Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

The atmosphere in the auction room is stifling, reeking of hypocrisy and snobbery, cruelty and contempt. Once I get over the shock, I realize what is happening. She looks terrified. Poor thing. When that jerk announced it, time seemed to stand still as the curtain that had been hiding her fell away. A mermaid. A real mermaid. People would kill to own one. "Possess. That verb makes me want to vomit. Taking it upon myself, I swallow my hate, my rage, my indignation. I am here for a reason. I have been able to turn a blind eye to their atrocities for more than ten years now, I must not break down today, it would be to jeopardize everything that has been achieved so far.
I can't stand her horrified look so I turn my eyes away from the stage. The room is packed, with the top brass in attendance, including three celestial dragons. I also spot a few familiar pirates. Eustass Kidd and his first mate: Killer. Trafalgar Law. I know what's going on this island right now, the Sabaody archipelago is home to eleven heads worth over 100 million. There has been unparalleled tension all day as the skirmishes escalate. I also spot a few faces that belong to Luffy's Straw Hat crew. They look furious.
Then everything happens in a flash. The Celestial Dragon, Saint Charlos bought her for 500 million. A living being has been just bought, handcuffed and terrified, for 500 million berry. My breath goes out, my vision blurs with tears, my throat tightens. What inhumanity. These are the people who rise above the common man when they are the very image of all that is not human. His greasy, satisfied laughter scratches my ears while the presenter, Mr Disco, like the rest of the audience, is speechless with surprise. The mermaid shakes in her jar, bangs her fists on the glass and even sheds a few tears.

Move. Do something.

I clench my fists and my jaw, as usual, my fingers clenching around the purse that contains a few savings. It's far from 500 million. I was supposed to use it for something else. I can't do anything about it. I must not do anything about it. However, I feel the fury rising in me, a tear finally rolling silently down my cheek. Be quiet. Endure. Just wait.
It doesn't take much listening to hear the words of the crowd of Straw Hat crew. They want to save the mermaid no matter what. In spite of myself I start to think of a way to get her back too. For a few seconds I imagine myself intervening before shaking my head. What am I thinking? The three hammer blows seal the fate of the girl. The moment Mr Disco puts down his hammer and thunders "Sold", the auction room shatters! My eyes widen as I realize who has just entered the room: Straw Hat Luffy. Bounty: 300 million berry.
I see him rush up the stairs, driven only by his desire to save her. I suppress a smile. He thinks he can solve the situation by running into the crowd, that idiot. My blood runs cold when I see that the one trying to hold him back and reason with him is a fish man. Oh this is going to end badly. I hear the audience calling him names and booing him loudly. I bite my lip.
I don't even have time to see the Celestial Dragon Charlos draw his weapon when the shot has already been fired and the fish-man collapses on the steps, leaving a trail of blood behind him. The satisfied laughter of his executioner rings in my ears. He wriggles with pleasure, hopping over the body of the one he has just slaughtered. My fingernails dig into my palms, I feel a little blood flowing.

Don't do anything.

I know. I know what's going to happen. I can see it in his eyes. Luffy burns with hatred as he slowly makes his way up each step that leads him to the body of his friend and to the level of the one who is satisfied with having performed an act of purely gratuitous violence, motivated by a base of dirty and unhealthy discrimination. The fish-man, a man called Hachi if I have followed correctly, tries to hold him back once more. But nothing can stop him now. Whatever he says to him, Luffy is already determined and Hachi's speech only strengthens his desire for revenge. He resumes his march towards the Celestial Dragon, dodges the bullets he shoots at him, clenches his fist and takes off.
As he hits Charlos, time stops for a second time. The Celestial Dragon flies across the room to crash a few meters away, unconscious. I am ashamed to admit it, but there is something very satisfying about that punch. The whole room is in shock. I am also slowly realizing what might happen now, hitting a Celestial Dragon means that an admiral will certainly land on the archipelago's soil without delay.

Then it's chaos, the Straw Hat crew starts to confront the guards in the room under the horrified cries of the population who, in a panic, rush towards the exit. The movement of the crowd is insane. Each of the crew's fighters is amazing and defends himself tooth and nail, under the black eyes of Saint Roswald. Their integrity makes me smile, especially as they are strong and are likely to win this fight. They do not weaken, do not back down in the face of the enemy. Each of them relies on his companions and one feels that a strong bond unites them all. I am not moving. Because I came for a reason. And because I want to see how this will end. The other two pirates I had spotted also stay in their places and finally, in the auction house, only the three pirate crews, the soldiers guarding the slaves, the mermaid and the announcer, two Celestial Dragons, remain. Me.
Suddenly, three flying fish break through the roof and land the last members of the Straw Hat crew. One of them, Usopp the sniper, violently crushes Saint Roswald in his fall, knocking out the second of the Celestial Dragons. I repress a second sly smile. A smile that immediately fades when the pirate Law speaks up to explain that the Navy is already around the auction house. Damn, I was still hoping to get out quietly.
A click stops the movement. The last of the Celestial Dragons, Sharlia, has grabbed a stepladder and is holding the mermaid whose jar was sawed off in the confrontation at gunpoint. She seriously intends to shoot her. Disco tries to convince her to give up the idea but she is determined. I see the bodies of all the Straw Hat pirates tense up, their eyes widen, the starfish screams her friend's name, the fish man struggles to intervene. The young woman's finger presses the trigger a little more every second.

MOVE.

I focus on her, I make her the only enemy in this room. And I act. I feel the energy of my Haki emanating from me, spreading out into space. In a slow movement, the Celestial Dragon loses consciousness and collapses to the ground. Within seconds, she is nothing but an unconscious body on the auction house stage. In the movement of her fall, the back of the stage opens up to let in a giant, preceded by a stooped figure I know all too well. I tap my arms in annoyance, it was worth it if he was going to come in now. I'm relieved though, I was right to think I'd find him here. Relieved AND annoyed.

“I told you so, my good giant, there was some trouble and, as you can see, the sale is over. Well, I stole a nice little nest egg and well, I'm going to use it... I'm going to go back to the casino right now and gamble my money away.”

“You're a strange scoundrel, old man," remarked the giant, "if you came here to steal money?”

“Yes, among other things, I also intended to rob the person who would have bought me, well, anyway, nobody would have bought me.” He is about to raise a flask to his lips before sadly remembering that it is empty. “I understand them," he continues, "I put myself in their place, I wouldn't pay a berry to invest in an old piece of junk like me.”

The old man who is in front of the giant concludes his sentence by bursting out with a loud laugh under the stunned and dismayed looks of those in the room.

“Well, well," he continues, "I see that my appearance has not gone unnoticed.”

This is too much for me. I slowly make my way down the steps leading to the stage, my every step echoing in the room. I also start to applaud.

“What a spectacular entrance," I wryly say out loud. “With a giant as a bonus, no less...”

I can feel all the stares that are weighing on my progress. When I arrive on the wooden platform, the one I have come for recognizes me and smiles radiantly, preparing to welcome me cheerfully, but I don't give him the opportunity and strike him a violent blow on the back of the head. Surprised, he staggers and I grab him by the collar of his coat before shaking him energetically.

“So that's where you've been hiding, you vicious man! 6 months! 6 MONTHS! You got away without saying anything, all for booze and money, you old wreck. But you know who does all the work when you're not around? It's me, you moron! And I'll have you know that it's not easy to put on dozens of boats a week ALONE AND IN ANONYMAT! I don't know what's keeping me from choking you right now! Rayleigh!”

At these words I shake him harder while he just laughs out loud. He's getting on my nerves.

“You talk about anonymity," he replies, "but your hood is coming off, princess.”

Indeed, as I fidget, the fabric slips off my shoulders and releases my hair, revealing my face and clothes. I shake my head in annoyance, at where we are after all. All the events that have taken place in the last few minutes have put my nerves to the test and I've decided to make him my outlet so cloak or no cloak I'm going to let off steam.
Then he calmly puts his hands on mine to get out of my grip. I know he let himself go, if he really wanted to get rid of me he would have done it long ago.

“I'm sorry," he apologizes, the same smile on his face.

“You bet...” I grumble, “for my trouble I get 30% more on all future jobs.”

“Wait, you can't do that, how am I going to pay for my liquor?”

“You're on your own”, I say, “after six months of solo work that's all you deserve”.

Without paying attention to me, the guards in the room focus on Rayleigh and the giant:

“They were supposed to be sold today, I wonder how they managed to get out of their cage... wait.... Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah look”, exclaims one of the guards, “he doesn't have his collar around his neck anymore! Neither does the giant! How is that possible?”

“Rayleigh...” breathes Hachi, apparently relieved when he recognizes his friend.

Rayleigh's eyes light up at the sight of his companion before frowning at the blood still dripping down the steps. His gaze travels around the auction room to understand what has just happened. He looks at the mermaid, the fish-man on the ground, the two Celestial Dragons who were knocked out by the pirates, the crew in the Straw Hat and the other Celestial Dragon who lies staring blankly with a gun in his hand. He finishes his little trick by looking at me.

“I think... I'm beginning to understand..." he murmurs, stroking his beard. “Hachi, my boy, you got yourself into a mess and these guys came to help you out, right?”

“Yes, Rayleigh," admits the octopus.

Rayleigh pays no attention to him and turns to me without looking at me:

“The woman was your job?”

I nod:

“I couldn't take on the whole room... too risky.”

Rayleigh smiles:

“In that case...”

Calmly, he folds his eyelids and all the guards collapse with blank stares and open mouths. I sigh with relief before remembering how bad the situation had gotten and the imminent arrival of an admiral. I put a hand to my forehead in disappointment.
“Misery, misery... we're in trouble...”

Rayleigh stares at the pirate in the straw hat without picking up on what I just said.

“I must say that straw hat is a good look for brave men like you. I've been looking forward to seeing you, Monkey D. Luffy.”

I raise an eyebrow:
“Seriously, that's your first instinct?”

He looks at me dumbfounded. I sigh in disappointment:

“Alright, a little update for the old man who didn't follow anything because he was too busy ogling his booze and pretty faces. There are 11 pirates with bounties higher than your life expectancy on this island and more precisely at more than 100 million berry, of which 5 are in this room. I have the honour of telling you that the sum of all these pretty faces gathered here currently amounts to more than one billion berry.”

“You included?”

“No, not including me. Let me finish! Anyway, then as you can see the nobility got a kick out of it today, not that they didn't deserve it, that's not the point, but in any case it means that an admiral is going to come and say hello to us soon and, as you can imagine, I'm not particularly looking forward to meeting him and seeing my head at the end of a spike if you know what I mean!!! SO MOVE ON!”

“Dirty story...” Rayleigh mumbles thoughtfully.

“IS THAT ALL YOU HAVE TO ASNWER?!”

With a gesture of my chin I point to the mermaid who is still trapped in her booby-trapped collar which threatens to explode if we move her away from the room.

“Oh... yes! I let you in charge of the reception?”

“Yeah, yeah, yeah...”

Calmly, he approaches her and explains that he's going to get this off her without a hitch. Then, as he places a finger on the metal, the tinkle of the countdown clock sounds in an agonizing countdown. The crew in the Straw Hat scream out in terror at such an irrational act.

“Stop it, she's going to die!" exclaims the starfish, in despair.

I sigh again:

“Hurry up, in case you STILL need me to refresh your memory, we've got the Navy on our ass...”

He doesn't answer, concentrating on his task as the countdown increases in intensity. That noise is ringing in my ears. The second the collar threatens to explode, it is ripped from the siren's neck and the explosion sounds behind me, where Rayleigh has just thrown the explosive. With my left hand stretched out to my side, my arm takes on the consistency of water and muffles the blast.

“There, you're free now...”

I glanced around the room, all those still present could not believe their eyes. A small puff of pride takes hold of me and a smile stretches my face. I then decide to face the room completely and stare into the eyes of the pirate in front of me. I give a sincere smile and wave my hand.

“Hi Luffy, it's been a while.”

I see him frowning, then his eyes light up, his smile eats his face and he throws himself around my neck, clutching my chest with all his might and shouting with joy:

“LUCIAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA! So you've been here all this time!”

I laughed as I returned his embrace. I had missed him. He places his forehead affectionately on mine, his smile lights up my field of vision, warms my heart. He finally let go of me and I immediately feel that a new tension has appeared in the room. Of course, now they have my name and my face. I can't get away from him anymore, so I stand up straight, my head held high, my eyes cold. Ready to defend myself.

“Tell me this is a joke...” Eustass Kid whispers from the back of the room.

“So finally all legends have a basis in reality," comments Trafalgar Law, slumped in his seat, an unhealthy smile on his face.

“It's unbelievable," murmurs Nico Robin, his eyes wide.

Rayleigh bursts out laughing beside me:

“My, my- what a celebrity, you're making quite an impression!”

“Says the guy who took out a wall with a giant and just knocked out three quarters of the audience," I mutter.

Out of the corner of my eye I see Kid walking into the light, a crumpled handbill in his hand, looking at me hard, a mixture of fear and admiration in his pupils.

“Hey, is that you? This isn't a joke? Is it really you? The Elementalist Lucia with a 500 million berry bounty?!”

“500 MILLION ???” screams Luffy in my ears.

I grimace.

“First of all, I just lost at least fifty percent of my hearing, thank you. Secondly, yes, that's me.”

The Straw Hat crew's navigator, Nami, suffocates:

“500 million ??? But she's a monster...”

“Her bounty is higher than Luffy's,” Chopper stammers. “It's higher than all the pirates on this island…”

I see the other members blush and take refuge behind those who seem to be the big guys, Roronoa Zoro, Black Leg Sanji... On the side of Kid and Law's crews, they're not doing well either. The looks are suspicious and I even have a few tremors. I raise my eyes to the sky and walk towards Hachi’s body lying on the ground after Rayleigh.

“Look," I said, "I'd love to keep staring at each other like this for hours, but we've got other things to do. We need to get out of here.”

I've barely finished my sentence when the shouts of the navy soldiers reach us from the front door. I stifle an expletive.

“Hey, hotheads?" I exclaimed. “You're all over a hundred million right, do us a favor and go kick the asses of these troublemakers while we evacuate the wounded.”

“I don't take orders from you," Law contests, a bad look on his face.

“You're telling me so... you've got to get out here, right? So do what you do best, hit the soldier and get the hell out of the archipelago before they take you away.”

They don't like my directive and incisive tone, I can see that. Only fear and mistrust prevent them from jumping down my throat right now. For once, my exorbitant bounty is serving a purpose. Under my glare, the three captains glare at each other before heading for the entrance to the auction hall, starting to bicker about which of them will be able to defeat the most enemies. I grumble in exasperation. My word, they changed their minds quickly, a few seconds ago they were refusing to get involved and now they're giving us the best show of their pretentiousness and arrogance. I exchange a desperate look with Rayleigh who looks more than amused by the situation. And to think I was prepared to pay to get him back. I end up smiling in spite of myself before helping her to carry Hachi on his back. Now we just have to get out of here. On paper it looks simple after all.

**

When I finally emerge from the auction house, the air is thick with dust and gunpowder. The navy soldiers form a wall in front of the main entrance and, facing them, the three pirate captains who continue to throw spikes at each other.

“What the hell are they playing at?”

Exasperated by this childish behavior, I decide to intervene. Rayleigh holds my arm:

“Are you sure you want to go? They'll probably recognize you.”

“These three are getting on my nerves," I mumble as my only justification, "and on top of that they're slow as hell, at this rate we'll still be there tomorrow.”

I move forward between them, pushing Kid and Law with my arm so as to be in the front line. For the first time in years, my face is in plain sight. I can barely hear the protests of the three pirates behind me, who are obviously unhappy with my intervention, thinking I'm going to steal their thunder, and I simply shout:

“Shut up you three, your fight is so testosterone-infused that it makes me want to vomit. You guys can have a contest later on who's got the biggest one, okay?”

I see Law and Kid cross their arms with a displeased look, a bit of provocation in their eyes. Luffy is waiting impatiently, stamping his feet. I laugh and turn back to the Marine group. The soldiers take aim, ready to shoot me. Poor naive people. With a quick movement, I stiffen, anchor my feet firmly in the ground, spread my arms, fingers outstretched, picking up every little vibration in the air. Hundreds of drops of water gather around my wrists, spinning at breakneck speed. I gather more and more water, accelerate the speed of their rotation and increase their pressure. And without warning, I swivel to the side and send this quantity of water in a powerful jet at the troops in front of me, who are literally blown away by the power of the liquid, comparable to a wall of several tons.

“Neptune's spear!”

The moment the water hits the ground, the island shakes and cracks, the water loses its power and bursts into a wave that rises into the sky before falling again on those who were still standing. Satisfied, I stand up.

“WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOW THAT WAS SO AMAZING!!!” exclaims Luffy. “You've gotten even stronger, it's crazy!”

He looks at me with stars in his eyes and I giggle, not a little proud of myself. Without warning, the second line of soldiers fires on me. Raising an eyebrow, I let the bullets pass through me without difficulty before sighing. Then I raise my right hand, palm up to the sky, in the hollow of which I recreate a second aquatic sphere whose temperature I gradually increase.

“Eruption...” I begin.

I smile at my assailants. With a lively gesture, I dash and propel myself above the group of soldiers.

“Of the Sun !” I finish, the glowing ball quivering between my fingers.

“This is going to hurt," Rayleigh comments with a smile.

I dive into the pile and slam the water to the ground, triggering a thermal shock that rises and turns into a tornado of burning water, trapping the soldiers in its center. A few somersaults backwards later, I'm back alongside the pirates in front of the room. Disregarding their bewildered looks, almost admiring according to some, I understand that it's time to get out. I exchange a knowing glance with Rayleigh and, without making a bigger splash, I take off with the Straw Hat crew. Luffy grabs my arm and pulls me along behind him, laughing out loud, and the sound is so infectious that I can't help but join in as we run for our lives, the cool wind whipping through us.

Chapter Text

Back at Shakky's facility at GR 13, Luffy's crew was finally able to rest after their frantic escape. Hachi was quickly taken care of by Chopper so that he could be treated. Lucia also used her powers, as the pirates looked on in amazement, to help the fish-man regenerate. She managed to keep the blood flowing through his veins, while the reindeer did the surgery, while continuing to transmit energy to the wounded man so that he could resist. Then Rayleigh took his place at the bar and began to tell his story. A story that Lucia knew by heart but still loved to listen to, he put so much warmth and life into it.

“I was the second captain of the Pirate King's crew”, he announced to everyone's surprise.

Faced with the collective astonishment, sitting on the bar, Lucia could not suppress an amused smile. In the same way, this announcement always had the same effect on those who did not immediately recognize the pirate who was hiding behind the craftsman. But the tension rose again when Sanji asked why Rayleigh was not then dead, executed, like his late captain and the rest of the crew who had been captured. Her eyes darkened and Lucia lowered her head, drawing her knees to her chest. Rayleigh finally told the newcomers all about Roger's illness and his decision to end their journey by surrendering to justice. A pall of nostalgia passed over his eyes as he told them all this. Images of his friend's execution were playing over and over in his mind as a smile constantly stretched his face, remembering the 'panache' Roger had shown until the end of his life. Even as he described the execution of the former King of Pirates, he remained confident and happy, delighted to recall those memories so dear to his heart. His voice had an invigorating and soothing energy that conveyed all the esteem and friendship he had had for his captain.

Silence fell and Nami spoke again:

“On the other hand... I am surprised, I had never heard that Silvers Rayleigh had a child...”

At these words, she pointed to Lucia with a nod. Slowly, Rayleigh put her glass down and glanced at her. She leaned against the wall of the bar and leaned her head back, her eyes half closed. For the pirates, this was an opportunity to look at her a little more closely. Behind her long eyelashes were eyes of a strange blue, in which the sky and the sea seemed to be united on a stormy day. Her pale face was framed by four strands of hair, also azure blue, two of which started from the base of her forehead and stopped at her chin, and two others whose base was hidden behind them and which fell on her chest, a pearl at the end of each. The rest of her hair fell nonchalantly over her shoulders and down her back. She was dressed simply, with a black bustier, soft trousers of the same color and a sort of white tunic tied at the waist. No great ornaments, only two bracelets jingling from time to time around her wrists. There was no denying that she was a beautiful woman. She looked at Luffy, who was still stuffing his face and who swallowed sharply before staring at her, looking serious.

“You trust them more than anyone else, right?”

“Yes," he nodded, "they're my crew.”

It was a token of trust. She straightened up and looked at them, one by one, ending up with Nami.

“I'm not Rayleigh's biological daughter, sure he raised me and taught me everything, but he's not my father.”

She paused for a moment before continuing, the same smile stretching her lips and squinting her eyes with amusement.

“My father was the King of the Pirates, I am the daughter of Gol D Roger.”

The silence that greeted this revelation fell on the room, as heavy as lead, then shattered:

“Wh- WHAT????!!” cried all the pirates, stunned.

“Wait, wait, that's not possible," Usopp stammered. “Roger died 22 years ago and then, it would be known if he had had a child, right?”

She laughed:

“Who says I'm less than 22 years old?”

Usopp opened his mouth before closing it again, confused.

“Don't panic," she reassured him. “If I can give a relatively quick explanation, my body is 20, but my mind is 24. I was born years before my father died, but my mother took care to stunt my growth and hide me from the world so I wouldn't get executed, and her too, in case it got out.”

“A wise woman," Rayleigh commented.

“Mmmh," muttered Lucia.

“Wait, so you're really the daughter of the Pirate King?!” repeated Chopper, who still couldn't believe it.

“Yes," she confirmed simply.

“That was the last request Roger made to me," Rayleigh admitted. “He wasn't sure if he was a father, but when he doubt, he asked me to go and check and take care of the child if there was one. It took me a long time to find her, but I finally kept that promise and raised Lucia here in the greatest of secrecy.”

Robin reached into her bag and pulled out Lucia's wanted poster, which she smoothed with her palm before showing him:

“So your bounty has something to do with your father? 500 million for someone who's always lived in complete anonymity and isn't even a pirate, or a bounty hunter, or even a criminal, that's amazing.”

“You don't have to tell me that," confirmed Lucia. “I honestly have no idea, I never had the urge to go and ask them if that was the reason. Maybe the Navy knows who I am, maybe not... Or maybe the bounty is only due to my powers...”

“Yes, your nickname is "The Elementalist" right? What does that mean?" asked Sanji.

“There's a rumor that you can manipulate the four elements," Robin gasped. “Is that true?”

Lucia giggled before holding her hands out in front of her and in the palm of her hands, a small sphere of water was created, which she then twirled between her fingers.

“No, not at all, I ate the Mizu Mizu no Mi when I was little, so technically I have the power to manipulate water. And only water.”

“Such a fruit does exist in this world?” asked Franky with some doubt

“I don't know much about this fruit, I ingested it at a very young age, so much so that I can't remember if I swallowed it voluntarily or if I was forced to. In any case, I always grew up with these skills. My nickname of 'The Elementalist' comes from an oversight by the world government. Since I can manipulate water, it is also possible for me to influence air or vegetation. If there is water, I can manipulate everything. I know that some of the higher-ups have seen me do some not-so-pretty things in my younger days and have embellished the reality. To them I am an all-powerful monster, able to shape the world to my liking. So I just need to drink a lot every day.”

She let a little time pass before continuing:

“But I admit that this power is insane... and I am unable to grasp its full extent. I think the Navy does too, my bouty is certainly due to the fear I inspire in them.”

“Wait, there's a demon fruit that can manipulate water...” Franky pointed out, “but then you can't drown like the others, can you?”

Lucia chuckled and threw the water in Usopp's face and he was startled.

“HE!" he protested before running his hand over his face. A drop of water fell on his lips, which he moistened reflexively before opening his eyes wide. “It's fresh water," he said.

Lucia nodded and continued:

“It's more complicated than that, I can't drown in fresh water. On the other hand, I can't generate salt water and controlling it is impossible for me. If I fall into the sea, I won't drown instantly, I'll certainly have a delay of a few seconds, no more, but the outcome will be the same in the end. And the sea granite is a pain in the ass for me. But then, I didn't have much to worry about, I'm not a pirate and I was living a peaceful life isolated from everything in this archipelago... until today.”

The whole crew was silent, both fascinated and terrified by what she was revealing to them, by the person they were discovering. Only Luffy did not seem to be surprised, continuing to eat greedily. As he listened, Chopper thought to himself that for the first time Sanji was able to talk to a woman without losing his temper or giving her an affectionate nickname. The same was true of Brook, who had not made any of his perverse remarks to the young woman. The aura that emanated from her had even managed to annihilate their primary instincts, which were so tenacious.

“Lucia could be a real weapon of war for the Navy, but since they couldn't get their hands on her, they preferred to consider her as one of the main public enemies. Hence her bounty. And if it turns out they know about her father, that would only inflate the number.” Explained Rayleigh softly

“A weapon of war? What do you mean by that, old man?” asked Zoro with a both sleepy and annoyed face.

Lucia turned her forearm into water:

“Luffy, do you trust me?”

“Of course I do!”

“I promise, you won't die”, she declared with a strange smile on her face.

“Huh?!”

With a quick movement, Lucia shaped the water coming from her body to create a sphere that surrounded Luffy's body. In barely a second, the pirate captain waved in all directions, trying to get rid of this prison that was slowly drowning him. Without waiting, Lucia deconstructed the sphere, which fell back in a large puddle on the bar floor. Luffy gasped for air and swallowed hard, his wet hair falling over his face.

“To the world government," she explained, "I am dangerous in that I can completely annihilate the power of the demon fruit eaters. “

“Today, the whole world is ruled by men and women whose power is often derived from a fruit," Rayleigh continued. “Lucia could upset the established order by putting to death all those who until now have taken advantage of their power to extend their domination. And since she has never been willing to stand up for the Navy, she has become public enemy number one. She is a danger to both the piracy world and the world government.”

The main interested party punctuated her statement with a small frank laugh before shaking her head:

“Of course, I will ask you to keep everything about my father and me to yourself, if we have done everything to hide it, it is not for nothing. I trust you completely, as Luffy's friends, there is no reason for you to be bad people. And I must admit that I'm quite admiring of your exploits, the Enies Lobby incident was very impressive, congrats!”

They all nodded, there was no question of even revealing this information to anyone they knew.

“Lucia works with me here," Rayleigh continued. “Her power is very useful for coating ships so she is my partner. Here we are neither the Dark Lord nor the Elementalist, but simply two coater craftsmen. I am the public face of our little business and Lucia works in a closed workshop which no one can enter without my permission. The rest of my time is spent training her to master her power in the best possible way, so that the day will come when she can live for herself”

He has a tender look for the young woman who has repositioned herself in a suit facing them. Weary of this emotional overflow, she swept these good feelings away with her hand.

“Okay now, that's not all, but what about their boat? I can't show my face outside now, and we've got an admiral who'll be here any moment.”

“I'll take care of it, don't worry, I wasn't going to make you work anyway. You’ve the right to enjoy your reunion with the Straw Hat, aren't you? How long has it been since you've seen each other? I bet you got plenty of things to tell to each other.”

“About eight years, if I'm not mistaken," Lucia answered thoughtfully. “But I'm not sure that staying together is the best idea of the century either... argh I don't know what to do, hell of the Navy!”

“Anyway, you've been gone a long time”, concluded Luffy. “You've become pretty strong since then but you know, so have I. Besides, I really want to fight you hehe.”
Lucia couldn't help but laugh.

“You've made progress too from what I've seen, you've mastered your power now. I'll gladly face you if the opportunity arises, when the situation is a bit calmer. In the meantime, I'm thinking of going away, until the 'admiral' hurricane passes and everything returns to normal, I'll come and say goodbye to you when you leave.”

“Really?" Luffy said with a disappointed pout. “Are you sure? I would have liked us to stay together for a while anyway...”

Lucia pushed her hat on her head with an affectionate gesture:

“Don't worry, with a bit of luck the situation will calm down and we can spend a day or two together. Try not to die in the meantime. I don't need to tell you not to look for trouble though, that's too late.”

“We'll do our best, I promise," said Chopper.

Rayleigh proceeded to hand out a piece of her life card to each member of the crew. Lucia, for her part, addressed Luffy:

“Do you mind if I do something?”

“Erm... yes, go ahead," he replied, confused but confident.

Lucia then put her hand on Luffy's forearm and whispered:

“Pyxis’ bound.”

Immediately Luffy was amazed to see blue threads running down his arm to Lucia's arm, joining together in a symbol etched into his flesh. When she let go, the symbol began to glow steadily in a deep blue.

“This," she explained, "is a lifeline. It allows me to keep an eye on your health, and if your life is in danger I will know immediately. It’s like a Vivre Card but engraved in my skin.”

“So cool!" the captain exclaimed.

“Now that's convenient," Sanji remarked.

On the doorstep of the bar, they all said their goodbyes, with the promise to meet again in three days, when the Sunny would be ready to leave for the New World.

Chapter Text

Concerned, Lucia decided to slalom through the streets of the archipelago in order to get a feel for the situation. It was simple, you wanted to find a big Navy guy, follow the screams and the crowd movements. The whole archipelago began to shake. Whatever was going on down there, it didn't bode well. More than ten pirates worth more than 100 million berry, an admiral, the entire armada of the Navy... Lucia's head hurt. Knowing the island like the back of her hand, she managed to slip through the armed groups of the Navy without being spotted. This time she made sure her cloak covered her face at all times. She followed the bubbles and shockwaves that caused every bit of water in the atmosphere to quiver. Finally she reached a promontory from where she observed an unprecedented battle.

“Bartholomew Kuma..." she murmured, speechless.

She shook her head to compose herself, no, this was not the famous Warlord. Kuma couldn't shoot laser beams out of his hands last time she checked. With her eyes she gauged the confrontation, Kidd and Law, three pirates from her crew each. She hissed, they didn't stand a chance. At best they could hope to stall the confrontation and stall until they could get away. There was something wrong with their enemy. Usually, the young woman's Perceptive Haki, coupled with her ability to sense the presence of water, helped her to perceive all living things around her. There was nothing emanating from him.

Damn, these pirates were in some serious pain. For the second time that day, she just clenched her fists and forced herself to stay in her corner, telling herself over and over that she didn't owe them anything so she didn't have to intervene.

But get the hell out of here, stop thinking you can handle it.

It certainly wasn't Kuma, but this thing was no match for her in terms of raw power. And now the two roosters were at it again. Lucia was exhausted. Out of the corner of her eye she noticed that one of their attacks had finally hit their opponent, sprays of electricity and sparks were now flying from his body.

But then that means - this thing was just a robot all along!

Suddenly it dawned on him... could it be the Navy's new weapons of war? The Pacifistas?

**

Kizaru... they had sent Kizaru...
Lucia couldn't remember running as fast as she had at that moment. The archipelago was upside down, the admiral sent by the Navy was Borsalino Kizaru, and he wasn't alone. At first she had thought it was Bartholomew Kuma, the Warlord of Sea. Then when there had been two of them, she had realized that something was up. They had made human-sized weapons, how many did they have in all? And where was the real Kuma in all this? Her thoughts raced through her head as she continued to spin through the GR. Her Perception Haki was pushing her forward, guiding her without really knowing where she was going. She was no match for them alone. And as powerful as they were, the Straw Hats weren't going to be able to fight for long either.

Come on Luce, keep running!

Her heart was pounding in her chest at full speed, pounding her rib cage. Her lungs were on fire and every breath she took was an agony. But she couldn't stop or even slow down. So she ran faster and faster.

**

The second the admiral's beam of light was about to pierce Roronoa Zoro's body, Rayleigh stepped in and deflected the attack. In the same second, a violent shock was given to Sentomaru who retreated several meters. Facing them now was the Dark Lord, calm, with the same smile on his face, and Lucia, in combat position, ready to fight.

As Kizaru and Rayleigh glared at each other, Sentomaru couldn't believe his eyes. A 500 million berries bounty on the Sabaody archipelago, he'd seen it all. Without warning, Lucia went on the attack. Her fist struck the Marine in the stomach, he took the shock without bending but coughed nonetheless, surprised by her strength.

“Your Haki isn't too bad, kid, but it's not enough to overcome my guard.”

Lucia did not answer, concentrated. Rayleigh gave her a worried look, he wasn't sure she was up to the task of taking on someone so powerful and she had already given it her all this morning. He shouldn’t had let her fight like this, they took too many risks and even now, she wasn’t ready for that. She wasn’t ready for this fight. Nevertheless she did not fail and chose to continue to oppose Sentomaru, while Rayleigh was busy standing up to Kizaru. Lucia was surprisingly agile, dodging the attacks of the officer in front of her. But despite her precision and speed, she was no match for him. Very quickly, Sentomaru managed to counter her attacks and even sometimes to retaliate. He ended up hitting her with a palm strike that sent her flying and crashing several meters away.

“You are not bad, The Elementalist Lucia, you are certainly very formidable. But you are too young, too predictable. You can't do anything, I have the best guard in the world.”

Without saying a word, Lucia got up, mechanically wiping the trickle of blood that had run down the corner of her mouth, gave him a murderous look and resumed the assault. Undaunted, Sentomaru prepared himself. He had to admit, the girl was tough. The young woman gave him no respite, no opening. And she wasn't even using her power, just her hand-to-hand skills and her Fluid. No matter how many times Sentomaru knocked her down, no matter how many blows he landed on her body and face, Lucia always got up. Bruises and contusions accumulated on her body, dust mixed with sweat and blood.

The fight was uneven. Even though Lucia was a good fighter, she was no match. Her attack sequences were the same, it was a classic pattern that was effective but not worked and studied enough. He could see that she had never really fought anyone for her life. At least not very powerful opponents. She had immense abilities, her power was certainly very impressive and she mastered the Haki despite her young age. But the problem lay in that adjective: young. She was too young. She was not strong enough, nor tough enough. Blue streaks were beginning to run down her arms, down her torso, up to her face... without really knowing what it meant, Sentomaru understood that it was inevitably the signs of fatigue and weakness.

She would not give up. Her body ached, her breath was short, her throat burned every time she breathed in and out. Lucia was exhausted. Her muscles ached. A small pain was starting to creep into her skull. She was dehydrated. One of the constraints of her power was that she had to drink often, each of her attacks using its own water. She had not drunk anything since the episode in the auction house. A beginner's mistake. She hadn't drunk anything, had gone after an admiral out of curiosity, and then charged headlong into a fight she wasn't sure she'd get out of unscathed. Foolishness. So for several minutes now, her objective had changed: she had to secure the Straw Hat crew. Whatever blows she had to take from her opponent, she would take them. If she and Rayleigh could keep the two biggest pieces of Kizaru and Sentomaru occupied, there was still hope that all the crew members could escape despite their injuries. She couldn't help but glance over at Zoro, who was the most severely injured and couldn't move without assistance.
Taking advantage of this moment of inattention, Sentomaru escaped Lucia's gaze, whom she hit violently in the face, and joined Luffy, whom he sent flying with a palm strike. One knee on the ground, Lucia felt her strength leave her. A roar made her head stand up and what she saw made her blood run cold

“The doctor... he's gone wild... and over there it's ...”

Lucia's eyes widened petulantly:

“Oh my God it's him, the real Bartholomew Kuma.”

Gathering all the strength she could muster, she stood up and shouted:

“RUN AWAY! RUN AWAY!! DON'T LET HIM TOUCH YOU!”

**

Before her eyes, Zoro disappeared, leaving only a circle of dust behind him. Lucia was stunned, they all had to leave, now! Luffy had the presence of mind to verbalize exactly the same thought as he ordered his companions to flee. However, Kuma was not done, it was Brook's turn to disappear. Then Usopp. Sanji.
Is he seriously going to send them away one by one?

When Kuma teleported in front of Rayleigh, Lucia panicked:

“RAYLEIGH!!!”

But he did nothing, unlike Luffy who decided to go and confront him but was left behind as the Warlord rushed past Franky and Nami. In two seconds they too disappeared. Now there were only three of them left. Lucia didn't know what to do. It wasn't supposed to happen like this. Driven by the energy of despair, she decided to protect Luffy at all costs. Chopper disappeared. Then it was Robin. Kuma leaned over Luffy, looking him straight in the eye. He raised his palm, preparing to send him flying too, but at the last moment Lucia materialized her body between them, her body having turned entirely to water. She had used her last resource, her last strength. Before launching herself, she had placed her palms on the ground, absorbing as much water as she could. She was blocking his way, wanting to protect Luffy at all costs, surrounding him with her arms.

I'm a Logia type, he can't-

But the second the Great Corsair touched the young woman, she knew that it wouldn't help. She opened her mouth in amazement before smiling sadly as she read Luffy's deep despair at seeing her last friend vanish before her eyes. And just as she felt time was running out, strange words reached her ears:

“I'm sorry. I have to maintain my cover as much as possible now. You are the one who will help me. But if it's any consolation, they're all safe. This is goodbye, The Elementalist Lucia.”

“LUUUUUUCE”, Luffy shouted.

He reached out for her, hoping to hold her, to save her.

His hand closed on a trickle of cold water before it too vanished. Rayleigh was stunned, his eyes dark, a void around him. He then witnessed Kuma's final act, making Luffy, the last member of the Straw Hat crew, disappear. GR 12 was overwhelmingly silent.

Chapter Text

When I regain consciousness, I feel very heavy, very, very heavy. A sharp pain twists my skull. I try to move my body but it refuses to cooperate, as if overcome by a great weakness. All I manage to perceive are borborygms, snatches of voices that resound around me without my being able to grasp their meaning. Exhausted, I finally give in to this torpor that drags me further and further away, and lose consciousness once again.

The second time, I manage to open my eyes. Everything is very dark. I am lying on the ground, the stone is cold under my cheek. The discomfort I felt the last time has subsided but still persists.

« L...ia...L...a... Lu... a... LUCIA! »

I manage to pull myself together and force myself to stay conscious as a voice tries to call me by my first name. I try to get up but soon find that my movements are restricted, my hands are handcuffed behind my back.

Handcuffed??!

I am immediately alert. Not only are my hands handcuffed and chained with seastone, but they are also completely covered, locked in a prison made of the same material. So that's where the uneasy feeling I've been feeling since earlier comes from. A few more glances make me shudder when I see that my ankles are also encircled and chained. Panicking, I raise my head.

In prison. I am in prison. I then try to speak but something blocks my mouth. I have literally been muzzled. My heart rate increases, sweat starts to bead on my back, my vision becomes blurred. I pull like a maniac on these chains, in the futile hope of freeing myself.

“Lucia, calm down! Lucia!”

Second blow, I know that voice. Tears bead at the corner of my eyes, my lips begin to tremble, I refuse to look at him, I refuse to believe what is happening. Despite myself, I lift my head and meet his gaze.

Ace. Chained up too.

What the hell is going on?

He looks at me with a distressed and pained expression.

Tell me I'm dreaming...

In an unreasonable way, I try to get up and pull with all my strength on these chains. I can't control myself anymore, I hate being locked in. I quickly fall back to my knees but I don't stop, the handcuffs pull on the skin of my wrists. I don't even feel the pain if there is any.
Rushing footsteps are heard nearby and after a few seconds I am overwhelmed by hands trying to hold me still on the floor. I struggle with all my strength, trying to scream without success. A massive fist comes crashing down on my temple. The taste of blood fills my mouth.

“How can she have so much strength when she is handcuffed with seastone?”

“I don't know, but she's obviously earned her reputation.”

“Stop it, she's just a complete mess," intervenes Ace. “Take off that ridiculous mask so she can at least talk.”

“No way," replies a guard, "she could bite us.”

“If we inject her with a new dose, she should keep quiet,” says her colleague.

I don't have time to think about it when I feel a needle in my neck and immediately the darkness comes over me again.

**

The third time is also the last, my thoughts are racing in my head, I feel like I have cotton in my brain. I'm on the floor again, my hands and feet still tied. But I notice that I can breathe more easily. Nothing is blocking my mouth any more, I've had that barbaric muzzle removed. I cough.

“How do you feel?”

Ace's hoarse voice echoes off the walls. Immediately, reality hits me in the face.

“Horrible," I mumble. “Please tell me this is a nightmare and that I'm going to wake up.”

“I'd love to," he replies. “Sorry princess, it's for real. But you'll have to explain a few things to me because you were the last person I expected to see here.”

Here.

I struggle to my feet, my hair falling back over my face. My arms are seriously stiff and it is with great difficulty that I sit down in my suits, leaning against the wall. This simple movement has cost me a considerable amount of energy. I try to wiggle my fingers in these glove-like things that impede my movements.

“What a pain in the ass this thing is...”

I look more closely at the system that hinders me. They are nothing more than seastone cylinders that extend from my forearms to envelop my entire hands. No cracks, no flaws, no openings. I also feel inside that this little novelty is really only there to reinforce the usual handcuffs that still adorn my wrists, despite the fact that I can't see them.

“Aaaaaargh!”

I scan the room I'm in. Well, "the room", it's more like a cell. Portgas D. Ace, known as "Fire Fist Ace" is on my left, chained to the wall, and in front of me I recognize the majestic figure of a man I didn't expect to see here.

“Jinbei, Jinbei First Son of the Sea, is that you? What is a former Warlord doing here? In the maximum security prison, Impel Down?”

“I could ask you the same thing, The Elementalist Lucia," the fish-man replies in his deep voice.

I sigh:

“It's a nasty story, believe me, and the worst part is that I'm not even sure I understand it all.”

I quickly return my gaze to Ace, who has not taken his eyes off me. I finally manage to verbalize the bottom of my thoughts:

“So the papers were right... they really got you... “

He lowered his head, annoyed:

“It's pathetic, isn't it?”

“I would have said "too bad" but it's up to you... are they really planning to execute you in Marineford?”

“They want to make an example of me.”

“That sucks...” I muttered. “I was planning to show up that day to help Whitebeard.”

Ace suddenly looked up:

“You've got to be kidding me! Were you in touch with the old man?”

“No," I admitted, "I just didn't have the time. The day the paper carried the news, I had a little trouble. Nothing too serious, a Warlord, weapons of war and an admiral. It's just business as usual for you pirates.”

“What are you talking about?”

Uncomfortable, I tried to move and contort my posture while giving an outline of the events on the Sabaody archipelago:

“Let's just say that one or two Celestial Dragons took a beating and that the Navy saw things in a big way. I have no idea how exactly I ended up here, all I remember is Kuma putting his hand on me.”

I was deliberately not saying anything about Luffy and his crew to spare Ace any worries about his little brother. By dint of wriggling in all directions, I manage with difficulty but surely to get my legs over the chains that hinder my wrists, thus allowing me to have my hands in front of me and not behind. I sit down again, exhausted for so little, but with my arms relieved.

“Oh, that's better," I sighed. “Anyway, I must admit I didn't expect to find myself at Impel Down any time soon... what exactly are they planning to do to me?”

“You will be executed too Lucia, alongside Ace.”

The voice that answers my question comes from outside the cell and I can easily determine who it belongs to. Vice Admiral Garp, Luffy's grandfather, walks towards us and sits down in front of our cell.

“You can't be serious, old man," I gasp, stunned.

“I am, they hesitated but they want to take the opportunity to eliminate you. They're afraid that if they leave you in the cell for too long, you'll end up finding a way to escape again and that's out of the question.”

“You can reassure them that I'm not going to get very far," I reply, bitterly.

“Their mind is made up, kid, and I have to tell you that-“

“That you completely agree with them and that you can't wait to see my head roll on the ground, it's okay Garp, I know, you don't have to say it again.”

He is silent for a moment, I certainly offended him. But after all, I have no illusions, I know perfectly well what he thinks of me, of who I am.

“Why..." Garp resumed, his voice more hesitant, "why didn't you and Luffy become Navy soldiers like I told you?”

The question is obviously not addressed to me but to Ace, and I can feel the pain in this man's voice, who must be in agony at the thought of losing these little ones he considers his grandchildren, whom he has seen grow and evolve and assert themselves. He nevertheless gives me a black look.

“Hey," I protest, "I had nothing to do with it! I remind you that they wanted to become pirates long before I met them.”

“You didn't help them though," he adds, lightning flashing in his eyes.

“I never influenced their decision, they had their own plans and I didn't try to keep them away from them or bring them closer. We were kids and we all had our dreams. Who I am doesn't change the path that Ace or Luffy took afterwards.”

“You bet, weed doesn't breed good," he grumbled.

“Thank you," I grumble between my teeth. “I remind you that I'm not the only 'weed' you like to call it. In any case, if I had my hands free I would applaud you: you're going to make a nice double, two for the price of one.”

I punctuate my sentence with a very strong look, the meaning of which he knows perfectly well. He sighs.

“Excuse me, both of you.”

Ace doesn't say anything, he just listens, patiently. I don't know what's going on in his mind right now. As far as I'm concerned, the information is slowly starting to become more
real to me. I really am locked up in Impel Down.

“Old man?" I ask. “How did you catch me?”

“You broke the ceiling of one of the Navy outposts when you fell from the sky, you were unconscious. You were immediately tied up and transferred here before you woke up.”

I thought about Kuma's last words, I was supposed to "help" him. Did he gain anything by voluntarily handing me over to the Navy?

“How long before the execution?”

“Two days," Garp replies, his voice devoid of emotion.

I sigh. I hope with all my heart that Luffy and his crew are okay, and Rayleigh and Shakky as well. Now that the Navy knows the pirate king's former first mate is on the Sabaody, there's no reason they won't give him a hard time. I know he can easily defend himself, but he wants to keep his quiet retirement. In the meantime, I can't do anything, I'm condemned to wait here for two days before I can perhaps hope to see the light of day again. I am not yet resigned to accepting my fate. I'm not sure I'll be able to change things, but if I have the chance, I will.

Chapter Text

The time seemed very long to Lucia, as silence suffocated the sixth basement of Impel Down. The only sounds still audible were a few sniffles and rustles of cloth from the prisoners as they tried to find a comfortable position.

“I'm sorry," Ace muttered at one point.

Lucia looked up in surprise:

“Why?”

“I wish we could have met again under different conditions," he replied with a downcast look. “Sorry to cause so much trouble... again.”

“Stop talking," Lucia cut him off. “You're not responsible for anything concerning my fate, but if you'd listened to your captain, maybe you wouldn't be in this situation. But then again, it's like always, you think after you act. “

Ace smiled sadly. They were interrupted by the thump of heels on the cold prison floor. Uncoiling her neck to look, Lucia was stunned to discover one of the current Warlord walking towards them. In contrast, Ace was immediately suspicious, while Jinbei wore the same bewildered look as Lucia.

“Boa Hancock..." Lucia gasped.

“To what do we owe this visit from one of the Warlords?”

“I came to see for myself the face of the one who is about to start the War I am being forced to take part in.”

“Can you believe this? I’ve seen more Warlords and Navy soldiers in the past three days than in my last 20 years of living on Earth”, mumbled Lucia, chocked and ironic.

Ace clenched his jaw at the thought of what was going on outside the prison walls. On the other side of the bars, the prisoners were fervently hailing the pirate empress, shouting obscenities at her. Appalled by this behavior, Lucia pouted in disgust. The shouts of the bandits increased in fervor and even began to insult Magellan, the fearsome prison headmaster, who had come to escort the snake princess here. Of course, he did not let this affront pass and undertook to use his power, that of poison, to put an end to the existence of all these boors. Taking advantage of the confusion, Hancock approached the prisoners' cell with his face and spoke to Ace. Being too far away, Lucia could not understand anything he said, but seeing Ace's face decompose was enough for her to understand that something very serious was going on.
Once Magellan had finished his little performance, he turned to his guest:

“Go ahead, you can talk to him.”

“I already did," the young woman replied curtly.

She started to leave but Ace hailed her:

“Wait! Is it true what you just told me?”

“Would I have any reason to lie to you?" she answered without looking at him.

With that, she turned on her heels and stopped after a few steps:

“One last thing, he told me that he was afraid you would be angry if you found out”.

Then she left the sixth basement for good, accompanied by Magellan and the guards. Completely lost, Lucia looked at Ace as Jinbei asked her the fateful question:

“Ace, what did that woman say to you?”

“She... she told me," Ace stammered, "she told me that my little brother is here.”

Without realizing it, Lucia's jaw opened wide, her eyes widened and her breath caught:

“Wh- WHAT???!”

**

Lucia finally took a deep breath, realising that she had stopped breathing at the news. Luffy. Luffy was in Impel Down.

“Damn it," she snarled, "there's no way one of you can catch up to the other, I swear! You really are brothers, none of you think before you act.”

She laughed, but it was a bitter laugh, tinged with a visceral fear at the idea of what Luffy would have to face within these walls and the risks he was running.

“Your little brother?" Jinbei asked.

“Yeah...” Ace confirmed. “My little brother.”

Suddenly remembering a detail, Lucia twisted again so she could observe her left forearm. It was largely obscured by those marine granite cuffs, but she could see it. The lifeline she had placed on Luffy before leaving Sabaody. She was relieved to see that it was still glowing despite everything, that it was still pulsing, indicating that her friend was still alive. However, it had greatly weakened, had lost its original hue, turning from a bright blue to a vague pastel blue. Lucia swallowed. Ace, who had sensed her confusion, turned his head towards her:

“I'm really sorry...”

“What? Stop apologizing for things that are not your responsibility.”

“Do you think they know?" he asked in the same dull tone.

“About us?

Ace's silence answered his question.

“No idea," she muttered. “I don't think anyone but Garp, Rayleigh, Shakky, you, Luffy and now his crew knows about me anyway. Then I think it's too big a coincidence.” She let a little time pass. “I'm changing my answer, I think they know.”

“What can we expect then?”

“Either they'll make a spectacle of it... or they'll want to cover it up... it's double or nothing”

Lucia sighed.

“But if they're going to play this... it would be low...”

“After all... we get what we deserve, right?”

The mocking tone of his voice made Lucia tense up:

“I remind you that you and I don't have the same conception of the thing...”

“No, we don't," he remembered with a small smile. “It's funny.”

Jinbei's deep voice echoed in the cell:

“Just a minute, you two... a question has been on my mind ever since the Elementalist was here...”

“Oh please, call me Lucia, I hate that nickname the government gave me,” she interrupted him rudely.

“I'm sorry, since Lucia is here... what is the relationship between the two of you?”

Ace glanced at Lucia. She didn't say anything, leaving him the choice.

“Well... Ace hesitated...”

**

Ace abruptly put his bag on the bar.

“I was told that the best coatmaker was here, is that true?”

The young woman leaning against the bar smiled, took her cigarette between her fingers and blew a puff of smoke.

“Yes," she laughed, "but unfortunately for you he's not here at the moment. You can either leave me the directions with the grove of your ship so I can pass them on to him, or you can go or look for him yourself.”

“Which solution would take me less time?”

Another little laugh.

“Neither, Ray is an unpredictable man, you know.”
Ace sighed and pushed his hat back on his head in disappointment.

“Well, I guess I'll have to go elsewhere then.”

“At least give me your name, kid...”

He smirked:

“Ace. Portgas D. Ace.”

The young woman's eyes lit up, she smiled wider this time and handed him a piece of paper:

“Follow this Vivre card, with a bit of luck you should find him.”

“Wait, I'm not following you, if you had this with you why would you-“

“Don't ask questions, little one, just follow the card and you'll understand...”

But no sooner had Ace taken the map than the door opened to let in an older man with long greying hair and round glasses. He sat down heavily on one of the bar seats. Naturally, the barmaid poured him a drink, as if she knew what he needed. She lit a new cigarette before speaking again:

“It's your lucky day kid, this is Ray, the coatmaker you're looking for.”

“Oh, nice to meet you, Grandpa. I need to get my boat coated if possible, I want to go to the New World”

Rayleigh looked amused at the young man who was smiling at him. For a moment he was gripped by a sense of deja vu. Then he saw the map that Shakky had just given him in his hands. He swallowed the rest of the contents of his glass in a few gulps before standing up.

“Well, take me to your boat, boy, I'll see what I can do. We'll talk rates later.”

He then went out, accompanied by the young pirate who led him to his ship, moored not far away. It was a small ship that looked solid. The crew was not there, and the young man explained that he had sent them on an errand to get supplies.

“Well, considering the size of your ship, I should be able to do this in two days.”

He glanced sharply at the pirate again, certain he had seen this face before:

“Can you remind me of your name, boy?”

“Portgas D. Ace at your service.”

The name clicked in Rayleigh's mind and he couldn't help but smile widely.

“I see, come with me and I'll introduce you to my partner. She will also look after your ship”

“She?" the pirate was surprised.

“You'll see," laughed the craftsman, amused by the situation.

They walked through a few groves, moving away from the busy and popular areas, to find themselves in a very isolated corner where only the sound of bubbles disturbed the surrounding calm of the archipelago. They arrived in front of a dark building, which seemed almost abandoned. Rayleigh didn't ask any questions and, with a quick movement, opened the metal door which creaked as it swung open. Ace followed him, intrigued, and discovered a workshop where dozens of bubble structures were spread out. Tools were stored in a corner, plans hung on the wall, as well as a few wanted posters. He managed to recognise those of the most famous pirates in the New World, as well as a few heads whose bounty was still low. His was one of them. So was that of his brother, Luffy.

“Oh please come in, make yourself at home, don't bother knocking..." muttered a female voice that Ace couldn't see where it was coming from.

A figure stepped out of the shadows into the light of the room and walked towards one of the bubbles without even paying them any attention. Ace was stunned. Her hair was longer, pulled back into a ponytail, but it was the same azure blue colour it had been then. She had grown up too, from a child to a young girl, wearing a simple black bustier and trousers, and a dirty jacket tied around her waist. She was barefoot, on the floor, with protective glasses on her nose.

“I tried the last formula”, she explained mechanically, “it doesn't work. The bubble is too liquid, when we're underwater at a shallow depth it's good, it avoids the dangerous elasticity we had before, but as soon as we pass 10,000 metres it's the end, the bubble breaks up and the boat is crushed by the pressure. So we need to gauge this better, maybe play with the nitrogen or carbon dioxide levels, I'm still working on that. It's going to take me some time, you can come back in a few days if you want. Come on, shoo, I've got work to do now.”

She turned away with a small wave of her hand, urging them to leave. Rayleigh laughed a little before continuing:

“I'm sorry, but it's not going to be possible, we have a customer.”

“Oh no no no, not this time Ray. "You" have a customer, right? When you start saying "we" it means you want to give me the job so you can go get drunk in a bar. No, I'm not in it for this time!”

She had said this in a vaguely bored tone, her nose bent over her plans. She raised her glasses to her forehead, revealing strange blue eyes under a long row of lashes. Then she straightened up:

“How stubborn you are, you're still here? I said no, you're going to work alone, okay?”

She turned around, disgruntled, fists on her hips before opening her mouth in astonishment, noticing that Rayleigh was not alone. Her eyes widened further as she discovered the second person present:

“Ray he is...”

“OUR customer, yes, but if you'd let me get a word in edgewise you'd have known long before that," he laughed.

“Hi," Ace gasped, still in shock.

“Ace..." she whispered, forbidden before repeating, louder, a huge smile on her lips. “ACE!”

Without warning she rushed forward and threw herself around his neck, hugging him with all her might. Surprised, Ace laughed and hugged her too. She stepped aside in wonder:

“Well, I'll be damned. I didn't expect to see you here so quickly, how long have you been gone? And Dadan? How is she? And Luffy?”

“Whoa, calm down princess, one question at a time," laughed Ace, amused by his friend's enthusiasm.

He couldn't believe it, who would have thought he would find her here again, after all these years. The last time he'd seen her, Garp had taken her away without warning in front of the bewildered eyes of the two brothers who didn't want her to leave. Little Luce, the water child, the one who had accompanied them on Mount Corvo for several months, was on the Sabaody.

Chapter Text

That evening, to celebrate, Shakky agreed to leave the bar for the pirates of Ace's crew. The alcohol flowed freely and the place had never seen so much laughter and smiles. Lucia had agreed to come out into the open after Ace had made his men swear never to say anything about her. Her 500 million bounty was well known and she wanted to keep her presence here under wraps. The whole crew had agreed without protest and now they were making naughty remarks about her and Ace. The pirate captain, less drunk than his companions, tried in vain to silence them under the amused gaze of the young woman. After a while, they decided to isolate themselves a little, so that they could talk calmly, far from the tumult. Lucia took him to the top of the bar, on the roof, to take advantage of the overhang to admire the lights emanating from Sabaody park, the famous amusement park.

“I'm sorry for them," he muttered, "they're heavy...”

“No problem," she laughed. They're men AND pirates after all, so I'm not that surprised...”

She raised the flask to her lips, taking a few sips, before handing it back to Ace who drank in turn. They spent a little while drinking together, enjoying the view and the cool night wind, lulled by the sound of the bubbles around them.

“The old man..." began Ace. “He was his second one, wasn't it? Silvers Rayleigh.”

“Yes," she nodded.

“Is he looking after you?”

“Yes," she repeated, "he's the one who came to claim me from Garp. He brought me here and I've been living with him and Shakky ever since, with a job and a quiet life.”

“You dreamed of so much freedom when we were children, and now you're tied to the ground...”

“Don't be so judgmental," she replied. “I'm freer here than I've ever been before. And between my power and my bounty, I'd be foolish to want to leave.”

Ace didn't answer right away, pondering what she was saying. She had always been wiser than him when they were children, but now he felt that this wisdom had turned into abandonment. She had given up, preferring to cling to her current little comfort zone.

“How did he know you existed?”

“Rayleigh?”

“Yes," he continued.

She let a moment pass, knowing that what she was about to say would not please him.

“It was Roger who told him that I might exist. And that if I did, he'd want Rayleigh to find me and take care of me.”

Ace clenched his jaw.

“Don't get me wrong," Lucia continued, "I don't think he tried to favour me or denigrate you. He made sure that certain people he valued were aware of our existence. Garp for you, Ray for me.”

“How do you do it? How do you not hate him, how do you not hate the blood that runs through your veins?”

Ace's voice was full of pain and incomprehension, Lucia knew how much he suffered being the Pirate's King's son.

“Rayleigh gave me another picture of him. I got the snarky view of those who saw him as a barbaric, ruthless pirate, and then I got the account of the one who described him as a captain of integrity and loyalty, willing to do anything to save the lives of his friends.”

“You bet...”

“I don't know who he was, but I know without a doubt that hating him would get me nowhere. On the contrary, I admire him. He got what he wanted, he was the freest man in the world.”

Lucia was serene, her knees drawn up to her chest, her head resting on it. Her long blue hair was loose, flying lightly in the wind, her eyes lost in the horizon that could be seen beyond the archipelago, beyond the wall that was Red Line.

“There are times when I stand up, look at that red wall and think that the only man who went to the ends of the seas beyond it, who have conquered the whole ocean, who have achieved absolute freedom on the water... is my father. I cannot be attached to a man I have only heard stories or testimonies about, I cannot have affection for words. But I am proud, proud to see that he was a free man and free of the rules of this world.”

She turned her dark blue eyes to Ace and smiled:

“And whatever you say, I am also very proud to see that you are following an equivalent path, that you are living for yourself and leading your life as you wish. Even if it means taking away our father's name.”

Uncomfortable, Ace sighed before putting an arm around the shoulders of his half-sister and pulling her closer to him in an awkward attempt at a hug. She laughed and laid her head against his shoulder before closing her eyes:

“I made a promise to myself," she muttered. “I was waiting to see you and Luffy come by. I've been waiting to see you commit to the New World. Once you're both there, then maybe I'll go too... and who knows what I'll do... I think I want to see those seas too. I want to see the world.”

“Is it useless for me to ask you to come with me?” he asked her with a smile on his face.

She laughed again before looking up at the sky:

“Yep, I want to see Luffy pass by here before taking off... but I'm sure we'll meet again.”

“Considering you'll end up in his crew, yes, certainly," he said in a bitter tone.

She moved away from him, surprised, before bursting into laughter:

“That's an amazing statement, nothing tells you that I'll end up in Luffy's crew!”

Ace didn't answer, just watched her laugh. He felt a small twinge of sadness. It had always been like that with them. It was Luffy who made her laugh when they were children, who reassured her and encouraged her. Ace had been a proud, arrogant brat to her, calling her a "whiny princess" at every turn... as a result, she'd always been closer to her little brother than to him. He shook his head to clear the thoughts away, what reason did he have to be jealous today. She was his blood sister after all, and he knew she had a lot of affection for him in that sense. Even so, he wasn't the one who was really making her laugh.

“Tell me...”

Lucia's soft voice ended his torment and he turned to her, intrigued. She was lying on the roof of the bar, her eyes lost in the immensity of the star-studded sky:

“Do you think everything is written up there?”

He followed her gaze, watching the stars as well. She continued:

“Do you think that everything that happens in this world is already written above our heads?”

“No," said Ace. “No, I don't believe that, that would be too cruel.”

“Cruel, huh?”

He let a moment pass before asking another question:

“Do you think it was worth it to be born? That we have the right to exist? That we, that I, have the right to exist?”

Lucia didn't know how to answer, for lack of words, she just put her hand on Ace's and squeezed it gently. They stayed for a while watching the stars above their heads before Ace's crew decided to take a rest, taking their captain with them.

**

The next day, Lucia was surprised to see Ace come to her studio with a surprising request:

“I want to face you.”

He stood upright in the doorway, arms folded across his chest, his eyes sharp. Lucia put down the tool in her hand and looked at him.

“Why?”

“To see.”

