"Wait! Wait! Why can't I go? !" Luffy noticed that the other officers weren't letting him go any further as the armies of soldier, Priest, and Priestess marched out to meet the Demon army and stop them from their reign.
"Because I said so," Dragon replied, looking at his son who was ready to fight off the soldiers to go—his friends were going and so why not him right?
"That's not a good enough reason!" Luffy pointed.
Garp looked at his son's strained face as he watched his own child sneer and growl at him. Garp knew the reasons why Dragon was denying his son entrance into the armies. Dragon had told of the fortune Kiyoko had told of Luffy and Garp as well did not like it . . . it seemed anyone so unlucky enough to see this Demonic time had the worst of fortunes.
FLASHBACK
"Kiyoko?" Dragon came to his wife who was in the garden, next to the pond.
She had been feeding the goldfish but had stopped once a little foot had kicked her insides. She was smiling, almost bittersweetly, as she rubbed her rounded belly full with child.
"There you are," Dragon said with a soft smile, coming up next to her.
"Shhh," she placed a finger to her lips to signal him to hush his lips. "The little one's finally settled."
"Been kicking?" Dragon whispered, placing a hand over the swell of his love's belly, no movement was felt so he figured the child must be resting.
"Yes . . . he has," Kiyoko said with a smile, placing her hand over her husbands in a tender touch.
"He?" Dragon turned his eyes to his wife who was slightly ablush. "You've seen?"
"Hai, I have," she said with a soft nod.
"Another son," Dragon sighed out as he placed his wife's smaller head against his neck. "Thank-you for blessing me with another Kiyoko."
"I would do it again . . . but . . ." she trailed off, knowing it pained Dragon to speak about the curse.
When they had married Dragon had insisted they not have children and that Ace was enough for the both of them. Kiyoko hadn't minded for she loved Ace as if she had born him into this world herself . . . but that was just it . . . she hadn't, and she had wanted to bear a child ever since she was little girl. A vision was all it took for her maternal instincts to kick in. She had a vision of being full with child and not long after it came to pass . . . Dragon of course was upset with himself for being so careless but Kiyoko kept telling him she'd gladly give up her life for her child's. It was a mother's duty.
"What vision did you see this time?" Dragon asked. "What age was he?"
"He was around 17," she answered, her features growing more dim and soon she slipped away from her husband's arms.
"What is it Kiyoko?" Dragon asked, she had her hands clasped together and her eyes cast down as if in shame—it was odd for her to act like this.
"I . . . I saw the time of the Demons rise," she spoke, glancing at her husband with strange eyes. "Our son . . . was there."
"What happened?" Dragon asked, his features becoming more serious, knowing that when Kiyoko spoke of things such as these they were always grim.
"You were there," she said, walking around the pond and over the bridge. "And Ace . . . he looked a lot like his mother."
At that she gave off a small and short smile towards Dragon but Dragon still kept a firm face and keen ear on what the Priestess said.
"Your father was there as well . . . and our son . . . he looks a lot like your father," there was a small chuckle from her throat but it was drowned out as her features were stricken with sadness. "He's going to die Dragon . . ."
Dragon's eyes widened. His unborn son was going to die at such a young age? ! By what? How? ! He could see the look on Kiyoko's face and it nearly brought tears to his eyes. She was going to die to bring him into this world only to have him die so young—it wasn't fair for either.
"He's going to die," she said once more, not being able to stop her tears anymore.
Her hand came to her mouth as she slowly crouched down and wept for the death of her son that she'll never see—only in visions and dreams. Dragon quickly darted to her side, crouching next to her and holding her close. She turned and clung tightly to his shirt, it was all she could do.
"Kiyoko tell me," Dragon said, lifting her chin so that she may look at him. "How does he perish and . . . can I stop it?"
Kiyoko opened her mouth and answered his question.
END FLASHBACK
"You're not going!" Dragon said, raising his tone to his son who backed away a little. "Listen to your father and remain here!"
Luffy's brow furrowed and he quickly turned and darted off in anger. He didn't understand why he couldn't go. Was it because he was branded and considered no good? Was he that useless?
All his friends were going and he had to stay behind—it was unfair and he wouldn't have it! But what else could he do? His father's eyes were always on him and he couldn't escape. If he waited until they left could he follow? He still didn't know of the place they were going.
Was Zoro alright? What exactly was he doing at a moment like this . . . if what Rayleigh-san had said and he wasn't dead? Did he know about everyone thinking he was some Demon King? Did he know about this huge army coming for his head?
"My King, shouldn't you go out to meet your people?" Demon Lord Boa Hancock came up to the Demon King as he sat still in the old stone throne that has long since passed its comfortable stage.
"The time is not here yet to where I'm needed to exit this temple," Zoro plainly responded, his gaze still staring into nothingness at the moment.
"Very well," Hancock said and then turned to the others, throwing her arms up in silent anger. "Why is he acting like this? !"
"Perhaps he's nervous," Doflamingo chuckled.
"That could be the case, kishi," Moria chuckled right along with him.
"I highly doubt that," Mihawk spoke up, crossing his arms. "Can you not see? He has been humanized by being with those wretches for too long."
"I offered to take him in," Whitebeard spoke up. "The day we saved him from being executed, but he simply told us he wanted to be forgotten in that rotting prison! He's an ungrateful boy, we all know it, but he knows who he is—and who we are."
"He knows we're mere Demons," Jimbei spoke up. "And he's the high Demon King."
"That's why he likes to boss us around," Hancock sneered at the incompetence—mostly because she was one of the highest ranking Demons and was not used to anyone else being higher than her besides their lord, the Demon King—being around him though, she feels as if she's some lowly servant—what with the way he treats everyone.
"Anyone ever try talking to him?" Doflamingo asked.
"He's took blocked off from the world," Whitebeard sighed out heavily, shaking his head in disapproval. "I believe Dracule—he's been with the humans too long."
"I find it very strange," Moria spoke up. "As I recall my servants kept me updated with reports on our young King's progress. Every time they came back they continued to tell me he was monotone to the humans, and uncaring—what changed him?"
