Chapter 1
Chapter 1 : Get help.
It had been a month since I had arrived in this world, far from my family and all that I knew. Of what I had gathered, in this world, everything was divided between the Marines, the pirates and the civilians. Some people had eaten a devil fruit that gave them supernatural powers, but prevented them from being able to swim.
I stretched and looked at the man that was accompanying me. Tall, with long black hair and golden eyes, Crocodile gave off an impression of both strength and self-assurance that would have impressed me if I had not spent a part of my life surrounded by dark wizards and vampires. I didn’t know who had had the most luck between the two of us: Myself, because I had found him as soon as I had appeared in this world and so I had been able to gain precious information to be able to survive here; or him because he was fighting against a man working for the Marines. If I recalled correctly, his opponent’s name had been Akainu. I had witnessed Crocodile’s friend, a man who could turn his body into steel, being burnt alive by a man who could control magma. I didn’t really know why I had intervened, but I had apparated near the man with a hook instead of a hand, had taken hold of his wrist and had apparated again, but this time near the forest that I had seen from afar. I had made him hide behind the trees. Crocodile had obviously not liked the travel, and I barely missed being decapitated, but after some explanations on my part, he had finally accepted the situation.
Now, both of us were on his ship, moored to an island near Dressrosa. The city where our target came from: Donquixote Doflamingo.
“How are you going to sneak in aboard a Marine ship without being noticed by anyone and take the pink atrocity with you ?” Asked my partner.
I shrugged, a small smile playing on my face.
“Don’t worry, I have my ways.”
“After all, I don’t care about what you will do to bring the imbecile with you. Our food supplies are low, so I am going to find some more food, I will let you watch out for the Marines ships and handle things.
“How nice of you.”
He rolled his eyes. He put his coat back on his shoulders and puffed some smoke from his cigar.
“Don’t get arrested while I am gone, girl, otherwise, I won’t be able to pay you back for saving my life.”
I nodded and watched him as he left the boat, his coat billowing behind him. He looked a bit like Severus like this, elegant, dignified and cold in any circumstances. I missed the potion master, well, I missed all my family. But I would have to learn how to live without them for now.
I bent over the ship’s guardrail and jumped to the ground, focusing on my magic to slow down my fall. My feet touched the grass with more softness than they should have. I dashed towards the side of the cliff from which I would be able to watch for the Marines’ ships arrival.
The sea was spread in front of me, blue, majestic and calm. The wind was stroking my face and I could feel the salty quality of the air. Now, I had only to wait. According to our calculations, the ships were supposed to pass by this area today, or tonight at the latest.
Like everyday, sat in the grass, at the top of this cliff, I cursed Castiel and his ritual that had sent me here, alone and lost, without any way to go back home. No matter how hard I thought about it, I could not find a way to go back to London, except maybe one : finding the One Piece, this treasure everyone was talking about. Surely it must have a link with magic, or at least, Laugh Tale Island - the place where it was supposed to be, would be filled with magic. I felt relieved that Crocodile had mentioned this. However, if there was one thing I had learnt very quickly, it was that I would never be able to find this treasure if I did it alone. I needed to surround myself with people who knew this area and this world; people who could fight and navigate. As such, saving Crocodile’s life had been useful as now, he owed me a life debt.
Only after some hours had passed, I could see the first Marines ships appear at the horizon. Excitement gained me at the idea to put my plan into place. I used the disillusionment spell on myself and had, as usual, the feeling that a cold liquid was being poured on me, hiding me to the eyes of the world.
There were six galleons. Three were at the front, positioned like an arrow, two were at the back, and one, the biggest, was at the centre of the formation. It was easy to guess which of these ships was holding Doflamingo captive. Now, the hardest part of the plan was to apparate on the moving ship. I watched the deck carefully, and imagined myself on it, in every detail. I felt my magic pulsing inside me, the world turned black, oppressive and filled with this feeling that I was being pressed down a pipe. Then, my feet touched the floor, the light was back, and the cries of men were surrounding me.
I was aboard the boat. I smiled and looked around me. There were a lot of people aboard the boat, armed with rifles and sabres. They were busying themselves on the deck, and I sometimes had to move out of their way to avoid colliding with them and so being discovered. I noticed a door that was leading to the inside of the ship. I went to stand next to it and waited patiently for someone to open it.
