The past four days may have been the most anxious Judge had ever felt in his life.
He gritted his teeth as he strode through the halls of his castle. He could hear scampering footsteps, as servants hurried to stay out of his sight. They knew his moods all too well.
For three nights his daughter had been missing. His soldiers had attacked and raided pirate ships in an ever-widening wave across the North Blue, yet found nothing. Was she being hidden somewhere? Held for ransom? Who in all the world had the nerve to do that?
Should he call on the Marines for help? No. If he did, word would get around that Vinsmoke Judge could not protect his own children. His clients would rethink their contracts; and the money would dry up.
And he really didn't want to have to go cap in hand to that god-damned Du Feld; again.
Steadily, he strode on, past the laboratories and cloning chambers, and past the workshops and factory blocks. He barely paid any of them a glance, and he didn't need to.
Finally, he reached the lowest level of the undercroft; right between the snails that held his kingdom aloft. The chamber opened onto the sea below; with gantries running around the walls, and heavy clamps hanging down from the ceiling. A group of technician clones manned work stations, from which thick cables ran down into the water. Watching over them all was the project manager.
"Director Aleph," Judge called out, striding along the gantry. Aleph saw him, and snapped to attention. "Your report."
"My lord." Aleph held out his clipboard, and Judge took it. "All tests have gone smoothly. Undersea Vessel Unit 1 has reached three hundred meters depth in this afternoon's test dive."
Judge smirked. Finally some good news. "Three hundred meters? Nicely done." He nodded, smirking down at the dark, cold water; wherein his special project was being put through its paces. "Any issues?"
"No nonconformities whatsoever. Air pressure is stable, all systems functional. Based on current performance, max operating time is seventy-two hours with a crew of ten."
Judge's smirk became a triumphant grimace. UV-1 was working, and better than he had expected. It needed just a couple more features to be perfect. And then, the next era of warfare would arrive, with him at the head of it all.
"What of its weapons?"
"The depth charge launchers and torpedo tubes are fully functional, and both weapons meet basic requirements."
"And the tracking system? The sonar?
"Fully functional, my lord. We've managed a maximum range of eighteen hundred meters with the Sonar Snail."
It was ready. His greatest secret. The greatest innovation in naval warfare in eight hundred years. No, the only innovation in naval warfare in eight hundred years. It still baffled him even after countless centuries, even the Marines were still using old fashioned wooden ships for transport. Fools.
Well, their mistake was his gain…and what a gain it would be.
With this new submarine, he could go unseen, attack unseen, retreat unseen. No ship, no island, no person would be safe. Even Cipher Pol would have nothing to match it.
His heart skipped at the thought. With a fleet of these new ships at his command, neither Marines nor Pirates could stand against him. He could destroy their vaunted fleets without taking a blow in return; and they would never even know who was responsible.
And then the New Germa Empire would rise.
"Good, very good," he said, nodding. "Continue testing for now. I want us to know everything about the UV-1; every capability, every flaw, every quirk. And I want a detailed workup of mass production requirements."
For that, he would need to contact Du Feld, unfortunately. There was only so much iron, wood, and other materials he could extract from his current holdings. Plus one other vital ingredient, without which the UV-1 would be a pipe dream.
"Yes my lord. It will be on your desk by dusk."
The King of Germa nodded, then paused as the water below frothed and roiled. He looked down, and his heart swelled as UV-1 emerged into the light. It was forty meters long, sleek, and black; with a tower on the topside. He could make out the torpedo tubes, and the depth charge launchers, and the propulsion system at the very back.
The hull gleamed as the water ran off it; the gleam of seastone. Half an inch of it, all over the hull; salvaged from sunken Kong-class warships by Du Feld's associates.
It had cost him a proverbial bomb; straining his coffers. But if it worked half as well as Aleph was claiming, it would be worth every last Berry.
"My lord!" Judge looked up, and saw a clerk clone hurrying along the gantry towards him. "We have an urgent report from Captain Upsilon of Cruiser 4!"
"Where are they?" Judge asked, his satisfaction churning into anticipation.
"Sector B9, my lord!"
Judge strode past him, back up the gantry, up the stairs, and into the castle proper. He did not stop until he reached the Communication Centre, with its racks of snails and clones sitting at desks; taking and receiving calls. He strode along the rack, until he found the right snail and picked up the handpiece.
"Report."
"Your Majesty," said Upsilon's voice. "I have an urgent report. We encountered a Marine vessel near Swallow Island. They were retreating from a battle with the Heart Pirates."
"The Heart Pirates?" Judge asked.
"Yes your majesty. The Marine ship was the Seahorse, commanded by a certain Lieutenant Ratel. He claimed to have encountered a 'Black Beast' while assaulting the Heart Pirates' hideout, and seemed to think it had been stolen from us."
Judge blinked. He had no idea what Upsilon was talking about. It sounded like something out of that ridiculous Sora comic. Yes he dabbled in genetic engineering, but creating mindless monsters was only something he'd have entertained as a child.
"Whatever this Beast is, I know for a fact it isn't one of ours," he replied, his scowl deepening into a glower. "Is that all you have to report, Captain?"
"Ratel also mentioned someone else," Upsilon went on. "A person fighting alongside the beast and the Heart Pirates. A woman with pink hair, who did Ratel some considerable harm."
Judge felt his heart skip a beat.
"What kind of harm?"
"He was using a wheelchair when I saw him, your Majesty. His reproductive future was apparently in some doubt. He referred to her as a 'pink-haired swirly-browed cunt', your Majesty."
Pink-haired? Swirly-browed?
Judge's hand rose, unbidden, and touched his own, swirling eyebrows. Plenty of people had pink hair; the disgraced Riku Dold III's late wife for one. But swirly eyebrows…
Reiju. It had to be. Had she been captured by the Heart Pirates?
Or had she gone willingly?
"Captain Upsilon." Judge took a deep breath, glaring at the wall. "Go to Swallow Island. Find this person that matches that description. If it's Reiju, bring her in, by any means necessary."
