Author's Note 1: this time, Saber's leading this chapter.
Author's Note 2: … I do think I did quite a number on my own mind – the Terror-Terror Fruit was a good idea! **thanks, Dr. Jonathan Crane/Scarecrow. You were my inspiration in Batman: The Arkham Knight.
Chapter Ten: Games of Power
Oh, Sabertooth thought with raised brows, then let's make this quick.
Sabertooth didn't even wait for introductions – he introduced his blade to Portgas D. Ace first. The Mink was merely a blur as he dashed forward, his sword drawn in a flash with the familiar hissing sound. Their little party didn't need any trouble from the outside world right now, they've already got too much on their plate with Alabasta and Crocodile – well, Lelouch did. And they certainly didn't need a damn Whitebeard pirate to come all the way from the New World to deliver some sombre news. Wide smirk in place and bright green eyes showing nothing but the promise of death, he swung his Haki-imbued sword down to lop off the pirate's head.
Ace's reply was to plop down on his knees to avoid the deadly attack just as the sword slashed the air, then attempted to deliver a roundhouse kick to Sabertooth's side. He blocked the powerful kick easily, although this caused a small shock wave to temporarily shake the earth area around them. Sabertooth vaguely heard Lelouch shout to Noctis and Nasse to take cover away from them, as whatever was about to go down would certainly have consequences if one of them was hurt in the process.
Both he and Ace broke away from each other, and the Mink took a battle stance with his sword raised, a manic grin adorning his face. "We're currently on a tight schedule, Fire Fist," he declared. "Chatting with you might slow us down and Alabasta doesn't have much time left. Get lost or die. Although killing you may make me a target of the Whitebeard pirates, just give me a good reason to end your life."
"Sorry to disappoint, but not today," Ace said in a drawl, raising a mocking brow with an infuriating smirk. He brushed his robes, then stood on his feet to face Sabertooth. "You lot are a pain in the ass to find, gotta give credit to the navigator of your little party. But your leader has to listen to me."
He's already pissing me off. "And what makes us think that you're not here to capture our leader and hand him to the World Government? Maybe you're coveting Crocodile's place in the Seven Warlords after he's been dealt with?"
That could be pure bullshit, but anything was possible with anybody nowadays. Sabertooth seriously doubted that Portgas D. Ace would even consider the idea of entering a contract with the World Government by becoming one of their shackled dogs; there was no way the Five Elders would allow a Whitebeard pirate to slither his way in their ranks without schemes to get to Whitebeard. And judging by the incredulous look Fire Fist gave him, Sabertooth was spot on.
"Damn, why would you even ask something like this? No, wait, don't answer that, you'd probably give us both a headache," Ace scoffed with an aggravated expression on his face. Finally glancing toward his main concern, the pirate almost recoiled at the sinister, disturbing aura he felt upon staring at those unnerving eyes. Still, that didn't deter him. "Your name is Lelouch, right? Whitebeard has asked me to..."
Ace wasn't one to lower his guard around people he didn't know, especially dangerous people who were highly versed in Haki and martial arts. So he wasn't shocked to find himself having to block another blow from the Mink, who had nearly flickered inches away from him. Ace grunted in frustration, holding his arms up to prevent the sharp blade from cutting him in half. Dammit, just how strong is that monkey? The strength put behind the attacks wasn't anywhere near Whitebeard's level, but it was enough to almost make his knees buckle. Marco should have been more precise about this Lelouch guy's friends, as he clearly wasn't the only threat; the Mink could be just as powerful as the elusive navigator was.
Sabertooth's tail swished behind him a little before falling still, blackened with Haki. "What business would you even have with Lelouch anyway?" he ground out between gritted teeth. His knee flew to Ace's stomach in an attempt to kick him, but Fire Fist dodged the powerful blow. "And just how the fuck did you know about his Devil Fruit?"
"How about we let him talk while we walk?" Lelouch suggested as he grabbed his Haki-imbued tail, tightly enough so he wouldn't use the giant tuft as an iron-like hammer on Ace's body. Despite his shock at his friend's silent speed, Sabertooth tried to wrench his precious tail out of his friend's grip, but to no avail. The navigator merely nodded, raising a brow at his ardour. "He said it must be urgent for Whitebeard to send a message to me, so maybe Fire Fist isn't lying and isn't trying to hand me to the Elders after all. Maybe. Please?"
Green eyes blinked owlishly at him. He said so? Sabertooth now knew well who was 'he' after Lelouch had told them about his 'inside personality', but that did little to appease him. As far as they knew, the Wraith was only an entity turned Devil Fruit that had driven his previous wielders insane throughout the years (maybe centuries) because they couldn't handle his power, so what the hell could he even know?
Sabertooth sheathed his blade loudly with a glare. "What, he became a lie detector all of a sudden?" he asked sarcastically, taking a few, slow steps back. He crossed his arms, still holding his sword. "For all we know, Fire Fist could have tracked us down to hand you to the closest World Government unit that might be nearby for whatever reason and your secret would be known."
He noticed Ace's slight confusion at the mention of the Wraith indirectly named and scowled a little when his droopy eyes zeroed in on Lelouch again, as if analysing him for the answers he must be looking for.
"Hence why we may need him to answer all of our questions," Lelouch replied in a placating tone as he let go of his tail. "Should I detect a lie, any lie, in his answers, you get to skin him alive before killing him and collecting his bounty. Though that would mean declaring war to the Whitebeard Pirates after killing one the main commanders, we wouldn't let such infamous pirate get away with crucial information about my Devil Fruit. Does that sound good enough for both of you chaps?"
No, it didn't at all. Sabertooth's fingers itched for his sword so he could behead the annoying pirate and spill blood on his orange hat (admit it, that loud orange colour was an eyesore!). He knew his mistrust and doubts were well-placed and his best friend was aware that he was just trying to protect him, but was he really the only one to smell the trap miles down the road? Nonetheless, the Mink groaned his response and settled for glaring at Ace, who was doing a stellar job at ignoring him and nodded as well.
"Excellent. Now, let's resume walking because we've wasted enough time and I didn't want to intervene in the spat – that would have been too ugly," Lelouch grumbled tiredly as he turned to walk again in the direction they've been heading. Ace walked alongside him after another wary glance at Sabertooth and the twins. "We're still quite a long way from Alubarna, so we might as well start now. What kind of trouble are we even talking about?"
Glaring green eyes followed them as Sabertooth practically foamed at the mouth, infuriated. His common sense was failing him but he didn't care – if Portgas D. Ace could find them without the use of a Vivre Card belonging to Lelouch, then who else could track them down? Sabertooth was aware that they just couldn't kill a Whitebeard commander because he knew their dirtiest secret, but he was willing to try: Fire Fist was a danger to his best friend and even if the pirate came here with good intentions, he was still a pirate.
