Chapter 27

Revival

The sound of quacking ducks could be heard in the Alabastan desert. Although it wasn't your typical quacking. The Strawhats rode on the Supersonic Duck Squadron, who volunteered their services once again. Most of the crew had ridden them after their first crossing at the Sandora River. They even rode them into battle luring and dividing the upper echelon of Baroque Works. Karoo was apparently the leader, though he wasn't running with them tonight. Someone had to protect Vivi.

The ostrich sized ducks raced across the midnight sands, and Zoro seems to enjoy the breeze, "Hmm... This is nice.

"So it's time to say farewell to the country of sand..." Usopp cried some crocodile tears, "Farewell Alabasta, you put me through quite the battle."

He then hears the crunching of food over the wind, "Hey, Luffy. Isn't that supposed to be for Max?" Two of the ducks ran side by side, trying to balance their riders, packs, and the comatose Maxwell. He rode on a stretcher balanced between them, and Chopper and Nami made sure he didn't fall off.

Luffy pauses, "...But it's so good...! Gah!" Luffy stuffs the meal back into it's pack, "Sanji, try cooking some of this next time!"

"Yeah, yeah... I'm actually quite interested in trying my hand at them. I got the recipes from Terracotta, along with some spices."

Chopper looks up at Nami, after checking Maxwell, "Nami...? Are you sick?" She had been looking down since leaving the palace.

"I'll give you some... Oh wait, that's for Max... Dammit," Luffy looks down hungrily at the package.

"You're thinking about Vivi, aren't you," Sanji eyes their navigator, "I understand how you feel but... It's not something we can do anything about. We had a lot of good times together but that's just how it is. Come on now, cheer up."

"I... I guess I should give up, for Vivi's sake at least... on the 1 billion belis."

Reactions varied.

"YOU DAMN WELL BETTER!" yelled Zoro and Luffy.

"IT WAS MONEY YOU WERE SAD ABOUT!?" Sanji looks at her in shock and horror.

Chopper just leaned back with a pitiful and Usopp fell off his duck in shock.

"AGH! Usopp fell off!" Chopper looks backwards at the sniper.

"Will you stop being so damn misleading, Nami!" Zoro yells at the cat burglar.

"What're you all worked up over? Are you upset about Vivi? That can't be helped, you know."

"AGH! Usopp fell off again!" "Oh just leave him be..." "IT'S YOUR FAULT!"


"I've been waiting~ for you~ all! Nice to see you all again!"

The crew temporally ignores the okama.

"We're here." "You can drift our stuff now. Thanks for the ride."

The ducks quack back. They reached the Sandora and are now before the Going Merry. The crew dismounts and the ducks carefully unload their cargo. Sanji and Chopper took care of the stretcher.

"I guess it's time for us to say goodbye..." "Run back safely now!"

*QUA~CK!*

Luffy waves both arms, "Take care of the king and chikuwa-dude! See ya!"

Even Mr. 2 waves, "Let's... Let's meet again some day for sure!" and he has tears in his eyes.

"Wait a second!" "What's your problem?"

The ballerina stomps on the deck, "Don't gimme that cold, 'Oh what's your problem?'" He then pouts, "What's with your attitude! Is that any way to greet a friend!?"

"What do you mean, 'friend?'" Luffy looks at the okama, "We were enemies all along. You tricked us."

Mr. 2 defends himself, "I did not trick you! I didn't have any idea either!" But then deflates, sitting on the edge of the ship, "But... Oh phooey, who gives a hoot about any of that now. Whoops, sorry." Mr. 2 moves over as Zoro comes up the ladder with a load in his arms, "Baroque Works is gone and we're no longer enemies."

"If we're no longer enemies, then why'd you take our ship?" Sanji comes up with another load.

The okama sighs, "...Oh you silly little goose."

"What was that!?" demands Luffy.

"Listen up!" yells Mr. 2, "Do you have any idea, ANY IDEA AT ALL, what would have happened to your ship if I hadn't taken it?"

Nami picks up her own pack, "The marines probably would have taken it." Luffy looks back at her shocked.

"NOT PROBABLY! THEY WOULD HAVE ABSO-POSITIVELY-LUTELY! DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA WHAT KIND OF STATE THIS ISLAND IS IN ROGHT NOW!? MARINE SHIPS HAVE TOTALLY, UTTERLY BLOCKADED THE ENTIRE ISLAND! Not even one little swan could fly it's way out right now."

"So you... protected the Going Merry from the marines...?" Luffy asked Mr. 2.

"Why?" "Yeah, why!?" demanded Usopp and Chopper.

