Hey there.
I'm sorry that I didn't update or at least leave a short message why there isn't an upload. But to be honest, I don't like these type of updates because when I read this in fanfics I'm kinda invested in reading I feel quite disappointed to only get this update. That being said, I don't blame other fanfic-authors who does that. It is to each their own and everyone still has a life that they have to work for. Otherwise, I would have possibly finished this story but yeah not finished.
So I will keep it short and say I was really busy and couldn't really write down this second part of Chapter 24. But now I do have a bit more time and will write more. So I will probably go back to the one chapter per month update schedule. But more at the end.
~Chapter 25 – A difficult way to heaven Part 2 ~
He didn't really like this town. It wasn't that it was ugly or dirty. No, he had seen worse by a lot.
The reason for his dislike was the people. The way they looked at him and Ace when they just walked by or spoke with them about possibly going to the sky to follow the Logue Pose.
"It's a mistake in the magnetic field around Jaya. There is no island in the sky."
These words had gotten repeated so often towards them that Law could hear how they made fun of them just for asking. He hated how they talk like Ace and he was stupid.
But he couldn't really do anything about it. Especially when he had to keep Ace in a row. Because the logia user showed signs of his hotheadedness because of these comments. Or the Alpha was a bit triggered because of the many different Alpha-pheromones in the air.
Something he would dislike and avoid under normal conditions. But at the moment he couldn't show it and had to keep himself together. Also, they would soon return to the ship, where it would be fine.
Because they had only three Alphas on board in form of Ace, Bartolomeo and Robin. Ain was a Beta. Bon Clay had no own scent because of his devil fruit. The others hadn't presented, yet. Even if there should be signs already for Zoro and Sanji what kind of second gender they would develop. After all, both of them were already nineteen.
"Zehahaha, do you really believe it? That an island in the sky exists?"
Law felt how Ace tensed.
This person… for some reason he did have a bad feeling. The scent was biting in his nose.
The person was bigger than Ace and himself. Despite that, the other was sitting. It was a fat man with black hair and some missing tooth, which gave his grin a chess board look. A growl next to him confirmed that this other man was an Alpha.
"What if we do?", Law ask slightly annoyed.
But this man didn't react. He didn't even look at him. It felt like he was ignoring him.
"When you speak to us, then answer us if we ask a question!", Ace said angrily. This got them a reaction.
"Which question? I haven't heard anything. Or did that little omega there talked without permission?"
Law felt his jaw drop. That was a response he hadn't expected.
He knew about discrimination against Omegas and that there are still people who believed that Omegas were some kind of slaves. Despite that the laws for their protection and rights they had been given by the world government. At least 'official'. Most of the world government were still power-hungry Alphas who only cared about their own benefits.
But he had no time to think about this situation more clearly. Just the raising heat next to him indicated that something unpleasant could happen. Because an angry Ace wasn't something that could be left without supervision.
"Calm down. Remember we should not try to make trouble or get into trouble", Law mumbled. He hoped to calm the younger one. Especially since he felt the need to even use his own pheromones. Something he disliked doing.
But it was better than letting Ace get into a fight and since the little flames stopped dancing on the shoulders of the Logia user it seemed to work.
"Well, maybe just don't speak to others if you decided to be a bastard", Ace grumbled. But at least he was calm enough. At least calm enough that Law tried to drag him away. But he should have expected that this stupid unknown Alpha didn't know when to shut up.
"Zehaha, you are an Alpha, right? And then you are letting an Omega and a child decide for you? That's embarrassing for an Alpha …"
Law hadn't been able to stop Ace. The younger one had hit the man with a burning fist. The smell of burnt hair made the surgeon wrinkled his nose in disgust.
"How about you disappear, before I'll turn into ash", Ace screamed angrily. His whole aura underlined his second gender.
This situation seemed to turn into some kind of a dick-measuring contest with both Alphas wanted to show that they are superior, now that they are fighting against each other.
Law felt the urge to knock both out.
He wasn't the kind of Omega to start swooning because of this typical Alpha behaviour. It was embarrassing. Especially since now, people started to notice and even stopped to look at the fight.
Next time, they were going to an island with a city like this, he was staying on the ship. Because this babysitting started to go on his nerves.
Normally Zoro wouldn't care. He didn't care about the atmosphere between people. He just did his own thing.
