A KNIGHT FOR A KING

Artemyra stood strong and confidently against the swarm of townspeople that she grew up with. She knew their families. She knew their kids. They were mothers who worked hard. They were fathers who worked hard. Yet not a single one of them were knights. They were just regular civilians who had never picked a weapon up until now, and obviously didn't know how to use them.

It was an odd thing though that not a single one of them was an actual armor-dressed knight. She wondered briefly why that was the case until her mind went back to the tavern, and just how heavily they all were drinking tonight. In the end, that was probably their plan all along. To get drunk enough to the point of passing out, just to make sure they couldn't pursue her, like what the townspeople were doing right now. Even at this moment, they were all most likely still passed out in the tavern and probably weren't going to get up any time soon.

"Lady Artemyra…" spoke a struggled voice among the crowd, "we…we…don't want…"

"You don't have to explain yourselves," Artemyra spoke gently to them. She knew that none of them wanted to be here but couldn't help themselves. The curse on her back, Mars's greed was just that powerful that even the most levelheaded person wouldn't be able to stop themselves. "Mars's natural side effects are just too strong that it was inevitable that this would happen. Do not fret though. Your hearts are still intact," she said to assure their trembling will and hearts, seeing the pain behind their eyes that was masked by Mars's overwhelming greed.

"Please…please forgive us," they pleated while clenching their weapons tightly.

"It should be me who asks for your forgiveness…because I think I'll have to be rough from here on out." She took in a deep breath and instantly calmed every nerve in her body, now professionally prepared and ready for anything. "Prepare yourselves."

Everyone in the kitchen picked their heads up at the same time and looked out towards the window that was too dark to really see anything. They could hear what sounded like metal striking against metal though, but beyond that, they didn't know what it was.

"What's that?" Coby asked.

Armstrong goes to the window and opens it up to get a better idea of what was going on. Within the open air, he could hear the distinct sound in the distance that he figured to be swords scraping up against one another. Consistent and heavy enough that he believed it to be a serious fight of some sort. "It looks like things had finally come to a head. I didn't think so soon though," he said sharply, casting a knowing look over to Gale.

Luffy turned to Armstrong. "What do you mean?"

"Haven't I explained it already? Greed is an awful thing to be possessed by. Especially Mars's greed. Unless you possess a strong will…you'll be pushed to the point of wanting to kill for the weapon," Armstrong said through gritted teeth.

"Kill?"

Gale stepped close to Armstrong and looked out the window too. "It looks like our people had held out for as long as they could. They finally retaliated against Lady Artemyra."

Coby flinched and bolted upright from his seat after hearing those soul-draining words. "Are they after the sheath? Then shouldn't we help her?"

"Do you intend to say that my own flesh and blood is weak?" Armstrong suddenly snapped and made Coby stiffen with anxiety. "Do you know who's blood runs through her veins? It's the reason why she's the one and only candidate for the next war to come!"

There was a pause on the air that made Coby snap back to reality. He stared at the elderly knight with a totally perplexed but uneased stare. "Did you just say…one and only?"

At that time, Luffy got up from off the table and gave Armstrong a look, speaking dangerously calm all of a sudden and not breaking eye contact. "Hey, old man Armstrong. You're not telling us everything, are you? What do you mean by candidate?"

Armstrong didn't shy away from the kid's heavy stare and even matched it. "It seems… that I have neglected to tell you a very important fact about our long war." He made a gesture for everyone to sit back down, as he did himself. Armstrong took in a breath before finally spilling the truth that he had been reluctant to even acknowledge. "They...are not what you might believe them to be. When you say war, you're probably thinking…hundreds against hundreds, right? Well, that's not how it works with us. Written within Krea's Rules: the island rulers must pick their best warrior to represent them in the war. It's not a hundred…it's just one. Four knights going against each other in a battle to the death to win the weapon for themselves and their island. Hira was the representative for Armwell when she was still alive, and now that person is Artemyra. Our strongest warrior. Stronger than even me. That is why…she has no rivals here."