I seriously need Sea Prism stone bullets so I can shoot all these annoying Devil Fruit users dead, he thought as he allowed Nasse to tug him gently by his tail. Gritting his teeth, Sabertooth fell into step with the twins and followed Lelouch and the Whitebeard stray, his sharp ears listening to each word they were saying. He really wasn't in a good mood and not even Nasse fiddling with his giant tuft on his tail helped release the tension in his body.
Ace's tone sounded grave as he spoke. "The kind of trouble you truly don't want from people much more dangerous and powerful than you. Now, Whitebeard isn't the reason I'm in Paradise as I'm on a different... quest I need to complete, but he called me as soon as he felt a shift in his mind." Ace shrugged at seeing Lelouch's raised brow and questioning glance. "Don't look at me, I don't know all the gruesome details of your Devil Fruit and Whitebeard has been roaming those seas for a long time. Who knows what kind of other evil scum he's run into, save for the Pirate King?"
The last words were said with such bitterness that all eyes were on the pirate, confused and questioning as to what actually triggered such emotion out of him. Even Sabertooth looked perplexed and softened his glare a little. It was true that Gold Roger had made loads of enemies throughout his whole life as the most terrifying and bloodthirsty pirate this world has ever known, so it wouldn't be surprising that people would still curse his name here and there years after his death. But what was Fire Fist's reason to hate him?
"A 'shift in his mind'?" Lelouch repeated, crossing his arms against his chest. He was about to ask something else when a blank expression overtook his face, making his mismatched eyes go even more blank for a few minutes. When he came back to, he looked greatly aggravated. "Unbelievable. And here I thought my mentor had already messed up my life with this Devil Fruit..."
"Translation, please, Lulu?" Noctis asked with a brow raised. "We're the only ones who don't have another personality in our heads telling us the history of the world when we're murdering someone."
Ace threw Noctis a disturbed look. "Excuse me, what did you just say?" he asked slowly, as if he heard wrong. "What's this about 'another personality'? Whitebeard definitely didn't tell me anything about this."
Lelouch's lips quirked upward a little, but he still remained annoyed. "Judging by your words, it would seem that your captain hasn't told you even a quarter of what happened in his younger years. Surprising, considering that you're one of his sons. I just hope we won't have to kill you for whatever information you'll get about the Terror-Terror Fruit, since this would mean war with the Whitebeard Pirates," he added with a cold, penetrating look. To his credit, Ace didn't so much as flinch and maintained eye contact for a minute before Lelouch blinked, satisfied. "Thirty years ago, the previous wielder of the Terror-Terror Fruit crossed paths with Whitebeard and clashed with him. While your captain was already a renowned terror of his own on the seas, the woman who had my Devil Fruit challenged him to a deadly battle. Though this fight never involved Gold Roger, it was an event that shook the seas but somehow, we don't have any data about it." The World Government must have done something to cover up the whole thing. But how? Lelouch looked ahead, a pensive expression on his face. "Throughout the fight, Whitebeard was struck by one nasty blow to his mind and whatever penetrated it still remains with him to this day; attacks to the mind never completely disappear with time and fear is a crippling cancer that either kills slowly or quickly, depending on the strength of your willpower."
"So this 'shift' Whitebeard is talking about...," Ace started.
"It must have been some kind of warning that there's a new wielder in this world. The Terror-Terror Fruit creeps itself deep into your mind and digs its roots in there, maybe forever. Like a weed, it will come back even after mastering your fears if your willpower is weak enough to be broken. I have no doubt that Edward Newgate is a powerful man with a willpower stronger than steel, but even the strongest people can fall. Do you ever recover from madness? The previous host must have done a number on his mind, for him to be able to sense my Devil Fruit years after his encounter," Lelouch mused, noticing a small, blue lizard crawling swiftly towards him. It got snatched by Noctis before he could step away from its path. He raised a curious brow at his friend, who ignored him in favour of admiring the reptile in his hands. He sent Ace a sharp glance. "I would understand if Whitebeard wants to end my life, should my Devil Fruit overrun my reason. Shall we expect some kind of retaliation on your captain's part, even though I'm entirely innocent in the matter?"
Ace was silent for a few seconds before he shook his head. "I don't think so," he said truthfully, scratching his head. "He's not the real problem, though. Your bigger concern..." His black eyes bored into Lelouch's skull and his friends'. "... is Big Mom."
The name of the Emperor could have been said so casually that Sabertooth would have still tripped over his own feet in shock, and he almost choked on his water when Fire Fist said her name. Even Lelouch himself froze on his spot as he stared at the pirate with a disturbed gaze, eyes wide in disbelief, while the twins gasped in shock. Big Mom, one of the Four Emperors of the New World and probably one of the most despicable women Sabertooth has ever heard of, was after his best friend because of his Devil Fruit. That damn Devil Fruit would soon lead Lelouch to an early grave; what the hell had the previous host done to this wretched glutton?
At the mention of her name, very unpleasant memories flashed before his eyes and he snarled, baring his sharp teeth. In those memories, one had him bristling in disgust and anger: the man was wearing bright, obnoxious colours that made his keen eyes bleed and had the biggest tongue hanging out of his ever smiling mouth, like a dog. Years ago, he and this man were standing meters apart on the port of his native island, surrounded by a raging snowstorm. All Sabertooth could think was no, no, no. Not him. Not Lelouch.
Feeling faint, the Mink placed a hand on Lelouch's shoulder and clutched it. Hard. The navigator didn't spare him a glance, but he could feel his growing concern and fear – there was no use hiding his emotions. "All right, we can't play pretend any more," he ground out, wide green eyes staring up at Fire Fist. "Having the World Government on our tails is bad enough, is Big Mom really after Lelouch because of the Terror-Terror Fruit? How did this wretch find out he was the new wielder?"
"The big shots of the New World have eyes and ears anywhere for anything that might be of value to them, so I wouldn't be surprised if she's heard of me," Lelouch growled before Ace could answer. His mismatched eyes found Sabertooth's with an equally disturbed gaze. "Think about it: the previous host of the Terror-Terror Fruit fought Whitebeard all these years ago, what are the chances that she – or another one – must have also clashed with Big Mom? The Wraith must have been close to wrecking her mind. And what's more, the news of Spandine having gone insane must have spread to the Five Elders by now, and I bet Big Mom's spies must have reported back to her about the recent events. She must know, to a certain extent, how my powers work," he sighed deeply.
