Chapter 3: Strength of Two Emperors

Elbaf

"That's Eustace Kidd. He beat old Linlin. He's gotten better but he's not worth the time. It's kinda a shame we're doing this. Barto was a nice guy as well.," complained Lucky Roo as he looked at the horizon.

"Being a pirate means you face the consequences of messing with another's territory without being able to back it up. If you're bitter about it then you're not a really competent pirate.," Benn Beckmann noted.

"He's still mad about the arm thing isn't he?," Yasopp noted before looking at Shanks.

"Sorry.," he complained.

Shanks was focused on Kidd as he looked stoically.

"Shanks? Is this guy bothering you?," asked Broggy.

"We can clean up after you.," Dorry noted.

Shanks shook his head.

"Sorry, this is a more personal matter.," he said as the ship moved forward.

"Finally, showing himself.," the red-haired Supernova noted.

"I won't let you harm Elbaf. So let's make things clear- Turn around and leave your Poneglyphs. If you're willing to fight, you're ready for the consequences since we're pirates right?," asked the Emperor.

Kidd's eyes narrowed, his teeth clenched under the pressure of his own grin. "You're as confident as the rumors say, Red Hair. I've come too far to leave without what I came for. I've got no interest in a country that I hear's been losing its fangs. Just you.," he sneered.

The air grew thick with tension, the crew of the Red Hair Pirates poised for action, their gazes locked on Kidd and his men. The waves crashed against the ship's hull, the saltwater spray misting their faces as they waited for the inevitable clash of wills to unfold.

Kidd went in all out as he fired his Dafted Punk immediately, hoping for an immediate victory but was cut down faster by Shanks faster than he could anticipate.

As the Emperor loomed over the fallen Supernova, he then immediately reacted to the figure about to attack Kidd.

A crazed Tom with a dagger raised who was cut by the Divine Slash, and forced backward as the skies were split much to the Kid Pirates' shock.

"Who the hell is that guy?!," questioned one of the crewmates of the Kid Pirates.

"Kidd!," Killer said as he went to his captain's aid.

"Where'd the hell he come from?! Don't ignore me, Red Hair!," Kidd demanded

"Tch. If Cipher Pol is the Shield of the World Government, then these guys are the hidden dagger. They've finally made their move.," Beckmann noted.

Tom skidded away before regaining his footing with a moonwalk.

"Tom. It's been 12 years. You've grown up. And moved up in the world," the red hair noted.

"But you don't seem too enthusiastic about it.," the indigo-haired youth noted.

"Pirates accept any underhanded tactics, there's no rules in fights. You've grown up to be the sort of man he would-," Shanks told him.

"I'm not too proud of my lineage as you're not too proud, right Figarland-," Tom replied before Shanks used his Haki to paralyze him.

"Enough of this," Shanks said firmly, his eyes never leaving Tom. "You're coming with us." He reached out and grabbed the unconscious boy by the collar, pulling him closer. "You've got a lot of explaining to do."

Suddenly, he noticed a blue beam firing down from the sky as Tom jerked away with a smug grin before vanishing into a dot. The beam fired down at Kidd's ship- Victoria Punk.

"You're used to taking falls for crimes aren't you...," Tom's voice mocked as the dot faded away.

"Shit!," Kidd cursed as the barely conscious man and his crew were blasted into the sea as Shanks backed away in time to his ship.

"What the?! A beam from the sky?!," Broggy noted.

"A Devil Fruit power?!," Dorry remarked.

Shanks quivered with a silent fury as he generated a Haki spark all the way to the stratosphere as the unknown object was struck and returned to its base form before warping away.

He then looked at the fallen Kid Pirates. He almost pitied what happened to them as the Poneglyph rubbings floated to the surface.

Kid Pirates- Fate Unknown- Defeated by Shanks (Official Reports)- Defeated by W.G Agents (Truth).

Weiner Island

Law suddenly turned into a woman as did most of his crew.

