One week ago.
The sun was shining; and the sky was clear. For Kozuki Sugiyaki, it was time to work on the crops.
Slowly, he rose from his bed, putting on his mask. He looked around, but there was no sign of Tama. She must have gotten up early to fetch water; a thought that saddened him. She was getting up earlier and earlier these days. It was getting to the point where he wondered if she even slept at all.
Sugiyaki stretched his arms and legs, his bones creaking, then headed outside. The shrine of the Okuchi no Makami had served them well as a hideout and home. No Beast Pirate patrols come through this neck of the forest. In fact, they had died down a lot over the past couple of weeks. Now they were only seen on the highways, and in the ports and major towns.
Come to think of it, the searches had stopped too. Things were getting back to…well, to normal.
He stepped down the makeshift steps, looking over the garden just below the tree. Quietly, he took up the hoe - the one he had exchanged from the village for a few potatoes - and got to work; carefully moving the soil so that the stems would get more sunlight. The open clearing made for plenty of sunlight, and the rains gave good clean water.
Loudly his stomach growled, yet he ignored it as he went about his business, barely even acknowledging it.
They hadn't eaten in three days. Though the Beast Pirates's rampages had halted, the damage left behind was still felt across Wano, even in their own isolated home.
Thankfully for both of them, in a few days more they would finally have something to eat. Potatoes like these took time, but when they came they came up well. There would be enough to last them many weeks, if all had gone well. They could survive a few more days, if they had water.
He sighed. Even water was starting to become an if. The rivers were getting worse and worse, save only for the ones around Paradise Farms to the north. Even the Beast Pirates weren't stupid enough to poison their own food supply.
The sound of footsteps drew him from his grim thoughts.
"Ah, good morning Tama." He tried to smile, then remembered he was wearing the mask.
Not that it mattered, for Tama did not smile back. She hadn't smiled much for as long as he'd known her, and she hadn't smiled at all since that fellow, Ace, had gone gallivanting off to Onigashima and never returned. And then, after that, came Deku's bounty poster.
"Morning," she muttered, trudging towards him with a pail of water. Sugiyaki's heart sank at the bags under her eyes. "We gotta boil this, right?"
"That we do, child." Sugiyaki patted her on the head. Tama did not react, but trudged over to the fireplace; where an empty pot stood. She poured the water into the pot, then set to work with a flint, trying to start the fire. She tried and tried, but no spark came; her face twisting in frustration.
"Here, allow me." Sugiyaki put down the hoe and knelt down beside her. Tama handed over the flint, her face sour with bitterness.
"Sorry."
"Don't be Tama." After a few flicks, the embers began to smolder. "You'll get stronger for it." He looked around for more firewood, and saw that the pile was getting low. "Can you go collect some twigs and brush perhaps?"
"Sure."
She stood up, and walked off without a word, practically a shell of the once jubilant and excitable child from before.
Sugiyaki watched her go, his heart heavy, frustration gnawing at his soul. Even though he could shelter her, protect her, sometimes even feed her, he could not lift her heart, or give her hope.
Not the way things were, these days.
(X)
Twigs. Leaves. Wood. Anything that would burn in their fire; to keep them warm, boil their water, and cook their food.
Tama strode along the dirt path, looking around for something to burn. She saw some brush and shrubbery, but they were too green. They wouldn't burn.
Then she froze, as she saw movement in the corner of her eye. She turned, very slowly, and saw a rabbit in a bush, nibbling at some grass.
That little creature could eat, while she hadn't eaten in days. Before that it had been the same. Herbs and mushrooms from the forest, a few potatoes and vegetables for a stew.
Each day, everyday, for so long she couldn't even remember, and even that was becoming scarce.
There had been no rice for many months. Even mushrooms were getting hard to come by. Mr Tengu tried to barter down in the village, but everyone was keeping what they had for themselves. True, the rampage had stopped and Kaido's pirates had been rather docile, but Orochi's men were still collecting taxes; and if the villagers had no coin to pay, they had to pay with food.
All that meant there was nothing for her. Nothing savory. Nothing sweet. Not much of anything, really. Just a growling stomach, every morning.
And now…in this moment, Tama was desperate for anything.
She bent down, her calloused fingers closing around a rock. If she could hit that critter, stun it, she could bring it back to Mr Tengu. They would have meat to eat, for once.
