It's the beginning of a new era or part of the story. TIMESKIP STATUS. Sorry it took so long. AP classes and my final year of high school is no joke. I have more chapters written so they should be updated on time for a while, but I am also working on like five other stories to get up soon with multiple chapters already written for those, I just want to be safe so that if I get busy I can still provide you guys with a chapter every week.
Beware the feels! I really really hope you guys like this. If you were happy with the ending where it was then feel free to abstain from the next chapters.
A lot of feels this chapter... Enjoy.
He... They... They're all gone.
The very notion sends tremors of remorse; each methodically and spitefully break down the walls I've constructed over the years. The ones I built in my childhood, the ones I built working for the Navy. They've held firm against the tests of time, with each new conflict they dutifully shielded my heart from sustaining too much damage. It was Shanks who gave me the strength to maintain them, fortify them, preserve them. He gave me the power to be my own person, he-
Grief seems to desecrate my inner sanctum. Scars rip along the very ground, my beautiful field and protective forest succumb to gravity as they fall into the massive rips in the fabric of my inner world. I feel Daray howling through the icy fields of my mind, trying to escape the cold. Just as my mind suggests, I'm dead inside, and I expect a long winter, the kind which drags on until the idea of rebirth and hope are simply things of a distant past. They'll be like the notions children think up until adulthood crashes in and destroys the idealistic dreams. The connection to my sanity is broken as the earth beneath me shivers, there's no fire to spew from these gaping holes. The temperature is dropping by the second, frost is already forming on the barren land. Daray- Daray's too far away to help me now.
Can I finally be allowed a reprieve? Will they grant it?
These Marines, all my foolish enemies have always thought to break me by hurting my physical body, as if I didn't have quickened healing and a high tolerance for pain. They didn't have any hope of overcoming my sharp wit and boundless knowledge -these traits have always aided in protecting my mental stability- but those fuckers did it this time. They have me, literally brought me to my knees.
I'm but a shell of what I was. I thought I could get past it, I just needed to wait for him, needed some consoling from my most trusted friend. I shouldn't have waited, haven't I learned anything?
Some great Demon Wolf, that struck fear into the heart of every World Government loving idiot. Even among my people, they revered me as the next White Dragon Empress. I had to go back home, despite my anxiety, to fortify defenses, but I made sure the threat was clear; touch my family, I will gather every single Ancient Weapon, excluding Poseidon, and I will destroy the world. Do they ever listen? No.
What they did... They went too far.
I bang my fist weakly on the frozen dirt. The chill dries my mouth while my heated breath clouds in front of me as I struggle for every inhale. How can I even think to breathe without him? My inner world crumbles as I lose control. The sky and the land surrounding me seem to be disappearing. Ice seems to coat everything and then break off to fall into the many chasms, forever expanding until nothing will be left but the void. Who cares? I have no purpose in this world anymore. My mission has failed, not even Shanks is around to bring me from the brink. Every time, I have to remind myself that. He's gone. He's gone. He's fucking gone, Pet! What am I going to do!? Who am I going to kill!?
A sob wrenches itself from my throat, the lump is suffocating me. It's too heavy on my own. I can't... I'm a compass who no longer knows which way is north, directionless.
Tears spill and my fingers bury into the dirt. I can't stop them. I touch my forehead against the cold ground. Get a hold of yourself! You can overco- No, no I can't. I really can't.
I lift my face and scream, the tears don't stop streaming down my face. The piercing notes shatter the land around me. H-He's gone. They're gone.
The image of Daray circling me with his fur bristling fazes in and out of my vision. He's running, barking at me. I can't hear him anymore. Doesn't he know? Didn't he hear?
The chaos of my mind is deafening, there's too many voices speaking at once. Some screaming, others crying, some talking, others whispering. I can't make it out. There's no way to get this in order. It's done.
The ground beneath me fades away as I fall into a never ending darkness. It's okay, they can end it now. I'm done with this life, this horrible life.
I can't save her this time. I know this. I can feel this. Our brainwaves seem to go out of a sync in the moment she's sees he's not here. She desperately wanted him to be here. To save her again, like last time. The one time she needed him, he was there for her.
Now, where the hell is he?
He's gone, we both knew before seeing Luffy's solemn expression. He was the poor messenger, and the delivery was too much for her to bear. The cost was too great, she couldn't afford it.
She had clung to the hope Shanks would come and save her, he'd emerge to wipe away her tears about her family. She'd never felt close to them, she'd never forgotten their treatment of her, no matter how big her smile was in their company, she remembered their intolerance and their bottled hatred. She understood the expectations they still held for her. Shanks, on the other hand, gave his love so unconditionally; he was so patient and kind, he was tolerant of her anger, he understood where it came from...
Shanks is just too much of a loss. He is her soulmate, he is her partner in crime. They always got along. Even I have to admit that Shanks could get through to her about things when sometimes I couldn't. Like now.
I howl and I growl and I snarl. She just kneels, bent, facing the ground. I can see the water falling. I see her shaking. I can't touch her. When I try, I just go right through her, like I don't exist. I'm losing my best friend, and I can't even do anything about it. She's erasing me from the world. Her spirit must be so broken that I have nothing to be a counterpart to anymore.
I never thought I'd be the one crying, but, she's in so much pain. Seeing her lift her tear stained face to the heavens and scream, I feel my own heart throb at her agony. I shift into my human form, standing, facing her. I take a knee and bow my head.
"I-I'm so sorry, Pet... I'm just... so s-sorry." I turn my head and grimace as my own tears slip. Then like a light, I'm out, faded into the nothingness of the world, the two people who knew of my existence are gone.
