Chapter 8
Nine days have passed since the Strawhat Pirates have left drum Island, and it’s been nine days since Luffy took a bath with Zoro and Sanji was still all bent out of shape about it.
Luffy rolled her eye at Sanji glaring at Zoro as they docked at the next island, Alabasta, breathing in the familiar hot air of her home island. As the ship was docked Luffy saw two familiar faces.
Nefertari Vivi and Nefertari Cobra. The two of them were waving at the ship as it docked, smiling as they did so.
Luffy squealed in absolute delight and excitement, not even waiting for the ship to stop completely before jumping over the railing and running towards her sister and dad. She nearly slipped on the sand as she threw her arms around them, hugging them tightly. “VIVI! DAD!”
Vivi's smile grew wider as she hugged Luffy back just as fiercely. Cobra chuckled, patting her on the back. "Welcome home, Luffy," he said warmly. "It's been too long."
Deuce’s jaw dropped as he nearly fell over the rail, all but scree. “Did you just call King cobra DAD!” He yelped. “You’re a princess, Luffy! Wait, if you’re a princess that also means Ace and Sabo are princes!”
Nami’s jaw dropped as she shoved Deuce so she could get a better look. "What the hell is going on here?" She demanded, staring at Luffy with wide eyes. "You never told us you were related to the royal family!"
Luffy just laughed, squeezing Vivi and cobra one last time before pulling away, and gesturing to them. “Well, now you know. This is my little sister Vivi, and our dad Cobra!”
Sanji looks like he was about to have an aneurysm and a heart attack at the same time as Ace and Sabo joined Luffy. “Long time no see old man, Vivi!” Sabo called out as he hugged her, lifting her off the ground with his usual brute strength. Vivi giggled and punched him lightly in the shoulder. “Put me down, you brat!” she exclaimed, her cheeks slightly reddening.
Usopp’s jaw was on the floor, she could not believe her eyes. Her captain and her captains two younger brothers were royalty? This was insane! “What the fuck?! Luffy, you’re a fucking princess?!” she exclaimed, her eyes wide with shock. Luffy just shrugged her shoulders, her unbuttoned red shirt fluttering in the breeze.
“Kind of kind of not! Cobra is mine and the rest of my siblings… Stepdaddy you could say, our mom and him aren’t married, but they’ve been dating since… forever!” Luffy giggled, slapping her hand on top of her head to hold her hat in place as a gust of wind blew past them. “But the people of alabasta call me one of their princesses, so, yeah, technically, I’m a princess of the alabasta Kingdom! And Ace and Sabo are two of the princes of the alabasta Kingdom!”
Zoro, standing slightly apart from the chaotic reunion, observed the scene with a mix of bewilderment and curiosity. His stern gaze softened for a brief moment, taking in the unseen layers of Luffy's life that unfolded before him. He had never pictured her as a princess, but somehow, the revelation didn't seem so far-fetched. After all, she had the charm and the audacity to command respect from even the wildest of pirates and the most stoic of marines.
Johnny and Yosaku on the other hand, looked like they were about to pass out with the revelation that their captain was a princess, while Gin just stood there, holding Monroe and looking confused, but decided not to ask.
Vivi smirked, bump Luffy with her hip. “Hey, Luff, why don’t me, Dad, Ace, and Sabo show your crew around for a little while, huh? You’ve got a special guest at Rain Dinners. He’s been waiting for you for the past couple days to get here, and he has a very important question for you.” She winked, her mischievousness not lost on Luffy.
Luffy eyed her curiously before nodding, taking off down the sandy streets of alabasta. “Okay, I’ll go deal with whoever’s here waiting for me. But all of you stick Vivi, Cobra, Ace and Sabo! There’s a ton of critters around here that don’t know how to keep their hands nor mouths to themselves!”
Cobra chuckled, watching Luffy disappear into the crowd. He turned to the crew with a warm smile. “I assure you, she’ll be fine. She’s a tough one, just like her mother.” He clapped his hands together. “Now, let’s get you all familiar with the place!”
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Luffy ran down the familiar streets of Rainbase, weaving in and out with stalls and people, her heart racing with excitement and a touch of nerves as she ran through the streets, getting closer and closer to Rain Dinners. The smell of spices and roasting meats filled the air as she approached, and she couldn't help but feel a bit nostalgic. She had spent so much time here, growing up alongside Vivi.
Luffy slowed her pace as she ran across the bridge that ran across the motor separating Rain dinners from the rest of the sandiness of Alabasta, until she got to the door where a piece of paper with her name written on, it was tapped. The piece of paper red. “Luffy, no one, besides you and your special guest will be in Rain Dinners for the next little while so he can ask you his question. Everyone else has went off to do their own thing for a couple hours, Love Mama.”
Luffy raised an eyebrow her mother‘s letter as she plucked it off of the door, pushing the doors to rain dinners open. The place was indeed empty, the usual bustle replaced by a hushed quiet, only broken by the distant sounds of a music player playing music. The dim lighting. She looked around for any sign of her special guest, until her eyes landed on one Trafalgar D. Water Law, sitting at the bar.
“Law, what’s up? What’s so important that you got Rain dinners empty?” Luffy asked, striding over to the bar with a grin on her face. Law looked up from his drink, his sharp yellow eyes piercing through the shadows that played on his face. He was dressed in his usual cool and collected outfit, but there was something different about him tonight—a hint of excitement or perhaps nervousness in his demeanor.