Tama narrowed her eyes as she drew back her arm. She used to like rabbits; they were so cute. But now she needed meat; and the skin might make a nice fur. Slowly, she reeled back and, with a flick, she let her arm loose.
"Hahahaha! Bunny!"
The rabbit bolted away and the rock thudded into a nearby tree. Tama spun round, snarling with rage at the idiot who had made a noise.
It was a young girl. Her hair was bright pink, and she wore a messy red kimono, almost as bad as her own. On her face was a big wide smile. Far too big, and far too wide.
"Hahahaha! Hi there!" the girl greeted her cheerfully.
"That..was…my…breakfast," Tama growled, as her temper frayed and snapped. She reached down, grabbed another rock.
"Hehe, you'd eat a cute bunny like that? Why? They're cute! Hahahaha!"
Tama hurled the rock. The girl ducked, and it flew over her head.
"H-Hey! What's the big idea Hahahaha!?"
"THAT WAS MY BREAKFAST!" Tama shrieked, and threw another rock. The young girl scrambled away, and began to run.
"Hahahahah! You're scaring me!" The pink-haired girl turned and tried to run. But her foot caught in a tree root, and she fell down. "Hahahahaowww! Help me Daddy! Help!"
"Hahahahaha! Daddddyyyy!" wailed the girl, as she tried to pull herself away. She was shaking, weeping, terrified; but still she was smiling that bizarre, unnatural smile, and laughing that sickening, infuriating laugh.
"SHUT UP! JUST SHUT UP!" Tama threw another rock, and the girl cried out as she scored a hit. She threw another one, and another, and another, scoring hit after hit. The girl shuddered, and began to cough, harder and harder.
Something barrelled into her, knocking her to the ground. Tama struggled angrily, kicking herself free and leapt to her feet, ignoring the pain as she snarled at her attacker.
It was a short man, shorter even than she was; with a big afro of blue hair and a face worn with age. Tama let out a yell, and grabbed for another rock. She threw it, and the man raised his arm, the rock bouncing off. Tama threw another, and he blocked it just the same.
"Stop it!" he ordered. "Stop it right now!" He blocked another rock, and his sleeve fell away, revealing a thin, scarred arm. Sadly, Tama didn't care, too blinded by anger and hunger as she snarled and spat, scrabbling around for more rocks. She just wanted to…
"Tama! Tama! Enough!" Strong arms clamped around her waist and held her tight. Tama scratched at her attacker's face, and a red mask with a long nose came away, clattering on the forest floor.
It was Mr Tengu's mask. She had hurt Mr Tengu!
And then her rage was gone, yet her eyes couldn't produce any tears even as overcome with grief as she was. Her body was too weak, too tired and too hungry.
"It's all right." Mr Tengu held her tight, as he had always done. "It's all right. You're safe."
Then she heard a gasp. Tama looked, and saw the blue-haired man staring at Mr Tengu; mouth agape, eyes aghast, as if he had seen a ghost. Tama looked down at the mask, and then up at Mr Tengu's face. His real face.
It wasn't a Tengu's face. It wasn't red, and it didn't have a long nose. It was a human face, an old man's face, with a short white beard. It was worn and tired, like the elders down in the village.
"Lord…Sugiyaki?" gasped the man. Mr Tengu flinched, as if someone had hit him. "You're alive!?"
However, getting over his shock, Mr. Tengu's expression shifted as a look of recognition appeared at the voice and finally seeing the man, made his shock grow.
"Lord Yasuie?" Mr Tengus' eyes widened. "Is that you?"
"Lord Sugiyaki!" The man fell to his knees, and slammed his face into the mud. "You're alive! Thank the gods!"
Mr Tengu took a deep breath. His eyes were full of sorrow as he looked down at the prostrate man.
"I suppose there's no point in lying…it's good to see you again, old friend," he said, in a very sad and weary voice, even as he bore a small pained smile. "Lord Yasuie… I have a feeling that we have much to discuss."
"Yes… We do, my lord." Yasuie looked up, his eye full of awe and hope. And then they settled on Tama. "Who is this child? Is she yours?"
"No, but she is my own, nevertheless," Sugiyaki replied. "Come, we can talk at my home."
"Hahahaha! Daddy, do you know this guy?" the pinkette asked, having apparently recovered from her coughing fit. Tama glared at her. That laugh was annoying.
"I do, Toko," Yasuie replied with a frown, taking her hand. "My lord, this is my daughter Toko, whom I cherish as you cherish her."