Pet's eyes have blanked out outside her mind, in the real world she escaped from. The Fleet Admiral smirks at the war going on in front of him, she was supposed to mark the first death, but a certain Pirate King appeared with many reinforcements. Her death was supposed to be the declaration of war on the World Government's part, while the Pirate King already declared war when he discovered One Piece and the secret behind the Void Century. It effectively shed light on their violent history of crime. It was officially declared when the mechanism to destroy the Red Line was initiated and the world was dragged into chaos in the aftermath of it.
After all, he did what the former Pirate King could not, he fulfilled the Will of D. Poseidon was even able to lead her people to the world above.
The cost of these actions were so stupendous. All the many outcomes had a price he had to pay in full, no returns.
Before he could reach Raftel, he discovered Shanks' beaten form at the hands of his longest outstanding enemy, Marshal D. Teach. Luffy had to defeat him to get to One Piece, but a certain hunger overcame him. That man, Blackbeard, had not only killed his brother but had downed his beloved idol, and he knew how much it would injure his older sister. He remembers the day the two crossed paths; she did have Blackbeard submit, but he's a sly dog and wormed his way out of her claws. After that, Blackbeard made sure to keep out of her path, until her husband got in his way, but he'd heard she was taken into custody courtesy of her rival.
Pet has been on the run from the Marines for many years. She's had a few run-ins with Admirals, and rising stars. At one point, she had to face the wrath of the Gorosei, themselves. That battle sent shock waves throughout the world as Pet once again proved her immeasurable strength. Surprisingly, the old men pack a mean punch, especially when they coerced Bonney into reviving their youth. Luffy recalls sitting in rapt attention as Shanks boasted of his wife's prowess. Even a typical simple minded idiot could envision Pet's glowing eyes as she defended herself and even freed Bonney from their clutches; the girl needed persuading. And in the end, Pet had her revert the men back to being geezers. She took Bonney with her as she made her getaway, and the Gorosei never dared to make a direct attack again.
As Pet faced off against many foes in her freedom, she often had to travel back to her home island to check up on them. She'd kill any threat before it even had the chance to be one. Luffy's father, Monkey D. Dragon, aided her in keeping them safe. He'd have Revolutionaries circulating shifts with her people. In return, when Sabo was away leading ops in other lands, Pet would fill in and lead scores of Revolutionaries into battles. None could even touch her any more. Well, one could, but Shanks pulled her from the flames that time.
The Pirate King, stands with his muscled arms crossed and his pirate's coat fluttering in the breeze. This battle marks the first. Their objective is to save his sister, and he will not fail like last time. He has grown since then. And now, Sabo has joined him. Both men face the execution platform as explosions, clashes, and gunshots muffle each other. They both have tasted war before, and this time is no different. Sabo murmurs, "She's not moving at all. She fumbled when they told her they had eradicated her family. It seemed like she was fine walking up to the platform."
Luffy nods, narrowing his eyes, "She must have noticed Shanks."
Sabo sighs, "She'd have broken herself out already at the thought of his death, don't you think? Went to exact her revenge." He recalls the time Ace was killed and she stirred up a storm, even defected from the Marines. Somehow, he senses the difference. She's not the same person she was, she's lighter... She was lighter after her marriage with Shanks.
Luffy sucks in a breath, "I don't think she was prepared for him dying, ever. In this situation, I wouldn't be surprised if we already lost her." Luffy lost many friends when he found One Piece, the weight is heavy on his shoulders. He can't lose his sister, and he understands that he has to help his brother win the war, so everyone can be free. Robin and Franky, his crew, they found the truth and wanted him to act accordingly, so he is... For them, all of them.
Sabo's blue eyes meet with Luffy's charcoal. He sees the age behind them, the maturity he attained over the years. "It's not like she has nothing? We're both here."
Luffy blinks calmly at him, nodding until the sound of heels draws the men's attention to the elegant woman behind them. Most of Luffy's original crew stand on the Thousand Sunny's deck while he and his brother occupy the lion's forehead. Luffy offers a smile to her, "Robin? Did you want to add something?"
Even in her aging, Robin's beauty still seems to have only tripled. Her light smile gives the impression of a light subject, it forever masks the truly dark thoughts she's never been rid of, "You two haven't needed her to save you for years. I don't think she sees you as younger brothers she has to watch over anymore. She knows you're both capable without her... I hope she's not suicidal." Both men exchange glances as they turn back to the war in front of them. There was genuine concern in Robin's voice, she truly hopes Pet hasn't lost her reasons for life. Robin understands that position, but she had to make sure her Captain understood that he might not lose Pet to the Marines, but to herself.
Luffy frowns finally, "Sabo," his older brother looks to him, "taking Robin's words into consideration, we should join the fight, end it. I don't like the idea of leaving Pet in that state for too long. The Marines will probably try something anyways, like last time."
Sabo acknowledges his words with a frown, "The quicker we get her back, the better."
Luffy nods, "She was there to give me another reason to live when Ace died, I want to return the favor." He offers a small smile at his brother before turning around and facing his commanders, "Zoro, go tell Flame-head and Mask-guy we're joining the fight. Chopper, do the same with Torao. Nami, Brooke, Franky, Robin, Usopp, Sanji, will you join me to get my sister back?"
Sanji lights a cigarette and remarks, "There's nothing more romantic than going to war for a lady."
Nami pokes him, teasing, "Don't mention that to Violet, she might get jealous."