"Whitebeard told me that he saw flashes of you with bright golden eyes, so that's how I knew who you were before we've even met," Fire Fist revealed, getting their attention again. "I'm guessing Big Mom also had one, if she's made her move. If I understand you correctly, then your Devil Fruit can plant seeds of its essence into people's minds, thus growing inside unbeknownst to the prey. It's now clear that once those seeds are planted, you're mentally linked to them, perhaps permanently. Perhaps. I'd advise you to be even more careful, Lelouch: Big Mom must have sent people after you by now to capture you, now starting a race with possibly the World Government." Ace marched up to him, stopping merely a feet away from Lelouch. His black eyes bored into the mismatched pair, unblinking. "They know. Or at the very least, Big Mom knows your face and won't stop until she gets her hands on you, but the World Government?"
A cold, alarming realisation settled in Sabertooth's mind, making him feel sick. "They're merely playing cat and mouse with us," Nasse whispered in horror, recoiling. "What if... what if they've allowed Lelouch's Devil Fruit to be stolen on purpose? And if they've just kept tabs on him to see if he could master the Terror-Terror Fruit to a certain extent, even going as far as bond with the Wraith inside his Devil Fruit..."
"Pure speculation, but anything is possible with them. If they decide to kill Lelouch or even throw him in Impel Down, it will be a terrible waste of his superior intelligence and skills," Noctis continued, pale as a ghost. "They already know he's extremely capable and could grow even more powerful with more training, so they might just be biding their time before capturing him. They'll most probably decide to have you working as an agent of the Cipher Pol since you've mastered the Rokushiki, Lelouch." He swallowed with difficulty, his eyes wide in fear. "All they need is leverage to make you kneel before them and you'll become their personal tool of destruction."
Over my dead body, Sabertooth vowed fiercely, eyes flashing in anger through his own fear and teeth grinding almost painfully. Their situation had really gone from shit to worldwide shit, thanks to the dreadful informations Portgas D. Ace had just relayed to them; it was bad enough that Spandam was still hell-bent on getting his hands on Lelouch, but having one of the Four Emperors on their tails as well? This was suicide. Sabertooth didn't even know who was worse between that wretch Big Mom or the Government, as the whole lot was too greedy and egoistical for the world.
"Damn it, Saber!" Lelouch suddenly hissed in pain, jerking away from him.
The Mink frowned at the swearing, opening his mouth to inquire about his friend's outburst, when he quickly understood why. The crackling sound of electricity that echoed from the hand that was on Lelouch's shoulder got his attention, and Sabertooth gazed at the lightning bolts dancing around his hand with hard eyes. "Ah, sorry," he apologized, exhaling. He slowly clenched his fist, then relaxed with a sigh. The lightning bolts faded. "I lost control for a second. Finding out that Big Mom has her fucking eyes on you makes me sick."
"Apology accepted," Lelouch grumbled, rolling his stinging shoulder. Then his eyes hardened a few seconds later as he seemed to listen to whatever the Wraith was telling him. Then his eyes flew to Ace, who had been observing him with interest. "Your captain is deeply concerned about you leaving to hunt down a certain pirate who used to belong in the same crew as you. His name is... Blackbeard, isn't it?"
Dark eyes widened in surprise as Fire Fist jolted at the name. "How the hell do you know about this?!" he exclaimed angrily, getting Sabertooth's attention once again. What an unexpected outburst from such laid-back pirate. "Is this your Devil Fruit's doing?"
"Yes," Lelouch responded calmly, frowning. "I can sense Whitebeard's fear from afar, as it is as you said: it seems that I'm really mentally linked to the minds of those who fell prey to my powers before I ate the Terror-Terror Fruit. And Whitebeard's mind is riddled with worry for you, which is not far off from fear, as your presence in Paradise has everything to do with this man." He marked a short pause before continuing. "Are you really here to get revenge?"
Fire Fist snarled, turning away. "This isn't any of your business, so back off!" His tone was harsh, venomous. The emotions rolling off of him were strong and passionate, like a fire seconds away from turning into a massive inferno. "You shouldn't be on my case as this doesn't concern you at all!"
"Just as my problems aren't your concern either, Fire Fist. And I don't even understand why you'd listen to your captain asking you to tell me that an Emperor is hunting me down while you defied Whitebeard's orders to not go after Blackbeard. Why did you even agree to come find me on your quest if you shouldn't be on my case either?" Lelouch stepped up to face him, eyes flashing in irritation when the pirate rebuffed him. "You could have gone on your merry way to find your prey, get revenge or get wrecked over instead of wasting precious time with us, yet you decided to find me. Was that charity?"
The atmosphere cooled down all of a sudden, despite the unbearable heat. Sabertooth could feel the tension rolling off his best friend in waves, along with his Haki flaring up around him, and he edged closer to the twins. Now he didn't know if Lelouch had secretly unlocked his Conqueror's Haki, but the pressure was extremely familiar; it was very different from his Swordsman's Spirit and Sabertooth had felt the powerful wave of the Conqueror's Haki only once in his life, but Lelouch and Fire Fist...
Does he have it as well? It was the most logical theory he could muster. After all, he did have the "D" in his name and he possessed a strong willpower; Portgas D. Ace was no ordinary pirate. And if he carried this "Will of D" Sabertooth had heard so much about from the elders in his village, then he had as much value as the Celestial Dragons.
"'Charity'?! Don't think so poorly of yourself, we're both put in the same basket because of who we are!" Ace nearly exploded, seething. Anger contorted his features easily, erasing the relaxed expression he sported moments ago. Flames were dancing here and there on his body, showing his boiling rage underneath. He fisted his hand on Lelouch's collar, bringing him closer to his face. "Why do you think both the Government and Big Mom want you? You're an amazing asset that would serve them well because of your Devil Fruit, don't you get it?! You're a prize, Lelouch! And I am... I am..."
"Give up the blasted hunt, Fire Fist!" Lelouch exclaimed, grasping Ace's arm with a strong gloved hand, protected by Haki. "Give up the search and go back to your crew, you have no idea what you're getting yourself into! I know you desire nothing more but revenge for the fallen comrade Blackbeard killed in the most dishonourable way, but you may as well walk to your own demise! Why didn't you listen to your father and..."
All of a sudden, Lelouch's eyes – that had both become golden – became blank and Ace's followed, turning from black to bright gold. The flames that were previously dancing on his robes also burnt out, no longer brought out by Fire Fist's anger. Sabertooth swore in surprise, not expecting this turn of events. The pressure brutally disappeared, allowing Noctis and Nasse to breathe in relief.
"OK, what's going on now?" Noctis asked with a shaky voice, trying to separate both men before something really bad happened. He dragged Lelouch away by his shoulders, looking at his friend with worry etched on his feline face. "Is this what happens whenever the Wraith takes over?"
"Or whenever Lelouch is using his prey's fear to explore his mind and seek whatever he's looking for?" Nasse pressed, hands clasped.
Sabertooth frowned, his hand fisted on his sword. His Electro crackled all around his body, ready to be of use against both Devil Fruit users if necessary. "Both," he ground out, displeased. "Whatever he's going to find will not be pleasant at all, if it concerns..."