"If they resist?"
"If Reiju resists, use my recording from your transponder snails." His free hand clenched into a fist. "As for the Heart Pirates, eliminate them."
"And the populace?"
"If the Heart Pirates are operating out of there, then the locals must be supporting them," Judge growled. "Wipe them out. All of them. Burn the entire island to the ground if you have to, just make sure my daughter is brought back."
"Yes, your Majesty." The snail shut off with a 'Clank' and Judge took a deep breath. Could Reiju have betrayed him? Was she her mother's daughter after all? Another failure like his miserable third son?
"This error will be corrected," he growled, then spun on his heel and strode out, his cape billowing, into the dark, sterile halls of his palace.
(X)
Night had fallen.
Izuku stood at the schooner's gunwale, staring out over the sea. The sky was clear but for a few wispy clouds, the gentle waves bathed in moonlight. The wind was strong, holding the sails taught, pressing the schooner swiftly on.
He had to give the Heart Pirates credit; their little ship was fast for its size, and handled well as far as he could see. But even then it was slow; slower than the Moby Dick, slower even than a speedboat in his own world. He would rather have been flying.
'Having to go along so slow must be driving you nuts,' Bruce mused. "And dropping Sora off is going to take longer now.'
"Nothing to be done for it," Izuku murmured. His costume kept him warm, but the wind was cold on his face.
'You could have simply, you know, asked Sora about Germa. Ask her where they might be,' Bruce scolded. 'But no, you had to go off adventuring with Yamato, didn't you.'
'Without Sora, Yamato would have died
,' Nana hissed. 'So can you knock it off?'
'Seriously, we get you're mad, but do you have to be such an asshole about it?' Banjo glared angrily at the Third User.
'Am I the only one who knows why the hell we are here in this freezing ocean, and not training to take down that damned dragon and his army of psychopaths!?' Bruce snarled.
'Bruce, that's enough!' barked the Second. 'You're not in control here, Midoriya is.'
'Excuse me for pointing out that this world is a shithole!'
ranted Bruce. 'The government is a evil version of the United Nations. There's villains running their own fucking empires where they outright enslave people! It's like the Dark Age all over again! And we have a villain that makes All For One look like a middle school bully who wants to wipe us out. Someone's got to remind our hormonal teenage vessel what's at stake here!'
"Can all of you just…" Izuku uttered. He couldn't finish, but the Vestiges got the message, just as the sensation of a hand touched his shoulder.
He looked up, and saw Yoichi hovering there; his eyes sad and sympathetic before he too faded.
Izuku looked out over the sea again. There were no islands about, but Law said they would arrive at Rubeck at by morning or so. Once there, they could get some sleep in the port town of Beckford.
Then Sora would take her leave, and it would be just the two of them again. Izuku and Yamato, hunting for the Germa Kingdom.
Izuku took a slow breath, as his mind raced. The Germa 66 were scattered all over the North Blue, killing pirates in search of something. Those Marines had thought the 'something' was him, in his shrouded form; but there was no way that was true. He had never encountered Germa before, and certainly not while looking like that.
Regardless the Germa were spread out, vulnerable; and the Marines clearly weren't working with them. But Germa was still a World Government kingdom. He had to assume that the Marines would come to their assistance if they asked for it; and it would be in force.
He remembered that Marine Captain, and what he had said. He was going to destroy the whole town, in the name of 'Absolute Justice'.
And then he remembered Spytand Malice, and his haunted, bitter eyes.
"If you knew what their Absolute Justice was, was that justice served?"
A justice that crushed innocent bystanders underfoot to get rid of a few pirates. A justice for which concepts like due process or mercy meant nothing. The Marines that served it were not heroes, but attack dogs.
And the Sora Comics were being used to influence children to join them.
He felt sick. It was unbearable. To think that the idea of a hero was being used like this. Propaganda designed to spread intolerance, subservience and cruelty.
Was that what had driven Malice away? Had he wanted to protect and serve, only to end up doing the opposite?
"Whatcha thinkin about?"
Izuku looked up, and saw Yamato crouch down beside him.
"Just the island." He looked back, seeing Law piloting the ship at the front bow. Sora was down below helping Penguin cook, and he could see Bepo above in the makeshift crow's nest. "Anna… sorry for snapping at you, this morning."
"It's fine I… it was my fault." Yamato rubbed her arm. "I was just so happy to be at a place that reminded me of Melville that I dropped my guard."
"I know." Izuku sighed. "We need to be careful though, at the least."
"I know." Yamato tapped her mask. "It's just…it's always been like this."
"It has?"
"Yeah. Because… my mother died when I was born, Kai-." Yamato paused, choosing her words carefully. "He always wanted a son, you see; an heir to his empire. He wanted me to be his son."
She sighed, her eyes sad and distant; as if reliving painful memories.
"I was lost. I didn't know what I wanted to be, until I saw Oden that day."
Izuku nodded, and put his hand on top of hers. He smiled up at her, and she smiled back.
"Dinner's ready!" Penguin called out, and Yamato perked up. Izuku grinned, glad of her smile, and fell in beside her as they headed to the stern.
A good meal would help drive their worries away.
(X)
Bepo hummed as he held the wheel steady, compass aimed northwest. All had been quiet so far. There was nothing he needed to do but steer the ship while Law and the others slept through the moonlit night; ears pricked, head on a swivel; alert to any danger.
In the distance, he could see the first light of dawn. It would not be long now.
"Nothing like a nice sunrise," Bepo said to himself, as he watched the light emerge from the eastern horizon. Back when he was a kid, atop of Zou, the sunrise was hard to see. The giant elephant had always been on the move, and no one could be sure where the Sun would come up. Over the head one day, by the flank the next. And then there were the Day and Night Minks out and about. They didn't get along; or at least their leaders didn't.
As the light spread, he could see the dark silhouette of land. He pulled out his spyglass, and took a closer look. There it was, the faint outline of Rubeck's snow capped mountains. In a few hours, no more, they would be safely docked; and En, Anna, and Sora would go their way. Then they would pick up their hidden supply cache, and it was off to the Grand Line.
