Disclaimer: I don't own One Piece. I also don't own any Evans Blue lyrics. Or any lyrics I use in this story. There will be a lot of lyrics. Yay for song fics! But I do own all of my OC's. Any dragons described belong to Drag Cave. I'm borrowing them because they are awesome! XD
Chapter 1: Advent Wyvern Sisters
"We will divide, we will remind you;
We will survive, we live inside you.
We fade away.
We blame.
We hate.
We criticize you!
We captivate the furious,
Deception our demise!"
Crawl Inside by Evans Blue
"Please! For the love of All Blue do not do this!"
"If you reveal yourselves…you'll be killed!"
"Big sis don't go!"
"This…this is suicidal! It will never work."
"We won't let you go, not when so many have already been lost!"
"Do you have a deathwi–"
"ENOUGH!"
The distressed cacophony of voices abruptly quieted, numerous bodies shifting at the authoritative command. Silence hung heavy, expectant, over a mass of a hundred or more people. They exchanged panicked glances between them before turning their gazes toward the one who'd spoken.
The silence continued, hope waging war with desperation in the breast of all those present. It was a collective feeling among them as they watched the form of an old wizened woman waddle to the center of their gathering. Her pale eyes never once left the two cloaked females, the glint in them tempered with ancient knowledge and… reluctant understanding.
"You know the risks of what you're doing?"
Twin nods.
"This path that you've chosen to tread will not be easy. Are you prepared for it?"
The two shadows nodded.
Pale eyes stared hard into the shadow of both hoods for a long time before slanting to the side, tired. Resigned. She would not be able to stop them. Not this time. Warm green eyes returned to the two figures standing before her, a quiet pain set deep within her irises. An inaudible sigh shook her frame and her hands tightened around the staff in front of her.
Voice low so only they would hear, "Are you prepared for the consequences?"
A pause.
The two shrouded Gifted shuddered at the quiet words, the quiet warning. Heads tilted slightly as if weighed down by an invisible force. For a moment, an instance the Old One began to hope, to pray, that sense had returned to the two who were hurtling headlong into something even she could not comprehend. But such a hopeful feeling died when the two stiffened and with hidden looks to the other squared slender shoulders and nodded.
Pale eyes slowly closed and the Old One could swear she heard the sound of a gavel impacting on wood; the sound of finality.
Their fates had been sealed.
Voice raising so all could hear, "Very well. I give you my blessing; may you ride the winds swift and safely."
With this exclamation shocked uproars flooded the congregation. Shouts of denial, grief, and fear speared the air, all of which were pointed at the three quiet individuals. They understood the gravity of the decision, attempting to explain it to those who would not listen was futile. So they stood, silent, allowing friends, family, and companions to exhaust and express their trepidation. So that when the time came to leave they would be able to take the suffering, the fear away.
Away with them.
So it could not touch their precious people.
The Old One looked up into the hoods of the two cloaked women. Meeting the luminescent eyes of both, eyes so very different yet very much the same as all those present. Only brighter, more draconic. They glowed as if back-lit by the sun.
She leaned upon her staff, eyes still trained on the two females. Taking them in, drinking in their appearances like all those surrounding them. They too knew what was coming and were loathe to let it runaway from them. Like the elder among them they took in the two standing before them. Imprinting, searing, burning the sight of them into their brains; in memory where they would not be forgotten.
Never forgotten.
Quiet sobbing and soft whimpers permeated the gathering. Minds once filled with the stain of denial were slowly moving on to acceptance. For they had no choice. Ever so slowly heads grasped the underlining meaning behind such a dangerous conquest. With the emergence of realization came absolution and the crowd once full of fearful chattering calmed and stilled.
Cheeks wet with tears dried, fists unclenched, and shoulders relaxed as one by one the Gifted settled into resignation. Though they were not happy with the event about to transpire they was aware, at least in part, of the necessity of the decision.
A voice, clear and somewhat high in pitch, echoed around the vast clearing.
"Don't worry about a thing! We'll be back before you guys know it, and you know what? I'll even bring back some souvenirs! One for each of you!"
The mass of people could not see it but a wide smile brightened the face underneath one of the hoods.
The loud declaration had a ripple effect; it started out small, a slight giggle from a little girl. A chuckle from a man. But it soon snowballed into full-throated laughter, the kind that tipped burdens off hearts and comforted the soul. The laughter lasted awhile and even the Old One gave in, letting loose a few husky chortles.
Then it quieted again, yet not with fear or desperation did the Gifted become silent but with benign expressions. They stared with soft gazes at the two who would sacrifice the very thing they cherished, all for the good of the whole. Them. The Gifted.
They would sacrifice their own safety, their own identity to keep them safe.
Such deep devotion only endeared them more to their hearts.
Strengthened that bond made so long ago.
