Wealth, Fame, and Power! W. D. Gaster, The King of The Pirates, had all those and the rest of what the world had to offer! Through many battles and trials, he had reached the pinnacle of the world's virtues and had nothing left but an illness that plagued him.
He brought himself in and was held at a worldwide public execution. Before he was executed, a man from the crowd asked:
"Where did you hide all your treasure?!"
To which the King of Pirates smiled and said:
"You want my treasure? You can have it! I left the most important treasure in the world on an island! Go and find it! 'For the next pirate that finds the UnderPiece, will be claimed the new King of The Pirates!"
Those were his final words before he was executed. He smiled all the way to his death.
With those words, the world was flipped upside down as he created The Golden Pirate Era! People and already existing pirates from around the works started to sail the seas in search of the treasure that W. D. Gaster claimed to be-
The UnderPiece!
It had been Twenty Years since, and people have yet to find the treasure he was talking about. Except for one girl, who is now going to change the world by storm for the sake of her people.
This is the story of Muffet D. Baker and her way to becoming Queen of the Pirates!
The Reverie...
An island that always stays the same warm and comforting temperature despite the harshness of the Grand Line.
Every year, all of the Kings and Queens from important Kingdoms far and wide attend a meeting at the Reverie along with high officials of the World Government. They all gather to discuss their gripes and issues with the way the Government's legislation ruins the run of their land.
New laws, the dismantling of rules, and the bonds and falls of nations and alliances are made within this meeting. A sacred and noble tradition held every year.
However, this year, Reverie...has a lot to talk about.
This year, fifty officials from different nations attended the meeting. It was always random who came, however, if your kingdom wasn't well known or established, you had to usher a request to join the table. Or, if you had no gripes about the way the World was being run, you had the right to not attend.
Kings and Queens from all over the Grand Line all sat in this giant roundtable that comfortably held everyone. The class and prestige of most of the figures were so pristine that even just walking in you felt judged based on your birthright. The incredible amount of oozing privilege is the reason why World Government officials had to attend and keep an ear and watch.
Attending on the World Government's behalf were most of the Grand Elders, there were three of them. Their authority was held as the second most priority, but to the local public and even the Queens and Kings...they were the first.
The true head in charge may never be spoken about in public...
One of them was bald and blind, carrying a sword on his waist along with tribal robes and red markings along his chest and forehead. He seemed to have two small dove wings on his shoulder blades. His skin complexion was a nice hazel and his robe was a smooth sunset orange.
His aura exuded peace and calmness.
The other was a top-heavy older man in a suit. White skin complexion and his suit was tailored all red. Also bald, but he still has his vision that he uses a pair of bifocals to maintain. He stood stiff with his arms behind his back.
His aura exuded authority.
Then there was the last man, he seemed as old as the other two. A giant white mustache along with a connecting beard. He wore a toga and seemed the most physically able out of the three. He kept in shape despite his age that he presented.
His aura exuded power.
Then there was the Fleet Admiral Grillby and Admiral Chronus. They both stood on the left and right of the Grand Elders at the head of the table.
And, of course, there were two new additions to the usual people who would attend the Reverie...
"Yo ho ho! When does the food come in?!" Lancer said with a hefty smile to his words.
Lancer was indeed the King of Yetera after the events that happened on that island months prior. Its unusual land formations and history were deemed an important landmark. Although Yetera wasn't in the Grand Line, the fact that there are existing plots of land across the Grand Line that sported trees of his origin, the World Government tallied these to be also claimed by Lancer mistakingly.
Truth was, there was a total of six locations in the Grand Line that held a tree of Darkness. So to the World Government, Lancer owned enough land to deem him both a King and a Conqueror of benevolent intent.
Certainly worthy, although, it was lies that he was actually in control of those other landmarks. Darlow just told him to keep up the charade for as long as he can.
There he was, the youngest, visually, member at this Reverie meeting.
"Well, we supply everyone with a feast after the target of this gathering has been adjourned. The faster we can get with this, the faster the accommodations." One of the Grand Elders said, the blind one to be specific.
"Goodie!"
The other Kings and Queens gave the Darkner boy a face of a sheer grimace. He was certainly the only person there who was the most elegant looking or behaving. However, the amount of territory power they assume he had based on his many landmarks made them fear him enough to not say anything outright. They didn't want to incur his hypothetical war.
Grillby adjusted his glasses, looking at the familiar faces at the table. Chronus just had his hand together near his waistline.
The murmurs of the table were getting increasingly louder.
"That blasted Demon Jester terrorized my kingdom! Why hasn't the World Government done anything about that yet!" said a King with the utmost vigor.
He wasn't much compared to the rest at the table, having to request the Grand Elders for a spot at the table. However, the people at the table heard his words, which enticed an uproar.
The man himself wasn't much to look at either, a balding man absorbed by his glutton.
Grillby held up his hand.
"We have taken precautions to try and apprehend this demon. Although the hunt is hard and seemingly impossible, every day we grow closer to catching him. Normally we would have the other Admirals here present for this honoring occasion, but we currently have Admirals Red Von Suitel, Felicia Domes, and Don Marqueet on the hunt for him as we speak. They've had interesting leads and should come into contact with the demon within the week."
The murmurs quieted down by a good margin. Words by the Fleet Admiral were something of a pure rarity. So to hear him reassure them were words of gold.
Despite that, people still feared this demon more than respected his words.
"Oh yeah?! How can the military power of the World Government help us? Chronus failed!" Said a Queen in disgust of Admiral Chronus.
