The Lonely Warrior's Burden

Disclaimer: Don't own One Piece.

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"Lady Frigga, they've returned...,"

Frigga looked up from her meal just in time to see Heimdall's head land on the table, just inches from her food. She looked up at Hugin and Munin, who now carried three blades in addition to his own.

She pointed at the severed head, "I appreciate the thoughtfulness of my people to give their Goddess a gift, even one such as this, but I find it in poor taste to place a head on my eating table," she placed a piece of steak in her mouth and began to chew, "Well? Is he still alive?"

Hugin nodded, "Yes, Lady Frigga,"

"...why?"

"Because," Hugin and Munin exchanged glances, "Lady Frigga, forgive us for saying, but we spared his life. If any of us were to be slain, it would be in the right time...which is not now,"

Frigga stopped chewing and studied her strongest warriors closely. After a few awkward moments, she resumed eating and looked at Heimdall's head.

"So...the Champion did not do this?"

Urd nodded, "Yes, milady...it was the swordsman who was with the girl,"

"He's not as strong as the Champion, though, is he?"

"No, milady, he is not,"

"Yet, he was able to slay Heimdall...,"

"Yes, milady,"

Belldandi cleared her throat, "Forgive us for more bad news, milady Frigga, but in addition to our losses of the Enforcers, Heimdall and Hod-,"

"Tyr's no longer with us...is that what you're saying?"

The Norn sisters bowed their heads, "Yes, Lady Frigga...,"

The so called Goddess calmly swallowed her meat, then smashed the dining table into pieces with her bare hands. The table practically burst into hundreds of pieces while Heimdall's head went flying...until Hugin caught it easily in mid-air.

"So, Tyr is dead, too?" Frigga's knuckles turned bone white as she clenched her fists tightly, "This is impossible! We are of the New World, far stronger than the rookies in this half of the Grand Line, but we've already lost three of our own! Who the hell are these people?!"

Munin cleared his throat and pulled Water Moon off his hip, sheath and all. He knelt down and held it outward, "Lady Frigga...I present to you, the legendary sword, Water Moon, one of the Saijo O Wazamono,"

Frigga lifted her head and looked at the beautiful katana, "This...is one of the 12 Supreme Grade Swords?"

"Yes, milady...my brother and I took this and these two blades," he pointed to Geri and Freki at his hip, "...from the Champion as prizes of our confrontation. As a Goddess, as the wife of Allfather Odin, you need a wonderful weapon at your side,"

Frigga gripped the sword's handle and pulled the sword of it's sheath. Everyone looked at the beautiful azure blade in silence and a cruel smile slowly crossed the Goddess' face.

"You know...suddenly, today's not so bad," she sheathed the sword and snatched it from Munin's grip before looking at all of them, "Now, let's see what we can do to make this right, hm? Urd, Skuld, Belldandi!"

The triplets bowed their heads.

"Go and prepare the perimeter...before our departure, we need to make sure that the web is set,"

Bowing their heads again, the triplets left the tent, with Hugin and Munin close behind them.

"Oh, boys...,"

The twins stopped and turned to see Frigga strapping the Water Moon to her back. She smiled at them, "You two are the most faithful people I have under me, besides the sisters. Tyr, Hod, and Heimdall were all hot heads. Though loyal, they did disobery me at times. With you two, I could always rely on you not to do something stupid. However," the smile disappeared and was replaced with a deep frown, Frigga shooting an evil glare the two of them, "If you ever...ever...mention my former lover again, I will not hesitate to kill you for your incompetence! Understand?"

The swordsman bowed deeply, "Yes, Lady Frigga,"

"Good...you're dismissed,"

-----

"How's he doing?"

Chizuru stopped chewing on her thumb and looked to the side, at Laki, who had returned with the other Shandians just recently when the rest of the Enforcers were defeated.

"Which one?" the navigator jerked a thumb to the large tent behind her, "The First Mate that Kirsty brought in, or the sleeping captain Gan Fall brought with him via air delivery?"

"Your captain can handle himself, it's Sefu's son that I'm worried for,"

Chizuru shrugged, "Not sure. I may be able to see things other people can't see, but I can't see how Kirsty's diagnosis and treatment is going,"

The sound of flapping made the two women turn to see Kirsty walk out of the tent, sighing as she snapped her latex gloves off.

"Idiot...how he survived those wounds, I'll never know,"

"How's it looking, doc?" Chizuru asked, glancing to the tent, "They're gonna pull through?"

Kirsty sighed and ran a hand through her hair, "Axe will be fine. However, somehow, he managed to put a lot of stress on his body, so he won't be up and around for awhile. When he does get up, it'll take him awhile to get back to normal, physically,"

"Physically?"

"On the other hand, when he comes to, he's gonna be starving, so warn Herman," Kirsty cracked a smile, "Devon's injuries...well...," she shook her head, "...it's strange. I can tell he was in a sword fight, but there are injuries that tell me he was...," she trailed off.

