Chapter 7: God Valley
Tower 4
Luffy was tired due to his Gear 5 taxing him out.
"Sounds like a war's going on outside.," noted Franky.
Zoro then replied, "All the more reason to find an opening to get the rest of the crew and get the hell out of here with the quacks. Besides, if they're so good with Devil Fruits...then he's got to make up for Clown's dumb mistake."
"Of course! No harm will come to Nami swan!," Sanji cheered much to Zoro's annoyance.
He then saw a large Paw bubble in the middle of the room.
Zoro briefly paused and remembered his experience with Kuma in Thriller Bark as did Sanji. Luffy was oblivious.
"He's taken the bait...the spider thinks he has us cornered. He's SUPER mistaken.," said a voice as the figure walked into the light of the bubble.
He resembled Shaka but had a red color scheme.
"Hey, Helmet guy? Why'd you leave your buddies behind? And why are you red now?," asked Luffy.
"That voice...," Franky said as the man removed his helmet to reveal his face- an older man with grayed cyan hair spiking as spikes on the side of his head with a carrot growing on the top of his head. He opened his jacket to reveal a toned chest with a tight-red bikini bottom.
Robin chuckled for a little bit as it reminded her of Franky.
"This must be a friend.," Robin noted.
"Yes, he's an associate of the good doctor.," explained Stussy.
"Oh, a lovely lady's accompanying us! Two in fact!," Sanji squealed as he saw Stussy and Clisson.
"I'm not with her. She must have her own reasons. We seem to not like our employers all that much.," the blonde replied as Clisson looked at Luffy before darting back with a blush.
Franky gritted his teeth as he remembered this individual. He had abandoned him at Water 7 when he was very young and he hadn't heard of him since. But seeing his face made him relive his memories.
"Tom SUPER raised you right it seems.," said the man.
"Of course. He was more of a-," Franky said before Vega 40 went to him.
"Dad.," she said as she went to him as he patted her on the head. Franky was stunned.
"So she wasn't lying. Seems like you moved on after me...Wait, what are you doing here?," asked Franky.
"Oh, he's your dad...the eyelashes on you guys are similar...also, you all dress the same.," Zoro noted as he saw that this old man was also wearing tight shorts as well.
"I am Cutty Vegapunk the 39th. If Fran manages to do a SUPER scientific achievement to succeed me. He'll be the 40th Vegapunk. He mispronounced his name as Flam.," the old man explained.
"Huh? But the apple-guy is Vegapunk. You faker!," shouted Luffy as he recovered after consuming some leftover rations in the room.
"Why are you hiding out here, you shitty perv?," asked Sanji.
"I was allowed to crash in by Applerock after escaping a certain place...your attitude reminds me of a crewmate of mine. Said he wanted to open a restaurant and his dream was finding ALL BLUE," said this old man.
"Wait, would the man we met happen to have the real name of Applerock?," asked Robin as Vegapunk nodded.
"Well, he has an apple on his head, but that's so confusing. Stop confusing things, Carrot-top!" Luffy remarked.
Sanji's eyes widened as the description of the man dawned on him
"You knew Zeff?," asked Sanji.
That's for another time.," the old man said as he turned to Bonney who stared at the bubble.
"What is it?," asked the pink-haired young woman.
"It's Kuma's memories, encapsulated in this bubble. It's part of the process of his transformation into a cyborg," the old man said solemnly. His voice was a blend of regret and anger as he clenched his fist.
"That damn old man did this. I don't care if it's Applerock or-," the girl retorted.
"Most scientists believe they need funding to create their dreams. But doing so in this era means selling your soul to the devil," he explained.
"What do you mean?," Bonney asked with furrowed brows.
He then saw Luffy impulsively touch it without a second thought.
"Oi! Read the mood!," the old man shouted as the room illuminated.
Unknown Space
Bonney opened her eyes to see a rundown hospital as she saw an infant version of Kuma with his father, Clapp, and his human mother.
The others were there as well.
"What the?," asked Luffy as he looked around.
"This looks like Sorbet Kingdom...it doesn't look like we've been teleported.," Robin noted.
"What's this?," asked Zoro.
"Like I know.," Sanji.
"So others can enter it as well...interesting...," said the old man as Vega 40 took notes.
"What the hell is this?," asked Franky.
"His memories...," explained Vega 40.
"Congratulations. He's a big healthy boy.," said the doctor.
"I'm so glad to meet you.," said Clapp, a large Buccaneer.
"Hello Kuma.," said the mother.
Clapp then went to the doctor as he requested-
"Please don't let this be a public record. Our kind isn't so well-liked...," he said.