Usopp laughs boastfully, "As a brave man of the sea, I shall!"
Franky merely presses his forearms together to form a giant star, "Super! Of course!"
Robin smiles nodding, "Of course, Captain-san."
Brooke laughs, "Yohoho I will follow you until I die, Captain! Oh wait!? I'm already dead! Yohoho!"
Luffy's lip curls into his trademark grin at his powerful and experienced crew, "Let's join the fun, shall we? I expect the rest of the alliance to follow our lead."
Sabo smiles at his younger brother and his original crew, they've all grown so much. Luffy leads the biggest alliance in known history. The White Dragon Empress lead the first biggest alliance if one would count unknown history.
Stepping forward, they all jump off Sunny. Franky takes the rear, they won't be losing their ship in this fight.
The dust settles as Luffy presses his infamous strawhat down and all the monsters of his crew wear similar smirks and smiles. The Marines falter when they lay eyes on all the major players getting off their high horses and about to dirty their hands a little, not that they've stopped fighting. Since they found One Piece, it seems all they've done is fight. They seemed to be taking on the whole world.
As Luffy said, the other major players did take note of the Straw Hat's entering the battlefield. A certain chickenhead and his crewmates shuddered in ecstasy at seeing their battle prowess once again. Luffy is the new Pirate King, he earned his title and his strength long ago surpassed the great Fleet Admiral. Also, he's in his prime, unlike Whitebeard and some of the other Admiral geezers. They're strong but gladly many of his closest crew members rose in power with him with each challenge they faced.
Chopper and Zoro both return to their Captain affirming that Trafalgar Law and Eustass Kid would be joining soon. In fact, as the legendary crew slowly advances in a line along the beach, for miles, leaders of the different pirates crews and fleets are stepping down.
It's unspoken when Sanji and Zoro set their eyes on the two Admirals wreaking the most damage on their forces. Sanji puffs on a cigarette with a light smile adorning his features, his curly brow bounces at the light human, a challenge to see who will win this time. While Zoro sheathes and unsheathes his Wado Ichimonji in anticipation for his fight against Fujitora.
The Fleet Admiral frowns slightly, this war is on an even greater scale than the war for Ace. Pet spent her whole life helping people across the world, she never abandoned them and always came running when they called, or even when they didn't. Ace can't take it to heart, because it was never a goal of his to help people. Pet's undeclared goal was to be remembered and cared about, she didn't want to disappear like her ancestor when she died.
Unfortunately, the scale of people fighting for her did not carry enough weight in reasons why she might consider staying. Instead, she saw that all these people would remember her if they cared enough to go to war for her, she accomplished her ultimate goal. She existed, and she has all these eye witnesses to vouch for her.
After a moment of acknowledgement, the Marines seem to try to take Luffy and his crew in battle. Luffy laughs, "Shishishi," and the veins in his face seem to enlarge for a moment as a powerful burst of Conqueror's Haki overpowers his foes. The Pirate King is in the fight now. Many fall unconscious, and he and his allies disperse into the fray, heading towards Pet.
As if his allies made up a great wave sweeping over the sand, they pushed the Marines back. Kizaru and Fujitora waste no time in clashing with Zoro and Sanji. To the east and western parts of the beach, Law and Kid have hopped off their ships and travel diagonally to converge on Pet's location. The Revolutionary army is stationed throughout, they have been fighting this war from the start and wouldn't miss out on its first serious battle. Dragon appointed Sabo the leader of their forces in this fight.
Many of the Supernova, no longer considered rookies, are present on the battlefield. Hawkins and Apoo fight in close proximity to Kid and Killer. While Bonney is on the other side, fighting and eating near Law. Law would be displeased with her mannerisms slightly if he weren't focused on Pet. His worry had spiked when learned of her capture and the announcement of her execution as the starting point for the war. While discussing tactics with Luffy and Kid, Luffy informed them that Shanks had lost to Blackbeard.
Law had never really let himself get attached to any one, but Pet was like a mother or motherly older sister to him. She was there for him in childhood and he could never repay her for saving his life and helping him achieve his dreams. Maybe, just maybe, he could repay her now.
The Fleet Admiral offers a wicked smile from his perch next to the kneeling demon, although her arms spreadeagled gives her a more holy appearance. She's going to die for all her sins, and the sins committed by her fellow pirates, by her younger brother who unleashed hell upon the world. "Looks like they're getting serious about saving you, Pet. No matter, it was inevitable that scum like you could fail to escape justice. We have a surprise coming up anyways."
Pet's cloudy eyes stare vacantly on the vast expanse of island. Ships border the entire coast as far as the eye can see on either side, all trying to converge on her, to save her. Many people and pirates joined the war purely to repay her for helping them throughout the years. Maybe that was her problem, she couldn't bear to stay in her village for too long so she spent too much effort helping others.
Akainu looks at Pet, she wears a dark blue turtleneck jacket, zipped up to her throat, with matching pants, no shoes. Her emotions are all gone, it gives the magma man shivers as he averts his eyes, for a second, it was as though he were looking at a corpse.
Everything burns!
His red eyes never stray from my body. I wasn't prepared for this. I was just trying... I can't think about that now! I tear open my eyes despite the heat, I see his own widened, good, he knows he went too far.
I feel my skin crackling and melting. My blood is boiling, my skin is charring. The fire won't get off. No matter how hard I thrash and roll around in the dirt, it won't leave me. It won't be satisfied until I'm just a pile of dust. This realization riles my rebelliousness to dying when most would like me to, but I know I can't fight it. Already my strength is being torched.