"Was...?"

Kirsty glanced at her, surprised Chizuru didn't read her mind. She realized however, that Laki was wanting to know and she didn't have the same ability. She cleared her throat, "It seems that there was burn damage,"

"Like a fire?"

"No, not like a fire," Kirsty shook her head, "I've only seen this kind of injury a few times back in the East Blue during or after major rainstorms. These burns? They're from being hit with an intense amount of electrical energy. Simply put...it looks like he got hit by lightning,"

Laki tensed at those words, her eyes going wide, "Lightning...?"

"Don't worry," Chizuru held up her hands, "Eneru isn't back. If he was, we would've found out long before this time," she looked to Kirsty, "How was this possible?"

"I have my theories, but I'm not one hundred percent sure, yet,"

"Trust me, you don't wanna know...,"

The three women turned to see Devon leaning against the pole just inside the tent, holding the flap open as he breathed heavily, looking as though he were in worse pain than before.

"Devon, you shouldn't be up and walking around," Kirsty reached out to grabs his shoulder, to lead -m back to his bed when he, turn their surprise, slapped her hand away, "Devon...,"

"I'm fine...," Devon winced as he stepped forward, holding his sides, "I got work to do, so I can't be sleeping on the job,"

Kirsty frowned at him and stepped in his intended path, "Devon, let me heal you! You're in no condition to move, so you can't even fight yet!" she held up her arms, barring him, "You need rest!"

"I say let him keel over,"

They turned to see Wiper standing nearby, his Burn Bazooka slung over his shoulder.

"Wiper-!"

"Shut it, Laki," Wiper pointed a finger at Devon, a deathglare staring right into his eyes, "This is all your fault! If it weren't for you, we'd be living our lives instead of fighting for them!"

Devon winced a little, "How...do you...figure that?"

Wiper jerked a thumb to the shelter behind him, "Your nakama's awake. He told us everything that his enemy told him, including how they found those," he pointed at Devon's wings, "Because of you, we're facing another enemy in the wake of our last war!"

Laki glared at him, "Dammit, Wiper, it's not his fault!"

"YES IT IS!" Wiper roared at them, making Laki and Kirsty jump a little, "I WANT HIM OFF THIS ISLAND!!" he glared at Devon again, "You get that, half-breed?! GET OFF OUR ISLAND! WE DON'T WANT YOU-!"

Kirsty gawked at him, "How dare you, Wiper?!" she pointed to Devon, "He's been fighting for this place, just like the rest of us-,"

"Us?!" Wiper snapped, "There is no us, Blue Sea dweller! The only ones who have a fight here are us and the Skypeians! We live here, this is our home!" he glared at Chizuru, Kirsty, and Devon, "You and your friends...have no right to be here,"

With that, Wiper turned and left, cursing under his breath.

"Sorry," Laki apologized to the trio before going after Wiper.

Devon snorted and went back inside the tent, "Guy's a prick,"

"Don't mind the jackass," Kirsty began as she followed her nakama, "Mind the advice of the crew's doctor! You know, me? You need rest! If you push yourself while you're in this condition, you'll die!"

"So?"

"So?" Kirsty repeated, unsure of what she just heard, "Devon, you're being a fool, and by the looks of it, a soon to be dead fool!"

"I don't care,"

"Devon-,"

"I SAID I DON'T CARE, DAMMIT!" Devon suddenly screamed, spinning around to her, "I DON'T CARE IF I DIE WHILE I FIGHT! THIS WAS THE WAY I WAS RAISED BY THESE PEOPLE, AND IF THE REAPER COMES TO COLLECT MY SOUL, THEN SO BE IT!"

Kirsty stared at him, not believing what she was seeing and hearing.

Devon realized what he did and immediately calmed down. He sighed and turned away, "I'm sorry, Kirsty, but this is way beyond what any of you can possibly understand,"

"What wouldn't I...we understand, Devon?" his nakama asked slowly, "These people are strong, yes, but we've faced strong opponents before. Why can't-,"

"These may be strong opponents," Devon donned his jean jacket-turned-vest, which was laying nearby, and grabbed both the Kitetsu and Ohm's Iron Cloud sword, "But it's my responsibility to make sure they pay, Kirsty. I have obligations to fulfill, and to do that, I have to fight, no matter what,"

The tent became quiet as Devon gathered some supplies, wincing from his injuries.

Kirsty looked down at the ground, "What obligations outweigh each other? Obligations to those who raised you, or obligations to those who travel with you...like Austin?"

Devon became still as tears slowly moved down Kirsty's cheek.

"Don't you get it, you idiot? We're nakama...we're family!" Kirsty said, on the verge of crying out loud, "No matter what happens, we're there for each other!"

