Author's Note: Hi everyone! So sorry for the wait, this chapter was surprisingly difficult to write lol XD Anyway, thank ya'll so much for your continued support and I hope you enjoy this chapter!

To hana-ya: Lol, yep, completely friend zoned XD Lu is the most precious of beans.

To avaxenakis: Thank you so much!

To Irene Sharda: Yeah, Boa is completely in the dark about how young Luffy actually is. She's gonna be rejected anyway, but don't worry, people are going to tell her eventually lol XD We shall have to see how the trials go in this chapter and the role reversal ;) Look forward to seeing some familiar characters show up in this chapter as well! As for Doffy...I haven't decided if I'm going to have him show up, but maybe at a later date.

To mugihawk: He's so cool! I had to include him :) Aw, thank you so much!

To Alludeee: Thank you so much! I'm so glad you're enjoying it so far :)

To livinganime14: Lol I'm glad you're enjoying it!

To Guest: Yes, Zoro will be getting smacked for his disregard for creatures a bit later in the story, during what I'm calling 'Zoro's arc'. He will have to come to terms with the fact that not all creatures are bad starting with his best friend becoming one :)

WARNINGS:

- Luffy has to wear 'traditional armor'

- Fluff (literally)

- Cultural differences/discrimination against men

- Plot bunnies for the future

Luffy tugged at the 'warrior garb' he was told to wear, unsure if it even qualified as armor.

After the fun banquet with Hancock, the Valera Queen, Viola, led him over to their side of Amazon Lily. It was equally as beautiful and the suspended bridges made Luffy's heart race with excitement. He couldn't wait to explore!

Thankfully, the Valera didn't waste any time and ushered him inside what they called the 'Mother Tree' to explain the trials. According to Viola, the trials were a right of passage that all young warriors underwent to test their readiness for battle. It was also a way to ensure the youth of the village were properly educated in important traditions that were held in great regard.

One such tradition was the warrior garb.

"Um…I think it's a little big." He muttered, tugging at the fabric around his waist. The outfit was very tight in some areas, but super baggy in others. "And how am I supposed to walk in these things?"

"You will have to make do, I'm afraid." Viola replied with a teasing smile, "Male warriors are a rarity so we don't have any armor made for your kind."

Luffy groaned and looked at himself in the long mirror provided. The armor itself was pitch black with silver accents and had many pieces to it. The Valera attendants placed a headdress on his forehead that framed his face and almost looked like it had horns. Unfortunately, that was the only part of the garb that fit properly.

The chest piece had just fallen off him, so the ladies 'improvised' by wrapping a long piece of fabric around his neck and attaching it at his lower back. For all their fumbling, they couldn't get it quite snug enough, so they strapped it to him with leather buckles that weren't particularly comfortable.

The belt was simply a loincloth that was strapped in place at his hips (thankfully covering the front and back, though it exposed the very top of his thigh). The shoes were the worst. Luffy stumbled in the tall heels, the boots wrapped around his legs in sturdy, yet flexible, metal, all the way up to the middle of his thigh. How did girls walk in these things, let alone fight!?

"Why aren't there more guys?" Luffy questioned, awkwardly following Viola out of the room at her insistence. Many of the Valera they passed chuckled at him, hiding their grins behind hands.

"It is simply not done." Viola explained, slowing her pace to allow him time to catch up, "Males are generally weaker than us and cannot handle the stress of battle. That is not to say an occasional oddity is born…my sister's mate was born strong despite being a man. However, it goes against many of our traditions to train a man as a warrior, so he has since returned to caring for his kitten."

Luffy hummed, unsure how to respond. It was clear to him that the Valera didn't think men could be all that strong and it went against their cultural beliefs to allow him to participate in the trials at all. Luffy supposed he had Hancock to thank for getting him in.

"It goes without saying that, seeing as you are not far off from being full-grown, should you be unable to complete the trials, there are many available warriors who I'm sure would be willing to take you into their home."

"Erm…no thanks, I'm good." Luffy replied, shying away from a younger Valera who eyed him with an unnerving amount of interest. As they walked through the village, he finally saw some males, the shorter creatures peeking out of their homes to watch him pass.

'They don't look much different.' He thought, smiling at one who was holding a baby. The man returned his grin (albeit a more reserved one) and waved, only to be escorted back into the house by a tall, muscular woman who was probably his wife.

"You will wait with the other younglings while we finish our preparations." Viola directed, motioning with her head towards a simple tent they'd erected close to a clearing that looked suspiciously like it had been altered to be some sort of obstacle course. "I wish you luck, little one. Try not to die, it would be such a waste. Spirited men like yourself are so hard to come by."

"Thanks!" Luffy chirped before wobbling his way towards the tent. He really needed to do something about the shoes or he wouldn't make it past the first trial.

When he pushed the flap aside and entered the tent, all of the occupants turned to stare at him. As expected, they were all female and around his age. Luffy grinned and waved, inwardly jealous that their armor actually fit.