But the time had come for a final farewell and…a departure. It was pure instinct that had the mass of people moving back, nostrils flaring, slit eyes widening in collective delight. Everyone watched, spellbound, as two bodies were suffused by an ethereal light. It seemed to pour out from their pores and the air around them rippled like a mirage.
Then it happened.
The glowing frames began to grow, to elongate. Morph into something else.
A reptilian-like body. Powerful.
Smooth scales. Beautiful.
Claws, spines, and horns. Deadly.
Fangs and a serpentine tail. Intimidating.
Wings. Freedom.
When the change was completed the congregation bellowed and crowed in triumph. They were always happy to witness one of their own transform, to take the sacred form of their saviors. The Four Great Sea Spirits.
The answering roars that followed rocked the very island beneath their feet, however, no gasps or screams of fear sounded at this monstrous display of power. Instead excitement and joy beamed from every face and it only escalated when the two massive creatures extended their wings, readying them for flight.
A surge.
An updraft.
A wing-beat.
And then they were airborne. Rocketing into the sky vertically so rapidly the g-force would've knocked out any human. Coming out of the steep rise both dragons executed a smooth Chandelle, wings fully extended for maximum leverage.
Those below continued to watch, silent, eyes trained on the mere dots that were their comrades-in-wings. With faces turned against the wind they heard the whisper.
It caressed their ears with a final assurance. A final goodbye.
'Forget terror, forget pain; none shall touch the fragile balance of your existence. Though we've all kept the secret of our birth, of our Saviors, of our culture; I am afraid we cannot stay idle any longer. Better to lose the anonymity of a few than to compromise the whole. We refuse to let it happen.'
'Let them think only two remain, let us become the protectors, the martyr's. Let the suspicion die with us. This cruel legacy steeped in blood and lies. Let it end and descend into Verdaron with us as we drag their kingdom of sin down.'
Present day, Sabaody Archipelago.
"Please release me! Someone! Anyone!"
Gasps and exclamations of horror rent the air; citizens clad in a variety of attire backed away from the huge man. He flailed and screamed in the middle of the street, eyes wide and crazed with desperation. He was so far gone in hysteria that he lashed out, his large fist snatching a nearby girl in some semblance of urgency. self-preservation, perhaps.
The terrified babbling of the surrounding populous grew louder at this show of aggression. Disgusted murmurs of "escaped slave" and "where is its owner?" as well as fear for the 'captive' were expressed by everyone watching. The girl held by the pirate captain struggled and cried against the grip around her neck to no avail.
"Please let me go!" But the cry went unheard by the frantic male. The citizens made no move to rescue the girl caught between the slaves giant fingers, they knew not to get involved. Especially if it involved a pirate captain.
They knew of only one person who bought pirate captains.
…The Tenryūbito…
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They had been moving at a reasonable pace towards Grove 31, yet were still quite a ways from the shopping district.
"Oi! I hear something!" howled one Strawhat Luffy from the seat of his bubble bike. His trademark grin stretching his face as it always was.
The remaining members of the Strawhat crew along with Hachi, Camie, and Pappug looked over to the ecstatic captain. The boy had been literally bouncing in his seat with leftover adrenaline from their race beneath the mangroves, hooting and hollering at anything that caught his attention. This exuberance proved contagious leading to many smiles, giggles, and even a "YOHOHOHOOO!"
Chopper squeaked out another snicker before turning to Hachi, furry face curious, "So why are we headed for Grove 31?"
The octopus fishman slanted a look over his shoulder at the reindeer doctor, "I've been there before, it's a good place to shop for supplies."
Chopper accepted the answer with a smile, shifting a little on the giant bubble for a more comfortable position. He was delighted by the cool but gelatinous surface of the transparent globule. It was a nice balm against his fur when a hot wind blew past.
"Eh, I hear something! Oooh! Sounds like a party! LET'S G-"
Pappug leaped from his seat on Camie's shoulder to land a resounding whap on the rubber boys head. "There's no sound, idiot! None of us hear anything!"
Cue a moment of silence. Then the-
"…- et me go!"
Screaming.
That did not sound like a party.
Eyes widening the ragtag group of pirates halted all forward motion, caught off guard. They could suddenly hear what Luffy had complained about for the last ten minutes. It wasn't fun and fanfare. It wasn't loud cheering either. It was the type of caterwauling that came from someone caught in the grip of fear and desperation.
"I…I …WANT TO GO HOME!"
The sobbing shriek jolted the little band back to their senses and they leaped into action immediately. Legs started to pump bike pegs and faces hardened, eyes steely with determination.
Having listened to his instincts Luffy had already moved on ahead, speeding straight for the outcropping of buildings not but twenty or so meters away. His youthful face taut with concern and anticipation. He had a bad feeling in his gut. And usually his stomach was happy. Now it felt like it was flopping over and over making him slightly uncomfortable.
Luffy did not like the sensation.
