Chapter 76
True Self

The soundless golden ring of the bell resonated in the darkness Eli was floating into. Black and bright at the same time, she let herself being carried away. A touch, a grip, warm and gentle transported the girl before vanishing to nothingness, forgotten in the vibrant void of her sleep.

In the mist of this endless space, a tender sensation washed over her body while, emptily, Eli knew that she could rest peacefully.

And then, after what seemed like an eternity and a split second all the same, the pirate slowly woke up. Something soft and warm was breathing against her neck while joyful sounds made their way to her ears.

Her green eyes easily opened as the bright blueness of the sky had been replaced by a deep black scattered with stars. A little sound left her mouth with her first movements; the pain in her body had vanished only to be replaced by a heaviness very unfamiliar to the girl.

"Maa~"

Rolling her head to the side, Eli saw that the warmth fluttering against her skin was none other than that of the little sky kitten she had rescued not so long ago. Yet, still a bit dazed, she gazed wordlessly at the little ball of white fur purring to side. That was new... The creature did not seem scared nor angry. In its big blue orbs, the pirate girl, dared she, even saw affection.

"Maaa~" The kitten lifted his tiny paw and touched Eli's face before rolling on his side playfully.

Eli felt her heart melting inside of her chest as Maa rubbed his fluffy cheek against hers.

"Maa don't-"

"Shh... She must be in heaven right now."

Turning her head to the other side, Eli was welcomed by two smiling faces. First, she saw Hiron's, he was sitting next to her camp bed, and to his side, Ace. The freckled young man was watching her, he was surely mocking her, yet something warm and gentle emanating from his lovely face reached and enveloped the girl on the spot.

"Hey," Eli said, before clearing her sore throat. "Are you... okay...?"

"I'm fine." Ace lifted a hand and moved his fingers slowly before reaching it out for the top of Hiron's head.

"No !" Eli said in a weak yelp.

"Uh ?" Rolling his blue eyes upward, Hiron squinted at Ace's grinning face.

"See ?" The flame user messed up the boy's scruffy mane. "No more electricity."

Obviously, the black haired pirate had managed to discharge the electricity that was previously lingering in his body. A sigh of relief left Eli's mouth as she let her lifted upper body crash on the bed.

Despite further waking up with every passing breath, the girl still felt very exhausted, heavy, and... slow. Slower than before; the world revolved around her and Eli couldn't follow its every move like she usually did. Things shifted in the corners of her eyes, and before she could identify them they vanished while the sound that pervaded in the ruins of the ancient city, if joyous, grated on her ears.

As a loud growl resonated from her stomach, Eli reckoned of its emptiness, blaming it for her lack of energy. Hopefully, the scent of spices and meats reaching her nostrils, her green eyes scoped the area, the growls her hollow guts uttered growing embarrassingly louder at the sight of a huge banquet. Giant fishes and chunks of meat were roasting over a large campfire under the gleeful gaze of a winged crowd.

"Hiron." Eli turned her face to look at the blue-eyed boy. "Why are you all here ?"

"Angel Island was destroyed." A smile on his face, the boy grabbed his little kitten and placed it on his shoulder. "We are going to live here now."

A new home... As her green gaze traveled around her on the ruins of the ancient city of Shandian, Eli saw that not only the Skypians were enjoying this joyous party, the Shandians were here too. They were mingling together, as if they were friends. Talking with each other, laughing with each other; apparently their old grudge had been washed away by the salvaging sound of the golden bell.

"The Shandians are here too." Hiron gazed at his new fellow countrymen, the flame of the campfire dancing in his lovely azure eyes. "The war is over."

The fact that is was the voice of a young boy, and the comfort emanating from those simple words, put a smile on the pirate girl's childish face. Silently, Eli sat up and wallowed in the joy and the warmth of it all, ignoring how painful it was for her exhausted mind. It was amazing, almost unbelievable. A few days ago, they were fighting, a few hours ago, they were threatened of annihilation and now, under the silver light of the full moon, Shandians and Skypieans were dancing together, carefree and above all, free.

Slightly dazed by the content state of mind she was in, Eli failed to notice a very angry reindeer marching in her direction, a frown darkening his cute face.

