Main pov

I couldn't see anything. Well anything except for darkness but I don't think that counts as anything. I tried to move but it seems like my body was to heavy to move. I tried to speak or even scream but no sound escaped my body.

'Am I dead?, did I drown?... I didn't think that my story would end so early.', I still remembered what happened before I lost my consciousness. I was fighting the cipher pol agent and had finally managed to unlock a semblance of armament haki but he in his desperate attempt to win, attacked Belle-mére and her daughters. At that instance I somehow managed to use soru as I knew the mechanics of it and got in front of them.

They were unharmed but my body suffered several lethal injuries. I cared not for myself at that moment but Belle-mére and her kids, I was relieved to find them unharmed. The next thing I knew the agent attacked me and I was hit with a ryokugan to the chest before blacking out.

'ugh my head hurts', I thought in my head, how could I feel hurt if I was dead I didn't know.

My vision distorted as a familiar scene played before me or my mind rather.

"Say goodbye"

bang*

The man's hand that was clutching the gun was shot as the gun fell out of his hands.

"Shit!"

"MOM!", Damien shouted as he ran towards me and hugged the woman who now came beside me to help my battered body up.

"It's now baby, it's all going to be ok", Maria kissed Damien's forehead as she consoled him.

"DAMN YOU AND YOUR FAMILY!!! YOU'LL ALL DIE TODAY!!", he shouted as he took off his jacket and revealed a bomb strapped to him.

My eyes widened as adrenaline pumped through my body. Thoughts ran through my head as I finally realized what I had to do.

I willed my body for the final time as I pushed Maria and Damien away from me and rushed towards Draco. I pressed my body against his and tackled him, I lifted his body up on my shoulders as I ran out the window. We were at the top floor of a building so while falling I still had some moment to think.

'I'm sorry Damien I won't be able to keep my promise to you'

'Maria, I hope you can be strong for our little boy. My love I want you to live a better life than I could ever offer to you'

I prayed in my heart as I fell to my death.

My vision distorted again as I clutched my head.

'Huh? I can move my body now', my headache subsided as I heard footsteps behind me.

"Well it's rather weird for us to meet, isn't it?", the deep voice which probably belonged to a man asked me.

I turned back to see a familiar sight, a buffed tall man with squared jaw and white hair.

"Vlad?", I widened my eyes as I met my past life persona.

"One and only, it's rather rude to go through someone else's life without permission now isn't it", he asked with a smirk.

"Oh I apologise", I bowed my head to him. I wouldn't like it either if someone saw my entire life without my permission.

"HAHAHA, I'm just fcking with ya. We are the same person after all so it's almost like remembering forgotten memories rather than looking into other people's memory", he chuckled as he came closer.

He would have been taller than me right now if I didn't use boss's altar but now we seemed to be of relatively same height.

"So we are both dead huh?", I joked as I tried to find more topics to talk about.

"Not really"

"What do you mean?", I asked.

"I mean I'm dead but you not yet", he grinned.

"But I should be dead, no?", I was confused as to how I still wasn't dead.

"It must be due to what that guy gave us when I came to the afterlife.", Vlad held his chin as he contemplated.

"What gifts did you get?", I asked curiously.

"Well, the first is an upgraded version of the stand metallica's powers but not the stand itself. For the second and the third one….", he smirked, "I'll let you figure that one out yourself".

I let my head down in disappointment as I hated my past self. I just sighed as I asked him,

"So do you miss them, your family?", I asked gently so as to not make him feel uncomfortable.

He smiled solemnly as he replied, "Yes, and I always will. But I know they will be alright without me, Maria is a strong woman and Damien has potential to grow into a strong and kind man. I don't worry about them and you shouldn't worry as well."

"I just hope Walter and Jesse don't kill each other now that I'm not with them, Hahaha!", he laughed before going silent and staring at me with a serious look in his eyes.

"I know you have certain dilemma in your head about being real. I gotta tell you right here, right now it does not matter if you are real or not, why should it? "

" Live your life however you want it, even if the experience you have felt might be predetermined enjoy them to the fullest. If you keep dwelling on it you will lose sight of what matters most in your life. You should chase your dreams and be free to do what you want. ", he said as he placed his hands on my shoulder.

"I know you were willing to sacrifice your dream for Stella's happiness due to the financial burden being too big, you intended to give up on your dream after freeing her didn't you?", he asked.

"I-I… well *sigh* yeah, it's no point in hiding things from you since we are practically the same person", I admitted with regret tinting my tone.