"Suggestion . . ." Kuma started. "That young D Priest, Luffy. I too have kept log of him and it seems his emotional output towards the humans changed once he met the young boy."
"Tch, what is with those Priests?" Hancock sneered; the look on her face was that of disgust. "Was Roger even this bad? To change a Demon King."
"I was around the time when Demons once ruled the earth," Whitebeard spoke up. "I was but a young lad at the time but I still remember—it was none other than Gol D. Roger who moved the humans to rise up against their masters. He was born with an unusual amount of Haki and because of that he gathered the others who were as well and used them to ward us off. They have strange abilities—those Ds."
"Then someone tell how those Ds survived through the centuries?" Hancock spoke up, the sneer still present on her face. "Why didn't those Demons hunt down Gol D. Roger's descendents and cut them off? !"
"They tried to, if you recall," Dracule spoke up, his golden eyes gazing at the Demon empress who was throwing a tantrum over something that was already past and out of her control. "But every time—someone survived. The same went for Asura's line. For centuries the humans sought out to bring an end to His line and every time they thought they had—someone always survived. This end is befitting I'd say."
"Hai," Jimbei nodded. "There is only one D family left—and the last of the Asura's will go against them soon."
"How fitting indeed," Doflamingo chuckled.
Even though their conversation was low and around the corner Zoro could still hear it as clear as day. Zoro was pushed out of his thoughts because of their rude comments—always complaining about him and the way he was acting. Would they rather not have a king at all? If he were to do then so would everything else Demon—they wouldn't' like that would they?
Glancing forward Zoro watched the sun fall. Night was coming soon and with that the blood moon—a sign of a great massacre that will happen very soon. Even though Zoro couldn't stop this—not by himself at least—he knew there was nothing else he could do. Like before—who could go against destiny itself? Certainly not he.
It was true what those Demon Lords and Emperors were saying—that he had become humanized because of Luffy. He was the only person he could think of that had truly made a great change in him. No other human had ever affected him in such a way as that D. Still—a smile would be brought to his face every time he thought of that goofy human.
He had that effect on you.
Even after all that was happening and all that was still going to happen . . . Zoro wished, by some strange and sick fate, that he and Luffy would still remain friends. It was a fool's hope but Zoro still hoped. He wondered if Luffy had even come to realize who he was.
What would he think? Zoro thought to himself. Seeing me like this? In my true form? What would you think Luffy?
Zoro closed his eyes once the falling sun finally fell behind the last line of trees. Darkness filled the land and gave rise to a new light—the light of the lesser—the moon, this time its rays were angry and full of rage as they beamed in the new age of the Demon Era. Zoro stood up and made his way outside, it was time to fulfill his destiny.
Luffy sat there, having to watch as the armies—along with his friends, marched off to stop some evil they all claimed to be his good friend Zoro. Sitting there in the grass Luffy puffed his cheeks in a pout, he looked down and pulled at all the grass he could.
He kept pulling and pulling until everything around him was nothing but dirt, dead grass blades lying around him in stacks. Wrapping his arms around his legs Luffy buried his face into his knees.
"You know Luffy . . . killing blades of grass won't get you anywhere."
Luffy glanced up, his eyes widening to see all his friends standing around him just staring at him.
"Sanji-san—Usopp-kun, Nami, Chopper?" Luffy blinked in confusion, everyone was there—even Brook, Robin, and Franky. "I thought you guys went off with the armies."
"We're not going anywhere without you," Sanji sighed, placing his hands on his hips. "We're nakama—remember?"
Luffy instantly smiled, everyone was there for him and he was glad they stayed. Standing up Luffy looked at everyone, all supportive of him and waiting for him to lead.
"Where to captain," Nami giggled at the silly title she gave to Luffy but she just had to say it.
"I want to go to the place everyone else went," Luffy said with a nod, his features serious. "It's just . . . I don't know where they went."
"They went to the ancient temple of Asura," Robin spoke. "That is where a great battle is supposed to take place—for rule of this world. A great battle took place 1,000 years ago when Gol D. Roger fought with the Demon God Asura and it will again—but we'll see if the outcome will be different this time."
"It'll be the same Robin," Luffy's tone was serious as he gazed at the moon as it rose, showing its angry rays of red. "It'll be stopped."
Everyone nodded and followed Luffy's lead. Even though they were going to tell him which way the temple laid they saw they hadn't needed to. For some strange reason the boy seemed as if he was driven in that direction by some unseen force.
In their march towards the temple Chopper noticed the horrid smell of burnt flesh. He looked on at Luffy who looked as if he was stumbling in his march. A small quiet cry was heard by Chopper, after all he had excellent hearing now. Chopper then realized it was Luffy's Demon Brand that was hurting him—and it seemed to only be getting worse.
"Uh—Luffy?" Chopper timidly spoke up, he was wondering if he should ruin the young Priest's concentration.
"I'm fine Chopper," Luffy spoke up, keeping on the track, this time he straightened and completely shut out the pain the brand was giving him.
Chopper said no more. He nodded firmly, now admiring the young Priest even more. Continuing to follow his lead he walked on—they all did. They followed the path the armies marched on, and it wasn't long before it brought them towards the ancient temple.
"Look at that moon," Sanji said, looking up and gazing at it. "What an odd color for it."
"Hm? It's blood red," Chopper noticed as he too gazed up at it. "That's not a good sign is it?"
"For humans—it's not," Robin spoke up. "For Demons . . . it signals the beginning of the Great Demon Era."
"Eh, you're right—that's not good," Chopper shivered at the thought of a world full of Demons ruling over humankind.
"Do you think there's anything we can do?" Brook asked, looking at the female half-Demon who knew quite a bit about what was happening right now.
"Only a D can make a difference," Robin spoke, glancing at the boy in the lead of their group. "The great Asura Himself said so. He said if there be a D present at such a time then the Era would never come."
"So—that means all that has to happen is Luffy or his dad, or grandfather, be present and everything will be ruined?" Nami asked, always hoping for an easy way out of this Armageddon.
