Chapter Twenty: The Holy Land Marie Geoise
Note: Kind of a sad chapter. Depends on the person I suppose.
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Fear is a natural, primitive, human emotion.
It is what alerts humans to danger or threat of harm. For many, that danger is merely psychological. It stems from the inner workings of our minds, our memories, our emotions, our experiences.
Irrational fear is the term for those who exhibit an extreme fear of an object or an event (known as phobia scientifically). This fear is exactly as it is. It is simply irrational. And yet, if it were so irrational, why is it so threatening?
Why is it that it affected you so much?
For most people your age, they would be in school, have friends, socialize, and hangout, doing whatever most children did. Or most teens. For you, however, it was training, and wandering aimlessly down the halls of Marine Ford.
You had friends, Smokey and Drake (and sometimes Lucci would come to visit after missions), but you supposed that you wanted some normalcy in your life. You were a rowdy child, energetic, and frankly, very outgoing. That was child you. Now that you were a teen (fifteen to be exact), there were things that you thought of that you never had before.
There had never been a need to feel self conscious about yourself. As a child, you would simply be seen as that: a child. A child that was special, a prodigy. But now, now that you were aware, you held these feelings that you've never felt before.
It made your fears seem like something stupid, something that people would critize someone like you about. It was stupid. How would you ever become a pirate (marine to those who didn't know quite yet), if you could never step foot in those salty waters? How would it be possible for you to live if you're surrounded by something you were afraid of?
You were pathetic. Your strengths were useless if you could never accomplish anything. Hell, they wouldn't even be strengths in the first place. You were useless. You were just a brand new pencil without a pencil sharpener. Full of potential, but useless all the same.
And that was when you had your first taste of self depreciation.
---
- 2 Years Ago -
You were doing it again.
Garp and Sengoku noticed. You were staring at the wall, looking disinterested and detached. Those who didn't know you very well would have said that you were bored. It might have been true; Smoker and Drake were out on a small mission, and the Admirals had been extremely busy this entire week. It would have been reasonable to assume that you were bored.
But no, that was not the case.
Sometimes Garp felt that he didn't raise you quite right. Luffy and Ace had turned out fine (besides the pirating thing, darn kids), so why did you seem so different? Why is it that you weren't pestering him about ice cream or gelato anymore? Why is it that all you did was stare until someone came to hangout with you?
Maybe you were feeling lonely. Sengoku had suggested that, but why would you feel lonely when you were constantly surrounded by people? You liked to talk to people and followed them around like a lost puppy, so why was it that sometimes you would look so... sad?
"You're too overprotective," Sengoku huffed as he sat hunched over his desk. "You beat up all those marines who always chase after her. Why else would she feel lonely? All she has is those five and us."
"She doesn't need those boys!" Garp retorted with a huff. "Isn't our family enough?"
"Garp. I don't think you understand parenting," Sengoku began, causing the other man to let out a groan. "You know it's true." He held up a wanted poster. "Your adopted grandson's making his name as a pirate, and your actual child is the leader of the Revolutionary."
Garp turned away, crossing his arms. "Like you're any better."
"All of Y/n's friends are male figures, feared male figures. At least consider Y/n's feelings," Sengoku attempted to persuade, setting his work aside. "We both know that Y/n needs more people in her life. She needs to see places other than the walls of MarineFord."
"She goes into the town..." Garp muttered under his breath.
"You know she doesn't have the same bond with the people of the town." Sengoku rubbed his eyes. "Those people practically worship her. She needs more friends. Let her visit your grandson sometime again."
Sengoku paused, letting his hand fall back to his desk as he pushed himself up. Stalking over to Garp, he placed a hand over his shoulder. The Fleet Admiral gave his friend a solemn look.
"I know that parenting is hard. I lost someone I considered to be a son a long time ago." Sengoku let out a deep sigh. "But if you let her out once and a while, things will get better. Y/n is no bird. She has independent will. If you don't want her to visit your grandson, then at least figure something else out."
Letting go of his shoulder, Sengoku stalked out, leaving Garp alone with his thoughts. Garp groaned, scratching the side of his head.
Letting you go out... How would that even be possible if you couldn't even get on a ship?
Your dream of becoming a pirate would never be achieved at this rate. He clenched his teeth. Garp didn't really want you to become a marine, much like his grandsons. No, he didn't want you to experience the cruel parts of this world. And he didn't want the corruption to get to you.
A part of him knew that you would want to be a pirate if he sent you to Dadan. He knew that Ace and Luffy would tell you of their ideologies and dreams, and that you would want to be a part of that too.
You would be safer away from the World Government, that fact was evident. That was why he approved of your dream in the first place. It was why he permitted your wish to become a pirate. It was because he knew you wouldn't be like the others. You wouldn't become a bloodthirsty pirate.
But he needed the World Government to think that.
He needed them to think that you were dangerous. He needed you to have connections that would instill fear inside them. So much fear that they wouldn't even touch you.
And that was when he had a brilliant idea.
"Garp..." Sengoku groaned, closing his eyes and pinching the bridge of his nose in disbelief. "When I said to come up with an idea, I didn't mean... this."
"It's a good idea, right?" Garp asked, munching on rice crackers as he began to search for the transponder snails. "She's good at making people like her. It's going to work."
The Fleet Admiral shook his head, going over to stop Garp from pulling out the snails. Pushing the Vice Admiral to the side, Garp raised an eyebrow at the stern expression on Sengoku's face.
"What?"
" 'What'? Garp! You realize that not everybody is affected by her?" Garp shrugged his shoulders dismissively, causing the other man to gape. "Garp! This isn't a good idea!" Garp sharply turned around, shoving a cracker in his face.
"Namehunersonoowashintaffrected."
"Sa-..." Sengoku stilled for a moment. "Sakazuki . Sakazuki didn't like her. He didn't like her because he thought she was annoying. But..."
He was affected by you too.
"But Sakazuki manipulates her innocence, so technically he wasn't affected," Sengoku pointed out, trying to prove a point. "We have no idea if it's going to work on the shichibukai. So far, she affects weak willed and kind hearted individuals the most, and the cold ones the least. They're pirates. It's not possible- OI GARP!"
Garp didn't react as Sengoku stretched his hand out to take the snail out of his hands. Unsuccessfully. Garp dangled it in front of Sengoku's face, by his thumb and index finger.
