Hi guys Azza here!

Ok so first off got a fair bit of content in this chapter that many up to date One Piece fans will recognize mixed with a fair bit of OC as well as a tease at a lurking legend. Those who know their One Piece manga will know this character and might be surprised with what I've done with him so I'm keen to see any reviews related to it.

Anyway no more spoilers onto the reviews!

Le Phoque Blanc – It needs to happen, flashy fights and lemons are nice but I've been meaning to expand stuff since before the Thriller Bark Arc problem was that Arc went for ages and needed to be focused on in its entirety. Thankfully Goda weaponized the G before his name and made an Arc that does just that!

Guest – Thanks for the feedback! Glad I'm giving you something good in these tough times!

Anyway on with the story!

I do not own Fairy Tail, One Piece or the Nasuverse.

The Darkness Of Sabaody

/Grove 24/

"Well, that was certainly … interesting," Natsu muttered as he sliced into the steak on his plate. "If she had better table manners, I'd probably challenge her to an eating contest."

"As if you were the authority on proper eating etiquette," Mordred scoffed as she also cut into her own steak.

"I must concur, you used to eat in a similar fashion in your youth."

"Come on, ganging up on me again? I took you all out to a fancy restaurant and even let you mess with my hair, what more do you girls want?"

All three girls giggled as Natsu's left hand reached back toward his newly fashioned ponytail. Despite his protests, the girls decided he would have one once they finished fussing over Mordred's hair.

Speaking of her hair, Natsu couldn't help but feel robbed as he looked at her new look. Her hair had been slicked back so that no hair now fell down the front of her face, her hair now flowing freely down her back though it still lacked the length his own or Arthuria's did to fully pull off the look.

"Why are you looking at me like that?"

"How come you get to have the cool slicked back hair but I get a damn ponytail with a braid coming out from underneath it!?"

"Isn't it obvious?"

"Please enlighten me O spoiled one," Natsu replied with a mock scowl as Seilah locked eyes with him.

"Because it's funny."

"…"

"Girl has a point."

Pausing mid bite, Natsu had to arch his neck to see a middle-aged man dressed in a black suit with a matching red tie eating alongside … a bird?"

"I wouldn't exactly say it's that funny," Natsu replied cautiously as he began to feel a twinge of power within the man.

To his surprise, it wasn't the man who responded to his reply but rather the semi humanoid looking bird. The bird wore a top hat and was dressed in a rather strange suit that definitely did not suit his current proportions.

"I would say it's a bit more than funny," the birdman replied with what he assumed was a grin. "I'd say it's 'Big News' if anything else!"

"Not this shit again," the man next to the bird sighed as he pulled out an expensive looking cigar and placed it in his mouth. "Always with the fucking news with you …"

The man was about to pull out a lighter when he found his cigar had magically lit itself and looked over to see the tip of Natsu's finger ablaze like a candle.

"Heh."

"Listen, my neck is getting a bit sore so since you two clearly have some other motive for talking than me than my hair why don't you join us at our table?"

"Way to ruin the mood," Mordred groaned loudly as both Seilah and Robin quickly joined her, the three just making annoyed groaning sounds as they shuffled over onto his side of the table with the two taking places on the opposite.

"Seems like we've landed you in hot water, eh?"

"That will depend on who you two are and why it is you decided you wanted to talk with me out of all the other unique patrons here," Natsu replied evenly as the birdman chuckled whilst putting on a sinister smirk.

"There's no need to get so suspicious of us as our motives are nothing if not born from curiosity. After all, it isn't every day you just so happen to be sitting in the same room as the Supernova who holds the highest Bounty of the bunch!"

I can tell you aren't a part of the World Government," Natsu sniffed as he continued to eat. "Who are you?"

"Ever see the Coos before?"

"The birds that deliver …"

Taking a moment to reassess the birdman he quickly realized that he had many similar features to the birds that delivered the newspapers as well as letters and the like. Eyes narrowing, the birdman laughed seeing that he'd figured it out so fast.

"They do say your mind works a million miles a minute, nice to see it in action though.

One Of The Emperors Of The Underworld

President Of The World Economy Newspaper

Bird Bird Fruit User – Model: Albatross

'Big News' Morgans

"You're the head of the press? Seriously?"

"You would overlook the other part I just said so casually," Morgans asked in surprise only to flinch as Natsu stabbed his fork much harder into his steak to shake the table.

