A/N: I don't even know what I'm doing. Honestly, I don't know nearly enough about One Piece, so I have no idea where this is going to go. It might not go anywhere at all. Feel free to give ideas? For instance, this is the first chapter, but not necessarily the earliest point of the story I'm going to explore. Every chapter will probably be marked with a date of "This Many Years Before Canon" and we might go far enough back to have some fun with characters like Belle-mere...
Premise: Reborn as a Celestial Dragon in One Piece. As usual, I have no self-control. Enjoy, maybe?
-x-X-x-
Five Years Before Canon
Shalulia can't help but smile as she meanders her way through the biggest party that the Holy Land Mariejois has ever seen. The Celestial Dragon pauses and reaches out to take a delicious treat from one of the trays being carried about by sharply dressed slaves. She consumes the treat and lets out a happy sigh, content with the taste. There had been murmurings among the World Nobles for a while now, that one of their own was acting… strangely.
But if anything were to convince her peers that Saint Rolf was as much one of them as anyone else, Shalulia was sure that this was it. The beautiful woman's smile only widens as she catches sight of the noble in question through the crowd. They'd grown up together, the two of them, and they were the next generation of this world's gods. Was it any wonder that she be interested in him? Was it any wonder that she would be perhaps, a bit enamored with him?
Some called him the most handsome noble in Mariejois, though of course, that wasn't exactly a high bar to pass. Moving through the crowd, Shalulia pushes aside slaves in her way quite roughly, barely paying them any mind as she waves a hand in the air.
"Rolf! Rolf, over here!"
The male Celestial Dragon turns and his lips curl into a smile as his eyes fall upon her. He waits patiently for her to approach, and despite herself, Shalulia feels ever so slightly nervous as she finally finds herself in front of him. Many of their peers called Rolf the most mysterious of the World Nobles, mostly because, while he seemed somewhat like them, he did things differently more often than not.
Not to mention, he had the best slave collection in Mariejois. It even rivaled her father's pirate captain collection if Shalulia was being honest with herself, which she rarely was. Rolf seemed to have a keen eye for the best slaves, and he constantly sent out dispatches to bring him back new specimens. It almost wasn't fair, just how good he was at getting what he wanted.
"Hello Rolf… lovely party."
She was shy. It was silly, but it was the truth. Around anyone else, even her own family, Shalulia would have been her normal proud, obstinate, boastful self. Around anyone not a World Noble, she would have been even worse. But with Rolf… well, she'd given her first kiss to the other Celestial Dragon. He meant a lot to her.
Smirking slightly, Rolf looks about and nods, before handing her the second wine glass he'd been holding in his hand. Shalulia blushes deeply as she reaches out and takes it, eyes widening with delight.
"For me?"
He'd been holding two glasses of wine when she approached, and as he sips from one, Rolf nods. She quickly and greedily drinks from the cup, cherishing and savoring the gift that he's given her. Though, there is a small after-taste to it that she can't quite place.
"I'm glad you're enjoying the party Shalulia. I thought it was important to throw it, given how things are going to change soon for all of us."
That brings the female noble up short. Shalulia furrows her brow slightly, a confused smile on her done-up face as she looks at her childhood friend, interest piqued.
"Oh? Change? Things don't change very often around here Rolf. What could you possibly mean?"
Rolf chuckles darkly, and there's something surprisingly dangerous in her eyes. Not that Shalulia is worried about it. Even if she's nervous around the other World Noble, she's quite confident in her own invincibility. After all, she's one of this world's gods. As Rolf hooks one of her arms and begins to lead her through the part, Shalulia allows herself to be led, happily even, sipping from the wine glass he'd given her all the while.
"Well, you're right in that the Holy Land hasn't changed much in quite a long time. The families of World Nobles, those eighteen that remain anyways, they do as they please, make children, grow old and die, and leave their offspring to do it all over again. I suppose we're the latest examples of that."
Shalulia nods. Yes, while they were invincible, they were unfortunately NOT immortal. Old age took them all, eventually. As it had with Rolf's family. He was the sole remaining member of his particular bloodline, and he had yet to make any children. Perhaps… Shalulia licks her lips as she smiles at him. The woman turns slightly, to show off her body.
"Speaking of offspring… you will need a wife soon, Rolf."
He looks at her with a mildly amused expression on his face, even as they reach the outskirts of the massive party. Shalulia momentarily wonders if every single World Noble in the Holy Land is in attendance. It certainly seems like they are, as everyone feasts and drinks and makes merry.