Sugiyaki smiled briefly at the young girl, though it shifted to a frown at the sight of Tama's anger. Yet he put that aside for the moment.
"We can catch up once we are safe. Follow me, old friend." Sugiyaki grabbed his mask, and they began their walk back to the shrine.
"Tama…" He asked, gently. "What happened?"
"She took away our breakfast," Tama grumbled. "Found a rabbit. She scared it off." She glared back at Toko, who was smiling again.
She hated it.
"Hate her."
"Tama." Sugiyaki said sternly. "Calm yourself. We will talk about this later. For now, you need rest."
"But what about the firewood?" she asked. Sugiyaki looked ahead, before he sighed .
"Old friend, may I ask you a favor?" he asked, looking back. "When we settle down, can you find us some firewood please?"
"You need only ask, my Lord Shogun." Yasuie smiled weakly. "Toko, want to go look for firewood together? We're going to get all nice and warm."
"Hahahaha! Okay!"
"Sho…gun?" Tama asked, looking up at the man who had protected her for these last two years. Sugiyaki sighed, and his shoulders lumped. He looked so very old.
"I suppose I… have much to tell even you, Tama."
Tama looked back again. Toko was walking beside her father, her hand in his, favoring one ankle, and still smiling that stupid smile.
She sighed, and tried to ignore her growling stomach.
(X)
The sun was high over the Udon Prison Mine.
The mine rang with the sound of iron on stone, and the grunts and groans of men as they labored in craters and holes. The hundreds of holes left by Kaido's disciplining of Queen were gone, chipped away in search of iron ore; and anything else that the foundries could turn into something useful.
In the Prison Mine, nothing was wasted. Nothing but human sweat, blood, and life.
Ace swung his pick, the spike piercing the rock below him. He swung again, and again, the rock shattering into smaller pieces with every blow; until the ore inside was revealed, and he could toss it into the waiting cart.
He could feel the hot sun on his bare back and legs; where his hat and shorts could not cover. Far worse was the weight of the Seastone collar around his neck. It was the only reason he hadn't tried to run and why the heat of sun was bothering him.
That, and one other thing.
He glanced to one side, and saw Hyogoro hard at work. Ace watched, as the small old man raised his pickaxe high, and brought it down hard; the rock below him cracking right through before the impact. A feat that would've seemed impossible for such a small and frail individual, but Ace knew the truth behind it.
Haki. What Hyogoro called Ryou.
Having explored the Grand Line for some time Ace had heard tale of the mysterious power known as Haki, supposedly the ability to channel one's willpower into a tangible force. For a while he'd simply assumed it was another baseless legend or myth common among sailors, thus he paid it no mind.
Now however….
Briefly he brushed against the large scar on his chest courtesy of King. Ace took a breath, and focussed on the next rock. He did as Hyogoro taught him, focussing his will into the pickaxe as he raised it high, and swung it down.
The pick struck, and the rock cracked like before. Still no Haki. Ace sighed. This was harder than he'd thought.
"You're doing well Ace. Just remember to focus," Hyogoro muttered. "Will it. Let your Haki flow from your body to your pickaxe, and let it gather at the tip."
He brought his own tool down, with a fraction of the power the former pirate captain had used. Again the rock cracked apart.
He nodded, and closed his eyes. Will, want, desire. The essence of Haki.
However, Ace's will was briefly drowned out by the vision of his friends, in that dark chamber below Onigashima; mutilated, but still alive. He saw those slaves they had rescued, saw the desperate hope in their eyes; a hope that, minutes later, would be snatched away.
And once again, a burning desire arose within him and hardened his resolve.
He was getting out of there! He was going to save them! And kick Kaido, King, and Queen's asses!
With a yell, Ace brought the pick down. The pick struck and drove in; the rock cracked, and fell apart.
But no Haki.
Ace scoffed in frustration, grabbed at the exposed ore and threw it into the cart; so hard it clanged off the side.
"Keep your head up, you'll get it," offered the old man, without looking up. Ace scowled at the rocks; rocks upon rocks upon rocks.
Two months he'd been at this. Two months of slaving away in the hot sun, ignoring his parched mouth and his growling belly, try to master this power. It had been the one hope for him to cling to, his one chance of getting out of this place and rescuing his friends!