Luffy disliked it even more when someone was in trouble. When they were crying.
He'd just have to make it better then.
Hachi had to skid to a stop or else risk running Luffy over who had abruptly stopped in the middle of the marketplace. The disturbance had only grown steadily louder as they approached. And if it was even possible more frenzied. Hachi and company leaned forward to see what had the agitated captain so engrossed. Further up the street loitered a mob of people garbed in the robes of Sabaody Archipelago; citizens. They were wailing and pointing at something further up the road.
The scent of fear and disgust was so strong it was nearly palpable.
Chopper and Camie gasped when a large man decked out in a brown overcoat and tan pants came into view. He looked insane, standing there with his wits nowhere in sight. The man moved erratically, head whipping side to side, mouth opening to let loose a loud bellow of despair. In one hand he held a blonde woman by the neck. But that wasn't what was shocking; it was the strange metal ring attached to the neck of the hysterical individual.
Camie's eyes widened in recognition at the sight before she hid her face in her hands. She didn't want to watch.
"An Axe! A saw! I'm begging you! Just get this neck ring off me!"
None of the citizens moved from their places. The stillness, or maybe the lack of assistance, seemed to push the struggling man over the edge. With a strangled shout he threw down his captive, tears of frustration pricking the corners of his eyes.
Luffy stared, black eyes focused, tinged with a hint of something mature not otherwise seen when he was smiling. At another shouted cry for help he made to walk forward–
"Don't get involved."
The warning came from a subdued Hachi who continued, "He's probably a pirate who got caught by slavers and was sold."
"Sold you say?" asked "Dead Bones" Brook, empty eye sockets somehow conveying anxious surprise. The three Strawhat pirates watched the commotion, all of one mind.
Slaves? Slavery? No freedom.
That one thought had them all consciously recoiling. They couldn't even imagine what the pirate in front of them had gone through. Just thinking about it was haunting.
Beside Hachi Luffy swallowed, eyes intent, stomach strangely hollow. He wanted to help, needed to help the poor man. Slave. His jaw clenched at that, a temper rousing from inside him like a slumbering giant. He couldn't just stand by and let that man hurt like that. Hachi's voice slapped him back to the present.
"…wner most likely took him out for a walk and he made a run for it."
The Fishman stopped talking after that, eyes shut tightly, as if in pain. The voice that came from him was low and intense, rough with grief.
"Even though there is absolutely no hope for escape!"
This statement brought forth shock and identical expressions of confused distress. Hachi's eyes lowered to the ground shoulders slumped; he could not meet the gaze of any of his friends. The reality of the island they had derived such happiness from was ugly and terrible and they were now facing it. There were no words of consolation for what they were witnessing.
The background noise of screaming became louder, more acute, more terrified. It drew the Strawhats from their reluctant realizations and they looked up. All of the people crowded around the pirate were suddenly running away. Each one holding the same expression - pale, wide-eyed, and sweaty with fear.
Then they heard it.
Rk-ting.
Rk-ting.
Rk-ting.
"W-what's that sound?" Chopper dared to question, little furry body trembling. That foreboding ticking sound echoed and laughed in his sensitive ears; his instincts urged him to run. Run from danger.
No one answered him.
The enslaved pirate grew more crazed when he heard the noise, his fingers biting and ripping at the collar wrapped around his neck. Eyes bulging in their sockets, mouth roaring in terrorized dismay. "Damn! Damn it all to hell! This damned ring! Get it off! Someone! PLEASE!"
Rk-ting.
Rk-ting.
Rk-ting.
Luffy's body froze at the ominous sound, face slack with shell-shock. He couldn't move. He had to move but his body wouldn't listen. It was rooted to the spot. He reached an arm out, for what he didn't know, to help possibly, to save…—
A sudden blast of wind had the band of pirates throwing up their arms to shield themselves. A strange rustling like the flapping wings of a bird accompanied the torrent of air from behind them.
A shadow passed over, shade in place of sunlight for a split second. Grimacing from under the protection of his forearms Luffy squeezed open an eye and stiffened.
Green. Green fabric.
Teal. Bright glowing teal.
Like emerald wraiths they tore down the street, two bodies enfolded within the depths of rich forest cloaks. They moved in complete synchronization with each other, stride for stride until they came abreast with their target.
The slave. The pirate.
It happened like quicksilver. To the common folk it appeared as a blur of motion, too fast for their untrained eyes. But Luffy and his friends saw the two strangers lunge out of their sprint at the shrieking man. Shocked eyes watching, spellbound, as the two strangers used each other as springboards to rocket themselves into opposite directions.
The one on the right snapped out an arm, slender fingers grabbing hold of the metal collar. The stranger used that hold to then swing itself around so its torso was parallel with the enslaved pirate.
