leaving you behind. You took a deep breath as the animal got closer, preparing your most powerful attack to fend it off with just one bite. You stared it down and raised your hand.
You looked around, completely lost in the maze of cells. The prisoners inside looked at you in horror, afraid to make a sound. For safety, you decided to put your mask back on. As you turned a corner, you heard a chorus of happy voices and guessed you were heading in the right direction.
But as you got closer, the cheers turned to pure horror, accompanied by roars. You picked up the pace, running towards the sounds, feeling that the chaos had the straw hat as its protagonist.
When you turned another corner, you saw them running, still in the company of the clown and another man you didn't know, all running desperately from some strange animals. They looked like lions but had old man faces. They were cornered, with the lions ready to attack when you jumped in front of them, the clown shouted immediately.
"Ahhhh, the Basilisk is back! After devouring your friend, it came to eat us!"
"Don't talk nonsense, she wasn't devoured, I'm sure of it!" Luffy shouted, tears in his eyes.
And then, the Basilisk shook its tail, hitting the animals and throwing them away. Now, it turned to face the group. It bowed, and from the top of its head, you descended. When your feet touched the ground, you stroked the creature, which seemed to melt at your touch.
"Go on, little friend, and get rid of all the wicked animals you see out there, alright?" You said sweetly, a tone the straw hat had never seen you use. The creature wagged its tail excitedly and left the enclosure. You turned to the three of them, staring at them. "What? Did I miss something?"
"(Y/N)!" Luffy shouted excitedly, tears in his eyes, and ran to hug you. He wrapped his arms around you and buried his face in your chest. "You're okay!"
"Of course, I am! After you guys left me!" You yelled, and he let you go.
"It was unintentional! I swear!" You sighed.
"I know, I know."
"Are you guys just going to ignore the fact that she was riding and petting the Basilisk?" The other man asked, and you looked at him.
"Why does someone new always show up every time you disappear from my sight?" He shrugged.
"It's true, Gyl. How did you manage to ride that thing?"
"I've always had a special way with animals. Shall we?" You started walking, and the three men exchanged glances but understood that you wouldn't say anything more about it.
Thanks to the Basilisk, they continued their journey and found several unconscious animals. You were looking for a way out of that level when turning a corner, you encountered a massive creature.
It was like a giant, uglier version of the small lions with old man faces.
"What the heck is that?"
"It's a Sphinx, the guardian of the stairs!"
The creature stared at them. Raising its paw, it began to say random things while unleashing a powerful attack. You dodged, but the force applied to the ground created a crack. It continued to attack indiscriminately while you tried to think of something quickly. When it tried to attack the man with a "3" on his head, he turned into wax, and the real one was a few meters away.
"You dumb creature! This is my famous attack created with my Akuma no Mi power! It's imperfect without colors, but it's enough to fool you!"
He created several copies of himself, and the Sphinx hit them all, with each blow creating new cracks, weakening the ground further. You slyly positioned yourself next to the straw hat and grabbed his shirt. He gave you a questioning look, but you nodded.
While the creature was busy with the copies, the real one and the clown tried to escape but weren't fast enough. With one final blow, the beast broke the ground, and once again, you all fell into a new hell!
You got up, dusting off your clothes. You looked around and found yourselves in a barren place, the heat quickly taking over. You started sweating under your kimono and decided to take it off, leaving it hanging at your waist. The others were arguing in the background, next to the Sphinx, which had fallen with you and lost consciousness from the fall. You approached them with an irritated look.
"Can you stop arguing and move already?" You put your hands on your hips, and as you moved, your breasts jiggled. Luffy tilted his head in confusion, while the clown turned as red as a pepper. "What's wrong?" You asked, and he looked away, vigorously shaking his head.
"Why are they bouncing?" The straw hat asked as he approached you, poking your breast with his finger. Your face turned red.
"Are you crazy?!" You scolded him. "You can't touch a woman like that without permission!" You gave him a smack on the head, and in the process, they jiggled again.
"Ouch... There it is again! See?" He looked intrigued. "Is it some kind of cushion?" You facepalmed.
"Don't be an idiot, and stop talking about it, kid, or we'll all end up thinking about it!" The clown intervened, giving him another smack.
"You stop looking too!" You crossed your arms over your chest, embarrassed.
"It's not on purpose!" He turned his back to you, avoiding your gaze.
"Guys, I... I don't think I can handle this," the third man said, and when you looked at him, you noticed he seemed to be melting.
"What's happening to you?"
"My power... I'm a wax man, and..."
"You're melting because of the heat," you concluded. "We need to get out of here quickly, or the heat will kill us all." You affirmed.
Before taking another step, a net appeared beneath you, trapping you along with the massive beast.
"This is made of steel! I can't break it!" Luffy shouted, trying to bite the net. You were sandwiched in the middle of the net, the Sphinx, and somehow stuck to the clown's body, his face pressed against your chest. You and he didn't dare say a word, and your cheeks turned the same shade. You tried to reach for the pistol you had stolen from the guards, but there was no room.
"There's Kairoseki in this net!" The man stuck to you said, feeling his strength fading.
"I always say Devil Fruit users are a pain!" You growled.
Down below, a battalion of guards appeared, led by a short man with a trident. Luffy insisted he looked like a monkey.
"Give up! There's nowhere to run. You were lucky to be captured by me! Downstairs, there are three terrible creatures; you wouldn't survive them." He declared, and you swallowed hard. The Sphinx woke up and began to thrash around.
It tried to bite you, but since you were so close, it couldn't reach you, so it started to struggle. The net wasn't strong enough to contain the beast's fury, and it broke, sending all of you plummeting again.
You and Luffy landed close to each other, and soon, some guards rushed towards you. Luffy easily defeated a few, while you pulled out your pistols and took care of the rest.
"Where are the others?" He asked, looking around, and you pointed up, where the net that held them was hanging. The clown and the wax man were up there, laughing and mocking you. Your hand went straight to your pistol.
"Hahaha, see you later, Straw Hat! Say hi to Ace for me, If you survive this, let's have a drink together one day!!" He taunted, and you bit your lips in anger. "And you, chesty gunslinger, it was a pleasure." Your eyes widened in shock, your face turning red in seconds.
"Why you...!" You were about to move forward, but Luffy grabbed your arm.
"It's a shame... But thank you very much for bringing us this far!" He shouted, grateful, and you were astonished. Luffy was a kind-hearted person.
You grabbed his arm, and you both ran, with more guards chasing after you.
"We have to keep going, Luffy!" He nodded.
"Don't underestimate them! That guy has a bounty of 300 million, and the woman's is 120 million!" The short guard shouted as you fought and fled as quickly as possible.
By some miracle, you reached a staircase. You were desperate to get out of there, or you wouldn't last much longer. At the top, several armed guards began firing at you. You pushed Luffy to the side since you knew they were using Kairoseki bullets, and you drew your two pistols. Your fingers were swift, and you managed to deflect all the bullets coming your way. Soon after, the straw hat leaped to the side, avoiding containment nets thrown at him. As he rolled on the ground, Sphinx appeared and immobilized him.
"Luffy!" You yelled, running toward the scene. But before you could reach him, someone appeared and kicked the beast, knocking it off the young man. The newcomer was tall and had funny hair, dancing and twirling on top of the defeated creature.
"Mugi-chan! I came to save you!" His face lit up, as did Luffy's.
"Bon-chan, it's great that you're alive!" Luffy beamed, and you found yourself smiling whenever he did.
The two ran toward each other and embraced, tears in their eyes. You joined them.
"And who are you, chesty lady?" The man asked, and you were furious, crossing your arms and trying to hide.
"She's (Y/N)! She's my friend and came with me!" He introduced you cheerfully.
"I heard you're heading to level 5?"
"Yes, that's right! Do you know the way?"
"There's someone I want to find there too, so why don't we go together?"
"Really? That would be amazing!"
"One more weirdo for the team," you said, positioning yourself beside the two of them.
Notes:
till next week!
Chapter 17: The dreadful inferno on level 4
Notes:
(See the end of the chapter for notes.)
Chapter Text
You guys were face-to-face with a massive creature. You looked at it curiously, but it didn't seem to pay you any mind. It was no ordinary animal.
"What is that?" Luffy asked.
"That's the minotaur! A monster that treats humans like trash!"
Suddenly, the creature disappeared from your sight, reappearing next to the man and striking him head-on, sending him flying through the scenery.
"Bon-chan!!!" Luffy exclaimed in disbelief, as you prepared to fight.
"Watch out, Luffy! He's really fast!" You warned just in time. Luffy narrowly dodged the attack, but another one was coming, and there wouldn't be enough time.
You ran and at the crucial moment, kicked the creature, disrupting its attack on the straw hat. However, the motion of its weapon didn't stop, and upon completing its rotation, it hit you squarely. You rolled on the ground, some cuts from the weapon's spikes decorating your body.
"Gyl!!!" Luffy shouted in desperation as you got up; the creature was already on top of you again, ready to strike.
Promptly, Bon-chan appeared out of nowhere, hitting the creature and saving you. Before the creature could react again, you heard Luffy shout.
"Jet bazooka!!" He hit the monster, sending it flying, smoke emanating from its body. "Is everyone okay?" He asked, and you all exchanged glances and nodded. "Can we move on?"
"Of course, Mugi-chan! Getting to the next level is simple! See that opening in the wall over there? Just reach it."
You quickly climbed the wall, feeling the temperature rise even more, scorching heat as if you were burning in hell itself. After passing through the opening, you saw a pit of burning flames, smoke billowing from it.
You continued walking as Bon-chan explained what level four was all about. Suddenly, you heard a wall crack, and out of it emerged none other than the clown and man number 3. They started running in your direction, with the minotaur hot on their heels.
"Weren't you guys going to run, you idiots!?" You shouted furiously; now, everyone was running for their lives.
"We tried! But this beast appeared out of nowhere!"
"I can't take it anymore... I want my cell!" The other man whimpered; you sighed.
"We have to deal with him quickly, or he'll wear us down." You pulled out your pistols, turned to him, and ran toward him. "Let's go all out!" You yelled, firing at the creature.
With its speed, it managed to dodge some shots, but not all. One hit its leg, injuring it and causing it to release its grip on its weapon. Seizing the opportunity, you skillfully kicked the wound, making it drop the weapon.
"Get out of the way!" The clown shouted from behind, and you complied. He threw something at the creature, and when it made contact, it exploded.
However, it was still conscious. You holstered your pistols and advanced again, preparing to deliver a punch. By your side, Bon-chan ran, twirling. You both jumped together and in perfect sync, landed solid blows on the creature.
Soon, a powerful punch from Luffy, with his fist coated in wax, came, and the fight was over. The boys started jumping and celebrating.
You began looking for a safe way down while the boys argued in the background. The clown wanted to escape, while Bon-chan argued with him. Luffy and number 3 approached you, all looking in the same direction.
"Can you guys hear that too?"
"You're right, what a strange sound, what could it be?"
"I think it's the sound of..." You were interrupted by the platform giving way, and you all started falling again.
"We're all gonna die!!!" You all screamed in unison as you fell.
Luffy and number 3 held onto you as they descended to level 4.
Upon landing, you were fortunate to land on a platform above the scorching inferno. It was infinitely hotter than the level above, and you felt immense fatigue immediately.
It was so hot that your feet burned if you stayed in one place for too long. Luffy seemed to smell something and dashed off in one direction. You followed suit, accompanied by Bon-chan.
"Where are you going, Luffy?!" You shouted, and the man next to you seemed to be thinking of something.
"Along the way... it must be the kitchen! Great, I'm starving!" You rolled your eyes, but eating something now could be beneficial. You continued on your path, which unfortunately was blocked by guards.
It wasn't a problem for you as you easily defeated them. But before you could advance, a purplish goo fell near Luffy.
"Luffy, be careful, don't touch that!" You warned, and suddenly, he appeared, blocking your path.
He was enormous, dressed in black, with horns and wings exposed. You felt a menacing aura around him, and you knew he was the biggest threat to you inside.
You swallowed hard and removed your mask. You didn't want to be linked to Boa Hancock, as it would put her in danger.
"Mugi-chan, you need to run! This is the prison warden, Magellan! He's a user of the Doku Doku no Mi!"
"Poison?" You asked, and he nodded.
"We have to escape; he's too dangerous!" You knew it was true, just by looking at him. It was the same feeling as back in Sabaody. Helplessness. You bit your lip in frustration.
"And to think you would dare infiltrate the most secure prison in the world! As the director, this is a personal insult to me! I know what you plan, and I won't let you reach Portgas D. Ace! And I'll find out how you managed to get in!"
"We won't talk, not even in death!" He asserted, and you reached for your pistols, drawing them.
"And you, Gunslinger? I don't know your reason for being allied with the straw hat, but you'll suffer the same fate as him!"
"Quick, this way, Mugi-chan, and Gyl-chan! You can't fight him, you can't even touch him!"
"Hydra...!" The man shouted, his body turning into poison, and a giant snakehead forming from him.
"All this is poison...!?" Luffy exclaimed in fear, narrowly escaping the attack, while you ran for your lives.
You ran across the bridge when Magellan attempted another attack. Luffy stretched his arms and launched himself onto a suspended platform, diverting the attack's focus, and allowing you and Bon-chan to hide from the man. But you remained motionless; you couldn't abandon the straw hat. While he dodged attacks, you thought of something you could do. You saw another suspended platform above the director and didn't think twice. You knew he was a Paramecia, so physical blows would work on him.
When the man cornered Luffy, you shot at the chains holding the platform, causing it to fall quickly on top of him. The weight and high temperature of the object caused significant damage.
"Luffy, run!" You shouted from below as Luffy jumped to the platform you were on, taking advantage of Magellan's confusion.
"Nice one, Gyl!" He thanked you as you ran together, looking for a place to hide.
But soon he jumped in front of you, blocking your path again.
"I have to admit, that was a great move, Gunslinger." He took a step forward. "This is the last chance I'll give you to surrender peacefully." He warned, and you both assumed an aggressive stance.
"I'm getting out of here, and I'm going to save Ace. No matter what it takes." Luffy said resolutely, activating his Gear 2. "If I have to sacrifice my hands and take you down, I will." He said, and you tried to stop him. But it was too late. "JET BAZOOKA!!!" He shouted and hit the man squarely.
The man was forced to retreat a few meters and fell to his knees; it was a powerful blow. However, Luffy began to agonize in pain, his hands burning from the poison.
"Luffy!" You ran to him, trying to hold him up.
"Who would've thought, a cornered rat is truly dangerous," Magellan said, getting up. You pointed your pistols at him.
"I know you're not a Logia." You spoke sternly. "I'm going to turn you into Swiss cheese."
"Then come, Gyldepts!" He prepared an attack, and you dodged.
You started running toward him, and he attacked again; you managed to jump over it and shoot at a nearby pillar, falling behind him. You tried to shoot him from behind, but he was faster and evaded, launching an attack like a whip, and dragging it along the ground. You jumped to avoid being hit and tried shooting at him again, with the shots hitting the same pillar. You ran, and he began shooting venom bubbles from his mouth; you shot them, making them explode before approaching. Meanwhile, Luffy was agonizing behind you, witnessing the whole scene unfold.
He prepared another attack, a giant hydra launched toward you, and you ran, shooting it. Since it was made of poison, the shots passed through, hitting the same pillar once more, and then you gave an imperceptible smile. You kept running and jumped over the attack, aiming for the spot where all your shots hit the pillar, and kicked the wall, which was already weakened from the shots. Your kick made the structure collapse, and the massive pillar crumbled, falling on top of Magellan, who couldn't react in time.
You ran to Luffy and helped him up, trying to get him out of there.
"Let's go, Luffy, Ace needs you!" You tried to leave, but the director was already on his feet, furious.
"You're such a nuisance, woman!" He shouted angrily, launching another attack at both of you. You pushed Luffy aside, and the attack came directly at you. Your skin was exposed, and you were drenched in venom as your body was thrown far away.
You tried to get up from the ground, oozing a purple goo from your back where you had taken the impact. Your vision started to blur, immense pain gnawing at every muscle in your body. You felt a presence behind you, and it was the director, ready to finish you off. Before he could, you felt Luffy's hands push you away, out of his and Magellan's reach.
"Gyl, run!!!" He yelled as your body was flung far away, and he faced the director head-on.
You felt your consciousness gradually slipping away when you landed in an empty area of that level. You didn't know where you were, so you struggled to get up, with the venom fighting to incapacitate you but your body fighting back. You managed to hide in a hole in the wall and tried to rest a bit. But your consciousness simply abandoned you, and you plunged into a deep sleep.
Notes:
Till next Saturday
Chapter 18: The freezing level 5
Notes:
(See the end of the chapter for notes.)
Chapter Text
You woke up feeling disoriented, your body throbbing with sharp pain. You tried to get up and bumped your head, realizing you were in a tight space. Then, you remembered crawling into a small hole in the wall to hide. It seemed to have worked since no one had found you. Your body felt like it was burning up, but it wasn't because of the surroundings; it was an intense fever, probably caused by poison. Your body was fighting it off, but it was draining your energy, and you could barely stay awake. You had always been naturally resistant to poisons and such, with a metabolism faster than an average person's – it made sense because you were anything but ordinary.
You carefully peeked your head out, looking around to see if anyone was nearby. Seeing that things appeared calmer, you sneaked out quietly, being extremely cautious not to be caught. After all, you were too weak to fight properly until your body finished expelling the poison. You wanted to know what had happened to the straw hat, so you crept around until you found what seemed to be a guard room. You could hear voices inside and leaned against the door, trying to gather some information. You only managed to hear that he had been defeated by Magellan and imprisoned on another level. You heard footsteps and quickly retreated, hiding once again.
If he was imprisoned, it must have been on a lower level due to his danger. He was probably on level 5 or 6. You decided to stick to your original plan and descend further, but with all the chaos, you imagined there would still be a battalion of guards on the stairs. How were you going to get down? Your thoughts were interrupted when you saw a wolf emerge from the hole where you had been hiding before, and oddly enough, its fur was covered in snow. As it came out completely, the snow melted in the scorching environment, and the wolf ran in a specific direction. A few minutes later, it returned with a piece of meat in its mouth and slipped back into the hole. You waited, but it didn't come back. That's when you suspected it wasn't just a simple hole but a tunnel.
You entered again, crawling as far as you could. In that cramped space, you couldn't tell how much time had passed until you reached a dead-end. Frustrated, you began to feel around everywhere; after all, the wolf had entered, but you hadn't found it, which meant it had exited somewhere else. Then you noticed something strange beneath you and, pulling back a bit, pushed it. It was like a trapdoor that opened only when pushed. Probably some prisoner in the past had made that tunnel, and now the animal was using it to feed. You passed through the trapdoor and crawled into an even tighter space.
As you progressed, you noticed the temperature in the environment dropped drastically. The sudden change caused your body, which was still fighting for survival, to have a minor breakdown. You stood in shock for a few long minutes, immobilized, until you adjusted and could continue the journey. When you emerged from the hole, you found yourself in a snow-covered area. You quickly pulled up your kimono again to preserve the little body heat you had left. At least the fever would be helpful for something. You took cautious steps around, but it seemed deserted.
As you walked further, you noticed several cells with prisoners inside. However, you couldn't tell if they were alive or dead. This had to be level 5. You walked for several minutes, feeling the fever in your body subside, and the cold began to affect you with each step. Your legs started to numb, and you knew it wouldn't be long before you got hypothermia and died. You needed to find Luffy, and fast.
Sometime later, you heard animal sounds and instinctively started running. You couldn't believe your eyes when you saw Bon-chan, badly wounded, fighting off several wolves to protect Luffy, who was lying on some sort of stretcher. But he was exhausted, and there were too many wolves. Luffy lost consciousness when one last wolf tried to finish him off.
"That's enough!" you shouted, running towards them. All the wolves stopped and looked at you.
You approached the largest one, which was undoubtedly the alpha, and stood in front of it. "They're friends, you're not allowed to attack them, okay?" you said and reached out to pet the animal's head. Both your eyes and the wolf's shimmered, and it growled at the others, who seemed to understand the command.
They quickly left the scene, leaving you behind. Bon-chan collapsed on the ground in disbelief, unable to explain what had just happened. You rushed to him.
"My God, you're all beaten up, buddy!" You checked for any serious wounds and tore a strip from your kimono to bandage a deep cut on his arm.
"Gyl-chan! What was that? It was amazing!"
"Not that big of a deal! But thanks for saving Luffy!" You looked at him and then knelt beside him. "Can we find an antidote?"
"I heard in prison there's none, not for that much poison."
"What are we going to do?"
"We'll find the only person who could do something for him."
"As for that, don't worry." A third voice spoke up, and you all turned to look. In front of you stood a man in two-toned clothing.
"Who are you?" you asked, holding your pistol.
"Help."
You woke up feeling a bit groggy, hearing a commotion ahead. As you got up, you found yourself in some sort of tavern, filled with joyful people singing, drinking, and eating merrily. Further back, you could see Bon-chan all bandaged up, arguing with an extremely tall and big-headed person.
"Do you feel better, Miss Gyldepts?" a soft voice asked next to you, and when you turned, the person in two-toned clothing was there again.
"You, you saved us in the snow, didn't you?"
"Exactly, my apologies for the rudeness. I'm Inazuma. I must say, your body is remarkable." Your cheeks reddened, and she chuckled. "I didn't mean it that way, but it's not untrue. You were poisoned by the prison director, and your body practically expelled the poison on its own. Ivan-san just had to give you a little push."
"Who is Ivan-san?"
"Emporio Ivankov, the okama queen, who is right over there with your friend," he said, and your gaze locked onto that distinctive figure.
"I feel like I've rested well, how long did I sleep?"
"About ten hours."
"What?!" You jumped up, still feeling a bit groggy, staggered across the room, and Inazuma caught your arm, preventing you from falling. "I need to get out of here and... Luffy! Where's Luffy?"
"Come, I'll take you to him. But at least eat something first," she insisted, and you knew you needed it.
You promptly ate and drank, and when satisfied, she led you to the straw hat.
Walking through the cave with your arms tied to the man because you were still a bit dizzy, you could hear agonizing screams growing louder and recognized the voice instantly; it was him. You broke free from Inazuma and ran to the scene, where Bon-chan and Ivankov were.
"What does this mean? What's happening to Luffy?" you asked, irritated, and they looked at you.
"Look! If my wonderful woman hasn't woken up! I'm Ivankov, pleased to meet you!" She came to you and grabbed your hand. "Your constitution is incredible! I've never seen a body fight poison so well. And I apologize; I used a bit of your blood in the mixture I applied to the straw hat to help him with the poison."
"You're... treating him?"
"Yes, yes! But it's not an easy treatment. It's been ten hours, and it doesn't seem like it will be over anytime soon."
"Ten hours?" You went to the door, looked through the small hole, and shouted, tears welling up in your eyes. "Luffy! You have to fight back! Ace's time is running out!" You began pounding on the door. "Luffy!" Your punches grew stronger, and a cut on your fist began to bleed. "Luffy! I came all this way with you, and I won't let you give up now!"
"HOLD ON, MUGI-CHAN!!!!! YOU CAN DO IT!!!" Bon-chan knelt on the ground and started yelling.
"You can do it, Luffy!" You joined in.
You stood in front of the door, just yelling so that Luffy could muster the strength to fight back. You hadn't been with him for long, but you couldn't deny that you had grown fond of him. And you wouldn't let him die, not in any way.
After what felt like an eternity, the screams stopped. You stood up and walked closer to the door.
"Miss Gyldepts... I... I'm sorry. I don't think he made it," Ivankov said from the background. You reached for the door.
"Come on, Luffy... Come on..." you whispered, almost like a prayer. Then, you quickly took a few steps back.
And just as you did, something slammed violently against the door. The pounding grew louder until the door burst open. Inside, his voice echoed loudly.
"FOOOOOOOOD!"
You fell to your knees on the ground, holding back tears of relief; Luffy was back.
Notes:
Til next week 💜
Chapter 19: Finally level 6
Notes:
(See the end of the chapter for notes.)
Chapter Text
Luffy began devouring all the available food to replenish his energy. You were on the ground, sitting next to Bon-chan, who was simply exhausted from shouting at Luffy to react. You knew he was an extremely loyal person and couldn't help but feel fondness for him. You gently placed his head in your lap and ran your fingers through his hair as you watched Luffy finish his meal.
Ever since you lost your crew, you had sworn not to trust anyone. But ever since you started traveling with the Straw Hat crew, you had entrusted your life to him and now to several others. You sighed, wondering what had come over you.
When Luffy finished, he came over to thank you for your help. Ivankov explained what Bon-chan and you had done for him, and how everyone had pitched in. They began discussing the plan, and the Straw Hat captain summoned Ivankov to join you all in the escape.
"I'm waiting for someone out there to start moving. My compatriot, the revolutionary Dragon."
"Ah, you mean my dad."
"Yes, your dad."
"D... Dad?!" You asked, bringing your hand to your mouth.
"Yeah, he's my dad."
"DAAAAAD?!!!" Ivan exclaimed in disbelief, rolling a few meters away.
"Luffy, he's simply the most wanted man in the world!" You looked at him, but he seemed unfazed. "You shouldn't just go around telling everyone!"
"She's right! Well... I can't let my fellow revolutionary's son just die in front of me! Inazuma, find out when Ace-boy is being moved. If the Vivre card still points downward, it means he hasn't been taken from here yet! Mugiwara-boy, we're going to help you!"
You and Luffy got up, but he was dizzy and fell again. Ivan approached him and administered a dose of his power.
"It's just an adrenaline shot! You won't feel fatigue until tomorrow, but it will have a terrible side effect, I doubt you care about that now. Let's go!"
So, all of you rushed to free Ace before it was too late.
Upon returning to the freezing hell, the wolves were already waiting for you. A much larger pack this time approached, but before anyone could start a fight, you ran ahead, raising your hand.
"Get out of the way, we don't have time!" You shouted at the animals, and they looked at you, quickly clearing a path for the group to pass.
"(Y/N)! You keep doing these weird things! How cool!" Luffy shouted to you as you ran, a sparkle in his eyes. You gave a small smile.
You reached the door, and Inazuma took the keys from his pocket, quickly unlocking it, and you all hurried down the stairs. Level 6 was finally within your reach.
Guards were everywhere, but you defeated them quickly. Upon reaching the infamous 6th level, Luffy began shouting for his brother. Ivan grabbed one of the guards and forced him to point to the cell, but when you arrived there, there was only one person inside. A fish-man, chained up.
"Are you the Straw Hat?" He asked, chained up.
"Who is..."
"Hurry! If you rush, you can still catch them!"
"Thank you very much, even though I don't know who you are!"
You spotted the elevator and rushed towards it. You knew that if you didn't, you wouldn't reach Ace. You lamented, wishing you had more time to search for that person. But Ace's life was at stake, and you had no time.
Ivan tried to operate the elevators, but the controls were stuck. Luffy then attempted to climb up the chains in the shaft, as the doors were open, but a trap was triggered, and he jumped just in time to avoid being crushed by a wall of spikes.
"Of course, they wouldn't make it easy! Let's go back the way we came!"
You all ran back to the staircase, but before you could reach it, a grate came down, blocking your path. Soon, gas started pouring out from the exit.
"I don't care!" Luffy shouted, heading towards the gas, but he fell to the ground, asleep. You facepalmed.
Inazuma's hands then turned into blades, and he started cutting the floor, creating large strips to cover the gas outlet, preventing it from entering. It was the power of the Akuma no mi, of course.
"Hey, Kani-chan! If you block the stairs, how am I going to reach Ace?" Luffy protested.
"It was the only way to stop the gas. We won't make it out unconscious! If that was the only way to stop it, I won't hesitate to do it," Inazuma said, and Luffy made a face. "The enemy's strategy was simple but effective; we're trapped here."
"Ace-boy must already be on the surface. There's no way to reach him here. Soon he'll be at Marine Ford," Ivan concluded.
"Well then... I'm going to Marine Ford," Luffy declared confidently, and you knew he meant it.
Ivankov tried to argue with Luffy, but you knew it was futile. You then felt someone's gaze on you and turned slowly. All you could see was a silhouette approaching one of the bars, and a golden hook gleaming in the dim light of the room.
"If you want to get out of here, take me with you. With my power, I could easily open a hole in this roof," he said, pausing as everyone looked at him. "Long time no see, Straw Hat!" He laughed in a deep tone that sent shivers down your spine.
"Croco...Dile!" Luffy exclaimed furiously.
While they argued, you knew you had a little free time and quietly slipped away.
You walked among the cells, looking for the person who had compelled you to come to this place. By the reaction of the prisoners at the entrance, you knew that no one would tell you anything if you asked about him. You walked, glancing at the cells, and the prisoners looked back at you, all in total silence. Then, you noticed, further in the back, a single cell in a dark and dusty area. You cautiously walked toward it. The other cells housed more than one prisoner, but this one had only one.
He was sitting there, his light blue hair covering his features. You approached the bars, and he moved slightly.
"How curious... I'm sure it's the first time you've come. You're not the guard who's used to bringing me food," he commented, leaning in a bit, and you noticed he wore a blindfold over his eyes. "Your aura is completely different." He stood up and approached the bars; he was quite tall, and you felt intimidated, but he didn't seem like a threat.
"I'm not a guard. I'm not a prisoner either..." you said, your voice uncertain. He tilted his head to the side.
"Very, very curious. I never receive visitors..." he pondered. "After all, they're prohibited here. Who are you, young lady?"
"Do you know Edward Gyldepts?" you asked, and he smiled.
"Of course, I do!" he said excitedly. "That sea dog is my best friend!" You couldn't help but smile at his enthusiasm. "You know him? Are you part of his crew? How is he?" he asked, gripping the bars of the cell. You sighed. "I've been locked up here for more than twenty years, without any news from the outside world. Tell me, what's he been up to?"
"He... He... Stopped sailing..."
"Stopped? But he never..." He paused, and his expression turned sad. "So he... I understand. It's been a long time?"
"About ten years," you managed to say, feeling your eyes welling up with tears.
"That's quite a melancholic tone, my young lady. You weren't just a simple companion of his, were you? Who are you?"
"I'm... (Y/N) Gyldepts," you said, and he fell into absolute silence. Then he broke into a wide smile.
"That scoundrel, he married that girl, didn't he? Haha, and look, they had a lovely daughter! You know, your eyes are identical to his." You were surprised; how did he know that if he was blindfolded? "Oh, don't be startled; I see in different ways," he said as if he could read your thoughts.
"Did you... Meet that girl? My mother?" you asked, biting your lip. He sighed.
"I never had the pleasure, unfortunately. He never even told me her name. But I know he had his reasons. So, daughter of Edward, what brings you here?"
"My father always spoke highly of you and regretted letting you get imprisoned."
"It wasn't his fault, I assure you. People simply fear what they don't understand, and that was my case. Locked away and erased from everyone's memory." You swallowed hard.
"I came hoping you could tell me something about my father and my mother and help me learn more about my origins, but it seems you know as much as I do..." You sighed, and he seemed to remember something, rummaging through his clothing pockets. When he couldn't find what he was looking for, he began feeling the bricks of the cell. "What... are you doing?"
"Wait a second..." he asked, still searching for something. Soon, a brick lower down, near the bed, loosened. He pulled something out from behind the small hole behind the brick and came to you. It was a small item wrapped in an old cloth. "This...!"
"What is it?" you asked.
"Hold out your hands, yes?" You promptly obeyed. He placed the package in your hands. "This was your father's. He gave it to me the last time we saw each other. He said he trusted only me to keep it. He never told me what it was or what it was for, but he said it had a connection to the woman he loved." He said, and you quickly opened the package.
It was a small wristwatch, rusty, and the chain was fragile. You opened the lid, but there was only one hand, and it didn't move. You noticed there was a compartment below the object, but it was empty. You had no idea what it was, but you were certain you recognized the item. You looked at the man.
"Can I keep this?" you asked, and he held it in your hands.
"You must. It's rightfully yours." He smiled and brought a hand to your face, caressing it. "I never met you, but I know you must have inherited her beauty. After all, it certainly didn't come from your father." Both of you started laughing. "I believe you didn't come here as an uninvited guest. So, you should leave soon, or you'll miss your chance to escape." He warned you, and you remembered the whole situation you were involved in. You safely stashed the item in the pocket of your pants. "Take care, (Y/N)."
"Don't you... want to come with us?" you asked, but he shook his head.
"It's not time for me to enter the stage yet." He said somberly, and you swallowed hard. "Don't worry; I have a feeling we'll meet again. Now go and take care, Gyldepts. Carry his legacy forward." He released you, and you stepped back, thanking him.
You ran back to the scene, pulling up the kimono again, the adrenaline making you feel hot. When you arrived, the man with the golden hook was free, as was the fish man. Great, more people for the team.
"(Y/N)! Where were you? We were looking for you to get out of here!" Luffy came up
to you, and you shook your head.
"I'm here now. Shall we?" You looked at him with confidence, and he smiled. "Let's save Ace."
Notes:
Till next week, love you all 💜
Chapter 20: The spectacular escape!
Notes:
(See the end of the chapter for notes.)
Chapter Text
You four were sprinting up the staircases, reaching level four again. Ivankov had stayed behind to gather his army and create chaos to aid in the escape. You were accompanied by Luffy, Jimbe, and Crocodile. When they reached the door, the man leaned against the object and simply dismantled it. Another handy skill.
On the other side, hundreds of guards were already waiting, and without hesitation, they opened fire. You skillfully drew your pistols and began shooting, deflecting every shot that came your way, along with the fish-man. You knew Luffy couldn't be harmed by regular ammo, and the other man was a Logia. As expected, the bullets passed through his body.
You and the hook-handed man surged ahead and quickly defeated the first wave of guards. The others followed closely behind, and you continued to advance. You quickly dispatched the guards while Crocodile veered off your path and released a specific prisoner. As soon as he returned to your group, Ivankov also appeared, leading his Okama companions, and chaos ensued, but not for your group this time, but rather for the guards.
You all continued advancing together, and the strength you had might just be enough to break free from this place.
"Mugiwara-boy, get out of here! You don't have time to waste! We can handle these guards; just keep moving!" Ivan ordered, and Luffy promptly took off running, with you right by his side the whole time, not entirely trusting some of your companions. You were paying a lot of attention to the hook-handed man; you sensed a lot of malice from him. But you had to admit you were also staring at him for other reasons. Your face blushed slightly at the thought.
Soon, three enormous creatures appeared in your path; they were the level four hell guards. Before you could react, one of them came charging towards you. As you were about to respond, Crocodile jumped in front of you, attacking the creature with excessive force, while Jimbe and Luffy took care of the other two.
"Don't get distracted at a time like this, Gunslinger," he warned, and you blushed, looking away.
"Shut up and mind your own business." You continued running, and he just smirked in mockery.
"Stop right there! You're not getting away after what you did to my pets~," said a tall, provocatively dressed woman, holding a trident in her hands.
"It's Sadi! The level 4 guard!" one of the prisoners exclaimed and tried to attack her. She took out a whip and easily defeated them. You stared her down.
"Hey, you weirdo, move out of the way." You threatened, drawing your pistols. "Luffy, go ahead; I'll handle her."
"Oh, that's something I'd love to watch," the hook-handed man commented, and you widened your eyes, turning your head.
"Look, (Y/N)'s swing more than hers. I wonder why?" Luffy blurted out, crossing his arms in confusion. Your face turned crimson.
"Luffy, I told you to stop talking about them!" You crossed your arms over your chest, hiding.
"Ah, you look so cute when you're embarrassed~," she almost moaned, cracking her whip on the ground. "I'll enjoy making that face contort in pain!" She licked her lips, and you swallowed hard. All the men in the vicinity just stopped for a few seconds, staring at the two of you intensely.
"Stop... Quit saying stuff like that!" You whipped out your pistols and dashed towards her, shooting as you went. But she skillfully used the whip to deflect your bullets. Realizing that ranged attacks weren't effective, you holstered your pistols and decided to engage in hand-to-hand combat.
You skillfully avoided her whip strikes and managed to get close enough to deliver a punch to her face. She stumbled back a few steps, and you took the opportunity to try and disarm her. However, she swiftly kicked your leg, causing you to fall to the ground. With a firm grip on your hair, she put you in a headlock, cutting off your air supply. Despite your struggles, you were unable to free yourself. Her hand, which held the whip, brushed against her exposed abdomen, and she grinned. You couldn't help but blush as you realized everyone was watching your fight, which was starting to take on a different meaning.
Thinking quickly, you used her body weight against her and forcefully leaned back, smashing the back of your head into her nose. This caused her grip on your neck to loosen. Capitalizing on the opportunity, you elbowed her in the stomach, causing her to stagger back and release her hold on you. Seizing her arm, you tossed her forcefully to the ground. Stepping back, you regained your distance as she struggled to get up, a bit dazed. She licked her bloodied lips and smiled even more. She sensually ran her hands over her own body, emitting a small moan of excitement.
"Hmmm...this is more thrilling than I anticipated! Come on, Gunslinger, let me inflict even more pain on you!" You caught a glimpse of the hook-handed man hiding his face with his hand out of the corner of your eye. Luffy maintained a serious expression, but his cheeks seemed slightly flushed, although you were sure he didn't understand why.
"I told you to knock it off, you crazy woman!" you growled in frustration. She raised her whip threateningly. "Let's finish this once and for all!"
She attempted to strike you with the whip, but this time, you stood your ground. Just as she was about to hit you, you swiftly grabbed the whip, surprising her and causing her to loosen her grip on the gun. With a swift tug, you managed to disarm her, now possessing the whip yourself. With the whip tightly wrapped around your fist, you unleashed a flurry of powerful strikes. Your lightning-fast punches overwhelmed her, as she struggled to keep up with your rapid pace, receiving a series of consecutive blows.
When she was almost out of it, you pushed her down and she ended up on all fours on the floor, breathing heavily and spitting out some blood. Before she could get up, you sat on her back, legs crossed, and wrapped the whip around her neck, pulling to finish her off. She tried to loosen the rope, but the more she struggled, the more pressure you applied. A wicked grin spread across your face as she fought beneath you. She let out one final moan, and then her body went limp. You knew she was only unconscious, but you chose not to finish her off. Standing up, you let go of the whip. Everyone stared at you, confused.
"What's the matter? We need to go!" you yelled in frustration, and everyone started running. Crocodile glanced at you and grinned.
"Hey, I think you should add that move to your repertoire. It would be a hit."
"Listen, keep your opinions to yourself or you're next!"
"Glad to" he replied in a lower, more alluring tone. You blushed immediately.
"I already can't stand you, you know?"
********
As they reached the gate, Luffy was already there, facing the vice-director. You quickly concealed your mask again, fearing that he might recognize you on the spot and link Hancock to the incident. Luffy was on the verge of defeating the vice-director when someone fell from the sky right onto him, driving the man's face into the ground. A malevolent presence sent shivers down your spine, and your hands instinctively went for the pistols in your holster. Your mouth went dry – what kind of terror was this?
"Teach, what are you doing here? Or should I call you Blackbeard now?" Jimbe asked, irritation in his voice, and you stared at him intently.
"Why the long face, Jimbe? Ah, yes, you were Ace's friend. But you don't need to hate me for that," he said mockingly, and you felt your blood boil.
"Are you Blackbeard?" Furious, Luffy asked. The man grinned.
"Oh, yes, I guess I never told you my name, did I? It's been a while, Straw Hat! But are you sure you want to stand here chatting? Your brother's execution is about to begin! Zehahahahah!" He laughed, and you lost your composure. You fired, and surprisingly, the shot hit him squarely in the arm.
"Shut your filthy mouth!" you snarled, seething with anger. "You'll pay with your life for what you've done!" You continued to shoot, but he dodged the lethal shots.
"What are you talking about, woman? I don't even know you!"
"But you know Horst, don't you?" You shouted angrily, and his smile widened.
"Ah, so you're Gyldepts, the Gunslinger? Zehahahahaha! Fate is indeed quite interesting!"
"Where is that bastard!?"
"In the New World, waiting for me," he said ominously, and you trembled, tears freely streaming down your face. "Poor thing, poor thing. You've lost everything, haven't you? How does it feel? Angry? Frustrated? Responsible? You know, it's all your fault! You have the blood of each of them on your hands."
You opened your eyes in shock and started walking toward him. You forgot everything. You just wanted to kill him. However, Jimbe held you back by the arms.
"(Y/N)-san, we don't have time! Luffy-san, we need to get out of here now! Ace depends on us!" he said, and you sighed, your nose red and tears still flowing, but you remained in absolute silence.
Luffy then rushed at him and struck him hard, sending him flying across the scene. He quickly used his abilities and pinned Luffy to the ground, blood oozing from his wound. Jimbe pushed you away from the man with the hook and ran to Luffy, preventing him from advancing further.
"Luffy! Let's go! Think about your priorities! You have to save your strength to reach Ace!"
Soon, something on the other side of the level exploded, and the prisoners began to scream; it was Director Magellan.
"Damn it, we need to go!" you shouted, emerging from the pit of madness you had plunged into and wiping the tears from your face.
You all started running, passing by Teach, who didn't stop you. You needed to get out of there quickly; time was running out.
In the distance, you could only hear the director shouting.
"Straw Hat!! I won't let you escape from here alive!"
Notes:
Til next week, love you all 💜
Chapter 21: Finally, the exit
Notes:
(See the end of the chapter for notes.)
Chapter Text
You guys kept moving forward, defeating waves of guards and losing several prisoners along the way. You couldn't afford to waste a single second, or the warden would catch up to you before you found the exit.
Finally, you reached the entrance to Level 1. You were so close, but you couldn't afford to stop now. Surprisingly, there was already a rebellion happening there, led by none other than Buggy, even though it was you who had freed the prisoners from that place. But the joy didn't last long when, halfway through, the poison Hydra entered the floor.
"Damn, he's here!" you shouted as you pushed forward through the guards.
"Luffy-san! We need to get to the ship immediately, or we won't be able to get out of here!" Jimbe warned, and you all began to run even faster.
"The Hydra is coming!!!" someone yelled, and you turned just in time to see the attack approaching too fast. Before you could react, the man with the number 3 positioned himself between you and raised a wall of wax, stopping the poison.
"Go now, Straw Hat! I won't hold up for long! I can't live with a debt to you!"
"Wow, I forgot you could do that!" Luffy exclaimed excitedly, and you breathed a sigh of relief. "Jimbe, were you talking about the ship?"
"That's right, we need to hurry and get one."
"(Y/N), go with Jimbe and help him steal a ship for us! I'll stay here and hold this guy off. We won't get anywhere with him on our tail!"
"But Luffy, how are you going to do that? Let me stay and help you!" He shook his head and looked at the man with the number 3.
"I have an idea. Just go with him, Gyl!" You stared at him and acquiesced to his request.
You ran alongside the fish-man but kept looking back.
"Don't worry. He'll be fine," Jimbe reassured you. "He's been through a lot to get here; he won't fail now."
"You're right. Thanks," you said, giving him a small smile, and you continued on your way.
As you passed through the gates, you were faced with the open sea, but no anchored ships.
"Damn, all the ships are gone!" a prisoner yelled. Crocodile crossed his arms.
"The enemy is not as stupid as we thought. The Calm Belt itself is Impel Down's greatest defense." You looked closely at the horizon.
"What are those silhouettes in the distance?" you asked. Jimbe smiled.
"They're our way out. They're ships. Don't worry; you have me!" he shouted, and you looked at him intently.
He knocked the wooden gate into the water and jumped, carrying it on his back.
"I need some of you to come with me to take the warship." He said, and you jumped onto the platform without thinking. Soon, you were followed by Crocodile and the sword-wielding man. "Anyone else?" No one spoke up, and when he was about to leave, Buggy fell face-first onto the platform but quickly got up.
Jimbe started taking them across the sea at a surprising speed, and soon you could see the warships. But your relief was short-lived when shots began coming your way. A bullet was heading directly for the platform you were on, so you jumped into the air and kicked it before it could make its way, diverting it into the sea. You landed back on the platform as it stopped moving. Jimbe had dived, with several shots fired around him. Soon, you felt the sea moving beneath you, and a burst of water shot up from the ocean floor, heading toward the nearest ship, and clearing the deck. You knew it was your cue.
As if they had read your mind, the men also jumped from the platform to the deck, and the Marines surrounded you.
"Protect the ship with your lives!" one of them said, pointing guns at you.
"Let's throw them all into the sea! They're Devil Fruit users; victory will be ours! And even if they're not, the Sea Kings will take care of them!" Another said confidently.
"Then try it! Let's see who succeeds!" the man with the hook challenged, and everyone flinched in fear.
You quickly cleared the ship of Marines, taking control of it. Now you just needed to go back and rescue Luffy and the others. Suddenly, a wall was destroyed in the prison, and something was thrown, but before it could fall into the water, several whale sharks appeared, ensuring it didn't hit the sea and bringing it onto the ship. You looked at Jimbe and gestured "okay" to him, and he chuckled.
The whale sharks soon threw everyone onto the ship's deck, and you ran toward Luffy and unexpectedly jumped on him, hugging him.
"You're okay...!" you sighed in relief, embracing him.
"I can't...breathe...!" he said muffled between your bosom, and you immediately let go of him. "Phew! I didn't know you were so affectionate, (Y/N)!" You scoffed.
"Don't get used to it; it won't happen again! It was just an impulse." You crossed your arms and walked away.
The ship set sail, but soon, a massive obstacle was in front of you. The Gates of Justice. If they didn't open, you wouldn't be able to pass. You stared fixedly at the gates and clenched your fists. You hadn't come this far to stop here. Shots were getting closer and closer to you, and even though you defended the ship, it was only a matter of time before they could sink you. Amid the chaos, you heard the loud noise of something opening, and when you turned, you could see a gap getting wider.
You didn't expect it to happen, but a miracle occurred, and the gates began to open.
Jimbe was at the helm and seemed to be the only one not celebrating. You approached him and looked at him intrigued.
"Is something wrong, Jimbe-san?" you asked, and he sighed.
"The gates. They opened because someone bet their own life on us." He said. Luffy came closer.
"Who?" The Straw Hat asked.
"Bon-chan."
"What!?" You and Luffy shouted in disbelief, and he handed you a small Den Den Mushi.
"He decided to stay behind to ensure the gates would open. What do you want to do, Luffy-san? We don't have time!"
"And are we going to leave him behind?"
"Do you realize how many we've left behind to get here?" he asked, and Luffy lowered his head. "The Den Den Mushi has a short range, but it's still connected."
Luffy took the object in his trembling hands.
"Hey, Bon-chan!! Why are you doing this? Is it going to be like last time? Weren't we supposed to escape together!? Why do you always have to sacrifice yourself to save me!?" He began to scream in despair, and you stood by his side, a gentle hand on his shoulder. "If you're listening, say something! Answer me!"
Soon, all the prisoners gathered around and started shouting for him, but still, there was no response. You sighed deeply.
"The gates are closing; we have to go, Bon-chan. Thank you for saving Luffy and me." You said softly and gently.
"Thank you for everything, Bon-chan!!!" Luffy shouted with all his might.
"Mugi-chan, make sure you save your brother!" His voice echoed through the device, and you smiled relieved that he was alive. "And Gyl-chan, take care of Mugi-chan, protect him for me!"
"I will, Bon-chan, I promise!" you shouted urgently as they passed through the gates and sealed behind them. The device fell silent, and you bit your lip hard, tears welling up in your eyes. You sighed and stepped away from everyone as a collective cry of grief swept across the ship for Bon-chan's sacrifice.
Notes:
Till next week 💜
Chapter 22: Sailing Towards Marine Ford
Notes:
(See the end of the chapter for notes.)
Chapter Text
While they were still mourning the loss of Bon-chan, you walked over to the helm where Jimbe was, accompanied by the man with the hook. You leaned against the edge, gazing out at the calm sea, the breeze gently ruffling your hair. You pulled the object from your pocket and examined it more closely, as an argument unfolded behind you. You didn't pay much attention until something hit you, and you ended up cutting your finger on the object's pointer. You turned around in irritation and saw the Straw Hat and the clown arguing. You then refocused on the object, noticing that a drop of your blood had fallen on it and dripped into the compartment below. Out of nowhere, the pointer began spinning rapidly and stopped, pointing at you.
You tilted your head to the side, puzzled, and started to lift it, but as you moved it away, the pointer shifted again, still pointing at you. It didn't matter where you placed it or how far you moved it; it continued to point at you. To test your theory, you wiped all the blood off the object, and the pointer stopped completely, no longer moving in your direction. You smiled and understood the basic functioning of it, so you put it back in your pocket.
"Captain Buggy, Luffy-san, thank you! Thanks to you, I might have a chance to save Ace," Jimbe said, and you turned to see the two mentioned men approaching. You could even look at the clown without feeling too much fear now, though you still preferred not to stare for too long.
"You don't need to thank us. I'm just thrilled to have you on our side. You're pretty strong, aren't you?" Luffy asked, smiling, and he seemed to be pondering something.
"Call me Jimbe. I used to be a Shichibukai, but that title has been revoked. So, I'm with you to the Marine HQ! And we're going to save Ace!"
"WHAT!?" Luffy and Buggy shouted in unison.
"You're a Shichibukai?! No wonder you're so strong!" Luffy exclaimed, and you rolled your eyes.
"You seriously didn't know?" You gave him a light smack.
"What's this about the Marine HQ? I hope this ship isn't heading there!" Buggy asked indignantly, and Crocodile released smoke from his mouth, holding his cigar.
"What kind of talk is this? It's your fault!" He said, and the clown was even more terrified. "When a ship passes through the Gates of Justice, there are only two paths: Enies Lobby or Marineford. It's sailing on the government's exclusive route. We only left there because we have business in this Marine war against Whitebeard."
"No one told us about this!!!" The prisoners screamed, and chaos erupted. You shook your head in disbelief; they were too noisy.
Amid the chaos, a den-den mushi inside the ship's mast started ringing, and Luffy answered.
"This is the Marine HQ."
"Oh hey, I'm Luffy."
"Don't give them your name, you idiot!" You shouted and smacked him again.
"We received a report from Impel Down about your escape, led by two pirates, Captain Buggy and Luffy of the Straw Hat. Buggy, we initially thought you were just a random pirate and didn't take proper precautions with you. But we found out you were a crewmember of the Oro Jackson, Gold Roger's ship."
"W-what!!!!??" Everyone shouted in shock, including you, who had just recalled that Rayleigh had mentioned him during your conversation in Sabaody. You hadn't connected the dots.
"And that's not all; you're a close friend of Yonko Red-Haired Shanks!"
"What is this??????" Everyone yelled again, and you stared at him in astonishment. He knew Shanks!?
All the prisoners gathered around the clown, bombarding him with questions. You had to admit that he wasn't as useless as you had thought. You mustered the courage to approach him.
"So, Rayleigh mentioned you," you began. Luffy moved closer to you.
"Right, (Y/N)! He told us about Buggy. I forgot about that."
"What, you met him? How is he?"
"He's doing great, very much alive!" You said and sighed.
"I bet he asked you out for a date; the old man loves a pretty young lady like you." The clown remarked and then stopped. You both locked eyes and turned away, embarrassed.
Soon, the other prisoners came to ask more questions, and you backed away while the clown basked in the attention and earned the respect of everyone.
Some more time passed, and Jimbe turned to you.
"You're Gyldepts, the Gunslinger, right?" You looked at him and approached.
"Yes, that's me."
"You're not a captain from the notorious Worst Generation? How did you end up here with Luffy-san?" He asked, and you frowned. Crocodile started paying attention to the conversation, casually sitting nearby. Luffy and Buggy were also close. You sighed deeply. "I guess it's a sensitive matter, probably related to Blackbeard. Alright, miss, I didn't mean to be impolite; you don't have to answer."
"You can't be a captain without a crew or a ship. I lost both," you said, leaning against the side and looking out at the sea. "I was betrayed by one of my crew members; we were ambushed and defeated. I wasn't strong enough to protect them, and they were all dead. My ship and treasure are gone, as well as my crew's bodies. I couldn't even give them a proper burial," your voice faltered as a tear trickled down your cheek. "But I will make him pay. He will suffer for every death he causes. And Teach, too, for inciting him and helping him in his plan. No one will escape my grief; it will crush them until they're just memories, even if I have to die for it. I promise that."
You took a deep breath and trembled slightly. It was the first time you had talked about what happened, and you felt a small weight lifting from your heart. Luffy walked over to you, not saying a word, and then, when he was close enough, he hugged you.
You froze in place, unsure how to react. After a moment, you timidly put your arms around him, accepting his comfort. He let you go and smiled at you. Without saying anything, he stepped away, leaving you lost in your thoughts.
"It's a sad story, but quite vague," Crocodile turned to you, and you gave him a stern look. "I suppose there are things that nobody needs to know, right?"
"Exactly," you said, crossing your arms.
"What's the name of your ship?" He asked out of the blue, and you looked at him curiously.
"The JackDawn," you answered, and he nodded. "Why do you ask?"
"I'll keep an eye out there. Maybe I'll get lucky, and your treasure is still on it," he said without elaborating further, and you shrugged.
"It's all black, including the sails. There's a skull with wings on the prow."
"Hey, girl, I couldn't help but notice the design on your scarf. It was Shanks', wasn't it?" the clown asked, and only now did you notice him nearby. You brought your hands to your head.
"How did you know?"
"He used to draw that symbol everywhere. He said it was his signature. So, you know Shanks too?"
"Yes, I do."
"From where?"
"From the sea."
"Ah."
"I had the same conversation with her! Good times," Luffy said, smiling. You rolled your eyes. "Hey, look! You can already see the Gates of Justice."
You all looked ahead, noticing the imposing gates. But how were you going to get through them?
Suddenly, as if by another miracle, they opened.
"But... How?" Jimbe exclaimed, bewildered.
"We don't have time to think about it; let's just go through!" you shouted, and he quickly took the helm and steered the ship.
"Now that we've passed through the gate, I'm worried if your dad will show up or not," Ivankov remarked, standing next to Luffy.
"Our dad?" Luffy asked in confusion.
"Well, I imagine he won't just sit idly by when his son is about to be executed."
"Oh no, Ace and I don't have the same dad or mom! Ace is Gold Roger's son, but he never even met his dad. It's annoying; he gets really mad when I bring it up."
"WHAT!?" Another chorus of voices erupted.
"Oh, but that was supposed to be a secret too!"
"WHAT????" The shouts echoed once more.
After the commotion died, you could see a dense fog in the distance, with a silhouette hidden within. A chill ran down your spine, and you knew that was your destination.
What kind of challenges awaited you there?
Notes:
Till next Week love you all!
Chapter 23: Arrival at the battlefield
Notes:
(See the end of the chapter for notes.)
Chapter Text
Upon seeing the silhouette approach, you could feel the sea roiling. The waves grew stronger, and the wind more violent.
"Hey, look at that!" a former prisoner shouted, and all of you turned to look.
"W... what is that!?" the scared clown cried out. You were in shock.
"It's a... tsunami!" you exclaimed and ran over to Jimbe. "Jimbe-san, we need to do something, or we'll be sunk here!"
"She's right, I can't be defeated by a tsunami here! I have to save Ace!" Luffy chimed in.
"Men, to the sails! Let's ride the tsunami!"
"What? Are you crazy? Shouldn't we be running from it!?" Buggy intervened angrily.
The prisoners began to scream in desperation, trying to convince Jimbe to change course.
"How long have you been pirates?" Crocodile's strong voice echoed. "Are you amateurs? If we change course, we'll collide with the side of the wave and be sunk. There's no other path to follow."
"That's right, now hold onto something or you'll be swept away by the wave," Jimbe added, and everyone rushed in one direction.
You clung to the ship's side, wrapping your arm around the wood to stay steady. The man with the hook sitting at the bow, on top of a cannon, descended and leaned against your side. You gave him a questioning look, uncomfortable with the proximity, but he ignored you, staring fixedly at the horizon. The ship began to move backward, carried by the current created by the wave. You were already in the middle of the wave when the ship started tilting at a high speed, heading towards the top.
You were frightened, and your hand slipped, feeling your body slide downward. You tried to hold onto something until you felt an arm wrap around your waist and pull you back; your back hit something hard, keeping you in place. When you looked at your waist, you could see the arm attached to the golden hook, and you knew exactly who had saved you. You felt embarrassed and didn't dare to look at him, but you didn't need to. You knew he had a mischievous little grin on his lips.
The ship continued at full speed until it reached the top of the wave. Just when you thought the danger had passed, the ship stopped abruptly.
You blinked several times in confusion, while everyone seemed as surprised as you. They let go and started walking around to figure out what had happened. However, you were still held in place.
"I think we've stopped. You can let go of me now," you said; he chuckled.
"Only if you ask nicely."
"Don't make me stick a knife in your eye, please."
"See? It wasn't that hard." He slowly released his arm from around your waist, and you promptly moved away from him, going to the edge of the ship and looking down.
Ice.
The wave was frozen, completely petrified. Crocodile descended from the ship and walked on the ice to the edge.
"What the heck happened?" the clown asked.
"Look down there, and you'll understand."
You descended from the ship and ran to the edge, looking down.
"It's already started," you said, staring at the abyss in front of you. You swallowed hard.
"Guys, I have an idea to get out of here!" Luffy shouted from the top of the ship.