He accentuated his evasive answer with a smirk. Lucia didn't know what to do, the proposal was tempting, facing someone other than Rayleigh would be a change. But on the other hand, if she really gave it her all, there was a risk that the fight would degenerate and her identity would be revealed. She hesitated for a moment before giving her answer:

“Alright, but not now. Let's do it in the evening, at dusk, and I'll show you the place, I'll choose a place quiet enough for both of us. Trust the life card Shakky gave you when you arrived, it's mine.”

“My crew will want to watch this and-“

She raised an eyebrow, her smile disappearing immediately:

“So that's it... you want to show your men what you can do...”

Her tone didn't even mask her disgust, she was disappointed by this behaviour. However, Ace reassured her at once:

“Oh calm down princess, I don't want to prove anything to anyone but myself and what might happen is even the opposite, they will be surprised to discover how strong you are.”

“Mmmh...”

She was far from convinced, but she had already agreed so she didn't want to back down. She got back to work, worried, but ready. As the sun began to rise, she packed up her equipment and left the workshop to head for a corner of the grove she knew well. It was a small, sunken quarry, hidden enough in the mangrove to be hidden from the eyes of those who would venture near. Tourists rarely strayed far from bright, civilised places anyway, and the locals had other things to worry about. She sat on top of a stone embankment and waited with the steady sound of bubbles rising and bursting. Eventually Ace appeared and behind him the men of his crew as well as Rayleigh and Shakky. Ace's crew were bravely cheering their captain. Blushing, Lucia straightened up on her perch and called out to them:

“EH! This is a fight, not a show, I didn't sign up to do a little demonstration in front of so many people!”

“I'm sorry," Ace replied with a broad smile, "I couldn't stop them.”

“Of course...” Lucia grumbled.

She came down from her promontory with a sigh and Ace came to face her. The spectators stood on either side of them, Shakky and Rayleigh taking care to be close to Lucia.

“Don't you two have work to do?”

“I wouldn't miss it for the world," Rayleigh laughed, taking a sip of sake.

“I've closed tonight, that's exceptional," Shakky continued, taking a drag from his cigarette.

“Tsk," Lucia hissed. “You guys are hopeless.”

She positioned herself opposite Ace, tied her hair into a thick bun before rolling her shoulders.

“Free rules?”

“Yep," Ace confirmed as he got into fighting position.

“All right, ready?”

“You're the one who's not ready!”

Without warning he lunged at her and set one of his fists on fire. Stunned, Lucia was so focused on the flame emanating from his right hand that she forgot to defend herself and he hit her in the abdomen. His fist sank into the young woman's body, which automatically turned to water, and he passed through her skin and flesh, which were now nothing but fresh water. On contact with the body modified by her devil fruit, Ace's flaming fist immediately extinguished, emitting a few more puffs of incandescent smoke. Raising his head towards her with a smirk, he ignited his second hand and brought it down hard on Lucia's face, using the offensive Haki this time, to hit her and send her flying a few feet. He was loudly applauded and cheered by his men. He straightened up, not a little proud of himself, his fists still on fire, and looked at her, his eternal smile on his face. Lucia straightened up and rubbed her jaw, he was hitting hard.

“So you ate a devil fruit too?”

“Yep," he confirmed, "Mera Mera No Mi. Since then I can generate flames at will.”

“Logia?”

“Obviously”.

“Bastard.”

“I know. How's your jaw?”

She grinned wickedly:

“It'll still be better than you when I beat the shit out of you.”

“Try it and see”, he provoked her.

In the same momentum, the two siblings threw themselves on each other, multiplying the attacks. The fight raged for more than an hour. The two devil fruit users did not stop for a single second. Not surprisingly, Lucia's Mizu Mizu no Mi, her water fruit, managed to extinguish all the flames of Ace without exception, holder of the Mera Mera no Mi. However, Ace still had the advantage. All of Lucia's attacks, no matter how powerful they were, also passed through him without a hitch. He was using Haki even though Lucia couldn't really touch him. The two Logia fruit holders were equal in terms of sheer power, one having an advantage over the other, but Ace was a level above. Finally, Ace managed to grab the young woman by the arm and throw her to the ground before firmly holding her down. Gasping for breath, she dematerialised her second arm and, in a desperate move, wrapped the aquatic coil around Ace's mouth as he quickly suffocated, nearly drowning. He stepped back and, using Haki, managed to pull the water from around his face. Then he tensed up, ready to return to the attack. He was interrupted, however, by a clap of hands. Rayleigh clapped slowly as she stepped between the two fighters:

“All right, that was very spectacular but I think it would be wise for you to stop there don't you think? Draw!”

Lucia and Ace stared at each other before smiling and exchanging a handshake to end the fight.

“That was quite a surprise," Lucia commented. “A devil fruit that can create flames, interesting!”

“I thought you'd like it, and don't get any ideas, I didn't take it because of you, even if the coincidence is quite funny. Even in our powers, we oppose each other while being perfectly complementary.”

Ace lowered his voice so that only Lucia could hear his words:

“Nice siblings, right?”

“It looks like us," Lucia answered in the same tone, a smile on her face.

“But you'll have to explain something to me," said Ace, raising his voice, "how come the oldman didn't teach you Haki. I thought you already knew how to use it, didn't you?”

Lucia laughed before giving him the answer he was waiting for:

“It's in his plans but he doesn't want to rush things, for now we're working on mastering my devil fruit. All the power of a fruit user relies on the inventiveness and creativity of the bearer, so we're working on that.”

“I want you to know that if you manage to do the drowning trick again but on a larger scale it would be crazy, you could really become formidable.”

“What are you saying? That I'm not already?" Lucia took offense, her hands on her hips.

“Oh, let's just say you're cute princess!" replied Ace, winking at her.

They continued to bicker on the way back to the grove 13 where Lucia was staying. From a distance, Rayleigh watched them, a small smile on his face. Between them they were able to put it all together, to show the man who had been his best friend. Roger. While Ace undoubtedly had his face and his character, Lucia had retained his impulsiveness and his smile, as well as the thirst for freedom that characterised them both. He rolled his eyes and sighed.

“You'd be proud of them, my friend...” the former pirate murmured before setting off too.

**

The next day it was time for Ace and his crew to leave. When he didn't see Lucia near his ship, he came to find her in his workshop. When he entered, she sighed:

“I know you’re lost without me, but you know very well that I hate goodbyes...”

“Come on princess, it's certainly not goodbye!”

He took out a piece of paper from his pocket and handed it to her.

“Vivre card?" she asked.

“Yep, I asked the oldman if I could keep yours and he said yes. In exchange, here's mine.”

“Yes, and no one cares about my opinion," she grinned, unable to suppress her smile.

“I gave my card to Luffy too, with you it's okay, the two people who matter most to me know where to find me in case of trouble," he continued without caring about what she had said.

“I'm sorry to disappoint you, but if something goes wrong you're the last person I'll call. Or the second one, at least, since Luffy is still behind you.”

Ace laughed, then pushed his hat down over his hair in a determined gesture. His grey irises locked onto Lucia's. Face to face, the two adults stared at each other in a desperate attempt to make this moment last, to capture it forever. Ace sighed before spreading his arms:

“Come on, I know you're dying for it!”

“Speak for yourself," Lucia sneered.

Nevertheless, she didn't hesitate to take refuge in her brother's arms, hugging him with all her strength. He responded to her embrace with equal strength, feeling a cloud of sadness wash over him at the thought of leaving her again.

“Okay," Lucia said, pulling away abruptly, nervously running her hands over her face to wipe away a few tears, "enough with the whining. Nothing's going to happen to you anyway!”

“That's for sure, the New World will tremble before me!”

He paused and looked at her more seriously:

“Princess?”

“Mmh?”

“Please make me a promise...”

“It depends on which one," she answered, looking questioning.

“Once Luffy has passed through here... leave this place and go see the world for yourself too.”

Lucia opened her mouth, surprised by his request, but quickly pulled herself together and looked more than determined:

“All right.”

“Promise?”

“I promise.”

They took each other's hands, as if to materialise these few words that symbolised the construction of a new future for Lucia, a new perspective of adventure and freedom. Ace then turned on his heels, gave her a final wave, then pulled his hat down over his face and walked straight ahead, trying to contain the few tears that threatened to fall and his lips that trembled dangerously. He took one last look and was surprised to see her still leaning against the doorframe of his studio, the same tears in her eyes, the same trembling smile on her lips. She laughed nervously and motioned for him to come forward. He nodded and went back to his ship. Left alone, Lucia looked at the vivre card Ace had just given her, then wiped her wet eyes before raising them to the sun, which was playing with the bubbles, creating a myriad of coloured dots on the trunks of the grove trees.

“Yes Ace... it was worth being born,” she murmured to herself.

That day was one of the mildest the archipelago has ever known, the sky was clear, the sea calm, the sun not too strong. And the night that followed, the stars over Sabaody had never shone so brightly.

Chapter Text

“So if I'm right, Lucia is your best friend Ace?”

Ace exhaled before nodding:

“Yes, we knew each other when we were kids, she also knows my little brother. She left one day without us understanding why, and I found her a few years later on the archipelago where she grew up all this time.”

Lucia listened to Ace's explanation without adding anything. He had chosen to lie. Not that he didn't trust Jinbei, she was sure they could have told him the truth without worry. He was suspicious of the other prisoners who resided in the cells next to theirs. Who knows which criminals had good enough hearing to hear everything they said. A secret of this magnitude could not be delivered in this way. The two children of the Pirate's King, locked in the same cell, scheduled to be executed on the same day. Who would even believe it? But it was better to keep a low profile. So Ace had lied.

Jinbei wasn't fooled, the explanation was too easy. There was something deeper that bound the two young people together. He had noticed the way they understood each other, knew each other, knew what the other was thinking. Above all, they had the same look. The colour of their eyes was different, but there was the same flame shining in their pupils.

“Here it is," Lucia continued. “So I think that yes, the Navy must know that we know each other and that we're friends... I've met too few people in my miserable life for this to be a pure coincidence. They could have executed me anytime with anyone, but no, some Warlord decided to mess with the admirals while you were here and as a result, my head is going to fall off along with yours. Tsk, what a bummer.”

She spat in disgust in the corner of the cell, there was no denying that she was angry. Angry at herself. How could she have come to this? More importantly, how could she get out of this situation? No matter how many times she turned the problem over, there was no way to find a viable solution. Her seastone handcuffs prevented her from using her devil fruit and weakened her enough that she couldn't use the Haki that would allow her to perhaps get out. And there was no need to mention the many guards, the six floors to climb, and the prison warden. Honestly.

“Come on, say it princess, I can hear your brain working at full speed. Be careful, frowning like that will give you wrinkles, it would be a shame to disfigure that pretty face.”

Ace's voice snapped her out of it and she turned to him with a disillusioned look:

“I was just thinking that the designer of this damn prison had done a masterful job and that I should think about congratulating him for his efficiency.”

His tone of deep irony drew a smile from Jinbei. Despite the desperate situation, she had a response. He squinted, trying to get a better look at the young woman. Despite the bruises and contusions, despite her haggard complexion and the dark circles under her eyes, she exuded a presence that immediately commanded respect. He couldn't say whether this feeling came from the sharp glint in her blue eyes, from her head that never wavered, or simply from her fierceness when she spoke. Certainly a bit of all of that.

He had no idea of the storm that was raging under the girl's skull. Since the pirate empress had passed, a hurricane of thoughts and feelings had been raging in Lucia's mind. She forced herself not to look every five minutes at the little mark that was anchored on her forearm. Staring at it intensely would neither tell her where Luffy was, nor tell her exactly what he was going through, nor even allow her to communicate with him and tell him the truth and tell him to leave immediately. At the mere thought of her friend, she clenched her jaw. She felt a cold sweat run down her spine. She would have given anything to know what was going on in the floors above her head. The hours dragged on inexorably, without her being able to get any indication of day or night. She didn't know if it had been just a few hours or more than a day since she had been sitting in this corner of the cell, bound hand and foot by seastone. She felt very tired. At one point she realised that she had momentarily fallen asleep with her head against the wall. Ace, Jinbei and her no longer spoke a word to each other, nor did they exchange a glance. Her body trapped in chains, Lucia's mind was mostly trapped in her head. It was impossible for her to verbalise what she was feeling or thinking. Her fears, her pain, everything was spinning in a loop, like a huge cyclone. Without really realising it, a tear rolled down her cheek, then a second. Finally, both her cheeks were criss-crossed with tears that she couldn't hold back. She bit her lip to keep from letting out an unfortunate sob. Ace noticed her sniffles, however, and waved his fingers weakly despite the handcuffs on the wall.

“Hola, hola, come on princess...”

She looked up at him, ashamed that she had let herself go. She buried her head in her lap, to hide her face. He sighed and smiled;

“I guess we being a bit of a wreck is certainly not helping your morale. I'm sorry... I've made up my mind about myself. I'm ready to accept my fate.”

She didn't answer, biting her lips to keep from exploding. Ace turned his face to Jinbei to make a request:

“I'm definitely going to die... could you take care of my little brother for me?”

Stifling a scream of rage Lucia gritted her teeth so hard she could taste blood on the tip of her tongue. He was right. She hated to admit it but he was right. He was going to die and so was she. She wasn't ready to die. Not right now. Not like this. Not over some bullshit like this. Not over a catastrophic set of circumstances. She was in a rage. At Kuma. At Kizaru. At the Celestial Dragons and their arrogance. Against Doflamingo and his little slave trade. Against herself.

She let out a laugh and straightened her head, a tight smile stretching her cheeks. She met the questioning eyes of Ace and Jinbei who didn't understand. She raised her shackled hands and showed them:

“Is this worth 500 million? You bet.”

Her words had the effect of a punch in Ace's stomach, his eyes darkened.

“Not even able to take down a Navy man who isn't even a Vice Admiral. The whole world knows my name, the Navy's supposed to be terrified of me, and the day I go up against a few heavy hitters I end up at Impel Down waiting for my head to roll down a scaffold? Is that what 500 million is worth? Pitiful.”

His sentences echoed against the walls of the cell, hitting every stone.

“If only I had a second chance... just a second chance. Give me the opportunity to go up against these guys a second time and I swear it'll be different.”

She clenched her jaw until her teeth were grinding, her eyes sharp. Gathering her strength, she stood up and walked as far as she could towards Ace, looking down on him.

“Maybe you've decided to let yourself die... fine, that's your choice. But listen to me, dickhead, ever since I've known you you've been proclaiming loud and clear that you want to live for yourself, to be free of everything and to give meaning to your existence. Don't make me believe that because you've been beaten up by Blackbeard you're going to give up everything now.”

“Shut up, Lucia," he muttered, not daring to look at her.

“Oh no, boy, I'm certainly not going to shut up. Why don't you stop being selfish for five minutes? Your life is not just about you anymore, you have friends, a crew, a family, people waiting to meet you and go back to sea with you. Men who will probably start a war to save your life.”

Her voice trembled as she continued:

“And now, while you're lamenting his fate and singing that you're ready to sign your will, your little brother is risking his life here to come and save you. Luffy is up there going through hell just because he doesn't want you to die.”

“Stop it”, he begged her.

“Look," she continued, "look.”

She stuck her forearm under his nose, bending down despite the chains, Luffy's lifeline barely visible, frighteningly translucent.

“I'm just as terrified as you are,” she admitted. “And I know very well that our chances of survival are slim to none, but I refuse to admit that it's over. I refuse to say I'm giving up. Because if we give up now, they win.”

“They've already won..." he replied, finally looking into Lucia's eyes.

“No," she replied. “As long as we're breathing they haven't won anything.”

She finally fell back heavily onto her knees, the chains rattling under her fall:

“You have the right to dispose of your life as you wish, it is true, you have the right to accept that these days are your last and that your journey will end on this scaffold. But in this case, you must also accept that your life is not only made up of your little person. In its circle it touches dozens of other men and women who care about you and want you to live. And I am one of them, damn it. I refuse to see you die like this.”

She took a breath to calm herself before concluding:

“I won't make a fuss, I won't fight, I won't do anything but go where I'm told. But until the end I will not bow my head and live. I would not give up until their blade cut my head off for good.”

A heavy silence fell after his speech. Jinbei was the first to find the words to formulate a sentence:

“These are brave words and it is a very honourable position that you have, Lucia. But Ace has the right to do as he likes. Making him feel guilty like that is not the right solution.”

She laughed a little:

“Oh, I know, and there's no changing his mind once he's made up his mind. He's a real stubborn one. I needed to make a fuss, just to get over my own hang-ups. And nothing ventured, nothing gained.”

Lucia gave him her best smile. The fish-man was stunned, she went from one emotion to another without transition. He didn't know where he stood with her. Yet, he could not help but stretch his mouth into a slight smile as well at such vivacity and energy. Even if he wasn't sure he was following her, he recognized her admirable aplomb and talent for handling words. He regretted that her fate was as miserable as it was at the moment, she still had so much to see of the world. So did Ace. These two young people were still children to the world. And yet, if you looked into the pirate's eyes, it seemed as if he was over a hundred years old, as if the weight of the world was crushing him. The two of them were very different from each other, but as Jinbei had sensed, they carried a very special flame within them that commanded respect. He found himself wanting them to live as well. At that moment, he felt that he was entering that circle of men and women that Lucia had mentioned, that gravitated around their lives, that completed them. They did not have to die. Not only did Jinbei have a deep affection for the old Whitebeard, but Ace was very fond of him. So did Lucia, who in just a few days had stirred his soul as a pirate and as a man.

Ace smiled again:

“You're incorrigible, you always talk too much. But that's why I love you too.”

She laughed:

“I hope so, anyway, it's provided in the package, you have no choice.”

They exchanged a knowing glance before being challenged by the sound of footsteps approaching them. Ace's eyes darkened and Lucia's body tensed. In front of them stood Director Magellan and several guards. He looked at them in turn.

“It's time for you.”

Chapter Text

“You are to be transferred to Marineford, to Navy headquarters, where you will be executed in public.”

Magellan's words echo in my head as the prison warden probes us with his eyes. If they handcuff Ace, hands out, they decide to bring my fists down behind my back, twisting my arms unceremoniously. I stifle a scream as I feel a pain shoot through my left shoulder:

“Hey, would it be too much to ask you to try to avoid breaking my bones?”

“Shut up! You criminal!”

I open my mouth to protest but end up closing it again at the last moment, swallowing my anger. I don't think that simple soldiers like them are aware of what I have done in the past, although the status of criminal may be appropriate to designate me, but it is clear that here they use it more out of habit than conviction. It is likely that they don't even know why they fear and hate me. They were told to do it so they just do it.
All the prisoners in the basement watch us pass without a word. It's almost solemn. We get into the lift. The doors close. He keeps his head down, his eyes fixed on the floor. I stand straight, looking straight ahead. No one speaks, only the clanking of the lift chain as it lifts us up.

We stop. Magellan picks up his snail phone and finally informs us of the current situation:

“You are out of luck, Straw Hat arrived at the sixth circle shortly after we left.”

Ace turns around, devastated. I close my eyes and grit my teeth. Tell me it's not true... who gave us such a head of steam?!

“A minute ago, soporific gas was released in the sixth circle," says Magellan. “We'll get Straw Hat, it's only a matter of time. Obviously Ice Hell was not enough for him. Now that there's room in your cell, we'll give him special treatment until his heart gives out.”

Ace and I share a look at the lift shaft, one of the only ways to get to the sixth circle safely. The guards threaten us and force us to turn away. Feverishly, I look around quickly to gauge my chances of successfully evading them. I barely have time to think when Ace has already acted. He rushes forward, knocks out several men and grabs one of their tridents. Without hesitation, I take off and land several kicks to knock down those around me. Magellan eventually overpowers us and tackles us to the ground. We can only watch helplessly as the lift gate closes. He ruthlessly lifts us up and forces us forward. Spitting out a little blood I address Ace:

“You know when I said fight, I didn't think you'd take it literally...”

My tone is bitter. He gives me a burning look:

“I wish it wasn't true... why the hell did he come! What an idiot!”

“On that we agree," I mutter. “But... knowing Luffy, it's likely that he managed to rally men to his cause. With a bit of luck he's not alone and he'll have allies to rely on to get out of here.”

I speak low, so that only Ace can hear me. I hesitate to continue but I'm still worried. Knowing this jerk, he's not only going to get out of here, but it's almost certain he'll be able to land in Marineford. Getting involved in a war he doesn't understand would be just like him. I clench my fingers in the sheaths around my hands.

Finally, after a long, almost endless walk, we reach the main door. It opens slowly, letting the daylight slip into the impregnable fortress (well, impregnable, that remains to be seen given the circumstances). I squint, suddenly dazzled by the sun I haven't seen in days, since my forced departure from Sabaody. My stomach twists. I miss the archipelago, I miss my little life. Ray, Shakky, Luffy... I feel a guard pushing me in the back to force me forward. The salty ocean air hits my face and fills my nostrils, the wind whips my tangled, dusty hair with force. We slowly make our way out of the prison. They force me next to Ace, he has a look on his face that tells me nothing of value. Ahead of us, three navy ships are waiting for us to board one of them and a Vice Admiral is facing us on the bridge.

I look over my shoulder. The door is still open, I can see inside the prison. Then I glance at my forearm, which is pinned by the handcuffs on my back. The link is still visible, it has even regained some colour since the last time. But the anxiety is still lurking somewhere inside me, deep inside. I try to keep it quiet as best I can. Yet I know, I know that it will only increase. The closer we get to Marineford, the more I will be confronted with reality. I will certainly die in the next few hours. I'm not ready for that. I pull on the chains that bind me. Obviously they won't let go so easily. Thinking about Ace's gesture earlier, a solution appears in my mind. A solution that is, to say the least, radical and that offers only a few ways out, the main one being my death. I glare at Magellan, at the navy soldiers and, without warning, I take off and throw myself over the side of the bridge. One more kick and I could dive into the ocean. If I'm going to die, I might as well do it myself. However, a hand grabs my chains and pulls me back roughly. Magellan has a tired look on his face and brings me to him:

“How desperate are you, The Elementalist.”

Growling, I spit in his face before hitting him with a heel that leaves a red mark on his cheek:

“I find it most humiliating to be forced to suffer the whims of the Navy, even if it means dying today, I would like to do so in freedom.”

He sneers:

“Yeah, whatever.” He turns his gaze towards the Navy. “Be careful, she is dangerous. We had to be extra careful with her.”

He then signals to his subordinates, who come towards me with a syringe in their hands.

“Inject her with a dose if she gives you any trouble.”

I struggle with all my strength but the director's grip prevents me from moving. What do you mean I'm dangerous? They've got me unconscious and handcuffed, I can't do anything. They continue to weave their lies without blinking, you bastards! I feel the needle going into my neck and very quickly my body feels heavy, the ground is shaking under my feet and my eyes are closing. The last thing I hear is the cry of a seagull circling above us. I fall asleep.

When she comes back, Lucia is sitting on the floor, hands still tied, with her back to the chair Ace is sitting in. Obviously the chair budget was tight. She really feels that her execution is being rushed, that the Navy didn't plan anything. Ace is the heart of this show, she's just a last minute add-on. She flickers her eyes to get used to the light that continues to dazzle her. Her head is heavy, her back numb, her ears ringing. Cursing the Navy and the prison corps, she gradually emerges from the artificial sleep into which she has been plunged with a tranquilliser. She is on the Navy ship that is transferring them to Marineford. She sniffs the iodine air as she slowly comes back to reality. She lets out a groan of pain as she tries to move her head. Ace hears her and realises that she is awake:

“Did you sleep well, princess?”

“Shut up," Lucia stammers in response. “I don't know what they put in their little cocktail, but it's strong.”

Her mouth is pasty and every sentence she utters is a feat in itself. Yet she feels that each passing second is clearer and more distinct than the last.

“Apparently, from what I've heard, they've injected you with a tranquilliser. The same one they use for the beasts of the second circle," Ace explains.

“You can't be serious!" exclaimed Lucia. “I don't have the size of a sphinx!”

While she's ranting alone in her corner, she hears Ace's little laugh and quickly understands that he's made fun of her. She headbutts the back of Ace's chair:

“Bastard, you're enjoying this, aren't you?”

“Yes," he admits, still laughing. “But you must have hurt yourself there, right?”

“I don't know what you're talking about," she mumbles in a small voice, tears in her eyes, trying to silence the pain that followed her thoughtless act. “Sometimes I stop thinking for two seconds and that's two seconds too long...”

Ace finally catches his breath, his gaze lost in the immensity of the sky, watching the seagulls that continue to circle the ship, like a procession accompanying the two condemned to death. Lucia is hypnotised by the horizon, as usual. Her blue gaze is riveted on the blurred line in which sea and sky meet with the promise of the unknown and adventure beyond. Lucia's heart sinks at the thought that she may never get beyond that horizon. The vice-admiral in charge of their transfer passes them by, taking care to point out the situation at Impel Down - obviously quite chaotic - which would be entirely due to Luffy.

“Enjoy the sky," he continued, "this is the last time you'll see it. Because once you're tied hand and foot on the scaffold, you won't see it again.”

Ace has a very tired look on his face, his irises lost in the blue sky. Lucia says nothing, taking in these words that seal his fate a little more each second. He finally loses interest in them and the two young people are left alone again on this bridge, back to back, separated by this chair and these chains.

“Ace?”

“Yes?”

“Tell me what you saw on your trip... with Whitebeard, with your crew...”

Surprised by her request, he easily perceives the saddened tone of her voice and a weight falls on his stomach. With his fingertips, he manages to grab a few strands of her hair and gently strokes them. Then he opens his mouth and begins to describe the ocean, the islands, the adventures he has had. For several hours he tells her about his experiences, the wonders of the world he has discovered, the mysteries that are still unsolved, the green and colourful landscapes, the Dantean storms. With her eyes closed, Lucia listens religiously, letting her imagination unfold the images that illustrate Ace's words. He traces this retrospective of his journey without really respecting a chronology, he lets the memories flow as they will. He simply lets himself be lulled by the swirling of the waves, the cry of the birds and the slow movement of his thumb on the locks of Lucia's hair.

Chapter Text

When the doors of Justice opened on the Navy headquarters, Ace stopped talking. In absolute silence, the ship passed the last rampart that separated them from their place of execution, their final destination. A few minutes later, Lucia saw the dark shadow of Marineford's silhouette reflected on the sea before she could even make out the building. She swallowed, impressed. They were then taken over by yet another unit of soldiers who separated them and led them into individual cells. Then, three hours before the execution, they were taken away in dead silence. Held on a leash by the seastone chains, Lucia found herself being led past a pair of black canvas shoes. She arched an eyebrow before putting them on:

“Well, you're thinking of all the comforts, aren't you? It's true that it would be ungainly to die in bare feet after all.”

She laughed and shook her head. It was ridiculous. The walk to the scaffold was grim. First she had to pass through an endless corridor flanked by soldiers on either side, posted a few metres apart, armed to the teeth. The clanking of chains was ringing in her ears. She finally arrived at a large wooden door where she found Ace. He was in front of her, also tied up, held at a distance by the guards. She found him even more stooped than when they separated, a sign that he was growing tired. She bit her lip and closed her eyes, did she really have to make up her mind now? Slowly the doors were opened, leading to a huge staircase. Lucia squinted, but she couldn't see the end. So slowly, the two condemned siblings climbed the stairs.

1... 2... 3...

Without thinking, Lucia began to count. She counted her steps, those steps. The sound of those chains would drive her crazy, she had to keep her mind occupied. Mentally, she wondered how Whitebeard would intervene and if they would really be able to escape this day. The situation was bound to get out of hand, if this Emperor of the Seas decided to throw himself into the free-for-all to save Ace, the deaths would be counted in the thousands. This number of steps would be derisory compared to the pile of corpses. A pile that she might be part of. She gritted her teeth.

58... 59... 60...

Unable to help herself, a small knot of stress began to form in her stomach as they continued their ascent up the narrow corridor. Her mind drifted and she remembered that this execution was public. It was to be broadcast live to the Sabaody archipelago. Was Ray going to attend? Did the world even know that his head would join Ace's by the end of the day? Had the Navy broadcast the information, obviously so proud of having captured The Elementalist Lucia with 500 million berries bounty?

125...126...127...

Finally a door appeared in the shadow of the staircase. The last few steps were the most trying. Lucia felt tiny against the light coming from outside. Then she and Ace stepped forward. The clamour of the soldiers could be heard immediately. It was a veritable tide of people below. The scaffold was also visible. They were led to it and chained. Ace was placed on the front of the platform, between the two soldiers whose job it was to put an end to his life. Lucia was taken to the side. The chains holding her handcuffs were fastened to a ring on the floor and then, with a firm hand, she was forced to kneel down as well. Ace gave her a sad look before turning away, staring at the floor, still without a word. Lucia then looked around at what was surely going to be the scene of one of the greatest battles of all time. 5 of the 7 Warlords, the 3 Admirals, thousands of soldiers, giants... Her head was spinning. All these people together, watching the execution of one man. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Vice Admiral Garp positioning himself at the bottom of the scaffold. He met her gaze. Lucia could not determine what came out. Hatred? Contempt? Regret? It wasn't her he would be crying over, for sure. But there didn't seem to be as much animosity as when they met in the prison. You tell me, it's about time... to get the tension relieved on the day I die, if it wasn't so ironic I might have shed my little tear...

She turned as she heard Admiral Sengoku climb the scaffold. He went to stand beside Ace without even a glance at Lucia and asked for a snail phone. He then began to make a speech before the execution. Then he asked a question that immediately made Lucia's blood run cold:

“Ace," Sengoku questioned him slowly, "I would like you to tell us the name of your father.”

It was as if a ton of lead had fallen into the young woman's stomach. And Ace was obviously angry. He replied forcefully that his father was Whitebeard. But Sengoku did not give up. He began to describe the operations that had been put in place to find a particular child, a child that was particularly dangerous to the Navy. Drops of sweat beaded on Lucia's forehead as the Chief Admiral continued to spout his speech in a firm, snarling voice. He explained how Ace's mother had delayed her pregnancy and delivery to protect her child. The more precisely the information flowed in Sengoku's words, the more Lucia saw Ace's muscles tense up, realising that the fateful information was really going to come. That they knew. Lucia tensed her jaw a little more, waiting for the words that would definitively seal their fate together. The Navy knew, of course. Their two heads placed side by side on the same day for the same execution was no accident. They were linked by the blood that ran through their veins. Ace clenched his fists.

“This child who had the blood of the most evil being in his veins, this child who had been born a year and three months after his father's death...” Sengoku continued, emphasizing each word.

Each syllable sounded like a time bomb in Lucia's ears, and she closed her eyes and leaned back against the floor, forehead to the wood, dreading the sentence that would change the story.

“Well, that child is you, but I don't think I'm teaching you anything! Your father is none other than...”

The tension was at its peak in Marineford, only Sengoku's voice pierced the oppressive silence.

“The Pirate’s King, that infamous Gold Roger!”

Sengoku bellowed his words, which echoed against the walls of the Navy headquarters. Ace gritted his teeth, backed into a corner. Lucia had not looked up, but she suddenly opened her eyes in amazement. Mouth agape, she took a deep breath, realizing that she had stopped breathing during the entire wait.

He said ... "your father" ... "your" ...

She slowly lifted her face and met Garp's gaze once more. Once again, she saw no animosity, no pride... She realized what she thought was impossible. Quickly, she turned her head towards Ace who had been watching this silent exchange. More alert than her, he shook his head from left to right with a threatening look, signalling her to be quiet. She closed her mouth, redirected her eyes straight ahead, her mind reeling.

They don't know... they don't know...

Contrary to what she thought. The Marine Corps didn't know who she was. Her execution today, at Ace's side, was a simple and pure chance. She discreetly raised her irises to Sengoku but he didn't give her a single fragment of his attention, too busy watching Ace.

He doesn't know... He doesn't know that Roger had not only one son... but that he had a daughter before him... and that she is standing beside him right now.

She couldn't help but redirect her gaze to Garp for the umpteenth time. He had said nothing. The Navy had never imagined that Roger could have two children, and the only man among them who knew about it had said nothing. But why?

Sengoku continued to retrace Ace's steps in Whitebeard's crew. In reality, executing Ace in public here was more than just a symbol, it was a desire to put down the entire terrible generation that had been roaming the seas for the past few years. Ace was completely desperate.

Then she felt them. It was weak, but she felt them. In spite of the seastone handcuffs, in spite of her fatigue, in spite of the traces of the drugs that persisted in her system. She felt the vibrations echoing in the air, in the water particles, all around her. Lucia sat up and squinted to focus. Something was stirring. The sea had lost its calm, even though it didn't show it. A distant eddy was stirring. The fog lifted.

The alarm sounded loudly and the guns were brought into position. On the horizon, a fleet of New World pirate ships threatened the naval headquarters. No... it's not that... what I feel is not coming from the surface of the water but from the...

Lightning flashed through Lucia's mind immediately. She understood what was going to happen. Awkwardly rising to her feet, she moved as far forward as she could towards the front of the scaffold, stretching her arms and their chains back. She wanted to be sure. Sengoku caught her agitation but did nothing, just watched her.

One bubble... two bubbles...

She was sure of it now. She could see them more and more clearly, the bubbles rising to the surface and disappearing once they made contact with the air. A mass of air larger than the others broke through the calm surface of the sea and exploded, creating a succession of circles that shook the waters in front of the Marine's body. A smile stretched Lucia's lips in spite of herself, admiring the almost obvious ingenuity of the stratagem put in place. How could they not think of it... She could feel the Chief Admiral Sengoku beginning to understand as well, she could see that vein on his forehead throbbing as worry and anger rose in him. The gurgling of the water became more and more audible. The water was churning. Waves kept rising to the surface, spraying fine drops of water over the soldiers. Suddenly, the Moby Dick broke the surface and shot into the centre of Marineford before the stunned eyes of the soldiers, the pirates and the two convicts. Then another ship did the same, then another. In all, three ships joined the captain's ship. Whitebeard's fleet was complete. Lucia could make out the fourteen captains, known for their strength and bounty.

They heard him before they saw him, pounding the ground with his weapon. Whitebeard entered the scene in the quietest of moods, on the bow of his ship, a smile on his face. Although far away from him, Lucia felt intimidated, overwhelmed by the aura of this colossus. He had not stolen his reputation as a legend.

“Don't worry, Ace, I'm here," said Whitebeard reassuringly.

Ace shook with all his limbs before shouting at his captain and surrogate father. Lucia could not help but sigh. I really don't know what I'm doing here, I don't belong here, this conflict doesn't concern me at all... Whitebeard had no intention of dealing with the young woman, she was sure. If he thought of Ace as his son, he had no idea that she was actually his sister, and even so, he was certainly not going to risk his life or that of his crew for her.

A huge crash brought her out of her thoughts. A cracking sound was heard and suddenly the sea was distorted by a huge seaquake. She was stunned. Whitebeard's power was staggering. All of Marineford was shaken by the tremor. There was no doubt that he could wipe them all out with one punch if he wanted to. And it was a safe bet that he would unleash his fury on this island once Ace was safe. She swallowed. She whispered to Ace:

“Hey, could you say something to your old man... like, for example, that I don't particularly want to die today, whether it's at the hands of the Navy or at his own.”

She didn't know if he had heard her, if so he didn't let on. On the other hand, Sengoku gave her a threatening look:

“Don't dream, you'll die here. And so will he.”

She grimaced:

“It doesn't hurt to ask...”

Suddenly, the sea withdrew and began to form a huge tsunami ready to pour against the walls of the Navy headquarters. Soldiers and pirates alike began to encourage and motivate each other to attack. The waves rolled around Marineford, overhanging the soldiers, the buildings and threatening to fall heavily on them, destroying everything in its path.

The old man is going to kill us all... Lucia was stunned.

“Ice Age!”

Aokiji had rushed in without delay, freezing the waves, preventing them from falling again. Then he froze the whole of Marineford Bay, freezing the ships but creating a wider battlefield. Galvanised by their admiral's action, the naval soldiers began firing on the pirates and their ships. Without further ado, Whitebeard's fleet went ashore and entered the battle. Cannonballs were fired, powers were deployed, swords were drawn.

“This is it... it's war!" thundered Sengoku.

Chapter Text

The battle was raging, it was difficult to discern who would win. Casualties were high on both sides. The Admirals faced the captains of Whitebeard's fleet without blinking. Ships were sunk. Captain Little Oars Junior had fallen after leading the way for his captain's crew, who were struck down by Bartholomew Kuma. The Warlords were finally on board, taking full part in the fight. Lucia was breathing hard, paralysed by the spectacle before her eyes. Even if she knew that this war would break out, witnessing it in the flesh was something else entirely. Even more so, being forced to be a spectator was a torment for the young woman.

Completely caught up in this macabre spectacle, it took her a few seconds to realise that Garp had now also climbed onto the scaffold and stood next to Ace. He sat down next to his adopted grandson as painful memories flooded back to him. Ace had always proclaimed his desire to become a pirate, protecting Luffy and Lucia constantly. He remembered the shared laughter. Of his affection.

“I have no sympathy for criminals..." the Vice Admiral began. “But for family it's different...”

Lucia turned her attention from the ongoing battle to Garp's words, turning her head at the same time as Ace to look at him. A sad smile stretched Lucia's lips, the old man obviously cared about Ace. And there was no doubt that he was suffering more than anyone else to have to lead his grandson to the scaffold. His thought was reinforced when Garp, usually so serious, stoic - or angry - began to sob, letting the tears roll down his grey beard:

“So tell me, what am I supposed to do? Ace, you little fool, why didn't you become a soldier like I told you?”

Ace bit his lip, understanding that the reason Garp had pushed them so hard to become soldiers was to protect them from this day. The day he would be forced to arrest and convict them.

“Grandpa..." he murmured, his voice trembling.

Lucia turned away, also feeling tears welling up. There was no way the old man was going to see her crying at this moment.

A shadow in the sky caught her attention. She craned her neck to try and get a glimpse of the unidentified object. She heard the voices. She heard the scream. Her jaw literally dropped from her face, her eyes opened so wide that the air stung her retina. She was stunned.

“FOR GOD'S SAKE THIS CHILD IS A PAIN!" she screamed in despair.

“I'M COMING AAAACE!" thundered Luffy in his free fall.

Ace couldn't speak, the shock was too much for him. First Garp letting his emotions go and now Luffy falling from the sky. The ship that accompanied the escapees from Impel Down crashed hard into the bay, into the only hole on the ice surface. Once he came to, Luffy called out to his brother without stopping, searching for him all over Marineford. He finally saw the stage on which the execution was to be held, Ace in the foreground of it, flanked by Sengoku and Garp. Once he got past the initial joy of finally finding his brother, he discerned the figure of Lucia behind them. Jinbei had told him the truth, it was no longer just his brother's life that was at stake, but also that of his sister at heart. The Elementalist Lucia. Taking no more breath, he yelled out the first name of his two siblings:

“AAACE!!! LUCIAAAA !!!!”

The two convicts shouted back in unison, spitting out Luffy's name. The sounds echoed in the dusty air of the Navy HQ. Completely stunned, Lucia discerned the men flanking Luffy. Crocodile. Ivankov. Baggy. Jinbei. She thought back to what she had said to Ace earlier in the prison, as she had expected Luffy had indeed surrounded himself with allies. And not the least. His entrance stunned all the forces present. Pirate captains and soldiers alike were amazed. Yet their alliance soon seemed obsolete as Crocodile rushed in to try to kill Whitebeard. Quick as a flash, Luffy stepped in and pushed the former Warlord away.

“Am I dreaming that he's chatting with Whitebeard without blinking? Well, my friend, only him can do that!”

She laughed out loud when Luffy proclaimed that he would be the Pirate’s King, his face tense with rage. She knew, she knew, that his boldness and integrity would win the legendary pirate's heart. It was only a matter of time. Luffy was made of the stuff of those who are respected and valued.

“May I ask what you're laughing at?”

She gave to Ace a proud look before answering:

“I just think that there's never one of them to catch up with the other two. No matter what happens, no matter who's ahead of us, we've got to get smart and shout. Some siblings, huh?”

“I don't think it's funny, Lucia," Ace replied, looking more worried than ever.

She calmed down:

“Don't get me wrong, I'm scared for him too. But I know better than anyone to not underestimate him. I'd prefer him to leave this place wisely, but I have the divine intuition that he won't change his mind until he gets here, in front of us. That runs in the family too.”

Ace was terrified. More than Lucia, much more. He felt guilty. His crew, his brother, his family, all risking their lives here to save him. Unable to bear it, he screamed:

“Don't come to save me Luffy !”

Interloqued, Lucia looked at him without understanding. Then she saw his face tense with pain and grief and immediately closed the mouth she had opened to retort. Her face broke down as she finally understood the feeling that had overtaken Ace since she had found him at Impel Down. Until then she had barely understood what had caused him to give up so easily. Now she understood. She blamed herself for taking so long to put the pieces together. Ace felt guilty, he had not lived up to her expectations. He had gone against his captain's orders, lost to Blackbeard, and now those he loved might die to save his life. In his mind, he was responsible for their lives right now, and he might be responsible for their deaths if they happened. And he didn't want people dying for him.

“You know very well why I say that, don't you? You and I are both pirates! Each of us sails free and goes wherever we want! This is my life, my destiny and my adventures! I have my own crew and my own companions! I have no desire for you to interfere in any way with my business! To see a runt like you here trying to save my life is an affront to me, a shame I could never accept!”

Lucia looked away, unable to bear to see Ace's face distorted by these words. Fear, grief and anger were all mixed up in his features as he screamed at his brother. She didn't really know where the truth was in his words, but one thing was for sure: he was being deliberately harsh with Luffy to make him turn back and save his own skin while there was still time.

“I want you to leave ! Why did you come?”

“Ace..." Lucia murmured, her head down, taking in every sentence and the pain that went with it.

I can't just sit back and do nothing, it's just not possible. She'd always been told not to act, to keep a low profile, not to make waves. Ever since she was a little girl. Shut up and obey. Don't show yourself. Don't say anything. Just wait. Don't move. Be patient. This time she had had enough, she was about to speak when Luffy's voice echoed through the bay:

“I am... I AM YOUR BROTHER!”

Damn it! As if he wasn't in enough trouble as it is!

**

"Let me tell you something. If we exchange cups of sake, we'll be brothers."

"What about me?"

"You're a girl, girls don't drink"

"Yes I do!"

"No, you don't."

"She's kind of our sister, though, isn't she? Come on, Ace, be nice to her for once."

"I said no!"

"You're not nice!"

"I don't care, whiny princess!"

"Shishishi, I will let you drink from my cup!"

"So will I!"

"Did you two listen to me? I said no!"

**

Tears welled up in Lucia's eyes, tears of rage that were rooted in a deep-seated resentment. It was unfair. Deeply unfair. While Ace and Luffy continued to spar, Sengoku took the opportunity to reveal his identity to the world, linking him to Monkey D. Dragon the revolutionary. The men in Marineford were overwhelmed by the shock of this second revelation in the space of a few hours.

“The die is cast..." Garp breathed, "There's no point in hiding the truth any longer. The two brothers are as stupid as each other I think!”

Yes Garp, indeed, but you can't say you don't like them for that.

“AAACE!" shouted Luffy. “Say what you will, brother, but you and Lucia, I'll save you even if it kills me!”

Ace was completely disillusioned, his words had had the opposite effect of what he had hoped for. Instead of pushing his brother to turn back, he had only fed his determination and his rage to win. And what was worse, he had ended up transmitting his energy to all the pirates in Whitebeard's fleet who were now following him, driven by the same sacred flame.

Completely overwhelmed, Ace began to tremble. He bent over and laid his head on the ground, jerking as one question swirled in his mind: why?

I am... YOUR BROTHER!

In its circle it touches dozens of other men and women who care about you and want you to live. And I am one of them, damn it. I refuse to see you die like this!

“You're idiots..." Ace articulated, forehead still on the ground. “Luffy... Lucia... and you too father...”

Join me and become my son !

“What's wrong?" Garp called out.

“Whatever my fate is... I am ready to accept it. I will take the hand that is held out to me, I will accept the blade that will punish me. I have decided... not to fight any more. For their sake I must remain dignified.”

“Make a fool of me again and I swear that it is by my hand that you will die!” shouted Lucia

Ace turned to her:

“You said you would respect my choices.”

“Save your energy," she said simply, looking out to the horizon. “Indeed, stop fidgeting. But don't lose faith.”

“Forget Lucia...”

“Never!" she spat.

He was not surprised, she had always been like that. Impulsive, arrogant. It was part of her character. She wouldn't give up until they killed her. Deep down, he hoped that his family would indeed make it here, not to save him, but for her. She had nothing to do with this conflict and she did not deserve to die, to share his fate here. So he closed his eyes and silently implored his brother to stay alive and save her, to save his sister.

Chapter Text

The battle was still raging in Marineford. The Pacifista had entered the fray with Sentomaru. The Navy had tried to turn Whitebeard's allied forces against him, but Squardo had stabbed the pirate in the chest before realizing his mistake. Enraged that someone would dare attack his sons, Whitebeard threw himself into the fray, ready to slaughter anyone who stood in his way. Akainu stood up to him, confronting him in a duel that was beyond imagination. The strongest of the pirates took his anger out on the whole of the Navy headquarters, the stones cracked, the ocean split, the walls collapsed. It was absolute chaos. Sengoku took it upon himself to order his subordinate to break out the encircling wall in order to trap the pirates in the bay. His plan was undermined by Aokiji's ice, which blocked the sections of the wall, preventing them from emerging to the surface. Every second that passed was another step closer to the scaffold. Finally the ice gave way and the whole bay was surrounded, except for one section which could not rise, blocked by the body of Little Oars Junior who had fallen just in front of Ace. Akainu went on a rampage, melting the ice in the centre of the bay, drowning the pirates in boiling water, burning the Whitebeard ship. It was a massacre.

Lucia clenched her hands more and more nervously in her seastone sheaths. She pulled at her chains, trying in every way to break free of the shackles, not wanting to be so helpless. Sengoku could only notice her growing agitation and approached her, staring down at her. Caught in the shadow of his figure, she looked up at him with hatred. He frowned as he held her blue irises that would not let go of him. Their face-to-face encounter lasted only a few seconds before Sengoku decided there was no point in continuing it any longer. He turned away without saying anything. Lucia decided it was time to get some answers to her questions:

“How about a serious talk between you and me," she challenged him.

Without answering anything, he nevertheless interrupted her gesture and glanced at her. She felt him tense and on the alert.

“Why am I here, old man? Why are you bothering with me today when you've got enough on your plate with all this mess?”

Unable to make out what he was saying, Sengoku did not react. Frustrated, Lucia continued:

“Seriously? You captured me by chance, we all agree on that, you certainly didn't expect it. But that's no reason to hasten my death like that. All you had to do was ask Magellan to take care of it at Impel Down, and in a few seconds it was over, you put the word out in the press and it was over. What was the point of you hanging me up on this whole circus?”

She took another look at the battlefield before continuing:

“Whitebeard doesn't care about me, all those pirates don't care about me. They're fighting to save Ace, not me. Up until today you've been issuing a wanted notice on my name with an exorbitant bounty for no reason. The soldiers, the civilians, the pirates, the revolutionary army, I think they all believed your little stunt because they were in the dark. No one looked into why the government was so actively looking for me. And now you're making my death public, even if it means interfering in a war you have absolutely no control over? Seriously Admiral, what is your interest in this? Who do you owe so much to prove that I am dead? Who's behind the screen right now, waiting to see those blades end my life?”

She had spouted off, overwhelmed with anger and incomprehension. Sengoku's reply was just as bitter:

“As if you didn't know.”

Lucia swallowed and then met the eyes of the Admiral, who had not taken his eyes off her. He breathed in before continuing:

“The entry on your wanted notice has changed. Now it's 'Dead' only. And you know perfectly well where that order came from.”

A pall of horror passed over Lucia's eyes as a drop of cold sweat slid down her spine. She also sensed that Ace was listening intently to their exchange without letting on. The Chief Admiral of the Navy turned and walked away, but not without a final word to the young woman:

“Whatever the outcome of this fight, you won't see it. Things are as they should be”

Lucia bit her lip so hard that she felt the taste of blood filling her mouth. This time it was too much. Hateful, she stood up and confronted him:

“So that's it? The world organization that claims to be the guarantor of absolute justice is just following the orders of a couple of poor guys without asking questions? Is that how you see yourself? As the lapdogs who do the bidding? You just kill me because you're told to?”

His voice echoed across Marineford Bay. Down below, the fighting did not stop, but everyone was challenged by Lucia's screams of rage. Pirates, prisoners, admirals, soldiers, all turned to her or at least listened to what she was saying.

“Without wishing to flatter myself Admiral, I don't think I've done much harm to you or your men. How many here even know who I really am? And let's not talk about Ace. Now you're all screaming and blaming a man because he's a pirate and, more recently, because he's the son of a man you despise. But tell me, did Roger, Whitebeard or even Ace do anything to you? Until proven otherwise, pirates or not, they haven't attacked civilians, they haven't razed islands, they don't trade in slaves, they don't shoot at others just because they feel like it.”

“Shut up!" shouted Sengoku.

“Certainly not!" Lucia shouted in response. “That's enough now. You wanted to have a public execution? All right then, let's make the most of it, let the world listen for a change. Because your speeches are nice, but it's getting a bit boring to have only one side of this whole charade.”

She stepped forward as much as she could and addressed the soldiers directly this time:

“Do you have any idea what you are fighting for? For justice," she laughed. “It's all a sham. The two heads you put to death today are less criminal than the pirates fighting alongside you. But because the government is so afraid of their power, it prefers to put them in its pocket, thinking that it won't have to face them. Gecko Moria stole the shadows of hundreds of civilians on Thriller Bark to conduct his experiments and his plan to dominate the seas. Doflamingo has a nice little human slave market on Sabaody where innocent men and women are put up for sale every day for the eyes of our beloved global nobility. Yet these men are freer than Ace and me. Why are they? Because your justice is just a cardboard facade.”

“For God's sake Lucia shut up," Ace growled.

“Now you're yelling at a man because he's the son of a world-famous pirate, but do you even know what crimes Roger was accused of? You only pick up on rumours and hearsay because that's what works best. You were told to hate pirates and Roger, so you do. What kind of justice do you really think you are serving by acting this way?”

Exasperated, Sengoku grabbed Lucia's arms to pull her back and force her to step back, sit down and be quiet. He squeezed her forearms hard, making her wince in pain, but she wouldn't budge. She turned to him and spat in his face:

“You are only serving a corrupt order that silences the troublesome, those who would restore true justice to this world.”

“Are you suggesting that the pirates want to bring justice?" Sengoku sneered, outraged.

“No, I'm just saying that if we stopped this ridiculous quarrel between pirates and the Navy, if we took five minutes to open our eyes to the reality of things, we might be able to solve problems more important than your damaged ego! Your little pride was crushed the moment Roger died, with those last words. You thought you had won against piracy that day, but since then it's only been worse because of the new wave he unleashed. You are angry with him because new pirates have taken to the seas, driven by his words. I'm not saying they're all saints, you and I know that some of them are real scum. I'm just saying that you're too blind to really see which ones deserve to be put in irons.”

She struggled, trying to break free of Sengoku's grip:

“And today, you hear me, today there is no way I'm going to let Ace die just because he's Roger's son! A CHILD IS NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR HIS PARENTS!”

The second Lucia screamed these sentences, a powerful discharge of Conqueror’s Haki emanated from her and spread throughout Marineford Bay. Surprised, Sengoku stepped back, freeing the young woman who fell to her knees on the ground, panting, her arms and throat aching. Ace opened his eyes wide, surprised to see that his sister also possessed this ability that he himself had discovered when he was younger. Garp didn't know what to say, stunned by her speech and show of strength. Down below, the shock was the same. Soldiers collapsed, annihilated by the blast. The big names in piracy and the Navy, however, remained standing. Akainu squinted, wary. Aokiji and Kizaru just stared at the scaffold in disbelief. Whitebeard clenched his fist around his weapon while Marco laughed softly beside him on the bow of the ship. Doflamingo was the first to break the silence by bursting into laughter:

“Geez, the kid has the Conqueror’s Haki! That's a first! I thought you were one of the only woman to possess this ability with Big Mom, Boa Hancock.”

The pirate empress didn't answer anything. She was rehearsing the young woman's words, which strangely echoed an old grudge that had lingered deep inside her since she was a teenager. Jinbei, on the other hand, was looking at the two pieces of ice that were still overhanging the bay... it seemed to him that he had felt the water stirring... but it was certainly only a figment of his imagination.

Lucia got up and walked forward again, not paying attention to the general amazement. She was fully aware of what she had just done. It was deliberate, if she wanted to be taken seriously she had to pull out all the stops. She had not been able to mobilise as much energy as she wanted to because of the seastone but it had been enough for this time. Once again she raised her voice and addressed the men fighting:

“Ace does not have to pay for the crimes you accuse Roger of! His birth in itself is not worthy of a death sentence! Killing him for being born here and now will not glorify you, it will not erase your resentment, nor your deep sense of failure!”

She did not have time to continue when a fist crashed violently into her temple and knocked her to the ground. She hit the ground hard and a pain shot through her skull. Feeling blood running down her cheek from her skull, she looked up to see Sengoku, in a rage. His eyes shone with a strange golden glow and she knew it was only a matter of time before he used his devil fruit to silence her for good. She smiled:

“Go ahead, you're dying for it, aren't you! Except that if you lose control, your whole carefully planned little play falls apart. Finish me now and your show is over. Whatever you do, I've said my piece and the world has heard my words.”

“No one will take them seriously.”

“Those who will make the New Era will! Don't forget Sengoku, I'm that grain of sand in the wheels of government that's been derailing everything for years. After all, that's why you have to kill me today, isn't it?”

Sengoku clenched his fist so hard that his knuckles turned white. At the end of a heavy face-off, the Chief Admiral loosened his hand and turned away to overlook the battlefield. The conflict had resumed with even greater fervour on both sides. The pirates were over-motivated by Lucia's speech, while the soldiers, their pride stung, were redoubling their efforts to put an end to the attack she had just made on the honour of the Navy. He sighed, containing his resentment:

“I know an easy way to put an end to your little vendetta.”

With an energetic movement, he shook off the two guards who had passed out on the scaffold following Lucia's Haki. It took many minutes for the two men to regain consciousness. Once they were fully awake, secure in their legs, they took up their weapons and positioned themselves on either side of Ace. Then, in one movement, they crossed their blades in front of Ace's face. Lucia's blood ran cold in her veins. They were moving the execution forward. They were going to kill her brother in front of her eyes.

Chapter Text

“In a few moments, we will proceed with the execution of Portgas D. Ace!”

The Chief Admiral's statement echoed around the bay, eliciting smiles of satisfaction from the Warlords and soldiers. The pirates' faces fell, terrified that they would not be able to save their friend. Ace said nothing. He waited.

Driven by the energy of despair and the motivation of Luffy who kept leading them further, the pirates nevertheless rushed towards the only opening they had left to Ace. The soldiers waited until they were close and bombarded them with cannonballs without stopping. Horrified, Lucia watched helplessly as the violence unfolded below. It's a massacre... a real massacre... Ace then began to stir as well, jingling his sea granite cuffs as he moved his arms as if to free himself. Lucia's hands itched terribly too, she wanted to fight, she wanted to help them. What right did the Navy have to do this? What authority, what justice was worth the sacrifice of all those lives? Soldiers and pirates alike, no one deserved this. No matter how hard she bent her neck, she couldn't make out the expression on Sengoku's face. His eyes were invisible, masked by the reflection of flames and smoke on his glasses.

Once the shooting died down, the silence in Marineford was too oppressive. Ace was at the bottom of the abyss, Lucia was in trouble. All her bravery was gone. Only fear and despondency remained. She could hear nothing. No more screams. No more calls. No more voices from the bay. Only Sengoku's voice managed to find its way into her ears:

“Begin the execution!”

There was a rumbling sound. And another hoarse voice broke the silence:

“Ace... I'm here...”

With a superhuman effort, Little Oars Junior, who had been unconscious for several hours, came to and stood up, trying once again to reach his friend Ace. The shots started again, pounding the monster's body, riddling it with cannonballs and bullets. But Oars did not give up. If his body was weakening, his spirit kept him fighting.

Nevertheless, he ended up collapsing heavily on the ground, panting, exhausted, dying. Kizaru decided that it was time to stop this desolate spectacle and prepared to finish off the giant. He was interrupted by the projection of a gigantic jet of water that rippled through the air and came crashing down heavily at the feet of the three admirals in front of the scaffold. As the water entered the inner part of Marineford, it splashed onto the soldiers present and part of the scaffold. An impressive spray fell on Lucia, who was thrown to the ground by the impact and coughed to catch her breath, her hair dripping down her face, her clothes soaked. Without understanding, she shook her head to clear her face and squinted her eyes to better perceive what was happening below.

With his feet firmly planted in the ground, a piece of the mast from Whitebeard's ship under his arm, and a dark look in his eyes, Luffy stood before the strongest forces in the Navy. Startled, Ace shouted Luffy's name as Lucia tried to process the vision, which seemed surreal. Fear also gripped her as she realised that he didn't stand a chance against those three monsters alone. But she didn't have time to speak as Luffy was already knocked down by the Admirals and Sengoku decided to pick up the execution where he had left off.

“Raise your swords!" he ordered the two executioners.

As they obeyed, Lucia let out a grunt:

“STOP- “

She was interrupted by Sengoku, who put his foot behind her back to hold her down. She looked up, her eyes full of rage.

“Your turn will come soon enough, for now shut up!”

He turned back to the soldiers:

“CUT OFF HIS HEAD!”

As if time was slowing down, Lucia saw the blades moving towards Ace's neck, who said nothing, his eyes closed, waiting to die. She opened her mouth but not a sound could come out.

Then it was all over.

Incredulously, she saw the executioners being thrown backwards, blood seeping through their torsos from a large wound. She looked down to see Crocodile standing before them, his ever-present cigar in his teeth, who had undoubtedly saved their lives. The fighting then resumed with equal fervour in front of the scaffold. The Admirals gave no quarter, the soldiers fired blindly. Then Whitebeard made a last stand by raising a new boat from the sea bed to retrieve all his men who were swimming in the water inside the wall. With a last ditch effort by Little Oars Junior, the boat entered the interior of Marineford, right in front of the pedestal where the condemned siblings were standing. Lucia was speechless - again. The old man... She was truly impressed by the resources and strategies of the pirate. She realised that she really wanted to believe that they would win, that she would make it out alive with Ace. That none of them would die today. After all, who could really defeat Whitebeard?

She believed it all the more when Marco flew up and dominated the whole battlefield to get to the scaffold. But at the last moment, Garp leapt up and knocked the phoenix to the ground without saying a word, before standing in front of the three admirals' seats as a last line of defence. Anyone who wanted to approach Ace or Lucia would have to fight him.

Ace was desperate, counting on his own death to end the violence. He turned in on himself in despair. His gesture, which had not escaped Lucia's notice either, made Sengoku wonder.

“Is there something wrong with you, Fire Fists?”

“Ace?" Lucia asked softly, looking concerned.

“I'm... really out of sorts," he began.

His voice was weak, but it managed to break through the din of screams, bangs and shouts that continued to proliferate from the square. There was also cheering.

“How can I think that at a time like this? My father, my little brother, my companions... they're being slaughtered...”

Lucia's throat tightened, her eyes moistened.

“I'm so happy," Ace continued, tears rolling down his cheeks, "I can't stop crying... After all I've been through... I'm so angry... TO LIVE!”

These words pierced Lucia's heart and she also began to cry silently, clenching her jaw, lowering her eyes. A blast made her raise her head and she was forced to watch as Whitebeard fell to the ground after taking a fiery punch from Admiral Akainu. Then Luffy screamed with all his might. Galvanized by her brother's words and Luffy's energy, she stood up and began to pull on her handcuffs and their seastone chains again. Her clothes stuck to her skin, still wet from the water splash the last time, her feet slipped on the wood of the scaffold and her hair kept falling in front of her eyes. Sengoku let her, thinking it was only the energy of desperation that still gave her any desire to fight. He knew that new guards were preparing to finally execute the prisoners, it was only a matter of time.

Lucia's foot skidded across the floor and she fell heavily to the ground, her chin hitting the floor with a thud. More blood trickled from the corner of her mouth but she paid no attention to it. Everything around her was gone. She could no longer hear the screams and explosions, she could no longer see the corpses and the blood. There was only her body, heavy and weak, and those damn seastone handcuffs. And there was the water. She got up again and again, without stopping.

“Lucia, stop...” Ace begged her.

“It's the last straw...” she muttered... “to be covered in water... AND NOT BE ABLE TO DO ANYTHING!”

She also had this rage in her, this rage to live, to fight. It had been there since the beginning of the fight, since she had arrived at Impel Down itself. She had never stopped having that spark in her, that tiny light that was turning into a fire right now. Come on Luce... come on girl... move... move! No more powerlessness, no more having to endure and watch, it was all over! Her wrists kept banging against the seastone inside the sheaths, her fingers scraping against the walls, her palms sweaty from twisting and clenching in all directions, hoping to get out of their prison. His breath was ragged, his lungs burned, his vision blurred.

