Son of Shandora
Disclaimer: Don't own One Piece.
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"Hehehe...," Frigga traced the ground with the Water Moon, cutting a thin line as she did so, "The biggest annoyance and the ones with him are taken care of. Now," she glanced at the Shandian warriors left, "Time to clean up,"
Aisa tried to pull away from her, but Frigga just held her tighter.
"No, no...," Frigga leaned downward and played with her hair, "Be a good little girl and be still,"
"FUCK YOU!!!" Aisa screamed at her.
Frigga clicked her tongue, "Where did you learn such language?"
"From Shidyk-aniki!" Aisa snapped at her before taking her wrist and biting down on her hand..
The Goddess cursed and shoved the girl to the ground, "Insolent whelp...maybe when you see your fellow Sky People being slaughtered for disobeying me, you'll learn to behave and respect your Goddess,"
Aisa glared up at her, ignoring the cut on her neck.
"Aisa, move, now!"
Frigga looked over her shoulder to see both Kamakiri and Genbou flying at her, weapons at the ready.
"Why do you stubborn idiots continue to fight?" she asked before disappearing in a blur, dodging Kamakiri's spear.
The two Shandians landed and looked around.
"Damn her...," Genbou panted, "All this trouble...because of her!"
Kamakiri nodded and walked over to Aisa, "Aisa, listen to me. Go to the Blue Sea dwellers, you'll be safer there than here,"
Aisa nodded and started running back to the treeline. As she got closer, something large suddenly flew past her. Startled, Aisa fell on her back and watched in surprise as Gan Fall and Pierre flew over her, the God of Skypeia ready for battle once again. Aisa muttered something under her breath and ran to the area where Niri and the others were.
Gan Fall rose to full height as he gripped his lance, his faithful bird friend flying into the battlefield. He looked hard on the battle as Laki and the others did their best to avoid the animated trees and Frigga's tactics.
"Pierre," Gan Fall looked down at Devon's bloodsoaked body, "That boy fought so hard for this place and it's people, despite how he was treated. Come, Pierre, let us return the favor to Sefu's son!" he pointed his lance at Frigga, "Let us ensure that his sacrifice was not in vain!"
Pierre let out a squawk and flew faster to the battlefield.
Meanwhile, Laki and Wiper kept dodging the tree roots and attacking Frigga. They did fairly against the huge, moving plants, but with Frigga, that was a different story. She kept appearing and disappearing at random times and places.
"Dammit...," Laki scanned the area, finger on the trigger of her rifle, "She's fast! She's just as bad as Eneru was!"
Wiper nodded, remembering that Eneru, combining his Goro Goro no Mi and his Mantra, he could teleport to any place he wanted in Skypeia. The Shandian spit out the lit cigarette he was chewing on, "Yeah, but here's the difference Laki...," he paused and jumped back as Frigga suddenly appeared, slashing at him with the Water Moon, "...she can't revive herself! She may think she's a Goddess, but she's mortal, just like the rest of us...and just like the rest of us," he paused again and fired a powerful beam of blue fire from his Bazooka, missing Frigga again, but nailing some trees in the process, "...she can be killed!"
"Is that so...?"
The Shandian male suddenly jerked when he felt an all too familiar sensation enter his body. He dropped his Bazooka and looked down to see the katana's bluish blade penetrating his abdomen. A cold chuckle reached his ears from behind moments before the blade was twisted violently. Wiper let out a short yelp as more pain rippled through his body.
"Wiper!" Laki brought up her rifle, but quickly lowered it when she saw Frigga had once again, disappeared from sight, "Shit!" she ran over to the wounded warrior, who was holding his new wound, "How bad is it?"
"I'll...I'll be fine...," Wiper grunted and grabbed his Bazooka, "It'll take more than that to kill me,"
"Hehehe...really now?"
Both Laki and Wiper looked up to see Frigga standing on a nearby animated tree. The Goddess waved mockingly at them. She tilted her head, smiling cruelly as she eyed Wiper's wound, "Aw, does it hurt? It must hurt like hell, since I'm sure that I punctured an organ or two...if not, then maybe I nicked it?"
"You shouldn't be so boastful, witch!"
Frigga turned to see Gan Fall and Pierre flying towards her. The woman leapt off the tree branch and propelled herself towards the God of Skypeia. As she came towards him, Gan Fall thrust his lance at her, but he hit nothing but air.