But at the moment… he did kinda wish that he stayed on board with Luffy, Bepo, Coni and Bon Clay. It would have been better than trying to find a hint on this island with Ain and Robin.
Because even if he was mostly blind to indirect interactions between people, he still saw the distrust between the two females and it made him uncomfortable. Especially since he had to walk between them because of Ain's idea to prevent him from getting lost.
"So, are Vice Captain-san and Doctor-san soulmates or scent-mates?", Robin suddenly asked. There was curiosity. But also it did sound forced.
What exactly was she asking now? He had never heard about this.
"Neither. Otherwise, Ace would be more aggressive if another Alpha is talking to Law", Ain answered. Her voice sounded calm. But he could still feel the distrust in her voice.
"Good to know", Robin said and then seemed to notice his confusion. "You don't have much experience with the second gender, do you? Depending on what kind of mates a pair is the reaction can be different based on the Alpha's instinct. If the pair is what we call mates, the relationship is more relaxed. The urge of an Alpha to protect his partner is still there but you wouldn't have to fear getting your head ripped off for just talking to the partner. But if you are dealing with scent-mates or soulmates, it can be dangerous just to talk to the partner depending on the Alpha."
"Okay…"
He didn't know if that was really useful. After all, he would fight back if someone attacked him. So he didn't care if someone has a soulmate or scent-mate. Whatever these two mean.
"Just by looking at your face. You don't care and you don't even know what soulmates and what scent-mates are, right?"
Did he mention that he hated being between these two women? Zoro grumbled only as an answer.
But it was answer enough for Ain to explain. "It is strange that the people from the East Blue are somehow behind in these terms since both words are pretty old.
Soulmates are quite rare so they became a myth. Even if everyone should have one, many don't know and won't even get a hint at their soulmate. As it said that when Alpha or Omega present or a person reaches their twenty-first birthday that they hear the first words of their soul mates are saying when their eyes will meet for the first time. But many people don't hear anything for different reasons like their soulmate is mute or they just don't speak during the first eye contact. Therefore it is very rare for people to find their soulmates based on that", Ain explained.
That sounded stupid. "So some people try to remember some words they only hear once for their life? That sounds stupid."
"Just because you wouldn't be able to remember some words, doesn't mean other people are the same", Ain said like she was lecturing him.
He hated that it felt like he was treated like a child.
"Scent-mates are basically biological soulmates. The name was chosen because of the reason which fate had chosen for this Alpha/Omega-pair. You know how Alphas and Omegas can differentiate each other by scent. This scent can be masked by suppressor or other medicaments. As long as you don't meet your scent mate. Your scent mate would always be able to tell your real scent and be able to understand your emotional situation. Also during a rut or heat scent-mates will always turn to each other even if they normally would have other partners. The instincts tell you to get together with your ideal partner. Meaning if you are an Alpha and in rut and there are two Omega in the room. If one of them is your scent-mate, you would only knot them over and over. If neither is your scent-mate, you would take turns in knotting both of them, because the instincts of an Alpha in that situation basically tell them to impregnate both omegas so that successor is guaranteed. Also, Alphas don't like to share their soulmate or scent-mate. Coming too close to one is having death wishes", Robin explained the second term.
That sounded like something this stupid perverted cook would do. Have sex with as many females as he possibly can.
But there was also something in that explanation that didn't sit well with him. The thing that it was based on instincts. He trusted his instincts very much during fighting, training and everyday situations. He relied on them greatly. So the chance that his instincts might try to get him to sleep with someone was unpleasant. Especially if he hadn't reached his dream by then.
"Again", Luffy cheered and applauded. He was pretty cheerfully about the show Bon-chan made for the people who had stayed on board.
The show was a theatre play and Bon-chan played all the roles himself. Switching his looks with his devil fruit depending on the character. It was pretty funny to see how easily the Okama switched for the characters.
"Well… at least here isn't any trouble."
Luffy turned his head to see Law and his brother coming back on the ship. Ace seemed to be pouting and the doctor seemed to be pretty annoyed.
This made the young captain tilting his head slightly. "Your brother is an idiot." That was Law's answer to his unasked question.
"Hey! It was within my right as your mate to make this guy shut up!", Ace protested and crossed his arms.
"Oh, so somebody poked fun at Nii-chan's pride", Luffy decided to which the reaction came very quickly: "Shut up, Luffy."