“Hey, Lu, you don’t care if we have a little chat, right? I’ve gotta ask you something important.” Law's voice had a serious edge to it, which was unusual for the normally stoic pirate. Luffy's smile grew wider, intrigued by the sudden shift in the atmosphere.
“Sure, Law. What’s on your mind?” she asked, hopping onto the bar stool next to him. The music played a slow, mysterious tune, adding to the enigmatic vibe of the otherwise empty place.
Law’s cheeks flushed a light red as he stood up from his bars, downing his drink as if it was liquid courage before gesturing for Luffy to follow him. “I know no one‘s here, but I want to have the feeling of privacy for this… question.” He led her to the backroom, a place usually reserved for VIPs and important meetings. The room was dimly lit with a single candle flickering on the table, casting dramatic shadows across the floor. Luffy’s curiosity piqued, she followed without a word.
Once inside, Law turned to face her, his eyes searching hers. “Luffy…” he began, trailing off for a second before clearing his throat. “I’ve gotten Rocks’, Roger’s, Crocodile’s, Dragon’s, Gapr’s, Cobra’s, Shanks’, and even Whitebeard’s blessing to…” he trailed off, swallowing hard as he took a step closer to Luffy. Luffy didn’t move back as hr all but pinned her in between him and the wall, already figuring out what he was asking, but she wants to hear him say it.
“Yes~?” Luffy asked, her voice low and playful.
Law took a deep breath, his heart racing. “I want you…” he admitted, and it seemed to lift billion pound weight off of his shoulders that he didn’t even know was there. “I want you, Lu. I want you so badly it hurts. I want to be with you, through the battles, through the storms, and through every fucking adventure that comes our way. I want you to be my-my girlfriend.” He stumbled over the last words, feeling like a teenage boy confessing his crush for the first time.
Luffy chuckled softly, her eyes sparkling with amusement as she, somehow even though they were practically touch, stepped closer to Law. Her hands sliding up his arms, shoulders, sliding down his chest slightly before sliding back up to the side of his neck, her thumbs lightly feeling his pulse points. “Oh, you want little ol me to be your girlfriend?”
Law’s throat went dry as he nodded, his heart hammering in his chest. Luffy’s touch was electric, and it was all he could do not to pull her into a passionate embrace right there. “Yeah, I do, Luffy. More than anything.”
Luffy’s smiled, turned into a smirk as she tilted her head to the side, her curly hair swaying, and her earrings dangling with the movement. Her eyes searched Law’s for any signs of doubt or insincerity, but all she found was a deep, unbridled longing. Her own heart fluttered at his confession, and she couldn’t help but feel a surge of excitement. It wasn’t every day a pirate was asked to be someone’s girlfriend.
“You want me to be your girlfriend?” She asked again, her smile growing wider as she pressed their bodies together, her arms loosely wrapping around Law’s neck.
“Yes, Luffy,” Law replied, his voice barely above a whisper. “I want to be by your side, to support you on your journey to become the Pirate Queen. And not just as an ally, but as someone who loves you.”
“Well, isn’t that cute?” Luffy murmured, she hands sliding up to cup the sides of his face, her fingers tangling in his hair and tugging, not so gently, standing on her tiptoes and leaning in to press a lingering kiss to Law’s lips.
Law's heart raced as he felt Luffy's warm, soft lips pressing against his own. His arms instinctively wrapped around her waist, pulling her closer, savoring the moment. When they parted, Luffy's eyes sparkled with amusement and affection. She leaned back slightly, her hands still in his hair, and whispered, "You know, I got you a gift as a joke when I was in Loguetown, but I guess it fits now.”
Law blue screen for a second, before regaining his composure from the kiss. “A… gift?” He managed to stutter out, trying to keep his cool.
Luffy waggled her eyebrows to him. “Yeah, it was a gag gift. I got one for you and Dagger. Dagger already has his because I saw him at Loguetown. And well…” she trailed off, reaching into her satchel, grabbing the nameplate necklace she had bought nearly a month ago. Luffy pulled it out and dangled it in front of Law’s face. She grinned, watching the light from the setting sun catch the diamonds and make them twinkle like stars, the ‘Luffy’s’ on the necklace gently swaying.
“But I guess it’s not a joke now, huh? You want me to be your girlfriend, and that would make you mine.” Luffy, somehow, Press the bodies even closer together, her free hand sliding down Law’s back to his ass, squeezing one of his ass checks firmly. Make a shiver run up and dowd Law’s spine. “You are Luffy’s aren’t you?”
Law’s heart raced as he felt the heat of her touch, his cheeks flushing as he nodded, his grip on her tightening slightly. “Yes, I am.”
“Good, I’ve been waiting for you to realize.” Luffy whispered, nipping at Law’s bottom lip, her hand never leaving the firm grip on Law’s ass. Her thumb traced small circles, making his body respond in ways that had his breath hitching. “You’re all mine, always have been, and always will be.”
The intensity of her gaze made Law’s stomach flip-flop. He’d never seen this side of Luffy, so possessive, so... hungry. He liked it, more than he cared to admit. He took a deep breath, and something tickled in the back of his mind. The soft, low, deep, sultry voice that’s lived in his head for god knows how long seemed so… happy? Content? Thrilled? It was hard to tell. But what was certain was that Luffy’s words had ignited something within him that was primal. It had sent a shiver down his spine like a bolt of lightning, and a weight seemed to of be lifted from his chest as if his body had been waiting, begging, pleading for those words to come out of her mouth.