Lelouch and Ace brutally coming back to reality with shocked gasps cut him off, and Fire Fist took several steps back to put some considerable distance between them. Sabertooth was about to ask his best friend what he'd seen when he noticed his face. Suffice to say, this was the most devastated expression he'd seen on Lelouch, he who was always confident and serene most of the time; his golden eyes were wide in disbelief, staring at Portgas D. Ace with such horror, astonishment and dread that Sabertooth himself felt scared for no particular reason. He recoiled, his features twitching uncontrollably. Lelouch had blanched, as if sick. Turning towards the pirate, the Mink realised that he was mirroring his friend's expression, as if the world around him had crashed down.
"You... you're..." Lelouch stammered, his voice so faint. He was almost choking on his spit as he swallowed thickly. "My God..."
"Now you know why," Ace whispered, but his voice lacked any vitriol and conviction.
Sabertooth released his Electro, the lightning dying out like small firecrackers. His bewildered eyes never left Fire Fist, who now looked so defeated, his gaze cast down in utter shame and self-disgust.
Somewhere in the New World, on the Moby Dick...
"Marco, do you think Canterbury Lelouch will even consider the proposition?"
The veteran could only sigh as he leaned against the railing, his expression rather thoughtful. "Who knows what he and Ace must have really discussed, especially when one has a Devil Fruit that can dig up your dirtiest secrets by invading your mind-yoi," he said to Jozu, crossing his arms. "And what's more, the boy isn't even a pirate. So, I'd say he'll refuse out of pride. Maybe at first, I don't know the kid."
"He won't have another option in the matter anyhow: either he's considerate of his friends' lives and will choose the smartest and safest choice, or he'll drag them down the rabbit hole with him," Jozu grunted. "Sacrifices have to be made in order to survive in this world when faced with dead ends, and Big Mom sure won't give up on getting her greedy hands on him. He already gave up his mind to master his Devil Fruit, why not abandon his old life for a new one? Lelouch won't be able to hide his powers any longer."
Eventually, Marco thought with a nod, agreeing with Jozu. The boy might not be a pirate and would probably make another option to get out of his situation, but he had to look at the bigger picture: Big Mom, the World Government or death. It was easy to choose, having death wishes all the time was suicidal enough. Marco was sure that Lelouch would learn how to adapt within their crew sooner or later; piracy wasn't that bad of a life and the Whitebeard Pirates were a lively crew. Not only he and his friends will be protected, but they'd earn a family as well.
Whoever Big Mom had already sent after the boy must be one of her Sweet Commanders, someone who would be able to subdue Lelouch without killing him. Some of her hell-spawns were more than capable to handle him very easily, but to ensure that he'd be retrieved quickly before the Cipher Pol agents could get to him, Marco would bet that Big Mom sent either Cracker or Katakuri. One monster to get another, he thought bitterly.
If anything, Lelouch should accept. And if he was against the idea, maybe someone from his circle with more sense would get through him.
"In that case, someone should go get him-yoi."
Near Fish-Man Island, underwater...
Sailing underwater was a smooth breeze for veterans soldiers from the New World, it was even peaceful because of their threatening aura. The large man lowered his purple eyes towards the piece of paper he held, inspecting the drawing he'd received from his mother. The boy he was ordered to bring back could pass as his own son, even with the mismatched eyes, and there was an air of royalty about him that made him regal. He wondered if his manners were as refined as he looked. Nevertheless, he wanted to know what was his Mama's interest in this boy that she needed him retrieved as soon as possible.
"Aside from being the new wielder of the Terror-Terror Fruit, what's special about him that had Mama's interest, Commander Katakuri?"
Charlotte Katakuri lifted his gaze and glanced down at his subordinate. "He might not even know himself but according to Mama's informations about him, Canterbury Lelouch might have inherited the memories of his predecessors and thus, the memories Mama seeks. She's been shadowing him ever since she felt the 'shift' in her mind that he'd triggered by using his Devil Fruit for the first time ever." Katakuri crossed his long legs and arms, gazing up ahead. "That and the fact that he's a highly trained prodigy who has shown much more potential in combat, strategy and manipulation then all the rookie Marines and most of the Rear-Admirals of his generation. Mama would love having someone as smart as this boy in the family."
He took a silent breath, then exhaled softly behind his large scarf.
"Shall I tell you about the "Nightmare in Crimson and Black", a bloody massacre that occurred three years ago at Marine Base G-5, near the Red Line? What started out as a pirate raid turned into a macabre bloodbath so horrible that the World Government covered up the whole affair as quickly as possible executed whoever still had memories of it; the real thing became a rumour at G-5, the rumour turned into a sombre myth used to give the newbies at that Marine Base a scare. Some things are still being murmured to this day about..." Katakuri narrowed his eyes. "... golden eyes shining bright, a frightening smile, a sinister atmosphere and some chilling words."
He flicked a projectile upward, then caught it deftly in his large hand.
"'Sink into the blissful oblivion of terror.' There were about... three hundred pirates trying to best G-5, destroy the Marine Base and ransack everything worth of value. And if Mama's informations are correct, three hundred pirates not only died that day, but also executed their own captain because a boy with golden eyes manipulated the entire crew with twisted words; the boy said that their captain had intended to hand them over like sacrificial lambs because he wanted to either become a Warlord, one of the privileged dogs of the Government, or just wanted to die because the New World had broken his will before he could make it big. He made them believe that their captain had led the entire crew to a Marine Base that would be their grave." Surprised gasps echoed around the Sweet Commander, who nodded. "Who knows? The Government can get rid of one of their dogs to get another, more powerful and more useful, so it was possible. The pirate captain in question had had potential to become 'something' in the New World, but none that could get real attention from the Four Emperors. It was foul play, but it worked perfectly well for Lelouch, who tapped in their sudden fear of being killed and hooked them. I think they must have caught him on a bad day, for Mama's spy watched him murder every. Single. One. Of these flies. And his eyes had been golden all the time. Believe it or not, Canterbury Lelouch seems to have tapped into the entity living inside his Devil Fruit sooner than he's expected and probably doesn't even remember doing it."
One of the subordinates shook his head, sickly pale. "B-But... in order to even earn a place in the Warlords, one pirate either has to receive an invitation or provoke the World Government, by directly heading to Mariejois. And since those pirates had already passed the Red Line..."
Katakuri glanced at him, his violet eyes boring into his skull. "Do you expect all pirates to be smart?" he retorted coldly. "Sometimes, you even have to wonder how they made it to the first island of the New World without dying. Canterbury Lelouch knew that and wagered a bet, aware that they could have guessed he was lying. Why would you attack the most cruel Marine Base of the organisation, if not to show off that you made it to the New World and you could probably take on the Emperors? The boy taught them a lesson. In blood and death."