After explaining his plan, he and the others began to discuss but were soon interrupted by a transmission coming from the Den-Den Mushi on the ship.
They were going to execute Ace ahead of schedule.
"WE'RE OUT OF TIME! WE HAVE TO RUN!" Luffy shouted, and you acted on impulse.
You were still on the ice, so you drew your guns and started running, shooting at the ice to weaken it. Then you jumped back onto the ship and climbed up. You held onto the mainmast rope and cut it, propelling yourself up to the crow's nest. Everyone stopped arguing and looked at you with curiosity. You climbed as high as you could and then jumped again, heading for the ice. With more shots, the ice began to crack, and the ship started to sway.
You then delivered a powerful kick to the already weakened ice, causing it to break. The ship broke free and started sliding, but the entire ice sheet began to split, and you ended up falling in the opposite direction, right in the middle of Marineford.
Everyone plummeted from the sky, but at least they had managed to free themselves, right? Maybe you had overdone it with your strength.
As you fell, Luffy let out a shout using all his breath.
"ACEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!" his cry for his brother could be heard across the battlefield.
By some miracle, the ship landed in the only part of the area where the sea wasn't frozen. You recovered from the shock and soon emerged, climbing onto the ice and positioning yourself on the battlefield. You could already smell the scent of blood and death, feel the overwhelming aura of the place, and tighten your grip on your pistols.
"ACEEEE!!! WE'VE COME TO SAVE YOU!!!" Luffy shouted again, and as you looked into the distance, you could see the execution platform and the infamous Ace still alive on it. You let out a small sigh of relief. But then your body tensed once more. You felt a powerful murderous intent, and when you looked to the side, Crocodile had disappeared. You exchanged glances with Luffy, and both of you ran.
The sandman quickly appeared behind Whitebeard, who was on the deck of his ship, Moby Dick. He tried to attack, but before he could complete his move, you appeared, shooting at him, distracting him while Luffy managed to block his blow. The two of you landed on each side of the pirate, protecting him from Crocodile.
"We had a deal, didn't we? Why are you defending Whitebeard?" Croco-boy asked angrily. You aimed your guns at him.
"If he's Whitebeard, then he's important to Ace," Luffy said.
"We won't let you touch the old man," you added.
"This straw hat looks a lot like what the Red-Haired used to wear," a powerful voice said, and you looked up at the big pirate.
"Oh, you know Shanks? I borrowed it from him."
"So you came to save your brother?"
"That's right."
"Getting involved in this war is throwing your life away!"
"Don't bother! You don't get to decide that! I heard you want to become the Pirate King, right? Well, forget it! I'm the one who's going to become the Pirate King!" Luffy exclaimed confidently, shocking everyone. How could he say such a thing in the presence of a powerful Yonko?
"It seems there's no other way, huh? Just don't get in my way!"
"I'll do whatever I want! I'm going to save Ace!" He shouted, and you sighed.
"Sometimes I don't know what I've gotten myself into," you commented, crossing your arms. Whitebeard then looked at you.
"You, young lady, I feel like I know you from somewhere. What's your name?"
"(Y/N) Gyldepts."
"Are you... Edward Gyldepts' daughter?" He asked, stroking his chin.
"Yes, I am."
"Guahahaha," he chuckled, and then his massive hand reached out to you. You closed your eyes, expecting some sort of attack, but he just gently patted the top of your head. "Your father was part of my crew before he had his own. He's one of my dear sons."
"What?????" You exclaimed in disbelief.
"So, the old man is your grandfather!?" Luffy shouted in shock, and you slapped your hand to your face.
"Luffy, don't be an idiot, of course he's n—"
"Exactly!" Beamed Whitebeard and you groaned. "What brings you to this war, little one?"
"Luffy. I'm here to help him. I'm fulfilling a promise to protect him." He nodded.
"Be careful, my daughter."
"I... will be." You looked at him. "When all of this is over... Would you tell me more about my father?" You asked hopefully, and he gave a bittersweet smile.
"Of course."
"Thank you...." You paused for a moment. "Grandpa." He genuinely smiled at you.
Notes:
Till next week, love you all <3
Chapter 24: Race Against time
Notes:
(See the end of the chapter for notes.)
Chapter Text
After warning about the impending execution, you guys leaped off Moby Dick's deck towards the ice, embarking on your grueling journey toward Ace.
But as you started running, Kizaru appeared. You froze, recalling the encounter on Sabaody. He aimed an attack in your direction. You were about to throw Luffy out of harm's way when Ivankov intervened, using his Death Wink to save you.
"Thanks, Iva-chan!" Luffy shouted as you pulled him along, not stopping.
"I must keep you alive! Keep going!"
You continued, but up ahead, there was another obstacle. A Marine woman with the power to restrain anyone she touched. Luffy didn't stop and activated his Gear 2, holding your hand and running together, passing the woman before she could react.
A battalion of Marine soldiers advanced on you, and you fought hard to go further. In the background, a massive onion-shaped man taunted the straw hat, and you recognized him as another Shichibukai.
"LUFFY, DON'T COME!" For the first time, you heard Ace's voice echoing through the area. You watched him. "We're both pirates living our adventures! I don't remember asking you to come! I have my comrades. Do you think a weakling like you stands a chance!? GET OUT OF HERE, LUFFY, WHY ARE YOU HERE!?" You sighed, his words were harsh, but you knew he only wanted to protect his brother from the immense danger you all faced.
"BECAUSE I'M YOUR BROTHER!" Luffy shouted with all his spirit, and you sighed, battling the onslaught of soldiers at the command of the onion man. You wouldn't let anything happen to Luffy.
Soon, a wave of salt water surged in your direction, hitting all the soldiers. For some reason, they simply stopped moving. You looked to the side, and there was Jimbe.
"Jimbe!" Luffy exclaimed excitedly.
"(Y/N)-san, take Luffy and get out of here; you don't have time! Reach Ace!" You complied, pulling Luffy by the hand, and both of you continued running.
As you pushed your way through the soldiers, the room's loudspeaker began to broadcast the words of the Marine Commander.
"This rookie is extremely dangerous! In addition to being raised as Ace's adopted brother, he also... is the blood son of the Revolutionary Dragon!"
"Why is everyone deciding to spill secrets today!?" You shouted in alarm, and the battlefield fell into complete shock. "I just hope it doesn't come back to haunt me!"
"NO MATTER WHAT YOU SAY, ACE! I'LL SAVE YOU EVEN IF IT COSTS ME MY LIFE!" Luffy shouted confidently, and you knew he meant it.
As they ran, they passed a bespectacled swordswoman who yelled in alarm.
"Straw Hat...!" When he turned to look at her, someone appeared out of nowhere and struck him in the face with the tip of a Jitte. You started firing, but the bullets passed through his body. A Logia user, perfect. He looked at you intrigued.
"Well, if it isn't Gyldepts, the Gunslinger. What unusual company you've found, Straw Hat," he said, releasing smoke from his mouth. You had no way to deal with a Logia user, not right now.
He turned to Luffy and began to attack him. You kept shooting, without success, trying to distract him. He hit Luffy again, pinning him to the ground with the Jitte against his throat. You knew he wouldn't free himself from that since you felt Kairouseki in the weapon. You ran to them and shot at the weapon, causing the man's grip on it to loosen, and Luffy managed to escape from underneath him.
"Wow, I'm heartbroken now. Ignored by such a handsome man," you said mockingly, preparing to fight him. "Luffy, go ahead."
"Do you think you can handle me, Gunslinger?"
"We'll see."
"There won't be a need for that!" A familiar voice shouted as she approached. She kicked the man and sent him flying a few meters. When you looked to your side, you saw Hancock. "I won't allow you to continue laying your filthy hands on my Luffy!" She shouted at the man, furious. "(Y/N)-Sama! Take Luffy and get out of here." She approached you and handed something to Luffy. They were the keys to Ace's handcuffs. You had no idea how she got them, but you both thanked her. Luffy hugged her, and she practically melted in his embrace.
You took the young man and continued on your way. You glanced back and saw that she was handling the Logia user quite well. Her Haki was quite powerful; you wished you could use it too.
But the further you advanced, the more powerful the enemies became. Up ahead, you could see none other than the world's most powerful swordsman, Dracule Mihawk. You swallowed hard; he was not an opponent you wanted to face.
He drew his sword and unleashed a powerful strike that came toward you. You pushed Luffy and rolled to the side, narrowly avoiding being sliced. You barely managed to get back on your feet, and he was already attacking again. You began to shoot indiscriminately to delay him as much as possible, and then he delivered a direct blow towards you. You saw the strike coming at you and about to split you in two. You gasped, blinked a few times, and noticed that he was still raising his sword, the strike hadn't been delivered yet.
You didn't understand how, but it was as if you had seen the trajectory of the attack before it happened. And when it came, you managed to dodge it.
You were getting close to him; a little more, and you could pass by. But when Luffy prepared to attack, he suddenly pulled back his hands. You knew that if he had attacked, he would have had his arms cut off.
Even closer, the man launched a horizontal attack, and you kicked Luffy's leg, knocking him to the ground to avoid the blow. The shockwave that followed was strong enough to cut through the iceberg in the background. You shivered; this man was simply a beast.
You dodged his attacks, but you couldn't get past them. You were running out of options when Luffy extended his arms upward and pulled something, throwing it in front of the attack. It was none other than Buggy. Every time Mihawk tried to cut him, Luffy used the clown as a shield, which split faster than the man could cut.
It would be a great distraction, you thought as you pulled Luffy and started running. Some commotion on the battlefield began, and hundreds of Pacifistas surrounded the pirate ships in the bay. A knot formed in your stomach as you remembered the events of Sabaody. You didn't want to have to face them.
Further ahead, you felt an attack coming, and instinctively, you threw yourself before Luffy, taking the blow. You were thrown a few meters away, a cut forming on your abdomen, and you were bleeding, while your body emitted smoke. You collided with something hard that stopped your fall.
"(Y/N)!" Luffy cried out, and you looked at what you had hit and sighed in relief.
"Jimbe..." You coughed up a bit of blood and got up, panting. You ran your hand over the cut and checked it. "It's not too deep..." You tore a strip from your kimono and wrapped it around your waist to stop the bleeding. When you looked ahead, you could see your attacker, Kizaru. "You again..."
"Do you think I'll let the two of you escape after what happened at Sabaody? The Celestial Dragons won't leave us in peace until we have your heads."
"Ace's brother, are you already tired?" A man in a kimono appeared, accompanied by several others. "You can't let a simple admiral stop you. Come with us!" He shouted, and you continued to advance once again.
You still had a long way to go to reach Ace.
Notes:
Till next week, love you all ❤❤
Chapter 25: Stronger Enemies
Notes:
(See the end of the chapter for notes.)
Chapter Text
Soon, the battlefield turned into an even worse hell. Walls rose around, and a rain of lava began to fall, destroying Whitebeard's ship and causing a significant loss for the pirates. You had to hurry, or the path ahead would close forever.
But you noticed a single hole in the wall ahead. Without hesitation, Luffy launched himself, hoping to get through. Before you could stop him, a powerful shot threw him near you.
"Luffy! Think for a moment! If it's open, they're obviously guarding it!" You helped him up as Ivankov and Jimbe approached.
"I need to do something! They're trying to kill Ace now!" He shouted, and the men exchanged glances.
"If that's the only entrance, we really have to come up with something!" Jimbe added.
"Iva-chan, I need your help!" He looked at you, holding onto your arm. "Are you coming, (Y/N)?" You gave a small smile.
"Until the end."
**************
You couldn't imagine the foolish idea he had, but you should have expected something like this. Holding onto a piece of wood, Jimbe used his control over the tide to throw both of you over the walls. You landed on the other side, facing an even larger battalion of marines.
When you looked ahead, fear froze your entire body. You had fallen right in front of the three admirals of the Navy.
"This is bad..." You whispered quietly, trembling hands gripping your pistols as you pointed them.
"Look at that... Straw Hat and Gunslinger. Who would've thought you'd come this far?" Aokiji said in a not-so-serious tone.
"This Dragon's son is truly impetuous..."
"This youth today is frightening."
"I'm taking Ace with me no matter what!" Luffy raised the wood he held and threw it towards the admirals. Aokiji froze it, and instantly, you shot at the object, shattering it and causing it to fall on the men. Seizing the confusion, you pulled Luffy, and you both continued running.
Luffy activated his Gear 2 to escape, and you clung to his neck, but Kizaru intercepted you.
"Too slow..." He prepared a kick and hit both of you, knocking you to the ground. You got up panting, clothes torn, and blood oozing from some wounds.
"DO IT NOW!" Sengoku's powerful voice echoed through the area. You and Luffy looked incredulously at the execution platform, where guards next to Ace raised their swords, ready to behead him.
But before they could actually do it, a sharp breeze came towards them, cutting them off and preventing Ace's execution. Sengoku was furious.
"Who!? Who did this!?" He looked around, as did you. And you couldn't believe what you saw. "I thought your feud with Whitebeard would be an advantage for us... Crocodile."
"What? Him!?" Luffy exclaimed, surprised to see the man just saved his brother's life.
"I haven't joined anyone! I can take down the old man whenever I want, but I don't want to see the Navy all happy like this!" He growled, and suddenly, his head was decapitated. You opened your eyes in shock, but seeing it regenerate, you sighed in relief? Why? Were you worried about the man? Of course not.
"You're going to help them, Croco-boy?" a man with sunglasses, wearing a furry coat, asked, and just looking at him made your blood freeze in your veins. His aura was threatening. "I get jealous when that happens." Then they started fighting.
As you tried to get up, you felt a stab in your left leg and screamed in pain. Looking back, Aokiji stood with an ice spear, having pierced you. Luffy ran to try to save you.
"Look, I owe your grandfather a debt, but I can't do anything about it. You're looking for your own death." He said, as Luffy stood in front of you to take the fatal blow.
But it never came. Instead, a bird made of blue flames crashed into the admiral, blocking his attack and saving your lives. Soon, the bird took the form of a man, and he glanced at you.
"First Division Commander... Marco!" Aokiji said, and you looked at the man. For some reason, his presence immediately calmed you. He extended a hand to you and quickly lifted you up, giving you a little push to continue your way.
Even with your leg pierced, you still started running. You couldn't stop there. Luffy was by your side, and you had to make it.
In the background, another ship emerged, and the giant that had been defeated before rose and threw the ship against the wall, clearing the way for the pirate army to pass. You had a chance again; it had to work.
******
You kept advancing, and this time you faced Vice Admiral Momonga, the same one who took you to Impel Down. You tried to avoid him, fearing he would recognize you and put Hancock in more trouble for saving Luffy from Smoker. But there was no way. Luffy was having serious problems with him, and you stood in front, blocking the sword's strike with your two pistols. You stared at each other, measuring strengths, when you heard Luffy scream. Full of concern and fury, you managed to push the vice admiral away and kick him far, now running towards Luffy.
Kizaru was once again on your tail, preparing another fatal blow against him. You gritted your teeth and, even with your leg bleeding, ran as fast as you could, just in time to stand between Luffy and the man. The thin beam of light hit you directly, piercing your abdomen. The force of the impact sent you flying, hitting Luffy in the process and throwing you both further back. Your body seemed unwilling to react as you fell. Soon, a huge hand grabbed Luffy and lifted him, and lifting your face from the ground, you could see Whitebeard. You tried to get up, your body boiling, probably feverish due to the burn. The pirate looked at Luffy and then at you, and you could see pity in his eyes.
"This boy has done enough. Take care of his wounds!" Whitebeard ordered, tossing Luffy to his allied pirates. You quickly got up, but noticed that the man's hand had pulled you. "You too, my granddaughter. You're on the brink."
"Don't talk nonsense... Old man... I can still fi-" you began to cough, and blood flowed from your mouth. Your stomach and leg were pierced. You started to gasp.
"Take care of her too! Don't let her die!" He ordered, also throwing you to his allies. Soon, Ivankov and Jimbe appeared again.
The allies took both of you and began to administer first aid. They bandaged your wounds to stop the bleeding, while Luffy tried to get up.
"I don't have time for this! I need to save Ace!" He staggered and fell again.
"Luffy...!" Once your wounds were covered, you got up too, trying to go towards Ace. "I'll get him for you, stay and rest!" You shouted, and as if by a miracle, you could already stand on your own again. The pirates tried to hold both of you, but it was in vain. Whitebeard paid attention to the commotion you caused.
"You two are terrible! Young ones with an unstoppable will... I can't help but like idiots like you!" He exclaimed and attacked, clearing the path in front of you.
You took a step,
and another, and another. You wouldn't stop, not now.
You would never stop.
Notes:
Till next week love you all 💜
Chapter 26: Get Ace!
Notes:
(See the end of the chapter for notes.)
Chapter Text
You couldn't see anything anymore. The pain from your wounds, the physical and mental exhaustion, it was overwhelming.
You entered a state of numbness of body and soul. You just ran. You didn't even know where Luffy and the others were. All you could see was Ace up there, and you knew that was your goal.
You kept defeating the Marine grunts in your way, even though your bandages were starting to soak with blood again.
The only way to protect Luffy was to save Ace quickly. You knew that Ivankov was taking care of the Straw Hat, so you didn't have to worry. You just ran.
But you weren't even close when you saw the guards preparing again to kill Ace, their swords raised once more.
"STOP THIS!" Luffy's voice echoed throughout the area, and you felt that same energy from before, the Conqueror's Haki.
The guards threatening Ace collapsed, along with several other soldiers on the battlefield.
You kept running, and a familiar figure appeared by your side and surpassed you.
"Inazuma!" you shouted, and the man smiled at you, slicing the ground to make a ramp to the execution platform.
"Go! Straw Hat, Gunslinger! It's your chance!" he yelled, and you looked back; Luffy was coming towards you with renewed vigor.
"Luffy!" you exclaimed in relief, but at the same time, concern lingered.
"(Y/N)! Thank you! Let's get Ace together!"
The two of you kept running, advancing on the platform. You were so close; it was almost surreal to believe. Marines tried to shoot at the platform to stop your progress, but the entire Whitebeard pirate crew stepped in to help, preventing the shots and hindering anyone from impeding your advances.
Just when you thought you would make it, someone jumped onto the platform. It was a vice admiral.
"Gramps, get out of the way!" Luffy shouted. So, that was the famous Monkey D. Garp? He was a renowned hero in the Marine, and you weren't surprised when you found out he was Luffy's grandfather. What a powerful family.
"I won't move, Luffy. I'm a vice admiral of the Marines! Long before you were born, I was already fighting pirates. If you want to save Ace, you'll have to kill me!"
"Don't say that Gramps, just move! I can't do that!"
"If you don't treat me as an enemy now, you won't win!" He threw a punch towards you. You thought about intervening, but it was something the Straw Hat had to handle with his own hands.
Luffy threw a punch, and Garp closed his eyes. You knew he wouldn't react. If he did, you probably wouldn't make it out of there alive. He probably didn't want Ace dead, but being loyal to the Marine and its ideals, he couldn't do anything. Your heart ached as Luffy landed that punch, incapacitating his grandfather.
The ramp was collapsing, so you quickened your pace and jumped, pulling Luffy along, who had a relieved expression and tears in his eyes. You landed on the platform, and Luffy kneeled in front of Ace, relieved. Soon, a shadow covered you. You looked up, and it was none other than Sengoku using his Devil Fruit power to transform into a Buddha. You trembled but aimed your guns at him.
"Do you think you can stop me with that, Gunslinger?"
"No. But I can keep you occupied until Luffy saves his brother!" you yelled, while Luffy took the key from his pocket and went to unlock Ace's handcuffs.
Suddenly, a light shot through the air, splitting the key in half.
Everything happened too fast to process. Number 3 was dressed as a guard and pulled you close to Ace, while Luffy inflated like a balloon, as Sengoku's punch approached. A wall of wax formed around you as Luffy absorbed the blow with his inflated body. The platform gave in, and you all began to fall. In the descent, the wax man made a new key and unlocked Ace's handcuffs, while marines shot at you as you fell.
When you landed, the shots kept coming, but none reached you. A wall of flames covered you, protecting you.
"You've always been like this, Luffy. Never listening to what I have to say. And always overdoing it," you could see him standing, and on his back, the tattoo with the Whitebeard symbol. You opened your eyes in shock, and a smile crept onto your lips.
"ACEEEEEEEEEE!!!" a chorus of voices shouted excitedly across the battlefield; Ace had finally been saved.
He unleashed an attack that cleared all the nearby enemies. Phew, Logias are indeed terrifying. You and Luffy stood up.
"You can still fight, Luffy?"
"Of course..." he panted, smiling. The older brother turned to you.
"And who is this beautiful lady with you?" He smiled, and you blushed immediately.
"She's my friend, it's (Y/N)!" Luffy said with a smile, and you nodded.
"It's a pleasure finally to meet the infamous Ace. Gyldepts, the Gunslinger at your service." You bowed and chuckled. You were more than relieved that he was safe.
"Well, if I'm already this famous, how about a date when this is over?" He asked suddenly, and you sighed deeply.
"Sure, why not?"
"Great."
"Can I come too?" Luffy asked, and you gave a smile.
"Of course not, kid, you'll be a nuisance!"
"How about we leave this discussion for later?" You exclaimed, drawing your guns. "We have to get out of here first!"
You ran while shots were fired in your direction. The bullets passed through the man's flame-made body; Luffy repelled them, and you ricocheted them with your shots. The fight seemed to be in your favor, and the chances of escaping seemed to increase more and more.
As you ran, you saw commotion ahead among the Whitebeard pirates. Aokiji came your way, but a powerful blow from Ace stopped him. Well, having a Logia as an ally instead of an enemy balanced things quite a bit.
The pirates cleared a path for the three of you to retreat safely.
"This will be my last order, so listen well!" the old man shouted, and everyone fell silent to pay attention. "THIS IS WHERE OUR PATHS PART! YOU MUST ESCAPE AND SAIL SAFELY TO THE NEW WORLD! I am a relic of a dead era; there's no place for me on the ship of the new era!"
He shouted, and it shook everyone profoundly, even you.
He used the power of his fruit and began to destroy the entire island. You opened your eyes in shock; no wonder he was considered the strongest man in the world. You started running again, but Ace froze in place. You understood the feeling but grabbed his arm forcefully, making him look at you.
"Look, I don't know anything about you or him. What I do know is that he and many others are sacrificing themselves to help you escape!" He opened his eyes in shock. "You can't stand still here and repay their kindness with ingratitude! You have to survive!" Your words were harsh, but he knew they were true. He took a few steps, but his gaze didn't leave Whitebeard.
"Ace, just answer me one thing... Was I a good father?" Ace started crying and fell to his knees, bowing in honor.
"Of course!"
Whitebeard started laughing, gratitude in his eyes. He then looked at you.
"Sorry, my granddaughter, I won't be able to tell you what you wanted to know. Look for an island called RogueNest in the New World." He said, and you nodded. "It was a pleasure to meet you, Gyldepts."
"I say the same, Gramps." You felt tears in your eyes as you and Luffy lifted Ace, and the three of you ran back to freedom.
Admiral Akainu appeared near you, ready to attack.
"So, is this it? After saving Ace, Whitebeard's pirates tuck their tails and run?" He said mockingly, and your blood boiled. "But then again, it's to be expected with a captain like that. In the end, he was just a loser from a dead era."
Ace stopped running.
"Loser?" The older brother asked, frozen in place.
You knew, deep down, that it wouldn't end well.
Notes:
if you like to see it, I am putting all the artwork I did for the fic on Pinterest, here's the link : https://br.pinterest.com/BuckHeartGaia/a-pirate-odyssey-artworks/
and, until next Saturday, love you all , kisses <3
Chapter 27: I failed.
Notes:
(See the end of the chapter for notes.)
Chapter Text
"Take back what you said, right now!" Ace shouted furiously as everyone tried to calm him down and force him to step back.
"Thanks to the deeds of your real father, Whitebeard has always been a failure who could never reach the top. He roams the seas with his lackeys calling him father! A pathetic imitation of a family!"
You wanted to shut him up, but you knew you would die if you tried.
Ace didn't seem to care.
"All these years, and he couldn't even claim the title of Pirate King for himself! He was attacked by one of these so-called 'sons'! And now he's going to die protecting them! It's a pretty empty life, don't you think?"
"Don't you dare speak of him like that! Take back what you said!" Ace took a step forward; you and Luffy ran to him. Everyone pleaded with Ace to ignore the man's words, but he simply couldn't, and you understood the feeling.
"Whitebeard will die as a loser! Perfect for the leader of this pile of garbage!"
"He's the great pirate who built this era! Don't you dare say another word about him!"
You ran to Ace, but Luffy fell to the ground beside you. You bent down to hold him when Akainu suddenly came to finish you off. You saw the magma fist approaching, and there was no way to react. You and Luffy would die there. You only had time to cover him with your body, and the fist came towards you. You closed your eyes. This would be your end.
Since you lost your crew, you had no more motivation to continue except for revenge. But if it were to save Luffy, you wouldn't hesitate to discard your life. You would meet your crew in the afterlife, and you were sure they wouldn't be upset that you didn't finish your revenge. They would understand, they always did. You smiled.
"A...a...ACEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!" Luffy's voice snapped you out of your reverie as you felt the heat of magma very close to you. You opened your eyes, but there was no injury. Then you turned.
Ace was there, between you and Akainu. The marine's fist was covered in blood, piercing through the young pirate's chest. The necklace he wore broke, and several red stones fell to the ground. You couldn't move or blink.
Akainu came at you again, but Jimbe and Whitebeard's commanders stopped him. You looked to the side as Luffy held Ace, his hand pressed to the hole in his back. A lot of blood was flowing from the wound. You crawled to them, too weak to stand. Noticing the red balls on the ground, still in shock and not knowing what to do, you collected them while the brothers talked. You stored them in your pockets.
"It seems like... our date is over." He said to you, and you turned in shock, tears streaming from your eyes.
"I'm already... used to being rejected by handsome guys..." You said, and he chuckled, spitting a lot of blood.
"Take care of him...?"
"Of course."
"Even though I'm good for nothing... You all loved me so much... So, THANK YOU! FOR MAKING ME FEEL LOVED! FOR GIVING ME A PLACE IN THE WORLD!" He shouted, with the last bit of strength he had.
Then, his body slipped from Luffy's grip and fell peacefully to the ground. He had a calm expression and a smile on his lips, but
Ace was dead.
"ACEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!" Luffy shouted with all his remaining breath, his mouth opened, and his eyes lost color. He just stood there, immobile, while his brother's lifeless body lay beside him. You tried to get up and went to him, embracing him. You cried, feeling terrible; you couldn't do anything to prevent this tragedy. If only you were stronger...
You felt something strange stirring in your gut. Anger and fury that matched the day you lost your crew.
Not satisfied, Akainu came at you again.
You stood up; your eyes glowed intensely. Your body was burning with an energy you didn't know you had. You weren't thinking, taken over by something primitive within you. He tried to attack, but you raised your hand.
"Earth. Protect." You said, and the ground below you cracked; a massive wall of earth rose, blocking the magma attack. Everyone was in shock.
"What the hell is this!?" The admiral shouted furiously, seeing your eyes glow in an abnormal color. "What are you!?"
You didn't say a word.
Soon, Marco appeared and positioned himself between you all.
"Gunslinger, run to Jimbe and take the straw hat to a safe place! Let's protect him! He's what's left of Ace's will. It would be a huge shame if we let him die!" He shouted, and you ran to Luffy, throwing him over your shoulder and sprinting away from the area.
You knew you hadn't used these abilities in a long time, and you would soon be exhausted. So, you ran as far as you could, carrying Luffy, who was still in shock and unconscious. Jimbe was by your side, protecting both of you as you made your way to a safe place. Your eyes began to return to their normal color, and you were panting heavily, knowing you wouldn't last much longer.
Whitebeard used his power to split the island in half, preventing marines from going after the escaping pirates.
As you ran, you saw a massive commotion forming behind you; Blackbeard's pirates appeared, now with escapees from Impel Down. So, that was his objective in that location.
You simply didn't have time and kept running. It was all you could do now.
Everything happened in the blink of an eye as a violent fight between Teach and Newgate unfolded. Already defeated but still standing, he shouted for everyone to hear.
"ONE PIECE... IS REAL!"
Just one phrase was enough to shake everyone who heard it. It reignited a small spark that had been dormant inside you.
And then, he died. Standing. The great pirate Whitebeard, Roger's rival, was dead. Despite so many injuries, there wasn't even a scar on his back.
A ship approached the coast to rescue you while you ran alongside Jimbe. You were exhausted, and your body couldn't take another step, but still, you didn't stop. You kept forcing yourself to move; you had to save him.
Unfortunately, your path was blocked by Akainu, now battered by the powerful blow he had taken from Whitebeard. You wanted to smile at his pathetic state, but you couldn't.
"Gunslinger, Jimbe. Hand over Dragon's son to me now!"
"Not gonna happen."
"I'm afraid the young lady is right. We won't hand over Luffy-kun."
"Then you both will die!"
"Get out of the way. I won't let you touch Mugiwara-boy!" Ivankov shouted, attacking Akainu and creating a distraction for you to escape.
You didn't waste time and were already running again.
"To the sea, (Y/N)-san! I can have an advantage there!" He shouted, and you nodded, jumping off the edge and holding Luffy under your arm, like a ragdoll. It was easier to swim this way. But before you hit the water, it froze. Damn.
Still, in the air, you felt a murderous intent coming from behind you, and when you turned to look, it was too late.
"I warned you; you won't escape!" Akainu shouted and struck you.
Being in the air, you couldn't do anything except throw Luffy to prevent him from being hit. Unfortunately, Akainu's attack hit you from behind, piercing through your shoulder, and creating a hole. Your body stopped most of the attack, but a thin layer of magma managed to penetrate and hit Luffy further ahead. He was struck in the chest, and a burn formed immediately. Now, you couldn't move anymore and fell to the ground, semi-conscious. The huge hole between your chest and shoulder was pouring blood, staining the ice beneath you.
You extended your right hand, as the left no longer moved due to the damage to your flesh, and crawled closer to Luffy. Jimbe landed beside you, holding you with one hand and picking up Luffy with the other. Before he could stand up, Akainu was in front of you. You could only move your eyes.
"I already told yo-" He was interrupted by a sand blade piercing him.
Soon, Crocodile appeared in front of you and extended his hand towards you, creating a sand tornado, throwing you both up.
"Someone grab them and get them on the damn ship already! If you want to save him, then do your damn job right! How long are you going to let the Marines do whatever they want!?" He shouted furiously as you and Luffy, in Jimbe's arms, flew through the air. Your consciousness was slipping away with each passing second. But you fought to stay awake. Blood was flowing from your eyes, nose, and mouth.
"(Y/N)-san, stay awake! You have to fight!" Jimbe shook you gently. And then, you simply stopped in mid-air. Something was holding you. You shifted your gaze.
"Buggy..." You whispered, and you didn't even remember being afraid of the clown anymore.
"Oh, you're all messed up!" He shouted, scared.
"Help us..." You managed to say, and he hesitated but continued floating towards the ship.
In the background, Whitebeard's pirates were delaying Akainu as you floated to a safe place. The clown was freaking out, not knowing what to do with you. Until, crossing the large walls surrounding Marineford, a submarine emerged. You looked through the corner of your eye and recognized the pirate wearing a yellow shirt and a fluffy hat.
"Throw the Straw Hat to me; I'll take care of him, I'm a doctor!" He shouted. Buggy and Jimbe were reluctant to accept.
"Throw it now!" you shouted with the remaining energy you had. "he's... trustworthy!" You managed to say, and Buggy then threw them towards the submarine's deck.
Jimbe held both of you gently, and he landed as softly as possible. You looked up and saw Trafalgar Law, and then, you let out a relieved sigh, but it didn't last long. Someone tried to attack the submarine to prevent your escape but was stopped by a young marine who positioned himself between the submarine and Akainu.
He didn't stop and was about to attack the young man, even if it meant killing you all. When he was about to deliver the blow, someone appeared, holding the magma with just a sword and throwing him away.
With the last bit of consciousness you had, you followed with your eyes to see who it was. He crouched down and picked up the straw hat that had fallen to the ground, and you immediately recognized the black cape and red hair. You let out the longest sigh of your life and let your consciousness fade away.
Notes:
See you all next week and remember, I love you all <3
Chapter 28: After the war
Notes:
(See the end of the chapter for notes.)
Chapter Text
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
You were running, breathless, through the middle of the forest. Tears in your eyes wouldn't stop. You were all alone. There was nothing left. No one left.
You came to a clearing and cried, and cried, and cried until you fell asleep. When you woke up, surrounded by animals. They were lying around you, and a huge brown bear was beneath you, like a soft mattress. It always happens when you lose control of your emotions. You stroked the animal, hugged it, and then cried again.
A few days later, you were living in that forest. There was a cave below the clearing where you slept and took shelter from the rain. The animals brought you food, and you bathed in the river. One day, you heard voices entering the forest, and all the animals stood to defend you. There were several footsteps, but only one voice continued further, reaching the clearing as night fell. In complete silence, you were hidden in the bushes, the huge bear by your side.
"I know you're there, kiddo," a familiar voice said, and you looked carefully. It was Shanks. He had a bag full of something. "Come on, show yourself," he said softly, sitting on a tree stump right in the center of the place.
You signaled to the bear, emerged from behind the foliage, and headed towards him. Upon seeing you, he smiled gently.
"I'm glad you're okay."
"I'm not okay." Your voice trembled, tears returning to your eyes. His expression changed.
"I'm sorry, Gyldepts." He sighed and gestured for you to come closer.
You took cautious steps toward him.
"Don't worry; I didn't come to harm you. And please, don't let your bear friend attack me." He said, and you looked back, noticing the animal following you.
You signaled with your hand, and it stopped. You sat next to the redhead. He didn't say anything, just placed a hand above your head. And then, you cried. You let all your sadness out, tears streaming continuously from your eyes. You leaned into the man, hiding your face in his cloak, sobbing, while he wrapped his only arm around you, comforting you.
~~~~~~~~~
You struggled to open your eyes and felt a tingling sensation throughout your body. Unable to move, you lay there, staring at the ceiling for what seemed like hours. You sighed, sensing your body slowly responding, and managed to move your right arm. As you raised it, you noticed bandages wrapped around you.
Using it to sit up in bed, you realized your entire body was wrapped in bandages. You were wearing only sweatpants, with your torso and left arm covered in tight bandages. Running your hand through your hair, sticky with old blood, you found your faithful bandana still in place.
You sighed in relief when the door to the room opened, and a white bear in an orange jumpsuit entered, holding a tray with various medical tools.
"Ah... AHHHHHH!!!!" He screamed, startling you. "You woke up!!! You weren't supposed to wake up!!!" He ran out before you could say anything.
You just stared at the door, your body barely responding to your attempts to move. Soon, he returned, bringing a familiar pirate with him.
"Tral..." You tried to say his name, but your throat burned, and you started coughing, spitting out a bit of blood.
"Hey, don't strain yourself! You're in a terrible state!" He said, going to you and making you lie down again. He checked your bandages, seeing them stained with blood again. "Damn..." He looked at the bear. "Bepo, leave. I need to take care of her wounds again." The bear promptly obeyed, closing the door behind him. "Why did you get up? Your wounds reopened!" He said irritably, sliding his hands over your chest, and removing the bandages again. You stared at him intently.
"Why... did you... save...?" You tried to say, and he exchanged glances with you but didn't say anything. You felt the cold air of the room against your now bare skin, but you were too exhausted to feel embarrassed about being exposed in front of the man.
"Room," he said, putting on gloves and suturing your wounds again.
You felt nothing during the procedure, unsure if it was due to his skill, your fatigue, or the medication you might be receiving. When he finished, he took a damp cloth and ran it over your abdomen, cleaning the blood that had dripped from the wound. He also wiped your shoulder and face, then wrapped you in tighter, clean bandages, and covered you with a thin sheet.
"Just rest," he said and left the room, closing the door gently behind him. You closed your eyes and felt sleep embracing you once again.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Is there anywhere I could take you? Perhaps Amazon Lily?" the redhead asked as they ate. You had bathed in the river and were now dressed in clean clothes that the man had brought for you.
"I can't see myself locked away on some forgotten island," you sighed.
"You would be safer there. I told him..." He looked at you, and you sighed, tears filling your eyes again. "I'm sorry; I didn't mean to bring it up. It's okay to cry, (Y/N). But we have to move forward. You can't stay on this island, living only with animals. Why don't you come with me? You can join my crew."
"For you to sell me to the World Government too?" You asked angrily but then sighed. "I'm sorry, Shanks... I just..."
"You're so young; you shouldn't have gone through what you did. I'm sorry I didn't arrive sooner." You bit your lips hard, and they bled.
"It's not your fault," you resumed eating in silence.
"It's not his fault either," he said, looking at you, and you seemed irritated. "He would never betray you, not for all the treasure in the world. Your father was greedy, but the most valuable thing he had was you." He affirmed, and you looked at him, crying again. "The man who handed you over, I took care of him, and everyone who knew about you, don't worry." He said grimly, and you froze. "But you should be more careful with this secret of yours." He said, putting his hand on the top of your head. "I have an idea." He got up.
He walked behind you and took out a handkerchief from the pocket of his cloak. He passed it around your head and tried to tie it, unsuccessfully, as he only had one arm. You helped him with the task, and he gave a smile.
"That's perfect. Wear it always, and even if your hood or any other ridiculous thing you wear falls off, your secret will still be safe, you little rascal!" The redhead exclaimed happily, despite the grimace you made. You stuck your tongue out at him, and he just laughed more. You almost, almost smiled.
"Better like this, Gyldepts. You look better when you smile."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Shanks..." You sighed and opened your eyes again.
You were still in the same room as before. Looking around, the white bear was sitting in a chair next to your bed, sound asleep. He snored softly, and you instinctively reached out to stroke his fur. He opened his eyes, yawned, and then looked at you. His eyes sparkled.
"You woke up..." You nodded. "Do you... want something?" You pointed to a bottle on the other side of the room, and he clumsily got up to fetch it for you. He helped you take a sip of water. "Slowly..." You obeyed, and when you finished, you smiled.
"Thank you... Bepo." You said softly. He blushed immediately. You had a way with animals. He hugged you gently and laid his head on your lap, and you continued to stroke him.
Soon, the door to the room opened, and the captain was there.
"You've finally regained consciousness," he said, and you nodded. "How do you feel?"
"Terrible..." You bit your lip. "Where's... Luffy?" He swallowed hard. "Can you... Can you take me to him?"
"Not a good idea," he said, and you sighed.
"Is he that bad?"
"Yes, and so are you. Rest a bit more."
"Can I... take a bath?" You asked, running your hands through your hair, now dirty with dried blood. Law pondered on this for a few seconds.
"You can. But I'll help you. You're in no condition to do anything on your own in this state."
"Not in a million years." You instinctively touched the bandana on your head, still intact.
"Why not? I treated your wounds; there's not much I haven't seen." He said, looking you in the eyes.
"No." He gave an irritated sigh, went to the bathroom in the room you were in, and placed a chair under the shower. Then he went to you, picked you up.
"Hey...!" You protested as he lifted you, and Bepo delicately removed the IV from your arm. You tried to struggle, but you had no strength as the man carried you to the bathroom and sat you on the chair, closing the door behind him.
"Don't you dare..." He sighed and turned on the water, letting it fall on you. You gave a small jump, but the pleasant temperature made you relax. You were wearing shorts and an oversized shirt, and underneath, your body was covered in bandages like a mummy.
He approached you and tilted your head back, letting the water flow through your hair. Realizing the bandana was in the way, he reached for it, but you gathered all the strength you had and stopped him.
"No... Please... Leave it on." You pleaded, and he gave up on the idea. He poured some soap on your head and washed your hair the best he could without removing the bandana. You relaxed and let him finish. He then rinsed your hair, turned off the shower, and wrapped you in a towel, picking you up again. As he exited the room, Bepo already had a change of dry and clean clothes, and they sat you in the chair he was in earlier.
Law carefully removed your now wet clothes and the bandages, drying you and putting you back in bed. He redid the dressings and soon dressed you, avoiding looking at sensitive areas throughout the entire process. When he finished, he dressed you in an oversized shirt with long sleeves that looked more like a dress on you. You thanked him, and he settled you in bed, reattaching the IV, and left the scene. Before leaving the room, he paused.
"Rest more, and tomorrow I'll take you to see the straw hat."
"Thank you very much, Tral." He gave a half-smile
************
I'm so sorry for the delay in posting the chapter this week! I'm in the middle of moving to another city, and its delay my schedule , sorry again!
Notes:
I'm sorry again for the delay! things have been going wild in my life recently
till next week, love you all!
Chapter 29: I still have my crew
Notes:
(See the end of the chapter for notes.)
Chapter Text
You couldn't tell how many days had passed, but you were already taking bold steps around the area. Your strength was gradually returning, and Tral was an excellent doctor.
You wandered around, exchanging a few words with the submarine crew, but not much. You were a bundle of nerves, worried about Luffy. Tral allowed you to see him a few times, and seeing him hooked up to all those machines was too painful. Craving some fresh air, you went out to the deck. The submarine was anchored on the other side of Women's Island, with Hancock's permission. Jimbe was with you, and both of you sat on the island's cliff, talking. You approached them, joining in.
"Gyldepts, you know you shouldn't be pushing yourself so hard," he scolded, and you frowned.
"I can't lie in bed all day!" You complained; Jimbe sighed.
"I'm glad to see you recovering, (Y/N)-san. But you still need to be careful. The injury to your shoulder was severe."
"I know... I know." You sat beside them. "Tral... How long do you think it'll take for him to wake up?"
"That depends solely on his willpower. I just don't know how he'll wake up. I believe it won't be as calm as you did." He said, and you swallowed hard.
You felt your body protest and decided to get up and go back to the room when they heard noises of things breaking coming from the submarine. Soon, an irritated voice was shouting inside, and you recognized it immediately. It was Luffy.
"WHERE... WHERE'S ACE!?" He shouted frantically, and everyone on the crew tried to restrain him. He sprinted past you towards the forest, smashing everything in his way.
"What will happen if he continues in this frenzy?" Jimbe asked, and Law sighed.
"His wounds will reopen, and then he will die."
You stood up and ran after him. Tral got up too.
"Damn it, your wounds are at risk too, Gyldepts!" He shouted from a distance as you ventured into the forest, following the screams and traces of destruction.
You walked a bit more and stopped in front of him. He looked into your eyes.
"Don't... don't say anything. I've pinched myself, hurt myself... I know if it were a dream, I would have woken up by now." He looked at you again, eyes filled with sorrow, and yours filled with tears. "Ace... He's dead, isn't he...?" He asked softly and started crying uncontrollably. You took a few steps closer.
"I'm sorry... Luffy." You said softly; he looked at you.
"Go away, leave me alone!" He started hurting himself, hitting everything around. You couldn't bear to watch, so you ran to him, trying to hold him. Someone approached you.
"Luffy, if you keep this up, you'll die! Stop it now!" You tried to restrain him, but he broke free from your grip. You hugged him from behind and tried to hold him, but he lunged, making you hit your back on a tree, and you felt some of the stitches on your shoulder break, and the bandages soak, but you didn't stop.
"Enough, Luffy-kun! I won't let you do this to yourself!" Jimbe appeared, holding the young man's arm and throwing him to the ground. You fell to your knees, with your hand on the wound that started bleeding again.
"Shut up, or I'll kick your ass!"
"If that calms you down, then try."
Luffy went for him again but was easily defeated by Jimbe, who sat beside him on the ground. You took a few steps towards them. Luffy reacted by biting Jimbe's arm, who shook him and pinned him to the ground, holding him by the neck.
"I know you always trusted yourself, never doubted that you could do everything! But then you were crushed by stronger enemies and lost your brother, your role model on the sea! I know you're sinking into this darkness, but you have to react! You haven't lost everything! You still have precious things in this life! Hold on to that!" He shouted and released Luffy; he started crying and turned his face to you, who sat beside him.
He opened his eyes in shock when he saw you holding your shoulder, blood dripping from the bandages. "(Y/N)...? What happened to you...?" He asked, and you just smiled.
"It's just a scratch, don't worry." You touched the top of his head and smiled. For the first time, he saw you give a genuine smile, without malice or irony. Tears of happiness fell from his eyes. "I'm so glad you woke up, Luffy!" Jimbe smiled, and the young man cried even more.
"You... You're right... I'm alive... And they are too! My crew... All of them... Are waiting for me! I still have them...!" He started crying, and you and Jimbe sighed in relief. "And I..." He paused and held your bloody hand. "Still have you too... Right?" You opened your eyes in shock; what was he proposing to you? "Gyl, do you... Want to be my partner too?" Your heart almost stopped. And then, after a long pause, you smiled.
"I already am, aren't I?" You chuckled; he smiled shyly at you. "You know, Luffy, Shanks told me something once. It's okay to cry, but you have to move forward. Carry the will of those who are gone and move forward for those who are still here." You sighed. "When I met you, I had lost everything too. But now, you've given me a reason to move forward, so don't give up."
He then threw himself at you, hugging you tightly. He buried his face in your chest, and you tenderly wrapped your arms around him. You stayed like that until he calmed down. You got up, and Jimbe lifted Luffy, carrying him on his back. You followed beside them, applying pressure to the still bleeding wound.
When they returned to the shore, the submarine was no longer in sight. There was only one person sitting there, wringing out some wet clothes. Beside him, on the ground, the straw hat.
"Ah, Luffy! Good to see you! Didn't think I'd find you so soon! And Gyl-chan, you too? What a pleasant surprise." He said, and you blushed.
"It's a pleasure to see you again, Rayleigh." You said casually, Jimbe seemed stunned by the man's presence.
Soon, Hancock appeared with her two sisters and Granny Nyon. They started talking while you sat apart, removing the now dirty bandages. You hoped Law was still here, but he had already left. Someone approached you, and you didn't notice until she touched your skin. Looking back, it was Thundersonia. She gently helped you clean the wound and suture it again. Without Law's skills, this time it hurt. But it was quick, and she had clean bandages with her, which she promptly wrapped around your shoulder.
You then returned to them, grabbing some of the food Hancock had brought for Luffy and started eating. Noticing Jimbe was hungry but hadn't taken anything, you took a portion for him and handed it over, even receiving deadly glares from Hancock.
"Luffy, do you plan to return to Sabaody, right?"
"Yes! I want to see my crew!"
"Are you sure? Do you remember what happened there, right? Do you plan to gather them only for it to happen all over again?" Luffy was shocked, and you had to agree with Rayleigh. "Now, I have an idea! But if you want, you can stick with yours. After all, the choice is in your hands."
Notes:
Till next week my dears, love you all 💜❤️💜
Chapter 30: Time Skip
Notes:
(See the end of the chapter for notes.)
Chapter Text
Hey everyone, this is an explanatory chapter.
Like I mentioned in the synopsis and the first chapter, I'm narrating this fic from the protagonist's perspective. So things that happen when she's not around won't be explained.
For those who've read and watched One Piece (I believe everyone following the fic has?), you know the Time Skip lasts two years for the crew to train and get stronger. However, it doesn't delve much into what went down during those two years—just where they were and what they were up to.
So, this arc will be more original. After all, you're a character that doesn't exist in the original work but is the star of this story. I'll craft a maximum of 3 chapters to shed light on some things that happened to you during those two years.
It'll be a separate arc but will showcase your connection with some key characters.
After these chapters, it's time for the crew's reunion.
Another important point I want to address: I've received some comments about the protagonist. What she is and what she hides are the main plot of the story. I don't want to reveal everything upfront because she doesn't even know it all yet. Clues about her past and future will gradually emerge, and I promise it'll make sense. I hope so, at least! 😅
Anyway,
I also want to apologize in advance for the next major arc, the Fish-Man Island. It's not a bad arc, but it's my least favorite, so I'll breeze through it. Apologies if it doesn't measure up to the others; I promise to make up for it in Punk Hazard.
Additionally, I'd love to hear your opinions on the movies. I'm thinking of doing a special chapter showing her participating in some films, especially Z and Stampede. It would be an extra chapter in the week and a longer one to tell the whole story at once. If you like the idea, let me know here, and I'll make it happen.
One last thing: Ace.
I've received many comments asking not to kill Ace, and well... I wanted to. But his death is crucial to the story. I can't see Luffy becoming who he is after the Time Skip without it. The crew wouldn't spend 2 years getting stronger only to die on the first island of the New World. It was sad but necessary for our cute Luffy to grow stronger and understand more about the world and the dangers they'd face.
Well, I guess that's it. Warnings given, let's move on to the next adventure!
Notes:
Next chapter is gonna be posted right away ❤❤
Chapter 31: 3D2Y (Part 1)
Notes:
(See the end of the chapter for notes.)
Chapter Text
The scandalous photo circled the world. Luffy reappeared at the devastated Marine Ford, in the company of Silvers Rayleigh, Jimbei, the former Shichibukai, and you, once the captain of the worst generation, became the most talked-about topic after the war.
Much speculation surrounded the reason, and various theories were concocted, but the truth was that he needed to convey a message to his comrades.
2 years.
He wanted the crew's reunion to happen in two years. He wanted to train, become stronger, to safely navigate the New World. And having accepted to be part of the crew, you needed to train too. Marine Ford was terrifying! You were entirely defenseless against so many powerful enemies. You had to be stronger, or you couldn't avenge your friends.
You were chosen to be trained by the Empress herself, while Luffy would be on an adjacent island, training with Rayleigh. You insisted on the training; you wanted to learn how to use Haki and be able to inflict damage on all kinds of opponents, especially Logias.
You would be forbidden from seeing Luffy during the entire training, but you knew he needed total focus, and so did you. You didn't even wait for your wounds to heal properly; you were already training diligently. Armament Haki was easier for you, considering you were physically stronger than a normal human, so it came naturally.
Observation Haki was unintentionally awakened during a charge against Hancock. She took you on her expeditions to assist in training. During an attack on an enemy ship, you fully awakened your power.
Some more time passed, and you were getting used to the routine. Being part of another pirate crew, even if temporarily, was amusing. Your bounty increased a bit, partly due to the events of the War of the Best and the troubles you got into with the Shichibukai.
******
Six months had passed since you started training when a letter arrived at the Amazon Lily, brought by an unknown bird. Upon reading the contents, the Empress was furious.
You were soon pulled from your training in the forest by Sypr, who warned you of the Empress's terrible mood as you approached the castle. Upon entering, she paced around, hurling objects across the room.
"How dare a man send me a letter demanding things!" She shouted, holding a paper in her hands.
"Lady Hancock, any problem?" You asked, holding back a laugh. Now, the woman's outbursts only amused you; you had grown accustomed to her temper.
"Oh (Y/N)! We have several problems!" She exclaimed, coming over to you. She took you by the hand and led you around the room, seating you at the table, and taking her place in front of you. "I received this in the morning, but only read it now! I'm furious! Does he think being a Yonko will intimidate me?" She waved the paper indignantly, and you just laughed.
"Who sent you this? And what's it about?" You asked, picking up a cup in front of you and taking a sip of tea.
"The Red-Haired!" You spit out all the liquid in your mouth in surprise. Fortunately, it didn't hit the Empress. You began to cough. "Are you okay?" She left the paper on the table and rushed, giving you light pats on the back. Now, she treated you like a child sometimes.
"I'm... I'm fine! I just got surprised it's a message from Shanks! And what's it about? Can I read it?"
"You can, after all, it's about you." She said, playing with some strands of your hair, which weren't tied with the scarf. In that place, with only the two of you there, you didn't see the need to wear it.
You took the paper very carefully as if it would disintegrate at the slightest touch. After reading the content, you couldn't help but let a smile grow on your lips, Hancock immediately noticed, her mood worsening. After finishing, you put it back on the table and looked at her hopefully.
"And then?" She asked, returning to her seat at the table.
"I... Would you allow me, Lady?" You asked uncertainly, she ran her hand through her hair thoughtfully. Her expression made it clear that she wasn't happy with it.
"I don't like this. What if he tries something?"
"I trust my life to Shanks." You said convincingly; she looked you in the eyes. "He knows about me, about what I am. And the fact that my head is still attached to my neck after ten years is because he kept my secret." You sighed. "I... I would like to go see him, meet him, and see what he wants from me." You held the Empress's hands, and she blushed immediately. You were aware of the effect you had on her, and you knew she wouldn't say no. "Pretty please, Hancock, let me see him! It doesn't have to be here on the island; I would never bring him here! Please!" You made a sad face, and she almost melted.
"How do I say no to you? Let's set up this meeting!"
******
About two days later, the Empress's reserve ship was sailing to an island between the Calm Belt and the Red Line, chosen by the Red-Haired to meet. Only you and Sypr were on board. You felt an almost abnormal happiness; it had been so long since you last saw him. He was in Marine Ford, but you couldn't even see him properly. You owed your life to him, even though everything you felt about him was confusing. Shanks was present on the worst days of your life, but also on some of the best, so everything about him was emotional.
As they approached the island, which was not the territory of any pirate and was not protected by the navy, you could already see the imposing ship of the Red-Haired anchored on the other side. You felt your breath catch in your chest; seeing that ship always brought you both good and bad memories. You ordered Sypr to anchor on the other end of the island; you didn't want to expose the Amazon to the outside world, so you ordered her to wait inside the ship. Even though the Empress's orders were for her to accompany you all the time. You trusted Shanks and his crew a lot, but you knew that an innocent woman like Sypr would be easy prey for those sea dogs. You chuckled thinking about it.
"Are you sure, (Y/N)-Sama? The Empress asked me to accompany you... If she finds out I-" You held her hands.
"I won't tell. Will you?" She smiled and shook her head. "Great!" You let her go. "Wait for me here; I don't know how long I'll take, but I'll let you know through the Den Den Mushi, okay?"
"Be careful."
"I will."
You disembarked from the ship, carrying a small bag with coins, a den-den mushi, and your pistols. The scarf had returned to your hair, as usual. You walked along the beach, which was losing its warmth, the sun slowly bidding farewell on the horizon. You thought it best to skirt along the shore, not wanting to enter the island and draw attention to yourself. After a while, you could already see a bonfire set up on the beach, the anchored ship, and a small cottage further back, which you imagined they had 'borrowed' to rest. Around the bonfire, food was being prepared, tables were set, and various barrels of drinks were scattered around. They seemed as happy as ever. It made you nostalgic.
~~~~~~~~~~
"We're Shanks' crew, the Red-Haired." said a taller man, black hair tied in a ponytail. "I'm Ben Beckman." He approached you, extending his hand. You glanced at your father, still seated on the ground with a cut on his eyebrow. You shook the man's hand with the firmest grip you could manage, and he smiled.
"You're a great shot for your age. If it weren't for Yasopp, the captain might've taken a bullet." He teased, the man named Yasopp grinned, and Shanks made a face.
"I would've predicted the trajectory!" the redhead grumbled, and you almost laughed at the ensuing banter.
So, this was the infamous pirate crew?
~~~~~~~~~~~~
As you approached, you felt a gaze on you, and soon enough, a pistol was pointed at your head. Following the line of sight, Yasopp had you in his crosshairs.
"Hold it right there, woman. Not another step. State your business here and don't make any suspicious moves." He looked serious, and you held back a smile.
"I know you're older, but I didn't expect you to be senile, Yasopp." You teased, quickly drawing your pistol.
He fired, but using your Haki, you managed to deflect the bullet with your shot. He looked surprised for a moment until he noticed the bandana adorning his head and the smile that spread across his lips.
"What's all this commotion here?" The others came running at the sound of gunfire, while Yasopp rushed toward you.
"(Y/N)?" He exclaimed incredulously, as you holstered your pistol.
"Is it her?" The others surrounded you, watching attentively.
"You call me here and act surprised when I show up? I don't get it!" You said irritably, crossing your arms and pouting, and they burst into laughter.
"It's her! No one pulls pranks like her in this world!" Ben made his way through the others and came to you, giving you a tight hug. Surprised but no less happy, you reciprocated. Soon, everyone came to hug you in a reunion full of nostalgia. Amidst the chaos, someone cleared their throat, and everyone made way for you. You looked at him, and your mouth went dry, a smile forming on your lips.
"Shanks..." You said quieter than you intended; he stopped in front of you, looking deep into your eyes, and gave a tender smile.
"It's great to see you again, (Y/N)." He said, placing his hand on the top of your head. You closed your eyes and smiled.
"I feel the same."
Soon, you were sitting at the table, next to the Yonko and his officers. You all ate and drank, music playing in the background. You notified Sypr through the den-den mushi that you wouldn't be back tonight, and reluctantly, she accepted. It turned into a massive mess, a lot of partying and shouting, occasional fights. You loved that environment; it felt like home. After Yasopp entertained you with his stories and Ben talked about all the dangers they faced, Shanks called you to go to the cottage to talk privately. You swallowed hard; you knew conversations like these with Shanks were never pleasant. You went to the place and went up to the second floor, sitting on a bench on the balcony where you could see the beach and the ship. He sat beside you.
"So, what happened to you?" He asked, and you looked at him, biting your lip.
"What do you mean?"
"Why were you in Marine Ford? Where is your crew?" You opened your eyes in shock, then sighed deeply.