"You asked for an idea, I gave you an idea." Sengoku gritted his teeth, before letting out an exasperated sigh.
"I suppose it is a rather clever idea," he grumbled. "You're not going to say something ridiculous now like making her befriend the World Government are you?" He pointed accusingly at Garp, who suddenly brightened up.
"That's not a bad idea-"
"It's a terrible idea, Garp. I was joking. They're going to manipulate her into taking over the world." Garp busted out laughing at Sengoku's appalled expression.
"Ha! But-" Garp suddenly flopped to the floor, letting out a large snore.
Sengoku stared at the man with an unimpressed look. Bending down, he plucked the snail off of his hands (he had to pry them apart actually).
"Narcoleptic fool..." he grumbled, placing the snail down and detaching the receiver.
"Purupurupuru- Gacha."
"We are requesting that the meeting in Marie Geoise today be mandatory. All shichibukai are to attend." Hanging up the call quickly, Sengoku let out a sigh for like the bagillionth time. "I hope you're happy Garp. If this fails, it's going to be your head."
---
"Lucci? Do you think I'm annoying?" you wondered, giggling a bit when Hattori nipped affectionately at your fingers. "Am I too loud?" Lucci's eyes wandered to your face, raising an eyebrow at your sudden question.
Lucci had come to report back to Marine HQ along with Spandam, who should be speaking with Sakazuki at this very moment. He said that he only came because it was his job, and that Spandam requested him to come, but he only really did come because he wanted to see you again.
He would never admit it aloud, but he missed your presence a bit. You made an impact on his life several years ago when he found you playing with Hattori. There was just something about you that he couldn't quite place.
"No. If I did, I would not be here." He watched as your expression brightened up significantly. Busting out in laughter, you gave him a small hug.
"That's good. I missed you a lot! I bet you've been working hard." Hattori nipped your finger, causing you to giggle. Stroking his feathers, you placed a kiss on his head. "You've been working hard too Hattori. Here. I made sure to get you a treat when I heard you guys were coming."
Holding out a small cracker, Hattori's eyes practically sparkled as he nuzzled into your hands. Grabbing the cracker in his beak, he flew off to enjoy his treat.
"Ah, I'm so happy you came today." You sighed, flopping onto the grass. "Everyone is doing stuff without me. It kind of got a little lonely. There's nothing to do here except train and watch the sea."
Your face contorted to one of discomfort briefly, before you gave him a big smile. "So what have you been doing? Oh yeah, I got you the brandy that you wanted. I almost got caught by Saka-chan!" You laughed as you magically pulled out the alcohol, dropping it onto his lap.
"I don't approve of underage drinking, but there you go! I risked my life for it!"
Lucci stared at the bottle of brandy in his lap in surprise. Well, leave it to you to remember what kind of alcohol he liked. You were such a people pleaser. You were truly too kind for your own good.
Opening up the bottle, he took a whiff. With narrowed eyes, he took a long sip, letting the alcohol flood into his mouth, filling his taste buds. He let out a hum of content. It was good.
Slowly lifting his lips from the rim of the bottle, he stared at you thoughtfully. Setting the glass bottle aside, he gently grabbed your hand, pulling you into his lap. Wrapping his hands around your frame in a gentle manner, he let his head set on top of your head, letting his nose take in your familiar scent. That very same scent that had attracted him to you one fateful day.
It was just so addicting. There was something about you that made something inside of him stirr, made him feel overly territorial. You smelled good, not just because of your shampoo; he liked your natural scent that lingered beneath it all.
"You smell nice," he spoke, voice husky as he began to feel drunk on your scent.
You didn't move as he moved his head to your ear, his breath fanning the sensitive skin, sending shivers down your spine. You began to tilt your head to see what he was doing when you felt a small nip on your ear.
"Ow..." you whined softly, bringing your hand up. You felt a wetness there, and pulling your hand back, you saw that it was blood. "Lucci. This is why I don't think you should drink."
He blinked slowly, gently pulling back and coming back to his senses. He licked his lips, tasting a lingering metallic taste. He strangely enjoyed it, savoring it in his mouth. Eyes flickering over to you, Lucci saw that you didn't appear to be mad. Just a little concerned by his behavior.
"Are you okay?"
"Yes," he responded automatically without much thought. He was definitely feeling okay. Better than okay, actually.
In the past, he had always been intoxicated by your scent. Ever since he had found you with Hattori, feeding him little crackers. He had been enamored by it, but it was never this powerful. But with each time that he came back, your scent had become gradually and gradually overpowering.
Beautifully so.
It was like a drug, a very addicting one. Maybe it had something to do with his Devil Fruit that it was getting hard to restrain himself. Maybe there was something different about you that stirred the animal within him. Whatever it was, he hoped it wouldn't affect him too much.
"There you are." He looked up, slightly startled by the sudden appearance of Sengoku. He didn't even sense his presence. He blamed it on your scent.
"Hey Grandad!" you shouted, waving to him. When you did, you watch his face morph into one of dread. "What's wrong?" you asked, concerned.
"What are you doing?" he whispered, looking around as if scared that someone would hear him. Maybe that was exactly what he was concerned about. Sengoku gestured to you and Lucci with his hands, and you tilted your head at what exactly he was doing.
And then it clicked.
"Ooooh." He was talking about why you were in Lucci's lap with his arms holding you close to him possessively. "We were talking about alcohol and Lucci said I smelled nice."
...
Sengoku's jaw dropped, and he told himself to calm down before he killed the CP9 member.
The wording was so incredibly bad, but he was sure that you didn't mean it like that. First of all: You didn't drink. You probably got some (most likely sneaked it) for Lucci and was just telling him about your endeavors of getting it to him.
Second of all... well, he didn't really know what to say to the part where Lucci said you smelled nice. Or why you were in his lap.
This all would have been relevant if he didn't suddenly remember why exactly he was looking for you. Brushing everything to the side, he strutted over to you quickly, pulling you out of Lucci's arms.
"Just don't tell Garp about this," Sengoku muttered to the two of you, mainly to you. You nodded your head in confirmation. "We're going to Marie Geoise."
"Okay, but let me say bye to Lucci and Hattori first." Turning around, you waved to the two of them. "Bye guys! Hope you enjoy the alcohol, Lucci! See you later!" You couldn't see it, but inwardly, Lucci was rather disappointed that his time with you was so short. As you turned back forward, placing your hand into your Grandad's own, Lucci glared at the older man.