"Eli !"

The girl startled, her vision blurring a bit as she did. Shaking her head, Eli focused her stare on Chopper's face while her head further titled to the side with every heavy step of the reindeer on the paved ground.

"Hey Chopper-"

"Don't 'Hey Chopper' me !" The little reindeer came to a stop a step away from Eli's bed and threateningly pointed one of his hooves to her face, towering very high over him. "Just how many did you take ?"

Slowness and heaviness further taking over the girl with the puzzling question and the harshness of the cute doctor's tone of voice, Eli tilted once more her head to the side before shifting her dazed gaze to Hiron and Ace who only shrugged. Very helpful.

"I don't-"

"The pills Eli, how many did you take ?" Chopper asked accusingly, folding his little arms over his fluffy chest.

Someone clearing his throat, quite loudly, had the two pirates' attention shifting to Hiron. Obviously embarrassed, he averted his gaze to look at the joyous crowd dancing in the middle of the ruins.

"I'll leave you alone." Hiron cleared his throat once more.

A pause, quite awkward, during which the three pirates stared at the blue-eyed angel who was glancing at Eli. "Thank you," he muttered before disappearing through the crowd.

"Eli !" Chopper called out, once more startling the girl with his unfamiliar harshness. "The pills..."

"I..." Eli rolled her eyes upward and thoughtfully gazed at the twinkling canopy, letting her mind travel in her fuzzy memories. Five...? No... Fifteen or so... "Ten..?" she finally offered quietly.

"TEN !" Chopper yelled, causing a quick and involuntary movement from Ace and Eli as he did. "You are insane !"

Puzzled, they stared at the little doctor as angry mumbles left his fluffy body while he went through his little bag.

"What's wrong Chopper ?" Ace asked.

"You should only have taken two." Chopper pushed Eli to lay her on the bed, and placed his stethoscope on her chest. "Don't you know how to read ?" he asked.

"Wha-"

"I had written the prescription on the bottle Eli," Chopper said gravely. "Take a deep breath and blow slowly."

The patient obediently complied yet, bitterly, she thought that it wasn't as if she had time to care for considerations such as prescriptions while hundreds of lives were at stake. Stealthily, she observed Chopper as he exterminated her body, not liking the seriousness that aged his cute face.

"Is she... sick ?" Ace asked, causing Eli to look at him kindly.

"No, I'm fine." A little smile on her face, she slowly nodded. "Don't worry."

"You're not fine Eli," Chopper said, and definitely, Eli decided that she didn't like the scolding. "You pushed your body too far and because you have almost no reserve of energy, you drew a lot from your muscles." With a deep, annoyed sigh, Chopper jumped off the girl's bed-camp. "You feel weak don't you ?"

"...yes." Eli admitted, averting her gaze.

"And slow ?"

Wordlessly, Eli nodded.

"That's what I thought." Chopper put his stethoscope back in his bag. "You'll take days, if not weeks to recover..." Slowly, he lifted his face upward and gazed at the black sky. "I shouldn't have given you those pills, they created a virtual source of energy and you went too far because of that..."

"It's not your fault Chopper !" Eli sat on the edge of her bed. "And I'm fine, don't worry." Seeing the little reindeer silent, the girl crept down by his side and listlessly wrapped her thin arms around him. "You're an amazing doctor, Chopper," she said quietly.

The reindeer giggled and wriggled in the beanpole's arms. "I know that idiot ! Your compliments don't make me happy."

Finally, Chopper seemed to loosen up a bit. He easily dragged himself out of Eli's loose embrace, and, started to walk away.

"Ah Eli." Chopper came to a stop a few steps away, causing Eli to look at his back questioningly. "Don't use your powers until I tell you so."

"What ?" The paramecia's eyes widened as she stared at Chopper, whose small back was still facing her.

"It's an order Eli." The doctor said gravely and, without adding another word, he walked away from the two pirates.

My... powers... Eli was on her knees, looking absently at the crowd where the little reindeer had disappeared. She had gained her devilish abilities so many years ago. It was even such a long time ago that the girl barely remembered the days when she didn't have her powers. They were as much part of herself as anything.