Concentrate Lucia, feel the water around you. Feel the moisture in the air, feel the water seeping into the soil, the water diffusing into the plants, feel even the water in you, in your blood, the water filtering through your skin in your sweat... I want you to be aware of every tiny particle of water that exists in this world.

Rayleigh's words ran in a continuous loop in her head, she replayed the hours, weeks, months, years she had spent training with him, learning, improving. She still had so much to understand, there was no way it was going to end here.

Ace was horrified to see streams of blood running from Lucia's arms. The red drops crashed to the floor as the young woman continued to pull at her arms, unaware of the pain.

“Lucia, STOP!" he shouted.

“NO!”

“You're going to tear your arms off, that's enough now!”

“So what," she replied, finally turning her face towards him, "what if I rip my arms off? At least I can finally do something to get us out of here!”

Ace froze at her sharp gaze and determination. Clenching her jaw and pulling harder, she continued:

“I'm not going to be dominated by a pair of gloves with the word 'sea' in their name...”

“Stop getting excited Elementalist, you can't do anything against seastone”

“We'll see about that...” she muttered.

She screamed in frustration as she pulled harder and harder, feeling the drops of sweat slide down her fingers and then fall into the sheaths. As her scream increased in intensity, Sengoku suddenly became alert. He stepped back in amazement as blue streaks began to appear on the Elementalist's body. His veins stood out on his white skin, crisscrossing his skin like a vast network of rivers.

“What exactly are you doing?" he belched.

“I'm breaking the lock!" she replied, her face tense.

“Lucia stop!" Ace said. “Lucia! LUCIA!”

Ace's screams finally drew the attention of the fighters below who looked up to see the spectacle. Luffy met Lucia's eyes.

“No way," she gasped, "I'm not going to stand by and do nothing... while that stubborn head risks his neck for us...”

Jinbei glanced at the water behind them, behind the wall. It almost seemed to him that it had moved, it was the same sensation as last time...

“Oh dear, oh dear, what is she doing to us now?" Kizaru asked in his usual annoyed voice.

“She's killing herself," Akainu answered flatly.

“Don't take it lightly," Aokiji rebuked him, "I have a bad feeling about this...”

Your Haki is intrinsically connected with your devil fruit. I want you to eventually be able to combine the two without having to think. I want you to be able to use your power with your Haki always present to reinforce it.

Lucia continued to scream in rage and despair as the energy slowly began to build inside her. Fortunately for her, Sengoku was so shocked that he didn't even think to react.

“LUCIA STOP!!!”

Ace continued to beg her sister to stop her stunt, fearing for her life.

“YOU'RE GOING TO DIE!”

“It's my choice, just like it's Luffy's, the old man's, Marco's, Oars'... everyone else's who's out there fighting for your life! Remember what I told you, in the circle of your life is us. And we refuse to let you die like this! Did you really think I was going to stand by and do nothing? Especially after what you just told us?”

Tears rolled down Ace's cheeks, his voice breaking as he spoke the last words:

“I REFUSE TO LET YOU DIE BECAUSE OF ME!”

This was the last sentence for Lucia, in a final push she anchored her feet in the ground and pulled with all her strength on the chains, raising her face to the sky to scream:

“AND I REFUSE TO HAVE MY ONLY BROTHER TAKEN AWAY FROM ME IN THIS WAY!”

Then everything happened in an instant. With a metallic noise, the sheaths were sawn off, freeing his handcuffs and his hands, which had finally been out in the open for days. In the same movement, the Haki covered her arms and she firmly grasped the chains still attached to her handcuffs and broke them easily. Then she gave one last push to be able to eject herself out of the scaffold, hoping to find help below, but at the last moment her body gave out completely. An immense weakness overcame her, her muscles failed to respond, her eyes went blank and she collapsed on the platform, her arm, still handcuffed, dangling above the void. Her throat dry, her breath short, the ground danced before her eyes. She barely felt Sengoku grabbing her by one arm and lifting her to the height of her face. With a useful effort, she gave him a hard look, which she accompanied with a sly smile:

“I broke the lock..." she said in a hoarse, weak voice.

“Repeat what you said!" the Chief Admiral ordered her, threatening. “REPEAT!”

In front of his eyes, the Elementalist fell unconscious, dangling miserably in his hand like a rag doll. He ruthlessly threw her to the side of the road and then, still in shock, inspected the fallen sheaths. They were sawed in half, the cut was clean. He noticed that the edges were wet, a few fine drops of water were still falling. He could not believe it:

“She cut the seastone… with water...”

Thousands of questions and misunderstandings mingled in his mind, but above all, a visceral fear took over. She had just done something that was not possible. Any devil fruit user could not use their powers when in contact with seastone. Every user. Without exception. So how had she done it? Then her Haki that had allowed her to break the chains as if they were made of straw. How? And then there was what she had screamed before she could momentarily break free. He turned to Ace, his face contorted with rage:

“What kind of nonsense is that again? Why did she say that? Answer me!”

Horrified and fascinated by what she had just done, Ace merely bowed his head and answered simply:

“It's like Luffy.”

The answer did not satisfy Sengoku.

“Either way, it doesn't matter anymore since she'll die soon, after you.”

Chapter Text

When she opened her eyes again, Lucia could not move, her body completely uncooperative. She was still lying on the damp wood of the scaffold. She tried to get up, but every inch of her body sent a jolt of pain through her that made her groan. Sengoku noticed that she had come to. He saw her leaning on her arms to pull herself up, collapse, and start again. Her limbs shook with the effort and blood continued to flow from her head, mouth and arms. She spat out a little blood before falling back heavily. She managed to stay steady at last, leaning on her elbows, and glanced to the right. A ton of lead fell into her stomach. Two guards had returned to Ace's side, blades held firmly above her head.

“No...” she moaned, “no...”

Sengoku again placed his foot between her shoulder blades to prevent her from moving or acting. He closed his fist and put it in front of her eyes, letting her know that he would not hesitate. Tears of rage ran down Lucia's cheeks, she had tried, she had really tried, and it still wasn't enough. Her nails scraped the wood, she reached out to her brother in a desperate gesture as the blades plunged towards Ace's neck. I can't move.

Suddenly, her eyes caught a detail that caught his eye. Her mouth opened in surprise, but again she had no time to act as a voice echoed from the square below and a discharge of Conqueror’s Haki poured into Marineford Bay for the second time.

“STOP!”

Lucia was stunned. Whoever had caused this miracle was running with all his might through the unconscious fallen soldiers.

“What do you mean? Seriously?" said Aokidji.

“I can't believe it, two of them have it now...” Kizaru declared.

“Luffy...” Lucia murmured, “you too...”

Sengoku was more than a little annoyed. He pressed his foot into Lucia's back:

“You people... who are you to have this gift...”

On the battlefield, Whitebeard ordered his crew to support Luffy at the risk of their lives. A smile stretched Lucia's lips, it was unbelievable that everything always had to revolve around him. Whitebeard had chosen to bet on Luffy to save Ace. Unnoticed by Sengoku who had his eyes riveted on the melee below, she dug a nail into the palm of her hand until it bled. The pain was sharp, burning and seemed to wake her body up. Gradually she managed to move a hand, an arm, and finally her whole body could move again. Her wrists were bleeding under the marine granite handcuffs that were still firmly closed around her skin. The double security put in place by the government was effective. A painful tingling ran through his veins as the blood began to flow through his limbs again. As his body woke up, his mind also stirred. Noticing that Sengoku had definitely left her behind, convinced that she was no longer a threat, she decided to crawl slowly, inch by inch, to get closer to Ace, waiting for the right moment to really act. She could see Luffy covering every metre that separated them. Without stopping, supported by the entire Whitebeard crew.

Come on Luffy, you're almost there...

Ace was amazed, his brother was really going to do it, he was really going to join them. Well, you have to get past the Garp obstacle though. Lucia winced, how was the duel going to end. Without a second's hesitation, Luffy threw a punch that hit Garp in the face. The Vice Admiral flew through the air and crashed to the ground. Of all the possible outcomes, Lucia had not thought of this one. Garp had let himself be knocked down. Without retaliating, without really fighting, he let his second grandson cross the last obstacle that separated him from Ace. In a final leap, Luffy finally reached the scaffold.

“That's it, I made it! I finally made it.”

Ace ended up smiling too, once the shock was over:

“Luffy... you... you're really a case!”

Lucia laughed, relieved to see him alive, relieved to see that he had succeeded. Freedom was in their grasp.

“What a stubborn fellow..." she muttered.

“Of course, Ace! Lucia!" replied the pirate smiling.

Luffy rummaged in his pocket to find the key to Ace's handcuffs. As he was about to free his brother, a golden glow surrounded Sengoku. Lucia looked up at him and froze as she realized what was happening. He was activating his devil fruit, a mythological Zoan fruit, which gave him the form of Buddha. She swallowed. Caught up in a rush of pure adrenaline, she scrambled to her feet to get away from the colossus, who was suddenly heavy for the scaffold, which creaked. She rushed to Ace and Luffy's side:

“Hurry up Luffy or I don't give a damn about our skin!”

“Don't think you have any chance of escaping me," warned the chief admiral, towering over them with his gigantic size.

In Luffy's hands, the key broke as Kizaru shot a beam of light towards them. Immediately, the soldiers picked up their guns and prepared to fire. Lucia was desperate:

“What do you mean the key is broken?”

“I'll take care of it myself, execute you on the spot! You two, brothers! And you too, Elementalist!”

Lucia watched as the end of the key fell to the ground, making a faint tinkling sound as it hit the wood, and suddenly she remembered. The small detail that had marked her just before Luffy had used his Haki to stop Ace's execution a second time. The face she had recognized. With a groan, the executioner who was to execute the pirate stood up, holding his head. Lucia was sure of it now that she could see him more clearly. Especially since Luffy seemed to recognize him as well.

“Straw Hat but-“

“The 3?”

“Mister 3 ! MAKE A KEY!!!” shouted Lucia.

“Mister 3 make a wall to protect Ace and Lucia”, ordered Luffy.

Luffy cushioned Sengoku's punch while Mister 3 obeyed his order and protected all three from the impact. The force of the blow, however, caused the scaffold to give way and collapse under their feet, sending them tumbling. Still handcuffed, Lucia and Ace could do nothing. Finally Mister 3 decided to make a new key as the Elementalist had asked.

“FASTER!" Lucia shouted as she saw the ground coming dangerously close.

“Would you be laughing at me if I told you that the real reason I'm here is to honour the memory of my dead brother?" suddenly asked Mister 3, holding the replica key in his hands.

“THIS IS REALLY NOT THE TIME TO ASK ANY PARTICULAR QUESTIONS!" exclaimed Lucia.

“Of course not," replied Luffy innocently.

“Go on, go save them Straw Hat !” declared Mister 3 while sending the key to Luffy.

“Count me in!" replied the pirate.

Out of the corner of her eye, Lucia saw the cannons activate and the cannonballs fly in their direction. She reached out to grab Ace, clung to his chest and closed her eyes, waiting for the fateful impact.

The key went into the cuffs.

Everything exploded.

One by one, the debris from the scaffold fell to the ground, bursting through the thick smoke emanating from the blast site.

“With the seastone handcuffs on, The Elementalist and the Fire Fist are now just ordinary humans. They're finished," said a soldier.

“Are they really..." Jinbei began, worried.

In front of the group of stunned soldiers, a pair of chained handcuffs fell heavily to the ground.

One. Two. Three. Four. A tunnel of flames fanned the smoke. Dancing through the flames, Ace, free at last, caught his brother in the air.

“You'll never change, Luffy," Ace shouted. “As usual, you just do what you want to do and run into danger without thinking!”

This fiery path was the sign that all the pirates were waiting for. The one that told them Ace was alive and free, that Straw Hat had succeeded. He had saved his brother. While he held Luffy by the collar with one hand, Ace still held Lucia, who was still handcuffed, against him. She looked up at him with tear-filled eyes and a bright smile on her face. They emerged from the smoke cloud to the cheers of the pirates, who were ecstatic.

“Mister 3, before we crash into the ground, give me another key," Lucia shouted.

The pirate nodded and made a duplicate of the key that opened the seastone handcuffs, which he threw to the young woman. She caught it in mid-air while Ace still held it. They exchanged a knowing glance, while he held her firmly against him, she managed to get rid of the last shackles that blocked her power. No sooner had the seastone left her skin than Ace let go of her too. For Lucia it was as if her whole body took a deep breath after being deprived of oxygen for days. Immediately the heaviness that was still clouding her mind and weighing her down disappeared. She had never felt so fit and full of energy.

“We'd better split up," Ace announced as they were still falling.

Luffy and Lucia nodded. Without further ado, Ace released them and unleashed the full extent of his power, creating a huge pillar of fire that engulfed the soldiers on the ground. Lucia, for her part, created a huge wave with her arms that swept over those who opposed her below. Water and flame raged across the square. Ace. Lucia. Luffy. The three young people stood back to back in front of the wall of soldiers that stood before them. They had the same look, the same attitude, a bit defiant, and very determined, surrounded by the flames and the steam.

“Do you think you can fight Luffy?”

“Of course!" replied his brother.

“Ready Lucia ?” he continued.

“I've been itching for too long," she laughed, a fierce look in her eyes.

The soldiers stepped back a little, remembering the powers of the two ex-prisoners;

“They have Logia-type fruits, flames for Fire Fist Ace and water for The Elementalist Lucia.

“I never thought it would be you who would one day come and save me," says Ace. “Thank you Luffy.”

“Well done Luffy”, added Lucia, “we owe you a lot !”

Luffy laughed in response, so happy to have succeeded in preventing the execution of his siblings.

When the soldiers fired, the bullets passed through their bodies unharmed, and when the soldiers tried to attack Luffy with swords, Ace stepped in, the blades cutting through his flaming body without harming him, before retaliating with his signature attack, the "Fire Fist". Luffy used his second gear to attack as Lucia, with a petty smile on her face, mobilised dozens of water drops which she hurled at her opponents at high speed, piercing and lacerating their bodies. In a surprising synchronization, the three siblings supported each other, defended themselves and knocked down all the soldiers who dared to fight against them. They didn't need to talk to each other, they complemented each other perfectly. They then started to run towards the exit of the square while multiplying their attacks, Ace and Luffy being on the ground, Lucia taking care of a more aerial attack.

However, they were stopped by Aokiji who opposed them.

“This sucks," Lucia muttered. “Ace, can you handle him? I don't think I can do much with him, and Luffy's already pretty banged up.”

“Don't worry princess, that was planned," Ace replied, getting all fired up. “Stand back, both of you.”

They obeyed and turned away from the path, bypassing the Admiral who was confronting Ace. The steam completely overwhelmed them as Ace's fire began to burn away the Admiral's ice.

“Aokiji's ice block has completely evaporated," cried a bewildered soldier.

Taking advantage of their confusion and the opportunity, Lucia mobilised the surrounding steam to join all the drops of water into a blade that she hurled at the Marine, knocking down a few more dozen soldiers. With the same smile on her face, she clicked her tongue in annoyance:

“Well, is that what kept the Whitebeard pirates going for so long? You're nothing more than annoying flies, really.”

Ace, Luffy and her resumed their race to reach the bay through which they could escape with the Whitebeard pirates. Squardo had taken over the last ship in their fleet and was steering it so he could save his crew, but he was stopped by Whitebeard. Whitebeard stepped forward and addressed his pirates. He gave them what he called his 'last order'. He ordered them all to go back to sea, to leave him here, to save their lives without worrying about him. He punctuated his words with yet another tremor which he unleashed on Marineford. Ace was paralysed, refusing to leave the floor of the Navy headquarters without his adoptive father. And apparently so were all the pirates in his crew. Whitebeard had to reiterate his order once more to get his pirates to comply with his decision. Lucia frowned and walked towards Whitebeard:

“Old man!”

The pirate turned around, surprised. He wasn't sure who she was, like everyone else, he knew her name and her fame. Facing him was a small woman who looked tiny compared to her colossal stature. Yet, when he looked into her eyes, he found a greatness of soul and spirit that astonished him. She stood straight, her head held high and proud.

“What do you want from me?”

She glanced down at his many wounds:

“I can't heal you completely, but if you want, I can offer you some time. You're losing a lot of blood, I can try to do something.”

He closed his eyes for a moment before answering:

“No, go with the others. I don't need this.”

She nodded:

“All right, then. Thank you then. We'll never forget your name.”

She took a few steps back before she smiled a little and added:

“And thank you for taking that jerk of Ace under your wing. Thank you for the trust you put in him. And the trust you placed in Luffy.”

She turned away for good, with a quick step, to join Ace and Luffy, and as she walked away, Whitebeard thought about how familiar she looked to him at that moment. He didn't know where, but it seemed he'd seen that look, that confidence and that smile before. He sighed, he was getting really old. When he returned, Lucia tugged lightly on Ace's arm, urging him to leave too:

“He's made his choice Ace...”

“I know," replied her brother. “I will not dishonour him.”

In a final face-off between father and adopted son, Ace bowed to Whitebeard. Lucia stepped back and stood beside Luffy, a spectator of a scene that belonged only to the two pirates. Then they set off again, supported by Jinbei and the other pirates of Whitebeard's crew, ignoring the screams of those left behind, those who were dying, chased by the Navy. Admiral Akainu Sakazuki then began to make a speech that struck the Whitebeard pirates to the core, calling their captain a loser, an incompetent, a coward. Mad with rage, Ace burst into flames and advanced towards the Admiral.

“Don't do that," Lucia called out to him.

Akainu continued to mock the pirate captain's honour by comparing him to Roger, belittling his exploits and his journey across the seas, only increasing Ace's rage. Lucia bit her lip, her brother was falling into the trap the Admiral was setting for him.

“Ace, stop it," she continued. “It's like Squardo, he's tricking you, don't respond to his provocation!”

All the pirates in his crew joined Lucia's voice, urging him to return and not fight unnecessarily, but Ace was deaf to all their pleas. In his head, only Akainu's words echoed, as sharp as blades. In a titanic clash, Ace's fist of flame opposed Akainu's fist of lava. The blast of their confrontation destabilised the men present in the square. The admiral's lava, however, was able to burn Ace's fire, even though it was made of pure flames. Ace was thrown backwards before the horrified eyes of his companions, realizing what was happening.

“Ace!" screamed Lucia who rushed to her brother's aid, leaving Luffy behind.

In her hand she immediately summoned water, ready to strike back, but before she knew what was happening, the Admiral passed by her without looking at her, his fist raised, ready to strike. The last thing she heard was Ace shouting Luffy's name.

When she turned around, what she saw chilled her blood. Ace stood as a bulwark in front of Luffy, Akainu's massive fist slashing through his body. Completely frozen, she could hardly realize what was happening. Around her, everything disappeared. There was only him. Ace. His body with a gaping hole in his chest. The blood flowing. When Akainu stepped towards her, she stepped back awkwardly. Her legs gave way under her weight. She fell like a stone to the ground, her eyes still fixed on her brother. She couldn't hear the explosions, or the pirates' screams, or even their tears if there were any. She had no idea what was going on around her other than the simple fact that her brother was badly injured... that he was dying.

Chapter Text

Resting in Luffy's arms, Ace did not move. He was saying words that Lucia couldn't hear. Or that she didn't want to hear. She saw Luffy turn towards her, his mouth twisted as he shouted words she couldn't hear. Lucia was transfixed. Luffy's gaze was pleading, tears in his eyes. With a superhuman effort, Ace looked up and met Lucia's eyes. The young woman's face was frozen in an expression of pure horror and terror, tears rolling silently down her cheeks, her mouth half-open. He gazed into those blue irises that had brought him so much peace and serenity in his life. Then he spoke to Luffy, his gaze still riveted on Lucia, not wanting to let her go for a second. Lucia, the biological sister he'd met by chance in Grey Terminal, who'd been their companion in getting around, who'd given him a different view of their father, who'd been one of the best things that ever happened to him.

“Father, all of you, princess, and you too Luffy, I will never forget. Until my last hour, you gave me your affection, me, this lesser being, me who has the blood of a monster in my veins. From the bottom of my heart... thank you!”

Lucia saw the tears running down Ace's cheeks. Then the smile that stretched his lips. His eyelids closed. His arm fell back down his body. His body slowly slid down before collapsing to the ground with a thud. It was the first sound that finally reached Lucia's ears. She continued to stare at him, at that lifeless face, that lifeless body, that now worn an eternal smile. Luffy's scream was the element that brought her back to reality for good. The imaginary bubble that had been built around her burst as Luffy began to scream at death, kneeling in front of the corpse of his brother. Everything hit her immediately, the smell of gunpowder and burning blood, the screams and cries of the pirates, the wind whipping through her hair, the cold tears running down her cheeks.

In a very slow movement, she stood up, her head bowed, a dull rage burning in her gut. One step at a time, she moved forward without saying anything, clenching her fists, her jaw, holding back sobs. Luffy's cries were ringing in her ears, piercing her heart a little more every second, and when they fell silent, the silence suddenly seemed too heavy. Without wasting a second Akainu rushed at Luffy to put an end to his life. Marco stepped in at the last moment, protecting Luffy at the risk of his life while Jinbei came to recover the pirate. As the captain of the first Whitebeard fleet resisted the Admiral's assault, a wave of water hit Akainu head-on. Unsettled, he released his attention from Marco to look at the source of the attack. Lucia continued to walk towards him, her face hidden by her hair. In a calm voice she pronounced these simple words:

“Marco... Jinbei... I entrust him to you, protect Luffy. Get him out of here alive, no matter what.”

Then she finally straightened her head, revealing a face tense with hatred, her eyes lit by the flame of revenge. Without further warning, she lunged at the Admiral, turning her arms into water, ready to attack him. She stopped short as Aokiji and Kizaru attacked her from both sides, piercing her watery body with their attacks. They positioned themselves in front of her, preventing her from reaching Akainu.

“We're not letting you through, The Elementalist Lucia, you're going to die here and now too," Kizaru said calmly.

“Get out of here, extras," Lucia growled, "nobody called you!”

Before he could even anticipate it, Lucia materialized behind Kizaru and delivered a kick covered in offensive Fluid, cracking the Admiral's bones with the shock before sending him flying. Then, quick as a flash, she found herself facing Aokiji, having tripled the size of her fist thanks to the water, ready to send it in his face. At the last moment, he managed to parry her blow, nevertheless retreating under the force of the impact, surprised by this strength that he did not suspect in her. However, he did not let himself be impressed any longer and began to freeze the young woman's body.

“You can do nothing against me, give up.”

In response, Lucia screamed in rage and violently increased the heat of the water on her body, causing it to boil. Aokiji winced as he began to feel the burning getting more and more intense. Finally, in a Dantean effort, Lucia's boiling water managed to explode the ice around her and even envelop the Admiral's arm, trapping him with it, burning him more and more deeply. Taking advantage of this hold, Lucia threw her second fist into his stomach, once again covered in offensive fluid. The impact took the Admiral's breath away and he buckled before she sent him flying with a powerful jet of water from that same fist directly into his abdomen. The two admirals were not so easily defeated and came back to the charge, more wary this time, not holding back their blows, but still not managing to seriously injure the young woman. Multiplying the typhoons, the water projections, the waves and the droplets that sheared them, she also benefited from a remarkably powerful offensive fluid that managed to hurt the two Logia type fruit users. In a fit of anger, Lucia lost her patience:

“I said I wanted you out of the way”, she shouted. “So stop bugging me!”

In an angry gesture she clenched her hands in the air and abruptly brought both her arms down to the ground. Without anyone understanding how or why, the bodies of the two admirals were thrown against the ground, their chins hitting the surface of the stone square, leaving them momentarily stunned.

The fighting had all ceased around them. Every man in Marineford was watching the showdown with wide eyes. A single woman had just taken down two Navy admirals. Sengoku, who was still holding onto Garp's body to prevent him from throwing himself at Akainu's throat, couldn't believe it.

“How is this possible..”.

“Here it is..." Garp replied, a bitter laugh in his voice. “Here it is, the 500 million bounty.”

Taking advantage of this interlude, Lucia finally turned to Akainu. He glared at her, contemptuous. She stopped a few steps away from him, her breath short, her eyes burning. She swelled her body, turning into water once more, concentrating her strength in her right fist without taking her eyes off her opponent. Akainu turned into lava on his side, also ready to finish.

“You will pay”, Lucia spat through her teeth. “For what you did to my brother.”

“I'm tired of your moods," Akainu shot back with disdain. “He was only a pirate, the worst kind. A criminal with the world's most rotten blood in his veins.”

Lucia clenched her jaw, flexing her power a little more as the admiral continued his diatribe:

“Today I have ended the line of the man who ruined the world as we knew it and who is the cause of the war that stands today. If Roger had not made such a scene on the day he died, we would not be in this position. The death of Fire Fist is only the realization of the annihilation of the pirate Gold Roger.”

“Is that what you think?" laughed Lucia without losing her air of hatred. “Then let me tell you something. No wait, actually let me tell it to everyone who is here today, everyone who can hear my voice right now.”

She took a deep breath before saying:

“You will never erase what Roger created 22 years ago, you hear me, because his legacy is not in his blood but in the words he spoke that day. Roger's lineage is in the mind of every pirate who sets sail since that day, every man, every woman who decides to sail the oceans since then!”

His words echoed through the remains of Marineford. Everyone was transfixed. No one replied. Lucia then looked into Akainu's eyes and uttered the last words that would turn this war upside down once again:

“And you want to know one more thing? You screwed up big time. I hope you can hear me too, Sengoku. You all screwed up.”

She gathered more and more water around her right fist, raising her arm, ready to lash out:

“My name is Gol D. Lucia, daughter of Gol D. Roger and biological half-sister of Portgas D. Ace. You have not destroyed anything Akainu, Roger's blood continues to flow in my veins, and it is with this blood that you will die today!”

No sooner had she said this than she threw her fist at Akainu. The Admiral did the same. The water collided with the lava with a sharp hiss. Gritting her teeth, Lucia anchored her feet to the ground and pushed with all her might on her arm to stand up to the Admiral. Behind him, Sengoku realized the significance of the words the young woman had just spoken. He remembered that she had mentioned Ace as her brother, that he had quickly brushed aside her question when he had asked about it. Mad with rage, he turned to Garp who seemed resigned:

“This is a joke! Tell me it's not true Garp! Tell me that even if you don't look surprised, it's not true!”

Garp sighed:

“So she finally said it, what a mess you’ve done here. Life would be hell for her now. No, she's telling the truth. Lucia is Roger's daughter.”

Whitebeard. Marco. Vista. Jinbei. Ivankov. Crocodile. Buggy. Mister 3. Doflamingo. Moria. Mihawk. Hancock. The soldiers. The pirates. The spectators who watched the whole thing from the Sabaodys. They all froze as they heard those words. The exclamations of astonishment and screams suddenly rang out around the two opponents, some refusing to believe it, others not understanding how it was possible. Some called her a liar. Others said that she had said this to take over from Ace, to perpetuate his memory. But the largest and most powerful forces knew she was not lying. Once this was said out loud, they could only see that. All those little details that had struck Jinbei or Whitebeard. She carried Roger's blood in her, like Ace. That made sens.

While the world was recovering from this news, the confrontation between Lucia and Akainu did not weaken. The collision of the two primordial elements created a huge cloud of steam that enveloped them and made it difficult to see their fight. Without taking their eyes off each other for a single second, the two demon fruit holders did not give up an inch of ground to the other. Akainu had to admit that she was giving him more trouble than he could have imagined. Wanting to finish, he accumulated more and more magma in his arm and increased the power of his blow. Lucia finally felt herself recoil.

“You will lose in the balance of power, daughter of Roger," Akainu declared.

“I know that, thank you," Lucia replied.

Without warning, she disappeared from the Admiral's sight and he was swept away as the resistance against him vanished. He realised too late what she had done. She had deliberately built up the water and forced him to raise the temperature of his lava to create this huge wall of water vapor, so that she could melt into the air and control the terrain as she saw fit. He growled, enraged at the idea of having been tricked in this way. He didn't have time to react when a kick hit him behind the knees, coated in Haki of course, which accentuated his fall forward. He turned to retaliate but Lucia had already disappeared. She multiplied her attacks without him being able to reach her. In an excess of anger, he created a huge eruption of magma which he spread all around him in order to expel the steam. He felt the air move and saw the water concentrate in a point behind him. He turned, ready to knock it down, but was surprised to find her so close to him. She was suspended in the air and had fashioned her right arm into a sharp spear of water that twisted around itself. The next thing that struck him was the white colour that seemed to cover her shaped body. She had managed to coat her body with Haki, even though she was using her devil fruit. And she was aiming for his head.

For two seconds, Akainu felt this twitch, this fear in him. A feeling so rare now that he had almost forgotten it existed. For two seconds, Admiral Sakazuki Akainu was afraid to die. Helpless in front of that rock-hard gaze in which only rage and hatred seemed to shine, that pout deformed by anger. She was ready to kill him. Without a doubt.

Everything stopped in a few seconds. A beam of light pierced the young woman in the shoulder, stopping her straight in her tracks. Kizaru had gotten up and countered. He didn't hurt her, but he destabilized her enough for Admiral Akainu to step back slightly and extend a single finger towards the young woman. Lucia opened her eyes wide in shock. She did not feel the pain immediately. A ray of magma pierced her chest, burning her body, even though it was made of water. She was pushed back and didn't have time to get up before he repeated his act, sending a second burst of magma at her. This time, her mouth opened wide to let out a silent scream of pain. Her body weakened, she found herself lying on the ground, drops of magma running down her clothes, burning the knot of the tunic she had around her waist. With a kick, Akainu flipped her body onto her back, staring into her eyes. He could no longer discern anything in them, the murderous rage that inhabited him had disappeared. He could only see fatigue and a lot of hatred. He reached for his head, ready to finish him off for good this time.

“Roger's lineage is dying out here and now," he thundered.

Lucia wanted to keep in touch with him until the end, without blinking, forcing that look on his face until the last moment. Yet she felt her strength fail her, her vision blurred, her breathing more and more painful and jerky. A single tear rolled down her hair as her eyelids closed for good and her face finally relaxed, abandoning the anger that had been tightening her features for several minutes. Akainu watched her fade away wordlessly and prepared to make sure she never got up again. He stopped abruptly when he felt a presence behind him. He turned slowly to see Whitebeard standing at his back and looking at him with eyes drowned in rage. With a fist he smashed him to the floor of the square, lashing out at the man who had killed his adopted son. They began to fight, leaving the Elementalist's body lying on the ground. When Whitebeard unleashed his fury and destroyed the entire island of Marineford, the pirates saw the young woman's body slip away as the ground split open. She left behind only her white tunic, stained with blood and dust, as her body disappeared into the darkness of the bowels of the earth and plunged straight into the depths of the ocean. Marco wanted to go and get her before it was too late but was stopped by Vista who nodded.

“It's already too late, don't risk your life for this.”

As the battle continued to rage in Marineford, The Elementalist Lucia disappeared from the battlefield, swallowed up by the sea and nothing could be done to save her. She was the second memorable death of the war. On the day of Summit War, The Elementalist Lucia claimed to be the daughter of the former Pirate's King and disappeared minutes later, following a remarkable battle against the largest forces in the Navy. And on the Sabaody, tears rolled down the cheeks of an old man who was drinking to try to stay on his feet.

Chapter Text

At the bottom of the icy ocean water, an eddy shook the ordinary currents. Amidst the debris of ice, wood and metal, blood mingled with the salt water. Slowly, very slowly, the body of The Elemetalist Lucia sank deeper and deeper. Her eyes closed, her mouth open, every second took her further away from the frozen surface of Marineford Bay.

Unconscious, she perceived neither the lights that appeared nor the white noise of the approaching engine.

“Captain, there is no more ice on the surface!”

“We're coming up!”

“Wait, Captain, I think there's a body ahead.”

“We're not here to take care of everyone, leave the dead where they are.”

“Captain, I think you'd better take a look at this.”

“Alright, show me...”

“So… what do we do?”

“Get underneath and try to pull the body up with the ship !”

“Got it!”

The yellow submarine of the Hearts crew broke through the surface of the sea with the inert body of Lucia on its deck. With one look, the captain ordered his crew to take her to the operating room and wait for him to return with the others. Then he set about claiming the Straw Hat from Buggy, who was holding him and Jinbei, while trying to avoid Akainu's salvos, determined to kill the boy. After an eventful dialogue between Buggy and the pirate captain, who was none other than Trafalgar Law, one of the 12 rookies of the worst generation, Luffy and Jinbei were finally put in the hands of the Hearts crew. Jinbei and Luffy soon joined Lucia in the operating room, where Law set about giving them emergency treatment - or, as it were, saving their lives. They sank deeper and deeper into the ocean to avoid the attacks of the admirals who continued to hunt them down. Finally, on the surface, the war between the navy and the pirates came to an end, after a trying day and painful deaths. Shanks looked sadly at Ace, Whitebeard, and Lucia's garment, which had clung to a rock and was flying in the wind, with no trace of its owner. There was no doubt in anyone's mind that Lucia was dead and that her body must lie at the bottom of the sea. She may have been extremely powerful and had a devil fruit that could control the water, but she could do nothing against the sea and there was no way she could have escaped the fall.

Little did they know that the young woman was indeed at the bottom of the ocean, in critical condition, but that she was not yet dead. When Law bent over her body to examine the wounds, he was surprised to find that she was still alive. Half drowned, her chest pierced twice by Akainu, a serious blow to the head, her wrists bloody, she was still breathing weakly.

“Well, she's been through a lot," said Penguin, examining Lucia's body. “I can't believe her heart's still beating.”

“She's hanging in there," Law said simply, and then set about treating her. “But I'm not sure I can keep her alive.”

He frowned before starting to repair the damage. Her life was hanging by a thread really. Stabilizing her would not be an easy task and then there was no guarantee that she could wake up afterwards.

All over the world, the news circulated. The Navy had won the war. A so-called "supreme and crushing victory". These few words were enough to sweep away the dozens of dead and wounded on Marineford's soil. The world only remembered the broad outlines of this war. Whitebeard had lost. Ace was dead. Lucia was dead. The world celebrated the victory of the Navy forces, shouting with joy as they saw the names of the pirates who had fallen in the conflict. The crowds were jubilant. The war was over.

On Women's Island, Hancock allowed the Hearts crew to dock in the gulf of the island so that Luffy could recover. If the Straw Hat was under the protection of the Fishman Jinbei, currently Law and his crew were the only ones who knew where Lucia was and that she was still alive at the moment. No one was coming to claim her and he wasn't sure what to do with her. He spent most of his time watching over Luffy and Lucia in turn. For him, Luffy's awakening was only a matter of his will. On the other hand, for Lucia it was much more complicated, Akainu had really hurt her badly and her heart was having a hard time accepting the scars.

Eventually Luffy woke up and it was Jinbei who took on the heavy responsibility of going to the boy's side to prevent him from killing himself by abusing his body, trying at all costs to silence the voices and images that were running through his mind, replaying the death of his brother. Before he could set off, Law called out to him:

“Jinbei.”

The fish-man turned and looked at the doctor who was holding something in his hand. He looked down and was surprized to see that he was holding one of the golden bracelets that usually adorned Lucia's wrist. The three green stones set in the metal were dotted with red droplets and it was badly deformed and damaged. Incredulous, he grasped it and remained for a moment contemplating the jewel in the palm of his hand before raising his eyes, in the corner of which tears were beading. Law did not blink:

“I did everything I could. He doesn't know, I'll let you tell him. Give details or not, as you wish.”

Then he turned away, his hands in his pockets. Jinbei was left alone, with this extra weight in his heart and on his shoulders. Lucia was dead and it would be up to him to tell Luffy. How could he tell this boy, already shattered by the loss of his brother, that his sister and best friend was also no longer of this world? He clenched his fist around the bracelet and then set off towards the forest where Luffy's cries were echoing. He had to do it. The Straw Hat pirate's life was at stake.

Law returned to sit on a rock, his eyes riveted on his submarine, followed by Bepo who had witnessed the exchange:

“Is she dead?" he asked worriedly.

“No," Law replied.

“But then? What is that?”

“Because nothing's decided yet and if she does die, Straw Hat has to be ready. We might as well not give him false hope.”

His tone of voice was dry, unemotional, as usual. He had made his choice. He would keep the Elementalist's life in his hands for now. Deep down he didn't really know what made him do it, but he had. The echo of yet another howl pierced the sky of the Isle of Women. Ace's name was joined by Lucia's. Jinbei had just told him. The Hearts crew bowed their heads, also carrying the weight of this secret that they should not divulge. In the submarine, the heart monitor attached to Lucia's body continued to make a faint sound, a sign that her heart was still beating despite everything, that on the tightrope of her life she was balancing and holding on despite the gusts of wind that threatened to knock her over. Law lifted the bottle that lay next to him to his lips, then glanced at Luffy's hat that was still lying next to him and sighed. Healing would take a long time.

Far away from the Amazon Lily, in the second part of the Grand Line, the New World, hundreds of pirates had gathered in silence around three graves. Two massive tombs had been erected over the bodies of Ace and Whitebeard, on which rested the distinctive attributes of the two pirates: Whitebeard's coat and weapon and his flag, Ace's belt and hat. A profusion of flowers surrounded the two monuments. In front of these tombs, Shanks and Marco stood for a moment, like the procession of pirates that had gathered behind them.

“Shanks, I don't know how to express my gratitude," said Marco.

“Please, let's not talk about it anymore. Whitebeard was our enemy, yet he deserves our deepest respect," Shanks replied. “Even Sengoku agreed.”

His gaze then shifted to the third, smaller stele, which lay on the ground next to Ace's. The name "Gol D Lucia" was engraved on it and on its back rested the tunic that had been picked up on the battlefield. Marco followed his gaze and sighed:

“We couldn't find her body... what a tragedy. I had no idea who she really was until today...”

“Nobody knew," Shanks continued. “But now no one will ever forget her or the words she spoke. She was a great woman.”

“You feel it too, don't you..." continued Marco.

“For me, as long as we don't have a body... everything is still possible... but it would be better for her to rest in peace now. The world would be hell on earth for her now," concluded Shanks.

They stood side by side for a moment more before the Emperor decided to leave, his head full of memories of his time as a ship's boy on Roger's ship and his mind entirely on Luffy.

In Marineford, Lucia was also the subject of Sengoku's concerns. Sitting on the ruins of his headquarters, he felt as if this war had aged him by decades. He sighed, thinking back to the last words she had spoken before Akainu had killed her at the end of their fight. That is, if she was really dead. Marco and the Whitebeard crew had searched for her body for many minutes before giving up. Even Shanks had tried without success. Her body was nowhere to be found. They had not gone to the bottom of the ocean for lack of means. The only hope he had left was that she was indeed lying at the bottom of the sea. But he could not help but have doubts. One of his soldiers came to report to him:

“Chief Admiral, we are still without a body for the Elementalist.”

Sengoku took a deep breath:

“Stop the search, that's enough. There's nothing more we can do, we just have to hope she's really dead. Because if she comes back... the war she'll start will be even worse than the one we had today...”

“What- What do you mean Admiral?”

Sengoku did not listen to him, talking more to himself than anything else:

“Roger's daughter. I thought it couldn't get any worse... Honestly Lucia, I pray you're not in this world anymore...”

Only the sound of the waves crashing in Marineford Bay answered him while the cry of the seagulls echoed over his head, as if to taunt him for not having the answer he had hoped for.

Back on Amazon Lily, Trafalgar Law's Heart crew was still without news of Luffy, who had disappeared into the island's thick forest, followed by Jinbei. The screams had died down but there was no sign of the two pirates. The crew had decided to sit facing the sea, patiently waiting for Luffy's return. Some were worried that if he reopened his wounds, he would die. Sachi was fishing when a strange energy rippled through the air, causing them to cringe. The next second, Penguin saw a sea monster rise above the sea, as if it were fighting underwater. The next moment, the behemoth was dead. The pirates were stunned. They were even more stunned when they saw a lone man emerge from the waters of the New World and climb the cliff to them.

“Well, it wasn't a simple matter," commented their visitor, quite out of breath.

“But it's... but it's... Dark Lord Rayleigh," Bepo wondered.

“Ah, but it's you," the old man recognized them, "we met on the Sabaody archipelago. Forgive me for this rather rocky entrance, but the violent winds have grounded my ship and I had no other choice but to swim.”

“High winds?!" choked Penguin. “But we're on the Calm Belt, it's the quietest place on earth and the sea is always calm!”

“Does that mean your boat ran aground even further out and you swam here?”

In a calm Olympian manner, Rayleigh wrung out his soaked clothes:

“Oh, you know, I know breaststroke.”

“If you say so... BUT THAT'S NOT THE QUESTION!”

“Anyway, no more talking," Rayleigh said, getting up.

He turned a sharp glance towards Law who could not help but swallow, intimidated:

“I understand that Luffy is on this island, isn't he?”

Law put his hand on the pirate's straw hat but didn't have time to answer as the Dark Lord had already asked him a new question:

“Where is she?”

The question was more of a directive. Law sighed before standing up in turn:

“Come with me.”

He accompanied Rayleigh into his submarine and led her into the room where Lucia's unconscious body still lay. He stood back as the ex-pirate slowly approached her. Without a word, he placed his hand on her cold, lifeless one.

“Her situation is complicated," Law began to explain.” Akainu didn't miss her. For now she's hanging on, but the real danger will come when she wakes up. Who knows if she'll be able to take the shock.”

Rayleigh did not answer. Law continued:

“By the way, can I ask how you knew she was here and alive?”

Rayleigh reached into his coat pocket and pulled out a piece of paper, waving it between his fingers.

“Life Card?" gasped Law.

That explained everything, the life card was intimately linked to its bearer and would disintegrate if the latter died. Moreover, it could indicate the direction in which he was. Rayleigh only had to look at the card to know that Lucia was still alive and in these waters. Still leaning over Lucia's body, he finally broke away from her face to look into Law's eyes.

“I don't know what kind of pirate you are, boy, but I have a small favour to ask of you.”

Chapter Text

The first thing I hear is the steady "beep-beep" of a heart recording near me. Then there is the sharp smell of disinfectant and alcohol. My fingers brush against a fresh cloth. Then I open my eyes. The room I'm in is dark, I can hardly make out anything. My vision is blurred, my eyelids heavy. I can feel my breath coming in and out, and it keeps coming back against my chin. I bring my hand to my mouth, intrigued, and feel a plastic shell surrounding my lower face. A mask... for breathing... I formulate simple thoughts, unable to do anything complicated. My mind spins in slow motion, I feel as if I am immersed in a heavy cotton mass. This heaviness is also felt in my body, which seems to weigh a ton, I can hardly move. It takes a lot of effort to put my arm back down. I blink several times in succession. Something is missing. I can't say what. I have this gaping hole in me that makes me realise that something is missing.

Suddenly it all comes back to me. Marineford. Whitebeard. Sengoku. Ace. Luffy. Akainu. Ace. Their faces run in a loop in my head. Then an image emerges suddenly and fixes itself on my retina. Ace. Ace in Luffy's arms, his chest bleeding, his eyes misty with tears. Luffy is saying words I don't understand, that I can't hear. His eyes beg me to help him. I can't move. I can't make a move.

The sound bursts in my ears. The screams. Luffy's long screams. He begs me to help him, he begs the whole world to help him, to save his brother, to save my brother. He screams as Ace's body hits the ground heavily.

Then flashes come back to me. It's a blur. Akainu. The look in Akainu's eyes. Another flash. The pain is unbearable. I see the world flickering around me. I am in pain. It hurts so much. I shouldn't be in pain. Why does it hurt so much?

The sound of the machine next to me is racing along with my breathing. I need air. Regaining some unsuspected energy, I rip off my oxygen mask and the hoses that were connected to my arms. I pull myself heavily out of the bed I'm on. My legs refuse to carry me, I collapse on the cold floor. My jaw hits the metal, the taste of blood fills my mouth. i]I need air. I want to get out.[/i] With tears in my eyes, I slowly crawl to the ground and find myself facing a door. I pull myself together, draw on what little resources I have left, get up and grab the handle as if my life depended on it. Fortunately for me it opens without difficulty. Good point, at least I am not a prisoner. I then begin a chaotic walk in a large corridor, leaning against the wall, my gaze riveted on the small circle of light that emanates at the end. Air... I need air. Sobs crush my throat as tears now roll down my cheeks. I cling to this light. In my head it's a storm of overlapping images and sounds, heckling and threatening to send me into pure madness.

**

“Captain, how long are we gonna keep the girl?”

“The Dark Lord gave me instructions. I have a meeting point for her. We just need to get her there and try to keep her alive until then.”

“Don't you want to go to the New World instead?”

“Calm down, Penguin, there's no point in going there now, I've already told you. Besides, it's on a New World island that we have to drop off our guest. So let's wait for the big fish to eat each other and then we can go our own way.”

“I don't like waiting!”

“Take it easy and be less noisy, you're starting to piss me-“

He was interrupted by the thud of the door suddenly opening. His eyes widened as he saw her take a few unsteady steps onto the deck of the submarine. He had never imagined that she could get up so early. She staggered, clinging to the railing, leaning forward as if she would topple into the ocean at any moment. He stood up, not really knowing if he was going to stop her from diving or not. He could see the tears rolling down her cheeks, running until they were lost in the foam that was forming around the Heart submarine. He saw her rib cage rise and fall heavily, in vain attempts to catch a breath that was inexorably escaping her. With her mouth open, no cry could get past her lips, only long complaints that mingled with the whistling of the wind. Soon her legs gave up again and she fell back. Finally sensing their presence, she turned around and what she saw finished her off. Overwhelmed by the bodies of the 15 crew members standing before her, she cowered in the corner of the deck, hand outstretched in a desperate attempt to defend herself. But he could see that her arm was shaking, as was her whole body, and that she was unable to concentrate on attacking. He sighed:

“Inside. Now.”

Without reply, the crew nodded and they all went back into the submarine, one by one. She watched them pass by, not daring to move, and eventually found herself alone with him. The young woman was stunned by fear. She had obviously recognised him at first glance, and it was hard to forget his icy stare. He was wearing the same yellow and black jumper, the same white fur hat, the same tattoos on his hands, the same sword lying casually at his side. The only difference was that he had shed his mocking, arrogant grin, the one he had worn at Sabaody when she had first seen him. Lucia was alone with Trafalgar Law. The pirate's grey irises froze her in place. His gaze was icy, his eyebrows furrowed, and his air affable. He made no move towards her. It was her who stood up, trying to regain her composure. She couldn't put on a brave face, and soon her lips began to tremble and her knees went weak. Clenching her fist and jaw to the point of pain, she finally managed to formulate the thought that was running through her mind:

“Tell me it's not true... I beg you... tell me it's not true...”

His tone was pleading, desperate. Law swore that he had never seen such a sad and lost look as the one that clung to him at that very moment. He didn't feel empathy or compassion for her, he simply saw her pain. In a calm tone he answered her question:

“Yes, it did. It's true. Everything you remember is true.”

She suffocated, her tears redoubling in intensity, and without even thinking, she rushed at the pirate. He took a step back, surprised by the strength she was able to muster. She clung to his jumper to keep from falling and, once stabilized, she pounded his chest with her fists.

“No! No! You're lying! YOU ARE LYING!”

Each of her blows was punctuated by her voice rising to a high pitch, bordering on hysteria, in an attempt to cover the voices and words that echoed in her head without stopping. She wasn't hurting him, she didn't have enough strength for that. He didn't fight back, didn't stop her. He just stood there, arms flailing, watching her screaming her anger and pain, hitting him to get it out.

“Let her cry, let her scream... don't stop her, but don't help her either. I don't know what kind of pirate you are, but I know what kind of woman she is. She'll be in such a fragile emotional state that if you reach out a hand, she'll be able to grab it and not be able to let go in the future. Let her face this alone, let her break down alone so that she can then get up again alone. She has to break down first before she can build herself up again.”

Rehearsing Rayleigh's words, Law waited. When Lucia's legs couldn't carry her any further and she collapsed, he simply followed her movement, letting himself fall limply to the ground. So she stayed there, crying against him, her head still buried in her jumper, her cries barely muffled by the fabric and the wind, while he didn't say a word, didn't make a move. He was waiting.

She finally fell asleep, exhausted from having put so much strain on her body, from having cried so much. A physical and emotional exhaustion that knocked her out without her realising it. Law glanced at the position of the sun, she had been working against him for over an hour, no wonder she needed a rest. He sighed, he was now stuck on the deck with a completely broken piece of woman resting her weight against him.

“Room. Shambles.”

With a confident gesture, he switched his sword with a pile of books from his cabin. If he had to wait here, it might as well be productive. He then grabbed the book that lay at the top of the stack and picked up where he had left off. It was an anatomy textbook, dedicated to heart surgery. Ironic, given his nickname and the name of his crew. He read the articles that interested him, skipped the pages that seemed trivial. For more than three hours he sat with his back to the railing of the submarine, reading and studying with only the lapping of the waves and the gentle whistling of the wind for company.

He was about to turn to the next double-page spread when a slender finger came to rest in the right-hand corner of the book to prevent it from turning. Intrigued, he looked down and noticed that Lucia was awake. Her eyes were red, her complexion pale, but he could see her irises moving from left to right, following the lines inked on the paper. She reached the bottom of the page and removed her finger, indicating that he could continue. Stunned, he took a few seconds to compose himself and actually change the page. Out of the corner of his eye he saw that she was resuming her reading, dutifully, looking concentrated, her face neutral. How could she go from total hysteria to calm? Perhaps she was broken? If the shock had been too violent, perhaps it had completely annihilated the young woman after all? Instinctively, he knew it wasn't that. She was still there. Captivated by this spectacle, he spent the rest of the afternoon turning pages without reading them, more focused on Lucia. She was hanging on. With all her might she was hanging on. Every letter, every word, every page. She was clinging to this book to keep her sanity. Law was fascinated, almost admiring, by the little flame that flickered, the little flame that she tried to protect from the wind and the rain, the little flame that he saw flickering in her eyes.

Finally, as dusk fell over the ocean, she took her eyes off the book. Without a word, in a supple gesture, she managed to get up and walked towards the railing opposite the one against which Law had been sitting for hours. She rested her elbows on it, letting the wind play with her long blue hair. She closed her eyes, enjoying the caresses of the sun as it disappeared further behind the horizon. Law, still on the ground, was content to gaze at her silhouette against the orange sky. When she turned back to him, her look had changed. There was still that fragility, but deep down, something new was being built. She looked at him gently, without apparent feeling, and merely nodded briefly. He did not answer, did not smile, did not move. This silent exchange was more meaningful than any dialogue. On either side of the bridge, the two young people looked at each other, with only the sun disappearing a little more each second and the sea surrounding them. Then slowly Lucia turned back to the door of the submarine, pushed the handle, and re-entered the Heart's ship, leaving the Surgeon of Death alone.

**

Inside, Lucia had barely taken a few steps into the main corridor of the submarine when a voice called out to her softly:

“Hey... Lucia?”

She turned around to face the polar bear who was none other than the second in command, Bepo the navigator. Intimidated by her gaze, he recoiled slightly before saying:

“Sorry, I didn't want to disturb you but you haven't eaten for a long time so... well you see... you can come with us if you want...”

He stammered for a moment, suddenly unable to formulate coherent sentences.

“Sorry," he mumbled, bowing, "I'm sorry.”

He was surprised to see Lucia's hand pushing him up. She smiled softly at him as she tilted her head, inviting him to guide her into the unfamiliar ship. He did not hesitate and led her to the dining hall. The moment she stepped through the door frame and into the room, all conversation died down and eyes converged on her. Some stared at her without restraint, others tried to be more discreet, staring at their plates while glancing furtively at the young woman. Lucia swallowed, quite uncomfortable. Bepo did not let her go, indicating a seat and bringing her a bowl of hot ramen. She looked at the food for a long time, a heavy weight on her stomach preventing her from being really hungry. Saddened, Bepo encouraged her to take just one bite, to try it. She resolved to grab her chopsticks and bring the broth-soaked noodles to her lips. The salt awakened her taste buds, the noodles her stomach, the broth her thirst. She swallowed and took another bite, then another. She ended up eating the whole dish slowly. Bepo applauded her, showing her how happy he was. She smiled again, tenderly this time, at the bear's enthusiasm. She ran her fingers through the white fur of the Heart navigator and couldn't suppress a little shiver as it was so soft. He seemed to appreciate the caress and smiled with all his teeth.

Seeing that the current was flowing well, two other members of the crew joined them: Sacchi and Penguin. Lucia remembered seeing them on the Sabaody, the same three pirates who had fought a Pacifista alongside their captain. They began to talk to her about everything and anything, ending up bickering amongst themselves. Lucia didn't catch all of it, just noticing that they were blaming the polar bear for apologizing too much for nothing. She was still smiling and even let out a little laugh at their behaviour. They stood still, captivated by a sound they didn't expect to hear tonight. The delicate hiss of Lucia's laughter lit up their faces, fascinated by the crinkling of her eyes and her widening smile. Obviously, they had made this little scene on purpose. The whole crew had heard her screaming at Law on the bridge, they had all heard her crying, breaking down. They had all been touched by Lucia's pain. Helpless because their captain had ordered them to return, they had not even consulted each other, but none of them wanted to leave her alone. Finally, in the refectory, it was the whole crew who took care to include Lucia in the discussions, to talk to her, to accompany her. She did not say a word, but her smile remained on her face.

Feeling a look on the back of her neck, she turned her head towards the door that led to the corridor and was not surprised to see Law watching the scene from afar. With a knowing look on his face, he nodded at her and left. Lucia knew that the first day was over. They would see tomorrow for the rest.

Chapter Text

Except that while waiting for the next day, they had to spend the night first and Lucia had no idea where to sleep. There was the room she had come out of that morning but it was the equivalent of an operating one and the metal block she had been lying on was far from comfortable. Sachi offered to join them in their shared dormitory but Bepo interjected and said that she couldn't sleep in the middle of them. After a little discussion, they came to an arrangement. They were going to move some sheets and blankets to go and stuff the famous operating room stretcher. In the end, she found it easier to sit on the floor, also taking a cushion to make herself more comfortable. It wasn't the most comfortable, but it would do for the night.

She tossed and turned for long minutes, seeking sleep. Her eyelids were heavy, her body numb, but her mind would not leave her alone. Now that she was alone with herself, in the silence of the night, everything seemed too oppressive. She rolled herself into a ball in the blanket, folding her whole body in on itself, trying to take up as little space as possible, trying to disappear from this world and hoping that it would eventually do the same and leave her alone. But nothing helped, the screams continued to echo in her skull, the images could not be detached from her retina. Soon, the sobs rose in her throat, the tears ran down her cheeks, her hands clutched her hair. A vice gripped her chest, cutting off a breath she desperately sought. Her breathing ragged, her vision blurred, she began to tremble, chattering her teeth as her skin bristled with the bite of an imaginary cold. She couldn't help but let out a high-pitched wail through her teeth, a wail that came from deep in her gut, that rose from the very depths of her pain. Feeling that her mind was about to fail her, she clumsily got to her feet. She staggered, clinging to what she could to stay upright. A ragged breath hissed between her lips as she tried to catch her breath. Instinctively, she managed to retrace her steps from earlier in the day, and once again pushed open the door that led to the submarine's deck.

Lucia immediately collapsed on the wooden deck once she was out in the open. On her knees, prostrate, she muffled her complaint in the blanket she had pulled behind her during her journey. Then she laid on the ground, her eyes filled with tears, lost in the starry sky. For the first time, she could not bear to look at the stars that seemed to taunt her, shamelessly showing her the glow of those that had been taken from her. She put her arms over her eyes, trying to choke back the tears and pain. She wept for long minutes, her tight lips stretched into a painful grimace. Her other hand clutched the blanket so tightly to her chest that her knuckles turned white. Her whole body continued to shake and she could not stop it. She tried with all her might to concentrate on something else, the sound of the waves, the smell of the wind... but nothing helped, nothing was powerful enough to burst the bubble of silence and gravity that weighed painfully on her body and mind. Lucia was in the grip of the worst of fears which paralysed her completely. She was suffering the full force of the aftermath of Ace's death, of Luffy's disappearance, of whom she had no news. At this moment, the physical wounds did not matter, those that were cutting into her memory and consciousness. It began to rain.

When she woke up, her body was completely numb. She tried to move her limbs, but they responded painfully. It took a few minutes before she could sit up with a grimace. Then she realised. She was no longer on the deck. She was lying in a bed, under a cool blanket. She rubbed her eyes to try and get a better sense of her surroundings. She was in a single room, the walls decorated with huge bookcases filled with thick books. In one corner, a desk was covered with papers and sketches, pencils and notes. It was simply furnished, clean and sober. The smell of coffee filled the air slightly. She saw stars dancing in front of her eyes as she tried to stand up, swinging her legs out of bed. She didn't know what she was doing here but she knew she wasn't well. Her gaze slid to the bedside table beside her, there was a glass of water and two tablets on a small note.

Take them to help with the dizziness and muscle pain. You had a tetany attack in the middle of the night. You can use the bathroom in the bedroom to try and relax your muscles. Be careful with the bandages, if your wound reopens you will die.

Lucia reread the words carefully to try to find out who had written them but it was far too impersonal. After a short hesitation she decided to trust whoever had written this and took the medicine. Finally understanding where the pain was coming from that was tugging at her whole body, she began to massage her muscles gently and slowly to relax them a little. She spent some time stimulating her calves, her ankles, her feet, her knees, her thighs. Then she stood up, still shaking a little under her weight, before moving towards one of the bedroom doors. It did indeed open onto a small bathroom. Intimidated, she closed the door and turned the cold water switch in the shower. She stripped off her bandages and clothes, finally taking a look at her body for the past several days. The scars were still blistering, burning, red on her white skin. She brushed her fingertips over the one that pierced her chest, the two holes caused by Akainu's lava had then burned her flesh around it. Then she glanced at the torn skin of her wrists, scarred for life by the handcuffs she had shoved so deeply into her flesh in an attempt to free herself. She clenched her fist, restraining a sudden urge to scratch them to the bone to erase forever these traces of her helplessness, weakness and misery.

Back in the shower, pushing the flow to its maximum, she let the icy water hit her back, her arms, her neck, running down her body. Without transition, she turned the plunger sharply and the water became scalding. She stifled a small cry of pain from the thermal shock. She turned off the water. The mist had filled the room and her skin had turned a bright red from the heat. She breathed in deeply, her hands resting on the glass of the shower, her hair sticking to her skin, drops of water running down her face. She turned on the flow again, more gently, lukewarm this time. She sat down in a corner, letting the water run over her skin, washing her body without lightening the weight of her mind.

Finally, the desired effect was achieved. She felt the tension between her shoulder blades fade and she calmed down. Without any idea of how long she had been here, she finally got out. She grabbed a folded towel from the side and wrapped herself in it. She peeked into the room and was surprised to see that clothes had been laid out on the bed, along with some clean bandages. A new note on top. It was not the same handwriting.

I hope this fits, we thought you might want to look after yourself and if you need to, don't hesitate to ask the Captain to check on you. You're coming to eat with us, right? We are waiting for you! Bepo.

Lucia smiled, the tone of this letter was quite different from the first one, warmer, friendlier. She put on a pair of grey trousers that were barely too big for her. Then she set about protecting her wounds as best she could. She tried to replicate the dressings that Law had applied during her operation. She then tied her hair in a ponytail to make herself more comfortable and went outside. She decided to comply with the request of the first mate of the Heart crew and headed for the dining hall. She emerged into a mixture of laughter and chatter, bickering and shouting. She was immediately enveloped by the warmth of the people and then she was actually surrounded by arms that hugged her tightly. Stunned, before she could even make a move, Bepo had thrown himself on top of her and was hugging her, rubbing his face affectionately against her cheek. Spitting out some of the hair that fell on her tongue, Lucia laughed as she tried to catch her breath.

“We were worried about you!" explained Sachi who was standing behind the polar bear. “When we didn't see you get up this morning, we went to the room where you were and... well, you weren't there.”

“So we asked around and the Captain told us you were in his room. We brought you something to change into.”

So that was it. Lucia had suspected a little once she was thinking clearly but nothing was certain. She gently rubbed the polar bear's head before giving the other two crew members a grateful look. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw that Law was also sitting here, alone with a book and a coffee.

“Excuse me..." she mumbled to the three of them.

She slalomed between the tables, served herself a tray with some food and a black tea, without sugar. She then took a seat opposite the Surgeon of Death, who casually raised his head at her arrival. She breathed in before looking into the pirate's grey eyes with her deep blue ones:

“Thank you... for yesterday and this morning.”

“If I'd left you out there, you'd have frozen to death, and I don't want the Dark Lord to chase me across the oceans because I let you die. That's all.”

He flicked another tablet, different from the ones she had ingested earlier. He noticed her questioning look:

“This will help you heal.”

She frowned before taking the medicine, which left a bitter aftertaste in her mouth. She grimaced. Then she bit into a slice of bread. The bite seemed bland and mushy. She swallowed and then asked the question that had haunted her since she woke up:

“How did it end? Luffy? Jinbei?”

Law answered laconically:

“Alive. Both of them.”

Lucia growled in frustration:

“And then? How did it go? The last thing I remember is... is Ace dying.”

She lowered her voice at the words, as if saying it too loudly would make it more real. Law opened his eyes wide:

“Wait, you really don't remember anything?”

“No... should I?" she asked, worried.