He was unbelievably angry, and the lingering of your scent did little to quell his rage. How long would he have to wait to visit you again? How long until he can smell you and hold you in his arms once more?
Lucci gritted his teeth, only able to watch you leave. The alcohol in his hands wouldn't be enough for when he went back to Water 7.
You hummed to yourself, happily walking beside Sengoku as he led you along.
"Why are we going to Marie Geoise, Grandad? That's the place where the descendents of the first twenty kings reside in, right?" Sengoku nodded his head, pulling you along with him.
"That's right," he spoke, attempting to discreetly steer you towards the docks. "Marie Geoise is a place located on top of the Red Line. And it has a forest." He was attempting to distract you from your impending panic attack.
Your eyes were on him as the dock drew closer. Only ten feet to the dock, another ten to get onto the ship. He was so close.
"Ooooh! A forest? Wow. What kind of animals live up there? The air is pretty thin isn't it?" You put a finger under your chin, eyebrows furrowed in thought. "Hey, you said that I was going right...?"
Oh shit.
"...Don't freak out."
That abruptly stopped the conversation, and you were suddenly very aware of the dock that you were standing on.
A little part of you was happy that you were going to leave this hell hole of loneliness, even if for a bit, and yet the irrational part of you was just screaming at you to run back into the safe confines of your bed. The actual part of you was still processing everything that was happening.
Which was Garp running quickly to haul you over his shoulder and make a fucking sprint to the boat. All you could think about and see was the dark waters as you bounced up and down on his shoulder.
Water.
Water.
Water.
You were going to drown.
"NOOOOOOOOOOOO!" Your cries of protest increased, as you began to move faster, beginning to use more and more of your true strength. Garp widened his eyes as he felt your strength increase exponentially, beginning to struggle holding your small body as he clambered on board.
"LET ME GO! I DON'T WANT TO! LET ME GO!"
The crew could only sweat drop as the Vice Admiral continued his way down towards the private quarters. The ship was beginning to take off and you and you could only hopelessly dangle from Garp's shoulder as the two of you reached your private quarters, which was just you sharing a room with your two grandfathers. Tossing you onto a bed, your instincts kicked in and you set your hands in front of you so that they would catch you, making a brief handstand, before flipping yourself up.
"Please take me back to land," you whimpered, diving into the bed and burrowing yourself underneath the blankets. "Land land land... I can't do this... I'm scared..." Your hands shook as you clenched your eyes, attempting to hide away in the darkness.
Your hands were beginning to feel sweaty and clammy, and you shakily wiped them on the blanket. You choked a little bit as you cried under the blanket.
Garp let out a sigh, and you could feel the bed sag down as he took a seat. He gingerly placed his hand on top of your head, grabbing at the blankets and pulling them off.
"You're going to pass out if you do that," Garp spoke gently, pulling you into his chest. "We're not going to sink. That's stupid. You think your grandpa would die by drowning? Ha! I survived fighting Roger and lived! The sea won't be able to take our lives, and it won't take yours."
A hiccup escaped your lips.
"If you want to survive this world, you're going to have to get rid of these fears. You need to have courage. Do you want to be a pirate?" You nodded your head. "Then face your fears. You're a strong girl. You would have made a good marine."
Garp looked a little sad as he spoke his next few words.
"The world is a cruel place. The Government is corrupt. You won't be safe with us protecting you." He let out a sigh.
Because you will have no choice but to listen to the Government.
It wasn't said, but you knew what he implied.
"Why are we going to Marie Geoise?" you asked, wiping your tears away with your hand, feeling a little calmer. "Is it because I want to be a pirate? Grandpa, what's going to happen when I become a pirate?"
"..." Garp looked away, staring out the window.
"Grandpa?" Your voice cracked. "Are we... are we going to be-?"
"I don't know. We don't know."
Your lip quivered as your eyes began to well up with tears. No... No...
It felt as if the weight of the world was on your shoulders, as you shook, crying once more. This time, not of the sea, but of the fear of the future. You had always been scared that one day, your bonds with the people you loved would end.
And now that you were on your way to your new dream, you realized that it would happen.
It would happen because you chose it to happen.
---
Marie Geoise wasn't exactly what you expected it to be like.
Sure, the elevator ride up to the top was fun, but you couldn't help but feel this existential dread of seeing what would be at the top. Something about this trip felt weird, familiar, kind of like deja vu, and you couldn't understand why.
Passing through the clouds, you shivered slightly as the cold nipped your skin, making goosebumps appear on your skin. It came to a sudden stop once it reached the top of the Red Line, and you felt your heart stop when you saw the view before you.
Perhaps to some the view was grand, with the large expanse of forest that stretched on for what seemed like miles. A pathway stretched from where you stood rooted to your spot to the large building of what you could only assume as Marie Geoise, with large archways and gates. It was like something straight out of a fairy tale.
Except it wasn't. You could feel it.
The air was still, with only the distant sound of rushing water from the ocean below. There were no animals. No chirping of birds; no rustling of grass; no crickets; no bugs; no life; The forest was dead.
You took a hesitant step forward, looking at this supposed wonderful place called Marie Geoise. Breathing in, you closed your eyes. No wind. You could hear your grandfathers' footsteps from behind you, pausing beside you. Your eyes were still closed as you focused your haki to the world around you.
Opening your eyes, you couldn't even find the tears to cry.
There really was nothing.
"What do you think?" Sengoku asked.
"I hate it." Garp and Sengoku stiffened, taken aback by your bluntness and negativity. The guards that accompanied the three of you stiffened as well. The coldness in your tone was eerie; unnatural.
Sengoku's eyes traveled down your figure, noticing how your fists trembled. He would have thought you were cold, but he knew you better than that. You weren't cold. You were pissed. Pissed wasn't even the word to describe you.
There was only one other time that they had seen you furious. You were never angry when Sakazuki threw you in the sea, or when something unfortunate happened and plans never went your way. You weren't angry when someone accidentally broke your tea sets, or when someone stole your food.
There were times when you were unhappy with things, like when Sakazuki was picking on your friends, but you were never angry. Never. It was only when someone touched your forest that you exploded.
And right now, you were definitely angry.
