ONE PIECE
Two Worlds, One Family
A young woman struggling to find her place in the world wakes up to find a bunch of cats in her room...cats that turn out to be the characters from her favourite TV show, One Piece! Bound to each other, whether they like it or not, and trying to figure out a way to find a certain somebody's lost Nakama and get everyone back to their home, what follows is bound to be chaos, friendship, tears, romance - and, adventure! (Kind of a re-write of Straw Cat Pirates).
Parental Warning - the following chapter contains:
. Moderate adult themes
. Moderate violence
. Low level sexual references
CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
Dawn Of A New Era
"Kuina was lonely." Zoro shrugged. "She wanted some company."
"That still doesn't explain why she kidnapped all those kids." Nami stated, and Zoro glared at her. Nami cringed. "Yick…don't do that when you've only got one eye – it's creepy."
Zoro just rolled his eyes…eye.
"Now you look like Sanji." Usopp pointed out.
"Hey!" The cook cried, overhearing. "Don't relate him to me! I've got two eyes, I just choose to cover one of them."
"He's lying." Usopp stated.
"I am not and I'll prove it." Sanji said, and stalked off in the direction of the bathroom.
"Oh, now you've gone and done it." Emma muttered, sitting back on the deck.
"Done what?" Usopp asked, just as Sanji came back, with his fringe covering his other eye, and the eye that was usually covered revealed, instead.
"Augh!" Usopp yelled, feigning fear. "It's not of this world!"
"It looks exactly the same as his other eye, Usopp." Nami stated.
"No, it's a demon eye!"
Everybody just stared at Usopp, as he went flying from a well-aimed kick from Sanji.
Meanwhile, Franky, who was at the helm, was talking to Robin.
"Do you think they're okay?" He wanted to know.
Robin nodded, a cool breeze ruffling through her raven locks. "Yes. I am sure that they will be fine. Luffy seems confident that we'll be alright."
"That he does." Franky agreed. "And, what about Emma-Nee-Chan? How's she holding up?"
Robin glanced over her shoulder, towards where Emma was sitting on the deck, staring out at the ocean. "In regards to what we just went through, I think she'll be able to handle it – it's the questions that she might not like."
And, as if on cue, Luffy approached Emma. "Ne, Emmy, why was your family always so mean to you?"
"Baka!" Sanji snapped, kicking Luffy's shin. "You can't just ask her that!"
"No, it's okay." Emma sighed, and then glanced across the deck at Ace, who was watching her. He hadn't exactly been keeping his distance but, since they'd left the island, he'd just been watching her from afar, as if assessing her. It was a little disconcerting, and she couldn't wait to get an opportunity to ask him about it, when they were alone. "You must've seen some pretty bad arguments…" I wonder how much they saw…I don't want to ask them about it…
"Yeah, even my sister and I didn't argue as much as you and yours. I can't believe she hit you." Georgia commented, and now Emma cringed.
"You…you saw all that?" She asked, turning slowly, to where the red-head was sitting back, relaxed, with her back to the mast.
Georgia nodded. "Yeah, Tashigi or Kuina or whoever the Hell it was showed us everything these guys were seeing. I saw it all, and so did the talking moose."
"I'm a reindeer!"
Emma closed her eyes briefly. "I…I don't know. Come on, you guys must have seen some good stuff!" She glanced desperately around at the others.
"Yeah, come on, you guys, they're not that bad." Nami said. "Nojiko and I used to argue with Bellemere-San, and even with each other. Of course, I always used to win…there was this one time, she was trying to frame me for stealing this dress from the shop, but nobody believed me when I said that I didn't do it." She recalled the situation.
"I can't imagine why." Zoro rolled his eye.
"I'm telling you, it was my sister!" Nami protested.
"That's strange…" Nojiko muttered.
"What is?" Sumi asked her, glancing across at her.
"I have the sudden urge to hit my sister." Nojiko stated. She stared out at the ocean. "Or, at the very least, scream bloody murder at her…" She narrowed her teal eyes.
"Why don't we call her?" Kaya suggested, and the other two girls agreed.
Marco and Vista, relaxing on the deck nearby, watched in mild amusement as the three friends made the call. Girls sure were interesting when they were together, that was for sure.
Emma jumped, when her Baby Den-Den Mushi started ringing. She answered it. "Moshi-Moshi?"
"Hi, Emma," Nojiko's voice said. "Can I speak to my sister."
"I'm sorry, Nojiko," Emma said, looking around the deck. "But Nami suddenly started running when she heard your voice – I think she has a guilty conscience."
"I do not!" Nami's voice yelled from the crows nest.
"A-ha!" Emma pointed upwards. "There you are! Come back down here so that your sister can yell at you, Nami!"
"Make me!"
"I'll give Sanji-Kun items from your underwear drawer!" Emma threatened.
Sanji's face lit up.
There was the sound of running footsteps, and then Nami appeared. She snatched the pink and blue snail-phone from Emma, snapping: "Give me that!" She then took the snail-phone and disappeared into the galley, but they could still hear Nojiko yelling at her.
"Sisters are scary." Emma and Georgia said in unison. They exchanged a glance.
"So, now where do we head?" Chopper asked, just as Zoro realised something.
"Hey, what happened to Johnny and Yosaku?" The swordsman wanted to know.
"Oh, that's right." A member of Law's crew spoke up. "They said they were going to go and chase a huge bounty somewhere in the South Blue. We gave them some advice, and they headed off not long after you guys went to that island."
"Souka…" Zoro nodded, like the news didn't surprise him that much. "So, anyway, who's got the answer to Chopper's question?"
Everybody exchanged a glance.
"We need to find Princess Vivi." Emma said firmly. Everybody turned to look at her. "I think she's the last member of our Alliance – I also think she's the Princess that we're looking for." She nodded.
Sanji was nodding. "It makes sense. Most of our other Allies have either been members of our crew…"
"Try all of them." Usopp supplied.
"Or else it was Luffy's brother." Sanji finished.
"Yeah," Law spoke up calmly. "But, where do Emiko and I come into it."
A few people noticed the way Ace's fists clenched when Law called Emma 'Emiko', but he let it go, as Luffy spoke up with: "Well, because you and I are friends,"
"We're not friends."
"And the three of us," the Straw Hat Captain gestured to himself, Law and Ace. "Got saved by Emmy. That's why." He nodded firmly. "If the last member of our Alliance is Vivi, then we need to go and find her."
"There's just one problem." Robin spoke up, walking towards them. "Arabasta's Princess isn't in Arabasta anymore – nobody knows where she is right now."
"That's a problem." Usopp agreed.
"I don't think it is." Ace said slowly, and they all turned to look at him. "I think that Vivi must have had some reason for disappearing like that, maybe something to do with the gods?" He glanced at Emma, who was nodding.
"And, if that's true," the hazel-eyed girl said, clasping her hands thoughtfully in front of her mouth. "Then they may have instructed her to go somewhere where we would all know to go…"
"Like Dawn Island." Law said simply, and everybody was silent for a moment, considering this. It suddenly made perfect sense, even though there was no real way of knowing for sure if that's where Vivi was.
However, after everything they had been through since meeting Emma and up until this point, it was suddenly blazingly obvious where they had to go.
Emma stood up, and walked towards the galley to save Nami from her sister's wrath and consult with the Whitebeard Pirates, and Ace and Law followed her.
That evening, Sanji served everybody dinner on the deck, since it was such a nice evening and since there were now so many of them.
Zoro was complaining to himself a little bit, wondering when they were going to get rid of all of the 'dead weight'. He sat by himself, drinking from a tankard, and getting used to the fact that he only had one eye now.
It was strange…so much was thrown off by the fact that he couldn't see out of his left eye, and he had no idea how it was going to affect his swordsmanship. He was itching to try it out…maybe after everybody had gone to bed…
"Zoro?"
Zoro jumped, and looked to his left – that was the only way he could see that Emma was standing there.
Emma looked sympathetic. "Still getting used to it, huh?"
"It's only been a day." Zoro sounded slightly annoyed.
"I guess so." Emma settled herself down on his right side. "You gonna do some training afterwards?"
Zoro shrugged. "I guess so." He took another swig from his tankard.
"How do you think it will go?"
