One Piece Emperors New Clothes
By: FunahoMisaki
(A/N: I own nothing and read last chapter)
There was a silence that was strange when Shanks woke up, it was a familiar one but he couldn't quite place it.
Grabbing the news paper delivered by the News Coo, Shanks gave a grunt and nod when he saw Yasopp, early riser that he was, already up and making coffee.
Given that the entire crew had hangovers it wouldn't be long before the others woke up and stole the rest of the crew coffee supply, good thing Shanks was captain because that meant he had his own stash that only Benn and Lucky and Yasopp knew about and knew to make sure was refilled if they took some.
Sipping his coffee Shanks glanced at the paper around the same time that Yasopp did.
They both spit out their coffee's in shock.
BIG MOM DEFEATED!
That was the biggest headline on the paper and both captain and sniper sputtered as they registered that a fellow Yonko had been taken out, and they had heard nothing of it before hand which meant that it had only happened overnight.
The next headlines then came into view for Shanks as he frantically read to see who the hell was powerful enough to take down that fat old hag in one night without anyone the wiser.
STRAW HAT LUFFY CROWNED EMPEROR!
Tottoland and Fishman Island flying the Straw Hat Flag!
STRAW HAT DETHRONES BIG MOM OVERNIGHT!
Shanks stared at the papers stunned for a long moment before he threw his head back and he bellowed long and loud like his old captain would have, waking the rest of the drunken bastards he called his nakama who were all groggy and wondering what the hell was going on.
Yasopp had his jaw flapped open as he emitted a high pitched sound that would perk the ears of dogs everywhere.
"What's going on?" Lucky was the first on scene to see why their captain was laughing his damned red head off.
"Ya see this you lazy bastards! Anchor's a Yonko now just like your captain!" Shanks said holding the news paper high in one hand to show them with a fwide face splitting grin on his face while a piece of paper started to slide out of the newspaper only to be caught and held aloof.
Luffy's new bounty that showed him bruised and bloodied and with dead serious eyes, his straw hat missing from his head but Shanks knew he had likely left it with a trusted nakama, as he stared down the Big Mom pirates, pointing at one of them.
"What?" Was Benns first word of the day as he stared at the new bounty, his face the same as ever and a cigarette already in his mouth but his eyes were a little wide which showed how shocked he really was.
"The little brat just took down Joker. Couldn't he give us old folk a break?" Benn asked as he stared at the bounty and the rest of the crew were reading their own copies, or trying to steal Shanks and Yasopps of the paper.
"Of course not! That's how we met him remember?" Lucky asked with a small grin, tearing through a large portion of ham already with fond eyes. The ones who had been there smiled fondly or felt a tug at their lips as they recalled the boy all those years ago.
"I'm going to get a strong crew and be even stronger than you and become the King of the Pirates!" Shanks could nearly hear that voice even now and it was just as familiar as how he had stood on the dock of his west blue home island shouting for Roger to take him in. Just as familiar as a straw hat perched upon his head. A straw hat so beloved and so dear to him that he could almost feel it on his head now along with a fond ruffle of the hair from a ghostly figure.
"Chart a course my fellow bastards!" Shanks said with a wild grin on his face that his captain would be proud of.
"Where to captain?" Benn asked but his eyes showed that he already knew the answer.
"To Wano!" Shanks said with another laugh, reaching for a bottle of sake and holding it high.
"I want to see Luffy pummel Kaido to the ground!" Shanks said and the rest of the crew were grabbing their own sake cups as well, the senior members all giving small vicious grins.
Shanks order was heard loud and clear and his crew let out a roar of agreement.
"MAKE WAY FOR THE KING!"
In Alabasta
"A Yonko. He's a Yonko now." Igaram was gaping in disbelief now as they read the newspapers while getting ready for the Lievre.
"Quickly someone find out how to get in touch with them!" Vivi ordered and some of the servants hurriedly stumbled over each other to get a way to contact the Straw Hats.
"Princess?" Falco asked staring at her in confusion over her orders, she had never tried to contact them before after all.
"He's a Yonko, one of the four strongest and closest to One Piece. A Yonko who's new to being a Yonko but who is widely known and either respected or feared. We've been lucky and managed to turn back or defeat any pirates attempting to raid or take over our lands so far however…there wouldn't be any attacks at all if Luffy doesn't mind us flying his flag. We can…we can openly support him now, or at least claim his protection to the other royals." Vivi said and her father gave a grin at that and nodded once in agreement with his daughter. It was a sound idea and the fact that they were often attacked by other pirates would make it a good idea when brought up at the Royals meeting in a few weeks.
"I know he won't mind but we should at least be polite enough to ask!" Vivi said with a bright smile and sunshine and rainbows coming off of her.
In Dressarosa
"He managed to defeat Big Mom then. Interesting." Fujitora said as a subordinate read the paper to him. Sengoku laughing his head off while Tsuru and her girls gave grim looks that Fujitora of course didn't see.
"I'm so glad I'm not the Fleet Admiral anymore! Akainu must be melting a hole in the floor!" Sengoku laughed at that and Tsuru had to admit that he wasn't wrong. Akainu was likely blowing a gasket over this and now Sengoku wouldn't have to deal with any of it. Lucky bastard.
"Tsuru-sama look!" One of her girls pointed something out to her looking alarmed.
"What is the meaning of this Princess Viola?" Tsuru demanded turning to the princess in attendance and Fujitora wondered what was going on.
"Straw Hat Luffy selflessly saved our kingdom from DonFlamingo when you marines stood by and could and would do nothing. Naturally it is only right that we fly his flag now that we know he shall soon defeat Kaido. After all who else would be his next stop?" The princess said and she sounded calm and even amused now as she looked at them all, not that Fujitora could see.
"And him kidnapping your sister?" Another of Tsuru's girls asked and Viola openly snorted.
"My sister was raised as a gladiator. She is a fighter born and bred. If he asked it of her, she would have joined his crew in a heartbeat after all he's done for her. Make of that what you wish." Princess Viola said and she definitely sounded amused.
"I'm sure the rest of the royals at the Lievre will understand, especially after it's explained to the ones who might not keep up with the papers. The fact remains however that we can now show open support to the one who saved our country. By all means. Feel free to challenge that." Viola said and her voice sounded a little dark at the end, as if she wanted them to challenge her.
"I see…" It earned a few hurriedly stifled snorts from his subordinates but Fujitora didn't care.
"Tell me one thing Princess Viola…Straw Hat Luffy…does he have a kind face?" Fujitora asked and he could sense how her tension eased a little bit at the question.
"He has the kindest face, a ray of light for those of us who were trapped in darkness. That is who he is. His bounty poster now is…imposing I'll admit, but he will forever be the sunshine that gave light and life back to our land." Viola said and her voice was a bit softer as she spoke about Luffy and Fujitora gave a small smile and a nod.
"Well…it is a good thing that he is kind." Fujitora said smiling as he stood up.
His words echoed around the area and none found that they could refute his claim, not even Sengoku and Tsuru could deny it.
"It would be horrible if the future Pirate Kings light should ever dim."