As you can see… I'm skipping the few episodes connected to the movie Z. And oh. POV! :DDD
WARNING: Contains EVERY SPOILER THERE IS FOR LAW'S PAST. I suggest you finish the Dressrosa arc first.
Disclaimer: One Piece is not mine. It's Oda-sensei's. The LawxLuffyxAce coverimage is NOT mine, either.
CHARACTER EXPLANATION: 蛊惑gu2huo4 means not only to poison, but also to bewitch.
…
As a child, aside from being a prodigy, Trafalgar Law was considered to be pretty normal: He had a town he'd call 'home', a family who loved him, and even an aspiration that guided his bright future.
Flevance was a prosperous country, its citizen living happy and peaceful lives. His family was a loving one, with a father, a mother, and a little sister. Even his dream of becoming a doctor was fast approaching, his potential blooming at an exponential rate.
However, Flavence had a disease hidden to the public eye, slowly killing the country with its poison. And it was those who knew—the people who caused the disease—ensured it was kept that way.
It was because of this greed and selfishness of those in power that he lost everything he had.
He had seen his parents shot without remorse, his sister and other patients helplessly burned to crisps like common livestock, and everyone else massacred as they tried to escape the dreadful country they once called home.
It was also the day he found out he only had 38 months left to live.
His heart and soul was not able to grasp the misfortune. That day, they just… broke.
At the time, he couldn't comprehend it: how their peaceful lives would end in a blink of an eye while those at fault suffered least of them all. How was it that his kind-hearted father, mother, sister, and townsfolk were dead when they did nothing wrong?
Even those not from Flavence—fellow human beings—became monsters to him that day. He knew of it: adjacent countries shooting the people crossing the borders as if they were playing arcade games.
He couldn't comprehend it.
And the only explanation he arrived to is that the world was rotten.
And it had to be destroyed.
蛊惑
CHAPTER 11: Poisoned
PUNK HAZARD
His eyes opened abruptly and absorbed as the imprint of his burning town changed to the sight of the cold aluminum surface that spanned the entire ceiling.
It took him a couple of moments to absorb the change in setting. The interiors were of silver and white, metallic planes, the surfaces almost visually monolithic, the furniture were of materials that were easy to clean. It was only then that he recalled where he actually was. And when.
With a groan, he sat up straighter, only to be met with a jolt of discomfort, belatedly figuring out that he had fallen asleep on the couch. His hand formed a tight knuckle as after images from the nightmare passed by his head and his hand rose to massage his temple, when he felt a little throb in his head that signaled an incoming headache.
It had been a while since he had that dream, but in retrospect a lot of nightmares were recurring. He knew it was because it was finally starting: His Plans.
His sharp eyes observed his own hand as he sat, gathering himself as he waited, the dark letters comprising DEATH and the cross at the back of his hand contrasting with his skin. As always, his mind's eye moved to the tattoos on his body—every image reminding him of what he must do, of Corazon and his dying wish—and Law's will reinvigorated. It did not take long for someone to knock on the door.
"He's ready now," Monet said and he nodded, standing up to meet Caesar.
The scientist was in one of his lounges, his smile as hideous as ever, albeit a lot more sinister, and it told Law that whatever he was experimenting on must be a success.
And this meant bad news to a lot of living things.
"Shurorororo~ How nice to see you again." The scientist said as he sat down, Monet returning to her desk not too far from them. "Last time I saw you, we had a deal, and also not to tell anyone: including Joker." "I assume you'd want to go look around now?"
"Yes." Law said. "And I'd expect no hindrances from your people."
The scientist shrugged, just before he remembered something. "Oh, and can you use your ability to add a few more icebergs blocking the entrance?"
Law shrugged and stood up to do as he was asked. However, as he sauntered to the door, his eyes caught a familiar newspaper on a desk and his hand moved on its own to touch it. It lingered a little more than usual, eyes stuck on a certain image, and he went on his way.
As he walked, he thought of the first time he'd seen her.
Monkey D. Luffy always had a way of catching attention, even when—as was the first time—her face was no more than an inch of the black-and-white newspaper spread.
His crew, the Heart Pirates, had just departed from an island where the odd Nispedana Kingdom was located, the country where his North Blue bounty of twenty-eight million changed to eighty-seven. It was why Bepo took it upon himself to take a copy (or a dozen) of the newspaper to add to his portfolio.
Her article was about a female rookie taking over her home sea by storm—defeating the most wanted criminals in East Blue—in the span of a little over a month, and was now heading to the Grand Line.
