Hero of the New World - One Piece and My Hero Academia

Reader mode
Zaru said:
Devil Fruits exist by different rules than Quirks. Quirks are biological. Devil Fruits? That's CONCEPTS. Only Haki can negate CONCEPTUAL power like that. Breed "tamed" Izuku and Yamato the moment his collars were on them.
Click to expand...
Click to shrink...
To be honest, I think that in One Piece, the biological and the conceptual are points on a metaphysical spectrum, if not one and the same - as things like the SMILEs prove. For additional proof, we have Ace's mother being able to 'freeze' her pregnancy at the nine month mark through willpower alone, the entire discipline/phenomenon of Life Refresh - not only the formally taught tricks, but things like Luffy instantly processing a good half-ton of meat to fuel his recovery* - and the countless examples of impossible biology throughout the series.

Likewise, Quirks may be tethered to biology, but trying to compare the ability to generate infinite quantities of pre-mixed concrete with a porcupine's quills is rather silly. (Not least of which when All For One's Quirk-necromancy implies that Quirks contain some sort of independent vital force that transcends biological limitations, and maybe even some kind of consciousness unto themselves.)


Admittedly with help from Ivankov's hormone treatment. Speaking of, the Horm-Horm Fruit's everything constitutes another piece of evidence.
 
Chapter 51
  • Threadmarks
    • They were back out to sea again.

    Two days had passed since the affair with Breed. Izuku had towed Breed's ship back to Meville, with Breed's captives still onboard. They were mostly islanders and civilian sailors - including the crew of the Roebuck - along with a handful of small-time pirate crews. They were all quite shocked to have been saved by an Emperor; an Emperor who, upon reaching the Moby Dick, gave them a simple choice.

    They could start new lives on Melville, or take their chances trying to get home; aboard Whitebeard's allied ships.

    Most had chosen to stay. After seeing life under Whitebeard's rule, returning to World Government-aligned islands wasn't all that appealing any more. The pirates mostly joined the Whitebeards, and were allowed to build their own ships; so long as they pitched in.

    Izuku leant on the gunwale, looking back towards Melville as it retreated towards the horizon. They had rescued all the townsfolk, and repaired the worst of the damage. With McGuy and his crew on hand to protect it, Melville was safe and well on the road to recovery.

    Which put a smile on his face.

    He liked Melville. He liked its people, and had enjoyed helping them rebuild their town. It had meant something to do that, to do something useful and helpful in a world full of suffering. A reminder he could do things to help that didn't involve fighting for a change.

    But now the work was done, and he was back on the seas again. As a pirate.

    He looked down watching the waves crash against the Moby Dick's hull. He, Yamato, and Thatch had put an end to Breed's villainy, but there were plenty more like him out there. Plenty of small-time pirates, anklebiters, small crews with stolen ships, jumping any ship they could find and running before anyone could stop them.

    And that was just the small time crews. Never mind the countless monsters on the ocean like the Seven Warlords and the other Emperors like Kaido.

    Izuku clenched his fists, gritting his teeth to bite down his frustration. Breed's bounty was only 120,000,000 Berries; less than his own, less than many on the Moby Dick. Were it not for Thatch, he would have been sent to his doom on Onigashima, while Yamato would have been sold into slavery.

    All because he had hesitated. Because he thought the man was surrendering. Because he had shown restraint.

    He was an idiot. A fool. Incompetent!

    "You're not." The Second said in his head. "You were just caught off guard is all." Izuku perked up, though could feel the Third user sneering in his mind.

    "But had I done what Thatch had done from the start…"

    "Do you want to be a killer Midoriya?" He pressed.

    "Of course not!" Izuku whispered back.

    "...I've killed in my time." the man admitted, "To get to Yoichi and to protect him from then on. It doesn't get easier. Anyone who says that is unhinged."

    Izuku frowned, looking out to sea and sighing. "So you're saying I should have or should not have gone for the kill from the beginning?"

    "Next time just don't buy the surrender trick. We did that with Bach against the Finalem Brothers, remember?" Daigoro spoke up for the first time.

    "I was the one telling him that" grumbled the Third.

    "Can you not dogpile on him right now?" Nana added.

    "The kid needs to hear this, better we get this out of the way now rather then in another situation like with Breed," retorted Third.

    "There will come a time where we might need to kill, Midoriya," Second cut in. "Need. Not want." Izuku sighed. "You don't have to change who you are at your core just because of one failure. You escaped, you have your family protecting you and watching out for you. Learn. And grow."

    Izuku looked back, seeing the Vestiges before him leaning against the wall. "Follow the path to your beliefs, and adapt bit by bit as you go. But never change who you are deep down." The Second poked at his chest, and Izuku saw the vestige of All Might beside him, giving him what he could describe as a supportive look.

    Izuku sighed, and smiled softly. "Thanks…" he said, looking out to sea.

    Surprisingly the Third User spoke again. "We know it's hard, and if we could change things we would. Sadly, we have to play the hand we're dealt."

    To remain true to himself. To make small changes, to adapt, but never a whole metamorphosis.

    But that didn't mean he can remain where he is now. He had to master One for All in its entirety.

    "We will be with you. Every step of the way" Yoichi assured. "As will your friends and family."

    Family. Izuku smiled lightly at that. He was saved by his family. Thatch was only looking out for him as an older brother should. He sighed, and looked out to sea as he heard the clacking of geta.

    "Hey." Izuku turned, seeing Yamato approach. "I didn't see you in the Mess Hall."

    "Wasn't hungry," he retorted, then mastered himself. "I…just needed time to think."

    "I can tell." Yamato stood by his side, shading him from the sun.

    "We need to get stronger Yamato," Izuku said, looking out to sea.

    "I know," Yamato agreed. "I won't be caught off guard again. Like last time."

    "Me neither."

    Izuku's lip curled. It went against everything he had been taught; to go in guns blazing and ask questions later, that was Bakugo's way of handling things. But this wasn't his world; that was clearer to him than ever. There was no order here, no system to manage everything, no backup to help him get it right. Power was what ruled these waters, whether it was wielded with care and restraint by Whitebeard, or with ruthlessness and bloodlust like Kaido.

    Kaido…

    Izuku straightened up, remembering what Thatch had said. His Haki had let him break through Breed's Pet Pet power. He remembered his fight with Spytand Malice, and that time in the Baskerville Woods, when he and Yamato had trained together; trying to awaken his own Haki.

    "Hey Yamato, wanna spar?" He looked up at her with a grin. "I could use more exposure to your Haki."

    The girl blinked, then beamed and nodded. "Sure!"

    (X)

    Marco looked up, quirking an eyebrow.
    "Hmm?" He strode towards the bow, where some of the crew had gathered. "All right, what's going on here?"

    He pushed his way through the crowd, until he came upon Vista.

    "A simple spar is all," the swordsman said, pointing to the object of the crowd's attention. It was Izuku and Yamato, in the midst of what he hoped was indeed a simple sparring session.
    Izuku flew at Yamato, punches flying like lightning. Yamato's arms moved like water, shimmering black with Haki, catching every blow. Izuku faltered, and Yamato dropped back. Marco watched, waiting for her to kick, or swing her mace; to exploit the opening.

    But she didn't. She just held her arms in place, as Izuku attacked again; punching and punching, her arms blocking every time.

    Marco watched as the fight went on, sighing with every missed opportunity; every opening not exploited. It was all he could do not to roll his eyes. Was this their idea of training?

    It really made him wonder how they'd managed to survive this long.

    He watched some more, waiting for an opportunity to step in. Finally the pair paused for a moment, both breathing hard, getting a little tired.

    "Okay people," he said, stepping forward and clapping his hands to get their attention. "Good to see some initiative, but, honestly, that was not much of a sparring session."

    Both of them looked at him, clearly embarrassed.

    "We weren't going all out," Izuku explained. "I still need to learn Haki."

    "And This was all I could think of," Yamato added. "We thought if I used Haki, and he fought it, the exposure would awaken it. I've seen it happen."

    Marco sighed, as his crewmates whispered and muttered among themselves. He had hoped to get to Winner Island before dealing with this, but no time like the present.

    "That's not how you learn Haki," he said, gently but firmly. "Fighting Haki users helps, but it's not enough on its own."

    He paused, and saw Thatch emerge from the crowd. Clearly he'd been thinking about them too; though that was no surprise.

    "Haki comes from within," he said, choosing his words. "It's about desire, ambition, will. It's about what you want and need in the deepest of your soul."

    "Yes, it is," Thatch cut in. "That's basically how I beat Breed's control. I wanted to protect my family, and my want was stronger than his power."

    Izuku and Yamato looked at eachother. Yamato looked like she was thinking hard, going back through her memories. Izuku just looked crestfallen, and Marco understood why. He came from a place where powers were well-understood, well-documented, and well-taught. His teachers back home could probably explain very easily what he needed to do, and how to do it.

    Not so with Haki. Awakening Haki wasn't like building a ship or making a cannon. It couldn't be neatly worked out scientifically, or passed down from master to apprentice by tradition and doing. Haki came ultimately from within, and as a man could only ever know his own soul, so only he could ever awaken his own Haki; if he ever could.

    Which meant he wasn't much help. There was little he could tell Izuku, almost no advice he could offer.

    "Don't worry about it," he said, with a grin. "The only way to awaken your Haki is to test yourself, and we've got just the place to do it. We're off to Winner Island, and we'll find out just what both of you can do."

    -x-

    "So you want to learn Haki, do you?"
    Seated on his throne on the Moby Dick's quarterdeck, Edward Newgate looked down at Izuku and Yamato. Marco and Thatch stood with them, looking up at him with questioning eyes.

    "Yes!" insisted Izuku, his eyes stern and determined. "I need to be as strong as I can be, especially against Conqueror's Haki."

    "Conqueror's Haki? You know it?"

    "Yes." Izuku's fists clenched at his sides. "Oden didn't say much about it in his journal, but when I was creeping through the pipes on Onigashima, I'm sure that's what I felt."

    He shuddered as he recalled the memory.

    "I could feel his will slamming into me like a tidal wave, pressing in on me from all sides," he went on. "I thought I was going to have an aneurysm. It was…it was just too much, even the other Vestiges were scared. It was all I could do not to run away. I have to learn how to beat it, or I can never face Kaido."

    Newgate sighed.

    "Haki is the power of will itself," he said. "It is your will made manifest, transformed from mere thought and feeling into physical force. Armament Haki will allow you to strengthen your weapons, and your body itself. Observation Haki will extend your consciousness into the world around you, allowing you to sense the presence and feelings of others. Conqueror's Haki will make a weapon of your willpower, allowing you to overwhelm the will of others."

    "That was what Kaido used," breathed Izuku. "He wasn't even fully awake, but I could still feel him."

    "Kaido's Haki is indeed strong," agreed Newgate. "Stronger than almost any I have ever seen. Stronger even than mine."

    Izuku opened his mouth as if to protest, but no sound came out. One look into his eyes, and Yamato's, told him that they had already knew.

    "It's worth having, if you can learn it," he went on. "But I warn you it's not easy. While anyone in theory can learn Haki, actually being able to use it is another thing entirely."

    In spite of everything, Izuku smiled wistfully.

    "Funny. Someone told us the same thing back in Doyle."

    "Oh?"
    "A guy named Sabo."

    "Very well then. Clear the deck."

    He did not raise his voice. He did not need to. Across the ship, his sons and daughters felt the command as much as heard it. With barely a word, they dropped down the rigging and scurried across the deck, vanishing through the doors and hatches, until only the five of them remained.

    They knew what was coming.

    "That was a small taste of what Conqueror's Haki can do," he said, to an amazed Izuku. "I use it like this, because that's all that's needed. Kaido's the same, only using it when he considers someone worthy. What you felt was a small, out of control burst; his consciousness leaking at the edges. You felt his presence when he was paralytic and half-asleep, and it terrified you almost into madness. If you cannot overcome his will, you will never lay a blow on him."

    Izuku drew himself up, and nodded grimly. "What do I do?" he asked.

    "Your first test…is to walk up to me and lay one blow on my knee."

    Izuku cleared his throat, readying himself. Then started towards him.

    Then he froze, as Newgate focussed his full attention on him. Above them, the soft white clouds turned gray, and the blue sky turned black. Thunder rumbled, and the sea began to churn; winds and waves buffeting the Moby Dick.

    Newgate looked into Izuku's eyes, seeing into them, and through them.

    Yet, his gaze was not kind, it was not one that would protect.

    It was one that fought against the King of the Pirates, the one they called the Strongest Man in the world. The Great Pirate, an Emperor unbounded.

    A Conqueror without equal.

    It smashed into Izuku like the hammer of an angry god on his psyche as he staggered back, gasping.

    "I…won't…give…up!"

    Izuku's head came up, and there were those eyes again; bright and pure. He forced a shaking foot forward, and then another.

    "I…can't…give…up!"

    Another step, and he began to fall. Newgate rose from his throne, but Yamato was there first, catching the falling boy in her arms.

    "That's Enough, Izuku!" pleaded Marco. "You'll kill yourself!"

    "I…I couldn't… not even five steps!" croaked Izuku, his tears now of shame. "Why am I…so weak?"

    "You're not weak!" insisted Yamato. "I could barely stand it myself!"

    "Izuku, that would've killed a normal man," added Thatch. "Or shattered his mind. I've seen it happen."

    Newgate cursed himself. Izuku was strong indeed, but not that strong.
    "It's all right, my son," he said, kneeling down in front of Izuku and Yamato. "Thatch is right. You bore more than most. I can't guarantee that your Haki will awaken, but you are more than ready to try. Once your Haki awakens and you learn it, it will forever and always be at your call."

    He reached over, and offered Izuku his hand. Izuku took it, and with Yamato's help stood up. He was already starting to recover, Newgate could tell.

    "You won't be walking this path alone, nor will you face Kaido alone." He smiled. "Your family will be beside you. From now until the end."

    Izuku smiled back, albeit exhausted . And Newgate had his answer. Yes, he might very well be the one.

    -x-

    They had arrived.

    Standing at the Moby Dick's bow, Yamato took in the sight of Winner Island. It wasn't much to speak of. The beaches were of heavy sand and gravel, and there was nothing to see aside from tall columns of rock as high as mountains, looking like a bunch of half-melted clay figurines.

    This was a tough place. A hard and rugged place, with little alive that she could see; apart from a few trees. It was a place where only the strong could survive, let alone thrive.

    This was the place where they would train; where Izuku's Haki would be awakened.

    She turned back towards the stern. Izuku was beside her, wearing his Hero costume. Whitebeard was by the mainmast, talking with some of the crew. Their conversation ended, and the pirates spread out around the main deck hatch. Whitebeard strode towards them, accompanied by Marco and Jozu.

    "So this is it, Pops?" Yamato asked, pointing at the rock pillars. "This is Winner Island?"

    "Indeed it is," replied Whitebeard, smiling. "There's nothing here, really. We just use it for storage. Nonperishables, munitions, spare cash, some rare items, that sort of thing."

    Yamato glanced along the deck. The pirates were winching a longboat up from the hold.

    "They're off to pick up some things," Whitebeard went on. "But you two will partake in this island's other useful function; as a training ground. What I want to see isn't a friendly spar like you were doing the other day. No pulling punches, no missing opportunities, no holding back, period. You two will be squaring off against opponents both strong and experienced opponents who know how to fight, and will use every trick they know to win. We're not just here to develop your strength, but your skills and your instincts."

    "So who are we fighting?" Yamato asked. Her blood was up, and she wanted to get started.

    "You'll be fighting me," said Jozu. "Izuku will be fighting Marco. We'll fight one pair at a time, and Marco will handle the healing. There's nobody here to hurt, and our stuff's safe in deep caves, so don't worry about going all out."

    "Okay then, I won't." Yamato grinned, her confidence soaring. "But will you two be okay?"
    Marco and Jozu glanced at one-another, and grinned.

    "Oh don't worry about us," Marco replied, a glimmer of blue flame appearing on his head. "We'll be just fine."

    -x-

    Yamato grinned confidently as she strode up the beach; Jozu to her right. She knew Jozu to be strong, but she had faced some strong opponents in her time. She had fought Kaido more times than she could remember, and Ulti too; except she'd actually beaten Ulti. And then there was Finalem Bandsome too; a hard fight, but a win for all that.

    She glanced down the beach, to where Izuku and Marco were waiting at a safe distance. Izuku gave her a thumbs up, and she returned the gesture with a grin. Out in the bay, the Moby Dick sat at anchor, bobbing gently on the blue waves.

    "Now." Jozu thumped his clenched fist into his open palm. "Ready yourself and come at me. Hold nothing back. I wanna see and feel just what you can do."

    "All right then!" Yamato pulled her kanabo from her back, and ran at Jozu. The mighty warrior didn't move, staying absolutely still. Yamato let out a yell and leapt, bringing her club down hard.

    But Jozu wasn't there. He was a blur, emerging to her right, his fist swinging down. She twisted in mid air, his fist catching her a glancing blow, knocking her sideways. She landed on her feet, skidding across the sand. She slammed down her kanabo, dragging herself to a halt, but Jozu was already moving, fists black with Haki, right fist aimed at her head. Yamato ducked and charged, his fist flashing over her head, her club swinging for his stomach. Jozu's left foot darted down, propelling him off the sand, her club swinging through empty air.

    Yamato shoved out her foot to stop, to turn. But Jozu was charging once again, covering the distance with a speed that belied his size. Yamato hissed, and forced herself to pause, waiting until his Haki-clad fist was whistling through the air towards her. She jumped, thrust down her kanabo and pole-vaulted, somersaulting into the air above him. She swung overhead and down, her club slamming into the back of Jozu's head.

    For an instant, she thought she had him. But Jozu's head fell forward, his whole body toppling over even as the blow struck. He rolled head-over-heels, leaping to his feet even as she landed and turned.

    Yamato gritted her teeth, anger mingling with fear. She should have known it would not be so easy. Jozu was one of Whitebeard's top commanders, of course simple tricks wouldn't work. But she had the measure of him now. Time to turn it up a notch.

    She unleashed her Haki, the black gleam covering her hands and arms. Her power rose, spreading to every corner of her body. Her Haki rose, and her skin tingled.

    She moved, not running this time but leaping, pressing herself along foot by foot, the world around her blurring as she shot towards Jozu. She swung her club, catching Jozu in the chest as he moved, scoring his breastplate. She landed and skidded to a halt, turned, and charged again; just as Jozu was turning to face her. She swung as she reached him, catching him on the arm as he darted away.

    Yamato turned again, leaping at Jozu and swinging hard. Again Jozu fell back, her club narrowly missing him. She hissed and swung again, and again, her kanabo whistling as it cut the air. But Jozu would not be struck, darting left and right as she swung, always ahead of her blows.

    Her hiss became a snarl. He was toying with her. He wasn't fighting, he was hopping around like some jester, playing the prancing fool! He wasn't taking her seriously! And now her horns were itching!

    Her snarl became a roar, and she threw herself at Jozu. She swung at him, every swing harder and faster as her power erupted from within. Jozu fell back before the onslaught, every dodge slower and clumsier than the last. Finally she hit him, catching him on the shoulder and knocking him flying. Her heart leapt, rage turning to euphoria, and she leapt at him, club brandished high, shrieking in triumph.

    Jozu rolled aside, and her club thumped into the sand, blasting it away like a bomb going off. Yamato's heart clenched, and she slammed down her feet, trying to pull it out and move.

    A sledgehammer blow struck her cheek. Yamato felt herself flying, her kanabo torn from her hands, tumbling over and over through the air. She hid the sand and skidded to a halt.

    She blinked as she mastered herself. Her cheek stung and her head ached from the blow, but nothing seemed to be broken. The sand was hot and gritty beneath her. Her fury was gone, her mind made clear by pain.

    She'd been a fool. She'd let herself get angry, let rage cloud her mind. She had made a beginner's mistake, and now she was weaponless.

    Weaponless, but not helpless.

    She lay still, looking through the corner of her eye. She could just make out Jozu, walking slowly towards her. Did he think she was down? Finished?

    She kicked down, throwing herself into the air, landing like a cat. Jozu hesitated only an instant, but Yamato was upon him, striking at him with Haki-clad fists. Left, right, left, right; striking with force to shatter solid rock. Jozu retreated, arms moving in a blur, parrying her blows. Again and again she struck, driving him back, looking for her opening.

    He moved, flashing to the left. She stamped down her right foot, pivoting as she rose, then kicked with her right leg as he passed. She felt her foot catch his head, and kicked outward, throwing herself back. She somersaulted and landed on her feet, looking up to see Jozu doing likewise, his feet scoring long furrows in the sand.

    He raised his head to stare at her. His face was expressionless, his eyes fixed on her like an apex predator eying a threat. Blood ran down his cheek, from where her foot had nicked it.

    "Not bad," commented Jozu, wiping away the blood with one thumb. "Not bad at all. Looks like I'm gonna have to turn it up."

    Yamato stared, amazed, as his skin began to glow. Glittering plates, like carved diamonds, emerged from his flesh, sliding over one-another, forming into a suit of armor over his arms and chest.

    "My Twinkle Twinkle Fruit allows me to become a Diamond Man," explained Jozu. He flexed his muscles, the armor glittering and shimmering as his body moved beneath it. "This armor you see is pure and untainted diamond. No force, no attack, has ever penetrated it."

    Wonder and horror tore at Yamato's soul. She had known he had a Devil Fruit power; Oden had spoken highly of it. But to see it like this, in the flesh…so to speak. His forearm was raised up.

    "Now…Brilliant Punk!"

    Jozu became a blur, flashing at Yamato like a bolt of lightning. Yamato tried to move, but Jozu hit her like a speeding train, throwing her back with the elbow/shoulder charge. She tumbled through the air, her mind a blank, and slammed into a nearby boulder, cracking it down the middle. She slumped to the sand, the boulder falling apart around her, blithering as she tried to clear her mind, her bones screaming from the attack.

    "I use that attack when I need to make an effort," Jozu went on, walking slowly towards her as the diamond-armored vanished. "No enemy has ever withstood it."

    Yamato gritted her teeth, forcing herself to stand. Now she was hurt, she could tell; but she was not down yet. The diamonds flashed all over him once more.

    "Brilliant Punk!" Jozu charged again. Yamato leapt, somersaulting through the air. Below, Jozu slammed shoulder-first into the ruined boulder, and into a stone pillar behind. The pillar shook, dust and small rocks clattering down its sides.

    Yamato looked down as she fell. Jozu was standing against the pillar, half-buried face-first in the rock. She watched as she landed, and saw Jozu put his booted foot to the pillar and push. Rocks and dust clattered around him as he drew himself out; a Jozu-shaped indent remaining in the pillar behind him. She almost laughed.

    Jozu charged again, and she leapt again. She landed, but Jozu was charging again, the air whistling around him. She leapt, twisting her body in the air, and landed next to her dropped kanabo, stooping to pick it up. If she was to stand a chance, she was going to need it.

    As her hand closed around the kanabo, Jozu charged. Yamato darted away, narrowly avoiding him. She ducked low as she ran, avoiding his diamond-clad arm.

    But it wasn't there.

    Yamato looked back as Jozu skidded to a halt. His diamond-covered arms were hanging by his sides, just as they had been when he activated his Devil Fruit. Why hadn't he struck at her while she was vulnerable?

    Come to think of it, why hadn't he used his arms to push himself out of the pillar? Why hadn't he used them…at all?
    Unless…

    Jozu turned and charged. Yamato paused, waiting just a fraction of an instant, until he was right on top of her. Then she moved, jumping to her right, slamming down her left foot, then spun on it, swinging her Haki-clad kanabo into Jozu's uncovered back. The man-mountain grunted and staggered forward, and Yamato's heart leapt as she saw the dent in his back-plate. She had hit him!

    She followed through, letting her momentum carry her round. She landed, and attacked again, coming at him from his right, where his diamond-clad arm could not shield him. She swung, catching him in the front, sending him tottering backward. Yamato yelled in triumph and repeated the move, landing, twirling, and striking at him again, and again. Back and forward Jozu staggered, left and right he tottered. She was beating him! She was…!

    Jozu's arms grabbed her around the waist, and he brought her into a bearhug. Yamato fought to get free, but she could get no purchase. She tore at his arms, frantic with fear, but they wouldn't budge.

    "Grade-A Delinquent!" Jozu threw her down into a suplex. Yamato tried to move, but her mind was blank with pain. The breath flew from her lungs as she crashed into the earth, through the pillar and out to the ground level, until finally she hit the sand and skidded to a stop.

    It hurt. Her body was full of pain. Her world was pain. She hadn't felt pain like this since she last faced Kaido.

    Yes, when she had last faced him. On that horrible, wonderful day, when the creature that called itself her father had thrashed her to within an inch of her life, and bade her surrender her dreams.

    But she hadn't, because for once, she hadn't been fighting to win. She had been fighting for something else.

    She pulled herself up, her body hurting but still responding, her beloved Takeru still gripped in her scarred, bleeding hand. She forced herself around on aching legs, hefting her kanabo, as Jozu strolled slowly towards her. His diamond covering was gone, revealing bruised flesh and a chipped and scored breastplate.

    Yes, she had guessed right. His Devil Fruit was impenetrable, but his body could not move while covered by it. That's why he couldn't use his arms while he was tackling her. He had dropped it in order to grab her.

    Her heart burned. She could not give up now! Jozu's defense wasn't perfect! And he knew she could exploit it! She had laid blows on him! She had hurt him! She had to try!

    Yamato shrieked, and threw herself at the slowly approaching Jozu. She leapt, pouring all her Haki into her kanabo, all for one last swing.

    "Raime!" Jozu narrowed his eyes.

    "Hak-" And he dodged her blow with a graceful sidestep, and his forearms were turned into glittering, black diamond.

    "Perfect!"

