Chapter 1

The carriage rocked back and forth along the stony, flat earth beneath its wheels. They were traveling at night to avoid crossing the desert plains during the day. The moon was a silver crescent, and the sky was dotted with white stars. The only sounds were the carriage wheels in the otherwise quiet night. A gentle breeze flowed through the open carriage window, bringing with it the smell of sand. They wouldn't be at their destination until tomorrow.

Sanji was tired but could not fall asleep due to the rocking of the carriage. His three brothers were already sleeping, each snoring louder than the other. Sanji hung his head out the carriage window to look at the stars. He couldn't help but think they were mocking him when they twinkled. After all, the reason he was in this carriage was to be handed off to an alpha.

The four kingdoms were at war, trying to take over and rule the other. So far, his family, the Germa Kingdom, had been defeated by the Alpha King Marshall Teach, or as most people know him, Blackbeard, at least on the battlefield. Sanji was to be a war prize for Teach, a trade in power, and the promise not to attack further. With his forced sacrifice, his father could become an ally of Teach.

As an omega, Sanji knew his royal life would somehow end up with an alpha he didn't want. He could run away but had nowhere to go, and his family would hunt him down. To make matters worse, they cuffed his ankles with a chain in between so he couldn't run or kick. He looked down at the chains and sighed. By tomorrow, he'll no longer be of the Germa kingdom but rather the Dark Kingdom. He'll likely be placed in King Teach's harem.

Sanji's father, King Judge, spared no cent on making him presentable. Sanji wore a long silk tunic without sleeves that fell to his knees. His laced-up sandals were colored gold and tied below the knee. On his wrists were gold cuffs, and three of his fingers had sapphire rings. Around his neck was a heavy gold chain with teardrop-shaped sapphires. On his head was a crown of olive leaves, the sign of a peace offering. The sapphires were supposed to match his blue eyes, which his father claimed was the only thing 'acceptable' about him. Blue eyes and yellow hair were rare.

He wondered what his life at Darkmore palace would be like? He likely would end up a regular concubine forced to have the bastard flop around on top of him. The thought of mounting with the old, fat warthog made him sick to his stomach. Maybe he should just take poison and kill himself to escape this hell. And worse, what if he becomes pregnant? Knowing he would have to bear the Dark King a child, Sanji felt the shiver of disgust shiver down his spine. However, if (and when) he did have a child, that child would know nothing but love, and they would be raised unlike his past. He won't do to his child what his father did to him.

A sudden hard bump startled one of his brothers awake. Yonji woke up and moved his body to push Ichiji's head off his shoulder. Niji was sitting next to Sanji with his arms crossed, snorting awake.

"Are we there yet?" Yonji yawned.

"I don't know," Ichiji said, sticking his head out the window to call the coachman. "Hey! ARE WE THERE YET?" The man answered 'no' but added they would be there by morning. "Useless waste of space," Ichiji said about the coachman.

"Come on, Sanji put on a smile," Niji smirked, nudging his elbow painfully into Sanji's side. "You're finally going to be useful to us and Father!"

"Don't touch me, Niji," Sanji warned.

"I wonder what Teach is going to do with you," Ichiji thought out loud. "I guess you'll warm his bed like the rest of the whores in the harem." Yonji laughed, and Niji smirked.

"Shut up," Sanji turned away from them. They were only here to give him away. The one good thing that came out of this arrangement was getting away from his family. He hated what was happening, but to never see his father or brothers again was the silver lining. He would miss his sister, though.

"No one is going to miss you," Yonji said.

"I won't miss any of you either," Sanji replied. "I hate you three, I hate Father, and I hate our home. This is a blessing to me, not a punishment." That wasn't entirely true, though. It would make his brothers mad that they're not getting a rise out of him. Soon, he would be away from them and their taunting.

When the sun finally rose, Sanji stuck his head out to see the palace coming into view. He swallowed hard and sat back. His brothers had fallen asleep again. Sanji's belly was riddled with butterflies, and his mouth was dry. Now that he was close to his new life, he started to panic.

They rode through the main thoroughfare, and Sanji was relieved that the carriage had finally stopped bouncing and rocking. He looked out the window as the buildings and people moved by. The streets were clean, and people were buying and selling things. He watched in awe as a man swallowed a flame straight from the torch to the small crowd watching. Another person was playing a hand drum and singing. But the best was the smell of a bakery. Sanji took a deep breath of the doughy aroma of fresh bread and pies. His stomach managed to growl.

