The Change: The Mugiwara Crew don't wait and the Marine War turns into something else.
Genre: Action; Friendship
Warning(s): battle; war; potential gore; feral behavior; badass!Mugiwara Crew; alteration of canon events; divergence from canon; Super!Danni + Crew
Note(s): randomly got hit in the head by Danni's fist for this idea, because I'm still in denial over Ace's death, even though i shOULD BE WORKING ON OTHER STUFF DANNI; so this is totally screwing with canon events and probably completely unrealistic but let me dream okay?
DISTINCT
Those three days spent flying through the air had been the longest days of Danni's life. She had lost her crew and god Luffy's face would haunt her for years. She had to get back to her crew. She would get back to her crew. Even if it killed her.
xx
Sanji would never live that shame of failing his crew, his captain, ever again. There were so many what if they had done that, instead of this, ran rampant through his mind during those long three days flying through the air, and he would be damned if he ever let something like this ever happen again. His crew needed him and he would get back to them.
xx
Nami knew she wasn't the strongest in the crew, but the fear and shame churning her gut made her want to scream and sob, and for a while she had during those three days. But she wasn't going to let those feelings rule her. She had to get back to her crew, and damn everyone to hell who tried to get in her way.
xx
Usopp would never forget the sight of Danni's face when Zoro disappeared right in front of her, or his captain's screams to just ruNAWAYPLEASE. They had all disobeyed their captain. He had thought he had learned his lesson back in Water 7, but apparently not. He had to get back to his crew. He just had too.
xx
Brook couldn't believe he had actually made a skull joke before disappearing right before Miss Danni's eyes, and god she had looked so terrified. Her face pale and smudged with blood and dirt, and their captain's screams ringing through his ears. He wouldn't (couldn't) fail another crew. He would make it back to them.
xx
Robin would not let herself be taken from the only good thing in her life now. They were her family and she would not be separated from them. She had heard murmurings on the Island and she knew her captain would be there no matter the cost, and she would be there with him.
xx
Chopper couldn't stop his tears. He hadn't been strong enough and the crew (his captain) had suffered greatly for it. But even so. Even so, he would not allow himself to stay separated from them. They were his friends, his family. He would not leave them.
xx
Luffy's anguished screams would be forever ingrained in Franky's memories. They echoed and overlapped with his own memories of his own screams. And he couldn't stand it. He had to get back to them, to him. And he would die first before he let anyone stop him.
xx
Danni's and Luffy's horrorstruck faces haunted him every time he closed his eyes and he had to get back to them. Reassure them that he was alright, that it was okay. They wouldn't let this happen again. He wouldn't let this happen again. And heaven help anyone that got in his way.
xx
Luffy knew his crew would understand that he had to do this. It was his brother.
xx
Zoro was the first back on Sabaody, and Franky, Nami, and Robin were soon to follow. Usopp, Chopper, and Brook were next, with Sanji not long behind. Danni was last, covered in blood and eyes glowing a brilliant gold. There were minimal pleasantries, especially after Robin revealed the scheduled execution for one Portgas D. Ace and there was no doubt in any of their minds that their captain would be going after his brother.
There was no time for discussions over why Danni was covered in blood and eyes glowing gold, or Zoro's numerous wounds, or Robin's minute shivering and pale fingers. Not even the vague haunted look in Sanji's eyes, or bite marks on Usopp's body, or Franky's half torn face and body. And not Chopper's ruffled fur and narrowed gaze, or Brook's tight grip on his cane sword and clenched jaw, or Nami's red rimmed eyes and hoarse voice.
"So you're really going?" Rayleigh asked, gaze serious and wondering at this unusual crew.
Gold eyes pierced over to him and the woman's lips curled at him, baring elongated fangs. There was a low rumbling growl, but it was Zoro who answered for the entire crew, "Yes. Don't even think of trying and stopping us."
Nami's eyes were narrowed dangerously and she stated simply, "He's our captain."
Rayleigh eyed them silently for a moment, before inclining his head in acquiesce and slight respect. "As you wish," he said in return. Then armed with the quickest way to Marineford courtesy of the retired pirate and a coat for their ship the Mugiwara Crew was off to join a war for their captain.
xx
The war had already begun by the time they reached Marine Ford, and they wasted no time in practically storming the battlefield. Marines all around were baffled when hands suddenly sprouted from their shoulders and twisted their necks, or when in a whirlwind of blades and bloodthirsty killer intent were taken down. A flurry of black and flames took down even more, and then lightning struck like an unforgiving god.
Explosives peppered the ground, sending even more bodies flying, and more were just dropping like flies for no apparent reason. Haunting music curled around the battlefield just another noise amongst the screams and battle, a skeletal figure whispering past and bringing men to their knees. An animal charged like something possessed, knocking men aside effortlessly and with little care.