"Eh?!"
"You people are so damn slow and weak...you deserve to be ruled by me!"
Gan Fall knelt down and immediately, blood poured out of his mouth as more blood spurt from a new wound on his side. Frigga landed on a nearby ruin and looked up at him, the Water Moon dripping with his blood.
"Old fool...your time as God has ended, don't you realize that?" she asked as Pierre was forced to land for his friend's safety, "You're all idiots!"
She flicked her hair out of her way and looked down to see the Shandians regrouping, ready to keep fighting, despite their wounds and the odds stacked against them. Frigga sighed and shook her head, "So, Death is the only path you're willing to take? Fine them," she leapt off the ruin and flew at them, the Water Moon's tip glinting brightly in the sunlight, "DIE! LET YOUR BLOOD BE WHAT CHRISTENS MY NEW KINGDOM IN THE SKY!"
Off to the sidelines, while Aisa was staring at the carnage from behind an inanimate tree, Niri grabbed her bag of ammo and grabbed her rifle.
"I'm getting so sick of this bitch," she muttered, "She's injured our nakama, she's slaughtering these people for her own selfish gains and the worst thing of all...," she snapped the rifle's chamber shut and pressed the rifle's stock against her shoulder, "...she's got a God complex, which I cannot stand, no matter who they are,"
"Uh, Niri, what are you gonna do with that?" Dusty asked, "You can't kill her with that...,"
"Perhaps," Niri looked through her sight and licked her lips, "But I can even the playing field!"
"How-?"
BAM!
Niri grinned as her rifle cartridge flew out of her chamber, "Got her!"
Back on the battlefield, Frigga came to a stop and lifted her arm to see that her Fragment was no longer in her wrist. Her eyebrow twitched, anger rising in her.
"I...am a Goddess from the New World! How was that runt with that toy gun able to do that?!" she glared at Niri from where she was, "That's it...I don't care if I destroy have this island, you're all dead!"
-----
Devon floated in a void filled with complete blackness. No matter where he turned, all he saw was darkness all around him. He looked himself over to find that he was only wearing his pants. No swords, no shoes, not even his shirt or jacket. He was barefoot, half-naked, and his hair wasn't combed backward, but natural.
"Hello?" he called out, "Anyone here?!"
Nothing but echoes replied.
"HELLO!!!" he screamed, "SOMEONE! ANSWER ME!!!"
"There's no one here but us, kid,"
Devon turned to see an all too familiar person floating off to the side, his black hair swaying in unfelt wind.
"Thrymr...," Devon frowned, "Where are we? What is this place?"
"Purgatory...No Man's Land," Thrymr shrugged, "When one is near death and have done so many good and bad things in their lives, they usually end up in the void, unable to tell where they belong,"
"Are...are you saying...that I'm dead?"
Thrymr shook his head, "Not yet, kid, but you're awfully close to it. However, unlike most people," he pointed at Devon, "You have a choice here, kid!"
"What do you mean, I have a choice?"
"Devon, unlike most people, you have a unique strength within you. That strength, combined with the love you share with your brother and Kirsty, gives you that choice...,"
"He's right, Devon,"
The blonde tensed at the new voice and turned to see a beautiful woman standing behind him. That loving smile, those welcoming eyes...he knew them and missed them very much.
"M-Mother!" Devon ran towards her to give her a hug, but he just went right through her.
Celeste turned to her surprised son, "Devon, I'm sorry that I never told you that your father and I were pirates or that he was from the Sky Island. I'm also sorry I wasn't able to be there, physically, when you and Austin needed me,"
"It's not your fault," Devon scowled, "It's Father's fault! He left home-,"
"He left our home in Roguetown to retrieve things that would make our lives easier and happier to live!" Celeste scolded him, "He may not have been there that night, but he was always there for us when you were younger!"
"Then how come I don't remember him?! I know Austin's way younger than me, and I know how the whole 'having kids' thing works, so why the hell don't I remember him at home?!"
Celeste looked evenly at her son, "He was off with some friends of ours, wanting to have one last grand adventure before settling down. I wanted to go, but I knew that the Grand Line was no place to raise children. One night, when you were at a friends house, he came home and surprised me. That night, after a long time of being away from him, we made love and welcomed each other once again in our lives,"
"So, in other words, you fucked him for old time's sake?"