"On one hand I have concerns," Natsu grinned as he ate the piece of meat, taking his time for added effect whilst slicing up another. "However, I won't deny that in the fight against the World Government such organizations would be … necessary."

"Considering your clearly defined moral stance on certain subjects I'm surprised you'd make such a statement," the other man chimed in only for Natsu to chuckle darkly.

"There are some aspects I definitely don't agree with such as slavery, those if I find them will be dismantled," Natsu began as Morgans began writing something down in his notebook. "However, certain others such as smuggling, procurement of information, mercenary work and acquisition of rare goods the World Government has decided only they may control are fine by me."

"Really?"

"In order for Franky to get a hold of Adam Wood he had to buy it through the Underworld. The price was a bit steep however it was fair considering the fact that the World Government fears Adam Wood as much as it feared Roger all because it was what allowed him to best the unknown world and reach Raftel."

"That's a fair point right there," the other man replied with a slight nod as he adjusted his sunglasses. "Most people don't even realize just how much control the World Government has over them and just how much stuff exists right under their pretty little heads."

"If it ever got out it'd be 'Big News' for sure-!"

"Again with the fucking news Morgans," the man groaned as Natsu and the girls barely suppressed their laughter. "We get it, you're a greasy corrupt bastard masquerading as a journo!"

"Don't listen to the words of this fool," Morgans snapped as his gaze moved to the quartet opposite him. "I may be a miser, but I am first and foremost a journalist! I am a DJ of words Mister Dragneel! One who, in only the direst of hours, might occasionally be forced to spin lies in order to move the hearts of the people! I decide what gets published for I am the news!"

"See that there Dragneel," the man sighed as he pinched the bridge of his nose, exhaling some smoke in the process. "That is a classic journo. What I said in a sentence he needed a whole damn article for!"

One Of The Emperors Of The Underworld

Don Of The Costello Mafia

Sparkle Sparkle Fruit User – Model: Ruby

Salvatore 'Bloody Lustre' Costello

"A Mob Boss and a journalist dining together in a place like this," Natsu mused as Salvatore leant back in his chair, linking his fingers together in amusement as Natsu also leant back. "Seems to me like something real interesting was going down here, doesn't it?"

"You might say that," Salvatore replied as his eyes darted to Morgans. "Your call?"

"You'd leave a decision that could expose you … up to me," Morgans asked incredulously only for Salvatore to chuckle darkly.

"Come now Morgans, we both know there ain't no way I'm setting foot in Impel Down and the World Government sure as hell ain't game enough to try and take on the Underworld with Joker and I in charge. Nah, this is all on you."

"I suppose since you put it that way then … of course tell them!"

"He just wants the scoop that'll come from it," Salvatore scoffed as he removed a sheet of paper from his coat pocket and slid it over to Natsu's side of the table. "I'll be frank with you and say I honestly didn't expect to meet you here but I'm sure as hell gonna try and take advantage of it if I can."

"What's this?"

"Read it."

Opening the note he began to read as, bit by bit, his eyebrows rose up until he looked over at the blank face of the Don before him.

"Is this accurate?"

"I've got my sources."

"And they're solid that this is legit?"

"They'd be dead if it had even the slightest chance of being fake," Salvatore replied as Natsu looked down at the note once again.

Don Costello

You know I don't write unless its an emergency but I barely managed to get this out before they caught me! These bastards, they've taken me prisoner and plan to ship me off to Sabaody!

You know what'll happen to me there, I'll be sold as a slave for sure!

You've gotta do something to get me out of here, I've been loyal for decades and want to be loyal for decades more so please just get me the fuck out of here!

They hold the slaves in a stall just outside the Auction House. Just please don't leave me to suffer at the hands of these bastards Boss!

Henry Minelli

"You get why I'm here now," Salvatore asked with a slightly rougher tone, leaning forward in the chair as his fingers cracked the edge of the solid stone table. "Some up and coming little shits took one of my Capos and thinks he can sell him off as a slave right under my fucking nose!"

"But you don't plan on letting that happen," Natsu concluded as the Don nodded in agreement. "And I'm guessing you want 'our' help?"

"I'm here alone because I didn't wanna drag the boys into this mess. Some Dons like that bastard Capone over there think fear is the best way to lead those under ya … but he's an idiot."

"Is it true that your actual creed is 'Famiglia Prima Del Peccato' or is that just a rumour," Robin asked curiously prompting Salvatore to chuckle lightly.