"Dunno." Zoro shrugged again, and leaned back. "I'll find out shortly."
"You know…" Emma said thoughtfully, crossing her legs carefully as she gazed intently at the swordsman. "When Grandpa Garp was training me on the shooting range back home, he had me wear a blindfold as I was running through the sand…it was annoying and I nearly died, but I soon learned that relying on my eyes isn't always the best thing. Maybe you should give that a go?"
"Maybe…" Zoro mused, before glancing at her. "Hey, about what happened before…"
She shook her head. "Don't worry about it. I was more worried about you."
"What for?"
"You know, because of…Kuina…" Emma muttered.
"I'm fine with that." Zoro assured her. "Okay?"
She nodded. "Okay." She offered him a small smile, which he returned.
"Hey, Emmy!" Luffy called from across the deck, making her look up at him. "Now that Brook's back, you two can entertain us with music!"
"What?" Emma cringed. "Do I have to?"
"Yes." Luffy said firmly, although he was still grinning. "Brook says he knows some songs from your world!"
"What?" Emma said again, and scrambled over to where the tall skeleton was sitting with Luffy, Usopp and Chopper. "Hold on, Brook, how do you know songs from my world? How?" She gazed intently up at him.
"Yohoho, well, that is a story!" Brook said cheerfully. "When I was trapped in the very frightening realm of the dead, where no living thing was ever meant to roam – although, as you can see, I am not living anymore! – I was sent visions of you all, listening to music that I had never heard before! Sometimes, the songs were accompanied by a lovely voice!"
"That was Emmy's voice!" Luffy grinned.
"Oh, so it was you, Emma-San?" Brook asked her.
"Umm, yes?" She guessed, still feeling a bit embarrassed.
"So, with nothing else to do, I memorized the songs!" Brook informed her. He looked down at her (or, at least, she assumed that he was, since he didn't have any eyes). "Do you understand?"
"Of course I do." She replied. "Music is my life." She added.
This seemed to make Brook's day. "Is that so?" He whipped his violin out of nowhere. "That just makes me so happy to hear that! We simply must celebrate our connection with a song!"
"Wait, what song, what connection?!" Emma exclaimed, and then stopped talking, because Brook had started playing his violin, and she instantly recognized the song. "Oh…kay…" She sighed, and closed her eyes, listening to the song.
"I dreamed of living,
Alone but fearless,
Secret longing,
To be courageous,
Loneliness kept,
Bottled up inside,
Just reveal your brave face,
They'll never know you lied,
Country road,
May lead me home,
Know I belong there,
All on my own, destiny calls,
Motionless, I stall,
Know I can't go,
Country road...
No matter how dark,
The world's inside me,
I'll never stop to show a tear that I've shed,
But now I have to walk so fast,
Running, sprinting to forget,
What is lodged, in my head…"
When she opened her eyes again, she noticed that, thankfully, most people weren't looking at her – they were looking at Brook, and Emma suddenly understood why.
If the skeleton had still been a human, then he would have been crying tears of happiness.
He finished the song, and wiped away a non-existent tear. "That just moves me…so much…to hear beautiful singing…music is indeed wonderful…"
"Aww…" Emma swallowed, carefully touching the skeleton's arm. He looked down at her. "Brook, let's sing together some more, okay?" She looked around at everybody. "We can all sing…Binks' Sake?"
If Brook had still been a human, then his face would have lit up. As it was, he startled Emma with a sudden hug, much to Luffy's amusement and Ace and Law's slight annoyance.
Watching from a short distance away, Nami and Robin smiled. Only Georgia remained quiet. Nami and Robin thought that it was due to her feeling slightly left out, since she wasn't officially a part of the crew. She hadn't really tried to connect with anybody, whereas Emma had made an effort to get to know all of them, and Robin had a sneaking suspicion that she knew why.
That night, everybody retired at relatively the same time,, with the exceptions of: Zoro, who stayed up training, with his bandana tied around his eyes to begin his 'sixth-sense' training; Chopper; who fell asleep first; Emma, who fell asleep second, and was carried to her room by Law before Ace realised what was happening; and Nami, who retired early to ensure that Emma could sleep without either Ace or Law disturbing her.
Presently, the deck was empty, until a single, solitary figure crept across the deck. She was dressed all in black, after having "borrowed" some of Emma's clothes. Yeah, borrowed…
"Borrowing those clothes means that you intended to give them back."
Georgia jumped, and then spun around quickly, clutching her backpack, as she stared into the cool blue eyes of one Nico Robin. "You!" She gasped, looking caught out.
Robin merely regarded her, and then, when the red-head made no attempts to speak or explain herself, Robin did it for her. "Fine then, since you do not wish to tell me what you were about to do, then I will do it for you. You only intended to find out about our final destination in order to alert the Marines of where we would be going."
Georgia just stared at her, and then she sighed, and dropped her backpack to the desk. "Okay, so you're supposed to be some 'ultra smart scholar', aren't you?"
"Am I?"
"Don't get pedantic!" Georgia wasn't sure why she was snapping at a former assassin, but she wasn't really thinking. "Look, you should know by now that the Government knows where you're going, anyway!" She put her hands on her hips. "That's why they're executing Ino on Dawn Island – it's a trap!"
"Why didn't you just tell us this before?" A voice said from behind Robin – it was Emma.
"I thought you were asleep." Georgia said.
"Somebody stole my favourite t-shirt." Emma replied flatly.
"So?" Georgia crossed her arms now. "I'm out of here."
"How far do you think you'll get without a proper boat and a navigator?" Emma wanted to know. "Even if we're not in the Grand Line, this is still a dangerous place."
"So, what do you want me to do?" Georgia asked her, sounding slightly panicked now. "If I don't go back…"
Emma looked closely at her, and understood, but it was Robin who spoke up: "They'll hurt your sister, won't they?"
"They'll kill her."
Emma and Robin exchanged a glance, and then Emma said: "Robin-San, wake the crew – we have a problem."
"What are you guys going to do?" Georgia asked, nervously.
Emma turned to face her, and put her hands on her shoulders. "We're going to do what we do best – divert from our original course in order to end up at the same location with a slightly modified purpose."
"What?"
"We're going to help you!"
"If a few of us go ahead, we'll be able to help Georgia-Ya without endangering most of us." Law said – he seemed to have taken charge again, which most people didn't mind. He nodded to Emma. "Emiko can help."
"How?" Nami asked. "Emma can't teleport to a place she's never been, not without her necklace."
"She doesn't have to." Law responded. "I was thinking more along the lines of…"
"Yin and Yang…" Emma muttered, a small smile creeping onto her face. "Of course…it'll be just like Whamon from Digimon 01…"
Georgia nodded, as everybody else just exchanged confused looks.
"Okay, so…who gets to go?" Nami asked.
"Are you volunteering?" Georgia asked her.
"I think some other people might want to go." Nami replied smoothly. "Like Luffy." She added, and her captain perked up.
"Yeah!" Luffy cried. "Yeah! Ace and I will go, since it's our home! We know our way around!"
"You don't even know your way around the ship, Luffy." Nmai said scathingly, but she was nodding. "Okay, so if Luffy, Ace, Emma and Georgia are going, then that should be okay."
"Law-Chan has to come." Emma said suddenly, and everybody looked at her.
"Okay, why?" Nami wanted to know.
"Because he's a doctor." Emma replied.
"Then, why not Chopper?" Zoro asked knowingly.
"M-m-me?!" Chopper squeaked. "R-r-ride on a S-S-Sea King?! Oh no, no, noooo…"
"Relax," Robin said soothingly. "Nobody is going to make you go." She looked around at the others. "If the five aforementioned go, then that will leave Zoro in charge."
We're doomed. Nami decided, but she remained poker-faced.
"Yin and Yang should know how to get to Dawn Island." Ace said. "And, Nami can navigate there with the Thousand Sunny."
"Good plan." Nami approved. "Is everybody okay with this?"
There were a few nods here and there.
"You guys…don't have to help me, you know…" Georgia muttered.
"Yeah, we know." Luffy replied casually, yawning and stretching – he was tired. "But, if we don't do it, then who will? Besides, you're our friend."