"It's unclear," Robin said, continuing her march with the others. "It may be that . . . but it may not be. Things are never that simple in the world of Demons so I assume that a D will have to fight Asura."
"Yeah, but . . ." Nami glanced at Luffy in the lead who continued marching forward with optimism and then glanced towards the half-Demoness and lowered her voice to but a whisper, not wanting Luffy to hear . . . since he didn't believe it was true. "If Zoro is this Asura then won't Luffy or his relatives have to fight him?"
"That's the idea," Robin replied, eyeing the girl who looked nervous and confused as to how this battle will end.
"So," Brook spoke up, trying to lighten the mood. "How, uh, how is this Demon Era supposed to be stopped?"
"By killing the Demon King," Robin answered.
"Then everything's going to go back to normal?" Brook asked, looking down at the half-Demon.
"Once the Demon King is dead . . . then everything Demon will go with him," Robin answered causing quite a shock to everyone.
"Oi, is that true?" Sanji asked, walking closer to the woman.
"It's the only way," Franky answered. "A thousand years ago Gol D. Roger managed to kill the first Asura, but as long as His line lived on then so would the race of His creation—the Demons."
"Wait!" Usopp spoke up. "So you're telling me people like Hachi, and Caimie will—cease to exist? !"
"Hai," Robin nodded solemnly.
"B-But they're our friends and—" Usopp started.
"If that's the way it has to be then it's the way it has to be," Sanji spoke, quieting the long nose.
"Zoro's the last of his line right?" Nami spoke up. "So . . . all this time . . . he's carried the fate of Demon-kind on him. No wonder why he was always so distant and lonely. He had to be didn't he?"
"Hai," Robin nodded once more. "He had to remain as isolated to humanity as much as possible less the humans find out who he is."
"Wow," Nami sighed out sadly, casting her eyes down in thoughtfulness. "I can't imagine being born like that . . . as an Asura. Do you think . . . he wanted to be born as one?"
"In the world of Demons it is a great privilege to be born as an Asura," Robin replied. "To be directly descended from the great god Asura Himself—every Demon dreams of being born or reborn as one."
"So . . . the da- - bast- - - likes the power," Sanji sneered, he knew there was a reason why he didn't like that mosshead swordsman . . . but then again, he was still saddened to find all these things out because even he'd count him as a friend—a reluctant friend but a friend nonetheless.
"Believe it or not," Robin spoke up so everyone could hear her. "He didn't care about his lineage. More than anything . . . I believe he wanted to be born as a human," at that Robin turned her gaze to everyone and gave off a sad, very sad smile. "Fate just didn't deal him what he wanted."
"How could you tell?" Nami asked with a confused blink. "You said yourself that Demons think it's a privilege being born into the Asura family."
"It's true, but the Demons who believe so are not Asuras so who are they to say things like such?" Robin spoke. "I could see it in our bushido by the way he looked at everyone—with longing eyes. He wanted to be a part of us so much, but his mind bid him not to."
"You seem to have read him like a book," Nami gave off a small giggle.
"It's a gift of mine I received from my human mother," Robin smiled softly. "I was always an excellent observer and even if our Zoro was a master at hiding his emotions he couldn't hide them from me. He even knew I knew what he was thinking. Even to the part where it was his time to leave our happy little strange group . . . he wanted to stay, believe me I saw it in his eyes, but he couldn't."
"Because of who he was and his destiny right?" Nami asked.
"Hai," Robin nodded.
"Shut up about destiny!" came the sudden voice of Luffy, all turning their eyes to the boy who had abruptly stopped on their march, his fists were clenched hard and his face was overshadowed as he cast it down, trembling in anger. "Shut up about Demons Eras . . . Shut up about Asura! !"
All flinched at the harshness of Luffy's words. Everyone could tell his anger was spiced into his words and it was deep and hurtful.
"I don't want to hear about it!" he spat, turning towards everyone with deep serious eyes. "It's not Zoro . . . it's not going to happen . . . everything's going to be just the way it was before . . . you'll see." Luffy's shoulders seemed to untense as he said this, like even he was believing all that was happening but denying it.
With a short nod Luffy turned and began marching away again. Everyone looked on at him in sadness. He was like a child who wouldn't come to terms with the loss of a loved one. Luffy needed to understand this was happening and that Zoro . . . was the leading cause.
I'm afraid nothing will return to normal again . . . Luffy-san," Robin inwardly sighed as she closed her eyes, shook her head, and continued on.
She thought about leaving knowing this will not turn out like everyone hoped, but she'd stay—until the very end . . . however close it may be.
"Look at them all your highness . . . all of them have come from all the corners of the world to stand before you now," Whitebeard spoke as he stood next to the king. "Your people are all looking at you now—as their high king—Asura."
"So they are," Zoro muttered out a sigh, his demeanor was still monotonous and Whitebeard was getting frustrated yet again.
"It is on this very temple top where your ancestor the great god Asura stood. To meet the defiant human servants whom that D Priest, Gol D. Roger, had gathered. A great battle was fought here 1,000 years ago and will be fought here again . . . this time . . . this time we'll triumph," Whitebeard spoke, standing tall and straight and confident. "I was just a youngling back then but I still remember it all—how Gol D. Roger had managed to get past the Demon guards and up to this temple top. There he and Asura engaged in, what seemed like, an eternal struggle for this world. Asura was always strong—but this human, he had a will about him that seemed to strike Asura deadly . . . it was his downfall and it almost cost our race extinction. Which is why, after his death, we hunted down as many Ds as we could and killed them . . . but some seemed to always elude us. We are sorry for not continuing our hunt. A family of them now remain and it is all our fault."
"No," Zoro spoke up—a faint smile gracing his lips. "I'm . . . glad you never killed them all." By that of course Zoro meant he was glad he got the privilege to meet Luffy—if all the Ds had been killed long before Zoro had been born then what a lonely life Zoro would have had—a black and white, dull life . . . if he had never met Luffy.