A smell.
Bepo arched his head, sniffing the air. Yes, there was a smell; faint but distinct, carried on the wind from behind them. Was it…charcoal?
He looked back, following the scent. Starry night was still giving way to orange dawn; but he could see a smudge of darkness; a long trail of blackness, undulating upward into the sky.
What was it? And where was it coming from?
"Back where we left from… Swallow…" Bepo thought aloud, and the bear felt a pick of ice gore at his insides.
"No…"
He dashed to the cabin door, and banged on it. "Captain! Captaiiin!"
In an instant the door opened, and Law was there; bleary-eyed but alert.
"Bepo do you know what time it is!?" Shachi groaned from behind him.
"Smoke!" gasped Bepo, pointing over the stern. "From behind us!"
Immediately awake, Law stepped past him and up to the stern, staring back at the darkness. As the sun rose, he could see it clearly; a trail of smoke, being carried along the winds, in the same direction that they were sailing.
"Law?" En groaned, as he emerged from the cabin, Sora and Anna right behind him. Law did not reply, but Bepo could see his eyes.
"It can't be… it's too soon!" Law uttered. En stepped up to join him, and he saw too.
"Law," En said, his tone low. "When did Ash say that Ferry was due?"
Law clenched his fists, arm shaking. "When he said it yesterday… tomorrow night…"
En breathed hard through his nose.
"All sail!" roared Law. "We drop off our guests, then straight back to Swallow!" Shachi and Penguin scrambled to the masts.
"Law, stow your sails," said En. All turned to look at him, and Law's eyes hardened.
"What?" His hand grasped his nodachi, and Bepo's heart clenched. En was playing with fire.
"Law." And Law's jaw hit the deck as En rose into the air. Shachi and Penguin gasped, and Bepo thought his heart would jump out of his chest. "I can take us there faster."
"En… you…" Law uttered, eyes wide as the dark tendrils unfurled, reaching out around the ship as En floated towards the center. "But…"
"Please, trust me." More and more of the black mass lashed out, wrapping around the ship; as if the Arctic Unicorn was being ensnared in a great black net. The ship creaked, and Bepo looked over the side. He gaped, as the hull began to rise out of the water.
"Captain!" he called out, as the ship creaked and swayed. "We're floating! We're leaving the water!"
Penguin and Shachi dashed to the gunwales, and gaped down as the water fell away. Law gazed up at En, his face caught between awe and stunned disbelief.
Bepo had never seen him like that before. He had seen his captain angry, confused, occasionally maybe even scared. But never that.
"Stow the sails! Then everyone into the cabin!" En called, as the Arctic Unicorn came about. "I'll go as fast as I can!"
(X)
The cabin was silent, as the minutes ticked away.
Yamato held onto her club. This wasn't like flying on Izuku's back, with the wind in her hair. Then, even though Izuku was doing all the work, she'd felt like she was part of it; that they were flying together.
This wasn't like that. Down here, crammed into the Arctic Unicorn's cabin with the door shut, she couldn't feel the wind; or Izuku's presence. It felt…wrong somehow.
She glanced around. Shachi, Penguin, and Bepo were in their bunks, sheathed sabers in their hands, pistols thrust in their belts. She looked out of the porthole, and saw the clouds drifting by below; and the great mass of Black Whip flapping up and down like a gigantic wing.
Sora sat by her side, looking down at the deck. She hadn't said a word since Bepo had raised the alarm. Law was sitting behind them, clutching his nodachi, his cap over his eyes.
The ship creaked, and Yamato felt it slow, and started to descend. Law stood up and headed for the door, while his crewmates swung out of their bunks, checking their weapons. Law slid the door open, and Yamato almost recoiled as the smell of cinders hit her full in the face. Law strode out onto the deck, and she hurried after him.
And then she saw the glow. And the smoke. And she heard the roar of the flames.
Swallow Island was burning.
As the ship descended, she could feel the heat. The island was burning from end to end; from the top of the mountain to the lowest waterline.
Just like Wano had, some sixteen years ago.
"Our home…" Shachi croaked. Penguin stood beside him, tight-lipped; while Bepo looked ready to weep. Sora stared, eyes wide with horror. Law's lips became a snarl.
The Unicorn touched down on the water by Talon Beach. Izuku dragged the ship into a lagoon, then drew in his Black Whip, settling down on the sand. Law leapt the gunwale and landed with a splash, trudging forward.
"Shachi, Penguin, Bepo, guard the ship," he ordered.
"But Captain!" Shachi shouted.
"Yeah, we have to-" Penguin added, then hesitated as Law rounded on them.
"We don't know who is on this island or who's responsible. You need to protect our way out. The ashes and smoke aren't going downwind here, so you should be able to breathe."
He took a heavy sigh as he reached down and grabbed a pebble. He held out his hand, blue energy glowing.
"Room. Shambles." A white breath mask appeared in his hand, and he wrapped it around his mouth and nose. Yamato leapt the gunwale and landed beside him.
"We need to find who did this." Law hissed through his mask, eyes blazing.
"Sora! Stay with the ship." Izuku called out. The girl nodded, and Izuku floated over to Law and Yamato.
"I'm sure you have questions," Izuku said quietly; his voice just audible over the fires.
"Later," Law replied, eyes fixed on the inferno. Izuku nodded, then took off his yellow scarf and handed it to Yamato.
"Put this around your mouth," he urged. Yamato lifted her mask, tied the scarf around her mouth and nose, then pulled the mask back down. Izuku turned to Law, and extended his Black Whip, wrapping it around the older man to form a harness.
"What are you-?" demanded Law, as the Black Whip lifted him into the air. More black tendrils reached around Yamato, harnessing her in turn.
"We'll get to Tailfeather faster if we fly around the coast," insisted Izuku. "There's too much smoke, and I can't see a safe path to town."