Friend? Georgia thought, and then glanced at Emma and Robin, wondering why the other two women had decided not to tell the others that Georgia had been intending to betray them. I need to just put my trust in them, I guess…and, if I don't, and I try and hurt Emma, then Ace and Law will annihilate me…
"Okay, Emmy!" Luffy grinned. "Go and call your Dragons!"
"They're Sea Kings, Luffy." Emma rolled her eyes, as she got up. "And, let's just hope that it works."
"Emiko, I need to speak with you." Law said suddenly, also standing up. "Privately." He added.
As they walked off, Ace glanced wordlessly at Robin, who merely nodded, calmly. She would keep an eye on them – literally.
"What is it?" Emma asked – Law noticed that she was keeping her distance from him (she was all the way over the other side of the deck).
"Emiko…" Law regarded her carefully. "That song that Yin taught you…didn't you know it from before?"
"How did you…?"
"I saw it on your piano."
Emma frowned, slightly, looking more upset than annoyed. "I…I know…I was…hoping that it was just a coincidence, but…" She looked up at Law. "Law-Chan, I know that song from somewhere…not just because I wrote it, because…I think that I've heard it somewhere before!" She fiddled with her hands. "But…how…?"
"Emiko…" Law carefully crossed the deck towards her and, when she didn't move away, he wrapped his arms around you. "Daijoubu, watashi no amaku chiisa i tenshi…"
Did he just call me an angel? Emma wondered, as she closed her eyes briefly. And…why does this feel so…right? Like it's meant to be? But…what about Ace…? Damn it…
Emma pulled away slightly, and began to sing quietly.
"No one, could ever see,
The best of me,
Somehow, all I can ever show,
Are the things no one wants to know...
Please take, my hand,
Tell me that you understand,
I need a new start,
I need you to heal my heart..."
Law rested his chin on the top of Emma's head, keeping his arms wrapped around her shoulders. Some part of him wanted to stay like this forever…to hold her, in his arms, and to be the only one that ever could.
With his eyes closed, Law pictured the small, dark blue box that was in his pocket. Nestled inside of it, was white ring with sixteen black diamonds that were on a band that was interwoven was a heart-shape, and with sixteen white diamonds…it had belonged to his Mother, and she'd been very specific on where it was to end up.
One way or the other, Law was going to get what he wanted, and he was going to make sure he put a ring on her, so that everybody knew that she was his.
"I want you to know, that this is by far the weirdest thing that I have ever done." Georgia admitted.
"Nah, not me." Emma replied, clinging to the black scales of the female Sea King, Yin. "One time, when Luffy was still a cat?" Georgia nodded. "He stole all of this prime-cut meat from a restaurant, and I had to yell: 'DINE AND DASH!' and then run for my life. A cat made me a felon."
"Hey, Emmy!" Luffy protested, from where he was riding on the head of the white Sea King, Yang. "You weren't supposed to tell her that!"
"Why not?" Emma called back. "The whole of Fremantle knows! And, also, Luffy, you should be careful."
"Why?"
A massive wave suddenly came up and drenched the seventeen-year-old.
Georgia smirked, as Emma leaned back and declared: "Justice." A wave suddenly splashed up, saturating her.
Now, Luffy laughed at Emma.
"Ace-Chan, can Luffy die now?"
"I'd prefer it if he didn't."
"I'll show you what a French-Kiss is."
"Luffy, get in the water."
"What?! No!"
Georgia laughed, as Yin and Yang growled in amusement, but only Law remained stoic.
"Well, there it is." Sumi stated, standing on the figurehead of the Moby Dick. "Dawn Island." That's where my Mother is…
"Mmhmm." Nojiko agreed. "I would have liked to have gone back home, but it's nice to see a new place. This is where Luffy grew up, right?"
Sumi nodded. "Hai, and Ace-Kun, too."
"We also have to find Makino, and make sure that she's okay." Kaya reminded them.
"Yes, there's that, too." Nojiko looked over at Sumi. "Sumi, maybe you should go and ask Whitebeard what our next course of action is…" She understood the relationship between Whitebeard and his crew, having a Father-figure in her own life.
"Hai!" Sumi grinned, and went to find her Father. She found him, and Marco, on the other side of the ship, and there was somebody with them. "Oh…hello, Grace." Sumi said politely.
"Hello, Sumi." Grace smiled kindly at her, but she was worried – Sumi could tell, and she soon found out why.
"Little Death has succeeded in freeing Infinity from its prison." Grace said, and Sumi gulped, nodding. She realised what this would mean.
"How long do we have?" Sumi asked seriously.
"Not long." Grace responded, shaking her head. "Little Death appears to have vanished. I have, however, this." And, she held up the red necklace with the golden wings on it.
"It's colour is dulled." Sumi noted, recognizing the differences between the necklace she had seen around Emma's neck, and the necklace that she was seeing now.
Grace nodded. "Yes, but it will regain its strength. It bears the most sacred of powers, and it can never be extinguished."
"In the wrong hands, it could be disastrous." Sumi stated. "Ne, Oyaji?"
Whitebeard nodded, never taking his eyes off of the necklace. "That is correct, Sumi. However, in the hands of the one that is intended to use it…"
"The Princess, yoi." Marco spoke up, calmly. "Hikari No Hime…"
"That is correct." Grace turned her hazel eyes to Dawn Island, and then said: "Right now, Emma, Luffy, Ace, Law and the human girl from the other world are traveling to this place, to rescue that girl's sister from the World Government and avoid the waiting ambush."
"And, Princess Vivi?" Marco asked.
Grace nodded. "She is here, too – she knows that this is the place where she needs to be. And…" She cast her eyes downwards. "I fear that a foe of yours has surfaced on this island, as well. He is awaiting Ace and Emma, and is aware of their approach."
Whitebeard's eyes hardened slightly, and he said: "Grace, are you…sure? That Teach is here?"
Grace nodded. "Yes, Edward. I'm afraid he…desires to meet Emma, whether in battle or not, I do not know."
"Why?" Sumi whispered, almost afraid to hear the answer. She was still very much afraid of her former crew-mate...of the man that had killed Thatch.
~Flash-Back~
"Man, those two sure look cosy." Rakuyo commented, as he observed Thatch and Sumi strolling across the deck together. "Think they're a couple now?"
"More like a couple of idiots, if they are." Curiel commented. "He's, like, forty years older than what she is."
"I heard that!" Sumi snapped, storming over to them as Thatch watched in amusement. She placed her hands on her hips, and glared at the two division commanders. "For your information, we are, but he's not!"
"What?" A voice said from across the deck, and they all turned to see Ace, walking towards them, with a look of shock on his usually easy-going face. "Sumi, when did this happen?"
"Oh, Ace-Kun..." Sumi averted her gaze. "I didn't know that you were...listening...besides, it's my life, and I'll do what I want with it!"
"I didn't say you couldn't." Ace put a hand on his hip and regarded her carefully. Since he'd rescued her from slavery, he'd been keeping an eye on the young blonde-haired girl. It seemed that she was a lot more mature than he'd given her credit for - her past had definitely had a lot to do with that. "I'm happy for you two, alright?"
"Look, I..." She stopped. "Wait, you're what?"
Ace glanced at Thatch, and held up his hand. Thatch grinned, and the two of them slapped hands.
"Sukoa!" Ace told Thatch.
"What the Hell?!" Sumi just about fell over. It's like I'm some prize fish he's just caught, or something...oh well, at least he approves. He doesn't think that it's weird. Sumi's gaze drifted over to where Haruta was watching her.
"So," Haruta asked. "When's the wedding?" She smirked.
"Get back here, Haruta-Chan!" Sumi cried, giving chase, as Haruta ran.
Then again, maybe she's not as mature as I thought. Ace rolled his eyes, but he was smiling. That's why Thatch is good for her...I trust him...
And, as he watched Sumi chase Haruta around the deck, her blonde pigtails flying, he felt quite confident that Thatch would take care of Sumi...
"So, you didn't answer my question," Sumi faced Grace now, her hands on her hips. "Why is Teach after Emma-Chan?"
Grace drew in a deep breath, and then let it out slowly. "I'll tell you why...I'll tell you everything..."
Sakazuki walked down the quiet village street, and people stared at him, because they had never seen an Admiral before. There was also a dark and dangerous aura about him, that caused people standing in his way to move quickly.