"It smells fake, a sad imitation of what could have been." You paused. "What it used to have been. Birds, myriads of them would have been able to live off of this place. Insects would have been thriving, rabbits and deer would have been living their lives... This place..." Your voice cracked.
"Why..." Your body shook as you ran down the pathway, coming to a stop towards the machinery that Sengoku recognized. It was that conveyor belt, a travelator to be more specific that moved you to the entrance.
They [Garp, Sengoku, and the guards] watched as you bent down slowly, holding out a shaky hand and placing it on the ground. You flinched, stumbling back and falling to the ground. If possible, your shaking got worse, and you clutched at your head.
Sengoku and Garp rushed to your side, having no idea what was wrong with you. Tears were coming out of your eyes now as you felt it all.
Their anger, their pain, their hopelessness. You could feel it all.
"No. No. No..." you chanted out like a mantra, covering your eyes. "P-Please- Please make it stop... I'm sorry- I'm sorry- why why why-"
"Y/n, what's wrong?" Sengoku asked worriedly, shaking your shoulders gently. He exchanged a glance with Garp, giving him a disapproving look.
"Y/n-" Garp started, before your chanting suddenly quelled. You stilled, eyes wide as if you suddenly had a realization. And that was when they noticed it. They noticed the color in your eyes. It was a pure, dark, inky black with flecks of red.
"Where is it?"
"What?" Sengoku asked. "Y/n, where is what?" You snapped your head to glare at Sengoku. Hand stretching out, you grasped his collar, pulling him down to your level.
"Don't play dumb. Where is it?"
"Y/n," he gently spoke. "You're not acting like yourself. Calm down-"
Seeing that Sengoku really had no idea what you were talking about, you let go of his collar with a huff. Hands curling into fists, you let out a loud yell, shaking the entire Red Line so badly that it felt as if it were to crumble into pieces.
Clutching your head, you let out another whimper, before sprinting towards Marie Geoise. Sengoku and Garp were quick to follow, worry and fear suddenly painted all over their features.
This had been a very bad idea.
You were running into the building.
With a crash, you kicked the door down, no disregard to whatever damage you were doing. All you could do was focus on your task. But what exactly was your task?
Your legs were moving on autopilot as you watched yourself run up the stairs. It was like you were watching a movie, seeing through your eyes but you weren't really there. You could hear the shouts of your grandfathers, but even if you wanted to listen, you couldn't.
Something surged within your veins, heightening your senses as your heart pounded furiously in your chest. You were looking for someone, something. But why? Why?
"Y/n! Get back here now!" You could hear Garp and Sengoku yelling at you to stop. You tried to desperately turn around, but you couldn't control your body.
I can't... Help... Someone help me...
Turning around the corner, your eyes spotted a room, and before you knew it, you tore it open, slamming the door behind you. Your breathing was heavy as you leaned against the door. Sliding down, you let out a long sigh. Staring down at your fingers, you moved them one by one.
You had control of your body now.
Your eyes widened when you felt your stomach churn, remembering everything. Quickly covering your mouth, you fought to keep the bile forming down, choking slightly in the process. When you no longer felt sick, a sniffle left you as you gripped at your hair, trembling at not the trouble that you were going to be in, but of all the overwhelming information that you were taking in.
You closed your eyes. You could still feel them. They were everywhere. This place was brimming with negativity and depression. It was a false utopia.
Placing a hand on the wall, you shakily stood up, suddenly very aware of the stares that were directed towards you. Looking around, you felt your cheeks flush slightly in embarrassment. You didn't recognize anybody in the room aside from granny Tsuru, who was rushing towards you in concern.
They all looked like weird people. One guy was wearing a pink feathered coat, and two of the people in the room were absolute giants. The guy who was wearing a black hat had a large wrapped stick that strangely looked like a sword. Their eyes bored into your own with interest, and you felt your anxiety levels increase.
This was not a good day.
"I-I..." You winced, head pounding. "Sorry, wrong room..." Opening the door, you were about to walk out when you saw Garp and Sengoku right in front of you.
"Y/n-"
You slammed the door shut with wide eyes.
Five Minutes Earlier...
There was never anything truly exciting about meetings.
Usually, the only people who would come were people within the vicinity, and even then, the amount who would attend were minimal. But that was because the meetings hadn't been mandatory. It was rare for all the shichibukai to be gathered in one spot, and one of those times was now.
Doflamingo sat on the table as always, as Mihawk took his seat at the large table. Besides him were Kuma and Crocodile, both who were staring absentmindedly at the wall. Gekko Moriah leaned back in his chair, a large grin plastered on his face, amused as to what Sengoku could want. Boa Hancock held a face of irritation, surrounded by all of these men, and she resorted to staring at her perfect nails. The Kuja pirate empress was especially bothered by Doflamingo, who sat on the table weirdly with his pink feathered coat fluffed out.
The only one who really seemed remotely interested was Jinbe, who was staring at the empty seat at the head of the table where none other than the Fleet Admiral Sengoku would usually reside in. He sighed.
Why exactly were they gathered there in the first place? It seemed urgent that Sengoku had told them that it was mandatory. Though, it was rather ironic that everyone else had arrived except for the man himself, especially at such a short notice.
"Fufufufu~ Look at all of us gathered in one place. You'd think that Sengoku would arrive by now." Doflamingo had his signature smile on his face as he ridiculed the man. Everyone in the room was restless. Why were they gathered there?
"He sure is taking his time," Moria inputted.
"Please be patient," Tsuru spoke from her spot. The old lady knew, unlike those Warlords, that Sengoku was arriving late, due to the fact that you were nowhere to be found. It was only until recently that she received a call that they had retrieved you and were on their way at top speed.
You were a good child, but you were such an unintentional trouble maker sometimes, especially with your odd fears. Honestly, what kind of marine was scared of the sea? Even so, Tsuru found it cute that her 'granddaughter' was always trying to be so helpful.
"Sen-" She was abruptly cut off when the ground below them began to shake violently, sending vases and other objects tumbling to the floor. An earthquake? No. Tsuru's eyes widened. This was no earthquake.
The shichibukai looked around curiously, sensing a powerful aura.
"Fufufufu~ I wonder what could be happening." Doflamingo chuckled, using his strings to tug on Mihawk's hat as the ground continued to shake. They were relatively unfazed, even as things continued to fall to the ground. That was until they felt it, pure uncut rage.
