Two Worlds, One Family

by Edward Emma

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, and trying to figure out a way to find a certain somebody's lost Nakama, what follows is bound to be chaos, friendship, tears, romance...and, adventure! CONTINUED AS OF 2020

52. Aqua

ONE PIECE

Two Worlds, One Family

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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).

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~Parental Warning~

The following chapter contains:

. Mild-level adult themes

. Low to mild-level violence

. Low-level sexual references

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CHAPTER FIFTY-TWO

Aqua

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Oh, I will carry you over fire and water,

For your love,

And I will hold you closer,

Hope your heart is strong enough . . .

- One Direction

---

"I love you … I trust you . . . "

Law smiled, as he opened his eyes.

Sunlight filtered in through the curtains on the floor-to-ceiling glass doors, and somebody was standing silhouetted against the early morning sun and singing.

"Hikari demo yami demo . . . "

Law watched as Emma opened the curtains, and then the doors, letting in the salty air that they were both so used to by now, and still continuing to sing.

"Futari da kara shinji aeru no … hanasanaide . . . "

'Don't leave me' … well, that was one thing that she didn't have to worry about.

Even if something had clearly been worrying her enough to wake her up at this hour, she didn't have to worry about that, at least.

"You couldn't sleep?" He asked her, sitting up.

She turned around. "I had that weird dream, Law-Chan." She replied, biting at her lower lip the way that she always did when she was worried.

"It was just a dream, Emiko." He told her.

"Yeah … maybe . . . " She didn't sound convinced, as he got up and went over to her, standing behind her and putting his arms around her. She was literally wearing just a singlet and underwear, having opted for a cooler choice of nightwear in this unusually hot summer that they were having but, who cared? They were married. Law had seen her in far less than what she was wearing right now. And, she had seen him the same way. They kept nothing from each other anymore.

Right?

Emma was quiet for most of the morning, even though she did most of the things that were typical of her - like wrapping her hash-brown in bacon, skulling half of her coffee, tipping the News Coo a little bit extra (they could afford it), that sort of thing.

But, Law knew her well enough to know when she was thinking about something other than whether or not Sora would be able to rescue the Princess Of Kodansha Island from Stealth Black in the latest comic of Sora, Warrior Of The Sea.

As she carried her coffee mug back into the kitchen (Law had thought, for one fraction of a second, that she was going back for more coffee, until he saw her go over to the sink), he saw her twisting the sapphire ring on her left hand.

The ring that was the mate to the one that Law wore on his left hand. He knew their story well, although he hadn't mentioned it to Emma. What would she say if she knew?

It wasn't like she was any stranger to what the world was like. She would empathise with him at having lost everyone and everything that he had ever cared about. She would respect that he was the only survivor from a land that was condemned - by no fault of its own - by the World Government. She would understand the circumstances that he had been given the rings … when he hadn't wanted to go to the festival with his parents and sister, and his Mother had taken the jewellery box with the rings in it and handed it to him, reiterating that she hoped that one day Law would meet somebody special.

"I don't need your jewellery or your prompts to get married, Okaasama." Law had said, as he put the jewellery box in his pocket.

There had been a moment of silence, before Lami had pointed out: "Uh, Oniisama? Usually when you say that … you give the rings back."

"Getting the rings out of my pocket will take too long, and, I thought that you wanted to go to the festival." He had told her. "Remember, thirty minutes only?"

Lami's dark eyes had widened. "Rings?" She had said. "What rings?! Let's go! Hey, maybe you'll meet your wife there, Oniisama!"

"Don't just decide that on your own!"

Thinking back, Law wondered if the circumstances where he had met the one that he had always known was destined to be his wife had been anything like what his parents and little sister had had in mind.

Knowing Lami and her imagination, it probably had been.

And, as for his parents . . .

What would they have thought of Emma?

As if sensing Law's thoughts, Emma - who he hadn't realised was now standing right in front of him - said: "You know … that dream that I keep on having? The one where I see your parents, but it's always from a distance?" Law glanced up at her. She had a very thoughtful look on her face, now. "Well, for the first time ever, I saw them up close and I heard your Dad's voice . . . "

"How?" Law said immediately. He knew that she didn't know about them from the One Piece anime. He relaxed, as soon as he remembered this. She wouldn't have known what his Dad's voice sounded like, or that his Mum had the same silver eyes as him.

"Well, he actually sounded a bit like you," she admitted. "He looked a bit like you, too, 'cept not as handsome but that's personal bias on my account. He wore glasses, though, so he looked just as smart. Like a doctor."

"He was." Law said unthinkingly, and then watched as Emma briefly closed her eyes. "What did he say to you?"

Emma opened her eyes and looked at him. "He said to ask you why you haven't said much about him and the rest of the family. Is it that you're ashamed? Those were his words, by the way," she went on, when Law opened his mouth to respond. "I think that … he and your Mother just want … us to be totally honest with each other … so that we can have a happy relationship … like they had." She added pointedly.

"Our life wasn't perfect." Law found himself saying, as he stood up.

"Uh, Law-Chan, you met my family - both of them." Emma reminded him patiently. "Even though our pasts don't necessarily have to define us, they're still where we come from. How can we build our lives if we don't know who we are and where we're from?" She gazed up at him. "That's how families are made. It's the combination of two lives, from two worlds - or in this case three - to make one family." Her hair was ruffled by a soft breeze from the open glass doors leading out onto the patio, and whose steps led practically right onto the beach. "But, you have to meet me halfway, Law-Chan … I have to know about you like you know about me . . . "

Law considered her for a second, and then he thought of something. "I don't know about all of your family." He told her but, even as he said it, he realised how unfair that was. It wasn't her fault that nobody had bothered to tell her more about Edward Undine. That woman was only slightly less of a mystery to Emma than what Law's parents were to her. She knew a bit about her, but she had had to get that information from places like visions shown to her (and Vivi) by those two magical necklaces, her Mother's old friend the Mermaid Queen Otohime, and even the Straw Hat's Shipwright Franky of all people. When, really, the person who should have told her more was Edward Newgate. And, after his untimely death, then it should have been one of the Gods who had told Emma about the Ocean Goddess.

How else was she supposed to get this information?

To his surprise, however, Emma suddenly smiled. It was a slightly sad smile, though. "I won't ask you about your past, for now." She told him, taking his hands in hers. Her compass had started to glow, softly at first but then it steadily began to shine brighter. "One day I'll find out about it all, and hopefully I hear about it from you. When you're ready to talk, I will listen. I want … to know. But, for now, we have a job to do, and I can't have anybody else but you by my side. You know that, and so do I. We have to save my Mother."

Law looked into her eyes, and recognised the look. "What did you find out . . . ?"

There was a slight rushing sound in Law's ears, which reminded him of waves, but it was also drawing him out of the light and warmth and happiness of where he was.

"I can't tell you." Emma shook her head, as the white light that was emanating from her compass now enveloped them both. "Not here. Let's wait … until we're really together … even though we're always like that, I'd much rather tell you when it's not just a dream. You only have to wait about another couple of minutes, Law-Chan, so don't give me that look." She added.

"How did you know?" Law asked her, as the white light continued to obscure everything from view.

He could hear the smile in Emma's voice as she spoke through the light. "Because I know that much about you." Her voice sobered. "Now, come on, hurry up and wake up, already … you've been holding back Chaos by yourself and I will help you now! And then we have to rescue my Mother!"

---

Law's eyes snapped open, and he was instantly drawn back into the reality that he was confronting in the area of the Celestial Realm known as the Forbidden Zone.

He and Emma had gone there with Twister once before, but now it looked decidedly different to how it had that other time, thanks to what was going on right now.

Law was facing Ino, aka The Goddess Of Chaos and probably the most powerful opponent that he had ever faced.

She seemed to have snapped sometime since their last encounter back in the Hills Realm, but Law didn't have to know about psychology to see that.

Ino looked the picture of a complete madwoman. Her hair was coming loose from its ponytail, and kept on falling about her face, which was sheet white and covered in dirt and blood. Her breathing was ragged, and her glasses were cracked. It was her eyes that were the most frightening thing to look at, however. They weren't glowing red or endless black or anything like that. They were the same colour teal that they normally were, the exact same shade as Sumi's.

And, the look in them was beyond reason. The look conveyed practically every single emotion known to man, but for absolutely no reason whatsoever.

Despite all of this, however, Ino's movements were still as lethal as ever, her body seemingly able to act on its own and able to use all of the Rokushiki skills that she had known since childhood (plus, she still had Twister's scythe) - she was trained to kill and Law knew that he was very close to being taken out by this woman.

He also knew that she was very close to something, as well … she was close to fully becoming The Goddess Of Chaos, and it was all that Law could do to prevent that and keep her away from The Well Of Chaos, as well.

She had the upper-hand, however, and they both knew it.

She said: "You're fighting a losing battle, pirate." Even though her voice still sounded calm, Law could hear the underlying tones of insanity in there. They were starting to show, like the cracks in Ino's glasses that mirrored the ones by her feet … wait … she wasn't a Devil Fruit user, was she?

No … this was … different . . .

"This is less about me being a pirate and more about me being the First Knight of another God though, isn't it, Ino?" Law replied calmly.

"Iie," Ino replied. "You are nothing but a pirate who cannot be allowed to go back to that world to just do as you please." She told him, shaking her head and making her long hair sway. Law was instantly reminded of a bull, about to charge, and so was able to dodge the arc of Chaos Energy that she sent at him with the scythe.

At the same time, Cici - the Inuksuk from the Hills Realm - created a barrier of rock to prevent the beam from reaching The Well Of Chaos. They had learned the hard way what would happen if the well was damaged, when one of Ino's attacks had unleashed a plethora of Chaos Creatures, including lions and tigers and bears.

"Oh, my . . . " Ino wore a strange smile. "You're going to defy me now too, are you, Sea Stone? Are you forgetting who created you perhaps, hmm?" She never once took her eyes away from Law as she spoke, and he kept his eyes glued to her, even as he called out to Cici.

"Don't listen to her, Cici-Ya!" He advised her. "Remember what you told us back in the Forest Realm - that you were created by Vivi-Ya with the power of the Ocean's Flower!"

"You pirates place entirely too much faith in things that you know little to nothing about!" Ino said sharply.

She cast a quick glance to her right, where Law knew that the rest of his crew was. They were being guarded by Cici, and he was grateful for this fact, although he couldn't for the life of him imagine what Twister had told them … how long ago had it been? It felt like this had been going on for years . . .

"Yes, years, pirate," Ino said suddenly, speaking softly again but still wearing that strange smile. "Far longer than what a Mortal like you could ever hope to comprehend. That is how long I have waited … do you really think that you can stand against me now, when I have stood against beings much more powerful than you?" She flicked her long hair over her shoulder, and Law swiftly dodged the next attack that came his way, landing back near the well, where Twister hadn't really moved from in quite awhile. "As The God Of Change can no doubt recall, I do not take kindly to those who would disrupt my plans. That is why it was so easy for me to use Marshall D. Teech - I know what somebody will be willing to do to succeed in their plans if those plans were interrupted the first time around. Although, I had rather hoped that the Blackbeard Pirates would all meet their ends here, but my partner was able to sort out one of our problems at least." She stared into Law's eyes. "He took care of your problem, and you couldn't even dispose of a man who'd just all but lost his Celestial powers to a little brat?"

She had spoken so calmly that her next attack was practically unexpected … except for the fact that Law had become so used to her unpredictability by this stage that he moved automatically, as did Twister.

What he hadn't expected was Cici's cry of: "Oh no! It hit!"

Followed by a cold feeling of dread and a savage growling from whatever had just emerged from The Well Of Chaos from behind him … Law and Twister both turned, knowing that it was too late already, and that the Chaos Creature was now right on top of them.