His brothers woke up again but ignored him, choosing to watch the new surroundings. It was a long ride to the palace, but they finally made it by mid-morning. Sanji was surprised by the large courtyard full of green grass, shaped shrubs, flowers, tree swings, and numerous statues. They passed by a huge marble fountain sprouting crystal clear water. Sanji just might get lost navigating a courtyard as big as this. There were even fruit trees! He didn't want to think about anything else other than the gorgeous courtyard.

When the carriage came to a stop, Sanji's stomach dropped. They were here. Darkmore Palace.

Sanji and his brothers were escorted into the massive palace doors and straight down a wide hallway. The hall was lavishly decorated with tapestries, stone busts on pedestals, and old weapons lining the walls. The whole palace was made from white stone and was significantly cooler here than outside. Sanji swallowed hard again; this place was to be his new home.

After the long walk, they came to the grand hall where Marshall Teach awaited them. Sanji looked at the large alpha sitting on a golden throne. Teach was an overweight alpha male with hidden muscle beneath hairy skin. His eyes were hard, dark, and black. The black beard (from which he got the name) ran from ear to chin. Inside that big smirk were at least four missing teeth and others yellow from rot. Bad teeth were a sign of wealth because one could buy sugar, a very rare and expensive product. He wore a red, sleeveless vest that was too small for his girth. The vest had buttons, but Teach had it unbuttoned, showing off his round stomach. White, poofy pants rest at the ankle, just above the gold-colored pointed-toe shoes. Resting on a hairy chest was a mix of different gems and gold necklaces. There were gem rings on each fat finger and even a gold earring. This was an alpha who liked to flaunt his wealth.

But sitting beside Teach was a young man with a big smile. He had messy dark brown hair and brown eyes. He was smaller than Teach and wore a similar outfit. A red silk tunic opened to a 'v' in the front. He was wearing a ruby necklace and a circlet. Sanji knew Teach was married but wasn't expecting someone that young. Teach had to be in his late forties, and his mate looked to be close to his age, maybe nineteen or twenty. He was pulled from his thoughts when Teach began speaking.

"So, this is King Judge's only omega son!"

Sanji did not like how Teach grinned at him with those missing teeth.

"Yes," Ichiji replied. "This is our brother, Sanji Vinsmoke. We present him to you as a gift from our Father. A war prize for you. We hope that this will settle any bad blood between our kingdoms."

"Let me make sure he's a proper omega,"

Sanji stepped back but bumped against Niji, who suddenly held his shoulders. He gasped when Teach's large hand pushed between his thighs. Sanji couldn't help the blush as the rough fingers moved the loincloth away and felt his omega slit, then moved to his balls. Sanji wanted to kick the bastard away, but his ankles were bound by shackles. After what seemed like forever, the large hand was pulled away.

"Everything's normal there," said Teach.

Sanji felt humiliated being treated like a horse being inspected before being sold.

"And this hair!" Teach slapped his hand on Sanji's head. "The color of gold!" He gripped Sanji's chin and forced him closer. "I've never seen blue eyes before," he said, then checked Sanji's teeth. "Ah, good! They're strong! A sign of good health!" He yanked Sanji to him. "I'm going to call you my Golden Lotus!"

"So, you're pleased with him?" Ichiji asked.

Teach smirked. "Very! Tell Judge that we have a deal." He went back to sit on his throne. "You've had a long journey," he said to the brothers. "Why don't you spend the night here?"

"That's a fine offer, Your Highness," Said Ichiji and his brothers agreed.

"Luffy, take Sanji to your room and make him comfortable. He looks like he's ready to shit himself," he laughed loudly, and Sanji's brothers did the same.

"Sure!" Luffy went up to Sanji and took his hand. "Come on! Let's go!"

The moment he touched Luffy's hand, Sanji felt immediately at ease. The bright, cheerful smile brought a smile to his face, and Sanji couldn't remember when he last smiled. He couldn't look around at the castle because Luffy was quickly pulling him through the halls.

They finally arrived at a door with a guard standing outside. Sanji looked at the tall alpha guard, his bare chest rippling with muscles. His pants were white, and his sandals were black. He had bronze wrist cuffs and a leather collar around his neck. In his hand was a spear with three blades. The magenta-colored eyes looked right at him.

"Hey, Katakuri! This is Sanji! He's new to the palace!"

Katakuri said nothing but nodded his head. Sanji waved at him, but the alpha didn't wave back. Katakuri opened the door for them, and Luffy pulled Sanji inside. The first thing Sanji saw was a young woman with orange hair dressed in what looked to be a dancer's outfit. It was pink in color. Sanji thought she was beautiful. A man was sitting on the floor in the living space, putting something together.

"Hey Nami! Usopp! This is Sanji! He'll be staying with us!"