"G-give me a friggin break!," he cursed before undoing the transformation via his Haki. He then surfaced the submarine as he saw Burgess lift a massive mountain at the ship, which maneuvered just in time.

"So the rumors are true-," he noted as he dodged Augur's bullets from multiple directions as if the user had warped all at the same time.

"You're all Devil Fruit users- at the very least, your main crew. It's a risk to assume you'll never be drowned.," Law said to Teach riding on the back of Stronger while squashing Doc Q by proxy.

"Zehahahahahaha. Haki is the strongest in this current era indeed, but if it all took to conquer the world- Roger and Whitebeard would've been on the Empty Throne already if they had the desire to instead of THAT PERSON. Besides, Ambition can completely swallow you whole if you don't have the dreams to counter the mindless drive for more and more power.," Teach said.

"I've got no reason to listen to a crew backstabber that killed his own captain and crewmates.," Law retorted.

"Not all surrogate dad killers have a direct hand. Rosinate died for your sake. You certainly have an obligation in that responsibility.," the Emperor remarked as he flew down.

As the two dashed, Teach noticed the orange-haired woman with a dagger poised behind him appear out of a dot.

Before she could act on it, Bepo utilized Chopper's medicine to activate his Sulong form in order to restrain her.

"Oracion Seis?!," Teach observed before he was stabbed by Law's Awakening.

"Shock Wille!" Law declared as the Emperor was shocked by the phasing blade.

Burgess rushed towards his captain before noticing the orange-haired girl had vanished.

She then reappeared behind Law again before Teach appeared behind her and kicked her away.

"They're getting desperate. Not even bothering with the Emperor pretense anymore.," Teach muttered.

"Oracion Seis. They don't come out in public often. They must think we're big shots now.," Law noted.

"More like pests that upset the status quo. I'm sensing that Fullalead Island isn't going too well. So I'll wrap this up.," Teach said as his form began to alter as blood began to voluntarily exit Teach's body.

"What the hell?" Law noted.

"You brought your Trump Card- you've managed to Awaken it. Let me show you mine then.," Teach remarked.

A Short While Later...

The Heart Pirates fled in their battered ship as Bepo looked behind him and Law, who had been beaten unconscious lay in the medical bay.

"Blackbeard's power isn't what the papers say it is. Luffy's gotta know. Sorry, Law. But he has to know.," said Shachi.

"I wasn't strong enough.," Bepo cursed.

"Don't beat yourself over it.," Penguin consoled his crewmate.

Bepo looked behind to see the Blackbeard Pirates getting their hands on the rubbings.

"Once Pudding activates her power, she'll be able to access it. We just need the Man Marked by Flames' rubbings.," Burgess noted.

"That new form of yours. It reminds us of Straw Hat's Gear forms.," Augur noted.

"It's certainly bizarre.," Doc Q noted as Stronger nodded.

"The girl- she up and vanished once I turned. She probably ratted out what I have. Doesn't matter. I just need to find the right sap to confirm it- either Poseidon or Pluton's location. Lulusia had to be the work of THAT weapon- if not a crappy copy.," Teach noted.

He then fell to one knee.

"Damnit. Even after two years, it's going to take a lot to reach Shanks' level with the current use of the powers. Now to deal with the mess on my turf...Augur," Teach commanded as the sniper nodded.

Suddenly, the four warped away to another location.

Red Force- Elbaf

Broggy and Dorry had been dropped off at Elbaf as the ship began to sail away.

"Elbaf's now more civil. It feels like we've missed out on a lot. Can't believe that Harald did all of that while we were away.," Broggy said.

"So much happens when you refocus on the wider world at large.," Dorry added.

After a pause, Dorry spoke again-

"Those guys just now. It seems like it's more of something you gotta do as a pirate. We have things to do as well- that island nearby, Egghead-"

"You sense Luffy?," Shanks asked.

"Yeah. Things seem like a storm is a-brewin'? Wanna come?," asked the giant.