You leaned into the man, burying your face in his chest, and started to cry. He was surprised, but quickly put his only arm around you, comforting you. During all that time, you hadn't had the chance to simply stop and cry about the loss of your friends. But next to Shanks, you always felt vulnerable, human. You didn't have to be strong all the time; you had your support right there.
He waited until you calmed down, and then you pulled away from him, wiping away the tears. He patiently waited for you to start talking. His expression hardened as he heard your story, and when you finished, he didn't seem pleased at all.
"How many times did I warn you about this? About trusting your secret to someone?" He said harshly, and you stood up angrily.
"I know, Shanks, I know! There's not a day that I don't blame myself for this! But I wanted this!" You pointed to his crew below, laughing and enjoying themselves, oblivious to your argument. "I always felt guilty for lying to them; I wanted to be honest with them! I wanted... someone to know who I am!" Tears welled up in your eyes again. He sighed and stood up, going to you; he pulled you into him, and you both embraced. "I don't want to feel like my existence is... a sin." You said, trembling. He held your face and forced you to look him in the eyes.
"Never say that again!" He said angrily. "Your existence is a blessing! Such a great one that the world fears it!" He let you go and caressed your face. "I'm sorry, (Y/N). I promised your father I would take care of you, and I failed. From now on, you'll stay with me, and none of this will happen again."
"What?!" You took a few steps away from him.
"You'll be part of my crew." He said firmly, and you looked at him incredulously.
"And you decided this on your own?"
"Yes." You huffed.
"I don't accept." He sighed, running his hand through his hair, and sliding his fingers through the strands; you bit your lip at the sight. "Not to be rude, Shanks, but I can't accept."
"And why not?" He approached again. "The first time, I let you go, and look what happened." You crossed your arms and pouted; he laughed at your completely red face. "(Y/N), you may have grown into a woman, but you still have these childish habits!" He couldn't hold back his laughter, seeing your face completely red from the compliment. "You don't feel safe with me?" He asked, and you sighed.
"It's not that, Shanks. I feel too safe with you. I need to venture out, discover my origins, and find myself. And in your shadow, I'll never be able to do that. Besides..." You turned around, leaning on the railing, looking at the horizon. "I already have a crew to be a part of."
He came and leaned beside you, your shoulders touching.
"Oh? Which one?"
"The Straw Hats." You said, and he nearly fell over in surprise.
"Luffy's crew!?" He asked, and when you looked at him, he had a huge and proud smile on his lips.
"Oh, how cute, look at the proud dad." You brought your hand to his face and squeezed his cheek; he became annoyed but soon started laughing. "Yes, Luffy's crew. After everything we've been through together, he invited me to join the crew, and I..." You sighed. "I can't explain it; he has such great charisma, and I ended up accepting. I can't leave him alone; I don't want anything to happen to him."
"Look, you've grown up." He smiled tenderly at you. "You used to only know how to mess things up and get into trouble, involving both known and unknown people. And now you're ready to take on the responsibility of taking care of someone else. I'm proud."
"Well, as you said, I'm already a woman, right?" You gave a sarcastic smile and tossed your hair dramatically; the redhead looked you up and down and gave a smile that sent shivers down your spine.
"That's true." You felt your face flush, and he began to laugh. "You tease and can't handle it; you're hilarious, (Y/N)!" He sat back down, laughing. Unable to resist, you joined in, sitting beside him. You rested your head on his shoulder, and you both sat in silence, observing the scenery.
You felt calm and at peace like you hadn't in a long time. He ran his hand through your hair, tied with the scarf. He smiled.
"I'm glad you still wear it, even after all these years."
"It was a gift from you; it's important to me."
"I'm important?" He said mockingly; you scoffed.
"Of course, you idiot! You always have been..." You bit your lip; you were so close.
"For a while, I thought you hated me." He said seriously; you looked at him. Your faces were close, and the moonlight highlighted his well-defined features.
"Why?"
"Because of your father. Deep down, I always thought you blamed me for his death." You sighed and bit your lip.
"It wasn't your fault, Shanks. I admit that, at first, I blamed you. I needed someone to blame. But I know it wasn't."
"But still, I couldn't prevent his death. I couldn't protect you all. There's not a day I don't blame myself for that."
"You should stop." You brought your hand to his face, holding his chin; he remained still. "You told me there's not a person in this world who can escape the consequences of their actions." He sighed, and you let go. "Unfortunately, my father ended up in that statistic." You made a face, and he played with a strand of your hair.
"Do you still harbor resentment towards him?"
"For a long time, I did. Trying to deceive the World Government to extort money from them was by far the worst idea he ever had. But I know he just wanted a good amount for us to disappear for good."
"You know, (Y/N), I would hate if you had disappeared." You looked at him surprised; he gave a small smile, his lips seeming closer every time, or maybe you were getting closer.
"Why?" You whispered, with an uncertain voice and trembling hands.
"You're important to me too, (Y/N). I would hate to lose you." Your heart raced upon hearing the phrase. You timidly began to bring your face closer to his. "(Y/N)...?" He said, his voice in a deeper tone, and he sighed semi-closed eyes. You pulled back, feeling embarrassed.
"Sorry, Shanks... I think I've had too much to drink." You shrunk, playing with your own hands.
"Don't lie to me; you always beat Ben in drinking, even when you were still a teenager." He said amusingly, placing his hand over yours. You looked at him again. "Is there something you want from me?" He asked firmly, and you felt a chill in your stomach.
"Shanks... Stop teasing." You gave him a sad look; he seemed confused. "Don't provoke me like this... I know it's something I can't have."
"Who said you can't?" You stared at him fixedly.
Confused, you stood up. He followed you. You were close; you stepped back a bit, and he took another step. And another, and another. Until you were trapped between him and the railing. He brought his hand to your chin.
"I watched you from afar. When you got your ship when you found your crew. I saw your bounty increase. And all I could see was..." He paused, leaning in close, your faces mere centimeters apart. You felt his warm breath on your lips. "The wonderful woman you've become..." He closed the remaining distance, capturing your lips with his.
You froze in place; not even in your adolescent fantasies would you imagine his lips to be so soft. You melted, instinctively bringing your hands to his chest. It wasn't your first kiss, but it was special. He pressed his body against yours, making you sigh, giving him a perfect opportunity to slip his tongue into your mouth. You could taste the sake, and it was simply divine. You held onto his shirt, pulling him closer, while the man's hand settled on your nape, holding your hair and pulling, making you gasp. You separated, panting, your cheeks burning. He looked at you and smiled, licking his lips.
"It's your last chance to stop." He warned, sliding his lips along your neck, as you felt shivers run through your entire body.
"I like to go all the way in my decisions, Shanks. You know that well." You said with newfound courage, grabbing his red hair and pulling, kissing him again.
And you kissed again, and again, and again.
And the rest became one of the best memories you had of the man.
Notes:
till next week love you all ❤💜❤💜
Chapter 32: 3D2Y (Part 2)
Notes:
(See the end of the chapter for notes.)
Chapter Text
One year.
Who would've thought that after all the hell of escaping Impel Down and the Marineford war, you'd be living so well? Training every day, surpassing even the Empress's sisters; your Haki was sharp, and you could even coat your shots with it. No Logia would ever take advantage of you again.
You'd been training alone in the forest for some time now, learning to survive in all sorts of situations. It was tough training, and you often wondered how Luffy was faring with his. It had been a year since you last saw him. You missed him.
Putting that aside, you went to town to deliver a hunt you'd just made. Greeting some women along the way, you left the animal with them and were about to return to your training spot when you saw a light shining in the sky. It looked like a shooting star, burning in broad daylight, with blue flames enveloping it. The object seemed to lose altitude and get closer. Wait, blue flames? Why did that seem strangely familiar? You ran and jumped on the rooftops, tracking the object, trying to figure out what it was. It was heading towards the forest, likely to crash there. You began to suspect that it might not be an object when passing by the castle parapet, Hancock was there.
"(Y/N)! What is that?" She asked, staring at what was falling, and you positioned yourself in front of her. If it were what you were thinking, she would be furious.
"I believe it's a meteor; I'll take care of it, Lady!" You shouted hastily. "No need to send anyone to check, I've got it! Let's make it part of my training!" You yelled, running to keep an eye on the object. She gave you a questioning look but didn't insist.
You followed it until it made a sudden descent and crashed into some trees, creating a small crater. You ran to the location, and the blue flames burned timidly around it but didn't spread. Approaching the crater, your suspicions were confirmed.
It was a person.
You descended into the crater and approached him, kneeling beside him. You recognized him immediately; the blond hair and chest tattoo were distinctive.
If you remember correctly, he was one of Whitebeard's commanders, Marco. He saved your life a few times in the war. You touched his neck, and he had a pulse. The flames burned but didn't affect you or anything around, only gradually healing his many wounds. You bit your lip; what to do with him? You could take him to the Amazons, but Hancock would immediately remove him from the island. You owed him your life, so you couldn't leave him lying in that state. You sighed deeply and decided to take care of him until he could leave the island on his own.
Even though he was bigger than you, it was no problem lifting his arm around your neck and carrying him to a safe place. As you had been training alone in the forest, you decided to take him to the old small cottage where you sheltered at night; at least the Amazons wouldn't find out about him there. You took him inside and laid him on your bed. He hadn't awakened yet, and you guessed his body was using all its energy to heal. You took off his shoes and shirt, then, grabbing a bucket and a wet cloth, you cleaned his wounds as best you could.
You wouldn't care for just anyone, but you knew this man was a good person, knew how much he loved Whitebeard and how hard he tried to save Ace. You felt the scar on your shoulder burn as you thought about it; it always hurt whenever you remembered everything that happened. It was a trauma you would carry forever. You finished cleaning him and bandaged him with clean wraps. You covered him with a thin sheet and decided to stop your training today, taking a quick shower to rest.
A few hours later, you were preparing something basic to eat when you heard a grunt and the sound of something heavy falling to the ground. You turned off the stove and ran to the room where you thought the sound was coming from. You found the man on the floor, trying to sit up.
"Hey big guy, take it easy!" You scolded, going to him and holding onto his arms; he seemed shocked to see you. You helped him stand up enough to lay him back on the bed. You sighed and pulled a chair, sitting next to him. He looked around confused and ran his hand through his hair. Then, he noticed the bandages around his torso and looked at you. He sighed, calming down.
"You... I remember you. Gyldepts, the Gunslinger, right?" He asked, rubbing his chin. You gave a quick smile.
"That's right, Marco the Phoenix." You noticed his smile when he heard the nickname.
"Where am I? What happened?"
"You fell from the sky." You shrugged. "Right into an island under Boa Hancock's control. And let me tell you, she won't be happy with a man's presence here." You looked at him; he seemed genuinely confused. "I guess it wasn't your plan to end up here. What happened to you? I found you all messed up." You pointed to the bandages, and he looked away, as if memories overwhelmed him; his expression turned bitter and hurt, his eyes gleaming with tears.
"Blackbeard..." He said, and you paled. That name was never a good sign.
"What happened?"
"We went after him. Me and the remnants of the crew. We wanted revenge for Marineford. For Ace. For Pops, for everyone, we lost that day!" He said frustrated, clenching his fists. "But... we were defeated, again." You looked at him intensely. "I stayed behind to cover the others' escape and ended up taking quite a beating. Flew aimlessly for I don't know how long and lost consciousness along the way."
"You were lucky! A little more, and you would've fallen into the sea."
"Would've been a fitting end. I have nothing left to hold onto in this life," he said bitterly, and you gave him a stern look.
"Don't talk nonsense!" You pinched his cheek, and he looked genuinely surprised. "You'll surely find something to cling to again. Just need time. Grieving takes a while, but we can't be stuck in it forever."
"Easy for you to say when you're just a spectator," he said irritably. You crossed your arms over your chest.
"I speak because I'm in the same place as you." He looked confused and stared at you.
"How so?"
"My old crew. They're all dead. And surprisingly, it's also Teach's fault." He widened his eyes in complete shock. "Your life wasn't the only one he ruined. I couldn't even properly mourn my friends; their bodies are lost along with my ship." You said, and your eyes lost their sparkle. It still hurts to talk about it, it always would. Marco softened his expression, noticing the melancholy taking over, and tentatively reached for your arm, giving it a small squeeze. You looked at him and smiled. "But here I am, trying to be better, seeking a new path. And you will do the same, after all, you're a phoenix. Do you know the creature's story? They say it could die and be reborn from its ashes, starting the cycle anew. I think you should do the same, Marco. Let go of this hatred and move on. Teach will pay for what he did, sooner or later." Marco thought about saying something but remained silent.
He seemed to absorb everything you said with great interest, lost in his thoughts. Meanwhile, you stood up and went to finish the simple dinner you were preparing. After a while, you finished and served two plates, placing them on a tray and taking them to the room where the man still was. Sitting on the bed, leaning against the wall, and reading a book you had left near your bed. You cleared your throat, gaining his attention, and placed the tray on the bedside table.
"Dinner is ready. Eat a bit; it'll help you feel better."
"Why are you taking care of me, Gunslinger?" He asked curiously, putting the book aside and carefully taking his plate, taking a first bite and smiling. It was good.
"Gratitude. You saved Luffy and me a few times in the war; it's the least I can do." He continued eating, not taking his eyes off you.
"Just for that?"
You gave a smile.
"And also, it's nice to have a handsome man around. I'm tired of being surrounded only by women. Don't get me wrong; they're beautiful, but they're not my type." He almost choked on his food while you started laughing.
"Idiot," he said after catching his breath, and you still laughed. He found himself shyly admiring how your face looked beautiful when you laughed.
"Sorry, couldn't resist the opportunity. Now, I'll let you eat in peace." You were about to get up when he stopped you. "What?"
"Keep me company." He said seriously, and you sat back down, picking up your plate.
You had dinner together and talked about various random things. And you had to admit, he was great company.
************************
A few days had already passed, and you found yourself strangely attached to your new companion. His wounds had completely healed, but he still felt very tired, having expended a lot of energy to regenerate. At first, he stayed in the cottage while you trained all day. At night, you'd return to find dinner ready, and you'd eat and chat until the early hours. Later, he would join you, and amidst the training, you got to know each other better. He was a very intelligent, strong, and kind man. You could feel the wisdom in his words.
Thanks to your advice, he decided to move to a small island that Whitebeard used to take care of. He chose to continue Newgate's legacy this way, and you smiled. Hatred and revenge simply didn't suit the free-spirited and light-hearted person that Marco was.
He even helped you with your training, and you could see how powerful he was. You lost miserably in a few rounds, underestimating your opponent. Just because you could use Haki didn't mean everything would magically be resolved; you understood that now. Still, you were improving, and that seemed to make him happy.
He was already getting ready to leave when you asked him to stay for one more day to prepare a special feast for his departure. He agreed, and you two formed a bond of friendship. While both of you hunted and searched for ingredients for the feast, you heard several voices and footsteps running, approaching you. You quickly told Marco to hide, and he promptly obeyed. Soon, the empress appeared, with a horrified expression, accompanied by her sisters and some more Amazons.
"(Y/N)! So glad you're here! And well!" She came to you, checking for injuries.
"Lady, what happened?" You asked, intrigued.
"Something terrible! We had an invasion on the island!" You widened your eyes in shock; did she know about Marco?
"What?! But how?"
"Some men with a stolen Marine ship approached the coast, pretending to be officials." She said bitterly, kicking a tree. "They deceived my Amazons and attacked us! They wanted to take us as slaves!" You opened your eyes in complete shock while Hancock vented her frustration by destroying the scenery. "These filthy pigs! When I found out, it was already too late! They managed to escape with one of us!"
"Who!?"
"Sypr!"
"No! We have to do something!" You went to her and held her shoulders. "Any clues? Any idea where they might have taken her?"
"Margaret managed to snatch a bag from one of them as they fled. Inside were some coins and this." It was an Eternal Pose. "This must be where they were heading."
"I'll go after her, Lady. I won't let them take any of us." You said determinedly, and the Amazon smiled.
"That's what I was counting on. If I send any of the girls, it might attract more attention to us. I need to protect the rest of the kingdom, but I can't leave Sypr behind."
"Count on me, Lady. You know you can trust me! I'll bring her back, I promise. I never-" You were interrupted by the sound of one of the trees around you falling, a result of the Amazon's unrestrained fury. And from above it, Marco tumbled down. He fell between you and the Empress.
"Wha... What does this mean!?" She said angrily, and soon all the Amazons were surrounding the man, weapons pointed at him. You ran and stood in front of him, protecting him with your body. "(Y/N)?! What are you doing!?" You gave an embarrassed smile.
"Can you at least hear me out before freaking out?"
****************
After explaining how the man ended up there and that he was already leaving, the empress seemed dissatisfied. She was frustrated with you.
"I can't believe you hid a man on the island! Do you know what that means for us?" Defeated, you sighed, and Marco remained in the background, still under the watchful eyes of all the island's women. He remained calm, not uttering a word.
"Forgive me, Hancock, but I couldn't turn my back on him. You were there too; you saw that he saved my life several times. He saved Luffy's life several times!" Hearing the name of her beloved, she blushed. She then stopped and sighed deeply.
"He has to leave now."
"If I may be so bold, I can do more than just leave." He spoke, gaining everyone's attention. "Those men who are hunting, they must be far away by now. You would take too long to reach them at the rendezvous point, and you would miss the chance to save your friend. I can fly, take Gyldepts quickly to the island, and she can intercept them there. After that, I go my way, and you'll never see me again."
The empress seemed to consider the idea. You looked at her expectantly; it was an excellent plan. You knew that if he did this and helped rescue Sypr, the empress wouldn't be as furious with you. After some long seconds of extreme silence, she looked at him intently.
"Let's prepare everything for your departure. Don't delay, and don't let anything happen to either of them, or I'll hunt you to the ends of the seas." He straightened up and saluted.
You didn't want to cause trouble for the island, so Hancock gave you a good amount of berries to take. If they were going to sell her as a slave, at best, you could buy her. You packed everything in a suitcase and threw on a coat to hide. Marco was ready, and you were on the island's beach. You said your goodbyes to the women, and the man transformed into an enormous phoenix, and you quickly climbed onto his back, holding the Eternal Pose to guide them. And then, they took off.
You flew for hours, crossing the Calm Belt and passing over the Red Line. You couldn't say how the men managed to cross it, but it didn't matter now; you needed to be fast. After passing the mountain, you were officially in the New World. It wasn't how you wanted to make your debut, but Sypr needed you. Sometime later, you spotted the island. You saw the ship that attacked Amazon Lily and several pirate ships anchored. You landed in a deserted part of the island. As you descended from the man's back, he transformed back, sitting on the ground, exhausted.
"Ah, Marco, sorry for all this. You must be dead." He smiled at you.
"Don't worry, it's the least I can do to repay Hancock's hospitality." He grimaced, and you smiled.
"I think it's better if I go alone. You're too well-known; you'll attract unwanted attention to us. I'll go after her and bring her here. Then we can return safely."
"And what if they want to capture you too? Maybe I should go..."
"No. This is the Amazons' affair; I can't put you at risk. And I need someone here to support our escape." He was about to argue, but you went to him and hugged him quickly. "Don't worry, everything will be fine."
You walked through the lively island, full of pirates. They reveled in the streets, and there was much debauchery everywhere. The scum was all gathered. Probably all sorts of dirty business happened there. You raised the hood of your overcoat over your face and walked towards a huge tavern in the center of the island. You needed some information, to know where they would sell Sypr. You didn't plan to fight; you wanted to resolve everything peacefully.
Upon entering, the smell of alcohol and sweat filled your senses. The place was packed with the most diverse bunch of pirates. You lowered your head, not wanting to attract attention as you made your way to the bar. If anyone knew the business of that city, it would be the bartender himself. The place was lively, and you managed to wander without attracting attention. But as you passed one of the tables, you felt eyes on you. You discreetly looked and recognized the crew immediately. It was Eustass Kid's crew. The Red Demon himself was among them. You gave an imperceptible smile, remembering the encounter in Sabaody.
You sat on one of the bar's swivel stools, and a drink was promptly served to you. You slid your finger along the rim of the glass and tasted a drop of the drink; there was nothing abnormal in it. A woman alone in a place like this had to be cautious. You took a sip, casually observing everyone. When you finished, the bartender came over to you to refill your glass.
"Thanks, here, take a tip." You said, paying double for the drink and leaving a generous amount for the man.
"Look at that, such kindness, miss. Is there something I could do for you?" He asked as you slyly slid another amount across the counter, which he promptly took.
"I wanted to know where I can find... Loyal manpower for my mansion." You said quietly, and he nodded. "I need workers who have no... choice but to obey." You said ominously; he smiled. He grabbed a piece of paper and wrote something, quickly passing it to you, under another glass of drink. "Thank you." You thanked and stored the paper in your pocket, staying a little longer to finish the drink and not attract attention.
But someone sat next to you. He was older and dirty. His black teeth and messy hair, and he smelled of alcohol.
"Look at that, what a beautiful little thing we have here!" He said, and everyone stopped to pay attention to you. "What's a doll like you doing alone here?"
"Just enjoying the company." You said ironically; he started to laugh.
"I see you have a sharp tongue." He raised his hand towards your arm, to touch it. "I'd like to see it in action."
You didn't let him complete the movement and skillfully grabbed his arm. You stood up and twisted the man's arm, making him hit his face on the wood, breaking his nose instantly. You pulled out a knife and stabbed it into his palm violently, pinning him to the counter. He screamed in pain, and soon his crew came to his rescue. You drew the pistol and pointed it at his head. Everyone stopped moving.
"One step, and I'll spread what little brain he has all over this place." He whimpered in the background. "Look, I don't want trouble, but he started it. I'm being quite benevolent today, so if you excuse me, I'll pretend nothing happened."
"It's... It's okay! It was just a scratch!" The captain said pathetically. "I'm sorry, miss!"
"See? A reasonable man." His lackeys sheathed their swords, and you pulled out the knife, releasing him. You held him and sat him down, took out a white handkerchief you had with you, and pressed it against his nose; he later applied pressure to the wound. You paid him a drink and his crew, and everyone in the bar forgot about the disturbance. You sighed in relief, averting the crisis. You could have put Sypr's life at risk this way. The clumsy captain apologized and thanked you for the drink.
Then you headed to the exit of the place to avoid more trouble when you felt a hand moving toward you as you passed through the tables. Your hand was already holding the knife at your waist, ready to stab another poor soul. However, you couldn't. It was as if the object was glued to the sheath. The firm hand grabbed your arm, and you turned to see who the crazy person was. You huffed.
"Long time no see, Gunslinger." He said without letting you go, still sitting at the table. You rolled your eyes.
"Captain Eustass Kid. I'd like to say it's a pleasure, but I'd be lying." You genuinely smiled at him, and the masked man beside him gave a small laugh. "And you're Killer, right? A pleasure to see you again." You said catching him by surprise.
"What are you doing here? I thought you were with the straw hat after all that shit in Marineford." He asked, letting you go, and you adjusted the overcoat.
"Look, I missed the part where this is any of your business." He became nervous and stood up, staring at you. You didn't flinch, looking him in the eyes. The tension was palpable. Even though he was much bigger than you, you didn't back down, staring intensely.
"Kid, leave her alone. She's not doing anything to you. Can we have a quiet night for a change?" Killer sighed irritably.
"Why isn't he the captain, huh?" You crossed your arms over your chest. He got more irritated.
"At least I'm still a captain." He said mockingly, and you felt your blood boil. You grabbed him by the collar and pulled out the pistol, pressing the barrel against his cheek. He just smiled more. "Come on, try your luck. But I think you forgot about my power. I'll end you before you can shoot that bullet, Gunslinger."
"I don't need it to beat you up, troublemaker. Fortunately, I'm out of time." You sighed and put away the weapons, letting him go and turning to leave the place.
You didn't give him time to retort, and you walked through the doors of the venue.
Notes:
Till next week, love you all <3
Chapter 33: 3D2Y (Final Part)
Notes:
(See the end of the chapter for notes.)
Chapter Text
You left the tavern and grabbed the paper the man had given you earlier; it was an address. There was also a random word, presumably a kind of password.
You headed to that specific location, only to find it wasn't what you expected—it was a massage parlor. You entered, and a woman in a silk kimono, smoking a cigarette, greeted you at the reception. The dim lighting and the almost hypnotic scent of incense surrounded you. She approached, smiling, letting smoke escape between her lips.
"How may I serve you, madame?" she asked, sensually circling you as you swallowed nervously.
"Drazba," you uttered the word from the paper, and her smile widened. She gently took your hand, guiding you through a red-lit corridor.
Amidst depraved sounds from behind closed doors, you reached a black door she unlocked, gesturing for you to enter. The new corridor had blue lighting, silence reigning. At the end, a door on your right was open.
"Please, come in."
Inside, a soft armchair and a table awaited. You sat down, and the woman pulled a curtain covering the front wall, revealing a glass pane. It was like Sabaody, sending shivers down your spine at the realization you were now in the audience, not the show.
"Now, madame, write a name and the total amount you have to spend here, please."
You created a fictitious name on the paper, inputting the sum in your briefcase. Reading the details, her smile grew.
"My, it's quite a sum. I just need to verify it's real." You opened the briefcase; her eyes sparkled. She nodded, and you closed it. "Our show hasn't started yet, but I hope it pleases you. We offer other services if you want to have fun after the main spectacle. If you want to make an offer, just press the button next to your chair and state the amount on the den-den mushi here," she explained, leaving to return with champagne. "You can see the stage from here, but no one can see you there. We value our clients' privacy. Now, to participate, I need you to pay the small fee..."
Of course, she wouldn't leave empty-handed, and you didn't object. You had acquired that money through looting, and Sypr's life was worth more. You paid, and she thanked you, leaving the room and closing the door. The ambiance was dim, the armchair comfortable, and the champagne of the highest quality. You took a sip and impatiently waited for the auction to start.
About 40 minutes later, the show began.
One by one, several potential slaves were presented. You bit your lips in anger, yearning to end the place and free them all, but you knew you couldn't.
After torturous minutes, Sypr appeared, chained, one eye bruised, yet adorned in a beautiful black dress accentuating her curves. She cried.
"And here we have a rare specimen! An Amazon from the women's island! Beautiful and incredibly strong, suitable for any kind of work! Let's start the bidding at... 100,000 berries!"
Someone bid, and you quickly covered it. Another person topped yours, but you persisted. The competition intensified, reaching 1 million berries. Then you dared.
"10 million berries!" You offered, shocking the announcer. He checked with others, probably confirming if you really had that amount.
"Ten million berries! Incredible! Going once, going twice..." He paused; no one bid again. "Sold to our customer number 13!" You sighed in relief, pressing a button to call the reception woman.
She promptly came to you.
"May I help you?"
"I'm done here. I made my purchase and would like to leave." You said, finishing the remaining champagne. The woman smiled and accompanied you back to the reception. Passing the red-lit corridor, you noticed a slightly ajar door. A blonde-haired woman emerged wrapped in a towel, holding a small vial of black liquid. Unable to resist, you peeked into the room, spotting a familiar disheveled red-haired man staggering shirtless and confused.
"What have you done to me, woman?!" He yelled furiously, collapsing. The woman accompanying you closed the room, smiling.
"Sorry for that, madame. Some of our clients just go overboard. Come this way."
You sensed something was wrong, but your priority was Sypr. At the counter, the woman checked your acquisition.
"10 million berries, huh? Bold. I like you, madame."
"I feel the same," you smiled, paying your debt. She smiled even more. "If possible, I'd like to take my purchase now."
"Of course. Would you like security to accompany you? Your purchase is a bit rebellious. She might attack you."
"Don't worry; I can take care of myself. I want to see her alone first, to make her fate clear. Can I?"
The woman gave you a lecherous smile, handing you a receipt and a bunch of keys.
"These are the keys to all the chains on her. She's in room number 3."
You entered the corridor, and the woman closed the door behind her. The corridor had purple lighting, cries for help and sobbing emanating from the doors where slaves were kept. Your heart tightened as you approached the end of the corridor. You noticed there was no number 3 on the doors and, upon reaching the end, saw a flight of stairs. Descending, you realized there were more rooms on that floor. Passing the corridor, two brutes walked by, bowing slightly and carrying an unconscious man to one of the rooms. You were sure it was Eustass Kid. You eavesdropped on their conversation.
"We'll leave him here until we prepare the carriage for transport. He'll be worth more in the other auction," one of them said.
"Miriam did an excellent job capturing prey like him. He'll be valuable," the other laughed as they entered the room, closing the door.
You continued and reached room number three. One of the keys opened the lock, and you quickly entered, closing the door behind you.
Sypr was sitting in a corner, on the floor, crying intensely. You had always admired her dedication to the Amazons and to you, and seeing her in that state saddened you. You sighed and took a few steps toward her.
"Don't come near!" She whimpered, and you lowered your hood. Her eyes widened in shock; you ran to her and covered her mouth to prevent her from screaming.
"Hush, calm down, Sypr. I'm here. You're safe now; I came to get you out of here. Just need you to leave with me without resisting or saying anything. Don't want them to know I know you, or they might make our exit difficult. Okay?" She nodded, and you let go, but even with her arms bound, she hugged you tightly.
"Ah, (S/N)-Sama, I was so scared! Thank goodness you came!" She cried, and you comforted her.
"You're part of the family, Sypr. None of us would ever abandon you. Now, let's go." You wiped her tears and stood up. "Follow me and pretend to be devastated."
You both left the room; you didn't remove her
handcuffs, pulling her by the chain. She walked with her head down behind you as you passed through the corridor and ascended the flight of stairs. Passing through the door and exiting the reception, the woman stopped you.
"You really have a way with people, madame. Look how submissive she is to you," she said, exhaling smoke. You smiled.
"I can be quite... persuasive. Well, I need to go. Thanks for the excellent service."
"I thank you. Come back anytime." She opened the back door for you to exit without arousing suspicion from the rest of the city.
Outside, you were in the alley behind the establishment, heading towards freedom when the two men from before emerged from a side door carrying the infamous pirate, placing him in a carriage. You stopped and froze.
"(Y/N)-Sama, what's wrong?" Sypr asked softly, intrigued. You looked at her, took out the bunch of keys, and handed them to her.
"Sypr, listen carefully. Go to the far east of the island, and you'll find a blond man with a cross tattoo on his chest. It's Marco; he's with me and came to help. Go to him and wait for me there."
"What? What do you mean? What are you going to do?"
"I don't know yet, but I need to do something quickly. See that one there? He's an acquaintance of mine. They're taking him as a slave. I can't stand this kind of thing. I have to act."
"But why?"
"I don't know! But I need to do something now, or he'll miss the chance to escape. Take this." You took the object from your pocket; it was the watch you received in Marine Ford. You pulled a strand of your hair and placed it inside the compartment; it started pointing at you. "Go to Marco and use this to find me in case I take too long." You pushed her, seeing the carriage start moving. "Now! It's an order!" She ran, holding the object and the briefcase with the remaining money, while you began to run after the vehicle. Why were you doing this? Even you didn't know.
You ran across the rooftops, following the carriage through the city streets. You had trained extensively in this kind of pursuit, managing to conceal your presence and follow them unnoticed. With every turn, they moved further away from the bustling area of the city, heading into the island's forest. You had to start jumping between the trees, being cautious not to make noise. 'Have I turned into a ninja now?' you thought as you leaped between branches.
Suddenly, the carriage stopped in a clearing, another one waiting. Several people were there, chained, ready for transportation. The two brutes descended with a semi-conscious pirate to the other two men in the second carriage. Alongside them was the blonde woman from earlier.
"So, Mirian, how much do you want for this specimen?" one of the men asked, standing beside her. The blonde started walking, chains in her hands, and you could tell just by looking that they were made of Kairoseki. She stopped in front of Kid, who was being held up by two men. She held the pirate's face, and he couldn't even move. Whatever she used, it was potent.
"Well, he's worth millions. I want the value of his bounty. Fair, don't you think?"
"Are you out of your mind?" The man stood beside her, furious. "That's a lot of money."
"Then I'll hand him over to the Marines. That way, I can get that value easily."
"Don't be ridiculous! He's worth much more alive!"
"Then pay me now," she said ominously. He signaled to the other man, who took out three briefcases from the vehicle.
"Okay, okay. We expected something like this. You've always been stingy," he sighed. "Cuff him before he regains consciousness."
"It'll take a few minutes. The mix I made contains Kairoseki powder. It messes up the abilities of whoever consumes it. Of course, it doesn't have the same effect as the chains, but it's quite useful to immobilize a user while using a tranquilizer," she said proudly, raising the shackles.
"You're frightening, woman," the man holding the redhead said, and everyone started laughing.
Not seeing the key to the handcuffs anywhere, you figured she didn't have them. You had to prevent them from being used at all costs. You drew your pistols, took a deep breath – it was time to act.
You leaped from your hiding spot, landing next to the blonde. Before anyone could react to the sudden intrusion, your finger flexed on the trigger, firing. The bullet hit the side of the blonde's head, exiting on the other side, spreading blood across the area. One of the men let go of the pirate, horrified by such horror, while you shot again, hitting him and the other man holding the redhead. Three were dead within seconds, and the rest drew swords and weapons to retaliate, but you didn't give them a chance. Soon, you jumped and shot in various directions, deflecting shots coming your way and killing all your attackers. Now, you found yourself standing amidst corpses. Panting, catching your breath, you holstered your pistols. You went to the men's bodies and searched until you found several bunches of keys. Then, you went to the slaves chained near the vehicles and released them.
"Get out of here now!" you shouted, and they ran off.
Soon, you were crouched in front of Kid, checking for injuries that could hinder his escape. Finding none, you put his arm around your shoulder, lifted him, and you both began to run. He was still semi-conscious and couldn't take very precise steps, making your life difficult. He sighed, bringing his other hand to your hood, pulling it down, revealing your hair tied with a scarf.
"You...?" He asked, confused. You ignored him as you both struggled to continue. "Why...?"
"I don't know. So just shut up and get better soon; there are more of them coming after us," you said, feeling a huge group hunting you through the woods. "Damn it, we won't be able to escape in time; we'll have to fight. Can you manage?" He raised his hand but seemed frustrated. "I guess not. Whatever that crazy woman gave you had Kairoseki; you won't be able to use your powers properly until it's out of your system," you sighed. "I always say, and no one takes me seriously, but Devil Fruit users are just trouble." He grunted at your comment, and you reached another clearing. You sat him down, leaning against a tree, preparing to fight.
After some time, you were exhausted. Not only were the slavers after you, but some pirate gangs also attacked, probably paid by the criminals. They weren't a threat, but their numbers seemed endless. Running low on ammunition and patience, you heard something approaching quickly, attacking one of the men coming your way. Blades cut the man's skin, killing him swiftly. Looking, you smiled immediately, recognizing the mask the person wore.
"Thanks for the backup, Killer," you said. He turned to you, and even with the mask, you felt he smiled. "How did you find us?" you asked, and two more people appeared by your side, Marco and Sypr. "Okay, that explains it," you said, standing beside the blonde. "Let's finish this." You resumed the fight while Sypr protected the redhead pirate.
With Marco and Killer helping, there was no way you could lose. But the more you defeated, the more appeared, and you were starting to think you were going crazy. A massive group surrounded you, and you sighed in frustration when you heard a kind of noise around. Suddenly, the weapons of your attackers started shaking and simply flew out of their hands into the sky. You looked back and saw Kid standing up, with his hand raised. He was officially back in action. Using his magnetism power, in one motion, he killed everyone around, using their own swords. You sighed and holstered your pistols. He walked firmly towards you, stopping in front of you, staring at you with those golden eyes, and you didn't flinch. You saw Marco approaching from the corner of your eye, ready to retaliate if necessary.
"You didn't need to do that; I would have managed," he said irritably. You crossed your arms over your chest.
"A thank you would be better." He clenched his teeth. "Don't be like that; come on, give a smile. You were saved by your beautiful and strong knight, prince." You gave a mocking smile and raised your hand to the top of his head, sliding your fingers over the tousled strands. His cheek blushed in frustration, and he grabbed your arm tightly, leaving the marks of his fingers on your skin. But you didn't back down, still looking him in the eyes, smiling triumphantly. "You're quite a troublemaker," you said, while Killer approached, holding his captain's arm.
"Kid," he warned, and the redhead looked to the side, feeling Marco's fixed gaze on him. He slowly let you go. "Let's just get out of here, okay? You two can fight later." The masked man said, and you agreed.
***
Already on the coast, near the massive Victoria Punk, you finally stopped running. You looked back, but no sign of the bandits. Soon, Kid's entire crew came to you to understand what happened. Kid was still a bit shaken, and his men quickly took him to one of the tables already set on the shore, with plenty of food and drink. You glanced briefly at the pirate and began to leave the area, accompanied by Sypr and Marco, when Killer stopped you.
"Any problem?" you asked irritably; he shook his head.
"Thank you. You had no obligation to help, and yet you did. Thank you, gunslinger." You smiled at him.
"I still think you should be the captain," you heard a muffled laugh from the mask he wore. "We'll meet again in the New World."
"Wait," you turned around. "Why don't you stay and have a meal with us? It's the least I can offer." You exchanged glances.
"I don't know if your captain will like that," Marco spoke.
"He's not in a position to complain."
*******
So, you joined Kid's crew while enjoying a nice meal. You absolutely loved that chaotic environment, indulging in food and drinks freely. Marco stayed more distant, protecting Sypr from the world's threats. The captain was nowhere to be found, but you didn't mind. Killer sat next to you, and you chatted casually until the red demon emerged from his ship, wet hair and shirtless. He walked with an irritated expression towards you, rudely taking a seat in front of you. Everyone fell into absolute silence.
"Hey, woman," you rolled your eyes and faced him.
"What's up?"
"Let's drink," he said, and you blinked a few times, confused. "I challenge you to a competition."
"Seriously, Kid?" You put your hands on your hips. "Can't you just admit I saved you and say thank you?"
"Scared of losing?" He smiled, and you sighed.
"What happens if you win?"
"You admit you went after me just because you're interested," he smiled at the frustrated expression you made. "Admit it's all sexual tension, and we end the night in my cabin." You started laughing, furious.
"Ah... I thought the only big thing about you was your height, but it seems the ego still surpasses!" You went up to him, fists clenched. You stopped in front of him, looked him in the eyes, determined. "Well, I accept the challenge!"
***
Marco sat apart from the group, along with Sypr, who was stunned by so much new information. She had never left the island before, and seeing all those different men left her confused. You asked Marco to take care of her to prevent anyone from taking advantage of her innocence.
You were at the table, surrounded by pirates, the captain in front of you. Anyone who wanted could participate in the challenge, putting you at a clear disadvantage, but you didn't mind. The only one who abstained from everything was Killer, acting as a judge in the contest.
And then, you started.
Time passed, and with each of your and the captain's glasses, another pirate fell unconscious. The scene repeated several times as one by one, you eliminated the competition. You couldn't take your eyes off Kid, watching his crimson lips touch the glass, emptying them one by one. You found yourself hypnotized by the golden glint in the demon's eyes as they emptied more and more glasses.
Some time later, both of you were on the edge. A stupid smile wouldn't leave your face, while the man's pale cheeks were now red, both holding a final full glass. It was decided that whoever finished it first would win. Kid reached out his hand to you, which you took awkwardly.
"It was a beautiful... match," he said somewhat dizzy, and you gave a little laugh.
"I say the same... troublemaker." You smiled lazily, took a sip of the drink, and stopped, then began to laugh.
Kid thought that was his chance and tried to down the glass, but he couldn't. When it was halfway, he felt dizzy and fell with his face on the wood, defeated. He groaned, trying to formulate a sentence but couldn't. You smiled and slid your fingers through his crimson hair.
"Rest, Kid. It was a good fight, but..." You took the glass from his hand and finished it. Soon, you took your own and gulped it down. Killer was genuinely surprised; you were just pretending to be drunk. "Don't play a game you have no chance of winning."
"You're scary, woman," he commented, checking on his captain. "Kid, I think you were defeated." The redhead tried to say something but couldn't.
"Well, I guess I should go now. It was fun." You stood up. "Until next time, Killer and Kid." As you passed by them, the redhead, using the remaining consciousness he had, grabbed your arm. "What is it?"
"Th... Thank you," he said softly and let you go. You couldn't help the smile that appeared on your lips. You patted his back and lightly squeezed the masked man's arm, then walked toward the pair waiting for you. Sypr had fallen asleep, leaning on Marco's shoulder.
"Shall we?" You asked the blonde, and he smiled.
***
So, you flew back over the Red Line, and at the border, the empress's ship was waiting. Marco landed on it and handed
over both safely. Very reluctantly, the empress thanked him, and bidding farewell to you and Sypr, Marco left.
And thus, you concluded your last great adventure in the two years you had before returning to Luffy.
Notes:
See you all next week and happy new year!
Chapter 34: The Reunion
Notes:
(See the end of the chapter for notes.)
Chapter Text
You couldn't believe that two years had passed already. A beaming smile played on your lips as you prepared to set off. The Amazon warriors gathered to offer you various objects for your journey. You had grown close to them, often wondering how your life might have been if you had gone there sooner. Setting that aside, the Empress herself entered the room, holding something in her hands.
"Lady!" You exclaimed, rushing towards her; she smiled back at you.
"(Y/N)-Sama, the ship is ready. We'll be heading to fetch Luffy~~ and then proceed to the rendezvous point. Are you ready?" You checked yourself in the mirror, adjusting the scarf that now had an extra adornment, a serpent-shaped clasp, courtesy of the Amazons. The woman smiled at you. "Oh, I have something for you," she said, handing you an object wrapped in red fabric. "All the girls loved seeing you with that mask, so I had them make one for you. It's different from the previous one, so no one links us to the incident from two years ago... But I think it suits your personality. Take it as a memento from us, a reminder that you'll always be one of our warriors and welcomed here."
You took the package and unwrapped it, smiling at the intricately detailed mask made exclusively for you. Hanging it around your neck, you returned the smile to the woman.
"So, shall we?"
Soon, the imposing ship was anchored on the adjacent island, and Margaret descended to find Luffy. You both stayed on the ship, and a nervous excitement took over your body. How was he doing? Was he alright? Had he overcome everything? You touched your scar and smiled; you knew Luffy was resilient. Deciding to wait for him at the Crow's Nest, you hid your face behind the new mask.
When he boarded, he was surrounded by the Amazon warriors bombarding him with questions, and Hancock was having her usual reaction. Without hesitation, you leaped from above, aiming for him. He noticed immediately but didn't move. The impact brought both of you to the ground, with you on top, staring at him. His open shirt proudly displayed the scar from Marine Ford. He reached for the mask you wore, sliding it off your face, and a huge smile lit up his features. You reciprocated.
"(Y/N)!" he shouted, wrapping his arms around you and hugging you tight, which you returned.
"Luffy! Oh, it's so good to see you." You said, getting up and pulling him along. When you were on your feet, you hugged him. Luffy seemed surprised by your affection, but he didn't reject it. He wrapped his arms around you, hugging you tightly.
"Are you ready, (Y/N)?" He asked confidently, and you smiled.
"Always."
******************
You were back in Sabaody, and a strange feeling gnawed at you. Despite being stronger, the past events kept coming back. You sighed and donned the mask, while Luffy hid under a hooded coat given by Hancock. You didn't want to attract attention to smoothly reach the ship. Walking among the people, Luffy accidentally bumped into a man causing a commotion. Looking closely, you couldn't help but notice he was dressed exactly like Luffy two years ago. You shrugged; perhaps he was a fan?
"Stop right there!" the man exclaimed, and you both halted, turning to face him. "You bumped into me on purpose, didn't you?" He approached, drawing a pistol, and pressing it against Luffy's cheek. Your hand instinctively reached for your weapon, strapped to your thigh. "Trying to embarrass me in front of everyone!" He continued his tirade, and a small crowd surrounded you. You glanced at Luffy, and he gestured for you not to get involved.
"Sorry, man, we're in a hurry, so..." Luffy began walking, you by his side, and the large backpack on his back bumped into the man again, further infuriating him. He fired a shot. Luffy skillfully dodged the trajectory and then stared directly at the man. You felt a surge of energy between you, and the man and his henchmen collapsed instantly. You smiled; he had indeed grown stronger.
As you walked towards the meeting point, two figures approached. For some reason, Luffy was sure they were his crewmates, but you were convinced they couldn't change that much in two years. Nonetheless, finding the situation amusing, you remained silent and followed the men, curious about their plans. A gathering of pirates awaited you, and on the stage above was the man dressed as Luffy. He ordered you and Luffy to be brought up as an example.
Chaos ensued when the Marines arrived, and pirates began to fight. Hidden behind your mask, you watched with a smile. Luffy seemed confused, but you nodded reassuringly. Amidst the confusion, massive figures appeared – Pacifistas.
In front of them stood Sentoumaru. You swallowed hard, remembering everything, but without hesitation, you were ready to fight.
"Why are you claiming to be Luffy of the Straw Hat to everyone?" Sentoumaru walked towards the man from earlier, axe in hand. "The Straw Hat is not garbage like you!" He shouted, striking the man and finishing him off. The other pirates trembled in fear. "You're all fools for falling for this scam! I'll arrest everyone! But coincidentally, it seems the real Straw Hat is here too! Px identified him as soon as he arrived!" You took your pistols, ready to act. "Px5, target him!" The man ordered, and a laser attack came your way. You and Luffy easily dodged it; his backpack almost got lost in the attack, and he discarded the coat. You lowered your mask, revealing your face to everyone.
Chaos erupted among the pirate crowd as they recognized the real Straw Hat instantly.
"So, Sentoumaru, going to disrupt our lives again, huh?" You said, stepping forward, pistol pointed at the man.
"You crook didn't expect to see you here with him again." You smiled.
"Get out of the way, or we'll go through you." You warned confidently, behind you, Luffy prepared to fight, smoke emanating from his body. The Px attacked, but both you and Luffy skillfully dodged.
"Too slow." He prepared. "Gomu gomu no... jet pistol!" He shouted, already on the Pacifista, defeating it in a single blow. He grabbed the backpack and started running, with you following. "Sorry about that! Until next time!" He shouted as you both ran to escape.
A duo began running towards you and seeing them, you were sure they were Luffy's true crewmates this time.
But before meeting them, more Pacifistas appeared. The green-haired swordsman didn't hesitate, and along with the blonde, they attacked the Pacifista, easily defeating it. A discussion ensued about who defeated the enemy when another one appeared. He aimed at the two men and was about to attack. You ran forward, shooting the robot. Your Haki-infused bullets penetrated the tough shell, causing huge holes. Unsatisfied, you closed the distance and threw a punch, your fist also charged with Haki. You hit the robot's head squarely, tearing it off the neck. You defeated the enemy with a punch and calmly rejoined the trio.
"Nice one, (Y/N)!" Luffy cheered, and you grinned back at him. The swordsman stared at you intently.
"You're the woman from two years ago... didn't think you'd still be around after all this time," he said suspiciously, and you just shrugged.
"A... a... a real woman... in the flesh..." The blonde seemed in complete shock seeing you, blood starting to gush from his nose.
"Let's get out of here already, or it'll be tough to set sail," you commented, and everyone fled. But as they made their escape, they spotted a figure standing in the distance, observing.
"Rayleigh!" Luffy excitedly shouted. You looked and waved. "Thanks a lot for these two years!"
"Don't worry about it; I just came to check on you. But it seems everything is fine. Now go, catch up with the rest of the crew," he said, and you smiled.
"Rayleigh... I'm going to... BECOME THE PIRATE KING!" Luffy shouted with all his determination, and you couldn't stop smiling. You delicately held onto the strap of his backpack and started pulling him, making him run towards the ship.
"Thanks for everything, Rayleigh!" Luffy shouted excitedly as you all made your way towards the ship. In passing, you could see him holding off the Marines to help with your departure.
Further ahead, another wave of Marines fell to their knees when several transparent creatures passed through them. Ghosts? A pink-haired woman floated towards you, wielding an umbrella.
"So, you guys are the source of the commotion! I should have expected!" she yelled angrily. The green-haired swordsman seemed equally annoyed. The blonde looked like he was about to faint as he approached the woman.
"Another... another real woman!" he began sniffing her, and she pushed him away horrified.
"Of course, I'm a real woman! Are you sick?" you intervened, pulling the blonde away, but that only made him focus on you, and a bit more blood dripped from his nose when you grabbed his shirt collar. "Anyway, you guys have to get out of here soon! Marine ships are approaching the island!"
You resumed running while the young woman delayed your pursuers. But once again, you were surrounded, and as you prepared to fight, you heard a voice from the sky. When you looked up, a massive bird was heading your way, and atop it was the small reindeer from the Straw Hat crew. He shouted at you, and you quickly jumped onto the huge bird as it flew, taking you safely away. The little reindeer, noticing you, got startled and hid behind the swordsman but looked at you curiously. You gave him a brief smile, which seemed to calm him a bit.
After flying for a while, you finally saw their ship for the first time. So, that huge lion-shaped ship would be your new home? As you got closer, you could see all the other crew members were already there.
"LUFFFFYYYYYYYYYYY!!!!!!!!" The entire crew shouted excitedly, jumping and celebrating, tears in their eyes. You could imagine what they were feeling; after all, they had been separated for two years. You landed and descended from the bird, bidding farewell to the small reindeer, who continued on his way.
They all chatted and celebrated while the redhead insisted on leaving quickly, or they would be sunk by the Marines, who were already surrounding them. A warship tried to shoot at you, but the shots simply stopped midway and fell into the sea. Between you and them stood the familiar Kuja ship, with Hancock on the deck.
"That mark is from the Kuja..." Robin said if you remember correctly.
"Kuja?" the redhead asked.
"A strong crew of female pirates, led by a Shichibukai."
"That beautiful woman is a Shichibukai!?" the long-nosed guy asked, looking at the ship with binoculars.
"What beauty... glittering... I think I'm going to..." said the blonde, starting to collapse.
"Ah, (Y/N)!" Luffy said, placing himself next to you. "Look, it's Hancock and the others!" You looked and smiled. From her ship, the empress turned and winked at you. "We're good now; let's set sail!" he said excitedly, adjusting the straw hat on his head.
"Do you know her?"
"Yes, two years ago we were thrown onto the island of women, and we ended up becoming friends with them!"
"And we stayed there for all that time," you added, casually leaning on the ship's edge.
"THAT'S NOT FAIR!!!" the blonde shouted, grabbing Luffy by the shoulders. "WHY DID YOU STAY ON THE ISLAND OF WOMEN FOR TWO YEARS AND I... IT'S NOT FAIR!!!" he threw himself to the ground and began banging his fists on the wood, frustrated. You laughed, and everyone looked at you.
For the first time since you boarded, they seemed to have noticed your presence.
"YOU?!" They exclaimed surprised, while you had an amused expression on your face, arms crossed over your chest.
"Why are you here?" the redhead asked somewhat suspiciously, approaching cautiously.
"Well, two years ago, you guys promised me a ride to the New World, didn't you?" she bit her lip.
"But within those two years, you could have found other people to take you, right?" the long-nosed guy spoke up. You sighed and smiled.
"She's coming with us," Luffy said seriously, standing beside you. All the crewmates exchanged glances.
"Luffy?" the redhead looked at him, and he genuinely smiled.
"(Y/N) is my friend! She helped me a lot; she..." he paused, placing his hand on the scar on his chest that he now proudly displayed. "I'm only here now thanks to her. If she wants to go to the New World, we're taking her!" he said confidently, and everyone swallowed hard.
"That picture, your message to us, she was in the background, wasn't she?" the brunette looked at you, and you nodded.
"Does it mean, miss, that during everything that happened two years ago, you..." the skeleton asked, you looked at the horizon.
"I was with your captain," you said, and unconsciously, you brought your hand to your scar. "But don't worry; I haven't forgotten what I promised." You took out a bag you carried with you. "I offered a sum for my ride, and here it is, with interest." You handed the heavy bag to the redhead, who, when opened, was full of jewels and gold pieces. Her eyes sparkled, and her shape resembled the Berry symbol.
"Welcome aboard, (Y/N)!" the redhead shouted excitedly, safely storing the bag somewhere.
She then began to explain how the ship's coating would work and how they would submerge, and then everyone looked at the captain.
"Are we ready to go, Nami?" Luffy asked.
"Yes, Captain!" she replied excitedly. Luffy stared firmly into the eyes of each of his crewmates, and lastly, he looked directly at you.
"So, guys, there's a ton of things I want to say to you, but for now, I want to thank you for supporting my selfish decision these past two years." They all looked at him and smiled, eyes teary. You knew that the trust and connection of that crew were pretty strong.
"LET'S SET SAIL!!!" Luffy gave the order, and then the ship began its descent. Towards Fish-Man Island, towards the future.
Notes:
see you all next week, love ya
Chapter 35: Descent into the Depths
Notes:
(See the end of the chapter for notes.)
Chapter Text
While their ship made its stunning descent through the ocean, you leaned against the wooden railing. Your gaze wandered, captivated by the dark sea and the marine life gracefully navigating it. Excitement bubbled within you – you were finally heading to a new world. You bit your lip, reflecting on your initial reason for hitching a ride with them: revenge. After two years, the fervor to pursue Horst had waned, but a small part of you couldn't let go of that lingering resentment. You were determined to find him.
A sudden recollection prompted you to approach Luffy, who was engaged in animated conversation with his crew. As you neared, all eyes turned to you.
"Hey, Luffy, can we chat for a second?" you asked. The swordsman eyed you, not appearing overly pleased.
"Sure, shoot."
"Well, uh... where do I bunk on this ship?" you inquired, lifting your baggage still in your hands. Nami stood up and walked over to you, accompanied by the small reindeer, Chopper.
"Oh, right! Come on, I'll show you the women's dorm." She smiled, leading the way, and you followed suit.
Entering the ship, she gave you a brief tour, and my goodness, it was enormous. There was even an aquarium to keep the catch fresh until it was prepared. Upon reaching the dormitory, she opened the door to a larger room with beds and cabinets.
"So, this is where the girls sleep," she grinned, and you bit your lip. "Any issues?"
"You and Nico Robin bunk here too, right?" You nodded towards them. She nodded in agreement. "Any chance of a private room?" She seemed puzzled. "It's not personal; it's just that... I can't sleep with others. There are parts of me I don't want others to see." You explained, and she pondered your words. Chopper, who had been with you the whole time, seemed to recall something, clinging to the leg of the red-haired woman.
"Nami, there's a small room with a bathroom near my office. Maybe she can stay there," he suggested, looking at you, and you gave him a tender smile, making him bashful.
"True! But it's small, just a single bed, a small wardrobe, and a little desk."
"It's more than perfect."
After getting settled, you returned to the deck just in time to witness a commotion. Another ship was attached to yours, ready to attack. However, the creature pulling it seemed startled by Luffy and the others, fleeing and leaving only a man on the deck, who had crossed the protective bubble around the ship.
"KILL ALL STRAW HATS!" he shouted, but when he turned, he realized he was alone. You approached him, gun in hand.
"Who are you planning to kill, little man?" you said, finger on the trigger. The cyborg came and grabbed him, about to throw him into the sea.
"No, no, no, please spare me! Don't throw me into the sea; God is watching!" he pleaded as the man threw him to the deck. You gathered around, your gun pointed at him the whole time.
"So, you threatened us a moment ago, and now you want to beg for mercy?" the cyborg remarked.
"Were you the captain of that ship?" Zoro, the swordsman, added, arms crossed. The man prostrated himself on the floor.
"Not even in my wildest dreams! I was just a cannon fodder!" he banged his forehead on the floor.
"Poor thing! He was probably a victim!" Chopper exclaimed, and the long-nosed man was astonished.
"Everything he said is a lie!" he shouted, and Chopper was indignant.
"Why was that creature pulling the ship?" Nami asked, and the man licked his lips, looking at her.
"Wow, what a cutie~ You're the cat burglar, aren't you?" he asked but was immediately interrupted by a kick to his face from the blond.
"How dare you look at our navigator with those despicable eyes!?" he turned to Nami, making a thumbs-up gesture. "It's all good now, Miss Nami..." he looked at her, and his nose started bleeding, causing him to fall to the floor.
"We... just picked up that sea monster somewhere to pull the ship; it's called advanced navigation." He said, and Luffy was amazed.
"Is there a sea cow around here?" Luffy asked, checking the surroundings. You sighed and grabbed a rope, tying it around the man.
"Wow, another cutie," he licked his lips, and you made a face, hitting him with the gun butt.
"Stay in your place; I'm not as nice as them." You warned, finishing tying him up.
After a while, the ship moved differently from the indicated course, and the surroundings started to cool down. You grabbed a coat and put it on, wrapping yourself up. Nami explained to the others how the ocean floor currents worked, but you had no desire to pay attention to that. You felt something strange approaching but didn't know where it was coming from. So, you walked to the other side of the deck, leaning against the edge, looking down into the ocean void with keen attention. Soon, the other crew members joined you in looking down.
"You noticed it too?" Zoro asked, and you nodded.
"And it's approaching fast. What do you think it is?" You asked. And soon got the answer.
A massive creature emerged from the ocean's darkness towards you all.
"A KRAKEN!!!" they shouted, and a general panic set in the crew, except for a few who seemed more fascinated than scared.
"This monster is going to destroy the ship; let's get out of here now!" the tied-up man yelled. Luffy scoffed.
"Forgot about you; stay put! I have an idea; I'm going to tame this beast!" he said, grinning, and you chuckled. It was great to see that even after everything, he hadn't lost that simple essence.
