Sun streamed in through the windows of the place of Dressarosa, a female figure laid under silk white sheets. Pale arms over the top of the covers covered in dark blue and purple bruises, long pink hair curled around a pale face, finger shaped bruises shaped the jawline and blood dried across her bottom lip.
Long pink eyelashes fluttered open showing bright silver eyes as she reached up looking at the dark metal cuffs around her wrists connected together with a longer chain than before. She gently pushed the covers down, stretching upwards she heard her arms pop.
The door pushed open softly, "Megumi you are awake?" Violet questioned.
Megumi turned smiling brightly at the woman, nodding her head as in a signal of yes, watching Violet as she stepped into the room closing the door behind her. She heard the soft click of the door closing as she turned towards the window raising an eyebrow in confusion at all the commotion outside.
"Doflamingo wants to see you," Violet softly smiled at her.
Megumi's shoulders fell at the thought of seeing Doflamingo it has now been over two years since Pops died, two years since she had seen her loved ones. She didn't even get to say goodbye to the only man who was like a father to her. She nodded her head and Violet unhooked the seastone chain, though she wore gloves whilst she did this and helped her dress for the morning.
Megumi titled her head towards the window as Violet sat her down in front of the mirror and brushed her hair, "You want to know what's going on outside?" Violet asked. Megumi raised one of her hand up in the air, making Violet smile, "Yes they are quite loud today…. Something in the paper I'm not sure myself honestly."
Megumi nodded in understanding watching Violet in the mirror as she piled her hair on top of her head, Doflamingo had got into the habbit or rather the pleasure of dressing her up as what she once used to be. Tight corsets, long following skirts, she hated this life.
"Ready to go?" Violet asked, making Megumi raise an eyebrow in reply making Violet smile softly in reply, "Yes…. We don't have a choice do we."
Carefully she hooked the chains back together and they left the room, both walking through the halls they heard the shouting a lot louder and clearer, something about it can't be true. Both woman shrugged in confusion, as they came to the hallway of Doflamingos room hearing loud classical music being played.
Violet knocked on the door and his voice filled both woman's ears as he called out, "Enter."
"Good luck," Violet whispered to her as she pushed the door open, Megumi took a few steps into the room glancing over her shoulder as the door closed behind her before looking at Doflamingo as he lounged on his window seat looking down at the world below. He turned to her large grin across his face, "Ah Megumi, My favourite pet," he grinned widely at her.
His hand reached out and she felt herself walking towards him, over the year she had been stuck in his hold this was the only thing she couldn't stand. As she came to a stop in front of him, his large hand came up cupping her face forcing her down towards him, "We have got to talk."
"PAPA!" A loud shout woke Marco that morning, he groaned rubbing his eyes before he grunted as a small weight dropped on his chest, cracking his eye open Marco smiled softly as he saw Edward sprawled out across his chest.
Marco shifted himself to sit up fully before smiling down at Edward, "What can I do for you this morning little man, yoi?" Marco asked.
"Dada said Grandpa Garp is in town," Edward grinned widely at him.
Garp had been away training the new recruits for the Marines and rarely came back to Dawn Island trying to keep away from Dandans wrath, the woman was furious with Garp when he first came back Makino had told them. "Want to go see your Granddad then?"
"PLEASE!" Edward shouted.
Marco shook his head, chuckling softly under his breath just as loud as Ace sometimes but other times he could be as quite as Megumi when she first came on the ship. Though Edward did have his fathers appetite, "Go and tell Daddy that he's here and let me get dressed," Marco told him.
Edward grinned kissing Marcos cheek before bouncing off the bed and running out the room shouting for Daddy, Marco chuckled as he got out of bed and finally got dressed it had been nearly a year since Shanks had dropped Edward off on the island.
Marco pulled on his black combat trousers and dressed in a white vest with a blue button up shirt over the top leaving that part undone, before wrapping his scarf around his waist and slipping into his sandles he walked out of his and Aces room. He leant over the railing of the top floor of Makinos house and saw Ace nuzzling Edwards cheek. The same way Megumi used to do with Edward.