Law made a small gesture with his hand to Penguin who was standing back. He hesitated, then walked towards them, put a newspaper on the table and withdrew without saying anything. Lucia looked at the paper and then at Law, without understanding. He said nothing, plunging his nose into his coffee cup. Hesitantly, she took the paper and unrolled the first page. Slowly, her eyes skimmed the printed lines that recounted the events of the war at the top. It was brief. The wanted notices of the dead were displayed large. Hers was between Ace's and Whitebeard's. Her name was displayed on the paper in large capital letters. GOL D LUCIA. She swallowed and put the paper back on the table. In one gulp, she drank her cup of tea, the liquid had gone cold.

“For God’s sake," she muttered, "sometimes I really should shut up...”

She then read the rest of the article before stopping herself:

“Okay, I got the outlines, but I know the Navy and its tendency to cover up things that bother it...”

“Clever kid," Law commented. “So there really is a brain behind that big mouth and pretty face...”

“And there really is the ability to string together more than three words to make a sentence in your mouth, amazing I was beginning to despair," she quipped in response.

He put down his cup and crossed his hands under his chin, staring at her without blinking. In a calm voice he then told her what had happened after Ace's death. Luffy's tetany. Her fight against the three admirals. The identity she had revealed and the words she had spoken. Her defeat by Akainu. The face-off between Whitebeard and the Admiral. The arrival of Blackbeard. Her victory over Whitebeard, leading to his death before taking his devil fruit. Shanks who had stopped the conflict.

Lucia buried her head in her hands to keep her sanity:

“Okay... okay...”

Her breathing was short, Law saw that she was taking it upon herself not to give in to a panic attack like the day before. Because what she didn't know was that his grey eyes hadn't left her last night while she was crying in the rain. He hadn't been asleep when he'd heard her shuffling down the corridor, wheezing. He had found her on the deck, witnessing her crying and distress. He waited for her to calm down and when she was tired he carried her to her own room so she wouldn't catch a cold. Then he spent the night in his office a little further away, checking on her from time to time. He had had to mop the sweat from her forehead most of the night, injecting her with soft drugs to calm her down. Her body needed rest but her mind was getting in the way, so he'd made sure to keep it quiet. But he would be careful not to tell her.

Lucia kept her calm and took in the information:

“Where is Luffy?”

Law sank into his seat:

“No idea. Certainly not where I left him anyway.”

She opened her mouth to ask another question when she was interrupted by Bepo yelling:

“CAPTAAAAAAAAAAIN!!!”

Immediately, a tornado of white hair descended on Lucia as Bepo rushed over to her captain, handing her the day's newspaper. She coughed for a moment as Law was visibly intrigued by the front page. Bepo apologised flatly once Sachi and Penguin had finally managed to get him away from Lucia, certainly saving him from a choking death. Law finally finished reading and threw the paper in front of Lucia:

“This should interest you.”

She grabbed it without understanding and was stunned by the picture on the front page. Luffy was standing in front of Marineford, his hat against his heart, eyes closed. The silence of his solemn recollection cut through the paper. He looked seriously injured, but a wave of relief washed over Lucia. He was alive. That was the main thing. On the side were pictures of Rayleigh and Jinbei, the article explaining that they had been seen in the company of Luffy. Lucia tightened her fingers on the paper. Everything would be fine for him. Then two details drew her attention more precisely. First, there was the tattoo on Luffy's right arm. She squinted and then her eyes lit up when she understood the message. A smile stretched her lips. [i] Noted Luffy. [/i] The second thing was the ornament that appeared on the pirate's right wrist. She pulled her face closer to the paper as if the image would become clearer. No doubt about it, it was his bracelet. She put the paper back down before pointing at Law:

“How? I thought he wasn't conscious when I disappeared.”

“He wasn't. I made Straw Hat and Jinbei think you were dead.”

An anvil fell on Lucia's body. She swallowed. Without paying attention to her confusion, Law continued:

“Except for my crew and the Dark Lord, no one knows you survived this war.”

“Very well," Lucia took in a sullen voice. “What's the plan now?”

“I've been given instructions. I’ve to drop you off at a specific location. We'll head for that destination in a few days, it should take us about a month.”

“You're telling me I have to spend a month in this submarine with only your creepy smile for company? I love the programme!" she mocked him, tilting her head back.

He narrowed his gaze, sensitive to her pique:

“The door is always open if you prefer to leave...”

“And give you the pleasure of seeing me drown? Never in a million years!”

“Wasn't your power supposed to allow you to fly at one time?”

Lucia frowned and stared at her hands:

“Yeah... the thing is, it's been blocked since I woke up... no way to use it. I can't feel anything.”

Law arched an eyebrow:

“A blocked devil fruit... I've never heard that one before...”

“At the same time, considering the astronomical number of your social relationships that go beyond a simple cold look, you must not have seen much...”

“So, kid, in addition to good manners, you need to learn to respect your elders?”

“I'm not a member of your crew so you can always brush up on respect!”

“You brat," Law scolded.

With a petty smile Lucia stood up and stretched before standing in front of him:

“Well... what can I do?”

“What do you mean, what can you do?”

“I feel like your brain cells are going to overheat if I keep talking to you, and as soon as I have nothing to do I have no peace of mind, so give me something to do... that sounds like a good deal to save both of our mental health... if there's anything left for you to save," she added with a shrug.

Law clenched his jaw, she was seriously getting on his nerves and he was seriously considering abandoning her on the nearest island. To hell with Rayleigh. An evil smile stretched his lips:

“If your majesty is willing to put her hands to work, I think you could start by tidying up the shed's archives.”

Lucia smiled in a defiant manner:

“Is that a challenge? Because if it is, I'm offended that you're putting me down to think I don't know my alphabet.”

“Get a job and shut up! You're getting on my nerves! Bepo, point her the right direction.”

“And I'm the one who should be taught manners? Would a "please" kill you?”

“I don't need to be taught by a kid," Law persisted as he sat back in his chair, pulling his hat back on his head. “Get out of here!”

Bepo watched helplessly as the black eyes duelled. If their eyes had been able to create lightning, no doubt a storm would have broken out in the refectory. Finally Lucia turned away, but not without an obscene gesture towards the pirate. The Mink navigator hurried after her while Law watched her walk away, looking annoyed. As soon as Lucia walked out the door, Sachi and Penguin laughed:

“Man, it's been a long time since someone stood up to the captain like that," one joked with an admiring whistle.

“She doesn't mince her words," commented the other.

“You haven't got any work to do?" growled Law, giving them a threatening look.

Confused, the two subordinates immediately stopped laughing and took the door to escape their captain's incisive gaze. John Bart finished his breakfast and could not help but smile:

“In any case, she will add animation to the ship”

Law did not answer, his eyes fixed on the door. He was beginning to regret having accepted Rayleigh's request so quickly. A month. A month before he could get her to leave. It was going to be a long, long time.

Chapter Text

Lucia eventually became fully integrated into the decor of the Pirates Heart submarine, living with them, at their pace. She had finally chosen to sleep with the rest of the crew in the common bunkhouse, in a hammock hanging in the corner. She loved the gentle rocking of her bed as the submarine sailed through the dark waters at night. During the day, she ate meals with the crew and spent most of her time in the shed sorting through the archives. She soon realised why Law had seemed so happy to give her this job, apart from the apparent repetition of her movements, it was mostly very time consuming and tedious. Hundreds of books, minutes, plans, notes, reports, diagrams that had been accumulated here without really bothering to put them away. Everything was jumbled, piled up, pushed into corners. But in the end this work gave Lucia the peace she had hoped for, she spent her days sorting and rearranging these documents, which kept both her hands and her mind busy. She could think of nothing but the task of tidying. As a result, the pain eventually diminished, gradually fading away. There was still that little twinge in the morning just after waking up and in the evening before going to sleep, but the rest of the time she immersed herself in her work and in discussions with others so as not to think about it.

The days passed and after two weeks she finally saw the end of it. She rubbed her hands together, not a little proud of herself, a few strands of hair stuck to her forehead from a light film of sweat and dust. She blew out her breath and looked around the room. The shelves were neatly arranged, the plans and maps rolled up in a box, the most important diagrams pinned to the wall, the books arranged by subject and author. Before she even turned around, she knew he was there, behind her. Leaning against the doorframe, Law was observing the result of her labour. He stepped forward to look at the bookcases.

“It's not too bad..." he admitted with a frown.

“Wow, I don't know what that compliment just cost you, but I'm surprised you're not already on the floor writhing in pain, is everything okay?”

Law sighed, she was getting better and better every day and it was showing in her behaviour. She was becoming more and more incisive, which he didn't like. He was keeping his cool for the moment but she was seriously getting on his nerves. Why had he saved her again...

“Tell me... what do you know about the importance of D.?" he asked suddenly.

Surprised, Lucia remained silent for a moment before answering awkwardly:

“Well... not much to tell the truth... I know that few people have this particle in their name and that there is mention of a war or a revolution from those who have it... but I'm not very advanced on the subject...”

“But you are one of them too, aren't you? I always thought his name was Gold Roger, but you emphasised the D when you told the world...”

“Yes," Lucia said, "my name is Gol D. According to Ray, he was pretty pissed off when the government cut off his name.”

She laughed.

“So you have no idea what that particle means when you have it in your name?”

“Hey," she challenged him, placing her fists on her hips, "I'm sorry I didn't ask for an extra history lesson when I had the chance, but my job was to coat boats!”

“Mmmh... I thought that you would be as nosy as you are, you couldn't help looking for information... but in the end you're less interesting than expected!”

“Well, if you're that interested in the subject, why don't you go and look for the answers yourself instead of waiting for people who could give them to you?”

Law smirked before leaning against the nearest shelf, staring at Lucia:

“Tell me if I'm wrong, but until proven otherwise I saved the lives of two D. holders who were about to die a few weeks ago, right? I don't wait for people, I just go and get them.”

Lucia opened her mouth in amazement:

“So that's why..." she pulled herself together and made a disappointed pout, "and I thought maybe you really did have some empathy and pity in you. It's nice to dream.”

“I don't give a damn about you!”

“YES IT'S OK I UNDERSTOOD NO NEED TO ADD A LOT!" she shouted.

She let out a long sigh before sitting down on a small table in the corner:

“Really, I have no idea what it means. Some people talk about "the will of D", it's true... but we are nothing but men. All the will in the world is no match for our mortal condition... look at Ace, or even Luffy and I who seriously almost died. Honestly, I don't know what this whole thing is worth. If you believe in it that much, I'm sorry I can't give you more answers than that.”

She was genuinely sorry. Law exhaled:

“Too bad, I wish you knew something indeed, but deep down, I think that if a big mouth like you had really known anything about it, you would have been shouting it everywhere.”

Lucia looked at him with an evil look in her eyes but did not answer, stung to the core. He laughed, satisfied with the idea of having succeeded in shutting her up. He straightened up and leaned towards her, emphasising their significant height difference by patting her on the head:

“Come on kid, you've earned your lunch!”

Lucia growled:

“And you just deserve a slap!”

“I'd like to see you try.”

Lucia was about to retort when a thud shook the pirate ship. Losing their balance, she and Law wobbled and had to fight to stay upright. With a loud crash, dozens of books fell to the ground, destroying much of Lucia's effort. Lucia opened her mouth in disappointment and ranted:

“Whoever is the cause of this mess, let him take his legs and run, because i’ll have no mercy!”

She didn't have time to carry out her threat when she looked down, surprised by a sudden cold sensation on her ankles. She opened her eyes wide as she discovered a thin layer of water sliding on the ground. She heard Law rush out of the room with a stifled swear and followed him without delay. They met Sachi on the way:

“A sea monster hit us captain, there's a hole in the hull, where the Straw Hat had already done some damage.”

“Didn't you fix it?”

“Yes, but it was rudimentary, we did the best we could before being fired by the Dark Lord.”

“Well done," growled the captain. “Are you on it yet?”

“Yes captain!”

“All right, get as many people as you can to safety by closing the watertight doors. Take Lucia-ya with you. I'll take care of this.”

“Alright, take care captain!”

Sachi took the young woman by the arm and led her along. She let him do it with some concern:

“Are he going to be okay? I mean, he did eat a devil fruit and the water is rising fast...”

The subordinate smiled:

“Don't worry, with the captain's powers it will be over in no time.”

Indeed, the incident was solved in a matter of minutes, and the bulk of the work was finally done to bail out the water that had seeped in. Quite annoyed, Law admonished his crew that they should have been more careful and warned him of the fragility of the repairs. Nevertheless, Lucia could sense his relief when she saw that none of his crew had been hurt. They spent the rest of the day tracking down the cracks in the ship and making sure that no significant damage remained. Their last unpleasant surprise came when the generators failed due to another infiltration. The engines were not affected but they were completely without power. The evening was lit by a few candles they had found at the bottom of the drawers. The meal took place in dead silence, with only the sound of cutlery and the chewing of food. Jean Bart broke the silence by addressing Lucia:

“Did you ever tell us how you knew Straw Haw?”

Immediately, all heads turned towards her as she stood still, chopsticks halfway between her mouth and her plate:

“Well, you never asked me at the same time... Are you that interested?”

“Oh yes!" exclaimed Bepo. “I'm sure it's a great story!”

She glanced at Law who was suddenly focused on his own meal:

“On the scale of your bad mood, what happens if I talk? Is there a threshold beyond your murderous stare and foul mood or not? I need to know what I'm signing up for and if I need to sign a waiver that no one is responsible for my death…”

“Do as you like," sighed Law. “Anyway, we'll be a long time before we get to the surface. I've put the engines in low gear so as not to waste the little energy we have left.”

With that he stood up:

“I'm in the control room if anyone is looking for me.”

Then he walked out nonchalantly. Lucia rolled her eyes:

“Well, it could have been worse... so, what exactly do you want to know?”

“Everything!" exclaimed Penguin. When did you meet Ace and Luffy?”

“What was your relationship before?”

“Did you already know that he was your brother?” asked Jean Bart.

“Whoa, whoa, let's turn the volume down please or I'll lose my hearing before I've even answered you," she laughed.

In the control room, Law sat on the seat, his feet on the dashboard, his arms crossed behind his head, and looked at the ocean from the window. Then, driven by a curiosity he didn't really know he had, he pushed the button on one of his ship's speakers and immediately Lucia's voice crackled through:

“The first thing I remember...”

Chapter Text

I remember, above all, the blows, the fists pounding my face, the feet hitting my stomach, the whip cracking in my back. I remember my tears and my sobs, my blood and the bitter smell of the earth. My hair full of grey dust and my dirty nails. It was always like that, I walked around Gray Terminal every day looking for treasures, gold, stones, resources that could bring in money. Every night Porchemy would be waiting for me and because what I brought in was never enough, I would get beaten up. It didn't matter that I was a child. To them I was an extra pair of hands in the pay of the pirate captain Bluejam and I had to bring them money, otherwise I was useless. The only reason the pirates kept me was my size, I could slip in and out quickly and quietly, and the fact that I didn't cost them anything. I managed to find food. They hadn't paid me, I had fallen into their hands for free. I don't know exactly how it happened, how I got there. But it's been years now.

One evening, as I was sitting in the corner of Porchemy's hideout, tied to the wall with a chain, they came back with another child. It was a small boy who spoke loudly. I didn't quite understand why he was there but obviously Porchemy was angry with him. He kept asking him where an "Ace" was and where his treasure was. The boy refused to tell him. Despite the blows, despite the blood, despite the tears, he stood up to him. He was tortured, beaten to death even though he was only a child, but he said nothing. I was terrified, my hands clamped over my ears to stop hearing the screams and blows, my eyes closed to stop seeing the blood flowing. Tears came to my eyes and sobs escaped me. Porchemy immediately stopped hitting the boy and turned to me:

“Something's wrong, kid?" he asked in a rough voice.

“N... no..." I stammered, holding back my tears, terrified.

Without listening to me, he took me violently by the arm to bring me a little more into the light and see my face. He took me by the chin and forced me to look at the boy whose face was deformed from all the beatings he had received:

“Do you feel sorry for him?”

I nodded without saying anything, big tears still running down my cheeks.

“You want me to stop?”

I nodded again. The next moment his fist crashed into the back of my head and knocked me to the ground. He laughed as he saw me on the ground. I felt the blood running down my neck.

“Tell me, snotty. Tell me you want me to stop beating him.”

The words collided in my throat, only a few sounds managed to pass my lips without really making sense.

“I didn't hear you," Porchemy replied, hitting the boy again.

Clenching my fists and lifting my head, despite the tears that were still flowing, I summoned up my courage and shouted:

“STOP YOU DIRTY PIRATE!”

As soon as the words came out, I put my hands against my mouth.

“N... no wait I didn't mean to...”

The fist with the sharp spikes came to collide violently with my face. The next second I was face down again and his shoes were hitting me from all sides. I coughed and spat out a little blood as I felt my bones crack under his assault. He then took me by the arm and lifted me to the height of his face. His gaze froze me in place. He then continued to hit me with his fist until he was tired. Then he dropped me and turned back to the agitated boy.

“Let her go... let her go...” he kept repeating, struggling to get out of the bonds that were binding him.

“You'd better mind your own business, you little brat," Porchemy replied. “I've had enough of you, I'm going to finish it now.”

I looked up with difficulty to see him grabbing his sword. Gathering a courage I did not suspect, I rose and placed myself between him and the child. I clenched my fists to keep from breaking and forced myself to look him straight in the eye.

“I won't let you hurt him," I said, trembling.

Porchemy was surprised at first, but then burst out laughing. He ran the blade of his sword across my cheek with a threatening look:

“Seems like the brat have fallen in love. And what are you going to do with your rat size, eh? Raise your head, you little brat, and look.”

The point of his weapon forced me to look up, only to see him lash out and throw his blade at the boy's neck. In horror I widened my eyes, helpless. In a spontaneous rush, I lunged and managed to grab onto the ropes around the boy. . I grabbed his neck and positioned myself between the blade and him, my hands trying to undo the bonds that held him prisoner.

“Don't worry, he'll hurt me before you do," I said, giving him a shaky smile.

“Stop, you'll die!" the boy shouted.

I didn't answer, too focused on the ropes that wouldn't come undone. My aching fingers slid over the knot that was too tight. Out of the corner of my eye I saw the metallic glint of the blade coming dangerously close to me.

Suddenly the wall shattered and two other boys burst into the hideout, ordering the pirates to release the one who seemed to be their friend. From what I could make out, one of them was the famous Ace that Porchemy was looking for. Armed with simple steel pipes, the two children bravely defended themselves against the pirates. Quick as a flash, they mastered their opponents without too much difficulty. The little blond boy finally got the one who was chained up, while Ace decided to fight Porchemy to the end. The leaper - a man called Sabo - was surprised to see that the injured man was not letting go of me. He was holding my hand firmly. He looked at me without understanding. The boy looked up at me with tear-filled eyes:

“She wanted to save my life, we can't leave her here.”

I was stunned. Obviously Sabo was too, because he looked at me suspiciously before putting the wounded man down heavily:

“Well, wait for me here, we'll see about that later.”

Then he joined Ace to face Porchemy. I was dumbfounded. These kids dared to face the pirate without fleeing and without trembling. Especially since they won the fight. Before I knew it, our two saviours grabbed Luffy and ran off, while the kid refused to let go of me.

**

Eventually the four of them ended up in the forest. Lucia said nothing, cowering in her corner, leaving the two boys to deal with the third, who was crying his eyes out now that the adrenaline had worn off.

“Given what we just did, Bluejam must be really pissed off. He's going to send his men after us, they're never going to let us go," sighed Sabo.

Ace got up and started yelling at Luffy, ordering him to shut up once and for all because the boy's whining was bothering him. When he raised his voice, Lucia felt her own tears begin to flow and buried her face in her lap to muffle her sobs. Yet she could not hold them back for very long. The choppy sound of her voice finally overcame Luffy's cries and he paused to look at her. Immediately the other two boys did the same, almost forgetting her presence. Ace walked towards her and threatened her with his makeshift weapon:

“Who are you anyway?”

Lucia was unable to answer, crying more and more. Exasperated, Ace pulled her by the arm to force her to look at him. His angry expression terrified Lucia who hurriedly backed away. Luffy stepped in between them and faced his brother:

“She was with the pirate and she almost died trying to save me.”

“Is that true?" Sabo wondered.

More carefully than his brother, he looked at the girl's face and body, quickly noticing the wounds, bruises and contusions that marked her skin. It didn't take much intelligence to figure out that these injuries were not new. He reached into his pocket and found a tissue which he used to wipe some of the blood from her face. Lucia recoiled at first, frightened.

“I'm not going to hurt you, I promise," Sabo said softly.

Lucia swallowed, nodded and let him do it. The boy then took care to dress her most severe wounds with bandages and dressings. She had stopped crying and was just sniffling.

“That's all well and good, but what are we going to do with her? If she belonged to Bluejam he'd want her back and that would be a good thing for us.”

“She's coming with us!" decided Luffy in all seriousness.

“CERTAINLY NOT!" shouted Ace.

Surprised by his shout, new tears rolled down Lucia's cheeks. He glared at her before continuing:

“We won't bother with a girl. She's always crying. I don't like whiners, and even less whiny princesses.”

“I want her to come with us!" retorted Luffy, crossing his arms.

“I said no!" replied Ace.

Sabo sighed before addressing the girl directly:

“Can we know your name?”

“L... Lu... Lucia”, she answered in a small voice.

“Hi Luce, I'm Luffy!”

“I'm Sabo and the other yelling moron is Ace.”

Lucia nodded, her fearful gaze still on Ace.

“Thank you..." she said softly, "thank you for saving us...”

“It wasn't you we came to save, it was Luffy!" Ace answered aggressively.

Sabo put a hand on his brother's shoulder to calm him down before crouching down in front of Lucia:

“Are you alone?”

“Yes, I am.”

“Don't you have parents?”

“No, I don't...”

“What were you doing with those pirates?”

“They wanted me to bring them treasure from Gray Terminal, I was looking for them.”

“You're not happy there, are you?”

“N... no...”

Her lips began to tremble again. Sabo understood what she was feeling. It was a safe bet that she had only ever known violence and exploitation. He wasn't sure what to do with her, but he couldn't see himself leaving her here or in the hands of pirates. He turned to Ace:

“We can keep her with us for a while after all... just until we see what happens...”

“What's wrong with you? What's the matter with you two? She's a girl! A G-I-R-L! Girls are weak! She'll just whine and complain that we're ruining her clothes and her hair. She'll slow us down, she has nothing to do with us.”

No sooner had he finished his sentence than a punch threw him backwards. Stunned, he sat up, furious:

“WHICH OF YOU HAS-“

He stopped as he discovered Lucia standing in front of him, her fist clenched, her eyes misty with tears, a new determination in her eyes.

“Did you dare to hit me?" he asked angrily.

He didn't even wait for her answer as he lunged at her, holding his pipe firmly in his hands, aiming for her head. He was surprised when his weapon passed through her body without resistance, sending dozens of drops of water flying in its wake. He bit the dust as Sabo and Luffy looked on in amazement. He raised his head, furious and stunned.

“What did you do there?”

Lucia looked down at her feet, nervously clutching her hand in the air:

“My power..." she muttered. “I'm not normally supposed to show it, and usually I can't even do it... but if it proves to you that I'm not weak, then there you go!”

In a bravado attitude, she turned towards him, fists raised, in a fighting position.

“If you want to see for yourself... then... t-then... come fight!”

“BUT IT'S GREAT!!!” shouted Luffy, stars in his eyes.

He positioned himself in front of her, shielding Ace:

“It's amazing what you can do, I'm a rubber man and you can turn into water. It's so cool!”

“You think so?" Lucia gasped, taken aback.

“Oh yeah! How did you get it? I ate a disgusting fruit one day and since then my skin stretches like a rubber band but I can't swim anymore, that's the problem...”

“I think it was a fruit thing too...” she answered, hesitating.

Sabo approached her with a smile on his face:

“You're really amazing, you know!”

“Thank you... I think," she stammered.

Ace stood up without saying anything before pushing his brothers aside and glaring at her:

“Obviously these two have decided that you're going to stay with us for a while. You may have a weird power, but you're still a whiny princess to me, right? So don't get in my way!”

“SO SHE'S STAYING WITH US?? exclaimed Luffy. SO COOL!”

He jumped at the little girl's neck who wobbled for a moment before starting to laugh with him. Sabo exchanged a look with Ace:

“There's more to it than that, but we could be in a lot of trouble...”

“Trouble?" said Luffy.

“Yes," continued the blond, "after what happened, Bluejam will want our skin for sure. If it's possible, he's already gone after us.”

“Yeah, it's possible," added Ace.

“He'll probably ask his men to hunt you down," Lucia explained. “He won't go himself, but yes, until he has your heads he won't let go.”

“This forest where I live is near the pirate bay," Sabo continued, "that's where they have set up their hideout. What happens if one day I'm tired, I fall asleep and they attack me in my sleep.”

“Well, you die," Ace replied calmly.

“Without a doubt," added Luffy.

“You don't have to be a genius to understand that," Lucia finished.

“I know," Sabo answered with a smile, "that's why I have to talk to you. Come over here.”

Chapter Text

The next day, at the brigands' hideout on Mount Corvo, the brigands were surprised to discover not two but four children. After a long period of calculation, Dadan came to the conclusion that two of the children did not belong to them.

"WHO ARE THE TWO OTHER?" shouted Dadan.

Calmly Sabo introduced himself to the leader of the bandit clan without bothering to explain. Once this was done, the woman's gaze shifted to Lucia who was standing a little way back. Her eyes immediately lit up:

"Ooooh but what a cute little girl! Wait, stop, who are you?"

"My name is Lucia... madam... thank you for welcoming us here..."

"I NEVER SAID YOU COULD STAY HERE! TWO BRATS ARE ALREADY TOO MUCH!"

Sabo's beaming face and Lucia's embarrassed smile overcame all her resistance and she finally gave in, agreeing to take in the two extra boarders. Soon the quartet became inseparable and despite the bickering and bullying, they could not keep their hands off each other. Gradually Lucia's shyness faded away to reveal a side that was much more cheeky than she let on. She began to respond to Ace, no longer letting her feet be walked on. She helped them find food, learned to better control her power, accompanied them everywhere, trained in combat with them.

The day came when Sabo revealed to them that he was the son of a noble man. For long minutes he told them about his childhood, how his parents conceived the hierarchy and the privileges offered to them, forbidding their son to leave the city.

"Ace, Luffy, Lucia... one day we will go to sea," he declared. "And we will be free! That's what I want, to travel the world and write my memoirs about our adventures! One day we'll be real pirates!"

His friends gave him their best smile in response.

"This is nothing new to me," Ace continued. "I want to become the greatest pirate in the world by winning all the battles, it's the only way for me to prove that I exist! Even if the world doesn't want to acknowledge my existence, and no matter how many people hate me. I will become a very great pirate and take my revenge on the world."

"Well said," continued Lucia who joined him at the edge of the cliff. "I'll join you guys, I want to see what's beyond that horizon. I don't want to be the strongest or the most famous, I don't care about that. What I want is to meet people, men and women who see the world differently from us. And deep down I think I would love to be able to free those who need it, to be able to do justice in my own way."

"Stop it, if Grandpa hears you he'll want to enlist in the Navy," Ace hissed at her, sticking his tongue out in disgust.

She laughed outright. On his side, Luffy rushed to stand next to her:

"Okay, well, I'll be..."

He took a deep breath and shouted his dream as the waves crashed against the cliff below. He then burst out laughing, followed by Lucia.

"Okay we all want to be pirates... but how do we do it if we all want to be captains?" asked Sabo

"Oh, stop it," interrupted Lucia, "I never said I wanted to be a pirate!"

"Of course you won't, it's not for whiny princesses," replied Ace with a mocking smile on his face.

"What did you say" exclaimed Lucia, throwing herself at him to hit him.

"Let me go of whiny princess," Ace replied, tugging at the little girl's hair.

They rolled around in the dirt for a while, bickering, before Luffy managed to pull them apart. They sat back to back on the floor, resuming their conversation about their future pirate crew.

"I have an idea," Luffy shouted, "would you like to join my crew?"

"NEVER!" shouted the two boys.

"Come on, be nice, I want you in my crew!"

"We said no!" answered the boys in unison.

"I wouldn't mind", said Lucia smiling.

"Oh great ! Finally one who is nice here, thanks Luce!"

"Well," she continued, embarrassed, "I don't know what I could do on a pirate ship..."

"You'll have to cook, that's a job for a woman!"

With a shout of rage Lucia grabbed Ace by the throat and tackled him to the ground to hit him with her fists, to which the boy replied with kicks and bites. Sabo sighed:

"Both of you never stop, do you..."

Finally the four children found themselves around a tree stump, three cups on top.

"Okay, we'll decide the future later," Ace said. "We'll each follow our own destiny and see what happens."

He placed a glass bottle on the wood next to the cups:

"Hey, did you steal that from Dadan?"

Without answering his question, Ace continued:

"Let me tell you something. If we exchange cups of sake we'll be brothers."

"What about me?" asked Lucia.

"You're a girl, girls don't drink!"

"I can drink!" she replied.

"But she's kind of our sister too, isn't she?" pointed Sabo "Come on Ace, be nice to her for once."

"I said no!"

"You're not nice!" Lucia accused him, crossing her arms and pouting.

"I don't care, whiny princess!"

"Shishishi, I'll let you drink from my cup!" said Luffy, smiling at her with all his teeth.

"Me too!" decided Sabo.

"Did you two listen to me? I said no!" enraged Ace.

Lucia, who was seriously getting tired of it, stomped her feet. She leaned towards Ace, her face inches from his. He grimaced and stepped back:

"Rooh it's okay, you can drink from all three of our cups if it makes you happy."

Her face lit up as he finally gave in.

"Well, if everyone's happy, maybe we can go," Ace persisted.

He filled the three cups and in one motion the three boys raised them above their heads. Lucia merely raised her empty hand to follow suit.

"From now on," Ace declared, "we are brothers and sisters, for life!"

Newly bonded, the children went back to their daily routine. They confronted Gray Terminal's brigands, stole money, hunted for food, and continued to train to fight each other every day. When Makino and the mayor of the village Fuschia came to see Luffy, Makino was amazed to see that there was also a little girl staying with these brigands. Once she had given the three boys some clothes, she took the little girl aside to look after her. Even when she got to the table, Lucia was still not there.

"Do you know where Luce is?" asked Luffy.

"No, and I don't care!" replied Ace.

"She can't be far, don't worry," Sabo reassured him.

"Ta-daaaaaam," Makino exclaimed as he entered the room.

Before the stunned eyes of the robbers, Makino pushed little Lucia into the room. She had taken care to cut her hair a little and tie it back and dressed her in a pretty white dress. Uncomfortable, Lucia tugged at the fabric which did not cover her legs enough for her taste.

"Not practical for fighting", she muttered.

"Ooooh she's lovely," all the Dadan family members whined as they saw her enter.

Without waiting Ace burst out laughing at seeing her dressed like that:

"Hahahahaha you don't look smart like that, you're a real whiny princess!"

Stung to the core, Lucia was about to hit him for the umpteenth time when Makino stopped her by the arm:

"No, you don't hit others."

Called to order, the little girl interrupted her gesture and simply lowered her head.

"You look great," Sabo complimented her as she sat down next to him, her cheeks flushed with shame.

"Yes, you look very pretty," Luffy said as he gobbled down some food.

"Mmmh..."

Frowning, Sabo elbowed Ace hard in the ribs and nodded, glaring. Ace sighed:

"Yeah, yeah... it's not too bad all in all..." he spat, not daring to look at Lucia.

She gave him her darkest look and stuck her tongue out at him before pouncing on the food. The trifling matter was over and the four children were bickering as before about who could eat the most. Then soon they had other things to worry about when Garp made his annual visit and gave them the beating of their lives for daring to say they wanted to be pirates. Not wanting to know the details, he went after his two grandchildren as well as Sabo and Lucia and chased them all night.

After that night, they decided to flee the Dadan house and live alone in the forest. They then set about building their secret base using the materials they found at the Gray Terminal. For the four little ones, it was finally the freedom they had longed for. At the top of the tree that housed their cabin, they erected a flag with the initials of their first names "ASL", Ace having decided that it wasn't worth putting two "L's" for Luffy and Lucia. Perched on the lookout, Lucia marvelled at the view of the world from their base. The sea stretched as far as the eye could see before them, the wind whipping their faces. They spent their days imagining their adventures as pirates, sailing the ocean, battling other crews, winning battles and treasure. As Ace said so well, it was their happiness.

Chapter Text

One evening, after yet another discussion about their future as pirates, the three boys decided that whoever could kill the giant tiger in the forest would be their future captain. Lucia decided to play the role of referee in this competition. The next day they prepared to fight it, but instead they were confronted by a ferocious bear that charged them. They were saved by an old man named Naguri whom Sabo had met at the Gray Terminal. The children were amazed by the strength of the old man who stopped the angry bear and sent it back into the forest. They learned that this man had been a pirate captain before. While Luffy and Sabo were still arguing, Ace asked the old man why he was here. Naguri then mentioned Captain Gold Roger and told them that he had lost to him. The moment Roger's name was mentioned, Ace tensed up instantly and Lucia swallowed hard. She managed to get past her confusion but could not ignore Ace's departure, who left them without a word.

“He was my enemy," Naguri concluded, "but he deserves my respect.”

“Ace...”

Sabo hesitated but finally revealed the nature of Ace's father, Roger himself. Lucia was stunned, frozen in place. She had no idea what Sabo and Luffy were discussing, completely unaware of what they were saying.

“Are you all right, little one?" Naguri asked her, and her reaction was not lost on him.

Lucia recovered and stood up hurriedly:

“Oh yes!”

“Shall we go?" asked Sabo. “And don't say a word to Ace, he'll kill you if you do!”

Lucia swallowed and lowered her head before nodding. Sabo called them back to order when they reached the bottom of their secret base.

“Just act normal! Don't talk about-“

Of course, Luffy couldn't hold his tongue for more than three seconds and spilled the beans as soon as they entered the base. Lucia did not speak, remaining alone in a corner, witnessing Ace's anger. She remained withdrawn while the three brothers fought. At the end of their fight, furious with each other, they finally broke the oath of brotherhood they had made. Lucia then slipped away and climbed up to the lookout. Leaning against the wood, she clenched her face with all her might, pounded her fists on her head, bit her lips to stop herself from crying. But the tears flowed anyway, inaudible in the howling wind that rattled the black flag with the coloured initials of the children. And in her small hand she clutched as tightly as she could a golden bracelet set with three green stones, inside the jewel was her name. Her real name. Gol D. Lucia.

It was dark when she went back down to the main room of their base. She tiptoed through the mess created by their little argument earlier. She avoided the overturned crates, the trailing hands and the cloths on the floor. She smiled at the sight of their three sleeping faces and then walked to the large opening at the front of their hiding place. She leaned on the edge and sat down, looking up at the starry sky. Sitting cross-legged with her back to the window frame, she let her eyes glide from star to star, drawing constellations that belonged only to her. She was so engrossed in this spectacle that she did not hear the rustling of the blankets, nor the sound of footsteps coming towards her. She was slightly startled when Ace came and leaned against the window as well. Staring at the horizon, he said nothing. Lucia studied his profile a little, his black hair falling over his forehead, his freckles on his cheekbones, his piercing gaze.

“You can't sleep either?" he asked her abruptly.

“You could say that...” she breathed by returning his gaze to the sky.

A smile stretched her lips:

“When I was younger, my mother sometimes woke me up in the middle of the night so that we could both go and look at the sky. She said it was the most beautiful sight that nature could offer us, all those lights that are only revealed in the deepest darkness. She taught me the constellations and the names of the stars.”

“Oh yeah?" said Ace.

“Mmmh," she confirmed, nodding. “Look, on the right here, you can see the six/seven stars that shine a bit brighter than the others, there's a hook at the top and then it forms a sort of weird geometric shape underneath. Well, that's the constellation Leo with the bright star Regulus in the middle.”

Ace tilted his head and frowned, glancing at Lucia before answering in an unsure voice:

“Yeah... yeah I see...”

She giggled before kicking him lightly in the arm:

“You lie almost as badly as Luffy.”

Ace smiled. Lucia continued to tell him the names of certain stars and constellations, passing on what her own mother had told her when she was smaller. Neither of them noticed that Sabo and Luffy had woken up and were listening to what she was saying, still lying on their sheets.

“Why were the stars so fascinating to your mother?”

Lucia's voice became softer and slower as she began to speak about what was on her mind:

“She used to tell me that every person you love and who has loved you ends up in the sky. There are millions of stars, just as there are millions of people who die every day, millions of parents and children who pass away and remain only in our memories. For her, each star was also a fragment of the soul of those who are no more.”

“It's not possible!" Ace replied without thinking.

“I know," she laughed. “But it was a consolation to her... because my father had been a star for a long time...”

“Oh... I'm sorry," the boy snapped back, embarrassed at the sadness in Lucia's eyes.

She rubbed her nose and sniffed:

“It's okay, I never knew him anyway, he died just a few months after I was born and he never saw me.”

“Welcome to the club... while mine died before my birth" muttered Ace.

This line, innocent in Ace's mouth, pierced Lucia's heart. She cleared her throat before continuing:

“My mother often told me stories about my father, that he was one of the greatest men who ever lived, even more, that he was a king! To her, he was none other than Regulus, the brightest star in the constellation of Leo.”

Ace listened to her without saying anything. Out of the corner of his eye he saw that she had placed his bracelet on the windowsill and was gently pushing it towards him. He looked at her without understanding and then gently took the jewel in his hands. He turned it gently between his fingers as his eyes fell on the inscription inside. His heart missed a beat, his eyes widened and his breath caught. It couldn't be.

Lucia had turned her attention back to the sky. Even without seeing him, she sensed that he had read the name before her name. She closed her eyes and continued:

“I'm sorry, I lied to you a bit. I'm not actually 12, well physically I am. I was born 14 years ago. My mother had a power, probably a devil fruit, the Tomaru Tomaru no Mi, which allowed her to stop the growth of an organism for 24 hours. For long years, my mother kept me from growing so that my birth would not be associated with Roger if the Navy was looking for a potential child. She had no idea what the soldiers knew about the private life of the pirate king so, in doubt, she did everything she could to make me invisible to the world. And it worked. Now she's dead and you’re the only ones to know about my identity… about the fact I’m the first Roger’s child, that my name is Gol D Lucia.”

Ace had taken two steps back, too shocked to speak. Luffy and Sabo had suddenly straightened up, equally stunned. All three were looking at her with the same fascinated and terrified eyes. She turned to Ace and gave him a small smile:

“I understand if you don't believe me, the coincidence would be too big, right? That's why I showed you the bracelet before. It's not absolute proof but, between you and me, I can't see anyone claiming their child as Roger's knowing the hellish life that would await them if it really wasn't theirs. I got this bracelet since my birth. My mother gave it to me.”

She swiftly climbed down from her perch and faced him. Ace finally managed to stammer out words that made some sense:

“But then you are really... my sister...”

“If we want to be precise, half-sister would be more appropriate, but in idea... yes. As what, you don't have to be bothered by a cup of sake.”

She laughed awkwardly before sighing:

“I don't want things to get too weird, so if you want me to leave, I'll leave.”

“Don't," Sabo interrupted her, "if Bluejam ever finds you, you're dead!”

“There's nothing stopping me from going further than Gray Terminal”, she explained. “If I have to change countries, I'll find a way to do it.”

“No, stay Luce!" begged Luffy, who had been moved to tears by her story. “I don't want you to go!”

She turned her attention back to Ace:

“The decision is yours.”

He stared for a moment at the bracelet he still held in his hand before holding it out for her to take back. She replaced it on her wrist before taking a few steps towards the exit when he grabbed her by the wrist:

“Just so we're clear, I'm the big brother, okay? There's no way a whiny princess like you is the oldest.”

She opened her mouth in surprise before laughing:

“Okay!”

Understanding that Lucia would stay with them, Luffy let his joy explode and threw himself around the little girl's neck, making her fall in shock. Sabo also smiled brightly, happy that this incredible story ended this way. Even Ace smiled, looking at Lucia with a little more tenderness than before, feeling strangely less lonely. But he quickly regained his seriousness and tugged on Luffy's ear:

“On the other hand, we agree, not a word of this to anyone, is that understood? Otherwise I swear I'll make you so happy that you'll regret your grandfather's blows, is that clear?”

“Yes, yes, it's crystal clear, but let go of me!" shouted Luffy, waving his arms and legs to fight.

Lucia's laughter redoubled at this spectacle, the twinkling of the stars reflected in the golden glow of the bracelet that sparkled on her wrist.

Chapter Text

From that evening onwards, Ace was a little less dry with Lucia, he continued to tease her and make trouble for her, but the background of contempt that had remained until then had finally faded. On the contrary, he almost came to behave protectively towards her at times. They rarely mentioned Roger, in fact the subject only came up when Ace asked Naguri about his defeat by theKing of Pirate. Curious, Lucia reached out to listen as well. If Ace was deeply marked by the hatred he had encountered since birth, Lucia had grown up with stories that were in her father's favour thanks to her mother. Naguri's story only reinforced the image that the child had been portrayed as a just, generous and upright man.

“I have a question, what if Roger had children?” asked Ace

Lucia's smile vanished immediately, as did Sabo and Luffy's enthusiasm.

“If that were the case," Naguri replied with a smile, "then their lives would not be easy. Whether they choose to live honestly or choose the path of piracy, their father's reputation will always precede them. And it's possible that it will backfire. If I were Roger's son, I wouldn't choose to become a pirate, I'd be too afraid to be crushed by my father's name.”

Blinded by rage, Ace challenged Naguri to a duel and was soundly beaten by the old pirate. Naguri then led the children to an unfamiliar bay in a recess of the cliff and they discovered a ship under construction, carefully hidden here. Naguri then asked the children if they would agree to help him build his ship before he could set sail again to find his crew.

As the seasons passed, the four children, spurred on by Naguri, grew stronger physically and mentally, perfecting their fighting techniques. Lucia had finally decided to show her power to Naguri and was able to train to master it without restraint in front of him. The old man had grown fond of the four children but the little girl seemed different. She thought differently than her three brothers who swore by their brute strength. While the boys spent their time fighting with their fists and feet, she was more likely to sit on the ground, eyes closed, focused. She trained in hand-to-hand combat of course, testing her physical abilities as well as her devil fruit. She was already able to deploy waves of water that easily repelled Ace and Sabo's attacks. And even if Ace was always calling her a whiny princess, she had nothing to envy them in terms of resistance. Naguri had never really seen her cry and she didn't bother with manners. She fought like them, without restraint, taking as many blows as she gave.

Finally, the day of their fight against the giant tiger arrived. Initially a mere spectator at Naguri's side, Lucia jumped into the fray to protect Luffy when the feline pounced on him after knocking down the other two boys. In one motion, Lucia, Sabo and Ace found themselves blocking the tiger's paw over their heads, preventing it from crushing Luffy.

“Lucia?" said Sabo.

“There's not one... to catch the other two," Lucia gasped under her breath. “If you'd stop being so stubborn... for five minutes... and cooperate... don't you think that... it would be easier...”

Ace frowned and thought back to Naguri's words. She was right.

“We'll win, we'll do it together... help me," he growled.

Immediately the four children let go of the animal and scattered. Ace immediately took command of the fight.

“Luffy, we're going to need your skills. Lucia, Sabo, create a diversion!”

The two children obeyed immediately and began to gesticulate, calling to the tiger to draw it to them. Then they began to run as fast as they could to draw the tiger in the direction of Luffy and Ace. Leaning on Luffy's arms, which he extended to their fullest extent, Ace threw himself in the air towards the tiger, ready to deliver the final blow.

“Lucia, do you think you can destabilize him on his hind legs?

Surprised, the girl stopped and smiled.

“You bet I can!”

She transformed her arm into water and in a rotation of her chest, she sent a powerful wave towards the lower part of the tiger's body which destabilized it:

“Breakwater!!!”

And in a final blow, Ace stunned the tiger by hitting it in the head. The animal fell to the ground, unconscious. Against all odds, Ace relinquished the title of captain, understanding that he had not won the fight alone. Satisfied with the turn of events, Naguri unfurled his pirate flag in front of the astonished eyes of the children before setting sail again. The four children then returned to their everyday lives.

While the children were snooping around Gray Terminal looking for materials to repair their secret base damaged by the recent storm, they were attacked by Bluejam and his men who had been paid by Sabo's father to find his son. Sabo tried to convince his father that he had run away from their home voluntarily and that he had not been manipulated by the others, but his father did not care.

“I count on you to take care of the rest," he told Bluejam.

“Of course sir, as we agreed, you paid us for this. We'll make sure these two never come near your line again. However, I'll certainly keep this one.”

He moved towards Lucia who struggled even more, trapped in the embrace of one of the pirates.

“That little brat worked for me and rebelled against us, I'll make sure it never happens again. She'll get the beating she deserves and then she'll go back to work without complaint.”

Terrified, Lucia gasped for breath, her complexion looking distressingly pale.

“Stay away from her!" Ace shouted. "Leave her alone!”

“Yeah, don't touch her!" said Luffy.

Dismayed, Sabo tried to oppose this deal:

“Bluejam, wait a minute! Father, please don't leave them to that pirate. I got it, I got it!”

“What do you understand?" replied his father threateningly.

Sabo bit his lip and continued:

“I will do anything you ask of me, I will lead the life you want me to lead. But I beg you, do not harm them. Please father, I care for them very much. They are my dearest brothers and my lovely sister.”

“Sabo..." Lucia gasped.

Following his father's orders, Sabo turned on his heels and remained deaf to the words of Ace, Luffy and Lucia who were screaming at him to run away, to leave, not to give up his dream of being free. He walked away without a word.

“Captain," a pirate asked, "what have you decided about the kids?”

“We're taking them back to the hideout with us," replied Bluejam.

And so Ace, Luffy and Lucia found themselves in Bluejam's ship, prisoners. The pirate tried to turn the children's brains about the exact nature of the nobles by threatening to kill them if they went near Sabo again. Surprisingly, he forgave them for their victory over Porchemy before offering them a job. They had to take crates all over Gray Terminal.

“Well... okay," Ace agreed. “How much do you pay?”

Bluejam smiled:

“Enough for you.”

“There's one other condition," Ace continued. “When we finish this job, you leave Lucia alone. You set her free.”

The pirate's smile faded for a moment, he looked at the little girl who was still in the large hand of one of his subordinates and motioned to him to let her go. Once on the ground, she took refuge behind Ace and Luffy, mechanically rubbing her arm, which was red from being squeezed so hard. Bluejam turned her gaze back to Ace:

“Deal?”

“It's a deal.”

They then spent most of their time carrying boxes around the Terminal, going back and forth countless times, criss-crossing the aisles of rubbish, treading the dusty ground all day. They worked to protect Sabo, to build up their savings and to free Lucia. Yet every night Luffy called for Sabo, much to Ace's annoyance at hearing his little brother whine like that.

“I wonder what Sabo is doing...” Luffy started one night.

“Shut up," Ace interrupted, rolling over under his covers. “And go back to sleep, remember, we agreed to forget about him for a while. Maybe that's the best thing we can do for him.”

The minutes passed as Luffy began to mumble Sabo's name again. Ace looked up to find that he was merely dreaming, half out of his sheets. He pulled back the covers and tucked the boy in. With a light step, Lucia also got up and lay down next to Luffy, snuggling up to him before closing her eyes to go back to sleep. Ace felt a little lonely for a moment before smiling and going back to bed.

The next day, they were stunned to learn that the nobility had decided to burn down Gray Terminal. In fact, the crates they had been carrying all week contained explosives that would be detonated within minutes. Once Bluejam told them this, he decided to eliminate them in order to silence them. But just before he took their lives, he tried to bribe them to find out where they had stashed their treasure. His men held Ace and Luffy firmly in front of him while Lucia was pulled away from them. The two boys refused to spill the beans. Bluejam smiled evilly before grabbing Lucia and throwing her to the ground. The child's body thudded as it hit the hard stone. He then proceeded to beat her to get the other two to speak. However, when Bluejam forcibly raised her face so that they could see the blood flow, she glared at Ace:

“Don't you dare... say anything to him... don't you dare... mind me...”

With a thunderous laugh, the pirate smashed her face against the ground, the shock rendering her unconscious. Yet he continued to hit her, laughing, while Ace bit his lips to keep from speaking and Luffy cried his eyes out. Fed up, Bluejam finally gave up and simply tied them both to the mast of his ship, deciding that the fire would do its work, and left them for dead.

Chapter Text

In the midst of the flames, Ace had managed to retrieve a small blade which he wielded in order to saw through the ropes that held them captive. The heat was stifling. Lucia was still lying face down in a pool of blood that was gradually drying. He finally managed to free himself with Luffy. Without missing a beat, they fled the burning ship, Ace carrying Lucia's body on his back.

“We'll get out of this," Ace said. “Don't worry, Luffy, I'll protect you both.”

They resumed their frantic race to escape the fire but there was no way for them to go away. Luffy was already out of breath and Ace was struggling to carry the body of his sister, still unconscious. Eventually they were literally surrounded by flames, blocked on all sides. Ace turned his head to Lucia and shook her gently:

“Please wake up, we need your help right now.”

No matter how hard he tried, the girl's eyelids remained closed.

“Shit, I have no idea where we are," he grumbled.

“Who told you you could escape, you brats?" a deep voice thundered that they recognised all too easily.

Bluejam strode through the flames towards them, the pirate was beside himself. In arranging with royalty to set fire to the Terminal, he had been promised that he would be elevated to noble status. Yet the gates had refused to open for him when he had tried to enter the city protected by the wall, safe from the fire. He was furious at being tricked and manipulated, stuck here, destined to die with all the others in the Terminal.

“Bluejam," Luffy growled.

“Shouldn't you be long gone?" Ace asked.

“The game is over for me and my men," Bluejam replied. “It's funny, we're in a desperate situation but it makes us laugh.”

The two boys scrambled to get away from the pirates but were surrounded by the menacing-looking adults who glared at them, armed to the teeth. One of them grabbed Lucia by the arm and shook her before showing her to the pirate captain:

“Hey boss, she's still alive, what do we do with her?”

“LET HER GO!" shouted Ace, out of his mind, jumping up to try and get his sister back.

The pirate holding Lucia laughed out loud before waving the child's body around like a piece of cloth, amused by the boy's determination to try and get her back. Bluejam interrupted his little game:

“Come on, don't play with trash like that. We don't need her anymore, throw her into the flames, she'll stay there anyway.”

Ignoring the protests and cries of the other two children, the pirate gained some momentum and forcefully threw Lucia, who disappeared, engulfed by the burning flames.

“Now tell me where your famous treasure is hidden..." said Bluejam.

“You are interested in a treasure when your life is at stake?" cried Ace, his eyes burning with anger.

“Well yeah," the pirate captain replied simply, "now tell me where it is."

Ace tensed, the image of Lucia's body fading into the fire haunting his mind. They'd just thrown a child into a fire and all they could think about was getting treasure?

“You're a bunch of nuts!" he spat with all the contempt he could muster.

“You're completely crazy, this treasure is not-" began Luffy.

“It's okay," Ace finally relented. "I'll tell you."

“Ace! What the hell!" yelled Luffy. “You and Sabo have spent so much time collecting all this treasure-“

“Sabo will understand, don't worry," Ace reassured him. “Right now... your life... well, your lives... our lives are far more important. I want Lucia back.”

On a piece of wood he made a small map for the pirates to find the treasure. The moment Ace gave in, Bluejam ordered his men to take the children with him to make sure they had not lied to them. Annoyed, Luffy bit the pirate who was holding him against him. However, he could not resist for long and his attacker grabbed his sword, ready to finish him off. As the blade plunged into Luffy's body, Ace lost his nerve and used the Conqueror's Haki for the first time in his life. All the pirates, except for Bluejam, collapsed, their eyes rolling back. Without missing a beat, the captain blocked Ace and aimed his rifle at him to finish him off. Dadan intervened just in time to deflect the shot and save Ace's life. Then she engaged Bluejam in combat while her family's brigands took care of Luffy.

“How come I don't see Sabo," one of them was surprised, "and Lucia?”

“Don't worry, Dogra," answered Luffy, "Sabo is far from here, he is safe. But they threw Lucia over there, into the flames... you have to... you have to find her...”, he whimpered, starting to cry. “She was unconscious.”

At these words Dadan felt a surge of anger rise in her.

“If I understand correctly," began Bluejam, "you are the patroness of the clowns of Mount Corvo.”

“I am Dadan, of the mountain brigands," she roared. “Fate wanted me to become the adoptive mother of these brats. You know how parents are, even adoptive ones, when their offspring are in danger they are capable of anything! Leave right away and we'll leave it at that! Otherwise, I will have to force you to go!”

Finally, Dadan and Ace engaged Bluejam in battle after ordering his men to take Luffy to safety.

On her side, Lucia was awakened by one of the inhabitants of the Terminal who shook her energetically:

“Little girl, wake up little girl! Come on, get up, you can't stay here or you'll die.”

“Ace... Luffy...” she mumbled, opening her eyes with difficulty.

“Come on kid, wake up!”

Slowly, Lucia emerged, her head still spinning a little. She felt large hands lifting her by the waist and pulling her to her feet. She staggered for a moment, leaned on the arms of the man who held her, and then looked up at him questioningly:

“Who... who are you...”

“It doesn't matter, you have to get out of here or you'll die here! Come with us!”

More and more lucid, Lucia was finally able to look at the spectacle before her. Amidst the burning orange flames, dozens of men, women and children were crying their eyes out, distraught. Some were on their knees, begging for help, while others were screaming in despair, as if their cries could stop the blaze. The children took refuge in the arms of their mothers, the fathers protected them with their bodies, forming a barrier with the fire. The sudden rush of sound and heat woke Lucia, who suddenly remembered what had happened. Bluejam. The boys. She turned sharply, craning her neck to try and see where the pirate ship had gone but there was no sign of it. Nor could she make out Luffy or Ace. Completely panicked, she began to scream their names as she pulled her arm free of the hand that was still holding her:

“ACE!!! LUFFY!!! AAAACE!!!”

The man who had woken her up didn't understand everything, but he eventually deduced that she was looking for people she knew:

“There's no one there, kid, there's only fire! I can't let you go, you'll die!”

She turned her face towards him, her eyes misty with tears, her eyes filled with a determination that surprised him:

“I have to go, my brothers are still here!”

The man was stunned for a moment before his jaw tightened and, with a quick movement, he lifted the child onto his shoulder and held her firmly with one hand. Lucia began to scream, to struggle, to kick and punch him to free herself, but he did not let go. She tried to turn into water to escape him but nothing worked, her body refused to cooperate, as if her power was momentarily blocked.

“LET ME GO!" she screamed. "LET ME GO!”

“I'm sorry I can't do that, I couldn't sleep if I left you here to die.”

As the man began to run to join the others and try to escape this hell, Lucia looked up and tears streamed down her cheeks as she saw the terminal moving away from her. She reached out a trembling hand towards the flames:

“AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAACE !!!!”

Suddenly a powerful rush of air blew out the flames and created a huge trench in the fire.

“Look over there... there's a ship! That means the coast is over there, it's our only chance of survival.”

“Let's hurry before the fire prevents us from moving forward!”

“LET ME GO!" Lucia kept yelling.

The man carrying her suddenly stopped, along with everyone else, fascinated by what was happening in front of them. Surprised, Lucia turned her head to see the huge ship. On its deck stood men whose bodies and faces were concealed by capes. One of them stepped forward to the crowd below and raised his fist to the sky.

“Listen to me good people, if you are willing to fight for your freedom, join me on this ship and be welcome!”

At once the poor people laughed, relieved to be saved, and shouted at their benefactor. Lucia, on the other hand, was more frightened than actually fascinated. She frowned and began to fidget in the hand of the man who was still holding her. Taking advantage of the fact that he had inadvertently released the pressure, she managed to slip out of his grip, falling heavily to the ground. Without wasting a single second, she got up and ran with all her strength away from the ship, taking advantage of the trench created to avoid the flames.

“Little one! COME BACK! DON'T GO THERE!”

The screams of the people of Gray Terminal echoed through the air and into her ears. She took one last look at the huge ship. From the bow, the piercing eyes of The Revolutionary Dragon met the blue irises of this little girl with blue hair who was running as if her life depended on it.

“What is she doing? She's completely unconscious... We have to catch her.”

As if he had heard him, another man rushed over and tackled Lucia to the ground to stop her going any further. She coughed, her mouth full of dust and dirt, her hands digging into the ground to keep her hands on it. The man pulled her to her feet and held her by the arms to stop her from running away. Lucia continued to scream for her life, ordering her attacker-saviour to leave her. Finally, with yet another scream, she scrambled back and her limbs slipped from the man's hand, turning into cold water that burst around them, slid down his fingers, splashed onto his face. Surprised and carried away by her momentum, Lucia fell backwards onto the ground. Completely stunned, the man who was trying to save her took several steps back, looking at her still wet hands. On the ship, Dragon's gaze had become harder, more incisive, while Ivankov was in awe. A common gasp muted the crowd below who had momentarily stopped breathing.

Trembling Lucia stood up, looked down at her arms, realising that she had finally managed to use her power and then swallowed before turning to those who were still watching her. Swallowing her anguish, she stared into the eyes of the leader of the revolutionary army and, without blinking, said:

“I can't go with you! You understand... I... I AM THE ONLY ONE WHO CAN STILL SAVE THEM!”

Without waiting for a response or reaction, she turned and ran off again, hoping that no one would chase her this time. From the ship, Ivankov continued to bellow:

“We can't let her go, Dragon do something!”

The revolutionary didn't answer, just looked at the blue hair that was disappearing more and more every second. Then he turned away to look at his subordinate:

“She is free to make her own choices. And she's not wrong after all, if she can use the water, she's in the best position to survive in this hell.”

“IT'S A CHILD!" shouted Ivankov, stamping his foot.

“Calm down, Iva, something tells me that this little girl won't die here... who knows, maybe we'll see her again one day... In the meantime, we have to leave too, get those who want to follow us on board and let's go!”

Chapter Text

Running at breakneck speed, Lucia ran through the entire Terminal, now unaffected by the burning flames that could not reach her watery body. She extinguished the fires that were getting too close to her and made her way through the glowing debris. Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, she managed to get out of the fire and reach the heights of Mount Corvo. Short of breath, throat sore, eyes dry, she bravely climbed the rocks to safety. She coughed for a moment before turning back to the fire. There was nothing she could do, the flames had spread throughout Gray Terminal, impossible to find Ace or Luffy in that furnace. She had tried to search for them relentlessly but nothing could be done, she couldn't find any trace of her brothers. Tears streamed down her cheeks and traced furrows in her smoke-blackened skin.

Sobs carried on the wind drew her attention. Discreetly, she decided to go and see if there were any other survivors. She walked around the vegetation and was surprised to find the mountain brigands lined up on the edge of a cliff, crying their eyes out for Dadan and Ace. In the arms of one of them, Lucia saw Luffy who was also crying, repeating Ace and Lucia's names over and over again. Instantly relieved and at the same time distressed, Lucia ran towards them shouting:

“LUFFY!”

The boy turned towards the voice, as did all the robbers, and his crying redoubled when he recognised Lucia. He struggled and finally broke free of the grip of the one who held him, falling like a stone to the ground, unable to move because of his injuries. Lucia rushed towards him. They embraced each other as the robbers looked on in amazement.

“I thought... you were dead..." Luffy said between sobs.

“I looked for you everywhere," Lucia explained, also in tears, "I couldn't find you! Where is Ace?”

Trembling, Luffy pointed to the fire. Lucia grew pale and hugged the boy even tighter as he began to cry again.

“It's going to be okay...” she said, “it's going to be okay I promise...”

Then she looked at the furnace, a look of visceral fear that made her stomach churn and her breath catch. Ace.

The next day, Luffy was the first to wake up in the mountain brigands' house. Despite his injuries, he tried to get out to try to find Ace. The Dadan family made sure he stayed in bed. The boy was inconsolable, missing his brother more than anything. Lucia emerged a few hours later. Without paying any attention to the pain that twisted her skull and the burning in her lungs, she dragged her feet and walked painfully across the room to the living room where Luffy was still crying, lying under the watchful eyes of the robbers. They watched her pass without saying a word. Silently, she approached Luffy, pulled up her blanket and lay down against him, snuggling up to her brother, tears streaming down her cheeks. Instinctively, Luffy folded his arm around her and held her close too. Gradually his sobs subsided and he managed to fall asleep.

But the days passed and neither Ace nor Dadan returned. Luffy regained his strength and became more and more unbearable, wanting to save his brother at all costs. The brigands tried to explain to him that he had probably died in the fire, but the boy insisted on going to get him. Lucia also refused to believe that Ace was dead and began to resist as well, being even more elusive than Luffy.

“I understand how you feel, but it would be far too risky to go to Gray Terminal in your condition with all the soldiers there!”

“But-" Luffy began.

“Even though it's unlikely that they survived, we too want to believe that Ace and the boss managed to escape the blaze and come back safely. Dogra has gone to look for them, let him deal with them.”