"No. It's not exactly time yet. But it's good that you're doing this. whatever is going to happen will change the world for better or worse...as it was said by THAT person.," Shanks replied.

"He's certainly become a big shot.," Broggy noted.

Shanks softly grinned as he thought of the brat he met at Foosha Village, now grown into a young man.

However, the situation then turned stern again.

"It's one thing that the culture is evolving, but the fact that there's no replacement for Harald after THAT incident. It doesn't seem right.," he said.

"Can't you do something about it?," asked Broggy.

"Luffy...is that the crew who has that person?" asked a silhouetted figure with shaggy orange hair.

"You're...," said Shanks.

He then noticed the sky flicker like a curtain.

Fullalead Island

Teach arrived to see Shot, Shiryu, and Wolf all battered while most pirates were lying around like tossed toys, unconscious. Moria and Perona had escaped during the chaos.

"That strength. It's gotta be.," said Blackbeard noticing before seeing a muscular, older man dash towards him before he was stopped in time by Kuzan's ice.

"Sorry, the plan to use Koby fell through...even though I told you it wouldn't work since he's a part of SWORD.," the former Admiral noted.

"It's alright. It's alright. I am annoyed that this is happening...right, Pizarro?!," asked the Emperor towards the sapient skull formation who looked both shocked and ashamed.

"Sorry, Cap. But it's Garp.," Shot noted as Shiryu slightly snickered.

"Tch. I thought you'd be able to at least handle island sitting while I was away.," the Emperor cursed to Pizzaro.

"It's not like we didn't try," Shot complained as he tried to stand up.

"Can't be helped. Guess you'll have to do.," said Teach as he focused on Garp.

"Garp!," Koby cried on the ship as the others treated a frozen Hibari.

"Don't waste your time on an old man like me. You're the next generation!," the Vice Admiral argued.

Gus knocked out Koby as Kujaku looked on.

"Garp...," Helmeppo cried.

Bogart gritted his teeth as he turned away as the ship continued sailing.

"The Hero of the next generation fell out of our fingers, but the Hero of the Marines- the strongest ever will be a better bargaining chip.," said Teach.

"We both know that's a lie. Compared to the founders, I'd still be a scrub. The initial generation of Marines were monsters that took down the great enemy...the Mad Lad - the terrorist monster that threatened peace and harmony and helped to prop up the World Nobles. Each generation is getting more and more complacent.," Garp argued.

"That old government wife's tale. Mad Lad went by another name Jo-," Teach said before he narrowly dodged the strike.

"You're sloppier than I thought you'd be.," the Vice Admiral commented as Kuzan fired ice in the direction of the Vice Admiral before punching them away.

"I just was in a bit of a scuffle. But then, again. That'd only worry me if I were a fair-play kind of guy.," Teach replied as Burgess and Doc Q attempted to jump him. However, it led to an opening for Kuzan to spear and freeze Garp.

"Now to get some vital info out of you once you're more chained up.," noted the Emperor as Garp laughed as he froze.

He then noticed the sky flicker like a curtain.

Kamabakka Kingdom

Sabo was on the operating table as Dragon and Ivankov looked on.

"We managed to destroy their symbol...wreck their food supplies...and rescue Kuma...but I have-," Sabo said as Koala looked concerned.

"Don't say anymore. You need to recover.," Ivankov argued.

"It's the Empty Throne. Someone's sitting on it...the reason Cobra is dead...is because of Imu...," Sabo answered before he fainted as Ivankov was shocked.

Dragon nodded solemnly, understanding the gravity of Sabo's words. He turned to Ivankov and said, "We need to keep this under wraps for now. The Revolutionary Army can't afford any missteps."

"You didn't seem all that perplexed as that name was men-," Ivankov said before Dragon shushed him.

He then emitted a ranged Armament Dragon Claw at a seemingly invisible space, which collided to reveal a muscular youth of tall size with dark red hair that obscured his eyes.