Armstrong remained quiet after that and gave Luffy and Coby some time to think. He stared intensely at their faces as they twisted from confusion, then to horror as it all finally settled in for them. In their head, it now made sense why Artemyra was so reluctant to accept Luffy's request, even though it was obvious she wanted to say yes more than anything. The weight that the young knight was carrying on her back was immeasurable. A beautiful yet horrifying curse.

"Gale, I need something of you," Armstrong spoke up sternly, his tone suddenly changing.

Gale stood at attention immediately. "Sir."

"You'll have to rush but I need you to stock these kids' boat up with previsions. At least a week's worth or two, and after that, go and assist my daughter. Make sure she goes to the cliffs," he ordered.

Gale looked perplexed for a moment before his face smoothed out and his jaw tightened, now understanding what Armstrong was about to do. "Then I will do as I am told. Excuse me." Gale bowed his head before rushing out of the room and heading out into the twilight.

"Hey, old man Armstrong. What are you about to do?" Luffy spoke up about Armstrong's sudden change in tone.

Armstrong looked beside himself and reluctant. "Something a parent always feared but knows it's inevitable. Kid, I have a request of you. Are you still…willing to take my daughter with you?"

Luffy's eyes sprung to life in an instant and he nearly fell out of his seat. "You mean there's still a chance for Myra to join me?" he said with the biggest grin.

"Yes, there is, but I need to know one thing first. I need to know what your plans are for the future, my boy. Artemyra is a very, very strong individual, but I don't want her to be taken advantage of. You have to understand, that if she pledges her allegiance to you…then she will follow you to hell and back. She will be your sword if you don't have one. She will be your will if you don't possess one. She will be everything you need her to be. So, for my daughter to be your guardian…what are your ambitions?"

Luffy stood up against the towering man whose eyes were intimidating and demanding. They weren't that of a knight though, not even a lord. Armstrong was staring at him with all the worries of a concerned father who just wanted what was best for his daughter.

Slowly, Luffy reached around back to his hat and pulled it over his head before smirking confidently. "That's an easy one, old man. I'm…gonna be the King of the Pirates!"

Armstrong blinked once…and it felt like he wasn't seeing reality anymore, instead, it was an old illusion. Luffy's smile, the hat, and the way he spoke and carried himself. Armstrong felt like he was seeing an old friend of days long since passed. It was from a part of his life where it felt like every day he was living through a remarkable fantasy. Even now, all these years later…he could still smell the ocean breeze and hear his friend's boisterous laugh echoing in his ears.

A wave of relief washed over the storm in Armstrong's eyes, and he sighed calmly. "Spoken like an old friend of mine. I see now…A knight for a king. How fitting." He stepped up to Luffy and placed his large hand on his shoulder. "So…I ask one last thing of you, but I say this as a parent. Please…look after my daughter."

Luffy's smirk turned into a carefree smile. "What got you all worried? She's the strongest, right?"

Artemyra was swift and nearly untouchable as she ducked low and jumped away from a wild broad axe. The townsman clearly didn't know how to use it and was just swinging it around wildly, hoping that it would soon make its mark. He tried a sideswipe and swung as hard as he could until his attack was blocked by Artemyra's own blade. The ground cracked under her legs, but the lady wasn't fazed at all by his wild frenzy. She didn't once lose her calm and poise expression either, taking it all with great composure and grace.

"Your swings are too wide. Which gives me the time to move away and plan out a countermeasure," she said smoothly.

She reinforced her grip a little and twirled the large axe all the way around before slamming the curved blade into the ground, leaving it stuck in there. Artemyra didn't even give the townsman time to think before stepping up onto the handle and turning her blade to the flat side. She used every ounce of her strength to swing up and smack the safe side of her blade against his face, sending him cruising down the cobblestone street and crashing against a group of armed men and women.

"My lady, behind you!" Ozwin shouted urgently from behind her.

A great-sword wielder came charging up behind Artemyra and raised it high over his head. He swung it down with all his might, but not nearly fast enough as Artemyra blocked the giant sword with her gauntlet. Despite the obviously heavy blow, she effortlessly stopped the sword dead still and her armor didn't even crack, much less make a scratch or dent.