"Is that a proposition, Shalulia?"
Pressing her lips together, her supreme, innate confidence as a World Noble clashes with her crush on her longtime friend. Her pride eventually wins out of course, and she sticks out her chin.
"So what if it is?"
Rolf grins sadistically, but as before, this only serves to turn Shalulia on. She can't fathom his sadism being directed towards her, and in fact his dark side only arouses her, as she imagines all the horrible things they could do to their slaves together. Especially his slaves, his beautiful, gorgeous slaves…
"Well, I'm not sure I can take you as a wife, old friend. After all, you will soon be taking a bit of a tumble from grace, and I don't see you recovering from it any time soon."
Her fantasies of blood and the pain and exquisite suffering of others causes Shalulia to take a while to process his words. When she finally does, she's merely more confused than before. Looking at Rolf, she furrows her brow yet again, staring at him from behind her orange-tinted shades.
"Tumble from grace… I truly don't understand you sometimes Rolf…"
Even as she parrots his words back to him in an inquisitive tone, the first sounds of alarm fill the air. Rolf's evil grin grows wider, but Shalulia is already looking away from him. At first, the Celestial Dragon does not comprehend what she's seeing. It doesn't really make sense, the view before her. All across the massive promenade and plaza, all across the largest party the Holy Land has seen in years, people are choking, gasping for air, falling over and not getting back up.
And when she says people, she means PEOPLE, other World Nobles like herself, the ones who matter. In fact, the slaves serving food and the guards guarding the event are all standing there with shocked expressions on their faces, even as the descendants of the founding families keel over dead all around them. Well, some of the slaves and the guards are confused. Not Rolf's. Rolf's slaves and Rolf's guards are in fact moving with eerie precision through those of other now dead World Nobles, dealing with any miscreants and malcontents, handling any issues that arise.
Shalulia's mouth opens and closes in abject confusion, until she finally turns back to her childhood friend.
"Rolf, what's happening? We have to… we should do something. Our friends, our fellow nobles, they seem to be experiencing difficulties breathing."
The male noble looks at her with a lifted brow.
"Indeed, they are. What would you have me do Shalulia, besides what I've already done?"
His hands spread out, as if to claim credit for what's happening all around them. Shalulia doesn't understand. She quite literally can't comprehend what he's implying. Though it pains her to say so, eventually she admits it to her childhood friend, probably the only one she'd ever say the words to.
"I don't… I don't understand."
Grinning as wickedly as ever before, Rolf shrugs his shoulders.
"I suppose you don't. I'll spell it out for you then. I killed them Shalulia. I killed them all. Every single World Noble besides you and I is now dead. I poisoned the food, the drink. The only reason you aren't dead as well is because of the antidote in the wine I offered you. If you hadn't taken the glass, you'd be keeled over, asphyxiated, just like the rest. Just like your idiot father and brother."
Shalulia gapes. He's… he's speaking nonsense.
"That doesn't… that can't be. World Nobles can't just… can't just be killed, especially not by one of our own kind. You wouldn't Rolf. You wouldn't kill my father and brother, all of our peers. It's impossible."
Her childhood friend stares at her for a long moment, curiosity shining in his eyes as he smiles in something approaching pity, instead of sadism.
"You truly believe that, don't you? You truly can't comprehend what I've done. That is so very… very sad. You'll learn though, soon enough. Take her."
A pair of arms latch onto her on either side and Shalulia's eyes widen in outrage as two guards wearing Rolf's colors grab hold of her. Plebians, COMMONERS are TOUCHING HER!
"Unhand me this instant! What are you imbeciles doing, do you know who I am?!"
Even now, Shalulia cannot comprehend her position. Even now, the female World Noble doesn't understand what's happening. A sudden smack to her forehead from Rolf, and she slumps forward unconscious, her shrill voice thankfully silenced. Rolf lets out a happy sigh and smiles pleasantly as he looks around the massive, much quieter party, at all the death he's just caused. The World Government will be here soon.
But that's okay, because the World Government answers to the Celestial Dragons, to the World Nobles that helped form it. Of which, he is the only one left alive. And because a World Noble is above reproach, the marines will not arrest him for killing every last one of his peers. In the end… the World Government answers to HIM now.