"Hi, I'm Luffy!" The Valera began to whisper amongst themselves, obviously unsure how they felt about him. He ultimately decided to ignore them and plopped down near the corner of the tent to mess with shoes. Maybe it would be better to just break the heel off…then at least they'd be flat.

"Wow, you really are a human!" Someone exclaimed seconds before sinking their teeth into his ear. Luffy yelped and immediately got a face full of fur as the Valera threw all her weight at him. He blinked up at the girl who was now straddling him, having released his ear (thankfully). "I'm Carrot, it's nice to meet you! You're 'Luffy', right?"

"Yeah…" He managed as the Valera pulled at his cheeks and sniffed his neck. She sure was friendly. "Uh, you're kind of heavy."

"Oh, sorry!" Carrot said loudly, laughing as she got off him, "I've just never met a human before, let alone a man. You're so squishy and small!" Luffy supposed he was kind of short compared to most Valera, but was he really squishy?

"C-Carrot…you're being rude." A new, more reserved Valera put in as she nervously approached them. The girl had pink hair that was braided against her back and looked kind. The white-furred Valera chuckled sheepishly at the comment, making a show of 'fixing' Luffy's headdress.

"Eh, really? I just wanted to say hi."

Upon talking with the two Valera, Luffy discovered that the pink-haired one, Rebecca, was actually the princess! Queen Viola was her aunt and it was a big deal that she was finally participating in the trials. Apparently Rebecca's father was against it as he didn't want his daughter to have to fight and kill.

"He taught me how to defend myself but…" Rebecca muttered, hands wrapped around each other in her lap, "He'd rather I not have to go into battle."

"Is your Dad strong?" Luffy questioned, recalling what the Valera Queen said about her sister's mate. Was that Rebecca's father? Both the girls nodded vigorously.

"Kyros is a legend, the first of his kind!" Carrot put in excitedly, practically bouncing in place, "He is the only known male Valera to become a warrior and very few have been able to match him."

Luffy grinned, interest growing. He wanted to meet him!

"Hmph, don't give the boy too much hope, Carrot." A snide voice interrupted, drawing Luffy's attention. The Valera who'd spoken had strikingly pale skin and green hair that was pulled back around her ears. "Just because Kyros managed it doesn't mean that's the norm."

Luffy glared at the Valera as she approached, not liking the way she was looking down on him. She smirked and reached out her hand to caress his cheek before roughly grabbing his chin and forcing his chin up, her claws digging into his skin.

"Men should know their place."

"Leave him alone, Monet!" Carrot growled, standing up to confront the other Valera, "He has every right to attempt the trials and Hebìhime vouched for him!"

Not one to let himself be bullied, Luffy tore his chin away and stood up to face the much taller girl, not backing down.

"It's okay, Carrot." He soothed before turning his attention back to the green-haired Valera with the cruel eyes, "I'm going to pass the trials no matter what…so watch me." Monet scoffed and brushed a strand of hair from her face.

"I'll be sure to, little boy…watch you fail, that is. Men don't belong on the battlefield, they belong at home where they can be kept out of trouble."

With that, Monet and most of the other Valera stalked out of the tent to 'prepare themselves', leaving Luffy, Carrot, and Rebecca alone. The princess released a shaky breath and held her chest, obviously affected by the brief scuffle.

"Are you okay?" He asked, concerned about her pale complexion. Rebecca nodded and straightened up.

"Y-Yes, I just don't really like confrontation…that's all."

Just as Luffy was about to respond, a loud voice called for all remaining candidates to gather, prompting Carrot to bounce in place, ears perked up in anticipation.

"Come on, let's go!"

"Just a second…" Luffy muttered, taking a seat and pulling one of his legs across his knee. With a jerk, he snapped off the tall heel of the shoe, transforming it into a flat that would be much easier to run in. Rebecca and Carrot watched curiously as he did the same to the other boot and stood to his feet, running in place to test the effectiveness of his new boots. "Yeah, that's much better!"

"Is that…allowed?" Rebecca whispered nervously while Carrot simply shrugged.

"Who knows! I think it's smart!"

Luffy smiled and jogged out of the tent with his new friends not far behind. This was his chance to finally get stronger and be able to protect the people that were important.

He couldn't fail, no matter what.

Viola watched with a calculating eye as the younglings lined up at the edge of the clearing, all wearing their tribe's traditional armor (albeit slightly less revealing than what most adults would wear, they weren't quite mature yet after all). They had a good group this moon and she expected great things from them.

Her eyes moved to the young male when he emerged from the tent, amused to see he'd removed the heels from the bottom of his shoes.

"My Lady, look what the man has done to our traditional armor!" One of her attendants hissed, obviously displeased. Viola simply waved her off.

"It's fine. I see no issue in allowing the boy a handicap. Besides, have we not already altered the armor for him?" The other Valera hummed in thought, prompting Viola's gaze to return to their warrior candidates. Her niece, Rebecca, stood next to Luffy, appearing very nervous.