Finally his voice cuts through my sizzling ears, "That's enough, boys. I think she's had enough."
You think!? You bastard!
A growl rumbles in my throat as I slowly lose the ability to move anymore. Every time I try, I just feel the burning stinging of my open wounds. Even my precious hair is singed. He smiles down at me even as the flames still engulf my entire body. Now I merely lay twitching occasionally on the floor, but my red eyes still shine through the flames. He's unaffected by my gaze, an oddity I discovered upon meeting him years ago.
I see his nose crinkled, right, I must reek of burning flesh. Take that ya asshole! There's guilt behind his satanic eyes, "I doubt even you could survive this, Pet. To help you out, how about you go for a swim?" His voice may be hard, but I can sense his hunger for dishing mercy. He didn't think that scorching someone would be this gruesome. I can't even complain, it's not like I've never tortured anyone in worse ways. I could always make them beg for mercy. My punishments for these past actions are always really extreme though. It's only fair, I guess.
I can't even breathe for fear of inhaling the flames and fumes and giving myself internal damage. I withhold the gasp as he walks toward me with the burning barn behind him casting a glow. The fire really brings out the red tips of his raven hair. If he weren't my enemy and a major thorn in my pad, I'd almost call him handsome... But no! He's a fucking despicable human being who should be wiped off the face of this planet, because he sucks dick. Yeah, I resorted to that childish shaming, but I'm kind of dying over here so I don't have the energy to think up clever insults.
He gives a sharp kick to my side and I go flying with my blood spilling over the edge of the cliff. A sheer drop of deceiving heights now that I'm descending to the black ocean. Maybe a Sea King will gobble me up, smell my blood and hunt me, the prey, down. He tracked me down and pursued me through this farming island when I ran through the barn to the back only to find I'd reached the end of the line. I just wanted some alone time, and here I am getting dowsed in the ever burning flames, fired at me through the new toys Vegapunk devised.
I begin my descent to the ocean below, at least I can breathe slightly with the wind lessening the flame's strength. Even then, it's not a happy fall, I receive flashbacks of all the wounds I suffered as a child. The pain from them ebbs at my nerves, spurring me to experience them anew. I'm going to die... And I won't even get to tell Shanks...
The pain and agony, the fear, force me to release an ear splitting scream that's cut from my throat as I hit the surface of the water, although it feels more like I crashed through a solid mountain. I slip beneath the surface and while the flames are officially put out, the salt adds a new stinging pain. I murmur as I fall into the depths, not even the strength to protest. Sleep will be good, I can't really open my burned eyelids either anyways. Darkness consumes me.
My dreams are gut wrenching and painful, a never ending labyrinth of pain and solitude. Forgive me for leaving you, Shanks.
I can hear the shrill notes continually stabbing my ear drums, I won't ever be rid of them.
I wake up crying into his chest, as his good arm strokes my hair and he whispers sweet nothings in my ear. I can't let go of him, "Sh-Shanks," I sob.
I feel him kiss my hair, "You're awake finally?"
I nod into his tear-stained shirt. His rough hand traces my arm before resting on my clenched hand, grasping his shirt like a lifeline.
He simply holds me close, "Everyone was worried."
The tears don't stop flowing at the memory of the fire, "I thought I was dead." I've never felt so utterly helpless.
I feel him smile and my puffy eyes look to his light smile, "I'd never let you leave without saying goodbye."
My lip quivers and he bends slightly to press his lips to mine. Strength seems to transfer into me and I release my grip on his shirt to brush his jaw and run another hand through his hair. Then I pull away and sit up, he smiles at me. I cock my head, "How did you know I was in trouble?"
"One of my connections told me about Tetsuya's direction, and I remembered which way you went."
I nod and sigh as I look down at the bandages covering parts of my body. "How long have I been out?"
Shanks frowns slightly, "Weeks, at first you were too burned to move, but as you got better you seemed to have nightmares and would... Point is, you're better now, and the crew will want to see you soon."
I offer a shy smile, envisioning how I must have screamed and thrashed and cried. "Did you fish me out?"
He laughs, but there's an edge to it, "Of course."
I nod once, with a lump in my throat, he must have thought I was going to die too.
I can't help remembering this, it was at my darkest hour, when I truly thought I was at death's door. Shanks was there to pull me away from it, and I remember how our crew mates told me how he never left my room, he never left my side, not while I still needed him. They told me how he'd carry me outside and make sure I got enough moonlight. I always thought I was my own hero, but in that moment, Shanks was my hero. Where's my hero now? Where's my husband? Where was I, when he needed me?
I can't helping moaning in my grief, pining at my lost love. I can't save him, and he can't save me. This is fair. This is our end.
Others do not agree with Pet's deduction. The battle gets bloodier by the minute as multitudes of pirates and Marines clash along the coast. The scene likens to that of D Day, only heavy artillery is not being shot at the pirates landing ashore. Near Law's section, a plethora of body parts are being flown everywhere, while Bonney chomps on her pizza, seeming to pull the slices out of her jacket pockets. Around her, soldiers are becoming aged or toddlers, children. Leading the eastern front of the Revolutionary army is Aokiji. His ice has frozen his former comrades and he walks with his eyes set on Pet. On the Western front, Kid and his allies create the bloodier mess, as Kid renders most Marines defenseless by taking their metal items only to injure and mortally wound them with a massive "Repel!"
