The blow of the wind almost makes Luffia shiver but it does not matter. Her mind is somewhere else, thinking about the people left behind in Alabasta.
"Luffia?" Sab's voice rang in her ears followed by the echoes of her footsteps. "You've been awfully quiet since we set sail." Sab's always been observant, always seeing the minuscule of details that people tend to ignore.
"Do you want me to be loud? You and Ann always complain whenever I get rowdy."
The blond princess smiles at the youngest - a very familiar smile that she often sees her mom dons whenever they try to find a way out of a situation. A knowing smile that tells them she's aware that there is something hidden behind the words spouted.
"It's not like you to keep things from us. Tell me. What is it that is on your mind right now?"
Luffia hesitated, looking away from Sab's calculating eyes. Her actions only prove Sab's assumptions. There was a heavy silence between them until Luffia spoke.
"What if Kidd is searching for you?"
That surprised Sab. She did not expect this question at all, not from Luffia. It's a painful question to answer but she must do so. Luffia's eyes demand answers to her question as if it holds great importance to her.
"It is impossible. He won't be looking for me. You know that."
"But, what if?" Luffia insisted, making Sab sigh. She hates false hopes especially after she had convinced herself not to succumb to such possibilities. There is a constant reminder in her mind not to hope and not to think about it.
"It doesn't matter if he is. This is not where he belongs, neither will I be in Raftel. There is nothing good that will come to both sides if we ever meet again and indulge in whatever connection we have. I will bring nothing but tragedy to him." Sab is not afraid of being his mate, she is afraid of the consequences if she ever does.
Sometimes, she finds it fortunate that he rejected her. At least she has a valid reason not to stay in Raftel any longer than necessary. It makes things easier for her to focus on their war.
"He's searching for you. I am sure of it." Luffia can't bring herself to tell her what she saw in Alabasta. What she wants to happen is for Sab and Ann to come to terms with their fate on their own. Luffia hates forcing things on them as much as she hates things forced on her.
"No. Marco is looking for Ann - that's what I am sure of. You know, I feel guilty. It feels as if I am dragging Ann along with my selfishness. She can be happy with Marco, but here she is, with us, and away from her fated mate."
"You did not force her to come along with us. She came along because she wants to."
"Sometimes, I wonder how you can act more mature than we do, considering we are older than you."
"That's rude. I can be mature!" Luffia answers with a pout, making Sab chuckle. The atmosphere is lighter now.
"Come on, let's get inside and bug Sanji for food. I am quite hungry." Luffia nodded, taking Sab's hand as they went below deck.
As soon as they left the deck, the did not notice the small noises coming from the seawater right beside the ship, followed by several shadows underneath, swimming just right below their ship...
===XXX===XXX===XXX===
Shanks looked at the paper, contemplating the situation.
"They left Alabasta and on their way to Baltigo. They should be here in a few days given their navigator's skills." Benn Beckman, Shanks' right-hand man said. They arrived in Baltigo yesterday.
People may see Shanks' actions as reckless given that he is a King of a kingdom, but nothing can sway his mind. He will be helping them in this war.
Not only because they are allies and they are a family to him, but because of the enemy.
He is aware of how dangerous Akainu is. Especially with a Dark Magician practitioner by his side. They will set the world ablaze, enslave those who defy them. Shanks will not watch and let that happen. People are in chaos because of them, they carefully planned all of their moves so the world will be against Cresta.
Cresta's mysterious influence in the world is still a mystery to everyone which they exploited, placing doubts where it is effective.
All they have to do now is wait until the sisters arrive in Baltigo before they can launch an attack to take back Cresta.
===XXX===XXX===XXX===
'We've been waiting for you all these years, yet you ran away...' It was that voice again, whispering in Luffia's mind, visiting her again in her dreams.
"I am not running away. We are facing our war."
'This is not the way you should face it. This war is unlike you've ever seen before...' The voice insisted, almost begging her. 'You must convince your sisters to go back to Raftel. That is where you belong...'
Luffia remained silent after that, unable to form words that she deems as a better answer to the voice. Part of her mind agrees on it, but half of her is also not. It confuses her.
When she saw Kidd and Zoro in Alabasta, she almost gives in to her desires, but in the end, she did not.