A deep, dark chuckle fills the air, exiting Rolf's throat as his thoroughly loyal guards and servants keep the party under wraps. Those slaves that once belonged to now dead world nobles would not see freedom this day. No, they now belonged to him, as did everything else. As did the WORLD itself. Rolf's chuckle eventually peters off into a giggle, even as the first of the officials from the World Government makes it into the party, only to go slack-jawed at the sight before him.
Seeing them, Rolf begins to make his way towards the entrance of the venue. It's time to lay down the law. HIS law.
-x-X-x-
Shalulia wakes up slowly, confused and weak. She brings a hand to her aching head, but when she tries to cradle her skull, a thick, slave collar stops her from craning her neck. Both hands immediately go to said collar, and the female World Noble's eyes go wide as she realizes she's wearing the explosive accessory meant for scum and dirty around her neck.
This… this isn't right! She's a Celestial Dragon, a GOD. As Shalulia panics, she realizes more indignities and injustices. First, she's also been stripped of her fine clothing, and put in nothing more than an itchy burlap sack one piece, with arm holes and a neck hole and nothing else. Her otherwise naked form is constantly beset by a scratching sensation from the burlap each time she tries to move.
On top of that, her hair has been cut, her stylish upwards curl removed completely and her head not quite bald, but definitely shaved, much like what might be done to a newly acquired slave. And then there's her accommodations. She does not wake up in her bed as she should, but on a small wood bench in a tiny dirty cell. There is a wood door blocking her way, locked and keeping her inside the small room.
It's unconscionable, the way she's being treated. Snarling, Shalulia moves to the small window in the wood door and begins to scream her righteous fury to anyone in earshot.
"LET ME OUT! LET ME OUT RIGHT THIS INSTANT! TAKE THIS DAMN COLLAR OFF ME AND GIVE ME BACK MY CLOTHES! I DEMAND WHOEVER CUT MY HAIR TO BE BROUGHT BEFORE ME SO I MAY EXECUTE THEM PERS-!"
Shalulia stops as she realizes her pistol, the choice weapon of most every World Noble, has also been removed from her. A growl and she amends her statement.
"BRING ME MY PISTOL TOO, SO I CAN EXECUTE THEM PERSONALLY!"
… There's no response.
"HEY! I AM TALKING! I DEMAND TO BE RELEASED IMMEDIATELY! I AM A WORLD NOBLE YOU IMBECILES! I AM A GOD AMONG MORTALS! I AM A CELESTIAL DRAGON! FREE ME, FREE ME NOW!"
Still no answer, not even the sound of movement. Is there anyone in earshot? There has to be, the thought that there might not be a slave to hear her words and come running to attend to her doesn't even pass through Shalulia's mind. There's ALWAYS a slave ready to attend to her, or else they risk severe punishment. That has been the way of things all of her life.
As such, Shalulia continues to scream through the small barred window before her, shouting her rage to the high heavens for quite some time. It's only when her voice begins to die and she starts to grow weak that she's forced to stop by her own body's physical needs. Panting, Shalulia slumps to the ground, before crawling over and up back onto the wood bench. The floor of the tiny room is filthy, and the bench isn't much better but at least it's not the floor.
She lays there, catching her breath and resting her self-ruined throat as she stares at the dirt ceiling over her head.
An hour later, a key turns in the door of her cell and Shalulia's eyes go wide as she immediately stands up.
"Finally, I-… Rolf?!"
The Celestial Dragon steps into the tiny cell with a smile on his face as he nods his head in greetings.
"The proper form of address should be 'Master', but in deference to your circumstances, I will let that pass… for now."
Blinking dumbly, Shalulia can't help but laugh, her tone disbelieving as if she thinks Rolf is messing with her.
"That… is this all just a practical joke Rolf? You're messing with me, aren't you! Well, it's a little funny, but it's over now! So you can take off this collar and give me back my clothes. And if it was one of your slaves who cut my hair, I'll only mostly kill them, I promise. I know how attached you get."
Her childhood friend just looks at her for a long moment before pressing his lips together.
"Shalulia… I'm growing tired of your obstinance. The stupidity of you and the rest of the World Nobles was helpful, in a way, but ultimately it's no longer necessary. So let's see if we can't work this out, right here and right now. Tell me, what makes you a World Noble?"
Shalulia frowns at that.
"My blood of course, just as yours does. We are Celestial Dragons by divine right. We are the creators of this world, and thus it's gods. Why are you shaking your head?!"
And indeed, Rolf is shaking his head. He stops after a moment and smiles grimly.