Lucia gritted her teeth before giving in. She gently grabbed Luffy's hand to encourage him to give up too. In absolute silence, they both sat down in a corner, looking at each other grimly. They did not move all day. They only looked up when a brigand finally came back to tell them that Ace and Dadan had returned alive. Releived, the two children threw themselves at Ace, crying, which earned them a punch each by way of reply:

“What's wrong with you? Did you think I was dead or what?”

“Stop it, Ace, they're only acting like that because they were worried about you too.”

Without really understanding, Ace sighed before nervously running his hand through his hair. While Luffy continued to cry, Lucia took it upon herself to dry her tears. But the look on her face spoke volumes. Unable to bear it, Ace finally smiled and stroked her head:

“Don't worry princess, I'm fine!”

Stunned, Lucia opened her eyes wide. It was the first time Ace had amputated his nickname by removing the adjective 'whiny'. Holding back new tears, she nodded sharply, her lips tight. Then he told them about the fight he had led alongside Dadan against Bluejam on the night of the fire, after the brigands had taken Luffy away. They managed to defeat the pirate but were blocked by the fire. He explained how Dadan had shielded them, taking in all the flames to prevent Ace from being burned. That's why she couldn't walk and make the trip back, so Ace had to take care of her by stealing supplies before he could finally move her back to Mount Corvo.

Lucia and Luffy then spent the rest of the day outside to let the boss rest.

“I hope everything is going well for Sabo," said Luffy. “Anyway, I'm glad Ace is back, and Dadan is alive, and you too, Luce !”

Lucia smiled and pushed Luffy's hat onto his head affectionately. They were still outside when Dorga finally came in, looking exhausted, as if he had fought a horde of monsters.

“Is everything all right?" Lucia asked, concerned.

Dorga didn't answer right away; they had to give him something to drink and give him some time before he told them the startling news. Sabo had died that very day. The shock knocked Lucia down, revolted Dadan, terrified Luffy and enraged Ace. He rushed at the brigand, ready to hit him. The children did not want to believe it, being convinced that the boy was still with his family. Overcome, Dorga told them that Sabo had hoisted a pirate's flag on the ship he had set sail on alone, seeking at all costs to escape from the life he led here. This detail was the one that convinced the children, who collapsed at the same time. Luffy began to cry again, Ace threw himself at Dorga's throat:

“Where's the scum that killed Sabo, so I can give him a party!”

“He's a Celestial Dragon, you can't do that!”

“'ll avenge him, I swear," Ace growled, grabbing his makeshift weapon and dashing for the door.

With a powerful hand gesture, Dadan tackled him to the ground to prevent him from going in and getting killed.

“It is this kingdom that is responsible for Sabo's death”, Dadan spat.” It's this world, you hear me! What can a poor white boy like you do? Your father sacrificed himself to try to change this world, when you are a great man like him you will have the right to choose, you will be able to do whatever you want! TIE UP THAT BRAT SO IT DOESN'T RUN AWAY !”

It was a long night on Mount Corvo, where Luffy's cries echoed for a long time, accompanied by Ace's cries for him to stop crying. Lucia retreated to a corner of the house, her head in her hands, silent tears on her cheeks. All those voices echoed inside her skull, she wanted it to stop, to finally have some silence. Luffy's screams, Ace's, Dadan's, Dorga's... her brain didn't have a single second of respite. She clenched her hands on her hair strands, feeling something gradually rising inside her. Like a ball that kept growing and was going to explode at any moment. She pulled her knees up to her chest, trying to stifle the feeling, but nothing helped.

“Enough...” she whispered, “enough...”

The voices grew louder and louder as Ace redoubled his efforts to yell at Luffy, taking out all his anger on his younger brother. In response, Luffy grew louder and louder, repeating Sabo's name over and over.

“Enough... enough... enough...” she begged them.

Listen to me good people, if you are willing to fight for your freedom, join me on this ship and be welcome!

He's a Celestial Dragon

It is this kingdom that is responsible for Sabo's death. It's this world, you hear me!

“Enough... ENOUGH!!!”

With a scream, Lucia let out everything she had been holding inside her since the Gray Terminal fire. Her fear, her anger, her pain, her incomprehension. Everything exploded. And the house with it. The wood swelled, the roof split open, the air became saturated. A huge typhoon emerged around the little girl, enveloping her in a huge spray of water that swirled around her, tearing the walls and the ceiling. When the little girl stopped screaming, the water immediately fell back, spraying the brigands, who were stunned. Kneeling on the floor, Lucia was soaked, her skin absorbing the drops of water that continued to fall, her hair still shaking from the swirls, her head turned skyward. Her loss of control had created a huge hole in the ceiling, allowing the moonlight to pierce the house and fall straight down on her. Her eyes still misty with tears, she stared at the stars, trembling. No more sound. No more voices. All had fallen silent. All that remained was the steady tinkle of water drops falling and crashing to the ground.

Chapter Text

The next day, the robbers set about repairing the house and the damage Lucia had caused. They let Ace go while Luffy and Lucia finally slept. When Lucia woke up, she felt heavy. Without a word to the brigands who stared at her as she passed, she stepped out into the open air. The fresh wind did her good. Then she noticed the rope lying at the foot of the tree to which Ace had been tied all night. Dadan caught her gaze and answered her silent question:

“We got a letter this morning. Well, you got a letter, rather, a letter from Sabo. Ace insisted on reading it first. He went off to the forest to be alone.”

Lucia nodded and took a few steps towards the shore, then paused:

“Sorry... about the house...”

“Don't worry," Dadan answered awkwardly. “Go and catch up with him.”

Without wasting a second, Lucia dashed towards the forest. She knew where Ace had gone. When she reached the cliff, she found him there, letter in hand, crying his eyes out. Without thinking, she ran to him and hugged him from behind, clasping her hands to his chest and holding on tight. Angry at first that she was there, Ace was finally unable to remonstrate and simply placed his hand on hers, squeezing those slender fingers that reminded him he was not alone. Not yet. Not entirely. He still had his little brother. And his sister. Awkwardly, he reached into his pocket and pulled out what looked like a silver hair clip. He turned around and handed it to her.

“Here... this was part of Bluejam's treasure but I stole it from him... I thought it might make you happy...”

Lucia gently took the object. It was a beautiful piece of jewellery, finely crafted. She then tied her hair back, just as Makino had shown her. A few blue strands escaped the hairstyle, however, and continued to fly in front of her face.

“Thank you so much..." she breathed, "that's very kind.”

Ace smiled:

“So you're a real princess now!”

“But... I thought you didn't like that," Lucia replied, taken aback.

He shrugged his shoulders:

“Well, you're my sister, that's different!”

He turned towards the horizon, Sabo's letter still crumpled between his fingers. Lucia came and stood on the other side, taking his hand gently. They stood there for a moment, watching the sea and the sky.

“Do you think... do you think it's become one now? A star? Is it up there?" Ace finally asked, his voice trembling.

“Yes," Lucia answered, sniffing, "definitely.”

“We can look for it... tonight, when it's dark?”

“Yes, we can!”

Ace gripped Lucia's hand and Sabo's letter a little tighter. The wind continued to play with them, swirling their hair and gently shaking their clothes. The tears were gone, and now there were only two small smiles and eyes in which a new flame was burning, ready to set the world on fire.

Later that day, after lunch, they found Luffy lying face down on the grass, exactly where they had been standing earlier. Ace exchanged a look with Lucia. She rolled her eyes as he exhaled into a fist and slammed it into Luffy's skull. The latter was startled.

“How long are you going to stand there, face down?" Ace asked in a harsh voice.

Calmly, Lucia sat cross-legged on the floor on the other side of Luffy, tucking a lock of her hair back behind her ear.

“The treasure we hid in the middle forest is gone," said the boy.” I don't know what happened. Maybe Bluejam stole it if it survived the fire, or maybe it was soldiers who found it. Anyway, I don't know where it is, but I'm not going to cry over it. It was my pirate savings with Sabo, we had planned to spend it together. In the end, he didn't get a chance to touch it. So I would do the same. What's the point of accumulating treasures that I won't be able to protect.”

Luffy sniffed:

“A... Ace... Luce... I want to get stronger... more... more... and more... so I can protect everything and never lose anyone again. So please, Ace, Lucia, swear to me that you will not die.”

With a common gesture, Ace and Lucia gave another blow to Luffy's skull:

“Stop your nonsense!” they shouted in unison.

“Instead of worrying about us, take care of yourself. You don't have half my strength, you fool!" growled Ace. "Listen carefully and remember this, I will never die, you hear me!"

Ace had added these last words with an angry, determined look. Lucia sighed:

“You're indestructible anyway! You're too hard-headed, which explains why you don't think much, but it saves your life!”

Ace opened his mouth to retort before he realised that her words could be a compliment. He then stopped and just stared at her intensely. She didn't give up and stuck her tongue out at him. Luffy then stood up, cutting off their silent duel, his hat pulled down to his shoulders.

“Sabo asked me to look after you in his letter," Ace continued. “I'll pass on Lucia, but you can count on me, I promise I won't die. I can't do that and leave a wimp like you as a little brother on his own.”

“Like I need you to survive," Lucia muttered. "As soon as you're in my way you're a trouble anyway."

“OH SHUT UP!" Ace shouted as Lucia crossed her arms.

Ace hesitated before continuing:

“You know... I'm not very smart-“

“Oh, you admit it," Lucia taunted him.

“WILL YOU LET ME TALK! I was saying... I don't know what actually killed Sabo, but one thing's for sure, it's something that's the opposite of freedom. We're still alive. So whatever happens to us, we have to live a life without regrets. Right?”

Both children nodded. Lucia stood up, dusting off her clothes. Ace continued his speech:

“One day we'll set sail and have our adventures! We'll be free as a bird, the three of us! That means we'll make a lot of enemies. Including the old man. We'll leave when we're seventeen, we'll become pirates!”

“Well, you see, when you want to, you can put three words together except to yell at us," laughed Lucia. “Hola, calm down, it's okay! Very well spoken anyway, I'm with you!”

Luffy did not answer, merely nodding his head in approval. From that day on, the children of Mount Corvo were only three. Ace. Luffy. Lucia. But Sabo's spirit never left them. Every second that passed, he was present at their side and, as agreed, in the evening they watched for the stars to appear in the sky to find Sabo's. Aquila, the star at the head of the eagle constellation, who always flew wherever he wanted, never being imprisoned in any cage.

Finally, they returned to their usual routine, running around the forest, training and competing every day, eating until they were hungry. Lucia was always the referee of the two brothers' arguments, spending her time separating them by hitting them at the same time to calm them down. Ace was still as incisive with her as ever, but she responded more and more often, which amused the boy greatly. He was almost a little jealous because she took Luffy's side very often, almost all the time. She was very protective of him. The day Luffy faced the bear alone because Ace refused to help him, he was seriously injured. Lucia had not been present at the fight that day and she was angry with Ace for letting Luffy face the danger and risk his life alone. Yet she had nothing to blame him for, seeing that he already felt guilty enough.

“I'm no good..." Ace sobbed, his head in his arms. “I'm really good for nothing.”

“Hola, hola," Lucia gasped. “Stop whining, you baby, you've learned your lesson, haven't you? You've been scared enough for today, Luffy will get better don't worry.”

“I'm sorry Luffy... I'm sorry...” Ace kept saying.

If Lucia was getting tougher with Ace, he was getting softer with her. He was a little more tender and listened to her when she spoke to him. Lucia's protective instinct rubbed off on Ace, who made it his mission to truly protect and defend Luffy day after day.

But one day everything changed when Garp returned to Mount Corvo, a few months after Sabo's death. The Vice Admiral pushed open the door of the hideout one morning and demanded the children. Unsuspecting, Dadan told him that they must be on the cliff. They had made a habit of going to watch the sunrise from time to time. In no time at all, Garp was standing in front of the three kids with a hard look and a stern pout. The little ones didn't give a damn, intimidated by the Marine's stature. Then, without saying anything, he grabbed Lucia's arm and pulled her behind him to take her away. Shocked at first, she didn't even think of resisting and let herself be dragged for several meters before the stunned cries of Luffy and Ace brought her back to reality. Coming to her senses, she began to stir:

“Hey old man, where are you taking me?”

“Someone asked for you, you're leaving now !”

“What?! No, I'm not! I don't want to go!”

“I don't care, you're leaving here and now, that's all!”

Lucia pulled a little more on his arm to get out of the way, Garp stopped and turned towards her, lightning flashing in his eyes:

“You little brat, you too, eh? You're his offspring too! How could I have let this happen? Does Ace know?”

Lucia blushed as she realized he meant her father, Roger. He knew. She stammered an insecure answer:

“Y... yes... he knows...”

Garp closed his eyes to contain his anger before bringing his face even closer to the child's:

“You mustn't tell anyone! You mustn't tell anyone!”

“I didn't mean to shout it from the rooftops, don't worry," she growled.

She was angry too, what right did he have to take her away like that without warning. And who could have claimed her. It smelled of trouble to her. Suddenly she was afraid. If the old man knew who she was, he could very well hand her over to the Navy. He was not attached to her as he might be to Ace, after all. With a quick movement, she freed herself from the vice-admiral's grip and stepped back:

“Where are you taking me?”

“I told you, someone's come for you!”

“Lies!" Lucia shouted. “Nobody cares about me, nobody knows I exist... except Ace and Luffy! No one!”

Garp let out a long sigh:

“Yes, there is someone who knows you exist, who knows who you are and is coming to take you back and raise you. He's not a man I like, but he deserves my respect. And if he can rid my grandsons of your dubious company, that's fine with me. Come on, stop bothering me now and move on.”

“Is he a pirate?" she asked seriously.

“Yes," said Garp. “He's a pirate now shut up.”

He grabbed her wrist again, but she dematerialised her arm to escape him and ran in the opposite direction to find Ace and Luffy. Garp's eyes widened as he found only a clear stream of water between his fingers where Lucia's hand had been. Lucia, Ace and Luffy found themselves in the forest, while they ran in her direction.

“Lucia!" cried Luffy.

“Are you all right, Princess?" asked Ace.

Without saying a word, Lucia threw herself around their necks and took them both in her arms, holding them close. The two boys didn't know how to react and exchanged dumbfounded looks. Without letting go of them Lucia explained:

“I'm going away... probably far away...”

“What?" shouted Ace.

“No!!” refused Luffy. “I don't want you to go !”

“What kind of nonsense is that? You want to leave... but to go where?”

“I don't know...” Lucia admitted. “But according to the old man, someone wants me back. So I guess I have no choice...”

“That's not true!" replied Luffy. “You have to stay!”

“Okay," Ace cut him off.

“Ace?" asked Luffy, who didn't understand.

Ace disengaged himself from Lucia's arm and looked at her carefully. Then he smiled:

“It's not so bad, is it? If you can get out of here and see the world. That's what you wanted, right? To get out and meet people. So if you get the chance, go for it!”

Lucia could hardly hold back her tears at the boy's speech. She nodded briskly:

“We'll see each other again, won't we?" she asked, her voice trembling.

“You bet!" replied Ace. “You can't do without us anyway! When we meet again, we'll be real pirates!”

“Do you promise?”

“I promise!”

Under the sun that played in the leaves of the trees, they sealed this new promise in the midst of a few tears but above all with the most beautiful smiles. Then she gave them a little wave as she obediently followed Garp. She then packed the few belongings she had in the brigands' house and bid them farewell as well.

Garp had her board the ship he had used to get here. It was an official Navy ship.

“Aren't these ships supposed to be reserved for official occasions?”

“Yes, but I got a small favor from someone I'd done a favor for," Garp replied with a laugh.

Lucia smiled and leaned against the railing as the ship set off. Slowly it rounded the coast of the Goa kingdom and passed the cliffs on the other side of Mount Corvo. Surprised, Lucia discovered that Ace and Luffy were still there, waving at her from the shore. Laughing out loud, she also waved goodbye. Then she simply watched her two brothers grow smaller and smaller as they sailed away.

Ace... Luffy... thank you both. Take care of yourselves. I'll see you again, I promise!

The journey at sea lasted a few hours before the ship passed another, much smaller ship. Lucia changed boats under Garp's hard look. Just before she left the deck for good, he held her by the arm and looked into her blue eyes. Then he sighed and let her go without her understanding what had just happened. Lucia stepped onto the second boat and was greeted by a man in his fifties who smiled at her.

“Now, as promised, she's yours!" said Garp, looking over them.

“Thank you very much," replied the man.

“Don't get me wrong, I'm not doing this for you, I'm doing it out of respect for Roger, that's all! Now it's up to you to make sure her life isn't too much of a living hell!”

“Count on me," the man reassured him in his deep voice.

They watched as the navy ship sailed away and disappeared behind the horizon, leaving the two occupants of the small boat alone on the sea. Not a single piece of land on the horizon. Catching her gaze as it wandered over the ocean, the man asked Lucia:

“What are you thinking about?”

“That if you wanted to kill me it would be a success," the girl answered flatly.

Surprised by her aplomb, he remained silent for a moment before bursting into laughter.

“Don't worry, I have no intention of killing you. Tell me, what's your name?”

“Don't you know it?”

“Yes, but I'd like you to tell me yourself, it's important to say it.”

Lucia smiled:

“Lucia.”

“Nice to meet you Lucia, my name is Rayleigh. But you can call me Ray.”

He held out a hand, which she took shyly and squeezed gently as Makino had taught her. Rayleigh then set the sails to set the ship in motion. Without delay, Lucia rushed to the bow and took her seat, closing her eyes to enjoy the wind sliding over her skin and breathing in the salty smell of the ocean. Then, drunk with so much freedom, she began to laugh under Rayleigh's amused gaze. Finally she turned back to him;

“What's up? Where do we go now?”

He raised an eyebrow:

“Would you like to go somewhere in particular?”

She tucked her chin between her fingers and thought:

“Mmmmh... where you can see the ocean and the sky is good enough for me!”

Rayleigh smiled again, touched:

“Very well, then I'll take you to a place where you can see the sky and the sea. It's a group of islands with gigantic trees and bubbles that come out of the ground and go up to the sky, you'll see!”

“Is it true?" enthused the little girl, stars in her eyes.

“Yes!" Rayleigh laughed.

Dreamily, Lucia looked back at the ocean, her eyes lost in the immensity of the blue sky which was without a single cloud that day. Then she laughed again. Yeah... we'll meet again for sure.

Chapter Text

When Lucia said the last word of her story, the silence in the Heart's ship seemed heavy. She had replayed much of her childhood for several hours, letting the memories flood into her mind. She had remembered details she no longer even knew existed. She'd left almost nothing out. Ace. Sabo. Luffy. Mount Corvo. It had all happened in the space of ten months. She sighed before letting out a grunt as she rested against the back of her chair:

“Aaargh, my life for a glass of water right now,” she whimpered.

Quick as a flash, Sachi and Penguin rushed over to bring her a jug and a glass. She sipped the water and sighed with satisfaction. Then she looked back at the crew who had been listening religiously for almost four hours.

“I hope that's okay with you, because right now I don't have the strength to speak a single word anymore," she joked.

“It was... very sad and beautiful at the same time..." commented Bepo.

“Thank you for sharing that with us," said Jean Bart.

Lucia smiled and then they all went to the common dormitory:

“Still, it's crazy fate," muttered Penguin. “That Roger's two children should end up on the same island and in the same town in this vast world... it's hardly believable...”

“To find themselves at the same execution too, can you believe it? And the Navy didn't even know about it...” Sachi continued.

“Even their devil fruits, fire and water, it's hardly believable...” Ikkaku, the only woman in the crew, muttered.

Lucia heard these low masses but did not pick up on them, their remarks were pertinent and surely reflecting what was circulating in the minds of all the civilians who had received the newspaper recently. Now things had changed. She would no longer be just a face and a name on a wanted poster that no one really knew anymore. She sighed, why did she have to shout her name like that? Especially since she had no memory of it. She frowned as she continued to walk. There was no way she could remember anything she had done after witnessing her brother's death. Lost in her thoughts, she didn't notice that Bepo had suddenly stopped and she inadvertently bumped into him. She bounced against the soft white fur and found her butt on the ground.

“Oh I'm sorry, I'm sorry," exclaimed the bear as he helped her up.

“No worries, but can I ask why you stopped?”

“I just remembered that I forgot to give the captain his coffee...”

“Wait, are you his navigator or a butler?" Lucia said with a raised eyebrow.

“I'm sorry...”

“Oh please, haven't you finished apologizing yet? But tell me if I'm wrong, you don't seem enthusiastic about going back to the kitchen, do you?”

The Mink Bear shuddered and lowered his head, a little ashamed:

“I don't like the dining hall at night, there are always strange noises and the darkness there makes me uncomfortable," he muttered. “And besides, we don't have any light at the moment... I'm really sorry.”

She was about to repeat to him to stop apologizing at every turn before she realized that it was a waste of time. So she just commented on the first part of his answer:

“Look, if you want I can go in your place. Just tell me again how to get to the control room and I'll be fine.”

“Is that right? You'd do that?”

“The less I see the creepy look on your captain's face, the better off I'll be in theory, but it'd be a crime to leave you there when you're giving me that adorable face, so... yeah, I'll do it.”

“Oh you're such a nice girl Lucia!" exclaimed the bear as he took Lucia in his arms to hug her.

“I'm going to become a nice corpse if you keep on smothering me...” Lucia mumbled, her voice muffled under her hair.

“Oh yes, I'm sorry..." said the bear, releasing her.

Lucia rolled her eyes but let it go. Bepo showed her the way to the control room and thanked her again. Lucia groped her way around the submarine, her hand resting on the wall so as not to get lost. She found her way back to the kitchen and prepared a coffee blindly. It seemed to her that she was gradually regaining her reflexes and the advantages of her devil fruit. She could feel more clearly the sea currents that made the ship sway, the water boiling in the coffee pot. She was relieved, pleased to see that her blockage had only been temporary. Between her fingers she stretched a thin film of water which she unrolled and then slid between her phalanges, savoring this contact which she had missed. Then, once the drink was ready, she headed for the front of the submarine. Arriving in front of a massive door, she knocked three times before announcing herself:

“This is room service.”

When she entered, she first noticed Law's hat sticking out of the seat facing the machines. As quietly as possible, she put the coffee cup in the corner. Then she looked up and was stunned by the sight before her. Now that her eyes were accustomed to the darkness, she could see more clearly the movements behind the large windows of the ship. The total absence of light from the submarine allowed the sea to show its most beautiful colours, even at night. Dozens of fish passed around them, playing with the moonbeams that managed to fall at that depth and make the few air bubbles that remained at that depth sparkle. Fascinated, Lucia moved forward a little more to put her hands on the glass, her breath creating a little mist on the glass. She rested her forehead on the cold surface and closed her eyes for a moment, trying to catch the movements of the ocean. She smiled softly as she felt the spirals circling above and below the submarine, which the fish were quietly following. She laughed a little and opened her eyes again:

“Stop playing dead and drink your coffee before it gets cold," she laughed.

With a sigh, Law sat back in his seat and lifted his hat to clear his eyes. He glanced at the cup beside him but made no move to retrieve it.

“No, it's not poisoned," Lucia replied. “It was Bepo who wanted to bring it to you but I volunteered to do it for him.”

“Do you still have no memory of your fight against the admirals?” he asked bluntly.

“No," she admitted. “I won't hide from you that if it wasn't you who told me this, I would never have believed such a story. But given your apparent lack of humor, I doubt it's a bad joke... even if it seems rather unlikely.”

“It's strange," Law commented without picking up on his provocation. “It's as if your mind had tried to disassociate itself from what had happened while remaining deeply rooted in reality.”

“If you're telling me I behaved in a very primitive way... that would be a bit offensive but not entirely untrue I'm afraid," sighed Lucia, dropping into the seat next to Law.

“Who gave you permission to sit here?”

“I did," she answered laconically. “Drink your coffee, it would make me sweat to have it sit there to cool...”

Law took it upon himself to grab the cup she had put down and blew to cool the liquid before tasting it with his lips. It was good. He made no comment.

“How much do you neglect your sleep to have coffee at such an hour?”

“And how much do you despise your own sleep to hang around here at such an hour?”

“Your repartee is so bad that it will certainly end up being more effective than any sleeping pill," she yawned in a provocative gesture.

He did not answer, suddenly concerned by the dark circles that began to appear under the blue eyes of the young woman. He frowned:

“Nightmares?”

She nodded without a word. The silence fell between the two adults before she decided to explain:

“Every time you wake up, you have half a second. A tiny half-second where everything is fine, where you feel at peace, where your mind leaves you alone. And then it all comes back. The images. The sounds. The pain. The sorrow. The guilt. And it doesn't let go of you all day. For several days now it's been better, it's still there, in the background in my mind, but it's not as corrosive as it was the first few days. I can think about other things, I can live. But at night it's a different story. At night you have no control over your brain... this shit is freewheeling... and it's hell...”

His voice died on the last word. Law could feel his fatigue and weariness. His gaze was lost in the ocean, the thousands of points of light reflected in the sea were also captured in his blue eyes.

“But I'm not teaching you anything, am I?”

He arched an eyebrow:

“What do you mean?”

She turned her head towards him, staring intently:

“There aren’t billions of reasons why a man can't sleep at this point...”

“Mind your own business, kid, you don't know what you're talking about!" he replied with a hard look.

She sighed and turned back to the window:

“I warn you if you fall asleep here I'll let you break your back on your chair," she muttered.

They remained side by side for a moment without saying anything, their eyes fixed on the ballet of the ocean. Lucia would never have admitted it, but she felt good at that very moment. She didn't know if it was because she had talked about her childhood for so long, if it was because she had regained her power, if it was this sudden closeness to the ocean, or maybe even because she wasn't alone. In any case, she didn't want to leave. Gradually her eyelids grew heavier and began to close. Her head rested on her forearms, which were themselves resting on the control table, and she slowly fell asleep. Her breathing became deeper, her face relaxed. At first on the alert, Law finally gave her a sarcastic look. So who falls asleep first? He grinned, then sank back into his seat, hat pulled down over his face, and closed his eyes in turn. He thought for a moment about what she had said. For a few seconds he had been almost afraid of her, afraid of the gentleness of her gaze, of the compassion of her smile... of her empathy and above all, afraid that she would be able to read him. He finally managed to put a word to the feeling he had had towards Lucia since she had collapsed against him when he woke up, perhaps even since she had intervened in that auction room. She intrigued him. He didn't understand. He didn't understand her. And he hated not understanding.

The next day Lucia was awakened by someone gently shaking her shoulder. Bent all over, she sat up as best she could, squinting to try to make out who was talking to her. It was Ikakku looking at her with a worried expression:

“Lucia? Are you alright? Have you been sleeping here all night?”

Lucia looked around and saw that she was still in the control room. Sighing, she answered:

“Yeah... I must have dozed off unintentionally.”

“We docked on an island this morning so we could repair the ship, I think you should get some fresh air, it would do you good.”

Following his advice, Lucia went out on the deck of the ship, stretching in the sunlight. Ikakku had been right, feeling the fresh air on her skin did her a world of good. She woke up quietly without realizing that a shadow was watching her on the deck. She sniffed the air, it smelled of fresh grass, flowers and salt. The submarine had been moored in a secluded cove, under a recess in the rock. She could nevertheless see the beach looming in the distance and an irresistible urge to explore the surroundings tingled in her legs. She was about to leave when a voice interrupted her:

“You won’t do that...”

Law's sullen but firm tone stopped her dead in her tracks. Raising her eyes to the sky, she turned back to him, he had walked towards her:

“I remind you that you are supposed to be dead...”

Lucia bit her lip. He was right.

“I'll just put on a disguise... a cape... I don't know but I need to walk.”

“I said no," Law continued. “As long as we haven't landed you where you're supposed to be, you're my responsibility, so you obey me and stay there.”

“And be forced to put up with you? I'd rather die a second time," Lucia replied. “I don't know who put this idea of responsibility in your head, but I've been an adult for a long time now so I can take care of myself, thank you!”

Law took it upon himself to remain calm:

“Listen, I asked Bepo and the others to go and scout the island to see if it was inhabited or not. If it's deserted, you can go out. In the meantime, you'll do me the pleasure of keeping your ass here.”

Lucia let out a long moan before giving up and leaning against the railing, not without giving him an evil look which he ignored royally. Law took his place opposite her, his sword still resting on his shoulder. Lucia looked at him with an annoyed expression:

“Are you seriously going to play babysitter?”

“I know that with you I'm never safe from a bad surprise...”

“Thank you for the compliment," she laughed.

Long minutes passed before either of them moved. Using his power, Law made two apples appear from the kitchen. Without warning he threw one to Lucia who, even though she was looking away, grabbed it in mid-air with a nonchalant gesture. Law smiled a little:

“Nice reflex, princess!”

Lucia's blood ran cold. In a fraction of a second she was in front of the pirate and punched him in the face. The violence and speed of the blow threw him off balance. With surprising vivacity, two spheres of water of unthinkable pressure blocked the hands of the Surgeon of Death, preventing him from using his power, and she grabbed him by the collar of his jumper to bring his face close to hers:

“I forbid you... I forbid you to call me that! Don't you EVER call me that again!”

She was short of breath, her lungs swollen with rage, her eyes incandescent. Law was completely tense, his jaw clenched, his eyes hard. They stayed like that for a moment that seemed interminable, confronted by the Elementalist's furious face, her body pressed against his, the ocean gently lapping below.

“CAPTAAAIN! HOI CAP... tain...”

Bepo's voice dropped drastically when he reached the submarine and discovered this surprising scene. After a few seconds, Lucia finally released the pirate with a quick movement and returned to the ship. The watery prisons that had blocked the pirate's fingers fell back onto the deck, forming two puddles on the light wood. He tugged at the collar of his jumper and tried to regain his composure. He was furious. Why did she have to be so aggressive all of a sudden?

“Captain, is everything all right?" Bepo, who had climbed onto the ship, asked softly.

“Yeah, yeah..." answered Law. “What's the situation on the island?”

“No one in sight! It looks like it's uninhabited, we've been able to hunt some animals and get some fruit to supply ourselves. Part of the group arrived with provisions while the others went to find wood and materials to repair the ship.”

The bear had given his entire account in one go, in a very professional tone. Law nodded, he had heard but his mind was entirely on his little confrontation with the Elementalist. Bepo noticed that his gaze had not left the door through which Lucia had passed a few minutes before:

“Is there something wrong with her?”

“I'll go and make sure there's no more trouble, don't worry, I'll leave you in charge of the crew for the moment.”

“Aye, aye, sir!”

With a determined step, Law returned to the submarine, looking for the young woman. He searched everywhere before going to the control room. He knew she was there when he entered. Her reflection was visible on the glass window that looked down into the water. Knees drawn up to her chest, head bowed, she was prostrate in the seat where he had been sitting the day before. He put his sword in the corner and closed the door abruptly. Then he leaned against the wall, arms crossed. She must have heard him. She must have known it was him. She said nothing.

“Can you explain?”

His voice echoed against the steel of the room, haunting them both. She could easily imagine his posture and his incisive gaze at that precise moment. It wasn't hard to guess. She nervously ran her hands through her hair, pulling it back to clear her face. Then she took a deep breath before looking up. She met his gaze in the reflection of the glass. She ran her hands down her face.

“I'm sorry..." she said flatly.

“That's not what I asked you," Law replied without blinking.

“I know, but the least I can do is start with that," Lucia spat, glaring at him.

He flinched. He could see her fear and pain. She was using her anger to face him while deep inside she was disintegrating. Without meaning to, he had just flipped the wrong switch. All the work she'd been doing for weeks to recover from the trauma of Marineford had been shattered in a matter of seconds.

“Look, I don't have all the time in the world, so stop whining like a child and explain to me what your little crisis means," he continued in the same emotionless tone.

Lucia hid her face in her hands, unable to look him in the face.

“That you decide to play the strong head by answering everything that is said to you: fine. That you give me your biggest black eyes is still fine. But I don't appreciate being jumped down my throat for no reason so I won't repeat myself: you explain now or I'll make sure you spend the rest of the trip locked up in a cabin chained with seastone.”

“Wow, how much do I annoy you for threatening me with this drastic solution?”

“As much as you can, answer.”

Exasperated, Lucia abruptly stood up and faced him, her face contorted with anger and pain:

“It was Ace who called me that! It was Ace who called me that! "Princess". It was him who gave me that nickname.”

“What? That's it?" growled the pirate. “Don't you have anything better in stock right now?”

“I'm sorry to disappoint your high expectations, your majesty," Lucia replied. “I suspected that this little justification would be worthless to you given the absence of an emotional and empathetic cortex in your brain.”

“Have you finished your sketch?" he asked bored.

Lucia was short of breath, her breathing becoming labored. With one hand on her chest, she tugged at her shirt to gain air. In her haste, she began to dig her nails into the bandages that covered her barely healed wound. The white cloth began to turn red. With a quick movement, Law grabbed her wrists and forced her into the seat, taking the seat next to her to face her. Firmly, he pushed on her back to put her head between her knees:

“Breathe deeply, I want to feel my hand rising and falling as you inhale and exhale. Come on. Calmly.”

With her head down, Lucia took it upon herself to gain some semblance of control over her breathing. Gradually there was less jerking, less jerking in her ribcage, the hissing disappeared. Law was still holding her wrists together firmly but he felt her arms and hands relax, the tension that had been gripping her muscles loosening. He withdrew one finger, then a second, and finally let go. He was also removing his hand from her back when her voice reached him:

“No, please leave it... just... to make sure it's gone...”

Amazement passed over his face as she almost begged him. How could she go from being so arrogant to being so fragile in a matter of seconds? Giving in to her request, he rested his palm on her back, matching his own breathing to hers.

They remained like that for long minutes, without moving, without speaking. Simply linked by their shared breaths and Law's hand resting between Lucia's shoulder blades. He hadn't felt her rib cage move for a long time, but he understood that what mattered to her now was simply his presence. It wasn't like him to give in to the whims of others, especially when it required an emotional and demonstrative presence. He didn't even know why he had done it. He hadn't thought about it, he'd just done it. He was a doctor after all. Her voice finally came out:

“Thank you...”

He moved away from her, resting his back against the back of her seat, crossing his arms against his chest:

“If I hadn't stopped you, you'd have reopened your wounds, I don't want you to sabotage my work or have to cut you up again.”

“No, I wasn't saying thank you for that..." she continued, getting up as well. Thank you for staying...”

He sighed:

“I don't want to have your death on my conscience...”

She laughed a little. He looked at her questioningly.

“Nothing, nothing...” she said.

Lucia looked at his bandage and lifted it slightly to see the extent of the damage to his skin. She was relieved to see that there was nothing serious, she had barely scratched the scar tissue:

“Don't worry, I don't need another operation. The doctor can take the day off.” She let some time pass. “And sorry again about the punch.”

He looked away to see the clear water rippling before them:

“At least it proves to me that you're not just a loudmouth. It barely tingled but the intention was there...”

“Liar," she laughed.

He sighed:

“Anyway, I won’t call you that again. I just heard the old man call you that way at the auction house, that's all.”

She nodded:

“Yes, I can imagine, I didn't really think about that one...”

“Oh, because I usually do? That's news to me.”

She turned a half-amused, half-offended look towards him. A smirk stretched the pirate's lips:

“So how does it feel to have your own behavior rubbed in your face?”

“So how does it feel to drop the mask of the grumpy pirate and take part in the game?”

He didn't answer, the same smirk on his face. He was definitely intrigued by her.

Chapter Text

So the incident was over and with the island deserted, Lucia was able to set foot on dry land for the first time in weeks. Almost a month had finally passed since the end of the war in Marineford. Lying on the sand, Lucia let the sun gently warm her pale skin as she enjoyed the gentle sound of the waves washing up at her feet, leaving foam and shells behind. Her smile had not left her lips since she had come out and even now, with her eyes closed and her forearms acting as a cushion for her head, she could not help but smile. Feeling a lingering gaze on her, she didn't have to open her eyes to know that it was Law watching her again and again:

“Two options”, she said, “either you've really been paid to babysit me, or I must be the first woman you've seen in years to not be able to take your eyes off me. I'm leaning towards the first option, knowing that Ikakku is still damn pretty.”

“You ruin everything as soon as you open your mouth..." replied the pirate in a sullen voice.

“Thank you Trafalgar, you're not too bad yourself, if you'd learn to be a little more friendly.”

She heard him sigh and thought to herself that she had never heard him laugh or even be amused. She half opened one eye to see that he was still staring at her but that his gaze was on the scar on her left hip.

“Go on, ask me the question, it's burning your tongue," she laughed, rising to sit cross-legged.

“I think you're dying to tell me," he replied.

“Mmmh not wrong," she laughed. “It's a terrible story in which I risked my life to save the lives of poor innocent kittens-“

“Did you miss a step?" Law cut her off, his eternal mocking smile on his lips.

“How dare you? I'm not as clumsy as that and it's not that that would hurt me, I remind you.”

Holder of a Logia-type fruit, Lucia was insensitive to any physical harm whatsoever, with a few exceptions. Law certainly remembered that, he just wanted to provoke her a little. It seemed that their recent little altercation had changed his perception of the young woman, he was less severe, more relaxed. His tone was less dry. And that was not to her displeasure, their interactions were becoming more interesting than they had been until then.

“Anyway, if you really want to know everything, it was Ray who made this on me. A kind of hard training. I was looking for trouble that day and he reminded me who was who.”

“Why does that only half surprise me..." he muttered. “You opened your mouth again instead of shutting up, is that the idea?”

“Yeah..." she admitted a little embarrassed. “Let's just say I was pretty pissed off and I said some things I shouldn't have said. I challenged him to a duel, in less than a minute it was over, I was on the floor and he was completely dominating me, ordering me to get up and manage to hold on longer. I have rarely felt more humiliated than on that day...”

“You obviously haven't learned your lesson, you still can't hold your tongue.”

Lucia did not answer, one hand still on her hip, staring into space. An idea had occurred to her. She jumped to her feet:

“EH! Trafalgar," she hailed him.

“Oh no..." he feared. “Yes ?”

“Teach me!”

“Teach you what?”

“Teach me to fight! With a weapon! You're a good fighter, right? So teach me!”

He opened his eyes wide:

“You'll get hurt far too easily and, I'm telling you, I don't want to have to go back to the operating room to heal you.”

“It won't happen," she hissed offended.

“Don't think that your word is enough of a guarantee in my eyes... I said no!”

Lucia put on an annoyed face that didn't make him give an inch. For several minutes, she tried to convince the pirate to give her the opportunity to teach him how to handle a weapon or at least to help him train. From beginning to end, he did not give an inch, did not bend to her pressing demands, simply repeating a firm and dry "no!" that left no opening for the young woman. She finally gave in, but not without openly expressing her displeasure. With a frustrated pout on her face, her fists clenched and her dark eyes, he thought to himself that she was really behaving like a child. He sighed and turned away as she continued to speak to him:

“Hey!" she called out to him, "I'm not finished, you stay here!”

“I have other things to do than to support the whims of a child who is refused her toy, go and let off steam elsewhere!”

She didn't have time to reply as he had already left, closing the door behind him. She shouted angrily to the sky. She didn't think she was going to ask him for a kidney either, and it wasn't as if he was overworked. Since she'd woken up he'd spent most of his time watching her. It made her wonder if he was really the captain of anything, she'd seen Bepo or the others doing the maintenance on the ship more often. Apart from staring at her he wasn't doing much.

She decided to put her handkerchief over this incident and did not return to the matter in the days that followed. She had finally got used to a certain routine that suited her. She worked a little every day, changing jobs as needed. She had been cooking with Jean Bart, who was a little reluctant at first, but eventually was pleasantly surprised to see her so resourceful and in such good company. Even if she had to do peeling, washing up or scrubbing of any kind, she never really balked, sometimes a few sighs escaped her, but she got on with things meticulously and conscientiously. The days passed quickly. The nights were always a bit complicated. Lucia was now used to waking up in a sweaty heap after yet another nightmare, her chest compressed and her breath short. To get over her anxieties, she walked. She wandered through the cold, silent corridors of the submarine, sometimes going as far as the control room and enjoying the view of the ocean if Law wasn't there. When the captain was in that room, she would go and nestle herself near another porthole in the back. She would sit or lie on the floor, her eyes glued to the glass, her gaze lost in the blue of the ocean, letting the watery ballet gently lull her to sleep and when she felt sleep coming back to her, she would get up and go back to bed, hoping she wouldn't have to toss and turn a few more times before she found rest.

However, Law eventually noticed that she had the annoying habit of disappearing after lunch. The first time he hadn't really noticed, the second time he'd simply assumed she'd gone for a walk or to work, the third time he'd been suspicious, and now it was the fifth. Annoyed, he went around the submarine to find out if she was simply at some post but decidedly, no, she was nowhere to be found. And so was Bepo. With a bad feeling, he decided to go out and check around the island to see if she was doing anything stupid. He really felt like he was babysitting a child, it was exasperating.

Once out in the open, he was greeted by the familiar sound of waves, gulls and wind. Not a trace of the Elementalist or his first mate. Letting his instincts guide him, he finally moved forward and walked along the coast of the island. After a few minutes, sounds reached his ears. Shouts, gasps and encouragement:

“Okay, let's try again!”

“Are you sure?”

“Yeah... I have to do it!”

Easily recognizing the voices of those he was looking for, Law climbed a small hill to discover Lucia and Bepo, face to face, in fighting position. Then without waiting, Bepo rushed at Lucia. Agile as a cat, the young woman turned into water and went around him to counterattack. Bepo, however, continued to dodge all her attacks, multiplying the kicks and punches that went through a simple mass of water. It was a fight that looked more like a dance, their two bodies constantly circling each other, attracting and then repelling each other. Both opponents were sweating profusely from the effort and the heat of the sun beating down on their battered bodies. Finally, Bepo kicked the young woman in the left ribs and made her fall back. Staggering, she tried to regain her balance:

“Damn it..." she muttered.

Bepo interrupted her assault, looking concerned:

“You're getting shorter and shorter...”

“I know," she confirmed, putting her hand in her visor to get a better look at the bear, "it's partly because of the sun. Contrary to the other Logia type, I need to nourish my element to be able to use it, otherwise I exhaust myself. One of the first consequences is that I struggle to maintain a watery form for my body.”

“That's strange..." Bepo replied thoughtfully. “I've never heard of it...”

“Have you ever heard of a devil fruit that can manipulate water at least?”

“No," he admitted. "I'm sorry!"

For all answer she sent a spray of water that drenched his white coat. He shook himself to try to get rid of the moisture while Lucia laughed:

“That's for apologising for nothing again!”

Then, giving a violent impulse in her legs, she launched herself on him, transforming her arms into long aquatic whips which she projected on him. With a slight leap, he dodged the offensive, a sly smile on his face:

“Attacking without warning, not very fair”, he said.

“We take advantage of what we can have”, she replied.

They resumed their fight in a new improvised choreography, millimeter perfected, where none left any advantage to the other. Lucia didn't give up, she looked deep inside herself for the resources she needed. Forget the burning that tugged at her throat and chest with each breath, forget the pain in the front of her skull and the blurring of vision, forget the muscles that protested with each movement, forget the pasty tongue and dry mouth. Lucia was focused on two things, the air and the sweat beading on her skin. She had two options: use it to attack or suck it back in, hoping to create a continuous, closed circulation of water in her body to counteract her dryness. It was all a question of balance and dosage. She then chose to use the moisture still in the air to regain her strength and with a quick movement threw a sharp burst of water at Bepo who was thrown backwards. Concentrate on both, the water you absorb and the water that comes out of the pores of your skin. Lucia was out of breath but a smile stretched her lips, she was making progress, her body was adapting. However, all it took was a split second of inattention for Bepo to come back to her. Cramps suddenly seized Lucia and she collapsed. She saw Law's shadow and heard his voice a split second before Bepo's jointed feet slammed into her chest, knocking the breath out of her. She folded in half, coughing, black spots dancing before her eyes.

“I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry," the bear repeated over and over again, at Lucia's level, one hand on her shoulder. “I didn't have time to stop, I didn't mean to, I swear. As soon as I saw you falling, I wanted to stop-“

“It's all right," Lucia struggled to articulate, "it's all right, don't worry.”

“But you're not possible, damn it! Who put a head like that in my paws!" Law grumbled as he came down towards them.

“Keep your voice down Trafalgar, it is making my ears ring," Lucia replied with a grimace.

“I told you not to fight, didn't I?" he accused her.

Her eyes crinkled from the sun falling on her face, she looked at him:

“No, you just said you wouldn't train me, that's all. So I asked someone human enough on this ship if they'd give me a hand to make progress and Bepo agreed.”

Law glared at his first mate, who looked down guiltily. This exchange did not escape Lucia's notice, who added:

“I don't know what kind of captain you are, but I think I can tell you're not the kind of man who's as bad with his men as he is with me. But when in doubt, I'll tell you anyway: don't blame Bepo, I asked him to do it and if you need me to be convincing then I'm ready to tell you that I put the knife to his throat.”

Law exhaled without breaking his stern gaze:

“I'm really going to end up chaining you up.”

“But why?" she exclaimed. “I'm not eight years old, for God's sake!”

“There are times one wonders it however”, he replied without blinking.

“Stop that Trafalgar! I just want to get stronger and the best way to do that is to train, right? I didn't think I needed parental permission to go out and test my body.”

“Well, you do," Law said. “And so no permission. Bepo, you take her back to the ship, and on the double! There are potatoes waiting to be peeled, that will keep you busy. You want to practice? How can you not obey simple orders given to you!”

“I only obey orders that make sense to me.”

“Ironic coming from a person who does things that are absolutely not!”

“Says the one who keeps saying that I'm the most unbearable person he's ever met but who refuses to take his eyes off me since I arrived.”

“Because you can't hold still until we get to where I'm supposed to drop you off. I don't enjoy playing babysitter.”

“I remind you that you're the one who saved me until proven otherwise.”

“Yeah well, I'm seriously starting to regret it!”

This sentence hit Lucia in the chest. It awakened a feeling that she had until then buried deeply, that she had buried because she knew it was not rational. Guilt. Guilt for having stayed alive. Why had she been allowed to live when Ace had fallen in battle? Swallowing the pain that pierced her heart, she clenched her jaw and turned away, heading back to the submarine without another word. Law's gaze continued to weigh between her shoulder blades and she heard Bepo rush after her, calling her name but she didn't care. Above her head, clouds had come to block the sunlight, casting them into shadow, significantly cooling the air.

Lucia went about her work very quietly, not uttering a word. Jean Bart was surprised to find her so silent this evening. The knife glided over the vegetables, only the muffled sound of the peelings falling into the basin and the food plunging into the water disturbed this quietude. She ate with the others as usual, smiling gently, but she did not participate in the discussions, did not tease Sachi or Penguin, and was the first to go to bed.

The evening was already very late when a dull pain appeared in her rib cage. At first she didn't pay any attention to it, turning around in her hammock and telling herself that it would pass. But as the minutes ticked by, the pain grew worse. She also began to feel that her heart tended to miss a few beats. The frequency of these heart spasms only increased as well. She threw her legs over her bed as she straightened up and the world wavered around her. Realizing that something was wrong, she started to get up. She hated herself for what she was going to have to do, but it wasn't her pride that she had to listen to at this moment, but her common sense. Trying to keep a precarious balance, Lucia made her way to Law's room, hoping he would be there. She knocked three times before the door opened. Seeing her in front of him, Law arched an eyebrow. Then he saw her stooped posture, her shortness of breath, her hand clenched over her heart. He immediately grabbed her under the arm to help her walk and led her into the medical room where she lay on the stretcher.

“Chest pains?" he asked.

“Yeah... palpitations are getting more frequent and I think I've got a crazy heart rate here...”

“You're at 150 beats per minute”, he noted.

“I'm not a doctor, but that's way too much," she giggled.

Law nodded. Lucia sighed:

“Okay then, you can think what you want about me, but I'm not blind. What haven't you told me?”

Law didn't answer. Lucia then grabbed his arm and squeezed it hard:

“Don't treat me like a fragile little thing! I repeat my question, what's going on?”

“The attacks that Admiral Akainu inflicted on you damaged your heart. I reduced the burn as best I could, but there is still a small amount of internal bleeding due to the fragility of the tissue. Also, I was afraid that too much shock would mess up your heart, and obviously I was right...”

“I love the idea," she giggled, "and didn't you think at one point that it would be better to tell me about it rather than scrutinizing my every move while waiting to see if I would collapse or not?”

“I wasn't sure...”

“Did you got your doctor's diploma in a surprise pocket, I swear it's not possible otherwise! Anyway, good news: your hypotheses are confirmed, bad news: your hypotheses are confirmed. I only have one question: how bad is it?”

He shook his head:

“I don't know. I think you're losing life expectancy with every effort it makes.”

“A heartbeat means a little less of my life, I'm increasingly a fan... any more surprises?”

“You will certainly be prone to pains like the ones you have now, as well as palpitations. Your blood will have trouble circulating. And in the long term, you may experience cardiac or cerebral arrest, coma.”

“I might as well say that I'm going to die, it will be easier," she cut him off.

Silence fell again between them while Lucia ingested this new information.

“You should have left me at the bottom of that ocean..." she said suddenly.

He looked at her without understanding:

“It would have saved time and energy for everyone...”

He shook his head:

“I'll pretend it's pain that makes you say such nonsense. I'll see what I can do to slow your heart down... I'd prefer to try a gentle method, but I don't think it'll work...”

“We can always try," Lucia muttered. “Give me your wrist.”

She gently grasped Law's wrist in her hand, placing her fingers at the level of his veins where she could clearly feel the steady pulse of his heart. She closed her eyes and concentrated on her own heartbeat to match the one of the pirate. To Law's astonishment, Lucia's heartbeat slowly slowed, calming down as her breathing became deeper. One hand on her stomach, the other tied around Law's wrist, her eyes closed, she was listening to everything. Her body. The air. The gentle swirl of waves under the ship's hull. Law's presence beside her. When she felt that she had regained a normal rhythm, she opened her eyes again and let go of the pirate, then she slowly straightened up, without any sudden movements, still focused on her breathing, to sit down, her legs in the air, facing Law. He was a little lost:

“Why did you come to me? If you were able to calm it down on your own like a big girl?”

She avoided his gaze and made an embarrassed pout before explaining:

“Because I admit that I wasn't very smart not to listen to you... I'm not saying you were right to act like that, I maintain that it would have been more intelligent to talk to me directly, but I should have understood that you knew what you were doing. You're a doctor, I'm not. So when I felt the pain, I thought you'd know what to do if it was serious.”

“It is.”

“Not so bad that I'm gonna die right here in front of you. And then you said something that made me think... you said you were starting to regret saving my life. I thought it would be wrong to force my death on you when you didn't have to save me in the first place.”

Law sighed before slapping her on the head:

“That's enough, right? I did it and that's it.”

Lucia nodded to show that she had heard him.

“Well," he continued, "if you ever feel anything else, come and tell me. In the meantime you'd better get some rest.”

“How long do you think it will be before we can leave again?”

“At least a week and a half, then we'll have another two weeks or so before we reach the island where I have to drop you off.”

“Alright.”

He got up and was about to leave but stopped in the doorway. He turned and looked at her, his eternal smirk on his face:

“Let's meet tomorrow afternoon around four o'clock, we'll see what you can do with a weapon in your hands.”

Lucia raised her head, amazed, before smiling back, grateful:

“Thank you," she breathed.

He swept her thanks away with a wave of his hand before leaving. Lucia remained here for a moment, her eyes riveted on the door before placing her hand on her heart, clearly perceiving the regular palpitations of her vital organ. Each one brought her a little closer to the death she had miraculously escaped in Marineford. Every second counted from now on, she might as well make the most of them. See you in two years, Luffy. I'll be there. I'll be there to see you fly to the New World, I promise.

Chapter Text

“The blade should be an extension of your arm, don't think of it as an accessory but as an integral part of your body.”

It had been several days since Law had given in to Lucia's request and since then had been teaching her to handle a weapon. Every day, the young woman followed his instructions without flinching, concentrated, determined. It was a new exercise for her and the learning process was laborious. And painful. Since the pirate was not doing her any favours. At the same time she had asked him to treat her without the slightest regard.

“You take too long to think before you attack, it has to be more instinctive than that. In a fight to the death against a swordsman every second counts.”

Panting, Lucia held her guard, tense, her eyes piercing. She was not wielding a real weapon of course, it was only a training object to teach her the basics. Nevertheless, it was enough to teach her the basic movements and posture to hold in order to defend herself. First teach her to defend herself. Then attack. The first training sessions had been difficult, she wanted to go on the offensive at all costs without understanding that the most important thing was to know how to parry her opponent's blows. The lesson had finally sunk in after Law had stuck his blade to her throat a couple of times and sliced off a few limbs as well. After spending two days putting her body back together she had finally registered the instruction. Since then, the pirate had to admit that she retained and learned quickly. Her movements were more confident and precise with each assault.

She had also resumed her training with Bepo in order to strengthen her body and her close combat. He was the best opponent she could have from that point of view. Now that she was aware of the risks to her body and heart, she was more vigilant and also learned to fight by protecting this sensitive area as much as possible. She fought the polar bear with her devil fruit, combining physical and water attacks against her opponent. Each day she could hold on a little longer with more powerful offensives. She would gain a few minutes before her vision became blurred and she felt the effects of the dryness on her body. Absorbing the ambient humidity, the one she produced herself by attacking, to revive her body had become an almost unconscious reflex. At times she had to force herself to remember to do it, but she was also pleasantly surprised to find that she did it without thinking sometimes.

A blow from the blade sawed Lucia in two, separating her chest from her legs. Lucia broke her fall by stretching her arms forward, but this did not prevent her from biting the dust. Exhausted, she rolled over onto her back, her face covered in a film of sweat, her breath coming in short gasps. A shadow obscured the sun's rays. When she opened her eyes again, she saw Law standing over her, a smirk on his face.

“Two seconds of inattention. Lost.”

She growled:

“It's okay, stop being a smartass!”

With a wave of his hand, he resorbed the sphere he had created and Lucia was able to dematerialize to her full body. Law sat down on a rock, facing her.

“It's still too messy, you're scattering all over the place. When you're facing an opponent you must have a clear and precise line of attack. You will inevitably have to improvise at some point, but you must first have an idea of the direction you want to take. If you don't, you hesitate as you have just done and it's all over for you, it's not because you are a Logia that-“

“That I'm untouchable and immortal, I know. You're rambling, you know that?”

“It's because it refuses to enter your skull that I have to repeat it”

She mechanically wiped her hands on the trousers she was wearing:

“Akainu has proven to me enough that being a Logia type won't save me against powerful opponents. His lava was able to burn my water, your fruit can reach me physically, and I'm not even talking about Haki, which completely annihilates the inconsistency of my body. That's also why I absolutely must get more strings to my bow.”

“Is there anything in particular you can think of?”

“First of all, wielding a weapon could be an additional asset, to see if there's really an advantage to me being a swordswoman. And then... yes, there's something, but if I told you now it wouldn't be fun, you know.”

She gave him a mischievous look before lying down on the cool grass, enjoying the warmth of the sun and the wind that blew across the island.

“Why do you want to be so strong?" Law asked her.

Lucia remained for a moment, her gaze lost in the blue sky, detailing the white clouds that criss-crossed this immensity:

“You must think it's a bit silly, the world thinks I'm dead so all I have to do is disappear so they forget about me and leave me alone. I could go back to Sabaody, Ray and I were working in a lawless area so there's no risk of the Navy coming after me. But...”

A cloud passed in front of the sun.

“But I made a promise to someone... I promised to leave one day, to see what's beyond the horizon. And by A+B, leaving means exposing my face and my name to the world SO I better know how to defend myself. The second I set foot in the sea, I'd be screwed.”

“Am I dreaming or does the kid want to be a pirate?" scoffed Law.

“There are not only pirates on the seas Trafalgar!”

“No, that's true, there's the Navy too, I'm sure they'd be delighted to welcome you among them.”

“Welcome me to prison, yes! I'd rather drown than go back there...”

Law paused again before continuing:

“The picture of the Strawhat-ya in the paper... what did it mean?”

A smile stretched Lucia's lips:

“Nothing important to you, it was just a lot of fuss over a little symbolism.”

“Don't make fun of me kid, I got the look in your eye when you saw her. And it had nothing to do with your bracelet.”

Lucia laughed before straightening up:

“ I said it was nothing important to you, that's enough, now stop wrapping your head around it, you'll explode.”

“I don't like it when people hide things from me.”

“From the one who hid the fact that I could snap at any moment, I find that rather ironic," she replied, looking falsely hurt.

“Shut up, kid, it had nothing to do with that!”

“Yes, my life was at stake, but now it's just your little personal frustration. It has nothing to do with that.”

With these words, she stood up:

“Shall we go back?”

“You're indefatigable, aren't you?" he answered with his eternal smile.

« You have no idea! »

Days passed and finally the Hearts' submarine was able to sail safely again. Deprived of her training ground, Lucia had to give up her afternoons with Bepo or Law to train her body. Instead, she made a more surprising request to Jean Bart one day when she had to cook with him.

“I know it's not good to play with food so we'll deal with that.”

She took a hard ball out of her pocket and waved it in his face:

“I want you to throw it in my face without warning, at any time, without me expecting it.”

He opened his eyes wide:

“I don't quite understand... “

“Don't worry," she reassured him, "it's seastone, but it'll just bruise me. And if Law is going to get us into trouble for this, I'll take full responsibility.”

Without really understanding the purpose of her request, he agreed to comply. For the next few hours, he tried to throw the ball to her. However, he did not manage to aim at her face, as he was afraid of really hurting her. She asked him to avoid her chest so as not to hurt her scars. The first shots hit her skin hard, making her wobble and sometimes fall with a grimace on her face. She always got up again, picking up the kitchen where she left off while Jean Bart retrieved the ball and waited to throw it back to her. After a few days, she managed to dodge most of the blows by swivelling on her legs, ducking or backing away. But that was not what she really wanted to do. Whatever task she was assigned in the ship, whenever she was in the company of a crew member, she would make the same request and try to sharpen her flexibility and dodge without being able to use her devil fruit.

She was surprised to see that taking the seastone sphere in hand did not weaken her as much as she thought. Every night she played with the sphere to get used to the slight heaviness she felt when she touched the material. Then she tried to use her devil fruit with one hand, while the other held the sphere. It was laborious, it took time and energy, but she was making progress. And that was all that mattered. That progress.

One day, while she was on maintenance with Sachi, lightning struck. A sea current a little more sudden than the others shook the ship and made the shelves on the wall sway. The tools tumbled happily towards them and before the pirate knew it, Lucia had already grabbed him by the collar and pulled him back. She pulled him away from a screwdriver that was coming towards his head. The room was quiet again, the floor covered with the fallen objects. Sachi dropped to the floor, overcome by the shock of adrenaline:

“It was close, a little more and I was out... thanks Lucia.”

She didn't answer and, without him understanding why, then began to laugh. She looked at him, ecstatic, her lips stretched into a huge smile that revealed her white teeth.

“Are you all right?" he asked her, a little worried.

“So it's really possible, it's really possible...” she repeated in a euphoric tone.

Looking puzzled, the pirate did not understand a word she was saying. But Lucia soon regained her seriousness and put him back on his feet by shoving the ball of seastone into his hands:

“Keep sending it to me. Don't stop there.”

“Uh... okay?”

The sphere bounced tirelessly on Lucia's skin for the rest of the day, but she didn't give up and kept in mind this small victory. That tiny moment when she had seen. She had seen the tool fall. She had seen it before it happened. Her satisfied and determined smile persisted throughout the evening, intriguing all the pirates. Sachi couldn't explain anything to them, just shrugged, no more advanced than they were.

Then she disappeared from the eyes of the crew and Law found her in the records room, asleep at the small desk in the corner. Her head rested on a manual and dozens of sheets of notes, her steady breathing flickering the flame of the oil lamp she had placed beside her for light. He bent his head to decipher the contents of her notes. Her handwriting was incisive and slanted, but still legible. He realized that she was researching devil fruits. On hers more specifically. He also noted notes on the use of Haki. And underneath this heap of scribbled, schematized, scribbled sheets, he discovered maps of the sky that had all been annotated as well as a list of constellations and stars accompanied by newspaper articles about particular events that had taken place in the night sky. Blood moon. Eclipse. The legend of the sky in which millions of gem-like stars shone. The nights without light. Next to each article, Lucia had noted the location, the dates and her theories about the origin of the events. There were also notes on the legends that accompanied each constellation. He was blown away by all the work she had done. He had never suspected that she would be here every night after the long days she already spent on the ship, but now it seemed obvious. Such persistence and research could not have been the result of just a few days. It had certainly started since she had tidied this place up. In sorting through the documents she had gained access to the works that particularly interested her. He sighed, admiring and amazed. Then he went back to the others and told them to take care of bringing her back to the common dormitory so that she wouldn't have a sore back the next day and that she could work and train properly. With a smile on his lips, he stood for a moment, thinking that she had quite a strength of character. He still didn't really like her, but she commanded his respect. It was a good start after all.