And then, the Chaos Creature was struck from the side by the glowing blue blade of a nodachi, and was forced to leap back from them, as an almost identical creature stood before it.

The Chaos Duck stared into the deep blue eyes of the Super Spot-Billed Duck known as Peni-Chan, before it happened to look up.

"Karaaa!" It quacked.

And, Emma came at it from above, thrusting the blade of Kikoku into the Chaos Duck's forehead, and destroying it. She then leapt back, and Peni-Chan was right there.

Law just stared at her, taking in the fact that she was there, noticing that she had a slightly better idea of how to wield Kikoku than what she had before, and wondering why she was riding the babushka-wearing riding duck instead of using her wings . . .

Law stared at the black leathery wings … the horns … the leather jewellery … the slightly torn, strapless dress … the fact that she was holding his sword, and had just switched her gaze to him and her eyes had lit up as she rode up to him, looking down at him from where she was, her breathing coming out quick and slightly ragged as her whole body seemed to tremble . . .

A small, glowing white orb suddenly emerged from the hood of the silver cloak that she was wearing, and chirped in what could be considered an annoyed way, as it moved swiftly towards Law in quick and jerky movements like it was rushing at him, forcing him to actually take a step back.

And, that was when he noticed that the duck that Emma was riding was trying not to put weight onto her left leg . . .

Emma had just noticed it, too, because she immediately dismounted - trying not to put any weight onto her left leg - and knelt down swiftly to examine the riding duck's leg.

"'If I'm going out then I'm taking you with me', it said ... indeed . . . " She muttered, shaking her head and then straightening up to look at Twister, even as she unclipped the cloak and placed it onto Peni-Chan's back. "Twister, take Peni-Chan some place safe! Preferably somewhere with water from Umi's Spring!" She added.

"I'll take him to the people who are watching over Bepo." Twister assured her, putting a hand on Peni-Chan's back. Emma glanced up at him. "There are people from the Foressst Realm with him . . . "

"Homing's son?!" Emma exclaimed suddenly, just as Law noticed that Ino was moving again.

He grabbed Emma's arm, as Twister opened up a Portal and practically dragged Peni-Chan through, all of them only just managing to avoid the Chaos Energy.

As Emma and Law landed, and Law noticed that she was partially leaning her weight on him but he barely felt it, Ino straightened up and stared straight at Emma.

"How . . . ?" She asked her slowly. "How did you manage to make it out of the River Styx?"

Emma was staring back at Ino, probably slightly taken aback by her appearance and, like Law, trying to predict what The Goddess Of Chaos would do next.

She's balancing the tightrope between sane and insane . . .

Law was startled, slightly. Had he just heard Emma's thoughts? But, there was just one point. Iie, Emiko … she's already fallen off . . .

He felt Emma's left hand tighten around his right wrist, and realised what was happening when he heard her reply: She's not going to take us with her . . .

Was this part of the bond between a Goddess and her First Knight?

"Or, don't tell me." Ino went on. "It's gotten to the point now where it doesn't matter what you do - I have everything that I need to finish what I started when this all began."

"If that's the case, Ino," Emma said, in a slightly shaking voice, but Law didn't think that the shaking had anything to do with fear - she was angry. "Then why haven't you done it, yet?"

"Because I was waiting for you." Ino said quietly. "I wanted you to see exactly what you have been dealing with all along, so that you are aware of just how pointless this has all been. All of that stress and heartache … you brought it all upon yourselves." Her eyes glittered strangely. "When you could have just saved yourselves and the others all of this hassle and given in. It's not like you can stop me from Erasing it all." She swept her free hand out over the landscape - the red sky with the blood moon still glittering overhead, the distant jagged peaks and forests, and the area that they were in … it seemed that The Well Of Chaos had once had a temple surrounding it.

"That … doesn't make any sense . . . " Emma whispered.

"It doesn't have to, Emiko," Law said softly. "She's The Goddess Of Chaos - that is her nature."

"It's Chaos's nature," Emma agreed, just as quietly. "But, is it Ino's? Think about it, Law-Chan - if she does Erase everything, then that includes Akainu … I'm not gonna make any assumptions on their relationship - I try not to think about it - but, they are Goddess and First Knight, and they are married.When I look at you and me, then, there is no way that I would let you get Erased, let alone do it. Not now and not ever!" She declared.

"You are very different from her though, Emiko." Law told her.

"Law-Chan, it wouldn't matter if I was The Goddess Of Chaos or even some kind of Anti-Love or Hate Goddess!" She replied firmly. "All Gods born into a Mortal Realm have to have a First Knight! It's not just to help balance out our powers! For everything that I don't understand about it, I just know that I need you! Right from the get-go, when you helped me to save Luffy, I needed you! It was even similar for Jimbe and my Mother, from what I can gather … she was like an older sister or a mentor to him! Even now, twenty-two years later, he still reflects upon her wisdom! And, with Ace-Chan and Sumi-Chan, it was similar again, but in a different way - ever since he saved her from Jalmack! She needed somebody to rein her in and look out for her, and he became like a big brother to her, which he'd been missing since leaving Luffy behind on Dawn Island!" She was breathing heavily again, and talking very quickly, never once taking her eyes off of Ino, though. "I can only imagine how she would have fought tooth and nail to reach him at Marineford that time! That's why, when I was reaching out for Ace-Chan and Luffy, my powers picked up Sumi-Chan, and then of course the others - because Sumi-Chan needed to go where Ace-Chan went! It's also why my powers reached to you, because I needed you!However it works, and however it happened for Ino and Akainu, it's just not logical that Ino would want to Erase Akainu - not when they have the kind of bond that they do!"

"Very perceptive." Ino spoke up again, in a suddenly chilling voice. "But, let me tell you this, so that there may be no more misconceptions - you and your Mother both have one thing in common in regards to your respective First Knights … it is that neither of you ended up with the one that it was meant to be."

Law tensed. He knew exactly what Ino was talking about, and he suddenly wasn't so sure if he wanted Emma to know about that. He hadn't even told Vivi about it, when she'd asked him about what he and Fisher Tiger had been talking about - he had just told her that they'd discussed the power of command that Emma and Undine both had over Fishmen and Merfolk, which hadn't technically been a lie (nor had it been the whole truth).

He wasn't a hundred percent certain that he wanted Emma knowing just how close she might've come to having a Fishman for her First Knight. One who had known Emma probably from birth and whose brother had scaled the Red Line with his bare hands.

"What would you know about my Mother and her First Knight?!" Emma demanded to know, the anger now evident in her voice. "It's not like you knew her before God Valley!"

Ino froze, and Law chanced a quick glance at Emma - her eyes were flashing.

He looked back up at Ino, and saw that hers were, too.

"Who told you about that?" Ino asked her.

"Guy I met down in the River Styx." Emma responded, through gritted teeth. "He said that you challenged my Mother at God Valley, which is when she called you Chaos and found out that you'd opened up The Well Of Chaos, at least partially . . . "

"He didn't tell you the whole story," Ino said, in a low and slightly dangerous voice. "What he told you is a fraction of the torment and humiliation that your Mother has inflicted upon me . . . "

Law grabbed Emma around the waist, correctly anticipating that Ino's words had triggered her.

"My Mother was a great woman!" Emma told Ino angrily, struggling only slightly to break free from Law's grip - she was still unable to place much weight on her left leg, and so he was easily able to hold on to her. "It's you who's been tormenting people! You killed me, and you stole my Mother's necklace - twice!"

"Do you even know where that necklace came from?!" Ino snapped. "Yes, it came from the Celestial Realm, but it specifically came from her domain - from the Deep Ocean, the counterpart to my domain, the Intense Fires!" She swept her hand towards The Well Of Chaos. Her voice shook with anger. "If your Mother didn't break our promise to start anew, then where did she get that necklace from?!"

"From me." Came Twister's voice, as he walked towards them.

Ino snapped her head around, her face now showing a clear look of disbelief. "From you?" She said. "Why … in the name of everything, would you — ?"

"Becaussse I know that the Erasssure of everything isss what you have alwaysss wanted, Chaosss." Twister told her, and both Emma and Law were stunned by Twister's tone of voice. There was nothing short of loathing in his words, as he faced The Goddess Of Chaos. "I knew it even before you confronted me in this very placcce, and inflicted thisss upon me." He gestured to his eye, the one that was covered by bandages. "With the ssscythe that I would then hold on to … in order to keep you at bay."

"Well, you failed, didn't you?" Ino said to him. "All of the knowledge that you had wasn't enough for you to be able to stop me in the end. But . . . " She narrowed her eyes. "How did you even know about me? When there were only three that ever did? Almighty, Time, and — " She broke off, all of a sudden, recognition dawning on her face. "Of course … since you are Time's son . . . "

"Correct." Twister said, somewhat coldly. "And, just as Sssumi gained sssome of your powersss to caussse chaosss . . . " Ino's free hand twitched, and Emma and Law watched as Twister smirked, slightly. "And, Little Death gained her own versssions of her parentsss' powersss … and, even our Princccessssss Emma here hasss some of her Mother'sss powersss . . . " He sighed. "I too gained something from my Father . . . "

Ino's gaze was searching for a moment, as she stared at Twister, and then she froze. "You … what did you do?!" She exclaimed, her voice shaking. "What right do you have to mess with time like that?!"

"About asss much right asss what you have to want to Erassse everything." Twister responded. "Or, to accussse Emma'sss Mother of betraying you, when you were the one who wasss going to ussse the relation between chaosss and chanccce to ensssure that you retained your divine powersss, although — "

"Ah, sumimasen," Emma interrupted him, suddenly. "But, what relation between her and Chance?"

"Chaosss isss unpredictable," Twister explained. "Therefore, there isss a high probability of anything and everything happening. Random chanccce isss that which isss lacking any definite plan or prearranged order … it isss a haphazard, random ssselection. It isss that which hasss a value that cannot be determined but only dessscribed probabilissstically." He sounded like he was reciting from a textbook.

"But . . . " Emma thought about something. "Even Ino had a plan . . . " She said slowly.

"Exactly . . . " Twister nodded. "Furthermore, Chaosss had a plan, asss well … two, in fact."

"Two?" Emma and Law repeated in unissson.

"Yesss . . . " Twister said, in a low voice. "Princccessssss, Law … you two have heard about the different kindsss of Godsss, including Ungodsss … and, what createsss an Ungod isss quite sssimple . . . " He glanced back up at Ino. "We mussst hurt one of our own. It isss the ultimate taboo . . . "

Emma gasped. She couldn't help it. Her mind began racing. "But – but – what about – Sumi-Chan?! In the cave – with Teech — ?!" She began shaking. Law was glad that he was still holding her around the waist, his arms looping underneath of her wings, and he tightened his grip on her.

"Sssumi wasss protected from retribution," Twister told her calmly. "Asss an Assscccended God."

"Because she saved Emiko." Law realised, and felt Emma relax in his arms but only slightly. "What about Blackbeard?" He wanted to know.

Twister sighed, again. "Jussst ssso that we're all clear on thisss … Teech sssaved the Princccessssss when ssshe had jussst turned one … it wasss the day of her firssst birthday … and, the World Government'sss firssst assssssinatttion attempt on her . . . "

"You can't die on your birthday . . . " Emma suddenly said, very softly, but, they heard her. She had a very faraway look in her eyes. "I dunno how I remember him saying that, but … that is what he said . . . " Yeah, nah, Teech, it's more that you can't die on somebody else's birthday … that's why Nanna held out until January the eleventh, so as not to die on Krystal's birthday.

"What?" Ino spoke up again, in a slightly mocking voice. "You didn't want to be even more like your Mother, and leave the Mortal Realm on your birthday? The failed First Knight was enough, was it?"