"Because, my dear, we're friends," Mr. 2 gives them a terry thumbs-up.

The Kiddy Trio reunite with their cross dressing friend, doing the can-can, "I knew you were a good guy all along! STO~P JO~KING AROUND~!"

"STO~P JO~KING AROUND~!" The others sing back.

"Do we still have more stuff down there?" Nami asks Sanji.

"No, we just have to get Max."

Luffy, Chopper, and Usopp stop dancing when they hear this.

Mr. 2 looks around, "...Hey what's with the long faces?"

Zoro and Sanji head back to the shore and pick up Maxwell's stretcher. When Mr. 2 sees the body he looks at it in fright, "WHAT HAPPENED TO HIM!? Wasn't he part of your crew!?"

The Merry creaks, as if knowing something was wrong. The crew took it as a sign that the klabautermann was watching.

"W-What was that...?" Mr. 2 was the only one not in the know.

"That, would be Merry..." replies Sanji.

"Bon..." Luffy spoke to Mr. 2, "We need to do something private as a crew. Can you step off the ship for a bit?"

"...Yeah. Yeah, sure, I can do that," Mr. 2 understood something momentous was going on, and he shouldn't be part of it. Besides the ship was suddenly giving him the heebie-jeebies, and he hadn't felt anything like it the whole time he was here.

The crew convenes at the bow, setting Maxwell down in the centre of the upper deck. He still looked quite still, even now.

"...So, does anyone know how to summon a spirit?" asked Sanji

...

...

...

The ship creaks eerily, making Usopp look at the steel collared sheep head, "...I think we need to lean Max against the figure head."

Zoro drags the sleeping mage so that he sits against the railing, just at the tip of the bow. The swordsman sets him up so Maxwell wouldn't fall over, or be uncomfortable, "What now?"

The ship creaks again, and this time Luffy answers, "...Come sit in a circle, everyone. Maxwell often had magic circles."

So they did so. Everyone sat in a circle with wide enough gaps to walk through. Luffy offers his hands to both Zoro and Nami, who sat either side of him. They all look at each other and then take hand in another. Zoro connects to Usopp, who connects to Chopper, who connects to Sanji, who connects and controls himself around Nami. With Luffy holding Zoro and Nami the Circle was complete.

Zoro closes his eyes, prompting the others to do so.

"Merry..." Luffy speaks up, "Max needs your help... We don't know what to do, but you're the only one who can save him. Please help... He's your nakama too..." Luffy thought back to all the times he had with Maxwell. So did the others.

Luffy thought about how he first met Maxwell. Having him join as his first mate. Maxwell fishing in their little boat. The first time he saw Maxwell do magic against the Spiel crew. Maxwell busting him out of that cage. Laughing on top of an iceberg...

Zoro thought about back when he was still tied to that post. He remembered seeing Maxwell dive through marines like a ghost and fire magic with his staff. How Maxwell was one of the few crewmates he could talk with. They trained together, drank with each other, and became a terror against their enemies...

Usopp thought about all the time Maxwell watched over him. He took a genuine interest in his tinkering and how he made his slingshot ammo. He humoured Usopp listening to his lies, and telling stories of his own. Usopp remembered the pride he felt when he finished Maxwell's armor...

Sanji thought about the quiet he had with him. Max was a pain in his ass when he tried flirting with Nami and Vivi. But it was never malicious. He didn't need it, but Maxwell was the elder sibling of the crew. And he never disturbed Sanji when it was important. He could still remember the two of them in the cabin, with him cooking and Maxwell reading the newspaper...

Nami thought about when she first met the crew. Maxwell was one of three monster she could use to get treasure. But that thought of using them became becoming friends with them. Max was the only one of the boys who had any sense. He could keep the crew in line when she couldn't, or even need to. He watched over them all steering the ship and made the Merry feel alive. He actually listened...

Chopper thought about how smart he was. They were introduced late, and having such an older crewmate was intimidating to him. But he was kind, they shared notes, and Maxwell tried to learn medicine from him. Chopper was amazed when he saw Maxwell healing with magic. It made him wonder what else was possible...

As the crew sank into their memories, Merry appeared in the middle of the circle. She looked like a child in a yellow raincoat. The spirit had curly hair beneath her hood, and hid most of her face. She had little curled sheep horns sticking through the top, and wore red rubber boots. There was no pop, no noise, no tension, she just simply appeared standing on deck.

Merry wished Vivi was here for this. Her spirit wasn't very old and needed the others to fuel her being here. Being surrounded by friends, that's what allowed her here, and she would help Max.