"MARCO!" Ace yelled grinning up at him, "COME ON WE ARE GOING TO MEET GRAMPS!"
Marco surprisingly too many of the other Whitebeard pirates didn't hold anything against Garp after being punched in the war, Garp was the one who pulled him into a hug and actually sobbed thanking him for saving his grandsons life.
Edward grinned widely up at him, "COME ON PAPA!"
Marco chuckled shaking his head slightly and walked down the stairs watching Edward get placed on the floor and for a two year old he took off out the door running down the path shouting for his great grandfather. Ace took a few steps towards him and linked their fingers together before they walked off always making sure Edward was in sight.
Garp never brought Marines here, he cared to much about Ace and his great grandson to even think of letting the marines know that the Whitebeard Pirates are staying there.
He walked down the path leading to the docks, seeing Edward standing looking up at the ship bouncing on his heels, "GRANDPA!" He yelled. Marco looked up seeing Garps solemn face, he knew something wasn't right.
Doflamingo slammed the newspaper down in front of her forcing her to take a seat in his room, he wasn't happy then in the back of her mind she can not remember seeing him happy at all. His long fingers were twisted in her hair and she bit back down on her lips as she felt him tug her head back sharply.
Her eyes locked on the newspaper and she felt her heart flutter slightly, seeing Luffy on the cover of the newspaper. He was alright.
"Seems like your brother in law is coming to cause me some trouble and you know what my dear," He tugged her head back to look at him dead in the eyes, well his sunglasses thinking of it she had never seen him remove them since she became his bloody pet, "I might have to use you to stop Strawhat from messing with my plans."
Megumi blinked back the tears as he threw her forward and stalked back to the window, the rioting outside had calmed down. She threw her hands out in front of her stopping herself before she hit the table.
Sinking down onto the plush carpet below she allowed tears to fall, she wanted to go home. That's all she wanted her own freedom but she knew that wasn't going to happen, not until Kaido had been defeated.
She reached for the newspaper and pulled it towards her setting it down on her lap and read the article. Punk Hazard the place in which Akainu and Aokiji fought for the title of Fleet Admiral, so Doflamingo had set himself up there as well as Dressarosa.
"That stupid kid thinks he can destroy me," Doflamingo sighed from the window, "After everything that I had done for him."
She glanced over at him, her eyes still bright with tears as he looked at her large grin spreading across his face, "Little Law is my pet, just like you are. He is still mine no matter what he wishes to think."
Megumi from her time as a pirate always read the newspapers keeping herself up to date with every pirate information that she could get her hands on and not once did she come across Traflagar Law working for Doflamingo.
"Oh the curiosty in your eyes, little princess is confused isn't she," He chuckled loudly leaning against the window frame, "This was long before you even knew what pirates where whilst you were wrapped in chiffon and silk. Law was wrapped in my own plans."
He was twisted and warped, Megumi bowed her head wishing praying this would be all over soon.
"What's up old man?" Ace grinned widely at him as he released his grandfather from a hug.
"Have you read the papers recently?" Garp asked as he picked up his great grandson letting the boy wrap his arms around his neck hugging him tightly, Edward had started to tell him about the adventures he had with Grandma Dandan, Garp nodded along to what Edward was saying.
"What do you mean?" Ace asked tilting his head to the side, honestly they had started avoiding the newspapers after a while not wanting to think about what is happening in the New World.
Garp dug into the deep pockets of his jacket before pulling out the newspaper handing it over to Marco, he flicked threw it quickly before he stopped and the paper slipped out his hands. "Your grandson has a death wish I swear, yoi," Marco stated.
"What let me see," Ace argued reaching forward snatching the paper from Marcos hands, his eyes locked onto the article about the recent events at Punk Hazard, Doflamingo retiring, Law and Luffy teaming up along with three other supernovas from his brothers generation. "Holy…"
Marco smacked him up side of the head before he could finish that sentence, "You are not teaching our son bad language."
"I wasn't going to…"
Garp chuckled at the two, "Come on Eddie stop pulling your Grandpas beard."
"But Vista lets me pull his bear," Edward whined.
