...
It's the day after our Pathfindering's Induction so here's a chapter for the celebration
-insert smile emoji-
...
08.10.18
3300 words
『Chapter 27 | Identity』
After Luffy had told Whitebeard about the marines planning to execute Ace early, the old man's tired eyes gazed onto his small figure before scrunching up his brows. "They're going to execute my son early? Are sure they said that?" He asked the young boy.
Sayua looked at her younger brother with a stoic face. "I'm sure they're doing their preparations as we speak if what you're saying is true, Luffy." She then looked at the scaffold standing tall in front.
"Yeah, they are. They said that they needed to make some preparations and some other things that was in code." The boy confirmed, "I'm telling this because we all want to save Ace!"
"All right. This is useful." The old man told them, "Thank you."
"No problem!" The young boy said, placing his hands on his waist before shouting his brother's name and jumping off of the Moby Dick.
His older sister simply placed on a usual smile on her face before using Crocodile's body to lift herself up and jump down after her reckless, young brother. "Oi! Luffy! Wait up!" She exclaimed, wielding her black blade on her right hand before switching to her left.
Spade, her trusted companion, grabbed on her shoulders for dear life, almost digging his sharp claws onto her soft skin. "Ah! Sayua-chan! Slow down!" He squeaked as his mortal body gets shaken up from all the running. "Can't you just warp onto the scaffold instead?!" He asked, pulling himself together.
"If I can," his adored human started, fighting off the marines who were getting on her way, "I would've already done it! I can't just warp onto far places that frequently! We warped all the way from the New World and onto this place—I can't warp on longer range until I get the rest of my strength back!"
Spade narrowed his eyes. Right, Sayua can't warp to far places that quickly, but she can when it's just a few feet around her. She managed to warp all the way into this land because she focused on this area instead of her usual long range, peripheral area. It takes a lot of power just to warp into far places.
This warping ability will also take years off of her life span when used to go into far places, so she's just getting closer and closer to death when she's using this. Plus, she warped two entities into one area, so damage will take effect sooner or later.
While the two siblings are running off into the battlefield, Whitebeard told his men to look out and have all their guards up—letting them know about the information is in the Navy's plan. He then just watched the two protect each other's back, mostly the girl's doing all the work to let her younger brother go safely.
Kizaru had made himself appear in front of Luffy, muttering something about Celestial Dragons pestering him just to catch the young pirate. He launched an attack directly towards him that would've surely sent him down back in the hell prison.
"THAT'S ADMIRAL KIZARU! MUGIWARA'S A GONER NOW!" One pirate exclaimed as his mouth hang ajar when flashes of bright light reflected onto him.
Ivankov was about to use his Death Wink to block the Admiral's attack but halted when he saw that he didn't need to, seeing that Dragon's son's sister have used her Haki coated blade to block and redirect the attack back to the sender.
"Hmm...?" The Admiral tilted his head as he avoided his own attack, narrowing his eyes to see the figure in front who defended his target. "Puppet Master...?" He mused as his lips curled upwards, following the girl with his gaze.
"That was a close call!" Luffy panted as he looked back to his sister, "Thank you, Neechan!"
"It's my duty to protect my young brother from this mess." The girl smiled as she ran forwards before sensing an incoming attack from the side, freezing on her tracks and jumping back, letting the King-Queen Ivan save his brother since he's a lot closer to him.
She skidded to the side and looked up as quick as she landed, noticing that she got pretty separated from her brother. She clicked her tongue and made her way closer towards her young sibling who was trapped but swiftly got out from Hina's trap. She then quicken her pace and ran past Luffy to deal with the officers who were in their way.
She then raised a brow when moving corpses started to go on her and her brother's way. Her eyes trailed onto the caster of the power and saw a weird looking man. No, she doesn't know him—even if she does, she forgot about him. Gloria, perhaps? Noria? Floria? She just doesn't remember. But she knows he'll be a pain.
"LUFFY! SAYUA!" The two then heard their names spoken by none other than their older brother, Ace.
"Ace...?" She looked up as she twisted her body to avoid an attack from the zombies.
"DON'T COME UP HERE!" The elder brother shouted.
"What?!" The youngest scrunched up his nose before punching an officer in the face, "Outta my way!"