Rage so pure that it sent a prick of fear down their spines.
Jinbe narrowed his eyes, feeling the surge of anger suddenly cease, along with the quake. He realized it. They all did. That quake was not a normal occurrence; it had been man made.
"Tsuru-san," he spoke, noticing the look of distraught on her face. "Who was that?"
"I'm curious as well," Crocodile said, chewing on his cigar. "That power..."
"It was unlike anything I've ever felt! Kishishishishi!" Moria laughed, mouth curling into a large toothy grin. "Pure anger! Absolutely wonderful!"
Doflamingo watched Tsuru's expression change slightly, and he could only grin. He could tell that she was worried. And if his hunch was correct, then Tsuru knew exactly who had created the quake.
The conversation in the room suddenly stilled when voices could be heard from down the hall. It sounded like yelling, and Tsuru's worry only grew ten-fold. She hoped that you didn't cause something serious. It would be harder to keep the World Government away from you if that were the case.
The door suddenly slammed open, revealing you, tired, disheveled, and quite frankly, very stressed. Your hands shook violently as you slammed the door back shut. They watched as you leaned against the door, sliding down it in a tired manner.
Tsuru could only stand there in shock as you put your hands over your mouth, making a choking nose. Tears streamed down your face as you cried a bit to yourself, attempting to stand up with shaky legs, like a newborn doe learning to walk. That was when you stilled, lifting your head up and realizing that there were other people in the room with you.
You opened your mouth to speak, but the words never left your throat.
Doflamingo eyed you with interest leaning forward to get a better look at you. Mihawk held a serious look plastered on his face as he examined your physical state. Kuma stared showing no emotions. Hancock merely scoffed at you and your appearance, brushing you off as some insignificant pest.
Moria looked as though he didn't care (he probably didn't), and went to poking Kuma. Crocodile watched you in boredom, hand on his chin, and Jimbe was questioning who you were and if you were okay.
Actually, all the Warlords were.
"I-I... Sorry, wrong room..." Immediately turning your heel, you ripped the door open, only to meet the terrifying look of Sengoku and Garp. You slammed the door in their faces harshly. Tsuru was questioning her life choices as she watched you slam the door in your grandfathers' faces. The grin on Doflamingo's face had, if possible, gotten wider as you ran back into the room, diving behind the table. Dignity didn't matter any more if you were going to die.
In hindsight, maybe slamming the door and diving behind the table wasn't a very good idea.
"Y/n-" the female Vice Admiral was cut off by a louder and more gruff voice.
"Y/N!" Oh shit that was Garp. Boa was now bewildered at the never before scene, as you cowered behind the two largest shichibukai, those being Moria and Kuma. Doflamingo was now on the table cackling madly as Crocodile had an amused look as Garp ran into the room.
"Come out now!"
The older man stormed around the table to find you huddled behind the two shichibukai. You let out a small squeak, instinct kicking in.
With insane speed that even Doflamingo could barely keep up with, you had made your way to the corner of the room, pulling out a mop that the janitor had left. You shakily held it in your hands, backing yourself up into a corner. Staring down at the broom in your hands, you got into a stance.
"Y/n, calm down, we can talk about this," Sengoku spoke gently, slowly approaching you like a skittish animal. At this rate, you might as well be. "Put the broomstick down. Take a deep breath-"
"GRANDDAUGHTER!!!" Garp yelled, attempting to tackle you to the ground. Your muscles moved on their own, swinging down and nicking Garp in the side, sending him crashing through a wall.
Your jaw dropped, the broom slipping from your hands and clattering to the ground.
Mihawk raised a rather impressed eyebrow. You had a good form, he noted. You clearly knew what you were doing.
You had no idea what you just did.
Blitzing past Sengoku, you rant towards the balcony, throwing the doors open and stepping up to the railing. About to jump off the balcony, you sensed an attack coming for you, and you swiftly moved to the side to catch the string that was being aimed at you. You eyed the flamingo looking blond haired man who seemed to be around the three Admiral's age, and snapped the string.
A tug on your leg caused you to look down, seeing sand morphing around your foot. Huffing, you stomped your foot, causing the sand to disperse to Crocodile's surprise.
A voice called you to stare at a long, black haired person (to which you didn't know was a female), shouted at you, holding her hands into the shape of a heart. Curious as to what they were doing, a heart shot out towards you.
You made an awed expression- something that everyone else didn't fail to see as it enveloped you. To everyone's shock, and especially the Princess of the Kuja pirates, you didn't turn to stone. Tsuru could only face palm at all the attacks you were receiving from the shichibukai. Good grief this was not a good first meeting.
You jumped off the balcony successfully, and the moment that you were in mid air was when you realized that you were falling a good fifty feet at least.
You were very good at making decisions.
"Idiot."
At the sound of the familiar deep voice, you looked up, locking eyes with Phoenix. He swooped down, digging his talons into your shoulders securely, before taking off with you in his grasp. You could see everyone rush out to see you being kidnapped by the gigantic mythical creature.
"Phoenix put me down..." you begged, eyes beginning to well up with tears. "-wait wait don't drop me..." you quickly added, realizing that he was about to let go.
Garp banged his head on the railing at the idiotic situation you were in. Sengoku was by his side, not daring to use his devil fruit. He didn't think it was ethical for him to turn into a giant buddha right about now.
Tsuru pinched the bridge of her nose at your retreating figure. "This was not what I was expecting."
"Y/n..." Garp bawled as he continued to bang his head on the railing. He eventually came to an abrupt stop, and faint snoring was heard. Everyone sweatdropped at his actions.
Sengoku turned towards the King of Dressrosa with a serious expression. "Doflamingo, get her back."
"Fufufufu~ who is she exactly?"
"I'm curious as well," the world's Greatest Swordsman spoke up.
"After we- oh shit," Sengoku said as he watched your figure fall from the sky. Oh god, he could hear your terrified screams from where he was standing, and it wasn't even close to a mile to how far you were. A whoosh of air passed by him as a blur of pink sped towards the falling you at an immense speed.
Doflamingo had a determined face on as he sped towards you. He definitely didn't want you to die. He watched you in confusion as you curled yourself up in a ball. Why were you doing that? Did you not know that you were going to die quicker if you curled yourself up?