'You must have courage, sweet girl.' Viola thought, eyes softening slightly, 'This is an important step in your journey.'

As she made her way out to the field, movement caught her eye. There, peering through the trees in a hooded cloak, was Kyros, her brother-in-law. She smirked at his worried expression. Of course he would come, there's no way he would miss Rebecca's initiation no matter how much he opposed it. The male removed his hood, allowing his dark ears more freedom to move as he settled down in the dirt, nodding to her.

Viola inclined her head slightly in response and continued until she stood directly in front of the younglings.

"Welcome, my daughters, to the warriors trials. You have worked hard to prepare for this day, and I cannot wait to see the results of your hard work." The young Valera all straightened up at that, ears pointing to the sky as they pounded their fists onto their chest plate and bare stomach. Viola watched in amusement as little Luffy looked down the line, confusion clear on his face as he attempted to imitate the salute.

Carrot, the energetic little thing, helped the human adjust his salute until it was just right, causing him to mouth a quiet 'thank you'. Luffy certainly made friends fast, didn't he?

"The trials will be explained in detail as they come and our sisters from the Kuja tribe will be assisting me throughout the tests." Viola continued, motioning to a group of lamia on the sidelines. Hancock slithered forward regally, cheeks reddening when she locked eyes with Luffy. The Valera Queen couldn't help but wonder if she would be able to keep an objective eye with the boy… "Myself, Hebìhime, and Acilia will be the main judges."

Acilia stood not far from her, towering over most of the other Valera. She was a large, broad female who had fought in many battles and was revered as a very strong warrior. She would be able to recognize battle prowess and talent when she saw it.

Viola then turned and motioned to the obstacle course they'd set up the day before.

"As you can see, this is your first trial. You must show us how well you move through the woods and over difficult terrain." Viola laughed inwardly when the younglings whispered amongst themselves how easy it appeared. "Do not underestimate this course, my dears. It is only the first of many trials. We will begin momentarily, so prepare yourselves!"

Viola then walked to a nearby hill that would allow her and other judges ample view of the course. Hancock and Acilia followed her there, the former accompanied by her two sisters.

"Hmmm…this is a good course, my Queen." Acilia commented, eyes scanning the field below them, "It will be challenging but not too much for the first trial." Viola smiled in response and transferred her weight onto her right hip. It would be interesting to see how they overcame the trial.

After all, she never did say exactly what they would be judged on.

"Adelfí!" Hancock hissed, slithering up to her side, "Why must you put my sweet Luffy in such-such revealing attire!?"

"It is required." Viola replied, motioning to herself who was also dressed in full armor for the event. The 'mature' set also included a sheer piece of enhanced fabric that attached to their breast plate and came down to their hips. It often surprised their enemies with how durable it was. "Don't worry, I have full faith in your ability to defend your claim, though…he hasn't agreed to it yet, has he?"

Hancock mumbled something to herself and crossed her arms, obviously annoyed by her comments. Viola chuckled and returned her attention to the field. The girls (and Luffy) were getting ready to start, stretching and making sure their armor was properly donned.

Once the warriors down below motioned to her that they were ready, Viola raised her hand, prompting the younglings to crouch.

"BEGIN!"

The young Valera rushed forward at her exclamation, almost trampling each other in an attempt to reach the first obstacle: a tall wooden wall, the fastest. Viola huffed in disappointment as many candidates pushed their comrades out of the way. It would be difficult to pass them with such selfish behavior.

As most of them climbed the wall with ease, a small group was left behind. Viola found herself more interested in what the male and her niece would do than the large group that had pulled ahead. This wasn't a timed test…rushing would only prove to lessen your chances of success.

Carrot, ever the leaper, simply jumped up to the top of the wall and waved down at the other two. Luffy said something to her with a grin before agilely climbing up the wall with much more skill than Viola had expected. He stopped at the top and sat on it, shouting encouragements to a nervous Rebecca.

'Go on…be brave!'

The pink-haired girl (thankfully) did climb after them so they could continue the course. At this point, the rest of the group was significantly farther ahead than they were. Even though it wasn't timed, it wouldn't do to appear lazy either. They needed to pick up the pace.

"The boy is surprisingly skilled…" Acilia observed, watching Luffy easily balance on skinny wooden stakes planted in a muddy bog, "He is a 'ranger', correct? I have heard that their training regimen is quite impressive."

"Go, Luffy!" Hancock encouraged, waving at the young human with glee. To his credit, Luffy waved back before quickly turning to grab Rebecca's hand, the girl almost falling off the stakes. "Of course he'ssss skilled! He wouldn't have earned my respect if he wasn't at least competent."

The first trial went about as expected, with everyone managing to clear it eventually. Luffy surprised most of the other candidates by chatting up a storm with Carrot and Rebecca, not appearing winded at all. Viola could tell that some of the more 'well-bred' kittens were irritated by his success and presence. To them, males were lesser beings and didn't belong on the same stage as them.