Law nodded, and Izuku rose into the air. Yamato looked down as they flew, looking for some sign of life, of survivors. But all she could see was smoke and flames, and glowing cinders drifting on the wind.
Had it been like this in Wano, when her father and his pirates came? She remembered watching from the Flower Capital, seeing the pillars of smoke rising over the mountains; as the Beast Pirates put down all resistance, and set Oden's castle ablaze.
She gripped her club hard, her teeth almost grinding. This was inhuman.
They flew fast along the coast, and then Yamato saw it; the curve end of Tailfeather Bay. Izuku veered towards the beach, and touched down.
The town was a smoldering ruin, the air thick with cinders and ash. The trio rushed up the main street into the town square, but found only the same. The buildings were skeletons of blackened wood, with ash and debris piled up below. Beyond the town, the forest was still ablaze.
Yamato heard a strangled cry. She turned, and saw Law staring, horrified, at something on the ground.
It was a half-melted Sora action figure, lying face down in the dirt. And Yamato's heart sank, as she saw the Jolly Roger on its cape. And remembered Ray's words…
"I put your Jolly Roger on his cape! Sora wouldn't fight for those bad guy Marines. He'd fight for people like you Law!"
Yamato jumped, as Law let out a terrible scream.
"It… it happened again…" Law fell to his knees, picking up the action figure. "It happened again!" He slumped forward, pressing the ruined figure to his face, and sobbed; his tears hissing on the hot ashes.
For a few moments, Yamato felt nothing. Literally nothing.. It was all…too much.
Izuku perked up, and Yamato followed his line of sight.
She could see them, just across the town square, just visible through the smoke and cinders. Two figures, their bodies covered in heavy clothes of a sort she had never seen before, and what looked like some kind of tank on their backs. Heavy masks covered their faces, eyepieces glowing red in the firelight. They were carrying what looked like long-barrelled muskets, but with flames dancing at their muzzles; and connected by thick pipes to the tank-backpacks. Yamato stared at them as they crossed the square, wondering what on earth they could be.
Then came two more, carrying muskets. Their heads were covered by ash-stained cowls reaching down past their shoulders, also wearing masks to cover their lower faces. Black-red goggles covered their eyes, and matching headphones covered their ears. Under the cowls were close-fitting black bodysuits, with numbers emblazoned on them in orange.
66.
"The Germa 66!" Yamato hissed. Law leapt to his feat, eyes alight with rage.
"Wait, Law!" she cried, but Law paid no heed. He ran at the four, ripping his sword from its scabbard, screaming like a man possessed.
"Room!" His hands glowed blue, as the four raised their weapons. "Shambles!"
Then the weapons were gone; replaced with blackened sticks. The four troopers hesitated, bewildered; and then Law was upon them. He slashed, cutting one of the heavy-suited troopers in half. The other tried to back away, but his thick suit would not let him move, and Law cut him down. The two behind reached under their long white gloves, and pulled out gleaming knives. Yamato opened her mouth to cry a warning; but a green blur slammed into the pair, sending them flying.
More troopers appeared, swarming in from the darkness and the flames. They spread out into the square, muskets at the ready. One of them hung back, gesticulating with a pistol, his other hand clamped over one of his earphones.
Yamato's blood began to boil. So these were the troopers of the Germa 66; the dreaded private army of the Vinsmoke family. These were the ones who had burned this island to ashes; just as men like them had done the same to Brew Island.
Unforgivable.
That hollow feeling inside her vanished.
And something else took its place.
Yamato snarled, and gripping her club, she charged. Her Haki erupted, covering Takeru in gleaming black. She slammed into them, sending men flying with every swing. Her Observation Haki tingled, warning her as troopers raised their weapons. Bullets flashed past, tearing at her clothes and bouncing off Takeru; but none could lay a hit before she was upon them, smashing them down.
A dark blur flashed past. It was Izuku, piling into another group of troopers trying to come at them from behind. Then she saw Law, leaping at the troopers further back; around the one with the pistol; probably an officer. His blade flashed, and troopers fell; limbs flying away and blood spurting.
"Back up! We need back up! Hos-Ack!'' The officer's cry for help became a wet gurgle, as Law's nodachi punched through his chest.
"En! Anna!" Law barked. "Room!" The blue dome expanded to surround them as he charged again, swords flashing, heads falling.
A bang tore at her ears, and the heat of an explosion slammed into her, almost knocking her over. Her head snapped round to the harbor, and her heart clenched to see a vast, dark shape moving slowly into Tailfeather Bay. It was a snail cruiser, very much alive this time, and its cannons were firing.
"I'll handle them!" Izuku yelled, and flew towards the cruiser. All around, more troopers were emerging from the wreckage, around and through the skeletal ruins.
Yamato roared, and swung her club; sending a trooper flying. She swung again, and again, spun and swung, smashing black-clad bodies with every blow; memories flying past her mind's eye.
Eating heartily and happily at the Mess Nest, now a burnt ruin.
Twirling with the kids on her arms in a square, now covered in ash and cinders.
The smiles of the people, grateful, welcoming kind; all gone forever.
"Why!?" shrieked Law, voicing her own thoughts. "Why did you do it!?" He flung himself at the troopers, even as the blue light swapped their weapons. The troopers came on regardless, drawing knives or swinging the useless debris he had given them. Their faces could not be read under their masks, their deaths were silent.
Yamato's anger boiled. She snarled, and swung her club; a gust of wind tearing burned trees from their roots, hurling the troopers back.
"Why! You killed children! CHILDREN!" howled Law, as he swung and slashed and stabbed; heads falling from shoulders. He managed to grab one, and slammed it against a tree while its body stumbled away, ripping off the oxygen mask.
"Tell me!" he roared, as the head coughed and spluttered.
"Unable to fight…" it groaned, through bruised and swollen lips. "Initiate…security protocols."
Another explosion, and Yamato swung round. The snail cruiser was listing, smoke rising from its tower. Flashes of light erupted from its windows within the castle near the shell, and she could just hear the sounds of battle within.