"Why do you care so much about my Mother's First Knight?!" Emma snapped.

"Because it was supposed to have been me!" Ino all but yelled.

Emma and Law just stared at her.

Whether or not she's telling the truth . . . Law thought.

I'm glad that it was Jimbe and not her. Emma shook her head.

"It was the agreement that we made . . . " Ino said, now in a low voice. "Which she broke!"

"How could she have broken it?!" Emma demanded to know. "It's not like we have any control over who it is!" . . . Do we . . . ?

She didn't say the words out loud, but her face must've betrayed what she was thinking, because Twister said: "Cccircumssstancccesss are what decccidesss who it isss … likely convenienccce, too." He shrugged. "Your Mother needed sssomebody to help provide a link to the Fissshman Dissstrict for her - sssomebody like Jimbe. Accce sssaved Sssumi and became her Captain - the perfect opportunity to keep an eye on her."

"And … us?" Emma gestured to her and Law vaguely, even as she held onto Kikoku, still.

"Isssn't it obviousss?" Twister said softly, and somewhat mockingly but there could be no mistaking the underlying tones of affection in his voice.

"Hai." Emma replied unexpectedly, and Law glanced quickly at her, just as she glanced at him.

They then both turned their gaze back to Ino, just in time to see her raise the scythe.

Emma, Law, and Twister all tensed, but Ino paused.

She then smiled - it was a cruel, self-satisfied smile, as she said: "We do have some control over who it is … for example, we can choose whether or not to fully accept them. You haven't done that yet, have you?" She asked Emma, who didn't respond. Her smile grew. "You also shouldn't concern yourselves about mine … he alone will be spared, in all of this . . . "

"You can't know that for cccertain." Twister warned her. A cold breeze seemed to blow from out of nowhere. "And, onccce he'sss gone, that'sss it … there isss no getting him back . . . "

Ino hesitated for just a fraction of a second and Emma, who was looking right into her eyes just then, saw it - the flicker of fear, of absolute sheer terror at the prospect of losing her beloved.

It only lasted for a second, however, and then Ino caught Emma looking at her and her face became expressionless.

But, just as quickly, her expression became smug, because Twister wasn't finished.

"Not that I exxxpect you to ever sssee him again, asss your actionsss have all but sssealed your fate," The God Of Change held up one hand (still with bandages on it), and the winds picked up. "Whatever happensss from thisss point on, there isss no happy ending for you, Chaosss . . . "

Why is he telling her that?! Law thought, suddenly panicked, as he watched Ino sigh, and heard the resignation and sudden determination in that one sigh.

She wasn't going to back down, Law-Chan . . . Emma's thoughts sounded just as panicked as his, despite the certainty behind what she was saying. Ino might have, but not Chaos … she's too far gone … this is terrible . . .

Law was surprised by Emma's thoughts, just then. Emiko . . . He tore his gaze away from Ino, to look at his Goddess. She was staring at Ino, biting at her lower lip, and … what was that look on her face? Was it … pity? For the woman who had murdered her as a baby, and forced the Gods to merge two souls together to make one person? She was still angry at Ino, especially at the remarks about Undine, and she was likely to never forgive Ino's actions regarding Sumi … but … even after everything that Ino had done, and everything that Akainu had done … even though Emma tried not to think about those two together … she still didn't want to see their love die.

She herself had lost the love of her life. She wasn't going to wish that sort of thing on anybody. Not even her worst enemy.

You are amazing, Emiko. Law found himself thinking, and Emma glanced away from Ino just for a second, to smile briefly up at him.

The white spirit orb that had been hovering constantly just beside her neck chirped softly.

Twister sighed. "Here we go." He said quietly.

And, Ino said: "Chaos."

And, at once, everything around them changed.

Twister had just enough time to call: "Do not get ssseparated, you two!" Before the ground and everything else around them vanished, and Law would have fallen, except that . . .

Looking down at his left-hand side, Law saw that there was a golden ribbon tied around his wrist about eight times, and connected to a similarly tied ribbon around Emma's right wrist.

She was looking at him.

The feeling of floating there, unable to see anything except for each other, was both disconcerting and not at all unexpected - Law had learned long ago to be prepared for anything.

Kikoku was still held in Emma's left hand, but she silently held it out to Law, and he took it.

At once, the blade of the nodachi glowed even brighter, and that was when Law noticed Twister standing on Emma's other side, and that spirit orb still close to Emma's shoulder.

"Where's Ino?" Emma asked immediately, her voice echoing in the vast expanse of nothingness that was surrounding them. "What did she do?!"

"Ssshe hasssn't gone anywhere," Twister responded. His one visible eye was glittering, slightly. "And, neither have we - really … ssshe hasss jussst made it ssso that we cannot sssee her final transssformatttion . . . "

"Her what?" Emma said, her breath hitching in her throat.

Law looked hard at The God Of Change. "Did you know that she was going to do this?" He asked him.

Twister nodded. "I did." He said softly. "And … I intended for it to happen . . . "

"Why?" Emma whispered.

Twister looked at her, and then reached up and slowly began to take away the bandages on his right eye.

"It isss consssidered to be the ultimate taboo to injure one of our own," he told her, in an equally as soft voice, as he unravelled the bandages. "When I confronted Chaosss at The Well Of Chaosss, ssseventy yearsss ago … yesss?" He said, seeing Emma open her mouth.

"That's when you became unable to talk about certain things, like the scythes and everything, right?" Emma said.

Twister nodded. "Yesss. It isss alssso when I resssigned myssself to watching over the well, which had become unssstable due to Chaosss'sss interferenccce. When ssshe did thisss to me . . . "

Emma gasped.

The bandages had fallen away from Twister's face, to reveal the scars across his right eye. They were very, very deep, as if whatever had slashed his face had unleashed some kind of an energy which had then arced outwards, almost like lightning.

And, the eye … in contrast to Twister's pitch black left eye, the iris of his right eye was the most brilliant of crimson reds. It was even more so than either Death's or Little Death's, and it seemed to be glowing slightly, like a ruby caught under light.

"I wasss protected from the ultimate retributttion for taking up armsss againssst Chaosss," Twister explained quietly, seemingly unconcerned that both Emma and Law were shocked at what they were seeing. "From the blessssssing that your Mother had given me in return for gifting her with a necklaccce that allowed her to become a new kind of Goddessssss … a Mortal Goddesssssss … I wasss the one who ensssured that both ssshe and Chaosss were reborn into that world."

"Why Chaos, too?" Law wanted to know.

"Chaosss, who had all intent to reach the well, could not be ssstopped in any other way," Twister replied, shaking his head. "For, her ultimate goal wasss alwaysss to reach the well, but to do that ssshe mussst become an Ungod - it wasss the only way for her to bypassssss her own personal taboo … to not touch The Well Of Chaosss. Ssshe did ssso by acquiring one of the two ssscythesss, and attacking me … we both underessstimated each other, though." He added. "For, Chaosss did not know that my connectttion with what I represssent allowed me to take back the ssscythe during the ssstruggle and sssend her away with sssome conditttionsss of my own desssign … and, I did not know that her having touched the ssscythe would not only ensssure that ssshe would reawaken asss a Mortal God many, many yearsss later, but that it would also have ssseriousss reprecussssssionsss when ssshe obtained my ssscythe again, later on."

"Ino's a Mortal God, too?" Emma asked. She sounded stunned.

Twister nodded. "Ssshe isss the Goddessssss Of The Land." He told them.

"She hid her powers well." Emma murmured. "As well as her relationship with Akainu … even Sumi-Chan and the others didn't sense it, did they? Damn it . . . "

"This 'taboo', Twister-Ya," Law said slowly. "The one where you guys can't injure each other … Chaos broke that taboo and became an Ungod, but . . . "

"That doesn't apply to Ino, does it?" Emma realised.

"Correct." Twister said, as he placed a hand on Emma's shoulder. "Technically, killing Edward Liborn Emma ssshould have turned Ino into an Ungod as well, but usss reviving you alssso reversssed that retributttion … her powersss were ssseverely weakened, though … the day after Ino committed that murder, the weakening of her powersss isss what sssaved Cub'sss life when he faced her . . . "

Emma and Law both froze, but, for different reasons.

"Why . . . ?" Emma whispered. "Why would he . . . ?"

"He couldn't not confront her . . . " Twister sighed. "Regardlessssss … Ino hasss reverted back into her Chaosss form . . . "

"Which means . . . " Emma realised. "That … although she's going to be much stronger now . . . "

"Nothing will happen to Emiko when she defeats her . . . " Law said quietly.

Twister nodded. "Exactly." He looked at the two of them. "It isss ssstill not going to be easssy, but … remember, ssshe hasss her weak point. You jussst have to find it . . . "

Emma nodded, moving her right wrist now - the golden ribbon vanished from around her wrist and Law's, but they both felt like it was still there.

Law also noticed that he was dressed differently again, too - it was similar to the outfit that he had found himself in when Emma had transformed into her Princess Of Light form, except that it was white instead of black. Just like how Emma was now dressed in black instead of white.

For darkness inside light's own power . . .

Brings forth light in the darkest hour . . .

"Ready?" Law asked Emma quietly.

"Law-Chan . . . " She looked up at him. "I was reborn ready."

And, at once, everything came back into view, and they were standing in front of The Well Of Chaos once more, staring at The Goddess Of Chaos in her truest form.

It was even worse than the statue on the fountain on Mirrorball Island, because it was real.

Whoever said that a lion crossed with a crab was a good idea must have been just as insane as this being standing before them itself. It had the head, body, and back legs of a lion, but the front claws - the pincers - of a crab, and a thick shell covering its back.

Emma could even see a few other animal traits in it - like the horns of a goat, the rough size and weight of a baby blue whale, and even what looked like a dimetrodon's spine along its back. She hoped that its tail wasn't a scorpion's stinger, but, she strongly suspected that it was.

It made absolutely no sense whatsoever.

It was Chaos.

"Cici-Ya!" Law had taken stock of the situation at once. "Stand with Twister-Ya and defend the well from Chaos's attacks!"

"But, what about your crew?!" The great stone inuksuk, who was dwarfed by Chaos, called back to him.

Law glanced down at Emma, who knew immediately what he was thinking.

"Oh, no, Law-Chan!" She told him firmly. He watched as she tentatively put weight onto her left leg, and grimaced only slightly. "You're not getting rid of me! We fight together!" She looked up at him, her eyes suddenly very determined. "No matter what happens."

---

Twister had known all along that this would be among one of the hardest battles that Emma and Law had ever faced, but, not for the obvious reasons.

Of course, Chaos was physically strong, and armed with a great amount of Celestial energy. Given where they were, that was no surprise. Twister had expected as much. He knew that Emma and Law would have, as well. Considering just how they were battling, it was obvious that they had realised how hard they were going to have to go. Against a regular foe, they would have actually won the battle fairly quickly - Twister couldn't recall seeing them so in-synch before.

However, this was no regular foe.

This was The Goddess Of Chaos, in probably her strongest form, and the one that was the closest to how she had been in the very beginning. Twister had only ever heard the legends … there were very few that had been around back then, to witness what had happened. Twister could count on one hand the number of Gods who had been, since there were only three of them other than Chaos herself.

Chaos had been around since then but, again, only three others had known about her … in the beginning, at least.

Twister hadn't been entirely certain at first why he had found out about her - it had honestly been a bit of a shock, and he had asked his Father immediately about this enigmatic entity.

He hadn't been entirely reassured by what he had heard - in fact, it had made him even more worried, and he had resolved to keep an eye on Chaos after that. Which had turned out to be one of the best decisions that he had ever made. It had meant that he could, at times, take matters into his own hands - like with the necklace - and then eventually, as Ino had said, messed with time.