'You must go back, Your Highness. They are waiting for you...'
"Who are they?" Luffia feels as if the voice is referring to someone else, not the ones she met when they were in Raftel.
'Their voice will reach you. I am sure of it...'
Then the voice is gone and as soon as it did, Luffia woke up from her slumber, noticing the light coming from the moon, illuminating their room where her sisters are asleep.
She stood up, walked towards the window, and stared at the moonlight. Then she hears it... Voices different from the one she usually hears when she was in Raftel.
'You are about to know who we are...' One voice whispered to her.
'We've been waiting...' Another one said. She snapped her head to the side in hopes that she will find where the voice is coming from, but there's none.
'Come...' The voices are growing louder in her ears as if they are nearby. With hasty steps, she stepped out of the room, walking towards the deck where there's nothing but the noises of the waves crashing against their ship.
'All you have to do is call us.'
"Who are you?" She whispered to herself while looking at the seawater. She must be imagining it, but it feels as if the voice is coming from underneath them.
'You must remember who we are...' And it was followed by silence.
===XXX===XXX===XXX===
Humans think that what Akainu wants is to take over Cresta and its power. Not that they are far from the truth. Yes, he wants to take over Cresta but this is not his goal. This is just the first step in achieving what his ancestors failed to do so.
For countless years since he was born, he heard nothing but the greatness of the three Magical Kingdoms as well as their rulers. He heard of the great Xavaria and if that wasn't enough, he watched as the legendary Almighty High Princess blossomed to power, ruling over the three Magical Kingdom.
It was a humiliation he cannot take. He, who is destined for power is overshadowed by the High Princess who descended from Ellisar's bloodline - a bloodline mixed with the filthy blood of humans. He, who is pureblooded was cast away in favor of the princess.
He would have stayed where he is had it not been for the weak-hearted princess. She does not abide by the rules of those in power. Those with power must stand at the top, looking down on those who are lesser and weak. They must be worshipped as they deserve. Humans are forgetting their places, challenging the Otherworldly with their weak bodies. With the princess's power, she can lit the world ablaze, flatten mountains, rule over the world, yet she chose not to.
It was a shame he will never forget. Now, here he is, standing before the legendary princess who kneels before him, battered, injured, and pathetic. Akainu is glad to see the princess suffer - dead. His hands are itching to kill her right now, but there is something he must do. He must know how to obtain the power he needs.
"You are weak. You do not know how to use your power!"
"What usage are you talking about? Bully the weak? Kill people?"
"For countless centuries, this world is continuously divided amongst small power. One kingdom falls to another. It is an endless cycle of warfare created by the delusions of people. Their ambitions sparks war. Don't you dream of seeing the world as united? One kingdom, one ruler. To rule over the vast world, you need power." Akainu smiles by just imagining his dream of unity. His idea is on a grand scale, wishing the destruction of kingdoms, rebuilding it under his rule.
"You never fail to amaze me, Akainu." This is the voice that Akainu detested. Why must she sound so confident when she is on the verge of death? Has her pathetic state not sunk in her mind? "Your mind is full of delusions that you fail to see what the truth is. Someone can indeed rule the world with power, but you will never be that someone." Akainu's hands formed into a fist of lava, ready to throw it to the woman. "The world does not need one ruler. What it needs is unity amongst themselves, acceptance of the differences between races."
"Sadly, the world you spoke of will never exist." Their eyes locked with each other, two people with different beliefs clashing against one another and the only thing that is separating them is the steel bar where the princess is being kept. "You must tell me the power I seek, Princess Rauscher Veronica D. Huidel."
"If it's Al Draig you want, you will never have it, Akainu. Never. Al Draig is a gift. Only those who were chosen can wield that power."
"I am Othorion's descendant! I must carry that power. Tell me, how do I get this power?"
"Ellisar's descendants will be the ones to carry that power. The chain has been broken the moment Othorion and Ellisar were born. Have you not heard of this from the seers?" The princess's smile is mocking him. It's as if she's telling him he will never be better than she is.