"YOU TWO SHOULD KNOW BETTER! THE THREE OF US ARE PIRATES!" Ace shouted on the top of his lungs just to let his siblings hear his voice, "WE WENT TO THE SEA SEPARATELY!" Sadness lingered in his tone, making his grandfather look down and grit his teeth upon hearing the agony his voice. "I HAVE MY OWN ADVENTURES! I HAVE MY OWN FRIENDS!" The freckled young boy sounded as though he's holding back his tears, "THERE IS NO PLACE FOR YOU TWO IN MY LIFE!"
Sayua's top hat covered her eyes, leaving only the red glow visible. She gritted her teeth and clicked her tongue as she swiped her blade to the side, beheading an unsuspecting marine that was about to attack her. She wasn't really the type to end people that easily, especially if there's an important matter to be prioritized instead of ending people's time. But this is different.
She's quite... not happy about her older brother's lies.
"YOU THINK I'D LET MYSELF BE RESCUED BY WEAKLINGS LIKE YOU?!" The ravenette shouted, "THAT WOULD BE AN UNBEARABLE INSULT!"
Weaklings? Insult? Pfft, the sister chuckled after her thought. Don't try to hide your feelings, brother.
"BEAT IT, YOU TWO! WHY DID YOU COME HERE EVEN?!" His voice echoed in his siblings' minds.
Ace..., Jinbe thought.
Please... Luffy... Sayua... I don't want you to get killed for me...! Ace's mind was clouded with fear, guilt and sadness. He can't bear to see his siblings to get hurt just because of him... he already lost one and can't lose another.
"I'M YOUR LITTLE BROTHER!"
"SHUT UP, ACE! I'M YOUR SISTER!"
Luffy and Sayua's voice echoed throughout the Marineford, making the freckled young man grit his teeth. Even though the two are far apart, separated in the battlefield, he heard the thoughts behind their words, which simply broke his heart even more.
"I DON'T CARE ABOUT YOUR PIRATE RULES!" Luffy shouted as he landed a punch on a marine's face.
"DON'T HIDE YOUR FEELINGS, NIISAN! YOU DO NOT KNOW WHAT THESE TWO 'WEAKLINGS' CAN DO!" Sayua followed, quickening her pace even more and jumping over a group of fighting individuals.
The two's reply to their older brother surprised the people surrounding them.
"They're Ace's siblings?"
"He has a sister and a brother?!"
"Then, are they Roger's...?"
"Ace's parents died before Mugiwara and Puppet Master were born!"
"They can't possibly be Ace's brother by birth!"
As the confusion arise, more of Moria's zombies rose from their graves too, making Sayua swiftly avoid the undead group approaching her. When she landed, a splash of cold water hit her leg, making her turn around and see that the sea water, which was controlled by Jinbe, easily defeating the undead army. She smiled and jumped over them, using her prowess to make herself lighter, and dashed forwards.
She then heard her old man's friend's voice ricochet throughout the battlefield, with his words making her grit her teeth.
"Uh-oh, Sai-chan." Spade said as he gently wrap around her neck just to not fall off. "Buddha found out about yours and your younger brother's identity!"
"WHAT ARE YOU DOING?! DON'T LET A LONE ROOKIE AND A LITTLE LADY TAKE CONTROL OVER THIS BATTLEFIELD!" The said old man's voice rang loud, "THOSE TWO ARE MENACE TO THE FUTURE OF HUMANITY!"
The ferret held back a laugh and thought a joke in his head, this girl is the only threat to the world!
"THEY GREW UP WITH ACE! THEY'RE LIKE SIBLINGS! AND AS FOR THEIR IDENTITIES..." The old man looked down at the paper that was handed to him earlier by an officer, "MONKEY D. LUFFY... IS THE SON OF DRAGON! THE REVOLUTIONARY!"
Silence washed over the field and before they can even react, Sengoku continued his words once more.
"AND PUPPET MASTER SAYUA..." He crumpled up the paper in his hands by his tight grip, "...WAS A FORMAL NOBLE AND A PRINCESS! DO NOT—I REPEAT—DO NOT KILL HER! CAPTURE HER ALIVE!"
That's it. His words finally got to everyone, making the once silent field into a surprised bunch.
"WHAAAAAAAAAAAT?!"
"Dragon's son?! A-And a princess?!"
"HUUUUUUUUUUUUHHHHHH?!"