Whitebeard could see the faint smile. He could see Zoro's emerald eyes gazing into the distance, into his memories. No doubt thinking of that wretched D he had happened to save on his time when he was with the humans. That fool Shanks should have killed him when he had to chance!
"You will . . . be our king—will you Asura?" Whitebeard asked, looking down at the young king who remained as still as a statue before his people.
"Who will if not me?" Zoro asked, not even looking at the Demon.
Whitebeard was getting very bored of this. A simple yes or no would suffice, but no, this brat had to go off on 'who will if not I's' and such. He was getting sick of it. The boy was making himself look reluctant—just like he'd wished he'd never been born an Asura . . . just like he had stated before.
"Hhh, how did you come to be born as an Asura?" Whitebeard rolled his eyes and sighed heavily.
"You tell me," Zoro muttered, raising his brows slightly.
"Hhh, whatever may be the reason is not important. Perhaps once this Demon Era is brought about you'll start acting more like our King than a da- - human!" Whitebeard pointed at him before turning and heading down to the stairs to join the other Lords and Emperors to stare out at the others.
"How is he Whitebeard-san?" Hancock turned to watch the large demon come walking down the stairs leading to the temple top.
"He's continuing, but I feel a reluctance about him," Whitebeard snorted.
"Of course," Demon Lord Mihawk said, crossing his arms and gazing out at all the Demons gathered around the temple—thousands, no, millions were there, all gazing up at their long awaited messiah. "What do you expect from a Demon whom once associated himself with humans."
"Well—at least he's getting the show on, fufu, that's why I'm here," Doflamingo chuckled as he stuck his tongue out and gazed upwards at the blood red moon.
"Kishishi, I can't wait until the Era arrives. It's been too long that these humans have roamed about freely and taken what is rightfully ours," Gecko Moria snickered, he was excited, he could feel it in his fingertips.
"Aye to that," Jimbei nodded.
"Look there," Hancock sneered, motioning her head towards an oncoming army full of human soldiers and—Priests.
"So they've come to fight," Mihawk sighed out knowing many a human will be killed this night. "They should have stayed home."
"Should we give them effort for trying?" Doflamingo giggled.
"He- - no," Whitebeard chuckled, he had been waiting for this moment for ages—the moment when he could repay the humans for just all they had done to him and his kind through the centuries. "Are you ready to start the killings?"
"I'm even more beautiful bathed in blood, so of course," Hancock said, flicking her hair back and poked out her breast.
"One thing though," Kuma spoke up. "That is High Priest Monkey D. Dragon and Vice-Admiral Monkey D. Garp in the lead of the armies."
"Hhh, this night just keeps getting longer and longer," Hancock sighed out in frustration.
"No matter," Whitebeard spoke up. "Just make sure none of those men make it anywhere close to the King."
"Easier said than done," Jimbei spoke up. "Those are Ds, even if Dragon is partially sealed he's still a force to be reckoned with, even his father, Garp, without much knowledge of Haki can still use it."
"So are you telling me you're afraid of them? !" Whitebeard growled at all the younger Demons before him who were nursed on the scary stories of the D Priests. "Do you want to crawl back to your mothers? ! Be a D or not we will fight them and KILL them! Now that the Demon Era is here we have nothing to fear!"
"Look!" Doflamingo pointed down towards the humans where the High Priest Dragon came upon a ruined building so every Demon could see him.
"Demons!" he shouted to all that could hear him. "If you do not stop this foolishness you will be slaughtered!"
"Cheh, we'll be slaughtered?" Doflamingo scoffed as he listened to the D.
"Long ago we made a deal with you to let you have part of this land!" Dragon continued to speak. "That if you crossed your boundaries you were free game to hunt—with us humans it was likewise! We let you at peace and yet here you are wishing to band together and destroy a world that was at peace!"
"You da- - D!" Demons in the crowds shouted. "It is you and your ancestor's fault that this had to be! We'd still be reigning above you humans if that da- - Roger didn't kill our god Asura! YEAH! YEAH! !"
"This is what happens when you try conversing with Demons," Dragon mumbled to himself, perhaps this was the best way then . . .exterminate all the Demons here and now—he'd been wanting to do this for a long time, ever since he had heard about his great ancestor Gol D. Roger and his defeating of the Demon god Asura.
Dragon turned to the large army of humans, Priests, and Priestesses. His father standing near him and Sengoku, commander of the human armies.
"It's war," he said to them. "They will not listen so don't you listen to them."
"Look there," Sengoku pointed towards the top of the large temple. "Is that . . . Roronoa?"
Dragon turned to see the figure standing atop the temple. His eyes shadowed and he sighed out saying—
"It's Asura now . . . it always has been."
"What in he- - is he doing?" Garp asked, narrowing his eyes.
All watched as the Demon King stood above the temple groundings, coming towards the edge of the tops. He stood there for a moment, staring at them it seemed. Raising his hand they watched him hold it in their direction.
"Let the Demon Era . . . ARISE! !" the Demon King shouted, now all Demons were ablaze with a drive that threatened to shake the very human armies that had come to stand against them.
"Will we be able to go against the Demon King's wrath?" others spoke amongst each other, the leaders hearing them.
"You hear them Dragon?" Garp spoke to his son as he motioned back behind them where many a human trembled before the Demon King's might. "Will we?"
"We're going to have to," Dragon replied, still gazing at the Asura whom stood atop the temple—a being he should have ended a long time ago. "There's no other choice but to."
Even some of the Priests and Priestesses were frightened, but then again—many stood their ground.
"Hm, what a day for a Demon Era," Law stated as he looked up at the angry moon that almost seemed to be giving the Demons an energy boost. "Wouldn't you say?" his eyes turned towards the other Fallen Priest beside him who had his arms crossed and a death glare at the Demon King.
"We should have killed him when we had the chance," the redhead growled.
"We couldn't possibly stop this," Law stated with a smile, leaning his head against his katana and staring on at the whole Era unfolding before him—what a historic event. "Say . . . what happened to that Demon of yours Kidd-san?"
"I could ask you the same question," Kidd said, glaring at the tanned Priest.
