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:

. Adult themes


CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT

Recovery


The sun still rose. The moon (once it had started waxing again) still set. Fluffy clouds still danced across the day skies, and occasionally the nights were still dark and stormy. Lovers were still silhouetted against a backdrop of stars, and the burning fires of dawn still graced the morning bright.

But, none of that mattered to that one girl anymore because, to her, the world had fallen apart, and so had she.

Emma was an emotional wreck, and it seemed that no amount of help from her friends would be enough to pull her out of this. She could hardly speak without breaking down into tears, which most of the men on board the Moby Dick couldn't seem to handle. She couldn't eat much, because she was getting sick from her hysterics. Law watched as she got sicker and sicker and, finally, on the third day, he instructed for her to be put into an induced coma.

Finally, with her eyes closed, an oxygen mask over her face, and IV drips in her arms, she was at peace.

Law sat down at her bedside, resting his elbow on his knee, and his forehead on the tips of his fingers, sighed.

"You okay?" A voice asked from behind him, and he turned to see Nami standing there, smiling slightly in a sympathetic way.

Law shrugged - what more could he do? He wasn't, and she knew it.

She pulled a chair up to sit beside him. Together, they gazed at Emma, who was still pale.

"I never imagined..." Nami said quietly. "That any of this would happen...that she could be the Princess..." She reached out, and took Emma's left hand. It was cold, and the ring around her fourth finger was like ice.

"i heard Marco-Ya telling Vista-Ya that Vivi-Ya was selected as a decoy, by the gods." Law muttered, never taking his eyes off of Emma's face. "She was meant to remain as a decoy for a bit longer, to draw the enemy's attention away and give Emiko more time to train. But now..."

"What a terrible way, for her to find out." Nami murmured, shaking her head slightly. "And, that you're..." She turned her steady gaze over to Law, who glanced briefly at her. "Is that why...?"

He nodded. "When she was wrapped up by that light, I received visions from the gods. They told me what I had known all along."

"Which was?"

Law's expression hardened slightly. "That my duty...that my entire reason for existing...is to protect Hikari No Hime...to protect Emiko, no matter what." He put his head in his hand. "But now, I can't do anything. She's the only one who can save herself." If she can, at all...she's so weak right now, because her body can't handle the amount of stress and power that's been so suddenly placed on it...

Nami stared at him for a moment, before putting an arm across his shoulders. "She will get out of this, you'll see. Emma's very strong, and she knows that we're all here for her. Just have faith in her..."

Law glanced sideways at her. "It's strange that you're comforting me, Nami-Ya..."

She smiled sheepishly. "Well, you're the doctor - you should know that people tend to band together in a crisis." Then, she gasped, and Law's head snapped up, to see Emma's red necklace was glowing. "What is...?"

Law stared, the red light reflected off of his grey eyes, his expression hard, as he whispered: "Emiko..."


In the infirmary, Vivi sat by Luffy's bedside, and Robin sat on the other side.

Neither of the two females spoke, until Luffy shifted slightly, and Robin observed that Vivi nearly jumped out of her seat. The former Princess was holding onto one of the captain's hands so tightly that Robin briefly speculated that she might end up breaking it. Not that it would make much of a difference - Luffy's ribs had been badly broken, and there was now a cross-shaped cut, choc-full of stitches, on his chest. Between the bleeding and the bruising, Luffy looked a wreck, and Vivi appeared to be handling it badly.

"Many times," Robin said quietly, and the young girl's dark eyes flickered over to her. Robin could see the amount of pain and fear in those dark orbs. "I've wondered if Luffy-San's luck will run out. If he'll be electrocuted by a god, or torn to shreds by a vicious assassin. I've wondered, but I've never questioned, because I know that, somehow, he'll pull through. If there was one thing that I learned that day on the Tower Of Justice, then it was that."

"At...at Enies Lobby..." Vivi's voice was cracked, since she hadn't really eaten or drunk anything in three days. "The Straw Hat Pirates declared war on the World Government."

Robin nodded. "That is correct."

"Why?" Vivi suddenly realised that she had never found out the true meaning behind Luffy's decisions that day.

Robin clasped her hands in front of her, and Vivi sensed that a story was about to be told. Wanting desperately to understand her former-enemy, Vivi leaned back in her chair to listen.

"I was born on the island of Ohara, and my entire family were archeologists - that is, both of my parents were. My Mother's brother and his wife were not, but it was in their care that I was left when I was two, when my Mother went out to sea. I was not loved by my Aunt, and the other children would call me a demon, due to my Devil Fruit powers. However, I had friends - the scholars at the Tree Of Knowledge. Desperate to fit in somewhere, I aspired to be like them and, at the age of eight, I was finally inducted as a scholar after acing an archeology exam. My mentor, Professor Clover, me not to learn the true, unrecorded history of the world, though - I know now why he told me this but, at the time, I was very upset. At that time, I met a giant named Jaguar D. Saul, and I continued to visit him for four days. On the fourth day, he told me that Ohara was the target of a Buster Call, in which ten war ships would be sent to destroy Ohara due to the scholars there studying the Poneglyph. During this time, when the assassins of CP9 came to Ohara, I was reunited with my Mother after six years of wondering who she was. She recognized me instantly and, for my own safety, tried to pretend otherwise, but I knew that it was her. As Professor Clover was shot and killed point-blank, and CP9 left to continue destroying the island, Saul arrived. He was a former Vice-Admiral who had assisted with my Mother's escape, and she urged him to protect me. However, as he was carrying me to safety, they opened fire on him, and he destroyed the ships for almost hurting me. I tried to board the evacuation ship but, when I used my powers, this frightened those on board. They were killed by Akainu, who destroyed the ship in case even one scholar was onboard. Saul tried to attack Spandine, who had initiated the attack) but he was stopped and challenged by Aokiji, who froze him to death. Before Saul died, he urged me to go out to sea, saying that my friends were out there, somewhere. Aokiji let me go, even setting an ice path for me to follow, but warned me that if I tried anything, then he would be the first to come after me. The World Government was worried after that, due to my ability to read the Poneglyphs, and they issued a bounty on my head after that, and I spent twenty years living for self-preservation alone. My only dream was to find the Poneglyphs, and learn the true history of the world, which the World Government so desperately sought to keep hidden, enough that they committed the most brutal act of genocide."