And, perhaps on some level, he felt he'd earned this harsh treatment. Skull had warned him, pleaded with him to leave, that Kaido was too powerful for them to challenge..and yet he'd ignored those warnings.
Ace's grip on the pickaxe tightened as Skull's words still echoed in his ear.
"I hope you're right Captain…for all our sakes."
Loudly, the bell rang, and Ace looked up; as did the others.
"Hey look, that's the dude with the burn scar right?"
Ace glanced to his right, and saw two Beast Pirate overseers walking past, whips in hand. One was bearded and hairy, the other skinny and bald.
"Yeah, same dumbass that tried to raid Onigashima," scoffed the bald one. "Got his ship wrecked and his crew taken. Lord Queen's been workin' on them, so I hear."
A round of chuckles sounded, them all aware of exactly what that meant.
"Served him right. You'd think Lord Kaido would've had his head on a pike or somethin for a stunt like that," mused Hairy.
"Nah, he's saving that honor for Deku." Baldy smirked his way. "Someone as dense as this loser doesn't deserve to be an Emperor's trophy. Least Deku had the good sense to turn tail and run."
Ace growled, clenching his fists.
"Acetaro… ignore them." Hyogoro whispered, his small weathered hand atop Ace's clenched left fist.
"Makes ya wonder who taught him common sense and manners, huh?" quipped Baldy, pulling a wineskin from his belt. "Not much of either in that guy; gettin' wiped out like that. Heh, his mama must be frowning, down wherever she is." He took a swig from the wineskin.
Ace moved without a thought.
"PLGWAAAAAAHGLGLGLGGL~!"
His fist met Baldy's face, slamming through the wineskin and bursting it, shoving the bottleneck into his teeth. Baldy flew backward, right into the nearest wall and cratering it. Hairy gawked in stunned disbelief.
"You little shit!" Hairy drew back his whip, but Ace lashed out with his feet; catching him in the stomach. Hairy coughed and doubled over, and Ace grabbed his beard, pulling him down onto his rising knee. The fat pirate keeled over backwards, and Ace sent him flying through crates and boxes with a twirling backhand, face set in an enraged snarl.
"Acetaro!" Hyogoro cried out, as more Beast Pirates came running, drawing their weapons. Ace rolled his neck, in spite of the collar, and marched towards them. No point in holding back now. He was getting tired of venting his frustration on rocks.
"Gah!" he spluttered, as something heavy fell over him, knocking him to the ground. He tried to rise, but his strength had disappeared. Struggling to look up, he saw that it was some kind of net; a seastone net, no doubt.
The pirates formed a circle around him, cracking their whips and hefting their clubs. Ace tried to rise again, but a boot in his side sent him sprawling. He tried again, but another kick threw him down again. Another boot slammed into his back, and another, and another. Ace gritted his teeth, forcing himself not to flinch, to curl up and take it.
"Hey hey hey what's going on here!? Got us an upstart do we!?"
It was the last voice in all the world he wanted to hear. His blood boiled as the mob backed away, and a shadow fell over him.
"Lord Queen! He jumped Harris and Chauncey!" protested one of the overseers.
Queen lumbered to a halt in front of him. He was up and about, but his massive body still bore bandages and bruises; reminders of the punishment Kaido had given him. Looking down, he took a long drag on his cigar.
"Well now, we can't have that. Can we." His new mechanical hand reached down, and Ace cried out as it clamped around his head and lifted him into the air; the heavy net still weighing him down.
"Ya know, Fire Fist." Queen blew smoke at him, and the guards laughed as he coughed and spluttered. "If you were any other guy, like these losers here? I'd have your head blown off and feed your bits to the fishes. But…" He leant in, and Ace could smell tobacco and sweat. "Lord Kaido wants ya alive, so I'm gonna keep it that way. Happy boss, happy life."
"Yeah, you learned that hard way, didn't ya," sneered Ace, eyeing the pirate's bandages. He spat out a bloodied lob, and saw it land in one of Queen's many neck-folds. The monstrosity's eyebrow twitched, and his fat face twisted into a snarl. Ace stifled a scream as the metal fingers tightened their grip.
Then the snarl was gone, replaced with a dark, demented grin.
"Well, guess you need to be taught a lesson too. "
Ace felt his body fly, and he hit the ground with a thud. He looked around, and saw that he was on an elevated platform, a short way from the ore faces. Angrily, he glared, as he saw Queen waddling towards him.