    Jozu's fist slammed into her chest. She flew back, cratering herself into a stone pillar, fighting to steady herself, but the man-mountain was on her again. His fists flickered light lightning, glowing with Haki and glittering with diamond. She tried to block with her free arm, but a jabbing blow knocked it aside.

    "TARDY!"

    Jozu laid on, jabbing with left and right, his fists driving into her stomach, chest, face, and shoulders like rapid fire piledrivers; blow after blow after blow.

    Yamato's vision was swimming. She tried to master herself, but every blow drove her further and further from consciousness, deeper and deeper into the pit of pain before one last roaring blow sent her through the stone pillar and out the other end as the towering structure collapsed in a pit of debris and dust.

    She felt herself hit the hard, gritty sand, skidding along the ground as Takeru fell from her grip.

    And she knew no more.

    (X)

    "Yamato!"

    Izuku ran towards his fallen friend, his heart clenching with terror. Her whole body was bruised, her clothes were ripped, and blood was leaking from her mouth and a dozen wounds.

    "Stand back, Izuku!" Marco pushed past him, and knelt down beside her. His hand glowed blue, and the flame spread over Yamato's prone form.

    "I hope I didn't hurt her too bad," said Jozu, stopping beside them. Izuku glowered up at him, his heart full of a fury he couldn't name.

    Then he faltered, as he saw the look on Jozu's face. It wasn't triumphant or proud, but crestfallen, unsettled; even a little worried.

    "She'll be fine," insisted Marco, as Yamato's body glowed with healing flame. "She's taken a battering, but it's nothing I can't handle. A good day's rest, with Thatch's cooking, and she'll be right as rain."

    Izuku looked down over his shoulder. The wounds had stopped bleeding, and the bruises were fading, black and blue turning red, and then pink. The swelling around her face was going down, its shape returning to normal.

    Marco would have been an amazing Hero back in his world. A top-ranked Pro, easily.

    "S…sorry," he said, glancing awkwardly at Jozu. "I just…"

    "It's fine," Jozu insisted, face as stoic as ever but his eyes were soft. "Nobody likes seeing someone they care for get smashed up. But Marco's right, she'll be okay."

    His cheeks went pink. Izuku had a sudden memory of a story Whitebeard had told him, of how Marco and Jozu and the others had carried on when they saw Oden and Toki together. He'd made them sound like a bunch of teenage girls.

    Was that what he had looked like? This massive man whose strength likely surpassed All Might's.

    "When she wakes up," Jozu went on, as Marco finished his work. "You can tell her not to beat herself up. I had to put in some effort there towards the end, and she's young enough to get stronger." He leaned against a boulder, crossing his arms.

    "That's the truth," agreed Marco with a grin. "She's a tough cookie. "

    Izuku took a deep breath. It pained him seeing Yamato hurt like that, but this was a controlled bout. A spar. And Yamato had survived countless all-out fights with Kaido.

    They had to do this. They had to get stronger.

    "But I have a feeling you're more the thinking type while she's the brawn.." He adjusted his glasses. "For now though, you'll need to focus. Because you're fighting me next."

    Izuku nodded, looking up to the taller man as Jozu knelt down, cradling the still-flaming Yamato in his arms. "I'll take her back to her cabin. You two go on without me."

    Jozu started back towards the Moby Dick.

    "You're going to be alright Marco?" he asked.

    "I'll be fine." Marco had his hands in his pockets. "You should worry about yourself first."

    He smiled, and brought up his hand, gesturing for Izuku to come at him.

    "Don't hold anything back. I certainly won't. And King won't either if you come across him. We're both flyers after all."

    Izuku frowned and spread his legs, settling into a fighting stance. Wind whistled and moaned through the canyons around them. Marco stood there, open, casual, unguarded.

    But his eyes were hard, focussed.

    "You're giving me the opening blow?" Izuku asked, as One For All erupted. Right to 50%.

    "I told you, I can take what you can dish out. Relax." Marco adjusted his glasses. "Now, show me what you're capable of in battle, Izuku."

    Izuku glared, lightning arcing around him, hissing and crackling as it earthed itself in the rocks. He charged.

    "You should be taking this… seriously!" Izuku yelled as he leapt up, drawing back his leg for an axe kick.

    "Shoot Style! Manchester!"

    And brought his leg down.

    "SMAAASH!"

    His leg struck Marco's raised forearm. The sand under Marco's feet blew out as the impact drove him down, gale force winds blowing all around them.

    But the blonde didn't so much as flinch! Or move at all!

    Izuku gawked in amazement. Was he using Haki?!

    "Oh don't worry," Macro quipped, grinning. "As a wise man once said, I'm always serious, young man!"

    Danger Sense erupted. And before Izuku knew what was happening, he was flipped onto his side; Marco's heel driving into the side of his head. Marco followed up with a roundhouse kicking, sending him straight into a nearby pillar. The breath flew from his lungs as he crashed through the pillar, then another, and another; the pillars crumbling into dust as he passed through them.

    Izuku's body was a mass of pain. But he forced it to respond, kicking out his legs and boosting forward. His flight stopped, and he flew back towards Marco; standing unmoving in his crater.

    "Hope you don't think that's it. Otherwise you won't learn much." Marco said, still smiling.

    "Air Force! Delaware Smash!" Izuku thrust out his fist and flicked his middle finger, sending a burst of compressed air down at Marco. Marco leapt, and the blast smashed into the sand, blowing out an even larger crater.

    Izuku hissed, and fired off another blast. But Marco dodged again, and a boulder behind him was blasted to dust. He fired off another, blasting away a pile of sand the size of a small hill. He fired off another, blowing a stone pillar apart. He fired again, and again, and again.

    And then Marco was in front of him. And Marco's foot was in his chest, sending him slamming into another pillar. This time he stopped, embedded in the rock, his mind reeling as his body screamed in pain. How could he be so fast?

    Marco hovered in front of him, putting on a casual pose despite being in mid-air as he flapped his blue flaming wings.

    "King won't be making small talk like this, Midoriya," he said. "What're you going to do?"

    Izuku willed his mind to settle. If 50% wasn't enough, he would have to turn it up. He focussed, picturing the egg in the microwave, as he had done countless times before. Just a little more power, then hold it, and focus on it.

    55%....

    Izuku erupted from the rock, his glowing fist striking Marco full in the face, the man's eyes slightly widened in surprise. The force of it rushed past, the wind howling through the pillars, blowing up gales of sand. Trees flew from their roots, and one of the pillars toppled over, crashing into its neighbor and collapsing into a tide of rocks and dust.

    Marco flew back, his eyes wide, tumbling through the air, before he recovered and shook his head, smirking a bit.

    "Hey, not bad!"

    Seems 55% can catch even him off gua-

    Then he was gone. And then he was right next to him, wings of blue flame sprouting from his arms. The wings spread, wrapping around Izuku and clenching tight. Izuku struggled, but he couldn't break free. He could feel himself accelerating, and then the wings let go, throwing him into yet another pillar.

    His body screamed, and his mind reeled. Izuku gritted his teeth, forcing himself to focus. He had to think of something!

    "What?" It was Marco, hovering in front of him once again, blue wings blazing around him . "You done already?"

    Izuku unleashed his smoke, blowing it right in Marco's face. As the cloud billowed he moved, flying away from the pillar and out into open air. He had a few moments at most.

    "Air Force! Delaware Smash!" He punched and punched again, sending a fusillade of air bolts into the smoke cloud. The cloud billowed and began to clear, but Izuku was already moving, sending another volley from another angle, and then another, and another. If he could only…

    But then Marco was upon him, that grin still on his face. Izuku leapt back, barely avoiding a swipe of a flaming blue wing. He leapt back, and back again, but Marco came on, wings flapping, blue flames billowing all around him. Izuku thrust out his hands, white smoke spraying into the blonde pirate's face. He flew back between the pillars, and thrust out his Black Whips, grabbing all he could reaching and throwing with all his strength. Rocks and trees flew through the air, ripping through the clouds.

    But there Macro was again. Left and right, up and down, he darted past the flying debris effortlessly; smashing it aside with his wing, or with quick kicks. Izuku screamed in mingled terror and fury, and threw harder and harder. But nothing could lay a hit. Marco just came on, still dodging, and still grinning.

    Izuku threw all he had at Marco, then charged straight at him, pouring power into his fist.

    "Detroit! SMAAASH!" The blow caught Marco on the chin, sending him spinning away. Izuku shot past and turned hard, only to see Marco coming around, seemingly unhurt.

    "Shoot Style!" Izuku arched his leg and somersaulted, his foot glowing green and red as FA Jin charged with his leg kicking out. "St. Louis Air Force Smash!" He kicked out hard, the green-red blade hissing through the air towards Marco.

    Marco turned, curling in one wing. The air blade glanced off and exploded; bursting in a flash of green.

    Izuku felt his heart begin to sink. What was it going to take? Why were none of his tricks working?

    Of course they weren't working. They were never going to work; not against a fighter like Marco. He had been fighting all his life, sailed from one end of the world to the other, seen just about every attack, every threat, it could throw at him. There was nothing Izuku could do that he could not foresee, or counter.

    But…he had seen through the smoke too. Was that Observation Haki?

    Marco was moving. Izuku flung himself to the side as Marco flashed past, turning to face him. But there was Marco again, blue talon clawing for his throat. Izuku dodged, the talons slashing down his chest as he leapt over Marco's head. He spin-kicked, but Marco wasn't there. He was to the right, one wing swinging hard at him. Izuku bent over backwards, the blue wing slicing through the air like a blade, cutting away strands of his hair.

    "Your Fa Jin needs kinetic motion, movement!" Marco called out. "So I won't let you move!"

    Izuku's heart skipped a beat. He tried to fly away, to gain distance to charge again. But Marco was above him, kicking down at him. He dropped down, looking around for an escape route. But there was Marco again. His clothes weren't even dirty!

    "The better-known you become, the better known your abilities become!"

    He dived hard, his foot a glowing blue talon, ripping through the air towards him. Izuku dodged sideways, trying to boost away. Marco shot past, his slipstream sending Izuku tumbling. He righted himself, but there was Marco again, swooping like a raptor, taloned feet outstretched. He boosted away, but then Marco was right in front of him, his feet reaching out to grab him. He twisted away, narrowly avoiding the blue flames.

    And Marco was there again, talon replaced by a foot as it was coming around hard. Izuku threw himself back, and the blow caught him on the cheek, sending him spinning away. He shook his head, forcing down the pain, trying to right himself.

    Marco was faster than him at even 50%. Stronger.

    Faster and stronger than All Might.

    Marco hovered above him, wings billowing, right hand raised; blue flames coiling around his forefinger

    "Bluebird!" He thrust his fingers at Izuku, and a gout of blue flame leapt from them. Izuku tried to dodge, but the fireball was too fast. It caught him, engulfed him, and flung him down, slamming him into the blasted remnant of one of the pillars. The breath flew from his lungs, and his whole body screamed in agony.

    Izuku stared up, trying to clear his pain-addled mind, willing his body to move. Above him Marco hovered, wings spread, wreathed in cerulean flame, triumphant.

    He clenched his teeth together, the pain gutting through the haze in his mind and the ache in his body. Slowly, shaking, his limbs began to move. He had to stand up! He had to fight! He couldn't just give up! He wouldn't just give up!

    Marco's wings vanished, and he dived at Izuku, blue flames swirling around him. Izuku made it to his feet, and brought his bruised arms across his chest.

    Marco's knee hit him like a piledriver, driving him down. The pillar around him blew apart as he was slammed down through; down through the rock, down to ground level, and below.

    And into darkness.

    (X)

    "Uhhhhhhhhhh…"

    Yamato's eyes fluttered open. It took her sleep-addled mind a moment to recognize the ceiling overhead. The ceiling of her cabin on the Moby Dick.

    She sat up, and looked around. She had been lying on her bed, wearing her clothes, with a blanket laid over her. Everything was as it had been that morning, when she had left it to go have breakfast with Izuku. But now it was dark; with no daylight coming in through the porthole. How had she gotten there?

    Then she remembered, and her heart sank. She had gone onto Winner Island, and fought Jozu. And he had smashed her into the ground.

    She sighed. She supposed she shouldn't be too ashamed. He was Jozu after all, one of Whitebeard's Division Commanders, and a warrior who had stood alongside Oden. He was everything Oden had described, everything she had dreamed he would be, and more.

    And she had gone strolling in there with a smile on her face, thinking she might actually impress; that she might actually earn a nod from a warrior like Jozu, or Marco, or Whitebeard himself. How could she have been so arrogant? So stupid?

    She looked down at her hands. They looked remarkably good. She looked down at herself, and stretched her arms. They felt fine. Better than fine.

    Then she remembered. Marco said he was going to heal them up, so they could keep on training. And he was going to fight Izuku.

    Izuku! How was he? Had he been beaten down too?

    Yamato stepped out of the bed and straightened up. She tried her arms and legs, twisted her waist from side to side, then tried a kick. Everything seemed to be working. Satisfied, she slipped on her geta and stepped out of the cabin, and headed for Izuku's door.

    "Izuku!" she called as she knocked. "Izuku, are you in there?"

    "Uhhhhh…" groaned a voice from within. Yamato faltered. It sounded like Izuku, but it wouldn't be right to just walk in, would it?
    She tried the door. It was unlocked. Oh well, if he wanted privacy he would have locked it. She opened the door, and stepped inside.

    There was Izuku, lying on his bed, asleep. He was wearing his uniform, which like her own outfit looked like it needed a clean, with a blanket over him. He showed no sign of injury, so Marco must have healed him too.

    "Izuku?" she asked.

    "Nuuuuhhh!" Izuku moaned, stirring. "Don't make me wear that…!"

    He blinked, blinked again, his eyes focusing on her.

    "Ah! Yamato!" He sat straight up, face red. "Wh-wh-what're you doing here?! What happened to the door?!"

    "It's unlocked," explained Yamato, crestfallen. "Sorry, I just wanted to see if you were okay. Looks like we both got clobbered."

    Izuku sighed, and deflated; his shock was replaced with sorrow.

    "Yeah, guess we did," he said. "Marco…I knew he was strong, but never that strong."

    "The same with Jozu," agreed Yamato wistfully. "He wiped the floor with me. It was like fighting Kaido all over again."

    "Uh, no!" insisted Izuku, perking up. "You fought so well, Yamato! Marco and Jozu were both so impressed!"

    "They were?" Yamato blushed, and began to fidget.

    "Oh yes, we were." Both looked up, and saw Marco leaning on the door frame, grinning his usual grin. "So don't go beating yourselves up, you two. There's not many who could beat me or Jozu."

    Yamato paused, and glanced at Izuku. He didn't look too happy either. Was he thinking what she was thinking?

    "It's not so much that I lost," she admitted. "It's that I lost so easily. I thought I was stronger than that." She looked down at her hands again.

    "Kids you gotta give yourselves more credit," Marco cut in. "Raw power matters, but you should never rely on it unless you absolutely have to. If you can come up with a plan, choose the battlefield, set traps, or anything like that, you should always do it; even if your enemy is weaker. I've seen too many youngsters like you two come to a bad end because they got overconfident or relied on brute force."

    He paused, and seemed to be thinking.

    "Which means you're going to have to get stronger," Marco concluded. "But there's no need to worry about that. You're both still young, and you haven't hit your ceilings just yet. Better still, you've got us to help you, every step of the way."

    He smiled, and in spite of everything, Yamato felt better. She wondered if that smile had made Trish want to marry him.

    "Can we…have another bout?" asked Izuku, brightening a little.

    "Ah, not tonight," replied Marco, glancing out of the porthole. In the distance, the sun had just about slipped below the horizon. "What you two need is dinner and a good night's sleep. If we start again at first light, we can probably get in two, maybe three bouts a day, depending on how much recovery you need."

    "That's great!" Izuku beamed, and Yamato's heart leapt. "Thank you Marco."

    "Don't mention it." Marco straightened up, grinning. "See you in the mess hall." Yamato looked back to Izuku who nodded. The two got up and walked together side by side, with a spring to their step and smiles on their faces.

    And there we have it. I thought of this being split into 3 chapters, but felt like a drag so just gave Juubi a nice big outline for him to have fun with.

    Anywho, big thanks to @Juubi-K , @IKnowNothing and @WildJoker000 for their help on this one.

    We have our training coming in, mainly in the form of fighting against experienced and veteran Emperor Commanders. Jozu is a tank and can fit against Yamato's brawler style, while Marco is more flexible and a flyer, ideal for Izuku to combat against. You can also notice the difference in speed and power going from 50 to 55% can do, as it caught even Marco off guard for a moment there.

    Also wanted to highlight our duo's approach to battles and how it contrasts from the Straw Hats. Sure they used tactics and stratgey before(Fishman Island Plaza battle, and Onigashima to a degree) but they literally just went 'fuck it we ball' 90% of the time.

    Next chapter(52) is in progress, but 53 is actually done! And it will be the end of the Acclimation Arc too, and to a new original saga I am looking forward to write. But I'll need to roadmap it out first. I'll probably post 53 by Christmas or so so I can have a break to roadmap and plan first.

    Anyways, we hope you enjoyed this chapter. See ya in the next one.
     
  • Threadmarks
    • Zaru said:
    "Yes, it is," Thatch cut in. "That's basically how I beat Breed's control. I wanted to protect my family, and my want was stronger than his power."
    Click to expand...
    Click to shrink...
    Uhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

    I know the intent is that Breed's Devil Fruit was that powerful, but...

    If "I am going to be sent to Onigashima and killed, while Yamato is sent off to be raped to death by World Nobles" wasn't enough of a motivator for Izuku, but Thatch was able to shrug it off via a simple desire to protect his family, then we have a problem.


    Zaru said:
    Izuku and Yamato looked at eachother. Yamato looked like she was thinking hard, going back through her memories. Izuku just looked crestfallen, and Marco understood why. He came from a place where powers were well-understood, well-documented, and well-taught. His teachers back home could probably explain very easily what he needed to do, and how to do it.

    Not so with Haki.
    Click to expand...
    Click to shrink...
    Again, no, I think Izuku is reacting to the inherently soul-shattering existential horror of what Thatch just proposed. If a person's willpower is just an organ - some born stronger, some weaker, and some able to easily overwhelm that of others - then it kind of renders the idea of willpower being in any way 'heroic' totally hollow.

    It really does mean that there is no individual spark of freedom. Even within the domain of your own mind and heart, you are still nothing more than an animal at the mercy of predators. All men are nothing more than puppets, dancing on strings forged by accidents of birth and circumstance.

    Really, uh... really dragging the idea of "a man's dreams never die" out behind the woodshed with this one.

    After that unexpected staring contest with the void, reading about them getting the shit kicked out of them has an unpleasantly bitter taste, even if intellectually I understand the intent.
     
    GardenerBriareus said:
    Uhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

    I know the intent is that Breed's Devil Fruit was that powerful, but...

    If "I am going to be sent to Onigashima and killed, while Yamato is sent off to be raped to death by World Nobles" wasn't enough of a motivator for Izuku, but Thatch was able to shrug it off via a simple desire to protect his family, then we have a problem.
    Click to expand...
    Click to shrink...

    If Izuku had access to his Haki then he would have broken out of it. He hasn't been able to get it yet.

    Once he does, then yeah he could have broke. Free easily. Thatch is that determined and experienced. Of the top 5 commanders in canon IMO he was the Haki prodigy to round out the mythical Zoan, logia, Paramecia, and swordsman.


    GardenerBriareus said:
    After that unexpected staring contest with the void, reading about them getting the shit kicked out of them has an unpleasantly bitter taste, even if intellectually I understand the intent.
    Click to expand...
    Click to shrink...
    To be fair they were up against top tier Emperor Commanders. Marco is VERY much in King's weight class, and Jozu in Jack and Queen's. To say nothing of them being perfect opponents for our duo to train against, what with Marco being a flyer and Jozu a very tanky brawler.

    Once Izuku understands and gets a grip on his Haki, he will be able to master it. Just give him time to find it.
     
    Chapter 52
  • Threadmarks
    • "Ahhhhhhh! Nice! I'm fuuuuuull!"

    Izuku grinned as Yamato flopped back in her chair. He was really starting to enjoy Thatch's cooking, and she clearly felt the same way.

    A week had passed since their arrival on Winner Island, and the start of their training. Jozu and Marco were still dominating them, but every battle brought with it a new insight, a new trick, a new success.

    Granted it also brought a lot of bruises, blood loss and battered bodies, but both of them were already used to that kind of training.

    "Mademoiselle et monsieur!" proclaimed Thatch, carrying on like a maitre-d in some fancy restaurant. "I trust breakfast was to your satisfaction?"

    "Totally!" declared Yamaato, grinning from ear to ear. "Your breakfasts are always the best, Thatch!"

    "It was great!' added Izuku, rising from his reverie.

    "Ah, well," Thatch said, noting the very tall pile of empty plates. "There is no better compliment for a chef than an empty plate, or several in this case."

    "We should take her to Baratie some time!" Teach called out. "Let's see Zeff try and feed her half so well!"

    The pirates roared with laughter. Thatch gave a theatrical shrug.

    "It's tempting…but I'm a little worried how Izuku might react to their Sous Chef." Thatch chuckled, more so when he saw Izuku's puzzlement.

    "The Baratie?" Yamato asked. "What's that?"

    "Famous sea restaurant in East Blue. One of the best I heard. Former pirate runs the place," Thatch replied. "He's a grump, but knows how to make a fine pork pate and filet mignon." He smirked. "So, how's your training going, by the way?" he asked. "You've been tearing up the island a whole week now."

    "We're getting better!" Yamato replied, beaming.

    "Yeah, but…" Izuku's heart sank, and he looked down at his hands. "My Haki hasn't awakened though."

    It wouldn't come. He could feel the difference in his opponents' blows when they used Armament Haki. But no matter how hard he tried, no matter how much he wanted it, it just wouldn't come!

    It was like trying to master One For All, all over again.

    "Ah, don't worry about that!" Thatch assured him with a pat on the shoulder. "Haki doesn't come the same way or for the same reasons every time. For some it comes almost immediately, while others take years to make it work. It's just…well…just something that happens, and you won't really know how or why until after it's happened. I wish I could say more."

    "No, it's okay," said Izuku, forcing himself to smile. "It's fine, Thatch. I understand exactly what you mean."

    He didn't, but couldn't say it out loud.

    "Papers!" It was Haruta, entering with newspapers under his arms. "I got papers!"

    He began strolling around the mess, dropping off papers at the tables. Izuku took one, and looked up and down the front page.

    "Hey, it's the Reverie Edition," he said, noting the banner.

    "Oh? Open it up!" asked Yamato, perking up. Izuku laid it on the table so Yamato and Thatch could see.

    "Let's see…" He paused, reading the opening summary. "A Princess Vivi and King Cobra of Alabasta were in attendance. So was a King Wapol of Drum, Elizabello from Prodence, King Burger of Ballywood…oh! Bach's in here!"

    "Flip through to him!" Yamato was clearly excited, practically leaning over his shoulder. Izuku turned over the pages, until they came to a full-page report on Reichen Bach's appearance at the Reverie meeting. There was a picture of him, clad in one of his blue and gold uniforms, and a lot of text.

    "It says here…he made a speech about the blockade to the Council of Kings, and about accountability and oversight in the Marines," Izuku said, squinting down at the text.

    "Ouch!" hissed Thatch. "That's gonna ruffle a lot of feathers."

    "You think so?" Yamato looked surprised.

    "The Admiralty don't like being criticized, ever." Thatch glanced at Izuku. "Any more after that?"

    "Well…" Izuku read on, squinting to make out the small text. "It says…Bach proposed new internal security measures to stop someone like Baker in the future. More base inspections, more background checks, formal protection for Marines who blow the whistle on their superiors."

    "Neat!" Thatch looked impressed. "How did that go down?"

    "Uh…" Izuku read some more. He had never been one for newspapers or politics, except where All Might was concerned. "It says…the Admiralty issued a joint statement thanking him for his consideration, but declaring that such measures would not be appropriate or proportionate."

    "Ha they are pissed!" proclaimed Thatch. "I wouldn't wanna be in Marineford right now!"

    "They are?" Yamato looked confused. "But…they're being so polite."

    "Yeah, in the hall where everyone can see," explained Thatch. "But behind closed doors? After some snot-nosed young Royal told them to clean up their act? They'd be flipping tables! They'd have steam coming out of their ears while screaming their heads off!"

    "But why?" Yamato asked. "He's got a right to complain, hasn't he? They let him down."

    "They did, and that just makes it worse," Thatch went on. "He's in the right and they know it, and the other kings know it too. They don't want another Baker causing trouble for them or their own."

    "Yeah, it says here they backed him up." Izuku pointed to the text. "But…isn't that dangerous? Angering the Marines like that?"

    "It can be, but the Marines also have to maintain some level of decorum with the various allied nations," mused Thatch with a smirk. "Read on. What did it come to?"

    "Well…" Izuku read some more. "It says there was a few hours of negotiations…then the Marines agreed to a…simplified package of reform. Also, due to the continuing threat of piracy and their location deep in the New World, Doyle has been authorized to expand its defenses. It says…warship-grade artillery?"

    "Oh wow!" Thatch looked like a kid in a candy store. "They let him have that?! That's gonna grind some gears!"

    "It will?" Izuku looked confused. Thatch paused, then gestured towards the seat next to Izuku. Izuku nodded, and he sat down; leaning conspiratorially over the paper.

    "The Marines want to be the only fully equipped military force in the whole world," he said. "If they had their way, the kingdoms would have nothing but palace guards with fancy spears, little more than glorified wall decorations. In reality, the world doesn't work that way. Some kingdoms have armies, weapons, and technology of their own. And that's all because of ancient privileges, or because they squeezed out concessions at Reverie meetings. The Marines hate that, and they hate having to make those kinds of concessions. If Bach just straight-up asked, they'd have thrown it in his face."