Vivi stared at Robin in complete and utter shock, unable to believe the story that she was told but, somehow, she knew that it was true. Perhaps it was something in those endless blue eyes, that told her that it was genuine, or perhaps it was what the archeologist said next.

"After Luffy-San defeated Crocodile," Robin spoke the name with a slight bitterness. "I lost my will to live, and told Luffy-San that he should take responsibility. So, I joined the Straw Hat Pirates. This led me to discover that the Rio Poneglyphs that I sought were on Raftel, where the One Piece is. As time went on, I realised how genuine Luffy-San and the others were - they asked nothing of me, and allowed me to live as I pleased."

"What happened next?" Vivi whispered, anticipating a change in the story.

"Upon arriving in Water Seven, I was found by the new CP9 assassins and, in order to keep Luffy-San and the others safe, I was forced to help them try and assassin the man who held the blueprints for an ancient weapon. The World Government wished to build and then use that weapon against the original one, but human nature isn't that simple, as you and I both know." Vivi nodded. "But, I thought, as long as Luffy-San and the others were safe, then I didn't care what happened. As long as they survived...but, they came after me, and declared war on the world, just for my safety and freedom. I didn't understand it then...I do now."

Vivi had not expected this. She stared down at her hands. "I...I see..." Carue, who had been napping in the corner of the room, came over and placed his head in her lap, gazing sympathetically up at her. "I...I can understand...this faith that you have in Luffy and the others...they, too, helped me to overcome myself, and the darkness of the situation that I was in." She rubbed her hand against Carue's bill.

"My reasons for joining forces with Crocodile were merely for my own personal gain," Robin informed her. "To find the Poneglyphs, and help change the world. Now, however, my scope of preservation has extended to include my Nakama..."

Vivi nodded. "I see..." She looked across at Robin. "Thank you, for telling me all of this...I know how hard it must have been."

Robin nodded slightly, looking calm. "I told you this so that you may understand another thing, Princess-San."

"But, I'm not..."

"You may not be Hikari No Hime," Robin interrupted her. "And, you may believe that your ties with Arabasta are cut off forever. Ohara is destroyed, and its people reduced to nothing but ashes. but that does not mean that it did not exist. And, in my memory, it will never die. The same goes for you. Arabasta will always be your heritage, and you will always be its Princess." She gazed steadily at Vivi. "But, if I may be so bold as to question, was there perhaps another feeling that helped you to make this decision?"

Vivi blushed, and glanced at Luffy, confirming Robin's suspicions. "Well..."

The doors to the infirmary burst open, startling Carue and making Vivi jump. Only Robin remained calm, as Boa Hancock hurried into the room, followed more slowly by her sisters and, lastly, a very annoyed-looking Chopper.

"He needs his rest!" The little reindeer said angrily.

"Shut up, tanuki!"

Chopper nearly tore his antlers out, as Hancock hurried over to Luffy's bedside. Her eyes instantly zeroed in on the fact that Vivi was holding Luffy's hand in her own. She glared at Vivi.

"What are you doing here?" Hancock asked scornfully.

Robin spoke up. "We might ask you the same thing." She said calmly, although her eyes were intent on Vivi and Hancock.

"I happen to be Luffy's fiancee." Hancock said, in a self-important way. She crossed her arms, and stared Vivi down.

Vivi shifted. "Well I...I'm his...Nakama." She said uncomfortably.

"Nakama? Don't make me laugh - you chose your country over him, right up until he became interesting, and you were suddenly all over him!"

Vivi swallowed. "That-that's not true...I've always found him interesting..." She gazed fondly at the raven-haired boy. "But, it's true, I only severed my ties with Arabasta when Luffy needed me...I mean, when...the crew, needed me." She finished lamely.

Hancock just smirked, and Luffy chose that moment to stir. "Oh, Luffy!" Tears gleamed in Hancock's eyes, as she knelt by his bedside, and pointedly took his other hand. "I'm here, my darling..." She held the hand up to the side of her face. "Don't worry, Luffy, I'm here..."

Luffy's eyelids fluttered, and he slowly opened his eyes. He sat up slowly, and looked around dazedly. His eyes first travelled to his hat, which was on his bedside table, and he nodded slowly, before he turned to the person sitting on his right.

"Vivi...you're okay..." He said slowly, blinking a few times, and then he flung his arms around her. "Thank God, Vivi!"

"L-Luffy?!"

"When I saw that bastard heading for you, and then...I thought...thank God you're still alive!" Luffy exclaimed, still with his arms wrapped around her. "I was really worried about you." He whispered in her ear.

Vivi swallowed, and looked across at Robin, who was smiling slightly.

She then looked over at Hancock, and flinched. The Boa sister was glaring daggers at her, and looking as scary as any Gorgon or Naga in mythology.

Luffy felt Vivi flinch, and slowly let go of her, before turning around and seeing Hancock. "Oh. You're here too." He turned back to Vivi. "What about the others, are they okay?" Vivi and Robin exchanged a glance. "What is it?" Luffy asked, sensing that something was terribly wrong.