It was a very, very, small article located at the side. So small that people who only read the newspaper for the headlines wouldn't even spare it a second glance. But his eyes ended up there, anyway. Perhaps it was because of the very familiar "D" or because of the shit-eating grin plastered on her face.
He had felt a bit doubtful of her survival. After all, a female captain of a crew of five dashing through the red line would normally spell death. He was certain she wouldn't have the means to place sea stone on her ship, as he did, to cross the calm belt instead.
But then, a few weeks later, he'd see her new bounty poster with a much larger picture of said shit-eating grin.
He's been following her progress ever since.
.
She's back.
He closed his eyes and pushed away that bastard Kidd's voice, sighed, and walked out to the blizzard outside.
蛊惑
"Room."
He moved the massive iceberg towards the center of the river with a flick of a finger. He watched as a few more realigned along with it, and turned slightly to a direction when he sensed people—hooves—approaching him.
"It's LAW-SAN!"
"Oh, hello, Law-san!"
"Welcome back, Law-san!"
He just gave them a slight nod, but their admiring eyes did not stray. He sighed, knowing full well how these people were being manipulated by Caesar but he didn't say so. "Brownbeard." He called, and the half-man flinched, ready to serve. Many of the others were, as well.
"I'm more comfortable with only one, though." He said. "You can ask one of your men, as you should continue your patrols."
Brownbeard nodded at this and, thinking he was special, blushed. "Everyone! Go back to your positions! I'll leave guiding Law-san to you, Poloro, my trusted first mate!"
"Ehh…" Poloro, a tall man with similar animal lower-half as their captain, beamed at the responsibility, while the others frowned.
"Oi."
"YES!"
Brownbeard retained his grin and Poloro smiled as well, pointing to his reptilian back and told him to jump on. He did so, and he stood there coolly as he ensured there was no one else there. "Can you point me to the Eastern labs?" He said, his robotic voice not betraying the presence of an ulterior motive. "I left something there the last time I went here."
"Oh, okay!" The larger pirate said and he gladly convoyed the shichibukai to his destination.
…
"Walk, Law." As he felt the cold gust of winter air met him in his travel, a familiar voice inside his head replayed words spoken in similar conditions—albeit much more frigid, more filled with death.
"Nothing will bind you anymore—not the iron borders of the White City...nor your shortened lifespan. Nothing will restrict you anymore.
"You are now...truly free."
But he was not, he thought, as he saw destroyed metal rooms not too far away.
Not until that person was dealt with: Donquixote Doflamingo.
Law may have become a shichibukai so he could travel the places he needs to be without hindrances, but he was far from being free.
"We're here, Law-san!"
"Thanks." He said, jumping down the man's rough dorsal skin. "And keep it from Master. If they ask tell them I'm going to the other lab."
"Eh? Why?" He asked, although with pure curiosity.
"We have a surprise for him, I'm readying it. It should be ready in the first days." He said, raising a conspiratorial finger. "Monet-san doesn't know either."
"They tend to forget their birthdays."
"EHH?!" The half-man exclaimed, surprised and excited. "Can I be of help?"
"Just be sure to keep quiet about all of this."
"Okay!"
蛊惑
"So…, how was your trip?" Monet asked, a bit dubiously but that was how she normally was. He ignored her and just entered the bland guest room provided for him.
It had been hours after he met with Caesar, and Law frowned when he found her in his room. "I'm going to make this a vacation spot of mine." He said with an audibly dismissive tone and just sat down on the couch, crossing his arms, as he meaningfully placed nodachi beside him.
He was not surprised though that Monet ignored the soundless threat and sat beside him anyway. Even with his eyes closed, he could tell she was facing him, arm on the neck rest, watching his reaction. And when she flirtatiously moved her finger with a circular motion on his shoulder, his hand immediately moved to hold on to his sword, and she furtively lifted her fingers off him.
Still, she made sure not to be farther than two inches from him. She then breathed out, leaning down to whisper on his ear. "You're taking care of my heart, aren't you, Law-kun?" She asked, and for a second he did not respond.
Over a year prior, when Law first came to Punk Hazard, Caesar agreed to make a deal with the insurance of taking his heart, and him taking Monet's. Monet had been surprisingly blasé about getting her heart taken and he immediately surmised she was working for someone else, and he had a good idea who it was.
And after a few months of investigation, he found out he was right. Monet worked for Doflamingo along with her little sister, a few years after he defected. He knew that moment that, although it was a good leverage getting her heart, his own heart was in more trouble than he had calculated.