Law’s breaths were slightly ragged pants as he looked into Luffy’s eyes. The voice in his head that only he could hear seemingly getting clearer as she claimed him. “Yes, Yes, Law!” The voice in his head practically sang with joy. “You need her, you want her, you want her because you belong to her, every fiber of your being belongs to her, she’s the sun in your sky, she’s the reason you breathe, you need her to survive.” The voice was practically crooning in his ear, sending a shiver down his spine as he felt his body react to her touch. He could feel himself growing hard.
Luffy, noticing Law’s reaction, couldn’t help but smirk mischievously as she leaned closer to him, whispering sweet nothings into his ear that made his toes curl. “You’re mine, Law, and I’ll make sure you never forget it.” She giggled softly, her breath tickling his ear as she spoke, making him squirm slightly.
Luffy’s hands from their way to his shoulders, and she pushed him down to sit on his heels on the floor in front of her. “I’ll be a good boy and sit still for a second.” She winked at him before leaning down slightly, unclasping the necklace she was holding and putting it on Law, her eyes never leaving his. She fastened it securely, then leaned back up with a smug smile on her face. “There, now you’re officially mine. And everyone will know it.”
Her voice was playful, but the seriousness behind her words was not lost on Law. He stared at the nameplate necklace, his heart racing. He had never felt this kind of possessiveness from anyone before, especially not from someone as free-spirited as Luffy. But somehow, it felt right. Like the universe had finally aligned in his favor. He looked up at her, his eyes filled with a mix of shock and elation.
Luffy grasped Law by the chin, tilting his head up. “Oh, look at you.” She practically purred, her thumb tracing his bottom lip before slapping into his mouth. “Already being so good and obedient for me.”
The room was silent, except for the sound of their breaths mingling together. Law’s cheeks burned redder than the sun on a summer day. He knew he should be embarrassed, but the heat in Luffy’s gaze made him feel anything but. He bit down on her thumb, gently, a silent plea for more.
Luffy chuckled, pressing her thumb down on Law’s tongue. She leaned in closer, their noses almost touching. “Good boy,” she murmured.
Law’s heart hammered in his chest, his breath coming in short gasps as Luffy’s thumb rested on his tongue. He felt a strange thrill at being called a good boy by Luffy. He never knew he could crave this kind of closeness, but now that he had tasted it, he wanted more.
He sucked on her thumb, swirling his tongue around the digit. His cock know painfully hard in his pants. Luffy's eyes widened in surprise before a mischievous smile spread across her face. She knew exactly what she was doing to him, and she enjoyed every second of it.
Luffy breathed out a chuckle, moving her foot to press against Law’s hard cock, grinding the heel of her foot against his crotch, roughly.
Law let out a lewd whine as he felt Luffy's foot pressing against his erection, his cheeks flushing a dark shade of red. His hands shot out and wrapped around her ankle, gripping it tightly at he looked up at her through his lashes, her thumb still in his mouth. And Law knew he made a very luwd, and dirty image right now, but he couldn’t bring himself to care.
Luffy's smile grew as she saw his reaction, her eyes sparkling with mischief as she increased the pressure, moving her foot in slow, deliberate circles against his cock.
Law’s breath shuttered, and the voice in his head was practically singing with joy, yelling and screaming. “Yes, finally! Finally!” The voice was so loud, Law could almost believe it was coming from outside his own mind. “Fuck, I’ve been waiting for this forever! Take him! Make him yours! He’s begging for it!”
Luffy's eyes gleamed with amusement as she watched Law's reaction, her foot still grinding against his crotch. She leaned down, whispering sweetly, "You want it, don't you, Law?"
Law nodded frantically, the digit in his mouth preventing any coherent response. The room was filled with the sound of their heavy breathing and the rustling of fabric as his hips moved in sync with the pressure from her foot. The voice in his head grew more insistent, demanding action.
“Good, then get up, let’s go have some… fun in my old room.” Luffy giggled, removing her foot and taking his hand, her eyes gleaming with mischief. Law stood up, his cheeks flushed and his breath shallow, unable to believe what was happening.
Luffy grabbed Law by the arm, pulling him out of the VIP section back into still empty Rain Dinners. She pulled him over to the elevator, pressing the button with a smug smile. The doors dinged open immediately, allow them to enter. Luffy walked in, pulling Law with her, pressing the button for the 10th floor, the penthouse suite that she had once called home.
The elevator ride was silent, the tension thick enough to cut with a knife. Luffy leaned against the wall, watching Law with a predatory gaze, his breath hitched every time their eyes met. The elevator doors opened to a hallway adorned with gold leaf and velvet. Luffy pulled Law along with her as she walked down the hallway to her bedroom.
Once inside, she shoved the door closed with her foot and turned to face him. "Strip," she ordered, her voice low and demanding.
Law's eyes widened, but he didn't hesitate. He quickly shed his clothes, his movements clumsy with excitement. When he was down to his boxers, she stepped closer, her eyes scanning his body. "Everything," she whispered, her voice a seductive purr that sent a shiver down his spine.
With trembling hands, Law pushed his boxers down, revealing his erection. Luffy stepped closer, reaching out to gently stroke it. He gasped at the contact, his knees threatening to buckle. "You're so eager," she murmured, her voice dripping with amusement.
The room was filled with the scent of their desire as they moved closer. Luffy's hand wrapped around Law's length, her grip firm but gentle. She began to pump him slowly, watching his face intently as he closed his eyes and moaned quietly. His chest heaved with every breath, his body trembling with anticipation.
"Look at me," she ordered, her voice low and commanding. Law's eyes snapped open, and he met her gaze. She smirked, enjoying the power she held over him. "You're mine, always have been and always will be.”