When someone finally decided to go inside the ship, I followed him and sneaked in before the door was closed. A meeting room and a ladder that was leading to the hold of the ship, and other doors. I didn’t wait before going down the ladder as silently as I could. In the darkness, I tried to find my way to the cells. Judging by the noise and smells, the nearest room, the one on my right, was the kitchen. It was unlikely that I had to go through them to find the cells. And if the kitchen was here, it meant that the soldiers quarters were not far from here. Surely, the place where the former king of Dressrosa was held captive was further down.
It took me a good twenty minutes to finally find the place where the Marines’ enemies were imprisoned. I carefully opened the door, and held back from cursing when it creaked open. I knew I had been discovered.
“Who’s there!” Cried the soldier, pointing his shotgun towards my general direction. He was far taller than me and I had very little chance to survive his bullets.
I slipped on the side and crouched. I focused on the torch that was being held by a hook. I created a movement of air, making the torch move and clinking against the wooden wall. As soon as I did, the man turned to the light and shot. I concentrated my magic on the air around him, and dispelled all the oxygen. I moved the particles, getting the carbon dioxide closer to the janitor’s respiratory system. He started to suffocate. I intensified the pressure around him and I saw him struggle to breathe, his hands going instinctively to his throat. Several seconds, maybe a whole minute? Then he rolled his eyes and fainted. I freed the air particles from my magic and got near the bars of the cell.
“An interesting power that you have here. Fufufu.” A male voice almost purred.
I could make out a man, sat on the wooden floor, his wrists and neck tied to heavy metal chains. Or was it some kairoseki ? This sea metal Crocodile had talked to me about ?
“Alohomora.” I whispered.
I heard the click of the iron door and opened it to get closer to the man. According to the pink feather coat I could see on the floor, it really was Doflamingo. But his look startled me more than what I could have imagined. He was so tall ! And his fine muscles were easy to see on his lean body, revealed by his ripped t-shirt. And those tainted glasses which were preventing me from judging his expression…
“Have you come all the way down here just to look at me? Or to kill me?”
He had tilted his head, a mocking pout playing on his lips. I ended the disillusionment spell that was hiding me from him. He turned his head towards me, and a brief air of surprise crossed his features, soon replaced by an amused chuckle.
“I didn’t expect to see someone that frail… Fufufu. What are you going to do, little girl?”
“I am here to free you and bring you on my ship.”
He sneered down at me.
“And you think I will follow you nicely?”
“And you, do you think you really have a choice? My ship will probably be more comfortable than being executed by the Marines or thrown into a jail in Impel-something, the place of death, blablabla.”
He frowned when hearing my last words, then decided to show his amusement.
“”A golden cage is still a cage.”
I tilted my head and smiled at him.
“Not necessarily. Now, you might feel a little pain, and I am very sorry. Lashlaback.”
A sharp cling resonated in the hold, while the chain holding his right wrist fell from the wall it was attached to. Two more wandless moves and he was free to move around, the kairoseki still around his wrists, but no longer maintaining to the wall. The chain around his neck had been totally broken. It was at that moment that I heard the hurried steps of the soldiers coming near the door. I grabbed both the man’s wrist and his pink coat, and imagined Crocodile’s ship. When the door opened on armed men, the world faded into black. Again, I felt this feeling of being plunged into darkness, of being unable to breathe, to suffocate… But I was not alone, Doflamingo was here and my strength was diminishing.
Then, the light appeared, blinding. I fell to my knees, letting go of both the coat and its owner. I felt exhausted like never before because of having apparated. Yet, the reason behind this was clear ; Doflamingo was taller than all the people I had apparated with before. So I had used more energy than usual. I heard him cough violently beside me, while a sun-tanned hand appeared in front of my eyes, offering me very welcome help to straighten myself. I grabbed it without the shadow of a doubt.
“When you told me to be prepared to see you arrive, I didn’t expect you to appear on the deck out of nowhere. Accompanied by a flamingo and totally spent at that. You are lucky I didn’t use my powers against you.”
Crocodile’s voice. I shrugged.
“I’m relieved to still be in one piece. Thank you for showing such self-control”.