"You can't break my armor. Now…sleep." Artemyra knocked the sword away and regripped her own with two hands. She turned her body fully to the side and used the momentum to strike the sword-wielder with the flat side of her blade, knocking him unconscious the moment her weapon made contact. "Alright…" Artemyra laid her sword upon her shoulder and looked out to the mob that was now hesitating to jump in. "Next."

It was insane. They knew the gap was big but figured they could match her with numbers, but that wasn't helping them at all either. She had effortlessly knocked out over half of the mob with minimum effort and wasn't even close to being exhausted yet, unlike the rest of them who were now short of breath and shaking.

She wasn't fighting them. This was nothing but a challengeless game for her.

"Lady Artemyra. This way! Hurry!" Ozwin called out to her.

Artemyra looked over her shoulder and saw him standing by an alleyway that led out onto the main street. Ozwin turned fast into the alley just as Artemyra ran to follow, but with the mob right behind her. She looked briefly back at them just as Mars began to vibrate and glow gold. She struck the side of a building with her sword and caused the rubble to crumble into the entrance of the alleyway, stopping their pursuers, but only for the time being. They'll most definitely find a way around and catch up later.

Ozwin kept close to Artemyra's back as they made haste down the desolated roads of the stone city. "My lady, what are we to do?"

"I'm afraid I'm not sure," Artemyra said through short breaths and gritted teeth. "The greedy haze in their minds isn't something that can be dispelled so easily. The greed has to be overcome by something bigger. A much deeper emotion. What though…I'm unsure."

Artemyra soon came to a screeching halt and signaled for Ozwin to do the same. She could hear in the clear distance, about two side alleyways ahead was a pair of footsteps. A lone person running down the street in their direction. Artemyra held her sword together with both hands and braced herself, but immediately lowered her guard when Gale came running out from the alleyway. He turned his head side to side until he spotted his father and Artemyra at the end of the street.

"Oh, thank goodness I found you," he said with an exhausted breath and walked up to them.

Ozwin stepped close to his son, who in which he hadn't seen all day. "My son, what are you doing out here?"

"I got orders from Lord Armstrong to find Lady Artemyra," Gale explained shortly, not even meeting his father's eyes. He kept his focus solely on Artemyra and could clearly see how troubled she had become.

"My father? What for? Is he aware of what's happening?" she asked gently.

"Yeah. We heard it from the house. He told me to find you and make sure you go to the cliffs."

Artemyra cocked a brow and looked up towards the dark cliffs. "The cliffs? But what about the mob?" she said, gesturing from where she just came from. She could hear them coming but it was still too dark.

"I assume your father is up there waiting for you, so that's your priority. I can't stop the mob, but I can buy you some time." Gale reached around to the small sword attached to his back and pulled it out. He pressed a switch that was on the handle and caused gears inside to start spinning. The sword then extended out into a long javelin that he twirled around with skill and ease. "Besides…gives me the chance to try out my new cool weapon."

Artemyra didn't look reassured at all and tightened her jaw. "Gale, you know I can't leave you down here." She shook her head.

Gale leaned his javelin against his shoulder and cocked his head to the side. "And you need to trust me, Artemyra. Not as a knight…but as your friend," he said coolly. "And…I wanna rack up more favors from you." He held up his fist and pressed it against her breastplate, all the while smiling like a confident and bratty kid, as he always been. "See you, Virago."

Artemyra clenched her hands tightly as if she was fighting with the decision she was having to make. She inevitably raised her hand though and tapped it against his armor too. The lady kept her lips sealed but her silence and the look in her eyes had always spoken volumes. Artemyra held eye contact with him for at least a minute before pulling away and running off.

Gale's smile fell the instant the lady was gone. "Hey, old man. You didn't say anything to Lady Artemyra, did you?" he said, turning his eyes up to his withered father.