    "So…" Yamato's brow furrowed as she tried to process it all. "If I'm getting this right, he hit them with something they hated even more, and they bargained him down to letting him have some more weapons?"

    "That's about the size of it. Though calling it some is downplaying it a bit." Thatch looked positively triumphant. "It never would have worked normally. But the Marines had egg on their faces they couldn't wipe off, and Bach had the other kings behind him. And a few big guns for his forts aren't a huge concession in the greater scheme of things. It's not like he's looking to overturn the World Government. Bach played them like a fiddle, and got exactly what he wanted. He's Bay's son all right." There was pride in his eyes.

    "There's something else here," Izuku said, reading on. "It says…Vinsmoke Judge, King of Germa, was there with his sons…Prince Ichiji and Prince Niji…the latter attending for the first time. It says…King Judge was the first to back Bach's motions, and was seen talking with him afterwards."

    "Hmmm…" Thatch cupped his chin and eyes narrowed in thought . "Germa Kingdom huh… Well, I guess I can't blame Bach for playing nice. But I wonder what those Vinsmokes have in mind."

    "Who are they?" Yamato asked, looking more than a little frustrated at still being so out of the loop..

    "The Kingdom of Germa is basically an army with a kingdom," replied Thatch. "With the kind of fighting power that gives the Admiralty a collective headache. They had an empire in the North Blue hundreds of years ago, but these days they make a living doing mercenary work, taking down kingdoms for cash and favors."

    "And the World Government lets them?" Izuku asked, eyes wide. "They sound like a Private Military Corporation!"

    "Like I said, ancient privileges. Germa gets away with it so long as they don't attack anyone aligned with the World Government, or generally do anything to piss them off. Plus, word is they've got some advanced technology, and they share it with the Government to stay on their good side. I bet they attended the Reverie to find potential clients. War is their trade after all."

    Izuku read further down, looking for any more info. Then he froze.

    "What's wrong?" Yamato asked, seeing his reaction.

    "It says here…there was much talk of the mysterious warriors who aided Doyle in its hour of need," Izuku said, his blood running cold. Yamato paled again, as she understood his meaning.

    "Mysterious warriors eh!" Thatch barked a laugh, and clapped them both on the shoulders. "Looks like your legend is spreading, my young friends. Now rest up! You got more training to do."

    (X)

    Two weeks later

    "I…am…so…tired."

    Yamato never thought a wooden deck could feel so restful. She did not often feel so tired as this.

    "Me too," agreed Izuku, lying next to her on the deck. "This training is hard."

    It had been too. Day after day of fighting, each bout ending in battering, pain, and unconsciousness. Then came Marco's healing, Thatch's delicious food, and yet another bout; each one just a little longer than the last.

    "Yes, but we're getting stronger though, I know it," insisted Yamato. "At first we could do four bouts in a day; now we're down to two."

    "I know." Izuku stared up at the night sky. "I think I've gotten better at fighting, at least. Marco's always catching me off guard. But…"

    He trailed off. Yamato turned her head to look at him, and saw the look on his face.

    "Izuku?" she asked, worried.

    "I still can't control my power any better," Izuku admitted. "My control is still plateauing at 55 percent. No matter how hard I try, I can't push beyond it."

    He sighed.

    "It's fine," insisted Yamato with a grin. "Don't be so hard on yourself. You'll break through it, sooner or later. Then we'll achieve our dreams!"

    "Dreams, huh?"

    Yamato blinked, taken by surprise. She sat up and looked around, wondering who had spoken.

    "Tis I!" declared Marshall D. Teach, sitting cross-legged on one of the deck hatches nearby.

    "Oh, Teach," Izuku greeted the older man. "Can't sleep?"

    "Nah, I sleep up in the crow's nest," admitted Teach, then laughed. "Too crowded for me down there. Plus, it counts for my share of lookout duty while I'm up there."

    Now it was Izuku's turn to blink. Teach chuckled, and Yamato let out a laugh.

    "So," Teach leaned forward, hands on his knees. "You kids got a dream, do ya? Something more than takin' down the old dragon?"
    "Yes." Yamato beamed, as her old enthusiasm rose again. "We're going to travel the world, and see as much of it as we can. And while we're at it, we'll help anyone who needs it, with smiles on our faces."

    "No matter where it takes you?" Teach cocked an eyebrow. "Or who takes exception?"

    "Well…" Yamato faltered, not sure what he meant.

    "You're Whitebeards now," Teach went on. "Tat or no tat, bounty or no bounty, you've been seen with us; and we can't stop every spy out there. Sooner or later, word's gonna get back to the Marines, and others, that you're with us."

    Yamato felt cold, and glanced at Izuku. He looked even more unsettled than she felt.

    "Now don't go wimping out on me," insisted Teach, still grinning his gap-toothed grin. "It just means you're gonna have to make some arrangements. There's not many who can travel this world alone. You said you wanted your own ship, well, you're gonna need a crew too. Good folks you can rely on. Your few, your happy few, your band of brothers."

    Yamato liked that idea. She liked it very much. Not just a ship of their own, but a crew of their own too. A band of heroes on the high seas, just like the Whitebeards, or Oden and his Red Scabbards.

    Friends.

    "A crew…" Izuku was staring straight ahead. "Well, we'll need a helmsman, a navigator, a cook, a doctor, a shipwright or engineer, a master-at-arms…maybe a chaplain…"

    Yamato could not help but chuckle. It had been a while since she had seen him like this. There was something nostalgic about it.

    "I'd like a musician," she mused. "Someone to play music and sing songs…keep morale up."

    Then she paused, as she remembered Uta; all alone on Elegia but for Gordon.

    "Yes!" she exclaimed. "We should ask her!"

    She saw Izuku's eyes bulge in panic. But then he faltered, as he realized that she hadn't actually named Uta.

    "Who?" Teach asked, mildly curious.

    "A friend of ours," replied Izuku, mastering himself. "We met her a while back."

    Teach chuckled.

    "You've got the makings of a great pirate in ya, Midoriya Izuku," he said. "Don't let anyone stop ya from going after what you want. And don't let anyone get ya down for what ya are too, Yamato. Only you can decide what you wanna be. Your friends, your family, they're all here for ya." He patted his own chest. "Me included too!"

    "Teach…" breathed Izuku.

    "The squalls will come, the days will be without wind," the pirate went on. "But as long as you have your dream, you will never be lost. For this era of dreams will never end."

    Izuku stared at him in wonder, and Teach reached out and patted him on the head. Yamato grinned, glad for him to have this moment.

    "So, what's your dream anyway?"

    "I've… thought about it." Izuku mused. "I wanted to save everyone with a smile, bringing peace to everyone. And I want to see the world too, to go around it and see all of its wonders. So in that case, I…"

    He looked up, and Yamato saw his eyes fall on the night sky, with its endless darkness littered by countless stars like a milky sea splattered upon a canvas, and the big full moon.

    And he gave his answer, and Yamato and Teach's eyes widened.

    "Is that so?" Teach said, a smile of interest and growing intrigue appearing on his face.

    "Izuku… I never considered it like that!" Yamato said, shock written all over her face. Izuku nodded.

    "Yeah. With bad pirates running around, and corrupt Marines too? Someone has to guide them through dark and uncertain times as a hero who smiles." He took a deep breath. "Saving them, liberating them. Being that symbol?

    "That's who I want to be. What I dream to be."

    His goal… is that? Beyond Kaido. Beyond exploring the world and saving others as a hero should. She looked up to the night sky, at all its tiny glimmering lights; stars and planets far away and the moon shining bright.

    "Zehahahahaha!" Teach laughed. "You my boy," he squeezed Izuku's shoulder, "are going to be special." He gave a toothy grin. "I can tell. I'm gonna be rootin' for ya Izuku."

    "And I'll be with you." Yamato assured, smiling bright as she scooted closer to the green haired boy. Her hero. "Every step of the way. After all, we can make both of our dreams come true!" Izuku looked back and beamed.

    "Yeah. Together." The two looked back at each other, her amber eyes to his brilliant emerald green.

    "Hehe, well, seems like you two got it all sorted out!" Teach gave a cheeky grin. "I'm happy for you both! You're gonna sleep very well tonight. I can tell."

    "Teach…" Izuku asked suddenly. "Do you know the stars?"

    "The stars?" Teach feigned surprise. "Of course I know them. I know them well. They were my first family."

    "They were?" Yamato asked, surprised.

    "Oh yes." Teach grinned again. "If you can see the sky, you can see them. And even if you can't see a certain star on a certain night, it'll be back again when the time comes. If you know the stars, you know where you are, and where you're going; every time."

    "Could you teach us?" Izuku asked, blushing. Teach barked a laugh, then leant back; looking up at the stars.

    "Well… Let's start with that one, up there…"

    Big thanks to @Juubi-K for writing this up. And of course, @IKnowNothing and @WildJoker000 for their edits too.

    There was a big comedy section in the middle, but offered nothing to the story so we had to axe it. Was like, 1/3 to half the chapter too, but thems the breaks.

    But yeah, Anime had "Luffy's Dream" be released and that was beautiful and had good foreshadowing of what it is. Now? Izuku told us of his dream. A dream he has formed since being in this world. What it is? Well, speculate I say. We know. Couldn't find a fitting MHA or OP OST, so if anyone knows better...

    Also IKN praised that dream bit too. I am so happy.

    But yeah, this will bring us to the end of the Acclimation Arc. The next arc will be heralded at the beginning of the next chapter...
     
  • Threadmarks
    • Chapter 53
  • Threadmarks
    • Brew Island.

    Many had heard of it, but few knew where it was. It was within an obscure, little-traveled corner of the Old World; close to the dangerous Calm belt, and on a clear day, the Red Line was just visible. Its obscurity made it safe; ideal to start a family, or just start a new life.

    Or for those wanting a good cup of tea. The Peppermint was to die for.

    Paradoxically, Brew Island was also prosperous. Its forests were rich with timber of many kinds; their seeds brought by birds migrating over the Red Line. The mountain at its center produced a constant flow of clear, pure water; ideal for the brewing of liquor. Ale, beer, grog, whiskey; all were brewed in vast quantities, and shipped from Brew Island by the shipload. All who wanted a good drink, be they Pirate or Marine, paid under the table and inquired no further.

    She had been on the island for the last twenty-four hours; she and her escorts. During that time, she had found no sign of anything connecting this place to the Emperors or the World Government. They wanted to sell their booze to anyone and everyone.

    And that was that.

    She got up, and looked to her companions. "Wait here, I'll be right back," she said, then strode across the busy boulevard. All around, happy people strolled here and there, wandering in and out of the restaurants, bars, and cafes; all of them serving Brew Island beverages.

    Her target was a simple bookstore. She stepped inside, and lowered her hood; revealing coiffed pink hair.

    "Excuse me," she called out, trying not to sound too commanding. The man behind the counter; the owner she presumed, perked up at her voice.

    "Ah, good day miss," he greeted her, smiling warmly. There was a ring on his finger, and on the wall behind him a photo; showing himself, a woman, and some children. His family, no doubt.

    How nice.

    She gave the bookseller a vague description off the top of her head, playing the tourist, and he was quick to oblige. With her intended book in hand, and paid for, she thanked the man and strode out. She hid the book under her cloak - beside the satchel containing several millions of berries in unmarked notes - and returned to her seat at the cafe, where her companions and her tea waited. It was still hot.

    She looked around again, taking in the scene; keeping her thoughts from her face.

    This bustling, prosperous, happy town. Why, oh why, did they have to build it right at the foot of that mountain? Of all place!

    "It's time, my lady," said one of her companions, in a low and emotionless tone. "Time to make the call."

    She eyed the man, for want of a better word, and felt a sudden urge to snap his neck. He would not resist. None of them would. They would stand there, loyal, obedient, silent, while she killed every last one of them. They all would, and sometimes she wished she could.

    But that would be a waste of resources, of valuable assets. That was what he would, and technically he would be right. Their deaths would be valueless, meaningless, serving no useful purpose; let alone the cause.

    His cause.

    As she stood up, her eye fell on a newspaper being read by one of her fellow customers. Another report on the Reverie; there had been little else for the past fortnight. She hadn't bothered to read any of the newspapers. She already knew more than those journalists ever would.

    For her father was there, as he was always there; this time with two of her brothers in tow. She already knew what he planned to do there; for he had told her so himself. Her father trusted few, and she ranked high in that small circle.

    She stepped out of the cafe, and into an alleyway nearby; pulling out a transponder snail. The snail's eyes opened, and her eyebrows rose as she saw who it was.

    "You're back," she said in surprise.

    "It wasn't a long trip from Mariejois to the staging ground. Is Brew Island associated with any of the Emperors?"

    She was silent.

    "Reiju. Answer me." She felt the chill in her spine as her brain, her body, complied.

    "We see no flag of theirs on any building or structure," answered Vinsmoke Reiju." It's a free island."

    "Good. Mt. Glugg is a vast mountain. One rich with resources to fuel our Empire," said her father, Vinsmoke Judge. "What are the island's defenses?"

    "Minimal. A few armed caravels, and some militia. No sign of a Marine base."

    "Being so close to the Red Line and the Calm Belt, they thought no one would notice them. The fools." The snail smirked. "Very well, return to your ship and rendezvous with the fleet. The detachment is underway, and should be starting in about an hour."

    "You're not coming yourself?"

    "The clones can handle this one," Judge replied. "You had a chance to stretch your legs and do reconnaissance. You're far better at that than your brothers."

    "Understood. I'll rendezvous within North Blue."

    If Ichiji, Niji, or Yonji had heard her father's compliment, they'd be chomping at the bit to try and right the wrong. After all, no woman should be able to outdo a man at warfare; even if she was their sister, a Vinsmoke of Germa.

    So they had been taught, all their lives.

    "Very well. Take the route along the Red Line, and go high too. The Cruiser will be easy pickings for the Sea Kings if they're two hundred meters off the ground."

    "Yes Father." Reiji ended the call, sighed, and strode back to her companions.

    "We return to the ship, and to their cruiser in the Luneshine Atoll," she ordered, her father's words echoing inside her. "Flanking speed."

    "Yes My Lady." The two Clone Troopers bowed and fell in behind her, walking side by side. As she strode down the boulevard towards the docks, she could see the faint outline in the distance. The towering Red Line, hidden behind murky clouds. No doubt the Snail Cruisers of the Germa 66 were there, slithering along its vast side, safe from the dangers of the sea; until the time was right to descend, and make their approach.

    By the time that happened, she would be long gone; on her way back to the North Blue. She would not see or hear any of it.

    But she knew what was coming. She had seen it, done it, often enough in her twenty years of life. As a Princess of Germa, and a commander of the Germa 66.

    As Poison Pink.

    She reached the ship, and climbed on board. With a nod, the crew set to work; casting off from the dock, and steering out of the harbor. She looked back as her nameless ship sailed on, her clone crew carrying out their tasks. She watched, her face a porcelain mask, as Brew Island slipped slowly, gently into the distance. It was almost as if it was waving to her, bidding her a cheerful farewell

    She lifted the book from under her cloak. It was a habit she had built over the years. Whenever she was sent to this mission, she would buy a local cookbook and bring it back with her. Then, at night, in secret, she would memorize the recipes, the ingredients. She dared not enter a kitchen, but in her mind, at least, those dishes would live on.

    It wasn't much. It was pathetic, really. But it was all she could do; the only good thing left to her in this world.

    And the only way she could still connect with her little brother, wherever he may be.

    'Mother. Please forgive me,' she thought as Brew Island vanished from sight. 'You too. Sanji…'

    (X)

    Old Lyn glanced up at the grandfather clock, and down at the Transponder Snail in her hand.

    It sat there, blank-faced, ringing away. But no one answered. Why wouldn't Trent answer?

    "He should have answered by now…" she muttered, glancing at the pot of clam chowder sitting on the stove.

    She should call Mayor Bartleby. He and Trent were good poker buddies, and it was Bart who put Trent onto this task; given his love for being a Seamster and being around nature in general.

    She put the snail back on the rack, and took out another; feeding it some broccoli as she dialed.

    "Ring Ring Ring Ring. Ring Ring Ri-Click." The Snail's face changed. "Mrs Lyn? What's the matter?"

    "Oh Bart, sorry about this." She frowned. "I've tried calling Trent, but that dumb ole husband of mine isn't picking up!" She huffed. "He's either taking a nap or too engrossed in his work. His dinner is getting cold!"

    "Strange, he usually answers," Bart mused. "I'll go and fetch him myself. I can use the exercise."

    "Oh, to be young again." She smiled. "I wouldn't want to impose on you at all. But if that's what you want to do I can't stop sir." She reached over to turn down the stove. "You know where to find the Lighthouse Station, yes?"

    "Ma'am, my father helped make that trail. I'll go check on Trent and give you a call back."

    "Take your time dear!" Lyn hung up, and sighed. It was probably nothing; nothing Bartlby couldn't handle anyway. And he would never mind doing it.

    She looked along the wall, at the photos lining it. Her and her husband, all through the years. When they were young, when they got married, when they opened their little café; and into their twilight years.

    She had been pretty back then, when she was younger. Like that pink-haired lass who had stopped by for some tea, just before closing. She'd been quite pretty too.

    And then the windows lit up.

    (X)

    Brewloors Bartlby hummed happily to himself, as he strolled along the boulevard.

    He liked going on mountain walks. He could stay close to nature, work up a good burn, and keep his fiancee Rose from nagging at him to hit the Gym Yards. And a chance to check on Trent and their little project was not to be passed up.

    His route took him to the end of the boulevard, where a sign pointed out the mountain trail. He paused, adjusted his beanie, and looked up the trail. Up there, just visible, was the shack where Trent was working. He frowned, when he saw that the lights were off.

    Perhaps he was still up at the building site, working on the island's new lighthouse. The project had caused some excitement on Brew Island, if only because Edward Newgate, the Pirate Emperor Whitebeard himself, had kindly provided the materials. Whitebeard was a fan of Brew Island grog, and very much wanted the island under his flag.

    That couldn't happen, of course. If it did, they could no longer sell to Government-aligned islands, or the Red Hair Pirates. They paid well, and being so close to the Calm Belt and the Red Line paid dividends. No pirates ever wandered by; if only for fear of getting stuck in the Calm Belt, or blown right into the Red Line.

    Not being a man of the sea, Bartlby didn't know which fate would be worse.

    On a whim, he glanced back along the boulevard; taking in all the stores where the island's breweries sold their prized alcohol. The closest was Adolly's; a popular beer, and his personal favorite, especially the Banquet kind.

    Yes, this was a good place, and a good life. As the Mayor of a wealthy island, he lived well; with a good salary, plenty of free samples, and a nice house at the nice end of town. A good place to settle down, and to live.

    He sighed, and started up the trail. Even with the light fading, he made his way without difficulty; having walked it his entire life. The stones were firm under his feet, and the wind warm on his face. He wondered what on earth could have kept Trent from his wife and her cooking?

    A boom, like a thunderclap, echoed around him. Birds flew from the trees, chittering and cawing. Bartlby paused, frowning. There hadn't been any sign of a thunderstorm. What was making that noise?

    Then another boom. And another. Startled, Bartlby started back down the trail. Had there been an accident at one of the breweries? Or had the militia's gunpowder gone up again? If so, he was going to have stern words with the Marshal about it. Gunpowder was expensive!

    Then he saw.


    View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yhwxa3zYoT0

    Adolly's distillery was a fireball, flaming beer running down the boulevard. Then another one exploded, and another. Half the boulevard had been blasted apart, reduced to smoke and burning wreckage. People were racing out of the buildings, some trying to fight the fires, others standing and staring.

    Bartlby did the same, his blood turned to ice, his whole body frozen. What was this? What was going on? Why was his hometown exploding like this?
    Then he saw them. Ten shapes on the sea, moving slowly towards the docks, beams of light reaching out, sweeping over the docks and the nearby buildings.

    His mouth dropped open, as he saw them clearly. They were snails; enormous snails, with what looked like castles on their backs, and the light coming from their eyestalks. He could see the black muzzles of cannon atop the towers and bastions, and poking out of gun ports. And atop the tallest tower of every snail-castle, he could see the same flag; black, with a long white cross and a black cross set within it, and a number.

    66

    Down in the docks, the militia were gathering; trying to get their caravels underway. One of them was moving, easing out into the harbor, its crew struggling to ready its single cannon.

    A crack from atop one of the snails, a whoosh, and then the caravel blew apart; splinters of wood flying all around. More cracks, more whooshes, and its sisters vanished in clouds of smoke, burning wreckage flying all over the docks. Further inland, more buildings exploded, more breweries and distilleries and outlet stores, more shops and restaurants and cafes, and homes.

    Bartlby swayed, almost falling to his knees. He could hear the flames, hear his neighbors screaming as they tried to save their town, or to escape, or just went mad with fear. He could feel the wind of the blasts buffeting him, smell the alcohol, and the burning.

    His home was being destroyed. His people, the people who had made him Mayor, were being killed. People like Lyn, and all his staff.

    And Rose…

    'I'm sorry!'

    And Bartlby ran, scurrying away into the woods. Shells hit the mountainside, blasting great holes in the rock and earth, setting the trees on fire. One of them fell, crashing down the mountainside towards him. It was all he could do to get out of its way, the heat scorching him as it passed.

    He ran on. There was nothing he could do, no way to stop what was happening. His only hope was Trent, and his Transponder Snails. They had to call Whitebeard, or maybe Red Hair's people. It was their only chance!

    Before him, the mountainside erupted. He staggered to a halt, and tried to evade, but the ground gave way below his feet, toppling him down the slope. Down and down he rolled, his mind a blank, rocks, mud, and burning trees flying all around him. He crashed to a stop, and cried out as something heavy landed on top of him, crushing his legs and waist.

    He lay still, his vision hazy; his body a mass of pain. He could not feel his legs any more. He could hear more explosions, more cries, as Brew Island was slowly destroyed.

    With a trembling hand, he reached into his jacket pocket and pulled out his pocket watch; the ceremonial watch that marked him as the Mayor of Brew Island. And the photo inside of his beloved fiance.

    Rose…

    He did not see the burning tree falling towards him. And he only briefly felt the pain as it crushed his skull.

    -X-

    Brew Island burned, and the Germa 66 made its first official conquest in the New World.

    Far away, off the coast of Winner Island, within the Vivre Card Room of the Moby Dick, a card burned to ash. Belonging to Brewloors Bartlby, Mayor of Brew Island.

    Acclimation Arc has ended.

    The North Blue Saga, or the Germa 66 Arc, is about to begin.

    I wrote this up, and big thanks to @Juubi-K , @IKnowNothing , and @WildJoker000 for their help on this one.

    We did have plans for a key character to join our duo, but after much deliberation with IKN, we decided to remove the character from the narrative as she offered nothing to help with our future crew.

    And that character was Carina from Film GOLD, who would have been 15 years old and stopping by on her way to East Blue. She would have been one of the sole survivors of the Germa Invasion hiding under debris. We thought she'd fit a theif like role, but Izuku can do all the stealth she can do. She's a good singer but... Uta is better. And a certain character you see in this chapter can do the femme fatale role better too, and that, if she joins, is Reiju.

    So she got cut. But hey, she's likely in East Blue hanging with Nami right now. So consider that. and for the record, Brew Island did business with everyone else in selling their booze, but they at least had some business contact with Whitebeard(he name dropped Brew Island as his favorite grog distributor too). As for why the Germa attacked this island? Was listed in here again, plus additional reasons you'll find down the line.

    Now to go on a little break. got to roadmap this arc now. Got Part 1 figured out a bit. Got to handle part 2, and also give BDC and FFESS some love.

    Anyways, hope you all enjoy this one, and are excited for whats to come.
     
  • Threadmarks
    • Zaru said:
    Brew Island burned, and the Germa 66 made its first official conquest in the New World.

    Far away, off the coast of Winner Island, within the Vivre Card Room of the Moby Dick, a card burned to ash. Belonging to Brewloors Bartlby, Mayor of Brew Island.
    Click to expand...
    Click to shrink...
    *smash cut to Germa 66 falling to the wrath of the Whitebeard Pirates*
    Vinsmoke Judge: "Oh.... Errors have been made."

    Whitebeard: "Yes."

    On seriousness, Germa 66 made a big mistake of attacking one of the territories under the Whitebeard Pirates' protection. And it would mean Big Mom ain't gonna have the technology of Germa 66 anymore.

    Queen of Beast Pirates is gonna laugh at Judge when he hears of his former fellow MADS scientist defeated. Even when he still suffered injuries from Kaido beating him up for disregarding Spytand Malice's warning of Yamato escaping with Izuku.

    And that Reiju would be invited to join with Izuku and Yamato. Not sure about the other three brothers who were born emotionless and cruel with Sanji retaining his humanity thanks to their mother Sora.
     
    Warmachine375 said:
    On seriousness, Germa 66 made a big mistake of attacking one of the territories under the Whitebeard Pirates' protection. And it would mean Big Mom ain't gonna have the technology of Germa 66 anymore.
    Click to expand...
    Click to shrink...
    Brew island isn't a WB territory. It's just an island WB liked. Brew did business with a lot of other clients. Including shanks and big mom and even WG aligned countries.
     
    Zaru said:
    Brew island isn't a WB territory. It's just an island WB liked. Brew did business with a lot of other clients. Including shanks and big mom and even WG aligned countries.
    Click to expand...
    Click to shrink...
    Wow, what a lucrative business Brew Island had and there would be retribution regardless from Whitebeard as he had the Mayor's Vivre Card that burned.

    Nice knowing Germa 66 and Sanji would celebrate or at least say good riddance while still worried for Reiju and hoped she escaped.
     
    Warmachine375 said:
    Wow, what a lucrative business Brew Island had and there would be retribution regardless from Whitebeard as he had the Mayor's Vivre Card that burned.

    Nice knowing Germa 66 and Sanji would celebrate or at least say good riddance while still worried for Reiju and hoped she escaped.
    Click to expand...
    Click to shrink...