Nami spoke first. "Is he the 'war prize' Teach accepted?"

"Yup! We're supposed to make him comfortable." Luffy said.

"Is he going in the harem?" Usopp asked.

"I think so," Luffy said.

Then, there was a baby's cry. Sanji noticed a cradle, and Luffy left his side to go over it. Luffy picked the baby up from the cradle with the silken gold-colored blanket with large tassels. The baby immediately stopped crying once it was in Luffy's arms. Luffy brought the baby over to him. The baby looked exactly like Luffy, from the hair to the eyes and even to the chin. Sanji thought the baby was adorable.

"This is Little Luffy!" Luffy said with a grin. "Isn't he cute?"

Sanji smiled. "He looks just like you,"

"The resemblance is uncanny," Usopp said.

"He barely cries," Nami said. "Not only does he look like Luffy, but he eats like Luffy too!"

Luffy laughed. " There's nothing wrong with that!" He walked over to the sofas and took a seat with the baby in his lap. "Come sit down and hang with us," he said to Sanji. Nami, could we have some wine?"

"Do it yourself!" She said, "I'm not just a servant girl!"

"I know that!" Luffy said. "But I have a baby on my lap," the baby clapped and gurgled. Nami muttered under her breath but poured them all goblets of wine.

"Damn it! It broke again!" Usopp said from his spot on the floor. "I'm trying to make a wind-up toy for Little Luffy!"

Nami handed out goblets of wine to each of them.

"So, Sanji," Nami started, "Why do you have shackles on your ankles?"

"It's to keep me from running away or fighting," Sanji said. "They're uncomfortable, but I guess I don't have much of a choice."

Luffy was bouncing the baby in his lap. "We'll get those taken off for you,"

"Aren't you worried I'll run away?" Sanji asked, a little bewildered.

Luffy grinned. "I have a feeling you won't."

"I will run," Sanji warned him. "I don't want to be here as a…plaything and broodmare. Besides, my brothers hold the key. I'm sure they handed it over to Teach."

"It will be hard to escape from here," Usopp said. "He's got guards and soldiers posted everywhere. Sneaking out is impossible. Not to mention his hounds. He has at least a dozen of those vicious beasts!" Usopp shivered at the thought. "They would hunt us down in no time. He keeps the poor things near starvation so that when they hunt, they are more focused and will track better and faster."

Sanji didn't like the sound of that.

"Where would you go?" Nami asked.

"Somewhere that is not here or the Germa Kingdom," Sanji said. "Maybe hop on a ship and sail away. Why do you all stay?" The three grew quiet and looked at one another. "Did I say something to offend you?" He asked.

"I need to go feed Little Luffy," Luffy said, getting up to go to another room.

"Was it something I said?" Sanji asked.

"No, it wasn't," Nami assured him. "You might as well know the story. Usopp, why don't you tell it? Usopp is Teach's favorite storyteller and entertainer."

Usopp put down the toy he was making. "Before we came here, we were sailing on a pirate ship with our captain, Shanks. We ended up in Teach's territory and could not win after a long fight. Luffy fought the hardest against Teach but didn't have the full strength to defeat such a strong alpha. Teach then caught Shanks prisoner. He took a strong interest in Luffy and forced him to become his mate. If Luffy didn't do as commanded, Teach would kill Shanks. Luffy accepted and we all left with him: me, Nami, Zoro, Robin, Chopper, Franky, and Brook- currently, Shanks is still in the dungeon and is used to keep Luffy here. That's why Luffy won't leave unless he can find a way to free Shanks. It's not in his nature to be a pushover, but he cares for his friends and child and would do anything to help them. And so, that's why we're all here. We won't leave Luffy."

Sanji listened carefully to the story and understood it. Teach was using Shanks as collateral to keep Luffy here. But Luffy didn't seem depressed or saddened when he first met him. Luffy was cheerful and friendly. Sanji wondered if all that happiness was a cover-up to hide his true feelings. Teach must have really taken a liking to Luffy to make him the 'queen.' Sanji assumed that the harem was only for Teachs' pleasure and to have more children. What other reason was there to have a harem? The harem is where he will end up, lonely, forgotten, and pushing a tiny human out of his body. It would seem like he'd never find happiness for himself.

Luffy finally returned with a smile and put the baby back in the crib. "Do you want to take a tour of the palace?" Luffy asked Sanji.

Sanji nodded and would use this tour to find a way to escape. Nami and Usopp stayed back with the baby. Luffy retook his hand and pulled him from the room. The guard, Katakuri, was still standing there but began to follow them. Sanji thought the alpha was glaring at him with those hard features.