Chapter Text

Days, weeks passed and before they knew it, the Heart crew had reached the island where they were to drop Lucia off. In all, with the many setbacks, it had been just over two months since the end of the war at the top. Lucia was doing better, her wounds had almost completely healed. She had removed the bandages that covered her wrists and there was only a bandage covering her chest and the wounds inflicted by Akainu. Her training with the pirate crew had also paid off, she had grown stronger and had fully recovered. Her Haki and devil fruit had been refined, and she had also acquired a good foundation as a swordswoman. Finally, as she spent her last night in the small hammock of the common dormitory, she began to think that she might regret her little life here. She suppressed a smile, who could have thought that she would grow fond of these pirates. They had taken her in, listened to her, cared for her, physically and psychologically. A snore drew a grimace from her, this was something she wouldn't miss. Unable to sleep, she decided to take her last nightly stroll through the corridors of the submarine. She walked slowly through the metal maze, stopping occasionally to listen to the thud of the sea currents against the hull. Without realizing it, her steps led her to the control room. She pushed open the door, noticed the ever-present fur hat sticking out of the main seat and, without a word, took her place on the second seat beside it. There was a short silence before he spoke:

“You should sleep.”

“I'm doing you the great honour of preferring to spend my last evening here with you, so for once, shut up, will you?" Lucia replied, an amused smile on her lips.

“Well then, kid, are we sentimental?”

“Maybe..." she breathed.

They exchanged a look that had nothing hostile about it. The two had, it seemed, definitively buried the hatchet. A mutual respect had been firmly established between them and had disregarded their respective prides, even if the jibes and taunts continued to make up the bulk of their discussions. After discovering her sleeping in the archive room, Law had taken the time the next day to come and talk to her about his research and show her his own work, sharing with her what he knew about devil fruits or even Haki. They had spent several hours sitting in the dining hall in front of books, debating and extrapolating on these subjects, on the possibilities of use for Lucia or even for him. No animosity, no contempt, they had discussed the same subject like two adults, in a reasoned and argued manner. They had never admitted it to each other, but they had both enjoyed the moment, having discovered each other a second time, beyond their arrogance and impulsiveness. They had then established this little habit of eating together in the morning, just to discuss these more serious subjects, sometimes to catch up on news with the newspaper. She had described the sea currents around the ship, which she felt more clearly than they did, and had given him some indications as to the direction to take to cross them safely. She had discovered that Trafalgar Law was not just a bundle of bad temper and sadism, and he had discovered that Gol D Lucia was not just a temperamental child.

“What's its name?" she asked suddenly. “Your ship? It must have a name, right? I've been here two months and I have no idea how it's called...”

“The Polar Tang," Law answered soberly.

“The Polar Tang..." Lucia repeated. “It suits him. As cold as its captain.”

“Your record's broken, kid," he replied, his eyes closed.

“Yours too, Trafalgar.”

She hesitated before continuing:

“Besides, it's not true... you're not as cold as you'd like to believe.”

He opened one eye, intrigued. She continued to stare at the large glass window overlooking the ocean as she spoke:

“I despise pirates who only kill and crush others for the sake of their bounty, in my eyes they are no better than nobles or even celestial dragons. And despite the fact that you're doing everything you can to make it seem like you're just a cruel and heartless pirate, without any mercy, I understood that it wasn't the case.”

She gave him a small look before smiling even more:

“Just because you have 'Death' tattooed on your fingers doesn't mean you're bloodthirsty. Far from it.”

“You don't know what you're talking about, kid, you're too naive..." Law hissed.

“I am? If it makes you feel better to think that.”.

She sank back into her seat without saying anything more, convinced that she was right. He wasn't cruel. He wasn't evil. He had the knack of getting under her skin in many ways. He was closed, cold, distant. But he wasn't bad. She laughed.

“What?" he asked, quite annoyed, thinking she was making fun of him.

“Nothing, I just think it's funny that it took me two months to come to that conclusion. I've been really self-centred, it's cheeky at this point, I'm sorry.”

She then hung up the discussion on a question that was close to her heart but which Law had not expected:

“Why the fascination with polar animals?”

“What are you talking about?" he asked, surprised and annoyed at the same time.

“Your crew, it has a lot of references to polar animals. I'm not going to talk about Bepo because that's pretty self-explanatory, or Penguin because well... that's it... but even Sachi wearing a hat that looks like an orca, and you whose everlasting headgear has patterns similar to those of a snow leopard... why?”

“Because.”

“Because is not an answer," she replied in a stubborn voice.

He clenched his jaw, annoyed:

“There you go again, acting like a child...”

“Only because you're back to answering in a laconic way. Your vocabulary goes beyond two words per sentence, I think. So why?”

“It's just the way it is. That's six words, right?”

Understanding that he would say no more, she sighed before giving in:

“It's ok, keep your little secrets to yourself.”

“Why do you always have to pry into other people's business?”

“To make you talk," she replied, sticking her tongue out.

“You're a pain, you can't be serious for more than five minutes...”

“Yes I can, but not at the moment. Come on, I couldn't sleep if I left this place without giving you one last hard time.”

“Are you going to miss me that much?" he continued, a sly smile on his face.

“I certainly won't miss your prison door look and your bad temper, but I'll miss the satisfaction I get from seeing you annoyed every time I mess with you, that's for sure. I can't help it if you're always off to a fast start.”

“And I can't help it if you have the knack of pissing me off," he replied, incisive.

“Yeah, I know”, she breathed, “courage captain in a few hours it's over you will be rid of me.”

“Only the members of my crew can call me that.”

“And wham in the teeth! It hurts Trafalgar, after two months on the same ship I thought maybe I'd earned a tiny spot.”

“You're dreaming, kid, Bepo will stop apologizing the day you become a pirate here.”

Lucia laughed out loud. Despite the incisive exchange she wasn't angry and she knew he wasn't either. Even without looking at him, she could discern his smile in his words, in the way he spoke and answered her. He was having as much fun as she was.

“It's funny..." she continued, "I wouldn't have thought at first... that you would respond so easily to provocation. I thought you were more strategic and more refined than that, that you wouldn't want to get caught up in the game...”

“That's the case," he replied, "when I know that the opponent in front of me can have an advantage if I play along with him. Which is not the case with you.”

“Continue like that and in two minutes you will make your most beautiful declaration to me”, she breathed.

“In your dreams! I'm just telling you that you're too predictable, you moron, that's not a compliment.”

He looked up to see that she was staring at him in the reflection of the submarine window, holding his gaze with her unblinking blue irises:

“What?" he grumbled.

“Thank you...”

“For?”

“For not leaving me to rot at the bottom of the ocean.”

“When someone is hurt, I do my best to heal them, that's my job.”

“Sure, but thanks anyway.”

“Shut up, will you, let the silence rest my ears a little!”

“As you wish," she murmured without taking her eyes off him.

They spent the rest of the night here, side by side, watching the ballet of the ocean in front of them, with a sense of déjà vu that did not bother them. They could have gone to bed, they could have separated. They did not do so. Neither took the initiative to get up and leave the other. They shared this last night in absolute silence, simply aware of each other's presence.

The island where the Heart ship docked was foggy and you couldn't see two metres. Letting Lucia go was difficult for the crew; she was met with tears, hugs, kisses and encouragement. It took Law's urging for Bepo to finally let go of the young woman. Then she walked away, waving to them one last time, not without thanking them all for their hospitality and friendship. Unexpectedly, Law followed her without warning, accompanying her as she walked down a small, winding dirt road. She carried a simple canvas bag in which were folded the few things that belonged to her and some food from the crew, in case the journey was long. Neither of the two adults said a word throughout their walk, letting their breaths, the sound of the wind and their shoes pounding on the stones speak for them. Finally, after a short half-hour walk, a stone building came into view through the condensed drops in the air. Lucia squinted and put her hand to her visor as if hoping to see it more clearly. Without her expecting it, a figure began to emerge in front of them and walked towards them. She felt Law go on the defensive and she prepared herself, hand in front, just in case.

“Calm down young people, calm down," a deep voice intervened.

The figure moved further towards them and a man emerged from the mist. He was dressed in fine mesh armour with a coat of arms draped over it, depicting two swords crossing before a heart. With a weapon in his belt, he did not appear threatening. His round face was topped by long, thick red hair tied in a catogan, and he also wore a thick beard that took up the whole lower part of his face. And in the centre, two bright green irises glittered with a warm, cheerful light. Immediately, Lucia relaxed but felt that Law was not giving up. He still had one hand clutching his sword and the other ready to create one of his secret spheres.

“Are you Rendall?" the pirate asked.

“Uh-oh, do we know each other, boy?" the man questioned with a puzzled smile.

“No, but I have a message for you. From the Dark Lord.”

“Well then..." replied the man named Rendall, looking a little darker and more serious.

“This little one is Roger's daughter, take care of her for a year and a half. Train her and teach her everything you know. Don't forget that you owe me a favour. In memory of our old friendship.”

“Wait, why didn't I know about this?" Lucia said, accusing Law with a hard look.

“You didn't have to know," he replied flatly.

“I didn't have to know? Dare to say it in my eyes again, I think I heard wrong.”

“Calm down, kid," interrupted Rendall. “I got the message, boy, thank you, you can go, I'll take care of her now.”

“Alright, be careful she has two penetrating wounds in her chest that are just starting to heal and because she's an empty head she spends all her time acting like everything is fine. If these wounds reopen she dies.”

“Got it," nodded Rendall.

“What? You're kidding me. You're joking, I'm paying attention!”

“Only since I told you you were in danger of dying," Law replied.

“And you're surprised?" Lucia shouted in exasperation.

Why did he have to be so despicable at this point? Lucia restrained a murderous impulse that was swelling inside her and ordering her to drown the pirate right now. Law smiled one last little smile at her annoyed face and turned away, waving. Lucia opened her mouth in amazement. Was he really going to leave on that? As she thought to herself, Law's figure had completely disappeared into the fog. She put her bag down:

“Don't move, I'll be back.”

With a brisk step she took the path they had taken in the opposite direction. Relying on the movements that made the air ripple, she found him easily. Taking a breath, she called out to him:

“TRA- LAW!”

He turned and was not so surprised to see her overlooking him from a small hill he had just descended. Surrounded by water, the moment seemed to pass out of time for the two young people as they stared at each other.

“Can't get enough of me, kid?" Law challenged her.

“You'd like that, wouldn't you?" Lucia replied. “No, I wanted to thank you and-“

“Again? I don't like melodrama, so if you're going to cry your eyes out, you can leave.”

“Will you at least let me talk?! So I was saying, I wanted to thank you. And I'll arrange to meet each other”

He arched an eyebrow:

“Isn't it a bit early?”

“Not in that sense, you idiot. I'll see you again. On the seas. In two years.”

“Two years, eh? And what are you going to do on the seas?”

“Travel.”

“I'd rather drown than cross your path again, kid!”

“You tell me so... but the next time we meet, I'll be stronger. Things will have changed.”

“It's an interesting programme. We'll see if fate puts you back in my lap.”

He turned away again and left her for good, his lips still stretched into a smirk. Yes, times would change in two years. And maybe he would see her again? Who knows.

And before he knew it, that evening, when the Polar Tang resumed its journey into the New World, the dining hall was quieter than usual. The crew didn't heckle as usual, they just ate quietly. And when Law returned to his cabin to lie down for a while, he found his ship suddenly too quiet. He couldn't suppress another smile. Damn kid.

Chapter Text

When Lucia returned to Rendall, he had already taken her bag on his shoulder and was waiting for her with a smile:

"Can we go?" he asked.

“Whenever you want," Lucia replied. “But you'll have to tell me who you are and where I am because, as you've seen, this damn pirate is far from being a gentleman and hasn't kept me informed at all of the progress of operations.”

Rendall laughed at the young woman's sharp tongue. He had already noticed that she didn't mince her words and he liked her ardour immediately. He gave her a small, enigmatic look before leading her further down the path. Contrary to what Lucia thought, he quickly turned away from the silhouette of the buildings Lucia had spotted and preferred to lead her towards a vacant lot, clear. The mist was a little lighter and she could make out what looked like a training ground. All around were promontories on which were placed weapons of all kinds, from swords to axes to spiked balls. He went and sat down at one end and invited her to position herself opposite him.

“First of all, even if this is a request from Rayleigh and I'm aware of your exploits, I must see for myself what you are worth. So beware!”

He drew his weapon, a sharp rapier whose blade glinted in the weak sunlight. Caught off guard, Lucia stood there for a moment, not knowing what to do, before she realized the order she had just been given. She then got into a fighting stance, her feet firmly planted in the ground, her hands clenched in the air, her fingers on the lookout for the slightest drop of water, her body entirely turned towards the outside humidity. Then, without waiting for him to start the hostilities, Lucia dematerialized one of her arms, which she transformed into water before hurling it at her opponent. Without the slightest effort, he sliced the water with his blade, causing her attack to burst into dozens of drops of water. Undaunted, Lucia resumed her assault and created a smaller version of a whirlpool in her hands which she hurled at him. Again, without moving, he sliced through the attack.

Wary, Lucia kept her distance for several more minutes before opting for a closer fight, this time using her Haki, which she placed on her legs and delivered a violent blow to Rendall's head, who parried the attack without blinking. However, Lucia gave him a mischievous look and it was too late when he realized that she had dematerialized her fists once more and they were now coming at him from behind. He took the full force of the impact, which sent him reeling forward. More agile than she would have thought, he quickly regained his balance and directed his blade towards her. At the last moment she became intangible, having felt the Haki covering the steel that could have sliced her alive. She then used the surrounding mist to gain ground and cover a larger area with her power, but she didn't think for a second about the counterpart of this idea, by extending the surface of her body, Lucia offered a bigger hold for her opponent who planted his blade in the mist, injuring her in the process. Immediately, she recovered. But no sooner had she set foot on the ground than Rendall's rapier came down on her, and in a purely instinctive move she dodged to the side. He did not let her go for a second, seizing every opening she offered him.

Finally, just as he thought he could get her, she reached out to the display of weapons to the side and grabbed an old sword, which she used to parry his attack with a firm, determined hand. A smile stretched the soldier's lips. She had dodged in that direction on purpose to get what she wanted and he had to admit that her grip on the hilt was solid, her arm was not shaking. He looked into her blue eyes and was pleased to find the same fighting spirit he had hoped to see in her. Without waiting, Lucia then began to counterattack, using the weapon to parry his own. Her movements became faster, more precise. She became more aggressive, more methodical. Their confrontation lasted several more minutes before he decided to end it.

“All right, let's stop here. I've seen what I wanted to see.”

Gasping for breath, Lucia dropped to one knee. She was covered of dirt and scratches. Rendall hadn't mortally wounded her, but she knew that if it had been a fight to the death, she would have lost her life several times. He was strong, very strong.

“Come on, I'll show you the main building.”

He wasn't even out of breath when she was already exhausted. Ignoring the pain that was already beginning to show in her muscles, Lucia got up and followed Rendall, who had returned to the path they had momentarily left.

A few minutes later, they arrived in front of the building she had seen in the distance. It was a huge manor house made of old stone but nevertheless well maintained. The same crest as the one on her guide's clothing was carved into the stone above the main door. Rendall pushed open the doors and invited her in. She was surprised when she saw what was inside.

She had expected to find a relatively austere, even dusty, living room, but it was not so. The door opened onto an inner courtyard, lined with corridors with sumptuous stone arches. The vegetation was lush, full of life. If the outside was dark, damp and silent, here everything was bright and full of life. The sunlight fell directly on the courtyard, in a shaft of light that illuminated the entire structure. Looking up, Lucia discovered that in reality the building was a huge square of several floors with this hollow in the centre. She opened her mouth in amazement.

“But how...”

She looked around wherever she could, catching the slightest movement, fascinated by what seemed to be witchcraft. She saw with amazement that they were not alone. In the corridors, on benches, walking, sitting, talking, reading, other people were here. And they were all men. Rendall let out another thunderous laugh at her bewildered expression.

“Gol D Lucia, I welcome you to the Cross Shrine, hidden on Shieredu Island. For centuries, this place has been home to those who belong to a secret order called the Guardians of Knowledge, who are intellectuals and scholars as well as formidable warriors.”

“When you put it like that, it sounds rather sectarian," Lucia grinned. “No offense, of course.”

“Well, I'm delighted to tell you that you'll be living with our little sect for the next few months.”

“But wait a minute, are your wives stashed in the basement or is this an all-male order? No, because if it is, we're going to have a little problem... in case you haven't noticed...”

She gestured eloquently, showing her bust and face. With a huge smile, Rendall calmly replied:

“Good observation, indeed it is an exclusively male order but since the request comes from good old Rayleigh we'll make an exception. And then it will only take a few modifications after all.”

Lucia blushes:

“Lay a hand on me and you're dead.”

“Don't panic young lady, come on, follow me, I'll explain.”

Without waiting for her, he turned to his right, walking along the inner courtyard before turning into a room. Lucia followed him without knowing where she was going or even paying attention to the path she was taking, too intrigued to think. After endless staircases, narrow corridors, doors hidden in shadows and angles impossible to see, he finally led her into what looked like a room. It was basic. A bed in the corner, a desk and chair, a small sink to wash a face. He put down the bag she had come with.

“Welcome to your flats. Empty your bag, I want to see what's in it.”

Without thinking, Lucia complied and unrolled the contents of her bag. She recognised the clothes she had worn during the Summit War. She took her bustier and trousers in her hands, surprised to see them in such good condition. She looked at them a little more carefully and managed to make out the stitches that had been sewn to mend the fabric. It was rather crude, but knowing that the Hearts crew had taken the time to do this little thing made her heart swell. She sighed. The rest of her bag was nothing but bandages, medicines, her personal notes and a record of her research in the submarine's archives, and more surprisingly, a thick book. Intrigued, she grabbed it and was astonished to discover the title "The Starry Sky Key". She opened the first page and laughed at the clumsy handwriting that had been placed on it. Each member of the crew had written a note to her. Except Law. Of course not. The opposite would have surprised her.

She put the book on the bed and looked Rendall in the eye:

“Here, this is all I have. What I've got left. In short, it's not glorious.”

“There's nothing superfluous, that's fine, you can keep the book if you want. You're allowed one personal item in your room, I'm assuming it will be this one. I want you to use the bandages to flatten your chest as much as possible. I'll be back in a few minutes.”

Lucia barely had time to open her mouth before he was gone. She sighed and took the white cloth in her hands. Since she had arrived, she had blindly trusted this man without question, should she start not to now? There was no sign of any hostility here. She decided to do nothing, to follow the instructions, hoping to get some pointers before long, and if thing goes worst, then she would defend herself. She unrolled the bandage before placing it on her chest, having first removed her shirt. She squeezed as hard as she could, without hurting herself, and when she had finished, she looked at her profile in the mirror above the sink. From the side, the lump in her chest was barely visible, and from the front, it was flat. A few minutes later, Rendall returned to her room. He glanced at her torso before nodding, validating her new body shape. Then Lucia's eyes fell on the tool in his hand. It was a pair of scissors. She swallowed. Of course she knew. She looked at herself in the mirror again and unconsciously ran her fingers through her long blue hair. She never thought she would be so reluctant to cut it off one day. She glanced doubtfully at Rendall:

“It's inappropriate to point out that you yourself don't have a very close haircut... it's a long way from a military one...”

He laughed again:

“Yes, but the difference is that here I'm the one giving you orders and deciding. And you should know that this decision has nothing to do with the fact that you have to pass for a rather masculine person. In fact, my men will soon realize that you are a girl, so I ask you to try to be careful. As for your hair, think of it as a renewal. I want you to start from scratch since you get here, from today onwards. And there's nothing like a little haircut to make big decisions.”

She looked skeptical.

“Rayleigh is asking me to train you and teach you everything I know, and he knows that this request is not a small thing. He sees great ability in you and, to be honest, I think you have great potential too but you're spreading yourself too thin.”

“Okay, this is the part where my ego takes a hit? Go ahead, I'm ready.”

“You know how to play with the pressure, the temperature and the speed of the water, you know how to adapt it and give it any shape you want. You also know how to use your environment, you've mobilized the mist to your advantage and I've noticed that your body is constantly feeding on the humidity in the air so that you don't suffer from dehydration. So you can also control the air. Concerning Haki, you are at an intermediate level for observation, you dodge blows without too much difficulty and you perceive the presence of others without any worries. For the weaponry it's another thing, you're still far from the required level, you need to review that. I heard that you sent an admiral or two packing, right?”

“Don't ask me how I did it, it's a mystery to me.”

“So we'll make sure you can do it again without a lapse in memory this time. You need to review your whole fighting style, find a clear and precise guideline to be effective. You should also work on using your Conqueror’s Haki, it would be a definite advantage in the New World. On these seas, it's power that counts and for the moment you're far from being up to speed.”

“Can you bring me up to speed?”

“No, I can't.”

“But-“

“My goal is to get you above the speed. But you're gonna have to work hard. And it starts with this little sacrifice.”

He handed her the scissors and Lucia realized that she couldn't escape. Maybe he wasn't wrong after all... and hair grows back. She took the scissors, her eyes fixed on her reflection, and with a quick movement, slammed the blades against them. The blue strands fell one after the other.

Chapter Text

The wind is light, the sun is mild. When I set foot on the soil of the archipelago, everything suddenly seems so familiar and so comforting. Days, months, time has passed since I left and yet I feel as if nothing has really changed. It's the same tangy smell, the same sound of bubbles gently rising in the air, the same light falling between the mangrove leaves, the same green color dotting my field of vision. My feet follow the path I know by heart, which crosses all the groves to finally reach the no-go zone. With a smile, I push open the door of the establishment that stands apart from the others. The barmaid gives me a casual look:

“Can I get you something stranger?”

My smile widens without her being able to see it. Stifling a small laugh, I answer:

“Lemon juice please.”

I see her shoulders tense, she freezes for a moment before continuing to wipe her glass, her eyes dark:

“All right, I'll have it in a few minutes.”

I take a seat on one of the stools in front of the bar and place my bag on it. She puts my drink down in front of me and continues to go about her business without saying a word to me. I sip the sweet liquid in silence, savoring my little victory. If even she can't recognize me, then I should be able to face a lot of opponents without having to worry. Minutes go by like this. Finally, the door of the bar opens once more to let in a man with a massive build. My presence immediately attracts his attention, I glance at him to see him widen his eyes and smile with all his teeth. I had almost forgotten the way his eyes crinkle to follow the movement of his lips when he smiles. I put my glass back down and swivel to face him as he still stands in the doorway, his shadow cast against the square of light coming from outside.

“I have to admit... I'm amazed," he finally says. “I didn't expect this.”

“You handed me over to the worst mentor there is, I had a choice of dying or taking it. So I took it.”

I didn't change my voice this time and immediately I see Shakky turning to me, eyes wide with astonishment, her cigarette slipping from his lips to the ground. Holding back another laugh, I bring my hands to my head to undo the cloth that has covered it completely since I arrived. Once my face is exposed, Shakky starts to laugh too.

“Gosh, I never thought it would be you.”

“You look like shit," Rayleigh comments without breaking her smile.

“Speak for yourself, old man," I reply.

Ray sits down in the seat next to mine while Shakky pours him a drink as well.

“I'm sorry I didn't say anything," I apologize to the barmaid, "but at the same time it's shown me that this disguise works. I can move around freely as far as possible.”

“It's very successful indeed," she comments, a thoughtful look on my body. “And that haircut suits you perfectly.”

I run my fingers through my hair, which now reaches my shoulders:

“I've finally got used to it, I admit.”

I look back at Ray:

“Why now? The appointment wasn't for another six months.”

“Because I wanted to make sure I had time to teach you a few more things myself.”

I raise an eyebrow in surprise:

“Like what?”

“You'll see," he replies enigmatically. “Rendall did a good job anyway, you've gotten stronger, you can tell right away.”

At the bottom of his glass the ice cubes are shaking in the alcohol.

“Let's just say I've learned a few more things," I mumble.

I let some time pass before I ask the question that's burning my lips:

“How is he doing?”

“Better," Ray answers laconically. “Don't worry about him, he's very strong.”

“I already knew that," I answer with a smile.

I get up and stretch:

“Well, what shall we do first?”

“A shower for you," Ray tells me. "It will do you a world of good.”

“Still as delicate as ever, I see," I reply.

“At my age you don't change.”

I laugh again. Since I arrived, I've been overwhelmed by a sense of elation and relief. It's good to be back home.

**

The weeks passed during which Lucia continued her intensive training alongside Rayleigh, who had returned earlier to Sabaody after leaving Luffy alone on the island where he had trained him for the past year and a half. He was delighted to see that his premonition had proved correct, Lucia had grown, physically and psychologically. She was much stronger and more resilient than when he had last seen her. He still managed to win most of their confrontations, but with much less ease, and on a few occasions he had forfeited the fight on his own, sometimes finding himself face down on the ground, with a blade under his nose. She had become very formidable. He spent the next six months concentrating on her Conqueror Haki, teaching her how to master it to a high level, explaining to her how to mobilize it and use it like "invisible armor" as he puts it. Despite her best efforts, Lucia was unable to repeat Ray's feats in the allotted time. The exercise was of a complexity that was completely beyond her.

“Feel the Haki in you, let it flow through your body.”

“Easy to say”, she mumbled.

“Let's stop," Rayleigh concluded, clapping her hands. “I can't teach you more now, the rest will come when you fight other opponents. You don't get better than when you're facing powerful opponents, do you?”

He was referring to her little face-off with the three admirals two years earlier, during which she had shown an inordinate amount of strength that she had not been aware of before. What's more, in the months that followed, it had taken her a long time to be able to mobilize that power again and understand how she had done it. Now, she had no pretensions of being able to face two admirals again, but she would not be afraid to engage in a fight, that's for sure.

“You are the most powerful opponent I can face, Ray, so let's continue!”

Without warning, she set off again, armoring her fists with armament Haki to come and hit him. He dodged and retaliated before she could block him. Their face to face encounter created a myriad of sparks that flew around them. Then she disappeared from his field of vision, invisible, he could only spot her with the help of his perceptive Haki in order to attack and parry her attacks. Their fight was a whirlwind of water and dust, where fists and feet collided, where blades created sparks, where looks were determined.

**

“With this power, you should be able to enter the New World without worries”, Rayleigh declared that evening. “The appointment is tomorrow, have you been to see Sunny yet?”

“Yep," confirmed Lucia, swallowing her dinner. “I was surprised to find him there... He tried to kill me, he's defending the boat with his life, but he's already pretty beaten up.”

“He's a strange one..." muttered Shakky. “Do you think we can trust him?”

“Two years ago I would have said no," Lucia replied thoughtfully. After he broke up the Straw Hat crew and sent me to Impel Down, I was pretty damn pissed off at him. But since Ray explained to me what he'd said to him... I think we can. If Bartholomew Kuma is indeed part of the Revolutionary army... then there's a good chance he's our ally.”

“Are you saying that because of Luffy's father?" asked the barmaid.

“Not only that," Lucia explained, "it's also because Luffy's motivations end up being more or less the same as Dragon's army. Wherever he goes, he must liberate the oppressed people and souls. Alabasta, Enies Lobby, and even the incident with the Celestial Dragons two years ago are constant reminders of this”

She finished drinking the glass in front of her plate and then continued:

“So yes, I think we can trust Kuma. He should let his guard down when he comes face to face with the crew, Franky has certainly been there already.”

Rayleigh took a sheet of paper out of his pocket and read the names on it:

“We've already seen five crew members pass through in the last week: Zoro, Franky, Nami, Usopp, Chopper.”

“And we know that Brook is also here as his tour ends on this archipelago," completed Shakky.

“All the others will certainly arrive tomorrow”, concludes Lucia. “I think Robin will try to be discreet because of her past, Sanji will certainly pass by here, and Luffy... well, he's Luffy.”

“Are you in contact with everyone?”

Lucia looked at the list of notes and plans she had scattered on the table and stuffed her chopsticks in her mouth again to take another bite:

“Yeah," she confirmed, "everything is meticulously planned. I had a hard time figuring out where they all came from but it's okay, I've got all the pieces in place thanks to your previous talk with Kuma as well. All our allies are ready and nobody in the crew is aware of it.”

“We'll just have to hope that little Monkey Boy doesn't make too much noise tomorrow..." sighed Shakky.

“Wow, you're asking a lot to him now," Lucia replied with a smile. “We agree that exfiltrating them from the archipelago in the most discreet way possible would be ideal, but I don't think that can happen unfortunately. Besides...”

She took out of her pocket a crumpled sheet of paper on which was written a recruitment notice from a certain 'Straw hat Luffy'.

“I haven't had a chance to meet these usurpers yet," she declared, "but it looks like their appointment is tomorrow as well. I'm tempted to make them meet my fist, but unfortunately that wouldn't be a good idea, the Navy must know this and they may mobilize more forces than expected tomorrow. The priority is to get Luffy and the others away, the rest is secondary.”

“I'll leave it to you," Rayleigh huffed, "I'm getting too old to organize this kind of movement.”

“I really hope that everything will go well," muttered Lucia, worried.

“Tell me," Ray continued, "what are you going to do once Straw Hat is back at sea?”

Lucia let her gaze wander in the void while thinking:

“I don't know... I want to leave, it's true, and then there are people I'd like to see again and thank now that these years are over. I know how to sail after all...”

“Would you go back on your own?" Rayleigh questioned her, a smile on his face.

“I see what you're getting at," Lucia replied, splashing water in his face. “I don't know, okay... it's not my idea to impose. Besides... he doesn't know.”

“The little Monkey?" intervened Shakky.

“Mmmh," nodded Lucia, her mouth full.

“It's true he doesn't know you're alive," continued the barmaid. “Are you going to show up?”

Lucia swallowed:

“That's the thing, I don't know... deep down I want to but it's been two years, he's moved on after all...”

“If I didn't know you so well I'd think you are afraid," Rayleigh scoffed.

“Tsk," hissed Lucia. “I don't know, okay? The wisest decision would be to say nothing tomorrow so as not to add to the events that have already taken place. If the world government finds out that the crew's escape is being planned and that they're all still alive, there'll be chaos on the archipelago. The last time didn't leave me with any good memories, if you know what I mean.”

“Very well, very well," capitulated Rayleigh. “You do what you want anyway. Well, I'm going to go for a walk in town to get some fresh air. You should get some sleep princess, tomorrow is going to be a busy day.”

“Yeah, I know...”

Back in the workshop that also served as her home, Lucia observed for a moment the bag she had never unpacked since her return. Everything was still there, between the dark fabric: her old clothes, the book the Heart crew had given her, all her research work... She sighed and put the bag back down heavily on the floor. She didn't know what to do. She went outside and climbed onto the roof to hope to catch a glimpse of the sky. A small square of midnight blue peeked out from between the leaves, revealing the twinkling of a few stars. Using her fingers to measure their spacing and then turning her head to find the North Star, she easily spotted which portion of the sky was in front of her. A smile appeared on her face. How ironic... are you taunting me now? The lion constellation stood proudly before her with Regulus at its centre and, a little further west, Denebola, the second brightest star in the constellation. Ace . For her there was no doubt that a part of Ace was now shining in her.

“So what exactly are you trying to tell me, eh? That I should leave with no regrets? I know, I made you a promise, I remember... but it's easier said than done, imagine that... leaving with Luffy would be the most beautiful thing that could happen to me but how can I come back now? "Hi, it's me"?”

She sighed:

“You wouldn't ask yourself that kind of question, would you? You'd just go for it and think about it later... as usual... “

Lucia ran her hand through her hair mechanically before sighing:

“You were asking me if everything was already written... we'll see

Chapter Text

Leaning over her snail phone, Lucia tapped her nails on the dull wood of her desk. She had left her workshop to take refuge on the floor of Shakky's bar. She had kept her ear to the ground and made herself as discreet as possible when Sanji had entered the establishment before announcing that he was leaving to do some shopping. She was taking it easy, forcing herself to stay here so as not to attract attention outside. The Navy HQ had now moved to the other side of Redline, right into the New World, and since then the lawless zones had multiplied on the island. Between the return of the real Straw Hat crew, the usurpers who wanted to attract new men, the wave of pirates who had just crossed Grand Line and were flocking to the archipelago... it was a far cry from the chaos caused by the terrible generation two years ago but the atmosphere was still very tense. As a precaution, Lucia had carefully calculated her movements on the island, always hidden under a thick layer of dark cloth, gloves and thick boots, her face turbaned in a keffiyeh that only let see her eyes. With these clothes, it was easy to mistake her for a man, and this was not to her displeasure. The less attention she attracted, the better she was.

Pele pele pele - pele pele pele - Gotcha.

Lucia picked up the snail phone in a flash.

“Yes?”

“We're here, we left our dear Sanji on the island.”

“I know, he came by earlier, you were slow to contact me.”

“We tried to get away a bit first. Is the plan still on track?”

“Of course," Lucia replied. “Make yourself scarce and move towards the west of the archipelago. No waves if you don't have to.”

“All right, we'll be there.”

Lucia hung up, relieved. The Ivankov trannies were there. Hareda and her scientists from Wetheria had also answered the call. As well as Heracles and Perona. She only missed one call...

“Boa Hancock...” Lucia muttered.

The pirate empress and her were not on the best of terms, Hancock had been very hostile towards the young woman - still not knowing her identity - , shouting that she would protect Luffy at the risk of her life. And since then, there had been radio silence. No news. Lucia was quite annoyed. She had spent the last few months tracking down every member of the Straw Hat crew, tracking down all the intriguing activities on the new world, taking the time to examine the islands that were most likely to have hosted the pirates. Then she'd used the information Kuma gave to Rayleigh and the own speculations of the old man. She'd found them all, except Robin, with a lot of research and hard work, and a bit of luck too, only to have an empress hanging up on her saying that she and Luffy were in perfect love and that he didn't need mothering anymore. A bitter taste lingered in her mouth ever since, she would really like to hear news from the pirate captain. He and Robin were the two missing. She wasn't worried about Robin. No. She was having more trouble dealing with her friend's unfortunate tendency to get into trouble without meaning to.

A slight noise against the door made her straighten her head, Shakky appeared, her cigarette between her teeth, looking worried:

“The Navy will send troops to the archipelago. They've heard about the famous Straw Hat recruitment and want to take advantage of it to catch everyone.”

“Damn it” Lucia swore. “It was predictable, but it's going to make our job harder for sure.”

She stood up and started to get dressed:

“I'm going out to keep an eye on things, tell Ray.”

“Will you be alright?" the barmaid worried.

“Yeah, don't worry too much, disappearing in front of the world is my specialty now.”

She concluded her sentence with a tense smile before diseppearing under the mass of black cloth that covered his face. Then she left without a word, under Shakky's worried look. Yes, they had become strong, Lucia too, but she could feel the young woman's nervousness. She did not like the situation and she was not serene. She knew that Lucia was more afraid of facing Luffy than the Navy. She sighed:

“Good luck... “

As she walked around the archipelago, she could clearly hear civilians talking about the Straw Hat, showing their fear of it. She gritted her teeth. How dare they? Who were event they? Who were these people who dared to use the name of these pirates to spread their terror? For what? An ounce of fake respect and fear in the eyes of those who looked at them? I really don't know what's holding me back from- Stop it girl you know very well what's holding you back, your name, your face and the fact that you're supposed to be dead! So you put your little frustration away and focus on the plan: getting Luffy and the others out. Lucia shook her head, this little inner debate had been playing out inside her for weeks. Ever since she'd known that some lowlife was taking advantage of other people's fame for their own gain. She slipped her hand into her pocket to put her fingers on her snail phone... still nothing. Pirate empress... capricious empress, yes, I swear...

Everywhere she looked, everywhere she went, pirates were fighting each other relentlessly, blood was flowing on the green grass... Lucia soon realised that the little haven of peace she had grown up in had disappeared two years ago. Once she had spent the first few days here, she had to face the facts. The wonderful veil of nostalgia had disappeared, revealing a much less radiant picture than the one she had known.

Without understanding how, her steps led her to grove 46, where the largest gathering of pirates in two years was taking place, under the direction of the fake straw hats. Without a word, Lucia melted into the crowd, weaving in and out of the brigands. She was disgusted by the show. She could only see heads that were known for their cruelty. Without meaning to, she bumped into one of them who grabbed her arm violently:

“EH! Watch your step, man!”

“Sorry," Lucia mumbled.

A clamour made them suddenly turn their heads:

“Hey look, Straw Hat Luffy has joined us!”

On a low wall overlooking the tide of criminals, four individuals stood proudly, arrogant and contemptuous, savouring their small success. They were pale copies of Luffy, Nami, Usopp and Franky. In a greasy, horrifying voice, the one pretending to be Luffy claimed that everyone here was now part of the straw hat crew. Lucia clenched her fists as cries of joy and rage rose around her. The brigands were in a frenzy.

“In my next adventures I expect you to become my fists, my feet and fight for me at the risk of your life!”

These words made Lucia wince. How dare they say that under Luffy's name? It made her want to vomit. Especially after seeing all self-sacrifice he had been capable of in Marineford. How could all those morons believe it? They were blinded by their admiration, and obviously this big lump was enjoying the praise he was getting. He was ascribing him the merits of Enies Lobby, Impel Down, Marineford, as well as the direct filiation with Garp, Dragon and Ace. She even thought she heard her own name being spoken. The usurper quickly ordered them to be quiet and then asked them to find certain individuals who had obviously dared to put him in his place. Please give me the names of these guys and I'll build them an altar. You deserve to bite the dust. The sound of her pocket snail phone drew her out of her reverie, and she immediately grabbed it and went to pick it up:

“Helios.”

“It's Ray. They're almost all here, I've redirected them to grove 42 as planned.”

“That's great.”

“Where are you?’

“Grove 46, I'm keeping an eye on this pirate gathering. I'm thinking if we can try to keep the Navy focused on this event, then it's all the better for Luffy.”

“That's not wrong, but it's very risky for you. Shakky's been keeping herself informed, apparently some big shots are on their way.”

“As if for a change," Lucia ironically said. “Where is Luffy?”

“I don't know, but it's almost certain that he's landed.”

“I agree. I haven't heard from Hancock but I think he's on the island. Then... where exactly... that's a mystery...”

“I'll let you handle it?”

“Yeah, no problem. You take care of yourself.”

She hung up with a sigh. Things were progressing slowly but surely. Yet there was still no sign of Luffy, which was beginning to worry her. He must have gotten himself into trouble again, like every time. The clamor started up again next to her and she dared to take a look at the promontory where the fake Straw Hat crew was still standing. She almost choked on the sight of who was standing beside them now. Hidden behind a false moustache and a long fur coat, under a huge backpack, no one could guess. But Lucia knew. She knew it was him. Luffy. She was amazed. Then she started to laugh uncontrollably. What's the point of looking for Luffy... instead, look for the place where it would cause the most problems and you'll find him. Oh I can't believe it. A few hundred meters separated them and it was likely that he didn't even suspect she was there, but Lucia felt reassured. Reassured to see him here, alive.

The fake Straw Hat then began to shout out his entire speech, threatening Luffy and preparing his sentence to make an example of him. Lucia arched an eyebrow behind her disguise. No doubt he would get crushed if he looked for trouble too much. On the other hand, was it a good idea to let Luffy do that at the risk of being spotted by the Navy, which would certainly be arriving in a few minutes. She plunged her hand into her pocket to find her snail phone, but her gesture was interrupted by a pirate whose reputation she knew all too well, "Wet-Haired Caribou", bounty of 210 million, holder of the Numa Numa No Mi.

“Hey there, pretty boy, you're up to something in your corner too.”

“I- “

“Captain!" exclaimed the pirate. “I think we have another Navy mole, what do I do with him?”

Oh dear, it couldn't be worse. Lucia's mind was racing as the pirate dragged her to the 'captain'. The latter looked at her:

“Bring it here!”

Using his devil fruit to restrain her movements, Caribou worked to get Lucia up on the low wall, level with the pirates. She gagged when the fake Luffy leaned over her to speak:

“What's your name?”

“Helios," Lucia answered flatly, masking her voice as best she could.

“Look, Helios, I don't like snitches, so tell me what you were doing.”

“Nothing, I was listening.”

Holding back a chuckle, Caribou slipped a hand into the young woman's trouser pocket and pulled out the snail phone. The fake Luffy squinted and moved closer and closer to Lucia:

“Oh yeah? And what's this then?”

“Well, it's called a snail phone and it's used to communicate with other people from a distance. You know, to talk and stuff. I'd heard you were a complete moron, but this is worse than I thought.”

The second she'd started talking she'd regretted it. Provoking him was the worst thing she could have done and she had just fallen into the trap. But he annoyed her too much for her to do nothing. The vein on the pirate's forehead swelled with anger and he grabbed Lucia by the collar:

“Do you even know who you're talking to, kid? You'll see what it costs you to disrespect me! You guys, take off his turban so we can see his face. To hide it like that, you must be pretty awful to look at!”

He burst out laughing while waiting for his subordinates to do so. Lucia blushed. Hola, hola hola and what am I going to do now that I've got myself into this mess? The second my disguise falls off, I'll be recognized and the whole operation will be ruined. Using Conqueror’s Haki? It might be a way to save our lives after all. Seeing the fake Usopp's hand coming dangerously close to her face, she concentrated, ready to use her Haki to give them a chance to escape.

“You are finished, you pirates! The Navy is here to stop you!”

Before they had time to react, the pirates gathered at grove 46 were quickly surrounded by the troops of soldiers who had arrived in numbers. Thank God, who would have thought that the Navy would ever get me out of a mess like this. The soldiers ordered Luffy's Straw Hat crew - or the one who were naming themselves as - to surrender before they were attacked. Lucia turned her head as she heard Luffy express surprise that the Navy was already aware of his presence on the archipelago. She sighed. Two years of training but still having difficulty tying the pieces together to make a successful thought. She slowly backed up to Luffy's level while the fake crew panicked. In front of her, Caribou disobeyed an order from the fake Luffy and shot a soldier without blinking. Her blood boiled in her veins. She gently tugged at the coat Luffy was wearing to get his attention:

“Straw Hat... I'm on your side... you need to get out of here and find your crew.”

“Do you know where they are?" exclaimed Luffy, smiling.

“Keep your voice down. Yes, I do. Let's try to get out of this mess without making too many waves.

“I’m in, I don't know who you are but you're a good guy.”

Lucia smiled a little, but he didn't see it. The battle between the Navy and the pirates was raging down below as the liars watched in horror. Gunshots and saber slashes rang out amidst the screams of anger and pain.

She recognised the sound even before she saw the shot and the explosion. That distinctive little technological noise that had haunted her two years ago.

“WARNING PACIFISTAS!" one of the pirates suddenly shouted.

“Oh no, no, no," muttered Lucia. “Not again!”

Before their eyes, two Pacifistas, the Navy's war machines, had just disembarked and were firing on sight at all the pirates.

“They look like Kuma," muttered Luffy, "Hancock told me to be careful and not to cause any trouble.”

From where she stood, Lucia could still see the two machines analyzing the group of pirates in front of them.

“Target Straw Hat Luffy is confirmed," one of them said robotically.

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAH WHAT A SCARE !!!! In Lucia's mind everything came together very quickly. She remembered that these robots could recognize their target even when they were disguised. So Luffy was spotted no matter what. And the second question is: am I still in their files because if I do...

The pirates were being demolished by the Pacifistas, powerless against their constant fire. Without asking for help, the fake Straw Hats fled, leaving Lucia and Luffy alone on their promontory.

“We have to get out of here Straw Hat... it's getting hot...”

Below, the false Luffy ran into a man Lucia hadn't seen for two years. Her blood ran cold. Sentomaru. It was him she had fought on the archipelago before Kuma made her and the whole crew disappear. On the alert, she stepped back even further, clutching Luffy's coat. Unlike all these low-life pirates, Sentomaru was not fooled. It only took him a few seconds to deliver a monumental blow to the head of the fake Luffy and shut him up, revealing to everyone else that they had been fooled and that the whole thing was a gigantic scheme. The so-called Luffy was none other than a pirate by the name of Demaro Black, whose bounty amounted to 26 million berry.

“So this guy was pretending to be me? So it's not the real Sanji and Zoro... yet they look just like them.”

Lucia repressed a small laugh.

“Well, we'd better sneak out while we still can, right?" he asked Lucia.

She nodded:

“Yes, it would be better for you. Let's try to get out of here quietly.”

They had hardly taken a few steps when a shot from the PX5 stopped them dead in their tracks. They quickly dodged the attack and retreated several metres. Lucia clung to her suit with all her strength while Luffy's suit fell miserably to the ground, revealing his face in broad daylight:

“Are you crazy, should see to pay attention there is my lunch in this bag!” he protested.

Lucia sighed, dejected. They wouldn't go out quietly, it was all over. It took only a few seconds for all the men in Grove 46 to recognize the pirate captain. Usurpers, soldiers, pirates, all were stunned to see the famous face of Straw Hat Luffy. Lucia smiled beneath her disguise, but it quickly faded when Luffy, who couldn't hold his tongue, spoke directly to Sentomaru about their departure. Shaggy, she punched him in the head.

“Stop it!” Luffy shouted. “Why are you doing this in the first place!”

“You're not okay, it's not possible you can't keep your mouth shut! The goal was to get out discreetly I remind you!”

“Well, it's too late now, isn't it?”

“Well, it is now, you idiot, since you've spilled the beans!”

“You think I'm going to let you go without doing anything!" Sentomaru thundered.

“We would have loved to," Lucia replied.

“For the past two years I've been rising in rank," Sentomaru explained, "I've officially become a soldier of the Navy. So it's my duty to arrest you without delay, Straw Hat! PX-5 TAKE HIM DOWN!”

Luffy straightened up beside Lucia, still hidden under her disguise, as the Pacifista prepared to attack them. He fired three shots at the pirate who, without a word, dodged the laser beams which crashed into a tree further on. The blast sent the cloth covering Lucia's face flying and she had to cling to it to keep from losing it, her eyes wide. He had dodged them as if nothing had happened. Then, quick as a flash, he unleashed his second gear, soared into the sky and with one punch, one single punch, he knocked the Pacifista face down.

“He's using Haki, that's it...” Lucia gasped in admiration, a huge smile on her face.

As the machine exploded on the ground, Luffy retrieved his bag and without even consulting each other, he and Lucia dashed off to flee the scene. On their way, they picked up Sanji and Zoro who were coming to meet them. Sentomaru was at his wits' end, not understanding anything anymore. The Straw Hat crew was obviously alive.

“PX-7 GET THEM!" the soldier shouted.

The second Pacifista lunged but was quickly stopped by Zoro and Sanji who disabled him in seconds. The machine sizzled for a moment, crackled and made a few strange noises before exploding in turn.

“Who's that?" asked Zoro, pointing at Lucia.

“It's Lasso, apparently he's going to help us!”

“My name is Helios...” Lucia rectified with a sigh. “Hurry up, the situation will degenerate now that you're officially back. You have to get on board before it gets too big.”

Chapter Text

The four fugitives resumed their race when Luffy suddenly stopped, followed by Lucia, Zoro and Sanji who then understood the reason for this unexpected event. Luffy took a deep breath before shouting:

“RAYLEEEEIGH !”

From the top of a hill, Ray contemplated the four young people, a smile on his lips. He addressed Luffy:

“Don't waste any more time, go back to your friends !”

But Luffy preferred to put his bag down and come forward, standing in front of the man, who had been his mentor for more than a year and a half, before saying loudly and clearly:

“Rayleigh... I promise you... the next Pirate King, it will be me !”

At these words Lucia's throat tightened, why did she feel like she was saying goodbye too? She was torn on all sides, not knowing what to do. Her eyes met Rayleigh's. She couldn't tell what she was doing. She couldn't tell what was going on between them. She couldn't tell what the former pirate was thinking. She seemed to perceive a background of nostalgia, tinged with pride and sorrow. She brought her hand to her face, pulled at the cloth... and then let it fall again. No. No.

“So Lasso, what are you doing here? We have to go, I'm telling you!" grumbled Zoro.

“Ah... sorry, yes I'm coming! Your boat is at grove 42, I suppose you already knew that?”

“Yes," confirmed Sanji, "but it's not next door.”

“I know..." Lucia answered. "AND BY THE WAY, MY NAME IS HELIOS!”

“By the way Lasso," Luffy continued, "why exactly are you helping us?”

Lucia put a little time before answering. Her gaze fell on Luffy's right wrist, which was still holding his backpack tightly, and a lump formed in her throat when she saw what was glinting on his wrist. It was her bracelet. He had kept it. She swallowed before replying:

“I'll just tell you that I'm honoring a debt. You don't know it, but I owe you my life, Straw Hat. So it's the least I can do.”

“Is it? Yet I don't remember you!”

“I'm not surprised," laughed Lucia. "I'm easy to forget, believe me.”

“Shall we go?" asked Sanji. "We've got the Navy breathing down our necks.”

“Well, see you around!" shouted Luffy to Rayleigh. “We'll see each other again, but right now I have to run!”

The three men left without asking for help. Lucia took a few more moments in front of Rayleigh, not knowing what to say, what to do. Then she turned her face away and ran after the crew members. She glanced behind her to see Ray who had come between them and the Navy soldiers, threatening them with his sword. As they ran towards grove 42, they were caught in the crossfire of the soldiers who were still trying to block them.

“We don't have another way through," Lucia explained. "We'll have to get past this.”

“We'll take care of it," Zoro replied.

He didn't have time to draw a sword before a translucent ghost passed through the bodies of the soldiers, causing them to fall to the ground, heads down, spirits low. Before them, in a pretty black strapless dress and under a pink parasol stood Perona, the ghost girl.

“I knew it was you guys, because of the commotion!”

Lucia then realized that because of the fake Straw hat crew, she no longer had her snail phone and she had not been able to make contact with her accomplices on the archipelago. Perona's gaze passed over her for a moment:

“I'm never late for an appointment.”

Under her mask, Lucia nodded without saying anything.

“You'd better get underway, there are Navy warships approaching! You have to hurry!”

“Damn," Lucia grumbled, "this sucks. "The scenario I've been dreading is taking shape.”

“What are you mumbling about, Lasso?"

“I already told you that my name is- oh and you know what? Forget it. And I'm not mumbling anything except that we have to move!”

No sooner had she finished her sentence that a shadow obscured the sunlight. Above their heads appeared a huge bird with colorful feathers on which sat Chopper, the ship's doctor.

“At last I've found you!" exclaimed the little reindeer, ecstatic.

Without hesitation, he invited Luffy, Zoro and Sanji to climb on board with him and go to the ship. Lucia stepped forward:

“Would you allow me to accompany you all the way, to make sure everything goes well.”

“Oh okay," answered Luffy. “You're a really nice guy to help us like that, I'd really like to know when exactly I saved your life.”

“It's not important," Lucia repeated. Come on, let's go!”

The bird spread its wings and flew in the direction of grove 42, over the whole archipelago. In no time at all, they saw the boat. All the crew members were ecstatic, delighted to be reunited with their captain, to be reunited with their special unit. Lucia smiled again. She had succeeded. The mission was accomplished. The bird landed them on the boat and Lucia stepped ashore on the archipelago, scanning the horizon. Her jaw tightened when she saw them. The three navy warships looming on the horizon. Soon the cannonballs were flying in their direction and crashing close to the ship's hull. Lucia rushed to a promontory overlooking the sea, ready to act when a turn of events changed things. A new ship arrived and stood in the way of enemy fire. Despite the distance, Lucia easily recognised the flag of the Kuja pirates of Amazon Lily. She relaxed then, Hancock had intervened. She had finally done it. It certainly wasn't for her, but she was protecting the Straw Hats' departure. As the crew recovered from Luffy's announcement that he'd been thrown to the Isle of Women two years ago, Usopp posed and turned to the back of the ship. Usopp turned to her:

“Tell me, I don't know who you are but you seem to want to help us. Have all the soldiers on the island been liquidated?”

“No," Lucia replied.

“On the contrary," Chopper continued, "when we flew over the island, we could hear a lot of voices.”

“It's very strange that they're not chasing us..." commented Usopp.

Lucia smiled and was about to speak when she felt a projectile coming towards her. She dodged easily and, once the dust cleared, found Sentomaru's massive axe stuck in the ground where she had been a few seconds earlier. She immediately jumped to her feet as shouts erupted around the ship at the soldier's appearance. They had all recognized him, of course.

“Tell me it's not true..." the soldier muttered. “TELL ME IT'S NOT TRUE!”

He was furious, glaring at Lucia with a black look of hatred and incomprehension.

“First we learn that the Straw Hat crew is alive... and now you!”

Lucia bit her lip. It didn't look good.

“When PX-5 analyzed the scene earlier, he also sensed another presence. Another person who shouldn't have been there. But he didn't say so right away. He only said it after the Straw Hat had knocked him down, just before he finally gave up the ghost. “

Shit, shit, shit. Lucia looked around the ship and saw that all the crew members were following this exchange attentively, intrigued. Luffy kept his eyes on her, looking very concerned.

“Take off that ridiculous disguise if you dare," Sentomaru challenged her. “Come on! SHOW YOURSELF! SHOW YOURSELF, THE ELEMENTALIST LUCIA!”

Sentomaru's voice reverberated throughout the grove, on every bubble that lazily rose to the mangrove. It pierced the seas, even reaching the ears of those on the ships off the coast. Lucia felt as if her name was echoing around the world, reaching even the most remote islands. The silence had never been so heavy afterwards. Sentomaru was panting, a dull anger in his gut.

Lucia swallowed, feeling the weight of the stares converge on her. Her heart was pounding in her chest, her hands clammy under her gloves. The air had suddenly become very oppressive. Then Luffy's voice was heard, weak, trembling:

“Luc... ia... “

The sound broke her heart, and she looked at him desolately, not knowing what to say. The vision that came to her finished her off. Luffy was standing on the boat, his hand clenched around his wrist, which still had her bracelet around it, his eyes infinitely sad, his lips trembling. Then slowly, very slowly, Lucia lowered her head, her silence acting as a confession. Then, without her expecting it, Sentomaru rushed at her with a bestial scream, ready to slice her in two. Instinctively, she made herself intangible, the soldier's blade coming down only on the disguise she had been wearing all along. The navy blue cloth fell to the ground without a sound.

Behind Sentomaru, thousands of drops of water converged to recreate a figure he knew all too well by now. Her piercing blue irises froze him in place. She was more androgynous than during the Summit War, her hair was shorter too, reaching her shoulders in a regular short haircut. She had many scars, her wrists showed the marks of the tears caused by the handcuffs, there were also the traces of the two impacts caused by Akainu as well as all the burns that had resulted on her chest. Dressed in a sort of sleeveless, halter top blouse, the marks on her cleavage and back, where the lava had pierced her, were clearly visible. Over a pair of denim trousers with a pink scarf tied around her waist, there was another, more regular mark across her waist. She wore sandals with a few inches of heels and a steel sword adorned her waist, the scabbard caught in the knot of the scarf in question. It was definitely her. Head held high. The determined look.

Sentomaru didn't let himself be intimidated any longer and grabbed his snail phone to yell into it:

“Notify the Chief Admiral! Notify everyone! Get the word out immediately! THE ELEMENTALIST LUCIA IS ALIVE!”

Without waiting another second, Lucia lunged at the soldier and, before he could stop her, she snatched the snail phone from him and punched him in the stomach, knocking him in half and taking his breath away.

“How- How is that possible-“ Sentomaru gasped, stunned by the young woman's strength.

Lucia didn't bother to answer him and dialed a number on the soldier's snail phone.

“Shakky? It's me, can you connect me with everyone? Thank you! Listen, everyone, I'm sorry for this little setback. Thank you so much for your help, thank you for being there, all of you. Now run away, don't put yourselves in danger any longer!”

In the snail phone, Lucia heard the laughter of Mr. Haredas, Heracles yelling that he would protect his buddy Usopp until the end, Perona grumbling that nothing was done properly, the transvestites of the Kamabakka kingdom giggling. A smile stretched her lips and, without leaving the communication device, she turned back to the pirates on the Sunny to lock eyes with Luffy, who was stunned and couldn't utter a word.

“I'm sorry for hiding my identity from you all this time, sorry for lying to you. But I hope you can all understand why I made this choice. My priority for the past two years, since the tragic events of Marineford, has been to protect the Straw Hat, to allow him to set sail again and move ever closer to his future title of Pirate King. He was ready to sacrifice his life for us two years ago, I had to return the favour. Even if it means staying in my dark workshop for the rest of my life. Thank you so much for trusting me, for following me and for being here today. You are undoubtedly part of the history of the greatest pirates of this era!”

“What are you talking about, Elementalist," Sentomaru snarled, "who are you talking to like that? “

Lucia gave him an evil look and then, with a gesture, she broke the snail in her hands, crushed by the pressure of the water she had created:

“To the ones you'll never stop.”

“We'll see about that!”

Without hesitation, Sentomaru lunged at Lucia once more. He raised his axe, ready to bring it down on the young woman who didn't move. At the last moment, in a gesture barely perceptible to the soldier, Lucia drew her own weapon and effortlessly parried the attack. Her arm did not tremble and the next second she was pushing Sentomaru's massive weapon away and a powerful wave of water was crashing down on him, knocking him to the ground for several meters. Furious, he did not give up and attacked again. But he suddenly stopped in mid-stride, his eyes wide and his body shaking. He fell to the ground on his knees and put his hands to his throat, a look of panic in his eyes.

“Don't worry," Lucia said calmly. “You're not going to die, it's just a very terrifying experience, I agree. I've built up enough water in your windpipe to stop the air flowing, so you'll pass out nicely and leave them alone now.”

“Damn you...Elementalist...”.managed to articulate Sentomaru.

“Stop calling me that, The Elementalist Lucia died in Marineford two years ago. If you want to be correct, use my real name.”

The soldier's eyes rolled back and he finally passed out, falling heavily to the ground. Lucia sighed, avoiding confronting the pirates on the Sunny. She saw the warships still standing in the distance. Clenching her jaw, she sheathed her weapon before launching herself into the void above the sea. She barely skimmed the surface of the ocean and used the surrounding water to rocket over the waves, faster than the wind. Then she rose again, towering over the ships with ease. The soldiers all retreated, stunned and somewhat frightened:

“Chief, it's her! What should we do?”

“What question? TAKE HER DOWN!”

Bullets and cannonballs flew in Lucia's direction but passed through her without a care. She arched an eyebrow, still suspended in mid-air, the first half of her body materialized while her legs were just a trickle of clear water lost in the air. She then nonchalantly held out her hand in front of her and the next second she created a wave three times the size of the ships that engulfed them in a few moments, like a huge tsunami.

“BUT IT'S MUCH TOO SWALLOW!!!” shouted Usopp.

“This is unbelievable!" continued Nami and Chopper, whose jaws were threatening to drop.

Once this was done, Lucia had a little look for Hancock who couldn't believe it either. The pirate empress finally gave him a small nod that meant everything. Then Lucia went back to the Sunny, landed gently on the deck and looked at Franky:

“Activate the plaster coating and get the hell out, it's going to be a real battlefield from here on in. The sooner you leave, the sooner we can try to calm things down.”

“But what about you?" asked Robin. “What are you going to do here? You're going to be hounded by the entire Navy troups now.”

“I know..." Lucia grumbled, "I wish it had been different...”

She turned her gaze to Luffy, who still hadn't said anything and who now had his head down, his face hidden by the shadow of his hat.

“I wish a lot of things could have happened differently...” she continued. “I'm sorry Luffy... so sorry...”

She didn't have the strength to look at him, kept her eyes riveted on the grass that covered the deck of the boat and only heard Luffy's footsteps coming closer to her.

“I would understand if you were mad at me... but... would you find it indecent of me if I asked you a favour?”

She looked up and was stunned to find herself facing him, so close. She swallowed and said in one breath:

“Take me with you to Fishmen Island. I have someone I need to see. Just get me there and then I'll be fine, I promise. Please...”

Luffy was impassive and Lucia thought it was all over for her. Yet, without transition, he burst into tears and hung around her neck sniffling loudly. Stunned, Lucia saw the other crew members smile together. Overwhelmed by Luffy, she couldn't stop her own tears from pressing into the corners of her eyes and rolling down her cheeks. Holding back a sob, she knotted her hands behind her friend's back and began to cry, her face tight with pain, sorrow and relief.

“I thought... I thought you were deaaaaaaaaaaad- Luuuuuce-“

Luffy's crying redoubled in intensity and caused Lucia to laugh a little:

“Don't worry, the whole world did. It's a very long story.”

“I missed you so much !”

He finally pulled away from her and she saw that he had exchanged his sobs for a radiant smile that devoured his face, annihilating the few tears that still remained.

“So...” Lucia said shyly, “can I come?”

Luffy laughed softly and put his forehead on the young woman's, his eyes still wet, and took her hands:

“Of course you can!”

“Thank you," Lucia breathed, relieved.

She pulled away from Luffy to put a hand on the plaster, which then began to swell on the ship to completely surround her. She leapt up and landed on the railing. In an instinctive gesture Luffy held her by the wrist and she saw in his eyes the fear that remained. She crouched down, still balanced on the wood, and took his hand gently:

“I'll be back, I promise!”

He smiled with determination:

“You'd better be!”

She stood up:

“I'll meet you in the water. Be careful with the immersion, Nami I'll let you handle it!”

“Okay, we'll wait for you," the sailor replied with a smile.

Lucia ran breathlessly around the archipelago, hoping with all her heart that he hasn't moved since she left it earlier. I would have soaped the floor of this island to the bone. Luckily for her, from the sound of the Navy yelling, she was on the right track. Finally, she recognized that pale coat and the grey hair that falls on the back of his neck. As if he had sensed her presence (and he certainly had), he turned, widening his eyes as he saw her running towards him, her face exposed. She stopped a few steps away from him, panting, bent over to catch her breath.