Mihawk's face grimaced as he heard the information, "Nothing even surprise me at this point..." He sighed, "To know that all three of them have famous background is such..."
"AHAHAHA! So that's how he was able to recruit Ivankov of the Revolutionary Army!" Doflamingo burst into laughter, "And I was right about Puppet Master! The Goa Kingdom's Princess is alive after all! AHAHAHA~!" He looked at the girl, "IT ALL MAKES SENSE NOW!"
"So that's it..." Jinbe looked at the two siblings back and forth.
"This explains what happened in Loguetown." Smoker trailed off as he looked at the young boy before looking at the girl who once been by his side, "And that Sayua? A Princess?" He raised a brow, "Doesn't act like a princess though."
The Fleet Admiral's words sure did shake up the whole world.
: :
The words of the Fleet Admiral quickly spread over the surface of the blue seas, shocking everyone and making their mouths hang ajar with their eyes wide open. No one expected for the three siblings to belong in different bloods—and important ones with known names.
Kings and Queens of other kingdoms were as shocked as everyone. To actually know a kingdom's blood have spread over to the filthy pirate's—it's too humiliating even for them. One even threw up when Sayua's name was discussed, and it's a Queen, to no surprise. One thing went through their minds—to kill off the eye sore that could potentially damage the royals' reputation. Of course, not everyone was like that. Excluding the non-corrupt kingdoms, everyone's just panicking and hurrying over to reach the Goa Kingdom's rulers. But the King and Prince of the said kingdom have a different plan in mind.
While they're at that, the people in the bubble capital, Sabaody Archipelago, were all over the place—writing news and making a big fuss about the released names. The citizens were scared, the marines and journalists were shouting everywhere, and the pirates are cheering loudly for the escape or the death of Newgate.
The Surgeon of Death was particularly making everything sink in slowly and calmly. He looked over to the red-haired Kidd by his side and managed to raise a brow because of Captain's reaction. He just brushed it off and swear to the heavens, if this man does something to the young lady he will—
The lipstick wearing man was amused and really interested to the blonde lady, carefully recalling back the ladies sold in the auction house a few days before it got shut down. She's far prettier than anyone else in the auction—no, scratch that.
She have this mysterious charm that separates her from the rest. Some can say that she can top the Snake Empress' beauty because of this... unknown charm. There's something mysterious about her—something that makes her at the top of the throne... something indescribable.
And this charm makes Kidd want to make her his.
No, not just him.
Even the scums of the sea want to make her theirs, Kings and princes included—but chose not to speak about it since they have their own Queens and princesses.
Law noticed this himself and narrowed his eyes. He somehow felt everyone's desire to take her themselves even under their deepest thoughts. This, of course, is making him quite uneasy considering that he developed some unsaid feelings towards her as well.
Wait, no.
He's that cold-hearted surgeon that likes to play with his specimens. He can't have those... strange feelings. It's impossible for him to—
"Sayua-ya, huh?" He cocked his head to his side and placed his hand on his waist, "Is this going to be a competition now, Captain-ya?" He asked the said man with his grey orbs hiding beneath the shadows of the brim of his fluffy hat.
"Oh?" The red-haired man cocked his head to the side and look at him with his sharp eyes, "You know that pretty lass?"
"I wouldn't say I don't." The surgeon's lips curved into a mischievous smile. "I advise you to stay away from her." He said as he opened his left eye to send a glare at the red-haired pirate.
"Funny," the pirate chuckled, "I was gonna say the same." He then looked back at the wide screen that displayed their statuses, "If she's going home alive, that is." He laughed, crossing his arms together with the metal parts clanking and rubbing at each other.
"Underestimating her now, huh?" The surgeon did the same and continued to watch the lass in the background as the fight spice up, "If it's her, I'm sure she'll survive..." ... just like last time.
: :
As the battle heats up, the aura on top of the scaffold seems to shift as well. Sengoku is gritting his teeth, Garp has his eyes narrowed towards the battlefield and Ace is all shocked and broken from the sight in front—and to hear that their long-kept secrets have been revealed is too much to process at the moment.
The Fleet Admiral tossed the paper to the side, just near the older brother of the two, and snapped at Garp, "Garp! Your family is on it again! Mugiwara is on the loose and Goa's King is ordering for Puppet Master's capture! This will surely reach everyone's ears."