Akainu is aware of the prophecy. Al Draig used to be passed down from one High King to another, but as soon as the twins were born - Othorion and Ellisar - the power of succession stopped. As what the seer said, no descendants of Othorion were able to possess Al Draig, it serves as a curse to them. The descendants hold a grudge against Ellisar and his descendants especially after Xavaria was born. She was Ellisar's granddaughter - only a quarter of Daerene's blood flows in her veins and yet, she was able to possess Al Draig.
Ellisar has another child aside who remained in Raftel and mated with a Fire Faery princess. This is where the Rareborn Princess descended - a descendant of Ellisar. This is why Akainu hated her more than anything else in this world.
"Then, where is the Ancient power of D?" Upon the mention of such power, the princess frowned. "I know of its existence. Tell me where it is!"
"That power has been lost for millions of years, Akainu."
"But it exists and you must know how I can obtain it."
"You should look at yourself in the mirror, Akainu. You've been obsessed with obtaining power you will never have. You may refer it as an Ancient Power of D, but that power is a blessing and granted to those who deserve it. That's not you."
Akainu's fist slammed against the cage, making the barrier flicker upon the impact. Al Draig is a power he wishes to have but more than Al Draig, what he needs is the legendary Ancient Power of Daerene - Al Rego. When he was still in Raftel, he chanced upon an ancient book describing that power. The power to command everything.
Al Draig is a power used to weaken the wills of people, even making others lose their consciousness when the power is used. It is not a spell but an inborn power of Daerene. Al Rego, on the other hand, is the power to command everything. It can command sea kings, awaken the dormant ancient beings, and above all, it can bend someone's will. The ancient book Akainu found does not provide any information on how to get that power. The first and last High King to possess this power was the very first High King of Daerene. Aside from him, no one was able to possess that power.
"There must be a way to get that power. I must open the Valley of Xavaria!"
"Zehahaha! That will be easy. All we have to do is to storm in Raftel." Teach's voice echoed in the dungeon. A dark mist appeared beside Akainu until it reveals the burly man - one of the traitors of Raftel. "It's a shame that you didn't want to mate with me, princess. We could have produced powerful children. Zehahaha!"
"I'd rather die than mate with you, traitor!"
"Had you chose me over this loser, you wouldn't have been in this dungeon." Teach points towards the man sitting beside the princess. "Tell me, why are your daughters not manifesting powers, High Princess Rauscher? Ah, I forgot, you disregarded that name a long time ago. Shall I address you now as Queen Rouge?"
Roger laughs at the two men standing before them. "My daughters may be human, but they inherited our spirit."
"It baffles me why your daughters are human, to begin with. With their mother's power, they should be Halfborns, should they not?" Akainu's been wondering this for a long time now. "Your daughters left Raftel, does it mean that the Raftelians are not aware of you? Why are they just human? Don't tell me you've cast a forbidden spell to avoid them getting your power?" Akainu knows that Huidel and Daerene have powerful spells. One of them is the power to suppress someone's power. With Rouge's capabilities of casting spells, there's no doubt that she must have done something with her daughters so they remain human.
Her silence and frown serve as an answer to Teach and Akainu. They wonder why would Rouge chose to prevent her daughters from getting her powers?
"Everything I've done, I do it to keep them safe." Rouge answered.
"Casting a spell to your daughters to keep them human is not keeping them safe. They are vulnerable and weak! You've done them nothing but mistakes. Does casting the spell took a powerful toll on your body that made you weak? I didn't know you could be this foolish!" Akainu sneers. The more the powerful the spell is, the more it takes a toll on someone's body. Rouge who sealed the most powerful barrier on Xavaria used a lot of her magical power to do so. And now, she used a large amount of magic just to keep her three daughters as humans.
Right now, she is far too weak to keep her human form. She reverted to her original appearance, with pointy ears and fire wings, but the fire on her wings are so weak, it is almost gone - an indication that her magical power is no more. Had she been in her prime, the barrier in the cage would have been an easy feat for her to break. One flick of her finger and it will be gone. The way she is now, she cannot fight back at all.
"The prisoners of the Blazing Inferno have been waiting for their release to get their revenge against Raftel. Zehahaha!"