"If mine is fine, then yours will be."
"Hmn." She said, scooting closer to him. His jaw tensed and his grip tightened on his sword, ready to slash the woman if he must. "You know, there's this good way to fully gain my trust."
At this, his jaw relaxes but his hold on his sword did not. It seemed like Monet really was flirting with him. But he had no desire nor the stomach to entertain her.
He was very much aware of how terse and cruel people think he was and, for the most part, they were not incorrect. He moved his thumb to expose a bit of his blade. "I'd like to be left alone." He said, tone indicating it was not a request.
Monet giggled and tilted her body away slightly. "Oh, how strict." She said, her sadistic tone of voice audible even in flirting. "You're quite a difficult man to deal with, huh?" She paused, turning to him. "Would be looking forward to see a woman who can… soften you up."
He rolled his eyes.
She just chuckled and stood up. "In any case, Caesar is calling for you." "He just finished one of his experiments and he'd like you to see."
…
Caesar was in one of his observation rooms, one that was protected by impenetrable glass and looking down on an experiment area with ceilings at least five storeys high. "Oh, there you are…" he said. "Come here, observe with me."
Law coolly walked to stand beside him and saw the experiment room was empty with a single tray with a drop of violet liquid. It was obviously poison. "It is poison as you can see, a drop of it. It is so strong that even an elephant will die if its skin makes contact with it."
He smirked. "Even poison-immune animals like Hedgehogs will die in a similar way."
Somehow Law was reminded of two years ago… when he detected massive amounts of poisons in her body, miraculously counteracted by abnormal amounts and combination of hormones. Each of those can easily kill dozens of grown men, but she has survived going through both.
She must've developed an insane immunity to poisons by now.
He did not notice a small smirk appearing on his face.
"Ah, here comes the experiment."
His attention was pulled back by the sound of the thick metal doors opening. It was Poloro, in all his half-reptilian glory, patiently waiting for orders. Law's eyebrows furrowed and he frowned, disliking the feeling on his gut.
"Observe."
"Poloro-kun~"
"Yes, Master!"
"First of all, thank you for telling me my surprise!" he said, and Law's eyes widened slightly. "I'm glad we had to do a lot of persuasion before you told us, because that means you really care about the surprise, yes?"
"Yes, Master!"
Law was very still. How did they know? Did someone tail him without being sensed by his haki?
"I'll be sure to act surprised when Law-kun does it for me, huh?"
The man blushed. "Glad I could help, Master!"
"Now… can you put your pinky and touch that drop of purple liquid please?"
Poloro blinked and turned to look for the said tray. He found it and looked back up, nodding enthusiastically, glad to be of service. "Yes, Master!"
But he had barely even touched it yet, when he writhed in pain.
"Shurorororo! Magnificent, isn't it?" Caesar laughed while Law had to fight for his stoic face. "The gas alone is enough to kill! I may only have a few drops now, but I'll have buckets of those after a while."
Caesar's face darkened as he stared at Law. "Pretty useful, isn't it?"
…
Trafalgar Law was striding across the corridor, thinking how much Caesar and Monet already knew of his actions and how. He wondered if there was another factor he hadn't taken into consideration?
As he walked though, he heard hooves swiftly coming his way. He recognized them as guards stationed just outside the building. They looked terrified were holding a den den mushi and calling for their master.
He walked back to see what's going on to find out that a marine ship from G-5 and a couple of pirates were causing trouble.
He thought this was the chance to loosen their guard on him.
"Why don't you leave this one up to me?"
Caesar and Monet looked at him, before smiling. "We'll leave it up to you then."
…
He walked along the long and massive corridor, unlit and heavy, so the noise from the outside (knocks, yells, and threats) echoed along the hall. "Open up!" They yelled, and proceeded on deciding no one will open up, so they will force their way in.
He opened the door and watched their reaction, knowing what his reputation was. Good, he thought, and perhaps he wouldn't have to lift a finger. But the wishful thinking ended when he stared at the vice-admiral and the captain, knowing they'll be trouble.
"What are you doing here?" Law asked, after dismissively waving off the issue of his being in a forbidden island. After all, they were too, and he's just really having a vacation.
"We've caught a conversation of someone from here and a certain pirate crew we believe to have entered the island." The female marine said. "We'd like to look around—"
"Not really my problem is it?" He cut her off. "And you understand that I'm not comfortable having marines on my backyard."