"Sounds like G-5, honestly," another subordinate grumbled.
There was a short silence during which the subordinates let those disturbing informations sink in before they wandered off, leaving Katakuri alone with his thoughts. The large man settled back on his spot, musing. Unbeknownst to his crew, there was a smirk on his hidden lips.
"And I'm looking forward to meet him," he murmured to himself.
Holy Land Mariejois, Pangaea Castle.
"His peaceful days are over," the youngest of the Five Elders said smoothly, sitting comfortably with a leg swung over the other. His eyes were drawn to the piece of paper, which represented a perfect drawing of Canterbury Lelouch. "The boy has had a less than satisfying upbringing, being raised by pirates, and should be guided to the brilliant destiny he was born for. He should be brought here, in Mariejois."
A metallic sound echoed in the room as the eldest of the group slammed his sword on the floor.
"It would be in our best interest to get him before those wretches of pirates do, the power he possesses is as valuable as an Antique Weapon!" he snapped, a scowl on his aged, wrinkled face. "The time he's spent as a 'free spirit' among the Marines has more than prepared him for the place he's about to take as the precious instrument of fear and domination, should we need him."
Then he looked up at the Rear-Admiral standing there, glaring at him. "You!" he barked, making the Marine jolt. "Have our decision final and official: all the status and privileges Canterbury Lelouch has had over the years are null and taken, he is to become a top priority target of the World Government! Give the boy the bounty we've all agreed upon during this meeting. The Mink is also a great threat and not to be underestimated, so do make sure to give him a sizeable bounty as well." He slammed his sword down once more. "Lelouch is to be captured alive and brought to Mariejois in one piece. Anyone trying to kill him will be executed without mercy. Is that understood?"
The soldier saluted, gulping. "Yes!"
Once the Marine was out of the room, the long-bearded Elder hummed as he clasped his hands behind his back, looking out the large windows.
"Such impact on us by bonding with one of the nastiest Devil Fruits there is," he mused through his moustache. "Are we a 100% certain the boy isn't a "D"? What he's done to Spandine confirms that he's already bonded with the entity living inside his Devil Fruit and is on the way to learn how to master it completely. He shows so much potential already and possesses quite the talent with Haki, it wouldn't be a surprise if he managed to manifest the Conqueror's during Alabasta's strife for freedom and rebirth. Crocodile will be a formidable adversary to him, as his involvement in the kingdom's fall will have psychological impacts on his mind. He might as well be a member of the "Family of D" and not be aware of the possibility..."
"Even if he isn't, he will serve his purpose here. And once Lelouch is in our hands, he will lead the others for us." The blond man smirked, pleased with himself. He swerved his glass in a gentle, graceful manner, watching the rich wine swirl around. "We will drink the wine of victory, my fellow companions."
Soon, he promised as his smirk widened. The boy will sure be shocked to see a bounty this high on his head, just to be handed to the Government – his home, where he should be.
Desert Kingdom of Alabasta, near Alubarna...
Parting ways with Fire Fist had left Sabertooth boiling with rage and an urge to murder. All the informations and revelations they've got from the boy were alarming, and the Mink was sure there will be a follow-up from the World Government; it will be a goddamn race to get Lelouch, just like the race for the One Piece, and if there was a bounty issued on his head, the one who would capture his best friend would become filthy rich. No, earning money this way would disgust him – at the cost of his friend? Never.
So. The big shots will make their move very soon, or were already striking to get ahead of one another. For now, they could count that wretch of Big Mom, the World Government and Sabertooth wouldn't be surprised if Kaido himself got into the race. He doubted any of the Seven Warlords, excluding Doflamingo, would be interested in filling their pockets with an insane amount of money – being a Warlord had its perks and none of them were financially fucked. Speaking of Warlord, was Vergo already aware of the nightmarish change of situation with Lelouch?
His best friend must have sensed his rage, for he glanced sharply at him with his Transponder Snail in hand and a very aggravated glare was sent in his direction. He was already calling. "As if this couldn't get any worse," he growled, eyes flashing. "Keep your head, Sabertooth."
Oh, this was not what he wanted to hear.
"'Worse'?" Sabertooth's shout startled Nasse and Noctis, who were in charge of driving the humongous crab towards Alubarna. Concerned golden eyes looked back at them to notice the Mink walking in circles, almost tearing at his snowy hair, practically foaming at the mouth and fangs out. His green eyes were wild. "'Worse'?! Don't you tell me to keep my head, I have every damn right to freak out and I am freaking out, Lelouch, and so should you! Your status in the Marines is fucking shot, most probably null because those old goats up in Mariejois have finally decided to put their two cents and 'spice things up', you're nights away from becoming one of the most prized targets of the history of the World Government because of a damned blacklisted Devil Fruit! Big Mom must have already sent her envoy, and since we're lucky, it must be one of her most powerful hell-spawns that's tracking us down! All this shit, this is all..."
"... my fault? Maybe, maybe not," the familiar voice of Vergo cut him off coldly. Sabertooth snarled angrily at the Transponder Snail, not even cowed one bit. "I'm afraid I'm a bit out of the loop, would you enlighten me so I can assess the situation with Doffy?"
Ah, the bastard wanted enlightenment? Vergo sounding so casual and calm about the crisis that was about to shit on them was so unnerving. Sabertooth was glad his best friend hadn't been fast enough to prevent him from snatching the snail out of his hand, crying out in alarm, because he was too pissed to even remember about being respectful and polite to anyone involved in Lelouch's fucked situation. Not to Vergo, not to anyone. Manners be damned.
"Where shall I start, Vergo?! From the moment you made Lelouch eat the blasted Devil Fruit?! From the second you decided to seal his fate?! You can have your pick, yet you couldn't even anticipate something this big from the get go! Just how... just how wrong do you think you actually were?!" Sabertooth screamed at the snail. Its expression naturally darkened considerably, of course, but he didn't care. He was past caring. "If your plan was to make sure Lelouch would hopefully join the Donquixote Family, become your successor on the Heart Seat instead of Trafalgar Law so he wouldn't have to roam under the watchful eyes of the World Government or the Emperors, then you're a fucking idiot! Did you think the theft would have gone unnoticed for this long?! For years?! How in the hell did you even manage to steal the Terror-Terror Fruit from them in the first place?! Was that a lie?"
The sound of broken furniture echoed in the background, loud and clear. The twins jolted, startled once again. Lelouch's pose relaxed as well as his expression, which became smooth and blank. He just watched in silence, arms crossed. Good, he needed to listen, because Sabertooth wasn't going to just sit back and wait for the first bastard from either Big Mom's crew or the Government's cohort to abduct him. The Transponder Snail matched Vergo's expression, which finally showed the simmering rage that had been waiting to explode. Everyone needed to lose his composure.