His mother reached out and, to his surprise, she slapped him so hard, his head snapped to the side, his neck cracking as it did.
"After that night, he was always home, but you were busy playing with friends and things, you never saw him. He worked in the sword shop owned by that weird family nearby. The business was so good because of the pirates, bounty hunters and Marines that came through there, Sefu worked many hours to support our family. Life went on and after I gave birth to your little brother, Sefu realized that with his pay, he couldn't give us the life he thought we deserved. So, after a long talk, he left for Skypeia again, knowing that there was some golden treasure hidden on Upper Yard,"
"But, he never made it...,"
Celeste sighed and nodded, "I had a bad feeling when he left home, but when he makes up his mind, there's no stopping Sefu. I know that, while he wasn't able to return to Sky Island, he's still alive somewhere on the Grand Line. Devon, do me a favor and find your father!"
"I'll find him and cut his throat...," Devon growled, clenching his fists.
His mother sighed, "He needs to know what has happened and he needs to know what fine boys he has, following in the footsteps of their parents and that they have visited their homeland," she walked over to him and gave him a warm hug, "But before you do, you have to make sure that this land will be here and that it will be free!"
Devon closed his eyes and wrapped his arms around his mother, remembering the feeling of the comforting hugs that she gave to him whenever something bad happened or when he had a nightmare as a boy.
"I miss you so much, Mom,"
"I know, Devon, I know," Celeste whispered soothingly, "I miss you and Austin very much. I'm so proud of you boys! You've become strong and have gained great friends, like the ones I had when I was a pirate,"
A lump in his throat, Devon buried his face into her shoulder and began to cry.
Celeste couldn't help but smile as she tried to hold back her own tears, "I have to go now, son,"
"Don't!" Devon pleaded, muffled by his mother's hug, "Don't leave us again, please, Mom!"
"I'll never leave you, Devon...I won't ever leave you or Austin. I may not be with you in my own body, but always remember I'll be with you in spirit," she released her son and looked at him, "You go kick some ass, alright?"
Devon sniffed and wiped away his tears.
"You go and kick her ass, free this land once and for all, and then go confess to that girl!"
"Wha-what? How did-?"
Celeste giggled, "I may be gone from the World of the Living, Devon, but I still have a mother's instincts,"
"I'm sorry, I don't mean to break up this joyous reunion, but...,"
Celeste and Devon turned to Thrymr, who was looking impatient.
"Are we gonna spend eternity in this place, going all mushy mushy on each other, or are we ready to show her whose boss?"
Devon glanced at his mother, who smiled warmly at him.
"Go and get her, kiddo! Make me proud!"
-----
"Grr," Frigga wiped the Water moon on Laki's back and looked at the fallen, bloody forms of the Shandian Warriors, Azu, Dusty, and Niri, "That was a major waste of time," she turned to look at Aisa, who was trying to hide behind Pierre, who was trying to cover up Gan Fall. Both the bird and the little girl were shaking as they stared at the damage Frigga did by herself, even without the Fragment in her control.
Frigga looked down and kicked Laki hard in the side, "Divine Punishment...,"
"Laki!"
The Goddess glanced at Aisa, who let out an "eep" and went back to hiding behind the spotted bird. She turned and began walking to them.
"What's the matter, child?" she asked quietly, her eyes gleaming, "You were so full of fire earlier...did that flame die out?"
Aisa backed away, eyes wide.
Frigga seemed to ignore the fallen God of Skypeia and his pet bird and kept walking to the young Shandian girl.
"Are you like your fellow Sky People, all talk and no power?" she asked quietly, "Did you only do all that because you knew that you'd have backup? Weak backup, but backup nonetheless? Child, if there's one important lesson one must learn in the world is that they must stand on their own feet,"
"When are you gonna learn that lesson for yourself?"
"It can't be...he should be dead at least five times over!" Frigga looked over her shoulder to see Devon standing up on his feet, Geri and Freki at the ready, his blonde bangs matted to his head by blood.
"Aisa, step away,"
The young Shandian nodded and quickly ran off to safety while Frigga turned around fully, facing him.
"You've spilled blood, you have greed in your heart, and you've turned your back on Odin," Devon grinned, eyes hidden by his bangs, "Frigga, it's time for your punishment...,"
Frigga let out a short laugh, "Punishment?" she repeated, "You naive fool! Don't you see what's happened here?" she waved an arm to the destruction and the people of Shandora and Skypeia alike, "I've won! With every annoyance out of my way, I can fully take my place as Goddess of the Sky!"