But it was the primal roar that echoed suddenly over the din of war that had practically everyone freezing in their tracks, an innate fear screaming at them to not move.
A shockwave rippled over the battlefield, bowling many of the weaker marines away like they were nothing, and in the midst of them was a bloody figure crouched low and cloaked in an overpowering killing intent. Gold eyes gleamed under a curtain of dark hair, and lips were curled back and baring animalistic fangs.
There was a moment of utter stillness, and then the figure moved.
xx
Zoro zeroed in on Mihawk, and in a burst of speed he was blocking the blade before it could strike down his captain. "You won't touch him," the swordsman snarled, eyes alight with an unholy rage of protection, that it took the Shichibukai by surprise.
"Zoro?" Luffy gasped out in shock and elation.
There was a blur and then a blood soaked Danni was there next to their captain, gold eyes glittering with feral intent. "Captain," she growled out, lips forming the word a little awkwardly around her fangs.
His startled gaze turned to her as well, "Danni?"
She didn't respond, only tugged him away and in the direction of the execution platform. Lightning arched past them, hitting the marines that were moving in their direction, and hands flowered in a vicious snap to clear a path. "Everyone?" Luffy whispered, glancing around in wonder, but his gunner gave him an impatient push and low growl and he bolted forward.
Nothing else on the battlefield mattered.
xx
"The entire Mugiwara Crew have joined the battle?" a marine reported, sounding utterly baffled.
Sengoku could see that, but it wasn't what had captured his attention. Danni Beckmann was showing aspects of the long vanished family Ferox.
And that - that was a terrifying prospect.
xx
Danni's mind was swallowed entirely by the urge to protect. Her crew - pack - were to be protected (alpha protect protect protect). And it had simply been instinct that had her latching onto her captain and only being able to snarl viciously before Kizaru kicked the two away from him (any words he may have spoken were lost in her predator mindset).
She snarled at the hand that caught them, and when the man tossed them carelessly to one of his crewmembers with a cursory look to her, well - she didn't react well.
She lashed out violently, legs a blur as they smashed into the Whitebeard pirates. heedless to their shouts at her to stop. Luffy collapsed as he tried to head back into the fray and towards Ace, and she was above him in an instant, eyes wild as she growled at those around them. Any attempt to approach the two was met with a feral violence that had many eying the woman with wary eyes.
She only just allowed a doctor to approach, keeping one eye pinned on him at all times.
She could sense the others scattered across the battlefield their grim determination a source of comfort as they all tore through their enemies in an effort to make things easier for their captain in any way possible.
Her captain's desperation reached its peak as the blades begun to swing down towards Ace's neck, and his howl was echoed by her own.
The world froze.
xx
The entire Mugiwara converged on their captain the moment he and Ace landed on the field and it was as if pure pandemonium broke. The two brothers were fighting together, and Danni and Zoro were right next to them, the four turning in a deadly combination. Brook's usual cheeriness had vanished under an icy countenance as he protected both Usopp and Nami from those thinking they could sneak up on the long range fighters.
Robin was living up to the Demon title the marines had so graciously gifted her, helped by a roaring Franky that was close to basically tearing his opponents a part. Sanji was a whirlwind of fire and black as he helped Chopper, Ace's own flames only fueling Sanji's attacks into something awe inspiring.
The call to retreat was met with the grim determination all of the crew had been carrying with them and it didn't matter that they were bloody and exhausted and ready to collapse where they stood. They would have that luxury until they were all safe.
Magma surged across the battlefield.
xx
Luffy stared, eyes wide and ears ringing though he was sure he heard someone screaming. Ace turned slowly, his stomach dropping like lead.
In front of the two brothers was Danni, arms pitch black with Armament, but it hadn't been quite enough to stop the burning fist completely. Blood poured to the floor from the fist currently in her stomach, steam rising from the heat of the magma.
Akainu stared down at this woman, who was gazing at him steadily with feral gold eyes, even as blood slipped past her lips. Her hair was fluttering around her like spilled ink, the band that had kept it tied off long since snapped, but her eyes - they looked at him - and it made his blood boil.
He moved to pull his fist out, to toss her away and finish his attack on the brothers, but her blackened fingers tightened their grip and he found he couldn't move - or even look away from her gaze. Slowly her lips moved, and a guttural voice growled, "You won't have them."
It was at that moment when it all crashed down on everyone. It was wild, untamed, and uncontrolled. It was a heavy pressure that knocked nearly every marine on the field out. It spread across the battlefield, and underneath was bloodlust.
The admiral tore his gaze away from the woman's a wild look coming to his eyes, only to be met with the gaze of Mugiwara. His eyes flickered around wildly, and was met with the furious eyes of every pirate in the Mugiwara crew.
Anger and fury coursed through his veins and overcome by it he let out a roar and shoved his fist forward.