The words hung in the air, thick with meaning. He nodded, unable to speak, as Luffy leaned in to kiss him deeply. Her other hand traveled down his body, tracing the lines of his abs before settling on his hips. She pushed him back onto the bed, never breaking the kiss. Their bodies entwined, and the passion between them was palpable, the room seeming to pulse with it.
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Meanwhile, in the realm where human cannot reach, the underworld, Yara, The God Of Life And Death, was laughing his ass off as Enma, The Demon God and King Of Hell, glares at him, and The Sun Goddess Nika, The God of all Gods, was off to the side, watching them with mild amusement as she eats a charcuterie board. The three of them were watching over the moral realm again, watching their host.
“Shut your damn trap, Yara!” Enmu snapped, his eyes still glued to the screen where Luffy and Law’s passion played out.
“Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh? Is Emmy still mad at his host?” Yara snickered, he pushes himself to his hands and knees and crawled over too Enmu.
Enmu, in question, was a literal beast of a man. He looked like a monster that had two additional heads, both of them wearing a terrifying red Oni mask that snarled with malice each, his eyes, even the ones below the only masks, all six of them, burned like the pits of hell. His six arms, shoulders, hands, fingers, and necks were covered in tattoos like more kings that each told a story and others were in a language long forgotten. His nails were long and sharp as daggers and blood red, and his face that wasn’t covered by a red Oni mask, the face that wasn’t covered by an Oni mask, The head in the middle, had a sword held in his mouth, and it had sharp teeth teeth, his teeth were razor sharp, and he had long sharp tusks on his top and bottom teeth were his canine teeth should be, his ears were long and pointed and also had the tattoos on them. Each of the three heads had two sets of absolutely ginormous horns, ones that were slightly smaller and curled slightly like goats horn, and the other set were tall, tall, tall tall as the curved slightly before they curled, both horns looked like they belonged on a dragon, not a person, and you could see his bones beneath his skin and muscles, his dark tan skin was slightly translucent enough to where you could just see his bones. and three demon tales with toughs of hair at the end of each tail. He was dressed only in a pair of black baggy pants.
Yara was a little less, a lot less, monstrous looking. Yara is tall, taller than both Nika and Enmu standing at 15-feet-tall. He has shaggy, shoulder length black hair, dark-tan skin broken by patches of elegant silky-white vitiligo, he has short horns, and sharp, long, black nails, he has gray scleras, and yellow eyes, pointed ear, piercings, and he has sharp teeth, his canine teeth are sharp and long that they poke out from his mouth, and he has the word death tattooed across his fingers. Yara was dressed in a long Furisode that is loosely draped onto his body and loosely tied around with a red obi shas, and was wearing stacks on, stacks on, stacks of the gold and jeweled jewelry, rings, bracelets, necklaces, belly jewelry, hair jewelry, Leg Chain, armlets, ankle bracelets, and toe rings.
“Don’t be too mad at the boy, it was his first time taking a bath with a girl. You can’t expect him to just cave under his feelings and swoop Luffy of off her feet like some sort of romance novel protagonist. That would be too cliché for our little plotline here, wouldn’t it?” Yara said, as he sighed dramatically.
Enmu grumbled and glared at Yara, his cheeks slightly flushed from the teasing.
“Oh, or are you upset my host got to our Nika’s host first?” Yara’s grin grew wider, his eyes gleaming with mischief as he stopped mere inches away from Enmu, their faces just an inch apart.
Enmu’s glare didn’t waver. “I am not jealous. I am...”
“So you are?” Yara teased, climbing into Enmu’s lap, wrapping his legs around the King Of Hell’s waist, draping his arms lazily on his shoulders.
Nika rolled her eyes and took another sip of her wine, watching the scene unfold with a smug smile. Nika was the embodiment of looking elegant. Her hair, eyes, and clothes are a divine white and gold that spoke of power beyond comprehension. Her hair and clothes looked like a mash of pure clouds and pure white and pure gold fire, swirling and flicking around her, as if she were in a perpetual storm of her own making. The fiery aura surrounding her was blindingly bright, making it almost impossible to look at her directly. Her eyes are a bright eerie colored pink, Red irises and they seem to emit a crimson glow, bathing whatever she was looking at in a hint of red. And her body, her body nearly looked white as it emitted a Golden glow.
"I don't know why you two are so worked up," Nika said, her voice dripping with amusement. "It’s not like it wasn’t going to happen eventually. Sooner or later mine, y’all‘s, Shenzi’s, Shi’s, Gonzo’s, Anwar’s, Dhruv’s, Eros’, Ethereal’s, and Rauch’s hosts are going to find each other and start fucking like rabbits, and fall in love, and live happily ever after. That’s just how the plot goes.”
Nika’s words hung in the air, and Yara couldn't help but snort with laughter. "You're not wrong," he said.
"But I think Enmu here is just a little salty that Zoro didn't get to claim Luffy first." Nika said, taking another sip of her wine before setting it down.
“Well, if that’s so, Emmy should be upset with Eros’ host, not mine. Luffy and Dagger have been fucking since they were 14.” Yara smirked, watching Enmu from the corner of his eye as he looked at Nika.
"Why you little—!" Enmu sputtered, his cheeks flushing. "That’s not the point!"
“I’m just messing with you, Emmy.” Yara murmured, turning back to Enmu, his hands coming up to cradle the side of his middle head. “I know you don’t like it when you think you figured out what’s going to happen and it doesn’t go the way you thought.” He murmured, pressing a gentle, lingering kiss to Enmu’s lips.