Ozwin's lips quivered. He lowered his head and closed his eyes tightly. "No…I don't have the spine…nor the heart to tell her anything."

Gale clicked his tongue. "I figured. It wouldn't be your place to tell anyways."

Ozwin's voice sounded disheartened and disturbed. "I know, my son. I know."

Gale cocked a brow and groaned. He reached up and patted his father on the back before lightly pushing him down the alleyway that was right next to them. He turned his attention down the street just as the charging mob came into view, emerging from the darkness with silver weapons in their hands. Not a single one looked ready to give up on the hunt for Mars.

Gale got into a strong battle position and held his javelin tightly. "Bring it on."

The skies were only partly cloudy, so the sun was struggling to rise on Artemyra as she walked up the steep cliffside pathway. She hadn't even realized it was morning until she got up top, it now dawning on her that she'd been out all night.

Artemyra quickly spotted her father sitting at the edge of the cliffs, looking out as peeks of a vibrant red sun began to rise above the watered horizon. "Father?" she called out to him softly, unsure of what to make of the odd atmosphere.

Armstrong turned his head slightly to the side to acknowledge her before looking back out towards the horizon. He spoke but Artemyra was greatly taken back by how gentle he sounded…yet so lost at the same time. "When I lost Hira…I felt an emotion that I had never once experienced before in all my life. What I felt that day was…inconsolable grief. I thought I lost my heart, my soul, and my world. I was nearing the edge…until I saw you. Artemyra." He got up off the ground and turned fully around to face his daughter, the rays of the sun now at his back but partially obscuring his face. "You…were the last gift I received from my wife. My one and only treasure. I made a promise on her grave that I would do everything in my power to keep you safe, but in the end…I still failed."

Artemyra felt her body jolt with an electric pain. "You didn't fail. What madness are you talking about? I grew up loved. I learned how to take care of myself. The person I am today…was because of you." She couldn't believe what she was hearing and thought her father had gone insane, but that just couldn't be. There was something more to his words, something she couldn't yet understand.

"What kind of father lets his daughter take hold of an evil weapon? What kind of father lets his daughter participate in a war?"

"Krea's Rules cannot be denied. You know very well that those things are out of our control. Not even you, the Lord of Armwell, can bend them!" Artemyra nearly had enough of his nonsense and marched up to him.

"Myra." Armstrong took a step towards her and instantly wrapped his large arms around her petite body. He turned her around so her back would be at the red horizon. "To hell with the rules. I know some cannot be bend…but I can break at least one."

Krea's Rules No. 7: Islanders are not permitted to leave.

Artemyra's eyes widen and began to quiver and overflow with tears. "Are you…are you kicking me out?" she said with a shaky voice.

Armstrong only held on tighter. "I'm doing what I should've done a long time ago…given my daughter the chance to fly…just how Roger did for your mother and I."

Artemyra flinched at the name and turned her head to the side but couldn't see her father's face. "Roger… what…what do you mean? Dad!" Artemyra suddenly gasps when she felt something pull at her from behind, despite being at the edge of the cliffs. She looked over her shoulder and saw an arm, stretching abnormally long from all the way down at the sea where Luffy and Coby had set sail. It took her a moment longer to realize that it was Luffy's arm.

Luffy gave her a hard tug but Armstrong kept his daughter in place with his bear-like embrace. "Not yet. Just for a couple more seconds…Let me say a couple of things as your father," he said, planting his legs firmly against the ground in order to stop his daughter from leaving so soon. He needed just a few more seconds. Just a few more words.

"Dad?" Artemyra looked back up just in time to see the mob making their way up the cliffside pathway. Her eyes widened with instant panic. "Dad!"

"Don't let yourself be taken advantage of by others. Stay by your captain's side and protect him. Polish your armor and sharpen your sword every chance you get."

"Dad? Dad! They're coming!" she tried to urge him, but it was like he didn't hear her, or probably didn't care about the danger behind him.

"Don't ever neglect your training. Eat healthy. And watch out for boys, and…" He pulled his head away from her shoulder and looked into Artemyra's crying sea-green eyes, nearly identical to his own glassy ones. "Know that I will forever love you…my heart…my soul…my world."