A colorful glow enveloped you in a blinding light- shades and tints of every color imaginable and beyond -as a glowing silhouette of wings erupted from your back. His eyes strained behind his shades, but it was worth it to see such an ethereal sight. It was the most majestic thing he had ever seen.
You were the most majestic he had ever seen.
And he wanted more of it. To know every little piece of your single existence.
---
"So..." At the current moment, you sat at the head of the table with all eyes upon you, especially those wings behind you. Why was this happening?! You didn't do anything to deserve this! All you did was have a complete panic attack and meltdown, and now there were strangers staring at you! Well you did destroy some stuff, but you could easily fix that!
And you did fix everything, actually. No more broken vases, or the hole you made in the wall by swinging the mop. So why did everything feel so awkward?
"Uh... Why are you all staring at me?" You unconsciously flapped your wings uncomfortably, and they slowly disappeared into thin air.
"Fufufufu~ You're interesting."
You watched the flamingo man wearily. "Oooookay." A crunching noise made you look besides you to see your black haired grandfather munching on some rice crackers. Meeting his eyes, you stared at him questioningly, to which he ate faster. Swallowing, he spoke up.
"Let's get down to the point. I gathered you all here today because of the discovery and destruction of one of the islands of the Ancient ones."
Moriah's signature grin disappeared, his mouth open wide in shock. "The Ancient Ones?!" His shout made you jolt in your spot. A large cracking sound was heard from the corner of the room, and the vase there had a significant size crack in it. Sengoku's eyes landed on the top of your head as you tried to make yourself smaller. You had almost exploded the vase in fright.
Sengoku coughed, dismissing what had just happened, and continued on. The others, however, were not as adamant of disregarding what had just occurred, some of which had a nagging suspicion that you were the culprit. "Yes, Aokiji is currently examining the island- or what remains of it at least."
"What remains of it?" Jinbe questioned. "What do you mean? How does the existence of the Ancient Ones have any importance?"
"The Ancient Ones are the people who created the Devil Fruits," Crocodile spoke. "Their power is unimaginable, even greater than Pluton itself. Just the existence of one is all that is needed to create a war between pirates and the World Government."
"This war is the last thing that we need," Sengoku spoke. "To answer your question Jimbe, an island was recently discovered not too long ago. All life forms had been wiped from existence, as if it never existed. The only thing that remained was a symbol of the Ancient Ones written on a stone."
"If the existence of the Ancient Ones is so important, why exactly are you telling us this?" Hancock asked. She pointed at you with her slim forefinger. "Does that girl have anything to do with this?"
"Er... not exactly."
"Fufufufu~ You don't sound so sure, Sengoku."
Dammit Doflamingo! The Fleet Admiral mentally thought.
"Who is she, exactly?" the King of Dressrosa continued.
Sengoku sighed. "This is Y/n." He gestured towards you with his hands. You shuffled uncomfortably. "As you saw earlier, she's a... special case."
"I don't think 'special' begins to describe what I just saw..." Crocodile spoke, his hook rested on his cheek. "Is she related to the Ancient Ones?"
"I don't know." Lies
"Do you think that Y/n knows something about this matter?" Mihawk spoke up. All eyes stared down the timid fifteen year-old girl like predators. When she didn't say anything, they turned their attention back on the man besides her, urging him to continue.
"I called all of you here today because the government requests that you partake in finding information on the Ancient Ones. Their presence- that is if one of their kind is alive -would create destruction for both Pirates and Marines."
"And what are you going to do with them once we capture them?" wondered Jimbe. He was starting to feel concerned about this whole ordeal.
"Can I have their shadow?" Moriah spoke excitedly.
"No, you may not have their shadow," sighed the man for the umpteenth time. "It hasn't been decided yet." Sengoku paused, glancing at you. He thought back to how lonely you looked without having any friends around- with the others gone on missions and such. Especially when you had decided to pursue being a Pirate rather than a Marine.
'A good pirate', that was what you had said. Someone who would, despite being a pirate, tip the marines when shit is going down. Thank god you didn't tell the Admirals or else they would have freaked.
Was this decision the right one? Would they treat you well? Teach you how to rid your fears?
He shook his head. These were pirates- why would they treat you well? You were the most precious person ever, and if you were to be in their hands- He shivered at the thought. Even if they made great Allies, he had a bad feeling as to what might happen if they befriended her. Besides, what would Sengoku and Garp (who was currently talking to Aokiji on the Den Den Mushi somewhere) do if someone were to discover that you were the key to finding unimaginable power?
Not even the World Government, nor the Admirals knew about this deadly secret. You were the key to the potential deadliest war in history. You were dangerous, dangerous and naive. You needed to be protected, but that would mean that you would need allies. Your two grandfathers didn't have the heart to tell you that you couldn't be a pirate, with your bright glowing eyes filled with happiness and determination. How it hurt them to see your face heartbroken. Maybe allies with the Warlords wouldn't be so bad...
Sengoku pinched the bridge of his nose, coming to a decision. "Additionally, I would like to ask the seven of you a personal favor. Of course, for doing so I'll only grant you a favor back in return."
At this, they all perked up, curious at what preposition the Fleet Admiral had for them. Meanwhile, you held a bored look on your face, examining the people around the room. All this talk about these "Ancient Ones", though as interesting as it was, was starting to bore you. As your eyes landed on a certain devil looking Warlord, with his cheshire grin, revealing sharp, pearly white teeth. You swore they looked so familiar... you just couldn't put your finger on it.
"A favor? That certainly is unexpected, coming from you, Sengoku."
Your eyes moved to the speaker who was the man who commented on how you were interested. If you were being honest, the man wearing the pink feathered coat was kind of creepy. But that coat though- it looked so soft and fluffy. Doflamingo watched you in the corner of his eye (though that wasn't necessary because of his sunglasses), seeing you stare at him [his coat] full of curiosity.
It was kind of adorable to see someone so interested in an inanimate object (and refreshing that someone who wasn't ogling him) such as you, and your never before seen "devil fruit" abilities were certainly alluring. He frowned when your attention was then casted over to a certain hawk, eyeing the large ass sword leaning against the table with a small tremble.
Sengoku saw the frown on the Dressrosa King's face and he casted a glance at you. You seemed to be in a world of your own, eyeing everyone curiously, though there was uncertainty in your eyes.