"And with good reason.," said a deep voice that made Clapp freeze in horror as he saw a summoning circle.
It was Saturn with some garbed figures.
"Damnit! How?!," the doctor cursed before his head exploded by Saturn's stare.
"You've found us! Is it due to THAT power?," asked Clapp.
"You made a mistake giving birth to more of your accursed bloodline.," the Elder explained as the knights drew their swords.
"Please don't kill him!," the mother begged.
"No, a quick death would be too merciful...You deserve Hell.," he said as the knights wrapped them in chains.
"That damn jerk! Isn't that right, Luffy!," Sanji shouted before noticing Luffy was napping.
Bonney then kicked him awake.
"Ow...that hurt...," Luffy said before she asked-
"Please don't look away."
Seeing the tears in her eyes, Luffy uncharacteristically nodded in solemn understanding.
Years went on by as inside a castle Kuma was whipped, forced to hard labor, and given less than satisfactory meals to barely make it to the next day.
"You better not cry or else we'll kill you!," cried a World Noble.
Kuma then saw his mother being taken away by very suspicious-looking World Nobles in robes with a particular crest Luffy slightly recognized.
"I'm sorry...she caught the eye of one of the more unsavory ones...I'm sorry, your father's weak despite being a Buccaneer...But don't worry...Remember Nika and his successor, Joyboy...it's been passed down through generations...the white warriors of liberation...Eventually, you'll be-," said the father before suddenly he punched into a bloody mess into a wall by a currently silhouetted, muscular man.
"The only thing you need to pray to for the mercy of the World Nobles' God- pure Ambition. It's by their whims you still have a purpose...I need to clean this.," said the man as he went to accompany Saturn along with the Elders and 18 other shadows including one prominent one with red eyes and a crown-shaped top.
Kuma's previously smiling face collapsed into despair. Bonney rushed to him but the image distorted before she could reach him.
Years passed still but this time, it was on an island shaped like hands in prayer.
Several Slaves were being hunted down for the World Nobles' usual hunting games. It was merely for show as it was a sadistic game in which the Holy Knights would slaughter the non-government-associated populace along with any slaves they brought with them.
"Please...I don't wanna!," Kuma cried as he was being dragged back into the crowd.
"We'll get in more horrible deaths if we don't comply! It's how the world works!" shouted a slave before suddenly he was kicked by a familiar blue-afroed, large-headed youth accompanied by a pink-haired girl.
"Yee-ha! It doesn't have to be that way! C'mon. They got special Devil Fruits we can steal!," shouted the afro youth.
"That's Ivankov!," Luffy noticed as Sanji grumbled.
Bonney gave subtle tears as she saw the pink-haired girl.
Overseeing the Holy Knights was Saturn. He stared at Kuma and a woman with light-blue hair that resembled Vega 40.
"Are you sure about this?" asked a knight who had an uncanny resemblance to Shanks but had a crescent-shaped haircut.
"She voiced opinions unworthy of being one of us. Are you showing compassion?," inquired the old man.
"No, I wished the one who rebelled was tougher. Killing weak insects is going to be boring," the man said as he began to walk down.
"I killed the king earlier so that led me to get a lot of negative points. Time to rack up the score-," said the knight before he was kneed in the face by an unexpected arrival
A tall man with normal proportions His long, darkish hair was an unruly mass, with locks sticking out unevenly behind his head, in every direction. He had slanted eyes and seemingly tended to sport a wide, toothy smile. His main outfit consisted of a high-collared sailor's coat with fringed epaulettes, plus a buttoned shoulder belt worn open to expose his chest.
Saturn's stoic expression turned into fury as he gave a guttural mutter-
"Xebec..."
"YOU LIED TO ME! GOD'S VALLEY ISN'T YOUR HOMELAND?!," shouted the man.
"You idiot. It worshipped the Ten Gods that were erased by the World Government. At least, that's what we learned there right? Also, you rang ahead! You better not have forgotten the goal!," shouted a familiar voice to Luffy- it was Edward Newgate, better known as Whitebeard except he was wearing an open green shirt and had long flowing blond hair.
"Oh, this isn't your homeland as well, and you moved up there because it was high and up in the heavens? " the figure asked.
"What are you babbling about?," asked a bull-skull-wearing knight.
"At least, you're not complete idiots then.," the stringy-haired man said.
The more intelligent World Nobles collectively were immediately enraged by the statement's implications.
"Why are these guys even here?!," asked a princely knight.
"Someone must've sent out a signal...There's a very intelligent insect amongst the mindless rabble to do this.," observed the bull-skull-masked knight.