    Consider the hypothetical:

    Newspaper Special: Germa Kingdom Destroyed! No Survivors!

    Sanji may stop cooking/flirting the moment he reads that headline and the kid's gonna be shook, shook enough Zeff would notice. What's going to be going through his mind? Sure his cruel father and brothers are dead... but the door is closed for reconcilliation. Sora, his mother, had to have loved Judge at some point in her life. And Reiju? No survivors?

    Poor guy's going to need to take the day off. And when Luffy and co. come in a year and a half's time? He's not just searching for the All Blue.

    He would have an 'ambition'. To hunt, and kill, the murderer of his sister.

    Revenge is a powerful motivator. Look at the Sauce in Nardo and the Faces of Evil. Hell, look at Ace RIGHT NOW. Dude has a little humanity in him(helping Hyogoro) but he wants to learn Haki to avenge his crewmates.
     
    Zaru said:
    Poor guy's going to need to take the day off. And when Luffy and co. come in a year and a half's time? He's not just searching for the All Blue.

    He would have an 'ambition'. To hunt, and kill, the murderer of his sister.
    Click to expand...
    Click to shrink...
    Big oof and I can see Sanji setting aside his usual flirting antics (or at least tone it down ala his live action self) and focus on getting stronger than his canon pre-timeskip counterpart, probably unlocking Diable Jambe and Hell Memories early.

    Luffy and fellow Straw Hats might be concerned of his wellbeing (revenge can be an ugly thing) and also know of his heritage with Germa 66 early but still stand by him as their friend and help even if it means picking a fight with Whitebeard.
     
    Chapter 54
  • Threadmarks
    • Focus. Draw upon One for All.

    Izuku had his eyes closed as he sat on the head of the whale at the prow of the Moby Dick. He sat in his shorts, hands interlocked; his body glowing and humming with power.

    He could draw upon 50% as easy as breathing. Now it was time to push it to 55%.

    The Egg in the Microwave…

    The lightning around him crackled. Izuku felt himself grasp it, like trying to grab a string in a gale. But the string was bigger and thicker, easier to latch on.

    He grabbed it, and he hung on. All around he could hear the cawing of the gulls, but he paid no attention to them. He had gotten used to it.

    They had been on Winner Island for a month now; training every day with Marco and Jozu, while Whitebeard's crews made supply runs. One month, out of two since he had joined the Whitebeard Pirates.

    With each passing day he could feel himself getting stronger; Fa Jin activating a little faster, Black Whip a little tighter and denser, Danger Sense a little more attuned. A little stronger, a little better, every day.

    It was like Aizawa-sensei said, a Quirk was like a muscle. The more it was used, the stronger it became.

    He lifted a hand, fingers coiled back for a flick. Izuku took a deep breath, and flicked. The ship rocked as a great blast of air from an Air Force Smash bellowed forth, parting waves and obliterating a small rock into dust outcropping many kilometers away along the coast.

    "That was stronger than Toshinori's punches," said Nana inside his head. "You've well and truly surpassed him Izuku." Izuku smiled, and let out a breath, his control fading back down to 50%.

    How long had he maintained 55% sitting down? Two minutes? Three? In his bouts with Marco, he had only kept it up in spurts.

    But the difference was there. A monumental leap in power from a mere five per cent.

    "Be happy with your progress Izuku," The Second User said with a hint of pride. "True strength requires time and patience. I believe we've already seen what happens when you try to rush things."

    Content with his progress, Izuku got up and turned around. In front of him, the crew were hard at work; carrying out the thousand-and-one small tasks that kept their beloved ship afloat. Dozens of ships were anchored all around, no two alike, yet each flying Whitebeard's Jolly Roger under their own.

    Smiling, Izuku floated up and around the ship, enjoying the looks he was still getting from the crew.

    Quietly floating along, he dropped in through his cabin porthole, and grabbed a shirt. His stomach chose that moment to rumble.

    "Should get some breakfast. Yamato's likely there," Izuku mused, looking in the mirror as he washed his hands and his face.

    It still felt a little strange, seeing his body in the mirror. All that muscle, and the scars old and new. A far cry from the scrawny, baby-faced nerd he had been when he met All Might; a mere two years ago. He'd even picked up a suntan, and his hair had gotten longer.

    "Maybe I should see the barber," he thought aloud, running his hair through the thick green locks.

    "You really should. Letting your hair get that long is just begging your enemy to grab it when you get in close." The Third User spoke matter of factly, lacking his normal sarcastic tone.

    Putting the barber meeting in his mind for later he pulled on his shirt, and headed out towards the mess hall.

    True enough, there was Yamato; sitting at a table piled with empty plates and a whole boneyard of meat ribs. And she was still digging in.

    "Where the heck does she put it all?" Daigoro asked.

    "Morning Yamato!" Izuku called with a smile. "Getting ready for the day?"

    "Ah!" Yamato perked up as she saw him, swallowing a big hunk of meat. "Good morning Izuku! Sleep well?"

    "Fine enough. Did some early morning meditation to get an easier grasp on One for All."

    "That so?"

    Izuku paused, and turned to see Whitebeard walking towards him between the tables. "Be sure to eat well Izuku. You'll need your strength when you go up against Marco."

    "I know." Izuku reached over, grabbing one of Yamato's ribs and tearing into it. Not his forte to eat with his hands, but it was ribs and Yamato was happy to join him.

    "You're lasting longer in your bouts" Whitebeard said smiling as Izuku grinned back up.

    "I'd like to be able to beat him outright. But, baby steps."

    "That's a good outlook. You have the opportunity to grow and learn here. Use it and focus on what you can do right now. '' Whitebeard ruffled his hair. "And Yamato, Jozu's getting more and more bruises lately. Try to ease up on him."

    He shot her a coy smile.

    "I know…" Yamato replied.

    "Don't worry, he's been telling me how you've adapted to his attacks. That's good." He gave them a stern look. "Your enemies won't be like those two. They'll fight in very different ways, and they won't hold back; not with their lives on their line. You shouldn't use your full power all the time, but there'll come a day when you'll have to use everything you've got, and in every way you can. Thus don't hold back."

    Yamato nodded, as she sucked a rib bone clean.

    "That's right," Izuku agreed. "Yamato, how's your devil fruit coming along?" Yamato paused, blinking.

    "Well…the truth is…"

    "Pops! Pops!"

    She paused, as the mess hall doors burst open and a man came hurrying in.

    "Whoa there Jessup!" called Thatch from the kitchen door. "What's wrong?" Jessup staggered to a halt in front of Whitebeard, and stood there trying to catch his breath. Whitebeard raised an eyebrow. The younger man was clearly rattled.

    "Pops…I was doing the daily check in the Vivre card room," gasped Jessup. He held out one of the little glass bottles, and Izuku remembered the one Sabo had on Doyle.

    But there were no nail clippings in there, or card. Just black ash. He squinted, trying to make out the label on the bottle.

    BREWLOORS BARTLBY – BREW ISLAND

    "It's fresh Pops…" Jessup went on, as Whitebeard took the bottle in his hands. "Can't be more than a few hours old."

    Whitebeard looked down hard at the bottle, his hands tightening as he raised his head.

    "I'm going to the Snail Center." The Emperor strode out of the mess hall. Izuku fell in behind him, Yamato doing likewise. This did not feel right.

    "You think something happened?" Yamato asked.

    "I dunno, but Pops has a look in his eyes," Izuku replied. "And…I've got a bad feeling about this."

    They soon reached the Snail Center.

    It was a long, wide cabin, the walls lined with racks, upon which sat little enclosures; each one containing a transponder snail. Various men and women were moving around or sitting at desks; checking on the snails, picking up printouts, going over paperwork, making calls.

    Honestly, it kind of reminded Izuku of a police station call center.

    The men and women leapt to their feet as Whitebeard entered. As they passed, Izuku noted the name plates under the snail slots. Hand Island, Fishman Island, Sphinx, Melville…and many more.

    "Marcus!" Whitebeard greeted a rotund man. "Can you get through to Brew Island? Mayor Bartlby seems to have passed." He held up the bottle. Marcus took it, nodded, and started looking up and down the rack. The snails were napping, or snacking on lettuce, or just sitting there with their usual blank looks.

    After a moment, Marcus pulled out a snail and took it to a desk in the middle of the cabin. He set it down, plugged in some wires, then lifted the speaker.

    "Did you know the Mayor Pops?" Yamato asked. "I didn't think Brew Island was one of our territories."

    "It isn't," Whitebeard replied, as the snail chanted its ring-ring-ring. "But he's a good friend of mine. He knows the brewer who makes my favorite grog."

    He waited. Yamato waited. Izuku crossed his arms, and waited. They waited, the crew watching in nervous silence, as the snail rang…and rang…and rang…

    "No answer," Marcus replied. Whitebeard narrowed his eyes.

    "Who's operating in that region right now?" he asked, as Thatch joined them.

    "We could try Jinbe, but that would be tricky," Thatch mused aloud. Izuku perked up as he recognized the name.

    "Hang on, Jinbe?" he asked, eyes wide. "He's one of the Seven Warlords though! We're in contact with him?"

    "We are, albeit loosely," Whitebeard said. "I claimed Fishman Island as my territory to keep the pirates and slavers off it. Jinbe was grateful for it; though we have to use the Royal Family as go-betweens. Besides, Jinbe is a Warlord, but the Government keeps him busy; and I don't want to put him in trouble. Call up Squard. Spiral Web Island isn't far from there. Have him check on Brew Island, and call in when he gets there." He turned to Thatch. "Thatch, go get Blenheim and his craftsmen, have them get to work. I've got a bad feeling about this."

    "Right." Thatch pulled out his snail, as Izuku looked to Yamato, then back to Whitebeard.

    "Hey Pops? May I ask a question?"

    "Of course," Whitebeard turned to look at him. "What is it?"

    "A burnt Vivre Card… what does it mean, exactly?"

    Whitebeard sighed. He seemed very old at that moment as he strode away, and the pair followed on.

    "To keep it brief, a Vivre Card is a fragment of a person's life energy, and their energy is depicted on the card." Whitebeard explained as he strode along, Izuku and Yamato having to trot to keep up. "If the card is pure and white, the person is in fine health. If it's soggy, that person is sick. If it's rusty and dried out like a leaf, then that person is malnourished."

    He stopped, and sat down on a bench at the rear of the Snail Center. Wordlessly, he pulled out his gourd, took a deep breath, and took a swig.

    "If it's burning along the edges… then that person's life force is fading away…"

    He fell silent, and Izuku's blood ran cold, already piecing things together..

    "Then…if it's burned completely…"

    "Then the owner has expired." Whitebeard finished for him, taking another swing. "Bart was in good health when we talked a couple of days ago, his card didn't have so much as a blemish. For it to burn like this…"

    "Could… something have happened to Brew Island then?" Yamato asked, concern etched all over her face.

    "For all we know Bart could have taken a bad fall, drowned, or was in an accident. Unfortunate but understandable. However, for no reply to come out of Brew Island via the Snail at his home is troubling." Whitebeard narrowed his eyes. "What I don't understand is why. Pirates from all over love the ale from that island and it's hardly booming with treasure. Why would any of them attack it?"

    (X)

    Six Hours Later…

    "Land ho!"

    Squard, Captain of the Whirl Spider Pirates, perked up at the cry. He had been a day's sail from Brew Island, when Whitebeard suddenly called in and asked him to check on the place. It was a hard sail, but it was for Pops, and for Brew Island's beer.

    He loved their beer!

    Squard strode over the Real Spider's quarterdeck, his long lavender hair billowing below his bald crown, his coat flapping in the wind. He reached Teems, the helmsman, and held out his Eternal Pose.

    He could see it, right where the Pose pointed. Mt. Glugg, rising above the clouds. He raised his eyeglass, but the roiling waves threw off his aim.

    "That's Brew Island all right," he said, and looked up to the crow's nest. "Kolb, can you see the island?!"
    "I'm looking, Captain!" Kolb replied, peering at the distant peak through his binoculars. "I see…smoke! Captain, there's smoke!"

    "Smoke?" That didn't sound good.

    "And…ships! I see ships!"

    Squard ran for the rigging and clambered up, swaying and bouncing as the Real Spider rolled and bucked below. The seas were heavy, but his ship and crew had weathered worse.

    Soon enough he reached the crows nest, Kolb stepping aside to let him in.

    "Captain, I don't recognize them!" Kolb handed him the binoculars, and Squard looked for himself, carefully zooming in, shifting from leg to leg as the ship rolled beneath him.

    Then he saw. A great column of smoke, rising from where the harbor and town were supposed to be. And there was something sitting in the harbor, something large. He twisted the rings to zoom in, squinting as his eyes adjusted.

    No, he wasn't going blind. There was an enormous snail sitting in the harbor. Not just one, but a cluster of them; each bigger than a ship. And as he looked more closely, he could see stone towers and turrets rising from their backs.

    What on earth were they supposed to be? Who in their right mind built castles on the backs of giant snails, even in this deranged world?

    And then, as his gaze drew slowly up the stone towers, he found his answer. He saw the banners wafting in the wind; each one the same. Black, with a long white cross, and the number 66.

    "Captain?" asked Kolb, sounding nervous. He must have seen the look on his face.

    "Keep watch, and don't try anything unless they attack us." Squard handed back the binoculars, patted Kalb on the shoulder, and leapt down the deck. The crew were all watching him, waiting to know what was going on. Squard did not reply, but pulled a transponder snail from his pocket; a snail with a Whitebeard crest on its shell.

    "Ring-ring-ring-ring! Ring-ring-click. Squard, what did you find?"

    "Put Pops on, now," Squard ordered. He waited, rolling with the ship, until the snail's face took on the familiar shape.

    "Squard," it said, in the voice he knew so well.

    "Pops, Brew Island has been sacked," he said. "There are snail ships in the harbor, flying the black cross flag. The Germa 66 is here."

    He heard his crew gasp and whisper. They loved Brew Island at least as much as he did. And they knew the reputation of Germa 66. If those brutes were somehow not responsible, he would like to hear them try and explain themselves.

    Squard looked down at the snail, watching as its little face turned from surprise, to disbelief, to boiling anger.

    "Pops, let me at'em," he pleaded.

    "Squard…"

    "We met on that island long ago Pops. It's where you took me in when I was at my lowest. Let me go, Pops! Let me settle this!"

    He forced himself not to shudder in front of his men. That island was where his life had changed for the better. Those people he had loved, and all their works. All gone. All gone. All gone, in the blink of an eye.

    He couldn't let that stand, no matter who did it.

    "We're on our way," Whitebeard replied; his voice perfectly calm. "Can you manage?"

    Squard looked over his beloved ship, and his crew. One look in their eyes told him all he needed to know.

    "We've got this, Pops."

    "Good. Take one prisoner for information."

    "And the rest?!" Squard snarled, though he already knew the answer.

    "You know what's to be done with rabid dogs," reproached Whitebeard mildly, and then hung up. Squard put the snail away, and straightened up.

    "Men!" he barked. "What you heard is true! Brew Island has been destroyed! Burned to the ground by the Germa 66! We will go, and we will hit them fast! Hard! Show no mercy, for those bastards will show you none!"

    He paused, taking in the looks in their eyes.

    "Ready the guns! Sharpen your blades!" he roared. "Tonight, they will learn what it means to offend the Emperor Whitebeard! Tonight, they will see what the Whirl Spider Pirates are made of! When we kill them dead!"

    "YEAAAAAH!"

    Squard glared out to Brew Island, as the Real Spider sped towards the offending ships. One of the crew approached, handing Squard his signature, massive katana; Tarantula.

    He was going to enjoy this.

    (X)

    Yamato saw Whitebeard put down the Snail, his face hard.

    "So Brew Island… is burnt?" Izuku asked, his face pale.

    "Judge…" Whitebeard growled. "A king should be better."

    His hand gripped tighter on his naginata, making the wood creak. Yamato could feel a chill in the air; his fury spreading into the room. She could see the other commanders piling into the room, and she knew they could sense it too.

    "Blenheim." Whitebeard's voice was as cold as ice. "We're going to Brew Island. I want this ship coated, fast. The rest of you, back to your stations. I want us ready to sail as soon as Blenheim is done. And be ready for a fight. Gotta teach that upstart a lesson."

    "Right away, Pops," replied Blenheim. He nodded, and made his way through the throng out into the corridor. Yamato could see them all now, see the looks on their faces. Jozu looked forlorn, Namur looked like he wanted to kill something; while Vista just had his eyes closed.

    The commanders filed out, leaving Yamato and Izuku alone. Whitebeard was standing over the map table, staring down at it; clearly in no mood to talk.

    "Hey, you two." It was Marco, gesturing from the doorway. The pair fell in beside him, and headed along the corridor.

    "So we're going to Brew Island?" asked Yamato.

    "That we are," replied Marco, his smile somehow thinner than usual.

    "But…I saw the map," said Izuku, looking dubious. "It should take us weeks, months even, to sail there."

    "Heh, someone's been learning their trade," Marco replied, his eyes twinkling with pleasure. "Normally you'd be right. It takes a long time to get anywhere by sail alone. But that's where the coating comes in."

    They came up on deck, where the crew were already hard at work; stowing away supplies, tidying up tools, getting everything where it needed to be. Yamato watched as a group of pirates hauled on a rope, pulling a pallet up from the decks below. The pallet was loaded with barrels, and had big brushes tied alongside.

    "With the coating, we'll be able to go underwater," Marco went on. "Now, normally we'd be slower than on the surface, since we can't use the sails and we only have the seastone hull to move us along." He paused, cocking an eyebrow.

    "So we use the undersea currents!" declared Izuku, snapping his fingers.

    Marco nodded, and Yamato beamed.

    "Correct. We won't get to Brew Island tomorrow, but we'll be there in a few days at most."

    "So this is how you travel fast to your islands within the New World…" Yamato mused. "But wait, how and when do you know when to get off?"

    "Near the currents," Namur spoke as he joined the group. "I set down underwater buoys that emit a bright light for us, each one is a different color. I know where each part of our territories are by color."

    Izuku nodded, full of his old enthusiasm in spite of everything.

    "Pops, is there anything we can do to help? Will the craftsmen need anything?" Yamato asked. The Emperor looked down at them, and his gaze softened.

    "Well, normally I wouldn't let you get in the way of Blenheim and his team's work. But…" Whitebeard looked out to the deck, seeing men clambering up the rigging and along the spars. "Izuku, give them a lift. Seeing my children on the ropes and masts always does make me anxious, and it might speed things up."

    "You got it!" Izuku nodded, and took off towards the mainmast; where Blenheim was up on the fighting top, hard at work. Yamato could see the urgency in his eyes.

    "Yamato," Whitebeard turned to her. "If you can go down below and help bring up the Resin Barrels, that would save time too."

    "Right!" Yamato nodded and trotted off, her mind racing. They were going to go underwater! And riding currents! Oden never did that in his journal! An undersea adventure!

    Right to an island that had been raided.

    Her mood turned somber. Were there any survivors? If there were, Squard would find them; hopefully.

    Soon she was hard at work, lugging barrels of resin up from the hold. She could see Izuku playing the role of a flying crane, keeping his crewmates aloft with Black Whip as they painted the thick, gloopy resin onto the masts.

    Down on the quarterdeck, Whitebeard stood resolute; surveying the work.
    "Hey Pops!" Yamato turned, seeing Atmos and Curiel come trotting up. "All of the men are aboard and accounted for. Stores are all locked up too."

    "Good." He turned to the deck. "Listen up everyone!" He shouted, and everyone sans the craftsmen. "We're going to Brew Island! Squard is there now, battling the Germa 66!" He bellowed. "So be prepared for the worst!"

    "Right!" they all roared as one. Yamato felt her heart pound.

    "Okay, that's all of it!" Blenheim called out. Izuku floated down with the craftsmen, who thanked him as he let them down.

    Then Yamato gasped as the bubble rose up over them, growing bigger and bigger, until the entire ship was enclosed.

    And the Moby Dick was beginning to sink!

    Her heart raced as the ship slid slowly beneath the waves; protected by the bubble that surrounded it. Water lapped against the bubble as the ship descended, but the bubble held firm. And within moments, they were underwater.

    "Amazing…" Yamato murmured. Nearby, Whitebeard sat down on his throne, staring ahead with a look of satisfaction.

    "Namur, you're up," he said.

    "Got it Pops." Namur joined Jozu at the wheel.

    "I've never traveled underwater before," Izuku mused, standing by Yamato's side. He was staring out through the bubble, at the undersea world around them. Yamato was staring too, at a world she had never dared visit, and had thought she would never see.

    "Wait, what about Sea Kings?" asked Izuku suddenly. "Won't they attack us?"

    "It'll be fine." Blenheim smirked, his muscular broad arms crossed. "They won't bother coming at us, not with Pops around." He chuckled. "That said…" He gestured behind them, and Izuku turned.

    There were fish, whole schools of them, swimming around the Moby Dick. Yamato trotted up to the rail, looking out. They were so close…

    "Whoaaa…" Yamato said aloud. Even Izuku as agog as the Moby Dick descended past giant seaweed forests. "I can't wait to write all this down."

    "You said it." Izuku added. "Oh wow, there's yellowtail, and mackeral! Oh, and… those are Jellyfish forests over there too!"

    "You better stay away from the rail too. We're going to hit the current soon. And it's real easy to slip through the resin," Blenheim cautioned as Izuku and Yamato blinked and stepped back. Izuku let out a sigh as he wiped his brow.

    "Sorry." Izuku admitted. The older man smiled, and ruffled the boy's head.

    "This is your first time, don't worry about it. For now, just hang on tight." The older bearded man said as The Moby Dick exited out of the forest of seaweed and out to the open sea, and Yamato turned and she can see it.

    It stood out amongst the dark blue wonder. A light wave, like a giant tube of bubbles moving past going in one direction.

    "Hang on!" Jozu yelled. "Next stop, Brew Island!"

    The Moby Dick came about, running parallel with the current. Then it dipped down, slipping through a blue light. The ship lurched, and the bubble rippled. Yamato's wonder turned to fear. Was it about to burst?


    Then she saw Whitebeard's face, and the other commanders too. They were calm, focussed, looking straight ahead. They trusted this ship, and Blenheim's work. They were not afraid of this journey.

    It was the destination that they feared, and the battle that awaited them there.

    On a simple island that made booze.

    The ship lurched one last time as it settled, and then sped along. Yamato stumbled, then found her footing. Outside the bubble, the world was racing by. It reminded her of flying with Izuku, only underwater.

    "How fast are we going?" Izuku murmured to himself while releasing his hold on Yamato.

    "Fast enough. Now, you two squirts should return to your cabins for now," Whitebeard mentioned. "You've done what you can here. Get some rest."

    "You sure Pops?" Izuku asked, not happy at doing nothing.

    "Of course. You two have been busting your butts to get stronger. You'll be trying out that strength soon enough."

    Izuku glowered at the mention.

    "Pops… the Germa 66… why would they attack Brew?" Yamato asked. "I mean, all they do is sell booze right?"

    "I don't know. We will know more. One thing is for sure…" Whitebeard gripped his naginata. "The Germa will pay for what they've done." He reached down, and took a swig from his barrel, sighing through his nose. "I'd gotten quite fond of Brew Island, even if they didn't take my flag…" He set his barrel down. "Bart... you fool..."

    And Yamato looked out to sea, seeing the world go by, the fish and other wildlife also going into the current.

    And all of the wonder faded. For all that awaited them was a dead island.

    (X)

    Four days later…

    The Moby Dick breached the waves, breaking through like a whale rising above the wake. And Izuku felt the sun shine down from above as the coating around the Moby Dick shimmered and with a POP, vanished into thin air.

    "So that's how undersea travel works..." Izuku mused. "The currents under the surface are very volatile, but with a skilled helmsman and navigator, it can bring about expedited transport to other islands without being exposed to the natural elements." He mumbled a bit as he could see Yamato looking down at him, now that her focus was not on the outside world. "But there's other dangers too, like wildlife and sharp turns in the currents, but again can depend on the helmsman and the integrity of the ship too. We saw several ship graveyards during the trip, maybe they tried the same and failed? There's also-"

    "Oi, Midoriya," Haruta spoke up, and Izuku blinked and turned around and Yamato was smiling with a knowing look. "You were mumbling again."

    "The boy has no filter," commented Fossa, with a drag of his cigar.

    "Maybe he broke it from talking too fast." Jiru said with a chuckle as Izuku blushed, looking to the side.

    "It's fine. Helps me learn too!" Yamato added.

    "Enough of that though everyone" Thatch said, walking forward. His eyes were on the wheel, where Jozu and Namur stood; weary after the long journey. "Time to put your game face on."

    "Jozu, Namur, get some rest." Whitebeard said. "You've done plenty."

    "Right... I just need a day." Jozu groaned, rubbing his eyes as he stepped away from the wheel and trudged for the deck stairs; Namur followed on.

    Izuku looked out over the bow. Beyond the churning waves, he could see the faint outline, towering over the water. It was vast, spanning from horizon to horizon, like no natural feature Izuku had ever seen. Even Mount Fuji, visible from Tokyo or the window of a bullet train, was not so overwhelming.

    "The Red Line…" Izuku murmured, for it could be nothing else. This was the mountain range that ran from pole to pole, separating the two halves of the Grand Line. This was the beginning of the New World.

    "Wow," Yamato breathed. Izuku glanced at her, and could see that she was as amazed as he was.

    The ship began to turn. Izuku looked, and saw Whitebeard standing at the wheel, his arm muscles ripping as his hands turned the wheel.

    And Izuku remembered why they were there.

    "Pops, should we go ahead? Meet up with Squard?" Izuku asked.

    "You'll find Brew Island from here. Go and make contact," Whitebeard said, his eyes set straight ahead. Above them, the crew were unfurling the sails, the canvas flapping and cracking as it was winched tight. "It'll take us a while longer to get there."