The swordsman stood still, "Be that as it may, there are times in a man's life where they have they must do what only they can do. It doesn't matter if we're nakama, or if we weren't. This is my fight...all of you guys, the Shandians and the Skypeians got roped into this, but not anymore!"

"..."

"I'm going out there to finish these people off, Kirsty. There's nothing anyone can do to stop me, so don't even try to,"

"...fine," Kirsty turned and stormed out of the tent, "Die and leave Austin to grieve over your body, I don't give a shit anymore,"

Now alone in the tent, Devon held onto a nearby chair and leaned on it, a pain in his chest.

'She's pissed...,'

"Yeah, but after this, she and everyone else will be safe,"

Devon turned and exited the tent, only to see the rest of his nakama waiting for him, looking cross. No doubt Chizuru told them what was going on, and no doubt they saw Kirsty leave the tent in tears.

"What the hell are you guys lookin' at?" he asked gruffly, walking past them, "Never see a wounded man before?"

"What we're looking at," Niri said as she and the others followed him, "...a mixture between a baka and an asshole! What the hell did you do to Kirsty to make her run out like that?!"

"Nothing,"

"Nothing my ass!" Dusty got in his path, only to be pushed away, "She's worried about you, like the rest of us are, and you make her cry! You're a total jerk, Devon!"

"And you're an idiot fox-girl," Devon shot back, "We all have our problems,"

Dusty froze in her tracks, a dumbfounded look on her face. Niri's glare intensified, "Devon, you just went higher on the Jerk-o-Meter! What is your problem?!"

"Yeah, got a major bug up your ass, or something?" Azu asked, stuffing his hands into his pockets.

"Something must be going on here," Herman reasoned as they followed their nakama, "Devon, we know that you're usually a rough guy, but we've never seen you like this before. What's wrong?"

"What's wrong? What's wrong?!" Devon came to a halt and looked over his shoulder to them, "What's wrong is that I have idiotic nakama who are too stupid to know when to leave someone alone!"

They all became quiet.

"This is my fight, and my fight alone. I appreciate that DJ, Kirsty, and even Axe cleaned out their forces a bit, but this is something I have to do. It's my mission...my burden!"

"What burden? What the hell are you talking about?" Niri asked.

Devon sighed and looked away from them, "...do me a favor, guys,"

"A favor?!" Dusty cracked her knuckles, "You call us idiots, you make Kirsty cry, and now you're asking us for a favor?!"

The First Mate nodded, "This island is gonna suffer a lot more damage before this fight is over. There is a very good chance I will die, I won't deny that. But...," he turned back around to face them, "Everyone...I will find the kids before I go to them. When I find the kids...leave this island!"

"What?"

"Are you crazy?!"

"He must be!"

"He's outta his f-,"

"Just get the hell outta here before anymore deaths happen!" Devon roared, "Don't you understand?! This is my fight! If anyone has to die here, it's me, and no one else!"

Everyone was silent.

"Just...just go...I'll send Austin and Aisa when I find them," Devon turned and despite his injuries, he managed to find the strength and speed to run into the forest of Upper Yard.

His friends watched him go, then looked at each other.

"What...,"

"...the hell...,"

"...was...,"

"...that about?"

-----

After a short time of running, Devon stopped at a tree and doubled over, pain coursing through his body.

'Maybe she was right...you need to heal, kid,'

"No...no I don't," Devon hissed through his teeth, "I have to do this...this is my burden. Now, are you gonna help me find them, or just sit in there and scold me?"

Thrymr's reply came in the form of Devon's Shandian wings changing from small and white to large and black.

"Thanks...,"

'No problem. C'mon, we got a job to do!'

Devon grinned and pushed off the ground. Using the strange power of Thrymr's, Devon was soon soaring through the sky of Upper Yard, with only two thoughts on his mind.

Finding the children, and making sure no one else suffered.

-----

"GAH!"

"Sister!"

"Belldandi!"

Hugin, Munin, and Frigga looked to the Norn sisters. Two of them were standing over Belldandi, who had a terrified look on her face.

"What is it, what's wrong?" Frigga demanded, walking over to them, "What did you see?"

Belldandi's whole body shook as she opened her mouth, trying to find the words for it.

"Well?!"

"I s-s-saw...,"

"Yes...?"

"Death," Belldandi looked up at the others around her, "I saw Death coming,"

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Kilnorc: Another chapter's down and out. I had some difficulty with this one, but in the end, I think it did well. I'm sure you guys are still wondering about how the hell Devon can pull off the wing thing with Thrymr, but rest assured, I'll explain that in the future.

On the next chapter of Homeland...

Dusty: That jerk! He goes off like that, thinking that we can't help out!

Niri: Fox, you almost set that thing off!

Azu: What the hell...? I can't move!

Niri: I remember this sort of thing from the Marine Academy...but never like this!

Fight With the Fates: Part One

Norns: Welcome, pirates, to our Steel Wire Web! You can leave if you wish, but you may lose a limb, or your very life in the process!