"Demons will be Demons you know," Law said, looking at the multitude of Demons before them—there was a great number of them. "On times like this is when they become the monsters they truly are."
"You got that right," Kidd gave a firm nod. "That da- - Killer nearly sliced my head off and then ran off towards the temple."
"Hhh, Bepo-san did the same thing," Law sighed out and almost looked sad. "He was once a good companion . . . oh well . . . perhaps in the next life he'll be born as a human and become my companion once more."
"Tch, we won't have a next life if we don't defeat these da- -ed Demons," Kidd grumbled.
"Hai . . . that is indeed true," Law sighed out, looking as if he didn't care which side won—just as long as he got to see this happening he was happy.
Everyone was ready . . . every human, Priest, and Priestess was ready to give their lives to protect the future of humanity. It was now or never.
"It is time!" Dragon shouted to the human defense. "If you want to continue to live freely, one without the whips of the Demons then let us fight until every last one of those da- - devils are dead!"
The humans all shouted at their leader, telling him they were ready, and so the High Priest led the humans in their final battle against the Demonic forces.
"Heh, heh, you hear that?" Whitebeard chuckled and cracked his knuckles. "It's time to join the fight—so says the King."
"Then let us!" Jimbei shouted as the Demon Lords and Emperors all shot forward and attack the human forces.
And so the battle began . . . all under the eyes of a, still, reluctant Demon King.
"Sounds like the battle's started," Ace mentioned, listening to the shouting above the cells—it was like the battle was taking place right above them—it probably was with how low this prison was.
"Mm," Shanks only hummed in response, his head still cast down, letting himself hang from his arm.
"Who do you think'll win?" Ace asked, looking at the red-haired Demon who sat in the cell in across from his.
"I can't really say," Shanks mumbled. "But . . . it won't be good for either one of our races."
"What do you mean?" Ace asked.
"To end this war will either result in the human armies being killed off and thus enslaving all of humanity . . . or kill the Demon King—which will result in the death of all Demons . . . for it is he alone that holds our existence in his hands . . . if he goes . . . then so do we," Shanks said, glancing up to peer right into Ace's eyes.
"You serious? !" Ace asked, his eyes wide.
"Hai," Shanks nodded and looked down with a sad smile. "I don't really want to do, but . . . if it'll save the ones I care about the most then I'll gladly sacrifice my own race," at that he looked at Ace with the most serious of eyes that Ace couldn't believe that this being would do such a thing.
"You would?" Ace asked. "But why?"
"Because the one I care about the most is a human," Shanks gave off a slow nod with a small smile at the remembrance of the little boy whom he had just met who soon changed his very life. "I've always wanted the world for him . . . but he was born a D . . . and so will be the first to die if my kind wins."
"I still don't understand," Ace whispered as he slowly let his head hang. "How can a Demon care so much about a single human . . . when—"
"When all you've heard was that they were nothing but heartless monsters?" Shanks finished Ace's words, thus making the young man look at him. "It's only partly true . . . I'd say your brother changed that theory through and through, proving it wrong in every way. I know . . . you may not believe this, but . . . Whitebeard cares for you like I care for Luffy."
"Is that why he locked me down here to rot?" Ace asked.
"Yes," Shanks nodded. "It won't be long now, but soon we will break free of our human appearances and become the monsters all the stories have said we were. We will kill whoever is not Demon we see—and so Whitebeard kept you here—so he wouldn't kill you. What a strange effect you humans have . . . to change the heart of a Demon."
Ace was about to say something else that was on his heart, but he never got the chance once the gates to the prison was opened. Ace and Shanks quickly looked to see who it was that was coming when they noticed it was a band of crazed Demons who had somehow managed to find their way to the dungeons of the temple.
"There!" they pointed towards the chained up Ace. "You see! I told you there was a human down here! And a D by the looks of it! Disgusting! Let's be rid of him!"
"Ace!" Shanks gasped, watching as the Demons entered the raven-haired young man's cell. "ACE!"
Shanks watched helplessly as the four Demons came up to the D, Ace trying his hardest to scoot away from them, but they only grabbed the chains and pulled him into their grasps. The Demon that had the chains pulled on Ace's arm chain and made the boy wrap his arm around his own neck. Another Demon grabbed the boy by a good chunk of his hair and tilted his head back, another placing its claws up to his neck.
"Who wants to kill him first? !" one hissed out, its eyes glazed over by the lusts of war and murder.
"I do! I've never killed a D before!" one cackled as it came up with an arm that was purely made out of steel.
"Let. Him. GO!" Shanks demanded and soon the whole dungeon shook from the Demon Emperor's rage and it was in that moment the chains broke and Shanks stood up, seeming to be larger than his normal size.
"Ah! It's the Demon Emperor Blood-Red Shanks!" they cried, placing their clawed hands in front of their faces in fear.
Shanks didn't mean to do this before Ace, but he had no choice. He would not let the only brother of Luffy die like this and so Shanks brought his hand down upon the beasts and stabbed them threw or sliced them down with his claws. Ace cried out as the one about the cut his throat was cut open in two and sprays of Demonic blood fell upon him, coating him thickly. They were dead before they knew it and now Ace was left alone in his cell with nothing but carcasses all around.
"I'm sorry Ace!" Shanks said, coming crouching before the frightened young man and breaking his bondages. "But I had no choice but to kill them on top of you. I couldn't let them kill you."
"Did you—Did you have to be so gruesome? !" Ace gasped, looking down at the blood coating his entire torso.
"Here, let me get that," Shanks said, taking the sleeves of his kimono and wiping everything away.
After he had cleaned Ace up suitably Shanks pulled the still shaking boy to his feet. Ace took in a few gulps of air before clearing his head, but another look back at the dead carcasses killed by the Demon Emperor and that was all it took for Ace about to hurl.
"Oh, here let me get you out of this place," Shanks grabbed Ace's arm and pulled it over his shoulders and quickly helped him out of the stinking place. "Are you better?"
"Yeah," Ace nodded, the green in his face was slowly going away, but as he glanced ahead his face became pail white.