    Izuku looked out over the bow again. There, indeed, was the distant shape of an island. It was some way off; the Moby Dick would not reach it before nightfall.

    Unless…

    "Leave it to me, Pops!" Izuku leapt up, flying out ahead of the bow. He sent out his Black Whips, wrapping them around the whale figurehead, and took a deep breath; channeling the power of All for One.

    And then he pulled. He pulled with all his strength, dragging the mighty ship behind him. He felt the Moby Dick accelerate, heard the hull slam and crash against the waves. Spray soaked him, and wind buffeted him, but he pressed on, pulling his adoptive father's flagship as if it were a shopping cart.

    The biggest, heaviest, and most heavy-laden shopping cart ever; and with a cargo precious beyond compare.

    But Izuku did not relent. He pressed on, faster and faster. He had to get them to Brew Island! He had to get there in time! He closed his eyes.

    Focus...

    55%!

    His power erupted, smothering the Moby Dick's white prow in darkness. The ship sped on, thundering over the waves. He glanced back, and saw Vista standing by the bowsprit, giving him a thumbs up. Behind him, at the far end of the ship, he could just make out Whitebeard, both hands on the wheel, a slight smile on his face.

    Izuku let out a yell of triumph and pressed on. He felt his control slacken, and eased his power down to 50%. On and on they plunged, the churning water parting before them. He had wanted for so long to try this, and never had a better reason. He could see the island coming closer. He could make out Mount Glugg in the center, and the forests, and the buildings of the harbor town.

    And then his heart sank, as he saw.

    The town was a ruin. The buildings were just blackened debris, with little left even to burn. The harbor and the coast were littered with what looked like giant snail shells. Izuku strained his eyes, looking for some sign of life, of hope; that someone might still be alive.

    But all he could see was a single ship, sitting in the middle of the harbor. It was a sailing ship, of a sort he had seen countless times since leaving Onigashima. As they drew closer, he made out closed gun ports, ragged sails, and jagged holes in the hull. A black flag fluttered from its mainmast. It showed a spider's web with a spiral within.

    Was that the Real Spider?

    "Take us in slow," Marco said. Izuku jumped, then turned to see the older man flying at his side in Phoenix form. Izuku let go of the Black Whip and slowed his Float, allowing the Moby Dick to sail underneath him. He dropped down to the deck, and let out a sigh.

    "Izuku, that was amazing!" exclaimed Yamato, hurrying along the deck towards him, Haruta by her side. "You got us there in no time!"

    Izuku looked at her. He tried to force a smile, but none would come.

    "How bad?" Haruta asked. But Izuku could not reply.

    The Moby Dick sailed into the harbor, drawing alongside one of the docks. Pirates jumped onto the dock, tying the ropes in place. The ramp was lowered, and Whitebeard strode onto dry land, Marco swooping down to land beside him. Whitebeard led the way, striding across the ruined docks, and up the main street. Izuku and Yamato followed on behind.

    Izuku stared, his head moving from side to side, taking it all in. Both rows of buildings - shops and breweries alike - were in ruins; blasted to matchwood and rubble. Wisps of smoke rose from what little was left to burn. Broken glass glittered where it lay. Gaily-painted signs, scorched and smashed, whispered of what had once been.

    This wasn't like the PLF war, which had left only a single crater after Shigaraki's decay. This was like the fighting with the League, as Japan had descended into chaos.

    Or the Dark Age, when the whole world had burned.

    "This is like Elegia..." Izuku murmured aloud. Yamato frowned, following his gaze.

    "Pops, you made it." Up ahead was a tall man; his head bald on top, with long lavender hair billowing from the back. He wore a long gray coat, and had an enormous katana sheathed at his hip. A group of pirates stood with him; some of them clearly injured.

    "Squard," Whitebeard greeted him, stepping forward to clasp his hand. "What happened? Did you find any survivors?"

    Squard sighed, and Izuku's blood ran cold.

    "We searched everywhere the last two days, but no sign," Squard replied. "Just bodies piled up. The Germa Stormtroopers cleared them all out."

    "Every last one?" Izuku felt something cold and horrid welling up inside him.

    "Who're…?" Squard asked, noticing for the first time. "Oh, it's you ain't it."

    Izuku flinched. Word had indeed gotten around. That was going to take some getting used to.

    "So Pops took ya in," said Squard, smiling. "Well, don't you worry about a thing young Deku. If you're good enough for Pops, you're good enough for me."

    He held out his hand. Izuku hesitated a moment, and then took it.

    "Squard," Whitebeard cut in. "What were they doing here?"

    "Trashing the place, as you can see," Squard replied, gesturing around him. "When we got here, all this was on fire. The stormtroopers were ashore, mopping up. We came in hard and fast from behind, took out the first snail on the first pass, then in and out. I took out the other snails myself." He patted his katana. "By the time we managed to get ashore, it was too late."

    As he spoke, Marco strode up to the waiting pirates, and set to work on their wounds. They seemed to know him, and offered no resistance.

    "Did you take any prisoners?" Whitebeard asked.

    "I'm afraid not," admitted Squard. "We just about got one, but he shot himself."

    He lowered his eyes.

    "Pops…we let you down. But my ship's been shot up, and I lost good men. Those scum fought to the death."

    Izuku felt bad for him. He had given his all, and had defeated the enemy. But too late for those he had come to save. He knew that feeling.

    "I know." Whitebeard clasped his shoulder. "You did your best. That's all I ask."

    Squard nodded, and seemed satisfied.

    "Did you…find Bart?" Whitebeard asked.

    "Under a burning tree. What was left of him, anyway," Squard admitted. "We did your best with the bodies, but some of them could still be buried. And some were probably burned."

    Izuku wandered away from the group, their words fading into the background. He could not tear his eyes from the destruction, from the blackened trash that was all that remained of a thriving town. So many lives, so many dreams, so much hard work, so much love, so many everyday things. All of it gone up in smoke. All of it lost forever.

    He froze, as he saw a spot of color amid the black. He stepped closer, and pushed a lump of black wood aside with his booted foot.

    A doll. A child's doll, in a bright blue dress; its face smiling blindly up at the empty sky.

    He felt his head swim, his legs wobble.

    "We found strip mining equipment on the Snail Cruisers," Squard went on. "My best guess is that since this place isn't aligned to anyone, they reckoned they could just waltz in and take it for resources."

    "But why kill everyone?!" Izuku shrieked, rounding on them. "Why do all this?"

    "Because Germa's business is warfare. Not slavery," Whitebeard replied, eyes on the ground. "These people were in the way."

    "We buried those we could find. It was all we could do," added Squard. "Pops, that tavern where we met. It burned down."

    He covered his eyes, and Whitebeard squeezed his shoulder again. Izuku looked around the scene again, and then up at Yamato. She looked haunted, and somehow that hurt just as much.

    All this. These people, their town, their island. All destroyed so that the Germa Kingdom could take this island's resources. All of it ground underfoot, like that little blue doll.

    Izuku felt sick. Bach had been talking with Judge at the Reverie. Did he know about this? Was he going to ally himself with…this?

    "Remember what Thatch said," En cut in. "He was only being diplomatic."

    Izuku took a deep breath, trying to steady his nerves and clear his mind. Yes, that had to be it. Bach didn't know a thing about all this. He would be appalled, surely!

    "Pops," he said aloud, making up his mind. "I'm going after them."

    The group fell silent, and all eyes fell on him.

    "Izuku." Whitebeard's tone was grim, warning. "Do you understand what you're saying?"

    "Yes, I do," retorted Izuku, his tears gone. "You want to destroy them too, right?"

    "I do," admitted the Emperor. He closed his eyes, and took a deep breath. "But this is dicey. Germa is a kingdom of the World Government."

    "I don't care about that!" Izuku snarled. And he didn't. He didn't care about the World Government. The World Government that abandoned Elegia, failed Doyle, and allowed a monstrosity like Germa to run riot across the world.

    And left Brew Island to die, like it was nothing at all.

    "Really now. Are you prepared to fight against a whole Kingdom?" Whitebeard asked, eyebrow raised. "A nation made for war?"

    "If it'll prevent another Brew Island…" Izuku barely stopped himself from saying Elegia. "If Germa is left alone, they'll just carry on like this, doing things like this. People need a code, otherwise…"

    He trailed off, meeting Whitebeard's gaze. The older man blinked, then nodded.

    "We would be animals," he finished the axiom. "Bartleby was my friend, and the islanders were good people. The Germa 66 must pay for this."

    "I'm coming too!" Yamato spoke up. "We can go together. No one knows Izuku and I are in your crew, Pops!"

    Whitebeard, Marco, and Squard glanced at one-another.

    "Quite the pair of go-getters you've got here," commented Squard with a smirk.

    "You've no idea," quipped Whitebeard. "You're right, Yamato. No one outside of the Moby Dick or Melville knows that you're with us. But you'll have to cover your tattoo."

    Yamato glanced down at the tattoo, and looked momentarily awkward; as if in all the excitement, she had forgotten about it.

    "All I ask is that you understand what you're doing," Whitebeard went on. "You're taking on a kingdom that can sail the seas by itself. You've seen what a handful of its Snail Cruisers can do. Germa itself is made up of dozens, north of a hundred of them. And you'll be on your own. Against their legions of cold hearted Stormtroopers"

    Izuku glanced at Yamato, and saw in her eyes that she had made up her mind. As one, they nodded.

    "You sure they can handle this?" asked Squard, looking dubious.

    "They're young, but they're strong," insisted the Emperor. "I've overseen their training myself. They can handle Judge's minions."

    Izuku's heart swelled at the praise.

    "All the same, they'll be trouble," Whitebeard warned. "The Germa 66 are deadly warriors, deadlier than most marines. Squard and his crew caught them by surprise and spread out, I'll warrant." He glanced at Squard, who nodded grimly. "But you'll be hitting them in the only home they have. They're strong, skilled, fairly smart, and they'll fight to the death without hesitation or question. And if you run into Judge or his lieutenants, hold nothing back."

    Izuku nodded. Ordinarily he wouldn't have thought much of quirkless humans with guns. Those Humarise cultists hadn't caused his friends much trouble. But they were just ordinary people with guns; not trained, elite soldiers.

    "We'll come up with a plan," he replied. "You can count on us, Pops."

    "I know I can." Whitebeard smiled. "Come see me before you go."

    Izuku nodded, and on cue Yamato hugged him from behind. With Black Whip in place, Izuku flew off to the Moby Dick, pausing only to let Yamato clamber through his cabin porthole first.

    "Another Elegia," he growled, opening his wardrobe and pulling out his Hero costume.

    "I know," Yamato agreed.

    "Just when I thought the Government could sink any lower!" Izuku ranted. "Bad enough they left Elegia to rot! They let one of their kingdoms sail around committing war crimes! Why? For wood and rocks!"

    He slammed his fist against the wall. Fortunately One for All wasn't activated, or he might have punched right through. His panting breath hissed through his gritted teeth, as the rage poured out of him. They were supposed to be the World Government! They were supposed to stand for order, and justice!

    Justice…

    And his heart sank, as he saw Spytand Malice's haunted, bitter eyes once again.

    "If you knew what their Absolute Justice was, what that justice served?"

    He let out a long sigh, hand going down his face, and looked at Yamato.

    "I'm sorry…" he croaked.
    "It's going to be okay." Yamato squeezed his shoulder offering a smile of comfort. "We've gotten so much stronger. And when we're together…there's nothing we can't overcome. We'll succeed, and avenge Brew Island, and everyone else they've killed."

    "Yeah, we will," agreed Izuku, allowing himself to calm down. "But Pops is right, we're gonna have to be careful. And we can't let anyone know we're with the Whitebeards."

    "Yeah, I know." Yamato looked sadly at her tattoo. "Maybe I shouldn't have gotten this."

    "It's fine. Just bandage it up."

    Yamato nodded, and left him to get changed.

    (X)

    Within minutes they were packed and ready. Izuku was in his hero costume, and Yamato had her flight jacket, goggles, and her backpack filled with their sleeping bags, medical supplies, travel essentials, and food supplied by Thatch.

    As they returned to the ruins, the cleanup was well underway. Whitebeard and Squard were where they had left them, and Haruta had joined them.

    "No Vivre cards leading back to Germa?" the youth asked, as the pair approached.

    "None," replied Squard. "They trashed them before we could get to them."

    "Right, you two." Whitebeard looked them up and down, and seemed satisfied. "Did you get the compass from the Quartermaster?"

    "Yes." Izuku pulled it out. "The needle's going crazy."

    "Then it's working fine. Your destination is in the North Blue. Once you're there, it'll work normally."

    "Understood." Izuku nodded.

    "Right." Yamato added.

    "Keep a low profile until you find the Germa," Whitebeard went on. "Then go in hard, and hold nothing back. If things get out of hand, get out of there and return to the New World. Don't throw your lives away over this."

    He reached into his pocket, and handed Izuku an Eternal Pose.

    "Once you're done, use this to get to Melville. Find Derby when you arrive, and we'll meet you there."

    "Got it." Izuku took a deep breath. "We'll be careful, and we'll come back alive."

    "I know you will. Don't forget your training," Whitebeard urged.

    "You got this Izuku." Marco nodded.

    "I know you two will succeed." Jozu added as Yamato nodded and got behind Izuku. They put on their goggles, and Izuku's Black Whip wrapped her in close.

    It felt nostalgic. Bound together like this, backpacks to front and back. Flying off on another adventure, over another blue sea.

    Still, Yamato wished it was under better circumstances.

    "Wait…how is he…?" Squard pointed at Izuku, and looked in bewilderment at Whitebeard.

    "I'll explain later." Whitebeard turned back to the pair. "Be careful, both of you. Don't worry your father now."

    "We won't," replied Izuku with a grin. "Ready Yamato?"

    Yamato nodded. "I am! Pops! Everyone!" She waved. "We'll see you soon!"

    "Keep in touch!" Marco called out.

    "We will!" Izuku rose up and up.

    "Take the Red Line to the right. That's north!" Jozu yelled out. "Follow along the side, you'll hit the North Blue! Then find the Germa 66 and kick their asses!"

    "Right!" Yamato smiled as she waved. "See you later everyone!"

    Everyone waved back, or were looking up with crossed arms. Marco had his hands on his hips, Jozu his arms crossed. Whitebeard stood, taking a deep breath.

    "Give them hell." Whitebeard said, and Izuku nodded as he turned.

    "Okay, let's go." Izuku said, and Yamato smiled.

    "Right!"

    And they blasted off, Izuku's Fa Jin and Float working in tandem as they flew off towards the Red Line.

    They had grown stronger, Yamato knew. They had trained hard, and fought pirate crews. Now they were about to fight an entire kingdom; led by a cold and cruel King who cared for nothing but war.

    This would be his last war; that Yamato vowed. She and Izuku would cast his vile kingdom down. The North Blue would be their grave.

    And she would protect Izuku. She would not allow them to hurt him again; not his body, or his heart.

    No matter what.

    And we are off to North Blue to begin the New Year. Our mission: Hunt down and destroy the Germa 66. Seems simple right?

    Anyways, big thanks to @Juubi-K, @IKnowNothing and @WildJoker000 on this one.

    But yeah, Izuku and Yamato got a bit stronger and he can maintain control of 55% for bursts now. How this will come to play when they fight the Vinsmoke Brothers and their Raid Suits, not to mention their number of soldiers? Will remain to be scene.

    As for Whitebeard allowing these two to go. Simple really:

    1. An Emperor moving out of the Grand Line to one of the Blues is big news, especially when said Emperor is about to F over an entire World Government member state.

    2. Whitebeard making a move will prompt a response from Kaido, Big Mom, and Shanks. Not to mention the WG as a whole. Newgate has to build up his forces in secret, and he can't upset the apple cart so blatantly just yet.

    3. The reasons Newgate stated: only those on Moby Dick and Melville(and Squard) know of our duo in the crew, and with Izuku's flight speed they can island hop a lot easier. Not to mention there's more islands closer together in North Blue than in the New World. Our duo, after dueling constantly with Marco and Jozu for a month, have leveled up, so to say. And before you consider it a stomp, Consider this:
    -The Vinsmoke Brothers easily handled the lieutenants of the Big Mom Pirates and only had trouble against the creme of the crop(Smoothie, Oven, Daifuku, etc) during the WCI arc. Of course, our duo if they tag team against any one of Smoothie, Oven, or Daifuku RIGHT NOW "could" eke out a really hard fought win. One v One? Not happening. So it would definitely be more even in power scaling, which goes to show how utterly busted the Vinsmoke Brothers, and Reiju's Raid Suits are.
    -The hundreds if not thousands of Clone Troopers Judge has under his employ who will literally die for him if asked. They're basically human automatons. To the outside world, they're well trained soldiers under the Germa Banner. So only the Germa 66 are known to the New World and North Blue(outside of the propaganda comic Sora of the Sea, which will be explored in this arc too), and WG Member state monarchs and high ranking officials(as Judge goes to the Reverie when he can for appearance sakes).

    So yeah there's that.

    Now to continue on with the arc. I do have a Wano Interlude in mind, but it maybe best to place that at the end of the North Blue Arc as a sort of bridge and a "oh how is Ace/Tama/Hiyori doing" sort of thing.

    Anwyays, hope you all enjoy.
     
  • Threadmarks
    • Zaru said:
    "The clones can handle this one," Judge replied. "You had a chance to stretch your legs and do reconnaissance. You're far better at that than your brothers."
    Click to expand...
    Click to shrink...
    From what I recall, part of the issue is that the genetic modification regimen didn't work out properly - all of the physical enhancements worked fine, but it came at the cost of Sanji's brothers being more like highly advanced automatons than human beings. Useful as living weapons, but not really suited for anything outside the battlefield.

    Which is kind of the point: Ichiji, Niji, and Yonji are "perfect" Germa scions in the sense that the embody what Judge's petty kingdom is. Brutal, violent, barbarous - technologically sophisticated, sure, but intellectually and emotionally hollow. Whatever they were in prior generations, the Germa at this point are a pseudo-polity that would likely struggle to function if the majority of its component members weren't mindlessly loyal clones.


    Zaru said:
    "Wait, what about Sea Kings?" asked Izuku suddenly. "Won't they attack us?"

    "It'll be fine." Blenheim smirked, his muscular broad arms crossed. "They won't bother coming at us, not with Pops around." He chuckled. "That said…" He gestured behind them, and Izuku turned.

    There were fish, whole schools of them, swimming around the Moby Dick. Yamato trotted up to the rail, looking out. They were so close…
    Click to expand...
    Click to shrink...
    ...Not entirely like my favorite guess at why seastone-laced ship hulls can potentially avoid Sea Kings' attention, in a weird way.

    Said theory was that the seastone infuses the ship with 'the feeling of the ocean' to a Sea King's senses, and ships normally only give off that impression if they're long-dead hulks, drifting with the currents and devoid of any crew (IE, they're now "of the sea", not anything human). Thus, as long as the seastone-laced ship's crew avoid unnecessary noise and stay belowdecks, they can coast through Sea King territory in relative safety.

    Here, what I'm guessing is going on is that the incredibly powerful aura of Whitebeard (and, to be honest, probably the crew as a collective) is making the native sealife mistake the Moby Dick for a terrifying ur-leviathan - not just a 'bigger fish', but the biggest fish which can and will eat anything that tries to contest its crown.

    However, that same aura of power actually attracts small fry, because they're simply too small to be perceived as a challenger and their predators, the actual 'prospective challengers', won't go anywhere near the Moby Dick.

    The symbolic reference to how Whitebeard and the Whitebeard Pirates act as a 'big fish' for smaller fish to hide in the wake of is... the opposite of subtle.
     
    GardenerBriareus said:
    From what I recall, part of the issue is that the genetic modification regimen didn't work out properly - all of the physical enhancements worked fine, but it came at the cost of Sanji's brothers being more like highly advanced automatons than human beings. Useful as living weapons, but not really suited for anything outside the battlefield.

    Which is kind of the point: Ichiji, Niji, and Yonji are "perfect" Germa scions in the sense that the embody what Judge's petty kingdom is. Brutal, violent, barbarous - technologically sophisticated, sure, but intellectually and emotionally hollow. Whatever they were in prior generations, the Germa at this point are a pseudo-polity that would likely struggle to function if the majority of its component members weren't mindlessly loyal clones.
    Click to expand...
    Click to shrink...
    You know what they say. Cut the head, the snake dies.

    GardenerBriareus said:
    Here, what I'm guessing is going on is that the incredibly powerful aura of Whitebeard (and, to be honest, probably the crew as a collective) is making the native sealife mistake the Moby Dick for a terrifying ur-leviathan - not just a 'bigger fish', but the biggest fish which can and will eat anything that tries to contest its crown.
    Click to expand...
    Click to shrink...
    BAsically this. Newgate's Haki makes sure no Sea King ever bothers coming their way for a snack. He's the Biggest Fish here.
     
    Chapter 55
  • Threadmarks
    • It was a faster flight than Yamato had expected.

    After taking off from Brew Island and reaching the Red Line, they had angled right and flown straight on; following the seemingly immerserable stone mountain. It had been hard going, buffeted by wind and waves, though they'd long grown used to such things on their journeys.

    However, the harsh winds and waves suddenly ceased. The weather had, quite suddenly, become serene; the ocean tame below them, and the wind warm and gentle. They had reached the Calm Belt.

    It was a place where neither the wind nor waves ever moved, a death sentence to any ship. Yet, for one capable of flight such as Izuku, it enabled the pair to properly enjoy the serenity.

    Yamato had even dozed off, so gentle had it been, an idea most sailors would've considered maddening. Though this proved brief, finding herself suddenly awoken, chilled to the bone despite her jacket.

    "We made it!" Izuku called out as Yamato opened her eyes, body shivering ever so slightly.

    Before them was a great blue ocean, as far as they eye could see; the sky gray and foreboding. This, surely, was the North Blue.

    "The islands seemed to be a bit closer together than in the New World…" Yamato mused, looking around. She could see one up ahead, and another just on the horizon.

    "Got the compass?" Izuku asked. Yamato rummaged in her jacket pocket and pulled it out. Back at Brew, it had been going haywire; now it was pointing true. She fiddled with the tool, moving the dial into position. North.

    "It's working alright. How long was I napping for?" she asked.

    "About an hour," Izuku replied, slowing and dropping down under the clouds. "We should make camp and then make a plan."

    "To get back at Germa, right?"

    The wonder she had felt at this place, at islands even Oden had never seen, faded as she remembered their purpose. They were not here to explore, but to fight; to destroy the Germa Kingdom in retaliation for its countless crimes.

    Most recently on Brew Island.

    "Yeah. How about…" Izuku paused, looking around. "That one?" He pointed down at the nearest island. It was small and rugged-looking, covered in trees.

    "Looks good to me!" Yamato agreed. Izuku blasted off with Fa Jin, and they reached the island in a matter of minutes; setting down on a beach. Yamato looked around as they detached. Out towards the sea, there was a rocky sandbar and shoal. Inland, jagged mountains jutted up from dark forests.

    She shivered, in spite of herself. There was something hard and cold about this place; just as they had warned her on the Moby Dick.

    "Okay, let's set up camp," Izuku said as he hoisted his pack. Yamato followed him up the beach towards the trees; to a patch of soft grass, where they set down their packs and checked their supplies. Plenty of good nonperishables from Thatch, some medical supplies, some clothes and rags; and her heavier coat, socks and boots in case of snow.

    "Hungry?" Yamato looked up, seeing Izuku offer her a banana bread wrapped in a napkin.

    "Thanks." She took it.

    "Alright." Izuku had his own bread to munch on. "We have about forty million berries to spend if need be. So if I keep my mask up." He tapped on his metal mask and his scarf. "And we don't use our real names, we can rest in hotel rooms on any islands we come across."

    "I got my mask too." Yamato rummaged in her bag, pulling out her Hanya mask, complete with the blue haired wig. "We can be like the heroes of your world, Izuku. Running around wearing masks!"

    "That's the main gameplan," Izuku mused. "We shouldn't draw attention to ourselves while we're here. "

    "Agreed." Yamato took a bite of her banana bread. "And there's Kaido too. If he learns that we're here, it won't take him all that long to fly over."

    Izuku nodded, looking down at the grass. He clearly didn't like that notion any more than she did.

    "But how do we find them though?" Yamato asked. "Should we ask around?"

    "I guess so, but we'll have to be careful. We don't want to give ourselves away."

    Yamato's brow furrowed.

    "What do you think we're up against?" she asked. "I mean, they're not just a pirate crew. "

    "That's what the Vestiges keep telling me," Izuku replied. Now his brow was furrowed too. "The rank-and-file we can probably handle, but there's the Vinsmokes Princes themselves. They're the Commanders in their own right. From what the guys on the Moby Dick were putting about, they're pretty strong. And…"

    He trailed off, and looked unsettled.

    "Izuku?"
    "The thing is…you're right, Yamato. Germa is a nation. An army needs a civilian population to support it, after all. And we'll be barging into their home."

    Yamato's heart sank. She hadn't paid the notion much thought, and she didn't like it either.

    She knew what her father would say. Those civilians supported the Germa 66 with their work and their taxes, so killing them was common sense.

    Were the people of Wano evil then? Did the slaves in Onigashima deserve to die along with their Beast Pirate masters? Was it fine just to kill them, just like that?

    "We don't have to hurt them," she insisted. "We'll be careful. Remember what Pops said. People have to have a code, and we do."

    Izuku looked up at her, his eyes half-angry, half-pleading.

    "We're not doing this for treasure, or power, or the fun of it," she went on. "We're doing this because someone has to stand up to them."

    Izuku sighed, and seemed a little happier.

    "You're right. We'll cross those bridges when we come to them." He gnashed into his bread. "For now, let's rest here for a while, then try and find an island with a town on it." He looked up at the darkening sky, and the roiling sea. "Not that I mind camping out, but I don't wanna take chances with this weather. "

    He rolled his neck a little.