A man was waiting for the Admiral in front of Party's Bar.
"You wished to speak to me?" Mayor Woodslap asked, regarding Sakazuki carefully - he knew, probably better than most people in Foosha Village, to be wary around this particular man.
Sakazuki didn't waste anytime. He merely held up a photograph of a woman with dark green hair and dark brown eyes, and asked: "Where is she?" Woodslap tried not to cringe - as it was, his face must have given something away, because Sakazuki continued with: "I must ask that you do not test me, Woodslap - where is she?"
I can't tell him where Makino is! Woodslap thought desperately, fiddling with his glasses. Who knows what will happen, after everything that's been going on lately!
Woodslap coughed and, sensing Sakazuki's growing impatience, said: "I don't know," (Sakazuki glared at him). "I really don't! She left a few days ago, and hasn't come back yet - it's possible that she went into Goa, for more supplies, as we've been running low on...supplies..." He finished meekly.
Sakazuki raised an eyebrow, and regarded Woodslap coldly - the Admiral's gaze was very intense. "Then I will wait here for her." He said, much to Woodslap's dismay. "Prepare a room for me here."
"Y-yes, of course, right away!" Woodslap stammered, before hurrying into the bar and then upstairs, to where the guest rooms were. He practically flew into one of the rooms, and slammed the door shut. "I-I need your help!" He told one of the two occupants in the room, who glanced up at him with steady dark eyes. "Please...?"
"There it is!" Luffy cried, pointing. "And...hey, isn't that...?"
"It's Oyaji's ship!" Ace recognized the familiar ship moored just off the coast of Dawn Island. "Right where he said he would be." Ace added, smiling.
"Hmm..." Was all Georgia said.
'You don't sound terribly pleased, surly human.' Yin commented. 'Is there a problem?'
"There's no problem." Georgia replied flatly, although that was a lie, and they both knew it. In truth, she wasn't quite sure she wanted to meet Edward Newgate face-to-face, but it was too late to back out now.
Just then, as the two Sea Kings were approaching the Moby Dick, there was a slight distraction. A huge wall of water appeared between them and the Moby Dick and, from within that water, appeared a massive Sea King. He resembled an oversized eel with with eyes and blue fins, and both Emma and Luffy recognized him instantly.
"It's The Lord Of The Coast!" They cried in unison.
"Can't you two do something?!" Georgia asked Yin and Yang. She was terrified.
'While not as big as most Sea Kings,' Yang began.
'As you can see, he is still bigger than us.' Yin finished.
The Sea King roared at them, and Yang translated. 'He says, go away, or I'll eat you.'
"Oh no, he won't!" Luffy declared, and drew back his fist. "Gomu-Gomu No...Pistol!" His fist went flying, and struck the Sea King in the side of his snout. It pushed him back a bit, but the Sea King must've wrapped his tail around a strong piece of seaweed or a rock or something, because he roared again, and came back at them.
Emma gritted her teeth, and then stood up shakily on Yin's head, holding onto one of the Sea King's spikes, as she faced the oncoming Lord Of The Coast. "Stop." She said, feeling a strange sense welling up inside of her, and a strange force emitted from her.
Ace and Law swore under their breaths in unison, as the Haoshoku Haki threatened them but, due to their strong wills, they were able to withstand it, as was Luffy, but for a different reason.
Onboard the Moby Dick, Sumi, Marco, Vista and the others watched in complete shock.
Whitebeard stared in silence, calmly assessing what was going on before him.
The Lord Of The Coast stopped, and blinked, staring at Emma, who stared defiantly back, before he turned tail and retreated, diving into the ocean a few feet away from them.
As the waves settled around them, Emma sunk to her knees, trying to figure out what she'd just done, and then she glanced at Georgia.
The other red-head was unconscious on the female Sea King's black scales, her face pale, and she was foaming at the mouth.
"Ahh!" Everybody onboard the Moby Dick heard Emma yell. "No, Georgia, I'm so sorry! Georgia!"
"I'm really, REALLY sorry, Georgia." Emma apologized afterwards, once they were safely onboard the Moby Dick, and the nurses had tended to Georgia.
"Yeah, yeah, you said that before." Georgia glared at her. "Just promise me that you'll never do that, ever, again."
"I'm really sorry!" Emma bowed her head. "I didn't know that I could do that."
"Then, what were you expecting to happen?" Ace wanted to know.
"I have no idea."
A few people face-palmed or rolled their eyes.
Sumi's eyes, however, were shimmering. "Emma-Chan, do you know what that was?" She was sitting next to the black-clad girl, looking excited. "That was Haoshoku Haki!"
"Why's that such a big deal?" Georgia wanted to know. "I bet loads of people here can do it."
"No," Sumi shook her head. "It's not a very common gift. Only about one in a million people can use it, and you have to be born with it."
"Great." Georgia rolled her eyes. "More special things about Emma."
Emma looked decidedly uncomfortable.
"But, Emma-Chan," Sumi held up one finger, frowning in a warning-type way. "You must learn to control it better than that - you're just lucky that Luffy, Ace-Kun, and Law could withstand it."
"I know." Emma murmured. "Anyway, so the reason why we're here!"
Sumi sighed. "Subject change." She was smiling, though. "Okay, yes, there's that, too. The Marines arrived here before we did - this is where my Mother is, after all."
Emma nodded. "Yeah, and the World Government knows that we're coming here to...umm, see her? They've obviously set a trap for us."
"That much is for certain." Sumi sat back. "And, if what you say is true, then Georgia-Chan's sister is in danger, too."
"So are her co-workers." Georgia reminded her. "They were all transported here by somebody."
"What is this, National Emma Accusation Day?!" Emma exclaimed. "Your sister tried to bloody arrest me, Georgia, and I didn't even do anything wrong!"
"Anyway," Sumi said, rolling her eyes. "Having a whole bunch of Marines on this island could present a problem."
"Unless we use it to our advantage." Law mused. He was sitting on a crate, looking completely at ease, as the entire landscape was bathed in an orangey-glow. "Do we know exactly how many Marines are on this island?"
"Quite a few, at our scouts' last counts." Marco replied. "Most of them seem to be placed either in Goa itself, or in Foosha Village, yoi."
Ace and Luffy exchanged a glance. "What about Makino?" Luffy asked quickly.
"Ah, now that's the thing." Sumi said. "One of our scouts reported that she's gone missing, but it's possible that she's in Goa...or, she could have gone to Mount Colubo, which is..."
"Where Curly Dadan's house is." Ace remembered. He looked at his little brother again. "That's the most probably place she would have gone."
"The villagers are worried." Marco said calmly. "Not only is the world they know changing, yoi, but..." He trailed off.
"But, what?" Ace, Emma and Luffy asked in unison.
"Not only was Akainu spotted in Foosha Village, looking for Makino," Sumi said quietly, and Luffy and Ace froze. "But, so are three of the Shichibukai."
"Which ones?" Luffy asked immediately.
"Donquixote Doflamingo, Dracule Mihawk, and Boa Hancock." Sumi replied, which caused mixed reactions from Emma, Ace, Law and Luffy. "They've been summoned here because we're here." She then turned to Ace, facing him directly, and added: "Teach is here, too."
Ace swore quietly, and Sumi wisely chose not to reveal anymore information that she knew.
"We need to get to where Makino is." Luffy said suddenly, standing up. "We need to make sure that she's okay."
"I agree." Emma said. "But, there's a problem - how are we going to get to where she is? There are, apparently, Marines everywhere, and I can't teleport us there without my necklace." She took the opportunity to glare at Georgia, who just glared defiantly back at her.
Sumi smiled slightly, and held something up. "You mean this?" The red heart necklace dangled from her hands, and glittered in the twilight.
Emma stared at it, and then leapt at Sumi, hugging her tightly. "Sumi-Chan!" She kissed the younger girl's cheek. "Thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you!" She immediately fastened the necklace around her own neck. "Where'd you find it?"
"Well, the goddess, Grace, gave it back to us." Sumi explained, smiling. "The gods are getting worried, since Little Death was able to free Infinity." Emma, Georgia, Ace, Law and Luffy just stared at her. "But, the necklace's power was able to be restored, although it's not fully charged yet - be careful with it."