Everyone watched raptly as the unknown person seemed to pull back its arm, the cloak tenting at the elbow for a moment before shooting forward. Gasps of disbelief exploded from their throats when with the barest touch of two fingers (a sharp jab) the ticking time bomb on the slave collar deactivated.
The ringing stopped.
"Hold still." It was a whispered directive. A calm command from behind the pirates head; the man quieting, expression slack-jawed and sallow. Mere seconds later an odd somewhat unsettling sound of sizzling met everyone's ears. Then…
Clang!
The slave collar fell, half melted, to the ground.
Melted?
Numerous wide eyes rose to land on the second cloaked figure still perched on the back of the pirate. Now they were slack-jawed.
"T-the slave! It's free!"
The citizens of Sabaody Archipelago reeled back in horror, those who had stopped to watch making a hasty retreat, others too caught up in the show to act on their fright. Back down the street Luffy and company stared, whether in awe or something else was to be decided. The rubber captain's arm, though, was still outstretched. Still reaching in an effort to help; a testimony to just how fast everything had happened.
It hadn't even been a minute between catching a glimpse of starlight eyes and the collar hitting the dusty ground. This fact sank into minds numbed over in shock and adrenaline. It sank slowly but surely, imprinting the gravity of the sheer speed they had just witnessed and of skills they could not name.
They had no words to describe what had taken place seconds ago. No words. None.
Just a jab and a sizzle.
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Skulley J. Liberty idly leaped down from the shoulder of the now free slave. Beneath the shadows of her hood beamed a wide smile and glittering brown eyes that strangely glowed teal near the pupil. With a bit of a skip to her gait she walked over to her partner-in-crime. The shrouded form of her best friend was slightly slouched inward, shoulders deceptively relaxed. But she knew better. Under the cloth of that cloak lurked something dangerous. And only she really knew just how dangerous.
"So…what'd you use this time?" The tone was light, questioning, with the distinctive edge of annoyed hostility. Underneath all the agitated menace, however, Liberty could sense the hint of genuine curiosity. No one could read Sonneillon B. Jillian like she could and she prided herself in that fact. Anyone else would likely get a claw through the chest or their guts strewn across the floor if they tried.
"Just a dose of Valerian."
"Oh really?"
Cue heavy sarcasm followed by a slight snicker.
"Yup, really."
An eyebrow twitched, and Jillian's voice rung low with warning, "Lib…"
But instead of a cowed response, raucous laughter belted out from under Lib's hood. So much so that she had to bend over and grasp her knees to keep from falling over in her mirth. Glancing up in-between explosive sniggers made her only laugh all the harder; eyes a mixture of blue-gray and teal glared down at her, the irritated flicker in them growing stronger.
It was fun to bug Jill.
One…Two…Three…Four…Fiv-
"Would you just tell me already! Stop being annoying!" hissed Jillian, voice tight with frustration. Clawed fingers fanned out repeatedly at her side, an action Lib did not fail to catch.
It was a quirk of hers that bespoke of approaching temper. She only did the motion if something was pushing her too close to snapping. Lib frowned at this bit of information; nothing that had happened in the last two hours had pissed off Jill enough to 'finger-fan'.
In an effort to stanch the mounting agitation in her friend Lib executed what she liked to call "Interference". It was a tact borne from many bad calls, disasters, dead people, and a sore Lib. Never let it be said that Skulley J. Liberty enjoyed having to deal with an enraged blacked out Jill. It wasn't fun and the mess left behind was usually an absolute bitch to deal with. Ugh.
So she ran Interference. Hand disappearing within the folds of her cloak she grasped an empty needle from her chemical belt and flung it hard at Jillian. The effect was instantaneous.
Jillian dropped into a crouch her hand whipping out to catch the thin hollow needle aimed for her throat. Lips curled in a nasty smirk she brought her hand down and took a delicate sniff at the weapon. A moment later she rose to her feet, snorting, "Hydrofluoric acid."
"Yup."
"Hn. Clever. But now what do we do with tall, dark, and sedated?" Jillian stared up into the face of the pirate they had saved from head implosion. He was out cold from the dose of Valerian running around in his system and probably wouldn't wake for a couple of hours.
Jillian sighed softly in annoyance. That meant they would have to relocate him. Probably over to the Lawless groves where he could be hidden. It was a tireless business rescuing slaves. But she did derive pleasure from all the outraged 'owners'. Their reactions really were hilarious.
In somewhat of a good mood she made to turn to Liberty but found she was conspicuously absent. A cursory glance at her environment saw her friend surrounded by what looked to be a pirate crew. Ah. Her friend loved pirates.
Ignoring all the people ogling her from the sidelines, they couldn't see her anyway, she stalked over to the group clustered around her best friend.
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Jill appeared to be back to half-way sane.
Which was good. Very good.
She could relax, take in the sights, meet new people.