But, for the most part, the younglings were impressed by his ability, some even making attempts to talk to him. Viola smirked and raised her hand, silencing them almost immediately.

"Let the next trial commence!"

There would be no long breaks in between trials. This was also a test of physical endurance and fortitude…Viola wondered how many of the younglings could handle the stress.

The second trial focused on stealth. The candidates were split up and given a target to locate. Most of the younglings did fairly well, even Luffy who didn't seem like the quiet type. His target, Monet, was not pleased to be found.

The third trial involved swimming across a wide lake in full armor, a test of strength, endurance, and planning. Surprisingly, many of the younglings struggled with this test, some having to be rescued about halfway. The small group that did make it across included Luffy (which greatly excited Hancock). The boy had all but carried Rebecca across…which was probably embarrassing for her, but Viola was just glad she didn't collapse from exhaustion and drown.

'He really is impressive…' Viola mused while jotting down his score on the piece of enchanted parchment they used to record written items. In the past, humans who attempted their trials were either overconfident or simply not talented enough. Luffy was kind, thoughtful, and physically strong enough to keep up with Valera his age…even dressed in something so obviously uncomfortable for a man. 'I can see why Hancock is so taken with him.'

The fourth trial was less physical and more about mental fortitude. The candidates were each put under a spell that made them face their worst fears. This was usually where young Valera dropped out, unable to handle the stress. Viola walked through the large cave where the trial took place, shaking her head as younglings fell to the floor crying, unable to face their fears.

Even Monet, ever prideful and calm, shook uncontrollably as she attempted to break free of the spell. If they wanted to be warriors, they needed to understand the balance between fear and confidence. It wasn't necessarily a good thing to feel no fear but it was important to be able to overcome that hesitation when it mattered.

When she reached Luffy, Viola was surprised to find him on him sitting with his legs crossed, gripping his ankles tightly. He wasn't shaking, but his deep, obsidian eyes were blank and moist with tears. Whatever the boy was seeing…it affected him emotionally.

"Ace…Sabo…" Luffy whispered, causing Viola to lean in closer instinctively to hear what he was saying, "Zoro…everyone…I'm sorry I wasn't strong enough."

She frowned in sympathy, now having an idea of what he was seeing. Poor thing was trapped in a nightmare where he lost all of his companions. That was a common fear, one most never overcame-

"No." Luffy suddenly growled, eyes clearing. Viola withdrew, stepping back as Luffy's mana spiked briefly, breaking the spell. "It's not real…I still have time. I'll protect everyone no matter what."

Viola smirked, pleased with his fortitude. It actually didn't take much to break the spell, but you had to have the will to reject the vision.

"Good work, little one. Looks like you're the first to break free." Luffy blinked up at her before smiling tiredly. It was obvious that exhaustion was catching up with him after so many trials.

"Shishishi, thanks! I kind of saw something similar to that when I was trapped with Balak, so it didn't surprise me as much." Viola hummed and motioned for one of the attendants to bring him some water while she checked up on the other candidates. Most were either at their limits or still deep in the throes of fear.

If they didn't break out soon, she'd give the order to have them forcibly purged. It was late and they still had one last trial to complete before the rising of the full moon when the awarding ceremony would take place. Viola could already feel the moon's pull and it was still a few hours away.

She yearned for the moonbeams that would set her soul ablaze, but that was not the purpose of the ceremony. The younglings were still a long way off before they could attempt Sulong.

The final test took place in a medium sized clearing not far from the Mother Tree. Once all the remaining younglings were gathered, Viola stepped forward to explain the trial.

"Your final test shall be a duel. We have thoroughly examined each of your abilities and will pair you with a warrior of greater strength." The kittens muttered nervously, voicing their concerns about fighting full-fledged warriors. "Do not worry, it is not necessarily required that you win. This is your chance to demonstrate flexible thinking and your battle spirit. True warriors do not hesitate and fight whoever they must."

With that, Viola's attendants worked to get the remaining candidates set up with their opponents and escorting the first fighter to the center of the clearing. As expected, most of the younglings did not do terribly well, but they tried. She was pleased that they at least did their best to show indomitable spirit and grace in defeat.

Her face fell when Rebecca was thrown on her back for the third time. She'd been careful to choose her niece's opponent, but…

"Rebecca, don't give up!" A deep voice bellowed, startling the crowd. Viola huffed and turned to watch Kyros jog up to the arena, jaw set in determination. "Remember what I taught you!"

"F-Father…?" Rebecca managed, standing to her feet. All around them, warriors and younglings alike sneered at Kyros, whispering how he shouldn't have to come to the sacred grounds. Her brother-in-law, unfortunately, was disliked simply because he was born with natural strength and actually surpassed many of their most powerful warriors in fighting ability.

In other words, Kyros' very existence frustrated them. It was unnatural, they said.