"Heh..." The hero gritted his teeth, "I don't care anymore at this point. They can't hide anything now." He narrowed his eyes, "Both of them are already notorious out on these seas... this news won't make any difference now."
"They're going to be captured either way." The Fleet Admiral looked down at Ace, "They will suffer the same fate as yours, Hiken no Ace."
The young man simply closed his eyes and gnashed his teeth, shaking hard because of it, only to look up and see as his younger siblings work together to bring down two giant marines that were blocking their way. He saw as the marines slowly drop down as the two foolish siblings of his jump and hover over them.
"I'M GOING TO SAVE YOU EVEN IF IT KILLS ME, ACE!" The lass shouted across the battlefield, her words slowly reaching his and the other's.
Ace's eyes widened and he froze upon hearing her tone. He knows he can't change her mind because once she set a goal, she will find a way—even in the most dangerous and reckless route, she will find a way to do it. She's that stubborn. Same goes for the youngest... They are born to be that way—to be his reckless younger sister and brother.
"Ace..." The Fleet Admiral then called his name, making him swiftly turn his head to face his, "... have you heard of the..."
: :
"Now don't you let those two die, Marco." Whitebeard said to the Phoenix standing right next to him.
"Aye aye, Pops." The young man replied with a quick smile before quickly giving a glance to his fellow blonde fighting off back-to-back with her younger brother.
Something about her sparked up his interest.
"Pops," he called his captain just as he was about to jump, "have you heard of this legend called the Armageddon?"
"The Armageddon?" The old pirate raised a brow before his eyes slowly dilated wide with the realisation.
"I thought you'd know but," the pineapple—I mean, the young man then jumped off and turned to his Phoenix form and ended his words, "It's a legend after all...!"
: :
"Armageddon?" Ace raised a brow at the Buddha, "The Armageddon?" He repeated.
"Right, the legendary Armageddon." The old man narrowed his eyes at the blond lass who's making her way swiftly towards the scaffold, "The end of the end."
"Oi, oi, Sengoku." Garp furrowed his brows together, almost telling him to stop.
"One must know about it, right, Garp?" The Admiral closed his eyes before opening them to look at the curious Ace, "Especially the ones who've been with her ever since."
"I told you, Sayua isn't the Armageddon!" The hero snapped at him.
"Everything clicks together, Garp!" Sengoku tried to calm himself before sighing, "Who would have thought that the Armageddon reincarnated in her form?" He then sighed and crossed his arms together, "Everything makes sense if you see her as the legendary Armageddon."
"Wait, wait." Ace looked back and forth between the two old men, "I'm not following. What do you marine know that we don't? Why do you keep referring my sister as the legend?" He then clicked his tongue, "Should I even be listening to you two?!"
"You're one clueless man, aren't you, Ace?" The Fleet Admiral asked him in his stern tone. "I'm sure you know about the Armageddon legend and have heard of the rumours that the four remaining Gatekeepers of Hell have risen back from their slumber to search for the said legend." He said and closed his eyes, picturing four silhouettes of the four demons placed in old books.
"If she is the Armageddon, this whole world will be in potential threat, for it will be the battlefield between her and the Gatekeepers from hell," he continued, only to stop when the hero spoke up.
"And that's why you're going to end her before the Gatekeepers come?" Garp glared at him, his lips forming a grin, "But you know all too well that the heavens won't let you."
"And that is if she's really the Armageddon," Sengoku narrowed his eyes, following the lass with his stare, "the one that can change one's fate, the end of the end."
Garp let out a forced laugh before turning his head to face his grandson next to him, giving him a stern look, "I'm sure Sayua set a goal to save you even if she dies... and this will prove two things once everything comes to a conclusion."
"To see her fate? To confirm if she's the Armageddon?" The young man sighed, "Either way, she's my sister—nothing can change that even if she's the Arma-whatever." He then narrowed his eyes, "She have a brighter future than a foolish man like me... I can't let you all take that bright future away from her..."
Sayua's smiles, words and laughter refreshed in his cloudy mind, making him let out a small laugh before pausing and looking down, blinking as he slowly make up his mind.
"What is it?" Garp folded his arms and looked at him, raising a brow as he curiously wait for an answer.
"I don't care what the future holds for me... I accept it." He closed his eyes.