Armstrong lessened his grip little by little on his daughter until she was abruptly ripped from his arms and flew off the side of the cliff, all the way down towards Luffy and Coby's boat. Artemyra's whole weight smacked right against Luffy and they both tumbled hard off the boat and splashed into the water.

The sunlight broke above the horizon and pierced through the dense clouds lining the sky. Colors of orange flutter across Armstrong's eyes and reflect against the glass tears rolling down his cheeks. He turned his head slightly to the side and gave a low stare to the mob that now stood against him, still clenching their weapons and now breathing heavily like a deranged animal. Their numbers seemed to have lessened though during the time Gale was holding them back.

"If you still want a fight…then step forth," Armstrong whispered to them with a deep growl coming from the back of his throat. "Because you're not…getting past me."

Armstrong stared intently at the mob when he saw something unexpected happen. All of them, every single person dropped their weapons one by one with looks of despair and deep regret all over their faces. They stared at Armstrong, a man who had been their pillar of strength since forever now broken down with grief and crying over the departure of his daughter.

All it took was one look from Armstrong…and they couldn't bring themselves to do it anymore. The regret was too strong.

"My lord…we…I. We didn't…want this," One of the broken townspeople said, falling to his knees and beginning to cry.

Armstrong pulled his hands over his face and sighed deeply. "Greed is a powerful emotion…but not even that can compare to resentment and grief." His hands slipped away and hung loosely at his side. "You all held on for as long as you could. Be at ease. You're now free of Mars's hold."

Down in the ocean, Artemyra resurfaced after a minute with Luffy in her arms. He was totally wiped out from the seawater and acting like a limp rag doll.

"Goodness me. Why didn't you tell me you were a Devil Fruit user? You could've drowned!" Artemyra exclaimed.

"I'm so sorry…!" Luffy responded back as best he could against slurred words.

Artemyra swam one-handed over to the boat and tossed Luffy's limp body up top before climbing in. She gave him the once over to make sure he was alright before looking back up to the cliff. A bright red light shinned briefly over her eyes before moving down to her chest and stopping right over her heart. The light was multiplied into more than she could count and just showered her in warmth. Artemyra looked back up to see where the lights were coming from and saw her father standing at the foot of the cliff with his sword pointing up towards the morning sky, catching the sunlight with his sword and reflecting it out towards her. It wasn't just him either. The knights from the tavern all managed to crawl out onto the beach where Gale and Ozwin were and stood at the edge of the water. They all simultaneously pulled out their blades and followed Armstrong's lead, catching the burning red light from the sun and giving it to Artemyra.

Coby couldn't take his eyes away from the Red blades burning under the morning sun. "What are they doing?" He looked over to Artemyra just as she stood up in the boat.

Artemyra couldn't stop the tears from falling, but they weren't born from sadness this time. Instead, it was contentment. Her hearts swelled with joy and her smile was now bright and free. "It's…an old tradition among my people. A burning but bright farewell to those who are departed."

Luffy eventually came too and stood up just in time to catch the magnificent sight. "What? So they're all saying goodbye?" he said with the biggest grin. "This…really is a great place!"

Artemyra bit down on her lips to try and hold herself together. She reached around to her back and began to pull out her sword, pointing it up towards the sky and returning the burning light right back to them. "Well…it looks like I'm in your care now…" she said tearfully and looked down at Luffy. "If you'll have me."

Luffy blinked and just stared for a moment before pulling his hat over his face. He snickered and gave her a childish thumbs up. "Of course!"

Author's Note:

At long last! We finally managed to wrap up Myra's arc. Hell yeah! Now...we can finally move on to the main One Piece storyline. We still got a couple more things to mention about Mars, but...guess who's gonna met Myra in the next chapter?

Before I go. I wanna say thank you for your support. Even though this story ain't that big and not getting a lot of traction...your reviews have meant the world to me and gave me the motivation to keep going. Thank you, truly.