Chapter 40: Veloria - part 1
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Under the dim lights of the shipyard, Ikkaku was deep in inspection of the Polar Tang's engines. With tools in hand, she meticulously examined the submarine's components, impressed by its brilliant design. She muttered to herself, noting down technical details she could potentially improve as her fingers traced over the complex circuits.
At that moment, Sachi and Penguin appeared behind her, sporting their usual determined yet mischievous grins.
"So, what do you think of our baby?" Sachi asked, adjusting his sunglasses with a laid-back expression.
Ikkaku barely looked up, too focused on her work to respond immediately. "It's a masterpiece," she murmured at last, "but there's always room for improvement."
Penguin crossed his arms, smirking. "Don't you want to take a ride? You could see everything this sub has to offer—from the inside."
With a wink, Sachi added, "We could even show you the schematics so you can really understand the beast. Not every day we find someone as into the Polar Tang as we are."
Ikkaku raised an eyebrow, finally pausing her inspection. "The schematics?" she repeated, excitement sparking in her eyes. "Really?!"
Wasting no time, Sachi and Penguin led her inside the Polar Tang, where Hakugan was already waiting by the controls.
"Welcome to my world," he said, gesturing grandly at the control cabin.
Ikkaku's eyes swept across the room, her brows furrowing as she took in every detail. "You're the one who pilots this machine?" she asked bluntly.
Hakugan nodded. "Yep. And trust me, it's a lot more complex than it looks."
Sachi and Penguin exchanged another knowing look, clearly pleased to see she hadn't lost her sharp edge. "We haven't shown you everything yet," Penguin said, pulling out a roll of blueprints. "Here, take a look. These are the Polar Tang's plans."
Hakugan spread the schematics on the table, and Ikkaku immediately leaned over them. Her eyes widened slightly as she studied the diagrams. "Damn… this is way more advanced than I thought." She traced the propulsion circuits with a smile forming on her lips. "With a few tweaks, this sub could go even deeper, faster, without breaking a sweat."
Just as they were about to show her more, the calm was shattered by aggressive shouts. Heavy footsteps clanged against the metal floor, followed by the distinct sound of weapons being drawn. A band of mercenaries, heavily armed and hostile, stormed the shipyard, their eyes scanning hungrily over the Polar Tang and its surroundings. They were here to loot, and this hangar was a prime target.
"There they are! The Heart Pirates! Take everything you can!" one of the mercenaries yelled, brandishing a gun.
Chaos erupted instantly, with the mercenaries targeting the innocent mechanics and engineers. The old man shouted, trying to shield his employees, but the attackers showed no mercy.
Without hesitation, Ikkaku stepped out of the submarine, fists clenched, ready to take on the intruders, with Sachi and Penguin following close behind.
"No way I'm letting these fuckers loot the hangar right under my nose," she growled, advancing with fierce determination, not a hint of hesitation in her stride.
Sachi and Penguin, more fired up than ever, took position beside her, weapons ready. They clashed quickly with the mercenaries, each one showcasing their own skills.
Ikkaku launched into the fray without pause, wielding her fists and tools with brutal precision. Her approach wasn't refined, but every hit she delivered was powerful and merciless. She struck one of the mercenaries square in the face, sending him crashing to the ground with a harsh, satisfying crunch.
Law watched the chaos unfold with a composed air, arms crossed, his Room ready to be activated at any moment. He could have ended this brawl with a flick of his wrist, but chose to stay back, intrigued. His eyes tracked Ikkaku, who dodged blows with fluid skill and took down her opponents with swift, precise moves. She wasn't just a skilled mechanic; she was a seasoned fighter, wielding her strength and technique with surprising confidence. A slight smirk tugged at the corner of Law's mouth. She was holding her own—better than most people he'd seen.
Ikkaku disarmed one of the mercenaries, wielding his own knife against him, forcing him back several steps. "Are you all this pathetic?" she taunted, her tone full of defiance.
