EPILOGUE

TOTTO LAND, WHOLE CAKE CHATEAU

Reiju's eyes looks straight ahead into the mirror, looking at nothing but the silk white of her dress. Her wedding dress. Reiju thought this day would have been happier, thought she would have a say on who to marry. Then again, Charlotte Tablet is a fine man, just that… She doesn't love him.

And as much as her dad had tried to persuade her, tell her that they don't need Big Mom's alliance… That they can survive on mercenary work and fighting wars not theirs, Reiju had had enough.

So given the invitation Judge had planned to turn down, Reiju had accepted. Her brothers being opposed to this as well. Ichiji was silent about it, but Niji and Yonji's protests were enough to deal with for all three of them. Later on, once they've met the man Big Mom had wanted her to marry, a man twelve years older than her who is currently 24 years old. A man who is wary of her presence, whom she politely accepts but could not find herself to relate to anything, Ichiji asked if she wanted it still.

Reiju said she can handle him…. She didn't answer Ichiji's question.

"Oh Reiju," Sora says from beside her, eyes glassy as she looks at her only daughter. "You're so beautiful…." Sora choked the sob on her next words. Reiju knew what she wanted to say next, she ignores it.

"Thank you Mama." Reiju smiles, eyes dry. All her tears she'd shed last night, when she realized she would not be marrying a man she'd dreamt of like when she was a child. She could imagine still, try to make the best of her marriage. Although Tablet is not as tall and rougishly handsome as her dad, nor sweet and fierce and smart and romantic like she'd hoped, she can learn to live with it. This was for Germa, for her Kingdom.

There was a heavy knock on the door, two knocks in fact. "Reiju, is Sora in there?" It was Judge.

"Yes dear. I'm here." Sora responds.

"May I enter?"

"Yes, just…. Give us a second." Sora wipes her tears. Glad she'd worn water proof mascara. When Judge entered the door and laid his eyes on Reiju, a wobbly smile made itself on his lips.

"My little girl is all grown-up." He praises, "You're as gorgeous as your mother when I married her. Who ever marries you is one lucky guy." He offers his hand to help get her down the dressing stage, when she gingerly placed her hand on his, he slips a pink bangle onto her wrist, not at all odd for the white and pink ensemble. Judge places another supporting hand on her shoulder, meaning to comfort her from the hidden stress she was under. If Judge knows her daughter, she is like Ichiji who tells no one what she truly feels.

"What ever happens today, Reiju. Just know that I am proud of you." Reiju did not want to cry, didn't want her parents to see her cry. So she opted to hug her father instead, and burry her head on his chest, where she knew she could take refuge in. It's become her special place since Sanji passed away, and while sometimes she dreams he is still alive; what could have been should he still be with them, she knows at the end of the day it is all but a dream.

One day two years ago, she remembers seeing a wanted poster of a man bearing the same name as Sanji, with the same eyebrows but an ugly sketch to it. There was a look-alike of him in East Blue that brought hope to the siblings because Sanji couldn't be that ugly. They were quintuplets, it was impossible for him to grow up so…. unaesthetic. Still, there was hope… Hope that was crushed when they found out it was merely a man named Duval.

Sanji is dead, burnt and buried in the museleum behind the castle. That is the cold hard truth, a truth Reiju hasn't fully believed yet it seems.

When all had settled and it was time for the procession, Reiju had calmed and was ready to face the future. 'No turning back', she'd said in her mind. No turning back.

The wedding was a disaster.

Straw Hat Luffy! Hundreds of Straw Hat Luffies?!

A gun was hidden in the groom's sheep's wool.

The sound of shattering glass, and screaming. Loud, high pitched- disarming screaming.

A pastor stealing the bride and an explosion from where they stood, fired by the guns of everyone guarding around them… Oh, Sanji was the pastor…. Wait.

"Sanji!" It was only then that Reiju realizes, she was being saved by her brother. As Sanji sky walks out of the wedding cake and unto the table where her family was trapped in hard candy.

Reiju jumps out of his hold, positions her bangle on the activation pose, and transforms mid-jump. She lets the pink and white light engulf her, letting her dress peel away and get tossed into the wind, uncaring where it lands. She feels the steady materialization of her raid suit, but this time, heavier and forming fibers where they were once bare off. A new design?

She lands, poised and in her pose. A new set of pink wings on her back and a pastel pink raid suit with purple and gold accents, covering up her whole front and showing conservative, almost teasing, parts of her collar bones till her chest and a v-cut on each of her shoulders. Reiju looks at her clothes first, before she shoots her father a questioning look.