"Yeah, you can do it!" Luffy put in, sending Rebecca a bright grin. At his side, Carrot jumped up and down, yelling encouraging words to her friend. The pink-haired girl pressed her lips together and brandished her sword, holding it with both hands. It seemed she was once again determined to fight. Good.

Under the watchful eye of her father and friends, Rebecca was able to show the most of her abilities. Kyros had taught her how to evade and disarm, which was one of her greatest skills. Viola jotted down her score even as the warrior she was fighting won the duel. Rebecca did well…Kyros should be proud.

'But we don't have much more time to spare…' Viola mused, glancing up at the sky. Though the clouds hid most of the light, it was clear the moon was almost in its optimal position. They would need to hurry the rest of the duels along-

"Ah!" Rebecca grunted, drawing Viola's attention back to the ground. Somehow, she'd fallen and landed on the muddy ground, earning some harsh laughter from the younglings behind her. Someone tripped her no doubt. Viola frowned but didn't make a move to step-in. Young Valera could be petty at times and her niece needed to confront them or they wouldn't ever respect her authority.

"Rebecca, are you-" Kyros started, only to stop when his daughter rolled over on her back so she could look up at her father. Viola's eyes widened in horror as, at that very moment, the sky cleared, allowing a single moonbeam to pierce the clouds.

No!

Almost immediately, Rebecca began to growl and her body shuddered, scattered fur and hair turning white under the moon's influence. Viola made to order her warriors to intervene and cover the girl's eyes to stop the transformation, but it was too late. A pulse of energy dispersed from Rebecca's body, sending them all flying backwards.

Even though the girl was young, Sulong was a powerful transformation that tapped into a Valera's dormant instincts and ancient magic. Dispelling it and containing the damage would be difficult, especially knowing that Rebecca had no control over power.

"Warriors, to me!"

Luffy had no idea what was going on. One minute, he was rushing up to help Rebecca up (after that jerk with the green hair tripped her), and the next, he was thrown back against the grass. He instinctively activated his mana sight and was shocked by what he saw.

Rebecca's mana had morphed from a gentle pink to a raging scarlet and it was completely out of control. He wasn't sure what caused it, but he had to help his new friend!

Pushing through the crowd and warriors, Luffy moved to stand directly in front of her, amazed by the pressure her new mana was emitting. He ignored the calls of the Queen and others, yelling at him to get out of the way. Though he was weak compared to most at his school, Luffy was very confident in his ability to recognize and manipulate mana.

"Stay back, I'll handle this!" He stated firmly, standing his ground even when Rebecca sprinted towards him with sharpened fangs barred. At the last second, Luffy moved out of the way and grabbed Rebecca around the neck so he could swing himself around to her back. The momentum of the jump sent the out of control Valera crashing to the ground, giving Luffy precious seconds he needed to position himself on her bare stomach, his feet keeping her arms splayed. "Don't worry…you're going to be okay."

At that, Luffy pressed his hands against her cheeks, forcefully siphoning out the red mana. He grit his teeth at the pressure. The mana was old, that much he could tell, and it did not like to be told where to go. Luffy shuddered in pain as the mana entered his own body, frustrated it couldn't activate to its fullest potential due to him being the wrong race.

This power, whatever it was, wasn't meant for humans.

'I can't hold this for long, I have to release it!'

Once Luffy removed all of the mana that didn't belong to Rebecca, he stumbled off her and released his hold on the mana, allowing it to spill out of him. Strangely enough, it didn't explode or pool around him…it went straight up, like it was returning to the sky. When it was all gone, Luffy's knees buckled and he collapsed into the grass, breathing hard.

Had he held onto that crazy mana for any longer…there's no telling what would've happened.

"Luffy, are you all right?!" Hancock yelled, slithering up to him with trembling hands. He nodded and rose to his feet, only to feel dizzy and collapse against the lamia's front. She yelped but didn't release him, bringing a hand up to his neck to stabilize his body. "Adelfí, call for a healer!"

"I'm…okay. Really." Luffy insisted, pushing away from Hancock. The lamia didn't stop him but watched closely as he stood, watching for any loss of balance or consciousness. "How's Rebecca?"

"Fine, thanks to you." He looked up when Viola approached them, a relieved expression on her face. "You moved faster than all of us…and saved my niece. I have no words to express my gratitude for you quick reaction."

Luffy grinned at the rather elaborate thank you and hobbled over to where Rebecca was. She had been helped up into sitting by a bulky male Valera who was her father, if he recalled correctly. Carrot knelt beside her and was gently rubbing their cheeks together, body trembling slightly.

"L-Luffy…I-I-"

"Shishishi, I'm just glad you're okay!" He interrupted before reaching down and putting a hand on her hair, right between her ears. Rebecca blushed at the contact and buried her head in Kyros' tunic.

"Thank you for helping my daughter." The large Valera said firmly, bowing his head in gratitude, "We are forever in your debt."