The difference in power is shown when Law smirks and forms a massive Room over the eastern side he fights upon, using the Personality Transplant Surgery over every enemy. They gain the upper hand in the confusion that follows, downing hundreds before they can even grasp what's happened. Kid passes a glance to his rival's work, and his excitement and passion riles. Summoning all of the metal to a massive point far above his head, but it's not just the weapons and such that he's attracting to that one point, whatever lies beneath the sand of the beach, the pipes nearer the mainland uproot and hit the enemies as they travel to the massive meteor forming.
Kid laughs maniacally as he drops the meteor onto his foes and lets it crush them, rolling. Killer shakes his head at his Captain. Needless to say, the battle is much bloodier on the Western side.
A great blast of fire pillars to the sky as Sabo, now expert in his devil fruit, wastes no time in clearing his path to Pet. Luffy wears a hearty grin with his arm still stretching behind him, only to snap to the front and knock a row of Marines into next week. Other pirate Captains and leaders of the varying allies annihilate many Marines standing in their way, getting more and more optimistic about this battle's outcome.
The Fleet Admiral, Akainu, watches their fruitless efforts. He seems to address Pet when he says, "Let's bring out the surprise now." The Marines guarding around the platform alert the others as they begin preparing. Akainu takes his megaphone so he can project, "Pet is not the only criminal answering for the crimes of the past..." There is a collective notice and expressions of shock at the information. Who is else is there? Is it someone else they know and love? Pet's matted and bloody hair is carried by a calm ocean breeze while her dead eyes continue staring at nothing. "We have two others who will be joining her in execution, they're the descendants of the greatest enemy the World Government has ever faced! These two are Uchiha!"
None can know the gravity of the name, except those who've heard the legend. A certain swordsman falters at the mentioning of the name.
At the ground level of the island where the war is taking place on the beach, one form is ushered forward. She wears rags and carries a small bundle in her arms. She's not in Pet's sight; Pet's platform is situated in front of the imposing Marine Headquarters where the platform meets the ground, the ground is actually atop a smaller hill, implying that Luffy and his fellow rescuers would have to climb a bit to reach her. The children were brought out from an opening in the base which connects through a tunnel into the building behind Pet.
The den den mushi focuses on the two forms and they are projected to the world. They're going to execute the Uchiha children. Two Marines at the base have to grab the small girl by the arms and drag her struggling form forward. She can't fight too hard because of the baby in her arms, she screams, "Let me go, you barbarians! You killed my parents! You murdered my people!" Even as she says it, her voice cracks at the bombarding memories from the attack.
Across the battlefield, Luffy rushes to their aide, but many Marines seem to concentrate their efforts. Some Admirals stand to guard the prisoners, wearing disgusted faces. They're either disgusted at what they're about to do or that the children even exist. Akainu raises a brow at Pet's blank features, "Dead already, scum?"
The Marines forcing the girl out, stop at the awaiting executioner, she and the baby will be killed by gun shots. The executioner wears a grin as he polishes his glinting revolver. The girl shakes her head in horror as she tries to break free and seems to crush the baby in her arms. She grows more fearful of her fate by the second, more afraid of the fate of the younger in her arms. Her baby brother will never get to meet his family. What an awful way to go. She looks at the agitated baby and thinks of the loss, he hasn't even developed his eye color or shape yet. Her own purplish teal eyes pool with tears and she looks back at the entrance she emerged from. Her gaze follows up the hill to the screens demonstrating Pet on the raised platform.
She recognizes the woman, and she kicks up a new storm as she screams to her, "Auntie! What are you doing!? They're going to kill us! Auntie, please!"
Her small voice carries much weight as gasps of surprise ring out from the allies, none really knew of Pet's lineage. Mihawk and Shanks were the first to know, until Shanks pressed her to inform her brothers. They were pondering where she always went and she finally told them in secrecy, only a small paraphrased version and not the whole truth about the Void Century. Law narrows his eyes at the screens, he's leading the forces towards the left while Kid leads the charges to the far right. He never knew Pet had siblings or a real family, he always assumed she was an orphan like him. She certainly acts like one.
Luffy gets closer and closer, but not close enough as the Admirals tag team him. Even he has difficulty taking on two at once, Admirals are not to be underestimated, Pet is proof of that, her being a former Admiral.
The young girl grows heartbroken as her aunt doesn't even twitch at her pleas. Akainu's smirk grows wider, he's broken her. Finally, her niece is forced to her knees and the gun is pointed straight at her head. She sobs, "Please, Auntie, save us." She clutches the baby in her arms. The child is upset at the salty water falling on his face.
The darkness was supposed to shield her, deflect any outside interference with her death wish. Then, the darnedest thing happened, a high voice stirs her from her deadened thoughts.
"Auntie!"
There's no one left alive to call me that. My family is all dead. They said so... I heard the gunshots and screams. I heard them beating my brother so his grunts would be heard over the den den mushi. They're all dead... So why am I hearing ghosts? Am I already dead? Did God finally give me my wish simply because I wished it, did he make an exception? He let me go and now I can be with my family and my love?
Her heart quickens at the hope that she doesn't have to wait to be reunited with the love of her life. Then she hears, "What are you doing!? They're going to kill us! Auntie, please!"
If this is heaven then they wouldn't be calling for help, would they? Maybe we all went to hell then? ... She said kill... but we're all dead right!?
Water builds in her eyes, rain is getting ready to streak down her cheeks at the thought, Who am I kidding? God will never show me mercy. I'm still alive, why can't people just let me die? Shanks isn't here anymore, sorry kids, I'm done with this life.