    "Fine by me!" Yamato smiled, and wolfed down what was left of her bread. "You get some rest. I'll take a walk."

    "Okay then." Izuku headed behind a tree, and Yamato looked around the rocky coast. Back on Onigashima, she had enjoyed hopping and skipping around the shoals of Onigashima in her free time; when the tide was low. As grim as the weather was on this island, it was milder than Onigashima was for much of the year.

    She stood up and kicked off her geta; feeling the sand under her feet. She looked around some more, and saw a rocky shoal about a mile long, a little way up the coast.

    Yamato strolled off towards it, her spirits high. Once they found an inn, she would have something new to write. An ocean Oden himself had never visited! This was going to be great!

    (X)

    Izuku yawned and laid back against his pack.

    It was chilly, more so than he had known for some time. His Hero costume wasn't keeping the cold out as well as he'd thought it would.

    "It would be wise to do so. Given how much traveling we'll be doing, you should be prepared for any possible environment. We wouldn't want you to catch a cold after all," insisted Nana.

    "Geez Nana, what you gonna wipe his nose when he sneezes too?" Banjo chuckled at his joke, only to back off a little when Nana glared at him.

    "Nana has a point, and you'd be wise to familiarize yourself with each region we visit, at the very least to be aware of it's potential risk." Hikage said with a grim tone.

    Izuku groaned. Another fun reminder of how many hidden dangers this world had outside of pirates. Part of the reason he tried not to think too much about those sorts of things was it made sleeping even harder than it already was.

    "Far be it from me to be the voice of reason in the madhouse that is this kid's head," Third cut in. "But maybe let's let him relax a bit? He's getting ready to go to war with an entire nation, the last thing he needs is sleep deprivation. Trust me on that."

    The Vestiges were stunned into silence. Consideration was not something they had come to expect from the Third User. The Second nevertheless nodded in agreement; remembering the many sleepless nights he and the Third had endured. Sleep deprivation was a complication Izuku did not need if he could at all avoid it.

    "I suppose you're right. Sorry about that, Izuku, you rest up. We'll keep watch," Nana assured. Izuku smiled lightly as he took a deep breath. Time to lean back and…

    "Ring Ring Ring Ring. Ring Ring Ring Ring."

    Izuku opened his eyes, turned to his pack, and pulled out the Transponder Snail.

    "Hello?"

    "Hey Izuku!" Uta chimed, and Izuku rubbed his eyes, any sense of sleep immediately leaving.

    "Hey Uta. How's it going?"

    "Well, same old same old." The snail beamed with enthusiasm. "Tending to the chickens and garden. Baking bread. Found some old books in the ruins to read."

    "New books huh? What about?" Izuku asked as he smiled back. While not getting a nap was annoying, he would always make time for Uta.

    "Found some on seafaring. Oh, and a novel about a girl who goes into a dream land with toy soldiers and giant rat monsters. I'm really excited about that one!"

    "That sounds great. I wouldn't mind reading that. Sounds like one of those light novels from my hoooome…" Izuku just caught himself, "...island."

    "I'll keep it fresh for your sake!" Uta replied. "So ummm… how's the ship hunt going? Have you and Yamato found one yet?"

    Iuzku bit his lip, as the joking tone he'd been feeling immediately vanished.

    He wanted to tell her that yes, they had indeed found a ship. A large, powerful one that could easily reach Elegia and had more than enough room for both her and Gordon. Izuku could practically see Uta's eyes lighting up at being told that finally, finally she'd be able to leave the island that had become her prison for so many years and yet…he couldn't.

    The young hero felt his fists and teeth tighten as he fought back the urge to yell in frustration. After all, how could he tell Uta, the one whose entire life had been utterly destroyed by pirates…that he and Yamato had become pirates themselves.

    Almost instantly the smiling visage of Uta was replaced by one filled with betrayal and anger, and he couldn't blame her for feeling such a thing.

    Sadly his inner conflict could only last for so long as Uta's voice managed to reach through to him.

    "Izuku, are you still there? Were you able to find a ship?"

    The green haired hero stumbled, mentally trying to figure out some kind of response. And again, surprisingly, it was the Third User who decided to offer a hand.

    "Kid, listen. I know this isn't what you wanna hear, but the best thing to do is lie to her." said the Third, like it was the most obvious thing in the world, though with a hint of regret on his face.

    "No, Izuku do this. Tell her the truth, but keep the details to a minimum. That way you can be honest, without revealing anything damning," the Second chimed, while giving his comrade a solemn nod.

    "Well." Izuku smacked his lips, already thinking of what to say. "We have been going from island to island." Which was true. "And along the way, I've talked with sailors. Some shipwrights on, you know, how to manage one." Also true. "Then there's trying to, you know, muster a crew together." He looked up at the tree canopy, and the gray skies overhead.

    "So you don't have one yet?" Uta asked, and Izuku felt his heart ache even more. They'd promised her they would save her and Gordon. And yet, months later, here they were on a completely unrelated adventure, unlikely to further said goal in the slightest.

    "Izuku, I know this is hard, but right now we have other priorities. We all want to help Uta, but you can't afford to let this distract you right now." The Third User spoke firmly, standing up and approaching close to the edge of the mindscape. "I promise you, we'll save her, but for now, we need to move on."

    "Not yet. We need to get money to buy one, or at the very least try and convince a sailor's crew to make the trip to Elegia" Izuku said. "We're working on it though, Uta. Just hang in there." He smiled. "Once Yamato and I have a ship, first thing we'll do is pick you and Gordon up."

    Uta smiled. "Thank you… I mean, I know what it's like, being on a ship and all back then. I was young so I didn't understand it much but, you want to make a crew legally and all." She gave a cheeky grin. "You're too sweet and kind to be a pirate, after all."

    Izuku did his best to keep a stone face, teeth clenched together, forcing himself not to cringe.

    "But… imagining you as one… it's kind of neat. With you as a strapping dashing captain and…." Uta mused wistfully with a sigh. "But I get it. Trying to hire a crew, trying to get a ship built, that… does take time." Her face fell a little.

    "We're doing everything we can to learn, and one day wrangle up a crew." Izuku assured her. "We will come for you. I promise."

    "Yeah, and once we get that Vivre Card made, it'll be easy. Plus, be kind of a shame you going through all the trouble of scrounging up those clippings for nothing," En said.

    Izuku sucked in his lips and looked to the side, peeved as can be for forgetting that fact.

    "Izuku?" Uta asked, and the boy winced.

    "Sorry, just remembered I forgot to do my laundry," Izuku stated. He saw Yamato walking along the beach, the waves washing her toes. All at once, she began to hop along the rocks. "Yamato's out on a walk at the moment."

    "Well, tell her I said hi. I can see Gordon coming back from the castle. Always finding new things for us to get by." Uta smiled. "You be safe, okay?"

    "I will." Izuku assured her. "You just keep singing too." He smiled back. "We'll save you and Gordon I promise."

    The snail looked ready to cry, but was smiling. "Alright… talk to you later Izuku."

    "Bye Uta," Izuku said softly, and the snail went to sleep with a "Clack". Izuku sighed and looked up at the sky, anger and self loathing bubbling inside him.

    "Even now, after all this time training and the constant promising... I still can't save one girl. What kind of hero... am I?!"

    Izuku's fist slammed into the ground next to him, leaving a noticeable crater.

    Izuku's heart felt grow heavy. He hadn't told Whitebeard, or anyone else on the Moby Dick, about Uta either. He had lied to them, just as much as he had lied to Uta. How could he ask them to go out of their way like that, for a person whose hopes he had gotten up? A person living on an island close to the territory of the Red Hair Pirates?

    Two Emperors veering so close to one another will cause Kaido and the Government to react, and that could lead the dominos toppling to cause war. His heart clenched as he sighed in frustration.

    Izuku looked to the side, seeing Yamato hop along the rocks. He smiled, glad to see her enjoying herself. He closed his eyes for his nap as time began to pass.

    Then opened them again, as Yamato screamed.

    (X)

    "How long will the repairs take?"

    "About eight hours, my lady."

    "Get to it then."

    The clone trooper saluted, and trotted off towards the beached snail cruiser. The snail sat on the beach, staring blankly, as troopers swarmed over it. Some worked on the castle on its shell, while others worked on the snail itself; rubbing salve into its wounded hide, and strapping covers over cracks in the shell.

    Reiju watched them work, tight-lipped. Traveling along the Red Line's flank was a risky business, and this time their luck had run out. First a flock of giant seagulls, then a shoal of Sea Kings; lured by the dead seagulls. They had been too high up for the Sea Kings to reach, so the damned beasts had gotten creative; ramming themselves against the Red Line's wall, trying to make the snail cruiser fall off.

    They hadn't, in the end. But the cruiser had taken a lot of hits from falling rocks. Not wanting to risk the North Blue with a damaged castle and a wounded, tired snail, Reiju had taken the decision; lay up on the nearest island, and make repairs.

    Father wouldn't be happy at the delay; but she knew she had made the right choice. A few troopers here and there made no difference, but the snails were another matter. Giant Aquatic Snails, to give them their proper title, needed many years of rearing and training, not to mention a lot of food, to make them what Germa needed them to be. Her father was cruel, but he wasn't stupid; not so stupid as to squander such valuable assets.

    She gave the troopers another look-over. They were working hard, as they always did. Germa troopers didn't slack off. Ever. They didn't know how.

    Satisfied, Reiju looked herself over. Her headphones around her head. Skinny blue jeans, white boots, a pink blouse, with arm sleeves for the cold. She had more clothes, most of them purchased from islands she had scouted; shortly before they were conquered and destroyed. But her father would not tolerate her wearing them; or anything other than what he deemed appropriate. Such would be beneath her station as Princess of the Germa Kingdom, and a commander of the Germa 66.

    As Poison Pink.

    She took a breath, and looked around the island; taking in the forest, and the shoals along the beach.

    "Captain Epsilon!"

    "My lady?" Epsilon looked up.

    "I'm stepping out for a while," Reiju said, looking back with a dismissive glance. "Keep up the work."

    "Understood, my lady," replied the drone that looked like a man, then turned back to his subordinates.

    Reiju strode up the beach, and into the woods. There wasn't much to see here, but that wasn't always a bad thing. It was a quiet place, at least. A place she could lose herself for a few hours, and forget about her life.

    She slowed to a stroll, allowing herself to see, and hear, and smell. There were flowers here, and mushrooms and moss growing around the bases of the trees. A rustle made her glance upward, and she saw a squirrel darting along a tree branch.

    She strolled along, deeper and deeper into the forest. It was strangely restful to be like this; to walk unnoticed, untroubled, in a place with no people, no threats, no targets. This place was full of life, yet nothing challenged her, or threatened her, or ran from her. They didn't even seem to notice her.

    One could eke out a living here. It wouldn't be much, but it would be a free life; an untroubled life. Better than squalid places like Spider Miles, or the shanty towns by the walled island of Flevance. World Government islands were a lot nicer, but many of them were clients. Deul, Whiteland, and all the others who had called on Germa's services; to sack their rivals the moment they couldn't pay the tribute.

    She shook her head. Here, she didn't have to think of such things. Now, for a few hours, she could enjoy not being Princess Reiju on this peaceful island, such people did not exist. Such things did not matter.

    She reached the edge of the forest, and found herself facing another coastline. She wondered, for a moment, just how far she had wandered; how long it had been.

    It didn't matter. It was a nice change, a pleasant change from her family's endless wars. Her brothers enjoyed their work; for her, it was just work. Taking the lands and lives of others was, for her, just a chore.

    A chore she would never be free of. A chore that would permit her no peace; not even in a quiet place like this. She could never forget the faces, the places; those she had walked among and talked to, those whose food she had eaten, whose wares she had perused and purchased. All those she had condemned to death with a few words into a Transponder Snail.

    She could not have saved them. Her troopers obeyed her, but they would not obey her over her father. Her brothers would kill her without a moment's hesitation, if Vinsmoke Judge only ordered it. And her father did not need to kill her. She was useful in his eyes, and besides, with but a verbal command she would follow Judge's every whim.

    Reiju sighed, and walked along the tree line. There was no point in dwelling on things she could not change. Better to enjoy this time, this place, while she could. She might never get another chance.

    There would be work to do once she got back. Her father would be back from the Reverie by then, with new clients and contacts, new prospects. New targets to destroy for their clients, new lands to be plundered, new profits to be made. All for her father's dream of rebuilding the Germa Empire.

    "As if Mariejois would let that happen," she muttered sourly. The World Nobles tolerated her father's antics as a way to keep other Kingdoms in line, but they would sooner breathe the same air as commoners than allow a Fifth Emperor to arise.

    A sudden cry cut through her grim reverie. She looked around, her enhanced hearing zeroing in on the sound, dropping behind a tree for cover.

    It was a woman, hopping over the rocks along a shoal nearby; laughing aloud, without a care in the world. She was quite tall, with long white hair, and what looked like a pair of red horns. She wore a white tunic and baggy red trousers tied with a violet rope belt; the tunic covered by a brown jacket.

    But…what was she doing there? This island was supposed to be deserted, and there was no sign of any ships. How did she get there?

    Reiju watched her, amazed and bewildered. She was jumping around, laughing aloud, playing like a child. It was not something Reiju had ever done, not even when she was a child. The whole sight made no sense!

    The woman leapt, and landed in a shallow pool with a great splash; whooping with delight.

    And then she shrieked. Her smile vanished, replaced with shock and pain. She fell back, landing on a nearby rock. Reiju stared, heart hammering as engineered instincts flooded her body with adrenaline; readying her for battle.

    "Yamato!" A green blur shut up from beyond the shoal, materializing beside the fallen woman in the blink of an eye. He's fast! "Are you alright?!"

    It was a young man, not much more than a boy, with green hair; dressed in a green suit and a brown jacket similar to the woman's own. He crouched down beside her, and Reiju could make out pieces of armor in black and red, and a long yellow scarf around his neck. It put her vaguely in mind of one of her family's Raid Suits.

    Reiju watched as the boy pulled Yamato - for that was apparently her name - out of the water and away from the rocks.

    "What was that?" he asked, setting her gently down.

    "It stung me!" cried Yamato. "A fish! It looked like a flat rock!" She drew up her leg and reached for her injured foot; then winced and let go. Even from a distance, Reiju could see its unnatural color.

    "Stonefish," she muttered, understanding. A Salamir Stonefish, native to these parts of North Blue. If left untreated, its venom could kill within an hour.

    "Oh no! Not good!" cried the boy. He lifted off again, and flew away out of sight. Reiju was taken aback, for she saw no glow, or emission of any kind. Clearly he wasn't using Hover Boots, or anything like that. Was it a Devil Fruit power?

    "A stonefish?! In this climate?!" The boy flew back, carrying a heavy backpack. "What can I use?!"

    He began scrabbling through the backpack, while his companion whimpered in pain. He pulled out wrapped bundles and small boxes, but couldn't seem to find anything. If he hadn't been expecting a stonefish in these parts, then he was unlikely to have anything suitable.

    "Izuku, it hurts!" sobbed Yamato. Reiju looked on, cold certainty settling in her mind. The boy was panicking, but even if he wasn't, there was nothing he could do. Stonefish venom could be slowed with improvised remedies, but not stopped. Without antivenom, she would be dead in a few hours at most. Even with a fast ship, the nearest island was a day's sail away.

    Reiju didn't like how she felt. She knew she should just go; just turn around and head back to the cruiser. Just sail away, and get on with her own life. This was nothing to do with her, nothing she need concern herself with.

    Except…it was.

    That mouse had nothing to do with Sanji, yet he fed it anyway.

    She stepped out from behind the tree, and strode down the beach.

    "Let me help." The words were foreign to Reiju; but something deep inside her made her want to say them. The boy jumped, dropping into a combat stance, staring up at her in shock. Reiju stepped past him, kneeling down beside Yamato, inspecting her foot.

    "Salamir Stonefish got you?" she mused. She could see the stinger mark on the heel, the discoloration spreading up her foot; her veins visible.

    "Who are you?" the boy named Izuku asked. He had a freckled, rather plain face; but his green eyes were wide, and curiously expressive. "Do you have antivenom?"

    Reiju took the heel in a firm grip, drew in a deep breath, then bent down; putting her lips to the wound.

    "Wait!" Izuku called out, but Reiju ignored him; closing her eyes and sucking hard. She felt her body glow as her augmentations activated, and could taste the venom on her tongue. It was simple and crisp, almost like salad dressing.

    She drew back for a quick look. The discoloration was retreating, the veins fading. She sucked again, slurping down the poison; again, and again, until she could taste no more.

    "There," she said, setting the heel gently down. "Feeling better?" She smiled, a feeling as alien as her words.

    "How did you…" Izuku uttered, eyes wide.

    "Yy-Yes… It doesn't hurt anymore." Yamato sat up, looking at her foot and back to Reiju. She was a tall one indeed; taller than Reiju had realized. "Thank you." Her amber eyes looked into her own blue ones; with a sincerity and gratitude Reiju has never seen.

    "You're welcome," Reiju uttered, remembering the manners her mother taught her. "Without antivenom, you would have not survived the night."

    "Thank you so much." Izuku sighed in relief. "I didn't think we'd encounter something like a Stonefish here!"

    "Not from around these parts?" Reiju asked, eyebrow quirked. "They're common along the southern parts of North Blue. You can get stonefish antivenom most clinics. I'm surprised you didn't know that."

    Izuku blanched, rubbing his arm.

    "We're travelers. And we are, well, not from around here!" Yamato chirped, smiling. "What's your name, miss?"

    Her name.

    Vinsmoke Reiju. Princess of the Germa Kingdom. A Commander of the Germa 66's armies. The infamous Poison Pink. Heiress and lady of a kingdom of warriors. Mistress of inhuman creations. Spy. Doombringer. Herald of the end of kingdoms and nations. Alongside Sparking Red, Electric Blue, and Winch Green.

    Her heart clenched, and she remembered. That beach, the roar of the guns, a ship in the distance…and a short, blonde-haired boy running towards it. Reiju heard herself screaming for him to keep running, felt tears running down her face.

    Her hands tightened, and she looked at them again. Izuku and Yamato, two small lives she had just saved. Two pairs of eyes, looking upon her with joy, gratitude, welcome.

    Just like Sanji used to.

    And her mother.

    "Sora. My name is Sora," Reiju lied. "And you?"
    "Well, my name is En," Izuku lied back. "And this is Anna." He gestured towards the horned girl who smiled and waved.

    Oh well, at least they were on even footing. A lie for a lie. Did they too have something to hide?

    "En, and Anna." Reiju nodded, smiling lightly. "It's nice to meet you. What are you doing on this island anyway?"

    "Well, we're traveling. Exploring North Blue" Izuku said. "We came from far away."

    He was quite cute, Reiju had to admit. His face was ordinary looking and freckled, but there was something strangely appealing about it. And his green hair reminded her of Yonji.

    Except cute, instead of dickish.

    "I see no boats. Do you have one down the coast?" Reiju asked, and Izuku flinched.

    "Actually, we flew!" Yamato spoke up, then faltered as Izuku gave her a flat look. "I mean, we don't really have a boat. We don't know how to sail."

    "Neither do I," Reiju shrugged. That work was done by the Clone Captains.

    "How about you? Do you live here Sora?" Izuku asked, looking a little tense.

    "No. I don't." Reiju admitted. "The truth is… I'm a castaway." She sighed. "I thought I was the only human being on this island." Which was technically true.

    "You're stranded? Did your ship capsize or something?" Izuku asked.

    "It took damage in a storm. I had to swim to safety." Part lie, part truth. "I was hoping to make an SOS for any nearby ships; but there aren't many this close to the Calm Belt."

    "I see…" Izuku mused, looking to his empty pack. "Do you have a home? Somewhere we can take you?"

    "No. I… ran away from home." Reiju admitted. "My family was forcing me to take part in the family business and I wanted no part of it." It felt good admitting that. "So, I made a getaway." She smiled painfully. "Less said about them the better."

    "Is there anywhere you need to go?" Izuku asked.

    "Not really…" She rubbed her arm. "I've just been adrift."

    "Then why don't you come with us! En can carry you too!" declared Yamato; Izuku looking at her like she was crazy. "There's lots of islands around here, so we won't have to fly far!"

    She gave Izuku a pleading look. Izuku thought it through, and then nodded.

    "All right. We can carry to an island with a port. It's the least we can do for helping save Anna's life here."

    Reiju blinked. Had she just talked herself into running away from Germa? From her father?

    "You… can do that?"

    "Sure. We can't just leave you here. Don't worry, I can manage; though you might have to carry my pack." He gestured at the backpack, and all the things spilled out around it.

    "I can do that," replied Reiju, nodding.

    "Hurray! A travel buddy!" Yamato cried out, scooping them both into a great big hug.

    An embrace. An earnest, sincere embrace. The first since her mother died.

    Yet they were hiding their names. Just like her. Izuku groaned softly, but she can see him smiling at Reiju as they were against her large bosom.

    "Okay, let's get packed up then. Oh! Is there anything you need? Like, from your camp?" Izuku asked, as Yamato let them go, giggling all the while.

    Reiju paused, biting her lip. She was going. She was really going; away from her home, and her father, and everything else she knew. All her cookbooks, and all the other mementoes she had collected over the years, would have to be left behind.

    So be it. She had memorized the cookbooks anyway. Photographic memory and all that.

    "No." She shook her head. "There's nothing left for me here."

    "Great! So, do you know the North Blue? We don't know much about it." Izuku admitted as he began to pack up.

    "I'll grab my stuff!" Yamato declared as she got up and trotted over to what looked like a small camp by a tree.

    "I do. I know some islands." Like the back of her hand. "Maybe I can… be a guide?" Reiju smiled. "If you flew over the Red Line or the Calm Belt, you must know little of this sea."

    "We just go where the wind takes us." Izuku said, as he finished his packing. She noticed some items in there. Some nonperishables, a first aid kit, clothes, a compass.

    And an Eternal Pose. Reiju felt a chill run through her at the sight of it. Normally they were only used on the Grand Line. And right below the North Blue, past the Calm Belt, was the New World.

    'You do have something to hide,' she thought. Something important, and dangerous.

    But…they were both so sincere. Their smiles, and their eyes.

    "Okay!" Yamato came hurrying back. "Ready!" She had a backpack on her back, and was wearing sandals. Reiju paused a moment, taking the whole outfit in. Aside from the jacket, Yamato's clothes were of a style she had never seen before.

    "I'm going to sleep like a log when we find an inn" Izuku admitted. Reiju watched with interest as he floated up, and Yamato embraced him from behind. Black tendrils emerged from his body, wrapping around Yamato.

    For an instant, it was all Reiju could do not to titter. Izuku looked, for all the world, like Yamato was carrying him in a baby carrier.

    "I'll hold you, Sora," Izuku said, holding out his arms. "I won't let you go."

    Reiju gulped, then slid the backpack onto her front, and stepped in front of Izuku, facing away from him. She felt his arms wrap around her waist.

    "I trust you, En."

    How strange to say such words. She had never thought to say them to anyone. Not a clone, not her father, and certainly not her cruel brothers.

    Izuku nodded, and the black tendrils came out; wrapping around her like a harness.

    "Is this…some kind of Devil Fruit power?" she could not help but ask.

    "Something…like that," replied Izuku awkwardly. Reiju blinked. Blatantly not a Devil Fruit then. Was it some kind of technology? Or an augmentation? Had he gotten mixed up with Vegapunk?

    "You ready, Sora?" Izuku asked cheerfully.

    "I am." No going back now.

    "All right! Let's goo!" Yamato cheered, and Reiju felt herself lift off the ground. Her heart leapt, and she clung onto the backpack as they ascended into the sky, the island falling away below them. Her head was on a swivel, taking it all in. She had never felt so excited in all her life!

    "Hey Sora." Reiju looked back, and saw Yamato beaming at her over Izuku's shoulder. "Pretty cool right?"

    …

    "Yes. It is."

    They rose higher and higher, rising into the clouds. She glanced back down one last time, and could just make out the snail cruiser on the other side of the island; the crew blissfully unaware that their charge was flying away.

    How on earth were they going to explain that to her father? For a moment she pictured his reaction, his rage, as they reported her total and complete disappearance.

    Good. Let him stew in his wretched fury for a while.

    "Do you know where to go?" Izuku asked. "Anna, compass?"

    "Right!"

    Reiju's head swiveled up and down, left and right. She could fly a little with her hoverboots, but nothing like this. Even her father, for all his skills, could not fly this well.

    He had to be tied to Vegapunk. But how? And why?

    "So Sora, know where the nearest island is at?" Izuku asked, and Reiju swallowed

    "Head east," she called back, having to raise her voice over the sound of the wind. "I believe there's an island there we can stop for the night. It has a town, an inn and everything."

    "Oh, what's it called?" Yamato asked as she held out the compass, and Izuku turned to face eastward. "Wait, don't tell us!" Reiju blinked. "We wanna be surprised. I'm making a log of my and En's journey! Going to new islands and new places. It's my dream to do it with him!"

    She grinned from ear to ear, and Reiju could not help but smile.

    "En…" She turned to look at Izuku. The urge to say his real name came, but he gave an alias for a reason. Just as she gave one to him. "How… how can I ever thank you?"

    The boy blushed, but smiled a soft, confident smile. Reiju felt something well up inside her, something she hadn't felt in a very long time. Tears pricked at her eyes.

    "It's fine! Helping people is what we do best!"

    "Okay, let's go!" Yamato called out, pulling her goggles down.

    "Alright. East it is! Hang on tight Sora!"

    Reiju did as she was bidden, as Izuku accelerated into the clouds. Faster and faster they flew, and Reiju felt her heart swell. Never in all her life had she moved so fast. Never in all her life had she felt so free.