"Don't worry about him," Luffy said. "Katakuri needs to follow me around. He's a really nice guy once you get to know him! He doesn't talk much, though."

Sanji only nodded and let Luffy guide him. The palace seemed bigger on the inside. Luffy showed him many rooms, like the library, where Sanji met another of Luffy's friends. She was a beautiful woman with long black hair and a friendly smile. She had been reading a book when they came in.

"Robin, this is Sanji,"

"It's a pleasure, Sanji," she said.

"Thank you, m'lady," Sanji said with a bow and a smile.

"How charming," She giggled softly. "You're quite the gentleman."

"Robin does all the writing and painting!"

"I'm a scribe," Robin said. "My main duty is to write documents for our Lord and Master,"

"I hate books," Luffy said, sticking his tongue out. "What about you, Sanji?"

"I like books," he replied. "But my passion is cooking."

Luffy's eyes lit up. "Cooking! That means you can make food!"

"Y-yeah," Sanji raised a curly brow.

"You should show him the kitchen next," Robin offered. "I'm sure he'd like to see it,"

"I would!" Sanji said.

"Okay! The kitchen is next!"

Sanji followed Luffy but wished that Katakuri wasn't following them. The alpha was big and intimidating while staying eerily quiet. But he forgot about Katakuri as they entered the massive kitchen. Sanji was in awe of all the prep tables, ovens, and hearths. The aromas filled his nose, and he took a deep breath as he started to feel calm. His passion was to cook good food and try out new dishes. Maybe he could get a job as a cook rather than live in the harem. Sanji just noticed that Luffy wasn't at his side. He found Luffy chomping down on a piece of smoked meat. With a mouth full of meat, Luffy told the cook to give him one too. Sanji would have protested, but he was very hungry. He didn't want to just take food from cooks. But a plump little man handed him a piece of meat still on the bone. Sanji couldn't help but eat it. The meat was good, but it could use some seasoning.

Sanji didn't want to leave the kitchen, but Luffy took his hand and forced him to follow. The rest of the tour was making Sanji's head spin. There were so many rooms! The last place Luffy wanted to show him was the training yard. It was a large open arena with dirt instead of grass. Sanji looked confused at the males clothed in nothing but large loincloths or short pants. Some were wrestling, others fought with weapons, and the rest were running around the arena.

"This place is a lot of things," Luffy explained to him. "This is where Teach puts on the Warrior Brawls. It's also a training ground for the soldiers and an entertainment center. The Warrior Brawls are when people from the kingdom come to watch the warrior soldiers fight with each other. It's our most popular show. Oh, there he is! Hey! Zoro! Over here!"

Sanji saw a brawny man with short, spiky green hair approach them. The male was an alpha and a strong one. His chest was bare, showing off rock-hard muscles and glistening beads of sweat. There was a long scar along his chest, and he was missing an eye. Their eyes met, and they both stared at each other. Luffy looked between them, slightly confused.

"What's everyone staring at?" Luffy asked.

Zoro shook his head, breaking the stare. "Sorry,"

"It's okay! Here, meet Sanji!"

They stared at each other again, green eye to blue eyes.

"Hey," Zoro said flatly.

"Hey," Sanji responded.

Sanji felt an instant connection with the alpha male, and he panicked. He had never felt anything for an alpha before. He swore off alphas because he knew he would never be allowed to freely mate and marry one. It was easier to keep them away rather than suffer heartbreak.

"I'm showing him around," Luffy said.

"Another one for the harem?" Zoro asked.

"Yeah," Luffy answered.

Zoro noticed the chains on Sanji's ankles. "What are those for?"

"So I can't run or fight," Sanji answered. "It might be hard to believe, but I was forced here," he said sarcastically.

"You don't have to suffer this for long," Zoro told Sanji. "He'll get tired of you quickly, then you won't have to fret over it. You'll have a comfortable life in the harem."

"I should be a warrior like you," Sanji said. "I'm not meant to be a humble housewife."

Zoro sheathed his sword. "We don't allow omegas into this army."

Sanji frowned. "Why not?"

"Rules," Zoro stated flatly. "I didn't make the rule, by the way. The king did. Besides," he looked Sanji up and down. "You don't look like you would have what it takes to be a warrior in this army."

"If my feet were free, you'd get a kick to the face!" Sanji said. "So watch your mouth, you stupid Moss-Head!"

"What did you call me, Curly-Brow!?"

"You heard me! I'm just as good as you!" Sanji said, stepping over to face Zoro. "I can fight! I've trained myself for years!"

"Like I give a damn!" Zoro shouted back. Their foreheads were pressed together. "Call me 'Moss-Head' again…I dare you!"