Amidst the chaos, a particularly agile mercenary spotted and opening in the fight and hurled a dagger towards Law. The captain, still in observation mode, sidestepped just in time. But in that split second, a gunshot echoed through the hangar.
Time seemed to slow.
Ikkaku, just as she knocked another mercenary down, suddenly turned her head. A bullet whistled through the air, heading straight for her. She didn't have time to react. The bullet struck her square in the chest, causing her to stagger before collapsing to the ground, blood quickly soaking through her shirt.
Sachi and Penguin shouted her name, but before they could react, Law, visibly frustrated, rushed toward Ikkaku. He hated being caught off guard, especially when it involved someone who could be an asset. He quickly placed his hands on her, muttering "Room" under his breath. The power of his Ope Ope no Mi activated instantly, creating a sphere around himself and the wounded Ikkaku.
"Stay still," he growled through gritted teeth, an intense focus shining in his eyes. Law couldn't tolerate failure, especially not when he knew he could have prevented a deadly hit like this.
Under his fingers, Ikkaku's internal tissues began to shift under the influence of his power, repairing the fatal injury in moments. The bullet was extracted with surgical precision, and the wound, which would have been lethal to anyone else, closed swiftly.
Ikkaku suddenly gasped, her eyes wide as she realized just how close she'd come to dying. She blinked, staring up at Law, still disoriented. "Damn… that was way too close…"
Law straightened without a word, then with a simple flick of his hand, he reactivated his Room, and in an instant, the mercenaries were trapped within his sphere of influence. The captain wasted no time neutralizing them, rearranging parts of their bodies with surgical accuracy, disarming and immobilizing them without causing serious harm.
"You should've thought twice before coming here," he murmured with a hint of irony as the last of the attackers tried to flee.
Sachi and Penguin, thrilled at the scene, helped drive back the remaining assailants, protecting the hangar and its workers. In a matter of minutes, it was over. The mercenaries, terrified and humiliated, were forced into a hasty retreat.
The old man stormed over to Ikkaku, jaw clenched and eyes blazing with anger. "I warned you! I hesitated to let you into my hangar, and look what happened! My men and my best mechanic nearly got killed because of you!" His voice shook with frustration; the idea of risking his crew for pirates was intolerable to him.
But before Law could respond, Ikkaku stepped in, putting herself between them. "Calm down, old man! This isn't his fault." She looked him straight in the eye, her voice firm despite the lingering pain in her chest. "He could have easily let me die, but he saved me. Without him, I wouldn't be standing here." She turned to the old man, her tone softening but remaining resolute. "And you're the one who agreed to let them in. You knew it was risky, so don't place all the blame on them."
The old man, moved by Ikkaku's words, looked at her for a long moment before letting out a heavy sigh. Despite his anger, he knew she was right.
Shaken but deeply grateful, Ikkaku couldn't help but feel a strong sense of appreciation for Law. Without his intervention, she would likely be dead. She stepped closer to the captain, her eyes filled with determination.
"Thank you. Without you, I don't know what would've happened."
Law simply nodded. "It was inevitable."
Still slightly winded, Ikkaku glanced back at the submarine. "It would've been a shame if the Polar Tang had been damaged by those mercenary idiots." Her voice, usually laced with irony, was strangely sincere. She moved slowly toward the sub, her gaze fixed on it. "It's a one-of-a-kind vessel… It would've pissed me off to see something like that destroyed for nothing."
Sachi and Penguin, touched by her words, exchanged a look. They knew Ikkaku wasn't one to show her emotions or attachments so easily. Yet her words struck a chord with them. They, too, felt a deep connection to the submarine—not only because it was their home, but because they understood all the work and care it took to keep the Polar Tang in perfect shape.
"You really care about that sub, huh?" Penguin asked, with a softer smile than usual.
The old man, who had observed the entire scene, let out a deep sigh. Despite his reservations about pirates, he couldn't deny what had just happened. His gaze shifted to Ikkaku, who was still admiring the Polar Tang, captivated by both its technology and the strength of its crew.