She walked over to Max, careful not to brush against the crew, and squared in front of him. Merry looked at him as his head leaned against the rails. Here he was, the man who lead her through the high seas. He empowered her, and protected her with his magic. Max was the reason she developed so early. She cared about him like everyone else of the crew, and now he needed his help.

Merry had met the Arcane Horror before, in the Fade. The guy was creepy, answering all the questions he did, but he was harmless enough. Merry didn't need to posses Max, just touch him.

And so Merry brought her two fingers to Maxwell's forehead. Her fingers briefly sank into him before there was light.

A gasp and a smalll, but sudden, boom echoed in the din, snapping the crew out of their memories. The Strawhats all turned to see Max floating in the air, light pouring out in every direction. His eyes and mouth were open, with light shining out of them like a sun. His skin was glowing like his skin was vaguely transparent, and the brightest spot was over his heart.

Merry was nowhere in sight.


"WHOA!" Mr. 2 backs up on the river bank, "WHAT'S THE LIGHT SHOW!?"


His own crew, still on their own boat, watched in wonder as the beacon shown from the Merry.


Ms. All Sunday could only look awe as she suddenly saw her guiding light.


The first Maxwell noticed was he was awake. Something had tapped him on the forehead and all of a sudden he could feel again. He thought for sure that bomb would have killed him... Damn blood magic. The mage opens his eyes.

Maxwell first thought, he was in the Fade again. He was on his back looking up at a dome of green fog that covered the sky. As he stood up, he saw he was on a tiled platform embedded into a giant rock. Crystals and stalagmites surrounded the edges periodically as the tile was clear of any deformation. It the tiles were organized and made a picture of a symbol, the Circle of Magi over a white background.

"It's about time you woke up." A Tevinter accent spoke into the gloom. This made Max pause, and out the fog, a Fear Demon stepped onto the platform.

"Truly, you have such a blunt way of expressing yourself, my dear," this female voice had a Orlesian accent. A Desire Demon stepped out from another point of the platform.

"Now is not the time for such petty insults. We're here for a purpose, after all," said a soothing male voice. And then a Pride Demon came in. But not like any Pride demon Maxwell had seen before.

In fact, none of them looked like the usual form. The Fear Demon still had it's signature chitinous head piece and spider legs out of it's back. But this one wore a toga, pants and boot. The Desire Demon covered it's breasts with a form fitting dress and tailcoats. It led around her neck into a kind of choker, but the demon still had the signature purple skin, horns and tail with ruffled leggings. The Pride demon looked more like an abomination, flattened and shrunken to fit human form. It wore furs and green burlap coat, and everything from the chest down looked human.

They surrounded him, but Maxwell didn't feel any need for urgency. For some reason they didn't look foreign to him, and they walked around to face in front of Maxwell.

"So, we meet at last. Or something like that," The Fear Demon spoke, "Three days is a rather long time to be napping don't you think?"

The desire demon rolled her eyes, "And you know very well that wasn't by choice. His crewmates needed time to recuperate, darling."

"Still, we should introduce ourselves first. It wouldn't be proper to get ahead of ourselves without introductions," the abomination reasoned.

"Right you are, my friend," the Fear Demon suddenly conjured a staff, an Corruption Staff, "Allow me to introduce myself. My name is Mordred, your new charming, neighbouring, denizen of the Fade. Pleasure to meet you, Maxwell."

The Desire Demon summons an Archon Staff, "My name is Mineive. I rejoice at your reawakening, my lord."

The Pride Demon summoned an Apprentice's Staff, "And I am Salem."

Then the three demons then bowed and spoke as one, "We are at your service, Master Trevelyan."

Maxwell looks at them stunned for a moment, but then looks at them suspiciously. He didn't feel anything malicious form them. In fact he barely felt them at all, just a presence strangely familiar...

No normal demon could replicate this kind presence in front of a mage, "What are you...?" As if reacting to his thoughts, they stand up.

"I'm glad you asked!" chirped Mordred, "Truly, it was a fascinating turn of events."

"When you pulled the cannon into the Fade, you remember not being able to let go?" asked Salem. Maxwell nodded, he still remembered why he couldn't, "When your consciousness shattered, your spectral remains where blown into the Fade with the explosion."

"Tell me darling, what was the last thing you remembered before oblivion?" asked Mineive.

Maxwell frowned, thinking about it, "...I remember... apologizing. I was telling my sister I was sorry for using blood magic..."

"And that very thought directed your spectral essence!" Mordred said rather excitedly, "No mage has ever became Tranquil while simultaneously performing blood magic. The blood magic kept your essence in coagulated chunks, fractured mid you, but just enough to be aware! THAT is where we come in."