Chronus tilted his head down in shame. It was true, months prior, he came into direct contact with Jevil for the first time when on a voyage back from the Marineford HQ. He had failed to subdue him and ultimately paid the price for it by being held up in Reverie.
Truth was, the Admirals hated the Reverie. Stuck-up rich people yell at them for slight inconveniences when all they do is try their hardest to make sure everyone is safe. However, they have to take it because those people who fund the World Government the most, so they HAVE to appease their funders.
This was his punishment.
However, his failure was some form of victory on Grillby's end. It was positive that Chronus didn't die from the encounter, even though he returned severely injured and scarred. Mentally. From that loss, Grillby knew that he had to send more than just one Admiral after this demon to ensure victory against it.
His loss was necessary, however, the people didn't see it that way.
"He collected valuable information when fighting the foe, and trust me, I made sure to send out the strongest Marine forces we have. We all recall the strength Felicia possesses...do we?"
Everyone in the room besides Lancer and one other person shivered in fear of the pure power of Felicia.
"Why aren't you there then?!"
Grillby adjusted his glasses again.
"Tell me...in a game of chess, do you place the King in front of the pawns?"
The room got quiet.
The King of Fishman cleared his throat.
"Enough with talk about the demon. Let us focus on strengthening our relations and Kingdoms with this event. We only get one every year." The man took a sip of tea.
The King of Fishman was an extremely tall Orca Whale heteromorphic man. He spoke with such authority and kindness befitting an actual king. You can tell from his demeanor that he was fit for the lifestyle, and years of etiquette. A true leader.
Everyone cleared their throats as if to apologize without saying so. The Fishman King definitely was one of the more imposing Kings in the room, a force of nature if you were to anger his Kingdom.
The Grand Elder with the red suit straightened his tie and spoke.
"Couldn't have said it better myself. First, let us address one of the many elephants in the room...Hera 'The Undying'?"
Everyone peered at the Queen who was sitting next to Lancer as they were playing rock, paper, scissors under the table. It was indeed Hera. She had grown into quite the beautiful and proper-looking Queen. However, her actions were the exact opposite of how her position portrayed her. She acted like a kid, which is what she is, however, no one knew.
Except for Chronus.
Chronus couldn't stand to look at her.
This was the main reason Grillby had brought him to the Reverie as a punishment.
"The newly founded Queen of the acclaimed Constricta joint-continent, which is now a newly formed landmass. Promoted to such a position by the one and only Admiral Shyren, she sure did save us the time of the horrendous actions that the fallen King Zewz was committing on said land. We owe you a thank you and apology for our failure on our end for not apprehending that man earlier. We trust that you won't follow in his footsteps."
Hera just clamped her hands together and gave an innocent but happy smile to the Grand Elder.
"Of course not, sir! That's why I had to take him down along with Warlord Hydra Gordons. Which is what I wanted to talk about today if you don't mind?"
She spoke with such politeness and innocence that many of the single Kings at the table couldn't help but be infatuated with her.
She has smooth and flawless peachy skin, and long and kempt blond hair. Her unique pupils and clear eyes. She dawns a white sparkling dress made entirely out of the richest silk the land had to offer. Showing only her neck, shoulders, and fingers as her dress covered everything else. Most definitely one of the prettiest women in the room.
Lancer wasn't too shabby either. Within the months he managed to grow a couple of inches in height and even trimmed himself down with the help of Darlow and just actively doing a lot of labor work with his people to raise his reputation.
He really wanted to be the opposite of his father. Although he wore a standard black suit, nowadays he keeps the hood off, to not dawn the spade symbol on his face that reminds him of his dad. It had turned out that Lancer had light blue eyes and glowing light blue hair that was naturally slicked black into a nice curl at the top. A charmer at his age.
"Please, Queen Hera of Athens, speak your mind."
"Teehee! Okay. Well, I was thinking...I think we should go about finding a way to actively have more people out there capturing and rehabilitating the ancient weapons out there..."
Everyone's eyes widened when she proposed that. Even the Grand Elders and the Admirals.
"...What makes you say that?"
"Well-"
Before she could speak, another King cut her off.
He seemed to be a King of higher prestige than most. When he spoke, people gave him attention which was unlike whenever most other kings spoke out.
"I, Jamison Ballard, am not the only one that sees that this Queen is an ancient weapon herself?! Look at her cheek, why hasn't anyone apprehended her."
Everyone then looked back at Hera who was shifting her eyes between everyone self-consciously.
Lancer noticed this and tried to cover up her cheek by placing one of the teacup plates over her cheek. She appreciated that gesture.
Murmurs started to rise again. The King of Fishman seemed to be more intrigued than scared or shocked.
"Everyone calm down. Do you really think we'd bring one in if we knew she was dangerous? She is speaking from experience and is a valid point. We don't know who reprogrammed her, but with full sentience, she was able to liberate an entire continent with righteous intent and felt just enough to rule it under her benevolent thumb."
Jamison just scoffed at the blind Grand Elder before going back to the tea.
"So...can it be done? That's the only thing I ask."
The other Kings and Queens talked amongst themselves, trying to see where to go from there. Hera just sat in her seat holding Lancer's hand for comfort. They had formed an alliance a few days of knowledge of each other's existence and relation to the Soul Parlor Pirates. They both were smart enough to never bring it up around these people, but they had grown to have a very strong relationship. A genuine friend who knows the struggles of having to rule young.
After a few minutes of loud murmurs becoming quiet chat, everyone gave their verdict.
The Grand Elders felt the room and nodded in agreement before speaking.