Before Luffy could respond, Viola clapped and gathered them all together.

"While the trials ended in a bit more…excitement than we were expecting, I now officially declare the tests to be completed. You may all take a well deserved break while we go over the results." Luffy wasted no time plopping down onto the grass with a huff, happy he could finally rest.

That evening, about an hour later, Luffy and the other exhausted Valera were told to line up in front of the Queen. He wasn't sure why they were instructed not to look up at the moon, but figured it had to do with what happened to Rebecca. Luffy glanced to his left at the pink-haired Valera, noticing how her ears drooped and the teeth biting into her lower lip.

"You okay?" He whispered, causing the girl to nod shakily.

"Yes…I-I I'm just nervous. After what happened, I don't know if-"

"My daughters!" Viola bellowed, causing Rebecca to go silent with a squeak of surprise, "I am pleased to announce that seven of you have passed this year's trials." The lined up Valera all cheered, though everyone was still nervous, obviously hoping they were among those who passed.

Luffy all but bounced in place as he listened to the names get called. Those who passed approached Viola with ears high and received a painted symbol on their forehead that apparently meant 'warrior' in the ancient language. It looked like a crescent moon with a dot next to it.

At least, that's what Luffy thought.

He cheered loudly when Carrot's name was called, glad his new friend achieved her goal. However, the peppy Valera was number six…which meant only one more remained. Amongst those still waiting were him, Rebecca, Monet, and two others. Who would it be?

'I hope it's Rebecca.' He thought, sending the pink-haired girl a reassuring smile, 'She's obviously worked hard for this and deserves it more than me.'

"Last, but certainly not least, we have someone who displayed great physical prowess along with mental fortitude. This person went above and beyond to save someone they'd only just met and will become only the second of their kind." Viola winked at Luffy prior to continuing. "Luffy, come forward."

He immediately went to object, knowing how upset Rebecca must be, but a grip on his wrist stopped him. The princess shook her head and smiled softly at him.

"Go on, you earned it! I know I'm not ready yet, so I'll follow you and Carrot next year." As soon as she finished speaking, Rebecca pushed him forward, starting him on the short journey to the Queen. Recognizing that his new friend wanted this for him and held no regrets, Luffy trotted forward excitedly, wasting no time kneeling before Viola.

He could hear the whispers around him, but he didn't care.

'I'll finally achieve my goal and make a pact!'

"Monkey D. Luffy." Viola began, dipping her hand in the silver paint, "I hereby acknowledge you as a warrior of this tribe. Congratulations."

Luffy could barely contain his excitement as the mark was painted on his forehead. He could feel a faint buzz of magic coming from it, meaning he would probably be able to be distinguished as a warrior even after the paint wore off.

"Um…and the pact?" He asked, looking up at Viola who smirked.

"Don't worry, we haven't forgotten. Come to the throne room in the Mother Tree after the celebration and we shall grant you what you seek." Luffy quickly stood to his feet and inclined his head multiple times. He couldn't wait!

As he turned to join his friends, a question popped into his mind.

What did she mean by…we?

Rebecca sat a ways away from everyone else at the celebration, wanting to be alone for a while. She was disappointed about her showing during the trials, but more than anything, her brief experience of Sulong had rattled her. The power had been unlike anything she'd ever felt and she'd wanted to hurt Luffy, her new friend.

It terrified her to think that she could've killed him and felt no remorse at all.

'Maybe Father was right…' Rebecca thought, tightening her grip on the cup she held, 'Maybe I'm not cut out for the battlefield.' Kyros hadn't left her side since the incident, but she'd convinced him to go home. Rebecca just wanted to be alone for a while so she could contemplate where she would go from here.

As Princess, there were many options available to her besides warrior, though she knew her Aunt Viola had desperately wanted that for her. But, after watching Luffy, Carrot, and the others in the trials, Rebecca felt like she now understood the difference between them. They were simply more cut out for the job than she was.

"Oi, Rebecca!" A loud voice called, prompting her to yelp in surprise. It was Luffy, the human now dressed more like a traditional male Valera. He wore brown pants, sandals, and a long-sleeve black shirt that looked like it was barely hanging on to his shoulder. Underneath the black shirt was what looked like a tank top, though only one strap was exposed. "You have to try this, they're sooo good!"

Rebecca couldn't help but smile as the young man pushed a plate of grilled fish into her hands. Luffy was such a joyful person…it was very contagious.

"Thank you, it's kind of you to share your meal with me."

"Shishishi, that's what friends are for!" He exclaimed before plopping down next to her, swinging his feet back and forth, "So, how are you doing? You know, with all of this?"

"I'm okay." Rebecca answered, clutching her plate, "I guess I'm just unsure where to go from here…I suppose I should train, but what if I'm just not cut out to be a warrior-"

"Don't be silly!" Luffy interrupted, leaning forward so he was over his knees, "You did great and have an awesome fighting style. I think you should try again."

"R-Really?" The boy grinned.