Things spiraled out of control quickly when the invader's ship reappeared, attempting to attack you. Unfortunately, the Kraken was ruthless, crushing their ship. Half of the crew just wanted to flee, while Luffy and his two strongest companions wanted to fight. Then the tied-up man resolved your dilemma. He coated you all with special bubbles, the same ones protecting the ship. You naturally requested one for yourself; you couldn't let Luffy go alone.
You ventured into the ocean, encapsulated in bubbles, and a battle ensued. They were truly formidable. Zoro ended up cutting one of the monster's tentacles, with Luffy scolding him immediately. While they fought, you felt the sea around you becoming more turbulent.
"Luffy! We have to go back!" you shouted, but the bubble prevented the sound from escaping. You tried to gesture to them, but it was too late. You, the Kraken, and the ship were pulled by a strong ocean current.
As you were tossed in all directions, Luffy's bubble came to yours, and they collided, merging into one.
"You okay, Luffy?" you asked; he just laughed as you all were tossed by the ocean. "I'll take that as a yes," you looked around as you saw Sanji and Zoro battling the monster amid the chaos.
When it finally stopped, the monster burst Sanji's bubble, and he started freaking out, thinking about where to go. Soon, he spotted the swordsman's bubble nearby and dove into it, sharing it with the man. He immediately grimaced. They approached you, and the Kraken too, ready to fight again. "Luffy, I'm going to try something." You said, and he smiled, allowing you to take charge.
You stuck your head out of the bubble, the extremely cold water giving you a little shock. As you held your breath, you maneuvered the bubble towards the Kraken, which seemed to pause its attack, momentarily halting its movements. You got close enough to look it in the eyes, and yours gleamed in an unnatural color, mirroring its eyes. You then reached your hand out of the bubble, touching the creature's sticky skin. It made a low sound, almost like an affirmation. You smiled and turned back into the bubble, releasing a long exhale and catching your breath. The creature no longer seemed interested in attacking, and the other two approached you. Just in time, they started a brawl inside the bubble, which eventually burst, leaving all of you sharing one. It was cramped, and you were pressed between the three. You glanced at the creature, which extended one of its tentacles, gently moving your bubble, swimming through the ocean in search of the ship.
Everyone looked at you.
"(Y/N)! I always forget that you do these cool things!" Luffy said excitedly, squeezing you against him.
"How did you do that, witch?" Zoro asked, his chest pressed against you due to the lack of space.
"Never call a lady a witch, you idiot marimo!" the blond, who had his back pressed against you, shouted. "But seriously, how did you do that, miss?"
"I have some tricks up my sleeve, don't worry about it." You said, and no one dared to question.
The massive Kraken led you through the dark waters of the ocean in search of the ship, while you felt the bubble shrinking more and more.
You had to find the ship soon, or things were going to get ugly.
Notes:
Till next week ! love you all <3
Chapter 36: Arrival at the magical island
Notes:
(See the end of the chapter for notes.)
Chapter Text
You guys soon found the ship, the bubble had less and less space. But your relief quickly faded when you saw the ship being threatened by a massive creature. You looked at the Kraken and touched Luffy's head, and the animal nodded.
"Come on, Luffy, give the order." You spoke, and his eyes lit up, staring at the enormous monster.
"Go! Full throttle! Let's save the Sunny!" He shouted excitedly; the Kraken seemed to understand the order as it rushed towards the creature. It delivered a series of punches until Luffy told it to stop. "That's enough, buddy! Good job!" He said, and the octopus became embarrassed, a huge smile (?) adorning its face. The crew seemed relieved to see you, as your bubble passed through the ship's coating, and you were back on the deck. You tried to dry your hair as much as possible, the extremely cold water giving you shivers. But then, you felt a tremor.
"Oh no... the underwater volcano is going to erupt!" Nami shouted in despair.
"Surume! Grab the ship and run!" You ordered quickly as you noticed your attackers doing the same, and only now did you notice the large ghost ship near you.
The Kraken started its awkward run along the ocean floor.
"The face he's making is unbelievable," commented Usopp, and you looked at him curiously; he seemed familiar, not because you met him at Sabaody.
"What a horrendous way to run," added Nico Robin, and you sighed.
"No need to insult, he's doing his best." You put your hands on your hips.
He continued his path until they heard an explosion; the volcano erupted. The creature started running even faster, and you felt the current change, the heat taking over again. The ship swayed a bit.
"The sea current changed due to the temperature!"
"Nami, where are we going?"
"To... the precipice!" She yelled, and everyone looked ahead to a dark and enormous abyss.
"Is that where the island is?" You asked, and she nodded. "Well, then let's go!" You smiled, and Luffy let out an excited scream.
"Jump, Surume!" He shouted, and the creature didn't dare to disobey, and soon you were falling into the deep darkness. But something wasn't right. You looked up and saw several rocks falling towards you.
"Darn it, an avalanche! Navigator, what do we do?" You asked, drawing your pistols.
"Don't shoot! If you create several holes in the bubble, it will burst!" At that moment, the swordsman prepared to leave the ship, swords in hand.
"If you go outside, the water pressure will kill you automatically!" The brunette intervened, using her Akuma no Mi power to hold him back.
"Then it's my time to shine!" The long-nosed guy announced, shooting precisely with his slingshot. The single shot smoothly passed through the bubble and hit the side of the abyss, creating various plants that held the larger rocks.
Surume quickly steered the ship away from the rocks. You sighed in relief.
"Wow, great job, Usopp!" Luffy slapped his friend's back, while everyone praised him.
"Yeah, that's really good accuracy. Reminds me of someone I met..." You pondered for a few seconds, and Luffy slapped your back.
"Oh, come on, (Y/N)! If you know Shanks, you know Yasopp! He's Usopp's father!" You opened your eyes in shock.
"Seriously?" You said amazed and approached the man, holding his face and getting very close. The long-nosed guy blushed immediately. "Well, looking at it like this, he does!"
"You... you also met my father?" He asked, looking away, still embarrassed by your proximity.
"Of course, he gave me several tips on improving my aim." You smiled.
"Where did you meet him?"
"Oh, at sea!" Luffy interrupted, answering for you, and you started laughing.
"Exactly." You let go of the man. "You inherited his talent, good job!" You patted his shoulder and leaned on the side of the ship, watching the exhausted animal finally release you.
"So much light! How can there be so much illumination at the bottom of the sea!"
"It's beautiful," you said, looking up, at a huge dome holding an island.
"Nami, is this it?" Luffy asked, and Nami raised her wrist with the log.
"Yes... Fish-Man Island."
The ship turned into a celebration as everyone rejoiced at the long-awaited arrival at Fish-Man Island. On the other hand, you felt tense, and soon your nervousness was justified. The self-proclaimed new crew of the Fish-Man Pirates appeared in front of you, which seemed to bother the navigator a lot.
"So, are you friends or enemies? Will you join our fleet, or will you refuse? If you refuse, we'll sink you right here."
"No way, you jerk!" Luffy made a face at them; you, Sanji, and Zoro stood by the captain, ready to fight if necessary. You heard the other crew members plotting something, but you didn't care. You weren't going to die there, that was for sure.
When the pirates tried to attack you, Frank activated something on the ship that shot a kind of laser, propelling the Sunny quickly towards the island in front of you. You had to hold onto the ship to avoid falling backward with the shock.
The ship hit and pierced the bubble wall, but there was a vacuum and another wall afterward; your bubble burst and the ship was thrown, carried away by the current. The seawater came with full force, throwing the crew members everywhere. You held your breath and tried to swim towards the small reindeer, the closest one to you, and you knew he was a user of Akuma no Mi. But the sea was merciless, and in a violent turn, you hit your back against a rock, and your consciousness faded.
You opened your eyes hearing shouts, several voices making the noise. You sat up slowly, feeling discomfort in your back. Looking around, you were in a small house. Chopper was there and timidly came over to you.
"Oh, you woke up, Gyldepts," he said softly, checking your temperature, and placing his little paw on your forehead. "You seem fine; your body temperature is back to normal."
"Where are we, Chopper?" Only then did you see the others, and one person, in particular, caught your attention. "Ka... Kamie!?" You asked incredulously, seeing the mermaid serving soup to the others. Her eyes lit up when she saw you. You quickly got up and ran to her, hugging her tightly. She reciprocated the gesture.
"Oh, (Y/N)! It's so good to see that you're okay!" She smiled, tears in her eyes that you quickly wiped away.
"I say the same!" You smiled. "How did we end up here? What happened?" You asked, letting go of the mermaid; she soon handed you a plate with food that you promptly consumed.
"You were saved by the coast mermaids. They brought you here." You nodded in relief, seeing Luffy well, eating everything in sight.
"Ahh, (Y/N)-chan, so glad you're awake!" Sanji came towards you and grabbed your hand, immediately bleeding from the nose.
"Stop it, Sanji! You're going to pass out again!" Chopper reprimanded him.
"So, want to explore the city?" Kamie suggested, and you all smiled.
Kamie guided you through the area, going up an elevator that was nothing less than a sea turtle surrounded by a bubble. You looked around in awe; everything was too surreal. Upon reaching the top, you could see a coral beach and numerous beautiful mermaids. Sanji started crying immediately.
"This is the All Blue!" He shouted, and you sighed, putting your hands on your hips. He was undoubtedly a pervert.
"Girls, this is Captain Luffy! The one crying is Sanji, the long-nosed one is Usopp, the raccoon is Chopper, and the lady with the scarf is (Y/N)! They all helped me a lot in the past!" She introduced you animatedly.
Soon, one of the mermaids pulled Sanji and invited him to the sea, a gesture he didn't ignore. He took off his shirt and shoes and went to play in the water. You sat on one of the rocks, next to Luffy, casually observing the scenery. It was a charming place.
"There's someone I want to meet, Keimi!" Luffy said excitedly. You smiled; you also wanted to meet that same person.
"Who?"
"Jimbei!" He gave a huge smile, and you instinctively touched the scar. "He saved our lives two years ago, and when Ace died... he was an essential person for me. Along with (Y/N), of course." He looked at you and gave an even bigger smile; you turned your face abruptly, not understanding why you felt embarrassed.
"I don't know if Master Jimbei will be on the island."
"What!? It must be a joke! I promised that when I came here, I would see him!"
"It's just that after the war, he lost the Shichibukai position!... many things changed for us after that..." you sighed, biting your lips; you knew their situation wasn't the best. Soon, Keimi's little friends came swimming rapidly.
"Keimi! There's a ship coming!" They shouted urgently.
"Luffy, (Y/N), everyone! Hide, someone is coming!" She yelled, and you all looked at each other; you had just arrived, and there were already problems?
Who could be coming?
Notes:
See you all next week, love you all ❤💜❤
Chapter 37: Life at Stake
Notes:
(See the end of the chapter for notes.)
Chapter Text
You guys were hiding as the ship approached the beach. Trumpets blared, announcing some real VIPs. You were off to the side, not getting what was happening, but it seemed like the actual princes were there. You breathed a sigh of relief when it seemed like things were sorted out, and they were about to leave when something unexpected went down.
Sanji, who was being held by the mermaid, just couldn't take it anymore and let out a scream of pure excitement, blood spraying from his nose like a fountain. Chopper screamed in horror, and amid the chaos, you all ended up revealing yourselves to the princes.
You and Chopper rushed to Sanji to help him out. You were about to touch him when Usopp stopped you.
"If you touch him, the bleeding will get worse!" He said, putting his hand over the blonde's nose to try and stop the flow. "He can't handle so many women in one day..." You sighed and knelt beside him.
"What are we gonna do?" You asked, noticing the princes and guards approaching; instinctively, your hand went to your holster.
Chopper stood in front of you.
"We apologize! We're sorry for trespassing! But, please, wait before arresting us! Before that, can someone donate blood to save our friend? He's bled too much, and if it continues, he'll die in half an hour! His blood type is RH negative, it's pretty rare!" Everyone looked at each other in shock, as if the little reindeer had said something monstrous.
"But what...? What's happening? Why are they looking at us like that?" You asked; Usopp shrugged.
"You humans are idiots! There's not a creature on this island that would donate blood to your inferior race! And if there's someone dumb enough to do it, they'll face the 'shadow judgment' from those who hate humans!" From behind a hiding spot, the fishmen who threatened you at the island's entrance emerged. You quickly got up and walked towards them, hands always close to your pistols.
He then explained that the great hero of the fishmen, Fish Tiger, died because humans denied him blood. You swallowed hard; although you didn't agree with the law, you understood the reason behind it.
"Now, Straw Hat, come with us to the Fish-Man District! Our captain Hodi Jones demands your presence!" Luffy completely ignored them, focusing on his endangered comrade. "So, I'll take you by force!" He pulled out a cannon, firing a net towards Luffy. You quickly stepped in front, pulling the net and throwing it aside before it could complete its path. Luffy prepared a punch.
"Didn't I tell you I don't give a damn about what you're saying?!" he said angrily and, in a swift move, knocked out the three fishmen with a single blow. Everyone around was amazed.
"Luffy-chin, (Y/N)-chan! Put Sanji here, let's go to the town! There are plenty of human tourists, we'll find someone to donate blood!" Camie shouted; you looked up, and she controlled the ship the princes entered. You didn't waste any time and boarded, getting out of there in a hurry.
"Forgive me! If I had that blood type, I'd donate without thinking!" Camie said sadly; you put a hand on her shoulder.
"It's not your fault, it's his. Thinking about pervy stuff almost got him killed!" You touched your face as the ship approached the city; now you just had to find a donor... and fast.
You were sitting on a beanbag in the back of the Maid Cafe where Camie worked. In a makeshift bed in the back, Sanji was unconscious receiving the transfusion. Everyone was exhausted; you ran all over the city looking for a donor for him. You then realized someone was staring at you and opened your eyes. It was the owner of the place, Madame Shyarly, casually smoking a pipe. She was staring directly at you, with an unreadable expression on her face.
"Can I help you?" you asked, slightly annoyed, trying not to be rude to the person who welcomed you, but she was making you uncomfortable.
"You are... peculiar," she said, blowing smoke from her mouth. "Your energy, your aura, it's not that of an ordinary human. What are you?" she asked, and you choked on saliva. You looked around and noticed the boys were distracted by the decor and didn't pay attention to what she was saying. You sighed in relief, catching your breath.
"I'm a Gunslinger. Just that," you said, sliding your hand over the holster and staring at her; she chuckled.
"Got it, got it. Don't worry, I'll keep my assumptions to myself." You nodded and closed your eyes again.
"Wow, you're a pretty big mermaid, huh?" Luffy asked, messing with a crystal ball on a table in the back.
"She's the owner, show some respect!" you scolded him; he made a face, approaching the woman.
"So, do mermaids poop?" he asked; the woman got furious.
"What a vulgar boy!" she exclaimed angrily; her eyes changed, like those of a shark about to attack its prey.
"Oh, my bad!" the straw hat said, and she immediately went back to normal.
After talking about the mermaid's ability to predict the future, you all got up, ready to continue your stay on the island. You finally left the establishment and saw the facade of the place, which was quite beautiful. Now, entering the hall, you went to meet Camie's friend. Besides him, Brook was there, and for some reason, you sighed in relief; you found another missing crew member. Now, properly introduced, you all headed in a fish taxi towards the mansion of the sea star.
Everything was very beautiful and luxurious in that specific part of the city. You looked at the sea star and wondered how he had managed to amass so much money. Ignoring that for now, you got out of the taxi and soon heard an argument inside the star's clothing store. Entering the place, you found your navigator in a heated negotiation with the seller.
"Don't worry, I owe you guys big time for what happened two years ago! Take whatever you want, on the house!"
He didn't have to say it twice, and the redhead was already grabbing everything she wanted and stuffing them into huge bags. You saw some specific clothes and got curious about them.
"You're with them too, aren't you?" The star asked; you nodded timidly. "Take some for yourself too, no problem!" He assured you, and you grabbed a few pieces, storing them in a modest bag.
When you looked around, there was nothing left. Everyone carried huge bags filled by the redhead, who cleaned the place. You sighed and chuckled, following everyone out of the store.
As you walked through the streets, you noticed a huge commotion. Everyone looked up in fear, and you looked too. Someone was coming; it was a huge fish-man riding a whale. Judging by the people's reactions, he was very important. He came towards you all.
"You guys are the Straw Hat humans, aren't you? I'm inviting you to my palace."
"What???" You shouted in shock. "Your palace, you're the king of this island!?!?"
"Yes, human. I am."
"What the heck!?" All the crew members yelled in fear; what could be happening?
****************************
Notes:
A/N: Good afternoon, my dear ones, a heads-up: I am embarking on my well-deserved work vacation and will take the month of February to rest, so there won't be any posts this month! I apologize for the inconvenience and hope you understand my selfish decision! Love you all!
Chapter 38: The Palace
Notes:
(See the end of the chapter for notes.)
Chapter Text
"Are you... seriously inviting us to a feast?" You asked cautiously, sitting on the shark, heading towards the palace.
"Yeah, you guys fought a Kraken and saved my daughter's pet! She was crying so much, missing it," the king replied.
"It wasn't intentional, but we're glad we could help!" Luffy said with a smile as you ran your hand over the shark, which oddly seemed happy.
"I sent my kids after you, but since they didn't come back, I came myself."
"Ah, so that's what they wanted..." You pondered softly.
"Don't worry, my soldiers will bring the rest of your crew to the palace once they find them."
"Nami, do you know where the others are?"
"Franky went after one of Tom-san's relatives, Robin said she was chasing some ancient history, so we ended up splitting up." This part piqued your curiosity; you've always been curious about the world's mysteries. You made a mental note to ask the woman about it later.
After a detailed explanation of how they had sunlight at more than 10,000m depth, you finally arrived at the huge palace. As you walked through the corridors, you soon found yourselves in the hall. Some fishmen came, giving the king a scolding for going out alone. But you felt something was off, and looking at your captain, he was sneaking away, heading down a corridor alone.
Feeling bored, you decided to follow him. After all, he always got into trouble; it would be fun. You walked alongside him.
"Hey Luffy, where are you going?" He looked at you confused and smiled.
"I smell food." You smiled and shook your head. "The scent disappeared behind this door!" You looked to where he pointed; a guard exited the room pushing an empty cart, not noticing your presence, and heading in the opposite direction.
You both stood in front of the door, observing. The door was large and solid, the walls very resistant; several sharp objects were embedded there. Why would such a reinforced room be necessary in a castle? Luffy seemed unconcerned, only thinking about the food inside.
"Maybe they keep a dangerous monster in there." You raised your hands as if they were claws, posing like a monster; Luffy started laughing.
"That would be awesome, right? Let's see?" He said, placing his hand on the door. You looked around to make sure you were alone, then nodded.
He opened the door; it was extremely dark. You left the door open to have at least some light in the room. Luffy dashed ahead, frantically searching for the food whose aroma now filled the room. He jumped onto something soft and started hopping happily, but you knew something was wrong.
"Luffy... I have a feeling this isn't furniture." You commented, noticing a huge tail in the room.
"Is someone here!?" A female voice shouted, and the room lit up abruptly. A giant mermaid stood up, knocking Luffy off who was jumping on her unknowingly. You looked at her in shock; she was truly gigantic. "What were you doing on top of someone's body? Where are you from?" She asked, startled, tears welling up in her eyes.
"Oh, so it was a giant... A giant mermaid!" Luffy exclaimed in surprise.
"Look if you came here to kill me... know that I'm not afraid, okay!? I'm not... I'm not scared...." Her lips trembled. "Dad.... Brothers... Help!!!" She started crying loudly; her tears were large and seemed like rain to you, and both of you started to dodge the huge drops falling.
"Hey hey! Calm down! Nobody here came to kill you!" You said as gently as you could, but she just cried louder. Luffy covered his ears, annoyed with the noise. Amid the confusion, you felt an attack coming, so your gaze fell on the gap in the door. An axe came flying towards the chest of the huge mermaid. Quickly, you and Luffy threw yourselves in front of the attack.
You drew your pistols and parried the blade with them. Luffy came and, taking advantage of the object being intercepted by you, kicked it, causing it to embed in the wall. Soon, you heard voices approaching, probably the guards heard the princess's crying. They soon entered the room, and to your surprise, the mermaid grabbed each of you with her huge hands and hid you behind her long hair.
"Hey let go of me..!" Luffy panted, but you put your hand over his mouth, silencing him.
The guards came in, and realizing she was fine, they explained the situation. How you had saved her shark, but mermaids began to disappear from the island, along with your arrival, and you were the main suspects. By their speech, the crewmates who arrived at the castle had already been captured.
When they left and closed the door to the room, the princess took you out of hiding. You were sitting in the palm of her hand. God, she was huge.
"Phew, thanks, thank you!" Luffy said, jumping from her hand and heading towards the food.
"I'm sorry for being rude earlier, I had no idea it was you who saved Megalo!" She said excitedly, you smiled. "But if it was you, then you're pirates. Are you bad?" She asked; you got off her hand, joining Luffy.
"That's for you to decide," he said.
"Titles mean nothing. There are good and bad people everywhere; it's up to you to decide who they are," you added, grabbing a small piece of meat, a move that made Luffy growl at you.
"But seriously, what was that flying axe? What kind of strong guy would throw an axe here?"
"That was the work of Lord Van Der Decken! He hates me for refusing to marry him. So he always tries to kill me." She said sadly. "He got the curse of the Mark Mark Fruit and can aim perfectly at a target he's marked, from anywhere and at any time. That's why I'm not safe taking a step outside here." You went to her and gently touched her tail as if to comfort her. "It's been 10 years now since I've been here."
"All this time?!" You asked incredulously. "If you know who he is, why don't you do something about it?" You got irritated; she started trembling. "Just get rid of him! You're the princess! No one should threaten you like this!" She started crying.
"I'm sorry! I'm so sorry! I... I..." She broke into tears again; you put your hand on her face.
"I wasn't even rude!" You looked at Luffy and he shrugged. "Hey, hey, it's okay! Stop crying, it's over! Oh, I haven't even introduced myself, my name is (Your Name)!" You said hastily, and that seemed to calm the giant mermaid.
"I'm Shirahoshi, the mermaid princess." Luffy wasn't paying attention, just devouring the meal. "Wow, for such a small human, you eat a lot!" She said and brought her huge finger to Luffy, poking him and making him spit out the food.
"What's your problem?! Why did you do that?" He yelled, and she started crying again. "Stop it, it's annoying! All you do is cry, I don't like you!" He said, which only made the woman cry even more. You decided not to intervene; her crying was irritating you.
"No one has ever been so cruel to me; just leave from here!" She said through tears; he calmly finished his food.
"Ah, being locked up for ten years must suck. Hey, isn't there anywhere you'd like to visit?" She sobbed and wiped her tears.
"Of course there is, but..."
"I have an idea! Let's go for a walk; if something comes flying your way, Gyl and I can handle it!"
"What?" She exclaimed in fear.
"Luffy, are you sure?" You asked, already knowing the answer. "They'll say we kidnapped the princess, and think we captured the missing ones. But whatever you decide, I'll go along with it."
He smiled genuinely at you.
Notes:
So... my vacation's over so, i am back!!!!! so happy to see you all again <3
Chapter 39: The sea forest
Notes:
(See the end of the chapter for notes.)
Chapter Text
"We can't do this!" exclaimed the princess, frightened. You sighed.
"Why not? We'll protect you, don't worry," you reassured her, knowing full well that Luffy wouldn't give up on the idea.
"If I do something selfish like this, I'll put everyone in the palace at risk..."
"But didn't you say you wanted to? If I were stuck here for 10 years, I would've gone crazy already!"
"Where did you want to go, anyway? Is there a specific place?" You asked calmly, gently touching her tail. She sighed and muttered something.
"Huh?"
"To the Sea Forest," she finally replied. "But it's just a dream... I never..." And then she started crying again. You grimaced; Luffy seemed annoyed.
"Why are you crying just talking about a place? You're so annoying!" He crossed his arms; she cried even harder.
Suddenly, they heard a loud noise, something crashing against the massive door.
"Again..." You sighed; this would be a problem.
"I... I've always wanted to go there... For 10 years... But everyone always said it was too dangerous, so... Are you going to take me there?" She asked through tears, and you felt that it was an important place for her.
"Of course we will! We'll protect you, right, Luffy?"
"Of course! Leave it to us! But if you keep crying, I won't take you. Besides, you'll have to carry me since I can't swim, shishishishi," he said excitedly, and you chuckled.
"But if we leave with her, everyone will notice! She's huge, how are we going to sneak out?" You pondered, but looking at Luffy, he had a determined look on his face.
"I have an idea!"
You couldn't believe what you were getting into, riding on the enormous shark named Megalo. It had a nauseated expression, as if it was about to vomit, as it raced through the palace corridors. Ahead, Luffy was confident with his brilliant plan. You sat behind him, a hand on his shoulder to keep him balanced and hold him back if necessary. You passed through the main hall, where there seemed to be a huge commotion, but you didn't have time to process what was happening, and you were already out of the palace, swimming through the scenery.
You were above the city; Megalo seemed extremely uncomfortable.
"Can't you come out already, princess?" You asked, seeing the animal squirm.
"I don't feel comfortable going out right now; I'll stay in here." You bit your lip and sighed.
"So, where did you want to go again? Sea Forest, right? What's there?" Luffy interrupted.
"A tomb, which I've never visited since its construction 10 years ago... It's where I want to go the most." She said, and you swallowed hard; Megalo heading straight to the mentioned location.
Before reaching the location, they spotted a commotion up ahead. As they approached, you could see Sanji and Chopper, and in the background, someone was quite injured. As you got closer, you recognized him.
"Sanji, Chopper!" Luffy shouted excitedly; you pulled his shirt and pointed to the man on the ground. "It's Hacchin! What happened!?" Luffy jumped off the shark.
"Sorry, princess, it'll be quick!" You also jumped towards them.
"Hacchin! Who did this to you?" Luffy asked, and you ran to him, kneeling on the ground.
"Nyu... Straw Hat... Gunwoman..."
"He doesn't want to talk! He keeps telling us to leave the island!" Chopper said, trying to treat the fishman's more serious wounds.
As they talked, a commotion started behind them, several fishmen accusing them of attacking the palace and trying to kidnap the mermaids. Megalo began to squirm, and you knew he wouldn't be able to hold on much longer. He ended up releasing the princess, who was expelled from her hiding place inside the shark's stomach. Everyone was shocked to see her.
"Now we're screwed..." You said, standing up.
"A huge mermaid!!! She's the mermaid princess!!" Chopper shouted in shock; Sanji was in front of you.
"What's behind me... Did I hear it right... The princess... Mermaid?" The blond asked, hands trembling.
"Shit, if he sees her he's gonna bleed to death!" You ran up to them and grabbed the blond by the shoulders, forcing him to look you in the eyes. "Listen here, you pervert, don't turn around! If you do, you're gonna die! Look only at me!" He stared into your eyes; his face flushed. But his body was shaking, and you felt like he was trying to turn around. "Don't you dare!"
"But... She's behind me... The living legend, the most beautiful mermaid is right behind me... I... I..." He looked into your eyes, and his lips trembled; you knew he couldn't resist.
"You're gonna die!" You shook him a bit.
"Forgive me, beautiful lady, but for my dream, I'll gladly die!" He broke free from you and turned abruptly, facing the princess. "Gorgeous!" He shouted and suddenly turned into stone as if Hancock herself had used the power of her fruit on him.
"What the hell was that!?" You shouted in shock, holding the statue so it wouldn't fall to the ground and break. "Chopper!" You called, and he came running. "What's going on!?"
"Maybe because of the blood he received?" He pondered. "Instead of having a hemorrhage when he gets too excited, he turns into stone."
"Will he turn back to normal?"
"I hope so!"
While you were distracted, the Tritons captured Luffy and tied him up.
"We finally captured the captain! Don't underestimate fishmen!" One of the natives shouted while Luffy was tied up.
"Guys... Please... Luffy-sama was just helping me..." The princess tried to argue, but they didn't let her speak.
"Hey, something is coming towards us!" You shouted, pointing to the sky.
"She's right, and it's coming fast!" He added.
"Do you think we're going to fall..." He turned around. "It is!" He shouted in fear.
"I FINALLY FOUND YOU, SHIRAHOSHI!" He shouted; the princess started crying.
"Who are you, you hideous thing?" You asked, standing in front of the mermaid, hands descending to the holster.
"I am VanDer Decken!" He started laughing, and you knew he was the one who had been threatening the princess's life for ten years. "Come on, Shirahoshi, give me your answer! If you say 'yes,' you'll escape death! Come on, come with me and be my wife!"
"All this time trying to kill her just because you liked her!?" You shouted incredulously, drawing your pistols.
"Sorry, Vander Decken-sama, but you're not my type!"
"How dare you!?" He shouted in disbelief, drawing an axe. "If you're going to reject my love, then there's no reason for you to live!" He launched into the attack.
"Run, princess!" One of the inhabitants shouted; she turned to flee.
"DO NOT RUN, COWARD, IF YOU GET AWAY FROM US, WE WON'T BE ABLE TO PROTECT YOU!" Luffy shouted, and even though tied up, he jumped and hit VanDer Decken with his body.
"Why are you interfering in my relationship with Shirahoshi?! I bet it was you who took her out of the tower! I'll kill both of you, you won't be a couple!" He tried to hit Luffy, who was still in the air, but as expected from your captain, he skillfully spun and hit the fishman head-on. Luffy fell near you.
"Let's get out of here already! (Y/N), untie me here!" He asked, and you promptly tore the rope with your bare hands. "This island is pissing me off! Let's go!" He shouted, and Shirahoshi climbed on Megalo's back, you and Luffy together. Meanwhile, the fishmen begged her to stay.
"You won't escape!" Vander Decken shouted in the distance, and front of you emerged the giant they had encountered when they arrived at the island.
"Luffy, you can do it!" You shouted, and he signaled a thumbs up to you. "You guys are too...!" You jumped, fist imbued with Haki. "Irritating!" You punched him in the face, knocking him down with one blow, and using his huge body, you jumped back onto the shark's back. "Let's go!"
"To the Sea Forest!" Luffy finished, and you dashed away from there.
Notes:
Till next week ❤️ love you all 💜❤️💜
Chapter 40: Reunion of great friends
Notes:
(See the end of the chapter for notes.)
Chapter Text
You guys finally made it to the Sea Forest. It was a beautiful place, and you were amazed. You looked around attentively until you spotted something familiar.
"Look, Luffy, it's your ship!" You pointed out excitedly; he grinned widely.
"Heeey, look, it's Franky! Hey, Franky!" He waved enthusiastically; the cyborg waved back.
"Hey, Luffy, pistol girl! Who's that giant with you guys?" He asked as the shark stopped nearby, and you all descended.
"Oh, this is the scaredy-cat!"
"Pleasure, scaredy-cat, gotta work on that courage, huh." He said, and you facepalmed, unable to suppress a laugh.
"Pleasure... My name is Shirahoshi." She said with a smile.
"Robin's inside that coral forest, said she went to look for something." He pointed behind himself, and you felt curious. You wanted to know what she'd discovered.
"Luffy-kun!" A strangely familiar voice interrupted you, and as you turned, you saw him.
"JINBE!!!!" You and Luffy shouted together, completely excited. You ran up to him. When you were close enough, you jumped, embracing him. He started laughing and returned the gesture, soon Luffy was doing the same.
"JINBE! Man, it's great to see you! Thought we might never cross paths!" Luffy said excitedly.
"Huh, didn't you come here because of my message?" The fish-man asked; you all looked confused, what message?
"Oyabin Jinbe-sama! So good to see you!" The princess exclaimed happily.
"Oh, so you were with the princess... PRINCESS SHIRAHOSHI!?" He exclaimed disbelievingly, making a quite amusing face. "Why is she here?" Meanwhile, Franky and you went to help Chopper get Hacchin and Sanji down from Megalo. "Hacchin?! And these injuries, where'd you get them!?" Jinbe was utterly bewildered. As Sanji was being lowered, he woke up.
And when he opened his eyes, he was in your arms. You held him delicately until he woke up. Upon seeing you, his eyes turned into hearts immediately. He leaned into you, trying to snake his arms around you, but you violently pushed him away, sending him flying across the scene.
"Oh, my beauty! That's cruel!" He complained, but as he turned, he saw the princess again. He started hopping and twirling around her as if she were the most perfect thing in the world. You shrugged and got up.
"Princess, I understand your reasons for wanting to come here, but... You shouldn't have left the tower." Jinbe observed, and immediately your body tensed up. You ran to the princess and deflected another axe that was thrown, diverting it from its target.
"Relax, (Y/N) and I am here, everything's going to be fine!" Luffy said confidently to him, and he smiled unconcerned.
"He's still so positive..." Jinbe sighed, and you chuckled. "And it's good to see that you've fully recovered too, (Y/N)-san." You approached him.
"Thanks to you, once again, thank you, Master Jinbe." You bowed slightly.
You allowed Shirahoshi to have a private moment as she prayed in front of a grave.
"Who is she paying respects to?" You asked curiously; the fish-man sighed sadly.
"Her mother, Queen Otohime." You widened your eyes in shock. "Because she became a target of Vander Decken, she couldn't even leave the palace for her mother's funeral; since then, for ten long years, she's been locked in that tower."
You gave her space, and after all this time, she managed to say goodbye to her mother.
Soon, your attention was drawn by Nami, who came running being carried by Keimi. As she recounted everything that happened at the palace, you could hardly believe it. They barely arrived at the place and had already caused a huge commotion.
"Luffy-kun, I wanted to say this two years ago when we first met." Jinbe interrupted, and now everyone was paying attention to him. "I know Arlong's pirates were causing quite a stir in the East Blue until some people stopped them. You guys are those people, aren't you? I want to thank you for that. And also apologize, as I was the one responsible for sending Arlong there." He said firmly, and when you looked to the side, Nami was shaken. She was pale and her eyes wide, as if she were about to faint. Quickly, you instinctively stood beside her, gently holding her shoulders.
Sanji served tea as Jinbe began to explain everything that had happened to him, to the island, and Queen Otohime.
(I'm not going to put everything here because it would be too long, it's a huge flashback and not even Luffy heard it. (Y/N) paid attention to the whole story, but she won't tell it here. Forgive me).
After a moving speech, Nami seemed better. She was calmer, and you knew you could let go of her. As you were about to step away, she turned to you.
"Why did you rush over when you noticed I was shaken, Gyldepts?" She asked, placing her hands on her hips. You looked at her.
"You're the navigator of the crew, Luffy's crew. How are we going to get to the New World without you?" You shrugged. "Besides, you're Luffy's friend, so I must protect you. All of you."
"Wow, it's clear that everything that happened two years ago brought you closer to our captain, huh?" You smiled. "He has that power, to captivate everyone." You started laughing and glanced at Luffy, who didn't pay attention to a word of Jinbe's story.
"As strange as it sounds, yes." She smiled at you.
"I was afraid you might want to do something against us... But." She paused, moving closer to you. She stopped and looked deep into your eyes. "You seem trustworthy enough. But I've still got my eye on you, huh?" You saluted.
"Yes, ma'am!"
Shortly after a surprise transmission, you discovered the real situation you were in. Hody Jones had captured the King and was going to decapitate him in 3 hours. And along with this news, you found out that he had captured 3 of your companions. With not many alternatives, you looked at Luffy, who seemed determined to fight.
Shirahoshi jumped onto Megalo, Luffy was getting ready to do the same, and you followed suit. However, Jinbe stopped them.
"If you're captured by Hody, he'll have all the advantage he needs. Please, princess, you can't go!" He said, and you all stopped.
"Alright, but we're going!" Luffy said, grabbing you by the wrist and pulling you along. "Come on, shark, take us to that jerk!"
"Stop both of you! You can't fight against Hody!"
"What?!" You asked incredulously, turning to Jinbe. "Why not? He's threatening everyone!"
"Because you're humans!" He said apprehensively, and you widened your eyes in shock. You remembered the story he told and swallowed hard.
"And what does that have to do with it?" Luffy asked, reaching for his straw hat.
"They already hate us, Luffy, if we defeat Hody, the fish-men will never trust humans again! It will jeopardize everything they're trying to do here." You concluded, crossing your arms frustratedly. "But I want to kick his butt."
"Leave it to me, I'll defeat him!" Jinbe asserted, but Luffy didn't seem satisfied.
"They also have my crewmates as hostages! I'm not going to just stand by and do nothing. I'll go, and if you want, you can try to stop me." He said grimly.
"If you don't intend to stop, then I don't see any other choice," Jinbe said, snapping his fingers.
You positioned yourself between them.
"Seriously?" You drew your pistols, one in each hand, aimed at each of them. "We suffered together, bled together, and cried together, and now you want to fight!?" You put your finger on the trigger. "I'm not going to let you do this."
"(Y/N)-san, please step aside."
"Yeah Gyl, scram. This is between me and him."
"It's not going to happen, Luffy."
"I'm going to save my crewmates!" Luffy shouted and ran towards where Megalo was, before boarding it, Jinbe hit him with a blow from his fish-man karate. You couldn't avoid the blow Luffy returned to the fish-man. Luffy's fist came towards him, but you grabbed it, taking some of the impact upon yourself. You were dragged a few meters back by the powerful impact you received, but you didn't let go of Luffy's fist.
"(Y/N)! Are you crazy!?" He tried to free his arm from your grip; you didn't give in.
"I don't want to see my friends fighting!" You released him at once, and as he was struggling to break free, he ended up being thrown.
"But I need to save my crewmates!" He prepared another punch and ran towards Jinbe.
"You're not going to fight!" Jinbe did the same, heading towards Luffy. Before you could intervene again, Nico Robin appeared, placing herself right in the middle of both.
You knew she would be hit by both, and you ran to her aid, something Sanji was doing as well.
As the two blows were about to hit her, Sanji jumped, while you ducked trying to push her down to get her out of the impact's way. But when your hands touched her, her body dispersed, leaving you and the blond in danger. You were quick enough to throw yourself to the ground, avoiding being hit. Sanji, however, ended up taking the blow from both men, who ended up hitting each other too.
Luffy and Jinbe fell to the ground a little further away, while Sanji fell right on top of you, who was sighing in relief for not being hit. When the blond opened his eyes, he realized he was on top of you, his body pressed against yours. You looked at him with an indecipherable expression as he was processing the situation. A few stubborn drops of blood trickled from his nose, until you punched him, throwing him away and getting him off of you.
"You're friends, why are you fighting?" The real Nico Robin emerged from the forest and walked over to you, still lying on the ground. She extended a hand. "Thank you for trying to save me, Gyldepts." You took her hand and quickly got up, dusting yourself off.
"Don't do something like that again, are you crazy?" You scolded her; she just smiled.
This woman was crazy.
Notes:
Till next week, love you all ❤💜
Chapter 41: Jimbe's plan
Notes:
(See the end of the chapter for notes.)
Chapter Text
"Wow, that's a lot of chatter! So, when are we heading out, huh?" Luffy asked nonchalantly, hands behind his head.
"We have to wait for the signal!" You took a step, your shoe getting sticky from Megalo's saliva.
"Why do you think the others didn't want to come with us?"
"Why do you think!?" You smacked him on the head. "This place is gross! Only you, huh?"
"If you're grossed out, then why are you here? Shishishishi," he started to laugh, cheeks flushing.
"Because I'm not leaving your side! You know that." You pouted, crossing your arms. Luffy bounced over you and hugged you, pressing his cheek against yours.
"I know you like me! Shishishishi," he said cheerfully.
Soon, you were interrupted by shouting coming from outside where you were. The sounds grew louder until you could hear them.
"STRAW HAT, SHOW YOURSELF! DESTROY OUR ISLAND ALREADY! STRAW HAT!" several voices could be heard clamoring for Luffy. You smiled, it seemed Jinbe's plan had worked.
"LUFFY-SAMA! SAVE MY DADDY AND MY BROTHERS!" this time Shirahoshi herself shouted, and you understood the signal. You ran forward as Megalo opened his mouth.
Luffy darted out first, hitting Hody and sending him flying. Soon, you also emerged from Megalo. Everyone around was stunned by your appearance.
Shortly after, Nami appeared, snatching the letter from the Celestial Dragons. Not long after that, the Straw Hat's grand ship simply appeared out of nowhere, firing, defeating a wave of Hody's army. All the crew gathered behind Luffy, you by his side the whole time.
A commotion started, and amidst all the clamor, someone shouted:
"Are you allies or enemies of the Fish-Man Island?"
Luffy adjusted his hat and crossed his arms.
"That's for you to decide."
*********************
After a standard villain speech from Hody, you found yourselves surrounded by their massive army. Hody boasted about there being over 100,000 of them.
"With our numbers, it's almost 10,000 for each of us," Sanji said, Zoro scoffed.
"Numbers don't matter here, they're not like the elite of the Navy."
However, Luffy took a few steps forward, hat snug on his head. He stared steadfastly at the enemy crowd, and you felt a huge wave of energy circulating between you. Nearly half of the enemies simply succumbed. You smiled, your captain truly was strong.
"You're Hody, aren't you? I don't care what you're trying to rule, but there can only be one king of the pirates, and that'll be me," he said firmly, sending a shiver down your spine. These moments of Luffy's seriousness were incredible. He readied a powerful blow. "Bring however many thousands you want! It won't make a difference!"
And so, the battle began.
*******************
The battlefield practically turned into a playground for the crew to demonstrate their new abilities. It seemed the two years had done wonders for them. Amidst the chaos, you practically danced, skillfully shooting between enemies and defeating waves with ease.
Hody, realizing the situation was more than unfavorable, called for the help of a Kraken. The ground shook as the massive creature's shadow loomed over you. When you looked up, you sighed with relief.
"Surume!" You cheered excitedly, waving your hand.
"Surume, it's me! You're going to help us, right? We're friends!" Luffy shouted excitedly, the animal recognizing them instantly. He blushed immediately when Luffy called him a friend. Surume then began attacking the Fish-Men, further tipping the scales. Luffy ordered Surume to guard the princess so you could fight freely.
The battle raged on, and even with all the new enemies appearing, they were no match for you.
Luffy walked slowly toward Hody, knowing exactly who his opponent should be. As he walked, several other enemies attacked him, but no crew member, including you, would let anyone hinder him now. You defeated anyone who dared to attack Luffy until he reached his destination.
As you fought, a gigantic ship appeared on the horizon.
Luffy was now fighting an enhanced Hody, who had pumped himself full of steroids. He became larger and faster, but still couldn't keep up with Luffy's speed.
Suddenly, day turned to night. Looking up, you paled. A massive ship was dangerously hovering over the bubble that sustained the island, and it seemed to be getting closer.
"What the hell!?" You shouted in fear. "If that bubble bursts...! The pressure will kill everyone nearby!"
"What... Is that!?" Shirahoshi cried out in fear, pointing upward. Something was falling, and fast.
Soon, a giant crashed to the ground. It was Vander Decken's subordinate.
"Captain, please, I set off a boom down here! Aim it at the ship, or I'll die!" He yelled, waving desperately to the vessel.
Vander Decken didn't seem to care.
"It's impossible to stop now! Once I throw something with my power, it will smash and destroy everything until it hits its target! Oh Shirahoshi, your beauty knows no bounds, nor does your heart! Are you willing to sacrifice your body to stop this disaster? Then die in this beautiful act, and live forever in my heart!" Vander Decken shouted excitedly.
"If it's my life you want, then take it! And leave everyone else alone!" Shirahoshi's voice could be heard as she swam toward the ship, which began to follow her.
"That coward! I told her to stay close to us!" Luffy yelled, and you looked up.
"Don't worry, Luffy, I'll handle it!" You shouted and began running in the direction the princess was heading. You noticed a massive chain being dragged by the ship and didn't think twice, running to it and starting to climb.
Unfortunately, you weren't the only one with this idea. Further back, Hody Jones himself was climbing the chain. Damn, you thought and started climbing faster.
The princess began swimming desperately toward the open sea. If she succeeded, the ship would veer off course and not collide with the island. You climbed one of the chains, and Hody climbed another. Soon, you saw a commotion below and Luffy leaped onto another chain. Taking advantage of the opportunity, you kept climbing steadily.
Then you heard a shout and looked down. The citizens were holding the chain Hody was on, trying to at least delay the ship so the princess could escape. Hody also noticed and, using his fish-man karate, shot water bullets at the citizens. You drew a pistol and began shooting at him, but he used the chains themselves to shield himself from you.
You barely had time to hold on when the ship left the island's atmosphere and entered the open sea. You held your breath as best you could, the pressure almost making you faint, but you held on tight. Seeing the princess ahead of you, you used the movement of the chains and leaped, managing to grab onto her tail.
"Ahhh!!!" She screamed in terror, shaking her tail frantically and tossing you around, until she realized it was you. "Ah, (Y/N)-sama!" She shouted, stopping her shaking. "You'll drown!" She cried and began to sob, still swimming away. You signaled to her okay sign, you could hold your breath for a good while, as long as nothing distracted her.
You could hear a hysterical laugh coming from the top of the ship, and glancing up, there was Vander Decken, holding several knives.
"Enjoying your freedom, princess? Outside that tower, you're vulnerable!" He shouted, throwing the knives towards her.
Still clinging to the princess's tail, you were ready to take any blow for her, alert to every trajectory that could hit her. But before you could do anything, the princes appeared out of nowhere and stopped the knives.
"Do you think we'd approve of you marrying her!?" One of them shouted, exasperated.
"We won't let you lay a finger on our sister!" The other one added.
"Shirahoshi, according to our father, we can't let the ship break! Don't swim so close to it!"
"So where are we going?" She asked, holding you with her enormous hand as if you were a rag doll.
"Up there! Down here, there's too much for it to hit! Oh, your human friend!" He shouted startled, seeing the princess shake you again. He grabbed something and brought it to you, it was a coral that made bubbles. He blew a large enough one to fit into your head. You let out a huge sigh, breathing again.
"Thanks!" You thanked him, and the prince nodded. "I'll stay with the Princess, don't wo
rry!" You assured. "We won't let anything happen to her, you have my word."
You didn't go back on your word.
Notes:
Well, I'm gonna change my week post to Sundays~
See you all next week ❤️💜
Chapter 42: The Fight
Notes:
(See the end of the chapter for notes.)
Chapter Text
As Shirahoshi swam away from the island, a commotion broke out below you. You noticed Vanderdecken being attacked by Hody.
"Shit! Weren't they allies!?" You poked the princess. She lifted you higher, and you entangled yourself in her hair, holding on while preparing to fight.
Underwater wasn't your element, but you had to protect her. You used one of the locks of the princess's hair to tie yourself up, leaving your hands free as she continued to swim.
"Shit, here he comes!" One of the brothers yelled, and Hody passed them, spinning like a sharp scythe, slicing them into pieces. Soon he was on your tail, reaching out to grab the princess by her hair. Before he could, you grabbed his wrist, so tight it almost broke.
"Don't you dare lay a finger on her," you threatened him. He started to laugh.
"What can an inferior creature like you do to me underwater?"
Before you could respond, you heard a "good gomu no" in the distance, and Luffy's hand stretched out towards you, grabbing Hody violently and throwing him.
"Little brother!" the princess cried in tears, as her third brother joined you, carrying Luffy on his back.
"Luffy!" You exclaimed in relief, and he waved at you.
"Good job, (Y/N)! I'll take it from here!"
"Be careful! If that bubble bursts, you're screwed!"
"You don't stand a chance!" Hody soon reappeared, furious. "This is the bottom of the sea, what do you think you can do!? You won't save your companions or the island!"
"You're wrong! I'm going to protect everything! That's why I trained for two years!" Luffy replied, full of confidence.
Noticing that Vanderdecken's power was weakening, you nudged the princess.
"We need to get out of here, his power is weakening! You're right above the island, Noah is going to fall! Swim that way!" You pointed in a direction, and with tears and determination in her eyes, Shirahoshi took off in that direction, but not before passing close to the ark.
"Please Vanderdecken-sama, wake up! Save the fish-men's island!" She screamed, but Hody noticed her and tried to attack. Using a powerful fish-man karate blow, he launched a powerful punch towards her. But you positioned yourself in front, shielding her body with Haki and taking the blow. You gasped, and took a deep breath, but successfully blocked the blow.
"Little sister!" the princes screamed, but were soon relieved to see you defending her.
"You stupid human! When I'm done with that rubber kid, I will devour you!" Hody shouted as Shirahoshi swam away, pulling you along. You flipped him off.
During the battle, Hody was thrown to Noah's deck by Luffy. He wanted a solid battlefield to fight on.
"So you want to beat me out of water, huh? It's not going to happen, how are you going to fight here without air?" He screamed and bit the bubble enclosing Noah. A huge tear was made, and the ark began to fall. Shirahoshi quickly grabbed the bubble Luffy was in and held him close.
"Even with the power of the Devil Fruit, without the bubble, the ark won't be able to continue following the princess! It will crash onto the island!" You shouted, Luffy looked determined.
"I will destroy it. No matter what, before it hits the island, I will smash it to pieces!" He shouted angrily.
"Stop, Straw Hat!" The eldest prince yelled, "If there's even the slightest chance of saving her, we can't destroy it!"
After Hody's frenzied speech, having mutated again from taking more steroids, the eldest prince burst into tears.
"Please, Straw Hat! What killed our mother was the island's grudge! End this, and allow us to start anew! Please save the island!" He yelled with all his might, and Luffy smiled.
"I had already promised Jimbe and the others! We won't let anyone touch the island! After all, we're friends, aren't we?"
Meanwhile, a huge air bubble was expelled from the royal castle, hitting Noah squarely, and re-encasing it. Now its descent slowed. There was time!
"Now's your chance, Luffy!" You yelled. He swam towards you using the bubble, and took off his straw hat, holding it in his hands.
"Take care of this, okay?" He said, pressing the hat against your face. You were stunned.
"Are you sure?" You asked, delicately holding the hat.
"It'll be safe with you!" He chuckled, and you smiled.
Luffy then delivered another blow to Hody, sending him to Noah's deck, and quickly joined him. You knew that fight was Luffy's.
*******************
The fight continued on Noah's deck. While Luffy fought, he made a point of hitting the ship, hoping to break it. You bit your lip, hugging the straw hat that the young man had entrusted to you, while he fought. You knew he would win, but would you have time to stop Noah from falling onto the island?
You didn't even know if Hody was reacting anymore; all you could see were the punches he was throwing at the ship.
Would there be time? It wouldn't work. It wouldn't work. It wouldn't work. You kept repeating it in your mind, tears almost forming in your eyes.
And then, in the back of your mind... you heard it.
"We're coming..." The voice echoed, and you looked around, confused. Who said that?
And then, more voices came. They were strong and deep... Ancient. Thoughts began to flood your head, louder, deeper, more desperate.
"Ahhh!" You screamed. There were many voices, all at once. You held your head, pressing your ears to stop the voices, but they only got louder... Or maybe closer?
You felt your body being taken, probably by the princess, but you couldn't open your eyes.
"Coward, get out of the way!" You heard Luffy's voice echo throughout the room, but you still couldn't look. "If I don't destroy the ship, everyone will die!"
"Open your eyes..." The voices repeated to you clearly, like a whisper in your ear.
"Luffy-sama! That's enough! You can stop now!" The princess screamed. "Everything is fine! Noah has already... Stopped!"
"Look!" The voice repeated, and you opened your eyes, barely able to believe what you saw. Huge sea kings stood around you, holding Noah's massive chains and keeping the ark still. You felt your heart accelerate. You couldn't say how, but you knew the voices were coming from them. You felt their eyes on you. Your body went limp, and you felt yourself losing consciousness.
"You are the sign we were waiting for..." It was the last thing you remembered before blacking out completely.
***************************
"Oy, Jimbe... Become my nakama!" You heard Luffy's voice in the distance and started to open your eyes.
"Girl with the pistol! You're awake!" A familiar voice said next to you, and you opened one of your eyes. Franky had you in his arms, holding you as gently as possible.
You looked to the side and saw Luffy receiving a blood transfusion from Jimbe. You smiled in relief; you knew what that meant.
"Can you stand? People freaked out when you passed out." The cyborg said, and you sighed, nodding your head. He placed you down gently, and you stood.
"Thanks, tin man," you patted him on the shoulder, and he immediately struck a pose, followed by a high-pitched "SUPEEEEEER!" You giggled and took a few steps towards Luffy and sat down next to him. He looked at you.
"You did it." He just smiled.
**************************************
The ship was already leaving the island, and you were sitting casually on the deck, looking around.
"Boooooo! Are you guys leaving already?!" The mermaid princess appeared, swimming along with the ship.
"This hero talk isn't for us! Heroes share food with others, and I want it all to myself!" Luffy said, crossing his arms. You just smiled.
"Princess, the banquet is ready!" Said a voice that came from a den-den mushi that Shirahoshi carried.
"Whaaaat!? Banquet!? I think we can stay a little longer!"
Arriving at the palace again, you were placed in bubbles so you could enjoy the show. Soon, a performance began, and there was a lot of music and dancing. Food was served, and everyone seemed to have a great time. However, you noticed Nico Robin leaving for another place. You sneakily got up and followed her.
She went to one of the palace's balconies, and as she got closer, you heard another voice next to hers. When you entered the place, she asked.
"Who is Joyboy?" She asked as you approached. The person she was talking to was none other than the king himself. You had never heard that name, however, something inside you stirred. You heard a buzzing in the back of your head, like static.
"Joy... Boy...?" You asked yourself, the brunette noticing your presence.
"Miss gunslinger...? Are you interested in this conversation too?" You just nodded, and she motioned for you to come closer. You looked at the king, waiting for an answer. He looked perplexed.
"I read that name in the poneglyph, in the sea forest. Who was he apologizing to, and why?" She asked.
"Can you read that...?" The king said quietly, worried.
"I'm a survivor of Ohara. But you don't have to tell me if you don't want to..."
"No... It's okay... I trust you... " He then looked at you. "in you too ... Joyboy was someone who lived on the surface, in the lost century."
"So he lived over 800 years ago?" You inquired, and Nico Robin nodded.
"Those words were left for the mermaid princess at the time. Apparently, he couldn't keep his side of the promise he made to her...."
"Which promise?"
"I don't know the details, but... Someday, someone will return to fulfill Joyboy's promise. This is the story that is passed down from generation to generation in the royal family. And that is why our greatest duty is to protect Noah. When the day of promise arrives, Noah will finally fulfill its unknown role."
You sighed deeply, paying close attention. You couldn't say why, but the name Joyboy seemed so... familiar?
"But for someone to use that huge ark... Could Joyboy control the kings of the seas too?" You asked, and Robin looked at the king.
"No... This ability is inherited only by mermaid princesses...."
"So it was Shirahoshi?" You asked, and he nodded.
"Yes, and now her ability is fully awakened, not that that's a good thing."
"Two years ago, I read in a poneglyph on Sky Island about one of the ancient weapons being here," Robin said, and your eyes widened in surprise.
"What... What!? They... They exist!?" You asked perplexed, and Robin nodded.
"The ancient princess who waited for Joyboy... She had a name, didn't she?" You looked at Robin quizzically. "And she had that ability too, didn't she?" The king looked perplexed. "So Shirahoshi inherited the ability... And the name. And her other name is... Ancestral weapon, Poseidon!"
You took a few steps back, in complete shock.
"The princess is... An ancient weapon?! But how... She is... A person! Not an object...!" You breathed quickly, trying to process the information. "But maybe... Weapon is just a title for something very powerful?"
"That's what I believe... And if we consider this concept, perhaps not all ancient weapons are weapons. Perhaps they are abilities strong enough to destroy the world." The brunette spoke calmly. You swallowed hard.
"That's... Scary... Someone with the power to destroy the world...." You brought your hand to your head, lightly touching the scarf. And then, your body locked up. You sensed a threat nearby. "Sorry, I'll be going now!" You waved to both of them and jumped from one tower to another, heading towards where your Haki pointed out something wrong.
When you arrived at one of the towers, you saw that disgusting clay man, trying to capture the princess. You ran and hit him with a Haki kick, sending him flying across the stage.
"Boooooo! (Y/N)-Sama!" The princess cried, grabbing you and rubbing you against her cheek. Soon you heard footsteps, and it was Luffy, Zoro, and Sanji. "I was so scared!" The princess was crying and you sighed, a little irritated with all the crying.
"Ah, it looks like you guys are late," you teased. The swordsman grimaced, and Sanji ran up to you.
"Ah, my dear lady, you are so trustworthy and beautiful and–" you kicked him before he could hug you.
"Gyl, I expected nothing less!" Luffy smiled and ran over to you, reaching out and patting you on the top of your head. You huffed but gave a small smile.
"It was pure luck," the swordsman crossed his arms over his chest irritably. You walked over to him and patted his shoulder.
"Better luck next time," you winked at him, and he blushed in frustration.
Notes:
Till next week, kisses ❤💜❤
Chapter 43: The new world
Notes:
(See the end of the chapter for notes.)
Chapter Text
"Ugh, that guy grosses me out, honestly." You crossed your arms as Luffy jumped for joy upon finding Caribou and the treasure he stole from the palace. The king gave it to you, and Nami insisted you retrieve it.
"Look at all this stuff! Is the old bearded guy gonna let us keep all of it!?" Sanji asked, gathering the treasures.
"Yay, we're gonna buy so much meat!~" Luffy jumped excitedly, and you shook your head with a smile.