Garp chuckled kissing the boys head, "Come on little man lets go see Makino."
"YAY!" Edward cheered loudly.
Ace looked dead into Marcos eyes before saying, "We have to go back."
"Do we… do you think so, you read that article your brother is going after Kaido and because of that it made Doflamingo resign from being a warlord I think your brother can handle whatever is being thrown his way, yoi," Marco tried to reason with him.
"NO!" Ace yelled glad that Garp had taken Edward away, he did not want his son to see this.
"Why not, we are safe here. Alright I understand we should be getting revenge against teach for Pops death but still. You can't expect the rest of us will suddenly jump up for your brother, we aren't prepared to go back to the New World. Think about how many people want our heads, after the amount of pirates Pops placed in Impel Down and now they are out on the seas again," Marco argued.
"WHAT ABOUT TEACH!" Ace roared back, "HE TRIED TO KILL THATCH, THREW ME IN IMPEL DOWN, KILLED POPS, THREATENED TO KILL MEGUMI AND LUFFY THEN TO TOP IT OFF HE TOOK POPS TITLE. HE KNOWS LUFFY IS A THREAT TO THE TITLE!"
"And what about Edward, he lost us first then he lost Megumi do you want him to lose his entire family again because we decide to go back to the New World to help your brother, yoi," Marco stated.
"He will come with us of course," Ace grinned widely.
Marco blinked a few times before slamming his hand to his face.
Doflamingo had long since closed the window and was now sitting across from her one leg crossed over his knee, leaning forward grinning down at her. "You know I never thought about using you as bait against Strawhat." His hand shot out grabbing hold of her chin tilting her head up, "But then… the world watched you sacrifice yourself for him."
She remembers him so much, Luffy, the same little boy that Ace would talk about constantly the man who wished to be king. Now out of every pirate in the world, Megumi believed that Luffy had the best chance of winning this.
"In eight hours' time, that brat Law and Strawhat will be on my island," Doflamingo chuckled.
Her eyes snapped open wide, that soon how long had he known that they were coming here.
"But you see, if they knew you were here I can't set up my trap for Strawhat whilst that Brat is trying to negotiate with me," Doflamingo chuckled, before clicking the fingers of his free hand one of his many slaves as she liked calling them came rushing over with a box in hand before setting it on the table in front of them before rushing off again to stand next to the door.
"I have a gift for you," He chuckled pushing the box forward.
Now Megumi trusted this man as much as she could throw him, so not very much his gifts where normaly things to flaunt her of when he had guests but now this was putting her one edge, "Go on then," Doflamingo growled at her making her flinch back trying to get away from his hand. But it only made the grip on her jaw tighten keeping her in place, "You don't want to be rude to your host now do you."
If she wasn't chained in seastone at this point she would of screamed the castle down, she hated this man more than Teach at the moment and in her books that was saying something. She breathed deeply before she reached around his outstretched arm with both of her hands and took hold of the wooden box bringing it to herself before she unlatched the lock and opened the box.
Her eyes widened and her mouth opened in a silent gasp as the box dropped onto the ground and a white fruit rolled from the box. Dark cracks spread across the entire fruit and she could feel it vibrating in her hands as she touched the box.
It was Pops devil fruit, how did he.
"You are wondering how did I get this aren't you Pet," he smirked down at her.
She was going to bite the god damn hand that feeds her in a second, she swears. "You see though I am not a full Celestial Dragon, I still hold the powers of the name and can use it very much to my advantage. How many people do you think are flocking here, I told the world that I hold the Strongest Mans Devil Fruit."
The boys… they are doomed.
"Along with Law and Luffy going to take down Doflamingo chatter on the black market says that Doflamingo has come into possession of a very rare and short after item," Garp explained to the remaining Whitebeard Pirates.
"What on earth would that be if he has that man people going to fight each other to the death it sounds like, the kids are getting more and more stupid these days," Fossa huffed around his cigar.
"A Devil Fruit," Garp stated.
"So what Devil Fruits are becoming more common than the common cold these days," Haruta stated, "People aren't as interested in Devil Fruits as they once were."