Not that he'd been able to change too much, of course - even he had his limits. He had been able to do something unprecedented, however … something that nobody had realised.

Yet . . .

But, not even all of the alterations and rewriting of history could stop Ino - as Chaos - from using all of her powers to try and destroy the Princess and her First Knight … especially when she decided to start attacking their minds.

The mind was a very powerful thing. Twister knew that all too well.

And, for an insecure worrier like Emma and an over-thinker like Law, that was probably going to be more effective than the deadly sting at the end of Chaos's tail.

Twister watched as, from the top of Chaos's lion-like head, a figure emerged, from the torso up. It looked like Ino, except that its body was covered in Chaos energy, and its eyes were completely white.

Twister glanced at both Emma and Law, even as the figure reached for the scythe that was above Chaos's head. They were both staring at what had just occurred, and Twister didn't even have to be able to sense their thoughts (he wasn't as good at the whole 'mind-reading' thing as what Death and Fate were) to know what the two of them were thinking.

Absolutely none of this is logical anymore, so I guess that I was right about Chaos's nature! Law's eyes were narrowed, as he gripped Kikoku in his right hand.

It's kind of like Amphisbaena from Castlevania: Symphony Of The Night … but … unlike the maiden on that thing can't actually be hurt, in this case I believe that what I'm seeing here is Chaos's weak-point.Emma, ever the video gamer, was thinking. Her eyes then widened, and she turned to Law. "Law-Chan!" She reached out for him.

He had just realised it, too. "Emiko!" He reached out for her but, by then, it was too late.

The Ino-like figure that was coming out of the top of Chaos's head suddenly swung the scythe in an arc, which tore open a hole in reality and dragged Chaos, Law, and Emma into it.

Twister just stood there, with Cici somehow managing to look stunned despite having no face, and then a little voice yelled: "Oh no! Oniisama! Emma-Neesama!"

Twister turned and saw a little girl running towards him, hopping expertly over the cracks and small craters that had been formed by the battle.

"Lami!" Twister wasn't at all surprised to see her here, even if the fact that she was here meant that she was in danger.

Her brown pigtails flying out behind her, Lami didn't slow down until she'd reached The God Of Change, and then she cried: "What's going to happen to them?!" She stared at the black Portal that the three had disappeared into.

"Chaosss will attempt to destroy their mindsss." Twister said calmly.

"What?!" Lami turned pale. "Noooo! How will they get out?!"

"They have each other," Twister reminded her. Lami looked up at him. "Remember what Rosssinante wasss trying to get her to realissse?" Lami nodded slowly. Twister turned his gaze back up to look at the Portal. The scythe was still hovering just above it, but, Twister knew that now was not the time to go after it. "That isss all that they need to know, right now. That … and that they can get back here." He added.

"Okay!" Law's little sister said, nodding firmly as she knelt down, and clasped her hands. "Then, I'll use what Sister-San taught to me, and let my brother and his girlfriend know that they can get back here!" She closed her eyes.

Twister didn't even bother correcting her, and just glanced over to where he knew that most of the other Heart Pirates were. Knowing that he must not leave this place, Twister conjured up a piece of paper and a quill, and swiftly wrote down instructions to the Heart Pirates - well, reminders, really, as he had already told them that they must focus their inner energy on supporting their captain. He had sensed that they had listened and understood, and they had been doing that, but now it was imperative. He was also going to ask the very nun that Lami had just mentioned to come and get the little girl - she didn't need to be here when Chaos, Emma, and Law got back.

Giving the piece of paper to a black-and-white owl that he had just called upon, and knowing that Emma would have made some reference to Harry Potter right then, Twister turned back to the Portal, as the owl took flight.

"Stay together, don't let her get away," Lami was chanting softly, and Twister sensed a small amount of Celestial energy emanating from within the little girl, and made a mental note to suggest to Boss to begin training Trafalgar D. Lami as a Realm Guardian. "Even when the mountain was too high, you didn't let it stop you from reaching to the sky . . . " Okay, was this a prayer or a song? Did it even really matter? "The burning winds couldn't keep you apart, because you are joined at the heart … the clock didn't stop and that was okay, you took a chance and seized the day . . . " What kind of things had that nun been teaching her? "The waves may break you in stormy weather, but the tide will bring you back together … the snow didn't blind you then or now, the truth is that you didn't know how … to see the forest from the trees, only now you have a clue … of what the enemy is and what you must do . . . "

Twister was willing to bet that not even Lami had understood half of what she'd just sung. But, it wasn't about her understanding it - it was about Emma and Law understanding it.

And, acting upon it.

Twister had seen, with that scarlet eye of his, where Chaos's weak-point was located, and he was starting to understand just what it was.

As soon as Emma and Law got back then, hopefully, they would understand as well.

Looking at the Portal, framed by the light of the blood moon, The God Of Change had to wonder: Will thisss night ever end?

"Maybe I should try that other old song . . . " Lami said, and started singing a different song.

Twister sighed.

---

"If Luffy-Ya and I act as lightning rods . . . " The Law of the past was saying.

The Emma of the past turned around, fast. "Wait, why you? You're not immune to lightning, Law-Chan."

"No, but, I can use my skills in other ways."

"By using his 'ROOM' to create an area where he'll disperse any lightning that threatens him." The Vivi of the past added.

Emma sat on a large pine tree branch, looking down at the group that had consisted of her, Law, Luffy, Ace, Vivi, Robin, and Su-Chan.

Across from her, on another pine tree branch, was Law.

They were connected by that golden ribbon, even though they couldn't see it. But, they knew that it was there. They could feel it.

"I was so scared that you were going to get struck by lightning and die." Emma called to Law as soon as past Vivi had finished talking, looking across at her First Knight.

"But, I didn't." He reminded her. He glanced at Kikoku, which was still glowing blue in his right hand. He then glanced at the ring on his left hand, before watching as the Law of the past put Su-Chan onto his left wrist. "Emiko?"

"Hai?" She said.

"Why did you put your ring on your left hand?"

"Didn't I tell you?" She looked surprised.

Law shook his head. "Iie."

"But, you just changed your ring over, too? No questions asked . . . " She pointed out, and then she sighed. "I got … attacked by an Akuma Mukade … and … my right hand swelled up terribly, and so I had to put it on my left hand … Olamie or whatever her name was helped me … and then … I just never changed it back, because by then you had changed your ring over and it would have felt weird . . . " She shrugged, just as the spirit orb flew over to her and started chirping sharply.

Both Emma and Law stood up. "It found Chaos." Law commented, eyeing the spirit orb.

"Seems so." Emma nodded.

From the second that they had found themselves where they were, they had just decided to go along with whatever happened. It was literally all that they could do.

Law glanced at the spirit orb. "So . . . ?"

"A spirit orb, or a deceased person or such that hasn't got a corporeal form." Emma explained to him, as she glided over to him with the spirit orb trailing along beside her. "The River Styx was full of them, but . . . "

"This one's still with you?" Law asked, as he reached up and took her hand, feeling himself suddenly able to float thanks to the connection between their powers.

"Mmm." Emma nodded. "It helped me to find Luffy, and stayed with me when I went into a haunted house and got ambushed by Kirādōru."

"Mm…hmm . . . "

They were flying along now, with the spirit orb in the lead.

"Ne, Emiko?" Law said suddenly. "How are you feeling? You know … about what we just saw?"

She knew exactly what he was talking about, which is perhaps why she chose not to answer him, and instead looked down and said: "Oh, hey, there's Harold . . . " She pointed to where the rabbit-man of the past had just hopped out of the bushes. "He's a Mink, just like Zepo and … ne, Law-Chan, why doesn't Bepo say 'you-gara', too?"

"They can grow out of it, if they spend enough time away from other Minks." Law replied, with a sigh. Emma had just done it again - she had started talking right when the Ace of the past had spoken. Law knew that it had only been a week since Ace had died. This was such a tedious situation - Law had realised from the second that he had seen Emma that she was balancing her grief and the fact that she had to save existence. She was trying to keep the fact that she was grieving from him, though. As if she thought that she wasn't allowed to be, or that he wouldn't understand.

Her grief was there, though … it was like the water in a container that she was holding precariously as she fought, and every so often it would get jostled too much and the grief would splash up.

Law knew that, if she was going to be able to get through this, then she had to let go of that container. It needed to shatter, and she needed to be okay with it, before she could heal.

Whenever that happened . . .

"Do they also grow out of that?" Emma asked, pointing as the Harold of the past nuzzled up against past Vivi's long hair.

"Considering that Bepo's never done that, we can assume so." Law replied.

"His brother did it, though." Emma responded, sounding thoughtful. "Remember how long my hair was by the river?" She asked him, and he nodded. "Because of Ivankov and his powers … my hair grew to my knees, and stayed that way … until Hitomi-San cut it off for me … then, the Zombie of Captain John picked it up . . . " She glanced sideways at Law, and he caught the gleam in her eye. "He's the one who told me about how my parents were once part of a crew called the Rocks Pirates … nobody much liked their captain, but, they all liked my Mother," there was a note of pride in her voice. "Who could control the seas and turn the tides in their favour - quite literally, apparently … there were some other notable people on that crew, though … like the guy who took out the Gecko Pirates, and somebody who knew my Mother before, a woman named Linl — "

Emma and Law both moved instantly, as a wave of Chaos Energy came flying towards them.

"There!" Law cried, seeing Chaos floating in mid-air atop the highest pine tree of them all, where a black Portal had just been torn open.

Emma grabbed the spirit orb in her left hand. With her right hand - the one that was holding on to Law's left hand - she sent out a red ribbon, which wrapped around Chaos's tail as the Goddess retreated through the Portal. "Ribon-Ribon No … Retract!"

"Did you just make that up?" Law asked her casually, as they shot towards the Portal.

"The name, yes." She admitted, clutching the spirit orb tightly to her chest. "But, after years of watching Luffy on TV and playing The Legend Of Zelda, this move is practically second nature to me."

"I knew it." Law muttered, rolling his eyes.

---

Emma and Law were thankfully not affected by the heat of the intense sun that was shining down on them, although the light still reflected off of the almost white sands, and made them wish for sunglasses which instantly appeared for them.

They were then able to wait comfortably for the spirit orb to return to them, sitting side-by-side on top of a single stone hoodoo.

Emma peered over the edge of the hoodoo, and said: "You see that opening there?" She pointed to a hole at the foot of the hoodoo. "That's the entrance to the temple when it's underground … oh, look, there we are!" She suddenly pointed, and Law looked to see four figures coming over the sand dunes.

One was Sphinx, and the others were three women riding on three very tall camels that had halos.

"You never told us that you got to ride in on camels." Law remarked casually, thinking about what some of the others would say to this, although at least it explained how Emma, Vivi, and Robin had gotten there before everybody else.

"You never asked." Emma shrugged.

The watched as the her of the past, in her light pink desert robes, struggled to get down from the very tall camel until past Robin, in dark purple robes, slid gracefully off of her camel and used her powers to help her friend down, simultaneously.

Past Vivi, meanwhile, had gotten her camel to kneel down gracefully, allowing her to easily dismount. Wearing white robes, and looking completely at home, she gave the camel that had carried her to the temple a loving pat.

"Arigatoō, Natalie." She told the camel.

"Yeah, thanks, Alex." Past Emma added, as the camel that she had ridden nudged her shoulder briefly.

"And you, Dylan." Past Robin inclined her head to the camel that she had ridden, which nodded back to her, before the three camels turned and began to trudge back along the desert, with Natalie leading the way.

'These camels three, hail from the White Sand Sea,' Past Sphinx said, all of a sudden. 'And, regarding their welfare you should worry not, for they'll find their own way back to Charlie's Camel Lot.'