Like the ones currently boring holes in her and Jillian's cloaks. They looked like interesting people and she liked meeting interesting people. Sparing her friend a glance she skipped over to the group who surprisingly didn't back away from her. Hmm. Inhaling through her nose she took in their scents. It was an instinctive action. Natural.
The first and strongest scent was meat. Food.
Weird.
It was associated with the fellow in rolled up jeans, navy blue sleeveless shirt, and a strawhat. He was young, maybe seventeen or eighteen with a lanky figure. Black hair, dark eyes. And he was as frisky as a puppy in his excitement. Liberty smiled at him as she approached by which he gave an answering grin so wide it stretched his cheekbones.
Lib had a feeling she would like him.
The next three scents were quite telling in the fact that they weren't human. While they were presently disguised as human folk her nose didn't lie. They were fishman, well except the female she was a mermaid.
The last two had her eyebrows climbing into her hairline. One scent didn't know whether to be human or animal while the other wasn't even alive.
Say what?
"Hi!"
Upon entering hearing range Lib was met with a shockingly tight bear hug and an explosive voice screaming in her ear. "SO COOL! HEY, GREEN LADY HOW DID YOU DO THAT! WHAT DID YOU DO? WHOSE YOUR FRIEND? YOU SHOULD JOIN MY CREW!"
The onslaught of blaring questions would've intimidated anyone else whereas it only made Liberty grin cheerfully. The crushing bear hug didn't bother her either; she gave the same type to Jillian all the time, despite her displeasure. She hated hugs.
Laughingly Lib answered, "By being awesome. Injected a sedative into his bloodstream. Sonneillon B. Jillian. And I'll think about it."
Hearing a quick intake of breath, a gasp, Lib leaned on the boy's shoulder to look over him. He was slightly taller than her after all. The mermaid in disguise along with the…really, really cute…reindeer were giggling at them. Wow, the reindeer was really adorable.
The blue boy suddenly hopped back, giant grin splitting his face, "Hey! You never told me your name! I'm Monkey D. Luffy!
Glossing over the fact that he never gave her the chance to speak her name she simply said, "Skulley J. Liberty!"
This sent Lib hurtling through a round of introductions that had her head whirling but no less happy.
"Hello, my name is Hachi and this is Camie and Pappug. It's nice to meet you." The greeting was mirrored by both mermaid and…starfish.
The last individual was rather…odd. A skeleton. A walking, talking, gentlemen skeleton to be exact. "What a mysterious woman! My name is Brook. May I see your panties?" Or maybe not.
Lib blinked owlishly at that, not sure whether to take him seriously or not. Before she could take any feminine action, though, the little (cute!) reindeer flew at the skeleton screeching 'sexual harassing pile of bones' while mauling him with hooves repeatedly.
It was inferred that such a show of violence to ones crewmate was probably normal among the crew as no one moved to pull the little guy away. Rather they stood there in a half circle laughing. She was beginning to really like this crew.
It wasn't long before they were happily conversing among each other. Trading information, telling short stories. Liberty learned that blue boy, Luffy, was the captain of a famous rookie crew, the Strawhats, and that there was six other members. She also learned that their ship was named the Thousand Sunny, Sanji was a flirt, Zoro liked to nap a lot, Franky was a cyborg, and their navigator was obsessed with money.
Luffy was quite the character. Definitely.
But there was something else…
Something special about him. She just couldn't put her finger on it.
A sudden snort from behind her had her new friends going quiet.
Ah, there she is.
Without missing a beat, "Everyone! This is my friend Jill. Jill this is…"
And thus begins her sacred duty of humanizing Sonneillon B. Jillian. She was a horrible people person. She only hoped Jill wouldn't explode while meeting someone as loud and touchy as Monkey D. Luffy.
"WOW! YOU'RE SO COOL! HOW'D YOU MOVE SO FAST? CAN I SEE YOUR EYES! HOW DID YOU STOP THE COLLAR?"
Oh Spirits! Interference!
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Grove 31, somewhere.
Frightened whispers filled the air as one by one citizens of every shape and size fell to their knees in subservience. They dared not raise their gaze to those who passed for it meant certain death. They dared not gaze at the Celestial Dragons.
The World Nobles were out for their weekly stroll among the common people. And Grove 31 had been the lucky number picked for said outing. Only this time they were not out for recreational exercise. No, they were looking for a possession. A possession that had run off.
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"Aren't you cute!"
Liberty had Chopper bear-hugged to her chest, squealing in happiness. He was just sooo damn cute! Beside her Jillian shook her head thoroughly exasperated. Around them the Strawhats guffawed uproariously at their doctor who spazzed from all the attention.
"Aw-shucks don't say that. Don't touch me! I'm not cute at all. Put me down bastard!" The supposedly schizophrenic reindeer only caused more tumultuous laughter to break out. Even Jillian was so inclined to laugh along with everyone. It was just that funny.
Until Hachi caught sight of people falling to their knees, heads bowed.