"Nathaniel of the Oracion Seis. To think, you'd rise to that position since you were raised in-," Dragon said before the youth cut him off.

"Tch. Lost the element of surprise. Jennings! Montbar!," the man commanded as a floating cloud and extending scarf lunged at the unconscious Sabo.

To their surprise, Kuma lunged forward and used a Ursa Shock to ward them all away.

"Kuma! What're you doing?!," asked Ivankov.

"Bon...Bonn...Bonney...," Kuma said as he suddenly warped away.

"He's still not at 100%...Wait, wasn't his will-," Ivankov noted.

"His race is special. But more importantly, we have to move now that this place has been compromised.," Dragon noted.

He then saw the sky flicker like a curtain.

Mary Geoise

"That Sabo...and Wapo...they know too...much...," said a shadow humanoid figure similar in size to a regular person, with a hand resembling a human's and sharp, almond eyes with red irises, each having a thin ring around the pupil. In terms of attire, Imu dons a crown that has four sharp, incredibly tall spikes on the top and an extremely long robe that flows upon the ground a great distance behind them.

The other Elders were kneeling before Imu in the frozen section of the castle, with the throne room being compromised.

Saturn was already on the ship heading to Egghead alongside Kizaru.

"Indeed. Our attempts to get the Op-Op and Magnet-Magnet Fruits were unsuccessful as well. Also, Kuma got in the way of dealing with Sabo. We know of Wapo's location with Morgans. He might be resourceful but that individual can be replaced as we can get more reliable news outlets loyal to us. Also less expensive.," Nsujuro noted.

"He'd make for fine meals for the World Nobles as I suspect he's not a true Zoan and more akin to THAT race related to the Minks.," Peter commented.

"We lost Garp. That's going to be difficult to keep the morale up. We might see division in the Marines with the whole Cross Guild situation. Heaven forbid, Vegapunk or someone like him spilling about THAT TIME leading to them leaving our-," Warcury spoke.

"We don't need unrefined dolts like him that don't bend to logic. It doesn't matter. The next purge will begin the world anew and it'll be far less complicated and this time, things will be guided the right way. Hatred. Resentment. Sadness. All will vanish in the face of the new world.," the shadow explained.

"Indeed. But, Joyboy's successor was born in this era- he's closer than the vast majority of going beyond the peak of the Awakening. Much like-," Mars said before the shadow glared at him.

"That person doesn't exist anymore.," Imu warned as the Elder got the hint.

"This is all Cobra's fault.," the Shadow remarked.

Reverie- Several Weeks ago

The Elders were hovered around Cobra, a wheelchair-bound king due to the events of Crocodile.

"We make a special exception for you since your ancestor was one of the founders even if they were quirky.," Nusjuro remarked.

"For such special treatment, you didn't bother helping during the incident with Crocodile.," the man spoke.

"But Smoker solved the situation, but losing the Warlords is a shame. We've made measures for a more secure system to replace them.," said Saturn.

"Replacements?," asked Cobra.

"What is it you want to talk about?" asked Mars.

"Lili was one of the founders of the World Government- but she decided to remain on the surface instead of joining you guys before dying a tragic end. Leaving it up to her younger brother to take control.," explained the king.

"Most people are satisfied with the latest news and then forget about the past to focus on the here and now. That's exceptional you're well-learned that way.," explained Mars.

"That tone...you think something else happened?," asked Warcury.

The room was tense as the Elders of the World Government exchanged glances.

Cobra then pulled out three small pieces of paper.