"It belongs to the Princess, yoi." Marco added, meaningfully.
"Which means that we have to find Princess Vivi and give her this necklace." Emma realised, touching the red, heart-shaped stone. "Tomorrow, okay, you guys?" She turned to face her three present Allies. "We head out at first light..." She smiled slightly. "We go to Dawn Island at dawn, got it?"
They nodded.
Luffy was grinning. "I can't wait to show you my home island, Emmy!"
Ace appeared to be very deep in thought, and then he said: "Emiko, I don't think..."
"Oh, no you don't, Ace-Chan!" She snapped. "Just because everybody from Akainu to Blackbeard happens to be on that island, I am not staying behind!" She turned around, lifting up the back of her top to reveal her Whitebeard tattoo. "Everybody who wears this mark is brave, even in the face of such terrible dangers, and I am no different, Portgas D. Ace!" She turned back around, and marched up to him, staring defiantly into his eyes. "I'm not afraid of Teach." She whispered, and all of the Whitebeard Pirates were staring at her.
Ace stared back at Emma. He stared at her for a long time. Her body was framed by the setting sun, which was the same colour as her deep gold eyes. There was a look of such stubbornness on her face, mingled with complete honesty, that Ace was at a loss for words.
In the end, it was Whitebeard who spoke. "If she wants to go, then she can." Everybody turned to look at him, except for Ace and Emma, who were lost in each others eyes. "I must warn you all to proceed with caution, however. Ace, you know this better than anybody."
Not better than me... Sumi thought, a hint of sadness on her face. Nobody here knows that, though...
~Flashback~:
"Ace-Kun is going to kill you when he finds out." Sumi said, as she and Thatch relaxed on the deck, watching a storm roll in from the south. "As it was, I had to hold the other nurses back."
Thatch chuckled softly, and placed his right arm around her shoulders. His left hand, he placed on her stomach. "Don't worry - they'll get over it when he's born."
"How do you know that it's a 'he'?" Sumi asked. "I'm only thirteen weeks into it - what if I want a girl?"
"Maybe it's twins?" Thatch suggested. His eyes drifted to the small box by his feet.
Sumi followed his gaze. "Tha-Chan, it's not going to run away from you." She told him, leaning against his shoulder.
"That's not what I'm worried about." Thatch responded. "It's a Devil Fruit, Suko - they're rare, even for us pirates."
"I know," Sumi admitted. "But, like you said, it's fairly and squarely yours. You found it, and it's up to you what you do with it."
"Yeah, but if I choose to consume it, then that means that I won't be able to rescue you from the ocean anymore." Thatch reminded her.
She swatted playfully at his arm. "When have you ever rescued me from the ocean?!" She stood up, stretching. "Anyway, it looks like there's a storm coming in - I'm gonna turn in, Tha-Chan."
"I'll be there shortly, Suko." Thatch promised her, and smiled, watching the love of his life walk across the deck. His smile then faded, as he turned to look at the box that contained the Yami-Yami No Mi. "What should I do? Perhaps I'll wait...until after the baby is born." He smiled again, thinking of Sumi as a Mother. Even though she was young, she was handling this well, but she was right - Ace was going to kill Thatch when he found out. But, that was just because The Firefist was so protective over the little angel. Thatch murmured: "My little angel...Suko..."
He never knew what happened, as the blade sliced into his back so quickly, that it pierced his heart within the second he had muttered his beloved's name.
He never knew that it was Teach who had stabbed him in the back (quite literally) and that said backstabber was now standing over him, with the bloodied knife held in his hand, and a maniacal grin on his face, as lightning struck the sky behind him.
Sumi felt a sudden chill, as she was halfway to her room, and so she doubled back, not sure what it was that made her suddenly want to go back.
The wind whipped around her, as she staggered back onto the deck, thinking that she was probably going to have to drag Thatch back below deck, since he had a habit of staying up and watching the storms.
What she found, however, was Teach, standing there, with the Yami-Yami No Mi in his hand, and he had just taken a huge bite out of the Devil Fruit.
Thatch's body lay on the deck, with blood splattered around him. The knife that had been used to commit the deed was lying beside him, still stained with sticky, dark red blood.
A bolt of lightning illuminated the area, as Sumi stood there, staring not at Thatch, but at the man that had taken his life.
Teach stared back at her, a steely glint in his dark eyes. He carefully wiped some of the blood from his chin, and that's when Sumi saw what was in his other hand.
It was Thatch's heart.
As Sumi watched in a numb kind of shock, he merely dropped Thatch's heart, stamping on it, before picking up the blade again.
Sumi didn't even have time to react, as Teach was suddenly in front of her, and his hand shot out, gripping her throat.
In his other hand, he held the blade, which he drove into Sumi's stomach.
Sumi cried out, and coughed up blood, as she stared one final time into Teach's dark eyes, before she was thrown across the deck. She hit the side of it, and fell, unconscious, to the wet wood.
The last thing that she saw, before she blacked out, was Thatch's lifeless corpse, and his murderer, standing over him, with darkness swirling around him.
Emma stretched out on the bed she was lying on, humming the song that she'd used to call Yin and Yang. She was reading volume 59 of the manga again, and her Luffy plushie was next to her.
Ever since Sumi had said that Blackbeard was on the island, Emma had been gathering information about him. She felt a little bit strange, asking people about their former crew-mate, but they seemed happy to help her to understand him, even if they themselves didn't understand much about him at all.
Only Sumi and Ace had seemed unwilling to talk and so, after she'd retired for the night, Emma had turned to her manga.
"I wonder if he knows that it was me that stopped the war..." Emma mused, resting the book on her chest. "I bet he does, and he must be fairly annoyed that I didn't allow him to get Oyaji's Devil Fruit power...hmm..." There was a knock on her door, and she looked up. "Enter." She said, in an important voice.
Law came in, and raised an eyebrow.
Emma merely looked at him, and so he closed the door behind him. "Now," he said, turning to face her. "What's got you so worked up?"
"I'm not worked up." She replied, although she averted her eyes. "Who says I'm worked up?"
"You've been trying to find out as much as you can about Marshall D. Teach, since you found out that he was on the island." Law pointed out. "Are you worried about facing him?"
"No!" She snapped, in a way that meant 'yes', and then she sighed. "Okay, maybe a little bit...I'm more worried about Ace-Chan and Sumi-Chan...I mean, Teach did kill their crew-mate."
Law nodded. "He did." He agreed, coming over and sitting down beside her on the bed. "So, you're not worried about yourself?"
She shook her head, as she sat up. "No. Are you...worried about me, that it?"
"I worry about you all the time, Emiko." Law replied, placing a hand to her forehead. "You keep getting injured."
"I know." She admitted. "So far, I've been hurt on this quest more times than I have in my life. I think that my parents would freak out."
Law's eyes hardened slightly. "Your parents..." He shook his head. "Don't mention them, Emiko. I hated the way that they treated you, even if I wasn't as vocal about it as...as what he was."
"He," Emma pointed out. "Is marrying me, Law-Chan. Don't forget that."
"Emiko..." Law looked directly into her eyes, and she was suddenly stilled by the amount of devotion - and possessiveness - that she saw within the grey depths of his eyes. He held something in his hand, and Emma almost passed out when she saw the ring. "Since that first moment, when I saw you in your room...don't you feel it, as well?" He insisted. "That tugging?"
Emma gasped, despite herself. Law knew about the tugging?
Law, slightly inspired by her gasp, went on with: "Emiko, I want to be the one that's there with you, and I'll do anything to get what I want. I love you."
"I know," she whispered, tears gathering in her eyes. "I just don't understand it..." Her voice shook.
"The only thing I understand right now is that I want you." Law said firmly. "When I'm not with you, I feel empty. You're...you're my power. My light."
Hearing that from him sent chills down her arms. Law was one of the darkest people that she knew, and to hear that she was light to him was...well...strange.
"Emiko...leave him," Law had somehow managed to slide the ring onto Emma's right ring finger, without her noticing. "Come with me..."
"I'll think about it." What more could she say?
Law's eyes darkened slightly, and he pushed her back down onto the bed. Leaning over her, he lingered, with his lips right over hers. "I need an answer from you...but, no matter what, I won't give up." He promised her. "Even if you join another crew, I'll continue to hunt you down, until you're mine."