"Although you are a perfect example of the ancient weapons becoming docile, your counterpart, Gaia, proves to be difficult. It's too risky to try and apprehend someone like her, let alone every other weapon out there. Although, if it is possible at the moment of execution, we shall try. Extermination is our main priority, however."
She clutched Lancer's hand slightly tighter.
Hera sighed.
"Would that be your only request at the moment?"
"...Yes, sir." She said sinking into her chair.
She tried all that she could, she hoped the best for her brothers and sisters out there.
Chronus sensed her unhappiness, and he began to feel unhappy too.
"Another thing!" said a very unhappy Queen on the opposite side of Hera.
"What's with the Warlords now?! They're all turning one by one. Can't you guys get them in check?!"
The woman seemed to be of a Clockwork kingdom, her entire dress consisting of bronze and copper steampunk attire. Her voice portrayed her to be a very controlling queen. Although, everyone gave her attention.
Lancer and Hera could assume that this was because she was a powerful leader too.
Grillby spoke once more.
"Yes. We understand the incidents of Marshal Bronzio and Hydra Gordons, however, with our two new replacement Warlords, we assure you that they won't act up like the last ones."
"You mean that scarecrow woman Tira Misu?"
Said another King out of curiosity, no one seemed to pay any mind to him.
"Yes, although her origin is unknown, she seemed more than eager to present herself to Marineford HQ in a request that she be a Warlord for the sole purpose of taking care of pirates."
Most people scoffed.
"Unknown origin? So we just allowing anyone into the World Government nowadays?"
Grillby's flame becomes hotter and faster running. He seemed to push up his glasses more aggressively.
"What is that supposed to mean sir?"
"You know what I'm talking about! The Government seemed to go downhill ever since we stopped having regular humans in charge!"
Most people were appalled by his statement. Everyone looked annoyed with this man.
The King of Fishman slammed down his teacup.
"What are you meaning, heretic?!"
"You dirty heteromorphs are ruining our planet-!"
Lancer, Hera, and the rest of the table started yelling at this man, some other leaders were siding with him which caused a total uproar within the table.
The situation led to Chronus having to escort the man along with his agreers out of the table and off the island.
After he did, the room was quiet. Grillby along with the Grand Elders were rubbing their temples trying to lower their stress.
The blind Elder sighed.
"The man's soul is lost in ignorance..."
The Grand Elders spoke again.
"We humbly apologize for the outburst. We will refrain from inviting him along with his allies to future Reverie meetings."
The room was still tense.
The King of Fishman looked over to his left. Lancer and Hera sat a couple of seats to his left, however, since his height was taller than the people in between, talking to them were just as easy as if he was next to them entirely.
"You two seem to be taking this meeting with light in your heart. What is your reasoning?"
Lancer and Hera just looked up at him with the most innocent of smiles.
"I'm just here for the food! Yo ho ho!" Lancer said patting his stomach.
Hera giggled at that response.
"I'm really only here so that I could ask one request. However, I'm just here to learn about everyone else here."
The King of Fishman grinned.
"As you should. What a benevolent alliance we have here, I sense naught but a drop of maliciousness in your intentions or rulings. We need more like you." He said before turning back to the future topics that the roundtable would discuss.
Hera and Lancer were already good friends. Two kids trying to find a way to rule at a young age, they understand each other's struggle. That and the fact that their way to that status had been incredibly influenced by having the Soul Parlor Pirates be introduced into their lives.
Ever since, they've been using transponder snails to contact each other every morning and night, talking about how their success and self-improvement have been working. Helping each other through the stressful times of running a whole Kingdom by themselves. However, with each other to contact, they didn't feel as alone. Whole preparations to establish a Sea Train between Yetera and Athens were being made, the problem was funding it.
That wouldn't come until way later.
There was this certain connection that Hera and Lancer had, it was a kind of friendship that seemed almost fairytale-ish. That's how they would describe it.
The grand aquamarine and white marble walls and columns that lined the corners of the room finally glistened along with the black onyx floor as the room was now ready to discuss actual matters between Kings and Queens. The mahogany and quartz roundtable was filled with the folded hands of people who were ready to present their voices in proper intellectual conduct.
First, was the Clockwork Queen.
"World Government affairs aside, we should focus on what we really came here to do. I, Victoria Lamburt of Tink'urth, request to finalize and announce the alliance of the Kingdom of Mirthrill! To then have them as my vassal!"
Everyone seemed quite shocked at her proposal. Before even having the back and forth happen, there was already a lot to take in with her words.
First, was the fact that she would boldly want to claim vassalage as if this procedure was one that someone can simply say yes to. This decision would take many weeks of thought and compliance to forge a correct document to legally be under the vassalage of another country.
Second, was the person she was. She was Victoria Lamburt, Queen of the incredibly independent landmass of Tink'urth. A land of such social classiness that they even developed a way of science that strives away from Dr. Alphy's way of science that was seen as a staple for new technology. Whether her society's contraptions and technology were in the league of Dr. Alphys was another argument of its own. The scary part was the fact that she didn't share her social advancements with anyone else in the world. In her country, once you knew how society worked there, you were legally bounded to the land so the secret wouldn't be let out. The only thing they knew was the fact that it involved an extended process of the alchemy of the sort. A powerful woman and Kingdom indeed, definitely one that shouldn't need the help of a vassal.
Third, Mirthrill was a land of an anomalous amount of rare earth metals. That alone granted the King of the land a spot in the room. He knows that every kingdom would want an ally like him who owns a land of incredible and seemingly infinite wealth.