Doflamingo was looking at the other man with astonishment, and maybe a little bit of confusion ? I couldn’t really tell.
“Why did you send the girl to save me, croco-man? You have suddenly found an interest in me? Have you succumbed to my charm? Fufufu.”
Crocodile rolled his eyes as he puffed out a cloud of smoke from his cigar.
“I didn’t send her. She is interested in you for whatever strange reason.”
“Oh and you obey orders now?”
I put myself between the two former Warlords-thingy and face Doflamingo. I was feeling stupid, standing in front of him with him being at least a head taller than me, but I couldn’t show my fears. After all, his actions were limited, whereas I could use my magic against him whenever I saw fit. And besides, he couldn’t be as terrible as Tom when furious.
“Actually, Crocodile and I have common goals, and I thought that maybe they would interest you too. I suppose that remaining in chains is not your idea of freedom, but I cannot trust you right now. You will have free access to our ship, but I won’t take away your chains until you prove yourself and show you are not working against us.”
He raised an eyebrow and leant towards me, towering over me, majestic despite his wounds; dangerous despite his apparent weakness.
“Fufufu, what a harsh deal. How can I know I can trust you not to take advantage of my powers’ deprivation? After all, Crocodile and I didn’t part on good terms at Marine Ford.”
“What interest could a carnivore find in a bit of grass?” The sand man asked with a haughty smile.
Against all odds, Doflamingo sniggered at the nasty comment.
“You mean, what interest could a celestial dragon have in a tiny alligator… and…”
”I can swear on my magic that I won't take any advantage of your actual weakness, and that I won’t attack you unless you try to hurt me or Crocodile. If I don’t abide by those rules, I will lose all my powers. I think that every pirate, from what I have understood, is interested in the One Piece. I too have an interest in what is hidden on Laugh Tale island. You can ponder on my words until we reach the next island. When we reach it, if you don’t want to join us and look for the One Piece, we will let you go, and I will free you from your chains. Do we have a deal, Sir Donquixote?”
For a moment, he seemed to weigh up the pros and cons, before showing off a shark smile that almost made me shiver. He extended his hand, to seal our deal, but instead of shaking it, he gently took it in his and held it to his lips to kiss my hand.
“I think I can survive with those terms, miss.”
Crocodile snorted disdainfully and busied himself on the deck as he had no desire whatsoever to stay near the “pink menace”. I only raised an aristocratic eyebrow and gave a mocking smile to the blonde man.
“Oh? I am not a « little girl » anymore ? To what do I owe the pleasure ?”
“If I am to stay with you, knowing how bad sandhead’s temper can be, it is best if I cooperate. I don’t want to be held captive and to be bored at that.”
He thrust his hands in his trousers’ pockets and turned to look around the ship. I could guess that seeming harmless was part of his manipulation game… There were little chances that convincing him to be our ally was that easy. I probably would have to try very hard not to fall for his manipulations while also hiding my owns.
“Maybe I should show you around before we raise the anchor.”
He let escape a small laugh and nodded, following me in the first room that we used as both a kitchen and dining room. Even if, for now, I was missing my manor’s house elves dearly, they could at least cook, which was not my case. And judging by the lack of interest Doflamingo seemed to show right now, the chances he could cook better than me or Crocodile were thin. I sighed and led the way to the living room area.
“I think it is safe to say it was not the Croco who decorated. It would have been far… blander.”
I took a critical look at the room, it was in the blue and silvery tones that I was fond of and that were representing my Hogwarts house. I found those colours much more relaxing than the ostentatious Gryffindor ones.
“I used my common room as a reference, when I was still… When I was still a student we shall say.”
His grin stretched and he tilted his head.
“A student?”
He came to stand in front of me, towering over me once more. I simply stared back at him, raising an eyebrow in an imperial manner.
“What were you studying?”
It was my turn to give him an amused grin. I gently rested my hand on his arm and got around him to reach the ladder that was leading to the lower floors.
“You will see soon enough.”