"Punk Hazard is not your backyard, Law." Smoker said with that venomous tone of his.
Law stared, and shrugged (earning him a couple of glares). "It is now." He said. "I'll take care of the pirates you're coming after." "You should go."
"It's not that easy." The woman stubbornly retorted. "You may be a shichibukai but this pirate is stronger than her bounty, along with the rest of her crew."
His eyebrows furrowed at this and apparently the female took it as an invitation to let him hear the tapped conversation. Raising her hand to reveal a black den den mushi, she played the recorded conversation. "HELP!" "A samurai is cutting us!" "HELP!"
It was no doubt one of the Brownbeard's men, but his face remained impassive. But a moment later he had to fight his facial muscles to continue looking nonplussed. "Where are you?" a familiar voice asked. "We'll go there!" "It's ME! Monkey D. Luffy! I'm gonna be the pirate king!"
The bespectacled marine turned it off, dire expression on her face. "No doubt that it is this island."
He didn't speak and stared, ensuring that he kept a stoic expression on his face.
"You know Mugiwara Luffy, don't you?" The woman continued, and he can feel her watching his expression. "You fought alongside her in Sabaody." Then she paused. "And you saved her once, in Marineford."
"It's my vacation island. I'm the only one here. If I see Mugawara, I'll give you her head." He said, the aforementioned girl's voice still with a ringing in his ear. "Now, you may leave."
It was then that he heard various voices approaching from inside the building. There were a lot of people, mostly children. Then his sights caught a tank and a weird Tanuki.
Definitely her crewmates.
She is really here.
He sighed.
He hadn't even met her after these two years and she was already causing him trouble.
.
.
END OF CHAPTER 11
CHAPTER 12: TO MEET AGAIN
Long awaited reunions and alliances finally begin
REPLIES TO ANGELS
Kitteninthemoonlight – I know I'm sorrryyy I take forever to update and not give warnings when I go on Hiatus. I even took longer this time and I hope you're still here! xD About Yasopp, he figured it out by virtue of their noses. Hahaha. And anything not in the AN is most likely something of mine. Hope you enjoy this chapter too btw!
Yukihime88 – Zoro meeting Law coming up….! Soon. xD Not in this chapter, but soon. Hope you like this chapter tho and thanks for reviewing!
Bookdragonslayer – hehehe glad you like how I still keep the canon! Canon is awesome. Do warn me if I am sticking with it too much tho! Thx for reviewing~
Littlest1 – I am so glad you thought it was fantastic! Thank you for telling me~ and yep! I think Shanks being the father is most logical! Also the cutest possibility. Hehhehehe
Vanessa Masters – Yes, yes Law has a thing for Luffy. Heheheh. I shall hint that more in here as well! XD Thank you for reviewing and I am so glad you liked my work!
Caraline Fisher – Thank you for telling me you love the chap! Hope you like this one as well! :DD
Haruaji11 – And thank you for reading and reviewing! Glad to know you liked the chapter! And Punk Hazard coming up… next chap! Hehehehhe
Ale. Luna. 35 – Who'll be in the harem? The question shall be: Who won't be in the harem? Hahahhahaha. Thx for commenting btw!
FionaEve-chan – Thank you for reviewing! And LawLu? I will add a speck of it in this chapter! They will meet in the next chap tho, hope that's ok!
Grandmaa – Thank you for reviewing! So glad you loved it!
RainbowMaze – (Ch9) Your vote for Zoro's love line is noted! I shall consider it! I, too, kinda like it when the dude stays loyal to the lead xD (ch10) Here it is! Sorry I took long and I hope you liked the chapter as well. Thank you for your reviews!
SenchuOPL – (ch9) Glad you thought it was a cute chap! Hope you like this one as well!
Sanji – (Ch2) beautiful delicate lady? Luffy? Did I do that? XDD
Stylus Opium – (Ch1) Which pic? The coverimage? XDD Just google femLuffy and Ace. :D (Ch5) hahah I am not sure what I crashed but somehow I am flattered. xD Thank you. Ajaja
D.B. – And thank you for taking the time to comment! Hope you enjoy!
Guest [March 23 2018] – (Ch1) aww I apologize for upsetting you. xD Hope you get all the way here tho!
YokaiAngel – I am happy you thought it was beautiful! And thank you even more for telling me!
EmInArEvOl – Lol I considered adding Ace to the harem! But decided against it. Thank you for liking the story anyway! Hope you enjoy and thanks for reviewing!
Silver Fox – Vote noted! :D Thanks for commenting!
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