Sanji smirked. "Moss-Head!"

"Why you-!"

Luffy pushed in between them. "Hey now, slow down, you two! You just met!"

"What's going on here?" A voice from nearby.

"Oh, hey, Traffy!" Luffy said. "I'm just showing Sanji around."

"The war prize?" he asked.

"Can everyone stop calling me that?" Sanji said and crossed his arms.

"Sanji, this is Traffy! He's Captain of the Guard!"

"It's Trafalgar Law,"

"Only Luffy calls him 'Traffy.' Zoro said. "He's just Law to everyone else."

Sanji noticed Luffy looking longingly at Law. An omega can often tell when another omega is interested in an alpha. Law's features were stoic but softened when he looked at Luffy. Law was an attractive alpha. He was tall with a strong athletic build. He had short dark hair, some behind his ear and some on his chin. On his shoulder rested a long, thin sword in its sheath. It looked like the same type of sword Zoro wielded, but it was longer.

"I guess we need to finish the tour," Luffy said, turning back to Sanji. "The last place you need to see is the harem,"

Sanji frowned, and his whole body tensed. He glanced at Zoro, looking to see if the alpha would gloat. Zoro's face held no expression, just like Law's. As they walked away, with Katakuri still following them, Sanji noticed that Luffy's gaze was locked on Law, who was watching them leave. Sanji felt terrible for Luffy since he had to be married to Teach. He would only be a whore for whenever Teach called on him. Sanji shivered again and felt sick to his stomach. The very thought of that hog mounting him brought the bile up to his throat. Now, he was going to see the harem. He felt like he would faint, but he stood firm.

The harem was at the other end of the palace. Two large doors were carved with a naked woman on each side, as well as ivy and flowers. Two guards stood by the doors but moved to open them. Sanji followed Luffy inside, and he was surprised by what he saw first. In the center was a large, shallow pool with a few omegas resting in it. There were numerous indoor potted trees and flowered shrubs to make it look like they were outside. Sanji couldn't understand why there were so many pillows everywhere with omegas lounging on them. It was a rainbow of pillows. The other omegas, a mix of male and female, looked at him curiously. Some children ran around the pool, laughing merrily.

Next, Luffy showed him the harem kitchen, which was smaller than the one in the palace. He hoped to get a job in this kitchen, cooking for all the omegas. Next were the living quarters, which were just as big as the other rooms. This room had a fountain in the middle and more pillows lining the floor. A handful of omegas were chatting to one another but stopped when they came in. They greeted Luffy politely, and he waved back at them. Finally, the sleeping quarters. There were rows of beds on three levels. So, this was going to be the place where he would live, eat, and sleep. Things were real now. He was a prisoner inside marble walls.

"How do I know which bed is mine?" Sanji asked.

"The headmistress of the harem will let you know. She knows you were coming, so I think everything is ready for you."

"Luffy, how do you do it?" Sanji suddenly asked. "How can you be so cheerful and carefree?"

Luffy tilted his head to the side, contemplating the question. "I guess I just try to make the best out of any situation," he grinned and laughed. "No reason to be depressed! I also have Little Luffy, and he's the best thing I've ever done in my life. Many of the omegas here who gave birth don't like their children and often send them away. Usually, it's the boys that get sent away."

"Why just the boys?" Sanji asked. Surprisingly, it was Katakuri who answered.

"Teach doesn't want any competition. He has only acknowledged Luffy's child as his heir. All others are sent away or sold into slavery."

"That's terrible," Sanji said as if it weren't possible to hate the bastard anymore. "So, if I bore a son, he'd be sent away?"

Luffy nodded. "Yeah."

Katakuri spoke again. "He sells off the girls as soon as they are of childbearing age. Boys hold no significance."

Sanji looked at Katakuri, who said that so plainly and without emotion. However, like Law, Katakuri had the same face when looking at Luffy. Luffy was handsome in his own right, but it must be his friendly and cheerful personality that attracted the alphas. It must be hard for Law and Katakuri to know they can't touch Luffy.

'I have got to get out of here,' Sanji thought. 'I can't live this life,'

"Oh, here you are," it was Nami. "I was looking for you, Sanji."

Sanji smiled at her. "What is it, beautiful lady?"

She sighed. "Well, I wish I was here to tell you something good, but I'm not." She gave him a look that almost seemed sympathetic. "He wants you tonight. We here are supposed to get you washed and clothed properly. Then, you're to have dinner with him and your brothers before you…retire to the royal chambers."

Sanji suddenly felt light-headed as everything seemed to turn fuzzy and gray. He fainted to the floor.

TBC