The beautiful, long, black haired woman didn't say anything as she thought back to your angelic form. Never had there been someone who was able to resist her charms, her Devil Fruit. It was impossible. Did you really not have a shred of attraction towards her? Was Hancock not beautiful in your eyes? She huffed, crossing her arms.
The Kuja Empress had to admit though, you were pretty cute. Her face flushed a dark crimson and she quickly covered her face up, earning odd looks from her seat mates. A certain man wearing sunglasses narrowed his eyes, having a feeling as to what she was thinking.
"What is this favor that you speak of?" Mihawk spoke up, his golden orbs sparing you a small glance. The swordsman was never one to underestimate an enemy, but the strength that you possesed did not match up with your small stature at all. Who were you?
"Preferably I wouldn't resort to this, but Y/n seriously needs someone to keep her in check. We have many capable people back at headquarters but they aren't exactly on par with Y/n."
"Wait." Moriah sat up right this time, leaning his hands on the table. "You're telling me you want us to babysit?"
You averted your eyes at the intense stares, staring at the ceiling. You realized who these people were, their posters were in Sakazuki's room. They were the shichibukai, and some insanely powerful pirates in both status and power.
"Er... no. I need some people to train her. She's trained with the three Admirals, but she needs someone capable of teaching her... other things."
"Other... things?" Jimbe gaped. He wanted them, the feared Seven Warlords of the Sea, to train a teenager? But you seemed so... skittish.
"Ah... about that. Y/n has some... complications that hinders her." Sengoku was starting to sweat. This was a bad idea. This was a totally bad idea. You had frozen still a while ago, shock coursing through your system. He had to check on you to see if you were still alive. But his last sentence seemed to have snapped you out of your trance as your eyes pleaded at him to stop.
"Complications?" Hancock spoke, eyebrows raised.
Please don't say it. You could feel tears well up in the corner of your eyes as Sengoku opened his mouth to speak.
Don't tell them and make them pity me.
"She fears the se-" You abruptly stood up, chair scraping the floor. Eyes downcast, you strutted out of the room.
You didn't want to hear your grandpa reveal you. You didn't want to see the looks on their faces when he reveals you. Why did he have to go and speak to the shichibukai about your problem? Tears escaped your eyes as you walked down the empty hallways, heels clicking the marble floors, creating echoes.
You hated yourself. How is it that you were so strong, and yet had such simple weaknesses? You weren't even a Devil Fruit user for God's sake, you could easily learn how to swim. Eventually, you felt yourself running down the halls and then outside to find a secluded area to cry your heart out in. Lonely. That was how you felt. Lonely that your male friends were getting busier. Lonely that you had no one to connect to.
Lonely.
Lonely.
Lonely.
Sengoku's mouth parted in surprise at your abrupt leave. Though he should have expected this. You never really did like disclosing to other people that you were afraid of the sea, especially after the backlash you had received one time as a child.
You had every right to be upset with him for being so selfish. He couldn't even form the words in his mouth to stop you from leaving. He- the mighty Fleet Admiral, couldn't help nor understand his granddaughter.
There will always be a wall between them, between Garp and you, that they could never cross. They were your grandfathers after all. They could only provide you with so much, and it was never what you truly needed.
The man pinched the bridge of his nose. Sometimes he wished that three Admirals weren't Admirals, so that they could spend more time with you. Even if he and Garp didn't exactly approve of the three, they were somewhat your friends, and that was what you needed. You needed more people that you could depend on, and though pirates were the last thing on his mind, they were better than nothing. Besides, they were all around your age, maybe a little older, but if you managed to form close bonds with them, then perhaps they would be able to protect you better when he could no longer.
Maybe Garp was right, this was the right course of action.
Maybe the shichibukai would take a liking to you, especially since you had somehow melted the cold hearted Akainu. But perhaps he was being delusional. Why would pirates ally with someone who couldn't even step into the sea? How were you even going to be a pirate at this rate?
"It seems that you upset her," Mihawk spoke up after you were out of the vicinity. Duh Captain Obvious. "What exactly were you going to say?"
Kuma's eyes were at the door, the gears in his mind turning, gaging your reactions. That sad expression you had on your face- it didn't look right. You seemed like a sensitive person who bottled their emotions in, and this event seemed to have been your breaking point.
His eyes then traveled to the Fleet Admiral, an emotion sparking within him. What was it? Dislike? Hatred? Annoyance? He didn't know, but the curly brown haired man didn't like the aura that had surrounded you. Sengoku shuffled, seemingly uncomfortable with Mihawk's question.
"Just spit it out already," the sand man growled.
"She's afraid of the sea."
"..."
"..."
"..."
"..."
"..."
"..."
"Fufufufu~ That's unexpected." The grin on the man's face was forced as he tried to keep in character. He wasn't going to show that he felt rather irritated that you had left, itching to slaughter the rice cracker loving Fleet Admiral before him.
"I didn't expect someone like her to be afraid of something so idiotic." Crocodile critiqued. "What kind of person is afraid of something so simplistic? Even people with Devil Fruits have no problem heading out to sea. "
"The one who shows the most compassion," Sengoku growled, irritated that the man was mocking his only granddaughter.
"Compassion isn't exactly a good thing among marines," Jimbe spoke, feeling sympathy for you. "It's going to get her killed. I don't understand why you're trusting us, pirates- better yet shichibukai- to help her, Sengoku-san. Aren't we enemies?"
"Y/n wants to be a pirate," the man sighed. That fact alone seemed to shock the seven, even the stoic ones. "I don't have the heart to tell her she can't, so please..." God he hated begging, let alone to pirates. "Ally with her, or at least help her with her fears."
"Kishishishishi~ She's not going to last a second out there on her own." Moriah laughed. "But she sure is interesting and... cute. I'll ally with her."
"Fufufufu~ This is certainly exciting. I suppose I'll take up on your offer." Doflamingo's curiosity had gotten the best of him, and with your strange fear, he wanted to know you even more. He couldn't wait to get out of this room to find you. A part of him ached to see such a helpless, sad expression on your face, reminding him of times he wished he could forget. People were not kind. But you, he could see, was vastly different than all those that stood around him.
"I was actually thinking of removing you from this operation..." the black haired afro man mumbled under his breath, eliciting a laugh from the sand devil fruit user. A vein popped onto the blond's head, as he grinned widely, sending shivers down Sengoku's spine. Seriously, what the fuck was up with him? "That was a joke."