He stepped up to her, placing a fatherly hand on her shoulder.
"Ikkaku… you're the best mechanic I've ever had here. But I can see you're fascinated by these people—and by their ship. Maybe these pirates aren't like the others."
She looked up, surprised by his words.
"What do you mean byー?"
He gently interrupted her. "You owe them a debt, I know. But beyond that… I think this might be your chance. Staying here, fixing boats for old folks like me, isn't a future for you. Go with them. You'll learn more out there than you ever would here."
Ikkaku fell silent, weighing her options. The thought of leaving the hangar was unsettling, yet she couldn't deny the thrilling opportunity that lay before her.
Finally, she turned to Law, a determined smile forming on her lips.
"If you'll have me, I think I could be useful to you."
Law gave a small smirk and nodded, accepting her without a word, while Sachi and Penguin cheered, thrilled to have such a skilled mechanic aboard—and, of course, a new woman on the crew.
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Emi stood at the bow of a merchant ship, watching the devastated coastline draw closer with a heavy heart. The sun was slowly setting on the horizon, casting the island of Veloria in a golden light—a deceiving calm, for the atmosphere was anything but peaceful. The wind carried a smell of smoke, contrasting sharply with the natural beauty of dusk.
The journey to Veloria had been anything but easy. Convincing a merchant to let her board had cost Emi a small fortune. She'd sacrificed much of her savings just to persuade him. Like so many others, he feared the mercenaries controlling the island. The price had been steep—far too high for a simple voyage—but there was no other choice. Veloria was cut off from the world, and no ships dared approach it anymore. After days at sea, she had finally arrived… only to find chaos and desolation.
As soon as she set foot on land, a wave of heat and smoke engulfed her. The port was a wasteland—half-collapsed houses, gaunt inhabitants, and, amidst it all, mercenaries patrolling as if they owned the place. She clenched her fists, unable to believe the condition this noble had reduced these poor people to. A heavy tension hung over the place, palpable in every wary glance cast toward strangers.
Emi didn't have time to dwell on her dark thoughts. Barely off the boat, a group of mercenaries approached quickly, their eyes scanning the newcomers with suspicion. One of them, a rough-faced man marked by scars, placed his hand on his sword's hilt, ready to draw at the slightest misstep.
"What provisions are you here for?" he asked in a gruff voice, his tone making it clear that he tolerated no mistakes.
The merchant Emi had traveled with, visibly nervous, responded with feigned confidence:
"We're here for provision number 10."
The mercenary squinted, searching for any hint of deceit in his words. A heavy silence stretched on, the tension thickening with each passing second. Finally, after a long moment of hesitation, he nodded and waved them through.
"Make it quick."
They moved into the port, but the atmosphere remained oppressive. Every corner of the village seemed soaked in suffering. The few villagers who dared step outside wore faces etched with fatigue, fear, and hunger. Children, thin and silent, trailed behind their parents with dragging steps, their eyes empty of any hope.
Emi clenched her fists, her heart twisting at the sight of so much suffering. Three weeks of failed rebellion had reduced Veloria to ruins. The mercenaries, sent by a noble hungry for control, had condemned the people to misery.
Taking advantage of the merchants' arrival and the distraction it created, Emi quietly slipped out of the port and headed toward the town center. She needed to find the mayor. He was the one coordinating the village's resistance, and she needed his help to set her plan in motion.
She crossed the main square, trying to memorize the village's layout as she went. She paused briefly, her thoughts racing as she reviewed each possibility to leverage the terrain to their advantage. Glancing around, she saw no one paying her any mind. She arrived in front of a large stone building—likely the town hall. Inside, she spotted a man with a face lined from exhaustion, surrounded by panicked villagers. Some were raising their voices, exasperated with the situation.
"We can't go on like this!" yelled a man, shaking the mayor by the shoulders. "Every day, it gets worse, and you're doing nothing!"
A woman, tears in her eyes, pleaded, "Please, do something. We've lost all hope…"
The mayor, overwhelmed, was trying to calm the crowd, but his voice wavered under the pressure.