Izuku…
Then she froze, as Law dropped the head; backing away from it as if it were about to explode. Yamato watched, stunned, as foam bubbled from its mouth; first white, and then red.
She spun round, and saw another trooper slumped against a shattered wall, twitching and shivering like a freshly-caught fish. Yamato stepped over, and tore away his cowl; revealing the face of a man, with a square jaw and close-cut hair; mouth foaming, eyes rolled back.
Then her stomach roiled, as the previously pale skin turned red; bubbling and warping before her eyes, as if it was melting in a fire. She staggered away, but everywhere she looked was the same. Germa troopers, falling to their knees and slumping to the ground; their severed heads twitching and foaming.
She wanted to be sick. It was horrid. It made no sense. They would rather die than surrender, and die like this!
"No… No! You don't fucking die on me you bastards!" Law roared, slashing and hacking at their bodies. "I decide how you die! The weak don't get to choose! I DO!"
"Law!" she yelled, and Law turned on her, snarling, teeth bared.
And then another explosion; another hot wind buffeting them. The snail's eyes widened, as the tower on its back exploded into a fireball. A black blur shot out, landing in the town square with a figure in its arms. Izuku laid the man down, one gloved hand stuck his mouth.
"They were killing themselves!" Izuku yelled, as Yamato and Law ran to him.
"Yeah, we saw," growled Law, glaring down at the struggling trooper. His uniform was different; their commander maybe?
"Why!?" demanded Izuku, eyes wide with frantic anger. "Why are you doing this!? Who sent you!?"
The officer struggled, and kicked, then let out a strangled cry as Law stabbed him in the leg.
"Answer him!" Law growled, as the officer's goggle-covered eyes turned his way. "Who sent you!?"
The officer turned his head away, looking towards Yamato. Yamato bristled, hefting her club. Did he think he would get any different from her?
Except…he wasn't looking at her. But past her. Her heart jumped, and her Observation Haki screamed inside her head.
And the officer's head snapped back, blood spitting from its brow.
"No!" Law roared. Yamato turned, and saw a half-dozen more troopers standing at the edge of the square; one of them with a smoking musket at its shoulder.
They had shot their own leader!
Yamato roared, her horns burning hot, and charged at the troopers. One of them, wearing those heavy clothes from before, leveled his flame-musket at her. Yamato leapt, and a stream of flame billowed through the air below. She came down hard, crushing the flame-shooter under her feet, and smashing down another with her club.
Her mind was a blank; her heart knew only fury. These monsters had killed people; men, women, and children! And even their own comrades!
A flicker of movement caught her eye. One last trooper, lying broken on the ground, was trying to bring up his musket. For just an instant, she saw a gleam in his black goggles; a reflection of sapphire blue.
Then her foot came down, smashing his face into the ground.
(X)
Law breathed hard as En helped him rise to his feet.
The battle was over. The Germa troopers were all dead; whether by him or their own hands. He looked out towards the harbor, and saw the flaming wreck of the snail cruiser; the creature's eyes half-lidded as it slid beneath the waves.
"What happened over there?" he asked, turning to En. The younger man sat on his haunches, breathing hard through his mask.
"I knocked out the weapons, then tried to take the crew alive," replied En. "But they …" he shook his head, " they just started frothing, like them." He gestured around the dead troopers; to the ones with the red, ruined faces. "I made it to the command center, but one of them hit the self-destruct. It was all I could do to grab the commander and get out of there."
Law gritted his teeth as his gaze drifted over the ashen ruin that had once been a vibrant, happy town. Even with all his memories, he could barely make out which building had stood where. The Mess Nest was a heap of burnt debris, the town hall much the same. Even his clinic was gone, burned to the ground.
"Poison tooth capsule," he explained. "One of the big molars in the back. Classic."
"I've never seen anything like it before," En went on. "To die, like that, rather than be taken alive. It's…it's insane."
Law watched him, trying to read those hurt, angry eyes. En seemed so shocked, so hurt by it all. And yet, something didn't smell right; even through the burning.
"There could be more of them out there." He pointed to the tracks leading out of town. Even under the soot and ash, he could see many footprints.
"Possibly," agreed En, straightening up. "They'll have shelled the town first, then sent these guys in to mop up."
Law blinked.
"You faced them before?" he asked, suddenly suspicious.
"Not face to face like this," replied En, looking at him with soft, sad eyes. "But we've seen their work."
"I can't find any more," Anna called out, trotting up to them. She hesitated, as she saw the look on Law's face.
"Okay, and when were you going to mention this!?" he demanded. He knew he was being unreasonable, but he couldn't help himself. "When were you going to tell me you had Germa on your tail!?"
"We don't!" cried En, eyes suddenly fearful. "It's not like that!"
"And before, with those Marines, I saw the way you were!" Law went on, glaring hard at the boy. "Those Marines weren't just bad guys to you, they really pissed you off! And then all that secrecy, all that going on at Anna just because she forgot her mask! What's this all about, huh!? What the hell did you two do!?"
"Law, we didn't do anything," said Anna, sounding sad. "But you're right, we've been lying to you. And friends… shouldn't lie to each other."
"Anna!" yelled En, as Anna lifted off her mask and pulled away the scarf; revealing that well-formed face and amber eyes, sad and yet resolute.
"I don't want to lie to you any more, Law," she went on. "I trust you, and I want you to trust us too. Do you think you can?"
Law faltered, his rage fading as he took deep breaths. There was no evil in this woman, he was sure. She was eager to explore, glad to eat, drink, and be merry, and she'd been great with the kids. En had been secretive, standoffish, but he hadn't done anything but help.
Yet here he was, assuming that this was their fault. Blaming them because someone somewhere thought wiping out an entire village was somehow perfectly fine.
"That depends," he growled, looking out towards the dying snail. "Because right now, my trip to the Grand Line is on hold."
In his mind's eye he could see Corazon's mad, sad smile, just as the chest slammed shut; and before then, Doflamingo's mad, merciless grimace.
That old grudge could wait.