"Yeah! I mean, I'm going to have to return to my world soon so they'll need you. Keep fighting your way, Rebecca, and you'll do just fine."

She sniffled at that, moved by the human's words. Too often, she'd been ridiculed for her 'bloodless' combat, told how it couldn't possibly work on the battlefield. Luffy, though simple, knew exactly what to say to encourage her.

"Right. I'll do my best!"

Luffy laughed at that, squinting his eyes as his smile grew brighter. It was then that a bell rang across the forest, causing the teen to look up towards the Mother Tree.

"Ah, I gotta go! See you later!" Rebecca blinked in confusion as Luffy jumped to his feet and rushed towards the Mother Tree. Her mouth curved up into a smile at his antics. He really was something else.

When Luffy arrived at the throne room, he was surprised to find both Viola and Hancock there. They smiled at him and motioned for him to approach.

"A-Ah…congratulations, Luffy~" Hancock cooed, face red. He smiled at her and walked up to Viola, ready to finally get what he came to Louloùdi for.

"Thanks! So…how does this work?"

"Impatient, are we?" Viola said with a chuckle, shifting her weight into her right hip, "Very well, let's jump right into it. May I see your wrist?" Luffy nodded excitedly and thrust his arm out. The Queen gently took it in her hands and flipped the limb over so the inside of his right wrist was exposed.

She then began to chant in another language while drawing some sort of design on his skin. Almost immediately, Luffy felt what mana he had leave him and enter Viola, knocking the breath out of him. He managed to remain standing as the Valera finished her mark and unfamiliar magic filled the empty space where his mana had been. It felt…energetic and lively yet rooted.

Almost like a tree or perhaps a sunflower.

"It's done." Viola said, releasing his wrist so she could look him over, "How do you feel?"

Luffy hummed and looked down at his hands, opening and closing them. He didn't feel like much had changed though he did feel…light. Hancock stared at him with red cheeks, her mouth slightly open.

"So cute~"

Luffy tilted his head at the comment, causing something to flop over and hit him in the face. When he poked at it, he realized it was soft…like a rabbit's ear. Eyes widening, he rushed over to a nearby mirror to get a look at himself. The most obvious change was the addition of two, pitch black (and very fluffy) bunny ears directly on top of his head. His smile widened as he experimented with moving them around, amazed how they responded like they were another set of arms.

When he turned around and lifted his shirt, a small poof of a tail revealed itself, settled right between his hips and at his pant line. Luffy instantly decided that he loved it, especially when he discovered it twitched when he moved it.

"Welcome to the tribe, youngling." Viola put in, walking up to him and placing a hand on his head, causing his ears to go straight up, "It will take a little while for you to get used to your body and abilities, but I imagine you'll take to it quickly. Just remember, though it looks similar to your human body, they're actually quite different."

"Mn!" Luffy affirmed, bouncing in place. He was interested to test just how high he could jump now…it felt like he could leap all the way up into the canopy!

"Also, you see this?" Viola continued, tapping the symbol on his wrist. Luffy stopped bouncing to examine it. The mark was one he recognized as the sigil of the Valera tribe, now etched into the skin of his wrist like a tattoo. "Your offering is stored here while transformed. Should you want to transform back into a human, simply siphon your mana back into your body. Our magic that is now in you, will remain in the mark until you need to use it next."

Luffy made a sound of awe and ran his fingers over the mark. Closing his eyes, he willed his mana to return to him, and when he opened his eyes, he was back to being a normal human. With a giggle, he went back and forth between Valera and human a few times, eventually settling into his rabbit form.

Now that he'd finally made a pact, he wanted to get more comfortable in his new body.

"Thank you, thank you, thank you!" He exclaimed, rushing forward to hug Viola around the waist. Somewhere behind her, Luffy heard Hancock gasp, but he chose to ignore her. Right now, he just wanted to express his gratitude to the Queen. The Valera returned his hug and gently detached him.

"You're very welcome. Now…I believe Hancock has something for you as well."

Luffy blinked and turned to the Empress who swiftly approached him and snatched him up, holding him close as she moved away from the Valera Queen.

"My…possessive, aren't you?"

Hancock hissed and tightened her grip on him. For his part, Luffy just focused on getting his ears to move around, enamored with his new appendages. It was a bit weird to hear from something on top of his head, but he could hear so much now! Even though they were really far away, Luffy could make out distinctive conversations from the banquet.

"I simply want to make sure that my Luffy doesn't get too comfortable in the skin of a Valera." She said, putting him down and clearing her throat to get his attention away from his new ears. "L-Luffy…I also wish to make a pact with you."

He frowned at that, ears drooping against his hair.

"Uh, that's really nice of you, Hammock, but I don't have enough mana for that."

"You don't need it." She continued, grabbing his left wrist, "Here, let me show you." Luffy gasped as, once again, his mana was taken from him, though this time…it felt like Hancock was taking his very life force. He didn't have the mana she was looking for! But then, Viola placed her hand on his shoulder, filling him with her own mana.