Emma just stared up at him, her mouth slightly open, as Law regarded her intently. This was hitting a nerve - she still wasn't sure where she intended to go after their mission was complete. She was suddenly faced with two choices, and they overlapped. Choosing the Heart Pirates meant choosing Law. Choosing the Whitebeard Pirates meant choosing Ace. Choosing the Straw Hat Pirates meant that both Law and Ace would continue to pursue her. They would probably both do so until the end of their days as pirates, maybe even for the rest of their lives.
Law closed the distance between them just then, letting his lips trail over hers, before something caught his eye, and he drew back, sighing. "I...I can't."
"Can't what?" Emma blinked, although she was secretly relieved that he had stopped, due to her indecisions.
"I can't kiss you with that Luffy doll watching." Law explained, straightening up.
Emma looked at the Luffy doll, with its ridiculous grin, and then back up at Law. The two of them started laughing, and a warm and comfortable feeling washed over Emma, like waves.
like the times that she spent with Ace, her times with Law just felt so...right.
When he wasn't trying to assert his love over her, that is. He was going to have to ease up a bit, if she was ever going to make up her mind.
Later that night, as he read a book called Plastic Surgery Gone Wrong, a thought suddenly struck Law, making him drop the book and ran back to Emma's room.
She'd been wearing the necklace and, if she kept it on when she fell asleep, then...
When Law got to Emma's room, and found her body disappearing, he knew that he'd been right in his assumptions. Without a moment's hesitation, he lunged forwards, and grabbed onto her arm.
Sakazuki walked through the dark forest, not really caring who or what might be out there. He was far more frightening than anything in that forest, that was for sure.
A woman waited for him in a small clearing. She was incredibly beautiful, with an hourglass figure, long dark hair and dark eyes.
"You wished to see me?" Boa Hancock asked, her face expressionless, as she regarded the Admiral.
"Yes." Sakazuki faced her. "You are aware of your mission on this island, correct?"
"Correct." She affirmed.
"I believe that I made it perfectly clear?"
"Transparently so."
They were both being incredibly pedantic with each other - neither of them appreciated the other right at that very moment in time, but they were, for the most part, attempting to act civil towards each other.
"Then, tell me, why is it that you have not been able to locate the woman Makino yet?" Sakazuki asked her.
Watching from the bushes, Emma clutched the Luffy doll in one hand, and Law's hand with the other.
"I believe that I may have pinpointed her exact location." Hancock explained, much to Emma's horror. "It seems that she has taken refuge..."
"Ribon-Ribon No Cut!"
"What are you doing?!" Law hissed, as Hancock and Sakazuki both dodged the ribbons, and then looked towards where Emma was now standing in plain sight. Law started running, dragging Emma along behind him.
"Saving Makino-San's life!" Emma hissed back, dodging the magma that suddenly sailed past them.
"And endangering our own!" Law reminded her, dragging her off the path, as they were assaulted by another wave of magma.
They hurried through the bushes, getting scrapes and cuts along their sides, until they reached another clearing, where Emma suddenly stopped and gasped.
Law froze too, because something long and sinuous had just wrapped around the both of them.
A long ochre snake-like body squeezed Law painfully, as a teal snake-like body did the same to Emma, making her cry out, but maybe that was because she was still reaching, to keep a hold of Law's hand.
They were wrenched apart, however, just as Hancock herself entered the glade.
"Well done." She told her two sisters, Marigold and Sandersonia. She faced Emma and Law. "I do not see how you two managed to evade the World Government for so long, but it ends now."
"No..." Emma whispered, struggling to get free, and then gasping, when Sandersonia squeezed her again. "Hancock, please...don't do this..."
"I have no choice." Hancock replied, shaking her head. "I am a member of the Shichibukai, after all. It is my duty to serve the World Government, by telling them the whereabouts of this...Makino. I will have to inform Akainu that she is at the house belonging to the mountain bandit, Dadan."
"No!" Emma cried, her voice rising, despite the warning look that she got from Law. "Hancock, please, listen to me! Akainu and the others...they'll kill Makino and Dadan!"
"So?" Hancock raised an eyebrow.
"So," Emma swallowed, struggling to control her voice. "Makino-San and Curly Dadan raised Luffy - they were like a big sister and a Mother to him when he was a kid!"
That stopped Hancock. "Raised him?" She repeated, and then she narrowed her eyes. "How is it that you know this?" She demanded of Emma. "Do you know Luffy?"
"Yes." Emma replied.
"How did you two meet?! What is he to you?! Answer me!"
Aaaaa! Emma thought, panicking slightly.
Law saw this, and decided to help her out. "Hancock-Ya, listen to me." Hancock looked up at him. "Emiko saved Luffy-Ya from Marineford, and I instructed her on how to stitch up his life-threatening injuries."
"She...saved him?" Hancock glanced from Law to Emma and then back at the surgeon again.
Law nodded. "Hai. My fiancee is like a sister to Luffy-Ya."
Hancock glanced back at Emma. "Is this true?"
Emma had managed to turn off the Look that she was giving Law just in time, and answered Hancock with: "For the most part."
That seemed to satisfy Hancock, but then she became worried again. "But, if I do not comply with the World Government's terms..."
"I'll give you a special, Luffy-themed gift!" Emma said suddenly, and Hancock's eyes lit up. "This limited edition, one-of-a-kind item, never-before-seen (in this world) - a Monkey D. Luffy plush doll!" She managed to produce the doll from the space between her and Sandersonia's scales, holding it out to Hancock, whose eyes lit up. "Almost as good as the real thing, and oh so perfect for those warm and fuzzy hugs!"
What the Hell? Law wondered, as Hancock imemdiately grabbed the Luffy doll, and gazed endearingly at it.
Seeing his chance, Law muttered: "Room." He was then able to get Marigold to let go of him, and Sandersonia to let go of Emma, who he grabbed and bolted with in his arms, bridal-style.
"You should be a salesperson." He told her, as they came to the edge of a cliff, and a wave of magma streaking towards them announced Sakazuki's arrival. Law had no choice but to jump and, as they headed for the ocean, he pressed his lips to Emma's, startling her, and causing her to wake up.
Emma and Law landed roughly on the bed back onboard the Moby Dick, with Law on top of Emma.
Both of them were breathing heavily, their clothes mussed up and scratches on their skin.
"A salesperson or your fiancee..." Emma gasped, trying to stop her heart from pounding so heavily. "Make up...your mind..."
"You're one to talk." Law pointed out, enjoying his current position very, very much.
"Oh, shut up."
The door to the room suddenly opened, and Marco came in, whistling, which slowly trailed off to a wolf whistle, seeing Emma and Law's position.
"Don't you dare say a word." Emma threatened him, blushing. "And, please go and wake up the others," she added, glancing out the window. "We're running out of time."
"We can't know for certain of Hancock will uphold her end of the bargain." Ace said, about ten minutes later, as they gathered on the deck.
It was the darkest hour, that came just before the dawn.
"That's why we have to go there now." Luffy agreed. "Emmy, can you get us there?"
"I think so." She replied, nodding. "I can picture the place you guys grew up in...I can't wait to meet Curly Dadan and the others!"
"Just don't let it distract you, Emiko." Ace smiled. He took her hand, and tried not to notice when Law took the other one. He had noticed a new ring on Emma's right hand, but hadn't had the time to question her about it, yet.
As Luffy took Ace's other hand, they happened to glance up. Sumi, Marco and Vista were walking towards them.
"We're coming with you." Sumi explained, taking Luffy's other hand.
"But, it's dangerous." Ace stated.
"Ace-Kun..." Sumi rolled her eyes.
"Sumi." Ace replied, staring her down.
Marco decided to intervene. "Oyaji's orders." He took Sumi's other hand, and Vista took Marco's other hand.
"Knowing that both Teach and Mihawk are on this island gives me reason to come with you." The swordsman stated calmly.
"Yeah, yeah, whatever." Georgia said, taking the hands of both Vista and Law. "Can we just go now? The sooner we find this Makino chick, the sooner we can rescue my sister."
Emma nodded, and closed her eyes, trying to concentrate. It's been awhile since I've had to do this but, well, here goes... "Ribon-Ribon No Teleport!"