"Why don't we make this a lil interesting!" Queen grinned, cracking the knuckles on his human hand. "With a little Sumo Match!"
"YEAAAAAAAH!" The Beast Pirates all cheered and roared. "LORD QUEEN! LORD QUEEN! LORD QUEEN!"
Queen stepped up onto the platform, as Beast Pirates gathered around.
"Here's a little offer for ya Ace! The Beast Pirates here respect strength and power over all. So here's a once in a lifetime offer!" He grinned, posing and arching his back. "You beat me in Sumo, I'll let ya go! But if ya lose…" He twirled around his short legs, pointing at him. "Well you ain't gonna eat for a whole-ass week!"
Ace glared defiantly as he clambered to his feet, brushing dust off himself. "So a Sumo match is just a fight in this ring?"
"You betcha! Anything goes in the Queen Sumo League brother!" Queen chortled. "All ya gotta do is make me admit defeat, or push me out of the ring! You only lose if you can't continue no more. You can keep getting back up as much as ya want even if ya get knocked out of the ring! And, I promise not to use any weapons. How bout them apples ey?"
"Looking down on me are you." Ace snarled. "You don't look as tough as King! And Kaido tossed you around like ragdoll!"
"Tch." Queen scoffed in anger. "Oh yeah, sure, compare me to that masked pervert all ya want. Throw insults at my big, beautiful, battle-ready bod all ya want." He breathed out a cloud of smoke, and took up position on his side of the ring and he grinned a dark smile..
"It ain't gonna bring your little friends back."
Ace leapt at Queen, roaring like a man possessed.
"Hey, I didn't even call it!" cried the referee; but Queen dismissed him with a wave of his hand. Ace flew at him, thrusting his fist into Queen's fat chin.
Nothing happened. Queen didn't even flinch.
"Heh," Queen scoffed. Ace's body became pain, as a lightning fast palm strike caught him in the side, smashing him to the ground. He skidded across the ring like a stone on a pond, then thrust out a foot, bouncing himself into the air and landing on his feet.
"Come on Fire Fist!" taunted Queen, patting his wide gut. "Show me that moxie when you almost got trucked by that Marine turncoat! No, sorry, make that, that half-dead near-comatose no-good snitching turncoat!"
Furious, Ace ran at him and leapt up, striking his stomach. Once again, Queen did not budge.
"Aaaaaaand~" Queen leaned back. "Skadoosh!" He snapped forward, thrusting out his gut. Ace was flung back, but this time he landed on his feet, dust billowing as he skidded to a halt. He looked around, and grabbed an empty mine cart.
"H-Hey! You can't use weapons here!" protested the referee.
"It's alright!" Queen flapped his hand again. "Like I said, in the Queen Sumo League, everything goes!"
Ace threw the cart, and charged at him again. Queen batted the cart aside, and Ace leapt in behind it, lashing out with a kick.
But Queen was gone, right before his eyes.
"Six o'clock!"
Queen's open palm struck him in the back, knocking him to the ground so hard that he cracked it. Ace forced himself to his feet, glaring daggers as Queen snapped his fingers and gyrated his hips.
"Come onnnn my guy! I'm telegraphing my attacks loud and proudly for ya. Do your best, do your beeeest~!"
"SHUT UP!" Ace roared, charging at his stubby legs. But Queen skipped, dancing on his tiptoes.
"Super Queeeeeen~!" He twirled like a top, or a ballerina as he sped faster than Ace had ever seen.
"KICK!" His leg caught Ace in the side, sending him crashing into a pile of boulders. Pain erupted all over Ace as he busted through dust and debris and rolled out the other end.
"Buahahahahah! Come on buddy! You can do better than that riiiiight~?" he sneered, before he had a sudden idea. "You know what this needs? Hey DJ!" He pointed up to the watchtower. "PLAY MY MUSIC!"
Almost immediately, music blared from the tower's loudspeakers, and Queen tapped his feet. The Beast Pirates roared and laughed, cheering their leader on.
Ace dragged himself from among the shattered boulders and stood up; too angry to feel pain even as blood dripped down his arms, chest and eyes. Queen was mocking him!
DAMN HIM!
"Acetaro!" Hyogoro called out. "Just apologize and stand down! Please stop! You can't win."
Ace ignored him, striding towards the ring as Queen began to dance.
"Zoom zoom zoom zoom zoom zoom zoom zoom~" He laughed. "Not gonna lose no weight. Just more to appreciate〜 ~"
Ace charged, throwing a punch; but the house-sized man dodged him.