"It's okay." Ace crouched by her side, and rested his hand on her shoulder. "I'm sure it's only for a few days."

Eli was still staring at the crowd, hoping to see Chopper coming back, telling her that it was some kind of joke.

"Hey look." The flame user lifted his other hand to her chin, and turned her face in his direction. "I lost mine when we arrived here. Are you saying that you can't do the same ?"

He was taunting her. Childishly, he was turning this terrible news into a stupid game of pride... Obviously, Ace knew Eli very well.

"Of course I can." Eli huffed. "And I'm not gonna whine about it like you did."

Softly, the young man chuckled. He stood up and gave out his hand that Eli accepted on the spot to help her stand up, slowly. Rarely, had he beanpole been aware of how tall she was like she did then. A slight sensation of vertigo twirling in her head, she took grip on Ace's arm to prevent her fall.

"You want me to carry you ?"

As she set her eyes on his, Eli did not like what she saw, worry, again. The girl was aware of the pitiful state she was in and obviously, she didn't need the gaze of her lover to her to remind her of that. Her grip on his arm tightened as she lifted her free hand, curled her fist, and pushed it into his shoulder while sporting a little frown on her face.

"Okay, okay." Ace took Eli's little fist in his large hand and put it aside. The smile he bore seemed a bit forced. "Let's get you something to eat, shall we ?"

After giving him a nod, Eli turned around and started walking in the direction of the banquet. Her hand had left his arm; she was walking on her own. Every step she took cleared the girl's consciousness; the weariness that was affecting her was like weights attached to her every member as if she was moving around in seawater.

"Here."

Eli startled seeing Ace appearing from nowhere. Was that how he felt when she was doing it to him ? Slowly, her eyes trailed down his freckled face to fall on a large plate filled with a nicely scented stew.

"Let's go sit over there," Ace said pointing his own plate in the direction of a broken stone wall, slightly far from the center of the city, where the festivities seemed to roar louder as the time passed.

As she sat down, Eli felt a warm wave traveling down her body. If short and slow, the little walk had further weakened her atrophied muscles. Thankfully, she accepted the much needed meal and started eating. The vegetables and bits of meat were soft, and soaked with subtle spices that excited Eli's weary senses. With each mouthful, the girl felt energy slowly flowing inside of her, expanding from her stomach to her members along with the warmth of the stew.

"How is it ?"

With a little questioning sound, Eli turned her head to look at Ace. He was gazing at her, his own plate already emptied of its content. When did he-

"I've never seen you eating so slowly," Ace mocked.

"I'm savoring it," Eli retorted, slightly annoyed.

Ignoring his chuckles, she resumed to her meal. Now that her hunger was satisfied, the weight incapacitating her body had lifted and Eli felt that she was herself again. The world, however, was still too fast for her to follow its course. She felt normal, rested, and well, but the paramecia was still very slow. Was that how it felt to be... normal ? Until then, the girl had no idea of how much she relied on her devil fruit powers, and without them, Eli found it hard to keep track of every little shift around her.

"Oi," Zoro greeted. Two bottles of what Eli guessed was alcohol in his hands, he sat down next to the girl, against the broken wall.

With a sound resembling to a grunt, he held out his bottle in her direction.

"No thanks," Eli said before engulfing a few mouthfuls, forcing herself to speed up her pace by skipping the chewing phase.

Another sound, slightly perplex, left the swordsman as he stared at his crewmate almost choking herself. "What's wrong ?" he asked, giving his bottle to Ace.

Wrong ? What could be wrong about refusing a drink, Eli wondered.

"She's sick," Ace said from her side.

"Sick ?"

"I'm not-" Eli cleared her throat. "I'm not sick. Just... just a bit tired."

Looking at the two puzzled young men, the girl rolled her eyes in annoyance. Couldn't they understand that after such an exhausting adventure she needed a little time to regain her forces ? Apparently not since they were all so jumpy and loud.

Soon, Luffy's joyous cries made their way to the little group. He was waving at them among the people of the sky who were revolving around the giant campfire. Not far from him, Sanji was dancing with a Skypiean woman, glee brightening his face. Eli could also spot Nami and Usopp, discussing with a group of Shandians.