Devon chuckled, his grin widening, "Gods...Goddesses...Frigga, you and your subordinates are just fooling yourselves!"
"What?!"
The blonde swordsman turned his head to the side, "Aisa...,"
Aisa poked her head out of the hiding place, a terrified look on her face.
"Aisa, I understand how you feel. I know that you want to have this place after fighting so long for it, that after all that's happened, you don't want to lose it, and that you don't want to die," he turned back to Frigga, "I understand it all, just stay back and leave it to me, Aisa,"
The girl nodded and shrank back behind the tree.
Frigga smirked, "You still think you can beat me? Boy, look around you! I've taken care of everyone who has stood in my path, and you think you can do what they couldn't do?!" she tapped the side of her head, "I think all that bloodloss is affecting your brain,"
Devon raised his swords, taking a stance, "Let's finish this, Frigga, once and for all!"
The Goddess pointed Water Moon at him, a sickening smile on her face, "If it'll finally let me take my place as ruler of this land, then by all means! I'll kill you with a single sword stroke!"
'Not if we take you out first, bitch,'
Thrymr, are you sure you don't want to do this?
'Naw, this is your fight. You gotta take her out with one blow, though kid, otherwise this place is in a long period of shit!'
Devon grinned inwardly,That...I can do... he looked at Frigga and took a deep breath, Kirsty, Austin...I do this for you, and all the people of this land. I even do this for you...Father!
"I'll bestow upon you the same kind of punishment I gave to these fools," Frigga pushed off the ground and ran towards at him at full speed, "Divine Punishment of the Heavens!"
Devon ran towards her, swords at the ready, "Ragnarok: Chaotic Judgement!"
The two warriors clashed and passed one another, the ringing of sword metal echoing in the air around them. Aisa watched as they both stood, their backs to one another. She gulped and looked back and forth at them, "Who...who won?"
A loud retching was heard and Aisa watched in horror as Devon fell to his knees, more blood spewing out of his mouth once again.
"No...!"
Frigga laughed quietly, "I told you, boy! I cannot...," she winced slightly, "I cannot be...,"
Aisa squinted to see that Frigga's armor crack and fall to pieces at her feet, followed by a large wound opening in her chest, her blood flying outward and coating the land with the crimson liquid.
"It's...It's not possible!" Frigga dropped the Water Moon and stumbled, "I...am a Goddess...of the New World! My armor is stronger than anything in the Grand Line and I'm the strongest person aside from Odin himself! How could I...be defeated by...a child?!"
"I'm no child, Frigga of the New World,"
Frigga fell to her knees and looked back at him as blood dribbled down her chin. He was in far worse shape than she was, but it didn't matter now.
"Then...what are you?"
Devon chuckled as he ignored his wounds, "A Shand...Shandian war...," he never finished because he fell face first onto the ground again. Frigga looked at him for a short time before blood flew out of her mouth, the pain in her body was too much for her. With a low moan, Frigga fell over and became very still.
The Goddess of the New World was beaten.
Skypeia was free once again.
Nido, after staying out of sight for so long, finally appeared between the two fighters. He looked at Frigga, then at Devon, then he looked at the all the people that littered the ground. There were the twins, Devon's fellow pirates, and the Sky People.
"Devon, you've done very well," Nido walked over and knelt down beside the half-Shandian warrior, "Sleep now, my Champion. You've earned a good, long rest,"
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Kilnorc: Man, that was an interesting one, eh? I hope it was enjoyable, folks, and I also hope it was exciting because even though I had this big idea for it, I got it as best as I could get it, so...yeah, haha. Well, folks, I hate to say it, but the Skypeia arc is drawing to a close here. One chapter left and that's it.
On the next chapter of Homeland...
Axe: Kirsty turned into a dragon, Austin got sliced, and Devon kicked three people's asses despite injuries like that and I missed it?! DAMMIT!
Niri: At least they'll be able to finally live free and happy lives.
Devon: Despite their actions, they were both great warriors. They deserve the proper funeral rites.
Aisa: Where'd Wiper go?
Epilogue: Liberation
Devon: Kirsty, I...I...
P.S. -points to chapter title- This title is a reference to "Son of Man" from Disney's Tarzan and to me, that song fits Devon and his brother, more or less.