Body tensing, fear raising he grabbed Camie and Pappug before dropping to his knees. "Everyone get down! Get down like all the others! Hurry!"
The Strawhats stared at Hachi before looking around, taking note that everyone left in the area really was kneeling. Luffy scratched at his head in confusion, "Oi, why are you on the ground? Nami always yells at us–"
"Now! Mugiwara!"
Luffy's eyes widened at the stark fear audible in Hachi's rushed demand. Slowly, gaze never leaving his friend he sat on the ground, mind for once noticing the fine trembling wracking Camie's slender form. That uncomfortable flopping motion suddenly began again in his stomach; something bad was coming.
"You four! Get down!" Hachi barked at the people still standing. Chopper and Brook yelped before diving for the ground behind Luffy. But Liberty and Jillian stayed upright, unmoving. Long dark cloaks completely enshrouding all but the outline of their bodies; it gave them the appearance of mossy statues.
Liberty and Jillian stood motionless under the fabric of their cloaks, waiting. They had heard them coming for a while, yet had said nothing. They could also sense the tension hanging rank in the air like a rotten rabbit on the road. Disgusting.
Bouncing on the balls of her feet Lib abruptly pivoted, an unseen mischievous grin curling her lips as she walked back to the sedated form of the freed slave. The kneeling citizens watched her in muted horror.
She wasn't bowing.
They weren't bowing.
Jillian leaned over her and Liberty's new friends, enough so that the shadow obscuring her face dissipated. Piercing blue-teal eyes set in a pale oval face stared at them, the slit gaze both enthralling and disturbing in its intensity. What was more amazing was the shock of luminous teal hair growing from her head. It slipped free of the hood to hang around her neck before she pushed it back beneath her hood.
That was not normal hair…
Jillian snorted privately to herself. It never got old; revealing what she looked like under the cloak. Human reactions were entertaining and she didn't mind a bit of an ego boost here and there. She deserved it with all the hell she put herself through.
"Meh!"
Lib was calling which meant they were nearly upon them. With that thought going through her head came the flood of malicious anticipation. It had, after all, been a long time since they had shown their faces in Sabaody Archipelago.
Twisting on her toes Jillian prowled back over to her partner. Over her shoulder, "No need to fear merfolk. Just sit back and watch the show."
Luffy and company stared, eyes blinking with confusion, after the form of Sonneillon B. Jillian. How had she known? Could it have something to do with the fact that she - they - weren't human. Humans did not have slit pupils, not unless they had a devil fruit.
And from earlier conversation they had learned that no such fruits had been eaten.
So what were they?
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"You just had to show off didn't you!" Skulley J. Liberty huffed, hip cocked out and stance filled with annoyance. The hood covering her friends face turned in her direction, an audible scowl in the voice, "Hey, back off Miss-he's-so-adorable. If I want to strip and give a show I'll strip and give a show! Hmph."
"Y-you are so impossible! Uh! And quit it with all the innuendo's you dirty-minded lizard!"
"Oh really! I'm the one with the dirty mind? Ha! Yeah right! Whose the one who made that comment about 'flying naked' over West Blue! Who?"
"What? I didn't say that! You did!"
"No, I didn't."
"Yes, you did!"
"Bullshit."
"Hog-sloth!"
"What does that even mea–"
"Who is making that infernal racket? I demand to know at once!"
Two pairs of teal eyes locked, a sinister twinkling flaring at the haughty feminine voice.
Saint Shalulia officially onto the scene, thought Liberty with a belligerent smile. The voice of the Celestial Dragon had been somewhat distant meaning they hadn't seen their runaway possession yet. Oh but when they did. That's when the fun started.
Jillian smirked, her fangs peeking through.
A pause.
Silence.
A gasp.
Then, "Ah, there it is father. It must've regained some sense, waiting for us to come retrieve it."
The two Gifted had to repress snickers. The World Nobles hadn't even realized it yet. How pathetic.
"See to it that it is disciplined immediately. If you had trained it better this wouldn't have happened," the elder World Noble, Saint Roswald said with a disdainful sniff. Both Gifted felt their eyes narrow at the statement. It was absolutely dripping with pompous arrogance. It never failed to utterly repulse them whenever they heard one of them speak. They never had anything good to say but for themselves. It made Lib want to bite off her own ears and left Jill itching to kill something.
"Slave, come to your mistress," ordered the sole female Celestial Dragon.
There was no movement from the pirate captain and the two cloaked figures silently relished in the defiance. Even if the man was unconscious and unknowing of his offense. Anything that pissed off the ugly bulbous figureheads of Sabaody Archipelago was well liked by Jillian and Liberty.
"Slave! Did you not hear your master? I could have you whipped for such impu–…What happened to your collar!"
Now they see it. Blind idiots.
Show time!