"They're Charlie's Angels." Emma explained, and Law vaguely recognised the reference although he had no idea why anybody else would have come up with that. "You know, it surprises me that I didn't mind riding a camel," Emma went on, sounding thoughtful, now. Law glanced at her, as the three women and one Sphinx of the past descended the ladder into the temple (well, the women used the ladder - Sphinx jumped). "I had a bad experience with a camel when I was little," she explained to him. "I was sick, and we went to a wildlife park when we were on holiday, and this camel slobbered all overmy hands … I was mortified. I must've only been about three or four."

"You would've only come up to that camel's knees." Law remarked.

She gave him a Look, but then she smiled, slightly. "Yeah, Mum had to pick me up to reach the camel. She had to do it again about ten minutes later when we were in the kangaroo enclosure, and the kangaroos kept on trying to pick me up and take me away. They must've realised that I was sick . . . " She closed her eyes briefly for a second, and then said: "Your Father . . . " Law froze. Emma opened her eyes and looked directly at him. "He was a doctor too, wasn't he?"

She knows, she knows, she knows . . . Law thought, forgetting that Emma now had the ability to read his mind, as he realised that she had seen that vision that he had been having before she'd shown up at The Well Of Chaos.

Law didn't get a chance to comment on this because, just then, the spirit orb appeared at their sides, chirping, and they both stood up. Emma then held onto Law's hand as she jumped over the side of the hoodoo which would ultimately be destroyed in the events that followed.

Letting the spirit orb lead the way across the sands, Law noticed that Emma wasn't looking at him, and she didn't speak, but, she was clearly waiting for an answer.

It wasn't until they reached the White Sand Sea - Law had a sneaking suspicion that these sparkling white dunes and masses of multi-coloured coral had once been a part of an ocean of sorts - and saw Chaos creating a black Portal right in the centre of the sand sea, that Law felt ready to answer.

Chaos seemed to have given up trying to attack them, and was just intent on getting away from them - which they were not going to let her do, having established almost straight away that if they let her get too far ahead of them then they would likely be trapped in this strange trip through their memories. Or, maybe even disappear, as Emma had once feared would happen to Law if he left her side when her necklaces transported them around when she was sleeping.

They watched as Chaos dived into the black Portal, and Emma immediately closed the distance between them and the Portal.

"Emiko," Law said to her quietly, and she looked at him, as they hovered directly above the black Portal. "My Father was … the best doctor in the land that I grew up in … he and my Mother both taught me … basically everything that I know."

"They must have been great people." Emma replied, just as quietly.

He nodded. "They were . . . "

She squeezed his hand and, holding the spirit orb to her chest again, let them fall towards the black Portal . . .

---

The Portal that they came out of was on the side of a cliff.

"Well, that was weird." Emma commented, as they landed on the ground. "I — " She broke off suddenly, and it was immediately obvious why.

They were staring at the battle that had taken place by Valley Deep, when they and their Allies and the soldiers from Canterdown Village had stormed the Rebel Base.

Or, more specifically, at what had happened when the Emma of the past had ended up standing next to past Law.

Law realised that Emma wasn't looking at that, however - following her gaze, Law saw that she was staring across at the Ace of the past who had watched what was going on with an easily readable expression.

He had looked furious … there was no doubt that he had been furious, and that his fury was at Law for kissing Emma.

Time seemed to stand still then, as Emma stared at the Ace of the past, and Law suddenly realised that, back in their memory of the Mountain Realm, she had been at quite a distance from him - she wasn't even wearing her glasses.

Now, however, she was right up close to a very real memory of the husband that she had just lost, and she was frozen to the spot, as everything else around them seemed to grow dim.

Emma was still frozen, even as the Ace of the past ran up the stairs to the rooftop.

"Emiko?" Law moved so that he was standing in front of her. Looking into her eyes, he was almost startled to see the lack of expression in them. He cast a quick glance around them at the dim landscape. Where had that spirit orb gone? Where was Chaos? "Emiko," Law said again, squeezing her hand. "Emiko, we have to find Chaos — "

Emma suddenly jolted, and then she said: "This is my chance!"

"Chance for what — ?!" Law was suddenly yanked into the skies again as Emma took flight, dragging him up to the rooftop with her. "Emiko — ?!"

Emma was still dragging him when she landed, and hurried up to where the Ace of the past had just been approached by the Ino of the past, after she had opened up a Portal directly behind him.

"Alright, what the Hell did you say to him . . . ?" Emma whispered fiercely, and Law felt the anger emanating from within her as she stared hard at past Ino. "Damn you, Ino-Pig, for making him feel the way that he did for the next few days! It's time for me to know just why he was acting the way that he was!"

As much as Law hated to admit it, it seemed that Emma had been as in-tune with Ace's feelings as what he - and Law - were with hers. She had noticed the way that he'd been acting after his encounter with Ino in the Hills Realm, the subtle signs that something wasn't right … and, it seemed, what he kept within.

Law was recalling his conversation with Ace in the Snow Realm, and that was when he heard the words that Ino had said.

"I knew all along who Emma really was, and both my husband and I knew that Sumi would want to protect Whitebeard's daughter - and, in getting rid of Sumi, my husband ensured that you are now living on borrowed time. Because you failed."

Silence seemed to ring out at these words.

Everything seemed to slow down and grow dim around them again, and Law heard both of their heartbeats thudding. He looked at Emma, who was staring at the dimly lit figure that was the Ace of the past, with an expression that Law couldn't quite read … until he saw the tear that escaped from her eye.

"Emiko . . . "

"How could she say that to him?" Emma whispered. She hastily wiped the tear away. "Even if . . . " Her voice was wavering, and her hand was gripping Law's hand so tightly that he felt her almost non-existent nails digging into his palm. "I choose to forgive Ino for what she's done … I will never, everforgive what she just said to … to him … ever . . . " She looked up at Law. "It was one thing to battle against us, and do all that she did, but to have said what she just said to him … she didn't have to be so cruel … that went beyond the whole World Government versus pirates thing … it even went beyond Chaos versus the rest of us … it was just … her personally attacking him, for no reason . . . " Another tear escaped, and she wiped her eyes with more force this time. "I'm sorry, but to me that's just unforgivable! To treat somebody with such cruelty, it doesn't matter who it is … it's just unforgivable!" She repeated, as a few more tears splashed down her face. "I just … aurgh, I don't know why I'm getting so upset right now . . . "

"It's because you care." Law told her gently. He was still holding Kikoku in his right hand, but now he moved his left hand, which was still holding on to Emma's right hand, and held it up to his chest. If he had to guess, then his heart was probably beating at around 120 bpm. It was slightly high for just standing there (albeit, in a state of constant readiness to act), but, he was so in-tune with Emma and her emotions right now that he was certain that her rate rate was up around that level, as well. "That's why you get so upset when people like Ino are so cruel. It's because … you're not like that." On an impulse, he moved both of their hands to her chest, and discovered that Emma's heart was indeed beating just as fast as his, maybe even a little bit faster right now. "Thats's one of the reasons why I lo — "

The spirit orb suddenly appeared out of nowhere, just as the stillness of the moment was broken by the gunshot that came from past Bell-mére firing her flint locked blunderbuss at past Saint Jalmack, and sending him back to Level Zero.

As the spirit orb repeatedly rushed at Law, and the scene around them became bright again, Emma said, in a fairly calm voice: "I wonder how Chaos's influence affects who get sent to the River Styx … Jalmack apparently wasn't supposed to be up here at all - he was only up here thanks to Ino - but what about Vincent and Nishin? And, not to mention Zepo and Homing and Hitomi-San and all of the Zombies from Thriller Bark and — "

The spirit orb suddenly flew right up to her, although unlike with Law, where it had shown no intentions of stopping and he had had to dodge it, it stopped to hover just in front of her face, and chirped softly and reassuringly.

Law rolled his eyes. Why was this thing still with them?

"Huh?" Emma blinked. "Oh! You're right! Lead the way!" She told the spirit orb.

Oh, right. That was why.

They didn't speak as they followed the spirit orb through to the cavern where the Portal Guardian had been before he'd been kidnapped by Ino.

The black Portal was there, but there was no sign of Chaos.

"Well," Law said quietly, as they stepped through the Portal. "To Faraway Island."

He expected Emma to chime in with her own variant of the usual counter that came from those who had been stranded on that island.

However, she just paused slightly, and then gripped his hand even tighter and said: "Remember at the restaurant, after I won us that free dinner, when Luffy asked me if Emma was my real name?" She glanced sideways at Law. "Actually, the truth is that my actual name — " She was cut off suddenly.

Because, they had just stepped out of the Portal to find themselves not on the island, but under the sea in the Ocean Realm.

Thankfully, the magic that had affected them in real life was also affecting them as they traversed through this memory - even though they (probably) wouldn't have been affected by the lack of oxygen, it was still comforting to know that they could probably catch up to Chaos down here with their merperson forms.

Not that they had to go very far, since they were in Queen Otohime's Room, and so was the Portal that Chaos had just opened up - they saw her tail disappearing through the inky depths, and the spirit orb (which was surrounded by its own little bubble) flew over to the Portal and hovered just in front of it, glowing softly and chirping to them.

Emma, however, was distracted by what was going on in that room.

The her of the past had just swum swiftly up to the giant ice statue that was the Portal Guardian Yuki, placed a hand onto his forehead, and commanded: "Open!" In a voice choked by tears.

"Emma-Sama!" Past Queen Otohime also sounded like she was in tears, and Law chanced a quick glance at the Mermaid Queen - yup, she was crying. "I'm sorry!"

"It's not your fault." Past Emma said, somewhat shortly. Her back was to them all, but Law could hear that she was struggling to hold back tears. "Thank you for telling me, Queen Otohime-Sama. I have to go, now."

"Emma-Sama, I know how you're feeling!" The Queen of the past said, somewhat desperately, as past Emma lingered in front of the glowing blue Portal. "I can feel the anguish and fear resounding in your heart! I can feel how conflicted you are, and why you want to leave now! I know that all that you want right now is to stop it from happening to anybody else! You feel that you failed your Father by not being able to prevent his death a second time around, but my dear nothing could be further from the truth!" She glanced at past Yuki, who had remained motionless on the dais after opening up the Portal. "You need your Allies to help you through not just your mission but this as well! Please, Emma-Sama … let them be there for you . . . "

Past Emma's shoulders were shaking, as she said: "I'm sorry, Queen Otohime-Sama . . . " And, she swiftly swam through the Portal that was in front of her.

The Queen Otohime of the past gasped, pressing a hand to her heart as she murmured: "Yuki … go . . . "

And, the great ice statue leapt through the Portal without a moment's hesitation, just as the doors to the room burst open, and the Fisher Tiger of the past and Tom of the past were there.

"What — ?!" They began in unison.

Past Otohime turned around quickly, so as to hide her tears from them, and she said, in a strong-sounding voice: "Go to Emma-Sama's Allies immediately and bring them here, we don't know how long the Portal is going to stay open for!"

"Of course, Your Majesty!" Past Tom said immediately, and he turned and swam back out of the room.

Past Tiger stayed, however. He swam a little further into the room, and said: "She left?"

Past Otohime nodded. "She did."

"Why? Did you tell her . . . ?" Past Tiger paused. "She told you to tell her, didn't she?"

"She's like me … she can sense things in others, and she knew that I knew that something was wrong. What she said was 'tell me, please', and … I had no choice." The beautiful goldfish mermaid sighed. "I could see straight away that she didn't know that I would have no choice but to tell her, but I could alsosee what the news of Whitebeard's death . . . " She hastily wiped at her eyes. "She's hurting, Tiger … I can't even begin to tell you what I saw in her heart … and, worse yet, she felt like she was hurting me as well by leaving the way that she did, but it's her Allies that she ultimately wishes to protect … she needn't worry about me, it's her and her Allies who. . . " She shook her head, quickly. "I can sense it in your heart, Tiger … that you are unsure if her Allies are really up to the task of being to her what we had at one stage believed your brother and the others to be."