"Don't you talk to me that way, insufferable brat! Remember your place!" Vergo ground out, nearly shouting. "Did you think I had never considered the possibility that this was just another scheme from them, Mink?! That they might have watched Lelouch from the get go because they were probably waiting for someone to take on the mantle again and become the new wielder?! I've studied them for far too long to understand their tactics, so don't you go on a rant and accuse me of being stupid!"
"Then why did you give Lelouch the Devil Fruit if you knew about the bloody history they've hidden from the world for years? Because that's what you did, right? You had a choice: either get rid of the damn thing so anyone else could get it or put it back where you've stolen it, and since 'nothing can get past you', you would have logically chosen to give the damn thing back! Unless..." His green eyes flashed dangerously and his fangs gleamed under the snarl. "... you weren't given much of a choice back then and you had to choose." His sharp gaze whipped to Lelouch once more, who frowned slightly.
There just had to be something else, and Lelouch knew it too: neither of them had bought Vergo's explanation of how he acquired the blacklisted Devil Fruit years ago since it was supposed to be on lock down in Mariejois, and Pangaea Castle had to be more heavily guarded than Impel Down or Marineford. You just don't show up to the Holy Land where the Five Elders, the blasted World Nobles and Commander-in-Chief Kong lived with a complex plan and expect it to go smoothly, that was a death wish. Lelouch and Sabertooth hadn't said anything back then but now that everything was just about to change, Vergo might as well come clean before they reached Alubarna.
Since his expression slowly turned from enraged to deadly cold, the Mink knew he'd hit right on the mark and couldn't go back. This needed to be addressed before all ties were cut off. Sabertooth faced Lelouch, inhaling deeply and steeling his nerves. His best friend stared right back at him with a blank expression, arms crossed against his chest.
"Let's hear all the lies and the truths, Vergo. Correct me where, if and when I'm wrong, so we can examine your facts and our theories. You never stole the Terror-Terror Fruit from Mariejois under the nose of the Five Elders all these years ago, which would have required an incredible plan from A to Z. I admit that you're a formidable Vice-Admiral, but let's back it up a little to be realistic: no one can just break into Pangaea Castle in the Holy Land, go straight to whatever vault where all the blacklisted Devil Fruit are locked in, steal the Terror-Terror Fruit and hightail the hell outta there unnoticed!" Sabertooth ground out, putting the emphasis on the most important words of his sentences. "It's just not possible, even for you. So Lelouch and I thought over it: even though you're a Vice-Admiral, you're not permitted to enter the Holy Land by the Government. Doflamingo's family having been disgraced, he no longer has the authority, the power and the right to be allowed back there, so he wasn't the one to task you to get the damn thing. Since those blacklisted Devil Fruits are forbidden, I guess they shouldn't be listed in the encyclopedia only aristocratic and royal families can afford. So here's the question..."
His tail, which had been hardened with Haki on impulse, cracked loudly on the back of the giant Moving Crab like a whip. Nasse yelped in surprise, nearly jumping in her brother's arms, and her blind eyes widened when her ears caught the familiar sound of breaking; Sabertooth had cracked the shell of the crab in anger and didn't even notice. She gulped, feeling faint. So strong, she thought with a hint of awe and envy.
His green eyes flashed and so did Lelouch's as he took two steps closer, his gaze drawn to the silent Transponder Snail.
"... how and where the hell did you hear about the Terror-Terror Fruit, if you've never read any data about it? One would think that security at Pangaea Castle had been lax when you 'stole' it, but you've never been there, have you?"
"Someone came to see you, Vergo," Lelouch continued in an emotionless voice, much like his face. Sabertooth couldn't tell if he was angry, felt betrayed – because it had been treason from the beginning! – or murderous. There was no killing intent coming off of him. Yet. "Someone who must have had knowledge that you were a dirty pirate in disguise, a mole placed by Donquixote Doflamingo to infiltrate the Marines and manage to rise to a rank high enough to cover his businesses." He was silent for a few seconds before he closed his eyes. "You chose him over me. I understand."
And they all did: Vergo and Doflamingo have known each other for many years and they've been through so much that it would be ludicrous for the crook to betray him. He was in too deep. Vergo was a pirate to the core, a member of the Donquixote Family and he was the first to occupy the Heart Seat, so why the hell would he choose Lelouch over Doflamingo? The fifteen years he spent to ascend his position were only part of his role as a mole. His loyalty to the Heavenly Demon knew no bounds, so Lelouch would always remain last behind the former World Noble and the Donquixote Family.
That is, until now; Vergo's silence told them everything they just wanted to know.
When he opened his eyes again, there was acceptance in the navigator's gaze that made Sabertooth's heart clench. "Thank you, Vergo," he said truthfully, gratitude clear in his voice. "For everything you've taught me for a long decade. I wish I could tell you face-to-face but, next time we meet, we'll be fighting. Is there... anything else?"
"Sphinx is dead."
Sabertooth's heart nearly gave out when Vergo said this and he almost dropped the Transponder Snail as well, shell-shocked. The twins whipped around, crying out in shock as well. He knew?! He's known all along?! His wide eyes flew to his best friend, sputtering in astonishment and sorrow for him. At first, Lelouch had no reaction. But slowly, very slowly, his expression went from serene to horrified. "I-I'm sorry...?" he asked. His voice almost sounded broken and his eyes were wide in horror.
There seemed to be a sigh from the pirate as he went on to explain. "Exactly what I said, Lelouch: Sphinx is dead. Has been for years. Before you suddenly appeared in his life, he'd been battling a deadly disease that had been weakening his health; a year after the other, he was slowly dying. So he spent his last years training you, even though he was weak. But from what you told me and what I saw, Sphinx had been able to train your body physically. You also said that he never faltered... he's always been an excellent actor." The loud gulp Lelouch gave him pause, and the expression on the Transponder Snail seemed to soften just a little. "I can only guess how you're feeling right now, as I'm terribly sorry for keeping this from you. However, Sphinx made me swear to never tell you about his condition, as he somehow knew it would drive you to come back to Alabasta before he kicked the bucket. He couldn't let that happen."
"WHY?!" Sabertooth shouted, both enraged and shaken. "Is this all about pride that he didn't tell his student that he'd fucking die before he even made it adulthood?!"
The Mink's mind was overcome with so many emotions that he felt dizzy and sick. This wasn't happening; while Sabertooth had only overheard the news of Lelouch's former master's death just days ago in Nanohana from the other set of twins, Vergo having been aware of Sphinx's death for a freaking decade was worse. He kept it a secret from his student and was now revealing all this crap. In Alabasta, when Crocodile was having his way with the dying kingdom. This bastard... did he have the slightest idea of what he was doing to Lelouch?