"I'm not surprised you've heard that one before, Devil's Child," Salvatore replied with a slight twinkle in his eyes. "I forged my empire upon the foundation of family, took in the rejected, the scorned, the forgotten and enslaved. I took in the weak and forged them into some of the darkest bastards in the New World so it was only right that our creed reflected such."

What does it mean," Natsu asked curiously.

"It means, 'Family Before Sin' and I've yet to have a man break the creed."

"Family Before Sin," Natsu muttered to himself before looking up at Salvatore's expectant gaze. "I see."

"Oh yes, I know you see it all right Dragneel. Word from the Servants over in Eden is that you live by a similar set of morals, not afraid to become sin if it means shielding others from its vices. A man after me own heart!"

"Tell you what Salvatore, I'll make you a deal."

"A deal? To rescue me Capo Henry?"

"Yes."

"Alright then, let's hear it."

"I'll save him but only if you'll agree to two things. First, any ties you have to any slaver groups are severed entirely. Kidnapping groups are fine so long as they don't abduct children or the elderly."

"Already done, killed the last Slave Emperor myself a few years back. As for the kidnapping, we handle that side of the business in house and only take the specific target which, as you may have guessed, ain't really those below the age of seventeen."

"Well, that just raises my opinion of you quite a bit," Natsu replied as he leant back in his chair. "The other thing I want is an unspecified favour that can be cashed in at any time."

"You play the game well Dragneel," Morgans chuckled as he continued to write in his journal. "I've had you pegged for someone with a sharper mind than most, securing an unspecified favour from one of the Emperors of the Underworld will go a long way to securing your own bid for power."

"Ah, but that's where you're wrong Morgans," Natsu replied as the bipedal bird paused in his writing.

"Natsu isn't looking to make a play at power, he's merely journeying alongside the one who wishes to be Pirate King whilst learning all this world has to offer," Seilah chimed in as Morgans' beak opened and closed in shock.

"You mean Straw Hat Luffy ISN'T just a figurehead!?"

"Of course not, he's a good friend slash student slash pet project for my other friend."

"Other friend?"

"Shanks," Natsu replied as Morgans dropped his notebook and the cigar from Salvatore's mouth fell to the floor.

"Shanks … as in RED HAIR SHANKS!?"

"Yeah."

"You can have whatever favour you want," Salvatore replied with a shake of his head. "Anyone who is friends with Shanks is no doubt worth whatever payment they ask for."

"So where exactly is this Capo of yours," Natsu asked curiously as Salvatore drew several things from his pocket. "Here."

Sliding over a piece of paper he noticed it was a map of what appeared to be a place known as the 'Human Auction House'. The name alone already pissed him off however it was when he slid the next photo over he had to restrain himself from setting the cloth draped over the table alight.

There was a man who's face looked nearly unrecognizable. Bandages covered most of it and it was obvious that part of his actual face was simply hanging out of the mask unattached to the position it was supposed to be. In the background a girl, no older than five, was being whipped by a man in a suit of armor as another man nearby was chained to the wall being beaten.

"What the fuck …"

"This is what happens if you make yourself unsellable," Salvatore replied grimly. "My man spat on a person who wanted to buy him which made him basically toxic goods, a term used in the slaver sphere for wasted product. They dragged him out back and brutalized him for what he did and the only reason we know is because I had one of my boys doing recon on the place a week or so ago."

"If you'd shown me this before I'd asked, I'd have done this for free," Natsu growled as he rose from his seat. "Seilah, Robin. The two of you are the best at stealth so I want you both inside this place scoping it out. If you can get rid of any guards without raising suspicion you have my permission to do so. Find Henry and let him know help is on the way soon."

"Of course," Seilah replied with a nod as she too rose to her feet.

"Are you sure I'm ready for something like this," Robin asked nervously. "Do you think I have enough control over my new powers yet?"

"You managed to fight a Servant and not get brutalized, that already tells me even if you get caught this trash can't do anything serious to you. But even still, you've definitely improved by leaps and bounds since I first rebuilt you. I trust you'll be able to succeed."

"Natsu …"

"If you all manage to pull this off it'll be 'BIG NEWS' and I'm gonna be the first one with the scoop," Morgans cried out in joy before somehow getting out of his seat, circling round the table to stand before Natsu with one of his hands in-between his wings. "YOU MUST ALLOW ME AN EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW AFTERWARD!"