Danni choked, the fist punching out of her back as her hands failed to keep it in place. Blood gushed, and Ace inhaled sharply as it hit him, finding that his own hands were shaking, but his feet were stuck to the ground. There was a heavy pressure emanating from his brother behind him, and every member of the boy's crew were pulsing with bloodlust ridden fury.
There was a roar from the direction of where the execution platform had been, something that sounded vaguely like, "YOU IDIOT, AKAINU!"
It was as if something had shattered, and Zoro flashed forward, face twisted into something truly demonic looking as his blades slid through the air. The admiral moved to dodge the attack, but the woman's lips had twisted into a bloody grin and her grip had tightened to painful levels, holding him in place. There was a flash and the admiral's arm was sliced cleanly off, Zoro's blades coated in a haki born from fury and desperation.
A roar sounded and a flaming kick nailed him in the face, and then a gigantic lightning bolt screamed from the sky directly overhead and crashed into him. He had no time to react before the Mugiwara boy moved and, with hands holding him still by the ankles, a whip like kick sent him flying.
Chopper shot forward as Danni slid to the ground, Ace reaching forward and catching her and easing her down. He couldn't help but stare at her in wonder and worry, as the tiny reindeer inspected the wound in her torso frantically. The group ignored the chaos that erupted around them once again, the furious Mugiwara crew tearing down anyone foolish enough to attack them while Chopper tried to help their gunner.
"Danni," Luffy whispered, falling to his knees next to her head and expression so lost it made Ace's heart ache.
The woman lifted a hand weakly, lips stretched in a soft smile, and touched the younger boy's cheek gently, "Luffy."
xx
Benn had gotten a terrible feeling in his gut, and as a result had become snappish and rushed. In response, so had Shanks.
As a result, the Akagami Pirates arrived at a devastated Marineford at the most opportune (or inopportune depending on who you asked) moment.
Benn never wanted to see what he was.
His daughter lying on a battlefield with a hole in her stomach.
Next to him Shanks had frozen, before his fury washed over the battlefield. Benn leapt off the ship, unhindered in his captain's wrath, as his own was leaking off him in waves. Pirates and Marines alike scattered in his path, giving him terrified looks. Akainu was ignorant to it all, his own fury overriding any rational thought as he surged across the field towards the group around Danni.
He never got to reach his target.
xx
Nami kept her head cradled in her arms as she just focused on breathing. By some miracle, the Mugiwara Crew had escaped the battlefield, along with the Whitebeard Pirates, and it had only been the arrival of The Heart Pirates that Danni was saved from death. It was only because of that fact that the Akagami Pirates hadn't razed the Marines to a bloody smear.
Or Luffy for that matter.
(or rather the entire Mugiwara Crew had been ready to slaughter the entirety of Marineford if Danni had actually -)
Zoro sank to the floor next to her, looking as if death had warmed over him, and simply pressed his shoulder against her's.
Nami just breathed.
The entire crew had made it out alive and that was what was important. It didn't matter that she herself had gained a nasty scar over half her face, or that Usopp had his own scar cut across his stomach from a blow protecting her. Sanji had lost hearing in one ear, and Brook had actually lost a couple of his ribs. Robin had scars all along her forearms now from directing a blow from one of the Admiral's away from their group, and Franky had lost a foot (he was already building a replacement). Chopper had a few nicks in his ears, and Luffy's entire torso had become riddled with scars.
None of them had escaped unscathed but they were alive.
xx
"Ace?"
The man jerked, and his head snapped over to where Danni laid on the bed, eyes a little fuzzy, but open. He couldn't help but stare, eyes darting over her body, and lingering on her chest to make sure that yes it was actually moving. She made a confused noise and he locked eyes with her. "I wanted to thank you," he blurted out.
"What?" she returned in confusion, and he groaned a little.
He had planned out what he had wanted to say the woman that had saved his little brother's life (and his own), but it seemed like all of those words had vanished completely. "If you hadn't been there Lu would have - I would have - thank you."
Danni stared at him, eyes clear, and with a pained grunt, reached over and pulled him into a hug. He tensed in her hold, but she only tightened her grip in response to him trying to pull away. A possessive feeling bubbled up in her gut, but she ignored it. She could deal with it later.
"You're welcome."
xx
NOTE (S): not entirely what i was going for, but i got the majority of what i wanted written, so i'm actually pretty happy with the way it turned out. cc:
TRICKSTERTHIEF: Danni decided she wanted to be written, and written now. She's also been poking at me to catch up with the manga so I can start writing for her again - but i make no promises. I kinda fell down the rabbit hole of Naruto again thanks to my sister, so DEFUNCT's been my main focus lately - but well, Shuu-chan's been giving me some tantrums so Danni took her chance apparently.
I also have some other Danni au's I'm working on, so those may or may not get written - said au's are sibling!Danni, Cora!Danni, and Pregnant!Danni (again)!