"Idiot!", he punched me in my jaw, as I fell to the ground.

"You shouldn't give up on your dreams for anyone, fight for what you want. People without dreams and hopes are just better off dead", Vlad shouted with anger seething in his face.

"NOW TELL ME WHAT DO YOU TRULY WANT!? ", he shouted at my face.

"I…. don't know..", I mumbled as I didn't meet his eyes.

"LIES, AND YOU KNOW IT. NOW TELL ME WHAT DO YOU WANT? "

"I…. I…I WANT TO BE A STAR!!", I shouted as I saw that my figure turned back to when I was still a kid.

I remember now, how I always wanted to be a star since I was a kid and would always sing and dance. But I had to give up on this dream when dad got sick and passed away, mom became an alcoholic abuser and we went into poverty. I ran away from home and started doing crimes, I only recently started doing small performances for Stella.

I was now on my knees as I cried. How could I have given up on something that I loved since I was kid. Now my figure turned into an adult again as a kid me came before me and lifted my hands before wiping my tears.

I gulped and took a deep breath before smiling, "Don't worry, I'll make our dream come true".The kid me smiled as he faded into glitter.

'I will not lose any of my precious loved ones on my journey, I'll get stronger to protect everyone, boss who helped me since the beginning, Belle-mére who gave us dinner and Stella who saved my dream.'

My thoughts ran back as I saw Stella's smiling face. I clenched my fist as I got what he was trying to say.

Vlad grinned , "Now, you should head back, your friends must be worried. Remember be free, live free, free of worry, free of Trouble. Destiny is at the palm of your hands, shape it yourself. "

He started walking away with his back turned to me, his hands in his pockets.

I stood there for a second before I shouted, "Wait! Where are you going?".

Vlad stopped as he turned his head and smirked, "Nowhere you idiot, I'm you after all. Just live your life to the fullest for both of us".

The darkness around me swirled as it started to disappear being replaced by a white light.

I felt myself waking up as I felt my eyes twitching and opening up.

[bottom of the ocean]

I was on a sea bed, covered with seaweed and sand. I felt that I had some device placed on my mouth that was allowing me to breath. I placed my hand on the device to feel what it was, 'Hmm what is this?', before I could ponder over it my brain was filled with information on how it was made, how it worked and the material needed to make it. 'Huh? Is this one of the gifts', I thought to myself as I sat up.

I touched the ground as I felt around for metal. My range had increased drastically from before and now it seems that I could probably cover a whole island with my devil fruit range. I only felt a tiny speck of iron near me but I had a feeling inside of me that it was enough. I made the tiny speck appear before me as it floated in the air waiting for my command. I touched it with my hand. In an instant it multiplied and got to the size of a ship as it continued to multiply.

Surprisingly my mind was able to handle this as I felt no strain on my body.

The metallic construct stop multiplying as it created steps for me to get aboard. Once I was on it, the ship started morphing into a huge metallic stage with turbines at the bottom. The turbines whirled with vigor as it came to life, the stage started to lift up and rise from the sea bed.

The noise seemed to have attracted something as a huge fish whose face had the shape of a horse was charging towards me.

I grinned as I curled my fist and punched the air. The stage followed my command as a huge metallic hand was formed that hit the sea monster straight in the jaw.

The sea king seemed a bit rattled by the sudden metallic hand but spent no time to think as it charged at me again.

This time I got a bit mad at it because it was making me waste my time unnecessarily. I glared at it as I wanted to shout but the device on my mouth prevented me from doing so. At that instant I felt something radiate from my body as it spread around the sea.

Something happened to the sea - king as it seemed to halt before looking at me with fear evident in it's eyes. It quickly turned back and swam away in a zigzag motion.

I stood there dumbfounded at the situation, I stared at my palm before clenching it. 'Conqueror's haki', it's the only explanation for the strange situation, although I did not know how or why I got it I wasn't going to refuse more cards to my arsenal.

The stage started rising higher and higher until I could see a glimmer of the moonlight, the moon seemed to be full today and could be seen clearly with a sky devoid of clouds.

I clutched the device on my mouth and crushed it in my hands as I was already approaching the shore and would be able to breath normally soon.

'I already miss you, Stella!', I thought as I smiled. My eyes widened and I grinned as I thought of a plan for my entrance.

The metallic stage started to change shape as I conjured up boomboxes and disco lights, they weren't getting short-circuited due the fact that I now made a spherical covering for the stage which I would release once at the shore.