With matching sadistic grins the two Gifted sauntered out on either side of the slouched over man, hooded faces staring straight at the two saints. They had no idea there was anyone hiding behind the large pirate and were quite startled by their sudden appearance.
Which means they got quite angry too. There were two common people standing after all. Oh the horror.
"W-what? How dare you! We are the Celestial Dragons! Bow before us at once!"
Quiet gasps issued from the kneeling citizens at the sheer audacity of the cloaked beings. Both seemed to ignore the command, their bodies not folding or conforming, two strangers standing strong and defiant. Their silent message understood by all: We will not bow.
"Well, hello to you too. Assholes. Quite the welcome you got going here. I'm rather surprised, I mean who better to give such a warm salutation then the Celestial Shitbags." Liberty nearly burst out laughing at those cool, sardonic words. Jillian was laying it on thick. Which was understandable. Her hatred for the Celestial Dragons knew no bounds.
It was hilarious to watch Shalulia blow up like an overripe tomato. Roswald was just icing on the cake. "You dare insult a World Noble! What impudence!" Roswald seethed.
"Oh, we so dare. It's really a hobby actually," Liberty said with a razor-blade smile, voice a mocking rendition of happy conversation. The giddy tone with its matching snide grin infuriated the two highborn, one of which had been pushed over the edge. Sneering and hateful Shalulia went to pull out her firearm.
"You…you dare speak back to us!? We are the Tenryūbito— We own the lives of you filthy commoners!" An ugly snarl contorted Shalulia's face as she leveled the gun at the two shadowed women. For they were too slender to be anything else. They dared defy her. They dared defy her father!
They were surprised yet again by the lack of reaction. The utter lack of fright or groveling that should have happened by now was absent. Void. Nonexistent. Roswald glared at the obstinate swine hidden beneath dark green mantles. They were still, completely unafraid it seemed. Like the gun, like death, did not scare them. He frowned at this; something niggled in the back of his mind, something familiar. He could see nothing of the forms hidden by the heavy fabric of the veils. Idly, he began to wonder what sort of pathetic creatures would willingly throw their lives away - what did they look like? It was a small curiosity compared with the size of his outrage but he saw fit to indulge in it before they died.
"Before my daughter kills you for your blasphemous transgressions I would see your faces."
Nothing happened. Nothing. No movement.
Except a laugh.
A strangled, horribly repressed cackle that sounded more along the lines of a strange guttural snort. It was followed closely by a quiet snide snicker. "I'm actually quite shocked. Wow, I didn't know you knew the meaning of the words 'blasphemous' or 'transgression'. They must be teaching you something other than how to be an arrogant ass-licker. Keep it u—"
Bang!
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Liberty and Jillian knew the exact moment the bullet left the barrel; they could smell the build up of lactic acid in the arm muscles leading to the pulled trigger, could hear the heartbeat quicken in anticipation for the kill. It was all too easy for them (with their keen senses) to deduce the time needed to safely dodge and relocate. A single side-step away.
They were conscious of their friends, the Strawhats, behind them watching intently. They had probably seen them move rather than the blur civilians were privy to. Or in other cases, shitbags.
"Hey! That was really, really rude! Asking us something and not even giving us time to answer! Sheesh, where are your manners?" Questioned Liberty, hooded face tilted back in derision, everyone getting the sense that she was looking down her nose at them. The World Nobles.
"How! How did you do that? How did you disappear?" shouted Shalulia angrily. She glared at them with furious eyes, smoking gun clenched between her shaking fingers. She had been so sure one of them would be shot dead but there they were both still standing. Still breathing. She wanted them dead. She wanted them dead now!
"Why don't you just die already!"
Jillian stepped forward at that statement, knowing the gun was useless. It was a one hit wonder as all guns were. "Why don't you?" Jillian murmured softly, the edge of a growl roughening her voice into something inhuman. Dangerous.
Roswald's eyes widened at the sound. It wasn't the type of growl a human would make when angry or agitated, no, this had sounded more feral. More bestial. A distant memory, brought forth by that voice, her voice, assaulted him without warning.
A memory of ancient tales.
Of twenty kings.
Of sea spirits.
Of human-dragon hybrids.
The Gifted.
Saint Roswald's eyes bulged behind his glasses. That familiarity nagging at him again. It was them! They had returned! The wretched creatures his ancient ancestors had tried to vanquish. The Gifted as they were called. He remembered his father and his grandfather telling stories about them. How they had stolen the immortality of their forefathers. It was unforgivable!
Voice lashing out thunderously, "YOU!" His enraged shout halted the back-in-forth pissing contest between the Gifted and his daughter. Everyone stopped to stare at him, he was breathing rather heavily.
"Us." Lib and Jill retorted in unison, slow devilish smiles curling their lips. Finally. "So…you finally remember. After all this time we were getting a little worried." Jillian relaxed a little under her cloak, a mocking pretense of relief.