She crouches on the balls of her feet, however, with her hands extended and folded in front of her, while her elbows rest along her curled knees. Her brow is hanging as she scowls in thought, a battle rages inside her. She's in the black hole of her mind.
Her instincts to preserve the Uchiha are threatening to overcome her, her entire purpose for existing. They're just kids, and siblings. We'll never be able to bring the Uchiha back. There's no need for them to be saved. And Shanks... He's waiting... Can I really keep him waiting? I can just save them then off myself, right? Give them to Nami's care, she likes children. They'll be well cared for.
Pet broods for the moment and her lip curls in anger. She's like an insomniac bear awoken from hibernation. She feels like she won't ever be able to truly get back to sleep just because of how hard it is proving to be to her.
Then, as clear as day, "Please, Auntie, save us."
Her lips thin and she mutters, "Well, fuck me."
Life returns to Pet as she grits her teeth, breaking her bonds as a new power seems to awaken inside her. She won't play the martyr today, maybe next time. Her clawed hands dig into the wood of the platform and she's propelled forward. A shot rings out.
The battlefield is silent as the screen shows Pet's first act of defiance to the Marines' plans.
The little raven opens her eyes to the shadow shielding her from the revolver's muzzle. Pet didn't have the time to get them out of the way, she only had time to position herself in front of the shot. Smoke wisps from the revolver, and Pet's softened features barely manage to mask the sharp glint in her eyes. "Azara..." Pet takes a knee and wipes the child's tears away, she's around six years old, and the bundle is almost two.
Azara blinks as more tears gradually fall, "A-Auntie, you came." She's coming to the realization that she just might get to live.
Pet nods, "I heard a niece of mine crying and it bothered me." Although her words and expression show care, Azara can hear the masked anger in Pet's tone, she can see the glint of daggers hidden in Pet's eyes.
Azara fights back a torrent of sadness, and she sobs, "They killed everyone!"
Pet merely blinks calmly at the girl, "It's what people do. Watch, I'll show you." Azara doesn't grasp Pet's meaning as her only candidate for guardian stands. Pet looks about her at the silent Marines, too shocked to move.
She offers a cold smirk, "What? Did you think you really had me? You only had me because I allowed it." Partly true, she's just glad Tetsuya isn't around to tussle with her. She's never been able to really destroy him, their fights usually end in a draw, having to be dragged away from each other by his subordinates or her friends.
Her attention is drawn to clicking of the megaphone, and Akainu's gruff voice snaps the Marines from their stupor, "What are you fools doing!? Kill them!"
Pet smiles with all her teeth sharpening, she grins at the executioner with the gun. Her arm pierces straight through his heart, "Don't ever point a gun at my family."
Marines litter the air as they all seem to plan a dog pile while others have fired projectiles of different sorts.
Something has happened within Pet, however, she grew just now, mentally. She takes Azara and her brother in her arms ascending above the rest. She's level with the platform with all the Marines beneath her, she sucks in a deep breath and bellows an earth shaking howl. Many bodies seem to have traveled a bit farther below sea level. She frees one hand and sends slashes.
She falters slightly and lands with grunt on the ground below, still near the base of the hill with more assailants running to end her. She stumbles and drops the kids, her expression troubled.
"Auntie, what's wrong?"
Pet shakes her head before something snaps inside her, she howls in pain. Instead of extensions of her nails, her claws, her fingers seems to form into great talons protruding from her palms. She leans forward on her hands and knees while she feels bones breaking and reforming in her back, she groans.
"Auntie!?"
Pet shivers and her strained and sweaty face looks to the Marines closing in. She growls at them and Azara crinkles her nose at the smell of rotten eggs wafting from Pet's mouth. Pet's back arches and she growls, clawing the earth. Her skin seems to harden and widen, a truly painful process, like she's turning into a moving statue. When a Marine aims and fires for Azara's face, Pet sticks her hand out to take the bullet, but to her surprise, it ricochets off her palm. Her widened eyes turn to the dirt beneath her, "It's happening," she whispers.
"It? You mean?"
Luffy and the others are closing in quick to defend her, Pet blinks in shock. The realization seems to mature her even more. I lost my happiness, was on the brink of death, wanted with every fiber of my being to die, but brought myself back to live for others instead of myself, to sacrifice my own happiness and peace? Is that what coming of age means? I find a way to carry on after reaching the bottom, even though I'd rather take the easy way out? I desperately wanted to die, was resigned to the fact, but I see these kids and this war, and I know it will be a rough road without me. Is that what Yuki did? Is this how she felt when she saw her people dying and couldn't afford to die, she had to get them out at least?
Pet closes her eyes, two drops spill onto the ground as she smiles slightly, I see.
She stands and leaves her niece and nephew to meet her enemies, ignoring the pain of her transformation. Bullets bounce off her forming scales. Her sharpening teeth are a menace as well as her talons. She slices throats, stabs, chomps on various Marines, in a fever. Her bloodlust seems to build as she slashes up her enemies.
Pet creates a major dent in the forces of the Marines in no time, Luffy and company are feet away as well, but the Marines circle around her to at least take out the other Uchiha. Pet's attention is diverted when Akainu stands over them with dripping magma. He smirks at her, "Scum must be eradicated." Look who decided to get up off his ass.
She smiles at him and her eyes seem to shift to a white with a light blue tint. A great poof occurs as she transforms fully, she clenches her teeth at the pain. Then a giant alabaster dragon blows the cloud away with a roar that shakes the earth. She opens her mouth and spews fire at the Admiral, not worrying over the kids getting burned. He blows back at the force and groans as he seems to go aflame, but not his own. Her deep and gravelly voice hisses, "You burned a hole through my brother's heart many years ago, Fleet Admiral. Now, I have the capability to turn you to ash. Do you know what it's like to get burned?"