“Give me... thirty seconds... I have... a stitch in my side here...”

She gave him a bitter smile as she tried to calm the pounding of her heart, which was desperately trying to bring oxygen to her entire body. She realised that she could have just as easily flown and that it would have cost her less effort. Damn, two years with seastone handcuffs on my limbs to help me developp my physical condition and now I even forgot how to use my power to make my life easier. Rayleigh looked at her, his mouth half open:

“Don't tell me you're changing your mind...”

Surprised, Lucia almost seemed to hear a hint of hope in the ex-pirate's voice. She straightened up and looked into his eyes before smiling:

“I don't think I've ever spoken to you from the heart. I don't think I've ever really known how to do that. It's always been like that between us, knowing glances, smiles, fights (lots of fights), taunts, mockery... We knew without having to tell each other. However, since the events of two years ago now, I need to say things. Thank you for everything you've done. Thank you for everything you've done for me. Thank you for being the father I never got to meet. Thank you for the crazy stories of your adventures, thank you for being so protective of me (yes, even the times I grumbled about you being heavy), thank you for teaching me to be a good person.”

She had said it all at once without taking a breath, knowing that if she interrupted she might burst into tears in front of him and not be able to speak a word. He did not answer, kept his head down, a false light on his glasses that prevented Lucia from seeing him properly. She didn't care and did what she should have done years ago. Without warning she threw herself into his arms, hugging him with all her strength, burying her face against him. This time she let a few tears fall, her voice more choppy, swollen with emotion.

“I'll be back, okay... I'll be back, I promise. Once I've been around the world, I'll come back here.”

Her fists clenched on the fabric of his coat.

“So I forbid you to die before I return! Don't you dare leave before I come back, there's no way you won't be the first face I see when I set foot here again!”

Slowly, without saying anything, he placed his hands around her to wrap her up, to keep her against him. A few more seconds. He gently placed his lips against her hair, enjoying this embrace that had a special flavor for them. His chin twitched, a few drops of salt water fell on the lens of his glasses. A sharp pain pierced his heart without him expecting it. Roger would have been so proud of her. But right now that wasn't what she wanted to hear, he knew it. Without taking his eyes off her, he said these simple words:

“I couldn't have been more proud of you than I am right now.”

He moved away from her, taking her face in his hands to look at her. Her tears had subsided and she was smiling brightly. He reached under his ever-present coat and pulled out something that stunned Lucia. He put the object in his hands and closed her fingers over it:

“It has accompanied me on my journey with your father. I would be very honoured if you carried it with you now.”

“Ray it's... it's your sword, the one you never use..." Lucia gasped.

“Indeed, I put it away as soon as I gave up piracy. It was just a relic from Roger's time. But it breaks my heart to see it collecting dust like this. And it would look great on you, believe me.”

Lucia clenched her hands on the scabbard of the weapon she was holding as if it might break with the slightest jolt. She suppressed new tears and nodded:

“Does it have a name?”

“It had one, but you can give it another now.”

“Vela," Lucia murmured. “It is the constellation of the veils. Because without you, neither my father nor I could have sailed as we wished.”

This almost innocuous statement shook Rayleigh. God, he had grown attached to this little girl. He kissed her on the forehead and whispered:

“Go conquer the world, princess!”

She nodded and hugged him one last time before turning away and heading for the open sea where the Sunny was already submerged. Rayleigh sat on the embankment overlooking the sea, watching her jump and dive into the water. He took his flask out of his coat and took a sip of the bitter liquid which invigorated his body, while he let a few tears fall again. In his mind, images of Roger, Luffy and Lucia overlapped, bringing up a great nostalgia and a wave of fatherly love for these two young people.

“This must bring back a lot of memories..." Shakky said softly, having joined him without a sound. “You'll miss her terribly I know.”

Rayleigh took a breath before replying:

“After all, it can't be that bad to live longer, can it?”

Shakky laughed, lit her cigarette and then looked out to the horizon. They stayed there until dusk.

Chapter Text

In the calm of the sea currents, the Straw Hat crew stood in awe, watching the light of the surface move ever further from them. Luffy was stationed at the front of the boat, scanning the surface, searching, waiting. Finally a movement caught their attention and they saw Lucia coming towards them, completely surrounded by a bubble similar to the one now covering their ship. She slowly approached them and, very gently, put her hand on her bubble so that it would merge with Sunny's bubble and enter the ship's space. The operation lasted a few seconds and very quickly, the young woman was on the deck with them, her bubble disappearing, swallowed by the ship's skin. Without hesitation, Luffy threw himself into her arms once more, having not had enough earlier. Lucia did not hesitate and returned his embrace. Neither of them shed any tears this time, they were smiling, happy to be together again. Luffy had wrapped his arms around her waist many times, preventing her from running away if she wanted to. She laughed a little and he finally let go of her. Then, in a gesture that surprised her, he grabbed her bracelet and pulled it off his wrist to hand it to her, smiling.

“I- Okay I wasn't expecting that... I wasn't going to claim it you know...”

“Yeah, but I'm thinking that until a few minutes ago I didn't even think I'd be able to give it back to you... it was inconceivable, so now that I've got the chance, I realise that I'm pleased.”

Lucia smiled, moved, and took back her jewel, which she turned between her fingers for a moment. The inscription inside was still there, scratched and a little faded in places, but it was there. It was not a jewel of great market value, but to her it was worth all the gold in the world. She slipped it gently onto her right wrist and had to admit that she was glad to have that familiar feeling again.

“Thanks for keeping it for two years...”

“Oh I didn't do much, Jinbei gave it to me when he told me you were dead and then I kept it with my hat.”

Knowing that he had elevated this little accessory to his precious headgear made Lucia's heart swell with pride and she smiled fondly. She looked around the ship and was surprised to find a canvas bag sitting in the corner. She sighed and walked over to it. It was hers, she shook her head and laughed:

“Let me guess, Ray put this down when he came to give you directions to the ship?”

“Yes," Nami admitted, "but I completely forgot it was there. Is this yours?”

“Yeah...”

“He must have known you'd go with us," Robin answered with a smile.

“No doubt," Lucia muttered, "he's always been one step ahead of me, it's annoying.”

“What's in it?" asked Chopper, curious.

Lucia smiled and opened the bag to show them the contents:

“Mostly clothes and survival supplies, a lot of research work too. I've spent the last two years learning a lot.”

Usopp grabbed a sheet of paper that was sticking out of a book and unfolded a huge, partially completed sky map:

“Woaaaah this is amazing, did you make this?”

“Yes," she confirmed. “I've been fascinated by the stars ever since I was a little girl and I've always wanted to be able to see the sky at a glance. Unfortunately the data we have on Sabaody is quite limited and even in these two years I only have a fraction of what it has to offer. This is also one of the motivations that drives me to travel. I won't be able to see much if I don't move myself.”

“That's for sure," agreed Nami.

“That's great," said Franky, "we have two cartographers now, one for the seas and one for the sky! That's great !”

Luffy looked at Lucia's documents and smiled as he recognised a shape drawn in a corner:

“The eagle.”

“Do you remember it?”

“Of course," Luffy murmured. “You'll be the best astronomer in the world, Luce, that's for sure!”

They exchanged an affectionate glance. Zoro, on the other hand, had been attracted by another bundle of sheets that had escaped from the young woman's bag. She looked at the papers he had grabbed and smiled:

“It's rudimentary, it was at the beginning when I needed to diagram and repeat the movements after training.”

They were sketches of small figures wielding a sword and detailing the steps to reproduce the moves. Zoro glanced at the sword on her belt:

“This is not the same weapon as before.”

Lucia put her hand on the cold pommel of the sword and smiled:

“No indeed, I just got it. I'll have to master it in turn.”

The swordsman smiled:

“If you feel like having an opponent, I'd be happy to fight you. You had a hell of a grip on the other one from the Navy.”

“Thank you, but if you don't mind, we'll wait, I don't want to burst this freshly created bubble.”

“Speaking of bubbles," Robin continued, "you came in one of them, right? Can you materialize them?”

Lucia stood up and waved her hand to create a thin film of thick, slightly soapy, spongy water:

“I spent almost all my years on the archipelago studying coating bubbles and playing with watery elasticity to make the best combination I could. My work was never bad, on the contrary, but it was not perfect. For a year now I have been able to materialise this structure at will, the same structure that is covering your boat at the moment.”

“So you can swim freely in the ocean?”

“Yes," confirmed Lucia. “This protection prevents me from drowning and I can go into the depths once protected. But I'm still subject to a certain lethargy and my body mustn't cross the bubble, otherwise it's ruined and I have to act quickly, if I don't have the reflex to produce this protection, I'll drown. So I might as well say that in the current situation, I wouldn't be the first to rush out.”

They continued to talk for a while and if Lucia was still a little afraid of being too much in this crew, she eventually felt comfortable. They were easy to get along with and talking to them was a real pleasure. They gave her a small cabin that was previously unoccupied. Lucia decided to take some time to sit down and get used to being here. She unpacked her belongings and put them away. She put the book "The Key to the Starry Sky" on her desk and was surprised to see something fall from the last page. It was an envelope with her name on it. Intrigued, she grabbed it and sat down on her bed to open it. She immediately recognised Rayleigh's handwriting.

Lucia,

If you're reading this, you're finally away from Sabaody, and that's good. You need to move on and have your own adventures instead of living your father's, mine or Luffy's by proxy.

I took you back almost ten years ago. Ten long years during which I have seen you grow up. You were one of the most beautiful things that happened to me in my life. Not only were you the last remaining part of my best friend, but you were also a little spark in my miserable retirement.

I did lie to you a little though. I told you that Roger wasn't sure if he had a child. That's not true. In reality I also know who your mother is, she sailed with us for a few years at most. She was a good woman and you are very much like her. Roger was found of her. He would have given her his whole life but things were different, you know better than anyone what I'm talking about. The fact is that one day Roger received a letter from your mother. It was a short letter and it contained a pendant, a small turquoise stone with 'Lucia' engraved on it. Roger was overjoyed. He came straight away to tell me, I had never seen him as happy as he was that day.

At the time I didn't quite understand why a child could bring so much happiness to someone, but I was happy for him without a doubt. Today I regret so much that he didn't know you. He would have been so proud of you and he would be even prouder now. The second I saw you, ten years ago, when you stepped off that Navy ship, I saw him in you. You have your mother's face, there's no doubt about that, but you still have your father's character and look, for anyone who knew him it's obvious. You are a good woman, Lucia, and you aspire to be a great person. Even apart from this "D" thing, I'm speaking as a surrogate father - if you'll allow me to call myself that - you're going to turn the world upside down.

I know you're scared, that the world scares you more than anything else because you have trouble finding your place in it. But you don't have to look for it, Lucia, you have to create it. Make your place for yourself and never doubt your right to exist. No matter what the Navy says, no matter what the pirates say, you have the right to be where you are and you have the right to be loved as you should be. It is not you who needs the world to exist, Lucia, it is the world that needs you to heal itself. Whatever your future choices on these seas, I know that you will take the path that resembles you the most and in which you can finally realize your dreams. Know that you will have my support no matter what.

It took me years to find you, far too many years. You don't know how much I felt when you told us everything you had been through since your mother died. I was ashamed of myself. I never told you. I'm sorry. I should have found you before all this. But in the end, I dare to believe that this ordeal will have built you up and then finally, you had the opportunity to forge your first real family. To find your family in the person of Ace.

You have often asked me if everything was already written up there... I still don't know, but I like to think that you are shaping the future. You are writing it and shaping it. I can't wait to see the world once you have fulfilled your dreams. In the meantime, the Sabaody will always be open to you, and so will the door to Shakky's bar. I will miss you Lucia, as an assistant to work with but also as a protege. I will be waiting for you.

Take care Lucia, think of yourself and live fully, you are surrounded by beautiful people you can trust,

I love you,

Ray.

Ps: There is an eternal pose placed in the inside pocket of the bag, it points to the archipelago wherever you are. You never know, if you feel lost, you know how to get home.

Lucia sniffed and wiped her eyes in a rage:

“Ray... you bastard...”

She cried for a while in her room, upset by these words that she had never heard from Rayleigh, who was never really expressive about his feelings. And yet she knew that every letter was thought out, every syllable, every sentence was sincere. For a few minutes she regretted having left, she had a crazy desire to go back, to go back there. Then she remembered that this was not what she wanted, nor what he wanted either. So she just smiled and folded up the letter, put it in the envelope and put it in the corner of the desk, placing the eternal pose she had gone to get from the bag on the paper. The pose was surrounded by a wooden base with "SABAODY" engraved on it, and the trembling needle pointed desperately to the surface. She ran her hand over her eyes one last time to wipe away the few remaining tears:

“I love you too, Ray. I love you too.”

When she emerged from her cabin, she discovered a rather intriguing scene. The ship's cook, Sanji, was hooked up to half a dozen blood bags while the entire crew was having an improvised meal. She went down to join them. Franky announced that he had something to tell the rest of the crew. Lucia took a seat on the grass and lay down on the ground, her eyes fixed on the ocean above them. Franky glanced at her:

“You know what I'm going to talk about, right?”

“I have my own ideas on the subject," the young woman replied. “But please go ahead, I can add details it if you need to.”

Franky nodded and began to tell the story of how their ship, the Sunny, had been the object of multiple attacks by the Navy who wanted to take it. Hachi and then Duval had been seriously wounded while defending it at the risk of their lives, they had to give up. And finally another warrior had intervened. Bartholomew Kuma, the Warlord. Franky explained that when he had arrived in front of the Sunny a week ago, he had found the pirate in front of the ship and had simply stood up after saying that his mission was over. The boat was intact. He also transcribed the part of the story Rayleigh had told him. When he had dispersed the crew two years earlier, Kuma had approached the ex-pirate and explained that what he wanted to do was to save the Straw Hat crew and that ejecting them from the island was the best solution. In reality, Kuma was part of the revolutionary army and he had saved their lives that day. Since then Kuma had become a laboratory test and had become a cyborg. He had just obtained a promise from the one who had completely modified him: to protect the Sunny until one of its crew member returned. That explained Kuma's presence in front of the Sunny until then.

“So far, does it match your version, Lucia?" asked Franky.

“I have nothing more to say about it. All I can say is that when Kuma kicked me out of the archipelago too, he said some words I'll never forget. "I'm sorry. I have to maintain my cover as much as possible now. You are the one who will help me do that. But if it's any consolation, they're all safe. This is goodbye, The Elementalist Lucia."”

“Maintaining his cover?" Nami wondered. “Towards whom? The Navy?”

“That's what I deduced too. I came back to the archipelago six months ago, Ray asked me to go and take a look at the ship after he'd put the coating on so I could check it out by myself. I couldn't get near the boat. Kuma was defending him tooth and nail, so I argued with him. I'm not a member of your crew so I wasn't part of his mission. I think Kuma knew that his actions would be viewed with suspicion by his superiors. I wasn't part of his plan, but I was a sort of guarantee against myself. Kuma willingly sent me to the outskirts of a Navy headquarters to deliver me into their hands and reassure them of his cooperation as a Warlord. He sacrificed his humanity, but to the end he wanted to protect you. Whether this has anything to do with Dragon or not, I have no idea, but you all owe him that much.”

“I agree," Franky continued.

The carpenter finished his story and the whole crew nodded. They were stunned by the story he had just told them but they had to keep going. They were more than 1000 metres deep.

“It's very quiet," said Robin. “It's very different from what you feel when you're in a submarine, it's like flying in the sky.”

Lucia smiled, Robin's reflection reminding her of the long weeks she had spent in the Pirates Heart Polar Tang:

“Yes... I agree," she confirmed. “It's very relaxing. Almost hypnotic.”

She loved being underwater, she was sure. She had never been so calm as when she was surrounded by water. And the sea was beautiful. It's so cruel for devil fruit eaters to be deprived of this sight because of the fear of imminent death that it inspires.

Usopp broke their peace by announcing the imminent arrival of a ship heading straight for them. Within seconds, the hull of the oncoming pirate ship collided violently with the Sunny's, throwing everyone off balance. They straightened up and discovered a row of pirates, ready to board the ship and take possession of it. The crew immediately set about avoiding them and fleeing the ship, but their adversaries were not letting up.

“They want to merge the two bubbles," said Lucia.

Lucia put a hand on her sword, ready to fight, as did all the other members. With a leap, Caribou launched himself onto the deck of the Sunny, but he could not be followed by his crew because their sea cow fled and dragged the ship away from them. The Straw Hat pirates immediately let the tension drop, realising that they had only one opponent and that he had not noticed anything. Very calmly, he was tied up with a rope and the incident was over.

Soon the temperature of the water began to drop as they sank into the depths. Lucia gave them a briefing on the underwater currents, supplemented by Nami, Brook and Franky who were well informed.

“Lucia, you can't influence the underwater currents I suppose?”

“No, that's just it, the strength of these currents is insane and it's sea water after all... I can feel them but that's all. If we get close to a current that's too dangerous and leads us into the abyss, I'll warn you, no need to panic.”

“Great, I'm much more reassured to know that you're with us," answered Usopp, kneeling down in front of her.

“Ah... by the way," Lucia remarked. “We're entering a current, here we are.”

“It's the Feather," explained Nami.

“Yep, hang on, it's going to move," said Lucia, laughing. “It's a gigantic waterfall!”

Chapter Text

Lucia was amazed, as were many of the ship's passengers, with a few exceptions who were screaming their heads off. Yet a small presence made her pause. She turned around and poked her head over the railing, intrigued.

“It's weird..." she muttered.

She heard Caribou yell that there was a monster and that she should turn back.

“There's no monster..." replied Usopp.

“Uh... I don't want to ruin the mood... but... well, just turn around...”

They were facing the kraken, the sea demon, and it was blocking their way.

“I just had a great idea," declared Luffy.

“I fear the worst," muttered Lucia.

“We're going to tame that big octopus!”

“Yes, I'm not surprised," sighed Lucia.

The whole crew fell over themselves at the sound of this completely absurd idea. Usopp and Chopper were resolutely against it. Robin was drawing, Zoro agreed to tame it. Lucia waited with an amused smile. Finally, Zoro, Sanji and Luffy took up positions in three self-contained battle bubbles and jumped into the water to confront the kraken. On the ship, all the crew members were multiplying their techniques to avoid having the ship crushed by the power of the sea monster. Unsurprisingly, the three strong heads who had thrown themselves into the fight brought the kraken down in a matter of seconds as the rest of the crew watched in amazement.

“Oh that doesn't smell good though..." said Lucia.

“What? What is it?" asked Usopp, worried.

“We're being swept away by the current, we absolutely must get those three back in the boat or they won't last long!”

“They won't make it, look at them, they are already swept away!” exclaimed Robin.

The boat started to follow their three friends. Clinging to the railing, Nami gave instructions to avoid crashing against the rocks in their free fall.

“If we don't do anything we'll be in trouble!" the sailor shouted.

Lucia gritted her teeth, clinging to the front of the ship herself, she put her hand on the bubble of the ship and shot a stream of clear water out. She felt her legs weaken and wobble from the contact with the sea water but she held on. Summoning all her strength, she used the power of her own current to right the boat and stabilise it in the direction Nami wanted. The speed at which they were falling was insane. One after the other, the crew members lost consciousness, intoxicated by the fall. Only Franky and Lucia were left to try and break the fall of the ship. Lucia threw her second arm towards the opposite side of the ship and repeated the same operation as before, creating a stream of clear water that surrounded the ship. Her knees buckled. With a determined look, against the pressure and numbness, she forced the fresh water to support the bubble of the liner and steer the ship away from the rocks, then managed to stabilise it on the bottom before she ran out of strength. She dropped to the ground, panting with a small satisfied laugh.

“Is it always like this with you? You're on the verge of disaster every second?”

“It happens quite often," Franky laughed. “Well done anyway, you saved our lives I think.”

“Come on, if you hadn't been at the helm I couldn't have done anything.”

“I thought your body couldn't get out into the sea?” he asked.

“It's more complex than that. I can put a hand or a foot in the water if you want, the rule is: the more I'm immersed, the worse off I am. But the water I produce can come into contact with the ocean. It takes a lot of energy and my room for manoeuvre is not incredible. But it's done. That's how I can circulate in the sea water, having a bubble is good, being able to direct it is better.”

Little by little, they all came to their senses to realize that they had definitely lost Luffy, Sanji and Zoro in their fall. They were at a depth of about 7000 meters, the cold was icy and the darkness total. Lucia was on the alert, she had the feeling that she was being watched from all sides. When Franky created some light they discovered dozens of sea monsters surrounding them and slaloming around their ship. Lucia was stunned. Unlike the others she did not scream in terror. She slowly approached the bubble, her face a few centimetres from the spongy texture, and looked into the eyes of the huge fish in front of her.

“This little one is special~”

Lucia gave a little cry of surprise and fell back, dropping to the ground, one hand on her ear, stunned.

“Lucia are you alright?" asked Chopper.

“Erm... I... I think...”

She was stunned. The monster hadn't taken his eyes off her, she was sure he was staring at her and that she hadn't been dreaming. Did it speak? Seriously, can this thing talk?

“Can she hear us?~”

“It seems so... it's strange, it's like the last time... there have been several of them already~”

“GET THE FUCK OUT OF HERE!!!” screamed Nami, terrified of the behemoths.

“No, wait - okay too late," Lucia gave up.

They walked away from the monster bench without asking for help, Lucia in great confusion. I heard sea monsters talking... everything is fine... everything is fine... no nothing is fine as I am the only one who heard those voices... help, I'm going crazy!

They continued to drift along, desperately looking for their three lost friends.

“This darkness scares the hell out of me!”

“Same here," added Chopper, with tears in his eyes. “You can't see anything.”

“Let me try something," muttered Lucia.

She approached the bubble again and with a calm gesture created her own bubble before stepping outside the ship. Once outside, she began to slowly move in the currents, and with one hand directly in the ocean, she smiled and began to play with the water between her fingers, creating little bubbles, little eddies...

“Come on... come on girl... come on... you want to come and see what it's like.”

She laughed as she saw a huge jellyfish approaching her. The mollusc began to wriggle as it spun around, slaloming through the movements of the water created by Lucia. As she wiggled, tiny luminescent particles detached from her and drifted into the ocean.

“That's it, dance for me darling...” Lucia whispered.

Slowly, Lucia surrounded these little sparks with new bubbles and immediately, the soft glow emanating from them reverberated on the water surface, creating a myriad of blue reflections. In the end, she isolated several dozen particles in a few moments, which drifted around the ship. Satisfied, Lucia calmly returned to the Sunny's protective bubble as the crew looked on in wonder.

“It's incredible”, Usopp breathed, “it's like being under a starry sky, it's magnificent!”

“A work of art," Brook complimented her.

“It's nothing," Lucia replied, "it may give us a little more light but not for long, it's bound to drift away from us. Let's enjoy it while we can.”

Their wonderment was broken when Brook reported the disappearance of the pirate they had tied up with a rope earlier. Lucia felt like hitting herself:

“Oh dear, I'm sorry, I completely forgot to tell you, that pirate ate a Logia devil fruit, the rope didn't do anything to him.”

“But that's terrible!” shouted Chopper and Usopp.

“So he's still on the ship..." muttered Robin.

They began to scan the deck with a wary eye. Finally Franky flushed him out without a care and locked him in a tightly closed wooden barrel.

The heat suddenly began to rise in the Sunny's bubble. Lucia pulled on her top, suffocating. They were entering an area of underwater volcanoes. They had to do a lot of bursting to escape the many dangers that lurked in the deep sea. Lucia watched as the bubble sank a little more with each air leak from the ship. A huge glow caught their attention, and without them expecting it, a huge lanternfish was already opening its mouth to swallow the ship. They dodged at the last second and finally found themselves facing a new sea monster that had the appearance of a human. With one punch, the monster hit the fish that had almost swallowed them a few seconds earlier. Then, behind him, a ship appeared. Its sail was stamped with the words "The Flying Dutchman" and soon the crew began to speculate about whether it was a ghost ship or not, spreading legends and rumours. Lucia laughed at the scene, not really frightened.

“The water temperature is rising, isn't it?”

“Yes...” Lucia confirmed, “and I can feel the water stirring under our feet... it's bubbling down there.”

“THE DARK MONSTER IS GOING TO ATTACK US!!!” shouted Usopp.

Just as the monster was about to smash its fist into the ship, the kraken stepped in to defend the Sunny. He knocked out the sea monster in no time, and from the depths of the sea, Luffy, Zoro and Sanji reappeared, trapped in the same bubble.

“And so you tamed the kraken?" Lucia asked amused. “You didn't waste any time, my goodness!”

“Come on, shoot the Sunny, Surume !” ordered Luffy.

Without wasting a second, the kraken carried the boat at the end of its tentacles and started to pull it but an explosion stopped it dead in its tracks. All eyes converged on the horizon, which was turning dangerously red.

“What is that?" asked Luffy.

“Oh Nami, tell me it's not what I think it is..." Lucia stammered as she turned white.

A tremor shook the entire floor.

“The underwater volcanoes... are going to erupt..." said Nami.

“We're too close to the inferno," said Franky.

Before he could hear a command, the kraken was scurrying away, terrified of the catastrophe behind him. Lucia was on alert. And the volcano exploded. A stream of magma poured out all over the seabed, raising the temperature of the water significantly. Lucia tried to create a water sphere, which instantly began to smoke from the heat. She was panting, sweating.

“This sucks... I can't regulate the temperature of so much water!”

“It feels like we're being dipped in boiling oil," Usopp whimpered. “We're going to get scalded alive.”

Seeing the tide of magma approaching them at high speed brought back painful memories for Lucia. For a moment, Akainu's face popped into her mind and she nervously clenched her hand on the scar on her chest. We mustn't get caught up or we're all dead. They all began to encourage the kraken to pick up the pace and run faster. Following Nami's orders, the kraken plunged into a bottomless pit that appeared before them. Another eruption caused the ground beside them to explode and a landslide tumbled into the chasm, huge rocks falling around the ship.

“If it hits us, the ship will explode!”

He managed to stall the landslide and stop the falling rocks with a plant ball that grew algae, holding back the debris and allowing the ship to escape the disaster. Lucia sighed. But soon a noise caught her attention, as all the crew members cheered the kraken for helping them, Lucia rushed to the bow of the ship and shouted:

“WATCH OUT!”

A rock fell right on the octopus and knocked it out. He let go of the ship and it went into free fall.

When Lucia opened her eyes again, she was dazzled by the bright light that pierced the bubble. She craned her neck, fascinated by the sight before her. They were there. They had reached it, Fishmen Island stood before them. She was amazed by the clear water, the dozens of coloured fish, the rays of light that made this show magical.

“It's beautiful...” she breathed.

Euphoric, Luffy hugged her, shouting with joy, and she started to laugh with him, uncontrollably. I can't wait to see him again.

They were stopped by a horde of giant sea monsters towering over them. Lucia immediately plugged her ears again, overwhelmed by voices she didn't know where they came from. They were challenged by a fish-man riding a monster who offered them a deal: join his crew to erase the outrage they had inflicted on Arlong or die. Of course Luffy refused outright. The crew prepared to flee and attempt one last master stroke to reach the Fishman Island safely.

“So, Straw Hat Luffy, have you made up your mind?" asked their opponent.

“I don't want to... congerhead!" replied Luffy with a grimace.

Lucia approached him and hit him on the head:

“You don't have to provoke him, you triple moron!”

In a last ditch effort, Franky delivered a final burst that sent the ship hurtling towards the island. The air became thinner on the ship and the bubble shrank until it crushed them on the deck. Lucia could hardly catch her breath. The Sunny passed the first layer of bubble on the island and evaporated the ship's skin. Lucia looked on in horror at what lay ahead:

“The island has a double structure, there is a second bubble waiting for us but this one... is filled with water!”

Lucia reached out her hand, creating a new bubble at full speed. I won't have time to get everyone back. The fruit eaters first. She was about to cover Brook when a sharp pain shot through her chest and took her breath away. She bent over, her face scrunched up in pain. No, not now... With her fingers planted in her chest, she felt her heart speed up at a crazy rate, causing her to feel dizzy and unsteady. When the boat entered the second layer, the one that led them into the water, a violent jolt knocked her over and she found herself on the ground, bent over, trying to catch her breath and calm her crazy heart.

“LUCE!" shouted Luffy.

She looked up to see him reaching for her, but he was swept away by the water, which hit them all at once. They were all thrown off the ship, at the mercy of the swirling current. Lucia saw Luffy's eyes roll back, his mouth open to let the air in his lungs out and slowly sink. She held her own breath and tried to fight the paralysis the ocean was imposing on her. She reached out to try to reach Luffy, barely managing to flap her legs to propel herself. The current is too strong... I won't make it... Her fingers brushed against her friend's skin before the sea won against her. She finally exhaled. The water invaded her lungs. Her vision became blurred. She lost consciousness.

With a sore throat and burning eyes, Lucia came to. She coughed several times, spitting out salt water. She sat up groaning, her body completely sore.

“Misery, my head...”

“Lucia, you're awake!" Chopper shouted as he threw himself around her neck, tears streaming down his cheeks.

She rubbed her eyes and discerned several shapes.

“Are you awake?" asked Usopp.

“You scared the hell out of us," Sanji commented, "but I'm glad you're still with us.”

“Yeah... rumor says that I have several lives..." Lucia said ironically while rubbing her temples. “Where are we...”

She looked around at her surroundings and was stunned to recognise the figure standing before her:

“But you're- you're the mermaid from the auction house, the one Luffy saved two years ago?!” she exclaimed.

“Yes, my name is Caimie. I'm glad to see you're okay.”

“Wait, wait, wait... but does that mean we made it, we're on the island? What about Luffy? What about the others?”

“Calm down," Chopper soothed him. “Yes, we're on the island, we don't know where the others are, but if you look down you should be reassured.”

Lucia complied and looked at Luffy's still sleeping - unconscious - face, right next to her. A weight evaporated from her chest and she gently placed her hand in the pirate's hair.

“Thank God... “

Chopper hadn't taken his eyes off Lucia and looked worried:

“Say... on the ship... what happened? You seemed to be in a lot of pain...”

Flashes came back to Lucia. The pain. The palpitations. She smiled gently.

“Nothing serious, don't worry, just a little tired.”

“Mmmh... if you say so...” declared the reindeer, not very convinced.

After a few minutes, Luffy also came to, stunned but happy to find his friend Caimie. While they were talking, Lucia stretched and took the time to get up. Their clothes were brought back, dried and washed. Then Caimie took them a little higher up, above the dormitory where she was staying. She showed them the structure of the buildings and told them about Hatchan, the octopus man, and Papagg, the starfish. These names brought back memories for Lucia, she had seen them two years ago on the Sabaody. They eventually burst through the surface, realising that the island did indeed have a sky despite being over 10,000 metres below the surface. They were then greeted by half a dozen mermaids, each more beautiful than the last. Caimie introduced them and Lucia was surprised to see that no one reacted to her name. Were human affairs so far removed from those of the Fishmen? How much news did the two kingdoms share? Looking thoughtful, Lucia sat on the ground, her legs soaking in the water. She enjoyed the feel of the cool water on her skin and looked up at the sky. They were so far from the surface. How ostracized had this place been? But in that moment, seeing Sanji's smug look and the others' smiles, she brushed off her questions with a shake of her head and smiled. She might as well take a rest after all the emotions she had gone through to get here.

Chapter Text

Laughing at Sanji's acrobatics, Lucia raised her head when Luffy approached her with his puppy dog eyes:

“What do you want?”

“Couldn't you make me a bubble? I want to swim too! Please? »

« Ta ta ta, no. One: I'd like to try to recover a little and therefore not push my body, and two: I'm too afraid to take my eyes off you for a second now.”

“Come on", he begged her, "just a tiny little bubble of nothing.”

“I said no.”

“You're not funny," Luffy grumbled, pouting.

“Don't worry Luffy, there are craftsmen in town who can make you one in less than two seconds," Caimie reassured him.

“Is it true? Oh that's so cool!" exclaimed the pirate. “See Luce, at least they're nice!”

“NORMAL IT'S THEIR JOB YOU IDIOT!" Lucia exclaimed.

She sighed. Still, she was really afraid to let him go in the water now.

“Hey Caimie, you know what?” he asked her

“No," answered the intrigued mermaid.

“There's someone I have to see at all costs while I'm here on Fishman Island," Luffy declared.

Lucia smiled, he too had come partly for that.

“Did you? Let me guess, the mermaid princess?”

“No," laughed Luffy, "it's Jinbei.”

“The boss Jinbei?” said Caimie with a surprised tone.

“Wait Luffy," interrupted Usopp, "Jinbei, you mean one of the seven Warlords? Or rather former one since he resigned after the war.”

“Hm, hm, that's right, he's a friend of mine”, confirmed Luffy.

“What?! Are you kidding me?! You are already friends with the empress of Amazon Lily, with him too?”

“Yeah," answered Luffy. “When Ace died two years ago, and he told me that Lucia had died too, I almost lost my mind, but luckily he was there and I got through it.”

Lucia laughed softly as Luffy yelled that he wanted to see Jinbei. He then turned his head towards her:

“You wanted to come for him too, didn't you?”

“Indeed," Lucia agreed, "you owe him your life and for that I will be eternally grateful. I wanted to see him again and thank him myself.”

“So, where can we find Jinbei ?” Luffy asked Caimie.

“Uh, actually, it's going to be hard to meet him, he's not on the island right now?”

“HUUUUUH ??!” exclaimed the two friends, stunned and disappointed.

“You know, two years ago, after the war, he gave up his title of Warlord. As a result, the former members of the Fishman pirate crew were not allowed to stay here anymore. So they all left the island with Jinbei and I don't know where they are now.”

Luffy was depressed, Lucia thoughtful. They were disappointed. But they didn't have time to return to this subject when Caimie's five friends came to tell them that a royal ship was on its way. Fearing that it was to coming to catch Luffy and his companions who had entered the island without permission, the Straw Hat crew and Lucia hid behind some rocks so as not to be seen. The ship approached and announced the three Neptune brothers, the three princes of Fishmen Island kingdom. Next to Luffy, Lucia stepped forward to try and get a look in and see what was going on. Unsurprisingly, the three princes asked the mermaids if they had seen those who had infiltrated the territory without permission. Lucia exchanged a knowing look with Luffy, she had put a hand on his shoulder to lean and watch and she felt Luffy take her hand and squeeze it hard. She smiled and then refocused on the three speakers. Faced with the lack of clues given by the mermaids, accomplices of the straw hats, the three princes turned back without having obtained the desired information.

“It feels like they're leaving..." muttered Usopp.

“I'll feel better when we don't see their ship anymore...” Lucia whispered.

However, Sanji couldn't stand the shock any longer and hemorrhaged powerfully, drawing attention inexorably to them. Out of the corner of her eye, Lucia saw the gondola return to them and unload soldiers who stood in front of them.

“Lucia, can you do something for Sanji? On the Sabaody you helped Hatchan heal, right?” asked Chopper, helpless.

“I can't create blood doc, all I can do is keep the blood flowing through the veins to help the cells heal and regenerate, but he's lost too much now.”

“What a bummer!" moans Usopp.

“And then we have another problem," said Lucia when she saw the soldiers.

Without saying a word, Luffy sat up, looking grim. Sensing that the conflict was about to get out of hand, Chopper stepped in front of Luffy and screamed for his life:

“No, please stop! It's true we came in illegally, but please don't arrest us now! Please, we absolutely need a blood donation to save one of us. It's urgent, if we don't do something immediately he will die within the hour! His blood type is S negative, which is very rare. Is there anyone among you with this group?”

“It's too bad," grumbled Usopp, "he can't just kick the bucket!”

“We need someone," said Luffy, bowing to the ground, "I beg you! Save Sanji!”

Lucia added her voice to theirs:

“Please, you're not going to let someone die in front of you like that!”

“Chopper, Luffy, Lucia, listen to me," Caimie intervened, "the blood of fish-men and humans is the same, a transfusion is possible... only...”

A laugh cut off the mermaid's statement. Immediately all eyes turned to the place where the sound came from and the pirates discovered with astonishment the one who had tried to stop them earlier, before they had entered the island. They were literally laughing at them. He told them that no one on their island would give their blood to "an inferior being". These words revolted Lucia, who instantly thought of the Celestial Dragons she had seen and despised so much during her childhood on Sabaody. She clenched her fist to restrain herself, having a furious urge to strike the fish-man. Ignoring her anger, he continued his diatribe and explained that in his country, there was not only a law that forbade any blood transfusion between humans and fishmen, but that it had been put in place by humans. Lucia quickly put two and two together and realised that this was one of the many consequences of the thousand year old racism between humans and fishmen. What a waste. So much energy wasted on hating each other for nonsense.

Then the fish-man told them briefly about the history of hatred between their two species, mentioning a name that went like a bomb in Lucia's mind. Fisher Tiger. If these syllables left Luffy and the others unmoved, Lucia could only lower her eyes and contain her growing anger. She knew the name. She knew his exploits. And she suspected easily enough the circumstances of his death. At the end of his speech, the fish-man ordered them to leave Sanji bleeding to death and to follow them to the Fish-man district to meet a certain Hody Jones who wanted to see them. As he threatened to take them by force, Luffy quickly put them down and calmed the monster who wanted to avenge his masters. As everyone realised what had happened in a matter of seconds, Caimie grabbed the royal gondola and asked Luffy to join her so she could take them into town and hopefully find a donor. Luffy agreed and was about to get on with the others when Lucia grabbed him by the arm:

“Wait... I want to go a little further if I can't find what I'm looking for.”

“Okay, take care of yourself!”

“Thanks, you too! Don't get into too much trouble!”

He quickly hugged her before jumping on the gondola and let her go. Leaving the rest of the crew to deal with Sanji Lucia blew a bubble in one motion and dived into the water, skimming the bottom and slaloming between the mermaids, then descending deeper and deeper to get away from those who wanted to get their hands on them. I was right, this kingdom is far more damaged than one might suspect on the surface. But that's not what concerns me anymore. Despite what Caimie told us... I am sure you are here... Jinbei.

When she lifted her head out of the water, she was already far from the creek. She emerged completely and looked at where she had landed after so much swimming. She shook off a few drops of water that were still beading in her hair and looked up to the sky. A huge coral forest stood before her. Once again she marvelled at the dreamlike, almost unreal beauty of the place, although she could not completely erase from her mind the sad truth that hung over the Fishmen kingdom. She replayed the incident of the blood transfusion that had taken place earlier, a direct echo of her own experience on Sabaody. Fishmen and humans had no contact with each other, all because of a selfishness coupled with a pretentious hatred of the unknown. Humans were pitiful.

She stepped into the coral cluster, guided only by her perceptive Haki. There was someone a little further on. The place had a solemnity that calmed her instantly. She walked slowly, attentive to the sounds, the play of light in the sky. She admired the ballet of the fish. It was as if this place was cut off from the world, out of the time that governed the rest of things. With silence as her only companion, Lucia wandered for several minutes, letting her instincts guide her. Eventually she saw what looked like a hill, or at least a mound, immersed in the water. She saw a stone structure that looked like a memorial and next to it... a seated figure. A smile stretched the young woman's lips. She approached the thin bubble that marked the submersible area and sank into the cool water once more. A bubble covered her body and she continued walking towards her destination.

She took the time to move forward but did not want to disturb the peace of the one she had been looking for since she arrived. She stood at a safe distance, respecting his contemplation and his silence. She knew that he had certainly already sensed her presence and that he would see her when he felt ready. Indeed, after several minutes, she saw him start to move and turn around. Her smile widened.

“Hi... Jinbei," Lucia whispered.

Jinbei could not believe his eyes, in front of him was a person he never thought he would see again. It was simply impossible. And yet. It was her. Lucia laughed and sat down opposite him:

“As I thought, the news hasn't reached you yet. I think it's already made its way to the surface.”

“How... Lucia... The Elementalist Lucia... but you were...”

“Dead? Yes I know, it's a long story...”

It took Jinbei several minutes to recover from the shock, the tears in the corners of his eyes rolled down his cheeks and he cried with joy for a few seconds.

“Come on..." Lucia said, "I'm glad to see you again too, Jinbei.”

He raised his head, still as moved as ever. He then took the time to look at her, appreciating the changes that had taken place in her. Physically. And not only that. He recognized the impulsive and angry girl he had met in the cell at Impel Down, the broken and desperate sister who had stood on the scaffold at her brother's side, and now, two years later, she had become a woman of integrity and integrity, full of convictions and values that he did not doubt were well founded. He in turn began to smile, deeply happy to see her before him, alive.

“If you want a brief explanation," Lucia continued, "when you and Luffy landed on Amazon Lily, I was also on board Trafalgar Law's submarine, but I was not dead, as he led you to believe. I was still unconscious, in a relative coma, from which he wasn't even sure I would wake up.”

“That's why he preferred to lie and tell us you were dead... in case it turned out to be true in the near future?”

“Among other things," Lucia explained. “I had to get over the shock if my heart or mind couldn't take it. There was also the external situation, Trafalgar thought it more appropriate to hide my existence after the events in Marineford. In the end, only he, his crew and Rayleigh knew about it. I can't say whether this was a good or bad choice, but I think it has given me the last two years to rebuild myself.”

“You have changed Lucia, I can feel it immediately and I am really happy to see it with my own eyes. Yet you said "the news hasn't reached here", does that mean that on the surface the world knows you are alive?”

“Well yes, let's just say that my departure from Sabaody was done in chaos and I had the immense privilege of meeting my friends from the Navy again who immediately recognised me of course. By now, the headquarters must be in chaos," she laughs. “Not only do they have the news of Luffy's crew's return but also a ghost they have to deal with.”

“Luffy's with you, right?" asked Jinbei.

“Yes," agreed Lucia. “I don't know where exactly at the moment but I'm not too worried, I've had a chance to see his progress by my eyes.”

“So you got my message?”

“Which message? No, not at all... did you send us something?”

“What- Well yes... how did you find me if not with my indication?”

Lucia gave him a mysterious smile before answering:

“Perceptive haki and sensory memory.”

Jinbei raised an eyebrow.

“Every living thing gives off pheromones and water: sweat and tears. This combination is unique to each person. I've honed my senses to be able to pick up on some people's. Yours was one of them, it was not easy here as we are surrounded by water but I still managed.”

“Your Haki is intrinsically linked to your devil fruit... that's impressive," Jinbei breathed.

“I finally succeeded in applying the instruction I've been given since at least ten years”, Lucia laughed. “It would have taken me a while, but I did it.”

She put her hands flat behind her and tilted her head towards the sky before continuing:

“I wanted to thank you most of all...”

Jinbei looked at her without really understanding.

“Thank you for protecting Luffy at the risk of your life, thank you for saving him. I couldn't bear to wake up and find out I'd lost him too. I know I gave an "order" to Marco and you before attacking Akainu head on, but I have no memory of it... in any case, I will forever be indebted to you Jinbei.”

“Come on, don't be so formal, Lucia. It was obvious to me that Luffy had to be saved. For Ace's sake, for the old man's sake, and also because he's someone I respect and value. There was no way the Navy could get their hands on him.”

“I also know that it was you who helped him waking up, so thank you for that too. And I'm sorry I put you through the trouble of telling him I was dead, even if it was a lie.”

“I'm more than happy to know it was a lie, Lucia, really. You and Luffy are good people who deserve to live and who will change the world. Ace was too, unfortunately for him the world decided otherwise.”

“Yes..." Lucia murmured.

Her gaze turned to the small white mausoleum in front of which Jinbei was meditating before she arrived:

“Who lies here?" she asked.

“Otohime, the former queen of this kingdom, she was slain years ago.”

“Oh... I'm sure she was a good person," Lucia said softly.

“Yes, she was a great queen and an exemplary mother, she spoke very honourably, advocating tolerance and kindness to all.”

“I would have loved to have had the opportunity to meet her," Lucia admitted thoughtfully.

Silence fell between them before Jinbei spoke again, his eyes riveted on the mausoleum:

“Have you been there? To his grave?”

“Yes," Lucia answered without looking at him. “After a year and a half of training, I was supposed to return to the Sabaody, but I asked to make a small diversions. I was granted it.”

Lucia landed on the dock and, without a backward glance, stepped forward. She immediately recognised the man standing before her. She pulled the cloths covering her body and face tighter.

“Who are you?" asked the man waiting for her, in a harsh tone.

“Not an enemy," Lucia replied in her deep voice. “I've come to say goodbye to someone.”

“You do? And can I ask who?”

Lucia sighed and, in a slow movement, revealed her face. His eyes widened, heis mouth opened without letting any sound out, his body went numb.

“I've come to say goodbye to my brother... please Marco... I need to see him...”

“Lu... Lucia... how...”

Tears welled up in the eyes of the former commander of the first Whitebeard’s division. Emotionally, Lucia approached him and they embraced each other.

“I wanted to find you," he explained as he walked her down the path. “I tried until the end, Shanks too. But you were nowhere to be found. We had our doubts, but we made up our minds. It's amazing that you're still alive.”

“Thank you for trying, but in the end it's not so bad that you didn't succeed at the time, I'm sure the Navy would have done anything to get me back. Saying I was dead gave me a break.”

“I understand that.”

“Thank you also... for protecting Luffy. And I'm sorry... about the old man. I learned when I woke up.”

New tears rolled down Marco's cheeks but he wiped them away:

“Luffy was all we had left of Ace, we had to save him. We had already lost so much. Ace. You. Father. Leaving Luffy to die meant we'd never have the courage to look at ourselves in the mirror afterwards."

“I'm grateful, if you ever need anything, don't hesitate.”

“Calling in a dead person will make me look like a fool," Marco laughed.

“We already think you're crazy, but that doesn't stop us from liking you," Lucia taunted him.

The former pirate burst out laughing. Lucia smiled:

“Did you hang up? After your fight with Blackbeard?”

“Yeah... it wasn't pretty... Whitebeard's crew died with their captain two years ago but they officially disbanded a few months later after that fight against Thatch.””

“I'm sorry, again. I hope everyone else is okay.”

“I don't have much contact with them I must admit, I tried to get away from it all, on this island. I'm only a doctor now.”

“It's a vocation that suits you very well," Lucia complimented him.

Eventually they arrived at the three graves that had been erected by Shanks and Whitebeard's former crew. Lucia gently sat down in front of the one named after her brother. She removed her disguise, letting the wind whip her face. Tears ran silently down her cheeks. She closed her eyes, bowed her head, and took her time. Then, after many minutes, she lifted her tear-streaked face, reached into her pocket and pulled out a silver brooch. It was the jewel Ace had given her more than ten years ago, after Sabo's death. She kissed it tenderly and placed it on the grave as a final farewell offering. She had never worn it, always afraid of damaging it. She had preferred to keep it in a box at home. Now she knew she had to get rid of it to move on for good. A sob crushed her throat as her hand left the small object. Then she stood up and turned to the grave to her left. Her own. "GOL. D. LUCIA" written in capital letters on the immaculate stone.

“You were wrong," she said with a smile.

“Yes, apparently," confirmed Marco, who had remained a few steps away.

Lucia shook her head:

“Not in that sense. What I mean is that the one who died that day was The Elementalist Lucia. A part of me will never come back from Marineford. I dare to hope it's to let something better come along.”

“I don't doubt it," Marco whispered.

He had moved closer and stood beside her, an arm around her shoulders to comfort her. They stood side by side for a while in front of the three graves, in a silence heavy with grief but also with hope and reassurance. Slowly, Lucia bent down and plucked a flower that was growing beside the graves.

“A white lily...” she breathed.

“It was Ace's favourite flower," Marco explained, "he always had one in his cabin. We never knew why...”

Lucia's throat tightened again as she heard this anecdote she didn't know. She laughed nervously and laid the flower flat on the grave beside the brooch:

“It may be pretentious... but I think it's because of me... it's my favourite flower too. He gave me one for a birthday once, when we were kids... He and Luffy decided one day to celebrate my birthday even though it was a totally innocent date... it's one of my fondest memories.”

“I'm very happy that we planted some between your two graves then," murmured Marco.

Chapter Text

Lucia said no more, her eyes still fixed on the mausoleum. She did not cry. She had been at peace with herself ever since. Jinbei let the words sink into his mind, grasping their full extent, hearing their resonance and importance. He savoured the delicacy and sincerity of the testimony, which overwhelmed him.

“It wasn't fair, you didn't have to go through that...” he finally sighed.

“No one should have to go through this, Jinbei, we are not the first, and certainly won't be the last unfortunately...”

Lucia's face darkened as she continued:

“I still believe that Ace and the old man died for the wrong reasons... but they are not the only ones and I will not change things by complaining... this world is sick Jinbei... very sick... and I dare to believe that I can do something to heal it...”

“Is that why you went to the seas?”

“Among other things... I need to see the world and meet the right people to make the right decisions. I need to see things.”

Jinbei nodded, he understood. He sighed:

“This is so cruel. What you went through was so cruel. You and Ace were so young, you didn't have to suffer like that. Luffy too.”

“Yeah...” Lucia muttered. “What justification could you give for the death of a 20-year-old kid, huh? It's the death of a son, a brother, a friend... The problem is that those who hold the banner of justice and the power of decision prefer to rely on the words 'criminals' and 'pirates' to erase everything else. We are not humans. We are only guilty, wearing handcuffs, with a blade at our throat. I don't think that's so cruel after all... I think it's sad. The Navy, the world government, they certainly have men of honour and a sense of true justice in their ranks, but they are crushed by a coercive and hierarchical power that they cannot stand against. The whole thing is a huge ball of wool whose thread cannot be unwound without going through all the knots. I respect some of the officers in the Navy, I respect those men and women who commit themselves in the hope of making the world a better place. I just wish that one day we would all open our eyes to the world as it is before we try to shape it according to the orders we are given.”

She had spoken calmly, positively, without raising her voice, without animosity. Her gaze was lost on the green and pink colours, in the pastel of the corals and the swirls of the water around her own protective bubble. Jinbei was stunned by each of these words. Then he remembered the words she had yelled in Marineford, taking everyone by surprise, uttering phrases that had offended everyone fighting at headquarters.

Now you're yelling at a man because he's the son of a world-famous pirate, but do you even know what crimes Roger was accused of? You only pick up on rumours and hearsay because that's what works best. You were told to hate pirates and Roger, so you do. What justice do you really think you are serving by doing this?

If we stopped this ridiculous pirate-Navy feud and took five minutes to open our eyes to the reality of things, we might be able to solve more important problems than your damaged ego! Your little pride was crushed the moment Roger died, with those last words. You thought you had won against piracy that day, but since then it's only been worse because of the new wave he unleashed. You are angry with him because new pirates have taken to the seas, driven by his words. I'm not saying they're all saints, you and I know that some of them are real scum. I'm just saying that you're too blind to really see who deserves to be put in chains.

The words were different today, the way they were spoken. No more screaming, no more despair. Yet the substance remained the same and the flame that had ignited Lucia on the day of Ace's execution was still the same as it spoke now, two years after her blow. Lucia felt Jinbei's gaze weighing on her:

“You think I'm ridiculous? Utopian? Naïve?”

“Admirable is the right word," Jinbei corrected her. “I hope I can witness the upheaval that the world will experience because of you, Lucia.”

“Thank you, but I hope that you will also be part of this upheaval, Jinbei. No one has to be a spectator, you have the right to be an actor too. If you want to, of course.”

“It would be a pleasure!”

He had answered without thinking, transported by the ethusiasm and integrity of the young woman who reminded him both of Queen Otohime and of his old friend, Fisher Tiger, the late captain of the Sun Pirates. Lucia finally stood up and stretched:

“Well, that's not all, but there's a second reason I came to you before Luffy and the others. I need your help to improve myself.”

He gave her a puzzled look, not knowing what she was getting at. She explained:

“I can control the water I generate, we agree on that. But I can't control the currents and it makes me sick. For two years I've been replaying the moment you created that gigantic ocean current that threw Luffy into the main square in front of the admirals. I want to be able to do that.”

“You're asking me to teach you Fishman karate?" spat Jinbei, his eyes wide with amazement. “It's impossible, it would take years and you don't have webbed hands. Our art is specially made for our particular morphology.”

“Seriously? Come on Jinbei, I need this to get stronger. Believe me if I could I would have come to you much earlier to learn this but I was a bit stuck and I had some imperatives, including my death as you can imagine.”

“I'm sorry Lucia, I can't teach you something as advanced as that... on the other hand, maybe I can teach you some simpler techniques," he said with a smile.

“Is that so? Oh Jinbei I love you! If I wasn't stuck in my bubble I would jump on your neck.”

“But I would be adamant...”

“Don't worry, you can't be worse than Ray”, Lucia replied with a fierce smile. “I'm ready.”

For the equivalent of two hours, Jinbei explained to Lucia how the fishmen conceived water and how they manipulated it. She described everything she had learned over the past two years and he taught her some additional techniques to increase her attack angles. In the marine forest, the water attacks were unleashed between the two opponents. Jinbei was forced to admit that, even though he had barely seen her in combat, she was much stronger now. More agile, more robust. She was unconsciously dodging, sensing his presence and his attacks before he even threw them at her. She spent a minimum of effort and energy in movement and motion to concentrate on the power and precision of her attacks. He was bluffed.

“You already master the water very well Lucia, one could almost believe that you have fish-man blood in your veins you know.”

“Stop flattering me," she replied, sticking her tongue out. “I remind you that if you throw me in the water I sink like a stone.”

“Not if you have time to blow a bubble," he replied with a mischievous smile.

“Yeah, well, when we entered your territory I missed that time and as a result I ended up passed out like everyone else.”

“It would be too easy otherwise," Jinbei concluded, laughing at the young woman's dejected look.

He took a few steps back before laughing:

“I don't think I can tell you any more, you know... like I told you...”

“Fishman karate can only be mastered by those with webbed hands, I know," she repeated, humming.

She examined her slender fingers with a rueful smile.

“I guess I wasn't born into the right species... well, now that I think about it, I'm not sure that possessing a devil fruit is a good advantage for a fish man.”

“Indeed," confirmed Jinbei, "for the rest of us, our greatest strength is our agility and mobility underwater, so losing the ability to swim is simply unthinkable.”

Jinbei crossed his legs and sat cross-legged, looking serene. He was actually relieved to see the young woman. He looked wistful for a few seconds:

“What?" she asked.

“Nothing, I'm just still in shock to see you in the flesh in front of me, and to be able to have this discussion with you.”

Lucia sat down opposite him, laughing. Contaminated by her radiant look and sparkling eyes, Jinbei followed her and his laughter mingled with hers.

“Tell me," Lucia said, "what exactly is going on in this kingdom? A mermaid told us that there were fewer and fewer humans visiting here, as if someone or something was preventing them from accessing the island, and when we arrived ourselves, we were cornered by a fish-man who offered us a rather drastic deal.”

“Let me guess: you had to join his crew or you'd die, right?”

“Yeah... that's the general idea," Lucia confirmed.

Jinbei looked sadly at Queen Otohime's grave:

“It's a very long story... It's already been ten years... ten years since the assassination that shook up the island of the Fishmen... time goes by so fast. The princes have grown up and become powerful warriors, but Princess Shiraoshi has never left her tower. But despite the years and the ups and downs of life, all have remained faithful to their ideals... be sure of that, Queen Otohime.”

Lucia glanced at the pirate, who was silent again, eyes closed, looking rested. She then turned, squinting to see what had caught her eye a little further away. She smiled as she recognised Franky's voice echoing in the water around them. It also meant that Sunny couldn't be far away. Serene, she lay down on the ground, overlooked by her bubble and continued to contemplate the beauty of the ocean around her, letting her gaze detail the whales, manta rays and various fish that were enjoying the light radiating from the roots of the Eve tree. Then a new voice drew her out of her reverie. She couldn't help but smile and, opening one eye, noticed that Jinbei had heard it too.

“Well... why don't we go?" she offered with a laugh.

“It looks like we're not alone anymore," Jinbei replied.

They got up and made their way towards the Sunny, moving from the submerged area to the one that was covered by a bubble, allowing Lucia to breathe without her personal protection. When they could see the picture before them a little more clearly, Lucia froze, speechless. She blinked several times, trying to process the information that was pouring into her brain. Unaffected by her confusion, Jinbei came closer and closer, his smile growing bigger and bigger on his face.

“Luffy..." he breathed.

The pirate captain turned around and smiled back as he recognized his friend, the one who had helped him out of Impel Down prison and had stood by him during his greatest moments of pain, after Ace's death.

“Jinbei! It's you!”

He then noticed Lucia who was still static, a little backwards, eyes wide:

“Luce! You're here too, great you managed to find him!”

“Okay, thirty seconds”, Lucia managed to articulate, “are we going to ignore the fact that you're accompanied by a mermaid that's four times our size, that Sanji is humming with an air of stupidity and that this octopus, whose name is Hatchan if I remember correctly, is wounded as if he had been pierced by a thousand arrows? I'm sorry, but there are too many elements that don't fit together and I'm going to lose my mind.”

“What a pleasure, Mr. Jinbei," the tall mermaid greeted him calmly, "it's been a long time since we've seen each other.”

“Yes," confirmed the pirate, "Hello Princess Shiraoshi, how are you? I'm glad to see you .... AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH PRINCESS SHIRAOSHI ????”

“NOT ALL AT THE SAME TIME PLEASE DON'T ANSWER ME IT WILL BE CACOPHONY THEN!" screamed Lucia, furious that she had been ignored.

Nevertheless, with the little intervention of the mermaid, Lucia understood that it was the famous mermaid princess of the Ryugu kingdom, Shiraoshi. The rumours of her beauty were not unfounded, she was truly beautiful, however, from the look on Jinbei's face, she was not supposed to be there. Then Chopper lowered Hatchan from the shark's back and laid her on the ground. Noticing the bandages covering the octopus' body, Lucia frowned and addressed the reindeer:

“Well doc' need a hand?”

“Maybe, I haven't had time to finish treating him yet, but if I need to, I'll let you know.”

“Okay," Lucia agreed.

Dismayed, Jinbei rushed to his friend to ask him who had dared to do this to him and what exactly he was doing on Fishman Island. Completely overwhelmed, Lucia dropped to the ground and massaged her temples to get rid of the headache that was starting to creep up on her. Franky came over and patted her on the head:

“Say miss, the guy on the boat is going to redo the coating so we can get going again, do you think you can have a look at the end to check everything?”

“Don't you trust me?” asked the fishman

“I do," replied the carpenter, "but this kid is doing wonders with water and she's learned from the best, so her eyes count. You have our lives in your hands.”

“Well, I'm not under pressure," Lucia giggled. “I'll look at it when he's done, don't worry. But right now, I have to admit that this plaster thing is far from my biggest problem and-“

She was interrupted by a movement in the air that caught her attention. Without wasting a second, she unfurled a whip of water from her hand and shot it into the air. In the same movement, Luffy lunged and kicked. Both of their attacks knocked an axe off course and sent it crashing a few feet away. Lucia squinted, intrigued.

“What was that?" she asked.

“It's happening again," commented Luffy, "I've already diverted I don't know how many. He's still sending them, he's stubborn”

While Jinbei accused Luffy of being completely oblivious to the fact that the mermaid princess was being attacked every second, Shiraoshi looked sadly at the tomb that stood nearby. Then, without a word, she walked over to it and clasped her hands together, closing her eyes and gathering herself in silence. Jinbei explained to Luffy that this was the tomb of the Queen, her mother. Shiraoshi had been targeted by Van Der Decken just after her assassination and because of him, the princess had never been able to attend the funeral and that she had then lived 10 years locked up in the same tower for protection.

A few seconds later, an underwater bus dropped Nami and Caimie off on their way back from the royal palace. The sailor told them that Hody, a fish-man, had attacked the palace to take over the king. In her flight, Nami had left behind Zoro, Usopp and Brook, not knowing if they were all right now. On hearing this news the princess burst into tears, terrified of the turn of events and fearing for her father's life. Jinbei then apologised for bringing Luffy and the others into the story, and thanked them for ending the tyrannical reign of Arlong, the fish-man who had caused so much suffering in Nami's home village, before apologising again, revealing that he was in fact the one responsible for Arlong's crimes. The news stunned the sailor and all the other members of the Straw Hat crew immediately tensed up. The young woman quickly regained her composure and seriously questioned the fish-man. Sanji then revealed that Nami had been a victim of Arlong's reign and that the trauma was still raw, Hatchan confirmed his version of events. Jinbei was in shock, staring at the young woman with a panicked look on his face. In a neutral voice, Nami said that she had indeed experienced horror and would never forgive Arlong, but that when she arrived on Sabaody, she had discovered another side of the story. That of the ordeal of the fish-men and their persecution. Hatchan explained that indeed, all the deep sea inhabitants, including Arlong, had dreamed of going to the surface since they were children and that in reality things had gone drastically wrong. Chopper urged the octopus to lie down and rest. Without saying anything so as not to obstruct their story, Lucia approached him and placed her hands on his chest. Hatchan looked at her puzzled.

“Don't move," she whispered, "it's going to feel a bit weird at first but it will help you, I promise.”