The tension in Enmu’s shoulders relaxed and he chuckled, his arms coming around Yara’s waist. “You know me too well.” He admitted.
"Well, I've had centuries to learn your quirks, darling," Yara replied, his eyes sparkling with affection as he kissed Enmu again, Yara’s tongue slipping past Enmu’s teeth, kissing him deeply.
Enmu's initial annoyance melted away as Yara's teasing kiss grew more passionate. Their lips moved in a dance as old as time.
"Centuries, huh?" Enmu murmured, his voice barely above a whisper. "And here I thought you just had a knack for reading people."
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Meanwhile, back in the mortal realm it’s the next day when Luffy, Ace, Sabo, Chopper are all standing outside the doors of rain dinners, looking utterly and completely stressed out and nervous as the rest of the strawhat pirates, Zoro, Usopp, Monroe, Sanji, Johnny, Yosaku, Nami, Gin, and Deuce look at them curious.
“Okay, all of you have to promise us not to flip your shit when you see two specific people that are a part of our family.” Sabo tried to speak calmly, his curly blonde hair bobbing as he glanced at each of the curious faces before him. “And once you see them, you cannot tell a goddamn soul, do you understand me? You tell anyone that they are here war, everywhere, there will be a war that no one can stop.”
The tension was palpable as the Strawhat Pirates exchanged glances, the gravity of his words not lost on them. They had faced danger and intrigue before, but the idea that their very knowledge could spark a world-altering conflict was a new kind of pressure. With a collective nod, they agreed to keep their mouths shut.
Ace, Chopper, and Luffy exchanged nervous glances before opening the double doors of Rain Dinners, ushering their crewmates inside. “Grandpa! Roger! Come meet mine, Ace, Sabo, and Chooper’s crewmate!” Luffy called out, her voice echoing through the grand hall. A hush fell over the room as all eyes turned to the group.
Grandpa and Roger AKA Rocks D. Xebec The, supposed to be dead, King of the World, and The, also supposed to be dead, King of the Pirates Gol D. Roger looked up and over from their table where they were playing a gambling game with a bunch of terrified, horrified, confused, and nervous pirates. They had both stopped gambling, their cards frozen in midair.
Again, here’s a little reminder Rocks D. Xebec, The king of the world, the guy that had a 7,367,100,000 berries bounty on his head, and he supposed to be dead, he’s supposed to of been dead for the past 38-years! And Gol D. Roger, the king of the pirate, the guy that had a 5,564,800,000 berries on his head, and he’s also supposed to be dead, he’s supposed to of been dead for the past 22-years! But apparently you better not dead, they’re very much so alive, and they’re thriving!
Luffy, Ace, and Sabo’s gramps, Rocks D. Xebec grinded, waving his cards around in the air before smacking them face down on the table. “Luffy, my little princess! I was wondering when you, your brothers, and your little group was gonna show up!” His voice boomed through the casino, accompanied by Roger’s boisterous laugh.
The siblings shared a look of mixed emotions: part dread, part excitement. Ace rolled her eyes at the dramatics, while Sabo remained his usual stoic self. Luffy stepped forward, a wide grin splitting her face. “Sorry it took us so long, we had to make a little detour.” Luffy said as she walked up to their table.
Nami looked like she was about to pass out with fear and shock. Her eyes were wide, and she was trembling like a leaf in a hurricane. "Is that... is that... Gol D. Roger?!" She whispered, barely able to get the words out. “And… and… and Rocks D. Xebec?!"
Ace’s eyes cut over to her, “Yeah, that’s why we told y’all to keep y’all’s mouth shut about telling anybody who you see in here.”
Gin's eyes flicked around the casino, looking slightly panicked as she leaned down to whisper too Chopper. “How exactly are those two… alive, and how are y’all related to them?”
Chopper looked at her, then back to Rocks and Roger, who were now talking to Luffy, Ace, and Sabo like they were family. “Roger is Ace’s dad, and Rocks is Luffy’s and the rest of Luffy’s siblings grandfather. And… well, they’re not dead as you can see.”
The revelation sent a wave of shock through the room. The legendary pirates, thought to be long gone, were not only alive but sitting in the same room as them. The gravity of the situation dawned on the crew, and they all exchanged nervous glances.
Sanji swallowed hard as he watched Rocks pull Luffy into a tight hug, kissing the top of her forehead. "Well, well, well, look at my little pirate queen," Rocks said with a warm chuckle that seemed to fill the room. "You're looking more and more like your mother every day."
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Usopp felt like she was going to pass out as Luffy, Ace, Sabo, and Chopper slowly introduced them to their family that was at the casino. Because apparently more than half of the most legendary, powerful, most feared and revered pirates are their family. All the way from assassin, to Lady Crocodile herself, to apparently Whitebeard as well, and a whole lot more, and some more of her siblings Gideon, Salamander, Nico Robin, they met Tuatara, and Skink again, and Shallum, Ronzino, Dawsey, and Drake. What that’s a lot of fucking sibling, and apparently Robin is going to be their archaeologist.
The atmosphere in Rain Dinners was electric, a mix of tension, excitement, and familial warmth.
Usopp’s thoughts were broken by Luffy’s hand wrapping around her arm. “Hey, Usopp, do you still wanna meet Penguin and Shachi?”
Usopp nodded, trying to push down the overwhelming emotions. Luffy’s grin grew wider. “Come on, let’s go say hi. They’re gonna love you, I promise!” She said, pulling Usopp towards one of the various bars scattered around the casino. “Pen! Shach! I want you to meet Usopp!” Luffy’s voice echoed through the room, drawing the attention of two figures sitting at the bar.