I smiled with excitement, "Just wait Stella, I'll give you the best performance".

[Belle-mére residence]

General pov

"I'm truly sorry for not arriving any sooner", Dragon bowed his head to Belle-mére and boss. He came over as fast as he could when boss called him over but he had some business to attend to.

Ivankov had just recently given him important information regarding some kingdoms on the brink of collapse. He has to immediately send personals to conduct a rebellion.

"It's OK boss we know you are a busy man. We can't give up the lives of many to save a few.", boss said with a sad sigh.

Belle-mére on the other hand had a conflicting emotion edged on her face. On one has the man before her was one of the most wanted man in the world and on the other he was a friend who had deep regrets on not being able to help other people.

She just decided to sigh, "You don't have to apologize at all, not to us at least. The one who was the most affected was Stella". I still worried for her and was determined to make her eat today.

Dragon grimaced as he had heard about what happened to the poor girl, "I know, I have felt what she's feeling right now. I know how it feels to lose a loved one. It's a very dangerous and dark place to be in, but I will do everything that I can to help her.", he replied with determination as he clenched his fist.

Belle-mére just smiled as she saw how determined Dragon was, "Would you like more tea?", she asked.

Dragon just chuckled, " No, no I'm good. No disrespect aimed towards your tea, I just want to keep my stomach clear for now.", he mumbled.

The suddenly the house began to shake and even the table started to tremble. Belle-mére was shook as she turned the boiling kettle off.

"An earthquake!", she shouted.

She rushed up stairs to get Nami and Nojiko but it seems they were already awake and running downstairs . She sighed in relief as the house continued to shake.

She heard Dragon's voice from downstairs as he shouted, "The girl isn't here!".

Dragon came into the room to get the girl but only found it to be empty with only one evidence as to what had happened, the window was open.

At the field near the shore a blond girl could be seen running towards the sea.

'I heard it! No.. I felt it! It's him! It's Tesoro!', Stella just ran towards the sea as she seemed to not stop at all.

The people in the village were now getting out of their houses as the earthquake didn't seem to stop.

Once everyone was outside the tremor receded as people started a panic induced discussion. But they all stopped when one of them pointed out towards the shore.

"WHAT THE HELL IS THAT?!!", said the random villager while pointing towards the shore. There at the shore was huge metallic sphere that was shining under the night sky.

Dragon who was now amongst the crowd ran towards the shore to get a better look. 'What's the huge thing? A ship? Is it vegapunk's doing?', he had several questions but they seemed to quiet down due to boss beside him.

"That's all metal…. No… it can't be…Tesoro!", boss gasped.

Belle-mére who finally caught up to them now exclaimed, "Tesoro? How is he still alive!?". She was shocked as to how someone could be alive in the sea for days, especially a devil fruit user.

'If it's Tesoro, Stella might be there', she thought to herself.

"Hey! Hey! mom is it really uncle Tesoro!?", asked Nami and Nojiko in unison. They were both excited and thankful that Tesoro could still be alive.

"I don't know. I'll go check it out, you girls follow from a safe distance OK?", said Belle-mére as she started heading towards the metallic construct.

Dragon and boss walked beside her, "It might not be safe, we'll come along with you".

--

On reaching the shore they saw that someone was already there,

"Stella!", shouted Belle-mére with worry. She started walking towards her to make sure she wasn't hurt.

But before she reach Stella the metallic construct started shaking. It shook the entire village as the sphere now seemed to open up like a flower blooming in the spring.

The tremor now completely stopped. The entire island seemed to go silent as the inside of the sphere was completely hidden under the shadow the roof which still covered it.

The villagers now started to approach the shore, curious about what was happening.

Metallic wires shot out from the sphere as it headed towards the village transformer. Lights suddenly lit up from the sphere as we could see clearly what it was hiding.

There were two giant rectangular boxes around a stage which staircased to the top. On the top could be seen a singular figure with its back towards us. They seemed to wearing a metallic shiny coat with a shiny top hat.

Belle-mére who now reached Stella checked up on her as she was worried. But she saw that Stella was smiling for some reason as tears ran down her face. "It's definitely him, nobody can be so over the top as him..", Stella cried.

Music suddenly started being blast through the giant speakers. As the figure turned around to show Tesoro with a wide grin on his face. There was wide screen behind him that showed an enlarged view of the whole stage.

Tesoro clutched a mic that suddenly formed in front of him as he shouted, "Time to start the show, ARE YOU READY!!?".