He followed me downstairs as I led him to the bedroom. On our left, stood my space with its wardrobe, its hammock and a book I had forgotten on the floor. On our right, we could see Crocodile’s things: a wooden black bed with engravings, a wardrobe and a coat rack. In the back of the room, I had installed a bed for Doflamingo before saving him from the Marines. Maybe I would have to make the piece of furniture bigger, I didn’t really think he would be that tall. Whatever, his side of the room was fitted out with a wardrobe and a bed with pink fur bed covers. I repressed a smile when thinking back on what I had used to create the covers. Transfiguration was indeed very useful.
“I can see you had my arrival all planned out. Fufufu. What a thoughtful gesture. Any other surprises, miss… ?”
It then occurred to me, not without some shame, that I hadn’t introduced myself yet. If my father heard about this lack of manners on my part… Well, he would be annoyed at me, but not overly surprised.
“My name is Lilwen Malfoy. You can call me by my first name. And except for the bathroom, a training room and a small office, I fear that I cannot offer you a lot of entertainment.”
“Let me get this straight : I am going to have to share my personal space with both of you ? All of that on top of being chained and deprived of my powers?”
Once again, he was using a menacing tone and this aura of danger was radiating from him. I cursed my small frame that made me feel even weaker than I already was. Now was not the time to feel intimidated. He made a move to grab me by the throat, his fingers brushed against my skin, but my magic had already sprung, and I threw him backwards with a powerful gust of wind. His back slammed against the floor, where he laid laughing for a while.
“I should have known that Croco wouldn’t ally himself with someone weak. Fufufu. Interesting Lilwen… Very interesting.”
I rolled my eyes when I understood he was only testing me from the beginning. Or maybe he had really tried to kill me and was making it look as if he was trying to assess my strength? With Crocodile upstairs and with his full powers at his disposal, Doflamingo barely stood a chance… So he probably wasn’t bluffing.
He stood back up and thrust his hands in his pockets, an amused smile playing on his lips. He went to stand near the door and turned his head towards me:
“So, shall we pursue this tour, Lilwen ?”
I inwardly cursed but nodded. I guided him through the three other rooms before going back to the deck with him. Crocodile was still at the helm and his golden gaze landed on me when he heard our steps.
“Still in one piece. Maybe the pink menace finally learnt what it means to be a “gentleman”…”
“If by “gentleman” you are including his attempts at murdering me, then yes, Doffy is the peak of perfection, aren’t you?”
The blonde man sniggered.
“But of course Lilwen-chan. I know how to behave.”
I rolled my eyes, then went up the stairs to stand on Crocodile’s side. I could see the blue horizon that was stretching in front of me, vast, calm and azure. I smiled a bit when thinking about Tom. He might have liked to be on this ship, sailing on the surge, taking great pleasure in the strength of the sea that was surrounding us and made us feel insignificant. If only I could be back in England. If only I could be back with my family… Instead, I was trapped in an illusion of freedom; able to do whatever I chose in a whole world that was my prison.
I closed my eyes, feeling the wind brushing against my skin. A soft and reassuring feeling that was soothing after this very tense day. I knew that freeing Doflamingo could end up being our best asset as it could as well be our worst mistake. I simply hoped to win the former king of Dressrosa’s trust.
“Crocodile, where are we heading to?” I finally asked.
The long black-haired man looked briefly at me before gazing at the horizon once more.
“Horssole Island.”
Of course, just telling me the name of the island was not going to help me to imagine our destination… I had absolutely no idea of what was on this island, and above all, I didn’t know why we were heading that way.
“In other terms?” I said.
I heard steps behind me and turned around to see that Doflamingo was standing near me. His hands were in his prisoner trousers’ pockets and he seemed rather sullen now that he had heard the island chosen by our navigator.
“A summery island. Last I’ve heard, it is protected by the Marines and it is still resisting Black Beard. Even if I know they won't last long. What are you planning to do? Do you want to get caught again and sent back to Impel Down? Are you missing your old cell? If it is on this island that you want to leave me, it is absolutely out of the question that I step foot there.” The blonde man snarled with a threat coating his voice.
The other pirate sent a mocking smile his way.
“Could that be that the great Doflamingo is afraid? Don’t worry, I am sure that Lilwen won’t abandon you there, except if it is your own choice. So I have few chances to get rid of you for now. However, this island being protected by the Marine, the chances are great that we find good information there. Furthermore, it is the next inhabited island the log-pose is indicating, so you must know that we don’t really have a say in the matter. Except if you prefer to roam the ocean for days to end up dying of starvation.”