"Seems like he was carrying everything in his clay body..." Zoro observed, poking the unconscious man on the ground.
"Anyway, let's head back!" You said, grabbing one of the treasure-filled bags. Each of them also took one, even though Sanji insisted on carrying yours.
Further ahead, you spotted a commotion in front of the island's famous candy factory. You approached and were greeted by the island's citizens. But you noticed something was off when you saw the king's advisor talking to what seemed to be a Mink.
"That's the straw hat kid! A famous pirate around here!" The lion said, approaching you all. "What's this about candy, kid!?"
"Oh, you came to buy some? Sorry, I ate it all." Luffy chuckled.
"Pekoms! Threatening people here and there won't help collect the candies!" Another person spoke, and you turned to look. "Let's resolve this peacefully! The tea party is in 4 days, if they can get the candies by tomorrow, we can avoid disaster."
"Whoa, another nutjob, who are you?"
"I'm Baron Tamago! Was it you who ate all the candies made here?" He politely asked Luffy, who smiled. You instinctively moved closer to him.
"It was me! It was delicious, I wanted more!"
"That's the problem, there's none left! That mark on the factory is from our boss, the great Charlotte Linlin!"
"No way...! That Linlin?! The Yonko?" You asked incredulously, and he nodded.
"That means this island is under her control and protection!"
"Oh, so she's a good person, huh? I wanna meet her!" Luffy smiled, but you shook your head.
"Don't be fooled, it's business. Ten tons of candies per month are the tribute to pay for our empress's protection. Mama loves candies more than anything! Since she loves these particular candies, we'll wait until tomorrow morning."
"As I've explained, the factory was destroyed, it will take us two weeks to fix it!"
"Why don't you just wait, Baron?" Sanji asked, crossing his arms. "And what happens if the candies are delayed?"
"Then the pact is dissolved, and Big Mom's crew... will destroy the island!" You swallowed hard.
"Destroy the island!? Are you crazy? Who in their right mind destroys a country over candies!? We just saved the island, damn it!" Luffy shouted angrily.
And then, a den-den mushi began to ring, interrupting the call.
"Hey Pekoms, answer that, it must be Big Mom, I don't want her yelling at me!" Baron Tamago remarked, and the Mink swallowed hard. Suddenly, Luffy did the most unthinkable thing, but coming from him, you should've expected it.
Luffy grabbed the den-den mushi from their hand and answered.
"Hey, are you Big Mom!?"
"Hmm, this voice... It's not Pekoms or Tamago... Who is it?" Her voice echoed through the den-den mushi.
"I'm Monkey D. Luffy, the man who will become the Pirate King!"
"That name... Garp's grandson, isn't it? The boy who caused a stir in the War of the Best two years ago..."
"There's no more candies!" He said firmly. "I ate them all!"
"Boys shouldn't lie... Are you covering for the fish-men?"
"It's true, I ate them all! I didn't know they were for you! We're loaded with treasure, you can have it all to make up for the candies!" He offered, and you smiled, dropping the bag you were carrying to the ground.
"You think you can buy me with treasures?" Her strong voice sounded from the other side.
"Mama," Baron Tamago took the den-den mushi, "a few days ago we were attacked by a guy named Captain Kid, and we're a bit vulnerable financially... So the treasure would come in handy."
"Well... If you think you can defend this island, then my wrath will change targets... From them straight to you." She spoke, and everyone seemed shocked. "Now I know who you are, Monkey D. Luffy! Come to the New World!"
"You're too dangerous to leave this island in your hands, so I'm officially taking the Fish-Man Island as my territory!" Luffy roared furiously, and everyone looked at him in shock. You put your hands on your pistols, ready to retaliate if Big Mom's lackeys wanted to fight.
You all hadn't even reached the New World and were already targets of a Yonko, typical of Luffy.
After returning to the palace and explaining to everyone what had happened with the treasure, Nami personally slapped all of you, giving you a light smack but a full beating to the other three. But you just chuckled, there was no avoiding it at this point.
You were already ready to leave, Shirahoshi was crying again, trying to avoid your departure.
As the commotion began, Nami was given a new Log Pose, made to navigate that portion of the New World. It had 3 needles, indicating 3 routes, the more stable the needle, the safer the route. Luffy heard the conversation and immediately chose the route with the most restless needle, heading for a more difficult path. Nami and Usopp started crying, and you just laughed, you knew despite their pleas, he wouldn't change his mind.
And then, the ship made its slow ascent to the surface, while Luffy sat on the figurehead, raising his arms excitedly and shouting:
"TO THE NEW WORLD!"
Notes:
I'm sorry for the delay, here's the chapter
Also, see you all next week 💜❤️❤️
Chapter 44: Officially to the new world, the new crew member.
Notes:
(See the end of the chapter for notes.)
Chapter Text
You gazed into the sea's dark depths, feeling an inexplicable sense of peace, despite knowing it was teeming with creatures. The ship ascended slowly; if it went too fast, the bubble enveloping it would burst, and the ship would be destroyed.
Each crew member seemed occupied with their tasks, leaving you feeling a bit adrift. Nami had retired to take a bath, while the boys were rigging up a massive hook and line to try their hand at fishing. As the time to surface drew near, you were certain Luffy still hadn't explained your true situation to the crew.
You approached him slowly, as he stood with Usopp, and touched his shoulder.
"Hey Luffy, can we have a quick chat?"
"Sure thing, (Y/N), shoot." He smiled, unmoving, while Usopp eyed you suspiciously.
"Alone, Luffy," you tilted your head, feeling the eyes of some crew members on you. He stood up, and you both began to walk to another part of the ship, alone.
"What's up, got something on your mind?" He asked casually, hands behind his head.
"Well, yeah," you crossed your arms. "You haven't told them anything yet."
"About what?"
"About me, you goof," you rolled your eyes; he chuckled.
"Relax, Gyl, you're overthinking it!" He groaned, and you huffed.
"What if they don't accept me here? What if I make them uncomfortable? What if—" Luffy cut you off, taking your hands in his.
"(Y/N), listen to me. Enough." He looked you in the eye, firm. "You're as much a part of this crew as anyone else. Don't worry, okay?" He smiled and hugged you. You couldn't help but return the embrace.
Soon, they decided to return to the others.
Luffy then hooked a massive fish and managed to reel it in. As they pulled, another fish came and devoured it, followed by an even larger one.
"Damn, they're going to sink the ship, release the rope Luffy!" You shouted, rushing to the edge of the ship and drawing your pistol. A single shot could pass through the bubble without bursting it and hit the monster. But before you could act, the swordsman used a technique, sending a single slash that pierced the bubble without damaging it and killed the enormous creature. "Nice one," you complimented, and he gave a barely perceptible smile.
"That's perfect! There are two more fish inside this one! That's a lot more food now!" Luffy exclaimed excitedly; you shook your head.
"But doesn't it seem like the ship changed direction?" Usopp asked, looking at you.
"You're right, it feels like we're sinking..." You looked around, observing the darkness of the sea. Something was wrong.
"Look... What's that!?" Luffy exclaimed, and everyone looked to the specific side. "A snake!?"
It was something huge and long, all white. If it was a sea serpent, it was so extensive that you couldn't see either its head or its tail.
"This doesn't seem right..." You felt the ship slowly being drawn towards that thing. "A... Current?"
"It can't be..." Robin began approaching you. "This seems to be a... White Whirlpool!" She exclaimed, perplexed.
"What the hell is that!?" You asked, concerned.
"It looks like a dragon and always appears in the depths of the sea... It's a gigantic whirlpool!"
"We need to get away from that thing! Ships caught in it are dragged to the ends of the seas... And only the ship remains!" Nami shouted, and everyone started to move. "What kind of fish is this!?" She yelled, startled, watching your catch being pulled by the Sunny. The whirlpool began to pull the fish. "The fish is going to be caught by the whirlpool!"
"We have to do something, don't cut the rope!" Luffy shouted and received a headbutt from the navigator.
"Are you crazy!? You're going to sacrifice our lives for a catch! Cut the rope!"
As she exclaimed, you drew your pistol. You coated the bullet with Haki and made a simple shot, which hit the rope squarely and severed it. The redhead looked at you and gave a thumbs-up sign.
"Franky, use the Coup de Burst!" She shouted, but Franky struck a pose.
"It's tooooooo late for that now!" He shouted excitedly, while you watched in horror as the whirlpool slowly reached you. But before the ship could be dragged, you hit something, and the ship stopped moving.
"We hit something...?" Nami wondered, and you swallowed hard.
"Someone..." You looked around, feeling the presence of hundreds of living creatures around you. "They're... Whales!?"
"Laboom!?" Luffy shouted incredulously; Usopp slapped him on the back.
"Don't be an idiot! We're in the first part of the Grand Line! Her body was so large that she couldn't pass through!"
"You idiots! Now's not the time to be looking at whales! We're still in danger! If we hit another whale, the ship will be destroyed! First, is everyone here still? Nami? Robin? (Y/N)?" Sanji began a roll call, listing only the names of the girls. "Glad to see you're all okay!"
"You idiot, what about us!?" Usopp protested. "The rest of us are still alive, you know!" Sanji ignored him.
"Nami-swan, what are your orders!?"
"The whales will cause another current! If we go against them, we'll be in trouble! For now, let's follow them!" Franky took the helm, and they began to sail alongside the whales, sails raised. Brook then started singing a nostalgic song, and the whales seemed quite pleased with the melody.
Soon, your surroundings began to brighten, and you looked up; they could already see the surface. You looked around and saw the whales, swaying to Brook's sweet melody. You looked at each of the crew members, and they all had calm expressions on their faces, happy. You felt a peace of mind, something you hadn't felt in a long time.
And then, in the blink of an eye, you surfaced. As the ship rose to the surface, the bubble burst with a loud noise, and water droplets sprayed through the air. Sunlight passed through them, creating a beautiful rainbow in the sky. Everyone shouted and celebrated excitedly, the whales around them dancing to Brook's melody.
"We made it!" Luffy shouted excitedly. "Finally, after two years, we're in the New World!" Everyone began to cheer and clap, excited.
Like a flash, everything you had experienced up to that point came to mind, and your eyes filled with tears. You looked to the side, not letting anyone see your emotional state. You were happy, but you had always dreamed of making this journey, having this moment with your old crew. Were they watching you from the sky?
Your thoughts were interrupted by Robin, who placed a hand on your shoulder.
"Are you okay, Miss Gunslinger?" She asked, and you nodded.
"I'm fine, I just got carried away in the moment." You affirmed, and she smiled. Soon, everyone gathered on the deck, including you.
"So, captain, what's our first course?" Nami asked anxiously, looking at the Log Pose and one of the needles that was moving uncontrollably.
"Shishishi, you know well, I want to go in that direction!" He pointed to the needle in question, and Nami and Usopp began to argue with him, trying to change his mind. You just smiled watching the discussion until Zoro looked at you.
"Hey Luffy, what about her? Didn't we have an agreement to give her a ride?" Everyone fell silent and looked at you. Your mouth went dry, and you looked at Luffy, who just smiled. He walked over to you and took your hand, facing his crew.
"Here's the thing, (Y/N) is our crewmate now, she's coming on this journey with us!" And then, absolute silence. You could hear the gentle tide lapping against the ship, birds flying, and your breathing. You began to tense up at everyone's lack of reaction, as they remained in absolute silence.
Then Nami walked up to you, and one hand rested on Luffy's chest, where the scar lay. Then she looked at you and placed her hand on your shoulder, resting gently on your scar. You opened your eyes in shock but didn't move. She smiled at you and stepped away.
"And what's the news? We already figured that out!" She stuck out her tongue, smiling. "You have a scar that proves you would sacrifice yourself to save our captain; you're already part of this crew." She smiled and looked at your companions. They all looked at you and made some gesture of approval, however minimal.
"You see, Gyl, I told you everything would work out!" Luffy shouted excitedly and slapped your back. Everyone began to laugh.
"I know you guys barely know me, but... I promise I'll give my all, all the time. You can count on me! I won't... Let anything happen to Luffy, to you, or the ship, you have my word." You said confidently, and you never went back on your word.
"We know, but just in case, I'm still keeping an eye on you," Zoro said, his hand resting on the sword's hilt. You nodded.
"Well, since you only have one eye, does that mean I have your full attention? How charming," you winked, and the man blushed in embarrassment. Usopp started laughing.
"You're kinda scary, but you're really strong, so I'm glad to have you here!" The long-nosed man said, and you smiled at him.
"We have a suuuper reinforcement for our team!" Franky struck a pose, and you laughed.
"Another beauty, now we have a trio!" Sanji said, running towards you, but before he could reach you, surprisingly, Chopper changed his size and punched him, preventing him from getting closer to you.
"Welcome aboard, (Y/N)!" The little reindeer said, and you smiled even more
.
"Thank you, guys... Really." You said softly. It was official now; you were part of the future Pirate King's crew.
Notes:
Til next week 💜❤️❤️
Chapter 45: S.o.S
Notes:
(See the end of the chapter for notes.)
Chapter Text
You folks have been sailing for quite a while, now officially in the new world. The waves rocking the ship were getting fiercer, the sea more relentless, and you felt the heat rising, grimacing; it was like Impel Down.
Luffy was oddly excited, and you got a knot in your stomach; you were sure you were about to get into trouble.
And then, everyone heard a cry. You looked around hastily but couldn't find the source of the noise.
You rushed to the interior of the ship, where you found the Den Den Mushi crying.
"Hey, hey, the Den Den Mushi is crying!? Is it having a stomach ache? Can I answer?" Luffy asked, reaching for the object.
"Wait, Luffy! There's less than a 50% chance this is a real distress call!" Robin exclaimed, trying to stop the captain from answering. You looked at her and shrugged; you knew he'd answer anyway. "It could be an old trap from the Navy; if they've bugged it and you answer, they'll know our location!"
"Wow, that's our Robin, very clever!" Usopp exclaimed proudly.
"Hello, this is Luffy, I'm the one who's gonna be the king of the pirates!" He answered, picking up the Den Den Mushi; Usopp gave him a knock on the head.
"You didn't even wait!" He complained, and you also gave Luffy a knock.
"And you talked too much!" You added.
"Oh... It's so cold... Is that you, boss?" The voice on the line asked.
"No, I'm not your boss, and it's not cold here!"
"The crew... They're all... Being killed! The samurai... He.... Sliced them all!" The voice screamed in desperation, and you felt a lump in your throat.
"Hey, who are you, where are you?!" Luffy shouted, worried.
"I don't care who comes, but please... Someone help us...! We're in... Punk Hazard!" He yelled, and you widened your eyes in surprise. "AHHH... HE... HE STABBED ME!" the voice suddenly went silent.
Luffy put his hand on his chin and seemed pensive. "Hmm, sounds like trouble."
"Of course it is, idiot, the guy got sliced!"
"But there's still a chance he's faking it and it's a trap..." Robin crossed her arms.
"What 'samurai' is this he mentioned?" Zoro asked, visibly interested.
"That's what they call swordsmen in Wano Kuni. Wano is a country with very strict policies about foreigners and has no ties with the World Government. The samurai are so strong that not even the Navy approaches them."
"I didn't know there was a country like that!" Usopp exclaimed, and you crossed your arms. It seemed like an interesting place; maybe one day they'd visit there.
"But he didn't say Wano, he said Punk Hazard! Is it the fire island nearby?" Frank asked, and you looked at him.
"It makes sense, for a Baby Den Den Mushi to work, it has to be close, right?" You looked at Robin, she smiled and nodded.
"Alright, let's save this guy!" Luffy shouted, and you saw chaos erupt on the ship.
After a while, you were ready to dock. Sanji had prepared some pirate bento boxes. Since it was your first official adventure with the crew, you insisted on going with Luffy, and everyone agreed. The others decided by drawing straws who would go. And to Usopp's misfortune, he was one of the chosen ones along with Zoro and Robin.
You walked towards the deck, having changed into cooler clothes since the island was very hot. You shivered at the memory of the scorching heat of level 4 of Impel Down. You joined the others in a small boat, sailing together to the island on a road made of clouds, courtesy of the navigator. After all, flames surrounded the island, preventing the main ship from docking.
Zoro and Luffy soon opened the bento boxes and started eating, while you looked around, barely paying attention to the conversation as you decided to eat yours too.
"Is everything okay, Miss Gunslinger?" Robin pulled you out of your thoughts.
"Yeah, I'm just... Kinda nervous." You sighed, and she chuckled.
"Being part of this crew is kinda scary sometimes," she smiled, and you both laughed.
You finally reached solid ground and faced a huge gate. Looking up, you read the massive words.
"Punk Hazard." You sighed. "Yep, seems like the distress call came from here. Look... It's the mark of the World Government and the Navy!" You exclaimed, seeing the symbols on the entrance gate.
"It's government territory, so there are only bad people in there, this trip is a trap, let's get out!" Usopp exclaimed hopefully.
Luffy simply ignored him, opening the gate enough for them to pass through. You followed him, feeling every muscle in your body protest, the heat giving you immense fatigue. Luffy soon took off his shirt, Zoro following suit. Robin also took off her dress, leaving only the bikini she wore underneath. You had a thin blouse on top of another one and decided to take it off too, tying it around your waist.
"Damn, this is like Impel Down all over again! What a hell!" You exclaimed. Luffy grimaced, sticking out his tongue.
"As long as we don't have to face Magellan again, it's fine!" He laughed, and you rolled your eyes but smiled at him.
"This place is like an oven, we're gonna bake here!" The swordsman complained. Usopp came up behind you guys.
"You're picking a fight with the government... Again!" He grumbled, but no one paid attention.
"But it doesn't seem like this island naturally caught fire... Was it a natural disaster or an accident that caused it?" Robin wondered, and you squatted down, putting your hand on the ground.
"The nature of this island is in total imbalance... I believe some enormous force caused this... Something on a gigantic scale altered the ecosystem of this place..." You said. She looked at you.
"And how do you know that?"
"Guess." You winked, and she looked at you for a few more seconds but didn't press further.
You walked a little further until you had a good view of the island, and everything seemed to be on fire. The crimson scenery stretched as far as the eye could see.
"This doesn't seem like a normal island... It's more like a government base...." Luffy made a reasonable observation, and you ruffled his hair as a reward.
"So this place was locked down. And all that excessive security was because of the fire or... The danger that this base used to be?" The swordsman asked, looking around.
"Especially since the Log Pose doesn't map this island.... Very suspicious." You walked a little further ahead, circling. Something wasn't right about this place.
"Oi! You who called me here! We came to save you! Oi, show yourself! Samurai!" Luffy started shouting, and you sighed.
"That's just gonna attract every danger here to us!" You grumbled. He shrugged and kept shouting. You looked at the swordsman, and he just shrugged.
"Ah, now you're hungry?" Zoro teased Usopp, who started eating the bento.
"Mind your own business, I'm stress eating! Something is bothering me! That guy was talking about feeling cold... Did you guys hear that too?"
"You're right, but it's kinda unlikely, this place is like hell." You looked at him, and he nodded.
"Maybe he's just dumb!" Luffy figured it out, and Usopp almost choked on his food.
"What kind of deduction is that!?"
"Maybe he was so scared he felt cold?" Robin suggested.
"Or maybe there is a cold place on this island?" You looked at her; she seemed to consider the options.
Suddenly, you were interrupted by a loud noise and a huge shadow looming over you. You followed with your gaze as something rose, engulfed in flames.
"What is that!?"
"A giant!?"
"No, it's much bigger!"
"This is real!"
"I thought it was a myth!"
"Look at it, there's no other name for it but...."
"DRAGON!?"
Notes:
See you all next week, kisses ❤💜❤
ps: check out her outfit here!
https://www.wattpad.com/1441677680-a-pirate-odyssey-artworks-punk-hazard
Chapter 46: Strangely normal things
Notes:
(See the end of the chapter for notes.)
Chapter Text
"Who are you guys?" asked a strange voice, seemingly coming from the dragon.
"This... Can't be real..." You pondered, unable to communicate with the creature. "Could it be another user of Akuma no Mi?" The others shrugged, while Usopp ran and hid behind you.
"Did that thing just talk!? Did you all hear that? I can't believe something like this is real...!" Usopp said, gripping your shoulder firmly, using your body as a possible shield.
The enormous creature raised its head and took a deep breath. You felt your body tense up.
"No... Could he...!?" Before Zoro could finish his sentence, the attack came. A burst of flames erupted from the creature's mouth towards your group.
Luffy jumped, Zoro pulled Robin with him to avoid being hit, and you turned abruptly, holding tightly onto Usopp's hand and pulling him close to avoid the flames.
"Whoa, he spat fire! Something like that can't be real!" Usopp shouted, running and pulling you along.
"It's quite intriguing..." Zoro drew his swords and confidently stepped towards the creature, with Luffy taking the lead, his laughter echoing through the surroundings.
"Gomu gomu no... Jet bullet!" He exclaimed after leaping into the air, landing a punch directly on the creature, which barely flinched. "Dang, this guy is tough...!" Your captain grumbled, and you drew your pistols.
You skillfully fired some Haki-covered bullets, but only one managed to penetrate the creature's skin. "What is this demon made of!?" You exclaimed, stressed, with Usopp still clinging to you, trembling.
"His scales must be incredibly tough," the long-nosed man exclaimed, and you glanced back at the creature.
Quickly, the huge animal counterattacked, hitting your captain with its tail and throwing him across the scene.
"Luffy!" The swordsman shouted, rushing towards the animal with swords drawn. "You were right... This thing did talk!" He prepared to strike the beast, but the dragon quickly opened its mouth and tried to bite him. Holding the creature's jaw open with his swords, Zoro was visibly at a disadvantage.
You ran towards him, hoping Luffy might be back. As if they could read each other's minds, you all rushed towards the animal and landed a solid hit, knocking it off the swordsman. Feeling threatened, the creature took flight.
Everyone sought shelter, with you still protecting Usopp while the huge beast breathed fire from the sky.
"It's hot, too hot!" Usopp shouted, clinging to your leg as you tried to pry him off.
"Did he mention something about a Shichibukai?" Robin asked from her hiding spot, and you nodded.
"I heard that too... Maybe he hates them?" You shrugged.
"Luffy, leave this guy to me!" Zoro shouted, preparing his swords.
"Okay! I'll take him down for you!" Luffy shouted.
"You sure you can handle it, swordsman, or do you need a hand?" You teased him, and he grunted.
"Stay out of it! I got this!"
Luffy leaped, aiming to strike the dragon, but it unleashed another burst of flames toward the rubbery pirate. You dashed forward, pushing him in mid-air to avoid the attack and hurling him towards the dragon. As you rolled on the ground, the dragon poised to strike you, Robin used her power to push you to another cover. You were impressed; their teamwork was well-synchronized.
"Hey, guys!" echoed your captain's voice from the skies, atop the beast. "There's something stuck on the dragon's head!" He shouted, but he was too high up for you all to see.
Luffy then grabbed the animal's wing and made it bite, causing it to lose altitude.
"Now!" Zoro yelled, charging towards the animal. But he needed to reach to strike. You ran ahead, with Usopp preparing an attack.
"Fatal blow: green star!" He shouted, firing a seed with his slingshot, which, upon hitting the ground, expanded, turning into a kind of trampoline. You jumped first, gaining momentum, and right behind came the swordsman. You joined hands in the air, and without question, he understood. Using the support you provided, he soared even higher, enough to reach.
The swordsman was launched into the skies, and with a single strike, he severed the beast's head.
"AMAZING!" Ussopp shouted from below as you all fell back to the ground. "That was some awesome teamwork!" He made a thumbs-up gesture towards you, and you smiled.
"You think fast, gunslinger," the swordsman remarked, landing next to you.
"You've got quick instincts too, swordsman. Good to know we won't be caught off guard, at least."
"Anyone looking might think you guys are friends," Nico Robin commented, and you crossed your arms.
"It's more like acquaintances if that," you shook your head, the man sheathing his swords.
"That dragon looks delicious! We should have a barbecue, making the most of all this heat!" Luffy joined in, grinning.
"That's not a bad idea."
"Hey, is someone there?" A voice interrupted you. You looked around, noticing the voice coming from the fallen dragon.
"Oh, right, I saw something in the dragon!" Luffy dashed to the corpse, closely followed by you all.
When you got close, you were taken aback: legs were sticking out from a part of the dragon, human legs.
"What the h-" You stopped yourself from swearing too much in front of Luffy. You didn't want to influence him.
"It seems someone's trapped in the dragon..." Usopp commented, crossing his arms. He bent down and took a closer look. "Yeah, pretty stuck, by the looks of it."
"Did the dragon try to eat him, and he tore the animal's skin to get out, from the inside out?" Robin put her hand on her chin, thoughtful.
"Don't say things like that with such a calm tone, woman!" You reprimanded her, but she just smiled.
"I'll get him out of there!" Luffy grabbed the poor man's waist and started pulling.
And he pulled and pulled, and pulled.
Until only half of the man came out. He detached from the dragon, leaving only his waist down.
Slowly, everyone's expressions turned to pure horror.
"What the hell!" You exclaimed, covering your mouth in shock. Usopp ran behind you again, hiding his face in your back, horrified.
"Ahhh, I pulled his legs off!!! Sorry!!!" Luffy shouted, sitting on the ground.
"Idiot! Do you think shouting 'sorry' will fix it!? You killed him!" Usopp yelled from behind you, his hands firmly gripping your waist.
Suddenly, the legs moved, and stood up. This time, you almost fell if Usopp hadn't been holding onto you.
"Oh, I've been separated!" The legs spoke(?).
"Wow, did that thing just talk!? Is it a zombie?" Luffy exclaimed incredulously, while Zoro tilted his head, confused. Robin remained stoic, and Usopp freaked out behind you.
"It's a monster!" He exclaimed, clinging to you even tighter, wrapping his arms around your waist, kneeling on the ground in fear.
"Don't squeeze me so hard, idiot!" You gave him a knock on the head, but he didn't let go.
"There's something strange..." Robin pondered, walking closer to the dragon. "Look here!" She pointed, and you all followed her gaze. The dragon's skin was intact. "There's no sign that it was split in half. There's no hole or blood on the dragon." You widened your eyes in surprise.
"She's right! We'd see the other part stuck... Could it be...?"
"Was it always just a pair of legs?" The swordsman asked, and you shrugged.
"Who are you guys, and what are you doing here? I can sense you..." The pair of legs spoke(?) again. He tried to kick Luffy, and even though he didn't have eyes, he knew exactly where Luffy was. Your captain easily dodged.
"I don't know who you are, but I'm not dying in a place like this!" He started running. "I won't let my target escape like this! That cursed Shichibukai!"
The pair of legs dashed to run. Luffy's eyes sparkled, and you knew what was coming.
"Hey, wait! Join my crew!" He shouted excitedly, with Robin and Zoro smiling, and Usopp giving him a knock.
"Stop this habit, idiot!" He exclaimed furiously.
It seems like your first official adventure with the crew is about to begin.
Notes:
I'm sorry for the delay, work is getting the best of me. I am changing the post day to Sunday, see you all next week ❤💜❤
Chapter 47: Half n Half Island
Notes:
(See the end of the chapter for notes.)
Chapter Text
Before you knew it, you were all sitting around a huge piece of roasted dragon. The delicious aroma made your stomach growl.
Everyone grabbed a piece and started eating. It was unbelievably tasty.
The crew chatted casually while eating, and you felt your body relax bit by bit.
“You know your stuff, gunslinger,” Zoro remarked, taking a bite of the meat. “One less person to worry about.”
“Well, same goes for you. At least you can handle a sword. But isn’t three a bit much?” You raised an eyebrow, teasing him. “Overcompensating for something?”
Zoro choked on his food while Usopp fell to the ground laughing. Luffy kept eating, paying you no mind.
“Don’t tease him like that, he’ll start picking on you,” Robin warned, though her tone sounded more like an invitation. You smiled.
“You all seem pretty comfortable around me. Is it because you’re too confident in your own skills?”
“It’s because of Luffy,” Usopp said, getting up from the ground.
“Trust his skills?”
“Yeah, but more importantly, we trust him. Luffy’s never been wrong about someone’s character. If he trusts you, there’s a reason. Now you’re part of the crew, and we trust each other.”
You were surprised, but your shock soon turned into a smile.
“You should smile more,” Robin said, smiling at you. You turned your head, a slight blush on your cheeks.
---
“Hey, I found it!” Luffy shouted, spotting the pair of legs again. He and Usopp were dragging the rest of the dragon meat with them. The heat was getting more unbearable, but it didn’t compare to the hell of Impel Down. “Look, it sticks!” Luffy shouted excitedly, somehow attaching the legs to his torso. You laughed in disbelief. “What do you call this, Usopp?” he asked, as Usopp, pulling the remaining meat, came up behind him.
“A... centaur!” Usopp panted.
“Yeah, I’m a centaur!” Luffy shouted, even more excited.
“Oh my god…” You facepalmed.
“Luffy, help me out here! You’re going to eat most of this meat, help me carry it!” the sniper yelled, exhausted. You joined him, gently grabbing the other end of the rope and easily pulling the meat. “Thanks… (Y/N)…” he said shyly. You nodded.
“Honestly, I want to eat more of this meat later,” you said, licking your lips and chuckling. “It was delicious.”
“Luffy, seriously, that’s gross!” Robin exclaimed. Luffy looked at her.
“Really?” Then the legs moved, violently knocking Luffy to the ground.
“There must be a top half somewhere! Let’s find it and return it!” Usopp exclaimed, and you agreed.
“As ridiculous as that sounds, it makes the most sense. Maybe it’s another Devil Fruit power. But… wasn’t that Buggy’s power? Did he die?” you pondered. Robin looked at you.
“No, he didn’t die. After Marineford, he became a Warlord of the Sea.” She said calmly, and you widened your eyes.
“That idiot?! You’re joking, right?” She shook her head. “But how…?”
“Influence, gunslinger. Sometimes it speaks louder than any power.” You sighed and nodded.
“Hey, come and see this!” Usopp shouted from some steps up on a building. You all rushed to see what it was.
“A snow mountain!?”
“On the other side of the lake…”
“There’s a huge snow mountain!? But how!? This side of the island is all volcano and fire! What kind of place is this?”
“Well,” said Robin, smiling, “this solves our mystery.”
“You’re right!” you exclaimed. “The guy on the den-den mushi did say it was really cold… So, the transmission… the samurai killer and his victims must be on the other side!” She nodded at you.
“This island is so cool! It must be freezing over there! Can we make snowmen? I’m so hot!” Luffy exclaimed excitedly. Usopp groaned.
“Don’t be stupid, if we go there we’ll freeze, and we’ll lose our way back to the Sunny!”
“Well, that complicates things a bit.”
“There must be animals over there, we can get their fur, we’ll manage,” Zoro said, preparing himself. Usopp stood in front of him.
“What, are you crazy?... What…?” He suddenly turned to a specific direction, and you felt a chill down your spine, but when you looked, there was nothing. “Did you guys… see that?” You all looked at each other. “Guys… it was a bird… but it was a person!”
“What do you mean?” you tilted your head. "Like… a harpy?”
“Yeah, like that! Did you see it too, (y/n)?”
“No… I didn’t see it but… I felt something watching us…”
“I think you’re all hallucinating from the heat!” Luffy chuckled. “Anyway, let’s go!”
But before he could start walking, the den-den mushi you had started to ring. Usopp quickly answered it.
---
“What do you mean, you’re the only one? And you woke up in a cold place?” he asked in disbelief, after hearing Brook’s story.
“Yohohoho, that’s right! I was so surprised I thought my eyes would pop out, though I don’t have eyes, yohohoho!” You rolled your eyes but chuckled.
“But who attacked the Sunny?”
“I don’t know, they were wearing gas masks…”
“So they used sleeping gas… and when you fell asleep, they moved the ship to the other side of the island,” Robin concluded. “Since there’s no message, the others must have been taken.”
“And since he’s just bones, they must have thought he was dead and left him behind.”
“Yohohoho, that’s probably it!”
“They must think they captured all of us… Brook, is there a building nearby?” She asked, Brook was silent for a few seconds.
“Yes, there’s a huge one right in front of me, looks like a restaurant!”
“Brook, we’ll meet you there, wait for us!” Robin said, and hung up the transmission.
“So that’s it, to t
he other side of the island we go.” You placed your hands on your hips, determined. Usopp sighed, defeated.
Notes:
See you all next Sunday, kisses 💜❤️💜
Chapter 48: The boss
Notes:
(See the end of the chapter for notes.)
Chapter Text
"So, our enemy is the government?" the swordsman asked.
"Who knows... If they're human, that's already good! The first enemy we encountered was a dragon... then the bird-woman... and now, look at that! Luffy found a real centaur!" He pointed incredulously.
"Nothing about him looks 'real'... doesn't seem natural..." you pondered, watching Luffy play with the man. Or creature. Or both?
Suddenly, the creature attacked your captain, who quickly dodged and landed a solid hit.
"I thought you were one of us!" the creature shouted. Did it really think the legs attached to Luffy's waist were real? You rolled your eyes. Soon, another one appeared.
Robin quickly activated her power and defeated it effortlessly.
"We're not safe here... we need to go," you stated, hands instinctively moving to your holster.
Usopp crouched down and found a Den Den Mushi among the unconscious animals.
"Look at that, they're not wild animals! They're organized! Anyway, (Y/N) is right, we can't stay here, we have to go. And going back to the sea of fire is pointless, the Sunny isn't there anymore. We need to cross the ice part of the island. Enough chit-chat, we need to find our friends!"
"I don't think there will be a cold-weather clothing store along the way," Robin smiled, and you grunted.
"Jokes aside, she's right. We're not prepared for the cold, we'll freeze to death in these clothes. What are we going to do?"
---
You reached the riverbed and looked to the other side. There was no way to cross except through the water. You crouched down and touched the water, feeling a chill run through your body.
"It's freezing."
"This wind is ridiculous!" Luffy shouted, hugging himself.
"There's a fierce blizzard on the other side. With such a temperature difference, the middle is bound to be turbulent," you concluded.
"Oh, I even worked up a sweat. Are we going to swim?" Zoro asked, stretching.
"Are you crazy!? Swim in this cold!?" Usopp shouted incredulously.
"Yeah, Zoro, don't be silly. Robin and I can't swim," Luffy said, smiling. Robin had the same expression as they looked at you. You sighed, understanding the message. You glanced at the swordsman.
"Are you guys nuts!? We’re not going to swim and carry you on our backs! Are you insa—" before finishing, Usopp looked to the side and screamed, seeing you and the swordsman stretching, ready to jump into the water. "—ne!?" He grunted. "I'm surrounded by madmen..." He sighed, taking a seed from his bag and aiming his slingshot. He shouted and shot at the water, forming a banana-shaped boat.
"Wow, a boat. How useful!" You clapped, impressed. He blushed slightly and looked away.
He shot a few more seeds, creating large leaves to use as paddles. He handed one to each of you.
"Let's go, Usopp!" Luffy was the first to board, sitting at the front and staring at the horizon. You let everyone get in first, going last and giving a slight push to the edge of the lake to start the boat moving. You and the others paddled.
But as you progressed, the situation worsened. The strong wind hit you, making it hard to row. Maintaining balance was nearly impossible. You crouched a bit, trying to stay as balanced as possible. If anyone fell out of the boat, it would be a big problem.
Suddenly, you felt a chill and quickly turned your body, delivering a powerful kick to a rock thrown at you. It shattered on impact.
"What the!? Who!?" Usopp looked around until he saw the defeated centaur on the riverbank, throwing objects at you.
"Ah, you finally decided to join my crew!?" Luffy shouted, and Robin smiled.
"Are you crazy? Still trying to recruit him? Stop it!"
"Stop inviting every strange creature to our crew!"
The centaur then took a horn from his back and blew it. The sound echoed everywhere.
"BOSS, THE INTRUDERS WENT THAT WAY, GET THEM!"
"Boss?"
"Something... is coming on the other side of the river." Everyone looked and saw several silhouettes on the other side, waiting for you.
"Damn, they're waiting for us..."
Several cannon shots came your way, and amidst the chaos, one hit very close, throwing the boat and everyone into the water. You quickly noticed Zoro diving to grab your captain, so you dove towards Nico Robin. You grabbed her as she was sinking, putting her arm around your shoulder and swimming back to the surface with her.
"Ah, it's too cold! We'll die like this! And they won't stop shooting."
"Usopp, give me a hand, hold Luffy, I'm going to cut them!" Zoro handed the captain to the long-nosed man, but when he was about to cut, he screamed in pain.
"What happened!?"
"Something's down there!" He shouted, and something pulled him underwater.
"Damn, Zoro!" You shouted, handing Robin to Usopp too. "Hold both of them, just a bit!" You dove as well.
As you went deeper, you saw a shark dragging the swordsman down. You moved quickly, taking the man's sword from his hand and stabbing the animal, releasing him. You grabbed his wrist and started pulling him up. Soon, several sharks surrounded you. When one of them came towards you, you hit it with a slap, your eyes and theirs glowing, and they stopped the attack. The sharks then took you safely to the surface. Upon emerging, you saw Brook fighting off attackers on the shore, while you finally got out of the water on the other side. You were on your knees on the ground, releasing the swordsman and the sword, while helping Usopp pull Luffy and Robin out. You were trembling, feeling your skin burn with frostbite. You gasped and looked at your attackers, noticing they were all well-dressed. You smiled.
"Looks like we have a shopping mall at our disposal... we just need to pick." You drew your pistol. "It's just a matter of choosing."
Notes:
Till next Sunday, kisses 💜❤️💜
Chapter 49: Reencounter
Notes:
(See the end of the chapter for notes.)
Chapter Text
**Translation and Improved Version:**
"I just heard a loud noise! Could it be Sanji and the others?"
You shrugged, casually sitting on the back of the crocodile man. Besides beating up his men, you took their coats and were now using the beast man to travel through the snow.
"Hey mister, you really don't know where my crew is?"
"Shut up, I'm not telling you anything!"
"Fine, but at least run faster!"
"Brook, how can you feel cold when you don't have skin?"
"It's the sensation that counts!"
"Poor Nami and the others, I hope they don't freeze in this cold, or their arms and legs might fall off," Robin said, causing Usopp to panic.
"Stop saying things like that!" he yelled.
"What's going on up ahead?" You pointed, and everyone looked in the direction. It seemed like a fight was happening.
As you looked closer, you saw the Navy. Amid the confusion, you spotted something familiar and couldn't help but smile. A familiar white hat with spots.
"Look, (Y/N)! It's him!" Luffy shouted excitedly, and you smiled.
"It's him, Luffy."
"It's me! Thanks for the help the other day!" Luffy yelled, and you smiled, extending your hand and waving, noticing the man's discreet glance at you.
"That guy, we saw him two years ago at the auction in Shabaody, right?" Zoro asked, and Robin nodded.
"Yes, that's Trafalgar Law. He now is—"
"That's right! Trafo, trafal? Whatever, that's him! He helped me during the Whitebeard War and healed my wounds!" Luffy shouted, smiling.
"Your wounds?" Robin questioned.
"Yes! And (Y/N)'s and Jinbe's too! He saved our lives, and I'm very grateful!"
"Me too!" You smiled and looked at the situation, something seemed off.
"I didn't think we'd meet here, I'm really happy! Thanks, really! Hmm, where's the talking bear?" Luffy asked, and you and he dismounted the crocodile, walking towards him. He immediately looked at you with a slight smile on his face.
"You did well to survive, Straw Hat. And you too, gunslinger. I didn't expect you to stay with him after everything."
"Well, what can I do? I was without a crew, and now, I'm part of one." You placed a hand on Luffy's shoulder, who briefly placed his hand over yours.
"Don't feel indebted to me; I did it on a whim. I saved you because I could."
"Alright then."
"There's a Marine guy down there!" Usopp shouted, pointing to the ground.
"Both of us are pirates, don't forget that," he said darkly, and you reached for your holster.
"That's true! We'll be enemies if we go after the One Piece, right? But I owe a lot of people for what happened two years ago. I'm lucky to have seen you right after Jinbe, thanks!" He smiled, and you could swear you saw a blush of embarrassment on Trafalgar's face.
"SMOKER-SAAAAN!" A female voice echoed, and you turned abruptly. It was a strangely familiar Marine. She ran to the body on the ground. "Smoker-san... There's a hole in his chest..."
"Hey, it's smoke-mouth! It's been a while since I saw him."
"He was in Marineford, right?" you asked, and he nodded.
"You bastard!" She screamed furiously, charging at him with a sword in hand. "How dare you!?" She screamed, enraged.
"Luffy, we need to get out of here, the Navy is here!" Usopp yelled to you.
"Hey, calm down, lady... How rude." Law lifted his fingers, and you felt a chill. He made a motion with his fingers, and the woman fell to her knees.
"What did he do?" Zoro asked as you started to run.
"Hey Traf, I want to ask you something!" Luffy shouted, pointing to a building.
"Go to the research building; what you're looking for is there. We'll run into each other again. We both have things we want to get back."
You ran towards the location he indicated, hoping for the best. The Navy was on your tail, shooting as you ran.
You mounted the crocodile again, heading in the indicated direction. This time, he was running faster than usual. In the distance, you saw a cave, and when you entered, the rest of the crew was there.
They were jumping and shouting, welcoming you. Sanji seemed particularly excited, which was unusual for him.
"What's up with the cook?" Zoro asked, and you shrugged.
"What are those? Giant children?" Usopp questioned.
"Hey Franky, what are you doing!?" Luffy shouted, startled, seeing the cyborg preparing to punch Nami. You ran towards them to prevent the hit.
**************************
"Sorry, (Y/N)! I didn't mean to!" he said, while you sat with a marked cheek, arms crossed, and a scowl.
"You hit me, damn it..." You growled.
After explaining what happened, you could hardly believe it. Law used his power and swapped their consciousnesses, switching their bodies. Sanji was in Nami's body and constantly tried to touch it, while Nami, in Franky's body, wanted to hit him at all costs, and you ended up being hit in the process.
Usopp drew the faces of the crew and gave each one a mask. To make it easier to assimilate. You tried your best not to laugh at it.
"Alright, now we won't get confused. So, to recap: this is the samurai from Wano. He was the reason for the emergency signal we heard. He was attacked by Trafalgar Law, who sliced him up with his power without killing him. And now we're stuck here with these kids we helped escape from the lab."
"Wow, is this routine for you guys?" you asked. Nami nodded.
"I am Brownbeard; I used this moniker when I was a captain."
"Never heard of it." Luffy crossed his arms, and you chuckled.
"What happened? You were so willing to stay quiet before..." Zoro questioned, and he laughed.
"It doesn't matter; soon you'll be dead because Law will save me! I really hate the pirates of your generation, but Law is different."
"What do you mean by our generation?"
"You don't know, idiot? All 12 rookies who reached Shabaody two years ago were worth more than 100 million, not counting Blackbeard... You became known as 'The Worst Generation!'"
Soon he began to explain everything that had happened, and you didn't pay much attention. You wanted to know what was coming next.
Notes:
See you all next Sunday 💜❤️💜
Chapter 50: Candy
Notes:
(See the end of the chapter for notes.)
Chapter Text
After explaining what the island was and what happened to it, you started to understand how the climate was affected.
"So, a lot of power can even change the weather of a place... Scary," you murmured to yourself as Brook and Sanji (in Nami's body) decided to go after the rest of the samurai, who had disappeared.
"Are you sure it's a good idea to leave them alone?" you asked. Nami (in Franky's body) quickly told Zoro to go after them to ensure nothing happened to her body.
"We need a plan," Usopp said, crossing his arms.
"We need to get our bodies back. I'm tired of being a pervert!" Nami shouted. Franky (in Chopper's body) made a horrible face, feeling flattered.
"No need to compliment me, Nami!"
"Never make that face while using Chopper's body again!" Robin yelled, furious.
"But the problem is these kids, they're a real handful."
"Never say anything using Chopper's voice again, ever!" she said, even more indignant, and you laughed.
Suddenly, one of the kids dropped to their knees in agony. You ran over to them.
"What’s wrong?" you asked as the child seemed to be in immense pain. "Chopper!" you shouted, seeing the other kids collapsing one by one. "What’s going on!? Didn't you examine them?"
"It can't be... These kids aren't sick!" he shouted, enraged. "That candy they've been getting... It's a drug! And in large amounts... it causes extreme addiction!"
"What!? You mean they're... addicted!?" you asked, trying to comfort the kids.
"Yes! But why would someone do this to them?"
"Maybe to..." Your expression turned vacant as you watched the kids suffer. "Keep them from escaping...."
"Chopper!" Luffy yelled, scared. "They’re collapsing one by one! Is there more candy around here? If it's in the building, let's go get it!"
"No! They can't eat those candies anymore! We can't let them eat it ever again!"
"Hey, straw hat guy, are you going to get candy for us?" one of the giant kids asked.
"Uh, no! Chopper said you can’t eat any more candy."
"But why not...? You said you’d get it...!" The kid got up and moved towards Luffy. You felt something was wrong.
"Luffy! Watch ou-" before you could finish, the kid hit Luffy hard, sending him flying across the room. "Luffy!" you shouted, running to where he landed.
"Wow, so that's the strength of a giant kid!" Usopp crossed his arms.
"No, they're not giants!" another kid shouted. "None of us are! We were all normal-sized when we got here! The bigger ones have been here longer..."
"That means..."
"They’re... test subjects," Chopper said, shocked, clearly furious. "They were kidnapped and used as test subjects...!"
"Hey... Can I hit them?" Luffy asked, cracking his knuckles.
"Are you crazy, idiot? They’re just kids!" You hit him on the head.
"Get out of the way, Luffy!" Usopp shouted, as the other kids seemed ready to fight. He used his slingshot and launched a seed that, upon hitting the ground, released a gas that put the kids to sleep.
"Nice shot, sniper!" you said, giving him a thumbs up. He nodded back. "Well, at least they’re under control... They’re going through withdrawal and can’t control themselves... What are we going to do?" you asked, reluctantly putting chains around the kids.
"Poor things... They just want to go home. They miss their parents..."
"Then let's take them home!"
"It's not that simple, idiot, we have a lot to deal with!"
"We still don’t know anything for sure. We can’t decide until we find the real culprit," Robin said.
"Zoro, Sanji, and Brook went to look for the samurai... Whatever. Let’s go back to that place and find their master."
"I’m not leaving! I’m really mad and want to beat up that master... But I’m worried about the kids. I’ll stay here to look after them," Chopper said, and you nodded.
"Me too!" Nami shouted.
"Nami, you’re just hiding!"
"But what about our bodies? It would be good if the four of us met with Trafalgar right away."
"What’s the problem? Just stay like this!" Luffy said excitedly, and Nami hit him.
"What’s the problem!? We’re the priority right now! I want my body back!"
Before you could argue further, you heard a crash and the cave shook.
"Earthquake?"
"No, it’s an attack!" you shouted, and without waiting for the others, you ran out. Luffy, Franky (in Chopper's body), Usopp, and Robin followed. "Luffy, these are footprints..."
"Yeah... There’s something here... Two things that look like animals. We need to get back, Nami and the others are in danger!"
You all ran back to the cave, but there were two huge creatures with some sort of cannons aimed at you. Before you could say anything, they fired. You pulled Usopp and Robin, and Luffy threw Franky aside, narrowly dodging the shot. Luffy charged forward to kick them, but they were already gone.
"Damn, where are they!?" he shouted, running inside, you all following close behind.
"Luffy! I'm sorry!" Chopper came running and crying towards you. "They took Nami!"
"What!?" you and the captain shouted in unison.
"Damn, isn’t that the bearded crocodile guy?" Luffy pointed to Brownbeard, lying on the ground.
"Yes, they shot him, even though he was an ally. They had orders to kill us and take the kids. But their first order was to take him down..."
"Even though he spoke so highly of their master..." you said, clenching your fists. "Pirates are always getting betrayed."
"That master is really cruel! We can’t let them take the kids back! And they took Nami! I’m worried about what they might do to her!"
"I’ll get her back, you take care of the kids!" Luffy shouted, running off, with you right behind.
"Wait, Luffy! I’m coming with you!"
"Hold on, I want to go but I can’t fight with this body! Chopper, give me that ball that turns you into a monster!" Franky (in Chopper's body) shouted, while Chopper (in Sanji's body) handed it over.
"It’s not a ball, it’s a Rumble Ball, it’s a drug! You won’t be able to control that form of mine-" before he could finish, Franky took the Rumble Ball, quickly transforming into an uncontrollable monster, and started running after you and Luffy.
"Well, at least he’s headed in the right direction, right?"
Notes:
See you all next Sunday 💜❤️💜
Chapter 51: The alliance
Notes:
(See the end of the chapter for notes.)
Chapter Text
"Hey, look, footprints! At least they left us some huge ones to follow!" Luffy shouted excitedly. You kept following him, while Franky (in Chopper's body), completely out of control in his monster form, was chasing you, trying to attack. "Oh no... The footprints stopped!"
"Luffy, watch out!" you shouted, but it was too late. He fell off the cliff, and you found yourself running and jumping after him.
"Ahhhh....! Oh, Nami!" he yelled as you fell. You sighed in relief, seeing that the navigator (in Franky's body) was okay.
"Luffy ...! (Y/N), be careful! The enemies are here!" she shouted, and you immediately drew your pistols.
"Ah, there are spikes at the bottom!" Luffy yelled, and you knew what to do. Using Haki, you coated the bullets and started shooting, shattering the ice spikes with precision. But before you could catch your breath, cannonballs were fired at you.
"Luffy!" you shouted, and he quickly inflated.
"Fuusen!" he exclaimed, turning into a huge balloon and catching the cannonballs with his body. "Rayleigh said just blocking and defending isn't a good fighting tactic! Instead, I need to counterattack! Gomu Gomu no.... Thank You Fire!" he exclaimed, sending the cannonballs back toward one of the giant shooters.
"Rock!" the other giant shouted, aiming his weapon at you. "Damn you, you'll see! This mountain is a weapon itself!" He shot up above your position.
"Watch out, the top of the mountain is falling!" Nami shouted, and you started to run. But before you could escape, there was another problem—Franky (in Chopper's body) was out of control and began attacking indiscriminately.
"Hey, Franky! Cut it out!" Luffy shouted, and you started jumping to dodge the blows.
"Luffy, above you!" Nami shouted, and you saw the enormous mountain approaching. Before you could react, Franky (in Chopper's body) caught the huge boulder and threw it at the giant.
"No way...! He helped!" you shouted excitedly.
"Nice one, Franky!" Luffy shouted excitedly, but Franky immediately attacked you again. "Oh no, that's enough!" He wound up a powerful punch. "Gomu Gomu no... Elephant Gun!" and knocked Franky out with a punch.
"Geez, Luffy, did you really have to go that hard?"
"Help! (Y/N)!" Nami shouted, and you turned just in time to see the giant grab her and run off. You didn't waste any time and started chasing him, but the heavy snow made it difficult to move.
After running for a while, you saw something happen ahead of you. The giant was sliced by someone. Getting closer, you couldn't help but smile.
"Traffy!" Luffy shouted excitedly as you approached. "You saved Nami!?"
"Thanks for that.... No, wait! Give me back my body!"
"I was thinking..." Trafalgar started, and you looked at him curiously. Luffy bit through the chains holding Nami, breaking them. "I came here to talk to you, Straw Hat."
"About what?" you asked, approaching with crossed arms, standing between Luffy and Trafalgar.
"You might have ended up here by accident, but the truth is this island holds the key to causing chaos in the New World." You nodded for him to continue. "In the New World, you have two choices: live under the protection of a Yonko or keep challenging them. And I know you're not a fan of taking orders."
"That's right, I like being the captain."
"So, where are you going with this, Traffy?" you asked, and he gave a half-smile.
"Become my ally, Straw Hat."
"An ally?" You and Luffy exchanged glances.
"If we join forces... We can do it. I have a plan to take down a Yonko!" he exclaimed confidently.
"What!?" you and Nami shouted in complete shock, while Luffy just laughed.
"An alliance!? So we team up and take down a Yonko? That's ridiculous! Luffy, don't fall for it!" Nami yelled, irritated.
"I didn't say we're taking down a Yonko, I said we should team up and come up with a strategy and see if we can. So, what do you say?"
Luffy looked at Nami, then at you. You nodded slightly.
"Which Yonko are you talking about?" you asked, looking at Trafalgar, waiting for an answer. The response left Nami shocked, and you felt the breath catch in your lungs. "Oh, alright then!" Luffy shouted excitedly, and you couldn't help but smile.
---
Back at the hideout, you stood near Law, keeping an eye on him. In the background, the rest of the crew tried to understand how this alliance came about, and of course, they were upset with the captain.
"You seem tense, gunslinger," Law commented, and you looked at him.
"Don't get me wrong, Traffy. You saved our lives, and I'm grateful. But pirate alliances never work out. I'll be keeping my eyes on you the whole time."
"I don't mind your attention, not one bit," he said with a smirk, and you turned away, slightly blushing.
"Luffy, I respect your decision. But pirate alliances usually end in betrayal," Robin spoke up, and Luffy looked at Law.
"Hey Traffy, are you going to betray me?"
"No."
Luffy gave a huge confident smile. Everyone groaned in frustration, and you laughed. You knew when Luffy made up his mind, there was no changing it.
"A pirate alliance is awesome! And Traffy is a good guy! And even if he isn't... I have all of you with me, we've trained for two years! We can handle it!"
Soon, everyone seemed to forget the problem and just felt flattered by the compliments. Law used his power to swap back the bodies of Chopper and Franky. Nami was now in Sanji's body.
"So, you guys want to save these kids? They're addicted..."
"I know, I examined them! That's exactly why I want to save them!"
"But you don't even know where they're from! I'd leave them behind."
"We can't do that! They trusted us!"
"Hey Traffy, since you're allied with us, help us out with this!" Luffy exclaimed happily, and Law seemed stunned.
"Let me tell you, the alliance Luffy imagines is different from yours! He thinks it means you guys are going to be friends! And another thing, if you think you're going to call the shots here, you're dead wrong! Luffy decides everything himself; his stubbornness is Yonko level." Usopp declared, leaving Law even more desperate.
"No, your friends' request has nothing to do with the alliance!" He sighed, annoyed. "Okay, fine. Whatever! We don't have time. You take care of the samurai, I'll find out what kind of drug they've been giving the kids. Who's the doctor? Come with me; we need to act without Caesar knowing."
The pure desperation on Law's face made you burst into laughter. They tied Chopper to his hat, since Franky, while in his body, had used the monster point, and now the body couldn't move.
"Sorry, I can't move, so I'm counting on you," Chopper said, making you laugh even more.
Law took Chopper from his hat and tied him to his sword.
"Don't be fooled, Caesar will send more assassins after you. He wants to get rid of you and the White Hunter and get the kids back. He's a former government scientist who became a criminal after an incident four years ago. If anyone finds out there are people on this forbidden island, he'll lose his perfect hideout. That's why he wants to kill you." He paused, looking at all of you. "He has a 300 million bounty, a weapon of mass destruction, and he's a Logia user. So, anyone who can't use Haki should stay away from him."
"Those who can use Haki are me, Zoro, Sanji, and (Y/N)," Luffy exclaimed confidently, and you nodded. "And you, right Traffy?"
"Yes, that should be enough. Well, I'll go ahead."
"So, we just have to kidnap this so-called master, right?"
"Basically, yes."
You sighed deeply; it wouldn't be that simple, you were sure.
It was going to be hell.
Notes:
Till next Sunday 💜❤️💜
Chapter 52: Warnings
Notes:
(See the end of the chapter for notes.)
Chapter Text
Well guys, I'm speaking out here because I haven't posted in two weeks.
I'm a 28 year old woman, for those who don't know.
And I work (a lot) every day. Recently (about 6 months ago) I moved up a position in the company where I work, and as a result, the responsibilities have increased (a lot).
So there are days when I arrive and just want to rest, I ask you to forgive me for that.
I won't abandon the story, but if there are any delays I ask you to be patient.
Thank you so much for your love, I really love this story and I want to tell it to the end.
Ps: check out this video that I spent the day making:
https://pin.it/7BoQYAimT
Notes:
Till next week
Chapter 53: The Master
Notes:
(See the end of the chapter for notes.)
Chapter Text
"Ugh, this idea sucks!" you exclaimed angrily, while Luffy laughed in the background.
"But we'll get there faster this way!" he laughed again, and you gave up trying to argue. "Let's go! Traffy's counting on us!" He puffed up, and you boarded the ship.
With a deep breath, you all took off.
***
You flew towards the main building, or rather, you were hurled straight to the entrance, and the landing was anything but smooth.
As you got up, Luffy raised his arms and shouted excitedly,
"Boss! Where are you!? We're here to get you!"
"That was supposed to be a secret, Luffy," Robin said, smiling as she landed gracefully next to you. Franky was also ready, in a fighting stance.
"Alright, we're here, but where's the boss?" Luffy put his hands on his hips as the henchmen attacked you. Soon, you and Franky easily took them down.
"Well, I don't think he's coming out, Luffy. Should we search inside?" you asked, shooting a few more henchmen.
"Straw Hat Luffy! What are you doing on this island!?" someone shouted, and you all turned to see.
"Oh, it's Smoke Guy! You look well! I saw you getting beaten up, thought you were hurt, I was worried!" Luffy said cheerfully, and you shook your head.