"Madman!" Rouge shouted at Teach. She knows how dangerous the creatures are in the Blazing Inferno. There's a reason why they were not killed at all - it is because no one can kill them. They are powerful beings that are kept in the pits of that prison. High Kings of Raftel previously battled with them and it was a stalemate - they are almost at a disadvantage. One must prepare to offer their life if they want to kill those beings.
"It's been years Rouge since you restrengthened the barrier. Surely you wouldn't think we have no way to weaken it after all these years, would you? Zehahaha!" Teach's power is dangerous, an evil power that Rouge is afraid of - more than Akainu's.
A bottomless power of evil - this is how she can only describe his power. A power that can absorb other's magical powers. If she was as powerful as before, she would be able to win against him, but not now. She was weakened. She regrets not killing him before. She should have done it but despite her regrets, the past will not change.
"I wish that you will see how we storm in Raftel and destroy all the things you tried so hard to protect. Sadly, that will not come true because you will be dead before that happens." Akainu and Teach left, laughing as they go, leaving the King and Queen of Cresta in their cage.
"Our daughters must go back. It is not safe for them to be out of Raftel." Rouge's voice is quivering with worry.
"You know how they are. Stubborn, I bet they are thinking of how to get back Cresta and defeat Akainu." Roger chuckles a little upon remembering their daughters. He misses them every single day, worrying about their safety.
"Who do you think they take that stubbornness after?" Both shared a laugh. Even in their current circumstance, they can still hold on as long as they have each other.
"Do you regret casting the spells on them?" Roger asks.
"No. It is a must and fate can only tell."
While they are talking, Akainu's been listening to their conversation and concluded that he's right. Rouge was crazy when she cast that spell on her daughters.
"Shall we hunt their daughters?" Teach asks, grinning at the thought of killing the daughters of his enemy.
"No need. They will come to us especially after their parents' execution."
"Zehahaha!"
===XXX===XXX===XXX===
Sakazuki's eyes remain to stare at the familiar scene in front of him. A picture-perfect scenery of his kingdom but despite how beautiful it is, he knows that there's something he is missing. Dissatisfaction is what he is feeling right now - overwhelmingly so while looking at the peaceful Daerene.
He, as a High Prince of Daerene, stands at the top of its people - the ruler, but despite being its High Prince, he despises that title more than anything else in this world.
Daerene is full of traditions that were passed from generation to generation. And the most ancient tradition was the succession of Al Draig. One cannot be a High King if someone does not possess that power.
Every since the broken succession of power when the twins - Othorion and Ellisar - no one was able to become a High King in Daerene. All of its rulers remain as High Prince despite being mated. The people of Daerene won't accept a High King with no Al Draig. They treat it as an insult to the throne. Even if the current High Prince or Princess will use their power to forcefully take the title of a High King or Queen, the people will never respect them. Unless they possess that power.
One of Ellisar's descendants married a High Princess of Verid, thus, preserving his lineage in Raftel. Since the prophecy, the elders of Daerene wanted nothing more than to keep Ellisar's bloodline in Raftel in hopes that someone will inherit Al Draig to take the throne.
They are willing to oust the current High Prince in favor of someone who has Al Draig - that is how much they value that power. It is the symbol of Daerene and at this moment, Sakazuki does not have it.
He detested such fate. He, who was born to both Royalties - a High Prince of Daerene and High Princess of Verid - will remain as a High Prince forever because of the curse. By all means, his lineage made him one of the most powerful High Prince of Daerene, but Daerenians never cared about it. All they care about is if he has Al Draig or not.
Othorion's descendants call it a curse. They blame Ellisar and his descendants for giving them this kind of fate. His hatred for that bloodline remained the same especially after the Rareborn Princess was born.
Sakazuki heard of a union between the current High Princess of Verid - the future High Queen and the current High Prince of Huidel who is a half-elf and a half-Cheshire cat. Both are only children from their respective families, making them the future monarchs.
Sakazuki never paid attention to them, disregarding their existence but he realized one thing - their children will have the blood of three Magical Kingdoms. He became wary especially after realizing that the High Princess of Verid is a descendant of Ellisar.
Then, she was born. The Rareborn Princess. Never in the history of Raftel did they have someone who possesses the blood of the three Magical Kingdoms, much less the Royal Bloodline.