"The battle ended not long after you passed out." Robin explained. "Nami shielded you with her body during this period."

"Aww, Nami's the best." Luffy grinned, as Hancock looked positively shocked. "How's her ankle?"

"It'll mend." Vivi said quietly. "Most of the crew got out okay, with a few mild cuts and bruises. Oh, and I'm not the real Princess Of Light - Emma is."

"Oh." Luffy looked surprised. "That's...weird. You're much more suited, Vivi."

Vivi blushed furiously. "Thanks, I think...anyway, so most of us are okay, but Emma's in an induced-coma."

"A what?"

"It means she's been put into a deep sleep with medicine." Chopper supplied.

"How come?" Luffy wanted to know.

"After the battle, she went into a state of hysterics and shocks." Robin told him.

"Because she's the Princess?"

Vivi looked right at him. "Because Sumi's dead."


Zoro and Vista were meditating, when Sanji and Marco found them up on-deck.

"Yoi." Marco said, by way of greeting. He seated himself on a spot on the deck. "Mind if we join you?"

"Go ahead." Zoro shrugged. "It's a free deck." He watched as Sanji settled himself down nearby, lighting a cigarette and taking a long drag.

For awhile, none of the four men spoke, until Zoro glanced up, and happened to see Ace walk aimlessly past.

"He's not handling it well." The swordsman stated, when Ace was out of earshot.

"You can say that again." Marco sighed. "He's handling it about as well as Emma is."

"It's ridiculous." Zoro said bluntly, causing Marco and Vista to exchange a glance. "I mean, Emma's supposed to be Hikari No Hime. What kind of Princess goes into hyperspace right when we need her the most?"

"Give them a break, moss-head." Sanji muttered, glaring at Zoro. "Somebody they really cared about was killed right before their eyes. Is that so really very hard to understand, even for you?"

"I understand." Zoro said, surprising the cook, who blinked. "I understand better than you think,, ero-cook."

"Oh yeah?" Sanji looked up at the sky, and recalled the girl from Shimotsuki Village, Kuina. He took a drag from his cigarette, and then let it out slowly. "I see..."

"Death is just a part of life." Zoro stated, staring at a spot on the deck. "If you let every single little death consume you, then you'll never get out of the pit. Sumi wouldn't have wanted any of this."

"You're right." Vista nodded. "Sumi loved her life, and she loved the lives of those around her. All she ever wanted was for everybody else to be happy."

"And, in the end, her devotion to her family is what got her killed." Sanji realised. "Knowing how Whitebeard feels about his family...she was protecting his greatest treasure."

"You got it." Marco affirmed. "What I hope she realised...was that she was as much as his treasure, as any of our crew. We're going to miss her."

Sanji and Zoro could only nod, understanding how hard this must be for the Whitebeard Pirates.

"Ace promised..." Vista said quietly. "To always protect Sumi...for him, this is a failure that he can't ever rise up from. He feels like he broke a promise to Thatch."

"That's insane." Zoro shook his head. "There's nothing that he could've done - it all happened so fast."

"He won't see it like that." Marco replied.

"I know that." Zoro muttered. "I'm also pretty sure that, if anything happens to Emma now..." He trailed off, and let the comment sink in.

Up in the crows nest Ace, who was listening, clenched his fists, which burned slightly into the wood he was hanging onto. He stared at Dawn Island (they were moored off a different coast, after having moved a few days ago) in the distance. It had been the death-place of both Sabo and Sumi. Ace closed his eyes, feeling tears gather.

I'm sorry.


"So, when do you think we can go home?" Penelope spoke up tentatively, hoping that nobody would berate her for asking such a question at a time like this.

Nobody did, however, but nobody answered her, either. She, Carmilla, Robert, Jacob, Georgia, Franky, Kaya and Nojiko were sitting in the dining hall, sort of picking at their dinners. They weren't very hungry.

Usopp entered, and sat down next to Kaya, who looked at him questioningly when he sighed.

"We've had Marines coming in periodically since yesterday." The sniper explained, resting his head on his hand. "The Whitebeard Pirates are taking care of them, but it's not easy - they got injured too, after all."

"Man, we could really use some of Emma's power right now. Too bad she's a basket-case." Georgia stated, and Nojiko glared at her.

"Emma's got enough to worry about, without having to deal with them." The blue-haired woman snapped. "Who are you to judge her?"

"In case you've forgotten," Georgia said defensively. "Emma sent my sister to this world, leaving me worrying like crazy in that other world - I know what it's like to lose somebody that you love! I thought that Carmilla was dead!"

"Yes, but you didn't actually see it happening." Nojiko pointed out. "To see a person that you love get killed, in the most brutal way possible, and without warning..."

Georgia took a deep breath, and then let it out slowly. Carmilla was looking at her, knowing what was coming. "Do you know...why my sister is a police officer?" Georgia asked, and Nojiko shook her head. "It's because her boyfriend was one. He was killed, in the line of duty. Took a bullet, straight to the head. I was fifteen, at the time, when I...saw that..." She looked right at Nojiko. "I know how old you and Nami were when you saw Bellemere die in the same way. I know what it means to see somebody die, protecting you!"

Nojiko didn't say anything, but Kaya did.

The blonde said: "So then, we can all agree that Sumi died for us?" The others glanced at her, and then nodded. She stood up. "Then, what's being done about her funeral?"

Franky shrugged. "I dunno. I guess you'll have to ask Whitebeard about it."

Kaya nodded firmly. "Then I will." She turned, and marched out of the dining hall.

Everybody stared after her.

"Ok-kay, wh-where's the real Kaya?" Usopp stammered.

"I am the real Kaya!"