She would definitely have to fight her way into him agreeing to have him be her vassal.
"How about it King Iso?" Victoria said giving him a devilish smile.
Before King Iso could respond, Hera spoke up.
"Oh wait, we have to announce alliances here?"
There was a silence all around the room before the table-wide argument could start. The attendees gave each other a confused look before Grillby spoke up.
"Yes, all alliances, vassals, and wars must be discussed here whether it be to start or end one. The purpose is that, well, everyone here is the elite of the elite out of all the Kingdoms in the Grand Line. We expect proper conduct to be discussed professionally here. With all the pirates running around, that and the Revolutionary Army, we need the full Kingdom's support to help us against these threats. We can't both deal with those forces while trying to help with royal affairs. So you select few need to be the role models to the other Kingdoms out there to ensure a more peaceful world. This both saves time and resources on everyone's end, but it's reassurance for the news if something were to go wrong, then we know the ones truly at fault and can adjust accordingly."
Grillby took a deep breath before pushing up his glasses. Everyone in the room gave a knowing pout that meant that they understood his words and were already abiding by those terms. The classiness and privilege in the room were now at an all-time high. It felt almost pressuring to Hera and Lancer as they realized how much over their heads they were.
Victoria cleared her throat.
"Now then...Iso, what do you say-?"
Hera cuts her off again.
"Okay! I, Hera The Undying of Athens, will like to announce and request that Lancer Darkner of Yetera and I will form an alliance!" Hera said while mimicking Victoria's speech and hand gestures as she did. Not to be rude, but she genuinely thought that was the right way you had to announce it.
She knew Victoria had a lot of political power and prestige, so she would try to copy whatever she did to ensure she would be a successful queen like her.
Some people around the table cracked a grin when Hera did that, some even crackled a short chuckle. If there was one thing that these gatherings needed more often...was amusement, comedy, anything to lift the pressure of perfection everyone had to keep.
Victoria, however, was somewhat annoyed that this new heir to whatever continent she owned was attempting to make fun of her image. However, showing her anger here would also ruin her image, so she took one on the chin.
The velvet Grand Elder looked over at Lancer.
"Well, King Lancer?"
"I most graciously agree!"
Both Hera and Lancer happily shook hands childishly aggressively as a few people around the table were jaw dropped at how fast Lancer accepted her proposal. Every time this was asked of another kingdom in the meeting prior, it would take hours to discuss the agreements and grand work of the alliance's trust and values. Even then it would still take another half hour for the final verdict to leave the person's mouth.
They didn't even discuss what each side would benefit from, they just skipped everything and agreed to a lifelong cultural changing agreement.
Despite the seriousness of what happened, because of the circumstances, a few more people couldn't help but take a light laugh at this event. These two were causing quite an impactful first impression on the other Kingdoms of the world. Young, free-spirited, and not afraid to make mistakes.
A few Kings and Queens began to loosen their tight stature in their chairs.
"I see, well, seeing as how there is no other reason why they shouldn't or any other offers. We modestly agree for the alliance of both Athens and Yetera." The blind Grand Elder said with a smile.
People around the roundtable gave a delighted light applause. Even Chronus.
Victoria took a deep exhale.
"Iso? Your answer-?"
"Ooo! I forgot, do you we can have a Sea Train that connects Athens and Yetera? It's hard for the capital of Yetera and Athens to make a trade now that we are alliances through not only the Calm Belt but also past a spot where Gaia was once seen. It doesn't make me feel safe."
Lancer was the one to cut her off this time. She clenched her fist so hard, that the teacup she was holding shattered. Everyone watched as this happened, but she quickly placed her hand over the cup, and the broken fragments were covered with purple and black chips of metal that were pouring from her palm.
The chips covered the broken parts before she retracted them. When they did, she had successfully turned the broken teacup into a mug with the same material.
Hera made sure to keep note of that.
"Assuming Queen Hera has already agreed, simple construction between lands should be something we can do with the partnership of the experts of Water Seven. Consider this as a gift from Queen Hera's side for abolishing Zewz of his duties."
Lancer and Hera gave each other a high-five as people gave another chuckle at how weird the air in the room was feeling. Even the Grand Elders' faces were less sullen and stressed and experienced a more mellow and calm demeanor.
Victoria cleared her throat.
"Iso! Your answer?"
King Iso turned to her after smiling in Hera's direction.
"Sadly, my Kingdom is not for sale. Especially not for someone who might take it for her alchemy projects."
"Oh don't be like that. That's especially why you'd be a perfect vassal. You know I would be the only one here to truly use your resources effectively. Yokokokoko~!" She said with brimming confidence in herself.
A lean man in build with a green crown on his head that seemed to be embedded in his head, raised his hand. Victoria noticed him.
"Like we would let anyone like you handle that superpower."
"Who are you to talk Midas?"
"Anyone with a brain you witch!"
There it was again, the clash of angry Kings and Queens. What everyone was used to.
Iso spoke.
"Regardless of anything. My final verdict is that I will not become a vassal to your country Victoria, I apologize for the inconvenience."
The Grand Elders nodded, so did everyone else at the roundtable. Victoria let out a defeated sigh before nodding too.
"Well, before any matters press on, on behalf of the World Government, there will need to be inspections held by Vice Admirals once every six months between every Kingdom, including everyone present." Said the top-heavy Grand Elder.
"And why is that?" Another lower-end King questioned.
"Well, Zewz is to blame. Even though he was a constant go-er to these events, we all saw how he ran his Kingdom. Trust is at an all-new low, so we have to make sure everyone else is kept up to standard."