"I got enough fans attracted to my FUNK!" Queen swung out one hip, hitting Ace as he passed and knocking him away. Ace landed, grabbed a pickaxe, and charged again; blood boiling, mind lost to rage.
"I look round as a ball, but all of this is muscle, y'all!〜 !" Queen roared, twirling with a grace he should not have possessed, muscles rippling under his fat.
"These bomb-ass moves of mine are powered by my-!" He threw out his arm in a lariat, catching Ace in the face and smashing him straight down.
"FUUUUUUNK!" The Beast Pirates cheered, thrusting their arms in the air.
"Booooooowchika bow-wow~!" Queen flexed, arching his neck back and pointing two fingers down at Ace as he posed. Ace groaned, as he forced his aching, hungry, hurt body back to its feet.
"Ahhhhh yeaaaah! That brightened my mood! Yo, Fire Fist!" Queen smirked. "This can always stop ya know. I mean, all of this wouldn't be happenin' if ya just joined our team. Be nice to have an Ace to complete the deck. Just bend the knee, and all's good in the hood, ya dig?"
"Fuck you…" Ace spat, blood flying from his mouth.
"Come on dude! We could have been the talk of the town! You and me, ripping it up like a bunch of menchs! But hey, I mean, we did give ya ample time with Kaido's offer. Why do you gotta resist like this? "
"Go… to hell… what you did to my friends… I WILL NEVER FORGIVE YOU!" Ace roared, as the visions that had haunted his nightmares flashed across his mind's eye. His ship snapped in half and burning from bow to stern. His crewmates, after what Queen had done to them. The flames…
"When I kick your ass!" he snarled, "and then Kaido's…I will save them! AND THIS COUNTRY!"
With reckless abandon, he charged on aching legs, one bloodied fist reared back. He wanted to defeat that thing! He wanted to kick his fat ass, and help Hyogoro and the others get out of this place! He had to find his crew, and get them out of here! Get them cured! He leapt…
"Oh, your crew?" asked Queen, pulling out a fresh cigar. "Nah bro, they're dead."
Ace froze in mid-leap, and Queen side-stepped his punch, letting him land with a stagger.
"What?"
"Yeah…the whole Marys thing, it…didn't quite work out," Queen said, as if commenting on the weather as he lit it up from a lighter from his mechanical hand. "I…I took a little more out of them than maybe I oughtta, like that chunk of the brain that covers self-preservation. Oh sure, they were fine as walking cameras, but they still had needs, ya know? Needs they didn't know how to handle any more."
He lit the cigar and took a long drag.
"Most of em just dropped dead of hunger." He shrugged. "Some kept walking till they realized that gravity can be a bitch like that, others just stood there, and we kinda forgot, ended up getting hit by a cart. Kinda embarrassing for a man of my professional reputation, but you live and learn, right? Wonders of science, trial and error!"
They were dead.
Queen slowly got on one knee and got straight into Ace's face with the most cruel smirk he could muster as he whispered loudly.
"But hey, they weren't the ones that got the offer, were they?"
Silence fell across the mine…at least in Ace's mind as the various Beast Pirates were laughing like hyenas, yet all Ace could focus on was what Queen had said.
"You're lying." Ace's legs gave way, and he fell to his knees.
"Naaaah bro," Queen leered. "I meant it when I said we could have been a fine team. Why? Because I'm the most honest and realest motherfucker ya ever met." He pointed at him. "I never once told ya a lie." He squatted down beside Ace. "And you know what else my dude? If you'd only put on the horns, donned the cape, they'd be alive."
He patted Ace on the back casually, looking up at the clouds. Ace did not move. He could not move. His whole body was cold, his stomach roiling, his heart as heavy as lead.
"Hell, fresh and healed ya maybe you could have beaten that shitstain Malice. Maybe." Queen went on, blowing smoke at him. "It's a shame. You and me? We could've been besties. Heck you could've even been Kaido's right-hand man someday, a true legend among pirates." He smirked. "Buuuut ya just had to be stubborn as a mule. Kaido was awfully generous with ya, even after losing his daughter to that lil rat Deku."
They were dead. They were all gone. Deuce, Banshee, Aggie, Mihar, everyone.