In Party's Bar, Makino didn't realise that she'd finished cleaning the glass that she was still holding five minutes ago, until Benn pointed it out to her.

"Oh, thank you." She put the glass away.

"Don't mention it." Benn returned to his meal.

Makino sighed, and rested her head in her hands.

"You're still thinking about what happened, aren't you?" Benn observed calmly.

Makino nodded. "I...I can't imagine what Luffy and Ace must be going through right now...going through such a terrible battle, only to see one of their friends get killed like that." She, like everybody else in the world, was still reeling from the shock of the battle that had been broadcasted live throughout the world. It had been gruesome, and bloody, and to see the death of such a young girl at the hands of Admiral Sakazuki had shocked people. "Poor Sumi..."

"It's not Sumi that you should be worrying about." Yasopp pointed out. "It's those that she left behind."

"I know." Makino closed her eyes briefly, unable to believe that the sweet and friendly young girl that she had met just a few short days ago was now dead. "This life...what if it's too much for them?"

"Then, that's their choice to make." Said a new voice, and everybody turned, to see that Shanks had emerged from the stairwell. He, like the rest of his crew and the Whitebeard Pirates, had suffered only minor injuries - it was the younger generations that had fared the worst. "Luffy learned long ago what it means to be a pirate. It's dangerous and, sometimes, you lose the people you love."

"Yes, but why did it have to happen here?" Makino asked the rhetorical question. "First Sabo, and now Sumi..."

"Sabo?" Shanks repeated the name.

"He was a friend of Luffy and Ace." Makino explained. "Come with me." She led Shanks outside, and they began to walk away from the village. Everywhere the went, people were busy repairing the buildings that had been damaged by the battle. They walked along the path that led to the midway forest and, about halfway there, Makino veered off, and Shanks followed her, along a small trail that could barely be made out under the grass. But, Shanks could see, there were sets of well-worn foot-prints leading along the trail, which Makino followed until she reached a small shrine, at the base of an old, abandoned windmill.

The shrine was small, and made of wood, and the workmanship wasn't great, but Shanks could tell immediately that it had been made with as much care as possible. He watched as Makino opened the doors to the shrine, and took out a framed photograph, which she blew the dust away from before handing it to Shanks.

Shanks could immediately recognize a seven year old Luffy in the picture, and there was no mistaking the freckled face of his adoptive brother, Ace. In the photograph with them was a boy about Ace's age, with curly blonde hair. That must be Sabo.

"The three of them were inseparable, and did almost everything together." Makino explained, a fond look on her face. "I heard Luffy saying that they became sworn brothers over cups of sake. Luffy and Ace put up other shrines like this, all over the island, because..." She trailed off, a look of grief passing across her face for a moment.

"What happened?" Shanks asked, although he already knew.

"One day, a Celestial Dragon named Jalmack decided to grace Goa with his presence." Makino said, almost sarcastically (well, as sarcastic as Makino could get).

"Jalmack?" Shanks repeated. "Hang on, isn't that the...?"

"The Celestial Dragon that they say Emma killed." Makino affirmed. "I don't know if this is true or not, but the Government seems to think so. And, when you look at the fact that he shot down and killed Sabo in cold blood, then..." She shrugged. "At the time, when Sabo died, I heard Ace say to Luffy that, not only was he not going to die, but he was also never going to let anything like this happen to somebody he cared about, ever again. Ace's devotion to his friends and family is absolute, Shanks, you have to understand that." Makino had turned away, so Shanks didn't see the tears in her eyes, but he could hear them.

Returning the picture to its place and closing the doors to the shrine. Shanks placed his arm across Makino's shoulders, and thought: Ace...he's more like his Father than he realises...


I don't know who I am anymore...I don't know what I am...where do I come from? Who are my parents? What is my purpose?

What AM I?


Emma opened her eyes slowly, to find herself staring up at the blue sky. She was lying on her back, in the grass. She was wearing all white - a halter top with a white skirt - and she could feel the wings on her back. Blinking a few times, Emma tried to figure out where she was, and could only draw one conclusion.

"I'm dead." She decided, feeling oddly calm about that fact.

"No you're not!" A bright voice piped up, and a winged girl wearing a white, off-the shoulder dress sprang into Emma's line of vision. Though she was silhouetted against the brightness of the blue sky, there was no mistaking the teal of her eyes, or the way her light blonde braided pigtails swung.

"Aah!" Emma cried. "Yes I am!"

"No, I'm telling you, you're not dead, Emma-Chan!" Sumi grinned, and grabbed Emma's wrist, yanking her to her feet.

Emma stared at her for a second, before throwing her arms around Sumi, hugging her tightly, and Sumi hugged her back. "Then, how is this...?" She drew back, staring at Sumi's face, as if trying to read all of the answers. "How is...?"

"I dunno." Sumi shrugged, still smiling. She looked around her, and so did Emma.

"What is this place?" Emma asked her.

"You tell me." Sumi replied. "This is your gig, girlfriend."

"So, wait, then this is all just happening within my mind?" Emma guessed.

"Well, yes, and no." Sumi answered. "You see, when I died, I transferred some of my power into you. But, I assure you, that this is actually happening." She pinched Emma, making Emma jump from the sting. "See?" She noticed the tears in Emma's eyes. "Emma-Chan, what's wrong?"

"You died, Sumi-Chan, and it's all my fault!" Emma exclaimed.

"Oh boy." Sumi took Emma by the hand, and led her over to a nearby swing-set, atop a small hill.

As they sat down on the swings, Emma took a good look around her, and realised that they were in a playground of sorts. Something about it was familiar...the swings...the play equipment in the sand...the small forest...the little dried-up creek...