"Pride... shame... you name it. The point is, Sphinx knew that his death would have shaken you and probably would have been a hindrance to your growth. That day, when he called me... I could tell that he'd just found something incredible, something that could shake this world and make it tremble like those people who've inherited this "Will of D". Granted, we don't know if you're a "D" for sure, but it really doesn't matter any way – the Conqueror's Haki is manifesting in you. And perhaps something bigger. We just need to wait another –"
"Vergo."
This time, Sabertooth felt his heart freeze in his ribcage and he stilled on his spot as well. Behind him, the twins whipped round back to focus on the road again, gulping simultaneously and so tense that they could just break right now. In fact, he swore he could spot their souls floating out of their bodies, withering in fear while all the hair on his own body, tuft and all rose on end. The Mink raised a trembling hand to cover his mouth, absolutely terrified of the expression on his best friend's face.
The smile was wrong, the blank, tired eyes were wrong, even his aura was wrong – it was off, as in he couldn't even feel the powers of the Terror-Terror Fruit creeping on his mind to devour it. It was as if Lelouch was... emotionally detached. Completely detached after what he's just been told. Like a defense mechanism to avoid any more mental damage from the raging emotions his mind was going through.
He raised a hand in a mechanical gesture, reaching for the Transponder Snail. "Stop talking. We don't have time for this," he crooned. "Alabasta is living its last hours... we don't have time."
"Wait, Lelouch –"
Ga-chank!
"... we really don't have time," he repeated in a dead voice.
Sabertooth gulped again, not daring to move a muscle. Lelouch's hand was trembling upon his own, clenching onto the now sleeping Transponder Snail. Here and there, he'd close and open his eyes, which still held the same blank look that wouldn't leave his gaze. His aura was still off. Sabertooth had learnt how to handle Lelouch whenever he was nearing mental breakdowns, but this one might just be the greatest; coping with his former mentor's death when he hasn't talked to him in years, due to parties keeping his illness a secret, won't be an easy journey.
Mismatched eyes slowly glanced to the side, and Lelouch tilted his head very slightly. "Look, it's Alubarna," he whispered. "We're finally here..."
Sabertooth dared to glance at the city, but not before grabbing Lelouch's arm tightly to make sure he won't suddenly fly off towards the capital. Alubarna was right in front of them, gigantic and almost sparkling in the sun; the palace was of course the first thing his keen eyes noticed, with its majestic structure and how big it was in the distance. Though it had nothing on his native town's magnificence, the Mink had to admit it looked beautiful.
Noctis heaved a sigh of relief. "Finally! I thought we weren't going to make it with all the breaks," he said, sounding exhausted.
"Just before the fight between Baroque Works, the rebels and the Royal Army broke out," Nasse added, smiling widely. "See, Lelouch? There's no need to rush, we still have time to defuse the bomb if there's one, track down the Baroque Works agents undercover."
Lelouch, however, didn't even react positively about this. "Beware of the Sandora River in front of us: the Moving Crab can't swim."
The twins perked up at the same time. "Eh?"
He said that so casually and disinterestedly that Sabertooth's eyes snapped back at him, only to widen when Lelouch's leg blurred too fast towards him. He was hit in the face very hard by a strong foot, so hard that he saw stars for a second and was flung backward by a second kick to his stomach. He had to plant both of his feet and fingers in the shell of the Moving Crab, cracking it to stop his fall. Shaking his head to get rid of the dizziness, Sabertooth clenched his jaw and swore when he heard the tell-tale sound of someone flying through the air using the Moon Walk and the twins crying out Lelouch's name, telling him to come back.
"LELOUCH! GET BACK HERE, YOU CAN'T GO LIKE THIS!" he roared, jumping back on top of the Moving Crab to see his best friend fly away at top speed towards the capital. Curse the prodigy for being this fast and strong, he had split his lip and broken his nose in the process! He snarled angrily, but felt absolutely horrified and fearful for Lelouch's present mental state. "DAMN IT! STOP THE CRAB, IT CAN'T SWIM!"
Noctis pulled hard on the reins, thus forcing the giant crustacean to a halt. They had to balance themselves as the crab's pincers slid hard on the sand, just managing to stop before they all sank into the Sandora River. While the twins tried to figure out how they were going to cross, Sabertooth answered for them: he grabbed them by the waist like sacks of potatoes, ran up at top speed until he reached the extremity of the crab's back, used his foot to launch himself in the air like a rocket.
"RHAAAA! WARN US BEFORE YOU DO ANY OF THAT SHIT!" Noctis yelled in fear, clinging onto Sabertooth's middle for dear life with tears in his golden eyes.
"Get used to it!" Sabertooth barked firmly.
On the other hand, his sister looked like she had passed out from too much emotion when they hadn't even got to the main dish of this war; her face was pale, her eyes looked like they had rolled to the back of her head and tears were still streaming down her cheeks despite her state. They flew over the Sandora River and through the wind, much like Lelouch did a few seconds ago, and when Sabertooth landed on the sand, he immediately took off running again. He sprinted ahead, his silhouette sometimes blurred as he strained his legs to get to Lelouch.
Alubarna and Baroque Works had no idea of the bloodshed that was about to begin once Crocodile got to the capital, where his best friend would hopefully be waiting instead of tearing through any traitor under the Warlord's service. Please think first, Lelouch, Sabertooth prayed in frustration.
They needed to get to King Cobra first, just to make sure he wouldn't get captured by either Crocodile or something. This way, maybe the Poneglyph would be safe.
Alubarna, capital of the Desert Kingdom of Alabasta.
The wind blew through Lelouch's hair and his robes as he finally reached Alubarna, soaring in the air until he landed on the edge of a building like a cat. He performed three perfect cartwheels and crouched silently, his emotions raging through his head in a maelstrom of murderous and guilty thoughts altogether. Was it true? Was Sphinx really dead? If it was, then he blew the only chance to reconnect with him.
If it is, then you couldn't have done anything about it. He's dead. Get over it for now and look for the king.
The harsh words didn't seem to have much of an impact on him, as he just kept observing the capital with a detached expression. Although his eyesight had become as keen as a hawk's over the years, he couldn't spot one undercover Baroque Works agent among the soldiers of the Royal Army that were bustling around the city; every soldier was running amok, preparing the capital for the Rebel Army's assault. Kind of hard to identify the real from the fake ones. Just two of those bastards would have to suffice until he got his hands on Crocodile. Maybe more.