And even Sabo was gone…
"Well, guess I can see what can be on their tombstone now." Queen put an arm around his shoulder, and spread his other hand, as if to describe some magnificent sight. "Here lies the Spade Pirates; Fucked around, and found out."
He let go, and straightened up. He let out a sigh.
"It'd be funny if it weren't so pathetic…" He murmured, before he let out a snort.
"Ah what the hell I'll laugh anyway. BUUUUUUUAHAHAAHAHAHAHAHA!" Queen immediately let out a massive belly laugh, which caused the many pirates around him to laugh as well, echoing throughout the prison mine so loudly it was almost maddening. The slaves all around gasped and stared in horror and despair.
…
"I'll kill you." Ace whispered.
"Hmmm? What was that?" Queen sneered; putting a hand to his ear. "Say that louder?"
"I'll…kill…you."
Never in all his life had he felt like this. Never had he truly hated someone, wanted to kill someone, like this.
"Share for the class pleaaaase~!" He leered, leaning in.
Ace roared, and something changed. He felt it rising, erupting within him. Not like his flames, but something else, something familiar. He leapt up, and swung his fist at Queen, hitting him right in the ear.
His fist was black.
"OWWWW!" Queen reeled back from the blow, clutching his ear. All around, his audience lay prone on the ground, drooling and frothing. Ace leapt at him again, both arms covered in the gleaming black; his heart raging anew.
"YOU LITTLE FUCK !" Queen barked, headbutting him into the ground.
Ace scrambled up, then stared as Queen's body began to change. It bulged, growing larger and larger, the skin turning orange. Ace gaped in horror and fascination as Queen's face became a long, fanged snout; a long tail bursting from his rear, his arms bloating into forelegs. His stomach churned as the transformation finished. Queen was no longer a fat man, but an enormous, orange-scaled dinosaur.
Ace screamed, as the rage overwhelmed him. He charged, hurling himself at the terrifying beast, ignoring Hyogoro's cries. He lashed out with his fist, willing his flames to rise. But they wouldn't respond; for the seastone collar was suppressing them. His fist struck the orange scales, and the recoil flung him back; his whole arm erupting in pain.
"Kaido told me to keep ya alive!" Queen bellowed. "But here's the fun thing about the term 'alive'! You'd be surprised what you can live through!"
Ace grabbed another pickaxe and charged again, screaming like a madman; his newborn Haki covering the blade. He had no thought, no wish, but to stake this monster's heart; to end this abomination!
He swung, but the ship-sized dinosaur leapt high into the air.
"Now take this! BRACCHIOQUEEEEEEN~!"
Ace stared up, as the ship-sized monster fell on him like a meteorite.
"ACETARO!" Hyogoro cried.
"BOMBAAAA!"
And there was pain.
And there was darkness.
(X)
Queen rose from his body slam, walking on all fours to inspect his crater. Dead center, was an unconscious and bloodied Portgas D. Ace, eyes rolled over and mouth agape, several broken bones visible from the discoloration of his skin, especially the arm he'd foolishly punched with. Queen scoffed, inhaling his nicotine.
All around, those slaves still-conscious whimpered and sobbed in terror and despair. They had thought, for just a moment, that they might yet be free. What a joke. The Queen Sumo League had rules and a script. One that would never favor losers.
"Ya should have bowed your head, ya upstart punk," Queen muttered as he shifted, shrinking back to his human form.
"And that!" He struck a pose. "Brings an end to our Queen Sumo League exhibitioooon~! Brought to you by youuuurs truly!" His Pleasures and Waiters all laughed and cheered. "Now take his ass to the infirmary! Can't let a workhorse like him keel over now can we! Maybe that'll teach him, Mmnhnhnhnh…" And he broke out into a loud guffaw. "Buaaaaaahahahahaahaha!"
Then he realized that no one was laughing with him. Perplexed, he looked around, and saw that the guards and many of the slaves were still flat-out unconscious. Only his stronger Gifters and Headliners, and a few slaves cowering in the rocks, were still awake.
"Fuck that's right, he has Conqeuror's." He sighed. "Hey! Anyone still awake! Put all the asswipes into their cells! When they wake up, resume the food line! Can't let our laborers go hungry now, can we!"
The Gifters and Headliners broke out their whips, and started herding the conscious slaves towards the pens. Queen let out a big sigh, and glanced up at the big clock on the Warden Tower.