"Hang on, Sumi-Chan...I think that I know where we are..." Emma sniffled. "This looks like the playground that Krystal and I used to come to, all the time when I lived across the lake from her."

Sumi began to swing on her swing. "Oh, is that where we are? Sounds cool. So, you and Krystal-Chan knew each other for a long time, right?"

Emma nodded. "Since we were five...Sumi-Chan?"

"Yeah?"

"How can I be Edward Newgate's daughter?" Emma wanted to know, finally asking the all-important question. "What about my other parents?"

"Ah." Sumi smiled. "I was wondering when we'd get to that. Firstly, let me just say, that everything's going to make sense after this, but you have to be open-minded about it. Even I had a hard time believing in it and, well, let's face it - you're about as insecure as they come, Emma-Chan."

"Oh, thanks a lot."

"No, I mean it." Sumi shook her head, and then she began to swing higher. "You don't believe in yourself, and you have a hard time trusting in others. Even now, you're thinking that the gods made a huge mistake, in choosing you as the Princess."

"You got that right." Emma affirmed. "I mean, I can barely handle being Emma, and now I'm supposed to be some all-powerful Princess? I can't do this, Sumi-Chan!"

"Yes you can." Sumi said firmly. "And you will. It's been your destiny, ever since you were one year old. That's when your life became what it is today, Emma-Chan."

"How so?" Emma wanted to know.

Sumi reached out. "Take my hand." Emma did so, and then gasped, as Sumi launched herself off of the swing, dragging Emma with her, and they hovered there in mid-air, their wings beating in synch. "I'll take you back to the year 1991, when you turned one year old, Emma-Chan. And, remember - open mind."

"Yes, Mum." Emma rolled her eyes, as she and Sumi disappeared into a swirl of blue and white light.


When Emma opened her eyes again, she and Sumi were standing in a pink room, that Emma instantly recognized as her old room, back in her first house. As they watched, Lee carried one-year-old Emma into the room, and placed her in her cot. She turned the lights off and pulled the door to, stepping outside again.

In the dimness of the room, Sumi reached for Emma's hand, and gave it a squeeze and, a few minutes later, Emma was clinging to Sumi's hand, as they watched one-year-old Emma's seizure.

Lee returned to the room, her Mother's instincts kicking in, and she grabbed her daughter, running from the room with her. Sumi and Emma followed her, and watched as she grabbed Sarah, who was sitting in the living room watching cartoons. Leaving pots on the stove and the front door unlocked, Lee got her daughters into the car and sped to the doctors, who took one look at Emma, and called an ambulance.

Sumi and Emma followed from the skies, watching the ambulance race up the wrong side of the freeway during peak-hour traffic. Emma and Sumi flew in through a window of the hospital, unseen and unheard, as Sumi led Emma to the emergency room, where the doctors were trying desperately to bring her body-temperature back down.

As the thermometer climbed past forty-two, Emma could hardly look, until Sumi made her and Emma watched as the body of her one-year-old-self went limp.

"Time of death, five PM." The head doctor said briskly, consulting his wristwatch.

"Holy God...Sumi-Chan, I just died!" Emma gasped, her throat going dry.

Sumi nodded. "I know. Just watch."

And so, Emma did, as the doctors went outside to deliver the news to her parents, and somebody else came in.

"Nanna?" Emma recognized the woman immediately. "What's she doing here?"

They watched as Hazel walked over to the cot, and looked down at her granddaughter. "I won't let it end this way, little lamb." Hazel said quietly. "Faith?"

And, to Emma's shock, the blue-eyed goddess Faith appeared, right beside Hazel. "It not look good." Faith said, in her usual accent. "Things go bad in other world, too. Perhaps, though, this be good for both. You come with me. We sort out." She picked up the one-year-old child, cradling her gently.

And, as they both vanished, Sumi turned to Emma, who was staring stunned at the spot where her Nanna and the goddess had just disappeared. "Let's go and see what just happened in the other world?" She suggested, and they both vanished.


Emma and Sumi had appeared on the deck of the Moby Dick. How did Emma know this? Simple.

Edward Newgate, at the age of fifty, was battling with a younger-looking Sakazuki, and both of them were fighting fiercely, in a battle that led them off of the ship, and onto the nearby island. As Emma watched, she saw that most of the crew was being led off of the ship and, when it was empty, a lone figure crept onto the boat.

With her long blonde hair, and teal eyes, it was easy to tell that Ino was Sumi's Mother.

"Let's follow her?" Sumi suggested, and led Emma after Ino, who had crept soundlessly onto the ship.

Ino moved purposefully, and seemed to know exactly where she was going. As they walked, Emma thought of something. "Hey, Sumi-Chan, are you related to Kalifa?"

Sumi nodded. "Hai - her Father, Laskey, is my Mother's older brother."

"Wonders never cease." Emma muttered, shaking her head, as they followed Ino below deck, until they came to a door. "Hold on, this is the room that I'm staying in." She realised.

Sumi nodded. "Yes, and it's always been your room. Have a look." They watched as Ino pushed the doors open, and entered the room.

Its decor was different to how it would look in the future - the walls were painted pink and white, and it was quite clearly a baby's room. Soft white curtains fluttered in the breeze, stuffed animals decorated the corners and shelves, and a one-year-old girl slept in a white cot.

As Emma and Sumi watched, Ino walked calmly over to the cot, and picked up the child, almost carefully.

Emma gasped - the one-year-old girl here looked exactly like the one-year-old girl back in the other world, right down to the last freckle. "B-but that's me." She glanced at Sumi. "Right?"

Sumi nodded, and her hand tightened around Emma's, who turned back, just in time to see Ino drive a dagger into the little girl's heart.