"Well, can you blame me?" Past Tiger asked her, somewhat gruffly.

"Iie, of course not," past Otohime said soothingly. "Your mistrust in humans amounts to the uncertainty in your heart that they can help Emma-Sama as much as any Fishman or Merperson can."

"It's not just that." The Tiger of the past said, still in that same gruff voice.

"Oh, I know," past Otohime nodded, even as Law suddenly began tugging Emma towards the black Portal. They were almost all of the way through it when they heard past Otohime add: "After all, it was your little brother who was to be Emma-Sama's First Knight, but … worry not, Tiger, for I am certain that Emma-Sama and Cub will meet again … back in the Mortal Realm . . . "

---

Arriving in the memory of the Snow Realm was the same as when they had arrived there in real life, and suddenly finding themselves able to stand up again was mildly disconcerting (although, not as strange as having fallen through a Portal from above, only to come out of the next one sideways).

Emma, Law, and the spirit orb came out onto the snow, and observed as the Ace of the past threw past Luffy's arm off of him and lunged at past Law.

Emma appeared to be frozen, as she witnessed what had happened - how Ace had burned Law's arm, at the same time that Law had cut Ace's arm using Kikoku . . .

"Black blade?" Law heard her murmur. He glanced at her, warily, and saw that her face looked thoughtful. "Kōmori said that, when he and Chō were alive, that they both infused their swords with Busoshoku Haki," she pronounced the word slowly, not used to saying it. "It made the swords much stronger, especially against Logia users, like Crocodile - that was before he became a Warlord, mind - and some guy named Simon. They infused their swords with 'the colour of armament' so much so that Chō's turned black - that's part of how she got her epithet - although Kōmori's sword, Shirokōmori, was stubborn and refused to be anything but white, despite being just as strong as Kurochō … maybe that's what you did?" She glanced at him. "Infused Kikoku with Armament Haki?" Her eyes flickered to the blade in question, which was currently glowing blue.

He swallowed. "I can't be too sure," he said quietly. "I wasn't really paying attention to what I was doing … at the time . . . "

"Clearly." Emma remarked, somewhat dryly, as she unfurled her wings.

Past Luffy had just used Haoshoku Haki when he had yelled at past Ace and past Law to 'stop', which made the ground shake but Emma just calmly rose up off the ground, dragging Law with her. Her eyes were now on the horizon, to where a beam of light had just shot straight up out of the trees.

"What happened there, by the way?" Law asked her.

"My compass emitted a beam of light," Emma replied, as they flew over that way. "I was ready to take off when it did, but Cameron convinced me not to."

"Carmilla-Ya's boyfriend?" Law remembered.

Emma nodded. "Hai. Do you know . . . ? Seven years ago … he died when he was shot, and Carmilla was forced to act and kill the gunman to protect Georgia. So … Cameron showed up at the Lake Of Regret to help … Carmilla rushed into his arms, and Georgia was crying … I could feel how happy they were to see him, even if they didn't fully understand it . . . "

"Kenbunshoku Haki." Law said quietly, and Emma glanced at him. "Or, 'Observation Haki'." He elaborated. "Remember what the Queen said?" He added, hoping that Emma would focus on the emotions part of what the Queen had been saying, and not on the fact that Fisher Tiger's younger brother was supposed to have been her First Knight.

"That's Kenbunshoku Haki?" Emma blinked. Law nodded. "Souka … can you use it?" She asked him suddenly.

Law nodded, again. "It's … not the only reason that I know what you're feeling." He told her.

"Same." She replied, unexpectedly. "So, Law-Chan, please don't worry so much about how I might react to things - like finding out about Tiger-San's younger brother … you don't have to worry about what they said, because you know and I know that you are my First Knight. Nothing is ever going to change that. Even after I save him." She added quietly, and faced Law, now, hovering there with him high above the snow-capped trees, even as the storm threatened to roll in and obscure their view of each other. "You know that you can tell me anything." She added. "Like you told me about your Dad … I sense that … there is something about his death … your Mum's, too … that you still carry with you, even to this day . . . " She bit her lower lip. It was really bad … I can tell . . .

Law hesitated, and then he said: "Emiko … one thing that you should know — " He stopped talking abruptly, not just because the spirit orb had suddenly returned and started chirping somewhat frantically, but because Chaos had suddenly emerged from within what looked like the beginnings of the blizzard that had ravaged the Snow Realm that night - she seemed to have given up on trying to get away from them, and decided to go back to fighting.

And, they could do nothing, as her tail with the stinger suddenly came up, and then shot straight at them.

Without even hesitating, Law twisted his body so that he was in front of Emma, and saw the look of horror on her face as he felt the stinger go straight into his back, and everything immediately went black.

"LAW — !"

---

Emiko … you once said to Ace that you would only fail to call him '-Chan' if you thought that you weren't going to see him again … are you doing the same with me? Am I really going to die like this, right here and now? But … there's so much … that I still have left to do . . .

It wasn't that he was afraid of dying. Whatever Destiny had been saying about people with the initial D. in their names, the lack of fear towards death might just be an attribute.

Law actually understood now, that that was why when he had been in Umi's Spring he had been shown images - all of them in that anime-style that the One Piece show was - of various people … of Ace's parents, of Luffy that time in Logue Town when Buggy had been about to kill him, of that giant that had befriended Robin when she'd been little … he'd heard the words spoken to him by one of the Spring Keepers, who had introduced himself to them as Louis Doughal (Law was actually inclined to believe that Louis was his given name, despite Luffy calling him 'Doug-Guy') . . .

"All of them smiled, though they knew that death was imminent … a trait of those who bear that initial, but you knew somebody without that initial who went out like that, didn't you?"

Yeah … the man who saved my life and my soul, and I wasn't able to save him . . . Law had thought, somewhat bitterly. He had been the last one to leave the spring that day. Luffy had been the first, after having fallen asleep in the water where he nearly drowned, before Ace and Zoro had fished him out - Scarlett had then called from the other side of the spring, to ask if everything was okay due to all of the splashing, and cursing from Sanji because Luffy nearly drowning had apparently dredged up a traumatic memory for him (according to Louis).

"Everything's fine, Scarlett-Chan!" Sanji had called back in a sweet-sounding voice, before he'd glared at his captain and said, in his regular voice: "Is he done now?"

"Yeah!" Usopp had piped up, from where he was sitting cross-legged in the springs with the water up to his neck, and not even opening his eyes. "I'll never figure out what I've got to say to Kaya if I'm worrying about Luffy!"

Louis had agreed, and let Luffy go early, leaving the rest of them to settle back and let whatever the springs were doing to them keep on happening.

"Ohmmmm . . . " Usopp had intoned.

Louis had sighed. "Silent meditating, Usopp."

"Please." Zoro had added.

Law had let the voices fade away, as he focused on what he was seeing in front of him whenever he closed his eyes.

What he was seeing now, however, was slightly different.

In a vast expanse of darkness, Law stood on what felt like water. When he looked down, he saw his own reflection in the water that he was, somehow, standing on.

And, looking back up, he saw Emma. She was wearing a long blue dress that seemed to flow like waves, and appeared to be waltzing on her own.

But, when Law looked down, he was surprised to see that her reflection showed that she was, in fact, dancing with none other than Portgas D. Ace.

They looked beautiful, and they looked happy.

But, as Law watched the reflections, a drop of blood suddenly appeared from Ace's mouth, and dropped down - which was technically up and, when it reached the spot where the reflection would have given way to the real Ace (had he been there), then, a large bloodied wound appeared on the reflection's torso, before it shattered into a million particles of light.

This left Emma to fall to her knees, holding onto her arms as her body shook with tearless sobs, much like she had done on the night that Sumi had died.

The container of water seemed to shudder just then, but, she held on to it.

Law immediately reached out to her but, all of a sudden, he found that his feet couldn't move.

A wall of water suddenly appeared between him and Emma, flowing gently like liquid glass that distorted Law's view of Emma.

Looking down, now, Law saw that his reflection was still staring straight ahead, and then it moved on its own, travelling up the water wall and then coming out of the wall to stand in front of Law, now.

'You know that we can never be to her what he was.' Law's reflection said, calmly and with no emotion in it whatsoever. 'They shared a bond that went beyond one that the Celestial Realm granted them - they were drawn to each other all on their own. How can we compete with that?'

At the same time, Emma's reflection had also gone in to the water wall, and now it had come out and put its arms around its other side, almost protectively.

'If we don't let him in,' it whispered, but the amount of water around meant that its voice carried. 'Then, neither of us can get hurt. We won't have to go through the pain of losing somebody so precious to us, and he won't feel like he's second best. To everybody . . . ' It added, as wispy images began to appear around them, forming figures. 'To Ace-Chan, who we will never not love - no matter what, he will always be our first love … and Sanji-Kun, who trained us first because he knew that our parents had hurt us before and he wanted to help us to defend ourselves … and Zoro, the swordsman who we can just tell knows that something bad has happened to us and who, according to Luck, was angry enough at the supposed betrayal that he ended up evenly matching the Chaos Swordsmen in Misery Mire, and remember that before that we wanted to protect Zoro so badly that we told Mihawk the secret of where we're going … and Luffy … whom we love very much and, if not for him, then how would we have everkept ourselves sane in the River Styx before we were led to Jimbe by that song that Luffy once knew . . . ?'

'What betrayal?' Law's reflection suddenly said. 'And, what song?'

Emma's reflection glanced up at them, as a soft melody began to play from somewhere. 'Somebody that looked like you went back to the other Allies and told them that you were going to use our bond to get what you want.' It said quietly.

'Which is you to join the Heart Pirates.' Law's reflection confirmed. 'But, that wasn't us - we wouldn't have done that, not when they need to concentrate on other things.'

'We know that.' Emma's reflection nodded. 'Plus, you were in the Cave Of Phosphorescent Flowers near us that whole time. That's why I said that it was somebody who looked like you.'

'Like how Ino made herself look like The Goddess Of Infinity to fool Little Death-Ya?' Law's reflection mused.

'Similarly. But, we don't think that it was Ino, we think that it was that nine-tailed fox by the Lake Of Regret, who turned into Fox's Father to try and deceive her.' Emma's reflection replied. 'But, that's just it. Whoever it was used their knowledge of Kōmori to try and fool his daughter, but, they didn't know everything about that and so Fox could see straight through it. With us … people know, and so it was probably more effective when whoever it was imitated you. People can see just how close we are, so then . . . ' It trailed off.

'Why is there a wall of water between us?' Law's reflection wondered.

'What's keeping us apart?' They both asked in unison, before turning back to their own respective selves.

A voice that Law suddenly thought might belong to Lami suddenly began singing, and he watched as Emma froze.

Sorezore ni shiawase wo mezashi, kizutsuite mo sore demo te wo nobasu yo . . .

Emma tilted her head to one side. She didn't say anything, but, Law got the sense that she was trying to figure out who the voice belonged to, although she seemed to recognise the old song.

'Even if we get hurt … we just have to keep on trying?' Emma's reflection said, as it and Law's reflection began to return to the water wall. 'Can we do that … together?' It wondered.

'There's nothing stopping us from doing that.' Law's reflection pointed out. 'Except for … maybe . . . '

'Ourselves.' Emma's reflection realised. 'But … is that how it's supposed to be? I mean, remember back when we asked you to give us away? And, Robin-San said something along the lines of 'if you love something let it go, and if it comes back then it's yours? Letting go … two Realms ago that was a goodthing … how do we know if now is the time when we're supposed to work together?' It suddenly seemed thoughtful. 'Or … can what we said before be applied to us, as well?'