"I'm not going there…until I have Vinsmoke Judge's head on a fucking pike!"
It was always like this. Anything good he ever had, anything good he ever found, was taken from him; destroyed, burned, ground under foot. His family, his homeland, Corazon, and now Tailfeather too. No more.
Never again!
"
We can help, Anna said. "This is the first time we've faced Germa troops, but we've seen their work. We have the same grudge."
Law turned to face them. En's eyes were red with anger. Anna's eyes were sad, but there was hope there too. She wanted to save this bond they had, their friendship. She wanted them to be comrades, to fight together against Germa.
He wanted that too, he realized. But first…
"We're gonna have to level with each other over this," he said firmly. "But for now, I'll settle for your names. Your real names." He was going out on a limb, but it was a reasonable place to start.
"I am Yamato," Anna introduced herself. "And this is Izuku."
"Okay Yamato, Izuku." Law paused and took a breath. "We need to search the rest of the island, find any survivors."
"There aren't any," said Izuku darkly. "I would have sensed them."
"Sensed?" This was getting to be too much! "You can sense people now? And what the heck was with that black stuff you were shooting out earlier? And flying? No Devil Fruit I've ever heard of can do all that!"
"My power is neither of those things." Izuku turned, and strode into the middle of the square. "My power…isn't like anything in this world."
Law glanced at Yamato, who just looked awkward.
"I'm gonna put out the fires," said Izuku, looking up at the sky. He growled, gripped his fists, and then punched upward. Law gaped, grabbing his hat as a gale-force wind erupted from his fist, a pulse of compressed air flying into the sky like a cannonball. He watched, amazed, as Izuku punched again and again, his winds piercing the smoke, blasting it away; like God scooping up sand in a sandbox. Again and again he punched, until the smoke was gone, and black stormclouds took their place. The clouds rumbled, and rain began to fall; the fires hissing as they were doused.
Who was he? What was he?
"We can search the island, if you want," Izuku said, walking slowly towards them. "But I promise you, there's no one left alive. They killed everyone. That's their way."
The rain was falling now, and the fires were dying. Law stood where he was, the rain soaking his clothes, black water running in streams through the square, and down towards the harbor.
"But…why!?" he sobbed, anguish bursting out of him. "Why do this!? What did these people do to deserve it!?"
"Because Germa doesn't do slavery," Izuku replied, with a calm that sickened him. "These people…were in their way."
They had seen this, Law realized. Some other island had died this way, and they had seen it. He could see it in their eyes. He let out a sigh, removing his white mask.
"Alright. Let's head back to the Unicorn. Anything you have to say to me, you can say to my crew. And you two have a lot to say to me."
Izuku nodded, and sent out his black tendrils; wrapping them around Law and Yamato. They took off, flying through the rain, as the fires sputtered and died. Law looked down, a part of him still hoping that Izuku was wrong, that something, someone, was left.
There was nothing, and no one. His home was a burnt, dead husk.
Again.
(X)
"They're back!" Penguin called out.
Reiju perked up, and stepped out of the cabin. Shachi, Penguin, and Bepo were on the beach, muskets at the ready. At their insistence, she had stayed in the cabin, to be 'safe'.
Safe. She could have ripped the three of them apart with her bare hands without using her abilities. But they didn't need to know that.
She looked out over the island. A rainstorm had somehow appeared over the island, the rain coming down upon the inferno. How had that happened? There was nary a cloud in the sky when they landed.
Then she saw Izuku, coming in to land with Yamato and Law. Her eyes widened, as she saw that Yamato's mask was off.
"What happened? Is Tailfeather ok?" Shachi asked. Law had a forlorn look on his face, and Reiju's heart sank.
"They're gone. All of them," Law uttered. Shachi fell to his knees, Penguin seethed, and Bepo stood ramrod still.
"No survivors... Those goddamn Marines!" Shachi yelled, punching the sand as the rain fell.
"It wasn't the Marines," Law replied, eyes dark and hard. "It was the Germa 66."
Reiju felt her blood turn to ice.
"The Germa? What were they doing here?!" Penguin barked. "Why attack us?"
"Don't know, don't care." Law's eyes were in shadow, hidden by his cap. "What's done is done. Tailfeather Bay…is all gone."
Bepo covered his face with his paws, and Penguin let out a strangled cry.
'Father… how could you?'
She should not have been shocked. To Vinsmoke Judge, this was just another operation; a quick affair, over and done with. And yet…
These last few days, she had been a normal girl. She had gone shopping like a normal girl, cooked and eaten like a normal girl, had friends like a normal girl.
And then this had happened. And for no reason at all.
Unless they had somehow known.
"But…why would they come here?" asked Shachi. "Did the Marines rat us out to them?"
"No idea," replied Law. "But we have to get ready." He turned upon his crew, eyes ablaze. "We're going to find the Germa Kingdom, and we're going to destroy it! All of it!"
"We?" Penguin looked at him as if he had sprouted horns. "Law, look at us. We're just three dudes and a bear."
"Not just the Heart Pirates." Law gestured to Izuku and Yamato. "They're coming too." Yamato nodded, with grim resolution.
"You are?" Penguin looked them over dubiously. "Like, I get you can fly and all, but-"
"There was a Germa ship in the harbor, and the town was swarming with troopers," Izuku said. "We tried to capture one of them alive, but…" He paused, and shook his head. "They killed themselves."
"Good god." Shachi looked down at the sand. "It's like…they're not even human."
'Because they're aren't, they weren't made to choose.' Reiju thought darkly, remembering the first time she had seen the cloning tanks.
"Also…there's something we need to say," Izuku spoked up. He gave Yamato a sideways glance, and the taller girl looked away. He looked up at Reiju, and looked her in the eye. It made her shiver.
"En and Anna aren't our real names," he went on. "But before I say more, I want to ask if you recognize me."
"Recognize you?" asked Law, as Izuku pulled back his hood and removed his mask; revealing his fluffy green hair and freckled face. His eyes were sullen, but there was the touch of something else too. He was nervous.