Emma gasped, staggering back, and Sumi kept a firm grasp on Emma's arm, as they wordlessly followed Ino back into the deck. On the way, Ino made a call on her Baby Den-Den Mushi wristwatch.

"Sakachan, it's done." Ino said briskly, marching above deck.

"Good job, Inko." Sakazuki's voice came through from the other end. "Now, get out of there - we're finishing up here, too."

"Understood." Ino replied, tossing the lifeless body of the baby that she had just killed onto the deck, before stepping up over the railing, and using her Rokushiki techniques to get to the nearby Marine ship.

Emma and Sumi wordlessly stood by, and stared at the lifeless child.

"How could...?" Emma whispered.

"I want to know the same thing." Sumi replied. "The gods told me that my Mother doesn't like children. She herself told me that her biggest regret was giving birth to me."

"Sumi-Chan, are you sure you're not adopted?"

Sumi smiled slightly. "Who knows?" She shrugged, and then her smile faded, as they watched as the first Whitebeard Pirate returned to the ship, and it happened to be Marco.

He came to a dead stop when he was there and, like Emma and Sumi, just stared at the lifeless body of his captain's daughter.

Sumi gripped Emma's hand as a man with a brown pompadour came up behind Marco. "Marco, what's...?" He trailed off when he saw what Marco was staring at. "Holy God..." He closed his eyes briefly. "Marco..." He looked at the other Commander.

Marco nodded. "I know...Oyaji!" He called over his shoulder.

"What is it, Marco?!" Whitebeard called, from somewhere nearby.

"Y-you might want to come here..." Marco trailed off. His face, like Thatch's, had paled visibly and, when Vista arrived as well, he had the same reaction. None of the three men seemed to know what to say, as Whitebeard himself finally showed up.

Whitebeard stared silently at his daughter's dead body, absolutely no expression whatsoever on his face, as his yellow eyes stared...just stared.

Marco's fists were clenched, and he didn't seem to notice that the rest of the crew had returned, some of them injured, but all of them shocked that their baby sister was now dead.

The phoenix suddenly opened his eyes, which were blazing, and transformed into his phoenix-form. Sacred fire burned around him, and he hopped down onto the deck, and began to draw a circle with the flames. A swirling golden vortex had appeared from within it, by the time Whitebeard had figured out what Marco was doing.

"I'm not letting it end this way, Oyaji!" Marco declared. "This is not her destiny!"

"And, what would you know about me, hmm?" A voice said, from within the vortex, and a beautiful woman with long blue hair and silver eyes appeared from within the portal. She stepped up to the murdered child, and looked down at her, biting her lip. "I see..." She muttered, reaching down and picking up the child with care.

"Wait, I thought that I summoned Infinity." Marco said.

Destiny's eyes flashed. "She already knows." The goddess replied. "Let me try and sort this out, first."

"Is there a problem with Infinity?" Whitebeard finally found his voice.

Destiny looked down. "You...could say that. Let me sort this out." She said again, and vanished quickly.

Sumi glanced at Emma, who was looking confused. "Come on, we'll go and see how this was sorted out, okay?"


Sumi and Emma appeared, floating over what looked like a scene out of some witchcraft movie. Twelve figures were crowded around a stone table, where the bodies of the two, identical, dead girls had been placed.

"Those are the gods and goddesses of everything." Sumi explained to Emma, whom was looking shocked. "You recognize Faith, Destiny and Twister, I'm sure. The dark-skinned lady is Fate, and blondie next to her is Karma. Chance is the blue-haired boy, and Luck is the leprechaun-looking boy."

"Wait, how do you know what a leprechaun is?"

"I read it in a book yesterday." Sumi shrugged. "So, anyways, the old man with the blue face is Father Time, and Cupid is the guy in the toga. Boss is that guy, there." She pointed to the man with black hair and sunglasses. "Also known as 'the almighty one'. He's in charge here."

Emma nodded, and then looked at the two last people. "Who're they?" She asked, looking awed.

"That's Life." Sumi said, indicating to the beautifully handsome man with golden blonde hair and a strong face. "And, that's his partner, Death." She indicated to the pale-skinned, raven-haired lady next to Life. "The two go hand-in-hand." She added, and Emma nodded.

"So, what happens now?" Emma asked.

"Watch." Sumi whispered.

Boss raised his hands. "These two children, who were the same age, and died at the exact same time - will they be given another chance?" he looked at the blue-haired boy, who stepped forwards.

"They will." He said, in a monotone, and a blue liquid covered the entire table, drawing both of the bodies into its depths.

"But, in order for their lives to be returned," Life himself said, in an absolutely melodic voice that took Emma's breath away. "A price must be paid."

Faith nodded. "Is okay. Hazel already agree to give up place as living being, in fifteen years, to save granddaughter."

Death nodded serenely. "She will be well rewarded." The goddess said, in a soft voice.

"In order for thisss to occur, both of thessse children mussst be merged into one entity." Twister said, raising his scythe. "It isss the only way, asss Infinity isss not here..."

"Where is she, anyway?" Luck wanted to know, creating a number of golden coins that fell into the void, and turned it a bright aqua-colour.

"I will find her after this is finished." Death promised. "For my sister, this is a nightmare beyond anything. I did not foresee that this would happen to that child."

"I have a bad feeling about this." Destiny whispered, as she created a mass of swirling silver light, that merged with the vortex, which morphed, and formed the shape of a sleeping child.

"We'll deal with that in a moment." Boss said. "For now, everybody focus - we have only one chance to make this right." He held up his hands, and the shape glowed white. "Oh, child which has died twice, reawaken as a new being, and embrace your life once more."

The white light swirled, and formed a blanket, which wrapped around the newly reformed sleeping child.