"We are the spiritual remnants of your shattered subconscious, and with our propulsion towards your sister, we were able to observe the events surrounding her."

"...Wait, you saw Evelyn!?" Maxwell steps forward, "How is she!? Did she survive!? What happened to her!?"

"Calm down, darling," soothed Mineive, she well understood Maxwell's concern, "She's actually done rather well for herself."

"If you call becoming 'Herald of Andraste' well for herself," Mordred sits back in mid air, "Seriously your sister has found more secrets and done more good than half nobles and the chantry in Orlais and Feraldin have done in three lifetimes."

Mordred then spreads an arm, "As to why we look like this?" He refers to the atypical clothing on them, "Well, three admirable mages just so happened to join your sister's cause."

"We knew you would reform eventually," Salem then chuckles, "Luffy would not take your coma down lightly. And we remembered your desire to become stronger—"

"So we learned more magic! That was that was a whole other bag of cats, let me tell you!" Mordred floated in front of Salem, who looked irritated at the intrusion, "Seriously! Time magic, mass healing, and raw magic being flung all over the place! It was marvellous!"

"We each followed a certain person, being careful not to be noticed..." Mineive glared at Mordred who was looking at her expectantly, "And yes, that time magic was useful trying to learn their spells! There. You satisfied, darling?"

"Superbly," the Fear Demon smiles in her direction.

Salem decided to continue for them, "When you reformed, we had planned to fade into your subconscious with all our knowledge at your disposal. We were you after all, and the knowledge was invaluable. But what we hadn't accounted for was the spirit who revived you..."

"Mm yes, the Merry," Mordred mewled, "Apparently we had poured in a little to much magic into that boat. What Merry couldn't absorb, became excess, and Merry was just so kind not to let it go to waste."

"...So when... Merry revived me, there was so much psychic material to reform my psyche, it couldn't all fit. Thus you three were still free from my consciousness and retained your knowledge."

"Essentially," replied Salem.

"We are still connected to you, my dear. We realized this, and made our peace with it. We even changed ourselves to be of use. While inner thought is useful, debate is what truly sharpens the mind."

"That and shaping ourselves after demons was wonderfully morose. A good kick in the—"

"And besides that..." Mineive suddenly forms a spectral sword and threw it at the smoke like a arrow. A portion of the smoke cleared to reveal the Arcane Horror trying to listen in on them. Mineive scowled as it smiled, waved, and then disappeared, "Someone needs to watch your back on this side of reality."

"We can teach!" Mordred chirped, "All sorts of knowledge ready for the taking! You're going to need it, especially after the whole Tranquility incident."

"What do you mean?" Maxwell frowned at the pseudo Fear Demon.

"You see, since you reform without the presence of—"

"Your control is shot all to hell," Mordred interrupts Salem again.

"Yes... Quite," Salem continues despite his agitation, "Ever since your body entered The Seven Seas your subconscious has been limiting your access to the Fade. Making it so your magic was still controllable and recognizable. That mental block is now broken, and you'll need us to relearn your skills as well as learn new one."

"Which just so happens to take advantage of your predicament," Mordred adds on.

Maxwell looks at the three of them, "...So I'm stuck being an apprentice again, under three demons, who are actually personas of my formerly fractured mind... Ha! If Lydia could see me now...!" The spirits chuckle in similar revelry.

The fog begins to lift and the platform starts to crumble.

"That would be our time," spoke Salem, "Remember, we are a part of you. Think of us and we shall appear."

"Or at least talk to you. Manifestation takes a lot of—"

"MORDRED!" Salem and Mineive scold the Fear Demon.

"Right, right, sorry! Good luck in the mortal world," Mordred whispers that last bit to Max before everything turns white.


Maxwell drops to the deck and dry heaves as the crew all rush over to their awakened friend. He's on his hands and knees, coughing and hacking, it felt like he hadn't had any water in days. It was strange suddenly having feeling again. The crew had all surround him concerned as he got a hang of himself.

The mage suddenly looks up to see Luffy's smiling face, "Welcome back, Max."

His eyes widen seeing his friend, his captain, smiling back at him. But then it relaxes. Slowly but surely he has a smile of his own, "Glad to be back, captain."

"MAXWELL!" The crew cheers, as Nami, Usopp, and Chopper glomp their bearded friend. They were happy to have him back.

He was happy to be back.

Mr. 2 gives him a hug, "OH THANK GOD~ HE'S ALIVE!"

"WHAT THE F #$ ARE YOU DOING HERE!?"