"You mentioned that she had "fears"," the golden eyed man spoke. "Are you implying that she has more than one?"
"... Er.. yes. Not only is she afraid of the sea, but she's scared of heights, sharp objects" Mihawk's eye twitched at that. "-and loneliness. Though I'm sure there's more..." Sengoku mumbled the last part to himself. He was actually surprised to know that two of the Warlords, one of them who was the most influential, had decided to do him a favor. "She mentioned wanting a female friend."
At that, Boa immediately spoke up. "I'll also take up on the offer, but that's only because I don't want Y/n to be lonely."
Jimbe sighed. If the others were doing it, he might as well, right? Sengoku also said that he would be granted a favor in return, and that favor could prove to be useful. "I'll do it as well."
"I will as well." Crocodile found his mouth speaking before he could even think, though he supposed that this favor would prove to help him. There was something about Y/n that felt ancient, and that something had intrigued him. Y/n was connected to the Ancient Ones, no matter how hard Sengoku tried to deny it. If she could help him find Pluton, then he would win. At least, that was what he was telling himself.
The only people left who didn't say anything were Kuma and Mihawk. Sengoku found his eyes wandering towards the larger, who simply nodded his head in confirmation. All that was left was Mihawk.
"I suppose I'll take upon the offer as well. She's certainly... intriguing." He paused. "I think I'd like to have her as my student."
Sengoku's eyes widened slightly. Mihawk stood up, grabbing Yoru, and exiting the room before Sengoku could have another word.
Mihawk's eyes scanned the halls, looking for you. If his memory served him right, you had to be the one Akagami always spoke so highly of. And that was practically 24/7. Shanks spoke of everything about you; your innocence, your gullibleness, your intelligence, your happy go lucky expression-
The swordsman saw everything the man spoke of except for that happy expression. There was no doubt that you were the cause of the earthquake. Something happened. Something happened that affected you drastically.
Stepping out of the building, he paused, hearing a soft voice.
"Still. And silent. Calm before the storm..." He recognized that voice. It was you. Peering around the corner, he turned his head to see you sitting on the grass, surrounded by flowers and clovers. They swayed gently side to side, as if they were dancing, hypnotized by your singing.
"Gold. And diamond. Jewels behind the throne..."
And he himself felt hypnotized as well.
Mihawk tilted his head back curiously when he felt another presence walking towards him. He felt his mood suddenly sour at the sight of Doflamingo and Crocodile, both who seemed curious as to what he was up to. They came to a sudden stop when they heard your voice flooding through the area.
Smooth and delicate, that were a few words to describe it.
"Into the night, out of the dark. Take to the stars, this is a start." You sucked in a breath.
"Hide and seek, reason and rhyme, grand and glorious. Living the dream, yours and mine. E- Hey!" you suddenly shouted, whining a bit when Phoenix tackled you to the ground. He cawed at you, nipping your face affectionately.
Pushing him aside, you put your hands to your hips. "Phoenix, that wasn't very funny." He tilted his head. "You know what I mean. I could have died!"
"You control the wind. You wouldn't have died."
"What if I had a heart attack?" you pointed out. "And you can't say I'm too young to have one. Shock affects health. I read that in that book Smokey made me read." You let out a breath of air. "Hey, maybe I can be a doctor. Haha.. maybe not. I'm not a big fan of blood."
You hummed to yourself for a second in thought. "Oh, I guess that makes me a pretty pathetic pirate." You laughed to yourself, before it quickly died down as you stared off into the distance.
"What do you think Grandad is talking to them about?" you muttered, stroking his feathers. "I think I should apologise to him and Gramps. I always make trouble don't I? I'm surprised nobody's really mad." You let out a depressed sigh.
"Why am I like this? Why can't I just be normal and not be afraid of such simple things? Ah... I'm such a failure..." You sighed. Phoenix shook his head at you, biting your ear scoldingly. "Ahaha... alright alright.. Sorry, I can't help but feel a little sad."
"Y/n." You jumped, turning your head to the side and seeing Garp standing before you. His eyes bored into your own. "We're leaving. I'm sure you want to leave this place." You stared up at Garp, feeling your eyes water at the sight of him.
Running to him, you enveloped him in a big hug.
"I'm sorry!" you sniffled. "I didn't mean to hit you! I just... I don't know, I felt angry... but I don't know why... I think something's wrong with me..." Garp wrapped his arms around you.
"There's nothing wrong with you," he reassured. "I would know, as your grandfather." You nodded your head.
"...I don't think I feel angry any more..." you spoke softly, staring at the forest. "I don't know what happened. It just did. Something was screaming, so I started to scream to.. I think- I think I sound crazy..."
Garp hummed, patting you softly on the back. You let out a sigh.
"What... What did Grandad say to them? Is it-"
"It's not bad." He breathed in through his nose sharply. "You're not... You're not happy with being locked up on the island, are you?" You froze, staring into his eyes. "We can tell. You're a smart girl. You want to learn and stretch your wings."
Garp let you go to scratch his neck.
"We made a preposition to them. You get friends and protection in return for a few favors." Your jaw dropped.
"B-But-" Tears began to form in your eyes. "Y-You.. I-"
"Don't worry," he laughed, ruffling your hair. "My precious granddaughter will be safe and sound. I just know it. And..." He stared into your eyes seriously. "You're not a failure. A few bumps in the road isn't going to do anything bad to you. So don't ever think you are one."
Your lip quivered as you took in his words. Sniffling, you fell to your knees as you cried your heart out.
Your family loved you. They loved you so much that they would do anything for you, no matter how selfish you were. You didn't deserve such loving grandpas. You didn't do anything to deserve them. And yet somehow you got them.
Mihawk, Crocodile, and Doflamingo turned away, beginning to head back to the meeting room to speak with Sengoku. They said nothing to each other as your crying grew only more distant, but they knew what they were all feeling.
You were definitely not pirate material. Physically, yes, but not emotionally. But they would guide you to your way. It would be cruel not to, especially after witnessing such a heartbreaking moment.
And the remaining shichibukai who stood on the balcony, watching the whole ordeal, felt the same way too.
Garp inwardly grinned when he saw the shichibukai in the corner of his eye.
All according to plan.
--------------------------------
Next chapter probably has Zoro versus Y/n. I say probably because I wing each chapter and I have no idea what I'm doing.
Status: unedited
4/1/21