    She glanced back at her companions, her first friends. They were staring straight ahead, eyes wide behind their goggles, faces bright with the joy of flying. They had rescued her from her life that was no life at all. They had set her free. All because of a lie.

    But she could not turn back. She needed this. She wanted this.

    "'Now, I can live not as a weapon… but as a human.' Reiju felt her eyes water up as she looked ahead, and took a shuddering breath. Tears were as foreign to her as hope and joy, but she shed them all the same. She could hear Yamato laughing, and the sound made her heart leap.

    She smiled, as her tears fell into the sea. In the distance, she could see the sun emerging from the overcast skies.

    'I wonder if this is how you felt, living a life you wish to live. I hope you are living well, Sanji.'

    Big thanks once again to @Juubi-K , @WildJoker000 and @IKnowNothing as always.

    But yeah, a break on an island results in a fated meeting and a timely save. Oh hey, Princess Theif Omake is leaking in here :O

    And hey, everyone round here is lying. Izuku trying to protect Uta by not being a pirate(even though he is) and that well, trying to break out on his own will be tough in trying to rescue her. Reiju to protect her identity, and of course all the things in place with our duo's true goal and her desire.

    When Judge finds out though ohhhh boy, North Blue is gonna feel it.

    Anyways, hope you all enjoyed this one. Juubi's gonna tackle the next one. Where will our TRIO land next? Stay tuned for that.
     
  • Threadmarks
    • Zaru said:
    They hadn't, in the end. But the cruiser had taken a lot of hits from falling rocks. Not wanting to risk the North Blue with a damaged castle and a wounded, tired snail, Reiju had taken the decision; lay up on the nearest island, and make repairs.

    Father wouldn't be happy at the delay; but she knew she had made the right choice. A few troopers here and there made no difference, but the snails were another matter. Giant Aquatic Snails, to give them their proper title, needed many years of rearing and training, not to mention a lot of food, to make them what Germa needed them to be. Her father was cruel, but he wasn't stupid; not so stupid as to squander such valuable assets.
    Click to expand...
    Click to shrink...
    ...That might explain why they aren't as prevalent as the other techno-snail varieties.

    By which I mean they may have once been a much more common sight, but the issue was that warfare and other strife (casting a looooong, meaningful look toward the Void Century, there) took a toll on the nations which used fortress snails.

    Killing one snail is functionally equivalent to destroying part of an island nation's landmass, after all, which means losing even one imposes significant logistical strain on the nation as a whole - and it takes considerably less firepower to kill a fortress snail than it does to render a section of dry land unusable.

    Even if they're also technically easier to replace, that still means any kind of large-scale warfare between nations would result in those dependent on fortress snails tending to fall into death spirals. They lose one snail, and that loss takes a noticeable bite out of their overall capacity and resources. This leaves the nation less stable and more vulnerable to future attack, and so the cycle repeats until they're either wiped out entirely or absorbed into another polity.

    In that light, things like the Germa Nation and the sea-striding elephant Zou* might be the last surviving examples of what was once a much more common mode of life throughout the Seas.


    And - perhaps - even things like Thriller Barque...
     
    Yeah, a lot of lies going around right now. It also feels like a lot of emphasis is being put on the lies and specifically the act of lying, which might turn into a theme for this arc. Lying for good or understandable reasons, possibly versus cruel truths and realities would be an interesting subject matter for a story. Especially when the ones lying are the protagonists while they try to set themselves up to upturn the evils of the world.

    I know that Uta eventually learns that Shanks and the Red-Hair pirates didn't raid Elgia, but it doesn't sound like she has reached that realization, partly because that's part of the reason she goes with her plan to draw the whole world into her song, so that's something to keep in mind.

    Reiju joining the Hero crew of Izuko and Yamato like this is interesting. She doesn't strike me as the kind of person who would have just left Germa at the first opportunity. Maybe it's because she sees these two as being the first good chance of actually getting her away from Judge, but I wonder if it's because she still loved Judge and her brothers and stuck with them out of that and a feeling of responsibility to them and her mother.
     
    GardenerBriareus said:
    Killing one snail is functionally equivalent to destroying part of an island nation's landmass, after all, which means losing even one imposes significant logistical strain on the nation as a whole - and it takes considerably less firepower to kill a fortress snail than it does to render a section of dry land unusable.
    Click to expand...
    Click to shrink...
    That said, Germa's citizens are its soldiers, so they can take the strain of losing one in the interim. But multiple? That's rough.

    Zedman7054 said:
    Yeah, a lot of lies going around right now. It also feels like a lot of emphasis is being put on the lies and specifically the act of lying, which might turn into a theme for this arc. Lying for good or understandable reasons, possibly versus cruel truths and realities would be an interesting subject matter for a story. Especially when the ones lying are the protagonists while they try to set themselves up to upturn the evils of the world.
    Click to expand...
    Click to shrink...
    Someone's quite observant, aren't they...

    Zedman7054 said:
    Reiju joining the Hero crew of Izuko and Yamato like this is interesting. She doesn't strike me as the kind of person who would have just left Germa at the first opportunity. Maybe it's because she sees these two as being the first good chance of actually getting her away from Judge, but I wonder if it's because she still loved Judge and her brothers and stuck with them out of that and a feeling of responsibility to them and her mother.
    Click to expand...
    Click to shrink...
    The girl knew Big Mom was gonna double cross them at WCI. She was ok dying there with her family as a means to atone for all their crimes. She was ok with dying there. But here? She has an escape. She can LIVE as a human now
     
    Chapter 56
  • Threadmarks
    • The sky was blue, and the water still.

    Standing on the foredeck of his snail cruiser, Vinsmoke Judge smiled as he took in the sight. The fjords loomed around him; steep cliffs and rough-hewn mountains, peaked in white snow and wreathed in green forests.

    This was Kaisafjord. This was the land of his ancestors, or what remained of it. Once, over nine hundred years ago, this had been a vast island, populated by a mighty and brave nation; who had for sixty-six days made the North Blue their own. Of that, only these fjords remained; an eternal monument to the glory that had been the Germa Empire.

    These fjords, and what lay in the waters between them.

    At first glance it was a mass of turrets and towers, arranged around a tall castle; all set on a cluster of enormous cylinders. But like all those who had spent their lives there, Judge knew the truth. Inside each of those cylinders was a Giant Aquatic Snail, the cylinder a frame built over its shell. It was those enormous snails that allowed the floating citadel to move, and for individual towers to split off and sail as they pleased.

    And the castles were not just castles. Within their stone walls hid the beating heart of his kingdom. Foundries and mills, factories and workshops, living quarters and training halls; everything needed to raise and train a mighty army. An army like no other, that was his and his alone.

    He was Vinsmoke Judge, King of Germa, Supreme Commander of the Germa 66, inheritor of the legacy of ancient Germa. In both ways that mattered, he was coming home.

    He glanced to his left and right shoulders. His sons. red-haired Ichiji and blue-haired Niji stood there, arms crossed, faces impassive. They rarely showed much emotion, and it was right that they didn't. They were as he had made them, and he was glad of it.

    Judge felt the snail cruiser slowing down. They were getting close, and he could see the gap in the flank of the floating kingdom; the gap this cruiser's deck would soon occupy. Troopers in full battle dress stood up ahead, waving flags and gesturing with their arms, guiding the snail into position. Judge stood where he was, unmoving, unaffected, as the snail withdrew into its shell, and the deck slid into place with a heavy clunk.

    The troopers fell away to either side. Before him was a wide parade ground and an open boulevard, leading straight to the Royal Castle. His path was flanked with troopers of the Germa 66; thousands upon thousands, arranged in serried ranks. Every uniform spick and span, every musket gleaming, every face set forward; expressionless, statuesque, unyielding and unfeeling.

    "PRE-SENT…ARMS!"

    His heart swelled as he stepped onto the parade ground, and thousands of muskets snapped forward; every movement identical, every sound as crisp as a whip-crack. This was his army, an army like no other, an army that no other kingdom could imitate, let alone outdo.

    Organized, efficient and most importantly, completely obedient. Perfect soldiers, all happy to lay down and die for him should he ask.

    He strode across the parade ground and down the boulevard, his sons just behind him, his entourage of troopers following on. He could not help but revel in the magnificence of it, in the martial power arrayed to welcome him home. He needed it, after those interminable days at the Reverie; surrounded by the effete, treacherous creatures that claimed to be his fellow monarchs. After all that luxury and frivolity, it was good to be in a place of warriors again; a place of honor, honesty, and strength.

    Onward they strode, down the boulevard, the stone towers looming over them like ancient, giant sentinels. Before them stood the Royal palace, the great eagle of Germa emblazoned above its mighty doors; swung wide to welcome them.

    Up the steps they went, through the cyclopean doorway, and down the main hall; tall and wide enough to let giants walk it comfortably, lined with yet more troopers in perfect order. The collonaded walls were hung with portraits; showing the triumphs of his ancestors. Between them were arranged the trophies of those conquests; snapped swords, scorched armor, half-melted crowns, moth-eaten banners.

    And then his favorite; a photo of him standing proud; with the four severed heads of four kings who had failed to pay the Heavenly Tribute, and banded together against the World Government. They had raised mighty armies and fleets, and built strong fortresses; thinking themselves proof against the might of the Marines.

    Now they were headless corpses, and their kingdoms were scorched ruins; their lands divided between Judge and the nameless king who had hired him. Their remaining subjects toiled for foreign masters in fields no longer their own, or else wandered the world as human flotsam, dispossessed and forgotten.

    It had been a good war, a satisfying war. The four had been strong enough to pose a challenge, to force his children and his officers to learn, and grow stronger.

    Finally they reached the throne room, with its high-packed, skull-topped throne,and behind it the great eagle crest; the numbers 66 emblazoned across its chest. His throne, and his crest.

    And upon the throne, sprawled like some lazy, drunken teenager, was his third son; green-haired Yonji.

    There was an extraordinarily long pause.

    "Oh?" Yonji finally stopped pretending not to notice them. "Welcome back, father."

    "What the hell are you doing?!" Niji asked with a hint of an edge.with rage. "Get the hell off there and show some respect?!"

    "Yeah yeah, whatever." Yonji clambered off the throne and stalked down the steps to the floor level. He bowed his head, and his manner changed completely.

    "Father, the kingdom is all in order, and I have matters to report."

    "Hmmm…" mumbled Judge, looking around. "I see you haven't burned the place down, anyway." He paused while Niji sniggered. "But you'll forgive me if I make a quick inspection, just to put my mind at ease."

    Yonji lowered his head again, but Judge knew he was smarting. It was no more than he deserved after that little display.

    Yonji led the way out of the throne room, down dark and familiar corridors into the rear of the palace; then down the steps into the undercroft. Judge was pleased to see the security doors closed and locked, all with the guards in place. He paid little attention to the rigmarole of passing through the doors, and the next doors, and the next doors. His heart was pounding at the thought of what lay beyond.

    Finally, they reached the main chamber of the undercroft. Hidden deep below the castle, it was a place no outsider ever saw; let alone lived to tell of. Even the servants were not allowed down there; and even the troopers who guarded it did not actually see inside. The only occupants were white-clad technician-troopers; trained by Judge himself, and kept separate from their peers. Of all the Germa troopers, they alone knew the truth of this place.

    The chamber itself was wide and tall, its walls and floors a sterile blue; in sharp contrast to the stone and wood paneling elsewhere in the castle. At the center of the chamber was an enormous column, lined with rack upon rack of tall glass jars; each twice the height of a man. More lined the walls at floor level, and on a floor above; hundreds upon hundreds of them. Each jar was filled with blue fluid; and within the fluid floated the shape of a man.

    His kingdom had over six thousand soldiers at the ready. And within this laboratory were a thousand more, his largest batch. And more would come soon.

    Judge paused, staring up at the central column jars with pride. The men in the jars, if they could be called men, floated stock-still; their eyes covered by black eyepieces, their faces expressionless. Each one was muscular, perfectly-formed, the very image of a soldier. How unlike the early attempts, the misshapen horrors, the skinless monstrosities, the ones that dropped dead as they left their jars.

    Trial and error; the experimental process that made science possible. If at first you don't succeed, analyze, evaluate, and try again. Every failure was a brick in the foundations of success.

    No such failures here. Soon these creatures would be decanted, and marched upstairs into the sunlight as cadet troopers of the Germa 66; never knowing from whence they had come.

    This was the true power of Germa. This was a power no one in all the world could give him. The power of human life, refashioned and recreated as he saw fit. Perfect soldiers, manufactured as easily and conveniently as the weapons they carried. An army that would never tire or break; an army that would crush any enemy through sheer unrelenting force. An army that was his and his alone.

    Judge smirked. He wondered if this was how Gods in creation myths felt when they made their people. But that's all they were. Myths. Not reality. Not like this.

    "There, you see?" Yonji gestured around the chamber. "Everything's fine. I inspected the place myself every day. Happy now?"

    Judge continued his inspection a moment longer, enjoying the sound of Yonji's teeth grinding with frustration, then finally turned to face him.

    "Yes, Yonji," he replied mildly. "Now. Perhaps some coffee. I would like to hear your report."

    (X)

    The family returned upstairs and repaired to one of the many side rooms; and had coffee sent for. Judge sat in his high-backed chair, while his sons lounged in their seats; while behind them, nervous-looking maids carefully strained and poured their coffee. He said nothing as Niji slapped one of the maids on the rump mid-pour.

    "Oi." Yonji looked at the maid, and he smirked. "Pour it…" he scooted back, and patted his lap, "sitting on here."

    Ichiji sighed as the nervous brunette maid sat on the green-haired teen's lap, and he slid an arm around her waist.

    "Nice, nice, nice." Yonji leered. "Must be nice, pouring coffee for your prince like this," he murmured. The maid looked uneasy, her eyes fixed on the cup as she poured.

    "Easy. I don't bite." He smirked. "Unless you're… you know~" The maid whimpered as his hand ran up her thigh.

    "Yonji," Judge ordered. "You're a prince. Not some simpering womanizer in a brothel. Control yourself." Yonji sighed, and snapped his fingers; the girl swiftly removing herself from his lap. Yonji scowled and pouted, his fun spoiled; while Niji laughed.

    Judge forced himself not to glower. He didn't care about that girl, or any of the servants. But his sons were princes, and appearances had to be kept up. Sadly, for all the effort he had put into designing and training his sons, that wasn't one of their strengths.

    "I trust there were no problems while we were gone?" The blonde king hazarded, as the maids finished their pouring. Yonji paused and sighed, and Judge knew immediately something had indeed gone wrong. Hiding their emotions, those he had left them, was not a strength of theirs either.

    "There's been a problem," Yonji replied cautiously. "The fleet we sent to…"
    "Pugghh!"

    Judge almost gaped in disbelief, as Niji spat out a mouthful of coffee.

    "What kind of swill do you call this?!" he roared, rounding on the luckless maid who had just served it. "I take sugar with my coffee, not coffee with my sugar!"

    "Your highness…!" babbled the maid, terrified. Judge shot her a glare, shoo'd her off, and she trotted fast towards the door; the others doing likewise.

    "Niji…" Judge growled. "You are a prince of Germa. Act like it."

    "She put too much sugar in my coffee!" snapped Niji petulantly. "They know how I like my coffee! What use are servants who can't even make coffee right?!"
    "There's nothing wrong with this coffee," retorted Ichiji, elegantly lowering his cup. "And even if there was, we don't shriek and spit like ill-bred toddlers about it. Calm down."

    "Tch, whatever." Niji rolled his eyes and shoved his cup in the middle. "Fucking women. Can't even get coffee right."

    "Don't mind if I do." Yonji smirked, grabbing Niji's cup and sipping from it. "Tastes fine to me."

    "Because you're a sweet tooth pussy." Niji uttered. Yonji glared back at him, and Judge half-expected him to lunge. Instead he just sat back, and sipped at the coffee.

    "As father said, we are princes," Ichiji went on. "Thus there is a level of decorum we must adhere to, especially when the troopers see us."

    Judge gave him an approving nod. Ichiji was only his eldest son by a matter of minutes, but he was still the most mature and self-disciplined of the three. Even Reiju tended to defer to him, despite being three years older. She had known, even as a child, what she was dealing with.

    "Now, Yonji, continue." The green haired boy perked up and sat up, setting down his cup.

    "Okay, so. The fleet we sent to Brew Island?" Yonji started again. "It's been lost."

    The room went very cold and very quiet.

    "How, lost?" asked Ichiji.

    "Four days ago, we got a garbled transmission," Yonji went on. "They said they were under attack by a single pirate ship, and they were activating security protocols."

    Security protocols, in this case, meant destroying anything remotely incriminating or useful to an enemy; such as logbooks, maps, and munitions, and themselves. For a trooper captain to have made that call, the situation must have been desperate indeed.

    "A single pirate ship?" demanded Niji with a glare. "Is that all?"

    "Like I said, the transmission was garbled," insisted Yonji, glowering back. "There was a lot of background noise. Whoever they were, they must have moved in while the troopers were spread out around the island prepping it for strip mining."

    "So the extermination was done by then?" asked Ichiji.

    "Yes. The report came in a couple of hours earlier. No survivors."

    That was good. No survivors meant no witnesses, and the Germa 66 used the same standard weaponry as the Marines. Even if those pirates tried to make something of it, they hadn't a scrap of evidence that Germa was responsible. Not that the Marines would ever take a pirate's accusations seriously; but Germa had enemies, all waiting for an opportunity, or the right excuse.

    "It was probably some pirate crew wandering by from the Grand Line," mused Ichiji. "Ships going under the Red Line pop up around there, and they're leagues above the pirates we have in the North Blue."

    "Yes, we were unlucky," agreed Judge. "We'll have to send a larger force next time, once we've replaced our losses."

    'And in the meantime, tread carefully for a while,' he thought. 'Best have Reiju look into it before we go.'

    "You should have let me lead the fleet," complained Yonji. "They wouldn't have gotten jumped if I was there." He smashed his fist into his palm. "Would have been great to bust their heads."

    "You were needed here," retorted Ichiji. "Someone had to command here while we were gone."

    "So you sent Reiju instead?" grumbled Yonji. "She didn't even do anything! I'd have gotten that mission done, and taken down those pirates myself, no sweat!"

    "Reiju isn't the fighter either of you are, but she has her uses." Judge cut in. "Scouting and reconnaissance are important in warfare, Yonji. And that is a skill you greatly lack." Yonji glared off to the side.

    "Yeah, you're as subtle as a roided-out bull." Niji smirked. The green haired man glared back at his blue haired brother. "You'd just bungle it and make an ass of yourself."

    "Want me to shove this up your ass then?" Yonji growled, lifting up his coffee cup.

    "You're welcome to try." Niji smirked, gripping the arm of his chair, sparks of electricity appearing in his hand.

    "Enough of this quarreling!" Judge snapped. The two brothers faltered, looking at him with a mixture of nervousness and resentment; like when they were boys, and he had slapped them for being troublesome.

    "I'm just stating facts," Niji drawled as he looked off to the side. .

    "Fuck off," Yonji muttered, angrily drinking more coffee.

    "Reiju did her duty, and you did yours Yonji. Relax." Ichiji sipped from his coffee, the redhead as cool as can be.

    "Yeah, right! Duty," griped Yonji. "I get stuck here kicking my heels, while Reiju does something useful and you guys live it up at the Reverie! Some duty that is."

    "You didn't miss anything!" snorted Niji as he waved his hand. "It was a bunch of stuck-up royalty in fancy outfits whining about too many pirates and too high taxes, and trying to marry off their kids. You should've seen the princesses trying to schmooze up to Ichiji." He grinned, and jabbed his thumb at his brother. "Bro turned them all down, sent them crying to their daddies. And then there was Reichen Bach during the Council of Kings."

    "Seriously?" Yonji quirked an eyebrow. "He actually said what he said in the paper? It wasn't just fluff?"

    "Oh yes," drawled Nijii with a smirk. "He did. He stood up in all his finery and trashed the Marines right in front of all those Kings! Those Vice Admirals looked like they wanted to jump over the table and strangle him!"

    "Now that would have been entertaining," commented Ichijii mildly.

    "And not going to happen," Judge cut in. "The Marines had fools made of them by one of their own, and all the world knows it. Though I suspect Bach can forget about any more contracts from the Marines for a while, outside of his G-Base."

    "Which is where we come in, right?" asked Yonji, quirking an eyebrow. "You did get to talk to him, right?"

    "Oh, I did." Judge smirked, pleased that Yonji was actually taking this seriously. "He's a shrewd young fellow, but I managed to pique his interest."

    "Soft is what he is!" snorted Niji. "He calls himself a King, but he lets a bunch of politicians run his kingdom for him! Elected politicians!" He barked a laugh. "And letting minks live and work in the kingdom! They're even marrying humans!" He blanched. "Disgusting."

    "Who cares what they look like, so long as they obey?" retorted Yonji. "Besides, some of those female minks are easy on the eyes." The green-haired youth looked to his father.

    "So what are you offering to him for access to those mines of his?" he asked, smirking. "Reiju, maybe? She'd make a pretty bride, and a lovely Queen."

    "Yeah, I can just see it," added Niji, half-laughing. "Wafting around in a frilly dress, popping out babies, cutting ribbons, getting bouquets from adorable children."

    The two of them laughed, their past spat forgotten, and Judge took a long sip of coffee.

    "Funny you should say that," he said, lowering his cup. "One of Bach's entourage, a certain Jernigan Jenner, made that very suggestion to me. Of course I turned him down."

    He set down his cup, his lip curling.

    "I admit, I'm curious to see what sort of children Reiju would produce," he growled. "Especially with someone like Reichen Bach. But I did not spend time and effort enhancing her so she could end up as a royal broodmare. She is not a political pawn, any more than you are."

    Yonji shrugged. "So what next then? More contracts?"

    "Yes." Judge settled in his seat, allowing his sons a smile. "I had been hoping to establish a presence in the region around Reverse Mountain, but Jack the Drought has beaten us to it. Since we're in no position to take on an Emperor, least of all Kaido, I thought to switch our focus to Brew Island; but now that's gone wrong too. Fortunately we have some contracts in the offing, which should keep us profitably occupied. Once we've sorted out Brew Island, we can return our attention to the New World."

    He took a long drink of his coffee. "In the meantime, we need to…"
    He stopped, as a sharp knock rang through the room.

    "Enter!" he barked. The door opened, and an officer of the clone troopers strode briskly inside, the door slamming shut behind him. He halted, and snapped off a pleasingly crisp salute.

    "Your majesty, your highnesses, we have a situation."

    "Speak freely," ordered Judge with a nod as Yonji sipped from his second cup.

    "Snail cruiser 17 has reported in from Sector A7. Princess Reiju has gone missing."

    "PFFFT!" Yonji spat out his cup and coughed.

    For a few moments, Judge's mind was blank. The words he had just heard made no sense at all.

    "Uhh. The fuck?" Yonji uttered, coffee still leaking from his mouth. Niji was slack jawed.

    "Missing?" asked Ichiji, maintaining his composure.

    "Missing, your highness," confirmed the officer. "They were attacked by Sea Kings while traversing the Red Line, and stopped at an island for repairs. Princess Reiju took a walk, and never came back."

    Judge gripped the armrests of his chair. He couldn't deal with it, he couldn't make sense of it. Reiju did not go missing! If the troopers were not incapable of lying, he would have thought it a trick, or some kind of ridiculous prank!

    But he could see the shock on the faces of his sons. Yonji's mouth was agog and Niji was stunned. Even Ichiji looked rattled. For all their prowess in battle, they could not act, pretend, or lie worth a damn. This was no trick.

    "They searched the island?" asked Ichiji.

    "Yes, your highness. They found three sets of footprints on the other side of the island. One of them belonged to the Princess, and there were signs of a small struggle. But otherwise nothing. No blood stains, no damage to the land, nothing."

    "Nothing? No sign of a boat?"

    "No, your highness. Captain Epsilon thinks the waves might have washed away any sign."

    Judge took a long breath, forcing his heart to stop pounding, and his shocked mind to clear. He could not show weakness, not in front of his sons, and definitely not in front of a mere trooper.

    "Anything else?" Judge asked, tersely.

    "No, your majesty. Captain Epsilon requests further orders."

    "Go. You will have orders soon. Epsilon will remain on standby." The officer saluted, and strode out of the room.

    "Well shit!" declared Niji. "Somebody jumped Reiju? They've got some balls!"

    "She must've been taken," mused Yonji. "They must've been hiding on the other side of the island, kept their boat down the beach where the water would wash away any evidence, and jumped her when she wandered by. No slouches, these guys."

    "But how would they even know she was there?" demanded Niji. "Unless they'd been tracking her all the way from Brew Island?!"

    "Probably not," Ichiji cut in. "Brew held allegiance to no one; not the Emperors or the World Government. Even if someone else was there to see or follow her, it's unlikely that they could cross the Calm Belt. The Marines have no reason to bother her either."

    "And the Marines at Heavensward have been clamping down on anyone with a bounty over ten million," Niji added. "No one below that would last five minutes against her."

    "Enough!" ordered Judge. He stood up, his sons leaping to their feet. "We don't have time to speculate. We get her back, immediately. Send out scout ships to that area of North Blue at flanking speed and have them search Sector A until they find her. Crush any pirates at sea that cross their path, board and take their ships. If the Marines ask, they are to say they are on a training exercise. Whoever took her couldn't have gone far. Understood?"

    "Yes father," the three chorused.

    "Go now. See to it." His sons bowed, and strode out; leaving him alone. Judge arched his back, fists clenched, as fury rose to match his dread.

    They had taken his daughter. Someone had the strength, and the skill, and the nerve to kidnap his daughter; to thumb their noses at the Vinsmoke Dynasty. They had robbed him of one of his most precious assets. His Poison Pink.

    These kidnappers would be found. And they would pay.

    (X)

    "Aaaaand…we're down!"