Fire builds in her throat and she unleashes it on him and he howls, she extends her neck and snaps her great jaws on his torso, instantly killing him. Much too easy. His blood paints her white scales around her mouth before she drops his lifeless body and swings over to eye the other enemies. Her lip curls in anticipation, "Who's next?"
Her enormous wings spread and she lifts off and releases an inferno across the battlefield while her tail wacks the antagonists surrounding her. Azara watches the destruction in awe and fear, but the fear vanishes when she considers how Pet literally fired on Akainu who was right past her. The fire felt cold to her, like wind passing over her. It wasn't crackling or hot like how it appeared on the Fleet Admiral, she was unaffected, as was her brother.
Luffy experiences something similar when Pet blows her white fire across the battlefield until it reaches him. He's in the flame's path, but he doesn't burn. She cleared the path to her and Luffy steps forward, "Pet, do you know?"
Her giant eye lands on him, regarding him simply. He frowns at her and she continues raging across the battlefield, taking out enemies like they were nothing but flies. She continues for a short time before staggering on her feet. She's a dragon for mere minutes, less than ten. Most are already fleeing as they realize they can't hope to best a dragon. Two Admirals are left to lead the war, but they order the rest to retreat while trying to dish out punishment to Pet. Their attacks do nothing, Pet has completed her transformation, yet, why does she feel so lightheaded?
Her serpent head swings around and her vision blurs before she tumbles to the floor breathing heavily. There's a powerful gust of wind generated from her body before her human form is seen on the ground. She lays on her stomach while her sight fades. She can't mistake the taste of copper in her mouth. It's okay, she can rest now. Luffy and Sabo and Law will take care of the rest.
"Auntie!"
Pet could cry as she recognizes the voice of fear for their own life instead of fear for Pet's. Her gaze shifts to the swordsman about to cut down her brother's children. Another shift in the air however, and Pet's eyes widen when the sword cuts down her shoulder, almost reaching her heart. It's enough. Pet blinks before grabbing their arm holding the saber, and slamming them back with her free hand. The blow is dealt straight to their heart, and the jolt stops it while sending them flying backwards. The sword is still buried in her chest and her eyes travel over the wound.
She smiles as blood trails from her lips, and she falls to her knees before landing on her side. An uproar unlike any other stirs across the beach, Luffy slams a Marine aiming his rifle at her into the ground and rushes to her, he reaches her first with others following. The Marines retreat, some wear devious smiles, they didn't accomplish nothing this battle. He shakes her, "Pet!"
Pet's eyes peer lifelessly out, she's gone already.
He clenches his teeth, shaking her. As if enough tears hadn't already been shed, he can't stop them as grief shreds his heart, he failed... again.
All the pirates are able to run to them, most keep a respectful distance away while the various leaders step forward and crowd around the female. Her niece cries softly and the babe, usually quiet, screams in distress.
Law stands staring at Pet's expression, she wears a peacefully content smile. He looks away briefly as his vision clouds because of sadness. He'd always pictured Corazon with that smile in his own death. Robin, one of the few who had a type of kinship with her, also fights back her own grief, she remembers the talks she''d have with Pet when she came to visit. Pet told her how they would have a lot to talk about after she learned the true history, she told Robin that even if she found the Poneglyph, she wouldn't have the whole story. Sabo kneels beside his brother, in the end, his presence hadn't made a difference.
Law grabs everyone's attention by stepping forward, "Sh-She's had worse, we still might be able to resuscitate her?" His doctor's knowledge made him realize she hadn't died of blood loss, there wasn't much blood pooling around her, and if it was just shock, then they could still bring her back. Besides, he's not ready to give her up just yet...
Luffy nods and lays her down on the sand, removing the sword, while Law places his palms in the middle of her chest. He begins pushing to a rhythm to try to restart her heart.
Pet blinks at the light surrounding her. She doesn't see it coming when she's tackled to the floor. She squirms in someone's grasp, "Hey! Who is this!?"
Her eyes adjust, and she stares into the tan face smiling down at her. Her gaze softens instantly and she cups his cheeks, holding him in place, grounding him. A stream of water slips down her face, "Shanks," she murmurs.
He grins and she realizes he's holding himself up by two arms. "Your arm."
He nods, and his voice is music to her ears, "Sorry I couldn't make it. Luffy and everyone are waiting for you, great White Dragon Empress." His tone is light, but his words are heavy to her heart.
She whispers, "Are you sending me away?" The light had made her think it was heaven, but maybe she's in hell. Shanks could never be a damned soul, not like hers. The agony of her thoughts stiffen her muscles. They'll have to fight to take her away from Shanks... But, what if he really doesn't want her now that they're dead? Is love merely a thing in life, or does it truly extend into the afterlife?
He shakes his head, "Nope, I love you, and I'll always wait for you to come back. If you don't, I'll come get you myself." He laughs heartily and Pet bites her lip, she can't help the relief at his words. He saw her troubled expression and worked to ease her mind, one of the many reasons she loves him. He understands her, also, he gives her a place to call home. Still, she can't help the defiance in never getting as she wishes. She gets a chance to be with him and she has to leave him? No way.
"I don't want to go back, I just want to die. I'm tired. I want to stay here with you."
"I'm not going anywhere. Your niece and nephew need you. The world still needs you. You can end the war, end it for me. I'm not able to stop it by merely being there anymore. You still have so much life left in you, don't let him die before he's had the chance to live."