"..." Curly Dadan was a tall and obese woman with orange hair and, right now, she had nearly swallowed her cigarette, as she stared down at the two newcomers. She was cringing - why were things getting so weird around here, lately?
"May we come in?" The newcomer asked, dismounting from her stead. "And, may we please have some water? We have traveled a fair distance, and are quite thirsty."
Dadan replied: "Wait a minute, now, who are you, and what are you doing here?!" She poked the big yellow duck, and he jumped back, looking shocked. "What is this thing, and why on Earth is he wearing a chullo?!"
"Oh, I apologize." The young, blue-haired woman bowed politely, as did her duck. "My name is Vivi, and this is my pet Spot-Billed Duck, Carue. The chullo is his preferred choice of headwear."
"Karoo!" The duck affirmed.
Dadan was too shocked to say anything, as Vivi gave her a suddenly very determined look.
"Please, I'm looking for somebody named Makino." Vivi stated. "It's very important!"
"Oh, hello?" The green-haired woman herself appeared from behind Dadan, smiling politely. "I'm Makino."
"It's a pleasure to meet you." Vivi bowed again. "I was sent here to tell you not to return to Foosha Village." Her face was very serious, as she explained: "Akainu, of the World Government, has a warrant out for your arrest."
Makino looked shocked, as did Dadan, and the other Mountain Bandits. "M-my arrest? But...why?"
"Because of your affiliation with Monkey D. Luffy." Vivi replied.
Dadan rolled her eyes. "What did that little brat do now?"
Makino looked worried. "Is Luffy okay?"
"Well..." Vivi began, just as there was a flash of light from behind her, and she turned around, to see a pile of people appear at the front of Dadan's house, much to the Mountain Bandit's annoyance.
Vivi's heart began to beat faster, as she recognized the straw-hat-wearing captain she had trusted to save her country. Her normal composure was gone nearly in an instant, as she called out: "L-Luffy?!"
"Huh?" Luffy looked up, straightening his straw hat and, when he saw the familiar, blue-haired Princess, his face broke into a huge grin. "Vivi!" He began to run towards her and, despite her promise to herself to remain calm, she found herself running towards him.
"Luffy!"
"Vivi!"
"Luffy!"
"Vivi!"
"Luffy!"
They met in a hug, laughing and (in Vivi's case) crying a little bit, and basically just happy to see each other again.
"Umm, do they know each other?" Dadan was almost afraid to hear the answer.
"Yeah, he helped her to save her country." Ace replied, watching the reunion between his brother and the Princess, with a small smile.
"Oh, her country?" Dadan crossed her arms. "And, just who is she, exactly?"
"She's the Princess of the kingdom of Arabasta." Ace replied quietly.
The cigarette fell from Dadan's mouth, as Makino looked surprised.
"Oh, it's too early in the morning for this." Dadan sighed, stamping out her cigarette angrily, as if it was the cause for all of these sudden occurrences. "You ten just do what you want - I'm going back to bed."
"Wait, ten?" Ace blinked. "Did she count Carue, or...?" He had a sinking feeling in the pit of his stomach.
"Yes!" Dadan yelled, from somewhere in the house. "I counted the Goddam duck!"
Ace went pale, and looked around. "Carue, Vivi, Luffy, Trafalgar, Makino-San, Georgia, Sumi, Marco, Vista, me..." He froze, as did everybody else.
"If I might correctly interpret your stunned silence," Vivi spoke up, standing shoulder-to-shoulder with Luffy. "Then am I to assume that your friend, Emma, has gone missing?"
As a few people nodded, Luffy asked her: "Why are you talking like that, Vivi?"
She looked embarrassed. "Well, I've been in the palace for awhile, so..."
"Yes, but...what are you doing here, Vivi?" Sumi wanted to know. "And, how did you know that it was Emma-Chan who was missing?"
"Well..." Vivi began. "That's because..."
Emma landed on something that wasn't quite the ground - in fact, she landed on a human, and a rather big one, at that.
Opening her eyes, Emma put one hand on her forehead, and the other one on whomever she had just landed on, so that she could sit up on her knees.
Only then, did she realise the identity of the person she had landed on, as she stared into those black depths, and noticed the teeth that were missing from within his slightly agape mouth...
"Teach!" She gasped, before swiftly looking around her, noticing the rest of the Blackbeard Pirates in the area that she was in.
She appeared to have landed in a small area between the forest and a creek, which seemed a deceivingly tranquil place, considering what she had just entered into.
Emma switched her gaze back to the captain, just as his eyes took on a steely glint. Emma gasped, but was unable to react, as Teach's hand shot up and, blanketed in darkness, wrapped around her throat. In a second, she was slammed up against a tree, and was completely helpless, as the Blackbeard Pirates regarded her.
"Well, well, well, what have we here?" Teach didn't seem at all concerned by Emma's struggling, as her hands came up, futilely attempting to pry his fingers away from her throat. "If it isn't the so-called Demon Of War, Emma Pax..."
"What do you mean by...'so-called'?" Emma asked him, her heart hammering in her chest, and her breathing quickening. This is bad...I have to...get out of...here! "Ribon-Ribon..."
"Uh-uh-uh." Teach said mockingly, and Emma's eyes widened, as various black tendrils suddenly snaked up and around her, and she felt a familiar sense of weakness wash over her.
"Oh, shite...I forgot..." Emma muttered.
"Would a true Demon Of War forget the most important thing when fighting an opponent like me?" Teach asked her.
"Don't flatter yourself, Teach." Emma snapped, forgetting her current situation for a moment. "I know that you're still...scared of Oyaji..." Okay, now, why did I just say that? Emma wondered, as she rceognized the angry look that entered the Dark Man's eyes.
And, a second later, she was punched in the side, and only by moving at the very last second did she avoid taking that hit to the head. As it was, she knew that her shoulder was going to be very badly bruised - perhaps it was even broken? She didn't know, as she landed roughly on the ground, at the feet of one particular member of the Blackbeard Pirates.
"Toputoputopu..." Vasco Shot chortled at Emma's current predicament. "Look - she's got Whitebeard's symbol on her back."
"What?" Teach held out his hand, which became wrapped in darkness, and Emma found herself being drawn towards him, due to his Devil Fruit power controlling the gravity around her. She was powerless to stop the violation, as her top was torn from her, leaving only her bra, and her Whitebeard tattoo was revealed for all to see. "So, you've joined his crew?"
Emma didn't know how to answer, and so she stayed silent. Her breathing had become ragged, due to the pain.
"Or, maybe I should have the tattoo removed from your back?" Teach suggested. "Shiliew?"
Emma gasped, when she heard a blade being drawn, and guessed what the former prison-guard's intentions were. "No! Don't...don't you dare!" She turned around fast, glaring up at Teach, with her fists clenched at her sides. "I am not afraid of you, or of your crew, Teach!"
"Zehahahahahaha!" Teach seemed to find this amusing, as did most of his (slightly scary-looking) crew. "I knew there was something about you that intrigued me, girlie. Could it be that you have more bravery than is normal for such a small girl, or are you just incredibly reckless?"
As the crew laughed about this, Emma murmured: "Neither."
"What was that?"
"I said, it's neither!" Emma snapped, glaring up at him in what was probably either bravery or recklessness. "I just know that Fate wouldn't let me die here! She wouldn't be so cruel as to let me die by your hand, Teach!" She smirked slightly, although her fists were still clenched by her sides - her shoulder was killing her. "You believe in Fate, don't you, Teach?"
Teach regarded her carefully at this statement, unable to read the expression on her face. "They were right when they mentioned how incredibly well-informed you were about this world."
"Everybody and his brother knows how you lot are with Fate." Emma stated. "I just happen to have read the right books."
"So it would seem." Teach looked at her. "So then, you were aware of what you were doing by stopping the war at Marineford when you did?"
"Yes?" She looked back up at him, biting her lip. He knows, he knows, he knows... She realised and, at Teach's next words, her own fears were justified.
"Then, you should know how much I hate having my plans disrupted." Teach said.
Emma resisted the urge to roll her eyes. "And? What are you going to do?"