Of course, both men had started a sarcasm contest. That was all I needed ! I was under the impression of watching Severus arguing with Bellatrix. Although Belllatrix’s ideas were less well-thought off than those of the two men I was sailing with.
I saw the newly escaped man open the mouth to talk back and decided to interrupt him.
“If I understood correctly, we don’t have another choice than to go to this island… In any case, Crocodile is risking his freedom as much as you are, Doflamingo, so it is useless to try to kill each other with your eyes. What’s more, I have a way to hide your identity if you are a good actor, so there are very few chances that things turn sour.”
He raised an eyebrow in surprise, but astonishingly, he ended up nodding.
”I hope you are not lying to me Lilwen-chan.”
“Lilwen is too much of an honest person for her own good. And she is too tactful.” Crocodile said.
I pretended to choke.
“Excuse you ! I am not a damn Hufflepuff, I am a proud Ravenclaw ! And I was raised by Slytherins. Don’t make him believe I don’t know how to lie because I can manipulate as I see fit you old scaly thing!”
“Oh… What a colourful language : “old scaly thing…” And would you be so nice as to explain to your elders what those strange names mean?”
I childly stuck my tongue and put my hands on my hips. As for Doflamingo, he seemed to be hesitating between laughing or being totally surprised. He was probably not used to seeing Crocodile crack the slightest joke.
“These are the names of three of the houses in which a student can be put when we arrive at Hogwarts, school of Witchcraft and Wizardry. “You could go to Gryffindor where the braves dwell at heart“ It means that if you love going into problems without thinking, you are welcome in Gryffindor!” I exclaimed.
“Why could I picture Mugiwara in this house…” Crocodile sighed.
“Probably because the boy is utterly stupid? Because he doesn’t think before acting? Because he is insufferable?” The other man offered.
“Yes, but let’s not forget that despite his high level of stupidity, he beat you.”
“He beat you too and if you…”
Again, Doflamingo seemed to be on the verge of strangling Crocodile, so I decided to go on with my explanations.
“ “You might belong in Hufflepuff, where they are just and loyal. Those patient Hufflepuffs are true and unafraid of toil.” All in all, they are pretty nice fellows, but they tend to follow Gryffindors students. It is really annoying. And honestly, Alix is a hufflepuff and I can’t stand him.”
I thought of the blonde man in love with knives whose only joy in life seemed to make my own life a living hell. And of course, as he and Nathanal worked for the Ministry of Magic, they had been assigned to Hogwarts’ protection during my sixth year, when Voldemort’s presence among the living had been revealed with the Triwizard Tournament.
“ “Or yet in wise old Ravenclaw you could get sorted, if you’ve a ready mind, where those of wit and learning will always find their kind.” It is obviously the best house. Even if I can admit that we don’t really tend to stick together compared to the other houses. And I was also not really well-liked by my fellow students… But Ravenclaw values are so interesting!”
“I indeed think it is a very remarkable house.” Crocodile said.
Doflamingo shook his head with a fake weariness.
“Of course Croco, you were spending our Schichibukai’s meetings reading instead of listening.”
“I was listening. I simply can do two things at once, which is apparently not your case, bird brain.”
“And before you both continue on this insults contest : “Or perhaps in Slytherin, you'll make your real friends, those cunning folk use any means, to achieve their ends,” My parents, and all my family for that matter, are from this house.”
“A house that seems more interesting than the others and that suits me well. Fufufu.”
There was a pause after his declaration during which I surprised myself at imagining the two men at Hogwarts. Dumbledore would certainly end up expelling them before one of the two men ruined the castle while fighting. I wondered what Doflamingo’s powers looked like. Crocodile had told me that he had eaten the thread fruit, which didn’t make any sense to me. All in all, I could appreciate the power to control the sand that the more tanned of the two could use. Even if I hadn’t had the chance to see him use them often yet.
“Why are you looking for the One Piece ? I thought you wanted to rule over a country…” The former king of Dressrosa asked.
“I owe Lilwen a life debt. And ruling over a country is no longer of any interest to me.”