"Look who it is, the Marine Ford hunk. Remember me, Logia?" You smirked, pointing your pistols at him. The man seemed stunned, looking around and blushing. You found his behavior odd.
"Don't mock me!" he yelled, drawing a katana and using his smoke powers to try a clumsy strike at Luffy. Luffy dodged easily and grabbed his arm, using Haki to hold him. He slammed him to the ground violently.
"What happened, Smoke Guy? You're so weak!"
"Hey, don't use my body and lose to him!" someone shouted, and before you could react, a woman with glasses and a Jitte hit Luffy hard, sending him flying.
"Luffy!" you shouted and ran to him before the woman could land more blows. You dodged her strikes and began a quick exchange with her.
"So, you're back on the seas... Straw Hat," she said, looking at you and stepping back. "And you too, Gunslinger. But I won't let you do as you please!" she yelled, charging at you.
"That weapon...!" Luffy exclaimed in surprise. "This glasses girl got strong, what was her name again?" he asked as you continued to fight her, dodging her attacks precisely.
"It's Smoker!" she yelled furiously, and both of you were shocked.
"What!????" you asked incredulously, while Franky and Robin fought enemies in the background.
"I think this is Law's doing, Luffy!" she yelled, smiling, and you understood what was going on.
"Ah... So you're the hunk in this girl's body, huh?" you asked, pointing your gun at her. "The Marine Logia.... Long time no see."
"Stop messing around, you criminal! I'm taking you and Straw Hat to prison!"
"Give it your best shot," you smiled confidently.
While you continued the fight, something was happening on the nearby Marine ship. Some kind of goo started falling from the sky, and when it touched some sailors' skin, it began consuming them. Panic ensued as more goo fell, merging into a conscious entity. Desperate, they decided to set it on fire to destroy it, but the unexpected happened.
The goo creature was highly flammable, and with a small spark, the ship exploded.
"Men!" Smoker, in his subordinate's body, yelled.
You looked up, and suddenly, the goo started falling near you.
"Luffy, watch out! Don't let it touch you, that thing is dangerous!" you shouted as you all started backing away slowly.
"Smoker-san, this place is dangerous! We need to get out of here immediately!" the woman in Smoker's body yelled. He crossed his arms and sighed.
"Yes, you're right... Tashigi..." he grunted, annoyed.
"Shirorororo~ good boy... Sorry to keep you waiting for three years." A voice echoed, and looking around, you saw someone casually sitting on top of the building. He wore a coat that seemed to be made of clouds, had long black hair, and something like horns coming out of his head.
"Master! Why are you out here? It's dangerous!" one of the henchmen shouted. You smiled, it was your target, in the flesh.
"So, it's you... You're Caesar Clown, aren't you?" Smoker asked.
"What!? So you're the boss?" Luffy shouted in surprise.
"Shirororo~ that's me... And you are... " He looked at you. "Straw Hat Luffy and Gyldepts, the gunslinger... Both pirates, and the G-5 marine," he smiled, watching the goo fall. "Just wait a bit, it's not good with water, so it's throwing its pieces here to become one! When that happens, I'll give you a taste of the terror from four years ago!" He started laughing but suddenly stopped when Luffy quickly grabbed him.
"Ha, gotcha!"
"What!?" he shouted in disbelief, unable to free himself from Luffy's grip around his waist. "Let me go, damn it!"
"That damn Straw Hat! Let go of the master!" the henchmen aimed their weapons, but you quickly ran, shooting skillfully and taking down a large number of them.
"You won't touch my captain!"
While you kept the henchmen from interfering, Luffy tried to restrain the man, who started turning into gas. He released a cloud of purple gas, which Luffy inhaled completely.
"Ha! It's the master's gas cloud, and that idiot inhaled it all, he's going to die!" a henchman shouted, but Luffy just smiled and stuck out his tongue.
"Tough luck! Poison doesn't work on me anymore, thanks to Magellan!"
"Magellan? The poisonous man from Impel Down!? Don't compare me to a lowly Paramecia!" the master yelled angrily but was hit by a punch directly to the face, charged with Haki by Luffy.
"Master!" the soldiers shouted in disbelief.
Luffy jumped on him and grabbed him by the collar as you, Franky, and Robin approached.
"Guys! I got him! How do we restrain him? We can't tie him up!"
"Piece of cake! Suuuper!" Franky struck a pose, but you were still tense, something was wrong.
"We don't have a barrel or anything like that..." Robin pondered.
"Luffy, let's finish this quickly, something's bothering me..." you said, approaching. "Luffy...?" you asked, just in time to see your captain get dizzy and faint. You ran and caught him.
"Shirorororo! You underestimated me!" Caesar stood up, laughing. You drew your pistol and fired, but he dodged. "Ooh, dangerous, a Haki-coated bullet, that would've hurt, cutie!" He laughed and came at you. But before you could react, you felt your senses get scrambled and your vision blur.
"What's... happening...?" You fell to your
knees. "Franky... Robin..." You reached out to them. "Run...!" you whispered as you lost consciousness.
Notes:
See you all next week ❤️💜❤️
Chapter 54: Following the plan
Notes:
(See the end of the chapter for notes.)
Chapter Text
"Vergo had been a part of Joker’s crew since the beginning."
You woke up to a chorus of voices around you. Struggling to open your eyes, you saw that you were sitting in a cell, chained up with seastone cuffs, alongside Luffy, Law, Franky, Robin, Smoker, and Tashigi. What a strange sight. You couldn’t quite remember what happened, just that you passed out after seeing Caesar Clown.
"Joker... That’s a name of someone powerful in the underworld, isn’t it? And to think I let a traitor right under my nose... How embarrassing," Smoker said, and you followed his gaze to the man he was speaking to.
"Don’t worry, Smoker. Now that my cover's blown, I’ll have to get rid of you all. And I’ll give your subordinates outside to Caesar. Don’t worry, we’re good at making it look like an accident," he said with a sneer, glancing over at you all inside the cell.
"Oi, Traffy, who’s this Joker guy?" Luffy asked, and you glanced at the man.
"You know him, don’t you? You know a lot..." you added, eyeing him with suspicion. Could he have betrayed you?
"I was... one of his subordinates, that’s why I know him." You watched as he gave a faint smile. "But it’s not what you think, gunslinger. I said *was*, not *am*. Joker is just a name he uses for his underground deals. He’s a world-famous pirate. His real name is Donquixote Doflamingo, the Shichibukai."
You felt your breath catch in your throat. What kind of mess had you gotten yourselves into?
***
"Shirororo~ Sorry to keep you waiting, Vergo." A voice cut through the air, and you looked up to see Caesar.
"It’s fine, I had tea and biscuits while waiting. How strange... Where did the biscuits go?"
"You didn’t eat any biscuits," Monet snapped irritably.
"That’s right, I didn’t. When will the experiments begin?"
"Soon, Monet, start the video!" She nodded and flew over to a console. "It would be great if you stopped sending your lackeys here, Vergo. I was really on edge when I saw Smoker."
"Yeah, he’s tricky. I can’t control him," Vergo said, taking a sip of his tea.
"But all of this ends today! The same goes for you, Law!" Caesar turned towards the cell and began walking toward you all. "You couldn’t do anything against Vergo, could you, Law? Shirororo~ Seems like my deal with you turned out pretty useful after all." He stopped right next to the cell, a hysterical smile on his face. "You really can’t trust anyone, huh? Serves you right! But just to be clear, Vergo’s the one who’s got your heart."
Vergo stood up, approaching the cell with something that looked like a small box in his hand. Then, he squeezed it.
"Ahhh!" Law cried out in pain, collapsing to the ground, writhing in agony.
"Law!" you shouted, trying to get closer. "What’s happening?"
"He took your heart, and you’re still alive?" Luffy asked, more intrigued than worried.
"If others can use your ability like that, it’s useless. And by the way, where’s mine?" Smoker asked irritably, and you looked at him.
"He took yours too? What the hell is this? Does everyone have someone else’s heart?" you asked, stressed, as Caesar began to laugh.
"Yours is right here, Smoker! Shirororo~" he said, holding up the object with a victorious grin.
"The transmission is ready, Master," Monet interrupted.
"Ah, yes, excellent. Go ahead and start it!"
***
Trapped in the cell, you all witnessed the explanation of the new chemical weapon Caesar was creating, watching as he put it on display.
"They’re..." you began, incredulous as you watched the huge screen in front of you.
"Turning to stone..." Luffy finished. "Hey, that’s Zoro and the others! They’re being chased by the smoke."
"What are they doing there?" Franky asked.
"And how are they running like that?" Robin tilted her head.
"Now’s not the time for that, Robin!"
"Look, Luffy, the samurai’s all put together now!" you pointed out to him, and his eyes lit up.
"He is! I wonder if he’ll still give me his legs?"
"Of course not, you idiot!" you scolded him.
"That’s your crew, right, Straw Hat?" Caesar asked, looking over at you all. "I have to admit, they’re pretty tough. But soon they’ll run out of breath and die! Soon, this country will be a ‘land of death’ where nothing can survive! No one outside this lab will make it!" He grabbed a lever and pulled it. The cell began to tilt. "Not even you, shirororo~ This weapon can’t be stopped by someone with a 400 million bounty, nor by a Vice Admiral, or even a Shichibukai! Soon, the world will witness this!"
Your cell was flung out of the building, left hanging by a thick chain. You looked at the horizon and knew the gas was coming. You started struggling, trying to break free from the cuffs, but it was no use.
"Smoker-san, Tashigi! Oh no, they got them! Captain, Vice Admiral! We don’t want to die!"
"Look, Vergo’s appearance was kind of sudden, but we can’t waste any more time here, Straw Hat," Law spoke up, and you looked at him. "Let’s fight back."
Notes:
I'm really sorry for not updating for a while now. Where do I began? Life's been a mess recently, with a lot of work, stress, mental problems and a lot of adult problems. Well, all fun and games right? Anyway, I'll see you soon
Chapter 55: Counterattack
Notes:
(See the end of the chapter for notes.)
Chapter Text
"A counterattack?" Luffy asked, confused. Law nodded.
"Yeah, we'll take care of it." He looked at you all. "Anyone here can set things on fire? If not, no big deal."
"Oh, Franky can! He also shoots lasers! Hey, Franky, think you can burn these cuffs with your laser?" Luffy asked, hopeful.
"I can't use my Radical Beam without both hands. Right now, I can only use my Coup de Boo from my butt!"
"You better not use that, or I'll kick you out of here!" You shot him a look, and he gave you a huge grin.
"Can you burn the warship on the right and down below?"
"Sure thing, bro! On it!" Franky took a deep breath, filling his lungs. He then spat out a massive fireball, which headed straight for the ship, causing a huge explosion. "Franky Fireball!" he shouted, announcing his signature move.
Suddenly, thick smoke covered the whole area, surrounding your cell in a dense layer.
"*COUGH COUGH!* Hey, Trafalgar! The smoke's all around us!" Franky yelled, annoyed.
"That's your fault."
"You told me to do it, damn it!"
"Well, it's better this way; they won't be able to see us." Law chimed in, surprisingly standing up and freeing himself from the cuffs.
"But how!? How did you get out of the Kairoseki chains!?" Luffy shouted. He smiled and looked at you. You only now realized, your eyes widening in shock.
"His cuffs aren't Kairoseki! They're regular! I was so focused on mine that I didn't notice his weren't!" You stared at him, and he gave you a wink. "You set this up, didn't you?"
"Of course, how long do you think I've been here? I swapped out some of the Kairoseki ones for regular ones so that if I ever got captured, they wouldn't use them on me."
"Smart, you've really thought this through, huh?"
He just smiled and freed you first, then Franky, Robin, and Luffy.
"Yay, I'm free!" Luffy cheered excitedly.
"Don't be an idiot, shut up!" He then turned to Smoker and Tashigi. "And now, what to do with you two? You know too much; your lives are in my hands."
"You've already decided what to do, right? So, just—" Smoker stopped mid-sentence, realizing his voice was no longer feminine. He and Tashigi exchanged glances.
"Kyaaa!"
"What the hell kind of girly scream was that?" He shouted, irritated, at Tashigi, who was covering her chest since Smoker, in her body, had opened her shirt.
"Please, take these cuffs off me!" She begged.
"What the hell? You're so scared you're begging for your life from a pirate!?"
"We need to live! Even if we have to beg! If we die, our men die too, and Vergo will escape! And they'll do whatever they want with the kids!"
"She's right, handsome, you should listen to her more." You chimed in, standing up and stretching.
"Hey, White Hunter, I have no reason to save you, but it's in my best interest that you survive and Vergo loses his position. But for that to happen, you need to forget everything you heard about Joker and me. This isn't a request; it's a demand to save your lives." You glanced over and saw Luffy leaving the cell, so you quickly followed him out.
"Hey, Tral, how do we get in?" Luffy shouted excitedly, and you laughed at the look of disgust on Law's face.
You all entered the building, with Smoker and Tashigi joining your group as you made your way through the place until you reached the main entrance on the ground floor. There were a bunch of guards on duty, but they were no problem for you guys.
You fought your way through the guards, taking them down, and quickly managed to open the main gate, letting Smoker's men in so they could escape the gas.
You glanced toward the entrance and saw the rest of the crew running toward you in the distance. You smiled with relief; it was good to see they were okay.
"Alright, guys! Now that everyone's here, let's get to it!" Your captain shouted, pumped up, clenching his fists.
**********
Once everyone was safely inside (and after patching up the hole Zoro made in the gate to get in, otherwise, you'd all be dead), the marines surrounded your crew, giving orders to arrest them.
"Oh, it's starting already, huh?" Luffy laughed excitedly, and you sighed.
"You two, stay out of our way."
"Got it," Smoker nodded.
"TRAFALGAR!" Nami and Sanji shouted from below, catching the pirate's attention. "Switch our bodies back!" Nami begged, but Sanji was frantically signaling 'no.' And with a wave of his hands, they switched back. Nami started beating up Sanji for messing with her body, while you just laughed.
"Guys, listen up!" Law shouted, and everyone turned to him. "We're in a building surrounded by gas. There's only one way out, and that's through this lab and out to the sea! The exit is where it says R Building 66. I'm not interested in any weapons of mass destruction, but in two hours, I can't guarantee anyone's survival in this building."
"What are you planning to do?" You walked up to him, hands on your hips.
"It's gonna be a real shocker, cowgirl."
"Well, alright then. Got it. So..." Luffy stood up. "I'm coming for you, Caesar! Even if I have to hold my breath, I'm gonna take you down!" He started running in a specific direction, and you were already moving to join him.
"We're going after the kids!" Nami shouted, and part of the crew followed her.
"G-5! Prioritize the kids! We're saving them! And we're taking the ship at the port!" Smoker shouted orders to his me
n.
And with that, everyone split up, each heading their own way to escape that trap.
Notes:
Till next week~ love you all so much, thanks for reading 💜❤️💜
It's because of you all that I keep writing and enjoying this tale
Chapter 56: The hunt
Notes:
(See the end of the chapter for notes.)
Chapter Text
You and the captain were sprinting through the corridors of Building A, heading straight for Caesar to carry out your part of the plan. Up ahead, a creature with multiple human legs appeared, and you knew that the scientist was probably aware you were on the loose.
“I’m not letting you through, Straw Hat! I’m the gatekeeper, and in the name of my beloved scientist Caesar, I—” You cut him off with a swift punch, sending him flying.
“We don’t have time for this! Get out of the way!” You yelled, frustrated, as you charged toward the gate, with Luffy right behind you.
“Hey, (Y/N), what was that thing? I didn’t recognize it.”
“Just another weirdo like everyone else here! Focus, Captain!”
“Aye aye~” He winked at you, and you rolled your eyes. “Whoa, what’s that?” He asked, helping you take down another wave of guards.
“That’s probably our way through. Let’s go!” You picked up the pace, and he kept up right beside you.
In the background, you could hear a siren blaring. When you looked back, you saw the gate closing behind you, and in front, too.
“Luffy! The gate!” You shouted. He started exhaling smoke, activating Gear 2. He threw you over his shoulder and dashed toward the gates. You noticed a trail of white smoke following you and guessed it was Smoker.
A few seconds later, you reached a door. Luffy set you down, and you fixed your hair. He was panting, exhausted, while Smoker materialized next to you.
“Ahhh… Hmm… Ahhh…” He was catching his breath, hands on his knees.
“Listen—” Smoker began, but Luffy raised his hand.
“Hold on… I’m catching my breath… I ran so fast my feet are on fire!”
“Sorry, Captain.” You chuckled.
“Not fair, you can fly… And I had to carry (Y/N)!” You smacked him on the head, using Haki.
“Don’t you dare call me heavy, idiot!”
“Alright, alright, listen up.” Smoker tried to speak again.
“Wait! I’ll talk when I’m ready…” Luffy sighed. “Okay, I’m feeling a little better now…” He straightened up, but you just pressed the doorbell of the door in front of you. “Hey, I wasn’t ready yet, Gyl!”
“Listen, you two! Vergo is my enemy.” Smoker said, irritated. You crossed your arms.
“We already know that.”
“Alright, fine, but Caesar is ours, got it? Hands off him!”
The door interrupted you. Inside was Caesar.
“Look, Luffy, there’s our guy.” You smiled and cracked your knuckles.
“Lucky bastards.” Smoker sighed.
“YOU’RE NOT GETTING AWAY AGAIN, CAESAR!” Luffy shouted, and in a flash, he punched Caesar right in the gut, making him stagger back, gasping for air.
“Nice one, Luffy. I love how you punch first and ask questions later.” You stepped inside, your idle hands resting on your holsters.
He lunged at Caesar before he could recover, trying to grab him.
Caesar dodged upward, spinning.
“Not happening!” He shouted, striking a match. “Combustion!” He turned into a highly flammable gas, causing an explosion. Luffy dodged easily.
“Straw Hat, why are you attacking me!?”
“Honestly, I don’t know why I’m hitting you, but you sure know why you’re getting hit!” Luffy chuckled. “If I kidnap you, something interesting’s bound to happen!”
“Luffy, stop giving away information to the enemy!” You scolded him, facepalming.
“You must’ve teamed up with someone, I bet it was Law. You shouldn’t trust him, he’s definitely going to betray you!”
“We’ll be the judges of that!” Your captain exclaimed, and you assumed a fighting stance.
“You wanna pick a fight, you rubbery bastard? Bring it! Shirororo~” Caesar used his power to suck the oxygen out of the area around you, trying to knock Luffy out again.
“Luffy, watch out! He’s pulling that trick again!”
Luffy took a few steps back, staying far enough away to avoid passing out.
“You’re gonna keep your distance, huh? Think you can still hit me? Shirororo~” His grin didn’t last a second.
“Jet Pistol!” Your captain shouted, hitting him right in the face with a punch from a distance.
“Idiot!” You laughed.
Caesar turned into gas and grabbed Luffy by the neck, forming a blue sword, ready to strike your captain. You drew your pistol and fired a single shot that grazed Caesar’s face, forcing him to let go of Luffy in shock.
“What the… hell!?” He touched his cheek, feeling the blood from the cut. “But how the hell did you hit me? I’m a Logia!”
“And I can coat my bullets with Haki, moron!” You aimed your pistols at him.
“You’re not gonna kill me, right? You want me alive!”
“But no one said you had to be unharmed.” He gulped nervously. Luffy charged at him and was about to land a finishing blow when Monet stepped in between, creating an ice barrier.
“Just as I thought, no ordinary pirate could break through this barrier—” Luffy punched again, shattering the barrier. “Well… Master, escape, this fight is pointless.”
“Move aside, birdie.” You pointed your pistols at her. “Or I’ll have our cook make you into dinner.” She just smiled, unfazed.
“See ya later, Straw Hat! I know exactly how to turn all of you into new test subjects!” He shouted excitedly, running in the opposite direction. You tried to shoot, but Monet created a snow wall, blocking your shots.
Luffy ran after him too, but she grabbed him with her claws.
“I can’t let anything happen to the Master, or Joker will kill me.” She licked her lips, eyeing
you both.
“Alright then, let’s do this!” You aimed your pistols at her. It was time for a fight.
Notes:
See you all next week 💜❤️💜
Chapter 57: Descend
Notes:
(See the end of the chapter for notes.)
Chapter Text
“Don’t you dare—” you started, but were cut off as a dome of ice formed around you both. “Tch, you witch...” You aimed your guns at her.
“Stop with these pointless tricks! I’m going to break through all this! You can’t beat me.”
“You’re right, Straw Hat. You alone would be enough to take me down, and you’ve got backup too. But I’m just here to stall... I can’t let Caesar get killed.”
“You really think you can keep us trapped for long? I wouldn’t bet on it.” You stepped forward and positioned yourself beside your captain.
“So I better do something, huh?” She flew toward you, wrapping her enormous wings around both of you.
“Ugh, it’s so cold!” you shouted, struggling against her grip. “Captain!”
“I can’t move either!” he groaned. “Damn, it’s freezing...!”
“Soon, you won’t be able to fight... The cold from my body will just keep making you weaker...” She glanced around. “Look, it’s already snowing... Why not close your eyes? I bet you’re feeling sleepy... Just close your eyes and then...”
“No!” you yelled, snapping Luffy out of it.
“Gomu Gomu no... Jet Spear!” he shouted, using his feet to smash the ground beneath you.
“Ahhhh!!!” Luffy screamed as he fell into the hole he just created.
“Luffy!” you screamed, reaching out for him. He stretched out his hand and grabbed yours, but... he pulled too hard, dragging you down with him. “Damn it!!”
That was your last shout as you both plunged into the uncertain darkness.
**********
“Luffy... I think there’s something here with us...” You stood up, dusting off your clothes and looking around. “I can feel something alive here...” He got up and walked closer to you. “You’re right... There’s something here.” You both started searching, one hand on your holster just in case.
“Luffy... Is that...!” You pointed at a creature moving nearby.
“A giant lizard!” he shouted excitedly, his eyes shining like pearls. You chuckled and shook your head.
“It’s really huge...” you smiled, though it was definitely not a lizard.
“What are you?” he asked the creature, which looked just as perplexed as you both did.
“I should be asking that! Who are you!?”
“Hey... Easy there, buddy, my name’s (Y/N) Gyldepts, and this is my captain, Monkey D. Luffy. And you are?” You crouched down.
“Momo... Momonosuke...” He took a few steps toward you.
“I think I’ve heard that name somewhere before, right, Gyl?” Luffy crossed his arms, tilting his head as he looked at you. You shrugged, unable to remember.
“You must be confusing me with someone else! Anyway... Hey, stop drooling!” he yelled, startled by your captain’s face, saliva dripping from his huge grin.
“Oy, Luffy, you can’t eat him, he talks!” You held your captain back.
“Get him away from me, lady!”
“Oh, the eel’s really talking!”
“I’m not an eel!”
“Of course not, he’s a lizard!” you argued, hands on your hips.
“I’m not that either, you mean lady!” His stomach growled, and he wilted, embarrassed.
“Hey, little guy, you’re hungry too, huh?” You crouched down, extending your hand toward him. He nodded.
“So, you’re not from around here either, huh?” You nodded as he got closer.
“Because of everything that happened, I ended up here... I don’t know anything about this island except that they claim they’re curing sick kids...”
“Yeah, we found the kids... And they’re far from being cured...” You got angry just thinking about everything Caesar was doing.
“Even though I was really rude, the kids were always kind to me...” The “lizard” looked off to the side, as if remembering something.
“So you’re human, huh?” you asked after he explained what happened. He nodded. “That explains why I didn’t sense any animal spirit when I got close...”
“What?” he asked, confused, and Luffy just nodded, as if telling him not to question it.
“You must’ve eaten a Devil Fruit that turned you into an eel.”
“Lizard!” you corrected, and Momonosuke got irritated.
“That’s not it either!”
“Why don’t you just change back to your normal form?”
“Change back? How do I even do that?!”
“Beats me, I’m not a Zoan.”
“And I don’t have any Devil Fruit powers!” You shrugged. “This place is really high up, huh...”
“You’re right, Gyl... I can’t even see where we fell from.” Luffy said, intently looking up at the ceiling. “We need to get out of here...”
“I want to get out of here too, and fast... I need to tell the kids something! Something I heard from that scientist! I thought he was a doctor, but he’s just a bad man who doesn’t care if the kids die! He even said they’ll die in five years!”
You looked at him in disbelief, your anger toward the doctor growing.
“Bastard...” You crossed your arms, still looking up.
“Alright, Momo, Gyl, let’s get out of here!” Luffy started walking, and you followed, with Momonosuke right behind.
“Wait, what do you mean?”
“You’re coming with us, Momo.” You smiled at him, continuing to follow your captain.
“We’re gonna climb the walls and get out of here! The kids are fine, my crew said they’re gonna save them, and if they say they’ll do something, they will!”
“But... But you guys are... Pi... Pir...” He couldn’t finish the word without getting nauseous.
“Hey, hang in there!” Luffy gave Momonosuke a flick on the head, and suddenly, the creature started getting dizzy, its eyes turning into spirals. And then, out of nowhere, it took off, flying upward and taking you and Luffy with it, heading for the exit.
How convenient, right?
Notes:
Till next week
Chapter 58: Never forgive
Notes:
(See the end of the chapter for notes.)
Chapter Text
Somehow, you guys managed to crawl out of that hole. Momonosuke was exhausted and had no idea how he ended up flying—he couldn't even remember it. Luffy tossed him over his shoulder, and you all headed back the way you came, looking for Caesar.
Soon enough, you found the main room where the scientist was, and chaos had already kicked off.
“Look, Luffy!” you pointed, spotting Brownbeard getting blasted by Caesar's goons after confronting the master.
“Damn it…” Luffy clenched his fists and started walking towards them.
“Just don’t kill him, okay? We need him alive,” you said as Luffy handed Momonosuke over to you.
“Chill, I’ve got a plan.”
“Oh really?” You placed a hand on your hip, the other still holding the dragon around your shoulders. “You, a plan?”
“Shishishishi! I’m gonna beat him until he begs for mercy!” he said proudly and kept striding forward.
He then pumped up his arm, coating it in Haki, and hit Caesar before he could finish off Brownbeard.
“Master!!!” the goons shouted, completely stunned, and all eyes turned to you two. Luffy walked up to Brownbeard and gave him a light tap on the forehead. “It’s Luffy from the Straw Hats!” they yelled in disbelief, and Caesar’s eyes nearly popped out.
“Run, my subordinates! His crew and the Marines are coming! Get to the second floor and prep everything for the experiment, turn on all the cameras!” he ordered, and you moved closer to Luffy.
“It was him, Luffy!” Momonosuke grumbled. “He’s the one who did all those horrible things to the kids…”
“I know…” Luffy replied, and you could tell he was serious about it. You admired him for wanting to take on the pain of people he barely knew. “Everyone here has been tricked!”
“Shirororo~ you’re right, Straw Hat. This island is like gas, it’s there but feels like it doesn’t exist. Thanks to my major sponsor, I can run all kinds of experiments here without anyone knowing! You can scream and thrash around, but help isn’t coming! You don’t know anything about this place, and you won’t last long sticking your nose where it doesn’t belong! Same goes for alliances! Law is just using you to get to me because he wants SAD, which only I can make!” He kept ranting, talking about his artificial fruit and how messing with him would shake the whole underworld, but you guys didn’t care. “You can’t do anything to me, you have no idea what you’ll lose messing with me!” Luffy just took a deep breath and took another step toward Caesar. “You can’t touch me!”
Luffy coated his fist with Haki and smashed it straight into Caesar’s nose, practically flattening his face.
“You idiot, I’ve been dealing with scum like you for a long time!” he shouted, stressed out.
Caesar got up, his face all smashed in, and you couldn’t help but let out a mocking laugh.
“You bastard…! Didn’t you hear what I said!? Doflamingo is taking care of me! He controls the underworld in the New World! Weapons, drugs, human trafficking, all the bad stuff! But I could still forgive you if you apologize right now! Think about what kind of monsters you’ll attract if you touch me again!” he screamed. You pointed your gun and fired, the bullet grazing his arm and cutting him, blood gushing out slightly as he jumped back, forgetting that Haki bullets hit Logia users.
“Just shut up and give up already; he’s not gonna listen to you, and I’m not apologizing.” You stepped forward, standing next to Luffy. “It’s decided, Caesar, you’re coming with us.”
The scientist puffed up his cheeks and spat a cloud of explosive gas at you. You and Luffy didn’t even break a sweat dodging it in the blink of an eye.
Your captain appeared next to the gas man and landed another punch right in his face.
“You son of a—” he yelled, holding his bleeding nose, “how did you dodge that!? I didn’t even see you move!”
Suddenly, the whole place started shaking. You carefully set Momonosuke down while looking around.
“What…? That… bastard…” Caesar could barely speak, his face all twisted from the punches Luffy had thrown at him. “What’s happening!? You bastards!” he shouted furiously, “you’re destroying my paradise!” He grunted, and you shrugged.
Caesar then turned to his subordinates.
“Open all the air ducts, now!” They exchanged confused looks. “What?”
“But master…” one of them said. “If we open them… the gas will come in and kill us! And our buddies on the other floors…”
Caesar rolled his eyes. “I don’t care, don’t you get it!? Just open them already!” he yelled, and the men hesitated, looking at him hurt and confused. “What… What kind of look is that?” he asked, irritated, until one of the subordinates smiled.
“Oh, I get it, the master is bluffing to scare the enemy; he’d never do this to us!” He reached for the button, and you aimed your gun at him.
“Don’t do it, you idiot! We’ll all die!” you threatened, but it was too late; he opened the air ducts.
“What the…?! The lethal gas is coming in!” one of them shouted, and you slapped your forehead.
“Of course, you opened the damn duct!”
“Shirorororo, come to me, my creation!” Caesar spread his arms, absorbing the gas and turning into a giant gas body, and you stepped back, aiming your gun at him and positioning yourself in front of Momonosuke.
“This is my power, the power of science!” the man exclaimed. “Thanks to this experiment, two countries are already interested in buying my chemical weapon! I’m going to fill this world with weapons and become the personification of death!” He opened his arms, laughing like a maniac.
“(Y/N), stay with Brownbeard and Momonosuke!” Luffy ordered, and you just nodded, knowing he’d handle the situation. Luffy started running towards the stairs, opposite where Caesar was. The scientist began to laugh, turning to you.
“Shirorororo~ look at your little captain, he’s chickening out and running… If you’re nice, I might spare your life; just kneel and apologize, cute thing~” he taunted, and you rolled your eyes.
“Luffy isn’t going anywhere.” You holstered your gun and crossed your arms, with no fear in your eyes.
“Sorry to interrupt your fear, but I need to use those controls to save my friends from the gas!” Usopp suddenly appeared out of nowhere, standing in front of the guards near the controls.
“Usopp?!” you shouted, waving; he gave you a thumbs-up.
“You didn’t see your captain run? He abandoned you!” one of the goons yelled as Usopp prepared his weapon.
“Don’t you dare insult my captain in front of me! If he were a coward, it’d be so much easier! Even when I run with my tail between my legs, he always goes all the way, and that’s why I can’t let him down!” He looked at you. “(Y/N)! Help me out with these guys?” You aimed your guns at the men.
“I’m right by your side, Usopp!” you exclaimed, and you saw him fill with courage.
“Luffy hates people like Caesar; he’ll never forgive him!” You glanced over and saw.
Your captain, pumping up his hand and delivering a devastating blow to the scientist, who, even inflated by his gas bomb, was no match for the pure power and determination of the Straw Hat.
Notes:
I'm sorry for my absent, truly sorry
I hope you could still read it, because I'll still write it
Love you all 💜❤️💜
Chapter 59: Finally, captured
Notes:
(See the end of the chapter for notes.)
Chapter Text
"Gomu Gomu no… Grizzly Magnum!" Luffy shouted, his roar echoing through the room as his haki-infused fist landed a direct hit, slamming the scientist against the wall, which cracked and sent him flying out of sight.
"Wow, great job, Captain… but now where is he?!" you yelled in frustration, smacking him on the head.
"Oww, ow, ow!" he whined, running his hands through his hair. "You hit me with Haki! You're so mean sometimes, (Y/N)!" You stuck your tongue out at him. Suddenly, you both turned, hearing heavy footsteps coming down the hallway.
"Luffy! Gunslinger!" Nami’s familiar voice echoed, and you and your captain grinned.
"Ah, you made it!" You waved, relieved, as she came into view with the kids and a group of marines in tow. "Whoa, this fan club keeps getting bigger…" You put your hands on your hips.
You noticed Momonosuke staring at the kids, his expression one of total shock and surprise. Kneeling down, you patted his scaled head. "When Luffy says he's gonna do something, he does it. He promised the kids would be okay." You smiled at him.
"Straw Hat…!" You turned again to see Law and Smoker approaching.
"Oh, look, the Marine hottie~" you teased, winking as he rolled his eyes.
"Hey, Straw Hat, where’s Caesar?" Law asked, and you casually put your hands in your pockets, glancing up.
"Oh, I punched him and sent him flying over there with the door. Wonder where he ended up," Luffy said, laughing and pointing in the right direction. You noticed a vein bulging on the side of Law’s head.
"But we were supposed to capture him!"
"Oh, come on, he was super annoying."
"Capturing him was literally part of the plan! What if he escapes?"
"Ah, who cares!" Luffy made a face, and you couldn’t hold back a laugh.
"Stop laughing, Gunslinger! This isn’t funny! It's a critical issue! Our plan depends on capturing him!"
"Well, nobody told you to make a plan with Luffy," you said, clutching your stomach as you laughed even harder.
"You can't just change the plan on a whim! I never should’ve trusted you two with this! I’ll go after him myself!" Law growled, heading for the hole in the wall. You sighed and rolled your eyes, but quickly followed him. "What are you doing, Gunslinger?"
"We made an alliance, right? I gotta help with our part." He grumbled but didn’t argue as you ran side by side. "You're all beat up—what happened?"
"Ran into a minor setback."
"For as wrecked as you look, it was anything but minor. Looks like you got hit by a truck." You chuckled, and he glared at you for a second.
"Shut up, would you?"
"Oooh, so serious. Sorry~"
You finally reached the tunnel’s exit, and you quickly drew your pistols. Law stopped beside you, drawing his sword. Glancing ahead, you saw Caesar sprawled on the ground, unable to move. You walked over to him.
"Hey, Gunslinger!" You turned to see your ship, with Franky inside the massive robot.
"Franky!" You waved.
"Watch out, we're under attack!" He shouted just in time for you to dodge a hail of bullets coming your way. You leapt to the side and raised your hand as you rolled on the ground.
"Earth: Protect!" you called out, and a wall of earth rose from the ground, providing you with some cover. Law ran over and ducked behind it with you.
"How'd you do that? You’re not a Devil Fruit user."
"Long story, can’t get into it."
"Fine, weirdo."
"Could you shut up and help me out here?" You aimed and started firing at your attackers.
A loud rumbling noise echoed, and out of nowhere, a massive cart emerged from the tunnel, with Luffy and the others onboard.
"It’s the Shogun!!" Luffy, Usopp, and Chopper shouted in awe of the robot. The giant kids, seeing it too, squealed in excitement.
"It’s a robot!" they shouted in unison.
"I knew it… Buffalo and Baby-5!" Law yelled, stepping out from cover and moving toward the others. You joined him, guns at the ready. He stopped next to Luffy, you by his side, Smoker on his other side, with the rest of the crew gathering around.
"Law, are you really betraying Joker?!" the woman asked, shocked.
"You miserable traitor! Joker was still keeping the Heart seat open for you!" the man with chains snarled.
"Are they your friends?" Luffy asked, as Law tightened his grip on his sword.
"They’re our enemies!" he shouted, and everyone took an aggressive stance, staring down the two. You felt your fingers grip tightly around your holsters, fingertips resting on the trigger, ready to shoot.
Sensing the disadvantage, the chained man took off, with Baby-5 hitching a ride on him. They flew over you, and she grabbed Caesar, tossing him upwards and attempting to escape with him.
"Whoa, they're trying to take Caesar." Luffy said nonchalantly.
"Leave it to me! Flying enemies are a sniper’s duty," Usopp declared, stepping forward.
"Go for it; my pistols don’t reach that far." You gave him a little bow, and he chuckled confidently as he aimed.
"They're going to escape…" Law readied himself to use his powers.
"Hang on, Traffy! Usopp said he's got this." Luffy held him back with a smile.
"Don’t underestimate our sniper just because he's got a big nose," Zoro added.
"But if he misses… they’ll get away…!"
"We made an alliance, didn’t we? So trust us," Nami said, holding her Clima-Tact. "And I’ve got to do something after just running around all day." She pointed at them. "I don’t care if they’re enemies far away who don’t want to fight!"
"You'll leave all the fleeing enemies to us!" Usopp finished, and you couldn’t help but laugh at his ridiculous bravado.
Law still looked like he wanted to intervene, but you put a firm—maybe too firm—hand on his shoulder. "Leave it to them, alright?"
They launched a ridiculously powerful attack that hit all three targets in one go, sending them crashing into the ocean. As if that wasn’t enough, Usopp's shot included seastone chains that wrapped around them, preventing them from using their powers.
"Uh-oh, they can’t swim, can they? They’re gonna drown…" Luffy crossed his arms.
"Somebody's gotta do something, right?" Usopp echoed, crossing his arms too.
"Yeah, somebody," Nami added, crossing her arms.
"Can someone hurry up and do something?!" Law yelled, frustrated. "I can’t bring them here because of the seastone!"
You sighed, walking to the edge of the pier with the ocean before you. Closing your eyes, you extended your hands toward the water. The ground beneath you trembled, and everyone exchanged looks, glancing down in confusion as cracks formed below.
"Earth: Capture!" you commanded, and from the cracks, long, sturdy roots burst forth, extending toward the ocean, weaving into a capture net. The roots submerged, and moments later, began retracting. A few tense seconds passed before the roots resurfaced, bringing back the unconscious trio, tangled in the roots like caught fish. With a flick of your hands, you tossed them behind you, landing between you and the crew, all of whom stared at you, stunned. Luffy’s eyes sparkled.
"(Y/N)!You’re so cool!" You smiled at him, feeling Law’s skeptical and confused gaze. You just gave him a playful wink.
Notes:
Till next week, love you all so much 💕
Chapter 60: We are going to live
Notes:
(See the end of the chapter for notes.)
Chapter Text
"Listen up, pirates! This is our warship! This line here separates 'good' from 'evil.' Don’t even think about crossing it!" one of the Marines shouted, carving a thick line into the ground with his sword, separating the Straw Hats and Law from the Marines. But when you looked back, Luffy had already stepped over it, seeing Brownbeard chained up on the other side, about to be captured. One of the Marines glared at his captain in frustration, making him laugh. You rolled your eyes, amused.
"MURDERER!!! LUFFY!" Chopper yelled from the warship, where he and Law were tending to the children.
"Who?" You asked, not sensing any killing intent from anywhere.
"Law... He…!"
"Oh, Tral? Nah, he’s chill," Luffy said with a grin.
"I must be a killer, too!" Brook wailed, and you let out a sigh.
"You too?!" you asked, annoyed. You, Luffy, and Sanji stepped over to him.
"Well, Kinemon was already dead... frozen by Caesar’s weapon but... I touched him, and he crumbled!"
"First he died, now he’s in pieces!" Sanji shouted, horrified.
"He was shattered to death!" Luffy added.
"Sheesh, talk about bad luck," you muttered, lighting a cigarette. Just then, the statue started to crack, Kinemon’s skin showing beneath until the hardened shell around him shattered. His eyes flew open, and he let out a scream—and so did all of you.
"How the hell are you still alive?!" Sanji freaked out, kicking Kinemon’s loose head. He reassembled himself, likely still under the effects of Law's powers.
"Father...?" someone interrupted, and everyone went quiet as they watched a young figure approach Kinemon.
"Momonosuke!" Kinemon cried out, as you finally saw the boy back in his human form—completely naked. You shook your head with a chuckle. "My son!" Kinemon pulled him into a tight hug, and they both began to cry tears of relief and happiness. You couldn’t help but smile; it felt good to see a moment like that. "But you’re naked! Hold on!" Kinemon grabbed a rock, put it on Momo’s head, and with a quick hand gesture, used his powers to make a kimono appear for him.
"But, Father... how did you... find me...?" the boy asked, nearly fainting from exhaustion and hunger, his stomach growling. Kinemon held him close.
As he fussed over Momo, you turned to see Sanji finishing up the meal for everyone. You quickly took your place at the table as he served the ladies, then Momo and Kinemon.
Starving, the kid drooled but held the bowl, refusing to eat. "I’m not eating this!" He raised it as if to throw it away. Sanji rushed over, furious.
"What the hell are you doing, kid?! I don’t forgive anyone who wastes food!" He grabbed Momo by the collar. Kinemon, meanwhile, was eating happily.
"Thank you! This food is amazing! I already feel my strength returning!" Momo looked at him. "The food is incredible! We’re blessed to have it! I was saved by them too, you know—there’s no harm in accepting help from them; we can trust them! Let’s eat, Momo, let’s put our pride aside and… LIVE!" Sanji set Momo down, and he rushed to the table, tears streaming down his face as he ate.
"Wow, it’s so good he’s crying!" Luffy said, and you swatted him on the head.
"Quiet down and leave them alone, will ya?" you said, and he nodded.
Turning back, you saw two lines forming—one of children and Caesar’s goons, who’d come back to life after his weapon failed, and another of Marines, all with bowls in hand, ready to be served.
Sanji served everyone, grumbling at the Marines and asking them about the whole 'good vs. evil' thing, but still, he didn’t let anyone go hungry.
You noticed Smoker hadn’t joined the line; he was still sitting on his side of the line. Smiling, you filled a big bowl, grabbed a spoon, and headed over to him. Just before crossing the line, you made a point of stepping on it with your right foot before continuing. As you got closer, he looked up, suspicious, a cigar between his lips. You stopped right in front of him, your knee barely brushing against his leg.
"What do you want?" he asked irritably, shifting to break the contact. You smiled.
"Aren’t you going to eat?"
"No."
"Why not?"
"I don’t need anything from you pirates." He folded his arms, and you smiled even wider, taking a seat beside him with the bowl.
"Don’t be like that, you’re tired, you need to recharge. Look, it’s not poisoned." You took a spoonful, slowly bringing it to your own mouth. Glancing at him, you noticed he was staring at your split lips. You took a bite, closing your eyes, and felt him tense up beside you. Finally, you handed him the bowl and spoon. He turned away but took them and started eating in silence. You took his cigar and smoked it slowly while he ate.
"Why do you care, gunslinger?"
"You helped us, and the kids—that’s enough reason for me."
"You and your crew are the strangest pirates I’ve ever met..." he muttered, and you chuckled.
"You have no idea."
---
After the meal, Luffy asked Smoker if the kids could board the warship so Tashigi could take them somewhere safe. The White Hunter couldn’t deny the request. They’d let her take the kids, waiting for another Marine ship to pick them up. But you all didn’t plan on being around when that happened, so you got the Sunny ready to leave. Meanwhile, the Marines tried everything to keep the kids from looking your way, yelling about how pirates are bad and the Marines are good. The kids started to cry, wanting to say goodbye to you, their saviors.
"Stop it! This is shameful, knock it off!" Tashigi yelled from the ship, tearing up.
"But, Tashigi-chan, if we don’t talk bad about these guys... these pirates… we might actually start to like them...!! Even though they’re pirates…!!!" The Marines began to cry, and your crew laughed, including you, totally incredulous. You looked at the White Hunter and gave him a wink. He rolled his eyes, putting a hand over his face, sighing in embarrassment.
"Thank you, pirates!!!" the kids yelled, waving as you all waved back. "When we grow up, we’re definitely gonna be…"
"Pirates!" Luffy and Franky yelled, making the Marines furious. You shook your head and raised your voice.
"Just be the best people you can be!" you called out with a smile. The kids waved back, happy and smiling. You felt so good, like you’d never done this much good in your pirate career.
It seemed Smoker was right—this crew was definitely unique. And you’d never been happier to be part of it.
Notes:
Till next week, love you all 💜
Chapter 61: Resignation 🌿
Notes:
(See the end of the chapter for notes.)
Chapter Text
******
Before we get started, let me explain something real quick:
This chapter, like some others, will have this emoji after the title 🌿.
It means that while it's still part of the story's timeline, it'll be partially or fully original content. The focus will be more on the protagonist's backstory or their relationships with other characters. It's not filler because everything here is important to her plot, but it won't necessarily push the main arc forward either. Without further ado, enjoy the chapter!
******
"Right, let's share the plan! Everyone, gather around!" Luffy shouted, and the crew sat around him on the Sunny's deck. Law was by his side, looking grumpy as usual.
"We formed an alliance to take down the Yonko!?" The crew members who didn't know yet gasped. You blew out a puff of smoke with a smirk.
"I'm against it!" Usopp promptly raised his hand.
"And what difference does that make!? Luffy's already decided." Sanji said, moving closer to Law and patting his shoulder. "Look, the alliance you're imagining and the alliance Luffy has in mind are two completely different things. Watch yourself." He got up. "So that's why Luffy was talking about some bizarre kidnapping idea! If he ordered me to cook that weird goat over there, it'd be a problem." He said, pointing to Caesar, who was tied up in Kairoseki chains a bit further ahead. You were sitting closer to him than the others. Chopper was next to the scientist, tending to his injuries, while you kept an eye out in case Caesar tried to fool him.
"You should all just realize your stupidity and die already! Shirororo~" You sat next to him, grabbing his hair and slamming his face against the deck.
"(Y/N)! Come on! I'm still treating him! Just hit him after I'm done, okay?" Chopper muttered, and you just smiled at him, giving a gentle pat on his head.
"Sorry, Chopper, but I can punch him later, right?" You chuckled, and he gave you a thumbs-up.
Then you turned to Law as he explained the plan to the crew. You already knew it, so you didn't pay much attention. But as you kept watching him, you felt... comfortable. It was something you'd felt a few times before. Around him, there was always this sense of protection. Curious, you decided you'd ask him about it sometime.
While Law's explanation continued, you noticed an outline around him, as if a shadow was following him. It was tall, with a few feathers-that's all you could make out. Moving closer, you caught a scent of strawberries and smoke, which you assumed was a scented cigarette, though it wasn't yours or Sanji's. When you took another step, the silhouette seemed to notice you, then vanished. You sighed and walked to the other side of the deck.
You still struggled with this side of your... particular abilities. You'd never had anyone to explain how it all worked. You often wondered if your mother, whom you never knew, was like you. Feeling a pang in your chest, you pulled out the pocket watch you'd received in Impel Down two years ago, examining it and hoping for answers, but there were none. Sighing, you put it away. It wasn't the time for this.
******
It was night, and the ship sailed quietly on the open sea. Some were asleep, while others kept watch, since you had a high-value prisoner on board. Chopper and Usopp were on deck near Caesar, who was asleep against the wall, while Law slept nearby. Franky was on lookout up top. You'd decided to join the first watch too, strolling across the deck with a long coat against the lingering chill of Punk Hazard. You lit another cigarette, realizing you were smoking more than usual, though you weren't sure why. Passing by Law, who was sitting on the deck's grass, you leaned on the railing, smiling at the sea as memories played in your mind. Taking a long drag, you closed your eyes.
Suddenly, you felt a presence beside you. Without moving, you sensed a strong but gentle hand on your shoulder and heard a voice close to your ear.
"Got a light?" it asked. When you turned with Shakky's trusty lighter in hand, there was no one there. Shaking your head, you glanced at Law, still asleep. You decided to head up to Franky, hoping to clear your head.
Hours later, you and Franky came down after talking about every weapon you knew how to handle, with him promising to make something *SUUUPER* awesome for you. Your shift was over, and you went for a quick shower before heading back to your small room next to the infirmary.
But before you could go in, Chopper tugged at your leg.
"(Y/N)! Captain's calling everyone on deck!" He grabbed your hand and pulled you along. You smiled and followed him. Once you arrived, everyone was sitting in a circle, with Law in front of them, holding the day's newspaper. When you and Chopper joined, he tossed the paper on the ground in front of everyone.
"Donquixote Doflamingo... resigned!?" You read the headline, stunned.
"He actually did!?" Usopp shouted, equally shocked. You were genuinely impressed that he'd given in to Law's demands. The plan was going almost too smoothly... You shook your head, trying to shake off the negativity.
"And why are our faces on here too?" Luffy asked, leaning over to see. Pictures of him and Law were displayed with the headline: The Warlord Trafalgar Law forms an alliance with Straw Hat Luffy! No word yet on the government's response.
"Seems like our fame is spreading..." You muttered. You flipped through the pages and smiled when you saw Eustass Kid in another headline about alliances. "Looks like you're doing well... troublemaker," you whispered to yourself.
"Hey, it's that jerk!" Luffy snatched the paper from you with a grin. You rolled your eyes and chuckled.
Law then placed the Den Den Mushi on the bench around the main mast, and everyone went quiet as he made the call.
"Yes, it's me... I've resigned as a Warlord." Doflamingo's deep voice came through the line.
"He answered!" "Seriously!?" "Doflamingo!?" You looked around and pressed a finger to your lips, signaling everyone to hush.
Luffy grabbed the microphone.
"Hey, I'm Monkey D. Luffy, the man who'll become King of the Pirates!"
"Don't say your name!" You and Usopp shouted in unison, both landing a smack on your captain's head.
"So you're the boss of that jerk Caesar!? He's done terrible things to kids and to Brownbeard! I'm only giving him back because I need to! But if he messes up again, I'm coming for you."
"Straw Hat Luffy... it's been two years since your brother died, and you suddenly vanished... what've you been up to?"
"That's a secret. Not telling."
"Fufufu~ very well... I'd like to meet you. I have something here that might interest you."
"Is it... a massive pile of meat?" Luffy asked, practically drooling. You rolled your eyes, pulling him back as Law took the mic from him.
"Luffy, calm down! Don't fall for his game!" You and the others tried to talk sense into him, while he fantasized about a feast that hadn't even been promised. In the background, you heard the conversation continue, the deal being struck. Swallowing hard, you knew it'd soon be time to act.
Notes:
Till next week ❤️💜
Chapter 62: Onigiris 🌿
Notes:
(See the end of the chapter for notes.)
Chapter Text
"Eight hours from now, on the lone island north of Dressrosa… Greenbit, on the southeast beach. We'll leave Caesar there at three in the afternoon. You can come get him; we won't interfere," Law said through the Den Den Mushi.
"Fufufu~ You make me sad, Law… I was hoping we could share a drink, see how much you've matured..."
"Enough already, hang up!" Law snapped, cutting the call.
You crossed your arms, glancing at him. Clearly, things ran deeper between those two than Law let on.
"But what if his whole crew shows up?" Sanji asked.
"Doesn't matter. Returning Caesar is just a ploy to buy us time."
"So we're using that time to destroy the Smile factory?"
"Yes, but there’s a catch—we don’t know where it is."
"Well, it’s gotta be a huge factory, right? We’ll spot it when we get there."
"For some reason, I haven’t been able to dig up any info on it."
"Since it's so important to the enemy, it must be in a hidden location," Nami guessed.
"Mr. Law, you mentioned Greenbit, but…" Kin’emon started, but Law held up a hand.
"No worries; the ship can take you to Dressrosa."
"Shishishishi~ I can’t wait to see Dressrosa, and then the land of Wano! Another adventure awaits!"
"Don’t be an idiot! Wano’s not somewhere you just waltz into!" Law grumbled.
"Sanji, I'm starving. What’s for lunch?" Luffy asked, totally ignoring Law.
"Sandwiches."
"I’ll take one too," Robin joined in, and Chopper quickly followed.
"I want a cotton candy sandwich!"
"I hate bread!" Law blurted out, and everyone stared at him—especially you. You raised an eyebrow, amused by how easily he was dragged into your crew’s antics.
---
Later, you all gathered in the kitchen, each eating your favorite sandwich while Law ate his onigiri.
"I’m not sure why they were after us, but we were headed for a place called Zou," Kin’emon said between bites.
"Zou?" Law questioned, and you looked at him.
"You know it?"
"What a coincidence. After we hand Caesar over and destroy the factory, I was planning to head there. My crew is waiting at Zou."
"Really?! Awesome! We can go together!" Luffy exclaimed.
"Yeah, I’m pumped for Wano! Shishishishi~"
"You don’t get it…" You placed a hand on Law’s shoulder, shaking your head. There was no point trying to explain things to Luffy once he had an idea in his head.
"We were three samurai plus Momonosuke on our way to Zou, but we shipwrecked. Two samurai and Momonosuke drifted off to Dressrosa," Kin’emon explained, glancing at the dragon-boy.
"Once we arrived, we were hunted by a man named Doflamingo… I hid in an unfamiliar ship, filled with kids. It suddenly set sail, taking me to that island…" He spoke with a guilty tone, his head lowered.
"I tried to go after him, but my fellow samurai sacrificed himself, staying behind to let me escape to the sea. Kanjuro, I only got away thanks to him! I have to go back for him!"
"Kanjuro is a true man!" Franky sobbed.
"I’ll save him too!" Luffy cheered.
"Stick to the plan, will you?!" Law snapped.
"You know he’ll do everything but follow your instructions, right?" you said, crossing your arms on the table. Law rolled his eyes.
"In any case, we still have some time before we reach Dressrosa, so I suggest resting up and preparing for anything. Let’s not drop our guard. We’re facing a Warlord, don’t forget."
---
Hours later, the sun was setting on the horizon. You were lazily wandering the deck, feeling bored. You noticed Law sitting in the ship’s garden, an earlier newspaper in hand. A few onigiri sat on a plate beside him. Seeing no one else around, you walked over, taking a seat next to him at a slight distance. You lit a cigarette, something you’d felt a strange urge for since joining forces with Law.
After a few moments of silence, he put down the newspaper and took a sip of tea.
"Did you come here to say something, or just to bother me with the smoke?" he asked with a smirk.
"Funny, you don’t seem bothered by it at all. Maybe you even like it," you replied, smirking back as he rolled his eyes, grabbing an onigiri.
"It’s… familiar," he said, not looking at you.
"Uh-huh…" You took a slow drag, closing your eyes. "So, you used to work under Doflamingo, right?"
"Yep."
"And I’m guessing that’s a long, complicated story?"
"Exactly." You held his gaze for a moment, realizing he wasn’t going to elaborate, then sighed.
"And you’re not gonna say anything about it, huh?"
"Not a chance." He took a deliberate bite of the onigiri, his gray eyes never leaving yours.
"Ugh, I hate you," you muttered, looking away as he chuckled.
"My turn for questions." He put his cup down and looked at you. "Those roots you used… I know you’re not a Devil Fruit user, so how’d you do it?"
You pouted and crossed your arms. "Not telling."
He laughed. "Figured. Guess that means I don’t have to share my past either. Fair enough, right?"
"Fine, you win, Tral," you said, folding your arms.
"Can you say my name right? It’s Law, it’s not hard."
"But Tral’s funnier," you replied, taking a last drag before discarding your cigarette properly.
"You're so annoying. You just call me that because your captain does."
"He has trouble with names, that’s all. But he has a good heart and knows that, deep down, you do too." You poked his cheek, and he slapped your hand away.
"Can you quit with the sass? Your crew doesn’t see me that way."
"You’re right, and honestly, they have every reason to doubt this alliance. But… I trust you, and so does Luffy." He looked startled, quickly turning away, flustered.
"You're crazy, you know that? How can you trust so easily?"
"I owe you my life, Tral." He looked at you as you placed a hand over the scar on your shoulder. He briefly glanced at the burn mark where Akainu had almost killed you. "You saved me, many others did..." you said, pulling your hand back.
He instinctively reached out, brushing his fingers over the scar on your shoulder. He examined it thoughtfully.
"It’s pretty messed up. Not much I could do, though."
"I don’t mind. It’s a reminder, a push to be better… to be stronger." Your gazes met before he withdrew his hand. "Thanks, Tral."
"Tch, don’t get cocky. I did it because I could."
"I know you did, I’m just saying thank you, idiot!" You poked his cheek again.
"Knock it off, pest!" He poked you back, right under your ribs. You burst out laughing, immediately covering your mouth. He smirked. "Oh, so that’s how it is?"
"Don’t you dare!"
But he didn’t listen. He started poking your sides, making you laugh uncontrollably. "Stop, stop!" You giggled, completely powerless, as he continued his playful attack. Your laughter echoed across the empty deck, your body relaxed as you fell onto the deck, Law leaning over you, still poking you. You tried to grab his wrists, but he dodged, his hat slipping off as his dark hair was tousled by the evening breeze. You both froze, his hands still on your waist, your eyes locking. You barely breathed.
"Hey, HEY! Could you two lovebirds stop for a second and get me some water over here?" Caesar, still tied up across the deck, shouted at you both.
You looked away quickly, and Law scrambled back, putting his hat on as you cleared your throat and went over to Caesar.
"About time, pirate girl!" he grumbled as you handed him a water bottle.
Rolling your eyes, you tipped the bottle sharply, forcing him to gulp down more than he wanted. "Gah—ugh…! You’re cruel, woman!" he gasped.
"Cruel?" you asked, a sly grin forming as you twisted a lock of his hair. "If you breathe a word of what you saw, I’ll make you regret it. Clear?" you said sweetly, giving his hair a little tug. He gu
lped.