"You really are a kid…" Law mused. Yamato sucked her lips and looked away again. The Heart Pirates just looked confused.
"So do you?" The green haired boy asked.
"Uh…no," admitted Law. "Not at all."
Izuku gaped. "How can that be? I was in the papers two months ago."
"Wait you were? What for?" Bepo asked.
"Yeah, we read the papers all the time and we don't recognize ya" Shachi added. Izuku cupped his chin.
"Weird… Maybe the Blue Seas and the Grand Line have different paper editions?" he mused.
"Probably. Papers only travel as fast as a News Coo can fly, and they can only fly so far," stated Yamato. "Maybe some news remains in certain seas unless it's major news?"
"For you to be in the papers, you must have had a bounty put on you," Law said, narrowing his eyes. Izuku took a deep breath, and nodded.
"I can explain later, when we're away from here," he replied. "The longer we stay, the sooner the Marines will return. And they'll blame you for this."
"You think the Marines would…!" spluttered Penguin, then caught himself and deflated. "Yeah, they absolutely would."
"So, you've got a bounty." Law ran his hand over his face. "Okay, that can wait. First, what's up between you and Germa? What did they do to make you wanna go after them?"
Reiju watched, her heart clenched, her blood cold. Izuku's face darkened, and so did Yamato's.
"It's not what they did to us," he replied. "It's what they do all the time. They wipe out entire islands and strip them of anything they can use or sell. Life means nothing to them. We're fighting to avenge those they've killed."
"Yes, " Yamato cut in. She pulled off her jacket, revealing muscular arms; one of which had a bandage around it. "For Brew Island, whose people Germa exterminated."
She pulled away the bandage, and the Heart Pirates' chins hit the floor as they saw the Jolly Roger tattooed on her flesh.
"In the name of one who loved those people," Yamato declared. "Our father, Edward Newgate, the Emperor Whitebeard."
Reiju felt the bottom fall out of her world.
"A few days ago, Germa attacked Brew Island and exterminated its people," Izuku added. "Pops went to their aid, and a son of his got there first. All he found was a snail cruiser, and Germa troopers mopping up. Like these here, they fought to the end; and killed themselves when they could fight no more. Yamato and I took up the mission to find Germa and destroy them once and for all."
Reiju almost fell down; her mind's eye racing with visions of Brew Island and its people, mere hours before their doom. Law's crewmates were stunned, while the black haired man looked at them, the ground for a moment, and then back to the duo.
"So Brew Island was under Whitebeard's protection?" Law asked dubiously. "First I've ever heard of it."
"Not formally," Izuku explained. "But the mayor was a good friend of his. He made his favorite grog."
A friend. The mayor had been Whitebeard's friend. Had been it a Vivre card then? Was that how he had known?
What had she begun?
"Sorry Sora." Reiju perked up as she heard her name, Izuku speaking up. "I said we weren't pirates, but…"
"We didn't mean to lie," said Yamato sadly as she rubbed her arm. "We were just trying to lie low. Not that I'm any good at it."
She felt bad about it? She felt remorse over a half-lie to protect themselves? Compared to what she had done?
"I-It's okay," she managed to say, the words catching in her throat. "I understand…I'm just…I'm just overwhelmed by it all."
Edwell, those children, everyone on the island. Crushed under her father's war machine.
All dead, because of her. Just like Brew. And many others.
Law took a deep breath. "Izuku, right?"
"Midoriya Izuku, yes." Izuku finished, as Law nodded.
"Alright, Midoriya… we'll set sail soon. Me and the Hearts we… need to give our respects. We'll set up a monument, and after that we'll go." He said, looking to the sand.
"Okay." Izuku nodded. "I'll fly us to the next island."
Law nodded, and stalked off; his Heart Pirates following after, heads hung low; Bepo struggling to fight back tears. Sora watched them go, and saw the way they looked at Izuku and Yamato. No longer were they familiar, friendly; but reverent, awestruck.
For their two new comrades were children of an Emperor of the Sea.
"I'm going… to tidy things up." Reiju said as she turned around, heading back to the cabin. Anything to take her mind off this. Anything rather than be near them.
"Yamato," she heard Izuku say, just as she stepped out of sight.
"Izuku…" The name came out as a whisper.
"What the hell were you thinking?" Izuku hissed, and Reiju winced. She's never heard him speak that harshly.
"I trust him! I trust Law and the others! Do you?" retorted Yamato.
"Since they didn't know of the price on my head, sure! But you could have just said 'hey we aren't with the Government' but no, you had to spill everything!"
Reiju sat down on the step, listening, unable to tear herself away.
"They're good people Izuku," Yamato explained, like a child trying to deal with a scolding parent. "Law he… he was in pain when he fought against the Germa. He wants to avenge his people, just like how we want to avenge the people of Brew Island." Reiju rubbed her eyes. "I trust him."
"And good people can make mistakes. All Might did. Oden did. Everyone in this world, myself and YOU included," Izuku bit back. "Which is why we have to be careful, and you just blew it up."
"So you want us to lie to our friends?"
"If it means keeping them safe? Yes."
"Safe?" snapped Yamato. "Was that why you lied to your friends? Your mother? Was that why you kept your secret with All Might from everyone?"
All Might?
"Look what it got-"
"That's different!" snarled Izuku, and Reiju gulped as she felt the anger coming from him. "You know that!"
"Yes! And I know we can trust them!"
"We could have another Breed!" Izuku snapped. "Another powerful Paramecia that will-"
"I know!" Yamato shrieked. "I know… I know I screwed up!" Her voice was shaky, wavering. "But Izuku I'm… I'm tired! I'm tired of lying to our friends! To people I care about! It feels bad! I feel bad lying to Sora!"
"And what happens if Sora talks about us to someone who tells someone else and it just keeps going? Huh? Because sooner or later it'll find its way to Kaido, and he'll come looking for us himself!"
KAIDO?!
Reiju almost fell down the steps. What did he and Yamato have to do with the King of Beasts?!