The Rareborn Princess was named Rauscher Veronica D. Huidel. With her birth comes with an endless debate on which kingdom she should rule. Her parents are now High King and High Queen of Huidel and Verid. The people are hoping that the High King and High Queen will be blessed with more children, but that did not happen.
Each passing year, Sakazuki remain vigilant especially when she came of age where she must present her power to her people. Just as predicted, she inherited the powers of Huidel and Verid - even more powerful than everyone expected it to be. Her latent magical capabilities far surpassed that of any High Prince or Princess in history.
Raftelians rejoiced. Sakazuki cannot.
He grew cautious of her, hoping she won't manifest the power of Al Draig. During her coming of age ceremony, she never manifested such power, making Sakazuki sigh in relief.
Years passed by in a blink of an eye, making him believe that she never inherited that power. Little did he know how wrong he was. One full moon, Raftelians were shaken to the ground upon feeling the turmoils coming from Purgatory.
All of the rulers and the Warrior Commanders flew off to see what could be causing the turmoils and were surprised to see the barriers of the Blazing Inferno slowly diminishing until it is finally broken. A few of the prisoners broke out of the Blazing Inferno, causing a catastrophe amongst the Raftelians.
It was in the middle of the battle when they felt that surge of power. All eyes drifted towards the Rareborn Princess, fighting the escapee - Charlotte Linlin.
Linlin's huge sword is pointed towards the people of Huidel - the creatures who trapped her to that damnable prison. She will strike to kill without hesitation and the Rareborn Princess felt it. It is at this time that she shouted at Linlin, commanding her to stop.
The wave of power coming from her shocked everyone in Raftel especially after a few of the escapees found themselves falling into an unconscious state while the others were badly shaken, kneeling to the ground. The brief moment of hesitation gave Raftelians the advantage they needed to drive these prisoners back to where they belong.
Everyone rejoiced except Sakazuki. No, he could not be joyful at what he witnessed. That power is the symbol of Daerene - Al Draig. The power that he did not inherit.
Why does she have that power and not him?
The victory against the escapees temporarily occupied the minds of Raftelians, celebrating for days. Sakazuki could not bring himself to celebrate at all. Not when one of Ellisar's descendants is right in front of him, displaying unimaginable power that no one has ever seen.
They treat her like a hero - a goddess, even, while they treat him as if his existence is a curse to Daerene. The powerless ruler is what they call him after that incident. It was a humiliation for Sakazuki driving him mad. Daerene's elders have spoken to him, praising the Rareborn princess who wields the three powers of the three Magical Kingdom.
"She is the descendant of Daerene's Royal blood. She carries Al Draig in her and Daerene's rightful ruler must be a carrier of Al Draig." Sakazuki heard them talk about this.
"But High Prince Sakazuki - "
"Daerene's lack of true High King and High Queen is nothing but a disgrace to our history." After hearing this, there's nothing but rage in Sakazuki's heart. His people are treating him like a disgrace along with his ancestors. An insult that felt like a thousand knives stabbing him in the back.
"She will be a High Queen of Huidel and Verid. We cannot impose that she must be our High Queen too." One elder said.
"Of course, we can. To be a High Queen of three Magical Kingdoms... This is the first in history! She will bring prosperity to us. Daerene will no longer be ruled by powerless High Princes and High Princesses. We will finally have one true ruler."
One true ruler. This remained in Sakazuki's mind as he madly searches for a way to get the power he should have. He is determined to surpass her, to rule over those who are lesser than him, to be the one true ruler.
If he cannot become the ruler of Daerene, then he will aim for something higher. The world. Everyone in this world will serve him. He distanced himself away from his people as he searches for the ancient books of Daerene, describing the power of Al Rego.
"The world is vast... I will not limit myself to a tiny kingdom here in Raftel..." He promised himself that he will do everything he must to prove all of them wrong. That he is not a powerless ruler, that he deserves to be a High King.
No, he will be more than a High King. He will be the true ruler of the world.
Raftelians treated the incident in the Blazing Inferno as a blessing - it paved a way for the most powerful High Princess to be born in the history of Raftel. Little did they know that the incident also paved the way for the greatest betrayal they have yet to face...
===XXX===XXX===XXX===
AN: Now, why don't we dive into the past... hehehe