"Uh …"

"Just say yes, he'll sulk if you don't and that'll be bad for everyone," Salvatore sighed as he motioned for the waiter to come over and paid the bill. "I'll have to keep my distance from the Human Auction, they'll kill Henry if they spot me within a mile of the place otherwise, I'd be right there alongside you. Thanks for doing this for me Dragneel."

"No problem, so long as I get that favour."

"You'll likely get a whole lot more than that if you pull this off but we can talk about that later. Today they're having one of their auctions so it's the best time to bust Henry outta there."

"Well, you two heard the man," Natsu said as he looked over toward Seilah and Robin. "Be careful you two."

"We will."

"We'll do our best to surpass your expectations Natsu."

Both Seilah and Robin left, no doubt heading back to the Sunny to change into more appropriate clothes. After all, formal wear might be stylish but it definitely isn't suited to infiltration missions.

"I suppose this is where we part ways for now," Natsu said only for Salvatore to give him a card.

"My number on the Transponder Network. "If I don't pick up the first time then don't call for three days."

"Understood."

"Nice to meet you and your ladies, Dragneel."

"Likewise," Natsu smirked as Morgans squawked with indignation.

"How dare you! I am a journalist in my prime! A master of the literary art form!"

"You just had to do it," Salvatore sighed. "I swear Morgans if you don't shut up …"

Natsu watched as the two bickered out the door and motioned for the waiter to approach them. Signalling for the check the waiter shook his head and showed them the receipt.

"What?"

"Your gentleman friend already paid the bill, Sir."

"I see. Thank you for informing me, I'll be sure to recommend this place."

"It was a pleasure having you Sir, much better than your rivals in the Worst Generation."

"Right," Natsu snorted in response at the notion any of these supposed 'Worst Generation' brats held a candle to him. "Come on Mordred, we've got work to do."

"About time," Mordred huffed as she placed her hands into her suit pockets and strolled casually alongside him. "Where are we going?"

"To the Human Auction."

"Why?"

"To gather damning evidence."

"Uh …"

"Evidence for summary execution."

"Ah …"

/Elsewhere In The Grand Line – A Lone Ship/

"Belebelebelebelebele … GATCHA!"

"You're persistent," a voice sighed tiredly as a man laughed heartily on the other end of the call. "I assume this is in regards to that ultimatum?"

"I told you during the first conversation that this wasn't me asking for your permission, I just wanted to make sure my crews didn't find themselves in any unnecessary scuffles before reaching their target."

"You know how this looks though, don't you?"

"Since when have you ever cared about how things looked? None of us cared fifty years ago and I doubt any of us do now. The old bag doesn't care. Kaido certainly couldn't give a shit what anything looks like and I sure as hell know Golden Lion doesn't give a shit either."

"You've seen him?"

"Talked to him a few weeks ago actually."

"And?"

"Still obsessed with that vault Roger found, demanded my third of the key. Told him he could have it if he survives being blasted to the depths."

"I take it that didn't go down well?"

"Same old sob story," the voice replied with a laugh. "But enough about that shit, give me assurance."

"You realize what your planning is suicide, right? They all know you'll come for him and they're massing their own forces even as we speak."

"And you think I'm not," the voice replied curiously. "I'm calling in just about every debt owed and greasing a lot of palms to pull this off you know."

"Madness …"

"Are you gonna give me assurance or are we going to have a problem?"

"You'd threaten me?"

"It wasn't a threat, merely a question."

"Tch!"

"Why are you being so stubborn about this?"

"If you die, the world will be shaken to its core. Would you so easily allow someone to foolishly go off to face certain death?"

"I did for Roger."

"Shit … I actually forgot about that for a second."

"Just let me move my fleet in peace so we can both go about our business. There's literally no downside aside from my potential death."

The man sighed and downed an entire bottle of rum before throwing it across the room, the shatter loud enough to echo through the mouthpiece as the man on the other end hummed.

"You think you can just demand things from me!? Don't forget our origins, we all came from the same dirt! You might have the fancy title of Emperor to the rest of the world but we're both still each Pirate Lords!"

"That we are, but don't forget which one of us is the living one," the man shot back as the figure's grip on the mouthpiece tightened.

"You dare …"

"The World Government covered up the concept of Servants well, but this is a whole new world and the idea of Servants isn't all that far-fetched anymore. Those of us who served on that crew know what you really are and although you are as strong as us, you'll always be the one reliving his glory days."