    Izuku withdrew his Black Whip, letting his two passengers step away. They were in a forest, with tall smokestacks looming over it in the near distance; gray smoke wafting into the sky.

    "Ahhhhh!" Yamato set down her backpack and arched her back, sighing with relief as she stretched. Sora set down her own backpack, and began stretching out her arms and legs in slow, deliberate movements. Izuku watched her for a moment. It was some sort of calisthenics routine.

    "Okay! Masks on!" Yamato reached into her backpack and pulled out her Hanya mask, slipping it on. Izuku set his own mask in place, then pulled up his hood.

    "Why are you doing that?" asked Sora, looking confused. Izuku paused, surprised by the question.

    "Uh…do I look familiar to you at all?" he asked.

    Sora furrowed her brow in thought as she looked at the boy, then shook her head. "No, you don't," she replied. Izuku was taken aback. Had she not seen the Wanted poster? "Why do you ask?"

    "Well…we've gotten ourselves in trouble…with some powerful people," he said cautiously.

    "Are you pirates?" she asked, rather bluntly.

    "Oh, uh, no no no!" pleaded Izuku, waving his hands. "We're not pirates! We just…well…we keep getting involved in things." It sounded pathetic even to Izuku. The pink haired girl mused for a moment, her eye going back and forth between the two.

    "Can I have a mask too?" Sora asked. "I don't have any money right now, but I can pay you back later."

    "It's fine!" Yamato assured her. "We'll get you one!"

    "Here, use this." Izuku pulled off his yellow scarf, and held it out to Sora. Sora hesitated a moment, looking at it as if she didn't know what it was. Then she took it, and wrapped it around her face.

    They made their way through the forest, heading towards the smokestacks. Izuku felt the air change as they drew closer; the smells of the forest replaced with smoke and oil and metal. It even felt different; thicker, and harder to breathe.

    "Pee-eew!" complained Yamato. "This place smells awful!"

    "You were wise to wear masks here," said Sora, stepping past them and moving ahead. "And not just to hide your faces."

    They reached the tree line. Beyond them lay a wide valley, rising to high hills on either side. At the bottom stood a small town on either side of a river, connected by a stone bridge. Docks lined the riverside, where a few ships and small boats sat at anchor. Atop the opposite hill stood the smokestacks they had been following; surrounded by dark, industrial-looking buildings, and shrouded in gray smog.

    And all around them lay a great mass of trash.

    The wind blew in Izuku's face. He almost gagged at the smell, despite his mask. He had never seen so much trash, covering the entire hillside. It made that beach All Might made him clean up look like a dropped candy wrapper.

    "What…is that?" asked Yamato, sounding as appalled as Izuku felt.

    "That is trash," replied Sora, unruffled by the sight. "This island is called Spider Miles; the trash dump of the North Blue. Islands pay to have their trash taken to this place and destroyed."

    Izuku's stomach churned as he took it all in. He'd grown up in a city, but Tokyo at its worst had never been as bad as that. Even Doyle, with its 19th century technology, hadn't looked or smelt so bad.

    "Are they with the World Government?" he asked.

    "Yes, nominally at least," replied Sora. "They can just about make the tribute, but not the Reverie fee. The Marines at Heavensward stop by every now and again to check on the place, but that's about it. They don't want another Doflamingo taking over again."

    "Doflamingo?" Yamato perked up. Izuku looked back to Reiju with a raised eyebrow. "As in the Warlord?"

    "Don't worry, he's long gone," Sora assured her. "The only pirates around her are small-timers just stopping by. Not worth Heavensward's time, most of them."

    "What's Heavensward?" Izuku asked.

    "The prominent Marine base in North Blue, and also one of the few ports that has a lift up to the Red Line." Sora explained. "It's within a day's sail of the entrance to the Grand Line. It's effectively a choke point against pirates, and a bastion of justice. At least that's what the government calls it."

    Izuku rolled his eyes.

    The three headed down the hillside, and into the town. It looked peaceful enough, but even there Izuku could taste the acrid smoke in the air. The stone buildings around him were stained with soot and grime, and the people all looked on-edge, as if something was about to happen; though his Danger Sense was silent.

    "You seem to know a lot about North Blue" Izuku mused aloud.

    "I was born here. I know what I know." Sora shrugged. "Feel free to ask me anything on this sea too." Her eyebrow curved as she smiled behind her scarf.

    "Okay! Shopping time!" declared Yamato cheerfully. "We need to get some things for Sora!"

    Izuku jumped, and glanced around. Some locals glanced at Yamato, then went about their business. No one seemed overly bothered.

    (X)

    They spent an hour or so wandering from shop to shop, buying supplies and equipment. A backpack, jacket, mask, and goggles for Sora, and some medical supplies; especially antivenom.

    For Reiju, otherwise known as Sora, it was the strangest hour of her life. She had gone shopping often enough, usually on islands she was scouting. But she had never gone shopping with people before; not like this.

    And she was still getting used to her traveling companions. Izuku, otherwise known as En, seemed good-natured enough. But Yamato, otherwise known as Anna, was something else entirely. She was enormous and horned; Reiju could almost believe that she was one of the legendary oni. But she carried on like a hyperactive child; always bouncing around, a great big smile on her face, delighting in every little thing. When they shopped they tried on different masks and jackets on Reiju, Yamato wondering what she would look like.

    Had she ever been like that?

    With their shopping done, it didn't take them long to find a tavern by the docks; one that provided food and rooms as well as drinks. There were plenty of them in the town; serving the sailors and pirates who frequented the port. Leaving their things in their rooms, they headed down for dinner.

    The inn itself was busy; and the customers were mostly pirates. They crowded around the bar or around tables; drinking, laughing, and generally enjoying themselves. Izuku kept glancing nervously at them, while Yamato paid them no mind; cheerfully digging into the enormous spread of meat and seafood she had insisted on ordering. Not that Reiju was complaining. Her companions seemed to have plenty of money, and the food was fairly good.

    "Ahhhhhh!" Yamato flopped back in her chair, replete. "Nothing like a good meal after a long trip!"

    Izuku did not reply. He was still glancing at the pirates, his eyes shifting from group to group, almost as if he was looking for something. Or else checking them out, seeing which crew was which.

    So…not a pirate then. Or at least not comfortable around pirates. Were they running from pirates then? If so, who?

    "En, Anna," she prompted, looking awkwardly down at her plate. "Thank you. For the ride, and for this, and for all the stuff you bought me." She had her black face mask on, covering her neck and lower face along with her jacket on. She moved the flap down to sip from her drink.

    "Don't sweat it." Izuku smiled a gentle and sincere smile that reached his eyes behind his own metal mask. For an instant her heart clenched. It reminded her of Sanji. "It was our pleasure."

    "So what do you plan to do now?" asked Yamato, looking at her with bright interest, the Hanya mask despite looking intimidating, belied the joyful woman behind it.

    Reiju faltered, for she had honestly no idea. Where to go? What to do? Who to be, now that she was free?

    "I'm not sure," she admitted, acting sheepish. "To be honest, I'm worried about my family. They might come looking for me."

    That was putting it mildly.

    "You mentioned you didn't want to be in the family business. What's wrong with that?" Izuku inquired.

    Reiju faltered. How was she to explain? How did she tell them of what her family was doing? Destroying whole kingdoms for cash; crushing and strip-mining defenseless islands for their resources.

    And she had been right at the middle of it.

    "I didn't agree with their methods. I just…I wanted to…" Reiju paused. "I wanted to find my own path. after you found me I didn't know what to do next." She gave a sheepish smile. "I never planned I'd get this far to be honest."

    "Aside from being stranded on an island?" Yamato lifted her mask up to expose her mouth, and took a swig of beer.

    "Well, I didn't exactly plan this in detail," she admitted. "I cleared out in a hurry, got on the next ship out, and the next thing I know I'm stranded on an island with little supplies and no plan. Dumb I know, but life doesn't always go the way you want it to."

    Izuku looked at her. His eyes were searching, questioning, but not cold or threatening. They were gentle, sympathetic. It wasn't something she was used to.

    "It sounds like you've had a rough time," he mused. "Just who are your family anyway? What have they done to scare you like this?"

    Scare her? She supposed he was right. She was scared. She had always been scared. But how to explain? How to tell them?

    "Good Evening."

    Reiji saw Izuku and Yamato look up, but she had already sensed the presence behind her. A man, with the oily drawl some men seemed to think women founding tempting and seductive. Izuku had his hood on, while Yamato's hanya mask fell into place over her lips with but a tug.

    "Can I help you?" she asked dryly, turning in her seat. It was a tall, lanky, dark-skinned man; with a mop of greasy black hair, and a wide rictus grin. He wore a white shirt with long sleeves hanging over his hands, red pants, and a black cloak; the inside lined with green silk decorated with black spots.

    "Me and my crew just arrived in this fine establishment," the man went on. "And when I saw you, I just had to introduce myself."

    "Oh did you now?" Reiju asked, keeping her manner easy, as her eyes took in every detail. He had a short black beard, and there was a red saltire on his shirt, the tips decorated with what looked like stylized flower petals. Was that his emblem?

    "I am the one they call Caribou," the man introduced himself. "Here with my dear bro Coribou, and my noble crew. Won't you come and join us, beautiful lady~?"

    Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Izuku's eyes glance to Yamato under his metal mask. Yamato gave the barest of nods.

    "I appreciate the offer, but I'm eating dinner with friends." Reiju replied. Better to be diplomatic.

    "Oh come now, dear lady," drawled Caribou, a sudden edge to his tone. "My good fellows and I can show you a much better time. Why not ditch your little girlfriends and see for yourself?"

    Reiju saw Izuku narrow his eyes in her periphery, but most of her attention was on Caribou. She did not like that look in his wild green eyes.

    "Sorry," she insisted. "Non-cute men like you don't interest me; especially when they can't take no for an answer."

    Gauntlet down. For a few moments Caribou just stared at her, his face a frozen mask.

    "Non-cute?" His tone had turned dangerous. "You think we're non-cute? And your little friends are cute?! They're sitting there wearing masks and you think they're cute?!"

    He was looming now, his eyes bright green and full of malice. Behind him, Reiji could see a cluster of fat, pale-skinned men watching them intently.

    "Yeah!" added one of them. He had green hair, and wore a frilly white shirt. "They're sittin' there wearin' those dumb masks, and she thinks they're cute!"

    "Yes thank you, Coribou," hissed Caribou through gritted teeth. "But you're right. I don't take no for an answer."

    He planted a sleeve-covered hand on her shoulder. Quick as a whip, Reiji grabbed him by the wrist; squeezing it hard enough to snap the bones.

    But nothing happened. There was no crack, no shriek of pain. His wrist just…squidged, as if it were made of mush. She squeezed it again, and again.

    And stared, as brown sludge began dripping out of his sleeve.

    "Kehihihihihihihihi!" cackled Caribou. "I'm afraid that's not going to work, sweet lady! I ate the Swamp Swamp Fruit, and became a Swamp Man. Fighting me is literally like fighting a swamp! Wet, dirty, and futile!"

    "A Logia?" Reiju mused aloud.

    "Yeah!" cut in Coribou, as his crewmates chortled. "Fighting big brother's like fighting a swamp! Wet dirty and futile!"

    "Yes Coribou! Thank you very much!" snarled Caribou, clearly irritated. "But yes, with this power, I can take whatever I want!" The sludge oozed out of his sleeve, running slowly down Reiju's front. "Just sit right there, and I'll…!"

    A blur flashed in front of Reiju; and Yamato's fist slammed into Caribou's nose. For an instant, his entire face distorted around the fist like wet dough, then he flew back; smashing through a window and out into the street in a cloud of broken glass and teeth.

    "KEHIIGGGHHHHHHHHRGLGLGLGL!!"

    "Big brother!" cried Coribou, dashing out after him, followed by his crewmates. "No! He's in the water!"

    Reiju stared, hardly daring to believe it.

    "She hit him, despite being a Logia?" She murmured aloud.

    "All right!" barked the innkeeper, striding up with his fists clenched. "Take it outside! And you can pay for that window right now!"

    "Of course! By all means!" pleaded Izuku, bowing hastily. Yamato dashed out through the door, and Reiju followed on. They found themselves out on the docks, with Caribou's rotund pirates clustered on the waterfront ahead of them. They split apart, revealing a freshly fished-out Caribou. He was soaked to the skin, and his nose was a swollen red bulge leaking blood, angled left.

    "You've got some nerve," he hissed. A long, serpentine tongue slipped from between his teeth, licking at the blood. "Knocking me into the water like that. Don't you know who I am, you horned gorilla?"

    "You, you got some nerve!" Coribou cut in, shaking his fist. "Knockin' big brother into the water like that! Don't you know he's got a Devil Fruit?! Ya gorilla horn!"

    "Say, how did she hit the captain into the water?" asked one of his crew.

    "How did she hit him in the first place?"

    "Wasn't he invincible?"

    "He did mention and proved that a while back…"

    There was a tense, angry pause; and Caribou turned and glared at his followers. They all shrank back, their speculations spilenced.

    "Tch. I just wasn't focused is all! I've got one of the biggest bounties in the North Blue," Caribou went on. "I'm gonna kill you, and both your little friends too! Better start praying, cow-gorilla!"

    "Oh yeah?!" retorted Yamato. "And just how big is your bounty anyway?!" Izuku came hurrying out of the inn; the innkeeper watching from the doorway. A crowd was starting to gather, and pirates were watching through the windows.

    "My bounty…" hissed Caribou, pausing with unconvincing drama, "is five million Berries!"

    There was an extraordinarily long pause.

    Silence reigned.

    "Heh." Yamato scoffed.

    "Pfft." Izuku sputtered.

    "Kehi?" Caribou tilted his head.

    And then Yamato burst out laughing, leaning in her metal club. Even Izuku was sniggering, his fist over his mask. The crowd, and Caribou's pirates, all stared at her as if she had her underwear on her head.

    "Why are they laughing?"

    "Five million is a lot…"

    "Has she lost it?"

    "Isn't that Caribou guy also a serial killer too!"

    Caribou ground his teeth, not amused with the peanut gallery.

    "Not impressed, eh?!" snapped Caribou. "How about this then?!"

    Reiju stared in horror as his chest swelled, and a short-barrelled Gatling Gun emerged from it. Caribou laughed and grabbed the handle, while behind him his crew brought out their own weapons; leveling them at the trio.

    Her fingers went to her lips. She could stop them with her poison darts, but she would have to be quick.

    "Kehihihihihi!" Caribou laughed again. "Now you…!"

    A green blur flashed past him, the wind making his shirt sleeves billow. Caribou raised his hand to cover his face as the wind buffeted him. His crew were not so lucky, as the wind blasted at them from all sides, knocking them screaming into the water. The blur came to a halt, resolving itself into a glaring masked Izuku. Caribou cried out in terror and swung round, aiming the Gatling Gun straight at him.

    "Pluuuus…Ultra!"

    In a flash, Yamato was upon him, her club catching him in the side and knocking him skyward like a baseball.

    "HOME RUUUUN!"

    "KEHIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII-!"

    Caribou screamed as he flew away into the sky, flying out of sight.

    Yamato spun round, and made a V-sign with her fingers; letting out a giggle. Izuku relaxed, chuckling. The crowd ooohed and ahhhed, and started clapping.

    "Big broooooo!" wailed Coribou. He leapt over the dockside, and a moment later they could see him, sitting in a dinghy, paddling frantically out of the harbor; following his brother's flight path. The rest of the crew picked themselves up, glancing nervously at the pair of heroes staring them down; Izuku with his arms crossed, Yamato with her club on her shoulder.

    They all turned as white as sheets.

    "Y-ya know what, m-maybe being a pirate isn't the best idea!" suggested one of them.

    "I-I-I remembered I had some books I needed to return! Ya! A ton of em! E-even ask for a job at the library too!"

    "Good." Izuku urged. "Now." His eyes seemed to glow. "Shoo."

    And the men all ran in different directions.

    "LET'S GET OUTTA HERE!"

    "RUN!"

    "I'M COMING HOME MA! I'M GONNA BE A DENTIIIIIST!!!"

    "A DENTIST IS A GOOD PROFESSION!" Izuku called out. "There's nothing to be ashamed of in that!" Yamato giggled at his words as the boy sighed, hands on his hips. "Well, that'll teach them. Hopefully now they'll lead good and respectable lives."

    "I hope so. Oh, by the way, how was it?" Yamato asked, rubbing the back of her head. "My own Plus Ultra?"

    "It…" Izuku gave a thumbs up, eyes curving upward with joy "...was great. He would have been proud." Yamato's geta clacked, as she bounced joyfully around. Reiji stood in silence, too stunned even to move, as around her the crowd clapped and cheered.

    "That was amazing!" declared the innkeeper, all smiles now. "Come back inside! Drinks on the house for our heroes!"

    "Really!?" She exclaimed.

    "Anyone who can calm down or scare pirates can eat for free in my book. Come on in, miss!"

    "Yippee!" cheered the masked Yamato, jumping up and down like a child, an absolute far cry from her intimidating hanya mask and wig.

    Reiju followed Yamato back towards the inn, barely hearing the cheers of the crowd. Just who were those two? She supposed Yamato might be an oni, but what about Izuku? She had never seen powers like this before; flight, extreme speed, high physical power, those black tendrils.

    He had to be involved with Vegapunk somehow. There was no other way.

    "Is there anything in particular you'd like?" offered the beaming innkeeper. "Beer? Wine? Spirits? Perhaps you'd like more food? On the house of course!"

    "More food?" Somehow, Yamato's already radiant countenance somehow managed to brighten. "Yay! The same again please!"

    (X)

    Izuku watched, smiling, as Yamato was escorted into the inn by the delighted innkeeper, Sora following behind.

    It really had been an awesome move, but that wasn't the main thing. Instead of fear and anger, Yamato was getting cheered and welcomed, by people who were glad of her and grateful to her. It was what she had most yearned for, for almost her whole life. And now, at long last, she was getting it.

    "A moment of your time, good sir?"

    Izuku paused as he approached the door, and looked around to see who had spoken. Around him, the crowd was dispersing or following Yamato or Reiju inside. No one seemed to be paying him much attention.

    Then he saw him. A tall, lean young man with long blonde hair and a narrow face, regarding him with a look of mild curiosity as he sat on a box and leaned against the inn's wall. He wore a white coat that left his chest exposed, and purple trousers tucked into black boots; with what looked like a sword at his hip. The only particularly odd thing about him, compared to what Izuku had seen already, was his eyebrows. They had been shaved off, and replaced with tattoos; two sets of narrow black triangles reaching up his brow.

    "Can I help you?" he asked, trying not to sound too cautious.

    "I noticed you dispose of those troublesome pirates. Might I read your fortune?" the man asked. He opened one hand, revealing a set of what looked like playing cards.

    "My fortune?" Izuku asked, confused.

    "You seem a rather interesting fellow," replied the man mildly. "I'm just sating my curiosity."

    Izuku stared at him. His Danger Sense wasn't reacting, but he couldn't help but feel something. Was it unease? Or was he just curious himself?"

    "I'm En," he greeted the man. "Pleased to meet you." The blonde man gave a rather uneasy smile.

    "The pleasure is mine young man, I am Basil Hawkins."


    Bet you thought we'd see Law first but nope. Surprise Hawkins.

    Big credit to @Juubi-K for writing this one up. Big thanks to @WildJoker000 and @IKnowNothing for their edits too.

    But yeah, we make our first familiar stop in North Blue, we send a familiar face flying for being a creeper and now Izuku earns the attention of the resident Tarot reader. I wonder what his fortune could be reading as...

    Oh and Judge is pissed, and the Germa shook. Guess they're going to be sent out looking. Too bad they won't have their eyes on the skies. Wonder who's at Heavensward? And some unique things for those who can observe, both telling of the current setting our duo is in, and Izuku giving the scarf to Reiju.

    Also good riddance Caribou. You will not be missed you mayonoise huffing ghoul. Not to say he's dead, or he is. Or maybe he's not. He's now in Schrodinger's Box.

    Next one Juubi will tackle as well, as next week I'll be on vacation. Also IKN will be doing a lil writing in that too! Hope you all enjoyed, I'll see you in the next one.
     
  • Threadmarks
    • I need to get better at reading descriptions, I just see blonde with weird eyebrows and think Sanji.
    People like me are the reason Duval suffers like that.
     
    Hmm. I'm seeing a bit of pattern here with Judge and Reiju, continuing off from what we saw with Kaido and Yamato. They get rescued, which is a good thing, but their fathers rage and take it out on everyone else around them making their lives miserable. This has directly led to further suffering by the people of Wano and the death of Ace's crew and his imprisonment. I don't see the same level of repercussions on the canon coming from Judge, but I foresee Team Hero being forced to see some consequences from Judge's rampage in the near future, a story beat which will be repeated and hammered in more when they return to Wano.

    Also, without Reiju running into Luffy and the Sanji rescue crew before Whole Cake Island, unless events change just a little bit, Luffy runs a risk of dying to a poison he's not resistant to. But possibly the entirety of Whole Cake might be avoided if Reiju and Sanji get the chance to meet before then though, which would mean the crew getting no experience fighting a Warlord, Nami doesn't get Zeus, Puddin doesn't get her character development, and no Katakuri fight, all of which might have long term consequences. Some other major canon events disrupted by this point is no Ace execution arc, meaning no Impel Down (which arguably has some of the most consequences in a number of major players in the story not being set free) or Paramount War, and even Alabasta gets disrupted because Ace won't be around to run interference with the Navy or the Billion/Millions.

    That said...with the way Izuku and Yamato are acting with Brew Island...I can see the two of them, plus whatever crew they put together, to act like Whitebeard's...maybe chief enforcers isn't the right term but like traveling troubleshooters and troubledealers and being the ones to chase down Blackbeard when he betrays the crew, especially with their current relationship with Thatch. As a matter of fact, I'd be willing to place a bet on that exactly.

    Edit: One final thing, Izuku is a Superhero, Yamato is a Folk Hero, and now they have Reiju, a Tokusetsu Hero. I sense a theme.
     
    Last edited:
    Omake: the world’s greatest villain
  • Apocrypha
    • Sometimes what it means to be a Hero is to be someone else's ...
    Omake

    "Izuku my boy! You've done wonderfully! I don't think I could be more proud of you!" The shrouded face and muffled voice praised him.

    Izuku turned towards him. "Thank you Sir! I couldn't have done it without you!" He returned with enthusiasm. This was his mentor, his teacher, his inspiration, and the kind words meant the world to him. He owed everything to All ******.

    Some conscious part of his brain questioned that fuzzy thought. All who? It was All Might, right? He was the once who trusted him with his legacy, taught him, did everything he could to let Izuku stand on his own two feet and become his own Hero.

    But slowly the scene come more into focus as he walked through the burning wreckage of the Navy base, the massive fortifications Smashed, rampant fires tearing down streets, and the cries of people ringing through the air in familiar voices.

    "My legs! I can't feel them! Big Brother!"

    Iida?

    "I'm cold. Sssso co-cold."

    Shoto?

    "Izuku? Why?"

    Ochako?

    His friends where on the ground, each one wearing the uniforms of the World Government's Navy, colored red by their blood.

    Izuku stumbled back from the scene. Who? What? What was going on?

    There was a weight in his hand. He should look. He couldn't look. He needed to look. If he looked everything would change. He brought it up and looked.

    Bakugo's bruised and burned head rested on the palm of his hand. He recognized those types of burns that scarred the face and the remains of his jaw, that had shredded the neck of his friend, it was the kind from nitroglycerine explosions at close range.

    All ****** came closer, the familiar scrawny form of his teacher obscured by the smoke.

    "All Might! All Might what happened I can't..." Izuku fell to his knees, bile burning in the back of his throat. "Who did this?!" He screamed.

    "Oh Izuku," the warm and friendly voice shifted into something cold and with each step closer the smoke cleared. "You did!" All for One mutilated face smiled at him, his hands clapping in applause.

    "NO! Noooooo!"

    "Izuku, why are you so upset? Isn't this what you wanted? Look around you. The Navy's been destroyed, and Maryjoise is burning to the ground. And all of the Celestial Dragons are dead by your hand."

    A pyramid of severed heads nearby, the size of a building, suddenly collapses around the two of them washing him away, their eyes blinking and mouths screaming in pain, men and women and children. A small girl's head with a single horn catches his eye, then an old man's with gray hair, then his mother's.

    "No! This isn't what I wanted! Stop this!"

    "But Izuku, what did you think you meant when you said you wanted to bring real justice to this world? Do you really think that you could fight against the World Government and the Navy and still be called a Hero? That's not what a Hero does."

    He tries to say something, anything, but the words never come.

    "No, Izuku, how can you be a Hero when you team up with pirates and cutthroats, murderers and rapists?"

    "They're different." He manages to squeak out.

    "Are they?"

    And
    Izuku
    sees.

    Sees Whitebeard sitting on a throne of bodies drinking a golden chalice of human blood while his commanders pillage the houses and bodies of loot, all of them laughing and singing. Thatch cooking a meal over a pile of burning bodies and Marco throwing blue fire at screaming civilians.

    He turns and runs, straight into Yamato. "Wow Izuku! I can't thank you enough for getting me out of Wano. Who knew there were so many things that Pirates can do!"

    She gives a single melodious laugh before biting down on the skull of the captive human she held by the throat with a single hand.

    "If it wasn't for you, this would never have happened! So thanks!"

    All for One patted him on the back. "I couldn't be more proud. All this death and destruction, maybe I would have entrusted my Quirk and empire to you, if I had only known what you could do."

    "You really are this World's Greatest Villain."

    Izuku's shoots awake already halfway out of his bed and almost makes it before the tears and the vomit come.



    Sorry for the double post, but I decided to write while the inspiration was hot.
     
    Last edited:
  • Apocrypha
    • Reader mode
    You must login or register to reply here.
    Back
    Top