"When it's Whitebeards Devil Fruit the entire world will tune in to see who has it," Garp told them all.
The room fell silent that you could hear a pin drop before the room was in uproar, "WHAT!" The entire room exploded with yells.
Marco stood at the back of the room, glancing into the bar behind them seeing Edward sitting on the bar talking to Makino about the large bird he saw whilst Grandma Dandan was looking after him the day before. There precious little boy was the only reason why he didn't think heading back to the new world was a good idea.
"SILENCE!" Ace yelled from next to his grandfather.
"There is something else that has been picked up on the chatter, that the Marines are very keen to investigate," Garp stated.
"Then what is it old man," Thatch ordered.
"Megumi has been spotted."
Then the room fell silent again, everyone turned to look at either Ace or Marco not knowing how the two of them will react, both however stood very still not saying a word, "Where was she spotted?" Vista asked.
"Dressarosa," Garp sighed, "A few men who had met with Doflamingo recently had been talking about his new pet. A pretty girl with long pink hair and sparkling silver eyes, scar around her neck and doesn't speak a word."
"WE CAN'T ALLOW THAT MONSTER TO HAVE HER!" Izo yelled at Ace and Marco, "WE CAN'T SIT BACK AND ALLOW ALL THIS TO HAPPEN!"
Marco locked eyes with Ace across the room, before he nodded his head, "If we are all in agreement over this… But we must remember Edward."
"We can protect the kid Marco," Joz smiled at the new Captain, "You can't worry over everything Marco. We are pirates remember that."
Marco sighed leaning back against the wall leading into the bar running his hand through his short blonde locks , "Fine… When do we head out."
The room cheered loudly, the Whitebeard Pirates where heading back to the ocean to rightfully take back what was there's.
Megumi sat in the corner of the trump room watching Doflamingo talk to the other officers, he didn't want her out of his sight until Law and Luffy had been taken care of. Maybe strangling him with seastone chains would be a good idea at the moment but with his executive officers right there maybe not.
Well actually, she looked over the chairs seeing Trebol was missing. "The colosseum is doing well, thanks to you Diaminate," Doflamingo stated as he looked out the large bay windows.
"Hardly we owe it all to your charisma my King," the man answered.
"No the praise goes to you."
"Cut it out… treating me like the hero of the colosseum ."
"But in fact you are."
"Naw… I mean."
Megumi could strangle that man sometimes, actually she hated practically everyone in this castle excluding Violet. She was the only one that was actually truthful and didn't hide behind Doflamingos stupid feathered coat.
"Okay then if youre not…"
"IF YOU'RE GONNA GO THAT FAR THEN I WILL ADMIT IT THAT'S RIGHT I AM THE HERO OF THE COLOSEEUM!"
"HEY! HEY! HEY!" Trebols voice filled her ears and her face twisted in disgust as she watched this giant blob of what looked like slime landed right in front of Doflamingo. The blob suddenly reformed and the man was right in Doflamingos face, her eyes widened seeing the box in his hand the same box that held Pops fruit.
"Back up," Doflamingo growled.
"BUT… BACK UP…" Trebol yelled before stepping back slightly and Doflamingo took the box from his hands before shooing him away.
Trebol took a few steps back and Doflamingo grinned widely looking at the box in hand, before grinning over at the Siren who hadn't moved from her seat in the corner of the room, "A lot better. Now sit."
Trebol followed the order and moved over to his chair before sitting down, she could hear the slime smack down onto the seat making her want to through up. "If he was to know of the existence of this, Strawhat Luffy would surely come for this making that alliance a burden to him."
Megumi bit down hard on her lip, knowing that Doflamingo was right if Luffy knew that Aces fathers devil fruit was in Doflamingos clutches he would do anything to make his brother happy. She means for One Piece sake he went to war against the marines for his brother. She still thinks her and the rest of the Whitebeard pirates where crazy for even thinking of that thought.