The mayor.
Emi pushed her way through the crowd and planted herself in front of him, resolute.
"You're the mayor?" she asked loudly enough to be heard over the noise, drawing the curious stares of the villagers.
The man looked up, visibly surprised to see a stranger in such a setting. His gaze turned suspicious.
"Who are you? You're not from around here… How did you—?" He stopped abruptly, as though he'd guessed why she was here. A flicker of hope sparked in his weary eyes.
Emi moved closer, casting cautious glances around to make sure no one undesirable was listening in.
"I know what's happening on the island." She leaned in to murmur, "The Revolutionary Army is coming."
The mayor's eyes widened in disbelief.
"The Revolutionary Army?"
Emi nodded emphatically. "You can count on them." Her tone was firm, resolute.
The mayor wavered for a moment, as though this news was too good to be true. He let out a trembling sigh of relief.
"We tried to reach them," he said, his voice cracking with emotion. "But every time we sent a message, the mercenaries intercepted the couriers. We're completely cut off."
The despair in his words struck Emi straight to the heart. Once again, she was witnessing the devastation caused by a corrupt system and a ruthless, greedy noble. A cold anger rose within her, mingled with a fierce determination.
"That noble will pay for what he's done to you." Her voice was sharp, more of a warning than a promise.
The mayor looked at her with gratitude, but a shadow of worry crossed his face.
"They come every night to pressure us. Each time we can't pay the full tax, the mercenaries invade homes, terrorizing families…"
Emi clenched her fists, her gaze blazing with resolve. She knew the Revolutionary Army would do everything they could to help these people, but she couldn't stand by idly until they arrived. Not one more night. She wouldn't allow this suffering to continue.
"They won't touch you again," she declared, her voice carrying an unyielding determination. "I have a plan."
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On the Heart Pirates' submarine, the atmosphere was relatively calm. The crew was busy with their tasks, making sure everything was running smoothly for their next journey. Sachi, wearing his sunglasses, was on the upper deck, gazing out at the horizon.
Suddenly, he spotted a familiar shape in the sky—a seagull flying straight toward them, its wings beating with determination. Sachi frowned, squinting to get a better look. When he recognized Coco, his eyes widened in surprise and relief.
"Coco!? You're back!" he exclaimed, hurrying over to the bird, which had just landed gracefully on the railing of the submarine.
The seagull let out a little cry, as if to confirm her identity and announce she had a mission to accomplish. Sachi knelt down before Coco, gently stroking her feathers. "Good girl. Wait here, I'll let the captain know."
He straightened up quickly and dashed inside, rushing down the stairs. "Captain! Captain! Coco is here!"
In an adjacent corridor, Penguin, who was adjusting some tools in the submarine's workshop with Ikkaku, looked up as he heard Sachi's excited shouts echoing through the halls. A smile instantly lit up his face. "Did I hear that right, Coco?! Emi's seagull?!" he exclaimed, putting his tools down.
"Coco? Emi?" Ikkaku asked, curious.
Penguin nodded with a serious expression as he straightened up. "Emi's an ally! She's been working with the Captain for a while."
He gestured for Ikkaku to follow him as he headed toward the deck.
Law, who was in his quarters reading, looked up at Sachi with a slightly annoyed expression at the interruption. "What did you say?"
"It's Coco, Emi's seagull! She's here with a message."
Law's face softened slightly, revealing a mix of surprise and curiosity. He followed Sachi up to the deck. There, Coco was waiting patiently, a bit out of breath from her long flight. Law approached the bird, recognizing her immediately.
He carefully opened the pouch attached to Coco and pulled out a thick folder. Glancing quickly through the contents, he noticed a handwritten note on top of the pile. He read it, a smirk appearing on his lips.
Add this to the list of times you'll owe me a favor. E.
Law closed the note, his smirk growing a bit wider. Emi hadn't completely lost herself in her quest for revenge, and the fact that she was still working on their shared goals showed she was as rational and determined as ever.