Pet sucks in a breath at his words, she averts her gaze in shame, "Right, you know. I never got the chance to tell you."
Shanks leans in and shares a gentle kiss. "You'll break many hearts if you stay. Can you live with that?"
Pet tackles him so she's atop him, "No." She kisses his forehead, lingering for a moment before, "I don't think I can live without you either."
Shanks blinks at her calmly, bringing her to lay atop him, he smiles, while one hand ghosts at the bottom hem of her shirt, "You'll have a piece of me with you."
Pet nods, "I love you."
Law checks her pulse and finds nothing. He moves to do more chest compression before a hand on his shoulder holds him back. He meets the frowning face and has his eyes reflected back to him in the glasses. The lanky man tells him, "It's over. Let her go."
Law shakes the man's hand off, he can't accept it, Pet can't die. "I don't take orders from you." Even as he says that, he can't bring himself to continue. He couldn't help noticing the hint of remorse in the Heavenly Demon's face, it bugs him. Pet couldn't let Corazon's brother be executed, Cora wouldn't have wanted it. She singlehandedly broke him out, as both an act for Cora and an act to piss off the Navy. Even then, she kept Doffy on a tight leash, he didn't get to go around being a villain. And through the years, the demon began to reform slightly, he's still a pompous douche-bag, but not as bad as he was.
Law buries his face in his hands while Luffy seems to brace himself on the floor.
They barely hear the whisper of Azara, "She can't be dead."
Pet's eyes remain half open, watching the darkening sky, until the sprinkles begin falling. A huge breath of air expands her chest and she twitches silently. Her gaze darts around the place before she sits upright, with her hand on her chest. Many step back in shock before Luffy cries out and bear hugs her. Sabo joins him. They can't believe she's alive. She's okay. Everything is going to be okay.
It's only until Azara screams, "You're killing her!" They realize, she's fainted and limp in their arms. Many yell at Luffy and Sabo for the idiocy in gripping an injured woman, their eyes have collectively widened in shock. Wasn't she dead? How could she die? Law shakes his head in confusion, expressing the information everyone knows about the mighty Pet, "She's had way worse wounds before, this cut should be nothing." None saw her take any damage, except the gun shot, during the whole war, so Law frowns while taking her hand. He notes the blood covering it, he had assumed before that it was just from the cut, but as he pulls the long sleeve up, he grimaces at the cuts and marks marring her skin. He shakes his head, "No way."
His audience seems to share collective moments of realization as Law's nimble fingers pull down the zipper at her throat. He pulls it down a ways to her chest. The sight makes him look away. Doffy growls slightly under his breath, seeming to remember his own brushes with torture. Her skin is littered with wounds from burns and cuts, punctured areas, bruises. All over her body, yet, the Marines had the forethought to leave her face intact for the execution.
Luffy growls, "Why would they do this?"
Doffy smiles, "Fufu, don't you realize, boy? Everybody was looking for one person when the Red Line went down."
Luffy glares at him before he seems to grasp Doffy's line of thinking. Nami squeezes his shoulder and he stares at the ground, clenching his teeth, "They wanted her to tell them where I was?"
Kid mutters, "Knowing Pet, it was probably in her power to find out."
Luffy shakes his head, "No, she lost that power when Tetsuya burned her alive."
Zoro gruffly reasons, "They probably wouldn't have believed her if she told them."
Silence settles on the group as Law checks her pulse to make sure she's still with them. He feels her weak heart beat, before picking her up and beginning the walk to his ship. Nami steps toward Azara and her brother before the child dashes past them to follow after Pet. Her brother still murmurs slightly for food.
Luffy moves to follow before ordering, "The Marines won't stop here. Go to your positions, we still have a war to fight." His allies nod before dispersing to take care of the wounded and prepare for the next round. Even while Law had a group to await Pet's results, the battlefield was still alive with pirates trying to aide their fallen.
Luffy and Sabo follow close behind Law, while a few others trail after them, some of the Straw Hats move to take care of other things while Law calls some of his crew to meet at their ship. Chopper gallops next to him in his beast form.
Azara is agile for her age and has no trouble keeping up with the adults. She stays by Pet and when her Aunt's hand waves in the air. The child maintains a hold on her brother, while also reaching out and grasping her last family member's hand. Now she gets to act as a lifeline to her savior, she wants Pet to stay, she needs someone familiar. Even if the hand she holds is dripping blood, at least she's familiar.
Author's Note: I know I'm awful and made you guys wait way too long for the continuation. The thing is, I had readily planned to just end Demon Wolf where it was, but then a funny thing happened... PET WON'T LEAVE ME ALONE. Now, if you're a writer or maybe you can just imagine, every character is a voice in my head, incessantly telling me their story whether I want it or not. If I don't share it, then it gets crowded in my head. Well, Pet wouldn't leave me alone, telling me "You know where my story ends. Tell it. Fucking tell it. Tell them about the pain and hardships." She was fricking pissing me off with her ordering me around, so here it is just to get her out. Consider this the continuation, a sort of part two, but it won't be as long, and there will be no open ending. I'm writing this story until Pet's dead now, but don't worry I still see like at least ten more chapters in Pet's future. Also, people keep following this story and I feel bad...
Anyways, sincerely hope ya'll enjoyed, and that you aren't too mad at me. Have at it, give me your thoughts on the story, it will be purely based off my theory of One Piece's end, purely speculation from this point on. Review, Follow, Favorite...