Emma stared in shock at her one-year-old-self, who was transferred carefully into Faith's arms. As everybody crowded around for a better look, Emma turned to Sumi.

"So, I'm...?"

"The result of two separate entities, who were merged into one." Sumi confirmed, nodding. "You are both Emma Pax, and Emma Newgate. You have two different sets of parents, and two separate heritages. You are more than what you ever thought that you were."

Emma swallowed. "But...so then...how did I end up back in the other world? Why not your world, Sumi-Chan?"

"At the time, it was too dangerous for you to be sent back to Oyaji." Sumi explained, as they began to white out. "The Government would have killed you the moment they'd found out that you were alive."

"So then, what did they tell him?" Emma whispered, as they found themselves standing on the clouds.

"They didn't." Sumi grimaced slightly. "The idea was to let both him and you know, after awhile, but then..."

"Then what?" Emma asked her.

"Infinity went insane." Sumi said flatly. "You see, Death is her sister, and she blamed Death entirely."

"Why did it bother her?" Emma wanted to know.

"When people die, their existences become infinite, within space and time." Sumi explained. "When somebody of such importance dies, it becomes almost unbearable for her."

"You mean...?"

"Emma, you were always meant to become this." Sumi said firmly, taking Emma's hands in her own. "Everything that happened was pre-determined, whether the gods knew it or not, and your existence has always been important. Whether you believe it or not, you are the Princess Of Light, because this was meant to happen to you." She looked at Emma. "Do you understand this?"

Emma shook her head. "No, not really."

Sumi smiled, and rolled her eyes. "Then, let me put it that way." She held up Emma's hands. "That necklace that Faith gave you, which you thought contained the ultimate power, was only a focusing point. Grace's Heart has always been inside of you. You are the ultimate power. Do you know why that is?"

Emma shook her head. "No, why?"

"Because, when your Nanna chose to give up her life, fifteen years after saving yours, her destiny became that of a goddess." Sumi said, much to Emma's shock. "She became the goddess Grace, and her power is linked to yours."

"So...wait, then my Nanna's a goddess?" Emma gasped. "And...she knew about all of this?"

Sumi nodded. "Uh-huh. You may have thought that she favoured your sister over you but, in retrospect, it was the other way around. Your Nanna may have gone a bit overboard with trying not to make your sister feel left out."

"Yeah, somewhat." Emma muttered. "So, Father Time turned things back, so that it was like I never died in that other world?"

Sumi nodded, again. "Yeah. Nobody but your Nanna ever knew any different."

"Nanna..." Emma muttered, closing her eyes briefly. "You know, it was at that time that my life changed...I felt so different from everybody else my own age..."

"I understand." Sumi told her. "You've never been normal. And, now, you know why. So, what are you going to do?

"Umm...?"

Sumi sighed, and put her hands onto Emma's shoulders, giving her a little shake. "You know, you've always known. You're the Princess Of Light, after all, Emma-Chan."

"I have to battle Infinity, don't I?" Emma guessed, and Sumi nodded. "But, how am I supposed to do that?"

"With the help of your Allies." Sumi replied. "They're so worried about you, Emma-Chan...you're very important to them..."

Emma closed her eyes, and pictured them all, one-by-one.

Playful and adventurous Luffy, who had never lost hope in her and considered her his crew-mate.

Stern Zoro who, despite his gruffness, had always been willing to help out when things got tough.

Classy Nami, who argued with her all the time and, probably because of that, was one of her closest friends.

Comical Usopp, who listened to her advice and was always good for a laugh.

Sweet little Chopper, who trusted her and, for this, she was comforted by his presence.

Kind-natured Sanji who, despite all of his over-the-top flirting truly cared about what happened to her.

Cool Franky, who watched out for her and helped her out of that shell that she was trying hard not to withdraw into.

Calming Robin, whom she admired and who was always there to lend an ear (or several) whenever she needed advice.

Gentlemanly Brook, who shared her love of music and provided comic relief whenever she seemed to need it the most.

Strong-willed Vivi, who just seemed to know Emma's feelings better than anybody else, and could help Emma to overcome herself.

And, then, there were those two.

Emma opened her eyes, and smiled at Sumi. "I love Ace-Chan, very, very much, you know?"

Sumi grinned. "I know. He loves you too, Emma-Chan. Even though your Fathers were, well...you know." She giggled. "You two have to get married and have kids, okay?"

Emma laughed. "Oh, yeah, the Government will love that!" She sobered slightly. "And, Law-Chan...he's my First Knight, isn't he?"

Again, Sumi nodded. "Faith told you about the Lower Noble. If it had've been a girl, then it would've been a Dame but, seeing as it's Law..."

"What does it mean?" Emma wanted to know.

"It means that he's devoted to you, and to your safety." Sumi replied. "It also means that you don't have to worry anymore. You two can finally sort your feelings out. However, if you don't marry Ace-Kun, then I will haunt you."

Emma nodded. "Sumi-Chan...I'm so sorry that you died. Can you forgive me?"

"What's there to forgive?" Sumi hugged her. "It's not your fault. Besides, it was always my destiny to end up here. I'm more than what you think." She grinned. "And, now, it's time for you to go back, and sort things out."

Emma nodded, and swallowed. "Okay...I know what I need to do. I need to make sure that Ace-Chan is okay...I need to rally everybody together, and make sure that Dawn Island is okay. Then, I need to get Georgia and the others back home, and maybe even go and see my parents...oh, which reminds me, I need to spend some time with my Father! We have a lot of catching up to do!"

Sumi nodded. "That you do."

"Hey, are you going to be okay?"

"Sure." Sumi grinned. "I'll see you soon, Emma-Chan."