"Consider the nineteenth family for a brief moment Shalulia. Consider Donquixote Homing."
Shalulia's lips curl into a sneer at that.
"That traitor… what a good for nothing piece of filth. Was he even really a World Noble, in the end?"
Rolf nods his head.
"He WAS… but consider, when did he STOP being one?"
She furrows her brow in confusion and concentration, thinking hard about it for a long moment.
"He… he never was, obviously. Or he wouldn't have left."
Rolf groans and runs a hand down his face. Before he asks another question, he pulls out something that Shalulia recognizes immediately.
"You… what are you doing with my identification chip Rolf?"
He smiles at her as he holds it between two fingers.
"When Homing gave up his chip to the government official that escorted his family out of the Holy Land, that's when he stopped being a World Noble. Without this chip, we're nothing. It is the proof of our status after all, isn't it? If you didn't have this chip, and you tried to order around the World Government looking like you are now, why, they'd laugh in your face, don't you think?"
Shalulia's nostrils flare in anger.
"Of course they wouldn't, it's not like a dumb chip is all that makes me a World Noble! Now, give it he… re."
The woman's eyes widen and her jaw drops, the last word trailing out from between her lips as Rolf crushes her identification chip in his hand, dropping the small, useless fragments left behind to the floor of her cell.
"There. Now you're not a World Noble anymore. Nice to have such clarity, isn't it?"
Shalulia's mouth opens and closes like a goldfish as she stares at the remnants of her identification chip, of the proof of her status. And in that moment, clarity does indeed pierce through the ever-present veil of pride and superiority that she has always had. She realizes just what she looks like. She realizes that without her identification chip, without her noble clothing, she can't prove she's a World Noble.
Even more, with an explosive collar around her neck, her head shaved, and a burlap cloth sack covering her body, she can't even truly prove she isn't a slave.
"R-Rolf… Rolf, what have you done?"
He'd really done it, hadn't he? It'd taken him outright destroying her chip in front of her face, but suddenly, Shalulia realized that her childhood friend had POISONED her family and every other World Noble in the Holy Land. It was just him and her left now… but no, it was just him if she wasn't even a World Noble anymore, wasn't it?
Shalulia's mind fractures as Rolf chuckles darkly, and suddenly she IS afraid of his sadistic grin.
"As I said before, the proper form of address is Master. I'll leave you to think on that my dear, and when I come back, perhaps we can start again."
And then he's gone and the door's locked as she slams against it, and Shalulia is screaming incoherently, her fingernails clawing against the wood helplessly.
"ROOOOOOLF! ROOOOOOLF COME BAAAAACK! ROOOOOOOLF!"
-x-X-x-
When the door opens again days later, a much-changed woman slowly falls from her wood bench onto the floor. The slave crawls to her Master, prostrating herself at his feet and kissing at his toes, until he pulls away from her.
"You're filthy. Tell me, are you ready to accept your rightful place?"
Shuddering, what had once been Shalulia nods her head, never once looking up into Rolf's eyes.
"Yes… Master."
Her mind broken by the revelations forced upon her and her new life, the former Celestial Dragon gives in entirely. When a hand grabs hold of her short hair and drags her face up, only for a cock to slap against her cheek, the woman gasps. It's in that moment that her Master stuffs his dick in her mouth. She doesn't try to bite it though, nor does she try to pull away. Instead, the slave dutifully sucks at his cock, submitting entirely as he guides her head back and forth along his shaft.
Her eyes are vacant, glazed over, and there's nothing of the proud female World Noble that she once was. It's all gone. It's all over. She is nothing without her chip, nothing without proof of her status. The collar around her neck is a heavy reminder that her life now belongs to the man who's dick she is currently sucking. The scratching of the burlap against her breasts and her slit is a painful reminder that her comfort comes only at HIS pleasure.
She must make him happy, and so she does her best to please him with her inexperienced mouth and tongue. There's never been a cock between her lips before, never been a phallus in her mouth, or a dick pushing down her throat. She gags and she chokes, but in the end she takes it. Because that's what a slave does.
No longer a Saint, no longer a Celestial Dragon, no longer a World Noble… Shalulia is nothing more than a slave, while her father and brother rot in a single mass grave along with every other dead World Noble, that Rolf had had made for the massacre he'd committed. Gagging on her Master's dick, tears fall involuntarily from Shalulia's eyes as slobber coats her chin and drips down onto her burlap sack.
This is her life now. Now and forever.