Penguin and Shachi looked over their shoulders to Luffy and Usopp, pausing their conversation. “Well, well, well, what do we have here?” Penguin chuckled, swiveling around in the swivel bar chair to face the two girls. “Who’s the cutie with you, Luff?”
Shachi sat his drink down, swiveling in his own barstool around to face the two girls, a toothpick hanging out of the side of his mouth. “Is she another one of your crewmates?”
“Yep she is!” Luffy stopped in front of them, pushing Usopp in front of her. “This here is Usopp!”
Usopp, with a mix of excitement and nervousness, stuck her hand out. “H-hello! It’s an honor to meet the two of you. I’ve heard so much about the both of you from Luffy.”
Shachi smirks, taking her hand. “The honor is all ours.” He said, giving it a firm shake, his eyes traveling up and down her form.
Penguin smacks Shachi on the arm when he notices what he’s doing. “Oi, don’t get too friendly, you’re supposed to be my boyfriend, Shachi.” He scolded him, a smirk playing on his lips.
Shachi laughs and lets go of Usopp’s hand. “Don’t worry, lovebird, I know my place.”
Luffy winks at Penguin and Shachi before scampering away, leaving Usopp with them.
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King the wildfire was going crazy, he knew he was going crazy and he… well, he’s just accepted it.
He takes a deep breath, breathing in the familiar air of Wano country, he leans back on one of the couches in his wing of the castle, trying his damnedest to ignore the soft, low, deep, sultry voice that popped up in his head a few months ago. And if he does say so himself he’s done a pretty good job ignoring it, kind of. The little voice keeps on telling him to do things, but it’s mostly telling him to do things that would betray the Beast Pirates, and that’s something that’s he’s definitely not okay with.
King rubs his face roughly with his palms as the voice whispers sweet nothings about freedom and rebellion, the seductive tone grating against his loyalty to Kaidou. He's always been the reliable one, the stoic enforcer of the Beasts Pirates, but this new... influence, it's unnerving. He takes one last deep breath before getting back to what he was doing— or well, trying to do at least.
“Yamato…” King sighed, his hands dropping into his lap as he looks at Yamato, who was sitting on the couch across from him, glaring at him like he had just insulted his mother. “Kaidou wants to consider an alliance with Big Mom, and he needs you to be on board with this, to marry one of Big Mom’s—”
“NO!” Yamato's shout echoes through the chamber, the intensity of his denial reverberating off the walls. "I will never marry into that monster's family. I'd rather walk the plank than become a part of their twisted games! Besides, I’m already engaged! Ace said he would marry me when he and his crew came back to Wano to defeat Kaidou!”
King raises an eyebrow, his gaze sharpening on the fiery youth. “Your infatuation with Ace won’t change the world’s fate, child. Love is a fleeting thing in our world. Alliances, however, are as solid as the gold in Big Mom’s treasure room. This marriage is about more than just your personal desires. It’s about power, about ensuring our survival in this treacherous sea of politics and bloodshed. You must learn to set aside your feelings and think strategically."
The only response King got in return was Yamato sticking his tongue out and blowing a raspberry, a gesture so childish it made the stoic pirate chuckle in spite of the gravity of the situation. But before he could say anything, somehow, the Voice in his head… sharp? Painful? It was like something was stabbing at the back of his eyes, it felt like as if someone with long acrylic nails was jabbing their finger into his forehead as they tried to get a point across, but instead of well, his forehead, it was his eyes, his soul, his very being. King felt like he was falling into a deep abyss, the Voice grew louder, clearer, demanding to be heard.
King takes a long, deep, slightly strained breath as he leans forward, his elbows on his knees and one of his hands coming up to cover his eyes with a wince that utterly and completely surprises Yamato. Yamato frowns, watching the way King's shoulders tense and his knuckles whiten against his forehead.
Yamato’s not quite sure what’s going on. “Is King in pain?” He thinks to himself, Yamato, for how much he and King fight and try to kill each other, does not like that thought. He’s never actually seen King in any pain before, the man is like a brick wall that laughs off cannonballs. So, to see him like this, it’s... weird. It’s not something he’s used to, not something he wants to get used to.
King’s breath stutters as the pain goes from just his eyes to his entire head like a he just got hit with a sledgehammer that gave him a cluster headache from hell. He groans, his free hand shooting up to his temple. "Not now," he hisses through gritted teeth.
Yamato's frown deepens as he watches his captain suffer. "King?" He says with genuine concern, his voice a mix of confusion and worry. He's never seen King in pain. King is the embodiment of strength and stoicism, a man who laughs in the face of danger and whose very presence commands the room.
King doesn’t answer, the voice that was once a mere breath on the wind was now screaming in his head like he was right beside a siren at full volume. The pain is so intense that he feels like his skull is going to crack open and spill out his brains onto the floor.
“King, you’re bleeding!” Yamato exclaims, jumping to his feet and rushing to King’s side.
King manages to pull his hand away from his eyes, revealing to Yamato that it wasn’t only just his nose bleeding, but also his eyes. The blood pooled around his waterline, and trickled down his cheeks like bloody tears, and It’s not just a little, it’s a lot. "It's... nothing," he grunts through gritted teeth, trying to stand. “Just… just a headache.”
Yamato's gaze narrows with concern, his hand reaching out to steady King. "A headache? That doesn't make you bleed from your eyes and nose!" Despite his own fear, there's a firmness in his voice that says he won't be brushed aside. “You need to see a doctor, King!”