"You wretched bags of sin! Show me your faces! I DEMAND IT!" Roswald roared, something inside him snapping. His hands fluttering as he whipped out his gun and trained it on the closest target. Neither cloaked figures moved at the threat. Clenching his teeth furiously he pulled the trigger.
But the target was gone.
He had blinked and they were gone.
Gone. Vanished. Without a trace.
His anger surged into near mindless rage. Where had they-
"Oi! Bastard! Look up!" As the irritating shrill tone hit his ears, those gathered for the stand-off did just that; they looked up. The marketplace quickly descended into an uproar.
There hovering in the air forty or so feet above them, lazily flapping huge bat-like wings were the strangers; Jillian and Liberty. Said wings did not sprout from their backs, instead they appeared rather wyvern-ish with their arms partially transformed as the wings. Even more surprising was the unconscious slave they held between them.
No one had seen them whisk the pirate away. Not even Luffy and his friends.
With a Cheshire cat grin Liberty threw back her head and laughed, Jillian smirking scornfully by her side; wind from the beating of their powerful wings ripped the hoods of their cloaks back; they made no motion to stop the unveiling. Let the Celestial Shitbags look all they want now. Even from such a height the intensity of their coloring could be seen. Bright, bioluminescent teal hair was hard to miss.
Glowing slit eyes glared down at the two World Nobles. Projecting her voice, Jillian uttered two words. Two simple words that spoke a thousand to those who knew their true meaning. "Remember us."
Remember the Gifted.
With a farewell grin to the Strawhats the two Gifted flew away leaving awed silence and two very humiliated, very angry Celestial Shitbags. One of which remembered.
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Marine Headquarters, Grove 60.
Monkey D. Garp sat languidly back in his chair, mouth set in a bored frown. All the paperwork that had hit his desk that morning were signed and ready to go. He hated office work. Hated. It. Period. He'd much rather be training new recruits; there's nothing like a good dropkick to the ass to jump-start a man's career as a marine.
Garp sighed into the silence. Oh how he wished something would happ—
A sudden door slamming open accompanied by a shouted, "Vice Admiral Garp! Vice Admiral Garp!" had the man shooting up from his seat. The young marine who'd barged into his office - hadn't even knocked, how rude! Kids these days! - was panting and sweating, face red and pinched from adrenaline. Garp stared at the private while silently thanking his lucky stars that something had finally happened. Goodbye, boredom!
"Well! What is it already?" Garp mentally chortled when his booming voice sent the poor man into near hysterics. Gasping, "T-they…they're back! He sa-said they're…back!"
Garp felt the beginnings of unease stir in his gut. And it wasn't hunger. What was going on? Who were they? Were they under attack? "Calm down private! Tell me what's happening?"
That seemed to shake the marine from his mini-freakout. Swallowing, the nameless man straightened while inhaling deeply several times. He wiped the nervous layer of sweat from his forehead before replying, "Sir! Around 1335 hours we received an urgent call from Mariejois! Saint Roswald reported that he and his daughter, Saint Shalulia, had an encounter with the Gifted! They are requesting an S.A. Alert immediately."
Garp slowly sat back down, the unease in his stomach roiling full throttle. So their rotation had finally brought them back to Sabaody Archipelago. After one-hundred-forty-three years of relative silence they'd returned to wreak havoc. He'd only heard the stories of their last visit; two dead Admirals and a mutilated Celestial Dragon. The stories weren't pretty.
And with so many big-shot pirate crews, the Supernova's, around things were about to get heated. The request for an S.A. Alert was really the worst course of action in this situation too. A better decision would be to keep news of the Gifted away from lawless ears. Obeying Saint Roswald's request would only inform all the scoundrels in the area that a legend older than the Pirate King wasn't a myth.
Garp slumped back in his chair, at an impasse. He ignored the private still standing at attention in front of his desk by way of opening a side drawer. He rooted around for a second before pulling out an old yellowing piece of paper: a bounty poster. He set it down with a hefty sigh. It was a strange bounty poster in that there wasn't a picture of just one person. It was controversy among the World Government whether or not they could be considered real 'people' at all. For there was no one alive who'd seen them human.
Wait. Garp frowned in confusion. If Saint Roswald and his daughter had encountered the Gifted wouldn't they be dead? Over the centuries the stories passed down the ranks of the marines always involved the death of Celestial Dragons at the hands of the Gifted. Yet the two saints were alive. Garp rubbed at his face, suddenly tired, suddenly wishing he was bored again. This was too much deep thinking. He wanted a nap.
Sighing, he stared down at the two photographed dragons. One had its head lowered fanged jaws spewing wicked flame over the deck of a marine vessel. The second had its wings fully outstretched, head thrown back in a roar. The picture showed its deadly claws embedded into the hull of the ship.
Waving a dismissal at the private Garp continued to stare at the bounty, face set in grim lines.
"What are you two up too, Wyvern Sisters?"