"It was Niji's idea." Judge responds. "You're welcome." Niji follows from across the table as he stands from his once candy prison. Niji had been getting more and more creative with the raid suit designs, she shouldn't be surprised really.

Reiju observes that Sanji was on Fire. Well, his feet were on fire. And while everyone ignores this to put on their raid suits, given to them by members of the Strawhat Pirates she met when she had saved their captain from fish poisoning.

Reiju had a sinking suspicion that everyone was in on the plan but her. She lets it pass for now. There was time for this later. Not now. Later, she'd have to remember to give the boys a stern talking to, and give Sanji a hug before she throttles him about not contacting them that he was alive and well.

The whole Vinsmoke Family possessed a Raid Suit, even Sanji was given a transformation tube by Niji. And While Reiju knows, the Raid suit stood for serious matters, immoral acts she isn't proud of, it sure was satisfying to be wearing and posing with the whole family, even if it was just for a second. before Judge sent them off to deflect the attacks from the Charlottes.

When all the fiasco was over, and both Germa 66 and Strawhat Alliances were out of the territory, only then did Sanji explain what had happened.

Reiju had thought Sanji was Duval, as it turns out Sanji was, in fact, Sanji and not Duval!

So when she saved a pirate crew waving a Strawhat Flag, she had thought that they meant they were going to get Duval back from the Big Mom Pirates, since he was captured. Nothing related to Reiju's wedding, she'd thought. Although, she did mention that she was to be married, and they did greet her warmly and congratulated her. She still thought nothing strange of this. How could she? She was convinced her brother was dead.

Meanwhile on Sanji's side of things. When the second team of the Straw Hat Pirates reached Zou, Sanji had come across the news that Princess Vinsmoke Reiju of Germa 66 was to be wed to Prince Charlotte Tablet of the Big Mom Pirates. Sanji realized he can't let the opportunity to attend Reiju's wedding pass. So he'd told Nami and the rest that he'd be back, he just had to see his sister's wedding and give the groom a stern talking to, and proceeded to Sky Walk over to Tottoland.

When Straw Hat Luffy arrived in Zou, the rest of the crew told him that Sanji was going to a wedding, and the captain proceeded to whine like a baby and demand they followed after Sanji since it was a party he was going to, right?

Upon stealthily arriving on the castle, Sanji had over heard the plans for betraying Germa from Charlotte Tablet himself during the "bachelor's party". He then proceeded to get in contact with his parents and his brothers and made a plan to save Reiju and stop the wedding.

All the while, Straw Hat Luffy had finally reached Totto land, met a girl named Purrin who was also against the marriage of Tablet and Reiju, because she seems to know that Tablet likes another person and had been courting this person for over a year at Flour Island. So Purrin gave them the secret route to sneak into Whole Cake Chateu and the rest was chaos.

The Strawhats had formed alliances out of the Germa's spectrum and had proceeded to plan to assassinate Big Mom. Strawhats met up with Sanji, realized they had their own plans, planned to sync said plans and…

And here they are now. Still alive, having tea in a heavily damaged Germa garden while the remainders of the Germa soldiers tried to repair Thousand Sunny and the rest of the kingdom to the best of their abilities.

Sanji and Judge making them some food in the grill and prep area while the Straw Hats told stories about their adventures and everything Sanji had been up to for the last couple of years. Straw hat Luffy was exhausted, so he was sleeping on a coot at the side, and it was up to Nami, Brook and Chopper to tell them all their adventures.

"Then Sanji Sky Walked! And the Puffer Fishmen that surrounded him pierced each other!" Chopper told the story enthusiastically. "And the whole crew beat up 100,000,000 fishmen, just like that!"

Sora had been so amazed. Sanji managed to do all that without a Raid Suit? He'd improved, far more than she'd expected.

"Geeze Dad, tell me you at least tried improving your cooking skills to feed mama. I'd hate it if I found out you've been feeding her burnt meat for the last 10 years I've been gone." Sanji had deadpanned as he poked the charred black burgers. Judge could only laugh. "Worry not son. I would never feed your mother anything burnt."

Sanji looked to Sora who only smiled at them. Sanji sighed. "You know, she'll eat anything you give her, right?"

"Sanji, I am shocked you would think I'd be too sweet on your father after 26 years of marriage," Sora says in mock offense, yet her giggling gives her away. She earns a whine from her husband, and mumbling something about being a beast "To be fair, I realized being too sweet on him would lead to my early death, so I've been giving my honest opinion about his cooking." Sora had answered. "He knows he'd been over seasoning everything."