“NO!” King’s voice boomed. “I said it’s nothing! It’s just a... a headache. I don’t need a… doctor!”
Yamato's eyes widened at the outburst, and for a moment, he stepped back, allowing King to regain his balance. The older pirate took deep, labored breaths, willing the agony to subside. The silence in the room was palpable, filled with the heavy throb of his heart. The crimson liquid continued to flow, painting a gruesome picture that seemed to dance in time with the candlelight's flicker.
King gritted his teeth as the voice in his head all but screamed at him. Telling him needs to stop Kaidou’s operations, that something?… no someone he needed, someone he had to protect, someone he physically needed to live, someone he couldn’t live without was going to end up on Wano Country at some Point and time in the future and fight Kaidou and Big Mom at the same time.
King knew he was going crazy, he truly did and he accepted it when he first started hearing the voice, but he never thought a headache would trigger the hallucinated voice to scream so loudly at him that he would bleed out his eyes and nose like a sinner in a religious painting. He tried to stand, his legs wobbling under him like a newborn deer's, but the pain was too much.
“QUIT IGNORING ME ALBER!” The voice in King’s head he could only hear boomed, causing him to collapse back onto the floor of the castle, clutching his head with his hands. “YOU NEED TO STOP KAIDOU! STOP HIS OPERATIONS! STOP THE SMILE FRUITS HE’S GETTING FROM THE JOKER! STOP IT!” The voice grew louder, the pain in his head increasing with each demand.
Yamato rushed over to him, panic etched into his young features. “King! What’s happening to you? What’s wrong?” he yelled, shaking him slightly, trying to get him to respond.
“It’s okay, I’ve got it,” King lied through gritted teeth, pushing himself up with a grunt. “It’s just...just a really bad headache. I need a moment. Alone,” he added, his voice strained.
Yamato looked at him skeptically, the worry in his eyes unmistakable. “Are you sure? You don’t look so good,” he said, his hands hovering over King’s shoulders.
King managed a tight smile, waving him off. “I’m fine. Just go. Go… bother the wildlife or something.
Yamato knew better than to argue with King when he was in one of these moods, but the concern etched on his features didn’t fade. “I’ll be right outside if you need anything, okay?”
As the door closed behind him, King leaned forward, resting his head on the cold ground, his hand clutching the side of his head as if to keep it from splitting apart. The voice grew louder, more insistent. “ALBER! YOU CAN’T IGNORE ME FOREVER! I AM YOU, AND YOU ARE ME! SHE WILL COME TO WANO! YOUR BELOVED NIKA! THEN WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO? WILL YOU IGNORE HER AS WELL!? WILL YOU IGNORE THE GODDESS YOU AND YOUR PEOPLE SENT CENTURIES WORSHIPPING!?”
King’s eyes squeezed shut, tears mixing with the blood that seeped from his nose and stained his shirt.
“YOUR THE ONLY ONE OF NIKA’S BELOVED IGNORE THE VOICES!” The voice in King’s head grew louder, the pain more unbearable. “HOW DO YOU THINK NIKA WILL FEEL WHEN SHE FINDS OUT ONE OF HER CONSOLES ARE IGNORE THE VOICE LEADING YOU TO HER!?”
King’s eyes snap wide open, he doesn’t know what the hell is going on, he’s in so much goddamn pain, and his mind is racing a mile a minute. Consort? One of Nika’s concerts? Did the voice just call me one of Nika’s consorts? One pf Nika’s husbands?! King’s mind is racing faster than he’s ever felt it before, trying to piece together the cryptic words that have been thrown at him like a tornado of madness. The pressure in his skull feels like it’s going to explode at any moment, and he can’t help but wonder if this is what it feels like to go insane.
But then everything stopped, and everything went black. But he didn’t pass out, he didn’t fall unconscious, it was like he was transported into a cold, black void-like-room. The pain disappeared like it was never there to begin with, and all he heard was the sound of his own frantic breathing. He waited for something to happen, but it was eerily silent.
“You Know, Alber.” The voice that King has been hearing in his head for the past couple months echoed through the void-like-room. But this time it wasn’t in his head, it was coming from behind. “I’ve never had a host, a living breathing embodiment of myself so stubborn and attached to some monster like Kaidou that I had to physically bring him into their own mind space to have a conversation with them.”
King’s heart raced as his snapped around to look over his shoulder, his eyes immediately locking onto the being with the voice that has been haunting him for months. And King’s breath stuttered in his chest. Whatever the creature was, it had his face, no, it didn’t just have his face. It looked exactly like him, but the complete opposite at the same time. The creature… no, the man had his dark black wings, his long white hair, his red eyes, his brown skin, his features, his everything, but somehow the man looked nothing like him.
The man looked at him with a smile, his eyes filled with something that King couldn’t quite place. It was like he knew something that King didn’t, something that was going to change everything. The man was dressed in a simple royal blue and gold kimono that was loosely hanging onto his body. The mans wings fluttered slightly as he walked towards King with a grace that was eerie.
"Hello, Alber," the man said, his voice sounding like a chorus of instruments playing in harmony. "I’m sorry for the pain you were in, but I didn’t know of any other way to get you to stop ignoring my voice.”
King's eyes narrowed as he tried to push himself to his feet. "Who the hell are you?" he demanded, his voice gruff.