"Gii-san!" Ace gasped and just as Shanks went to turn his head a hard, very hard, fist met his cheekbone and he was sent flying away down the hall he had just walked Ace threw.
"Get your hands off my grandson you da- - Demon!" Garp spat, steam fuming from his nostrils.
"G-Gii-san don't!" Ace came up to his grandfather whom he hadn't seen in a good 10 years. "He was helping me!"
"A Demon? ! Helping a D? ! That's lies!" Garp spat as he turned his head towards the Demon he had just knocked down who was now attempting to get back up with his one arm. "Wait a minute . . . Shanks? ! You're Shanks!"
"Ugh," Shanks groaned as he came to sit up and stare at the oldest living D. "Nice to see you again Garp-san."
"You son of a bit- -!" Garp spat, about ready to come up to him and ring his neck. "You're the Demon who tricked me into thinking he was human so to take care of Luffy!"
"You found out huh?" Shanks looked at the elderly man with a sheepish smile—this was a bit awkward.
"Dragon told me everything you devil! He told me you were Blood-Red Shanks, a Demon Emperor!" Garp growled. "I see you're trying to kill my other grandson now!"
"No! No! Gii-san he wasn't!" Ace begged his grandfather as he came before him and tried holding him off. "He quit being a Demon."
"Bah! One cannot quit being a Demon!" Garp spat, glaring hatefully at the redheaded Demon.
"Gii-san!" Ace tried to reason with him, but it seemed like nothing was getting through to the old D.
"It's alright Ace," Shanks nodded and accepted everything as he stood up and wiped the dust off his clothing. "I deserve this for once upon a time I sought out Luffy's death."
"Don't tell him that! It'll only edge him on!" Ace spat towards the Demon Emperor—ex-Demon Emperor.
"It's the truth," Shanks said with a nod. "It was the perfect way to kill the Ds, we all thought so—the Demon Lords and Emperors. But when the time came for me to do so—I couldn't . . . because I came to love your grandson."
"You what?" Garp asked, his temper seeming to calm once Shanks had said this.
"I love him Garp-san," Shanks nodded. "And because of that I can no longer be a Demon Emperor. Because of that I was bound in chains in this dungeon—by my own kind. I will no longer harm a hair upon his, or any of his family's head. This I swear—as long as I live I swear this."
"Just what kind of Demon are you?" Garp raised a brow. "To speak with such feeling?"
"And honest one sir," Shanks said, bowing his head and gazing at the floor in shame of his life.
"I've—I've always liked you Shanks . . . because Luffy did," Garp spoke up. "But you have to understand that we must kill your King in order to save our kind—and that means . . . you'll have to perish as well."
"Then I'll perish," Shanks nodded. "I will accept it, but the others in my kind won't. I . . . regret being born as a Demon for we are truly—nothing but monsters."
"You have changed . . . haven't you Shanks?" Garp asked, looking at the redhead with soft eyes.
"Blame it on Luffy if you don't like it," Shanks pulled off a smile and small joke as he gazed at the old man.
Garp chuckled and then came to the man and looked him over—his eyes stopping to where his arm had been severed.
"I remember this," Garp sighed out. "Luffy had done this when—he was possessed."
"I deserved it," Shanks said. "For my past sins, so I'll continue to bare with this."
"Then . . . will you swear to help us?" Garp asked, looking the Demon in the eyes. "To—be rid of your race? I ask a lot from you Demon, but—"
"It's against everything that I was raised by, but I will," Shanks nodded.
"Thank-you," Garp sighed out sadly at the fate that was about to become of this Demon. "We'd best be going then—those Demons I punched into the walls I think are still alive."
And so the three ran out of the prison towards the battle and towards one man who was blowing away Demon after Demon by his Priestly powers.
"Rayleigh!" Garp called out to the old man. "Have you seen my son? !"
"I see you've found your other grandson, it's nice to finally meet you Ace-san," Rayleigh smiled at the oldest D brother.
"How does he know my name?" Ace asked with a confused blink.
"It doesn't matter, come on," Garp grabbed his grandson by the arm and pulled him along.
"He's near the temple Garp!" Rayleigh called out.
"Arigato!" Garp called out as he, Ace, and Shanks made their way through the battles and dodged many a Demon and human—especially Shanks.
"WHOA THERE!" Garp came and stopped a Priest before they had attacked Shanks. "He's with us now!"
"A Demon Emperor? !" The Priest gasped in disbelief with wide eyes.
"Hai, so just leave him alone!" Garp pushed the Priest towards a large Demon and then went on his way.
The three eventually managed to make it through towards the temple and eventually find Dragon who was blowing Demon after Demon away with his frightfully strong powers.
"Dragon!" Garp called, gaining his son's attention. "I found Ace and Shanks!"
"Shanks?" Dragon looked at the Demon Emperor who gave off a small wave and made sure to stand securely behind the oldest D—just in case.
"None of that now, he's changed," Garp waved his hands. "Look at your boy—your eldest. He's alive and well!"
"Ace," Dragon whispered, seeing his boy for the first time in years and now look at him—he's grown so tall and . . . Kiyoko was right . . . he did resemble his mother quite a bit.
"Father," Ace said, looking at his father whom he barely remembered—after all, Dragon was gone from his and Luffy's life for a long, very long, time.
"You were there, and Ace . . . he looked a lot like his mother."
Kiyoko's voice came into Dragon's mind and it was then he realized she saw this very moment right now. Dragon didn't think Ace would be here since he had been taken by Demons and possibly killed, but now that he is Dragon now feared about his other son's arrival and his appointed fate.
"Hm, what is it father?" Ace asked, seeing the fear in his father's eyes as he glanced around for something, or someone.
"What are you looking for Dragon?" Garp asked, narrowing his eyes.
"You didn't see Lu—" Dragon started, but his sentence was cut off as a loud yell arose through the battlefield full of screams and shouting of its own, but this yell seemed to be much louder than anything else and because it was it caused everyone to halt in their fight for but a little while as they turned to see a single human screaming out a name.