'Which was?' Law's reflection pressed.

'That when you love somebody you never really lose them, because you've always got a piece of them in your heart.' Emma's reflection smiled as it returned to its place.

'Then … do you . . . ?' Law's reflection hesitated.

'I can't say it.' Emma's reflection replied simply, before becoming just that again - a reflection.

Law's reflection smiled slightly, before it too resumed its place and became Law's reflection once more.

That voice was still singing. Kanashimi mo tsuyosa ni kawaru nara . . .

"So . . . ?" Law said quietly.

"Yeah . . . " Emma finally looked up at him. "I dunno who it is … some friend of Luffy's from a very long time ago … probably named Melody or Uta or something, given how well she can sing . . . "

Arekuruu arashi mo koete ikeru hazu, shinjiru sono tabi no hate de mata aitai . . .

Law didn't bother to ask how Emma knew about Luffy's friend, but he was inclined to agree with the unknown Uta - they should be able to get through the storm that was currently being thrown at them.

So, then … why was this wall of water still here?

Mezameta mama miru yume, kesshite same wa shinai . . .

"Destiny said that there's lots of different kinds of love." Emma recalled. "And, that you'd figured it out, Law-Chan."

He nodded. "I did. But, that doesn't mean that I'm not still in love with you." The words were out of his mouth before he could stop himself, but there was no going back, now.

To his surprise, though, Emma just sighed. "If we're being perfectly honest with each other, Law-Chan, that is probably the very last thing that I am thinking about right now." That was fair enough. "And, I don't know what is going to happen going forwards … that being said … keeping what Destiny said in mind . . . " She looked across at him. "I do love you. You're somebody who's been very important to me, right from the very beginning. Whatever happens, wherever I go, I don't want to lose you, Law-Chan."

"You won't." Law said, although he wasn't sure why his feet still wouldn't move. He wasn't holding onto Kikoku anymore … he didn't actually know where it was, which was slightly concerning, but, right now . . .

"So … you won't die?" Emma asked him softly. "Even from this?"

Law glanced down at himself, now, and saw the wound caused by Chaos's stinger tail. He wanted to groan. So, that's what this was.

Worse yet, it had happened right in front of Emma, who must have felt like she was going through Ace's death all over again.

He watched as she got up, and the distance between them seemed to grow.

"Emiko!" Law called to her. "I have to tell you … I have to tell you what my real name is!" He needed her to know! All of a sudden, he couldn't for the life of him think why he hadn't told her before!

"So do I!" She called back, her voice echoing in the vast expanse of darkness. "I mean … I have to tell you my True Name! All of those born into a Mortal Realm with divine powers have to have one! I was going to tell you that before, but . . . " And, as the music that was still there crescendoed, she began to walk back towards the water wall, looking as if she was fighting against a strong gale.

And, when Law began to walk forwards, too, he also felt that strong resistance. He pushed against it, though. "Not here?" He suggested, remembering her words to him in that first vision that he had had.

She smiled from behind the wall of water, reaching up with both hands to touch the liquid wall. "Like I said, I'd much rather tell you when it's not just a dream. Because … when I do … it means that nobody can use it against me, and that I accept you as my First Knight … but . . . " Her hands rested on the liquid-y surface of the water wall. "It also means that, if anything happens to me, then … you will be . . . "

Law recalled the words . . .

"So, I'm going to die?" Ace had said it so calmly, as if he and Law had just figured out something that wasn't going to impact all of them terribly.

He had been upset about it, but, not for himself - he was worried about what would happen to everybody else, once he was gone . . .

He had made Law promise to protect Emma, and be what she needed him to be.

Yeah, right. Ace hadn't needed to make Law promise to do that.

It was instinct.

Law also put his hands on the water wall, reaching through it to clasp both of her hands in his. "I'm not afraid." He told her. She looked up at him, and he smiled slightly. "I'll face my death with a smile, if that's the case … you could call it an inherited trait . . . " Her eyes widened. "Emiko … do you accept me as your First Knight?"

She didn't even hesitate. "Yes!" She cried, leaping through the wall of water and straight into his arms. "I accept you."

---

And, when Law came to, he didn't see at first that they were back by The Well Of Chaos. He didn't see that Twister was on one side of him, or that the spirit orb was on the other.

He only saw Emma, who was on the same side as the spirit orb, and had just finished pouring some glittery water over his torso, which Law realised was numb all of a sudden, but, he didn't care about that.

Sitting up carefully, he looked right into Emma's eyes, and said: "Water." It felt so weird to say it again, after so long, and when he was actually referring to his own name. But, to tell Emma, it also suddenly seemed so right. "That's my real name." And, he might as well tell her the whole name. "Trafalgar D. Water Law."

He watched as her eyes lit up. "Trafalgar D. Water Law." She repeated, and Law felt a jolt of electricity go through him. "I love it … and, one of the reasons why is that … my Mother … partially named me … after the tidal wave that, once a year, meets Water Seven . . . " Law's eyes widened, and Emma smiled, as a breeze blew her hair back from her face. "My name is Aqua."

"Aqua . . . " Law repeated, and felt a second jolt of electricity go through him, which also started to bring some feeling back into his recently healed torso. He also smiled. "No matter where you go … let's meet up more than once a year . . . "

"I'd like that." She nodded, somewhat happily, and that was when another voice cut through them like a knife.

"Why don't I just send you into an eternity of nothingness?!" Chaos roared, as crackles of Chaos Energy arced out from around her feet.

Law, Emma, and Twister immediately got to their feet.

Law noticed that Emma had Kikoku in her hand again, but that she kept on glancing up at the scythe, which was still hovering just above Chaos's head.

Without Emma even saying anything, Law knew at once what she wanted to do, and said: "Iie, Emiko - I'll go."

"Iie!" She hissed back to him, shaking her head. "I can teleport up there and back before she attacks!"

"Not when ssshe'sss got her guard up like that!" Twister stated. They both glanced at him. The God Of Change was staring not at his scythe, but at the spot on Chaos's forehead where the Ino-like figure had at one point been. His right eye gleamed. "Now, both of you, lisssten to me very carefully … have you figured out what Chaosss'sss weak point is?"

"Hai." They said in unison, both nodding.

"And, what about where it isss?" Twister went on.

"I know," Emma said softly and, when Law glanced at her, she sung: "My heart is your best friend, when it rules my head . . . " Because … Ino's greatest strength is also her biggest weakness … it's her heart, and especially when she's focused on it … like, if somebody insults Akainu, or mentions Sumi-Chan, even though Ino the ingrate didn't exactly love her daughter . . .

"Emiko," Law's words reached through to her, reminding her of what was going on. "Chaos is using the scythe to protect her weak point - we need to find a way to get it away from her, before we can focus our attacks on there."

"What about your powers?" She whispered back to him.

"They won't work on the ssscythe itssself." Twister informed them.

Law glanced at him, and then let his gaze travel over to the spirit orb that was hovering beside Emma's shoulder.

Who … are you . . . ?

Twister followed his gaze, and sighed. "You two cannot sssee that ssspirit for what it really isss, but, Ican . . . " He looked over at Law, now. "Yesss, what you're thinking will work, Law. Jussst think of itsss sssize asss being the sssame. In terms of Cccelessstial Energy."

Law nodded. "Good. Then . . . "

"That will leave you to strike at Chaosss'sss weak point, Princccessssss." Twister said to Emma, who didn't look particularly happy.

"What's going to happen when she realises that either of you two are up there?" She asked them. "That tail of hers is like a stingray or, well, a scorpion … it'll reach you in an instant, and, we don't have time to get more spring water . . . "

"I'll be fine." He assured her.

"Iie." She said, more firmly now. "I will go, and teleport back down here before she can strike me." She glanced at the spirit orb. "You stay here too." She added, before she handed Kikoku to Law and said: "Hold this, we're going to need it."

And, before either of them could stop her, she had teleported - non-verbally - to the spot just above Chaos's head, and grabbed onto the scythe in that same instance.

Law was already moving, because he had sensed it; Chaos had suddenly readied her tail … almost as if she had known what they were about to do . . .

And Emma, who had landed atop the great beast's head, must have sensed this too. But, what she said took Law somewhat by surprise, even as he got around to the side of Chaos.

"Let me guess - this is exactly what my Mother would have done?!" Emma said.

Chaos growled. "Either that or she would have assumed her Goddess form!" Her red eyes flashed but, right now, she was too focused on Emma, and so she hadn't noticed that Law was now within striking range of her tail, which she was readying to strike Emma.

Law rarely ever used Kikoku without his Devil Fruit powers - that incident with Shiryu had been a rare occurrence (most people seriously had no idea just how out-of-character that was for him). But, with Chaos … this was different … this wasn't going to be needless bloodshed . . .

Kikoku's blade was glowing blue, almost as if it agreed with his sentiment, and he felt the blade slice through Chaos's tail with more power than what he could ever remember it having.

But, even as he landed on the other side of Chaos, and her black blood splattered around like the heaviest rain drops in the world, the great beast's roar was almost drowned out by Emma's sudden scream.

That, and Twister's call of: "Princccessssss!" It was the first time that Law had heard The God Of Change speak in anything above his normal tone of voice, and it was immediately obvious why he was suddenly so panicked.

The Ino-like figure had just appeared from the top of Chaos's head again, and grabbed not onto the scythe but onto Emma's wings, with what looked like clawed hands. And, before they knew it, it had suddenly torn the wings from Emma's back, in a flurry of leathery skin and blood that swiftly disappeared into thin wisps of darkness,

And then she grabbed onto the scythe.

But Emma had, it seemed, in this brutal instance of pain, decided not to give in, and she gritted her teeth and held on to the scythe. So, the Ino-like figure attacked Emma's horns next, tearing them from her scalp in much the same fashion as it had ripped the wings from her back, but still Emma held on.

Chaos tossed her head, but because the Ino-like figure had grabbed on to the scythe again after tearing out Emma's horns, and Emma wasn't about to let go of the scythe, she did not succeed in shaking off the young woman.

And, finally, with a roar of frustration from Chaos, the Ino-like figure let go of the scythe and produced from out of nowhere what looked like a small, silver dagger.

Law saw Emma freeze, and heard her thoughts.

That's … it's the same dagger … that she used to kill me … when I was just a baby!

It was for that reason that Law did what he did next - and, Emma suddenly found herself standing next to Twister, and realised in that instant that Law had used his Room to switch places with her!

"Law-Chan, no!" Emma yelled, fear gripping her heart as she watched Law struggling now with the Ino-like figure, who had gripped onto one of his arms and was using the other one to try and plunge the knife straight into Law's heart!

Law was managing to keep the blade from making contact using Kikoku, but it reminded Emma somehow of Zoro's fight against Mihawk that she had watched in the anime. How was this Ino-like figure able to use so much power?!

Is it … because it's like what I said? How her greatest strength is also her biggest weakness?

"That isss exxxactly right, Princccessssss." Twister said to her, standing right by her side.

Emma didn't even glance at him, as she handed him back his scythe. She didn't pay attention to the fact that he was also capable of reading minds, although she did whisper: "Here. This is yours." However, she could hardly hear her own words over the thudding of her own heart in her chest.

"If I could jussst get a clear ssshot on that thing . . . " Twister remarked, almost casually, but there were undertones of anticipation in his voice, as his black-nailed fingers curled around the scythe again at long last. Then, thisss will finally be over!

Emma's eyes were glued to her First Knight, and she was breathing rapidly, from horror and panic. She was scared - scared about what might happen, now.

Law was still struggling to stop himself from being stabbed and then, to the absolute horror of both Emma and Twister, the Ino-like figure succeeded in disarming him.

Kikoku flew through the air and landed in the ground, about ten feet away from where Emma was standing.