This made the youngest on board giggling. It was pretty funny how his brother sometimes acted. Especially nowadays.
"Will you stop?", Ace asked and lunged at him. But Luffy dodged still laughing. Now it became a small game with Ace trying to catch his younger brother who was giggling the entire time.
"What happened now that these two are playing catch?", a female voice interrupted their game.
Luffy dodged behind Law and was grinning at Ain, Robin and Zoro who had just returned. "Ace is just being stingy." "I'm not!"
"Well, it still looks like a fun game. If you want we can wait until you finished", Robin said. This got Law's attention. "So you find something?", the surgeon asked while keeping Ace and Luffy now apart from each other. So it would be possible to focus on the important thing.
"It is nothing safe. But it was the only clue we found", Ain told them. "On the other side of the island lives someone who believes in sky island. But the way people talk about him is questionable. So we aren't sure", Robin said.
"Well, it is better than nothing", Law mumbled.
"On the other side of the island? Well, I will check it out", Luffy said and on his back appeared the big dragonfly wings. "Not so fast", Law directly moved his hand and hold the boy back by his shoulders. "We will go there all together. I don't need you to make trouble."
Luffy started to pout. How was he going to make trouble if he wouldn't meet anyone on his flight?
"Don't even think about it, Luffy." "But, Torao", Luffy looked up at the surgeon with big puppy eyes.
"Is something going on?" Bartolomeo's question was a distraction so the captain didn't focus on persuading Law any longer.
"Robin-chan~ Ain-san~ Are you hungry? Something to drink for you? I will prepare it immediately", Sanji said while he danced around the two women before he went to the kitchen.
"We are complete, right?", Luffy asked grinning. A nod from Law was enough. "Set sail to the other side of the island."
Conis felt quite ecstatic. The man from the rumours really could help them. Not only with words but also with preparations needed on the ship. Luffy and Ace had gone and fetched a Southbird which they needed to find a Knock Up-Stream.
She didn't really understand the concept. But in the end, it worked and they arrived in the white sea. It was nice.
But seeing the passage where they had to pay the road charge made her uncomfortable. After all, she had told quite positive stories about the beauty of her home when the others had asked.
It reminded her of all the rules their god had imposed on them. Suddenly she felt unfree. By going home it would mean that she had to give up this freedom. But… she was worried about her father.
She had seen a friend losing her only parent. So there was a strong desire in her to go home. Because the unexpected could happen especially with their tyrannic god and his priest.
"Conis, are you alright?"
She let a small scream escape her lips because the blonde hadn't noticed Luffy coming closer to her.
"Oi, Luffy, don't scare a lady like that! Didn't someone teach you any manners!", Sanji lectured the young captain who seemed to ignore the cook. The eyes were still on her.
"It's fine…", Conis said softly. She couldn't speak openly about it. Not anymore. She should have mentioned everything that went on here before they had arrived in the white sea.
"You know lying isn't really going to help you. If you don't want to tell it then we can't help you", Luffy said. He sounded serious. Not like when he fooled around with Chouchou, his brother, Bartolomeo or Bepo. No, she could really see why Luffy was the Captain at this moment.
There was something that she couldn't really describe. This something pushed for her to say anything. To tell them what was going on and maybe get help… because they could help. She had seen these people fight. She had seen what they can do.
Her eyes fell on Robin's notebook and in this moment she decided.
She couldn't ask them out loud but she could write. She could ask them for help.
They could help them.
And they did.
The ending might be hinting at it. But I do not intend to write the fight with Enel because for two reasons. One, I can't really say that I like him or are invested in his character enough to make him a reasonable thread for the crew. This lead to my second reasons, the way Enel is portrayed in the original story works for the story because the concept of Haki was unknown to the crew and Enel is basically overconfident that he is untouchable with his mantra and devil fruit. But here we have a crew with four confirmed Haki-users due to training with Ace, Ain, Law and Luffy and also the others are learning the basics. Meaning they are advanced enough that Enel is an opponent who would be fun to write for me. So see you until the next chapter and stay healthy =)
With Baroque Work, it was different as there was the story in the background with Vivi and also giving you guys extra information about how the world is structured with the A/B/O dynamics.
But with Enel, there isn't much I can do. So I will skip this part with Enel getting his ass kicked. I do hope that works for you as well.