She listened to Diaminate argue against Doflamingo before 'expecting' the gift that Doflamingo wanted him to look after, she heard Doflamingo chuckle loudly as he held the fruit in his hand. "Might be able to draw the Whitebeard Pirates out with this as well…. They would jump at the chance to make sure that no one else could use this power. Strawhat Luffy cares deeply for his brother to make sure this devil fruit doesn't end up with the enemy."
Edward looked around confused watching both his dads rushing around the room shoving things in bags, a long silver chain sat around his neck. It was the only thing of his mothers that he owned, he doesn't remember much of him mum. All he remembers is long pink hair that felt so soft and a pretty voice that would sing him to sleep.
His dads had explained to him that mum came from an extremely powerful blood line, though she didn't like it. Papa stopped in front of him and gently scooped him up into his arms kissing the side of his head, before daddy came up behind him and kissed the other side of his head making him squeal with laughter.
"You sure it will be safe, yoi?" Papa was worrying again.
"Of course, come on he had mine and Megumi's blood in him and he's your son as well, he'll be fine," Daddy grinned widely over his head at Papa.
"Yes and you two seem to attract more trouble than you are worth I swear," Papa sighed.
Daddy leant over him and kissed Papas cheek, "Why do I put up with you, yoi?"
"Because if you didn't we wouldn't have this cute little monster would we," Daddy grinned widely at him before swooping him out of Papas arms hugging him tightly to his own chest, he tumbled onto the bed squeezing Edward making the child squeal loudly with laughter trying to wiggle out of his dads hold. "No escaping me kiddo," Ace told Edward as he poked him in the side making the childs laughter grow louder.
Marco stood back smiling watching as Edward squirmed out from Aces hands and rushed across the bed to the other side before turning back around and pouncing onto Aces back, the sudden weight made his arms slip out from under him. "I WIN!" Edward yelled grinning widely at Marco as he sat on Aces back.
Marco saw Megumi in this child, the wide grin was a mix between Aces and her own, the way Edward showed his teeth in the wide grin whilst his eyes sparkled widely when he was extremely happy.
The door next to Marco was pushed open slightly Izo popped his head through the door and chuckled at the sight of Edward and Ace, "Garp says the ship is ready, just so you know."
"UNCLE IZO!" Edward yelled jumping off Ace and rushed towards one of his many uncles and wrapping his arms around his knees, "Daddy and Papa says we are going to get Mummy is that true?"
Izo glanced between both men and Marco nodded, Izo knelt down brushing back a few unruly black locks smiling softly at him, "That's the plan Kiddo."
"I don't remember her much…" Edward mumbled, "Will she remember me."
"Oh Eddie," Izo sighed wrapping his arms around his nephew, "Your mummy loved you so much, she could never forget you. You know that, I bet you your mum is thinking about you right know."
"Promise…" Edward murmured his head still down cast.
"I promise," Izo smiled ruffling his hair gently.
AN: I am making this chapter slightly shorter than what you guys are used to, mainly for I have reached Dressarosa arc now and Im contemplating how to do this Arc. Any thoughts? Oh yeah and Hi, Im good how are you lot? Works been keeping me extremely busy and the time Ive had free has mainly gone to spend with my dad or partner. But I book three days off work and was able to get this done this morning. I do like how this chapter turned out actualy and I hope you lot enjoyed it aswell.
RainbowGuardian13: Thank you, I hope work has calmed down for you a bit. I understand it so much, I've not had a moment to breath at work recently its ridiculous.
icegoddez333: So do I and I know what happens lol… I feel like a horrible person putting her through the Dressarosa Arc honestly
tsuri182718: Sorry to make you wait awhile for it hun
geckogal077:…. Yeah I should really put the pairing in the summary. You know it's just a trick to lore people in then you are trapped and can't escape. I'm glad you've enjoyed this new experience… yeah I fangirl over chapters and my partner thinks Im weird lol. Well aren't you lucky I updated today, no I never planned to kill Ace I cried writing the war so much it was stupid. Marco and Megumis child is a plan but not for awhile, thank you I am really glad you enjoyed.
So yeah sorry for the shorter chapter but Dressarosa and the boys heading back to the New World big thing.
Lots of Love
Scarlet.