"You wanna go ?" Ace said, waving back at his young sibling as he spoke.

As she watched him, Eli felt a tad of guilt stirring inside of her for she knew how much Ace enjoyed partying. Yet, he stayed by her side and she disliked the state she was in. Power or not, it wasn't her. She was getting further annoyed as the beats of the music twirled in her head. The laughs, the yells, the dance, the flames... The crowd was dancing, moving, talking... It was all too much for her to bear. It was almost... painful.

"No, but you go," she said forcing a smile on her face.

But Ace didn't go. Silently he was scanning her, his dark eyes trying to pierce through the mask of her faked joy.

Uncomfortable of being studied of the sort, Eli stood up. "I'm still hungry," she lied. "I'm going to take another plate."

Without another word, she walked in the direction of the banquet.

Looking over her shoulder, Eli saw Ace joining Luffy. She put her plate on the table, and made her way through the crowd to the camp bed she had previously occupied. Still making sure she wasn't observed, the pirate girl stealthily walked over to what was left of the beanstalk. On two dozen of meters, the base was still standing, leading to a little patch of cloud, unarmed from the devastating storm that had roared over the island a few hours ago.

Eli took a step onto the giant stalk and started walking up one of the two intertwined sterns. As she got higher, the noises pervading from the ruins grew weaker, and a fresh breeze caressed her face.

After a few minutes of her lazy climbing, Eli reached the cloud. Carefully, she passed through a small hole and lifted her body onto the soft surface.

During a long moment, the girl gazed at the magical scenery the elevated point of view offered her. The sky was black, but the large full moon cast its silver rays on the greenery. Because of the fight, because of the danger, Eli had not been able to wallow of the beauty of the scenery of her surroundings. But now, perched on a little cloud towering over the giant forest of the Upper Yard, the chronicler let her eyes travel lazily on the magnificent sight.

With a sigh of content, Eli took her sleeping bad and logbook. She lay down on the fluffy ground, placed her sleeping bag over her, leaned her upper body on her elbows, and opened her precious book.

It's been a while... A soft smile on her face, Eli read the last written pages. It seemed like an eternity since she wrote the last words. While her green eyes glided upon the words, the recollection of the discovery of the sky island filled the chronicler's mind. So much happened in such a small amount of time...

As she reached the end of the last page, Eli searched through her bag and produced her pen. Impatient, she let her mind go back a day from then while the tip of her pen spoke her memories on the paper. The chronicler was so eager to tell the tale of the sky that she didn't feel time slipping by with every word she wrote, nor did she notice the presence of a certain pirate standing behind her.

"Twig," Ace called out, snapping the chronicler out of her concentration on the spot.

Briskly turning her head around, she watched him as he walked in her direction and lay by her side.

"I'm fine, Freckles," she said. "You should go back and enjoy the party."

"It's over now. Everyone is gone to bed."

"Oh..." Straining her ears, Eli noticed that, indeed, her surroundings had become much quieter.

However, as she looked at her last lines, the chronicler wanted to write a bit more and conclude the Straw Hats' battle against the Skypiean God.

"I want to finish that..." she said quietly.

"Okay." His head resting in the palm of his hand, Ace wrapped his other arm around Eli's back. "I can wait."

The black-eyed pirate's lips were saying otherwise, though. While his warm fingers caressed the skin of her arm, Ace was kissing the girl's shoulder slowly.

Ignoring the delicious distraction, Eli focused on her memories and she resumed her writing.

"Are you done now ?" Ace asked after what only seemed like a few minutes.

With a sigh, Eli turned her head around to look at him. The young man looked like a little boy. As their eyes met, his started sparkling with happiness. A soft chuckle left his mouth as he shifted his body a little closer to hers.

"Not yet," Eli said, forcing down the smile that titillated the muscles of her cheeks.

"Awww..." Ace's hand moved from her shoulder to the side of her back, exposed by her dungarees. "Come on..." Tauntingly, the flame user played with the rim of Eli's tube top. "For once, it's just the two of us."

"Just a few more minutes please," Eli said, pushing Ace's hand away.