The people there had no choice but to agree, they were right.
"I guess it can't be helped. For the end of my attendance, I, Garganzolo of the Fishman Kingdom, request that I be allowed information." He said tapping his finger on the table.
Garganzolo was a man of a giant build. An imposing figure of pure humble muscle. Around twenty meters tall and eight wide.
"What would the information be?" Chronus raised a brow.
"Why is there Spider Tribe members still around?!"
The entire room went silent again. Everyone's eyes either widened looking at Garganzolo or looking down at the table.
This was a conversation the table knew was coming, except for Hera and Lancer who gave Garganzolo very skeptical eyes.
Where was he going with this?
"Well...we made sure to be thorough during the 'Bellemere Payback Incident'. Yes, it was our blunder that some slipped under our radar. Please understand that we are just as confused about their upbringing as you are."
"No, that won't cut it."
"What do you mean?"
"First the lady herself is STILL ALIVE. Now there is this new troublemaking pirate, Muffet. D. Baker-," Hera and Lancer flinched "who is destroying the world as we speak. Sacramel of Guild Judgement is hunting after us Kings and Queen while also going after YOU Marines. Don't get me started about the other three."
Chronus hung his head in shame.
"We understand your anger Garganzolo. We are humbly sorry for-"
"Sorry's don't fix WHAT HAPPENED TO MY KIDS CHRONUS!" Garganzolo said slamming down on the table, scaring all the physically incapable members.
Everyone else at the table seems to know something that Hera and Lancer didn't.
"...What's wrong with the Spider Tribe?" Lancer said.
Everyone seemed to flinch in fear when Lancer asked that question to Garganzolo. Even the Grand Elders, those who were always emotionally impartial, had their eyes opened and filled with shock.
Just as Lancer tried to realize what he said was wrong, Garganzolo stood up and with one quick motion, grabbed Lancer's whole body with his right hand and held him up to his face. Garganzolo was so massive that only Lancer's head was peaking out from his enclosed hand.
This man possessed incredible grip strength.
All the attendees started to get up from their seats and held up their hands to Garganzolo.
"Whoa ease it Garganzolo!"
"Let the kid go!"
"Hey man, relax!"
Everyone seemed to generally say to him as Lancer was losing air fast. Grand Elders and the World Government were not allowed to physically touch or harm any royal figure, it was against their conduct. All they can do was try to verbally ease him out of strangling Lancer.
"YOU DON'T KNOW HOW TRULY EVIL THE SPIDER CLAN WAS! YOU WOULDN'T UNDERSTAND WHAT I HAD TO GO THROUGH!"
Lancer was turning purple as his eyes were bulging out of his socket more noticeably. Foam and saliva were streaming down his lower lip as he was struggling for breaths.
As much as they wanted him to stop, they knew Garganzolo's anger in this state. As well as they knew how strong he really was. No one else at the table was close to his strength, only the Admirals were, but they weren't legally allowed to touch him. So they just had to watch.
However.
"Let go of him!" Hera jumped onto his hand.
"That's my ally!"
Hera placed her hands on his thumb while her feet were laid out to push out his index finger. So straightened her body to slowly release the grip of Garganzolo which surprised him. She knew how angry and powerful this man was, he naturally dawned pupilless eyes of white. However, now it was all red.
Lancer dropped out from below his clench and back on his chair as he was just sprawled out gasping for air back.
Garganzolo put more pressure on his grip and ended up ensnaring Hera in his grasp.
"Whoa, is that the power of Hera!"
"That's enough!" Grillby said trying to get Garganzolo to stop.
Hera's eyes were surging with white sparks of electricity before prying her body forcefully to counteract the pressure of his grip. She slowly got out of it with her own display of strength before charging at him so that they were touching foreheads.
"BEHAVING LIKE THIS WON'T FIX WHAT HAPPENED TO YOUR KIDS EITHER!" Hera said yelling in his face before calming down herself and ridding herself of the sparks in her eyes.
Garganzolo absorbed her words and slowly took deep breaths before his eyes were back to being a pupilless white. He let out a shivered breath before awkwardly sitting back onto his seat, mad with himself.
Everyone had seen something of a rarity. Someone was actually able to overpower Garganzolo. Everyone eventually got back to their seats before having nothing else to say. Not that they didn't, but it was virtually impossible to try and be the one to speak to start something off in this awkward silence.
Grillby sighed.
"Everyone head to the Banquet Buffet, take an hour to yourselves. Once time is up, you are to be sat back here. Although if you don't feel like eating, you may stay here and discuss with us any relations or deals you wish to have. We wish to keep things productive...but it seems we all need a break already."
Everyone just humbly nodded.
They all had the same idea in mind, a tacit team tactic.
Wherever Garganzolo wished to go, they would go to the opposite side. They all eyed him to see what it would be.
Garganzolo chose to sit in the roundtable, with his hands over his face.
So, everyone else collectively got up and went over to the Banquet Buffet. They all needed space and time before they would continue with their greedy meeting of relations.
.
.
.
The Banquet Room slowly began to re-energize in social interaction after a few minutes have passed from the display shown in the roundtable room.
Hera tried to make sure that Lancer was okay after the onslaught he endured from Garganzolo. It took him a couple of minutes to regulate his breathing before finding his inner zen by eating. He had a habit of stress eating.
After she asked him if he was healthily okay, he rebutted with the fact that his father had done much worse to him so this wasn't something he was that concerned about. Although this made Hera feel quite reassured, she was concerned with his past childhood. She chose not to mention it and accompanied him at the Buffet picking out food for herself.