"Well, I was going to have you join my crew," Teach stated, much to Emma's disbelief. "But, with his mark on your back, I'm afraid I can't allow that. But, how about this..." He took a few steps towards her. "You can keep your life, and come with me, if you become my woman."
What...what did he just say? Emma's eyebrow twitched, as she stared at the Blackbeard Captain in complete disbelief. Okay, girl, you have one chance to say something, and you'd better make it good. "Save it for Jewellery Bonney!" She snapped, just as something hit her from the side, and pushed her into the bushes.
"Wha-what the...?!" Emma gasped, as she recognized the large teal-coloured snake body of Boa Sandersoania.
The Boa sister was in her Hybrid-Form, and resembled a naga. She hissed: "Are you okay?"
"What are you...?!"
"Hancock was worried about you!" Sandersonia explained, as she slid effortlessly through the trees. "She asked us to come and find you!"
They heard the unmistakable sounds of the Blackbeard Pirates following them through the trees, and Emma's instincts kicked in.
"Transform back to your human-form!" She exclaimed. "Quickly, Sandersonia!"
The massive snake lady complied, and Emma used her ribbons to carry them into the safety of the treetops, before launching some ribbons through the trees, and making it look as if she and Sandersonia had gone that way.
Emma and Sandersonia watched in silence, as the Blackbeard Pirates appeared on the forest floor beneath them, and then ran in the direction that Emma had created the false trail...all with the exception of Teach, who looked up.
"He spotted us!" Sandersonia gasped, as Teach grinned his toothy and malevolent grin.
"It was indecent of you to try and deceive me!" Teach said, as he activated his Devil Fruit powers, much to the horror of the two women up there in the treetops. "Women need to have some decency!" He added, as the powers of darkness arced towards Emma and Sandersonia.
Just then, a sharp and cold voice shouted: "Not my sister, you bastard!"
The voice belonged to Boa Hancock, but it was her other sister, Marigold, who attacked. She struck Teach from behind with her halberd, knocking him into the trees.
Emma suddenly grabbed Sandersonia, pushing them both down from the treetops, to fall and land on top of Hancock and Marigold, as she shouted: "Ribon-Ribon No Teleport!"
"Wow." Luffy sat back, looking stunned, although that might've been because he'd just eaten a whole entire cow.
"You can say that again." Sumi murmured.
"Wow." Luffy repeated, and a few people laughed.
Sumi just shook her head. "That's not what I meant." She fixed her gaze on Vivi. "How do we know that we can trust Vivi, even if she is a friend of yours, Luffy?"
Ace noted something in Sumi's tone, and realised: She doesn't like her...I wonder why...
Vivi looked uncomfortable under Sumi's gaze, and fiddled with her hands. "Well..." She began, just as Luffy threw an arm across her shoulders.
"Hey, if Vivi says it's true, then it's true!" Luffy declared, and a few people noticed the way Vivi blushed at the contact.
Hmm... Marco thought, exchanging a glance with Vista. The swordsman merely smiled, from behind his teacup.
"Hey, it's exactly what you guys have been saying, right?" Georgia supplied. "So, as soon as the others get here, and we find Emma, then..."
Sumi looked at her. "Hai, but, Georgia-Chan..."
Just then, there was a flash of light, and four people appeared in the room of Dadan's house that they were in.
"Oh, for the love of...not again!" Dadan, who had just come into the room, complained, throwing the trap of cups down on the floor. "Enough with the people appearing!"
Everybody suddenly froze, as the four women detangled themselves from one another.
Hancock suddenly spotted Luffy, as only Hancock could, and she cried out: "Oh my...Luffy! You're okay!" She ran to the startle seventeen-year-old, and glomped him, much to his disbelief, and to the shock of Vivi, who was sitting next to Luffy.
Hancock turned to glare very briefly at Vivi, who cringed.
Meanwhile, Emma had stood up, and was holding onto her shoulder. Ace and Law were there in a second.
"Emiko, what happened?" Ace asked her, wincing at the bruise that was already appearing on her shoulder.
"Umm..." She began, as Law gently touched it. "Ow, Law-Chan..."
"Emiko, who attacked you?" Law wanted to know, looking annoyed. "Who the Hell hurt you?"
"Umm..." Emma began to look panicked, and her hands flew to the very last thing that she wanted to fiddle with - her compass.
In a second Marco, Vista, Sumi, Luffy, Law, Ace and Vivi had been transformed into cats.
Hancock, Marigold, Sandersonia, Makino, Dadan and the other Mountain Bandits all looked shocked, to say the very least, as Emma began apologizing again.
"Way to go, Emma." Georgia rolled her eyes.
Hancock stared at Luffy, who was unconscious in her arms, due to being nearly suffocated by Hancock's...assets. "Oh...no...Luffy! Luffy, Luffy, speak to me! Luffy!" She sobbed.
Emma hurried over to her, and gently pried Luffy away from her, with some difficulty, due to the Empress' strong grasp. It was at that point, that Emma noticed Vivi.
"Oh." Emma blinked, her face turning a very pink colour.
Vivi was a light blue cat, almost silver in colour. Her ears were tipped in a darker-blue colour, that was closer to her hair colour, and so was her tail. She wore her golden necklace with the red stone on it around her neck. She was a beautiful cat.
As the girl and the cat stared at each other, a strange affinity was passed between them, and both of them instantly felt connected.
"Emma, this is Vivi." Georgia offered, taking a casual sip from her tea cup. "You know, Arabasta's Princess?"
"I-I know." Emma stammered.
"Oh, for God's sake..." Sumi, as the little blonde cat, rolled her teal-coloured eyes. "Yeah, she's Arabasta's Princess but, are you ready for this? Her Highness is also of the Kingdom Of the Gods, and the blessed successor to the sacred royal treasure, 'Grace's Heart'." She jumped up onto the table. "She's Hikari No Hime."
Ace, Marco and Vista exchanged startled glances, at the sharp tone in Sumi's voice. Something was wrong - Sumi did not like Vivi, that much was for certain.
Emma, however, had completely missed this, as her face lit up. "I-I knew it!" And, still holding Luffy in her arms, she dropped to her knees, so that she was at eye-level with Vivi. "V-Vivi-Sama, I've really wanted to meet you, for a l-long time! You're my favourite female character from the show!" She then gasped, and blushed furiously, realising that Vivi probably had no idea what she'd just meant.
Vivi, however, knew perfectly well what Emma had meant, and smiled widely. "Emma, that makes me so happy to hear that! Yes, the gods told me all about you. And, there's no need to be so formal with me - you can even call me -Chan, if you'd like?" She offered.
Emma swallowed. Call Vivi -Chan? Princess Vivi, her favourite female character from the show, One Piece, - Chan? That didn't seem too right, somehow, but...maybe... "V-Vivi-Chama?"
Vivi looked startled, but then she smiled, and sat down. "Yes?"
Emma smiled, as well. "N-nothing. I'm just so happy that you're the Princess we've been searching for."
Vivi nodded, as Carue stared at her in shock, at seeing her as a cat. "Yes...as soon as the others get here, we'll be united."
Author's Notes:
. Country Road - OoO youtu . be / tj _ Wjk943Fo
. In the New World, in canon, Blackbeard meets Bonney and proposes to her. She replies accordingly. XD Go Bonney!
Mugiwara Wolf Spirite - knowing the mangaka, Zoro would have lost his eye for a reason. ^^ I didn't want to reach a plot-hole, if we find out that Zoro lost his eye for some all-important reason. Then again, we've already hit a few of those, haven't we? And, yes, there's a few other romances here and there! XD Thanks for the review!
Guest - yeah, go Emma X Ace!
Shiningheart of ThunderClan - maaaaybeeee... ^^ I love The Lion King, too. And, hmm, you'll just have to wait and see! XD Thanks for reviewing!
AiSorax3 - thanks for liking my character so much, and I'm glad that you can relate to her, but maybe not so much on the non-trusting thing...anyways, thanks for the review!
MsWildLuck - yup, Emma's comeback is WIN. ^^ Ooh, a 500 out of 10, that's epic! Thank you!
Shinobi . Hikari . Ookami - oh my God, the visions...Mihawk and Shanks...oh my God... *Dies of laughter* Lol, the whole 'I'm-Not-Wearing-Underwear-Today' thing...hmm...well, thanks for the review! XD