Portgas D. Ace was nothing if not oblivious. However, now, strolling through the town know as 'Touda' even he knew something was off. Everyone was so…cheery. And not in the good way. And even though he had blatantly made his arrival known (falling asleep on accident while tying his ship to the dock) everyone still gave him a handful of smiles and bucket of greetings. Mildly freaked out Ace's curiosity outweighed the unsettled feeling in his stomach.
"Don't drop that! Please be careful!"
"The Banquets in two hours' hurry mama!"
"We need more meat!"
Oh, and there was also food. Yup food also outweighed the negatives. Ace drooled at the thought of food. His mind so preoccupied he ran into someone.
"Oof!" Suddenly aware of his surroundings he looked around. Did someone just say-?
"Oh, I'm so sorry! I didn't mean to run into you! Gomenasai!" He looked down, a young woman with brown ringlets wearing what he assumed were this 'banquet's' appropriate form of clothing. A long skirt with a slit down both sides to show more leg and a what could only be describes as a scarf covering her breasts hung from her neck.
"Ano, are you alright?" she asked tilting her head up after gathering all the fallen fruits, her headpiece jingles with the movement. Finally snapping out of it Ace answers with a smile of his own,
"Gomenasai it was my fault I shouldn't have been daydreaming. Let me help you with that basket it's the least I can do for you." Gladly accepting his offer of help she walks beside him as they head toward the center of town.
"Thank you! It's hard enough getting all this food to one place so I appreciate the help." She smiles brightly as they continue on their way. He took this opportunity to ask her about the banquet.
"So, what is the purpose of this banquet? From what I understand it's annually and holds a lot of meaning to your people."
She nods in agreement and holds her pointer finger up as though lecturing to a child,
"Yes, exactly. We hold the Kemono no Enkai annually and it's in celebration of the end of the Dark Ages." Dark Ages? Tilting his head in confusion she carries on with her history lesson.
"When this Island was founded the people had many years of good fortune and no hardships, however a hundred years after its founding a great and mighty beast took to making its nest here. It was from then on the beast terrorize the people by eating their livestock, blowing harsh winds so nothing could grow and stealing their children and women," Tears formed in the corner of her eyes but as she opened them-only happiness could be seen as she recited the next part,
"But then one day a powerful warrior came to the island and claimed the beast's head as his. No one had seen anything like him! The battle between beast and warrior raged on for five days, hence why the Kemono no Enkai lasts for five days, and in the end the beast lay dead but not before uttering a final curse saying the treasure still dwelled in the jungle of Touda." Ace had stopped walking, momentarily letting the girl go on ahead.
'If all this is true then there has to be a great treasure waiting to be taken!' he caught up to the girl and set the produce down next to a giant table the length of a building. Once again apologizing he leaves her in search of more information regarding the whereabouts of this so called 'treasure of the beast'.
/
As she trudged through the murky waters of the jungle swamp all creatures made way for her, terrified if they didn't it would lead to their demise. Her gleaming white feathers now filthy from the desolated swamp and yet she couldn't find it in herself to care. She had gone days without food and survived only on rain water. But now, she feared her end was coming. Groaning in pain she noticed that her one of her wings bled. A minor injury compared to her other wing. She didn't need to look to know a bone was protruding from it.
Whimpering she continued towards the nest. But it was too far away, she knew she wouldn't make it. And so, with the last of her energy she made her way to the edge of the swamp and dropped right where the water met the mud and grass.
'Dying surrounded by the filth you are,' She could hear a voice, that sounded like her late mother, say.
'You bring nothing to us but grief and misfortune!' Once again except this time it was her father who badgered her on.
'Leave us and come back when Gol D. Rodger returns from his grave."
On and on the voices shouted and baited her to die. And yet she refused, why? Why didn't she want to give in to the voice's? No one was waiting for her. It wasn't like anyone would miss her if she left this world.
No. She would carry on the will of the beast as did her predecessor. Forcing her legs to lift her body she held her head high as she slowly made her way towards the nest. Unaware of a pair of unbelieving eyes seeing her off.
/
Notes: Disclaimer I do not own the anime/manga One Piece nor do I own Kemono no souja Erin. This is NOT a crossover I merely use phrase from Kemono no souja Erin (If you haven't seen it I recommend it) and the idea of a beast lord being a devil fruit interests me greatly. This is my first story I've ever written and posted online so please be kind and respectful in the comments. If there are any more questions, please feel free to ask!