She had missed Muffet's and Petrichor's cooking.
Every other member there gathered in some form of group and proceeded to talk amongst themselves in their respective groups. Lancer and Hera could assume that this was split up between everyone and their allies. They could guess that they would be talking about mainly political endeavors and ways to further the progression of their lands. Although they knew that they themselves would have nothing to talk about in that regard, they also can't take the time to goof off in a room like this.
So their plan was to try and join up with a lone member and try and sneak their way into getting into an 'intellectual' conversation with them. They of course would let them carry the conversation as they knew nothing about politics nor linguistics to conversate on their level.
Hera scanned the room for any lone stragglers, and to her surprise, there were none. Everyone at the table seemed to have some form of allied power. However, Lancer pointed out that King Iso was talking with Queen Victoria alone towards the seafood section of the buffet. To their memory, Iso had not been allied with any Kingdom yet, and neither had Victoria by the looks of how people seemed to view her at the table for a reason they didn't know.
So they would try their luck with them.
"Come on Iso baby, please reconsider your answer."
"For the last time Lamburt, I will not allow myself to have my resources be a part of your control. My resources are for the benefit of the world, much less whatever projects you have in your mind."
"Iso, you have to think of the bigger picture-"
"Yo ho ho! Greetings tall people!" Lancer said with the happiest grime in his voice.
Lancer walking next to Hera was a very funny sight to behold. Hera in this state was perfectly six feet tall, dressed for the occasion in her ever-glistening white silky robes. A beautiful and eye-catching sight of purity and elegance. While Lancer was about to reach five feet tall and had the most unprofessional schtick to his words and actions. His black traditional suit with a Hydrangeain his breast pocket. However, when they walked together, they seem to complement each other.
Hera was a seemingly dominating force visually. After seeing her strength firsthand, and the fact that she was one of the taller monarchs present, she was quite the dangerous Queen to upset.
Iso was a man of very little clothing protecting his chest, a tall man too around Hera's height if not, taller. His muscles that were apparent throughout his exposed body were that of a retired veteran, probably a man who had gotten to his status through the ranks in the war rather than through political campaigns. He wore a torn robe that was obviously shown it was torn around the waist. the extra cloth drooped around the waist and hung over the waistline over the belt. His robe was a pinkish brown, he also dawned golden greaves that had a mysterious gemstone in the middle of the shin area. He had a golden band that wrapped around his forehead with the same gemstone in the middle of his forehead. His forearms were no different. A man of a hazel skin tone with his most noticeable trait, his primate tail swaying from his tailbone, protruding out of the back of his pants. His dark brown hair seemed abundant in many areas, his hair was in thick spikey mounds that even clumped over his shoulders. His widow's peak complemented the rest of his hair being that big. Hair was apparent in also his forearms, leading to the back of his hands along with a thick patch in the middle of his patch. Orange eyes seemed to be fitting him.
Victoria frowned. She didn't like either of these two new people to have graced the round table that she had attended for the past years. Her long straight scarlet hair glistened due to the sun's lighting through the colored glass of the banquet room. The cogs along her dress along her joints clicked with every rotation mimicking a clock. Her upper half seemed to resemble a knight's rounded chest plate, while a red robe with gear patterns in gold along it was all that could be shown of her lower half. Even the chest plate was made out of gold and seemed to be self-radiating. There was a slit in the robe along the outer part of where her right thigh was all the way down to her ankle, exposing that small part of her body. The same red robe was shown as sleeves that covered both her arms down to her wrist. Red eyes seemed to be fitting her.
"Oh, it's you two," Victoria said unamused by Lancer's approach.
Iso smiled.
"Well if it isn't the Benevolent Conqueror and the Autonomous Queen, how may I be of service?" Iso said politely with a smile.
Hera and Lancer took a slight bow.
"Sorry for the display we caused in the room prior, we hadn't wished to upset the man."
Iso raised his hand at her to insinuate that she shouldn't talk anymore.
"Don't worry your head over it, it's just that, after what happened to him, bringing up the Spider Clan is something of a sensitive topic. Wouldn't blame him." He said crossing his arm, his tail swaying idly.
Hera spotted this, with her new population and having sailed with Muffet's crew, see people of animal backgrounds were no strangers to her.
"Would this happen to be the work of a Devil Fruit or are you from a heteromorphic primate-based race?"
Victoria scoffed at her question as Lancer was staring at the gear engravings on her dress. Victoria was one of the more beautiful-looking women in the Reverie. Both visually and aesthetically.
"Pfft, I've been trying to figure that out for a while, but he won't even tell me-"
Iso laughed.
"Heeha! It's the work of a Devil Fruit ma'am. Along my treks into different battlefields, my adventures would lead me to a Devil Fruit. Im the new possessor of the Hito-Hito No Mi: Model Sun Wukong, a Mythical Zoan! The new possessor after Admiral John Ventrical, who sadly lost his life in The Battle of Mountain Ebott."
Victoria's jaw just dropped, but her jealousy rose.
"Wow! Quite the capable War General you are, let alone King. It's an honor to meet you, as a man who has lived more lifetimes than I." Hera said as she took a humble bow.
Iso saw this and gave Hera a full directional turn in her direction, to fully acknowledge her. Seemingly brushing Victoria away from the conversation.
"Tell me Hera of Athens, what do you plan to do with your run as Queen?"
This took her a second of thought.
"Is it power? Status? Money? To get closer to the World Government? What made a person so innocent and young as you want to take the spot of Queen of a continent?"
Hera just gave him and then Victoria a shrug with a smile.