Heaving a deep sigh, Lelouch concentrated and activated his Observation Haki; his mismatched eyes flashed, taking a ruby red colour as he extended his vision all over Alubarna. He noted all the people present in the city – civilians, soldiers, strange people he'd never seen before (most probably from Crocodile's organisation) who were on their way to the palace. With a jolt of anger, he perceived the king's presence in the palace, near the plaza, and those people were heading towards him. There was even... an okama? Lelouch had to refrain a gasp of surprise when the disgusting man touched his face and 'shifted' into the king. There was also a short, plump woman that looked like a mole, a white dog and a large man who spoke funny and slow – probably other goons from Baroque Works. Two other had his attention as they looked more serious and stronger, which meant that they might be two of the strongest of Crocodile's main team of fighters. Taking note of this, the navigator finally noticed the first victims of his killing spree.
In about ten seconds, three soldiers would be jogging down the street just below him in an alley, rolling barrels for God knew why. They could have looked like any other soldier of the Royal Army, but there was one thing that distinguished them: whoever had thought that tattooing the Jolly Roger of Baroque Works on their arms would be an excellent idea would have to be shot dead. Just like those three pirates pretending to be soldiers.
But what threw him off was the conversation that followed their jog in the alley:
"Quickly! The boss wants everything in order before the big showdown. Where are Mr. 7 and Miss Father's Day? Are they in position?"
One of them clicked his tongue irritably. "They are and they're doing nothing but bitch. That fat, short witch of Miss Merry Christmas has been getting on my nerves ever since she got here, complaining about Mr. 4 and his funny dog. Wish we could leave them to die in the explosion that will wipe out the whole capital..."
"I bet the boss will dry up that mole woman if she survives the blast. Can you imagine how she'll look? She's already this old, but she'll look even worse as a dried up mummy!"
Mocking jeers erupted between the three of them, as they stopped a moment to catch their breath after their little joke made up burst out laughing.
Then the Baroque Works agents continued their way in the alley until they got out and turned right, disappearing.
This time, an expression of intense shock erased Lelouch's previous detached look as he blinked multiple times. What the hell was that? He was just using Observation Haki right now for sure, but it was more... profound; Observation Haki helped him prevent oncoming attacks, but no one told him that it could be trained any further. The conversation he's just seen, heard and witnessed seemed so real, as if it was really going to happen in that alleyway. Was it possible? He had to test that out.
Eight...
Lelouch stood up from his porch, shrugged off his robes and threw them behind him. He got his cane-sword, backpack, and waited the right moment. His red eyes now settled on the three soldiers that were fast approaching the alleyway, unaware of walking towards their death.
Six...
He flexed his fingers a few times, itching to try out his theory. He could feel the Wraith's interest and, dare he say, amusement at the ordeal. He was practically purring with interest from within, and Lelouch could almost appreciate the way he was focused on what he was doing. Almost.
Four...
"Quickly! The boss wants everything in order before the big showdown. Where are Mr. 7 and Miss Father's Day? Are they in position?"
I can't believe it, Lelouch thought as he gaped, stunned out of his mind. The conversation was actually happening right now, just as he – did he just predict it? Did he just predict the damn future? Lelouch watched raptly, now waiting eagerly. And sure enough, one of them clicked his tongue in irritation and answered.
Two...
"They are and they're doing nothing but bitch. That fat, short witch of Miss Merry Christmas has been getting on my nerves ever since she got here, complaining about Mr. 4 and his funny dog. Wish we could leave them to die in the explosion that will wipe out the whole capital..."
"I bet the boss will dry up that mole woman if she survives the blast. Can you imagine how she'll look? She's already this old, but she'll look even worse as a dried up mummy!"
The mocking jeers erupted and the bastards stopped in the alleway, laughing their asses off. Just as he'd just predicted. Honestly, Lelouch would have loved to marvel even more at the skill he'd just discovered, but when a sharp mental slap from the Wraith jostled him out of his shock, he raised his finger and pointed it down, aiming for one head.
"Flying Finger Pistol," he whispered.
The shot was nearly silent and went through the pirate's head smoothly, splattering blood on his companions. His laugh was cut short with a strangled sound, but the smile didn't disappear from his face right away as he crumpled to the ground, dead. The other two soon stopped laughing, gazing at their fallen comrade in confusion.
"H-Hey, you okay?" the closest pirate asked, crouching over him. He quickly recoiled in horror when he took notice of the pool of blood quickly spreading around the head. "He... he's dead!"
"What?!" the other shouted in alarm, eyes wide under his helmet.
They're so loud.
Agreed.
He blurred from his perch, kicking the closest fake soldier to him really hard in the back. The blow softened his landing, as the pirate crashed into a small crater thanks to Lelouch's strength. He almost smiled when he heard the tell-tale sound of bones cracking under his feet and the pained, strangled gasp that escaped his victim's throat. The remaining pirate gasped and flinched, tripping over his own feet and falling. He backed away frantically, sputtering in shock, and froze on his spot when brilliant, golden eyes snapped slowly to his face.
"It seems that I've been lying to myself once again," Lelouch said as he now slowly walked up to the last victim. He put his hands in his pockets. "He was right. Unexpectedly..."
Lelouch raised his foot, then brought it down on the head of the pirate he'd landed on, smashing through the skull very easily. The sound of cracking bones sounded good, music to his ears and his damaged and emotional mind. Blood and brain pieces splattered everywhere around them both, and even Lelouch's clothes weren't spared (especially that white T-Shirt with the crowned smirking cat), but he didn't seem to care. Or notice.
"... there's still something in me that loves Alabasta. Pharaoh, Adma, Ali, Baala, Old Rê – all of them had been in my childhood. I love them. And your boss is trying to destroy this country for something that won't even be found here..."
A flintlock was shoved in his face as soon as he got closer to the shaking pirate, who was crying and sobbing uncontrollably. However, Lelouch's hand blurred in front of him and he was seeing a hand flying in front of his tearful, frightened eyes – said hand was still holding the flintlock tightly in its palm. It landed softly at his feet, useless. The pirate's eyes looked down at the hand, then right at his bloody stump, then back down at the amputated hand. A horrified scream rose from his throat, ready to alert anyone nearby, but a gloved hand suddenly wrapped itself around his mouth, tightening painfully around his jaws. He was slowly lifted by the face by Lelouch, who smiled widely at him.
The pupils in his golden eyes first shrank, then widened slowly in an eerie fashion. The pirate could only cry even more, begging with pleading eyes and even trying to pry the hand off his face. He even tried hitting Lelouch, but it was like hitting an iron wall.
"I swore there would be blood. Allow me to follow through my promise."
The hand holding the pirate tightened even more, crushing the bones of the jaws very slowly. Muffled whimpers and cries could have been heard, had the city not been this busy in preparing defenses for an oncoming assault and bloodshed from the rebels. The valid hand blurred forward, silencing the Baroque Works agent for good. Blood poured through Lelouch's hand, but he didn't care: his head was raised towards the sky as he looked at the beautiful weather. This same weather that would probably carry an aura of death, should Crocodile's plan come to fruition.
"Alabasta won't die," Lelouch finally murmured.
And this was a promise.