And, she would have remained frozen there, from shock and dread now more than anything, had the spirit orb not suddenly flown over to Kikoku and started glowing even brighter than the blue glow around the nodachi's blade.

It chirped urgently to her, and that was all of the incentive that she suddenly seemed to need, as she cast a swift glance over to where Cici was still guarding The Well Of Chaos, and then she ran to the sword and drew it out of the ground in one swift movement, like King Arthur drawing Excalibur from the stone or … something.

---

"It is a powerful technique, no doubt. You were meant to learn it, so don't forget that."

"Stone-Cutting Sword Second Strike is a technique of the Shimotsuki clan that, although thought lost at one point because of ... well ... the point is that it's not reliant on one's skill with a sword, although a connection with the blade that's being used is an advantage ... more to the point, it's about something else . . ."

Even Ryuma's Zombie would know that I was meant to learn the sword technique … it seems like the Shimotsuki clan created it, so, of course he would know!

"Because, the basis of that sword technique is the trust between the blade-wielder and the one whom the beam is intended to bypass. I'm surprised that you were able to do it without first realising that."

Trust … trust is important … in any kind of relationship, whether it be lovers or friends or family or whatever the Hell my First Knight and I are to each other … and, do we trust each other?

Law … Water . . .

He had been keeping his real name a secret … the fact that he has the initial of D. … it was a secret but he told me … that means that he trusts me, not just with the secret but with him … with his identity and who he is . . .

Emma … Aqua . . .

The name that my Mother, Edward Undine, gave to me … my True Name, and now that I've told my First Knight it doesn't matter if anybody else finds out about it … nobody else can ever use it against me, now, because … I have entrusted my name and myself to my First Knight . . .

Whoever we are or whatever we are, I know … I know that we can trust each other! And, that we do!

---

As the spirit orb quickly tucked itself safely into the top part of Emma's dress, and Emma teleported them both up to the top of Cici's head (much to the giant stone inuksuk's surprise), Chaos suddenly seemed to realise what was going on.

"You wouldn't dare!" She growled, as the Ino-like figure suddenly moved swiftly behind Law now - it was now half using the surgeon as a human-shield, and half in a much better position to be able to slice his throat with the dagger that it now held up to his throat. "You love your First Knight! You don't want him to die!"

"You're right, Chaos!" Emma called back, holding Kikoku firmly in both hands as she faced The Goddess Of Chaos. A cold breeze blew across the broken landscape. "I do love my First Knight, and I don't want him to die! But, for that, I have to stop you!"

"And, how will you do that?!" Chaos asked her, as the Ino-like figure pressed the dagger blade up against Law's throat. "What do you have that can possibly hope to save him, now?!"

Emma was about to reply, when Law suddenly beat her to it. The Surgeon Of Death wore a smile, despite the thin trickle of blood that was coming from his throat, now. And, he looked right into Emma's eyes, as he said: "Trust."

Emma didn't even hesitate. "ZANGANKEN NI NO-TACHI!"

The pinkish beam of light arced from Kikoku when she swung it down, and shot straight up towards the Ino-like figure.

At the same time, Twister had raised his scythe, and swung it down as well. He didn't speak but, in the instant that Zanganken Ni No-Tachi passed through Law and made contact with the Ino-like figure, a bright blue circle appeared on the ground between Twister and Chaos.

Chaos had just tossed her head and roared in pain, as the Ino-like figure let out a bloodcurdling scream of its own, and Law was thrown to the side.

"I've got you, Law!" Cici exclaimed, rushing over and catching the surgeon in both of her hands, even as Emma clambered down her shoulder.

Chaos began to break apart, Piece by piece, and raining black blood down all around them. Cici shielded Emma and Law from the rain, but Twister merely stood there, suddenly looking both commanding and terrifying, as he raised his scythe again and held it in both hands out in front of him.

The pieces of Chaos that were breaking off were flying straight at Twister, seemingly in a last-ditch attempt to attack him, but the scythe deflected them to the sides and they ended up being sucked down into The Well Of Chaos.

And, finally, the blue circle that was on the ground moved to where now only the Ino-like figure was suspended in mid-air and, when the last piece of Chaos was gone, the circle enveloped the figure.

There was one final, chilling scream, and then the figure fell, landing on the ground below as the circle vanished.

It was Ino.

Her sheet white skin covered in red and black blood, the assassin lay there, and did not move.

"Is … is she alive?" Cici suddenly said, sounding uncertain.

Nobody responded. They were all just staring at the blonde-haired figure.

Ino's fingers on her left hand - which wore a simple golden ring on the ring finger - suddenly dug into the ground, and they became aware that her shoulders were moving as she breathed.

Law finally nodded, with some difficulty - his neck was bleeding, and Emma also had her arms around him and her body pressed up tightly against his, like she never wanted to let him go ever again and Law felt like he was honestly okay with that. "She's not going anywhere right now." The surgeon said quietly, as Cici lowered them to the ground, and Twister began to walk towards them. "Not with her legs broken in about six different places, three cracked ribs, and a broken right shoulder."

"Ouch." Emma murmured, still with her body pressed tightly against Law's. "But … at least it's over . . . " She added, shifting Kikoku slightly so that she could hug Law better.

"Thanks to you." Law told her, putting his arms around her.

"And you." She reminded him.

"Mostly you." He replied.

"A team-effort, perhaps?" Cici suggested. "You two make a great team." She added. "Or … should I not say that?" She wondered, all of a sudden.

"Who's going to disagree with you, Cici-Ya?" Law asked her.

There was a sudden high-pitched chirping sound, and Emma and Law broke apart instantly as the spirit orb came out of Emma's top, apparently having been pressed too tightly when she'd been holding on to Law.

Emma couldn't help it - she giggled, and then she started laughing, even as the spirit orb rushed at Law, who couldn't move out of the way because of his neck. She hadn't laughed in so long but, now, with the relief that it was finally over because they had defeated Chaos, Emma felt like an enormous weight had been lifted from her shoulders.

The spirit orb was still harassing Law, and was now bouncing angrily up and down on top of the surgeon's head. It then flew back over to Emma, settling gently onto her head, somewhat pointedly.

"Oh . . . " Cici said, in an odd-sounding kind of voice. "I see . . . "

"See what?" Emma asked her. "Can you see who it is, too? Matte, Twister said that he knew … where's Twister . . . ?" She looked back to where Twister had been, just as it happened.

Ino held up her left hand as Twister was walking by her, and then slammed it straight down into the ground, causing said ground to shake before a large stone hand emerged from the dirt and punched Twister, sending him flying back but leaving the scythe where it was - Ino immediately raised her left hand again, and the scythe swung in an arc, immediately creating a large barrier.

It reminded Emma a little bit of the one that the Zombie Ryuma had created to prevent anybody from rescuing Luffy, except that in this case Emma knew that no amount of force was going to be able to break that barrier. It was made up either of Celestial Energy or Chaos Energy - perhaps both.

Emma had no idea how Ino had still been able to control the scythe like that, but, she suddenly knew how Ino had made that giant stone fist.

"We forgot about her being The Goddess Of The Land!" She gasped, as Twister rightened himself up just before landing right next to her.

Law's eyes suddenly widened. "She's going for the well!" He realised.

And, indeed, Ino had begun to drag herself, slowly but surely, towards The Well Of Chaos, which was of course within the vicinity of her barrier. Every inch appeared to be a struggle for her, and she was leaving a trail of blood. She still had a ways to go before she got there, but, they suddenly all realised that she was not going to be stopped, now.

"If she touches it then everything gets Erased!" Emma recalled Boss's words. Her heart was pounding in her chest again, as she looked over at The God Of Change, now. "Twister — ?!"

"None of usss hasss the power to break through that barrier!" Twister sounded panicked again, which was making Law feel panicked.

Emma, however, was on her feet again. "How can we stop her, then?!" She demanded to know. Her eyes were wide, and her face was pale, but she sounded determined, all of a sudden. "Twister! What should I do?!"

The area around The Well Of Chaos seemed to shudder just then, and from within came a Chaos Crocodile - it was the exact same size as a regular Australian Saltwater Crocodile. Which was massive.

Twister turned to her, and put his hands on her shoulders. "Get to the cassstle!" He urged her. "It'sss the only way!"

"I can't teleport to there," she realised. "I don't know the area . . . "

"Then, you'll have to run." Twister told her, before he pointed to the east, to where they could all see the large castle looming in the distance.

Emma looked. That castle was about 1.3 kilometres away … it would take her about five minutes to run that far . . .

Emma glanced down at Law, realising that those calculations had just come from him, and then she looked at Twister. It was her turn to be panicked. "Twister! I hate running! I can't run that far, I nearly passed out when they made us run own thousand five hundred meters at high school — "

"I know, but, Princccessssss, you have to!" Twister told her. "You've come so far, you can't give in now! Your Mother isss the only one who can ssstop thisss, now!" He gripped her shoulders again. "Ssseventy yearsss ago, ssshe approached me to asssk me to change her and Chaosss into Mortalsss, ssso that ssshe could live in that Mortal world that ssshe ssso loved to watch! Chaosss only agreed to go with her becaussse ssshe wanted to gain accccccessssss to The Well Of Chaosss - it isss your Mother who lovesss that Mortal world asss much asss what you do!" He was staring hard into Emma's eyes with his mismatched eyes, and she stared back at him. "Ssshe never wanted to leave you but, becaussse nobody but her, myssself, Bossssss, and my Father knew of Chaosss'sss exxxistanccce, and becaussse only I knew what had actually occurred, they believed that the only way to ssstabilize the well wasss for your Mother to return! Ssshe agreed, but, what ssshe wanted when ssshe wasss made to return here wasss the guarantee that you would live a long and happy life jussst like what ssshe had! It wasss her one true wisssh! Even asss Ino, Chaosss wasss aware of thisss and ssshe wasss jealousss! It isss sssimilar to why ssshe wasss jealousss of Death! It isss you who mussst go to where your Mother isss now - it isss you that ssshe longsss to sssee again! Ssshe doesss not want excxistanccce to become Infinite Chaosss, which will be forccced upon her if Ino reachesss that well!"

It was the most that Emma and Law had ever heard Twister say, and the loudest that he had ever spoken aside from when he had yelled out to Emma before.

But, it was also his words to Emma, and the reminder that her Mother needed her, that gave her the sudden adrenaline jump that she needed to leap at the Chaos Crocodile when it lunged at them, stabbing it through the top of its jaws. Even as it vanished, Emma kept on going and stabbed Kikoku into the ground, forming a barrier of her own around Law, Twister, and Cici.

"Because more will come," she told them, turning back and looking directly at Law, who was staring at her. "But, you will be okay. I won't fail you." She vowed.

"I know that you won't." Law replied, suddenly feeling fear gripping at his heart. Why, though? It wasn't like he was never going to see her again. "Aqua . . . "

"Water . . . "

They both felt that electrical shock go through them.

"Go!" Twister urged Emma.

"Godspeed." Cici added.

Emma nodded once, and then she turned and ran in the direction of Infinity's Castle, leaping through the pinkish barrier with the spirit orb still perched in her hair.

Mother, she thought, focusing on what was to come. It won't be long, now … soon, you'll see … with your own two eyes … that the miracle did occur and that I am still here … your wish is still going to be able to come true, so … just hold on, Mother!

---

AUTHOR'S NOTES:

Again, this chapter and most of the next one are divided into two. It … had to be done . . .

---

SONG LIST:

. Trust You, by Yuna Ito - https

:

/

/

youtu.

be/

JdOxu29lrwg

(Take out all of the spaces)

. Where The Wind Blows, by Ado - I absolutely adore this song!

. I'm Just A Girl, by Bachelor Girl (sung by Emma when they're discussing Ino's weak-point).