He turned the pages of the file, glancing over the notes and diagrams that Ambre had gathered. His eyes narrowed at the mention of artificial Devil Fruits. Interesting… The information was detailed and revealing—he was impressed by the amount of data Emi had managed to obtain with the help of that scientist. It would give him plenty to read for the rest of the day.
Penguin burst onto the deck, finding Sachi already doting on Coco, who seemed to be enjoying all the attention. "Well, well, look at our little champion! She made that whole trip just for us and the Captain! You're the best, Coco!" Sachi said enthusiastically, gently petting the seagull's feathers.
Penguin didn't waste a second and joined in, affectionately patting Coco's head. "You want a little treat, huh? Of course you do!" He pulled a crumb of bread from his pocket, as if he'd anticipated this moment forever, and offered it to Coco, who pecked at it gratefully.
Ikkaku arrived shortly after, raising a skeptical eyebrow at the two pirates fawning over the bird. "Seriously, guys?" She crossed her arms, trying to keep a straight face. "It's just a seagull, not a war hero." But when she glanced at Coco, who was lightly flapping her wings in contentment, she couldn't help but smile despite herself. "Well, she is… kind of cute, I guess," she admitted, shaking her head, amused.
Without looking up, Sachi responded with a big grin, "See? She's irresistible! At this rate, we should build her a statue!"
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The wind blew softly over Veloria, a stark contrast to the palpable tension hanging over the village. Hidden within the cover of a grove, Emi watched through her binoculars, on the lookout for any movement from the band of mercenaries.
With the few remaining rebels and fighters from the village, she had meticulously planned this ambush. The old stone bridge, worn and fragile with age, was one of the few crossing points linking the mercenaries' base to the village, according to the mayor's intel. If it were to collapse, the mercenaries would be trapped on the other side, unable to reach the villagers, buying her precious time. There was one other access point, not to be ignored—the port entrance. But it required a lengthy detour, as the valley partially encircled the village.
The shadows of the mercenaries appeared in the distance, their dark silhouettes contrasting against the moonlight.
They were coming.
"Closer…" Emi murmured to herself, her fingers tight around the small whistle hanging around her neck.
She had carefully hidden her explosives beneath the old stones of the bridge. Every detail had been accounted for—the charge, the precise placement of the bombs, and the exact moment she needed to strike. Everything hinged on this moment.
There were fifteen mercenaries, heavily armed, marching forward without the slightest hint of the trap awaiting them. They crossed the bridge with confidence, oblivious to the danger lurking beneath their feet. Emi waited anxiously, biding her time until all of them were on the bridge before she made her move.
Her heart thundered in her chest. This was it. They were almost at the center of the bridge, right where she had placed the main charge.
Emi raised the whistle to her lips, her hands slightly trembling from the adrenaline. She closed her eyes for a second, taking a deep breath. Then, in a single exhale, she triggered the mechanism.
A sharp whistle cut through the air.
For a moment, everything seemed to freeze. One of the mercenaries turned his head, confused, searching for the source of the sound. But before he could grasp what was happening, a series of explosions erupted beneath their feet.
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
The bridge exploded with devastating force, sending stones flying in all directions. A cloud of dust and debris rose into the air, engulfing the mercenaries in a deafening roar. Shouts of surprise and panic erupted as the ground beneath them gave way, and they fell into the river below, their weapons and gear scattered in the current.
Emi let out a sigh of relief. The plan had worked. Not only would the mercenaries be unable to reach the village for some time, but they would also be disorganized, making their defense easier.
She discreetly straightened up and, before moving away, gave instructions to the rebels accompanying her:
"I'll leave the rest to you!"
She slipped away silently, her mind already focused on the next step, knowing that the real fight was just starting.
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Thank you for reading!
I'll also be posting two chapters next Wednesday to conclude Emi and Law's side adventures. So far, I've focused on their separate journeys, but I haven't forgotten that this is a Law x OC fic. I promise that next week, we'll shift the focus back to them!
Stay tuned!