"You bastard," the man snarled as he stepped into the dim light near his desk to reveal a bald man bearing a rather ghastly scar that covered the top of his head down through his right eye to finish near his neck. The man had yellowish skin and wore an oriental outfit complete with a curved blade at his hip along with two ornate looking flintlock pistols.

Former Member Of A Forgotten Crew

One Of The Nine Pirate Lords

Lord Of Paradise

Wang Zhi 'Ochoku' (Avenger)

"This is the last time I'm going to say it. I invoked the right of parley and followed The Code to the letter. If you choose not to settle then I will retaliate against your forces. Hard."

"You always were an arrogant piece of shit, Newgate. Go die in Marineford alongside your precious spawn," Zhi spat before slamming the mouthpiece down on the snail.

Walking out of the room he emerged onto the deck of his ship and looked up at the sky, noticing the clouds had grown darker in his mere ten-minute absence. He knew trouble was brewing and Newgate was no doubt the cause.

However, it wasn't his anger at Newgate that caused him to reach this conclusion. No, it was in fact the tension in the air. It was a tension he hadn't felt since the execution of the Pirate King so long ago.

In the square he remembered how it felt like a powder keg waiting to go off. He thought of how he hoped Roger was simply toying with the Marines, hoping that he would ignite an era of chaos that he could take advantage of, however it wasn't to be.

But this time, perhaps this time would be different. His opinions of Newgate aside he knew the man would obliterate anyone who got in his way and the World Government would counter hard to try and halt him.

He just hoped that what came from the mess would benefit the Pirates as it had done last time.

/Grove 10/

"We almost there," Zoro yawned as the trio strolled down one of the main streets.

"Almost, just a few streets away now," Mash replied in her usual cheery tone.

"Oh, alright then."

"You're pretty laid-back Zoro," Ritsuka commented with a slight snicker as Zoro lazily looked over in his direction.

"Yeah well, being the Vice-Captain to a man who has the attention span of a peanut you kinda take breaks where you can."

"You're a Vice Captain," Mash asked curiously. "Of a ship of some kind?"

"Yeah, Straw Hat Pirates. You've probably heard a little of us by now I'm guessing," Zoro replied with a slight grin.

"You're a Pirate," Ritsuka asked in excitement as Zoro raised an eyebrow. "And you're the second in charge!?"

"Uh, yeah … that's what I said."

"That's awesome!"

"Are you feeling alright kid?"

"Don't mind Senpai, he just has a thing for Pirates."

"I'm guessing he wants to be one or something?"

"Well actually we did serve on a Pirate crew a while back but …"

Zoro's eyes narrowed as the light slowly dimmed from the eyes of the two young teens before him. He'd seen that look countless times and knew they weren't just saying stuff to try and impress him. There was real pain behind their gazes now, pain that had been perfectly masked up until this very moment.

"They're gone now."

"I see. Sorry to hear that," he replied sincerely. "I can tell the two of you must have really liked your crew, I know that feeling well and I'd be torn up inside myself if they died somehow under my watch."

"We had a lot of adventures along the way and although they didn't make it back with us, I like to think that our time spent together made us better people. They taught us so much about the world we wouldn't have ever been able to consider if we hadn't joined them."

"Such is life," Zoro responded after several moments as both teens cocked their heads to the side in confusion. "People say you can master life through knowledge alone but it's the experience that dictates if you really know your stuff."

"That's … surprisingly deep," Ritsuka replied prompting Zoro to chuckle in response.

"Yeah, well … had that beaten into me when I was a young brat by my rival. I want to become the World's Greatest Swordsman, so did she. I trashed every last student at the dojo she lived at but could never beat her, no matter how much I trained."

"Is that because she was stronger than you?"

"Depends on what you classify as being strong," Zoro replied with a faraway look. "Physically I was superior but Kuina had flawless technique. No matter what move I tried she easily countered me, batting my blades aside like they were reeds before tagging me with that damn stick."

"I'm guessing you still haven't beaten her yet," Ritsuka chuckled only to see the frown on Zoro's face deepen. "Zoro?"

"She died."

"Oh …"

"Was she ill?"

"No. I wasn't at the dojo at the time, was out training for our next match when one of the students came and told me the news. Apparently, she'd fallen down a flight of stairs and broken her neck, died instantly."