"ZOROOOOOOOOOOO! ! ! ! ! !"
"Luffy," Zoro gasped, turning his gaze down towards the battlefield and looking down to see that a strange group had come out of the forest and into the battlefield led by a certain idiot who could change the heart of anything—even that of a Demon King's.
"Luffy!" Ace gasped, as he and the others turned to see Luffy standing at the edge of the battlefield, with his friends in tow. "What is he doing here? !"
"No da- - it!" Dragon growled in frustration. "He's not supposed to be here!"
"LUFFY! !" Garp gasped, pulling at his hair in frustration, he knew what Dragon had told him; he was NOT supposed to be on this battlefield.
"Hmph, it's that D that the King had traveled with," Hancock sneered.
"Why is he here?" Doflamingo asked. "I didn't see him with the other Priests."
"Of course you wouldn't," Whitebeard came up to the Demon Lord, ever gazing at the young D in the red kimono. "It's because I branded him. That brat shouldn't be able to use an ounce of his Haki."
For about a minute the battlefield was silent, everyone staring at the panting D who seemed to be staring directly at the being on top of he temple—the Demon King. Inhaling once again Luffy cried out—
"ZOROOOOOOO! ! ! !"
"What are you doing here Luffy?" Zoro whispered, seeing Luffy with all their friends they had made through their journeys across this demonic land . . . each and every one special to Zoro in some kind of way—all of them stood behind Luffy with serious glares, they were here for something/someone . . . and he had a feeling he knew who.
"ZORO!" Luffy called out once more. "WHERE IS ZORO? ! ? !"
All looked at him as if he was crazy. There was no Zoro here, not any longer. No—only an Asura now. This was why Luffy called out . . . because he believed there was no Asura, only a Zoro, which he was intent on finding.
"Get out of here Luffy!" Dragon shouted at the boy and in that instant a human was slain by a Demon and the battle broke out again.
"ZORO! WHERE ARE YOU? !" Luffy continued to cry, the others behind him looked on sadly at the boy who would not accept the inevitable.
"Why don't you find him Monkey-san," Robin spoke up . . . it was best if Luffy saw it for himself.
Luffy turned to the others and gave off a nod before he darted into the battlefield and vanished, heading straight for the temple. The others looked at one another and nodded as well.
"Last one's a Demon chicken!" Franky shouted as he darted off first, Brook close behind him with his 'yohoho!' battle cry.
It wasn't long before everyone, all of Luffy's strange little group all went into the midst of the battle and fought—fought for history to decide who shall rise. Luffy on the other hand was mowing down anyone who was in his way to the temple. As he ran he found himself getting faster and faster, the others around him could see a being running quite fast with steam coming off him like he was some sort of Demon.
"Is that Luffy? !" Ace gasped with wide eyes, seeing his brother zoom across the field with steam coming off him and his skin seemed to be more red than usual.
"By the gods it is!" Garp gasped, his eyes as wide as saucers.
"B-But he was branded!" Ace gasped. "I was there when it happened? !"
"What is this? !" Dragon gasped. "He's got such a strong amount of Haki—that it's . . . it's. . ."
"Almost like Roger's himself," Shanks nodded. "He's strong—too strong to be a Priest that's been branded."
"He's heading right towards the temple," Dragon said, walking before his father to gaze at Luffy's destination. "He's trying to get to Asura."
"We can't let him do that!" Garp shouted.
"Do you think . . . that Luffy's broken the seal?" Ace asked, his head bowing and the slight burning of the brand on his back reminded him that he too was handicapped from being a Priest.
"It looks that way," Shanks said, looking at the oldest D brother.
"I think I know why," Ace lifted his head with a proud smile as he watched his brother ram through Demon after Demon in determination to get to that temple. "It's his strong will—he's always had one . . . ever since he was little. It's his stubbornness he's always had. I think—we all have a little bit of that in us as well."
Shanks gasped in amazement as he watched the oldest D brother suddenly catch aflame. Backing away from the deadly flames Shanks watched in amazement as Ace's brand reacted to his activating of his Priestly powers. He watched Ace grind his teeth at the pain, nearly lurching forward, but he stood tall and ignored it.
"For Luffy," Ace smiled and let loose his kept in powers that had been held back ever since he was 13.
"Ace!" Garp gasped, him and Dragon turning towards the 20-year-old. "You too!"
"They're breaking their seals!" Dragon gasped in amazement.
"They're right," Garp nodded his head. "It's all in the will—and I think it's time we show these Demons our will Dragon!"
"Right," Dragon nodded, standing beside his father and charging into the battle.
The battlefield suddenly became hot with the D Priests' powers and everyone turned to see a great fire. Whitebeard especially knew who it was.
"What the he- -? !" he gasped with wide eyes. "That's Ace!"
"Are you sure you can brand properly Whitebeard?" Mihawk asked, raising a thin brow as he and the others stared at the great fire rising to destroy only Demon flesh.
"That da- - brat!" Whitebeard growled. "How did he get out? !"
Just as Whitebeard went towards Ace something small and fast zoomed right by him and up the stairs that led to the temple's top. Whitebeard turned to see the youngest D brother running with good speed up the stairs.
"What the—? ! Stop him!" Whitebeard demanded. "He must not reach Asura! !"
"ZORO!" Luffy continued to call, running up the stairs to where he had seen him standing high on the temple's top.
In a flash a number of Demon Lords were before Luffy, but he had no time to battle them. He dodged as best he could and somehow managed to make it past them. He left them behind in a tangled cursing mess and looked back to see that Whitebeard Demon gazing at him in furious anger.
"Never!" he growled. "I WON'T LET ANOTHER D RUIN OUR REIGN! !"
Luffy gasped with wide eyes seeing the Demon jump and nearly crush him under his weight. Luffy dodged but the Demon managed to take hold of his leg.
"You WON'T kill our King! ! ! Not AGAIN! !" Whitebeard roared, dragging the boy down with him as the ruins collapsed underneath him.
"Let go of me!" Luffy cried. "I'm not going to kill anyone!"