"Over seasoning is worse than under!" Sanji had exclaimed, pointing an accusing finger at his father. "Toxicity to the body is higher when its over seasoned. You know the rule about doses and poisons, right?"

The Vinsmokes answered in sync. "Sola dosis facit venenum." except for Ichiji who was content to just smile at the predictability.

Chopper's eyes shone, practically turned into stars from awe. A family of scientists, Sanji was so lucky!

While Nami was educating Niji on fashion, and critiquing Reiju's raid suit he'd designed- (fashion design and nanotechnology).

Chopper was talking with Reiju about poison and antidotes- (music and chemistry- pharmacy).

Yonji was showing weapon designs to Brook about a chemical dispenser for gas elements in the shape of a violin for Reiju's raid suit.- (aviation and weapons engineering).

Meanwhile. Ichiji was content to just watch his family as they talked about science. While Ichiji did study a science himself- (political science and psychology), this doesn't mean he is like the rest of his siblings. And he is content with that. Psychology has its other uses, such as planning the next steps of Germa.

"If you'd want, why not stay over at East Blue for a bit? Lay low and visit old man Zeff." Sanji had proposed. "I haven't heard from the old man since I've left two years ago. While he'll never be lonely with the bunch of shitty cooks he has at the Baratie, I'm sure you'll be a breath of fresh air." Sanji remembered something too. "Nami-swan's island could keep you hidden from the marines too. If Nami puts in a good word for you, I'm sure you could use the island to lay low until the repairs are finished."

"That might work. I'll have to write a letter to Genzo first, make sure he won't call the marines on you." Nami adds when they were setting-up the table for late lunch.

"Nami-swan! So kind and smart! Bless us with your divine presence, Nami-swaaaann!" Sanji had praised as his limbs turned to noodles and grew hearts for eyes. Sora could only laugh. Oh, how expressive her boy had become, compared to when he was but a child without a hint of his emotions.

The morning tea time, which they'd spent talking had suddenly become noon. And while Luffy had eaten while he was asleep, he had yet to eat the large stack of meat Sanji had kept aside for him.

"No, we wouldn't want to impose. You've helped us a bunch already." Sora had been politely refusing the offers for help. Germa can and should take care of itself. The more people they involve, the more dangerous things become. Especially now that they've practically lost their Royal Status in the eyes of the World Government after assisting pirates. They even turned down the offer for attending the Reverie. Lord knows how many enemies they've made.

While their Kingdom was wide open and prone to any attack. They've lost 18 snails and 13 cloning labs with 1000 pods each. The snails also holds valuable scientific researches, half of which were classified and had no re-copies. Casualties are 30035 soldiers, 43 blue collar citizens, 8 scientists, 15 captains and 2 doctors. They were running low on supplies, and they would have to take on multiple jobs for the next 8-10 years just to re-gain the lost cloning equipment. They might even need to import weapons from Buggy the Clown. The very arms dealer they've been laughing at for the poor quality of their goods and primitive science of the use of gunpowder.

The family knew just how much they've lost, but the plans on how to remake them were not yet made, nor certain. Judge was fully aware of this as lunch passed. Still, he is thankful that his family is still complete, and that he has allies willing to help them out.

This time it was Judge's turn to speak for the family. "Thank you Straw Hats. You've been wonderful, and we humbly thank you for the offers and everything you've done. Thank you for taking care of my son."

The Strawhats blushed, flattered, refused and acted as they usually do when they get praised.

It was that moment that Luffy decided to wake-up after smelling the large plates of meat Sanji had placed on the table for him. "MEAT!" Luffy had risen like a zombie and started eating the meat in the way that only a rubber man could.

The Vinsmoke siblings watched in fascination, while normal people would be disgusted, even sick, the scientists would wonder where the boy puts all that protein and quite frankly, the way he eats it was also a topic of discussion. Including the part where Niji points out that he didn't need to detach his jaw. Only for Yonji to say he'd try to catch a sea king to know if he can eat it whole without the need to detach the jaw and so they can see the imprints of the sea king when he swallows it.

Reiju wonders if his teeth are rubber too, she missed to find that out when she sucked the poison out of the boy's body. In which Niji complains that he doesn't need to hear about his sister's love life, and he'd rather not know about the number of guys his sister had kissed in the guise of sucking out the poison. Which earns him a kick from Sanji and a punch from Yonji.