"Seriously!"

"Yeah. This blade here is called Wado Ichimonji," Zoro said as he took the blade out and showed the pair. "It is one of the Twenty-One O Wazamono, better known as one of the Great Grade Swords, and is one of the greatest blades in the world. This blade belonged to Kuina before she died."

"Wow," Ritsuka muttered as he eyed the blade curiously. "So, it's one of Twenty-One Great Grade Swords, right? That means that those blades are superior to whatever comes below it, right?"

"True, the blades are considered to be superior to those below it," Zoro replied as he looked at his own reflection on the blade. "However, there is one grade above the Great Grade."

"And what's that?"

"The Supreme Grade," Zoro replied as his hand moved toward his chest. "Currently there are only twelve known blades belonging to that class and the current man who holds the title of World's Greatest Swordsman wields one."

"So, what is the difference between the Great Grade and Supreme Grade," Mash asked curiously as Zoro sheathed his blade.

"The Great Blades are capable of performing feats far beyond that of regular blades, feats many would consider legendary. The Supreme Grade Blades however are the stuff of myth and legend. Dracule Mihawk, the World's Greatest Swordsman, was once said to have cut an island in half with a single swing of his blade."

Mash and Ritsuka openly gaped at his statement, unable to believe such a weapon could exist, let alone twelve of them! Zoro chuckled as he placed a hand on Wado, a smirk etching its way onto his face.

"That is what I plan to one day surpass in order to become the World's Greatest Swordsman. When I first set out with my Captain and we ran into Mihawk I thought my power was unrivalled only for Mihawk to easily put me in my place and show me the monstrous gap between us."

"Wait, you actually fought this guy before," Ritsuka gasped only for Zoro to chuckle again.

"Fought wouldn't be very accurate. I think the better term would've been 'got destroyed' by Mihawk. He beat me with a pen knife."

The duo couldn't even form a response as Zoro turned to look up at the sky and continued speaking.

"He did see potential in me though and struck me down with his actual blade. Hurt like a bitch though."

"How the hell are you even alive!?"

"I dunno," he shrugged in response before looking around. "Enough about that though, you kids gonna lead me to this tavern because all that talking has me parched-?"

"PLEASE! SOMEONE HELP ME!"

All three turned to look down the street as a man sprinted from group to group, clutching a metallic collar around his neck.

"PLEASE, I'M NOT A SLAVE," the man cried as people instinctively backed away from him. "I'M A PIRATE CAPTAIN, NOT A SLAVE!"

"What the hell," Ritsuka growled as he moved to step forward only for Zoro's hand to hold him in place. "Zoro, we've got to help that guy!"

"No … wait a minute," the swordsman replied with narrowed eyes as he looked beyond the Pirate Captain toward an approaching group of people. "Oh, this isn't good."

"What's going on Zoro," Mash asked in concern as the swordsman dragged both off of the street and into a side alley where they all watched as the Pirate Captain sprinted past.

"PLEASE! I HAVE A WIFE AND CHILD WAITING FOR ME AT HOME, I CAN'T BE A SLAVE!"

"What the hell is going on, why is no one helping him," Ritsuka asked in shock as every last person he went to acted as if he didn't exist.

"It almost looks … like they're afraid Senpai," Mash added as Zoro grit his teeth and pulled them further back into the shadows.

"Don't make any noise," Zoro hissed as a sight neither Mash nor Ritsuka would ever forget slowly moved past their position.

A float was being moved along, held up by dozens of beaten and starved beings of human and other species origin. Guards were positioned all around the float, some whipping the people at the bottom as their eyes moved to look up at the people on the float.

"What …"

Two humans sat atop the float wearing strange white suits with bubble shaped clear helmets. Both looked down on the people around them in disgust with the woman in particular sneering at anyone she deigned to grace with her gaze.

"PLEASE DON'T LET THEM TAKE ME! I DON'T WANT TO BE A SLAVE," the man screamed only to be shot in the leg by one of the guards, falling to the ground clutching the fresh wound.

"Stairs," the male atop the float snapped as several of the beaten and starved figures moved out from underneath the centre of the float and formed a humanoid staircase.

The man took each step heavily, digging his heels into the backs of each person before touching down on the ground and walking toward the downed Pirate Captain. Drawing a golden pistol, the man shot him in the other leg causing the man to cry out in pain whilst continuing to beg for someone to save him.

