As promise, her's the next chapter. I might upload one tomorrow, but if not, this will be the last chapter for this week. So enjoy.
Sabo stopped and gazed at Lucinda. She could feel all eyes on her. Wondering eyes. Suspicious eyes. She smiled friendly to Sabo and gestured him to sit down. Sabo looked at Dragon, who nodded, intrigued to know what Lucinda had to tell Sabo and how she know of him. Sabo sat down and Lucinda sat next to him. Her eyes wandered over him and she kept smiling. At last her eyes fixed on his. He felt slight nervous.
"And here I thought you were dead," she said.
Sabo raised an eyebrow. "Do I know you?"
"No. I never let you, Ace or Luffy see me, but I did watch you grow for a while. You see, I was intrigued by Shanks to see the boy whom he had giving his precious Straw Hat," Lucinda said.
Sabo's eyes narrowed and she could also feel the tension from Robin. Lucinda was still relaxed.
"I saw your ship got blown up, as you set sail, so therefor I thought you died, but I guess that Dragon did save you somehow. But your brothers think you are dead," she said.
"How could they know? Did they see the ship?" Sabo looked horrified at her.
"They didn't. Dogra did and he told them what happened. He was looking for Ace and Dadan. They had been engulfed by the fire and went missing. He saw what happened and told Ace and Luffy this. Both are trying to live for you too," said Lucinda.
Sabo's eyes were sad and horrified. He had always believed that Luffy and Ace thought they would meet him at sea one day and that they hoped for that. He had never thought that they would know about his ship was getting blown up. He clenched his hands. Ace died believing this and now he couldn't tell him wrong.
"I have to meet Luffy. Where can I find him?" asked Sabo, looking at her.
"Luffy is training with Rayleigh for two years, so you have to wait. But if you feel that guilty, then I can take you to Ace," she said calmly.
"But Ace is dead?" Ivankov looked confused.
"No he isn't. I didn't show myself to the marines, so Ace could die. Shanks and his crew did safe him and Whitebeard," she said.
"I can't recall seeing you there," said Ivankov.
"Not in this form. But this …" Lucinda turned into her vampire state, making Ivankov gasp and the others look stunned.
"My name is Lucinda and I'm a vampire, due to a Devil's Fruit."
Dragon smiled. It was so like Lucinda to shock those around. She turned back to her human form and smiled to Dragon and his wife. Both with a knowing smile on their face. The others looked horrified and stunned at her.
"When did you last have some blood?" asked Dragon casually.
"3 weeks ago," she said.
"I'll make sure you can get some later. So Sabo, if I understand your conversation correctly, you knew my son?" Dragon looked at Sabo.
"We are sworn brothers. It's a long story, but we've been through lot of troubles together and one day Ace stole some sake and we drank it together and became brothers. I'm so glad to hear that Ace in fact did survive and I want to meet him again," said Sabo.
"When Lu leaves, you can go with her," said Dragon.
"Thanks." Sabo stood up and looked at Lucinda. "He will properly kick my ass the day I meet him."
"Properly, but he will be happy. I saw how much Luffy meant to him and I saw how strong your bond was as children. You don't have to go yet. What I have to tell Dragon, I won't mind you hearing it. Ace knows, so does Whitebeard and his commanders. Shanks, Benn, Yasopp, Roo, Mihawk and Rayleigh also know this and soon many more might know this," said Lucinda.
Sabo sat down once more, intrigued by her words and after Dragon had nodded. Robin was sitting there observing her. Lucinda had only once gazed at her, acknowledge that she was there and then she had concentrated on Dragon and Sabo. Now she looked at Robin.
"I haven't told your captain this. I don't think Luffy will understand, despite knowing that I'm a vampire. I know who you are Nico Robin. I know you are the one seeking information and are the smart one of the Straw Hat Pirates. Therefor you can hear this too, but don't tell your crew mates this," she said.
Robin nodded. She got a feeling that no matter what, none of her crew would ever be able to beat her. Not one by one or as a team. This woman was stronger than any enemies they had encountered all together and she was strong enough to fight in the war on her own, according to Ivankov. Beating two admirals up in mere minutes and then kicked the ass of the rest.
Lucinda smiled and gazed around. All waiting for her to tell what was on her mind. She inhaled and exhaled slowly, before telling her story for the third time since the war. A story she wanted to forget, yet it was her past and who she was. All listen eagerly and nodded. Faces were shocked and she knew this only made Dragon's decisions stronger.
"That's big news Lu. And I understand why you haven't told yet," said Dragon after few minutes silence.
"It's just that I want to protect not only me, but all I care for," she said.
"And we appreciate it. You are a strong and wise woman. The time was never right until now. If you had told me this sooner, I might have done some ridiculous things or take some dangerous decision based on your story. Therefor I'm glad you told me now," he said.
"You have grown so much wiser and older Dragon. It seems like only yesterday I was here last, but it's been several years," said Lucinda.
"7 years my dear friend," said Dragon with a smile.
Lucinda smiled. Time was so fast for anyone else than her. It bothered her a bit. To see people she cared about getting older and dies. To see changes that were to the worse was also hard on her, but she had closed it out. Now it haunted her once more and it was time for her to face it and start being active. That was also a reason why she had fought in the war. And why she told her story. Even if Blackbeard hadn't found the old files, she would have told those dear to her what those flies said. It was time for her to take action.
You'll know her story, but not just yet.