"If I'm being honest with you King Iso, I want to run a land where it encompasses every race in harmony. A land where it's, well, a land of freedom of all kinds! Religious, cultural, educational! I don't really care as long as my people are happy. I'm immune to aging so I don't really think I'll be going anywhere, so I'll have until the rest of eternity to make that ambition come true!"
The more she got through her answer the louder she unintentionally got. To the point that people in other parties were listening to her words. Eventually, the entire hall heard her as she spoke.
Victoria scoffed.
"Good luck with that."
Iso looked at Victoria.
"She doesn't need luck. Especially yours."
Victoria gasped while clamping her hand over her chest plate distraught. Iso then turned back to Hera who seemed a bit flustered knowing the entire room heard her.
"A noble Queen indeed. How about this?"
He grabbed Hera's hand and then kneeled for Lancer's hand. He then paced his attention to each of their eyes back and forth.
"I'm a very cautious General at heart. However, I wish to offer both of you two, my troops and men, if you ever find yourself in a time of battle."
Now, more and more people added to this group of four. Just to listen in to the conversation.
"This is blasphemy Iso! How do you offer them aid but won't think of my proposal?"
Iso ignored her, she stomped her foot.
"How about you King Lancer?"
"Well, I just simply want a land where people can have fun! Nothing much else to it! Yo ho ho!"
Iso chuckled at that.
"What an interesting pair of monarchs you two will grow to be."
"That's it!" Victoria said stepping in between the two parties.
Lancer spoke up.
"Oh, pretty lady, what was that purple stuff that came out of your hand earlier?"
She seemed to cringe at his question.
"Listen two by four, I don't need to tell you what I do!"
"Hmph, rude!" He said sticking her tongue at her.
Most of the banquet hall laughed at this banter that was being displayed in front of them. Seems that Hera and Lancer provided that entertainment that they didn't think could happen at a place like this.
"This is not behavior befitting the title you own. Start acting like it!" Victoria said with a hiss.
Hera intervened.
"Well to be honest, why do we act that way?"
This question yet again stumped the crowd of tens.
"What could you be possibly talking about?" Victoria said rubbing her temples.
Hera noticed this and tried it out herself, copying her as she continued to answer her question.
"Well, addressing each other of our titles is something simply of proper respect. That I agree with. However, why do we all have to act like we are the pinnacle of the planet? Isn't the point of trying to run a perfect community to be perfect WITH your community? To have you and your people be of equal footing and power? I believe that if we start acting like we are better than the people we govern and keep safe that it's not much different than running a zoo. Especially behind closed doors, it's quite disrespectful to behave like we are gods, well, Iso is excluded teehee-"
Everyone else laughed beside Victoria.
"Seriously though, I just feel weird having to act like royalty equates to godhood. Let's talk and act like ourselves instead of how everyone expects us to be. I promise it is much more fun than you think!"
Everyone was floored by her rant. Hera just looked at Lancer who was smiling up at her while having a piece of steak flopping out of his lower lip.
There was a silent respect for Hera. Everyone then fleeted away from the four to then speak about what she was talking about in her own groups.
"Heh. Guess not." Hera said.
Iso just placed a hand on her shoulder.
"No, trust me. They listened."
"Yeah, whatever. Hey, answer me this Hera, how far does your strength go?"
Hera tapped her chin.
"Well, I was capable of handling Hydra in his hybrid form with relative ease. So I say pretty strong. Why you ask?"
Victoria raised her brow as if that was a crazy feat. Iso's face seemed as if that wasn't a hard feat to do.
Victoria coughed into her hand before displaying a forced smile.
"Hey, I have a proposition for you!"
.
.
.
Everyone had situated themselves back into the roundtable where it seemed that Garganzolo was still in his seat, but severely less angry. The tension had already died down as they began to discuss everything.
"Well, amongst the other things the World Government has neglected, what about the poneglyph readers?"
Grillby pushed up his glasses.
"What about them?"
"Well, realistically, without reading the Rio Poneglyphs, no pirate could be able to progress to the UnderPiece!"
"Well, what are you getting at Bastet, Queen of Liuloathe?"
Bastet was a cat-woman of white fur. Her eyes were green with black slits as pupils. Hera recognized her race, she seemed to be of the same race as Cassidy. She did seem on the older side of the spectrum, her age showing from her slight hunch and bags in her eyes. Her skin complexion was peachy and her white gown was so poofy she had to sit a few more feet from the table than most people.
"Well, assuming these pirates are not dimwits. Wouldn't this imply that at least the Supernovas have the will to go this far because they indeed do have someone capable of reading Rio Poneglyphs?"
Grillby genuinely seemed caught up in his words. She did have an interesting point that alluded him, these pirates were cunning and smart. They simply wouldn't go that far if they weren't confident that they would have someone who could decipher the ancient language.
"That is...a very good point Lady Bastet. What do you have to issue with this claim?"
"Well, I was thinking of conducting another purge of Rio Poneglyph readers. Have your research division find and snuff out the root of all these Supernova's confidence."
Grillby gave her a stressed eye.
"You are referencing the Cipher Pol aren't you?"
"Exactly. Obviously not the 'CP0', perhaps the 'CP9' will do. Whatever you feel is best."
Grillby along with the other officials nodded.
"Well, I assume that everyone else will be fine with this newly issued order?" The bulky Grand Elder said.
Everyone beside Hera nodded. The vote was unanimous.
Hera knew that Susie would be targeted once this issued order was enacted. She would only hope they would protect Susie to the best of their ability. She didn't know exactly what the Cipher Pol was. However, she knew that whatever they were, they were strong.