Zoro clamped down on Ritsuka and Mash's shoulders, their eyes wide in horror as they witnessed first hand what true slavery looked like. Gritting his teeth at seeing the two young teens lose a little more innocence he looked back just in time to see the man with the golden gun shoot the man in the arms before signalling for several of the guards to approach.

"Hold it down."

It. The moment Mash and Ritsuka heard the man be referred to as an 'It' they knew, they knew exactly what they were looking at and it terrified them.

"This … this is what true slavery is like, isn't it?"

"That man and the woman on the float believe themselves to be above the rest of us," Mash replied grimly as the trio watched the guards pin the man's arms and legs down.

"Keep it still," the man with the golden gun barked as he shot the man in each hand before moving to do the same to his feet. The man couldn't even thrash around due to how firmly he was pinned down as the slaver grinned.

"Let us go," the man said as he moved back toward the float, walking back up the stairs made from other slaves to sit beside the woman once more.

The guards quickly moved away as the man rolled onto his side, tears mixed with blood escaping him as his eyes locked onto the trio and his hand reached out toward them.

"Don't," Zoro growled as he held onto Ritsuka with a death grip. "He's finished, we'll only get ourselves killed!"

"Please …"

That was the last thing the man said before the collar around his neck beeped. His eyes widening was the last thing the trio saw before it exploded, a small shroud of smoke obscuring him only to be blown away by the wind.

"No way …"

Ritsuka was horrified to see the now headless corpse of the man, his hand still outstretched in their direction as blood spurted out like a fountain. Mash barely stifled a whimper as Zoro cursed and dragged the pair away from the sight.

After several minutes of walking through back alleys, Ritsuka shook Zoro's hand away and turned to confront the man. His expression was a mixture of fury and fear, tears threatening to escape him as he grabbed Zoro by the front of his shirt.

"What the hell was that!? Why didn't we help that man!?"

"If we had helped him then we'd have either taken his place or ended up just like all the poor bastards below that float," Zoro replied as Ritsuka grip tightened.

"We could've fought them off until we got him away, we could've taken out the two on the float, we could've-!"

"SENPAI!"

Both males turned toward Mash and noticed that, although she was clearly shaken by what she had seen, she clearly understood that there was something bigger than what they knew.

"I don't think Zoro wanted to let that poor man suffer but you could see how things looked, those two people were akin to royalty. If we had done anything … we might not have lived to argue about it now."

"You guys don't know about them, do you?"

"About who," Ritsuka replied shakily as both he and Mash looked toward the swordsman.

"They're the Celestial Dragons and they're descendants of the people who founded what is now known as The World Government," Zoro explained as both teens' eyes widened. "They believe themselves to be Gods and use their authority to do things like what you just saw. No one can challenge them otherwise they'll call down the full might of the military on you."

"So that's why you held me back," Ritsuka muttered as the reality of the fate he'd avoided settled in. "There's no way we could fight off an entire military."

"I think for now you two should stick with me," Zoro said after several moments. "I'm gonna bring you guys back to meet the rest of my friends and we can tell them what happened. As far as I'm concerned this island is way too dangerous to be on with those bastards around."

"Thank you," Ritsuka replied meekly as Zoro placed a hand on the teens head.

"Don't worry about it, you didn't know. Honestly, I didn't know any of this until earlier today either when my crew was briefed on them. I'd have likely tried to attack that piece of shit if I'd walked in on that sight too."

"Even still, you saved both Mash and I so I need to say thanks."

"Don't worry about it," Zoro repeated with a wave of his hand. "Now come on, this shitty cook on our ship will whip you guys up something good to eat. Uh, but you might want to watch yourself."

"Me, Mash replied in surprise. "Why?"

"The cook is, like I just said, a real perv. Those clothes of yours aren't exactly hiding your figure so the cook might try copping a feel."

"Wh-wh-wh-wh-wh-!"

"You can kill him if you want," Zoro continued casually. "He's not that well liked."

"O-oh …"

"But anyway, let's get going," Zoro sighed. "Just gotta remember which Grove we parked the ship …"

So how many of you guys were aware that Morgans isn't actually naturally a bird and is just in his Hybrid Zoan State. I legit had no idea until I was doing my research for this chapter and read up on him and his Devil Fruit! Is Morgans Yonkou Commander Level Confirmed!?

For real though I love getting surprised like that.

Anyway hope you all enjoyed and I'll see you in the next one!