Luffy pulled his arms back and thrust them forward into the Demon's large face burning him to some extent—enough to make the Demon let go of him so he could make it to the top.
Upon reaching the top Luffy skidded to a halt and looked around. It seemed nothing but vacancy up on top of the moonlit temple; all but one person stood there—Zoro.
"Zoro!" Luffy panted, his steam ceasing and the color of his skin going back to normal.
Luffy ran up to the man with a smile on his face, and here everyone claimed he was some kind of monster—some Demon King.
"I am here," Zoro answered and watched silently as the boy ran up to him with that happy smile of his.
"Good," Luffy sighed out as he caught his breath before Zoro. "Everyone kept saying you were some Asura guy so I kept calling for you and calling for you—but you didn't answer. When I called you here you answered so of course you're no Asura!"
"Luffy . . . why are you here?" Zoro asked, his gaze going off elsewhere. "Please leave Luffy."
"I came here to get you Zoro," Luffy looked as him as if he was confused. "We thought you were dead."
"Leave Luffy," Zoro said, turning from the boy and wishing him to just vanish . . . he didn't want him to see him like this.
"I'm not going to leave you Zoro," Luffy shook his head and came up closer to him. "I can't because you're my friend."
Turning Zoro transformed before Luffy's very eyes. His two arms became six, and his single head became three—the trademark of the Demon King. Luffy's eyes widened in shock and he about stumbled backwards. Zoro expected this reaction and so stared at him and spoke with three mouths saying—
"What will you do now . . . knowing that I am the Demon King . . . born to raise hell on earth?"
"W-What do you mean born to raise hell on earth?" Luffy asked, still in shock as he stared at his friend whom he had never known was a Demon . . . until now.
"I am the destined Demon to bring about the Demon Era Luffy," Zoro said, gazing at the boy who was shaking his head in disbelief. "Can you doubt your own eyes? I am standing in front of you in my true form . . . I am Asura XIII, King of all Demons."
"No," Luffy continued to shake his head. "What do you mean you were born to raise hell!"
"I already told you," Zoro bowed his head, Luffy could always get on his nerves, but him being this stubborn was more than annoying. "I was prophesied a thousand years ago to rise up and bring my people, the Demons, into reigning power on this planet."
"No, I don't believe it!" Luffy continued to shake his head.
"Believe it or not—I have to do this," Zoro said.
"I don't believe destiny holds our lives!" Luffy shouted. "You can't tell me you were born for this! When I know that you don't want it!"
"Who says I don't want this?" Zoro asked. "Who says I don't despise humans just like every other Demon? Who says Luffy?"
"You," Luffy said, gazing into Zoro's eyes with such a seriousness Zoro almost forgot he was speaking to Luffy—silly monkey Luffy.
"Tell me Luffy—how can I stop this?" Zoro asked, it was impossible to answer.
"You make your own destiny Zoro," Luffy said. "You can stop this if you want to, but you won't!"
"I CAN'T!" Zoro shouted. "Why can't you understand this you stupid human!"
That comment seemed the cut deep into Luffy . . . Zoro . . . calling him a stupid human. It was like he was some sort of alien to him and it hurt. It was like he was a stranger to him now—no longer his beloved friend.
Zoro saw the hurt look in Luffy's expression and suddenly something sliced him inside. It was that horrible human thing called feeling. He admitted he cared for the boy, greater than anything else—just like Kiyoko, he loved him.
"You . . . don't see me as a friend anymore . . . do you?" Luffy asked, casting his eyes downward.
"I can't," Zoro said, his tone seeming to shake now as if he was about to whine—his heart felt like it was being ripped in two because of this and he just wanted this all to end. "But . . ."
Luffy glanced up and saw his once friend gazing down, a faint smile gracing his lips as if he was thinking of something peaceful—something nice.
"Do you think . . ." Zoro lifted his gaze towards the boy. "In another life . . . we could have been friends—true friends? Ones without secrets from one another . . . ones who will die for the other?"
Luffy looked on at the Demon King for a short while, his mouth slightly agape before he straightened, closed his eyes and bore his teeth in his trademark grin.
"Of course," Luffy chirped happily.
It was then Zoro had been happy—for a moment he smiled, he smiled at the boy who had changed his life more than any other being on earth . . . even more than Kiyoko.
"What are they doing up there? !" Dragon asked, coming up next to his father to gaze as the two stood close to one another in what seemed like a conversation. "What is Luffy doing? !"
"I can't tell!" Garp said. "We need to get him down! Before anything happens!"
"Nothing's happening right now, but what the he- - are they talking about? !" Dragon asked, he became more skittish by the moment fearing when it will happen.
When Kiyoko's prophecy for Luffy will come to pass.
"Our son."
Kiyoko's words continued to ring out in Dragon's head over and over.
"Will die."
Dragon watched his son straighten and smile; he was smiling at the Demon, for whatever reason it was it was his own. He looked towards the Demon to see he too was smiling, but still that fear was present and he was fighting against every Demon in his way to get to his son. He had made it to the stairs and now he was fighting against the Demon Lord Moria and he wasn't easy to get by.
He had to get to Luffy before something happened to him, something horrible. As he fought off the Demon he kept glancing up to where Luffy and Asura stood. The moment he got around Moria was when he saw it and was struck still in horror.
"By Asura."
Luffy had been gutted right through by the Demon King's dark kanata. The look on Luffy's face was that of shock and surprise as he looked at Asura—once a friend of his. Taking the sword out of his belly Luffy fell to the ground and moved no more.
"LUFFY! ! ! !" Ace, Garp, Sanji, Nami, Usopp, Brook, Franky, and Chopper cried out, everyone had seen it and all were in horrible shock at what they had just witnessed, Luffy . . . was gone!
Hot Shot's girl: Evil cliffhanger I know, don't murder me! DX but I had this planned, you'll see how it ends in the last chp. Well, it's been fun guys, hope you enjoyed the story. I know I enjoyed writing it :D Ending's a little corny, but oh well, until next chp, bye!