Doflamingo looked at me, a raised eyebrow and waiting for an answer. Should I tell him I was from another world? Did I want to? Well he would certainly discover so by staying with us… Could he use this piece of information against me? Not really. He didn’t know anything about my world or about my powers…
“Very well. I think that the island where the One Piece is could have a powerful magic artefact on it. Something that could help me go back to my own world.”
“Your own world? What are you blabbering about?”
“I am not from your world. I have been thrown in it through a portal. The rest is just a matter of details I don’t want to discuss with you yet. However, I can suggest that you take a shower and leave your clothes in the corridor for me to wash them. There are towels in the bathroom.”
He looked at me from head to toe, then smiled.
“Very well Lilwen-chan. Don’t take it as an opportunity to watch my naked body under the shower thanks to your magician’s powers. Fufufu.”
He left with a last mocking hand gesture in my general direction. Crocodile sighed with annoyance. When he saw the other man disappear inside the ship, he let go of the rudder and went to sit on the guardrail.
“Are you really certain you want this dimwit as an ally?”
I knew the two men didn’t see eye to eye, and I had all the time to experience it for the short period of time they had spent with me. But I also remembered the sum on Doflamingo’s wanted poster. He was stronger than us if he had such a high bounty on his head. And to tell the truth, Crocodile and I wouldn’t be able to find the One Piece by ourselves. it was out of the question. I wanted to stay alive, thank you very much. We will probably have to recruit other people to help us too.
“He is strong. And we never know, you might end up enjoying his presence…”
Crocodile choked.
“The day we will get along, the Marines won’t be chasing the pirates anymore!”
A sweet way of saying it won’t happen. I shrugged.
“We never know. Well, thank you for accepting.”
“I don’t really have a choice.”
I left him to his own thoughts and entered the kitchen to cook our meal. I spent more than half an hour trying to cook a decent meal with a little magical help —which meant that I swore a lot against the lack of house elves.— Maybe I should have learnt how to cook other things than cakes, instead of asking the little cooks to create marvelous dishes for me. And why was it me that was forced to cook? Why not Crocodile? No, stupid question. We couldn’t cook with just one hand. Maybe now that we were three, the blonde pirate could cook instead of me… And likely try to poison us. Nope, bad idea. So I was the only option left. Great !
“So, is it like this that all your tricks work?” A deep voice asked behind me.
I started violently and gave Doflamingo a death stare, before I froze entirely. Why was he walking around with just a towel around his hips, showing his six-pack off, with his hair still wet from the shower? Merlin ! I had already had enough of the exhibitionist tendencies of my godfather’s friend who was half-angel and half-demon —a long story—, no need to add this guy to the list !
“Are you enjoying the view, Lilwen-chan? Fufufu.”
I turned red but kept trying to kill him with my eyes. What an idiot.
“No… I don’t necessarily like men twice my height walking around half naked. I prefer people who know what modesty means. But I am not sure you are familiar with the term.” I said with irony.
He showed me his prisoners clothes with an infuriating smile.
“I would have dressed if you had held onto your promise, but my clothes are still as dirty as when I left them. And seeing their style, I don’t really want to put them on.”
I castigated myself inwardly for forgetting his clothes and turned the flames off to end the cooking. I used a cleaning spell on his clothes, and then dried them with another. I observed the two pieces of fabric with focus before closing my eyes. I imagined the clothes transforming, turning into other shapes, and sporting other colours. When I heard a surprised exclamation, I opened my eyes and saw that Doflamingo was now holding a green shirt with thin threaded snakes on the sleeves, and black jeans.
“Still, I would have preferred some more … striking colours.”
I rolled my eyes again, exasperated by the man.
“I thought you liked Slytherin… Green and silver are this house’s colours. Go get changed.”
He sniggered.
“I like when you order me around Lilwen-chan… But don’t take too much of a liking to it, it could turn against you.”
He left the room and when he came back, Crocodile had already joined me to eat. Thankfully, the rest of the evening passed by without any other issue and I could finally go to sleep to rest and replete my core after all the magical energy I had used today when apparating with the « celestial dragon ». Now, I had only to hope that he would be less insufferable in the days to come, otherwise, the other man might murder him. Or I would lose patience and would throw the silencing spell at him…