Somewhere on the island, Anjou bowed her forehead to the floor.
Anjou: "Please. I'll do anything."
Fushi sat on a red draped throne with a look of mild amusement.
Fushi: "You are descended from my rival. Why would I help you?"
Bosc stood smugly beside his mother. He tried not to grin, but anyone groveling was appealing to him.
Anjou: "I'll serve you."
Fushi: "Is that so? Tell me, child. Have you any idea how long you'd be in my debt?"
Anjou: "It doesn't matter...Just help my mother."
Fushi: (mildly glaring) "Stand."
Anjou slowly rose and stood her ground.
Fushi: "You are useless to me in your current state."
Anjou tried not to falter.
Fushi: "However...You can fixed."
Anjou: "Fixed? ...(noting the glare)...My lady?"
Fushi: "Yes. I can alter you easily, though it will be painful. Are you still willing to accept these terms?"
Anjou: (slightly bowing) "I am."
Fushi grinned cynically. She had her hooks in. Later, she even laughed mockingly at Anjou's pained howls as the magic took hold.
The next morning, Fushi glared down at Anjou's shuddering form. It had been one hell of a night.
Fushi: "Get up."
Anjou slowly staggered to her feet. Her hair was much longer and hung in her face. Her clothing was torn and tattered.
Bosc: (offering a new outfit) "You did good, kid."
Anjou: (looking over her new body) "I'm not a kid any longer, uncle."
Later, on Luffy's ship, Bartlett was finally at a peaceful rest. Franky looked over his haggard nakama. Zoro idly scratched at his bandaged arm.
Franky: "You really gave her your blood?"
Zoro: (distantly) "Yeah."
Nami: "At least she's finally asleep."
Franky: (sniffling) "That's so - ..."
Sanji: (taking a drag) "Are you crying?"
Franky: "Don't be ridiculous! There's just something in my eye!"
Sanji smirked to himself, then peered hard at the isle.
Sanji: "Anyone seen Anjou?"
Nami: "Not since yesterday."
Zoro: "I'll go find her."
Sanji: (turning) "Are you stupid? You're going to wander around and get lost like you always do."
Zoro: (attaching his swords) "I wasn't asking for permission."
Usopp: (coming from below) "I'll go with him. I need to check a few things out."
Nami stared at him blankly.
Usopp: "What? Surprised?"
Nami: "Yeah, actually."
Sanji: "You guys go ahead, then. We'll stay here in case she comes back."
Nami: (handing Zoro a denden mushi) "Call if you get lost...Or find Anjou."
He begrudgingly accepted it and disembarked with Usopp. They walked the market, one more cautious than the other.
Usopp: "Make sure you stay close. We don't need to get (turning) ...separated."
He sighed at the empty spot beside him. Somewhere near the walled center of the island, Zoro meandered. Where the hell was he anyway? He paused with a hand on the hilt of Wado as a shadow approached.
Shadow: "What do you think?"
Turning, he blinked plainly.
Zoro: "Who're you?"
The woman chuckled. She was pale with fair blue hair that draped her shoulders. Fine pink brocade made up an elaborate outfit that accentuated her figure.
Anjou: "Not too bright, as usual."
Zoro: (relaxing) "Anjou?"
Anjou: (doing a spin) "Do you like? I think my new boobs are awesome. (grasping) Wanna give 'em a squeeze?"
Zoro: (twitching an eye) "I'll pass...What happened to you?"
Her smile dropped quickly.
Anjou: "Tell Daddy I won't be sailing with him anymore."
Zoro: "Why?"
Fushi: (slipping from the shade) "Because she belongs to me now."
Somewhere within the walled elite section of the isle, a lovely woman with long, fine violet hair twitched her fuzzy ears.
Ed: "What is it, Momo?"
Momo: (grinning) "It's almost time."
A few hours earlier, Anjou looked over her new figure in a long mirror. She had little time to take it all in before Bosc returned.
Bosc: "Come along. Mother has something for you."
She followed her uncle through a complicated twist of hallways, eventually ending up going down a steep stairwell. Once at the bottom, it was obvious they were in some underground vault. Fushi stood at a platform in front a wall of vials.
Fushi: (turning) "There you are. That dress fits well."
Anjou: (bowing slightly) "Thank you, my lady."
Fushi selected a single vial carefully. Holding it betwixt her fingers, she turned her gaze to her new servant.
Fushi: "This is what you came for - pure dragon's blood."
Anjou: (her eyes wide) "But how - ?"
Fushi: (coolly) "I have my ways. Now then, you will take this to one of your previous friends. It will also be your chance to say goodbye."
Anjou nodded sullenly. Fushi handed her the vial.
Fushi: "Do not forget who has saved your family."
Back in a dusty alley, Zoro watched Fushi carefully.
Zoro: "You did this?"
Fushi: "A simple bargain. Nothing more. I leave you to your words."
She left as silently as she came. Anjou stepped close to Zoro. Handing him the vial, she tried to smile.
Anjou: "Give this to my mother. It's pure dragon's blood. It'll save her from any more pain."
Zoro: "How did you get this?...Don't tell me you sold yourself to that witch."
Anjou: "It had to be done."
Zoro: "What about your life? Are you really going to be happy following her around for the several decades?"
Anjou: "I know I've already lost Sanji, but it's okay. I'll wait for his son."
He gave her an odd look.
Zoro: "And everything else?"
She sighed quietly.
Anjou: "It's all right."
Zoro: "You really think Brook and Luffy won't come after you?"
Anjou: "It doesn't matter. In a few days, I'll be at the Jade Palace, and they won't be able to get to me. Once the tournament is over, the isle will vanish again."
Zoro: "What tournament?"
?: "I can answer that."
He turned to find a familiar face. Robin grinned warmly.
Zoro: "What are you doing here?"
Robin: "Isn't it obvious?"
Anjou: "I have to go. Make sure you take that to Bartlett."
She hurried after her new mistress before he could reply.
Robin: "It seems things are progressing quickly here."
-
When all had returned to the ship, most of the old crew sat around a large table.
Brook: (fingering the vial) "Pure dragon's blood?...But how?"
Usopp: "Aren't you more worried about your daughter selling her soul?"
Luffy: "We'll get her back."
Nami: (moving things forward) "Tell us about the tournament."
Robin: "It's the entire purpose of the island rising. It will decide the new fey king."
Sanji: "Why didn't you know any of this?"
Usopp: "I told you a lot was erased out of history...(grinning) Leave it to Robin to find it again."
Robin: "Part of the appeal of winning is the throne, but the real prize is what makes contenders kill."
Nami: "Real prize?"
Robin: "Yes. It's something even more powerful than the akuma no mi."
Luffy: "What is it?"
Robin: "The tenshi no mi."
Usopp: "There's no way that actually exists!"
Sanji: "What does it do?"
Robin: "Anything its owner wishes. It could give them unimaginable power or rewrite history."
Luffy: "That explains why Bosc is here."
Brook: "And the prophecy."
All eyes turned toward him.
Brook: "I can't explain all of it, but...My son, the lich...He's supposed to win."
Nami: "How is that possible? He's not even born yet!"
Brook: (shaking his head) "I don't know."
Luffy: (absently) "How do you know it's a boy?"
Usopp: (ignoring the last question) "That's why Bosc lured us all here, isn't it? He's going to use Fushi's secret supply of pure blood to advance his age."
Zoro: "That explains what happened to Anjou."
Usopp: "Maybe, but we don't know what Fushi's capable of. It could be magic for all we know."
Luffy: (smirking) "Let's find out."