Chapter Text
The clearing was dark, pitch black even, but Shanks and Buggy made their way through the darkness without much hassle. The problem was sneaking Buggy away from his new 'Buggy's Delivery' organisation. He had a lot of fans.
“Do you know how hard it is to sneak away from my crew now?” Buggy huffed.
Shanks grinned. “You seem to have found a loyal bunch.”
“They all seem to think I'm some insanely strong freak,” Buggy groaned. “It's useful for me, but I swear they're going to get me killed with their overconfidence of me.”
“You do have an escape route already sorted though, right?” Shanks asked.
“Duh, I'm not crazy,” Buggy huffed.
“And if you ever need help I'll always come-”
Buggy sighed. “I know, Shanks.”
“Your situation has gotten a lot more complicated, Buggy,” Shanks said, his brow furrowing. “If any of them find out you're a head witch they'll stop at nothing from abusing your powers at best, at worst, you'll be enslaved or get a one way ticket to Mariejois.”
Buggy winced. “I know. It's only those I trust who know. Cabaji, Mohji and Richie.”
“Just please be careful,” Shanks pleaded.
“That's coming from you? Wonders will never cease.” Buggy snorted, as they arrived at the end of the clearing, where the ritual stones had been set up.
Sanji was sat in the centre of them, meditating, while Hakuto stood by his side. They were all on Tomoboshi island, almost two years after Marineford. The kid had grown up a lot, Buggy could feel that his magical energy had grown a lot since then. It had been years since he had seen Sanji. He used to see him all the time in East Blue when he visited the Baratie for dinner, but then Buggy had left East Blue, apparently at the exact same time as Zeff's little Eggplant did.
Not so little now though.
“Hello, Buggy,” Sanji greeted, opening his eyes. “I wasn't sure if you'd get here in time.”
“Thankfully I had some help,” Buggy said, nodding to Shanks.
Sanji startled. “You're-”
Shanks smiled. “Don't mind me. I was never here.”
Sanji and Hakuto shared a look, but nodded.
“Alright, well we know what we're both here for,” Sanji sighed. “I'm finally ready to help you bring Rouge-san back from the dead. My magic has grown over the years.”
“I felt it,” Buggy said. “For somebody who rarely used spells before, you've gotten pretty far in your grimoire now, haven't you?”
Sanji grinned. “I haven't been wasting these two years doing nothing. I've learned a lot of spells, and how to improve my cooking through them.”
“Good to hear.” Buggy smiled, then approached one side of the ritual stones, while Sanji headed for the other. “Alright, I'll lead the spell, can you follow my lead?”
Sanji nodded. “Ready whenever you are.”
Buggy raised his hands and tapped deep into his magic. It flowed through him gently, as familiar as the back of his hands. “I summon the ghost of Portgas D. Rouge, bound to this earth by the blood of her son. Come to us, and fight once more, to save Portgas D. Ace, as you have done before.”
Sanji's magic flowed into the ritual stones, following the path Buggy's had already formed. The air was heavy, and warm, and Buggy could see the ritual stones beginning to glow. The clouds above them darkened, and Buggy could feel a storm brewing. He caught Shanks' grinning out of the corner of his eye as rain began to pour down, the wind picking up.
It looked like the weather was just as excited to see Rouge was they were then. Buggy couldn't help but snort at that. Bloody Portgas' and their elements. Storms just couldn't help but love them.
“We summon you, Portgas D. Rouge, and I know you're there, I can feel you, so hurry up and get yourself over here,” Buggy complained. “I'm getting soaked here.”
The stones flashed, blinding them all, and Buggy grinned.
It worked.
“Yeah, yeah, hold your horses.” Rouge's voice complained. “I had a bunch of nosy old ghost witches telling me not to be too reckless this time.”
The blinding lights died down, and Buggy's and Sanji's magic slipped away from the ritual stones, settling back within themselves. The skies kept raining down on them, but the winds gradually eased off, and the rain became pleasant once more.
“Apparently I'm not supposed to have over a hundred nature witches trying to revive me.” Rouge rolled her eyes. “Just because nobody has done it before, doesn't mean we can't attempt it. Jeez, bunch of whiners.”
Buggy grinned. “Good to see you again.”
“It's good to see you, Blue, and you too, Red.” Rouge grinned, then smiled warmly at Sanji. “And thank you, brother, for all your help.”
“It was no problem at all, Rouge-san.” Sanji beamed.
“So, who wants to catch me up on what happened these past two years?” Rouge asked.
“As soon as you tell us what happened to you.” Buggy crossed his arms.
Rouge grimaced. “That is a little bit more complicated to explain, but let's just say somebody banished me to the afterlife.”
“Someone?”
Rouge's frown deepened. “The shadow from our dreams.”
Both Sanji and Buggy paled.
“It's real?” Buggy cried.
“And it's in Mariejois?” Sanji gasped.
“And Ace is with it,” Rouge said sharply.
Shanks frowned. “The same shadow you've all kept seeing in your visions is actually real and with Ace in Mariejois right now?”
“I'd assume so, unless Ace is out of Mariejois?” Rouge tilted her head.
“Not that we've heard of.” Sanji shook his head.
“Dammit.”
“Let's go have a catch up, Rouge,” Shanks said. “We have a lot to talk about.”
“Yeah. I'd love to hear what I've missed.”