"You’re terrifying…"
"You have no idea." You smirked, still playing with his hair—it was soft, after all. What could you say? You liked it.
Notes:
Till next week ❤️💜
Chapter 63: The country of love and passion
Notes:
(See the end of the chapter for notes.)
Chapter Text
You were on lookout, watching the horizon. The breeze gently ruffled your hair, and your bandana was tied tightly around your head. Then you spotted something far off and let out a long sigh.
“Land!” you yelled at the top of your lungs, leaping down to the deck and grabbing onto the mast ropes with ease.
“What?! Really?!” Luffy shouted, suddenly popping up beside you. “An island! What island is it?!”
“It can only be…” You started, grinning.
“We made it! Dressrosa!”
“Don’t yell, you idiot! Doflamingo could hear us!” Usopp squealed, hiding behind you.
“How would he even…?” Zoro chimed in, crossing his arms.
“I’m coming to save you, Kanjuro!” Kin’emon cried, full of emotion.
Soon, the crew steered the ship towards a secluded part of the coast. You stretched out your arms and legs, happy to be docked again. Stepping off the ship with Luffy, Zoro, and Franky beside you, you felt ready for the adventure.
Luffy threw his hands in the air, grinning from ear to ear. “WE’RE HEEEERE!!”
“You’re way too loud, idiot! We’re in enemy territory!” Usopp shouted from the deck.
“Aww yeah! I’m SUPER fired up this week! Where’s that factory? I’ll wreck it in no time!” Franky declared, striking his signature pose.
“Hmmm, I got an idea! Come here, Momo!” Luffy grabbed him, and he transformed into a dragon. Luffy climbed onto his back. “Fly, Momo, fly!”
“Get off me! I can’t fly, and you’re too heavy! Besides, my father told me not to go to the island!”
“What are you even saying? You can fly!”
“He doesn’t even have wings, Luffy,” Robin commented from the ship.
“Hey, (Y/N)! He flew before, right? He carried us!” You just smiled and shrugged. He rolled his eyes, but then he laughed.
“I don’t remember that… And even if I could… I…” He paused. “I’d never do something so terrible! I’D NEVER FLY!”
“What? Are you afraid of heights?” Momo dropped Luffy to the ground.
“Don’t be insolent! A samurai fears nothing!” He bit Luffy’s head, and you started laughing.
“Stop it, you brat!” Luffy punched him back, and they began rolling on the ground, slapping and biting each other.
“Luffy, take it easy; he’s only eight…” You sighed, hands on your hips.
“Stop, Momonosuke!” Kin’emon interrupted. “He saved us!” Finally, they stopped. “Please forgive him, Luffy-dono.” Luffy just grinned. “He may be young, but he’s still a proud samurai of Wano.” Kin’emon bowed slightly. “Still, you shouldn’t act that way with a child…”
“It’s just, I hate cowards…”
“That idiot! Onami…!” He clung to Nami, who was approaching.
“Hey, Kin’emon, since we’re heading to the city, what should we wear?” Franky interrupted.
“Ah, yes!” He pulled out a scroll from his kimono. “In Dressrosa, people dress like this!”
The picture showed a man in a suit… and a woman wearing just a very short skirt.
“To blend in, we should all dress like this!” His cheeks went red at the thought.
“I already love Dressrosa!” Sanji exclaimed, his heart-shaped eyes practically popping out of his face.
“Get real!” You and Nami shouted in unison, and you landed a kick right on the samurai’s face.
“Hey, navigator. Take this.” Law approached Nami, tearing a piece of paper and handing it to her.
“A vivre card?”
“It points to Zou. If something happens, use it.” He knelt down, map of the island in hand, and spread it out. Everyone gathered around.
“Nothing’s gonna happen to us!” Usopp exclaimed, looking worried.
“Well, who knows, right? Anyway… We’re here. The team delivering Caesar will enter Dressrosa and cross the northern bridge that connects the island to Green Bit.”
“We should all go together by ship.”
“We can’t get there by ship. Some of us will have to stay back to protect it since the enemy will definitely come.”
While Law explained, you noticed some of the others heading toward the city. Since you weren’t part of the Caesar delivery team, you decided to go along. And with Zoro in the group, someone needed to make sure he didn’t get lost.
As you all walked further into the city, you noticed food stalls, flowers, decorations, and people dancing passionately in the streets to the music. This place didn’t seem too bad, you thought. Then you saw a dog running with a stuffed arm in its mouth, chased by a gigantic toy. The toy was alive, and no one around seemed surprised by it.
“Is that… a toy? A living toy?!” Luffy yelled in shock.
“Shh, we have to stay low-key for now…!” You pulled them into an alley. “Look at this!” You picked up a wanted poster with Luffy’s face on it.
“Oh, that’s me, shishishishi~” he laughed, and you stomped on his foot. “Ow! Using Haki is cheating!”
“Focus, Luffy! Our faces are known, and except for Kin’emon, we’re all wanted! If any local sees us, Doflamingo’s bound to hear about it, don’t you think?” You crossed your arms, and he looked startled.
“Right, you’re absolutely right!”
“The best thing to do if we want to find that factory is to blend in!”
“Ahhh, (Y/N)-chan, you’re so smart and beautiful ~ give me a kiss!” Sanji swooned, lunging at you, but you stepped aside, letting him slam into the wall.
“We can’t mess this up; Tral's counting on us. If we start trouble before we find the factory, it’ll just get harder, right? Hey, look!” You pointed to a clothing store across the street. “Let’s go shopping!”
---
“The city’s kinda wild with toys everywhere, but let’s eat!” Luffy cheered, leading the group as he followed the smell of food. You were all in disguise now, and even though you felt a bit safer, you knew you’d still have to be careful with this bunch.
You entered a restaurant and sat down.
“We shouldn’t be wasting time like this!” Kin’emon said anxiously.
“You’re right, we don’t have much time. But we should gather some info first rather than wandering around aimlessly.”
“Still, something seems off,” Sanji said, taking a drag of his cigarette. “The king abdicated today. I thought everyone would be panicking…” You looked around, and life seemed to carry on as usual for the people here.
“Maybe they don’t know?” Luffy tilted his head.
“Of course they know, genius!”
“Shouldn’t we just ask, then?” He reached out to poke the guy at the next table. You quickly grabbed his hand.
“Are you crazy?! Don’t talk to anyone! Your face was in the paper today!” You whispered to him.
“Sorry for the wait, or not,” said a toy, bringing food to the table. “Dress Shrimp Paella, Pink Squid Pasta, and Pumpkin Fairy Carpaccio.”
“Mmm, looks delicious!” Luffy shouted, already digging in.
“What’s a pumpkin fairy?” Franky asked, piling food on his plate. You decided to eat, too—might as well enjoy it.
“In this country, people still believe in fairies… or not. In other words, fairies exist! Or not!”
“Fairies?” You raised an eyebrow.
“There have been reports of them for centuries. Travelers, be cautious, or not.”
As you ate, you heard a lot of noise from a table in the back with a roulette wheel, like one you’d see in a casino.
“Man, these people are rowdy, don’t even let us eat in peace. Are they losing or something?” you asked, taking a sip of your wine.
“Looks like some punks are scamming an old blind guy…” Zoro commented, and you quickly looked over at the scene.
The old man kept losing, and the thugs kept taking more and more of his money. Curiosity got the best of you, so you walked over to the table.
“Oh, I’m so unlucky! But I won’t give up—I’ll bet it all on the next round!” said the blind man, his spirit unwavering.
“I like you! Let’s make it a man’s bet: next round, winner takes all! What do you say?”
“Really? You’d give me a chance to win it all back? Then I bet on white!” the old man shouted with renewed energy.
You watched the roulette spin, and spin, and spin… then it stopped.
On white.
The thug leader tapped the old man on the head. "Aw, too bad… really too bad. Looks like you lost."
“What’d it land on?” he asked, confused.
“It’s white,” you answered, and everyone except the blind old man turned to stare at you.
"W-what!? No way!" the thug spat. "It landed on—!"
"White!" Luffy piped up beside you, still holding his plate of noodles.
“What the hell!? Who are you, people? Mind your business and stay out of this!” he yelled, fuming.
“So... I actually won? I don't know who you are, but thank you!” the old man said gratefully. You gave his shoulder a reassuring squeeze.
"Don’t worry, old man. We just called it like we saw it. You’ve got some serious luck, shishishishi ~"
“You realize what you just did, don’t you? If I say it’s black, it’s black! The guy can’t see anyway, so what difference does it make!?” the thug growled, and he and his goons moved in, ready to throw down. Not wanting to blow your cover, you decided to fight them barehanded instead of drawing your pistols.
“Oh no, this isn’t good! Young lady, young man, step back, please,” the old man said as he stood up. “I’ll send these fools straight to hell…” He gripped his cane—but it wasn’t just a cane. It was a sword, and he slowly unsheathed it.
In an instant, the thugs were crushed to the ground by an invisible force, like something incredibly heavy was pressing them down. The pressure intensified until the ground split beneath them, leaving a massive crater. A chill ran down your spine—this guy had some serious power.
“Whoa! That’s one massive hole!” Luffy exclaim
ed, standing right on the edge, peering down.
“It may be a blessing not to see anything, as there are many terrible things in this world that are better left unseen…”
Notes:
See you all next week ❤️💜
Chapter 64: Arena
Notes:
(See the end of the chapter for notes.)
Chapter Text
"Hey, old man, you're really strong! What's your name?" Luffy asked, as the old guy, after paying for the damages, headed out the door.
"Well, for everyone's sake… it's better if I don't tell you that," he replied, stepping out as the door closed behind him.
You all gathered back at the table.
"For our sake? What’s that supposed to mean? Is he, like, famous or something?" Sanji wondered. Zoro crossed his arms.
"Doesn’t matter. What matters is how strong he is..."
Suddenly, chaos erupted in the room. Customers were freaking out, shouting about missing valuables—wallets, necklaces, rings, watches, and...
"Huh?! Something’s missing...!" Zoro shouted, looking shocked.
"Missing what?"
"My sword!"
"Wait, the Shusui is gone!"
"What?! That’s the treasure of Wano!" Kinemon gasped in disbelief.
"Haha, looks like we’ve been robbed!" a toy chimed in. "It’s the fairies! They took it!"
"What the hell? Fairies? Are they some kind of thieves?!"
"Well, fairies are fairies. All you can do is laugh it off. For centuries, they've been protective deities of Dressrosa. Whatever they do, we just accept it."
"You’ve gotta be kidding me!" Zoro growled, fuming.
"That’s the national treasure of Wano!"
"And it’s my sword!"
"It’s not yours! I was planning to duel you for it and take it back to Wano!"
"Whatever, I’ll kick your ass anyway!"
Just then, you felt something—a faint presence, like an itch. Looking under the table, you saw Zoro’s sword (or Wano’s treasure) being dragged away. You poked the swordsman, who immediately nodded, noticing it too.
"Looks like this ‘fairy’ bit off more than it can chew. Come back here, you little thief!" Zoro bolted out of the room.
"Sanji, go after him! He’ll get lost!" you shouted. The blond sped off like a thunderbolt, hearts in his eyes.
"Of course, (Y/N)-chan! Your wish is my command~ Wait up, Marimo! You can’t just run off like that!" He chased after Zoro, with Kinemon close behind.
"Did you find the thief?! We have to recover Wano’s treasure!"
"Shishishi~ This sounds fun!" Luffy grinned, but you and Franky grabbed him by the collar.
"Hold up, Luffy. They’ve got this. We need to focus on finding the factory, and I’ve got an idea. Good thing (Y/N) is here too!" Franky gave you a thumbs up, and you nodded. "Can you grab one of those guys knocked into the pit for me?" he asked, dragging Luffy to an alleyway.
You subtly picked up one of the unconscious thugs and carried him over, tossing him into the alley. Slamming him against the wall, Franky began interrogating him. As expected, the guy worked for Doflamingo but didn’t seem to know much.
"I… I’ve told you everything I know!" he stammered, slumping against the wall. "But... if you’re looking for info, you should talk to my bosses! At the arena today! There’s a big event going on! All the family leaders will probably be there! The young master is giving out some incredible prize!"
You and Franky exchanged glances.
"What kind of prize?"
"It’s unbelievable! I nearly fell over when I heard! Anyone would want it!"
"Is it the meat he promised?!"
"He never promised meat, idiot. You made that up!" Franky muttered.
"Hurry up! We don’t have all day! What is it?" you demanded, punching the wall next to his face and leaving a dent. The thug flinched and finally spilled the beans.
You felt your breath catch. Your eyes widened in shock. Luffy walked up to you, his shoulder brushing yours. Glancing at him, you saw the same stunned expression.
"The Mera Mera no Mi… Ace’s fruit…" he whispered, his voice trailing off. For a moment, he seemed lost in the memories of Marineford. You were too. You quickly squeezed his hand, and he gripped yours back.
So the prize… was Ace’s fruit. Now what?
"They say two Devil Fruits can’t exist at the same time. But when the user dies, the fruit reincarnates somewhere random. Somehow, the young master got the Mera Mera no Mi. I thought he’d use it for his business, not as a prize… That fruit could change my life!" the thug added.
"Like hell I’d let you eat it!" Luffy snapped, turning to you. "I want it! I want the Mera Mera no Mi! You eat it, (Y/N)!"
You froze.
"Are you crazy, Luffy?! I can’t eat a Devil Fruit!" you shot back. "I’d hate having to worry about Seastone all the time."
"Then you eat it, Franky! You’d be even MORE SUPER!"
"I prefer swimming, no offense."
"Since I’ve already eaten the Gomu Gomu no Mi I can’t eat it. But I can’t let just anyone get their hands on it either…"
"It’s… a keepsake," you murmured, resting a hand on Franky’s shoulder. He nodded.
"Doflamingo’s probably setting us up, but… don’t let this chance slip by! You’d regret it later, wouldn’t he, little pistol?" Franky teased, slapping you on the back, making you stumble forward. But you smiled.
"What the hell kind of nickname is ‘little pistol,’ Franky?"
"Let’s go. Either way, we’ve got business at the coliseum."
You exchanged determined looks and took off running toward the arena.
*********
"Wow, this place is huge..." you said as you approached the massive structure.
"So cool! I wanna compete!" Luffy exclaimed.
Before you could enter, a small commotion broke out near the entrance. A one-legged toy was causing trouble with the guards but managed to slip past them and approach your group. It even offered to carry your nonexistent luggage.
"Registration’s about to close!" someone shouted from the coliseum gate, prompting you all to rush forward.
"Luffy, you’ll have to sign up," Franky said as you pushed through the crowd near the entrance, heading for a table where a man was taking names of participants.
"We’d like to register," you said as you reached the table. The man looked you up and down, licking his lips.
"A pretty little thing like you in that dress wants to register? You sure? I’d hate to see you get hurt."
You smiled through gritted teeth, barely holding your anger in check.
"Alright, sweetheart, write your name here, and I’ll give you a number."
You grabbed the pen and hesitated for a moment, but before you could write anything, Luffy snatched it out of your hand.
"Me first!" he declared, starting to write "Lu–"
"Idiot!" Franky smacked him on the head and whispered urgently. "We’re in disguise! You can’t use your real name!"
"Ohhh," Luffy said, realizing his mistake. He scratched out what he started and scribbled a fake name instead: Lucy.
Shaking your head, you took the pen back—it was your turn. You stared at the paper, thought for a second, then smirked as you wrote a name down.
With numbers in hand, you and Luffy entered the section reserved for participants. Franky decided against signing up and instead went off to scout the stands for any information about the factory.
As you walked through the corridors, Luffy tilted his head, looking at you curiously.
"What?" you asked, smiling.
"That name—where’d you get it?" He pointed to the paper in your hand with your number and fake name.
"Oh, that? It was my dad’s nickname... Eddie. I figured it’d be a good pick—simple and not too noticeable. Don’t forget to call me that while we’re here, alright?" You gave him a quick pat on the head, and he grinned.
"Got it, Eddy!" he said, smiling as the two of you made your way into the bustling waiting hall.
A woman dressed as a gladiator approached, holding a list. "You’re Lucy and Eddie, right? This is the waiting room. Feel free to hang out until it’s your turn to fight, okay?"
Luffy’s excitement only grew as he looked around, marveling at the participants wielding all kinds of weapons.
"So, you can use anything here? Interesting..." you muttered, considering your pistols but hesitating, worried they might give you away.
You noticed several participants staring at you both and laughing. Compared to them, you looked small and unassuming—easy targets, they likely thought. You just shook your head.
"Hey, you! Kid with the fake beard!" A massive man stomped over to you. "You think this is some kind of joke?!"
"Hey, calm down, Spartan. You know we can’t fight in here," another participant said, stepping in.
"What’s the fun in picking on weaklings?" the man sneered, turning his attention to you. He noticed your number and scoffed. "And women? The crowd wants to see real warriors clash! This isn’t the place for you!"
"Oh, sure," you shot back, crossing your arms. "I bet you love watching sweaty, half-naked men wrestle, huh?"
The remark earned a few laughs from nearby participants, which only made him angrier.
"Get out of here!" he bellowed, reaching out to grab you both.
Luffy casually dodged and caught the man’s hand with ease, throwing him across the room. The man crashed violently into the wall, slumping to the ground.
You turned and saw the shocked expressions on everyone’s faces. Smiling, you stepped into position beside your captain.
Luffy also turned, grinning wide. "Nice to meet you all, Shishishishi~!"
Notes:
Till next week ❤️💜❤️
Chapter 65: The competitors
Notes:
(See the end of the chapter for notes.)
Chapter Text
Everyone was too scared to approach, stunned by Luffy's strength.
"Was it you who caused this mess?" one of the arena guards asked, walking up to you both. "You're disqualified! No fighting allowed here!"
"What the hell!?" You and Luffy yelled in disbelief.
"Hey, idiot, knock it off!" said a tall man approaching with another guy and an old man with a funny-shaped head.
"The big guy started it! He should be the one kicked out! Well, not that it matters since he’s already out, huh," the other added. You looked at them—they seemed like capable fighters, and judging by the expressions of the others around, they were probably famous too.
"Thanks for the help," you said with a nod.
"Don’t mention it," one of them, who introduced himself as Boo, replied.
"Yeah, don’t mention it…" Sai added. He waited for you to say something else, but you didn’t.
"You ungrateful jerks!" Sai yelled, trying to come at you. You and Luffy burst out laughing as Boo held him back.
"Sorry, he’s got a short temper."
"Screw you guys!" Sai shouted, flipping you off as Boo dragged him away.
"There’s all kinds of crazies here, Lucy," you said, hands on your hips, looking around.
"This way!" one of the arena guards called, leading you both to a prep room. It was packed with armor and weapons.
"Wow! Can I use anything I want?!" Luffy asked excitedly. Even with his sunglasses on, you could tell his eyes were sparkling.
"Only firearms are prohibited!" she said before walking off, leaving you to look around.
You thought about something practical since you were wearing a simple dress, which would be awkward to fight in. You found a gold helmet that fastened under your chin, covering half your face and your entire head. You removed your hat, tied up your scarf, and adjusted the purple wig you were wearing before putting on the helmet.
You grabbed a gauntlet for your left arm and slipped on a pair of black tights to avoid flashing anyone during the fight—not that you cared much.
There was some commotion from the women in the room, but you ignored it. You walked over to Luffy, who was decked out in full gladiator gear.
"Hey, Lucy, it looks cool, but isn’t it a bit heavy?" you asked.
"Wooooow, Eddie! That helmet looks awesome on you! Let’s trade!"
"Not a chance!"
You noticed the women fainting nearby and turned to see what was happening.
"Hey, you can’t wear that! There’s a weight limit for the armor!" A tall, blond man dressed like a noble called out to Luffy. "Then again… it doesn’t matter what you wear. It’s useless. I’m winning the Mera Mera no Mi. Such a beautiful power!"
You and Luffy walked over to the guard weighing the fighters. You went first.
"Weight’s good. Next!" Luffy stepped on.
"Nope, you can’t wear that—it’s over the limit."
"I literally just said that!" the blond man yelled, annoyed at being ignored.
"Is that why almost everyone’s half-naked here?" Luffy asked, shedding most of his armor.
"The arena’s a show. The audience loves the blood. They go wild when the loser bleeds." The blond man looked you up and down, his gaze lingering on you a bit too long before turning back to Luffy. "I saw you take down that big guy. Who are you?"
"Ah, I’m Luffy, the man who’s gonna—"
You kicked the back of his knee, making him stumble.
"Lucy! His name is Lucy!"
"Yeah, yeah, Lucy!"
"And you, my lovely maiden with the hidden face, who are you?" The blond stood, took your hand, and kissed it. "I am Cavendish, captain of the Beautiful Pirates."
"Eddie. Just a musician with big dreams," you said with a confident smile. He held your hand a little longer until Luffy tugged on his cape, making him let go.
"Say your name right, idiot!" a fighter from the back yelled. "I thought I heard Luffy the Straw Hat!"
"Don’t be stupid. Straw Hat’s a giant!" another chimed in.
"Good thing you’re not Straw Hat..." Cavendish started. "Because if you were, I’d kill you right here and now."
You stepped closer to your captain.
"I was a magnificent rookie! A gorgeous bounty of 200 million! I was in the papers every day! Women even stole my wanted posters!" He seemed lost in his memories. "But after one year—just one!—the Whitebeard War happened, and everything changed! All the new rookies stole the spotlight! That’s why I’m going to kill every last one of them!"
"Your grudge doesn’t even make sense," Luffy said as he went back to weigh his armor.
"Do you mind paying attention to me?!" Cavendish yelled, only to realize Luffy was already focused elsewhere.
"He’s always like that," you said with a shrug. Cavendish leaned closer to you.
"But you… you’re a beautiful warrior. You seem delicate, but your posture says you can handle yourself. Still, I’d hate to see you get hurt, so be careful." He placed a hand on your shoulder gently, and for some reason, you didn’t push him away.
Moments later, Luffy reappeared beside you like magic.
"Eddy, check this out!" Luffy grabbed your arm and dragged you over to a statue.
"Look! My armor matches this guy’s now!"
"Interested in him, are you?" a voice said. You both turned to see a young female gladiator approaching.
"Who are you?" you asked, stepping between her and Luffy.
"I’m Rebecca, the gladiator. Thanks for dealing with Spartan—I hated that guy."
She stopped beside you and looked at the statue. You both followed her gaze.
"This man is a legend—the greatest gladiator of the arena, Kyros. He was undefeated in 3,000 battles, only taking a single hit in all of them."
"Wow, was he really that strong?"
"He was here until 20 years ago. But since then, he’s vanished. No one in this country knows what happened to him."
"How does someone so famous just disappear?"
"No one knows. No one can even explain why this statue’s still here."
"I don’t know why, but I like this statue."
"I like it a lot too," Rebecca said with a smile.
"Hey, invincible little warrior~ we’re rooting for you! Now that Spartan’s out, you’ve got a shot, huh?" some of the gladiators teased, whistling at her.
You felt your blood boil and stepped closer to Rebecca, placing a hand on her shoulder.
"Who are those jerks?"
"Ignore them..." She looked away, biting her lip. "Today’s... my last day here! I’m going to win the Mera Mera no Mi and… defeat Doflamingo!"
You and Luffy exchanged glances, then looked back at her.
"You want to take down… the king of this country?"
"What block are you two in?" she asked with a smile.
"I’m in C, and Eddie’s in E," Luffy replied.
"Cool, I’m in D!" she said excitedly, leaving the room. "It’ll be nice if we all survive the first round." She waved.
"Take care, Rebecca!" you called back.
"AND THE FIRST ROUND IS OVER!!!" the announcer shouted, startling you.
"Already!?" You both rushed outside to see the winner. Leaning against the railing, you spotted a massive man in gladiator gear with a bag over his head. Around him, the other participants of Block A were either unconscious or worse. The man removed his mask, and the crowd fell silent.
Your hand gripped the railing so hard it cracked.
"Jesus Burgess... of the Blackbeard Pirates...!" His name left your lips like venom.
"That’s the champ?!" Luffy shouted, shocked.
"Damn it..." you growled, itching to leap down and fight him. Luffy placed a hand on your shoulder, and the world around you seemed to vanish.
"(Y/N)... I’m here. Just hold my hand. I’m here with you," he whispered, looking at you.
You took a deep breath and gripped his hand tightly. A few seconds later, you felt calm.
"Thanks, Captain..." You felt your body relax.
"You’ll get your chance to beat him. I’m sure of it," he said with a smile, and you nodded.
Now, you had one more reason to be in this tournament.
Notes:
Till next week ❤️💜❤️
Chapter 66: Former enemies, new allies
Notes:
(See the end of the chapter for notes.)
Chapter Text
You were at the back of the coliseum, where the injured fighters from the first round were being taken. You heard footsteps, and soon someone walked past behind you.
"I'm not blind, you know?" he said. You turned around and saw a huge man with sunglasses and a tattoo on his chest—the symbol of Doflamingo. Your hands instinctively moved to where your pistols usually rested, even though you weren’t carrying them.
"Doesn't matter what disguise you’re wearing. I'll never forget the guy who ruined my reputation!" he said with a smirk. Luffy glanced at him like he was remembering something. Probably something that happened before you joined the crew.
"You're that guy who messed with the chestnut uncle!" Luffy exclaimed. The man kept smiling, arms crossed. "It’s Malo."
"It’s Bellamy!" he corrected with a half-smile.
"Yeah, Bellamy!" Luffy said, raising his fists. "What are you doing here?"
"None of your business. I don’t live in Jaya—I can go wherever I want."
"Hey, we’re not looking for trouble, okay?" You grabbed Luffy's arm, lowering it. The man turned his gaze to you.
"You must be Gyldepts, the gunslinger, right?" he asked. You shook your head. "You’re even prettier in person."
You coughed, embarrassed. "Stop sucking up~"
He chuckled. "I've admired Doflamingo since I was a kid. I don’t want the Mera Mera no Mi, but I can’t afford to lose."
"Then we’ll have to fight again," Luffy replied.
"You know, I’m not the same as before. I went to Sky Island. Lost my crew on the way, but it turned my mind upside down."
"You... went to Skypiea?! You didn’t... hurt them, did you?" Luffy asked, momentarily worried.
Bellamy smiled as he removed his sunglasses. "Well, who knows!" He laughed, but there was no hostility in it. "Anyway, I have nothing against you. But to survive the storm ahead, I’ll join Doflamingo’s crew, and I won’t laugh at you again."
He started walking toward the arena—his turn to fight. Before entering, he glanced back one last time. "See you in the finals. You too, gunslinger." He winked and waved confidently as he headed inside. You and Luffy exchanged looks and decided to watch the fight.
---
You leaned against the railing just as Bellamy entered, greeted by cheers from the crowd. He seemed to be quite popular in this country.
"Looks like he's pretty famous here!" Cavendish joined you, leaning beside you with a pout, probably jealous of all the attention Bellamy was getting.
"What block are you in, Lucy? And you, Eddie?"
"I'm in Block C, and she’s in E. What about you?"
"I'm in D."
"Lucy, that's the same block as Rebecca!" you pointed out to the blond. "No offense, but I’m rooting for someone else in your block!"
"Your words wound me more than my fame being overshadowed, fair lady!" Cavendish replied dramatically.
"No time for drama—the next round is starting!" The gong rang, and your attention shifted to the match. You and Luffy focused on Bellamy, the man you had just spoken with minutes before. Despite their rocky past, Luffy seemed to hold some admiration for him—even rooting for him.
"Looks like there are some strong contenders in this round," you said, leaning forward for a better view.
"Way more exciting than Block A, shishishishi~" Luffy added.
"Who's that guy over there, lying around like he owns the place?" you asked, pointing at someone lounging in the arena.
"They call him Bartolomeo the Cannibal. Another crazy rookie," Cavendish explained, sifting through a pile of papers.
"Hey, what’s your name again?" Luffy asked.
"It’s Cavendish."
"What are you doing, Cabbage?"
"It’s Cavendish! I’m looking at the wanted posters of the Worst Generation rookies. Since the prize is the Mera Mera no Mi, I figured one of them might show up. Then I could kill them."
"Drop that idea right now," you said as he pulled out your wanted poster, surprisingly the most intact of the bunch—the others were slashed all over.
"So this is the waiting area for the participants! You can get a great view from here!" said the old man from earlier, now accompanied by Boo and Sai. He joined your group, but you had a bad feeling about him.
"Speaking of which, how's Garp doing, Straw Hat Luffy?"
"You know my grandpa?!" Luffy shouted, causing you to kick him hard. Cavendish’s expression of utter panic was priceless.
"Dammit...!" You pulled Luffy behind you, placing yourself between him and the two men.
"Back in the day, I was nearly killed by Garp. I decided to hunt down his entire lineage! Garp was notorious for being a pain in the ass for pirates! It's been ages, but my scar still aches!"
"So it’s really you?" Cavendish asked, his hand on the hilt of his sword.
"No, it’s not him—he’s just senile!" you said quickly.
"And as his grandson, you carry his sins!"
"Listen here, old man! If you’ve got a problem with my grandpa, take it up with him, okay?"
"If I’d known Dragon was your father... I would have prevented you from being born!" The old man lunged forward, delivering a powerful headbutt. You and Luffy barely dodged in time, bolting back toward the arena.
"Dammit, Luffy...!"
"It’s Lucy, Eddy!"
"Does that really matter right now?!"
"Take that stupid thing off!" Cavendish grabbed Luffy’s fake beard, trying to rip it off. Before you could intervene, the old man closed in again, aiming for another headbutt.
"Get out of my way—he’s mine!" Cavendish drew his sword, engaging the old man in a contest of strength. But the sword wasn’t enough to stop him. You yanked both of them back, the three of you narrowly avoiding the strike.
"I knew it—a hit like that won’t stop someone of his caliber," Cavendish muttered.
Before the old man could attack again, Luffy kicked him square in the face, slamming him into the floor.
"Cut it out, you annoying old geezer!"
But the man got up again, completely unfazed.
"Looks like you’re just barking pups, playing at being pirates!"
"Why don’t you bother someone else or play bingo at the plaza, you senile fossil?!" you shouted, furious. Your cover was hanging by a thread, and, for once, it wasn’t directly Luffy’s fault.
"This is what happens when you steal someone else’s spotlight, being Garp’s grandson! You make enemies too easily, don’t you?" Cavendish teased.
"Shut up! Like I have anything to do with this! I’m Lucy!"
"If you and that woman don’t step aside, Knight Boy, I’ll take you both out too!"
"Yeah? I’d like to see you try!" You flipped him off, fully ready to fight.
The old man started yelling again, but before things escalated further, his grandsons arrived.
"Grandpa, stop freaking out!"
"If you keep this up, you’ll get disqualified!"
While the grandsons tried to calm him down, and Cavendish seemed preoccupied with his own challenge to the old man, you seized the moment. Grabbing Luffy by his cape, you made a run for it.
---
You jumped through a window, grabbing onto a raised flagpole to keep from falling. Dangling there, you held onto Luffy until he climbed up beside you. Settling on the ledge, you both turned your attention back to the fight below in the arena.
"Looks like your friend from earlier is doing pretty well," you commented, sitting on the edge of a wall. Luffy sat beside you.
You continued watching, noticing Bartolomeo casually strolling through the chaos. A Fish-Man fighter charged at him, throwing a powerful punch. But before the attack could land, it hit something invisible, and the Fish-Man’s arm bent at
a painful angle.
"What the hell was that?!" you exclaimed.
It was clear that more powerful fighters were joining the fray.
Notes:
See you all next week and merry Christmas 🎄
Chapter 67: Fight in C block
Notes:
(See the end of the chapter for notes.)
Chapter Text
Chaos had taken over the arena, with plenty of competitors still standing. The fight seemed evenly matched as you watched from your hidden spot on a pillar ledge.
“Luffy, look over there!” You pointed to the other side of the arena, where the fan favorite was being overpowered by the cannibal.
“Bellamy… Hey, Bellamy, give it your all!!!” Luffy shouted at the top of his lungs.
You noticed Bellamy’s eyes flicker toward you two for a brief moment before he refocused on the fight, using his akuma no Mi power to hold off the cannibal. Just as he was about to finish his opponent, everyone was blindsided by a competitor who had been hiding the whole time. He struck with a punch that sent a massive shockwave rippling through the arena.
Several fighters were sent flying into the waters surrounding the ring, full of dangerous creatures. Others were knocked out instantly, including Bellamy. It looked like the round was over.
“Damn, what was that punch? That’s insane…”
“Did you see that, (Y/N)? Out of nowhere…”
“The only downside is that it looks like he has to charge that move, so if you fight him, take him out quickly.”
“And with that, this fight is over!” the announcer declared. “The winner from the Kingdom of Prudence is Eliz–”
“Wait, there’s someone else standing!” someone in the crowd shouted. You turned your attention back to the arena as the dust from the punch began to settle. Your eyes widened as you saw Bartolomeo standing there, a nearly invisible wall in front of him.
“So that’s how he beat the fishman earlier… Another Akuma no Mi user…”
Bartolomeo shoved his invisible barrier forward, knocking his opponent out with brutal force.
“I don’t believe it! Elizabello II has been defeated! That means the winner is… Bartolomeo!” the announcer screamed, stunned.
“All of you can kiss my ass! Hahahah~” Bartolomeo shouted in victory. You and Luffy exchanged looks.
“Well, looks like that crazy guy won,” Luffy said, impressed.
“Yeah, you’re right.”
You headed down to the back area where the injured fighters were being taken. A stretcher rolled past you, and the competitor on it asked the medics to stop—it was Bellamy.
“Guess I haven’t changed at all…” he grumbled, looking at you two.
“Come on, don’t say that. You’ve gotten a lot stronger.”
“You’re the one who’s changed… With Haki stronger than I could ever dream of, and yet you still cheered for me…” His gaze shifted to you. “It’s pathetic, losing this badly in front of such a beautiful woman… I was hoping to ask you to dinner.” You sighed, shaking your head but giving him a small smile. “My pride’s in shambles…” He smiled back as the medics carried him away. “See ya around, Straw Hat!” he yelled before disappearing from view.
---
Later, you stood alone against a parapet, looking down. It was Luffy’s turn to fight, and, of course, you were cheering for your captain. You watched him enter the arena with the other competitors and quickly spotted the old man looking for revenge on Garp.
The fight was total chaos. A massive giant was smashing his way through the competition, clearly a crowd favorite. On the other side, a raging bull charged around—with Luffy riding it, grinning like an idiot as he paraded across the arena.
“Does he ever take anything seriously?!” you muttered, rolling your eyes. A laugh to your side caught your attention. It was Rebecca. You gave her a small smile.
“He’s really something, huh?” she said, leaning on the parapet beside you.
“He just loves showing off,” you replied, smiling as you watched the chaos unfold.
“Are you two… close?” she asked curiously.
“Yeah, pretty close.” Unconsciously, you touched the scar on your shoulder, though it was hidden by your disguise.
“Oh… I see…” Rebecca turned her attention back to the fight.
Luffy, still riding the bull, charged straight toward the giant.
“Oh no…!” Rebecca gasped, covering her mouth in worry. You just kept watching calmly.
“Dare to challenge me?!” the giant roared, slamming his shield down and smashing both Luffy and the bull into the ground. The crowd fell silent, shocked at the show of strength.
“No… That’s impossible!” Rebecca exclaimed, looking at you, confused. But you didn’t look worried at all.
“Why are you so… calm?” she asked.
You just pointed at the arena. From the hole, Luffy climbed out completely unharmed, checking to see if the bull was okay.
“I don’t believe it! He’s not even scratched!”
“That kind of hit doesn’t hurt him.”
Luffy stood up and launched himself at the giant, landing a solid punch to the face and dropping the enormous opponent.
“He knocked out the giant!” the announcer yelled in disbelief. The crowd erupted into cheers, and you couldn’t stop smiling. Next to you, Rebecca was jumping up and down, applauding Luffy’s strength.
“To think he’s that strong… Who are you people, really?” she asked, glancing at you. You just shrugged, leaning back against the parapet.
The fight grew more intense as competitors kept dropping one after another. You knew there were strong fighters in Block C, but none were a match for your captain. Even so, the action kept things exciting.
Somewhere in the chaos, someone stole Luffy’s helmet, forcing him to wrap his cape around his head like an idiot. You covered your face, trying to stifle a laugh at how ridiculous he looked, just as the old man from earlier approached him.
As you leaned forward to watch more closely, you felt someone staring at you. Out of the corner of your eye, you spotted Bartolomeo watching from the audience as well, his eyes searching for something. He didn’t seem hostile, so you ignored him for now.
Below, it was down to Luffy and the old man.
“Go, Lucy, finish him off!” you shouted, with Rebecca quickly joining you in cheering.
Then, you heard a voice behind you. Spinning around, your heart nearly stopped as Jesus Burgess approached.
“This is getting good. Who’s this guy?” he asked, grinning as he got closer. Your body tensed, frozen in place.
Just one punch. Can I give him just one punch? you thought, teeth clenched and hands twitching for pistols that weren’t there.
“What do you want here, ‘champ’?” you spat, stepping toward him.
“Do I know you, shortie?” He flexed his arms, showing off his strength. “If not, I’d like to. Hahahah.”
You smirked, taking another step closer. Your entire aura shifted, and the tension in the air became palpable. Bartolomeo’s invisible wall stopped you just as you tried to move further.
“When it’s our turn in the arena, I swear there won’t be a single tooth left in that ugly face of yours, you son of a bitch.”
“Woah, feisty, huh?” Burgess laughed. “I can’t wait to deal with you.”
“Yeah, for once we agree—I’m looking forward to it, too.” Your words dripped with anger as he walked away.
Rebecca placed a hand on your shoulder, and as if by magic, your body relaxed. You hadn’t realized how tense you were.
“Are you okay? What was that?”
“Just… unfinished business,” you muttered, making it clear you wouldn’t elaborate. She nodded, and you both turned your attention back to the fight.
Just in time to see Luffy deliver a Haki-coated punch to the old man’s head, splitting the coliseum floor and sending him crashing into the water below. Luffy grinned as the crowd went wild—Block C’s champion was your captain.
You sighed in relief, running off to meet him.
Notes:
Till next week people! Love you all, I hope to see you all in the next year! Happy 2025!
Chapter 68: Explanations 🌿🌿
Chapter Text
So... I guess I should probably explain why I disappeared.
This chapter is an open letter and an apology for going MIA.
My name is Kelly, I'm a cis woman, and I'm 28 (turning 29 in a few months). I work full-time and currently manage a team. My job keeps me busy both inside and outside the workplace, and while it can be exhausting at times, it's also rewarding. On top of that, I recently started another online degree, so I've been juggling everything alongside my daily routine. There are days when I want to sit down and write, but I have a million things to do first.
The reason I suddenly vanished is that I had to move to a new city again for work. And anyone who's ever moved knows how chaotic it is—packing your entire life into a truck and heading somewhere unfamiliar, where you don't know anyone or anything yet. As of the 13th, it'll be a month since I moved, so I'm still settling into the new city, new routine, and new store. Plus, there's a lot to sort out with my team. On top of that, I had to travel for a week to attend in-person classes for my degree, so things have been crazy. Today is actually the first real day off I've had since moving, and luckily, I've wrapped up everything I needed to do, so I can finally take a breather.
Now that things are starting to fall into place, I plan to resume my weekly chapter updates. However, I want to apologize in advance if I run late.
I'm not giving up on this story—that's for sure.
Hugs and kisses,
Kelly ❤️
Chapter 69: Rebecca
Notes:
(See the end of the chapter for notes.)
Chapter Text
After announcing a short break in the fights due to the damage to the coliseum, you rushed off to find your captain on the floor where the fighters were waiting. But before you could reach him, someone else did first—Cavendish.
"Straw Hat! You're not getting away this time!" he shouted, lunging to stab Luffy with his sword.
You sprinted forward to get between them, but Luffy was faster, catching the blade with his Haki-covered hands.
"Can you just chill out?!" you yelled, running toward their pathetic excuse for a fight.
"Why do I have to fight you? I'm exhausted, man!" Luffy whined. You rushed in and landed a kick on Cavendish, knocking him away from Luffy.
Cavendish got back on his feet instantly, pointing his sword at you.
"Look, you might be gorgeous, but stay out of this!" he growled. You cracked your knuckles.
"Hey! Straw Hat!"
Another voice interrupted, making all of you turn. It was the old man from before, being carried by his two grandsons.
"My grandpa wants to talk to you!" one of them called out.
You glanced around, already thinking of an escape route. At this rate, the whole coliseum would figure out Luffy's identity. Cavendish took advantage of your distraction and went for Luffy again. But before he could land a hit, the old man slammed his head into the ground, splitting the floor with a massive crack and separating you from the blonde.
You seized the opportunity, grabbed Luffy, threw him over your back, and took off running.
"Hey! Get back here! We're not done!" Cavendish yelled.
"Wait! Garp's grandson!" the old man called, but you didn't stop.
Luffy clung to you, his arms around your neck, legs wrapped around your waist.
As you ran, a hand shot out from a narrow alley, grabbing your wrist and yanking you in another direction.
"This way!" a voice called. You instantly relaxed, recognizing it, and followed the lead.
"Oh, it's you... Uh..." Luffy mumbled, struggling to remember the name.
"Rebecca," you reminded him.
She smiled. "Looks like you guys made a lot of friends. Follow me!" she said, pulling you both away from the chaos.
As you hurried through the streets, you passed by Jesus Burgess, sitting and talking into a Den Den Mushi.
"Wait, Captain, Straw Hat's here," he said.
You both froze. Luffy slid off your back and stood beside you. You felt his hand reach for yours, fingers lacing together—holding you there, keeping you with him.
"Straw Hat!" Blackbeard's voice boomed from the Den Den Mushi.
"Blackbeard..." You and Luffy recognized him instantly.
"Yeah, it's been a while! You're in the tournament too, huh... 'Lucy'?" he laughed, and your blood boiled.
"But the Mera Mera no Mi is going to Burgess! It's like Ace joining my crew! I'm thrilled! You know, he turned me down before..."
"I won't let you take Ace's power!" Luffy declared.
"We'll make sure Burgess gets sent back to you in pieces, Blackbeard," you snarled, teeth clenched in rage.
"Hmm... That voice!? Gunslinger!?" His laughter echoed with pure amusement. "So you're still with Straw Hat, huh? Hey, Horst! Your former captain's here—come say hi!"
Your stomach twisted into knots. Your body broke out in a cold sweat at just the thought of hearing Horst's voice after two years.
Luffy glanced at you, concern flashing in his eyes—he had never seen that expression on your face before.
"Been a long time, Gyldepts," a voice finally spoke.
Your eyes widened, and for a second, you forgot how to breathe.
"I... I'm here, waiting. But don't expect an apology from me—I have none to give."
"Horst... You... Where are they!?"
"The Jackdown."
"Still!? You... monster!" you growled, your hands shaking.
A sigh came through the receiver.
"Follow the path of the blackbird, and you'll find them," he said cryptically.
"The blackbird? What does that mean?" Silence. "Horst!?"
No response. Then, Blackbeard's laughter exploded through the Den Den Mushi, joined by Burgess.
You shook your head, forcing yourself to move. Rebecca took the lead, and the three of you got out of there.
Once you were at a safe distance, she turned to you.
"Are those pirates your friends?"
"Not a chance! I want them all dead!"
"We won't let them win!" Luffy added.
Suddenly, you both stopped walking—Luffy had wandered off and was happily stuffing his face at a food stall.
"Hey! You're eating and not paying brat!" the vendor shouted.
You both rushed over.
"Lucy, Eddie, what do you guys want?" Rebecca asked.
"Are you buying for us?"
She smiled gently and bought each of you a meal.
You returned her smile—you knew she was a good person.
************************************
Luffy finished his meal in record time, and you started sharing yours with him.
"Sorry, I didn't have much money," Rebecca apologized as the three of you sat alone near some cages.
"Don't worry about it, you've already done so much for us. I promise I'll make it up to you," you reassured her.
"Where even are we?" Luffy asked his mouth still full of food.
"These are the gladiators' quarters... or, well, our prison... depends on who you ask."
You looked around and realized it did feel more like a prison. For a brief moment, your mind flashed back to Sabaody, and a chill ran down your spine. If it weren't for Luffy, what would've happened to you back then?
"The invited gladiators don't come here, so you can rest easy until your fight starts," Rebecca said, removing her helmet as she looked at you both. "Your fight was amazing, Lucy! I didn't think you were that strong!"
"Wait until you see Eddie fight!" Luffy said happily, still eating. You shook your head.
"Aren't you gonna eat, Rebecca?" you asked. She just smiled.
"I'm not hungry."
Suddenly, a shiver ran down your spine. Before you could react, hands shot out from the cages, grabbing you and Luffy, pinning you both against the bars.
"What the hell?!" you shouted.
"Now, Rebecca! Do it now!" one of the men holding you yelled. And just like that, it all clicked.
"You brought us here for this, didn't you!?"
Rebecca stood up, sword in hand, and charged straight at you. You glanced at Luffy, gave him a quick nod, and he returned it.
It all happened in the blink of an eye.
She aimed for Luffy first, sprinting toward him. You yanked your arm hard, breaking free from the grip on your wrist just enough to move. Spinning, you landed a sharp kick on the guy holding Luffy, making him release his grip just in time for Luffy to duck out of the way. In the same motion, you kicked Rebecca's wrist, sending her sword flying into the air.
Luffy jumped on her, pinning her wrists to the ground with his feet. And just as the sword came back down, you caught it, pressing the tip lightly against her throat.
Luffy kept eating his food, completely unfazed. Rebecca, on the other hand, looked like she was in total shock. In an instant, you had completely turned the tables on her.
Still sitting on top of her, Luffy kept her pinned while casually munching on his meal.
"Go ahead. Kill me. I'm ready," she said, defeated.
You sighed and tossed the sword aside, embedding it into the wall across the room.
"We're not gonna kill someone who fed us."
"Food is sacred to Lucy," you added, sitting down beside them.
"But I... I tried to kill you... both of you!"
"Yeah, but we didn't die, did we?" you laughed. Luffy nodded in agreement.
"Besides, I know you didn't want to kill us."
"Being forgiven so easily... it just shows how much stronger they are than us," one of the prisoners muttered from inside the cage. "If only we could defeat one of the strong ones... we might have a sliver of hope."
You looked at them and stayed quiet, just listening.
"Mummies?!" Luffy suddenly shouted.
You smacked him on the head. "Of course not, idiot! We're gladiator prisoners... Rebecca too. That's why we keep fighting, until the day we die. It's our punishment for rebelling against the Donquixote family."
"Doflamingo..." you muttered under your breath.
"A thousand victories, and we'd be free... but none of us have even reached a hundred. If we try to escape, we're executed... and in this state, we don't stand a chance."
You finally noticed the full extent of their condition—many of them were injured, mutilated, sick. You pressed your lips together tightly, anger bubbling inside you.
"Ten years ago, before he took over this country, the fights weren't to the death. He turned this place into an extreme of light and darkness under his rule."
"I... I have to win today! I need to get the Mera Mera no Mi and take down Doflamingo!" Rebecca suddenly shouted, making you and Luffy turn to her.
"Today, the soldier is leading an army to fight Doflamingo! I... I don't want to be protected anymore! I want to protect him!"
Tears ran down her face, and you knew, just by looking at Luffy, that he was going to help somehow.
Notes:
Till next week ❤💜❤
Chapter 70: He knows?
Notes:
(See the end of the chapter for notes.)
Chapter Text
"The soldier... He's going to die..." Rebecca covered her eyes with her hands. You and Luffy exchanged glances.
"You keep talking about this soldier..."
"Yeah, a toy soldier... He only has one leg..."
"Hey, Lucy, didn't we see a toy like that at the entrance to the Colosseum?" You asked, and he nodded.
"We can't leave the Colosseum… No matter the reason, there's nothing we can do." One of the gladiators behind the bars spoke up.
"You're worried about a toy dying? I'm more surprised he's even alive." Luffy crossed his arms.
"You guys aren’t from here, so you wouldn’t understand, but toys are like people to us. They're friends to the lonely, brothers to those without family, lovers to those who are alone. My mother raised me on her own, and after she died, the soldier was there for me. He's like family."
You looked at her and understood. You had been alone for a long time too, and you found people who became your family—even if not by blood.
"Rebecca! Your match is about to start!" one of the prisoners shouted. She stood up, putting her helmet back on.
"Good luck, Rebecca. See you in the finals," you said, and she nodded.
*******************************
You sat down and started watching her fight on the big screen. The moment she stepped into the arena, the crowd erupted into boos, shouting awful things at her.
"What the…? What’s going on?" you asked, stunned.
"Why are they talking so bad about her? She bought us food!" You and Luffy were outraged, but there was nothing you could do. Suddenly, in the middle of the arena, Cavendish appeared, demanding silence from the crowd.
"If you want her dead, grab a weapon and come fight her yourselves!" he shouted, furious. The crowd fell silent.
"Okay, that was pretty cool."
"Right? Maybe he’s not so bad… but I still hate him." Luffy muttered, making you chuckle.
"Hey, Eddie! Let’s go down there—I wanna cheer for her up close!" He grabbed your wrist and started pulling you toward the exit, but then stopped and turned to the gladiators.
"I thought this was supposed to be a country of love and fun, but… you guys don’t look happy."
"That’s because what you’ve seen is the world of the winners. Doflamingo divides the people who obey him and the losers who stand against him. That way, all you ever see are the winners, happy and celebrating. The losers—the trash—he keeps hidden, so the country stays looking perfect."
You and Luffy walked out through one of the doors—only to come face-to-face with Bartolomeo.
"Huh?" You tilted your head in confusion—just before Bartolomeo let out an exaggerated scream.
******************************
"Kin'emon! Zoro!" Luffy shouted as you approached the outer fence of the colosseum. You let out a relieved sigh, seeing they hadn’t gotten lost.
"Keep your voice down, you idiot!" The swordsman scolded his captain. "How did you get here?"
"The pompadour guy brought us here and—" You paused, realizing he was suddenly gone. "Huh?"
"If you guys knew there was a tournament like this, why didn’t you invite me?!"
"Well, moss-head, you snooze, you lose," you teased, making him even more irritated.
"Quit messing with me, woman… Hey, Kin'emon, what are you doing?" The samurai pulled a small Baby Den Den Mushi from his pocket and started a call.
"Sanji-dono asked me to call as soon as I found Luffy-dono."
"Speaking of that, Luffy, the colosseum is surrounded by the Marines."
"I noticed. I could sense those idiots from a mile away," you said, leaning against the iron bars. "There’s a decent number of them, too."
The moment the call connected, Luffy spoke up.
"Sanji, it’s me! Everything okay over there?"
"Aside from Law, we’re all fine."
"What do you mean? What happened to him?!" you suddenly asked, but your question was completely ignored. This time, Franky’s voice came through.
"Oi, Luffy! We’re here—me, Robin, and Usopp. We’re with the Riku Army, the anti-Doflamingo coalition. Remember that guy we met at the gate, pistol girl? It’s him! He’s the army’s captain! They’re planning to take down Doflamingo tonight!"
"Wait! The toy with one leg?! Luffy, that’s the guy Rebecca was talking about!" You turned to Luffy, and his eyes widened before he quickly spoke into the Den Den Mushi.
"Hey, Franky! You need to stop that army!"
"Are you nuts?! We need to do the exact opposite! Did you guys talk to Rebecca?"
"Yeah, she’s cool. She didn’t have much money, but she still bought us food. But the second she stepped into the arena, everyone treated her like trash. It pissed me off!"
"I get it… Look, Captain, Traffy’s plan was just to destroy the factory and let Doflamingo deal with the fallout. But… what about all these people who are planning to kill him tonight? Look, Luffy, I’ll do whatever you say, but this country we thought was amazing—it’s drowning in darkness! And these guys… they’re about to throw their lives away fighting a monster. I don’t wanna let them do that!"
"Franky…" You whispered, looking at Luffy as if silently pleading with him to give the order.
Luffy met your eyes, then turned back to the Den Den Mushi. "Franky… Take 'em down!"
"ON IT!!" The group shouted in excitement.
Suddenly, you heard something approaching.
"Zoro! Kin'emon! Watch out!!!" You yelled, gripping the bars as they jumped aside just in time to dodge an incoming attack.
As the dust settled, your blood ran cold.
Standing there, pistol in hand… was Doflamingo. And lying at his feet, covered in blood…
"TRAAAAAAAFY!!!" You screamed in despair, grabbing the bars and trying to force them open.
"Traffy!! What the hell are you doing with the enemy?!" Luffy shouted, but everything happened too fast.
Doflamingo’s finger flexed against the trigger, and he fired until the chamber was empty.
"TRAFFY!!!" You reached out desperately.
"No need to worry, citizens of Dressrosa!" Doflamingo announced, his voice carrying through the chaos. "The Shichibukai, Trafalgar Law, was responsible for the confusion surrounding my 'resignation' this morning. But fear not—it’s all been taken care of."
"MINGO!!! WHAT DID YOU DO TO TRAFFY?!" Luffy roared.
"Straw Hat, stay out of this! Law is my subordinate, and I must discipline him."
Zoro and Kin’emon charged at Doflamingo, aiming to retrieve Law. But before Zoro could cut him down, the old blind man from the restaurant appeared, blocking his attack. With a strange power, he opened a massive crater in the ground, sending Zoro plummeting below.
"ZORO!!!" You screamed in fury, trying even harder to squeeze through the bars.
Kin’emon reached Law, but just as he was about to grab him—Doflamingo slashed him.
"KIN’EMON!!" Luffy yelled, gripping the bars just like you. But the moment he touched them, his body went weak, and he collapsed to his knees. "This is… Kairoseki…"
Zoro climbed out of the crater, and Kin’emon forced himself to stand.
"I didn’t expect a blind old man… to be an admiral…"
"A FUCKING ADMIRAL?!" you shouted in disbelief, half your body already through the bars.
Doflamingo grabbed Law, and the old man used his power to lift a chunk of concrete, allowing the two of them to ascend into the air.
But you weren’t about to let that happen. No way.
You stretched out your hand, and roots burst from the ground, wrapping around your arm. You gripped them tightly, pulling with all your strength until you squeezed the rest of your body through the bars.
"YOU’RE NOT TAKING HIM!" you screamed, sending another wave of roots toward them. The vines coiled around the floating rock, applying enough pressure to shatter it, forcing them back down.
Doflamingo turned his gaze directly toward you. Even with his sunglasses, you could feel his piercing stare. His ever-present grin stretched even wider.
"Well, well, Straw Hat! I didn’t know you were so generous! You brought me Law, and as a bonus, you’re handing me (Y/N) Gyldepts on a silver platter? Hehehe… Hahaha!"
Your entire body froze. Every instinct screamed at you to run. But you didn’t.
"(Y/N)! Watch out!" Luffy shouted from behind the bars.
"How do you know who I am?" you asked, stepping closer, fists coated in Haki.
"Remember the auction house… two years ago? That place… was mine."
Your eyes widened in shock. No way…
"I won’t make the same mistake as two years ago. You’re coming with me!" He extended his hand.
You activated Observation Haki and saw the invisible strings coming straight for you. Dodging swiftly, you threw a punch at his face, making him step back. His grin widened even more as he unleashed a flurry of attacks, which you managed to evade.
"That damn Haki of yours is annoying, woman!"
"GIVE LAW BACK!!" you growled, preparing to kick him.
But just as your foot was about to connect—your body stopped. Completely.
Something had wrapped around you, binding you… No, controlling you. You wanted to struggle, but you couldn’t move.
Doflamingo touched your raised ankle, still frozen mid-kick, and smirked. His large, warm hand slowly slid up your leg, laughing as it climbed higher.
"(Y/N), what the hell are you doing?!" Luffy yelled… Was that anger in his voice? "MOVE! Don’t let him… do whatever the hell he’s doing!!"
"I CAN’T MOVE!!" you screamed back as Doflamingo’s hand stopped at your thigh. He gave it a slight squeeze, smirking.
"Thanks for the gift, Straw Hat. I’ll be taking it."
"GYLDEPTS!" Zoro shouted, trying to rush toward you, but the blind old man stopped him.
The last thing you saw was Doflamingo raising his hand—before he struck your neck.
Darkness swallowed you in an instant.
Notes:
Till next week ❤💜❤
Chapter 71: Yes, he knows 🌿
Notes:
(See the end of the chapter for notes.)
Chapter Text
You could hear muffled voices coming from somewhere but couldn't tell who they belonged to. Slowly, you started to open your eyes, your head pounding. As your vision cleared, you realized you were in an unfamiliar place—a small room resembling an office.
In front of you, is a mirrored glass wall. You tried to move, only to discover you were bound to the plush chair you were sitting in. Thick chains secured your wrists and ankles tightly. Your breath hitched as you glanced at the glass, and your heart nearly stopped.
On the other side, you saw Doflamingo talking to someone. Next to him was a chair adorned with a heart emblem, and sitting in it—bound and unconscious—was Law. You could still sense his energy and exhaled in relief. He was alive.
Doflamingo stepped out of the room. Suddenly, you heard footsteps growing louder—he was coming your way. Panic surged through you as you struggled against your restraints, pulling so hard that your wrists nearly bled. It was useless.
The door creaked open slowly, deliberately, as if mocking your anxiety. Then, he stepped inside, his movements unhurried, his grin widening with each step.