"Okay," Emma replied. "But..." She suddenly screamed, as Sumi gave her a push, and she began to fall through the clouds. As she closed her eyes, a feeling of coolness and calmness came over home.

Yes, I feel stronger already...I'm going to be okay, and so is everybody else. We can do this, together...


Onboard the Moby Dick, Ace stood on the deck, staring wordlessly at Dawn Island, which was bathed in the orange glow of the sunset.

Behind him, stood his Allies and, next to him, stood Whitebeard.

Nobody spoke. Nobody knew what to say, or even if there was anything to say, until somebody spoke up.

"Looking at it's not going to get rid of the Marines."

"Yeah," Nami nodded. "But, Emma, what do you propose we should do?" She suddenly gasped, and turned around. "Emma?!"

Emma was standing there, looking calm, despite the bandages around her injuries and the fact that her hair looked like it had seen better days. She was still pale, but she was alive, and talking.

"Are-are you okay, now?" Vivi wanted to know, taking a half-step forwards.

Emma nodded. "Hai. I finally know...what it is that I'm meant to do, and why." She turned to Marco, who was standing nearby. "Marco-San, twenty years ago, you were the one to discover me when Ino killed me. You tried to summon Infinity, but got Destiny, instead."

Marco nodded wordlessly, as Whitebeard finally turned around, and gazed at his daughter, who was now looking at her Allies, save for Ace, who still hadn't turned around.

"Minna," she said softly, her melodic voice carrying gently on the breeze. "I have to apologize. For three days, I've been trying to heal, but now I realise that you all need me to unite you, and to help you all heal. I've been selfish and, as a Princess, that's not right." She smiled across at Vivi. "I may need some help learning how to be a Princess, but I think that's what this friendship is all about - we're Allies."

Vivi nodded. "We are." She said softly. "We're in this together."

"That's right." Luffy agreed with her and Hancock, who was watching, rolled her eyes angrily.

"When I was one," Emma stated. "I died, as two separate people, one in this world and one in the other world. They were merged together by the gods, to create me. Essentially, I'm Emma Pax, and Emma Newgate." She looked up at Whitebeard, who was watching her. "Daddy...we have a lot of catching up to do, don't we?"

Whitebeard nodded. "We do." He smiled, and Emma smiled, as well.

"And, umm...are you, like, cool, with me and Ace-Chan being...you know...a couple?" Emma asked and, at this, Ace turned around.

"What about Trafalgar?" Ace asked, his voice sounding strange because he hadn't spoken in three days.

"Law-Chan is my First Knight." Emma replied, smiling at the man in question.

"And, what does that mean?" Ace asked tightly.

"It means just that." Emma explained. "He takes bullets for me, he wields a sword, and, in my daydreams, he rides a big black stallion named Darkheart." She shrugged, as a few people rolled their eyes. "Ace-Chan, I chose you..." She was suddenly cut off, when Ace leapt at her, and caught her in a hug.

She immediately hugged him back, and then they kissed, that is until Whitebeard cleared his throat.

"Ahem?"

Emma and Ace drew back, looking sheepish.

Whitebeard smiled briefly at the two of them, before turning his head to look out over Dawn Island. "What do you intend to do about this then, my daughter?"

"I want them out of there, ASAP." Emma said flatly. "And, I know just how to do that..."


Sumi closed her eyes as soon as she'd pushed Emma off of the clouds, and then she opened them again, when she felt something wet and cool on her face, and tasted salt water in her mouth.

She sat up slowly in the sand, blinking around at the endless beach, and then she heard footsteps, so she turned around.

Standing there, with his usual smile on his face, was Thatch.

Wordlessly, he reached out a hand to Sumi and, only when he had helped her up and she was safely in his arms, did he tell her how she'd done.

"You did good."


Author's Notes:

. There...are none. ^_^;;


Firetrail - good job with finding all of those hints! ^^ And, thank you for the review!

AiSoraix3 - aww, don't worry about Sumi, she'll be alright! I wanted to lead some sort of build-up to Emma being who she was, and not just say: "Oh, and by the way..." It had to make sense! XD Thanks for reviewing!

KaiF . Raphaella - *hands you tissues-box* It's alright. ^^ Thanks for the review.

MsWildLuck - emotions are good, especially when they're all jumbled, lol. XD Yes, Sumi's death was horrible, but she's okay, now. And, yes, Emma's identity is finally revealed! Thanks for reviewing!

Cocoa Liddell - Ace is fine. Don't panic. Blood-type F is equivalent to 'B' in the One Piece World. Check the website for more information. ^^ And, Emma taking care of Ace will happen soon, don't you worry. XD

Shinobi . Hikari . Ookami - wow, the big three, then it MUST be true. I'm honoured. *_* *Accepts the cookie* Ooh, it's even got chocolate-chips in it! lol, Ace's narcolepsy attacks happen at the WORST possible times now, don't they? XD Your Grandma and Mufasa are currently yelling/growling at you, but at least Sumi's happy! Thank you for reviewing!

Shingheart of ThunderClan - oh, don't cry. Your hunch was correct, yes, but Sumi is okay, now. ^^ And, that'll be explained, soon (because, Cupid is going to show up, which will be...interesting, to say the very least). Hmm, I think that I may need to see that movie. Doflamingo's situation will be explained soon, as well. We haven't seen the last of him (I swear that he has nine lives...). The Whitebeard Pirates were following the plan. The plan should've been revised, probably. And, yes, ShanksxMakino FOREVER! Thanks for the review!

Mugiwara Wolf Spirite - why not all three? The reactions of everybody will be in the next chapter, just be patient. :D I hope that there was enough Hancock-Romance-Bashing in this chapter, just for you. :) Thanks for reviewing! ^^