Another disappointed sound left his mouth as Ace buried his face in her skin behind her arm. It wasn't like he was restraining her movements yet, Eli found it hard to command her hand to write while the young man was kissing her with such tenderness and warmth.

"Are you done now ?"

Eli let her forehead hit the pages of her book. "Yes..." she muttered against the paper. "I'm done now."

It was a complete lie. Ever since Ace had joined her, the chronicler barely managed to write down two complete sentences and their coherence were highly questionable. The flame user didn't seem to care though, a large grin on his face, he took her pen from Eli's hand, as well as her book, and put them away in her bag.

"Alright." Ace curled his fingers around Eli's small shoulder and pushed her on her back slowly. "Where were we...?"

His grin turned a bit devious as the sound of the girl's chuckles finally left her lips. Amused, Eli watched his dark eyes glimmering with delight while the young man detached the straps of her dungarees. It wasn't a time to be amused though, and the girl's chuckles quickly died out when Ace laid his mouth on her neck while one of his hands removed the clothing off her body.

Lazily, Eli stared at the twinkling canopy, feeling Ace's hands and lips roaming over her skin.

"Something's... not right..." she said quietly, dazed by the delightful sensations the flame user put her weary body through.

"Mmh ?" Ace raised his face from the girl abdomen. "You want me to stop ?"

"Don't you see ?" Leaning on her elbows, Eli set her eyes on his. "It doesn't even look real... It's way too romantic."

At that, Ace laughed heartily.

"I'm serious," Eli said gravely. "We're on a freaking cloud Freckles. We're floating in the sky, under the moon..." In disbelief of the situation they were in, her green eyes looked around them. "It's all too much," she concluded, deciding that the scenery wasn't befitting their couple.

"Could be worse," Ace said obviously very amused.

"I really don't see how." With a sigh, Eli lifted her hands to her eyes and let herself fall heavily on her back.

Hearing Ace chuckle mischievously, she spread her fingers to look at him. The flame user was between her thighs, on his knees, his hands open were glowing brightly.

"What-" Eli cut herself short seeing dozens of fireflies appearing all around them.

Her green eyes were wide open and her mouth slightly agape as Eli gazed at the lights dancing all around them. Utterly dazed, she slowly lifted her hand upward to touch one of the lights. The contact was warm against her skin before vanishing a split second later.

"See ?"

The sound of his voice instantly jerking the girl out of the daze, Eli stared at Ace, hard. Feeling that a little more of this treatment would make her melt into a mushy romantic, forever. She swallowed with difficulty, fighting against her gaze which wanted to get loss in the mesmerizing beauty of it all.

"Let's go back to the snake," she said desperately.

And he laughed... Ace laughed and with the warm sound of his hearty laughter, Eli reckoned that she was already lost. No matter where they were, he would be there. Him, his tantalizing body, his delicious skin, his charming unkempt hair... His golden laughter quietened as Ace leaned forward. Without a word, he brought his lips to hers, giving the girl a soft kiss. His warm touch, his beautiful dark eyes, his irresistible charm... She was lost, and she loved it, because she loved him.

"I love y-"

For a moment, Eli stared at her hands pressed against Ace's mouth before looking at Ace himself.

"I love you..."

The words of another man resonating through her mind, Eli felt one of her hands moving from Ace's mouth. It was tingling, searching for something she had forgotten... it was close though, it was in her pocket. As she felt the contact of the cold metal against her fingers, Eli closed her hand on the metallic object that had left her mind but not her side.

Ace was speechless as he gazed at the girl. Slowly, the other hand that was hushing him left his mouth and she sat up.

Eli felt a bitter sensation stirring inside of her as she gradually opened her hand, revealing a silver badge lodged into her palm.

"I was born on an Island named Suta..."

to be continued

Hey readers,

I'm sorry for the delay. Sadly, I am still rather sick but I still managed to write this chapter despite of that and all the other things that got in my way. December is a really busy month for me. Many birthdays and other things to plan, like Christmas shopping, and the remodeling of my living room.

Hopefully, January should be very calm and I think I'll be able to get back to my previous updating rate then. I know I really want to !

I hope you liked the chapter, and see you next week ;)