"Oh nice, it's time to listen to Lady Komurasaki!" He grinned, and he began to skip his wide fat body back to his tower. "Zoom zoom zoom zoom-ngh…"
He winced, rubbing his ear a little. It was still ringing.
He'll have to get some ointment for it. The nice stuff this time.
(X)
It had been a long week for Hyogoro.
The day after Queen and Ace's bout had been rough. There had been no food; though he had gotten some time to rest. After that, there had been nothing to do but keep on working, doing as little as possible, waiting for Ace to return.
Yet, there was some hope to be had in spite of it all.
The boy had done it, he was certain. It was the same Ryuo that Lord Kozuki Oden had emitted all those years ago; when he slew the Mountain Boar. Those with that same conquering disposition were rare; very rare.
And Ace had done it; right before his eyes. He had awakened his Haki, and made Queen cry out in pain.
Maybe, just maybe, with the right training, he could master that power. And maybe when he next faced Queen, it wouldn't be so one-sided.
Maybe, just maybe.
Hyogoro clambered onto his cot. Around him, the night shift workers were leaving their cells; trudging out into the darkness. He rolled over, and saw that Ace's mat and pillow were still in place, untouched. Had Ace been anyone else, both would have disappeared. But those who had seen him fight had spread the word. There would be no stealing from him.
He turned his old, aching body onto its back; trying to will himself to sleep. But a murmuring from near the door drew his attention. He looked up, and saw a dark shape lumbering along the corridor in front of the cells. As it drew closer, Hyogoro could see a body covered in bandages, and a familiar face.
"Acetaro!" Hyogoro knelt up. "You're back!"
"Night," Ace uttered weakly. Without another word, he laid down on his cot; heedless of the stares or murmurs of concern or greeting from the other prisoners. Hyogoro frowned as he looked the boy over. He had been given medical care, but he clearly hadn't eaten in a week and his body was still a wreck. He looked up at the other prisoners. They nodded, and retired to their cots. There would be no trouble. Not tonight, and not ever for this young man.
Hyogoro closed his eyes, willing his mind to picture better times. His fellow Yakuza. Lord Sugiyaki. The misadventures of that wild horse Lord Oden.
"Kaido…"
Hyogoro opened his eyes, and turned to look at Ace. The boy's eyes were wide, bloodshot, staring up at the ceiling.
"King…" it was a whimper. The old man's heart fell.
"Queen…" It came out as a hiss, and the man was shuddering, shaking.
Then a sob came out, his hands covering his face.
"I'm sorry…." It was weak, but it was there as Ace curled up. "Duece. Banshee. Skull… everyone…! I'm sorry…! I am too weak! I'm sorry! I'm sorry…" He whimpered over and over, tears pouring out.
Hyogoro reached over, and put a hand on the young man's shoulder.
"Acetaro… I'm… I'm sorry… but I'm here." He offered a sad smile, and squeezed softly. "And I won't go away."
Hyogoro lost his wife and status when Wano fell. Ace has lost everything now.
"I promise."
He felt the shuddering young man place his hand atop of his old weathered one, and Hyogoro felt something inside him awaken.
"I. Am here." Hyogoro whispered, and the shuddering ceased as Ace soon began to breathe easily.
This small flame must be protected. Not because of the blaze it could evolve into, but because it represented so much more. The Yakuza of Flowers may not be as strong as he once was. But he will protect and raise this young man, however he can.
No matter what.
Big thanks to Juubi-K , IKnowNothing , and WildJoker000 as always.
So yeah, that happened. And this will be the last Wano Interlude we have for a long time. Like, not during the original arc that will take place after North Blue Saga, but after.
Tama's acquired a roommate and learned more of her caretaker, while Ace realized what he had lost, but he gained something else even in the Hell he put himself in.
A father. Helps that he has spent more time with Hyogoro than Luffy did, and he has endeared himself IMMESNELY to his fellow inmates.
Originally I had planned for Ace to go full Arya Stark in muttering those names to sleep, but I rewatched the Marineford arc in One piece and realized "Oh, oh yeah this can be Luffy post Marineford" instead and IKN told me "oh hell nah". so we dialed it back and reworked it. Also had Hyogoro musing on Wano's history, but that was cut out in place for the last emotional bits instead. Forget Wano's history, this young man needs comfort and guidance, knowing that he is not alone in this world.
sorry if this was rather grim, but these were important set ups for our two main Wano characters, Tama and Ace.
Next chapter we will be back in North Blue. So I'll see you around then.