The man chuckled, just waving his hand nonchalantly in the air up and down and King seemed to lose his balance as whatever the man just did to him made him fall back to the floor. “Now, now, I’m not going to hurt you, Alber.” The man said, sitting a few feet away in front of King, crossing his arms over his chest. “I am one of Nika’s consorts. My name is Ethereal, the god of Love, Beauty, and Warriors.”
King stared at him for a moment before his eyes went wide, “You’re a god?!” He exclaimed.
Ethereal nodded with a knowing smile, his eyes twinkling like stars. “Indeed, I am. And technically, so are you.”
King’s mind reeled with confusion and disbelief. “What are you talking about?”
Ethereal tilted his head to the, his hair is swaying with the motion. “You truly have been wholeheartedly ignoring my voice, haven’t you?” He said with a playful smirk. He leaned forward, his face mere inches away from King’s. “I am you, and you are me. We are one in the same, but also entirely different. You, my dear Alber, are the living, breathing embodiment of me here in this mortal plane. The voice you’ve been hearing, the whispers of freedom and rebellion, that is me, trying to guide you to the living embodiment of our Nika.”
King’s heart raced, his mind a whirlwind of questions and fear. “What does that mean?” He choked out, trying to sit up but feeling as if a ton of bricks was weighing him down.
Ethereal leaned back, his smile widening. “It means that you, Alber, are me. That’s all it means.” He said with a wink, before he sighed. “Devil fruits and cursed items are not what they seem, boy.” He reached out, looping his finger around the necklace King’s has been wearing for longer than King could remember. Ethereal loops one finger through the necklace, pulling it and slightly holding it out. The red tear shaped gem in the center began to glow and pulse with a bright light, casting shadows on the walls around them. “Devil fruits and cursed objects are Gods.”
Ethereal paused for a second before continuing. “Devil fruits are not what they seem because… The three types of Devil fruit, they don’t exist, they’re not real.” He let go of the necklace, the tear shaped gym swaying on its chain. “It’s all a lie, It’s all a lie the world government has made up, saying there’s three types of devil fruit, is so people don’t lose their minds and go crazy fighting over the damn things. There is only one species of devil fruit, and you heard me right, species. A devil fruit is not a fruit at all, but a species.”
King felt his heart racing, his mind reeling. “What do you mean by that?” He managed to ask, his voice sounding distant to his own ears.
“The only type of devil fruit to exist is the god fruit. Every single last devil fruit is a god.” Ethereal’s voice was low, his words hanging heavy in the air. “The classification into three types was a lie concocted by the World Government to control information and maintain order. Each god fruit holds the power of a deity within it, granting its user an ability that can change the very fabric of the world if wielded by the right person. The government didn't want everyone to know that. It's why they're so tight-lipped about it, and… when you eat a devil fruit, you just don’t get the powers… you become the living embodiment of that God or Goddess, the host of the God or goddess, you become that God or Goddess. But it’s the same way with cursed objects, if a cursed object bonds to you, you become that God or Goddess, you gain their power, you gain their name. And no, it’s not just a fruit, it’s not just the cursed object that are divine. It is the person who eats them. The world says devil fruit shows back up after the wielder of the fruit dies, but that is not true. Devil fruits will only show back up when the chosen wielder of the power is born. It is the same way with cursed objects, the cursed object will disappear, never to be found until the chosen wielder of the power is born. You don’t just become divine when you eat the fruit, or finding a cursed object, you are born divine, the fruit and or the cursed object has chosen you before you were even conceived.”
King’s eyes went wide with shock. The revelation was mind-boggling. If what Ethereal was saying was true, then the implications were staggering. It meant that every devil fruit user, every person that had a cursed object was a deity in their own right, a piece of divine power in a mortal form.
“So, what does that mean for me?” King asked, his voice shaking slightly.
“Like I said, It means you and I are the same. I am you, and you are me, we are one in the same, and entirely different. You are the living, breathing embodiment of me. And for the first time in 800 years our Nika’s Devil fruit has been eaten.” Ethereal said, his voice filled with excitement.
The room spun around King as he tried to process the information. A god? Him? It was too much to comprehend. He felt the weight of the necklace heavy against his chest, the gem pulsing with an eerie light.
Ethereal sighed, his hand reaching out to grasp King by the chin, tilting his head upwards. “I’m not saying you have some immense duty, nor a prophecy to fulfill. I’m telling you Nika is in the mortal realm again, I am you, you are me, you are one of her consorts, her protector, her soldier, her everything. But here you are, helping a man like Kaidou who’s only going to bring pain to the people we swore to protect.” He smiled so sweetly at King it was almost painful. He leaned forward, pressing their forehead together, his hands sliding to cup the sides of King’s face. “You are Nika’s, Alber. You’re a piece of her, and she’s a piece of you. It’s about time you start acting like it, don’t you think?”
King felt a warmth spread through his chest, the gem in the necklace pulsing with a rhythm that matched his heartbeat. He didn’t know what to say, the words sticking in his throat like a mouthful of dry bread. He could feel the truth in Ethereal’s words, a pull towards something greater, something more meaningful than the life he had been living so far.
“Your Nika will end up on Wano Country in a Little over two years time. Use that time helping her, help her overthrow Kaidou, help her free this country, it’s people.” Ethereal’s voice grew softer, yet more insistent.
King nodded slowly, his mind racing with the implications of what he had just learned. The thought of leaving the Beasts Pirates, of turning against Kaidou, was as terrifying as it was exhilarating. He had devoted his life to serving the Tyrant, believing it was his duty as a strong and powerful warrior. Yet, the call of destiny was undeniable, and the thought of standing alongside Nika, of being part of something so much grander than himself, was too tempting to ignore.