"I would've come even if it wasn't...you took something I deeply treasure! I'm taking them back!," the man shouted.
"Oi, oi. We're not tagging along for your whims!," shouted a blond man with long, flowing hair wearing anorange trimmed, red, and black kimono robe tied together with a dark green sash, and a golden chain around his waist; he also wore a yellow striped tattered haori coat draped over his shoulders.
"They say rare Devil Fruits are on this island. I want them for my family!," shouted a pink-haired voluptuous woman wearing a pirate hat, blue buttoned shirt, and long pants.
"Hmm...Shiki and Big Mom...they don't look that different.," Luffy said.
"They look completely different! Wait, they were on the same crew!?," shouted Sanji.
"Newgate! Let's ditch them and let's go off on our own!," said a woman who had an uncanny appearance to Stussy.
"Wait, there's two of them!," Luffy shouted.
"Technically true. I'm a clone of her.," said Stussy.
"Wha?!," Luffy shouted.
"What're you doing here?," asked Zoro referring to Stussy and Clisson.
"I'll explain once everything is done. She has her own reasons I bet.," the blonde noted the dark-skinned girl.
"No, let's fight together, Eddie.," saida tall, slender, and beautiful woman. She wore a similar outfit to the Pirate Empress Boa Hancock, a revealing dark V-neck blouse that showed much of her chest and a loose sarong that exposed her long, slender legs with the symbol of the Kuja adorned on it, along with a white cape sporting epaulets.
Both women glared at each other with intensity.
"You really need to resolve that, Newgate.," said a man wearing bulky golden armor with a long black beard.
"Hiss...," said a fully-armored individual with a helmet with several eye holes, who wore a large red cape, and a pair of claws.
"Oi, say something!" shouted a muscular man with two long horns emerging from the sides of his head covered in long black hair and wearing a purple shirt with white pants.
"Go to the back of the line, cabin boy.," said a fully armored individual who was short and stubby wielding an ax and shield.
A man wearing a black top hat with goggles a blue, baggy coat with red star patterns, and a dark blue bikini bottom with sandals looked at the light-blue-haired woman. He resembled Vega 40's dad but younger.
"Don't if I take her?," asked a blonde, hunkish man with dark-blue lips, which Sanji knew resembled Queen which made him scowl in disgust.
The other members included-
A long-chinned man with long light pink hair and wore a white shirt with bandages. He wears a red coat, with yellow shoulder pads, and pink on the end of the sleeves. His pants have vertical white and black stripes.
A Dunkleosteus-type Fishman with eyebrows that resembled Jinbe's, wearing a sea-green suit of armor. Accompanying him was a more generic-looking Fishman of stout girth.
A moose Mink with a blue nose wearing an open lab coat with dark blue shorts, giving off slight Chopper vibes.
A stout, red-nosed clown with blue hair styled into the shape of a jester hat wearing a lederhosen-styled clone outfit.
A heavily armored Giant with a long white beard with an odd black covering over his right eye. He wielded a long spear.
A young bespectacled woman with purple deadlock hair dressed in a black crop top with a high collar and long sleeves; black pants with curved shoes; and a witch's hat. She seemed less amoral than the others.
A gigantic, well-proportioned woman with pale skin, raven black hair that went down her back, and black sclera eyes with red irises. Unusually, she had a purple-beaked mouth with yellow fangs with purple scales going down to her neck, four arms, and two dragonfly wings. Her attire consisted of a short purple jacket with purple puffy sleeves but otherwise was topless with purple pants.
A black silhouette of a large mafia don with a coat and suit. His striking feature was his small, round red eyes without sclera
A man in a white suit with a braided goatee and spiky blonde hair.
A tan woman with long, braided green hair with yellow ripple eyes resembling Mihawk wearing a green tube top, arm warmers, and baggy pants with toeless leggings. She wielded a large sword on her back of an ornate design.
A blue-haired woman in a cowgirl outfit with a long brown coat and two massive rifles on her back. Her eyelashes resembled Teach and Usopp while her eyes were round with circular blue irises that made her stand out compared to most girls.
And a massive humanoid wearing odd purple clothing covered in runes that Robin recognized as the Poneglyph language. He wore a three-eyed horned human skull mask with golden horns pointed upwards before the tips turned to the sides. His most unusual feature was his massive white wings on his back and the hint of ice flurrying around him.
"I'm getting all the treasure you know.," said the pink-haired drunkard.
"WHY AREN'T WE KILLING YET?! BLOOD I ACHE FOR THE TASTE OF THE FALSE GODS' BLOOD?! WHY ARE WE CONCERNED ABOUT MERE WEALTH WHEN WE COULD BE IN THE THICK OF SLAUGHTER?!," shouted the armored Fishman.