"These are Vivire Cards- A Vivre Card is a piece of paper made from a person's fingernail clipping. At first glance, it is indistinguishable from ordinary paper. However, it is completely waterproof and fireproof, though it can be torn. The pieces can then be given to a friend whom one would be separated from. The torn pieces will point to and move towards each other no matter where they are in the world, allowing one to always be able to tell which direction the other person is in. However, it does not tell the distance or about any obstacles that might be in the way. True to the name "paper of life", the life force of the owner, the person whose fingernail the Vivre Card was made from, is reflected on the paper. If the life force of the owner is weakening, the card will begin to burn away. It will grow back to its original size if the person recovers, but will disintegrate completely if they die. Aside from a Log Pose, a Vivre Card is one of the only methods of navigating the Grand Line. Unlike a Log Pose, which locks onto the magnetic field of an island, a Vivre Card can direct the user towards the location of a specific person.," he explained.

Reading between the lines, Peter spoke-

"You visited the graves of your kin, didn't you?"

"Indeed. The attack from before left them in danger of being destroyed, but when we found those specific individuals...they were fakes...and more importantly...the fact these cards exist...means the absurd...," explained the king.

"What absurdity?," asked Saturn.

"Lili and the younger brother are still alive. And also their close friend, Nerona...," Cobra said as the paper began to shift in a certain direction.

"Come out.," the king said.

Earlier...

"You're not expected to come back alive? But why?," asked Pell as he and Chaka stood with the king.

"I heard they permit all kinds of atrocities in their free time beneath their wise guises. Crocodile might've been an elaborate attempt to eliminate the Nefertari lineage to prevent information from leaking out. We were one of the families that knew the truth...," the king said.

"Then-," Chaka said.

"I'm an old man that's one foot in the grave. It's Vivi that needs the help now. They targetted Lady Shirahoshi and their eyes are on Vivi as well. It's more than the usual lust. It's a desire that goes back generations.," the king said.

"Wait, my liege-," Pell said.

"You came back by a miracle. Maybe I'll get lucky as well.," Cobra commented as he entered the room.

Little Later...

The shadow reluctantly appeared on the throne.

"Imu-," Warcury said before Cobra interjected

"The Vivre Card doesn't lie. Nerona Imu...no, Nerona Umi- the reincarnation of Mother Sea, the mother of Haki.," explained the King as the figure sat on the throne.

"You're no exception no matter how close the blood ties are. No one outside of the founders and a select few know of my existence and get to live.," explained the shadow.

"Then let's talk about why you're so anxious about hiding the truth...about knowledge of THAT PLACE...," explained the King as the Umi's eyes narrowed.

"OLD WORLD."

Present- Egghead Island

Stella entered the room.

"I'm sorry about that- quasar. Had to make it seem like we were enemies. The W.G has eyes everywhere.," explained the man as Bonney glared at him.

"Whatcha mean save you? You're a government guy right?," asked Luffy.

"Your Clown's boss aren't you?," asked Chopper.

"I had the unfortunate pleasure of working alongside him, Judge, and Scien...you know him better as Queen. Along with a fourth.," the old man said as the cuffs came off.

"Yeah, they're pieces of work. What possessed you to work with them?," asked Sanji.

"Sometimes, being an adult means stomaching the worst company to get something done.," explained Steall.

"They're off.," said Luffy.

"Why do you want to be saved? You have a nice place here.," noted Zoro.

"As long as I'm convenient to them, but after Momo's Devil Fruit copy being revealed in Wano-," Stella explained.

"Yeah, he turned into a pink dragon.," Luffy stated as Stella fell to his knees.

"I wanted it, blue. It's a dud!" Stella cursed as he fell to his knees.

"Perfectionism much.," Nami commented.

"Robin. Did that phenomena with the sky seem familiar in your findings?" asked Stella to Robin.

"Yes, but it seemed to be a myth till now so it wasn't worth bringing it up.," explained the woman.

"Truth is stranger than fiction. That phenomenon means the world is once again connecting to its unknown truth...the extended part of the planet known as OLD WORLD...," explained the old man.

Next Chapter: OLD WORLD

Author Notes: The fights with Kidd and Law were tweaked to fit with the new narrative of these Oracion Seis guys- which you can view as Diet Cipher Pol. While also condensing the outside Egghead events.

Next chapter is when the OLD WORLD will be partially explained.