The whole day ended with fun and games, and when the night fell and they had to go to follow the rest of the crew to Wano. Nami and Luffy had decided to leave them with a Straw Hat Jolly Rodger, as well as a list of allied kingdoms and pirates that would help them if they come across it. When the rest of the Straw Hats had said their good byes, Sunny departed from the kingdom, yet Sanji stayed for just a bit more, saying that he can just sky walk to them later, and he has something more serious to talk about with his family.

When the Sunny was a fair distance form the kingdom, that was the time Sanji finally cried. He was instantly dog pilled by his siblings and parents. "I- missed- missed you all… so much." He'd said as he held them, who ever was in his arms tightly. "Thank you for supporting me, Mama, Dad." He'd beamed through the tears.

"Jeez Sanji, talking like we don't exist!?" Niji teased, but he was crying so much, the water in his goggles were pooling-up and leaking.

"We thought you were dead, and I should be mad at you, but I'm just so relieved you're alive you stupid brother!" Yonji scolds as he tightens his hug on Sanji's waist.

"Just, write to us sometime." Was all Ichiji could say.

Reiju didn't have words to say. She'd written them down and slipped the envelope at his back pocket, along with Ichiji's private line should anything happen to him. After a minute, the siblings finally let go of Sanji, this time it was Sora who'd hugged the life out of him. "Mama, I love you. Thank you." Was all Sanji would say. Sora's tears streamed down her face.

She recalled the simpler times when Sanji was a child. When he was 3 and had an indifference to pain; when he was 5 and had no compassion; and 8 without empathy and no regards to death. She recalled telling him about the things he couldn't feel and how a person should react. Now she wonders if he'd meant it. That he loves her.

"I love you too Sanji." That was all she could say. Because when she thinks about it now, he'd done so much to prove he does love them. More than saying that he does, he'd proven that he knows how to love. That she did not make a mistake. "I love you so much." She'd said warmly as she strokes his golden hair, still black at the roots, she realizes. The special colors of her son.

"Dad." Sanji had said when Sora had finally let him go. Sanji stood before his father, a respectable distance, enough to look him in the eye despite the glaring obvious size difference between the father and his family.

"When you let me leave with Zeff, he told me something I really wanted to tell you." He'd said seriously at first. Judge's heart twingged, a fear he'd kept for as long as 10 years.

He'd lamented about his decisions, again and again, some nights giving him not a wink of sleep at all. Some nights he'd dreamt that Sanji cursed him for leaving him, to let him pursue his passion without his guidance. Similar to his experience when his father had left him. How after that day, he'd remembered less and less about his father but the sadness in his eyes when he left him on Karakuri island. How he'd cursed his father at night when he tries to get the warmth he used to know as he sleeps on his bed, only to apologize to a memory of him the morning after.

He was prepared to face Sanji's wrath. He'd told himself. He was prepared for the anger and detestment; and whatever follows Sanji's decision. He deserved it, just as his father deserved his hatred, for his unforgiven sin of leaving him on the island.

"Dad." Sanji smiles, bright and wide and sincerely happy. "You're a good father. Thank you for believing in me."

As Sanji Sky Walks off and away from the Germa Kingdom and after the Sunny sailing towards the setting sun, the Vinsmokes could only watch as their brother/son takes off again. Chasing his dream and sailing with his friends.

Judge wipes the tears from his eyes. He'd never thought he'd be called a good father by the son he'd abandoned in East Blue. While he knew what he did was exactly what his father had done, left him alone to take on the world without a name to call his, nor parents to look for, Sanji still thanked him, called him a good father and hugged him.

While Judge doesn't know what he'd done to deserve such a good kid, a great family and a sweet wife, he'd certainly know who to thank for all of his good graces. After all, he'd learned everything from his father.

THE END

Author's Note:

AND DONE!

Well, that's it for this. I had fun with writing an OOC Vinsmoke family, next on my plate is something I call the "NORTH BLUE BOYS BEING SECRET GERMA FANBOYS". Totally unfinished, crack and has no literary value what so ever!

I present Law, Drake and Hawkins being North Blue Boys, playing with fan-based toys and being total nerdy fan-fiction writing fanboys in the closet (I have no beta readers!). Follow Author me if you want to read the first chapter when I post it! :D :D :D I'm so excited to write and share it! I don't even mind the fact not many reviewed and my writing style stays un-polished! Hahaha! :D :D :D I'm FREE TO FINALLY WRITE CRACK! :D

Once Again, Thank you for your support! Thank you, everyone, for reading till the end! :D HAVE A WONDERFUL DAY!