"You need to chill the hell out!," yelled the drunk to the Dunkleosteus Fishman.
"You might be all for the wealth and display of power, but...as a doctor, I can't see people untreated.," said the doctor observing all the slaves, especially the sickly ones.
"You do you. I'm just into doing a stellar performance.," remarked the clown.
"Damnit, you dragged me into this, you foolhardy dolt," complained the silhouette.
"I don't see all of them.," said the giant.
The four-armed woman looked very concerned, darting around for the signs of something or someone.
The blue-haired woman smiled while occasionally looking for someone with a perturbed expression.
"I'm gonna lead the charge? That alright with you?" asked the green-haired woman to the spiky-haired man in the white suit.
"That makes me very concerned.," he said as he took a smoke, much to the green-haired lady's chagrin.
"Shaddup.," she muttered.
The winged humanoid was about to lunge forward when a civilian yelled-
"It's the Roger Pirates...and the Marines led by Garp!"
"It must be due to that noisy insect...," said the crescent-haired man as he got up.
That might be the case with those two. But He's here for THEM..., thought Saturn.
The Roger Pirates rushed ashore as Roger- lacking his iconic mustache and cursed-
"Damn him. He got to Lodestar before me. What did he mean- I'm not in the right mindset to go? Go where? Anyway, he's always getting in my way for years! I'm still mad about a year ago!"
"Captain rights don't matter in a fight like this. We get out before things get too crazy and-"
"Wahahaha. I'm finally gonna turn you in! You bastards!," Garp yelled as he was accompanied by Boggart.
The stringy-haired man dashed to the crowd, looking for someone when Roger intercepted and the two clashed blades as the entire island rumbled- causing countless weak-willed individuals to instantly be rendered unconscious, leaving only those with stronger wills around.
"Oi, Copter. Ben. Get these wimps out of here! They'd just get stomped!" the stringy-haired man yelled as the Mink and winged humanoid changed into currently obscured creatures to grab as many unconscious slaves as possible.
"Tch. I thought we were just after prizes. They'll only drag us down.," Shiki argued.
"Which is why they have to go. It's hard to move with having to maneuver around people lying around.," said the witch girl.
"Mamamamamama. You're just being fancy about being concerned! It's better to just ignore the collateral damage.," said Linlin much to the witch's chagrin.
"Talk like that makes me question how you can create a utopia.," the witch noted, which irked Linlin.
"I didn't think you'd be greedy for more Devil Fruits when you already have one!," shouted Roger.
"Like I care what you think I'm here for! You wear that hat and you're doing nothing seeing this? You don't understand its purpose! Freedom is-," the stringy-haired man.
"Shaddup Xebec! I live how I want! You're talkin' about me being a hero! That isn't my thing!" Roger argued.
"I'm getting nowhere with him!" shouted Xebec as his eyes came into view- black sclera with red irises.
The images then widely warped as if it was deliberately altered- the only thing remaining was Kuma, the blue-afro youth, and the pink-haired girl all getting Devil Fruits before they left the island with as many slaves as possible.
The images solidified as the pink-haired man, the golden-armored man, the Kuja woman, the Stussy lookalike, and the spiky-haired man in the suit left on ships of the armada; the Giant, the ax-knight, the witch, the four-armed lady, the moose Mink and the blue-haired woman in chains; the Dunkelosteus and the clown slain; the silhouette, the armored individual with claws, the implied younger Vegapunk the 40th, the green-haired woman and the winged warrior all unconscious as they were taken by their own people; and Shiki, Kaido, Linlin, and Whitebeard kneeling before an unseen figure. Xebec was on the ground fatally wounded as an obscured small child cried Daddy.
Saturn then thought back to Kuma as he confronted the youth prior to the Devil Fruit.
"You Buccaneers and other races are aberrations meant to be enslaved by gods or else get erased from history. It's a miracle you've survived this long.," he said.
"You're only gods because you convinced others by hiding the truth and labeling yourself important without earning it or inheriting a true legacy. Slavery doesn't need a reason to exist- we should help each other out because we want to. I'll be like Nika and Joyboy and help to make a world where the true gods exist for the people's sake and to follow their example in liberation.," said the young Kuma.
"Then you'll suffer for those beliefs.," Saturn said just before the afro-youth saved him.
Next Chapter: Kuma the Saint
Author Notes: This plays out similarly to how the manga did with the God Valley incident as I intend to reveal important details as they come up with the additional members playing larger roles. The only real difference is that Bonney now has an audience to go along with viewing the past. Next up is Kuma's background.