"Consider it done." Grillby gave Bastet a nod, she gave one of appreciation back.
Garganzolo raised his hand.
"Yes, King Garganzolo?"
"What about the other Warlord that will be taking over for Muffet D. Baker? Last time I recalled that there were two Warlords that needed coverage."
Chronus nodded.
"Alas, we had recruited another Warlord. We've chosen to delegate that spot to 'Labyrinth Reaper' Vermuda!"
Everyone set down their teacups. Lancer and Hera were yet again hearing things that they didn't know the meaning of.
Garganzolo seemed incredibly concerned, along with everyone else.
"Vermuda the Second Commander of the Golden Flower Pirates?! Devil Child of the 'Stringbound Incident'?!"
Chronus just nodded.
"Yes. She resigned from her position on her crew out of her own volition."
Everyone around the table began to speak amongst themselves again, completely bewildered by this news.
A commander leaving an Emporer's crew was unheard of. They were all usually loyal to their Captain until death. Especially someone who was a Second Commander, the left hand to the Captain.
"So I assume that the World Government already ran the background checks and made the countermeasures in case Vermuda is up to something funny?" A low-end Minister said.
The Grand Elders spoke up.
"We all made sure. Anything regarding the Golden Flower Pirates is always to be taken with precaution and thought."
They all just nodded.
"That being said, Vermuda seemed to be in a hurry to want to be a Warlord. She seemed quite terrified over something that her crew was about to do to a point that she immediately resigned and ran away from her ship. Whatever that mission was, is something we have to look out for-"
Just then, everyone in the Reverie was filled with fear. the room suddenly shook violently as a cumulus cloud formed from the ever-blue sky. As if it had just teleported there, lightning was crashing viciously throughout the sea that seemed to be fluctuating in uneven but dangerous waves.
The entirety of the Reverie was rumbling, and from the feel of it, people could assume that other islands could feel it too.
Even way over to Muffet's group side, they too were experiencing the same thing.
Hera looked outside and saw that the streets outside the Reverie were already getting flooded.
"Massive amounts of seawater are rushing through the streets of Reverie! Evacuate everyone to the highest elevated platform on the island! This storm isn't ending anytime soon and the water levels will rise all the way to this building!"
Most of the attendees of the Reverie were still scared beyond the comprehension of the wild weather phenomenon. Hera was shouting out her instructions over to the Grand Elders and the Admirals. However, she had seen Grillby giving the exact same orders she has. it was comforting knowing more than one person was one the right mindset.
"Lancer, make sure the people stay safe!" Hera said opening the window.
The island was pretty much a plateau with a high-end super mansion and mega park. This land was specifically made for just the Grand Elders, but the Reveries are held on their island every year. So everything this land had to offer was here to only benefit the Grand Elders. That was a giant Library and stone pathways, and that was pretty much it.
Lancer nodded before summoning spades from his mouth and arranging them in a grid above all of the people who were willing to stand under it as a very sturdy umbrella. He had mastered this technique with Darlow as his instructor.
Everyone decided to gather and be herded out by the Admirals with Lancer's umbrella providing some form of safety. This would mean that he would have to go with the others to maintain the spades. He gave a sad wave to Hera as he knew that she would stray and find a way to lower the water levels if she could.
The lightning got more intense as well as the quakes that would happen every few seconds.
The only other person that didn't go under the umbrella and stood by Hera's side was...Garganzolo.
"This is an unregular rise in sea levels, this phenomenon is man-made," Garganzolo said taking off his tux, and getting reading to dive into the rising water below.
Hera eyed him up and down.
"What do you think we can do about this?"
"The best thing we can do is...well, you might find this idea quite silly."
"Trust me, I've had to hear a lot of Aunt Muffet's ideas."
"What?"
"Never mind that-! What's the idea?"
"Well, we could try and dig a moat around the building so that the water can be stalled for a few hours. As impossible as that seems, I'm probably the only person who can pull it off. What about you?"
Hera rolled up her sleeves.
"That would be the wisest course of action. Look, I will hold up this building for the amount of time it would take for you to make the moat. Once the water levels get stalled by the moat, I'll help out."
Garganzolo seemed to eye her skeptically as she spoke out her part of the plan. He didn't believe this woman could do what she just said she would do.
"Okay. Break!" Hera said jumping out the window.
She landed on the grass outside of the building. The water already being up to her waist. She then proceeded to dig her fingers below the foundation of the building and lifted it over her head. Although it did seem to cause some amount of strain on her body. She didn't know why, the winds of the storm seemed like a supernatural force. Whatever this force was, it felt like it was draining her, as if her mind was being destroyed, distracted, like her body was giving away and passing out.
Regardless, she stood strong and raised it over her head.
Garganzolo saw this and hysterically grinned.
"Now that's what I'm talking about!"
He dove into the water and immediately bulked up as if the water gained his newfound strength. He then began to dig at a speed that made Hera quite impressed. He was quite a strong man, a King not afraid to take action. She liked that.
She could see that the winds were getting to him too as he would occasionally fumble trying to gain footing underwater. Regardless, he too found the strength to continue. His determined behavior gave her the strength to keep raising the building too.
All she could do was looked out into the distance, past the never-ending strikes of lightning, and think to herself.
"Dear God, let this not be a man-made disaster. Whatever is causing this is more than halfway around the world away. If that's the case, I believe this is a display of strength that I fear mom and auntie can't overcome."
Somewhere else in the world...somewhere...somehow...
A demon laughed!