Almost instantly, Luffy felt his legs morph into one and his teeth sharpen. When it was over, Luffy took a moment to catch his breath before eyeing the symbol of two intertwined serpents now engraved on his left wrist. A glance to the mirror revealed he'd been transformed into something far removed from a human.

He was a lamia, albeit…a male one.

His legs had been replaced with a deep, scarlet tail and his chest displayed scattered scales up his belly, along his sides, and neck. Luffy reached up and touched his new fangs, yelping when a forked tongue slid out of his mouth. He slithered forward awkwardly, touching the skin below his eyes that were now slits like that of a snake.

"Woah…" Luffy whispered, raising himself up and down with his new tail. Similar to how he felt as a Valera, the tail was like an extension of himself, a new limb. "H-How-"

"Just because you don't have the natural mana to sustain another form, doesn't mean it's impossible." Viola explained, coming around his new body so she was facing him, "I gave you some of my mana to help you sustain that form. Unfortunately, it won't last forever. Should you wish to enter into this form again, you will need to borrow mana from someone else. On the battlefield, however, I imagine this form will be useful. Lamia can breathe under water, swim well, are resistant to poison-"

"Adelfí, my sweet Luffy is not a lamia." Hancock put in breathlessly with sparkly eyes as she examined his new body, "He is a naga, the male version of our race…said to be long extinct."

"Eh…" Luffy muttered, twirling himself around and lifting his shirt to get a look at his scales. It was then that he felt the borrowed mana run out and he collapsed to the ground with a yelp, suddenly a human again. He was surprised to find his pants still intact despite the transformation.

Luffy remembered that when Shanks transformed into his gargoyle form, his clothes also didn't rip or anything…he'd have to ask about that.

Eyeing the two symbols on his wrists, Luffy transformed into a Valera again and stood up tall, cheeks starting to hurt from how much he was smiling. After so long, he'd finally gained the strength he needed to protect his friends…and himself.

He couldn't wait to show everyone!

Meanwhile…

Katakuri sat in his chambers, deep in meditation. His wings were resting against his back and his magic surrounded him, sending him visions. Most of them were mundane, like what his sister was likely to make for dinner or who Mama would kill at their next Tea Party. However, one in particular continued to repeat itself, causing Katakuri concern.

This vision depicted a great war…one that would determine the fate of Skotàdi.

He saw many battles, many with humans. Their summoners fought hard as they retreated back to their in-between world, unable to keep up with the armies of the World of Darkness. He saw Kaido and Mama, locked in combat, causing devastation beyond comprehension, but then the next vision showed them drinking together…an alliance?

Katakuri shook his head in disbelief. There was no way that would happen after so many years of hating each other.

He continued to watch as the battle moved to the Mesa, the human's domain. Katakuri felt his wings shudder when he caught a glimpse of powerful magic, likely cast by either Mama or Kaido, that darkened the sun, allowing their troops to move forward with their assault.

Syskótisi. A mighty spell that roughly translated to 'blackout' in the common tongue. If such a spell was being used, this battle was no mere skirmish.

Suddenly, the vision shifted and showed two figures standing behind the enemy forces, like they were being protected. One was cloaked in shadow while the other…looked familiar. Katakuri hummed, recognizing the boy from his visit to the human's school. This was the young Ranger he'd seen…the one with almost no mana.

Oddly enough, Katakuri's vision only showed their forms for a split second before the shining image of a key appeared in the Ranger's place.

The Lock and Key will soon awaken, bringing with them the might of the Demon King.

At that, Katakuri woke from his trance, returning to his room in Mama's castle. He frowned and stood to his feet, unsure what to think about the vivid vision. He knew that Kaido had been alerted by his seer that the heir of the Demon King was alive. Their rivals would no doubt search the whole of Skotàdi for them as whoever possessed their power would be crowned King (or Queen, Mama's case).

'But what's all this about a key?' Katakuri mused, walking out onto his balcony. If he was interpreting his vision correctly, the young Ranger was the 'key' to something related to the heir…

Katakuri took a seat and continued to think, unsure if he would truly understand the meaning behind the vision until it came to pass. According to their information, Kaido believed the Ranger to be the heir based on his confrontation with Balak and subsequent survival. Mama, on the other hand, wasn't so sure as the heir had to have the blood and mana of the original King, whose name they'd long since forgotten.

Regardless of who was right, Katakuri was certain the little Ranger boy would play an integral role in the upcoming war. He needed more information before acting too rashly and getting his family involved.

"Perhaps I will pay him a visit…" Katakuri muttered, recalling how easy it was to get close to him during his last expedition to the Mesa. He'd have to be careful as there were many powerful beings on guard at that school, but hopefully he'd get at least a little time to interrogate the boy.

His plan of action decided, Katakuri spread his wings and glided down to the lower level. He needed to prepare himself before infiltrating Reverie Academy.