"I know that! Don't you think I know that!?" Yamato's voice was hoarse. "But walking around without a mask, or a false identity…I felt so happy, at peace. I felt alive. You did too, right?"
"Yes, yes I did!" Izuku's voice was hoarse too. "But we can't take that risk! We're a threat to anyone we get close to!"
"So we just keep on running!? Never trusting anyone!? I lived like that before, and all I got was broken bones and despair! It was the same for you in Japan against All for One, wasn't it!?"
Japan? Was that an island in the New World? All for One? Was that an organization?
Unable to contain herself, Reiju crept back up the steps, peering out of the cabin door, and over the gunwale. She could see Izuku and Yamato, facing off on the sand. Yamato stared down at Izuku, tears running from angry, hurt eyes as her shoulders were rising and falling. Izuku's head was lowered, his eyes cast in shadow ws his clenched fists shook as he too was taking deep shuddering breaths.
"It was the same," Izuku whispered, sounding like he was about to cry too. "I was so… alone. It almost…" He couldn't bring himself to finish his sentence.
Reiju listened, appalled and entranced. Who was he really? What nightmare was he speaking of?
"But you weren't alone then," insisted Yamato. "And you aren't alone now. You'll never be alone."
Izuku let out a sob, and Reiju's heart clenched as he flung himself into Yamato's arms. Yamato held him tight, his head under her bosom, shielding him from the rain, and the misery the world was piling on him.
"I'm sorry," he whimpered. "I believe in you, Yamato. And…I'm tired of hiding too. But…but we're taking a terrible risk, Yamato. I just…"
"I know. I know how you feel…" Yamato gulped again, and sniffed. "If I step out of line…scold me. A-and don't hold back. I can take it."
"I just…I can't take it any more. This mission…it's too much. And the Vestiges are screaming."
Reiju blinked. Vestiges?
"Vestiges," Yamato said, putting a gentle hand on Izuku's head. "Please stop shouting like that. You'll make Izuku's head split."
Reiju's mind was awhirl. What the hell did all this mean? Was Vegapunk concocting something, again? Was he with Whitebeard? Wasn't he supposed to be with the Government though? Or was he playing both sides?
"It's okay, they're quietening down," Izuku said, stepping away from her. "For now, we need a plan. A plan to destroy the Germa."
"Do you have one?"
"We cut off the head, the body dies," Izuku said, turning away, his voice suddenly cold. Reiju felt her stomach churn and clench. They were going after her father.
"I see…but what if he has lieutenants?" Yamato asked. "Like those in the comics?"
"If he has any…then they are complicit. And those who are complicit… whether or not they're Sparking Red or Poison Pink," Izuku muttered darkly as he looked off, his face shrouded in shadow save for his emerald fires.
"We'll put them down, like the monsters they are."
He moved off, heading up the beach towards what had once been the town. Yamato followed without a word, her shoulders slumped as one hand went to scratch her head.
…
Reiju stood up, and stepped across the deck, to the opposing gunwale. She looked towards the coast, and could see Law and his crew putting up a crude wooden cross. Izuku and Yamato were heading towards them.
The rain had reached them, pattering on the deck, shining brightly on the Heart Pirates as they raised their memorial to Swallow Island.
Reiju looked away, and pulled down her mask. She took a deep shuddering breath, and looked up at the sky.
What a fool she had been. She had briefly tasted a normal life, had normal friends. And now the Whitebeard Pirates were going to destroy Germa, eliminate the Vinsmoke family. Her father, her brothers, the troopers, the whole kingdom.
And her.
Reiju glanced down, watching the water ripple as the raindrops fell. Maybe it would be better this way. At least she would see her mother again, and maybe Sanji too. Maybe she would finally be free of this nightmare of a life.
She saw her reflection in the water, saw it wobble and ripple.
She didn't want to see her reflection.
She wanted to scream.
But, it was better this way.
Standing outside, where no one could tell if the tears were hers or the sky's.
Big thanks to Juubi-K , IKnowNothing , and WildJoker000
So yeah, everyone's a big sad. Izuku's being pushed to that line he crossed when he took Tomura's life. Yamato's feeling big sad and her issues are flaring up. Law is big sad and big mad. And Reiju, well... she may be the worst of them all. For that end of scene reference with the rain? Well, you know.
Been wanting to write this chapter for MONTHS. The next one will be tackled by Juubi-k, and the following one will be done by me(which I have also been itching to write for months)
The original draft in my head had me going full New Hope with the burnt Homestead, complete with Law, ya know, seeing burnt skeletons. But IKN told me that the kid-friendly Star Wars, that scene was dark as HELL given you know, the smell of burnt flesh will stick with you forever. He brought up how the Buster Call of Ohara didn't show the bodies yet we know it was an umitigated tragedy. And I drew upon another comparison instead that was very similar. Mulan. You know which one in particular.
As for the Germa Flame Troopers. Give thanks to Killzone and Jin Roh the Wolf Bridge for their deisgns inspiration, combined with their usual attire.
Now, regarding the Submarine... the OG draft had it basically being the Polar Tang in design. However, IKN smothered that in it's bed given that he LOATHED the design. Ships like that shouldn't see deep underwater, and windows couldn't withstand the pressure. So we went instead for a more simpler design for the Submarine, along with it being seastone coated since you can bet Du Feld has underwater scavengers(more or less Fishmen, since hey, easy money) looking to get Kong-class seastone hulls out and chipped so the coating can be applied here. I tried hard to push for the Polar Tang to come to life, but alas. Plus a Sonar Snail will likely have more in depth sonar than our world's sonar I bet. It's the same length as the Polar Tang, about 35-40 meters and can man a 10 man crew( a far cry from IRL crews which requires like, 50-70 people in German U-Boats back in the 1930s). So yeah, pretty small submarine and cost Judge an immense fortune to do it.
There's more down the road, and we are in a rocky storm in this arc now. Stick with us, we'll make it through and the sun will come.
Anyways, hope you all enjoyed this. I'll see ya in the next one.