"Well, well... looks like my little bird has finally woken up." His smile stretched further as he moved closer.
"Let me go. Now!" you snarled, only for him to chuckle. He dragged a chair in front of you, sitting down and crossing his legs, watching you with amusement.
"What do you want!?"
"You," he said simply.
Your eyes widened, and you swallowed hard.
"What do you know?" you asked, dreading the answer.
"Far more than you, I'd imagine." His smirk deepened as he reached out, cupping your face with both hands, his thumbs grazing your skin.
"Don't touch me!"
"Oh, my dear... you have no idea how much anticipation your presence here brings me." His thumb traced your lower lip, and he licked his own.
"Let me go now!" You tried to bite him, but he only laughed, his hands slipping into your hair, playing with the edge of your red scarf. Only then did you realize—you were without your helmet. Without your wig. Your real hair was exposed, with only the familiar scarf remaining in place.
"What do you think you're doing!? Get your hands off my scarf!" You struggled, panic setting in.
"Hmm... this mark..." He eyed you carefully. "Traveling with the Straw Hat, yet carrying the mark of an Emperor of the Sea? What exactly is Shanks to you?"
"That's none of your damn business! Let me go!" you growled, but he only laughed again.
"You have such a nasty temper! But that's to be expected... It must have been tough, living in fear your whole life, unable to trust anyone... And when you finally did, poor thing, you were betrayed."
Your breath caught in your throat.
"I know it was your first mate who sold you to the auction house," he continued. "But don't worry, he never told anyone what you are—except for Disco. And, well, he's very dead now." He laughed again, fingers still tangled in your hair, absently twirling strands between them.
"You know...?"
"Oh, I know." Your heart nearly stopped. "Surprised I kept it a secret?" He tilted his head slightly, gripping your scarf. "Well, I needed to be sure before doing anything... Disco wasn't exactly trustworthy. Besides... a discovery like this is far more valuable when kept under wraps." He leaned in, his voice a whisper now. "So tell me, Gyldepts... are you ready?"
With that, he yanked at the knot of your scarf.
"No...! No, please, don't do this!!"
For a fleeting moment, you felt like the child you once were, the one Shanks had found all those years ago. Exposed. Vulnerable. Helpless.
And then, slowly, the scarf slipped away.
You didn't even dare to breathe. Your wide, teary eyes locked onto his, waiting for his reaction.
A few beats of silence. Then, suddenly, he burst into laughter, louder and louder, until it echoed in the room.
"Holy shit! It's true!" He practically beamed, grabbing your face in one hand, and squeezing your cheeks. "My, my... this is incredible news!" He leaned in so close that your noses nearly touched. "This is the best thing that's happened to me in a long time..."
His lips brushed against yours.
"Welcome to the family. You belong to me now."
Then he kissed you—possessive, hungry. You struggled, trying to break free, but his grip was firm. His hands held your face in place as he deepened the kiss. One hand slid to the back of your neck, tugging your hair just enough to make you let out a small whimper—enough for him to slip his tongue into your mouth, completely taking control.
It felt like an eternity before he finally pulled away, licking his lips.
"Do you have any idea what your presence here means?" He took a few steps back, arms outstretched. "Fate is definitely on my side. Can't you see it?"
You frowned in confusion.
"Oh, you don't know, do you?" He chuckled, shaking his head. "Don't worry. Once I'm done dealing with Straw Hat and Law, I promise I'll take you somewhere more... comfortable and tell you everything."
Just then, footsteps echoed in the hallway. Doflamingo swiftly wrapped your scarf back around your head, making it look as if it had never been removed.
The door opened, revealing the most repulsive man you had ever seen.
"Doffy! I need you to—" He stopped mid-sentence when his eyes landed on you. "Who's this?"
"She's mine. And I don't want anyone entering this room except me. Understood?"
For the briefest moment, his grin faltered. He swallowed hard.
"Not even us?"
"Not even you, Trebol. That's an order. No one touches her but me, and I won't be discussing it further."
"But Doffy, she's just—"
"It doesn't matter. Did I make myself clear?"
"Y-yeah, Doffy!" Trebol quickly scurried out of the room.
Doflamingo turned to you again, flashing a smirk.
"Don't go anywhere. I'll be back soon."
And with that, he left, leaving you alone once more.
************************************
All you could do was stare through the glass into the other room. Law still hadn't woken up.
You watched as the blind old man exchanged sharp words with Doflamingo, and it suddenly clicked—he was a Marine Admiral. Things were getting more complicated by the second, and you still couldn't move.
After the admiral left, you saw Doflamingo pick up a Den Den Mushi and speak with someone. A loud, piercing scream erupted from the other end of the line, so loud that you could hear them yelling—Straw Hat had invaded the palace.
Your heart leaped. Luffy was coming.
But then, on the giant screen Doflamingo had set up, you saw someone dressed as Lucy, fighting. Your breath caught in your throat. How was that possible? He couldn't be in two places at once.
More people entered the room, including the two who had attacked Franky back on Punk Hazard. You clenched your fists, trying to summon your powers, but the stress was overwhelming. Your abilities were deeply tied to your emotions, and the sheer panic of having your secret exposed by that terrible man was making it impossible to focus.
Your eyes flicked to the woman as she smacked Law on the head—then suddenly, she broke down crying. Law stirred slightly, consciousness flickering back into his eyes. You let out a shaky sigh, relieved that he was at least awake.
But you needed to get out of here.
Your gaze locked onto Doflamingo, and you bit your lip.
Escaping wouldn't be enough. You needed to kill him.
"You're Kyros, aren't you?" a voice suddenly shouted.
Your head snapped back to the screen just in time to see a massive one-legged man launch himself at Doflamingo, sword raised, ready to strike him down.
And then—your eyes widened in shock.
He cut the man's head clean off.
Notes:
Till next week 💜❤️💜
Chapter 72: Stars
Notes:
(See the end of the chapter for notes.)
Chapter Text
"I came to bring back the true kingdom of Dressrosa!" the one-legged man shouted as Doflamingo's head rolled across the floor.
"Traffy! I'm gonna save you! I'm so glad you're alive!" You heard your captain's voice and felt relief wash over you. But then, the tournament—the Mera Mera no Mi—did he give it up to save you all?
You tried to move in your chair but couldn't. The glass in front of you was mirrored from the other side, meaning he couldn't see you. You watched as he struggled to unlock the cuffs restraining Law, but they were made of Kairoseki, and he couldn't hold the key for long. A shiver ran down your spine as the ground beneath you shifted, hurling you—chair and all—against the glass. It shattered on impact, sending you sprawling to the ground. The force of the crash broke the chair as well, allowing you to stand up.
"(Y/N)! I'm so glad you're okay!!!" Luffy shouted, but his eyes quickly locked onto a massive stone giant clutching Doflamingo's severed head. "Oh—he's still alive!"
"Well, this just got annoying. Looks like we'll have to use the cage... and that's not gonna be fun, huh, Law?" The head spoke, and you saw Law's face go pale.
"How disgraceful... How are you still alive?!" Kyros yelled, and in the blink of an eye, Doflamingo was behind him.
"Let me show you how to decapitate someone properly!"
Before anyone could react, you lunged forward, shoving the soldier to the ground just in time to dodge the strike by mere inches.
"Gyldepts!" he shouted, and a duplicate of himself appeared—both of them launching another attack at you. You rolled away, pulling Kyros with you to safety, while Luffy unleashed a flurry of punches at Doflamingo.
But Doflamingo used his strings to yank him back, and the clone struck Luffy with a powerful Haki-infused punch, sending him flying.
"Luffy!" You shouted, ready to run toward him.
"King Riku, do you remember that night ten years ago... when you slaughtered your people?" Doflamingo asked mockingly.
"That memory haunts me every single night!"
"Well... what's about to happen will make that night seem like nothing! Pica, show these fools the way out."
The stone giant stomped the ground, shaking the entire palace and hurling all of you outside.
Before hitting the ground, Luffy inflated himself, cushioning your fall. You pushed yourself up, still shackled, but since they weren't made of Kairoseki, your captain easily snapped them off with his Haki-coated hands.
"The cage... it's begun," Law muttered. You looked up and saw something launching into the sky above the palace. Suddenly, countless strings rained down, forming a dome around the entire country.
"Traffy, what the hell is that?" you asked, eyes wide.
"Before the truth of this place can be exposed... he plans to wipe everyone out!"
"What?! How?!"
Suddenly, the ground beneath you—and the entire kingdom—began to shift. Buildings, streets, and entire structures twisted as the city itself transformed.
"It's Pica! He's made of stone—he can reshape the entire foundation of Dressrosa!" Violet explained.
Then, Doflamingo's voice boomed across the country through loudspeakers scattered everywhere.
"Citizens of Dressrosa... I see now that I could have ruled you with force and oppression from the very beginning. Those of you who have learned the truth must want me dead by now. So, I've prepared a game—a game where you get that chance. I will remain here, in the royal palace. I won't run, and I won't hide. The game ends if someone kills me, simple as that. But... there's another way to win."
He paused, letting the tension build.
"Bring me the heads of the people I name, and I will reward you handsomely. From this moment on, every citizen of Dressrosa is a bounty hunter. You survive by taking someone else's head! No one is coming to save you. No one can escape the cage. No one can contact the outside world! How many days will the cage last? Will you all perish? Or will you end the game before then?"
You glanced around at everyone nearby, swallowing hard as the broadcast continued.
"Think carefully... will you come for my head? Or will you, along with the Donquixote Family, bring justice to these thirteen people who oppose me? Choose wrong, and this game will never end. Let's do this—I'll offer 100 million berries for each star. They are the real prisoners here!"
Your eyes widened as several photos appeared on the giant screen, including your captain's—marked with three stars. But... there were only eleven pictures. Weren't there supposed to be thirteen?
"But that's not all! There are two more people—key pieces in this whole tragedy. The first is the one responsible for all the chaos in this country, with the toys. For his head... I'm offering five stars."
Your breath caught in your throat. The person who pissed off Doflamingo the most... was Usopp?! You could already imagine the look of sheer panic on his face. But then your gaze snapped back to the screen, and your whole body froze. Your photo appeared... with five stars.
"This is a special case. I want her alive—do not kill her under any circumstances. I want Gyldepts captured alive!"
You clenched your teeth. There was no way he was going to give up on hunting you down.
A sudden ringing broke through the tension. You turned as Zoro's Den Den Mushi vibrated in his pocket. He picked it up, and you and Luffy stepped closer.
"Zoro? Where are you?" You immediately recognized Robin's voice on the other end.
"We're here. Luffy, me, the others... and the gunslinger's here too."
"Gyldepts, are you there?" Robin asked.
"Yeah... I'm here."
"Why does Doflamingo want you alive?"
Her question sent a chill down your spine, and you felt Zoro's gaze fix on you. You swallowed hard.
You opened your mouth, but no words came out. Before you could even process what to say, Zoro's hand closed firmly around your arm.
"It doesn't matter why. We're not letting him take Gyl—not a single damn hair on her head," Zoro said, his voice low and serious, his grip tightening slightly.
"Zoro..." You stared at him in disbelief, but there was no hesitation in his eye.
"We're near the palace plateau or something..." Zoro continued talking to Robin, but his grip on you remained firm.
"Robin, did you see that? That damn Mingo pissed me off! But Usopp—man, I laughed so hard!"
"Rebecca's on the list too..." You finally managed to say something.
"Don't worry, she'll be fine!"
"Lucy! I'm here!" Rebecca's voice suddenly came through the Den Den Mushi.
"Rebecca, the soldier is here and—" Luffy turned around, only to realize he was gone.
"He must've turned back into a human... Hey, Lucy... what does he look like?" Rebecca's voice was hesitant.
"What?! What do you mean, you don't know?! That guy's your father! He's the soldier from the statue in the coliseum! Aren't you happy? Look, now's not the time to cry! I won't let the soldier die, and you need to stay safe! I know you wanted to eat the Mera Mera no Mi but in return..." Luffy grinned. "I swear, I'm gonna kick Mingo's ass! Stay close to my friends—they'll take care of you!"
Notes:
till next week ❤💜❤
Chapter 73: More allies?
Notes:
(See the end of the chapter for notes.)
Chapter Text
"You have to survive, got it? I'm ending this game right now!" Luffy told Rebecca with confidence.
"Luffy, tell me everyone who's with you. Here with me, we have—" Robin started, but Law, who was sitting nearby with his hands still cuffed in Kairoseki, cut her off.
"Oi, Straw Hat, you still don't get it? The plan was always to keep Doflamingo alive so he'd go up against Kaido. If you kill him now, all the rage over losing the SMILEs will fall on us, and we'll have to deal with an Emperor's fury ourselves."
"Screw that, Law! Look around you!" You shot back, stepping up to him and jabbing him with your finger. "Look at what he's done to this country—what he's done to you!"
"What do you think you're gonna achieve just sitting here waiting, huh?" Luffy added. "We have to take Doflamingo down now!" He grabbed Law by the collar, lifting him.
"At least take these damn cuffs off first!" Law protested while you took off the last of the gladiator gear you'd worn in the arena. What a shame—you didn't even get to fight.
"They'll come off sooner or later!" Luffy hoisted Law up like a ragdoll, motioning for you to follow before grabbing Zoro with his other hand. "Wait for me, Mingo!" he shouted, taking off at a sprint, and you quickly ran alongside him.
***********
Luffy had thrown himself off the plateau, holding onto Zoro and Law, and you leaped right after them, grabbing your dress so no one below would see your underwear. You let out a small laugh, momentarily reminded of Brook.
You all landed on the ground, only to find yourselves surrounded by Doflamingo's henchmen. You bit your lip in frustration—this would've been the perfect time to use your pistols, but you didn't have them. Law was now slung over Luffy's shoulders and groaned in irritation.
"The first thing I'm gonna do when I get out of these cuffs is strangle you, Straw Hat." You and Luffy snickered.
"This isn't a good spot!" Luffy exclaimed, eyeing the enemies closing in. Zoro rested his hand on his sword's hilt.
"Honestly, the whole damn country is our enemy right now. Doesn't matter where we go—it's all bad," he pointed out, and you nodded.
You all started running, but before you got far, a hand shot out from the ground, grabbing Luffy's ankle while a massive man came crashing down toward him. Luffy stretched his body to avoid the hit, but a young man wearing a horned hat and high heels attempted to kick him.
Before he could land the strike, you stomped on the hand holding Luffy, yanking him out of the way. At the same time, Zoro kicked the kid into the exact spot where Luffy had just been—taking the hit in his place.
You kept running, but now soldiers were firing at you. Raising your hands, you summoned roots from the ground, making them burst up at their feet—tripping them up and breaking their weapons. Meanwhile, Zoro slashed incoming bullets out of the air.
"Enough with these noisy guns! No matter how much you shoot, you won't hit them."
Ahead of you, the old man from the betting house appeared.
"It's the admiral..." Zoro commented, drawing his sword.
Zoro attacked, but the old man deflected the strike with his blade as the ground suddenly began to shake. You looked up, watching as a mountain of stone took the shape of a man.
"Now, I will deal with all those who oppose my family!" the giant declared, and you widened your eyes in shock. His voice was... ridiculous! You struggled to hold in your laughter.
"Ahahaha, his voice...! Hahahahahaha, his voice doesn't match at all!" Luffy burst out laughing, pointing at the giant. The henchmen firing at you yelled at him to stop laughing, clearly worried, but he only laughed harder. "Hahahahahaha, what a ridiculous voice!"
"Straw Hat, shut up! Lord Pica is very sensitive about his high-pitched voice! If he loses control like this...!!" the henchmen shouted, but it was impossible not to laugh. You clutched your stomach and burst into laughter, unable to hold it in.
The massive stone figure began preparing a punch, and everyone started running—including you.
"You guys should... stop mocking... the enemy... haha..." Zoro said, trying to hold back his laughter, failing miserably.
"Even you're laughing, Zoro!" you pointed out, running beside them.
Pica slammed his fist into the ground, and the shockwave sent all of you flying. You sat up, massaging your backside after landing hard.
"Ah... Cabbage!" Luffy called out, and you noticed the blonde nearby. He raised his sword, aiming to strike Law, who was still on the ground. You quickly enveloped your hand in Haki and caught the blade.
"Give me back my popularity, Worst Generation!" Cavendish growled when you grabbed his sword. "And you... You're the gunslinger Gyldepts, aren't you? I can't believe such a beautiful woman also stole my fame...! What an inner conflict...!" he lamented as you pushed his sword away and stood in front of him, shielding Luffy and Law.
"I can't believe you still hate me!" Luffy pouted, arms crossed over his chest.
"No, I don't want to hurt you anymore. One of your nakama, God Usopp, saved me. I'll never forget that."
"Haha, it's nice to hear one of my crew getting praised," Luffy scratched his head, blushing. You blushed too—sometimes, he was just too damn cute for you to handle.
"Ah, Trafalgar! I found this hat in front of the Colosseum," Cavendish said, holding out Law's signature hat. "Why don't you stretch your neck so I can return it, huh?" he taunted, raising his sword in his other hand.
"Like hell, he's falling for that!" You snatched the hat from Cavendish and gently placed it back on Law's head. Smiling at him, you patted the hat, while he pouted and looked away, muttering something under his breath.
"Well, I don't have time to waste on this. As a service to you all, I've decided I'll take Doflamingo's head myself. You lot can go hide somewhere."
"Are you crazy? I'm the one who's going to kill him! I owe Rebecca—she paid for my lunch!" Luffy declared confidently, and you shook your head.
"You're in this because of food!?"
"Cut it out, everyone knows you just want the fame of taking down Doflamingo!"
"Fame? Are you nuts?"
"Think about it—if I take down a cruel villain like Doflamingo, the newspapers will never ignore me again!"
Luffy just waved Cavendish off, and you all kept walking, leaving him talking to himself.
But the peace didn't last long—soon, you ran into Don Chinjao and his two grandsons.
"Oh, come on...!" you groaned, stepping in front of Luffy. "We don't have time for this now, old man!"
"Calm down, young lady! I have no grudge against Garp's grandson anymore. Our goal from the start was to end Doflamingo's business."
"Looks like you guys made a bunch of weird friends," Zoro commented. You crossed your arms, nodding.
"That colosseum was FULL of weirdos."
"We've decided to take Doflamingo's life, as payment for God Usopp saving us!" the old man added.
"No way! That's my job!" Luffy rested a hand on his hip, still carrying Law over his shoulder.
The ground trembled, and a shadow loomed over you all. Looking to the side, you saw the giant from the arena approaching.
"Straw Hat! Forget everything that happened in the Colosseum. In the name of Elbaf's warriors, I will kill Doflamingo and repay my debt to you!"
"Oh, great, another one!" You sighed, rubbing your forehead.
Luffy turned to the crowd of fighters gathering around him. "Alright, listen up, you bunch of weirdos! Here's the deal—I'M the one who's gonna kick Mingo's ass!"
Notes:
Till next week ❤💜❤
Chapter 74: The key
Notes:
(See the end of the chapter for notes.)
Chapter Text
You didn't understand what had happened, but before you knew it, you were riding the bull in the arena, holding onto Law, still handcuffed, with Zoro behind you and Luffy in front, guiding the animal. Meanwhile, all the coliseum fighters had decided to join forces with you to take on Doflamingo's army, hoping to kill him and escape the cage alive.
"Luffy...! Here he comes again!" you shouted, pointing upward as a massive stone hand came crashing toward you.
Just then, old man Don Chinjao and King Elizabello of Prodence rushed forward. Combining their most powerful techniques, they shattered the enormous stone hand.
"Whoa... They're pretty strong," you muttered.
"Yeah, but they need to stop following us! Get lost, you guys!"
"Shut up, savior!" they yelled, still running alongside you toward the field of flowers, where the castle had now relocated.
Every time Doflamingo's henchmen appeared, they were quickly taken down by the army you had unintentionally assembled. Soon, another giant hand from Pica rose against you, and once again, the duo prepared to destroy it.
"He can regenerate the arms we destroy! If we don't figure out how his ability works, we're just wasting our energy!" Zoro shouted from behind you.
"Zoro, Gyl, hold on! I got an idea! Shishishishi!" Luffy called out, just as you barely dodged the crashing stone hand. He made the bull leap, and Zoro wrapped an arm around your waist to steady himself while you grabbed Law's coat, keeping him from falling.
Now, you were riding along the length of the enormous stone arm, climbing the colossal figure. Pica's head turned toward you, realizing you were scaling his body. He regenerated his lost arm and prepared to strike, but before he could, Luffy launched himself off the bull.
"Gomu Gomu no... Grizzly Magnum!" he roared, slamming his Haki-infused fists into the giant's face, shattering its head completely.
"Luffy! That wasn't the real head—it was just stone!" you shouted from atop the bull.
"This whole body is just a statue! The real one is over there!" Zoro called out, unsheathing his sword.
Looking ahead, you spotted Pica's real body, and the bull was charging straight toward him. He raised his sword, ready to strike. There was no way you'd stop in time—the bull was going to be sliced in half for sure.
But just as he swung, Luffy dashed past, grabbing the bull with both hands. With a mighty leap, he avoided the attack.
"We're pushing forward!" Luffy declared, landing back on the bull. You held onto Law once more while Zoro jumped off, intercepting another of Pica's attacks.
"Make sure you come back in one piece, Zoro!" you called out.
He turned slightly, flashing you a half-smile.
"You too!"
*****************
"Hey, gunslinger, can you sit me up, please?" Law suddenly asked you. You pulled him up, propping him against you.
He turned his gaze to Luffy.
"Hey, Straw Hat... I need to do this now. Now I understand that we must survive..." He looked at both of you and sighed. "I've made up my mind. My original plan was to take down Doflamingo indirectly, but to be honest... I have my scores to settle with him too!"
Your eyes met Law's for a fraction of a second.
"I know I lost before, but this time, it's for real!"
You and Luffy exchanged glances.
"Thirteen years ago... the person I loved most in this world... was killed by Doflamingo!"
Your eyes widened in shock, and you stared at him intently.
"His name was Corazon, and he was one of the top executives of the Donquixote Family."
"What?! One of his allies?" Luffy asked, turning to you both.
"Yes... The man who saved my life... and Doflamingo's younger brother!"
The moment Law said that your breath caught in your throat. For a few seconds, it felt as if the world had stopped.
Once again, you saw that same strange silhouette beside Law—feathers resembling Doflamingo's coat, and the scent of cigarettes and strawberries flooded your senses. And then you understood. That presence following Law... it had to be him. It could only be him.
You blinked several times, and suddenly, everything seemed normal again.
"(Y/N), you okay? Hellooo?" Luffy waved a hand in front of your face, snapping you out of it.
"I—I'm fine. Sorry, I spaced out for a second."
"That was weird. Your eyes went all blank like you weren't even here," he said, leaning closer. "You sure you're okay? That bastard Mingo didn't do anything to you, did he? If he did, I'll kill him twice!"
"I'm fine, Captain. Don't worry!" you reassured him as the bull finally reached the first level of the flower field.
Looking around, you spotted more of Doflamingo's weaker henchmen waiting for you. Luffy wasted no time, rushing ahead and landing consecutive blows, quickly taking down the enemies in front of you.
You grew even more frustrated at not having your pistols—if you did, you could've handled most of them with ease.
"Luffy, look over there!" You pointed ahead and saw Cavendish, followed by the others.
"What?! How'd they get here before us?! I thought we took a shortcut! Damn it, they're gonna reach Mingo first! Ucy, speed up!" Luffy shouted, and the bull seemed even more excited, charging forward eagerly into the chaos.
You held onto Law's coat tightly with one hand while gripping one of Ucy's horns with the other to keep yourself steady.
Just as Doflamingo's henchmen raised their weapons to fire at you, another man appeared, taking them down.
"Huh? Who are you?"
"Already forgot me, Straw Hat? I was in the coliseum. I'm Kelly* Funk!"
(Just for fun: My real name is also Kelly :P But I'm nothing like that idiot, haha. And, of course, I'm a woman xD)
"I was saved by God Usopp too! Come, I'll help you get through! I found a passage that leads straight to the sunflower field!"
"Really? That's awesome!" Luffy exclaimed confidently, and you all followed the man to the entrance of the tunnel.
"Just go through here, and don't worry—I'll guard the entrance!" he declared as you entered.
"Hey, Straw Hat, when are we gonna do something about these cuffs?" Law asked as the bull carried you deeper into the tunnel. "Don't tell me you plan to face Doflamingo without taking them off first?"
"Don't worry, it'll be fine!" Luffy grinned.
Law looked furious. You chuckled.
"How can you be so sure?! And you—stop encouraging him to be so sure!" Law snapped at you, and you just shrugged. "We need to get back to the plateau and find the key! If we don't win this fight, we're dead!"
"Let's go, Ucy! To the sunflower field!" Luffy shouted, completely ignoring Law's concerns.
You laughed—until you heard Law's Den Den Mushi start ringing. Reaching into his pocket, you pulled it out, but your captain quickly snatched it from your hands and answered.
"This is Luffy, the man who's gonna be the King of the Pirates!"
"Luffy, it's me, Robin! We're at the plateau where you were earlier. Where are you now?"
"We're in a tunnel leading to the sunflower field!"
"Ah, that's on Level 4. Viola found the keys to Traffy's cuffs!"
"What?! Seriously?" Law shouted, stunned. You simply crossed your arms. Things always seemed to work out when Luffy was involved.
"Hey, Robin! How are you gonna get them to me?"
"Hello! I'm Leo from the Tontatta Tribe!" a small voice chirped from the other end. "I'll bring the keys to you along with Rebecca, the parrot man, and Robinland!"
"We'll meet up at Level 4! In the sunflower field!"
"How are you guys gonna get here?"
"I'll explain later—see you there!" Robin hung up.
"See, Traffy? You worry too much!" You playfully tapped
his head.
"There was no way you could've predicted that! You just got lucky!" he grumbled.
"Super lucky!" Luffy said confidently.
Notes:
See you next week 💜❤️💜
Chapter 75: Taxi
Notes:
(See the end of the chapter for notes.)
Chapter Text
"See? I told you everything would work out!" Luffy said with a big grin as you rode deeper into the tunnel. The bull slowed down as the place gradually started filling with water.
"That was just dumb luck, you idiot! And by the way... what the hell is wrong with this place?" Law asked, frowning.
"Shit! There's no way out!" you yelled, realizing the tunnel just ended. "It's a fucking dead end — and we're almost underwater!"
"You thought there was a secret passage here?" a voice echoed behind you. You turned around slowly, spotting a familiar silhouette walking toward you.
"Doflamingo?!" Luffy shouted in disbelief.
"Looks like you're having trouble with those cuffs, Law."
"What the hell are you doing here?!" Luffy roared, stretching his arm toward the man to punch him. Doflamingo casually swatted it away with a Haki-coated slap.
"I came to save you~ You guys fell for such a dumb trap. Did you seriously think there was some hidden shortcut here?" he chuckled, moving his fingers. Suddenly, the bull let out a loud cry.
"Ucy?!" Luffy gasped as invisible strings wrapped around the bull, bringing it — and you guys — crashing down. The moment Luffy hit the water, he immediately weakened.
"What a pathetic sight. Like this, anyone could kill you," Doflamingo said coldly, his smile fading.
You yanked Luffy and Law out of the water, laying them on top of the bull, and sprinted toward Doflamingo. Since you weren't a Devil Fruit user, the water didn't affect you.
You launched a flurry of attacks, dodging the nearly invisible threads he kept trying to snare you with.
"You're such a pain in the ass, woman!" he growled, though the smirk returned to his face as he dodged easily, matching your pace. He stepped back, chuckling. "Seems like you've managed to gather some allies even in a hellhole like this. I've admired that skill of yours since Marineford — but it's such a letdown knowing the owner of that talent is such a fool. I'm honestly shocked you picked him, Law. As a kid, you were ruthless. Smarter. What the hell happened to you?"
"Shut up! I never wanted to become anything like you! I was saved!" Law snapped, and you quickly stepped between them.
"And you, Gyldepts?" Doflamingo sneered, taking a step closer. "You have so much potential — you could turn the world upside down. And yet you're wasting it, following this idiot around?"
He raised his hand to attack. "Tell me, Law, if you're not a coward, why are you gonna die like one?"
As he moved, you rushed forward. Sliding across the ground, you planted your hand and pulled sharp, blade-like roots from the earth, striking him with lightning speed. You nearly sliced him in half, but instead of blood, you saw threads. His body unraveled and fell apart.
"Shit, another clone..." you muttered, then hurried back, dragging Luffy and Law fully out of the water.
"Phew, thanks (Y/N)!" Luffy said with a huge, relieved grin.
"You Devil Fruit users are nothing but trouble..." you muttered, scanning the area. "We gotta get out of here."
"I've got an idea!" Luffy said, grinning wildly — and you already knew it was probably something stupid.
*****************
"Elephant Gun!" Luffy roared, smashing a giant crater into the floor. You all burst through it, landing right into Level 1, where the place was absolute chaos.
You all started running, with Luffy carrying Law like a ragdoll on his back. "Mingo! I'm gonna kick your ass!" he shouted as you made your way toward the palace.
Then you heard the galloping of a horse behind you.
"Quick! Hop on!" Cavendish yelled as he rode by, and you all scrambled onto the horse.
"Strawhat! I'll slash the wall and make a path! We're heading straight for Level 3!" Cavendish shouted.
"And we're gonna crush everyone in the way!" Luffy shouted back, just as you felt extra weight behind you. You turned and realized someone else had hitched a ride.
"Wait, there are too many people here!" Cavendish yelled.
"Oh, soldier, I've been looking for you!" Luffy said cheerfully.
"I just followed the trail you guys made!" the soldier explained.
"I don't care if you're an ally! This horse can barely handle two people and one lovely lady!" Cavendish shouted, shooting a glance your way.
"We're heading to meet Rebecca!"
"What?! She's with the enemy lines?! How could you let that happen?!"The soldier shouted angrily. You couldn't help but chuckle a little — for a second, he reminded you of your father. You shook the thought away — not the time to get sentimental.
"She's meeting us at Level 4, at the sunflower field."
"She's on the prisoner list!" he snapped.
"Relax, she's with one of my crewmates!" you said. "But hey, why are you pushing so hard against the enemy like this?"
"Are you guys even listening?! My horse can only gracefully carry two people and a beautiful lady!"
"I don't care what happens — among the top officers of the family, there's someone I have to take down with my own hands!" the soldier declared fiercely. You caught the look in his eyes — pure determination, no hesitation.
"You're not planning on dying, are you?" you asked quietly.
"Of course not! In my human form, I won't lose!"
"Good. We don't want Rebecca becoming an orphan... again," you said, flicking his forehead lightly. He flushed in embarrassment. "Don't die, alright?"
"Yes, ma'am! I won't die!"
"None of that matters — someone needs to get off!" Cavendish grumbled.
"Why don't you get off then?" Luffy asked, laughing.
"Are you crazy?! It's MY horse!"
"Hey, watch out, the road's ending!" you interrupted sharply.
The horse leaped, and you all landed on a new level, packed with enemies. But luckily, some of the fighters from the coliseum were there too.
They were fighting together now, clearing a path for you.
"Keep going, Strawhat! We'll hold them back!" one of them shouted.
"Whoa, what are you guys doing?!" Luffy called out.
"This is WAR, kid! If we don't work together, no one's getting to the top — we'll all die!"
"It's our mission to get you up there!"
"Cavendish, take them through this path! Don't stop for anything!" another fighter yelled.
"I'm not a damn taxi, you know!" Cavendish yelled back.
"We either win this fight or we die! We're betting everything on you, Strawhat! Now GO!"
Notes:
See you all next week ❤💜❤
Chapter 76: Barrier
Notes:
(See the end of the chapter for notes.)
Chapter Text
"This whole 'Birdcage' game is a total sham!" Cavendish yelled as you guys pushed your way to the next level. Doflamingo's henchmen were doing everything they could to stop you, but the Coliseum fighters had your backs, holding them off as you moved forward.
"As soon as the world finds out about his weapons dealings, Doflamingo's gonna kill everyone! He'll do whatever it takes to keep the truth from getting out! Right now, this island's cut off from the outside world. If we just sit around hoping for a miracle, we're all dead. Our best shot is to take Doflamingo's head! That's the only way we're getting out of here alive!"
You glanced at him and gave a small nod. A chill ran down your spine—your secret was tangled up in this, too. That lunatic had to die.
"Doflamingo's always one step ahead of everyone, but this time, he messed up!" Cavendish continued. "He gathered the craziest, strongest guys from all over the seas in that coliseum! There's no way we're losing now! Plus—I'm the one who's gonna take his head!"
"Shut up! I'm the one who's gonna kick his ass!" Luffy shot back.
"Oi, Straw Hat! I said he's mine!" Law barked.
"Appreciate the enthusiasm, but leave him to me," Kyros, the toy soldier, jumped into the conversation too.
"Men are so complicated..." you sighed, crossing your arms. "Weren't you after one of his executives, Kyros?" you asked, raising an eyebrow.
"I am," he replied. "But this is personal, too. I need to return the kingdom to King Riku. I owe him ten years of my life."
"If we're talking about old grudges, mine's been brewing for thirteen years!" Law muttered, scowling.
"Oh yeah? Well, I've hated him for thirty years!" Luffy blurted. You couldn't help but laugh.
"Idiot, you're not even thirty!" Cavendish shot back. "Anyway, we made it! This is the third level!"
"Alright, now we just gotta make it to the fourth and—" Luffy started, but then all of you froze, taking in the sight around you.
"What the... what are those giant puppet things?"
"Watch out!" you started, but it was too late. One of the massive dolls lunged toward you, moving way faster than it had any right to at that size, and nearly crushed the horse's skull with one bite.
"Shit! No—horse! You bastard...! Gomu Gomu no... Jet Pistol!" Luffy yelled, punching the puppet and blasting it away with a hole straight through its stomach.
You all scrambled off the horse as it collapsed to the ground, whimpering in pain.
"Hang in there, buddy..." Cavendish muttered, stroking the trembling animal.
But to your horror, the puppet was getting up again.
"How is it still moving with a hole in its gut?!"
"You hurt my horse, you bastard...!" Cavendish snapped, slicing the puppet down with one swift, graceful slash. You, Luffy, and the soldier took battle stances.
"Damn it... if I didn't have these damn cuffs on..." Law muttered.
You stepped forward. "Leave this to me," you said, touching your fingertips to the ground. "Earth, rise!"
Thick, tree-like roots erupted from the cracks in the ground, wrapping around the puppets and squeezing them tight. You stood up, clenching your fists slowly. The crunching sound was like bones snapping until the puppets finally dropped to the floor, motionless.
"Man, (Y/N), every time you do that, it's so freakin' cool!" Luffy cheered, clapping you on the back. The others stared for a moment, especially Law, but didn't say anything.
"Hey, something's falling..." Luffy pointed upward.
You looked up just in time to see something, or rather, someone, falling from the sky. Two people crashed onto the fallen puppet, and a third landed lightly in front of you.
"Robin!" Luffy shouted, relieved. "And hey, it's the parrot guy!" he added, spotting the green-haired figure getting to his feet.
"Ah, it's Barto," you muttered, folding your arms. The man blinked in shock when he saw you.
"You... You were in the coliseum... under the name Eddie, right?" His eyes darted around, spotting Luffy next. "Luffy-senpai!" he gasped, dropping to his knees before looking at you again.
"No way... If you're with him... I thought you looked familiar! The way you walk, swinging your hips... I saw it two years ago! When the Marineford War was broadcast...!" Tears welled up in his eyes.
"You're (Y/N) Gyldepts! Captain of the Worst Generation! You saved Luffy-senpai's life at Marineford!"
He started bawling, grabbing your hand and pressing it to his tear-soaked face.
"You saved our boss! You're a living goddess! Thank you for existing!"
Your eyes widened, completely thrown off by the nickname.
"H-Hey! What the hell kind of title is that? I'm just a normal person!"
"You're an angel sent from heaven to protect our leader! You're amazing! I love you!" He kissed the palm of your hand and kept crying at your feet.
"What the hell...?" You flushed bright red in embarrassment.
Luffy quickly walked over and dragged you away from Bartolomeo.
Meanwhile, the third person who had fallen stood up—it was an enemy officer.
"My name's Gladius. And I'm gonna wipe the floor with you bastards!" he snarled.
Robin immediately stepped forward, and Bartolomeo moved beside her.
"(Y/N), get Luffy, Traffy, and the soldier out of here! Head for the fourth level! Rebecca's waiting for you there with the key to Traffy's cuffs! We'll handle things here!" Robin ordered.
"You got it! Be careful, Robin!" you shouted back, helping Luffy sling Law onto his back.
"Don't worry, Luffy-senpai, Lady (Y/N)! I'll protect Robin-senpai with my life!" Bartolomeo cried, full of spirit. You gave him a small, encouraging smile.
Suddenly, cannonball-like projectiles came flying at you from the enemy side. Bartolomeo crossed his fingers and popped up a barrier just in time to block them.
"Whoa, that's awesome!" Luffy said, impressed, making Bartolomeo nearly melt from happiness.
"Barrier Ability: Stairs!" Bartolomeo shouted, twisting his barrier into a stairway that shimmered like glass, leading up toward the next level.
"Yeah! That's perfect! Thanks, parrot guy!" Luffy cheered. Bartolomeo turned away, too overwhelmed to even look at him.
"Thanks, Barto~," you said with a quick grin, giving him a light tap on the back before running up the stairs.
The soldier and Luffy (with Law still slung over him) followed you. Cavendish, however, stayed behind.
"Cabbage, aren't you coming?" Luffy asked, glancing back.
"My beloved horse was hurt here. I'm not leaving until I get revenge!" Cavendish said firmly. "Go ahead, I'll hold them off!"
More cannonballs flew at you as you climbed, but Bartolomeo threw himself in front of them, taking the hit to protect the stairs.
"Barto!" you shouted, pausing, but the soldier grabbed your arm, dragging you forward.
You kept running, not looking back, and finally, you saw them. A field of sunflowers.
You had made it to Level 4.
Notes:
Till next week 💜❤️💜
Chapter 77: Doodles
Notes:
(See the end of the chapter for notes.)
Chapter Text
You were running through the sunflower field when you spotted a tall figure standing in the middle of it. Just below that person, moments away from death, was Rebecca. Before any of you could react, the soldier moved faster, blocking the incoming strike.
"You think I'll let you take another member of my family?!" he roared as you closed the distance. That's when you noticed a key lying on the ground—and quickly grabbed it.
You pulled Law off Luffy's shoulders, twisting the key until the cuffs clattered to the ground.
"I'm sorry, Rebecca. I could do so little for you while I was just a toy. All I could do was teach you how to fight. You were just a sweet little girl, like your mother... But that ends today. You won't have to fight anymore."
"What's that supposed to mean, Kyros?" the executive sneered, pointing his sword at the soldier.
"It means I'm here to settle the score."
"Ah, finally free!"
"Lucy!" Rebecca called. When she turned, she saw the three of you standing there—Law finally free from his shackles.
"Sorry, but it looks like I'll be busy here. Think you can handle Doflamingo?" Kyros asked, eyes locked on Diamante.
"Of course we can!" the three of you said in unison.
"So you'll take him, Kyros?" you asked, glancing up at the royal palace looming ever closer.
"Leave him to me."
"Hey, Straw Hat, gunslinger—let's go find Doflamingo."
"Let's go!" Luffy clenched his fists, and you nodded.
"I won't allow it!" Diamante barked, furious at being ignored.
"Your opponent is me!" Kyros stepped in front of you. Luffy crouched next to Rebecca.
"Glad you finally got to meet your dad," he said with a huge grin. Rebecca bit her lip and nodded hard. You patted her head with a small smile.
"Thanks for the key—we owe you one!" you told her, grabbing Luffy's hand as you and Law sprinted toward the castle.
"Lucy... are you going to defeat Doflamingo?" she asked, uncertainty written all over her face.
Luffy adjusted his hat. "My name's not Lucy. I'm Luffy—the man who's gonna be King of the Pirates! Don't worry!"
"How insolent! I won't let you reach the royal palace, you traitors!" Diamante swung his sword, his Devil Fruit power sending a direct strike toward you. Before you and your captain could react, Law grabbed Luffy's arm and wrapped his other arm around your waist.
"Room!" he shouted—and in an instant, you were somewhere else.
You looked around. "The palace courtyard..."
"Your power never stops surprising me!"
"Yeah, but it wears me out... ah..." he groaned, holding out his hand to you.
"Bullets... but not seastone," you noticed.
"He wouldn't dare kill me—not until he gets what he really wants," Law said darkly.
Footsteps echoed behind you. A small child was approaching, crying, carrying a bowl of berries in her hands.
"Who's this kid?" Luffy tilted his head.
Law shrugged. You frowned.
"What's a kid doing here alone?" You took a step back, which only made her cry harder.
"You made her cry, (Y/N). You're mean," Luffy chuckled, and you rolled your eyes. "Those berries look delicious..." he added, drooling.
"If I give you some, will you help me find my parents?" she asked with a painfully cute expression. Law pulled his hat down to hide his face while Luffy nodded. She reached to feed him a berry when you felt something approaching fast. Not a person, but an object.
It flew through the courtyard window straight at you.
It was a drawing. And it looked like...
"KYAAAAAAAAAAAH!" the girl screamed, tossing the berries into the air before fainting on the spot. Some of Doflamingo's goons rushed in to help her.
"Oh no, Sugar fainted again!" one of them yelled.
"Sugar? So she's the one turning everyone into toys?! She almost—almost got us!" you exclaimed, then glanced at the wall where the drawing had landed. "Hey, Captain, this looks like something you'd draw of Usopp."
Luffy leaned in, hand on his chin, while Law took down the goons with a single strike.
"Haha, you're right! It's ridiculously ugly!" Luffy laughed, and you sighed.
"That was close. Guess long-nose just saved us," Law remarked, joining you.
"Our sniper's reliable, Tral," you said, patting his shoulder.
"Now..." you looked upward.
You ran, climbing flight after flight of stairs, until you reached the throne room. The place now stood at the highest point of the castle, ever since Doflamingo sliced the building trying to kill you earlier.
He sat on the throne, legs crossed, his trademark smile plastered on his face.
Beside him stood Trebol, another executive, waiting patiently. On the ground lay someone you recognized from the colosseum—Bellamy.
"We're here to take you down, Mingo," Luffy cracked his knuckles.
"Make that two of us." Law drew his sword.
"Three, actually," you added, stepping forward. This was it—the final battle that would decide the fate of Dressrosa... and yours.
Notes:
I know, I know.... I'm sorry
See you all next week~
Chapter 78: Bellamy
Notes:
(See the end of the chapter for notes.)
Chapter Text
“That’s… Bellamy!” Luffy shouted, spotting the man collapsed on the ground, bleeding. You remembered him from the coliseum.
“You’re really weird! Back in Mock Town, you were enemies, and now you’re friends?”
“The past is the past! Let Bellamy go now!”
“The winner decides. He came to me, begging to die.” Doflamingo sneered, pressing his foot on the man’s body. “That’s how I deal with things, Bellamy. Wagging your tail at me.” He grabbed the man by the hair, lifting his face for everyone to see. You could tell how badly he was beaten, his eyes filled with tears of regret. “You know exactly what happens when you fail. But you can’t change what you’re born as! And you, Bellamy, are nothing but trash!” He spat the words with a mocking laugh. Your fists tingled—you wanted nothing more than to smash his face in.
“WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT!?” your captain roared. “Bellamy’s changed!”
“Please, Straw Hat… just… kill me already.” Luffy clenched his teeth.
“LET BELLAMY GO, NOW!” he shouted, charging at Doflamingo with a kick. But the warlord only laughed, yanking Bellamy’s face into place as a shield. The blond took the blow instead.
“Damn it, sorry!”
“Are you stupid!?” you snapped, smacking Luffy on the head. “He’s provoking you, don’t fall for it!” You muttered, though you were trembling yourself. Your secret was hanging by a thread—Doflamingo had to die.
“You swore to me! We’ll lose if you let your emotions run wild!” Law shot back, glaring at you. You swallowed your fear and pride and nodded.
“Hahahahaha! My nose won’t stop running! He kicked his own buddy right in the face—he’s barely clinging to life! You really nailed him, huh, you idiot?” Trebol howled with laughter, and you nearly gagged just looking at him.
“You call me cruel, but look at what you’ve done! You destroyed SAD at Punk Hazard, killed Vergo and Monet, kidnapped Caesar, freed the toys of Dressrosa—my kingdom!—and even took down the SMILE factory! I’m so furious I can’t even stop laughing.” Doflamingo pointed straight at you. “And you still want my head! I’m sick of you. I’ll kill these two right in front of you, and I’ll torture you until you break, until you follow the fate that was forced on you… gunslinger!”
Law and Luffy both stepped closer to you, silently telling you they wouldn’t let him touch you.
“I don’t care what you’re talking about, or why you want her, but she’s my gunslinger, my friend, and part of my crew. You’re not laying a finger on her while I’m alive,” your captain growled, fists clenched.
Doflamingo sent a string clone at Law. Luffy dashed toward the real one—but before he could reach him, Bellamy hurled himself in the way, sword drawn. You sprinted in, drew your pistol coated in Haki, and blocked the strike. Strings wound around Bellamy’s body—Doflamingo was using him as a puppet.
“Luffy, he’s being controlled!” you shouted, shoving Bellamy back a few steps. He lunged again, and you stopped him once more.
“Please, miss… I don’t want to hurt Straw Hat or you! Kill me, please!” He begged through tears, swinging at you with blows you could easily parry. But you couldn’t bring yourself to attack—not after seeing Luffy’s eyes.
“You two, I don’t know what he means to you, but he’s under control! The only way to stop him is to take him down!” Law yelled, struggling with the clone.
“I can’t! He’s my friend!” Luffy shouted. Bellamy’s eyes widened, tears streaming as he heard it. And if your captain couldn’t strike him, then neither would you. You’d never harm one of Luffy’s friends even if it killed you.
“If you hit him one more time… it’ll be your end. Fitting, don’t you think?” Doflamingo grinned, turning to Law. “I’ve said it before, Law—weaklings don’t even get to choose how they die!”
“This bastard! We’ve come all this way and he’s not even fighting!” you growled, holding back Bellamy’s attacks.
“Traffy! I’m pissed!! I’m taking him down!” Luffy yelled, charging at Law.
“Idiot! What happened to our secret plan!? I told you not to lose your temper!”
“I’m ending him!” Luffy’s arm stretched back, ready to strike. “Gomu Gomu no…!”
“Traffy!” you shouted, parrying another blow and pushing Bellamy away, careful not to use too much force.
“You bastard, just wait and see!” Law snapped, raising his blade.
“Behhehehe! He’s aiming for Law!! You’ve completely lost it, Straw Hat! This guy’s hilarious!” Trebol cackled, but his grin faltered for a moment—too late.
“Room: Shambles!” Law twisted his fingers, switching places.
“Red Hawk!” Luffy roared, his Haki-fueled flaming fist smashing straight into Doflamingo.
When the smoke cleared, Law sat on the throne, legs crossed, a smirk on his face as he glared up at Trebol.
“Radio Knife!” he shouted, slicing the executive clean in half.
Notes:
Till next week love you all ❤💜❤
Chapter 79: Destiny
Notes:
(See the end of the chapter for notes.)
Chapter Text
"Liked that one, you bastard?" Luffy smirked as Doflamingo spat out blood. You stood guard, ready to keep Bellamy from interfering — or from getting hurt any further.
"Focus, idiot! We only managed some shallow cuts. That trick won’t work twice!" Law warned.
"I know all about your power, Law!" the vile executive snapped, struggling to pull his body back together, only for it to break apart again.
"Radio Knife isn’t just a regular amputation! For a few minutes, no matter what you do, your body won’t stick back together!"
"Damn it! I’m screwed… my nose won’t stop running!"
"Injection!" Law shouted, charging straight at Trebol. But then, a chill ran down your spine. Instinctively, you found yourself sprinting toward him, too.
Before Law could land his strike, Doflamingo’s haki-coated kick smashed against his sword, redirecting the blow away from Trebol. In an instant, Trebol’s slime locked Law in place.
"Full Bright!" Doflamingo roared as threads rained down toward Law, trapping him completely.
But you were faster. You’d already been moving, sensing the trap before it even closed. Sliding across the ground, you twisted your body and kicked Law just hard enough to free his legs from Trebol’s grip, knocking him out of the attack’s range by mere inches. But in exchange, the threads sliced right through your left thigh.
"Ahh!" you groaned as Law landed safely a few meters away.
"(Y/N)!" Luffy cried, running toward you — but Doffy blocked him with a brutal kick, sending your captain flying. Mid-air, he bound Luffy’s arms behind his back with threads and hurled him straight at Bellamy.
"No, Straw Hat, dodge!!" the blond shouted, his body still a puppet to Doffy’s strings as he wound up an attack against your captain.
"Luffy!" you yelled, blood dripping down your leg as you tried to rise — but failed. The blow landed clean.
"You know what I hate the most?" Doffy sneered, stomping on your wounded leg, forcing another stream of blood. "Being underestimated. I won’t kill you, but I’ll make you suffer. What I can’t stand is garbage like you even thinking, for a second, that you can defeat me! I carry the greatest, noblest bloodline in the world… I am a Celestial Dragon!"
"W… what!?" you gasped, staring up at him.
He continued, eyes blazing. "But all that glory, all that prestige my family had — my father threw it away. The four of us fell into this filthy world, living like trash! Always preaching nonsense like—"
The ground suddenly trembled beneath you. Out of nowhere, roots shot upward, launching you into the air. Rubble exploded in all directions, one chunk smashing into Doffy and knocking him back. You clutched your wounded leg as a root coiled around it, tightening like a tourniquet. Your eyes glowed with that same strange light you once unleashed at Marineford.
"Shut the hell up, asshole. Nobody cares about your sob story or how unfair life’s been to you." You leveled your finger at him. "Suffering doesn’t give you the right to make others suffer too — it just proves how weak you are. We’ll kill you and finally put you out of your misery. That’s my promise."
"How dare you, woman!?" His smile was gone, replaced with raw fury. "Interrupting me, threatening me!? I don’t need you whole! Once I’m done, I’ll rip off that pretty little arm you just pointed at me!"
"Captain!" you shouted, stretching your hand toward Luffy. Roots burst from the ground near him, slicing through the threads binding his arms.
"Thanks, (Y/N)!" He sprang back to his feet, ready to fight.
Doffy lunged at you, using Bellamy as a weapon against Luffy, knowing Straw Hat wouldn’t fight back against him. You pushed your Observation Haki to the limit, dodging the threads as best you could, but every movement drained you more. You couldn’t keep this up for long — you needed a plan, fast.
"I still don’t get it…" Law rasped, standing again. "How does a former Tenryuubito still have this much power!? You even pulled CP-0 into this!"
"Ah, Law… on death’s door and still craving answers?" Doffy sneered, halting his assault for a moment. You caught your breath, though your glowing eyes never wavered. "It’s because I know about a certain treasure… a secret buried deep in holy Mariejois. If it ever came to light, the very foundation of this world would crumble. To them, I’m a traitor who holds an impossible trump card. Even if they want me dead, they can’t risk it. They have no choice but to cooperate. And when I gained your fruit’s power, Law, I used that card to seize influence on a global scale. The Ope Ope no Mi… its power is enormous. The ability to transplant personalities… in the hands of someone greater, it holds the potential to fulfill humanity’s oldest dream. Many call it the ultimate Devil Fruit."
"Yeah, I know. Its ultimate ability is to grant eternal life — the Perennial Surgery! But it costs the user’s life!"
"Exactly. And I never wanted you to eat it, Law. Look how you’ve turned on the very family that raised you! Diamante’s swordplay, Lao G’s martial arts, Gladius’ artillery… we gave you everything you know!"
"And I’m alive today thanks to Cora. I’ll use every bit of what I learned to wipe you all out!"
"Ha! Fool!" You laughed sharply, drawing Doffy’s glare.
"See that witch, Law?" he hissed, pointing at you. "Her very existence — the fact she’s still standing here — marks a turning point in history." Law’s eyes widened as he looked at you. "I bet neither you nor that rubber idiot know what she truly is… but I do. With her power and your Ope Ope no Mi, I’ll ascend to godhood! Even the World Government will bow before me!"
"Well, first you’ll have to beat us. And honestly? I don’t see that happening." You stepped forward, placing your hand against the ground. Roots erupted, twisting and shaping into a blade, its edge sharpened with Haki. "You’re right about one thing, Doffy — maybe I am the turning point in history. But it sure as hell won’t be in your favor." You raised the blade, pointing it straight at him.
Notes:
till next week, love you all ❤💜❤
Chapter 80: Sacrifice
Notes:
(See the end of the chapter for notes.)
Chapter Text
“What the hell is he talking about?” Law asked, hurling a tower at Doffy with his power—only for the Shichibukai to slice it apart with his strings like it was nothing.
“This isn’t the time, Traffy!” you snapped, roots forming into a blade in your hand, ready to strike.
“Stop using the same tricks on me! You look like idiots!” Doffy sneered, yanking Law up by the wrist. “You never should’ve dropped your plan to pit Kaido against me. There are plenty of ways to deal with an enemy you can’t beat. But you let your feelings—and your memories of Corazon—get in the way.”
Your eyes flicked to Law. For a second, you could swear you saw that same silhouette again. It really was him. You dashed forward, forcing Doffy to dodge and release Law.
“Maybe we can’t beat you,” you growled, stepping protectively in front of Law, “but my captain will. Haven’t you taken enough from him already?”
You lunged at Doflamingo, Haki coating your blade. The impact drove him back, even if only for a moment. “Traffy, you’re drained! Catch your breath—I’ll hold him off!”
Law frowned. “Since when do you even know how to use a sword?”
“Let’s just say I picked up a few things watching Zoro train. And I really hope he never finds out. Guns won’t cut it here.”
Luffy had fallen to the lower floor, struggling to stop Bellamy without hurting him too badly. You reset your stance, locking onto Doffy again.
“He won’t kill us—he needs us alive. But he will tear us apart first.”
Doflamingo smirked, stepping closer. “You’re sharper than I like, Gunslinger. Maybe I should rip off those limbs before you get too troublesome.”
A rain of strings shot toward you. You closed your eyes, steadying your breath, Haki guiding you. With swift cuts, you shredded every strand—until you realized they weren’t all aimed at you.
“Traffy!” you shouted, throwing yourself at him, shoulder slamming into his to push him aside. You blocked most of the threads with your blade, but not all. Some coiled around your arm. Before you could blink, they pulled tight.
A sharp, tearing pain. Wet splatter on stone.
You looked down. Half your arm lay on the floor.
Your breath caught, eyes wide, your remaining hand clutching at the wound as blood poured out.
“(Y/N)!!!” Law’s desperate cry echoed—drowned out by Doffy’s laughter.
“There we go. Three more limbs to go!” Doflamingo spread his arms, laughing while your life leaked out with every heartbeat.
“(Y/N)!” Law’s voice cracked as he staggered toward you, hand raised to use his power—only for Doffy to slam him down, boot grinding onto his wrist.
“Don’t get in the way, Law. Me and her… we’re not done talking.”
You crawled toward him, vision blurring, blood soaking the floor beneath you. “Traffy…!” Your body screamed to give in, but you forced yourself up anyway. You couldn’t let him die, not like this. Again, you caught that shadowy figure looming protectively over Law.
“He’s still alive? Don’t tell me you’re ready to throw in the towel yet, Law!” Trebol cackled, waddling closer.
“Face it, Law, it’s over,” Doffy mocked. “Straw Hat won’t save you. If he had the guts to finish off that useless Bellamy, maybe he’d have made it in time. But he doesn’t. You’re nothing more than a bitter ghost clinging to the past. Thirteen wasted years chasing revenge. Pathetic.”
The blond raised a gun, pressing the barrel to Law’s chest. “Your life’s done either way. Why not make it worth something? Use the Ope Ope’s Perennial Youth operation on me. I’ll give you whatever you want in return.”
Law smirked, bloody lips curling. “Great deal. Bring Corazon back to life—and bow before every citizen of this country while you’re at it. You’re insane, Doffy. The Straw Hats have pulled off miracles just to get this far.”
He raised his middle finger, grinning. “You’ll never win. You’ll never get Caesar back. Your future is—”
A gunshot cut him off. Law’s body slammed back, his coat with “Corazon” across it exposed to all.
“These letters… Corazon… what does it mean? Your crew’s name too… tell me, what does it mean?” Doflamingo kept firing, voice rising. “You’ll never take the Heart seat!” Bullet after bullet until the gun clicked empty.
“Traffy!” Your tears blurred with blood loss as you clutched your wound.
“DOFLAMINGO!!!” Luffy’s roar shook the room. The ground cracked under his feet as he launched at the man. Fists clashed, fury against cruelty, until Luffy forced him back just enough to rush to Law’s side.
“Traffy, what happened!? Why’s there so much blood!?” His eyes darted, finally landing on you. His face drained of color. “(Y/N)…?” he whispered, hand trembling as he reached toward you. Then he snapped back to Doffy, rage blazing in his eyes.
“YOU BASTARD... I'LL KILL YOU!!”
Notes:
Till next week, love you all ❤💜❤
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