She then concentrated on the fish-man's heart and slowly began to take control of the blood flow so that she could ease it. She did her best to just speed up the clotting of the blood at the wounds on his back, while being careful not to stun him with too sudden an influx of oxygen. She understood the problem well, Fishman Island had been overrun by humans, it had been sacked by evil pirates before Whitebeard had set about protecting it. If the island was saved, the hatred and persecution remained.

“It's interesting to see the men in power... once they're in power, they fear any kind of change," Jinbei explained. “The world government had been the source of the fish-men and the humans getting closer, yet the men in it were the most prejudiced. In reality nothing had changed, until two people rose up against this hatred: Queen Otohime who encouraged the inhabitants to appreciate the humans, the second was the one who had led the fight to free the slaves of Marie Joie, the famous Fisher Tiger.”

Once again, this name caught Lucia's attention and she released her control over Hatchan's healing for a few seconds. She knew that in the aftermath of the world-famous attack, Fisher Tiger had built the crew of the Sun Pirates with the former fishmen slaves of the sacred land of the celestial dragons. Jinbei explained that their fight, advocating a total break between the fishmen and the humans, went against that of Queen Otohime who wanted to pacify things, with a more tolerant aim. Fisher Tiger's fight was aimed at the immediate, wanting to free all the slaves, while Queen Otohime was planning for a more distant future, in order to ensure more peace and tranquillity for the generations to come. It is impossible to say which side was right or wrong. In both cases, these two prominent figures of the mermaid and fish-man race had fought for their people, for their freedom and rights.

Chapter Text

Jinbei then took the time to tell them everything. He told them the story of the people of Fishman Island, recounting with fervour the unshakeable will of Otohime who had long campaigned for the inhabitants to sign a petition to the world government so that they could leave the seabed and rise to the surface. He warmly detailed the exploits of his former captain, Fisher Tiger, who wanted above all to free the oppressed from coercive justice. He told them how the two struggles had been in opposition to each other, but with the same distant goal. Lucia listened without speaking, her throat constricted, with terrifying images in her mind. Jinbei told them how Arlong was already overstepping his bounds, and that Tiger made it a point of honour that his men should not become murderers, he did not want them to become like those men they so despised. He was not fighting for hatred and revenge, only for freedom. If they gave in to their anger, it would be future generations who would pay the price. Their lives had changed when they had taken on board their ship a little girl who had been a terrified former slave, who had known only hatred and violence, for whom survival meant acting like a slave. Fisher Tiger had marked her with the seal of the sun pirates to erase the trace of the Celestial Dragons and then they had finally managed to break the little girl's fear, giving her the chance to cry, to express herself freely. They had helped her to rebuild herself, and for the pirate crew, seeing this human suffer so much, had finally made them understand that they should not become a source of terror for all humans. Lucia had tears in her eyes as she heard this, caught up in an emotion that completely overwhelmed her. Hatchan looked puzzled at her tears.

“Is everything okay?" he asked.

“Yes..." Lucia breathed without further explanation.

Jinbei explained that the little girl, named Koala, had been adopted by the entire crew, before they took her back to her home village. The race barrier had finally been broken. However, it was on this very island that the drama of the fishmen crew occurred. The Navy was waiting for them and, without warning, riddled the pirate captain Fisher Tiger with bullets after he had brought the girl back to her family. They had finally defeated the Navy, retrieved their battered captain and set sail again without delay. Fisher Tiger needed an immediate transfusion, but he refused it. The blood bags that were to save him had been found on a Navy warship, and the blood belonged to a human being. Tiger flatly refused to have the blood of a human in his veins. In reality, Tiger had also been a slave of the Celestial Dragons. He had known submission, contempt, violence, hatred, intolerance. On his deathbed, he admitted that the fight he was waging was good, that in reality it was the way he was waging it that was unsustainable, that they had to listen to the queen who continued to preach her good word, tirelessly. A better foundation had to be built for the generations to come, unaware of such hatred, that they should not be left with this anger. And so Fisher Tiger died of his wounds. Thereafter Arlong definitely chose the path of violence, giving vent to his rage and hatred, and he was imprisoned.

Jinbei had reported all the events to the king and queen of the Ryugu kingdom. On the island too the situation had degenerated, the inhabitants had decided to go back on their commitment and took up the queen's petitions, convinced of the evil nature of the humans and afraid. They no longer believed in their sovereign's words. She was working hard to provide a better future for their children and was faced with a wall of ignorance and fear. In order to ease the tensions between the fishmen and the humans, Jinbei accepted the government's proposal to become a member of the seven warlords and the crew of the sun pirates was divided into three clans. The former slave pirates were able to return to the island and reunite with their families without being pursued by the world government, and the newly freed Arlong chose to fight his own battle of hate.

The arrival of a Celestial Dragon on Fishman Island changed the course of events, and he washed ashore after being attacked by sea monsters. Contemptuous and arrogant, the descendant of the world's nobility threatened the inhabitants with his weapon and insulted them. Facing him were the fishmen, who were also driven by their hatred for humans and, above all, were the former slaves of this Celestial Dragon. Armed to the teeth, they had only one idea in mind: to slaughter him on the spot. But when they fired, the queen stepped in at the last moment, taking the bullets instead of the human, but fortunately for her, the wound was not serious. Finally, she managed to convince her subjects not to shoot the human. Instead, the Celestial Dragon rushed to retrieve his weapon and take the queen hostage, threatening her life. Terrified, the 6-year-old Shiraoshi broke down in tears and screamed, and then something that no one could have imagined happened: sea monsters landed on the island and destroyed the Celestial Dragon's ship, scaring her to death in the process, before turning away and leaving. Once the incident was over, the nobleman was treated and when he left, Otohime insisted on accompanying him to see the surface with her own eyes, wanting to bring back a first-hand account of human behaviour on the surface. She returned a week later, full of enthusiasm, having managed to convince the Celestial Dragon to join their cause and had provided them with a letter in which he validated the Queen's petition on behalf of the world's nobility. Following this news, the inhabitants regained hope, galvanised by the dedication of their sovereign, and petitions poured in, each signature being a step closer to their emancipation on the surface.

The tragedy came on a day when everything was going well, fishmen and mermaids of the island were happy, the crate was being filled with leaves without interruption. Then a fire broke out and set the paper ablaze. Otohime panicked and asked that the petitions be saved first. And in the midst of the chaos and the flames, a shot rang out. Blood flowed. And Queen Otohime fell to the ground, her chest pierced by a bullet. That day, surrounded by tears and sad smiles, promises of a better future and well-founded fears, the ruler of the Ryugu kingdom died before her children and subjects. Finally the shooter was identified as a human. Hody, who was a member of the royal guard at the time, exposed the assassin's body for all to see, bringing to the surface the hatred that Otohime had tried to diminish and make disappear. At the queen's funeral, Prince Fukabaushi urged the people of the fishmen to rise above their hatred and take up their sovereign's work where she had left off.

Jinbei took a breath and looked around at the pirates who had been listening without blinking. He told them that petitions continued to be signed, that discrimination continued to be fought relentlessly on the island. They had tried to find Arlong to bring him to his senses but nothing had been done, he had already bribed a number of men and soldiers, causing the disasters known in Nami village. Jinbei bowed, apologizing. Sanji, outraged, declared that since he was guilty, he simply deserved to die. Lucia frowned, still at Hatchan's side, and was about to intervene when Nami spoke up. With great calm, she explained that Jinbei had nothing to do with Arlong. The two stories were different. It was Arlong she was after, no one else. She explained that she had nothing against the fishmen, nor against him. She gave him her best smile and told him that she was happy and that he shouldn't be unhappy about it. Jinbei was stunned, he replayed in his mind the last words of Otohime and Fisher Tiger, he started to cry, touched by her mercy and kindness. Lucia smiled with relief and even laughed a little as she saw Hatchan crying too.

A sound of falling broke the weeping and wailing. Slowly, Luffy fell backwards and everyone discovered that he was sleeping.

“HE DARED???” shouted Lucia. “I'M GOING TO KILL HIM!”

“Lucia you're scary!" shouted Chopper.

Sanji shouted and kicked him in the face.

“Yeah?" muttered Luffy, yawning. “Oh I slept well...”

“Unbelievable," Sanji replied, "I thought you were much too quiet too.”

He looked at Jinbei who was crying, Nami who was smiling, Lucia too, without understanding. Lucia stood up when Jinbei spoke again:

“Let's take stock of the situation, at the palace, Hody and his men have taken control and captured the king and his soldiers. And we don't know what happened to your four friends.”

Hatchan hesitated before revealing that he knew of Hody's plans.

“There is a big difference between him and Arlong, Hody is willing to sacrifice all those who oppose his war against the humans, he does not hesitate to kill fishmen. And this year there is going to be the Reverie, many petitions have been collected, King Neptune is ready to reveal to the world his plan to emigrate to the surface.”

A videophone interrupted their discussion to project the image of a fish-man, whom Hatchan identified as Hody. Hody spoke and officially introduced himself as the new captain of the Fishmen crew, Hody Jones.

His speech was chilling. He launched a huge manhunt for those who had signed the petition, gave orders to find the straw-hat pirates and, above all, proclaimed the execution of King Neptune, which would take place in three hours. At the same time, Zoro, Usopp and Brook, all three prisoners in the palace, would be drowned, locked in a cage as the water slowly rose in the room of their detention. The Mermaid Princess was horrified, the crew looked grim, Lucia was pensive. Luffy was the first to react:

“So... they're offering 400 million for my head? Since when did they come up with that bounty?”

Faced with his stupid look and his big proud smile, Lucia clenched her fist and slammed it down heavily on her head:

“THIS IS REALLY NOT THE TIME!”

Sanji exhaled a little smoke:

“It looks like Hody wants to fight us...”

“If Hody wants to fight, let him come !” declared Luffy.

“Wait”, Jinbei calmed him down.

Jinbei advised Luffy and the princess to stay here and not get involved in this story. Hatchan explained that he was afraid of the mermaid's power to summon sea monsters. He then enlightened them by telling them that he would not hesitate to kill her if she appeared in front of Hody. Shiraoshi showed some doubts when they mentioned her power but Jinbei did not give up and ordered her to stay.

“Well, if all is said, I'm going !” declared Luffy.

“No!" replied Jinbei. “You mustn't go.”

Lucia frowned, the problem was complicated. If humans opposed the fishmen, there was no doubt that the people would once again confuse the issue, and that would only reinforce their hatred for the surface dwellers. She sighed. The problem is that once Luffy has an idea in his head... it's hard to get him to forget it...

“Jinbei, they have members of my crew... plus people I love will be in trouble if I don't do something...”

Emboldened by his anger, Luffy went so far as to challenge the former Warlord. For a moment Jinbei squinted, remembering things.

“Fighting alongside you, I almost forgot whose brother you were...”

Ace. His face burned into the fish-man's retinas as he stepped back and took up a fighting stance:

“Are you ready... kid?”

Lucia cleared her throat:

“At the risk of interrupting this little clash of two dominant males I'm going to ask a rather silly question: who do I get to beat the crap out of the other?”

“Stay out of this, Luce!" growled Luffy.

“Ooooh I'm going to interfere because there's no one to catch up with the other, eh, we have a kingdom on the verge of collapse, thousands of terrorized civilians, a king who's going to be executed, captured pirates and you two think that the best solution is to hit each other because you want to settle this yourself? Tell me that I'm not the only one who finds this absurd!”

“Let him do it Lucia," Jinbei said, "if he thinks he knows better than me how to handle this situation, let him try to defeat me.”

“NO BUT ARE YOU SERIOUS HERE?" Lucia shouted.

“Please calm down," Camie whimpered.

“Luffy, Jinbei, what the hell is wrong with you!” screamed Nami, exhausted

“Whether you like it or not, I'll go to the palace and rescue my friends, then I'll smash that bastard Hody's face in," Luffy growled.

“And I'm telling you to stay here," replied Jinbei calmly.

“Luffy, would you please try to connect two of your neurons for five minutes," Lucia said. “I'm obliged to give you a briefing since you were sleeping miserably, but Jinbei explained to us that this kingdom has quite a history of violence between humans and fishmen and is having a hard time healing from it, if you go to confront Hody like that in this state of mind, you'll only be reopening a wound that's only just beginning to heal, and at the same time, you'll be undoing years of sacrifice and hard work.”

“I want to save my crew!" answered Luffy through his teeth.

“You're not going to fight, are you?” Sanji was astonished

“Stop it, stop it!" Chopper agreed.

“Luffy, Jinbei, please calm down... “Shiraoshi whimpered.

Luffy rushed to Megalo, the shark, to take him to the palace but Jinbei stopped him with a punch that sent him flying away. Luffy got up with difficulty.

“But... how is that possible”, Nami wondered. “With his rubber body he shouldn't have felt anything.”

“That's the secret of fish-man karate," Jinbei explained. “The mastery of the water in the circle of its user. Shock waves are sent from the water in the atmosphere to the water in the opponent's body. Every living thing is a mass of water.”

Lucia was stunned, she had felt the force of this blow to the very core of her being. It's insane... Jinbei gave her a little look:

“Enjoy this demonstration if you want to learn...”

“This is no time to be a teacher! Stop your show immediately, both of you.”

Luffy got up, furious, triggered his second gear and struck a blow that Jinbei easily parried. As they threw themselves at each other, Robin stepped in between the two opponents, putting a stop to their fight. The double she had created dissipated and just as she was about to take the blow in spite of herself and the fists crashed into the other's face, Sanji took a beating in the middle. With a gentle smile, Robin emerged from a section of the forest, telling them not to fight again. Lucia sighed:

“Thank you Robin for being the incarnation of wisdom!”

“You're welcome", answered the young woman, still smiling.

Jinbei and Luffy got up, a little calmed down, and Jinbei tried to explain the situation once again to Luffy. He reminded him of the discrimination and the history of violence between humans and fishmen. Yet they could not stand by and do nothing, the lives of their friends depended on it. Sanjj asked Hatchan if his injuries were due to the fact that he had tried to defend the humans and that Hody had wanted to eliminate him as a result. The octopus nodded. The cook continued to explain that if they had to fight, then they would do so, according to their captain's wishes. Lucia smiled.

“Well," she continued, "now that everyone is calmed down, let's get on with it. I agree with the cook, Jinbei, we can't just sit here and do nothing. I can't imagine this country going through this never-ending human-fish thing again. So if we're going to be hated, too bad, we'll make sure it's not the humans they're angry at, but only the Straw Hat crew, it wouldn't be the first time they've made enemies.”

“Easy for you to say, you're not one of them," Nami giggled.

“Lucia..." Jinbei gasped.

“I'm doing this for you, Jinbei," she continued. “Even though you downplayed it throughout your story, you are one of the most affected by this crisis. In memory of our little stay at Impel Down and to thank you for saving Luffy, I owe you this. And I warn you, if you do that again I'll kill you on the spot," she concluded with a dark look.

At the place of execution Hody had arrived with his men, bringing King Neptune. Once there, he slaughtered the soldiers who were still trying to defend their sovereign. He then took prisoner the three princes who arrived to save their father after defeating them. When Shiraoshi, on the back of Megalo the shark, together with Jinbei, arrived near the Toncorde Square, they were taken prisoner in turn by the fishmen and brought to the side of his father and his brothers. A crowd had gathered around the square, compact. The civilians were terrified. Hody laughed contentedly as the three bodies were dumped in front of him, his whole plan was going perfectly. All that remained was the Straw Hat crew. Out of the depths of the caves and nearby quarters, he then summoned and intervened human beings whom he had captured and made into slaves. They now numbered 30,000, and had 70,000 weapon-wielding fishmen under his command. In all, there were no less than 100,000 men from the fish-man district who would fight for him and his ideals in his war against the humans. As the outlaws shouted encouragement, Hody savoured his victory.

The seer, Shiarley, spoke up and said that she had had a vision, a vision in which a man would destroy Fishmen Island and that man was not Hody Jones... it was Straw Hat Luffy. Hurt in his ego and self-esteem, Hody threw a sharp drop of water at the mermaid that sent him flying and punctured his abdomen. Then, with a chilling clamour, Hody claimed responsibility for the assassination of Queen Otohime, the former queen of the Ryugu kingdom. With unhealthy pride, he blamed the queen and finally spat out everything that had been in his heart for so long, incriminating the former ruler in front of the princess. Otohime's death was simply a set-up by Hody, who had paid a human to set fire to the petitions before being shot by the fish-man. Shiraoshi gritted his teeth, his head down.

“I'm the one who murdered your mother!" shouted Hody, full of rage and pride.

Mute at first, Shiraoshi, with tears in her eyes, finally uttered words that no one had expected:

“I already knew...”

In front of the stunned audience, Shiraoshi explained that it was Megalo, her shark, who had witnessed everything and revealed it to her. She had then hidden this information to prevent people from hating Hody, in accordance with her mother's last wish, she had done everything to prevent the hatred from being perpetuated. She had sworn to have no hatred for her murderer, and for this reason the mermaid princess had been silent all this time, for ten years. While everyone was upset, Hody burst out laughing. He called her a fool and told her that she would forever be responsible for the death of her father, her brothers and literally the whole island. With a wave of his hand, he projected new murderous drops onto the bodies of the king and princes of the Ryugu kingdom. Shiraoshi tried to keep herself from screaming to death at the terrible spectacle before her eyes, but she couldn't help letting her resentment explode. Hody decided that it was time to execute his prisoners. In the ranks of the civilians, a new clamour began to rumble. The children, then the parents, began to call for the pirate in the Straw Hat to come and fulfill the prophecy of the seer, to destroy the island and bring this morbid scene to an end. Threateningly, Hody tightened his grip on his sword and raised it, ready to cut off King Neptune's head. The princes, Jinbei, Shiraoshi, all began to tremble. With a final desperate cry, Shiraoshi burst into tears as the blade split the air:

“I BEG YOU, COME SAVE MY FATHER!!! LUFFY!!!”

A strange noise stopped Hody in his tracks. Megalo twisted in all directions, gurgling uncontrollably before spitting. Hody squinted before being violently thrown backwards by the force of a kick he did not see coming. The fish-man flew across the square and crashed into the wall behind him. Furious, Luffy raised his head.

“Ah, there you are," growled Jinbei, "it took you a long time to decide. You did well, we can say that you fall at the right time!”

“JINBEI SHUT UP!" shouted one of Hody's disciples who threw himself at him, blade in the air.

He barely had time to move before he too met resistance and a dark slash opened on his chest, spurting out a spray of red blood. Calmly, Lucia sheathed her sword and tucked a lock of hair back behind her ear:

“It's always like that with him," she commented, "he has to make himself wanted.”

“Are you all right, Miss Lucia?" asked Shiraoshi, worried.

“Yes, don't worry princess," she replied, "I was certainly better off in your hair than that idiot in the bowels of Megalo. On the other hand, I would like to express my admiration and deep respect for you princess, your self-sacrifice and kindness of spirit make you a great woman, or a great mermaid if you prefer. Don't listen to that scum Hody, you are not stupid, on the contrary.”

“I thank you.”

“Well, guys, shall we go?" she asked, smiling.

“We're on it," Nami answered, suddenly appearing in the square, the letter from the Celestial Dragon in her hands. “Robin will take care of the chains.”

Without them expecting it, the chains opened, freeing all the prisoners. And above them in the sky, two shapes were clearly visible. A whale and, next to it, a well-known pirate ship. The Sunny fired into the wall that Hody had just crashed into, while the royal whale was busy evacuating the king and princes from under the noses of the Hody pirates. They realised that Jinbei and the Straw Hats already had a plan to save them. In the square, chaos ensued as the Sunny landed and all the members of the Straw Hat crew finally made their appearance. A thin smile stretched Lucia's lips. There's no denying it, they're amazing. They all went down to meet in the centre of the square.

“Hey Straw Hat Luffy, do you really intend to destroy this island with your men?" asked a fish-man from the cliff.

“Why did you take the Ryugu Palace? Do you also want to exterminate the royal family?”

“Friends... or enemies," Luffy finally spoke. “It's up to you!”

Chapter Text

As the crew gathered in the square, the civilians cheered the pirates. But Luffy's crew quickly realized that even though their captain had successfully taken down Hody, the fishmen had lost none of their smugness. Lucia remained on guard, her hand resting on the pommel of her sword. All gathered around the mermaid princess, they asked her permission to let them protect her now. A crash brought them back to reality. Hody emerged from the rubble, looking even more menacing than before. He accused Jinbei of treason, since he seemed to be getting along well with the humans and had taken their side. He then described his ultimate ambition, to take over the kingdom to join the Reverie and slaughter all the kings who would sit there. A cold shiver ran down Lucia's spine as he outlined his macabre plan. He finished his diatribe by declaring that it was him, and him only who had the right to be the king of the pirates. Lucia sighed, knowing in advance the turn that the events were going to take. Luffy stretched out his hand on the side, palm upwards. Lucia smiled and took it gently. She felt Luffy's fingers close around hers, in a reassuring and soothing contact. Without saying a word, without answering, he let her go and then calmly walked towards Hody and his men before being surrounded by the pirates who were obeying Hody. Then, without warning, he poured his Conqueror Haki on the square. In one motion, all the men around him fell unconscious. No less than fifty thousand men fell. Faced with the general astonishment, a satisfied smile stretched the lips of Lucia who even let out a laugh.

“Damn, he’s not discreet...”

“He became so strong in only two years”, blew Jinbei, admiring.

“It's Ray who trained him, I remind you”, Lucia laughed.

She was not less impressed, he had grown since she had seen him for the last time in Marineford. He had now the necessary shoulders to enter the New World without worries. She stretched without breaking her smile and prepared to fight, as did all the pirates of the crew. Luffy rushed into the air and swung his arm to bring it down on the square.

“Always more spectacular...” Lucia laughed.

She drew her sword and pointed it at those who stood before her:

“It is precisely to face opponents like you that I learned to fight differently than with my power.”

She had a carnivorous smile and, before they even realized it, she dashed between them, slaloming between their legs while making herself intangible and her blade cut their bodies as if they were made of foam. She reconstituted herself a little further away, not a little proud.

“And what? Is that all? I am disappointed...”

One after the other, Hody's henchmen fell, powerless against the attacks of the Straw Hat crew. The fish-man felt an inordinate amount of anger rising within him. In the palm of his hand, he created a drop of water three times larger than the ones he had thrown at the king and princes earlier and sent it at Shiraoshi. Before anyone could react, Jinbei had interposed himself with the same technique. Lucia looked at him admiringly:

“Impressive, I felt the blow go off but I barely had time to move.”

“It comes with the training... but know that the drop of Hody is the karate of the beginners although it shows an unordinary power. “

Lucia laughed and looked up to see that the fishmen were launching an aerial attack. She sighed:

“They are wearing out.”

“You say so," Sanji replied. “Will you do me the honor of accompanying me to this fight?”

She smiled a little as she met his mischievous gaze while he lit his cigarette:

“With pleasure.”

The spiny carapaces of the porcupine squadron penetrated the skin of Lucia and disappeared in her aquatic body to their great surprise:

“WHAT?!” one of them shouted, “what is this? Water ?”

“Sorry”, minced Lucia, “here is what it happens when one rushes headlong and that one does not know anything of his opponent.”

She laughed as she rose above them, using the humidity to go higher and higher. Out of the corner of her eye she saw that Sanji was following her, walking through the air, with the Cipher Pol officer style. He ignited his leg and shot it repeatedly at his opponents. Lucia held out her hands on either side and materialized drops of water in their hollow. She smiled sharply before powerfully throwing them at her enemies:

“Sagittarius arrow!”

The bubbles burst and the fish-men all fell to the ground with a mixture of desperate screams and thuds. She then dropped to the ground and drew her weapon once more to slice through those waiting for her on the ground. Each time she drew her blade, she projected a shockwave of water that slashed her opponents who didn't even have time to attack. On the ground, the members of Luffy's crew were multiplying their attacks and Franky was even able to inaugurate two of his new weapons for Sunny. Excited, Hody pulled out one of his master cards and called up one of the most terrifying sea monsters there is: the kraken. It took Lucia a moment to realize what was going on, but she finally burst out laughing. The sea monster remembered Luffy and made him climb on his head so that he could guide it. Luffy eventually ordered him to stay and protect Shiraoshi.

“I can't believe you were the kraken's friend," said Jinbei. “Your circle of friends continues to amaze me day after day.”

“After a while you get used to it," laughed Lucia.

Tired of being dominated, the generals under Hody's command finally decided to go on the attack but were quickly routed by Luffy's crew. Increasingly angry, Hody ordered the kraken to crush the mermaid princess, reminding her that at any moment he could kill her brother who was still at the North Pole. That's all it took for everyone to understand that the giant octopus was forced to act to protect his brother. Luffy managed to convince the sea monster to stop his act and then stepped forward, his eyes burning with hate. Lucia gritted her teeth and followed him, her fists clenched. Jinbei watched them walk away.

« It's this kind of talk that will always make them react... don't touch family... or friends... and even more when it's a brother.”

Two of the generals prepared to attack Luffy but were stopped by Zoro and Sanji, leaving the way clear for the captain. Pirates rushed at them but Lucia used her Conqueror Haki to take them down effortlessly while Luffy leapt into the sky to deliver a kick to Hody. The crowd couldn't believe it, they barely saw him move.

As Luffy began his fight against Hody, Lucia was cleaning up the enemy ranks around him, using her weapon and her devil fruit in turn. The fish-man was clearly no match for the pirate captain, and Lucia laughed as she saw him being pushed around. On her side, the opponents were not more powerful and it took her only a few seconds to put down tens of enemies. Suddenly their attention was drawn to a shape moving in the sky above them. Before their astonished eyes, the curve of a bow was drawn, then a huge boat emerged beside the island. Lucia widened her eyes:

“What's that- What's that thing?”

“It's NOAH!!” shouted a civilian.

If the ship hits the bubble, the whole island explodes and us with it! She gritted her teeth, not knowing what question to ask first. Who was operating this device? How to avoid the catastrophe? She didn't have time to think any longer as a new sea monster crashed into the square, falling off the ship. She recognized it, it was Wadatsumi. He had been accompanying Van Der Decken on the Flying Dutchman when they had met him underwater. So it was Decken who controlled this huge ship? But what was the point of this story? Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Hody getting up for the umpteenth time. Damn, I don't know what he's doped up on, but it's strong.

Decken's voice could be heard on the island. He was speaking to Shiraoshi. Lucia understood then that, just like the axe she and Luffy had stopped earlier, Decken had decided to send the giant ship after the princess. Wherever she was, the Noah would pursue her forever. It seemed that the princess came to the same conclusion and decided to flee to interpose herself between the Noah and the island, preventing the fateful collision. Slowly, the ship veered toward her. She begged Decken to spare her kingdom and take her if that was what he really wanted. Then she began to swim, higher and higher, faster and faster, farther and farther away from the island. Without hesitation, Lucia dashed and dematerialized to be able to fly and reach the ship. She flew through the air, followed by Sanji who tried to defend the princess but was interrupted by Luffy who announced that he would do it himself. He propelled his captain towards the boat.

Just before he burst the surface of the bubble that covered Fishmen Island and made his way to the height of the mermaid princess, Lucia asked:

“Shiraoshi ! Are you alright?”

“Oh, Miss Lucia it's you! Don't worry, I'll lure that ship away from the island.”

“Very well”, agreed Lucia. “I'll stay with you okay? Whatever happens, I'm here.”

The mermaid princess' lips trembled and she suppressed a sob:

“Thank you very much!”

Lucia took Shiraoshi's hand and squeezed it hard.

“Don't look back princess, we have to reach the sea.”

They entered the passage which connected the main bubble to the Ryugu palace and crossed the bubble to join the sea. Lucia made her own protection to be able to swim and continue to accompany the princess. She felt the usual heaviness that invaded her when she dived into the water. It always took a few seconds for her body to get used to it. She glanced behind her and was stunned, Luffy, eyes revolted, was sinking into the water in front of Hody, satisfied. She stifled a scream of rage and, without thinking, turned to run at the fish-man before changing course to dive toward Luffy. She swam as fast as she could and, without even seeing it, knew that their opponent had just sent his weapon straight at his friend. She could feel the metal rushing through the water and redoubled her energy to intervene in time. She had barely made a move to draw her sword when Fukabaushi, the eldest prince of the royal family, had already stepped in and recovered Luffy. Lucia then put her hand on the bubble coral and threw it to him so that he could create a new protection for Luffy. He then used all his strength to move Luffy away from Hody who didn't seem to be finished with him yet. Remembering her promise, Lucia hesitated before going back to where she came from, returning to the mermaid princess' side, trusting Luffy and Fukabaushi to take care of Hody and Decken. Maddened by the princess' refusal of his advances, Decken threw sharp daggers at Shiraoshi, which were deflected at the last moment by the other two princes of the royal family and Lucia, who intervened. The princes explained to the young woman and the princess that whatever happened, the ship must not be damaged. Understanding the order, Shiraoshi and Lucia ran towards the surface to avoid the reefs of the sea bed. Luffy...

“Are you going to be all right, Miss Lucia?” the princess worried.

“Don't worry”, replied the young woman, “my body is getting used to the ocean a little more every second. Maintain this speed and do not worry about me!”

What a pain, to be surrounded by water and not be able to control it as I want, it's the last straw. Damn fruit eater nature. Sweeping this frustration from her mind, she concentrated more on the movements of the water around her and adjusted her trajectory to avoid being swept away, for the moment she was letting herself go by taking advantage of the opening created by the princess who was swimming with force. A movement drew her attention behind her and she saw the two princes being forcefully hit by Hody. While the princess resumed her run without delay, Lucia drew her weapon, ready to attack and when Hody approached her, she brought her blade down with force on the fish-man's arm, forcing him to loosen his grip with a cry of pain. He swung his trident and prepared to impale the young woman who took a deep breath and, with her fingertips, started to create a bubble when he would pierce hers but he didn't have the time because Luffy intervened in the same stride with Fukabaushi and stood beside Lucia. She understood that Hody had attacked Decken... and that therefore, if the pirate fainted or died, the power of his devil fruit would be extinguished with him and Noah would stop following Shiraoshi and come crashing down on the island. A shiver of horror ran through Lucia. She rushed towards the princess to order her to change direction, she heard the two princes being attacked by Hody but did not turn around. She dodged the trident of the fish-man which had the effect of slowing her down but did not touch her.

“Shiraoshi!!!” she screamed.

Hody appeared in front of her with an evil smile on his face and she could only brake in urgency. In a final appeal, the youngest prince yelled at the mermaid to change course and Shiraoshi understood. Hody rushed towards her to stop her but, in the same movement, Luffy and Lucia prevented him. The fight then began between the fish-man and Lucia, although the latter was clearly at a disadvantage, hurt by the pressure and the water all around her. She held on, holding Hody back as long as she could to prevent him from approaching the princess. While encouraging Shiraoshi, Lucia mobilized her body as much as she could, using her blade to counter Hody's sharp fin. The bubble she had created for herself had lost its spherical shape a long time ago, having simply stuck to her skin to fit the shape of her body and facilitate her mobility underwater. Hody was showing a bad look, annoyed to see that a human being could stand up to him under water. Thanks to Haki, Lucia rarely managed to hit him and make him bend.

A thud in the water attracted her attention and stopped her movements. Forgetting about Hody who was standing above her, she turned around and screamed in fright. The giant ship, Noah, was now in free fall and was gradually falling right onto Fishmen Island.

“LUCE! THE SHIP IS FALLING ONTO THE ISLAND!" shouted Luffy.

“I had noticed”, Lucia answered with clenched teeth.

There were so many civilians on that island, members of Luffy's crew, women and children... what cruelty! What hatred do you have that makes you ready to destroy your fellow men... She glanced at Luffy:

“Tell me, are you going to set this situation or are you picking strawberries ?”

“I'm coming, don't worry”, Luffy growled. “I'll kick his ass and destroy the ship!”

At these words, Fukabaushi took fright and declared that it was not necessary to damage the so-called "prophetic" ship and announced that there was still hope that Decken was not dead and would regain consciousness, which would make the ship resume its initial race against Shiraoshi.

“But if he doesn't wake up in time, what do we do? A wooden ship or your kingdom, for me the problem does not arise!”

Luffy, Lucia and Fukabaushi started to argue to decide if they should destroy the ship or not. Exasperated, Hody finally started the hostilities against the princess and Luffy took the opportunity to enter the fight. He struck a powerful blow at Hody that sent him crashing into the ship, making him leave the sea by penetrating the bubble that covered the ship, but the latter had time to attack the pirate by sinking his sharp teeth into his shoulder. Seeing the blood flowing, Lucia completely spun around:

“LUFFY !!” she screamed, terrified.

“It’s alright” , he answered her. “I take care of him, try to see how we can stop this thing!”

She swallowed, her eyes riveted on the blood which continued to flow from her wound in the shoulder. Then she clenched her fists and nodded before turning back. She paused when a great mass of air was released around the ship. Hody had just pierced the bubble that protected the Noah.

“LUCIA !” shouted Luffy.

“I'm on it!" replied the young woman.

Without missing a beat, she moved towards the ship to stretch a layer of bubble to envelop the ship. This thing is huge... She was deploying the spongy structure from her two outstretched arms over the solid wood ship, sensing Hody rushing toward her, trident in front. A sea current of phenomenal power shaved her face and threw her off balance for a moment. With a glance behind her, she saw that it was Fukabaushi who was confronting Hody and that the latter sliced his chest effortlessly with his steel fin. Come on Luce, a bubble is not complicated, make an effort thin... yes well I'm underwater and this thing is fifteen times bigger than all that I put on until now... BUT STILL ! She noticed that Hody was glaring at her but the prince got up and their fight resumed.

Chapter Text

The smell of blood filled the sea and Lucia saw the red flows floating around her, suspended in the water. The movement of a falling body made her teeth grind. The bubble structure she was deploying was still too small, she would not make it in time. Luffy and Shiraoshi joined her and she saw that he was talking to someone on a snail phone. She listened and understood that the soldiers of the royal army had a plan, they wanted to use their air tank to create a new bubble to envelop the Noah. Good, that's a plan I like.

"Luce you stay with the weak princess while I take care of the other one!" ordered Luffy.

"But-"

"There's no "but" about it Luce! I don't want you in my way!"

Facing them, Hody ingested a new handful of tablets which upset his body and deformed him completely, transforming him into a monster of artificial power. Lucia swallowed. Fukabaushi's voice came through the snail phone:

"Fukabaushi, where are you? I come to look for you!" declared Lucia.

"No, no, stay where you are... listen well... I know... I know who Hody Jones really is..."

Lucia then approached the snail phone:

"Fukabaushi, can you make the one in charge of the new bubble able to hear me?"

"Of course..." confirmed the man-fish.

"This is the control room, what's going on? We are in the process of sending an alert message to warn the island and order them to evacuate the kingdom!"

"Very well", announced Lucia. "I'm going to swim towards the bubble you're preparing for the ship, I should be able to influence the currents a little bit to prevent the bubble from deviating too much from the trajectory and stabilize it."

"Can you do that?"

Lucia nodded before remembering that they couldn't see her:

"Yes."

"Very well, we count on your support!"

Luffy looked at Lucia and nodded:

"Take care of you!"

"You too!"

Without hesitation, Lucia dashed to the other side of the ship and swam as fast as she could to reach the huge bubble. Without her knowing it, the conversation that was between the air tank and the pirates was broadcasted in the whole kingdom. The voices of the straw hat pirate, the young woman and the mermaid princess resounded in all the kingdom, pulling the smiles of the pirates on the spot and raising the stupor of the men-fish who did not understand anything any more. Then it was Fukabaushi's voice that pierced the air, that crossed the water, and that reached the ears of all those who were watching the battle. Lucia deployed her Observation Haki to the maximum and took in every syllable that echoed against the water particles around her.

"I understand... that Hody is a monster that was created by our society, it was hatred that created the savage beasts that are the members of the new Fishmen crew. Fearing that their resentment would be forgotten, fearing that their anger against humans would dry up, our ancestors insidiously transmitted their anger into society, hoping that this hatred would outlive them because it could motivate the holy war they had decided to wage against humans. They needed a scapegoat and humans were seen as the source of all their ills. These bloodthirsty fish-men did not want our people to live in peace, that is the truth!"

Lucia cashed in these words, her heart destroyed by the sorrow that pierced the prince's voice.

"Their hatred", he continued, "is purely gratuitous and without foundation since no human has directly hurt them. They claim nothing. They are nothing but empty shells."

In the meantime, Lucia had arrived at the level of the air tank and approached the bubble that was still inflating. She passed in front of the window through which she could see the soldiers and waved at them, to which they responded with a thumbs up. She pivoted and brushed against the bubble, waiting for them to eject it, watching for Noah to fall, listening to Fukabaushi's words.

"It was already far too late for an uprising, the fishman district had ceased all dialogue with us, it was a district of unrest cut off from everything else on the island. We let hatred and resentment build up in its depths. We pretended not to see. I felt... that on the surface everything was fine, that we were making progress. But we should have faced our demons, our hatred and anger. Clearly, what killed my mother was the resentment that had been building up in the minds of the fish-men for decades. The feelings of the dead belong to them, the hatred is only an illusion amplified by the living. We allowed animosity to develop in this district because we ourselves had a grudge against the humans and when we realized it was too late. What will destroy the island of the Fishmen is our hatred. Straw hat, Lucia, I beg you, we don't need such a past, reset the counters and eliminate the ghosts of the past that keep our island away from the sun !"

With a thud, the bubble that the post was preparing darted towards the Noah. The hands taken out of her protection, Lucia diffused currents of fresh water that came to surround the immense bubble and that accompanied her until the boat. She made it rise and slow down so that it came to encompass the ship. She smiled with satisfaction at the success of the operation.

"We're going to help you," Lucia said loudly enough to be heard. "It would be the worst crime to leave you in such a mess!"

"After all, we are friends, aren't we?" replied Luffy with a smile.

She went downstairs and joined her friend and Shiraoshi who were still pursued by Hody.

"Good job Luce !"

"I let you take care of him", added Lucia. "I'm protecting the princess!"

"Alright"

Shiraoshi let go of Luffy in front of Hody while backing away, accompanied by Lucia. She looked at him, worried. He used his second gear and struck a blow in Hody's abdomen which made him move back. The latter made a speech in which he declared that his power came from the sky. Lucia clenched her teeth, having the unpleasant impression to hear the speech held by the Celestial Dragons and the world nobility. We'd better keep the sky out of our bullshit. Luffy stretched his arm to the limit, covered it with Armament Haki and, using the friction of the rubber, created a cloud of flames that hit Hody in the head. For a moment, Lucia had the impression to see the "burning fist" of Ace and was stunned. Then a smile stretched her face and she even let escape a cry of joy by seeing Hody going to smash against Noah.

"Weak Princess, take me to the Noah!" ordered Luffy. "It's not over yet!"

Lucia's enthusiasm quickly faded as she realized that they still had the problem of the giant ship that was heading towards the island and threatening to destroy everything. Luffy threw himself on the deck of the ship while Hody got up again, boosted by an extra handful of drugs under the horrified look of Fukabaushi. The pirate captain was not intimidated and started the fight again, more at ease than in the water. Lucia watched the fight without intervening, forcing herself not to hinder Luffy's movements in spite of his cries that turned her stomach.

"Luffy!!" shouted Shiraoshi.

"It's going to be okay", Lucia reassured her. "He's strong, he'll make it."

Seeing Hody's dentures stuck in Luffy's arm lifted her heart but she didn't flinch. Go Luffy... go...

"Weak princess, go to the shelter ! Lucia, you too !"

Shiraoshi accepted without flinching and moved away but Lucia had more trouble, frozen in place, refusing to leave him behind. He took all tHody's attacks with full force. His body slipped along the bridge and fell on the ship. The hands plated on the mouth, Lucia stifled a howl. Suddenly:

"GEAR THIRD !"

Luffy got up and prepared his fist, which he increased tenfold in size and brought it down on Hody. Without waiting, he did the same with his second fist and shot them without stopping on the ship. Lucia frowned. Hody is certainly already out of it so why he is trying so hard... Suddenly she understood, Luffy was simply trying to destroy the Noah, putting aside the order that Fukabaushi had given him not to damage the ship. Her blood ran cold. She rushed to the front of the ship, diving towards the island. She noticed the upper bubble surrounding the island and landed on it, making her body intangible and merging with it so that she could create resistance. She anchored herself deep into the thin water surface and stood with her palms facing forward. She breathed in, breathed out and closed her eyes. She felt every bubble, every tiny particle of water that surrounded her. She took into account the gravity, the pressure, the density of the water. Then without hesitation, she attacked:

"Fishmen karate! WAVE OF THE SEVEN THOUSAND SEAS!"

Lucia projected the palm of her right hand towards the Noah, creating a huge shock wave that reverberated in the water and hit the bow of the Noah. The phenomenon slowed down the ship's course and came to pose a resistance to Luffy who was trying to hit him. She then transformed her two arms into water that she projected directly towards the ship, forming two immense aquatic hands whose fingers tightened around the wood.

Her water limbs were covered with an opaque white film, her Haki. Lucia gritted her teeth and tensed all the muscles in her arms to maintain her pressure. She carried the ship at arm's length, taking its fall and the repeated blows of Luffy. She felt her knees bend and her arms fold, she used all her resources to hold on. The bubble on which she was so solidly supported began to quiver and a multitude of waves passed through it. She simply had to slow down the fall, slow it down to give Luffy time to destroy that ship. She gritted her teeth and tightened her grip on the ship.

"The water... and my body... are one. Every particle of water that comes off my skin is just an extension of me, I can give it any shape and strength I want, so if I've decided to stop this pile of wood, I'm GOING TO DO IT!" she shouted to herself, not knowing that her words were heard all the way to the island.

Around her arms, the sea currents began to quiver slightly and then, set in motion by the pressure she was creating herself, began to swirl around, creating a new resistance to Noah's advance. Fukabaushi was amazed:

"She is stopping the Noah with the strength of her arms... she is so powerful that even the sea moves because of her. And then..."

The prince opened his eyes wide when he could make out what was happening on the bow of the ship.

"Straw Hat is trying to destroy the Noah while the Elementalist is absorbing the water in the wood of the ship."

Indeed, without realizing it, Lucia was gripping the front of the ship so tightly that she had begun to draw all the water contained in the wood of the Noah to herself and was gradually drying it out. The planks cracked under her pressure, the splinters of wood pierced the bubble and drifted in the ocean, the hull was flying in pieces, as fragile as a twig in front of Lucia's strength. In the water, Luffy's and Lucia's howls of rage rose up while the people of the fish-men shouted the name of the Straw Hat to encourage him.

"STOP YOU BOAT !!"

"STOP YOU NOAH !!"

The screams of Luffy and Lucia stunned Shiraoshi and Fukabaushi, in the front row of this terrifying spectacle. Lucia felt the smell of blood spreading in the water but did not pay attention to it, totally concentrated on her task, to slow down Noah at all costs. Suddenly a voice reached her ears:

"Stop~"

Shiraoshi's shout followed:

"Stop, both of you, the boat has stopped!"

Lucia looked up to the sea and was stunned... the sea monsters, the kings of the seas, were looking at them while holding the ship with its chains. Gasping, Lucia put her aching arms back into her bubble, her mind numb. These titans of the seas did not look aggressive, they simply held the ship and stopped its fall. Lucia finally noticed the blood that was flowing. Understanding the urgency of the situation, she rushed towards Luffy but her legs refused to move. Then new voices reached her ears, she looked at the sea monsters who were talking with the mermaid princess. But wait... I UNDERSTAND WHAT THEY ARE SAYING? Lucia was stunned, having no idea what was going on. One of them turned his gaze towards her and it seemed to her that he was almost smiling.

"You too, little one, you can hear us, do you... you can hear the voice of everything~"

"I-" Lucia began.

She interrupted herself when she saw Luffy fall and, ignoring the weakness of his body, propelled herself towards him to recover him, understanding that it was absolutely necessary to look after him. When she entered the bubble that still covered the ship, her own protection vanished but she didn't pay attention.

"LUFFY!" she shouted.

When she saw his shoulders wound she almost screamed. He was losing a lot of blood. She put her hands on his chest and, with tears in her eyes, tried to make the blood circulate as well as possible and prevent it from coming out of the open wounds.

"Come on, don't let go..."

She did not pay any attention to the kings of the seas, concentrated on her task, obliterating the sounds and the external elements. She finally looked up when she felt the bubble subside, being absorbed by the island's bubble. It sucks... if I let go of Luffy he'll die... and at the same time I have to make a bubble or we'll drown... Not knowing what to do, Lucia just hugged Luffy even closer to her and closed her eyes. She felt hands lifting them and carrying them. She discovered Shiraoshi who held them in the hollow of her palms then she took a big breath before being immersed in water. The heaviness of the water knocked her out completely and she had to fight not to faint. She focused all her energy on Luffy's body, increasing her attention tenfold as blood continued to filter through the wound and flow down her body. She could feel that her efforts would not be enough. Suddenly Shiraoshi penetrated the layer of the bubble that covered Fishmen Island and Lucia could breathe again. She inhaled deeply without taking her attention off Luffy for a second.

"Please princess... it is necessary to make quickly", she begged her.

Shiraoshi screamed as she realized how much blood was pouring from the pirate's body:

"I beg you, help him! He's losing blood all the time!"

Once back on dry land, Luffy was lying down, his head resting on Lucia's thighs, whose hands had not left his friend's body for a single second. Chopper was working in all directions, helped by Robin, multiplying the anti-hemorrhagics to look after his captain. Drops of sweat beaded on Lucia's forehead as anguish and fear took hold of her. He needed a transfusion, he needed type F blood. Immediately all the members of the crew called for a donor, for someone to come forward and agree to give blood. With tears in her eyes, Lucia felt Luffy's life slipping through her fingers, in spite of all her concentration she felt that her heartbeat was a little weaker than before because of the lack of blood. A sob crushed her throat. Images of Marineford came back to her memory. She saw Ace again, with his bloody chest. Luffy screaming to death. Her own tetany. Her own helplessness. She had trained for two years, two years to make her stronger so that she could lead her brother on the seas of the New World, and now it was happening again. The law forbids them to give blood. Faced with bowed heads and guilty looks, Lucia couldn't take it anymore and started to scream:

"I beg you! Don't force me to witness this again! Don't force me to attend helplessly to the death of one of my close ones! I beg you, we need blood!"

Her words shocked both the pirates of Luffy's crew and all the fishmen and mermaids, who could not face her tear-filled eyes and desperate tone. Sobbing, she put her forehead on Luffy's and kept repeating:

"I beg you... I beg you..."

A voice rose in the middle of the heavy silence. Lucia raised her head, tears streaming down her cheeks. Jinbei stood before them:

"You can take my blood, I'm F. Take as much as you want. I am a pirate, the law does not apply to me."

He looked at Lucia:

"I won't let him die, dry your tears Lucia."

"Thank you... thank you... thank you..." repeated the young woman tirelessly, a relieved smile on her lips.

During the transfusion, she tenderly caressed Luffy's hair, observing the blood that passed from the body of the fish-man to her friend. She was waiting for him to wake up.

"Open your eyes... I beg you... "

A smile stretched then the lips of Luffy who articulated with difficulty:

"Jin... bei..."

"Luffy", exclaimed Lucia, tears in her eyes.

The pirate opened his eyes and faced the marked face of Lucia then his smile widened:

"I am here!"

Lucia nodded with a small laugh before resting her forehead on his.

"EH, JINBEI!" called Luffy. "Would you like... to join my crew ?"

Chapter Text

Back on the Sunny, the Straw Hat crew was leaving the place where they had fought. Luffy was still trying to convince Jinbei to join his crew under the dark eyes of Lucia who wanted him to rest. The former Warlord explained that he could not accept yet, that he had responsibilities and that he would return to them as soon as he had deal with them.

“It would be great if you join them Jinbei”, confirmed Lucia by smiling.

They were then caught by a soldier of the royal army who invited them to a banquet in honor of the Straw Hat crew, which immediately convinced Luffy to follow them.

“Of course when we talk about food...” Lucia giggled.

The banquet was held at the Ryugu palace where the Straw Hat crew, Lucia, Jinbei, Caimie, Hatchan and Pappag were received and welcomed with the greatest honors. A concert was given for them, with a magnificent ballet by the dancers of the mermaids' café. Then the mermaids served them drinks and the king toasted the Straw Hat crew before bringing them food to Luffy's delight. Hatchan waltzed Lucia around and she danced with pleasure, intoxicated by the music and the euphoric feeling of their victory over the new Fishmen crew.

They ended up moving away from the tumult to find themselves a little more quiet. Jinbei then told the crew members about the changes that had taken place in the world during these two years, starting with the fight between Akainu and Aokiji. Lucia took a bite without saying anything while Jinbei explained to them that Sengoku, who had resigned after Marineford, wanted Aokiji to succeed them but that Akainu was also the favorite. So they fought for 10 days on an island. It was Akainu who won the battle and became the chief admiral of the Navy. Luffy nervously put a hand to his scar, as well as Lucia who clenched her fingers on the mark that will forever adorn her chest.

“And Aokiji?" asked Luffy.

“He left the Navy," said Lucia. “The Navy has lost one of its biggest elements.”

“Did you know about this, Lucia?" asked Jinbei.

Lucia nodded. He told them that the Navy was now more powerful under Akainu, and that the advance of Blackbeard's pirates was worrisome.

“He is hunting fruits, isn't he?” Lucia asked with a dark look.

“Yes, those are the rumors”, confirmed Jinbei. “I don't have to tell you to be careful... the Mizu Mizu No Mi is one of his favorite targets, he's been looking for it for a long time after we announced your death. He never hid it. Now that he knows that you are alive, he will do everything to get your skin and then your power.”

“Wonderful”, Lucia whined, “I would have done better to stay dead... I opened my mouth a little early...”

“Also, I think that he is interested in Luffy's power, so you have to be careful... do you hear me?”

Jinbei interrupted his explanations when he realized that Luffy was not listening to what he was saying and that he had no intention of being careful and taking precautions. Luffy, Zoro and Sanji then disappeared, having spotted an unknown presence in the palace. It was actually Caribou, the pirate who had infiltrated their ship during their dive to Fish-Man Island and who was now trying to capture Princess Shiraoshi. Luffy sent him flying without difficulty but met a wall when Nami learned that this pirate held the entire treasure of King Neptune and that he would be ready to offer it to them if they recovered it, to thank them. Shaggy, she propelled Luffy, Zoro and Sanji towards the city so that they could find it. Lucia had a little laugh while attending the scene then she accompanied Jinbei, Neptune and Nami to the dungeons where the pirates of the new Fishmen crew whom the appearance had suddenly changed. They had aged in a few minutes.

“It's a side effect of their drugs I guess...” Lucia muttered.

In reality, the energy-steroids they had ingested came from the Othamathé chest, the national treasure of the country and had been stolen by Hody several years before.

“It’s over for them...” declared Lucia.

They all turned away, pitying those tortured souls who were only uttering their hatred. Jinbei, at Lucia's side, hesitated for a moment before asking a question:

“Tell me, Lucia...”

“Yes?”

“Earlier, you said that it would be nice if I "joined them" when you were talking about the Straw Hat crew...”

“Yes, I remember," Lucia laughed, "and so what are you getting at?”

“Well, I was wondering... aren't you part of his crew?”

“Ah, so that's it”, Lucia sighed.

She gave him a look that was softer than he could have expected, then her eyes drifted and she looked at Nami who was talking with Shiraoshi, Chopper, Usopp, Brook, Franky and Robin.

“No," she confirmed, "I'm not part of their crew. As I told you, I had a rather hasty departure from Sabaody and I asked Luffy to take me on board so that I could come here. The moment my face was exposed on the archipelago, I couldn't stay and the first way out that presented itself to me was the Straw Hat crew so I took it.”

She sat down on the steps of the palace, followed by the former Warlord who listened attentively:

“I have no place among them”, she declared. “I would be totally useless to them, Luffy takes with him men and women who will allow him to accomplish his dream and become king of the Pirates. His crew is solid and I would only be a spare part, an excrescence. Besides, I'd only get him into trouble, between my bounty, the Navy and now Blackbeard... Luffy knows how to get into trouble by himself, no need for me to add to it”, she laughed.

“Mmmh”, Jinbei mumbled, thinking about what she was saying. “But what are you going to do now?”

“I'm going to go to the surface to start with.Your island is beautiful and I love being underwater but I can't wait to feel the wind and the sun again. Then I'm going to sail to see the world, see the sky, see the people. There are still people I need to meet or see again... and they are out there somewhere on these seas so I'm going to go look for them.”

“Who do you want to see?”

“Well, I'd like to meet Ivankov again and why not go to the revolutionaries, to see if I can be useful... I'm very sensitive to their mission around the globe. Then there is Aokiji who intrigues me a lot, I don't hide it from you... of all the Navy personnel, he is the one who seemed a bit apart to me, and I could never hate him as I hated Akainu or Kizaru. A part of me has a huge respect for him and I wish I could talk to him by abolishing this damn Marine/pariah with a price on their head boundary, if you know what I mean. And then there's a certain pirate, captain of a yellow duck submarine who has a way of getting on my nerves and I promised I'd see him again," she laughs.

“A yellow submarine... are you talking about the pirates who saved us, Luffy, you and me?”

“Yep”, confirmed Lucia. “It's a very long story!”

“I'd love to hear it, but I guess that's for another time...”

“Yes”, she sighed, “I have neither the strength, nor the time.”

A small time passed before he resumed the speech:

“Whatever you do, wherever you are... I will be forever in your debt for what you have done for this island Lucia. If you need me, don't hesitate.”

“I thank you Jinbei, it was a real pleasure to help you after what you did for us two years ago but I have to decline this allegiance. Otherwise, we're going to sink into a downward spiral of debt from which we'll never get out.”

They laughed heartily, and Jinbei couldn't help but notice that she was much more serene, more at ease, free of the weight that had weighed on her shoulders two years earlier. The fact that she had revealed herself to the world had not only been bad for her.

Luffy, Zoro and Sanji eventually returned to the palace empty-handed, telling them that they had given the treasure to Big Mom. Lucia slapped her forehead with the palm of her hand, exhausted, after Luffy declared that she had "given a dressing down" to one of the Four Emperors.

“You can't help being a smart ass, can you?” she sighed.

Then they were taken back to the Sunny so that Luffy's crew could set sail again. On the way, they met the crowd of Fish-Man Island who cheered them with fervor. Their departure was prepared under the enthusiastic shouts and the tears of Shiraoshi who refused to see her friends leave. Lucia was touched by this scene which showed the attachment of the inhabitants of this island to this pirate crew of which they had been so afraid until then. As everyone boarded the ship, Shiraoshi put Luffy on the deck. The captain turned around and leaned on the railing to lean over the edge:

“Well Luce, aren't you coming?”

Lucia laughed before answering:

“And no! The deal was to bring me here, right? I asked you to come with me to Fish-Man Island and that's done. Now I won't embarrass you any more.”

“But what are you talking about ?” grumbled Luffy. “Stop your non-sense and get your ass on that ship!”

“But- I said no Luffy!”

“And I say yes!”

“You’re suche a selfish and stubborn head!” spat Lucia. “Luffy be reasonable five minutes... I would be of no use to you on this bridge.”

“I don't care, I want you to be in my crew”, Luffy grumbled. “When we were little you agreed!”

“BUT WE WERE CHILDREN!!!” Lucia screamed at the height of exasperation.

She inhaled a big blow before continuing:

“Look, I'm no good to you, my power will get you in trouble and it's not like-“

“BUT I DON'T CARE!!” shouted Luffy, cutting her in her sentence.

Lucia stopped, shocked, in front of his furious air. Calmly, Robin came forward beside him, a light smile on her lips:

“Actually, I heard what you said to Jinbei earlier and I repeated it to Luffy.”

“What?! Robin, you traitor, I thought you were the only rational person of this crew”, Lucia whined. “Well, it doesn't change anything, Luffy, you choose carefully all the members of your crew to exploit all their potential and make them the best, all have their place on this ship by your side and all are unique. I don't. Besides, since Jinbei has accepted your proposal, there is no need to multiply the number of aquatic manipulators, don't you think?”

Without answering Luffy stretched his arm that he tied several times around the young woman's waist before squeezing it hard. Surprised, Lucia protested:

“What is this manner?! This is called a hostage taking!”

“But damn, you have a hard head! Normally it was Ace who was the pain in the ass, not you! Listen, I don't give a damn about your power and all that. I want you in my crew because you're you, period. You are my friend, and you are my sister.”

Lucia opened her mouth, amazed. Luffy's look was not so angry anymore, just determined and sincere. She swallowed and lowered her head, trembling:

“Luffy... believe me... it's not going to help you that I'm here... you have NO idea of the dangers you're putting yourself in if I stay with you!”

“I don't want to meddle in what doesn't concern me," Sanji intervened, "but you know, he runs headlong into the dangers, so with or without you we'll meet them!”

“He literally just challenged one of the four emperors," Brook reminded. “That's about as close as we're going to get.”

“YOU CAN'T SAY THAT IN A DIFFICULT TONE!" shouted Chopper and Usopp, terrified of confronting Big Mom.

“You know, miss," Franky interjected, "for us it was already pretty much a done deal, it hurts to know that you weren't going to stay...”

“I never acted as if that was my goal," Lucia reminded her.

“Oh yes?” intervened Nami. “However, you could very well have gone down on the Fish-Man Island alone with your power, could you? It is certainly less comfortable than on a ship, I agree, but it is realizable. And you know that very well. Why did you ask us to take you then?”

In front of the inquisitive glance and the malicious smile of Nami, Lucia began to blush then looked away, taken the hand in the bag. She finally raised her eyes to stare at Luffy who still hadn't let her go. Behind him, all the crew members were smiling at her and tears came to her eyes. She clenched her teeth to hold back some sobs:

“Oh no, you're not going to start crying too!” exclaimed Luffy. “Damn, there is not one to catch up with the other.”

With a quick gesture, he grabbed his hat with his other hand and pushed it onto the young woman's head, causing her to make a new expression of astonishment.

“I can't be the king of the pirates if I'm not accompanied by the princess, right?”

She never knew what had made her bend that day. If it was his radiant and naive smile, the use of the nickname Ace had finally given her, or simply the feeling of happiness that had overwhelmed her when she realized that she had found a place in this unknown world. The fact is that she could not help but smile in turn, the face still marked by a few tears:

“Damn you Luffy, you're quite a stubborn person!”

Luffy laughed and brought back his arm to him, Lucia with it, before putting her on the deck. She put his hat back on his head before looking at him with a warm gaze:

“So let's go... captain!”

With a radiant smile, Luffy exchanged a knowing look with Jinbei and then gave the order to deploy the sails. However, they were interrupted in their race by Shiraoshi who caught up with them and asked Luffy if he would meet her when she went to the surface. Lucia smiled when Luffy promised her. Finally, the whole crew promised her, sealing a brand new relationship between the Fish-men and the humans.

They then submerged in the sea and slowly rose to the surface, enjoying the unreal view of the ocean one last time. Franky threw the blocks into the sea to raise the ship to the surface. Zoro noticed the concentrated look on his captain's face:

“What's up Luffy?”

“Once on the surface... we will sail on the same seas as Shanks... I can't wait to see him again!”

Lucia, thoughtful, let escape a smile also, thinking about the last words of Ace. Ace, we will see him together to accomplish his dream I promise you! She looked up, where she could see the sky above the surface of the ocean.

“When we leave these depths, we'll be on the biggest ocean in the world!”

“The Elementalist will be part of it!" added Lucia.

“ON THE MOVE!!!” shouted Luffy. “Let's go to the New World!”

The ascent of the Sunny was relatively calmer than their descent in the depths. Lucia spent it sitting on the steps of the deck, her eyes lost in the immensity of the ocean, contemplating the movements of the sea and the passing creatures. She laughed softly as she saw the boys struggling to catch a fish from the depths. Robin came and stood next to her and smiled:

“It's a pleasure that you stay with us”, declared the archaeologist to her.

Lucia sighed:

“Did I have the choice even... we can't refuse something to Luffy...”

“It is not false”, laughed Robin.

The Elementalist suddenly raised her head, attracted by a sudden movement in the water:

“The white strom !” she exclaimed. “This is one of the deadliest currents in the ocean!”

In spite of all their attempts, the boat was attracted by the vortex because of the fish they had caught. Lucia swallowed:

“Hold on to what you can!”

She clung to the railing as the ship spun in the force of the current. Lucia gritted her teeth and made a decision. She passed abruptly her hand through the bubble of Sunny, the speed of the current turned over her wrist and cut her skin, she stifled a grimace before bringing it back to her.

“Lucia stop you can nothing against this thing!” shouted Nami.

“Yeah I have just noticed”, mumbled Lucia by massaging her wrist. “But I wanted to test the strength of this thing...”

This sea current is the most powerful that exists... if I could reproduce it...

They managed to get out of the deadly current without losing anyone and their journey ended quietly, in the middle of a school of gigantic whales. They were accompanied by the whales from the depths of the ocean to the surface. Brook began to sing a song while the rest of the crew admired the spectacle, speechless. Eventually they came within sight of the surface, within sight of the New World. For a moment, Lucia replayed in her memory everything that had happened to her before she landed here. Sabaody, Kuma, Impel Down, Marineford, Law, Rendall, Rayleigh... and now they were here. She was about to sail the same seas her father had conquered. They began a countdown and then broke through the surface with force to enter a raging sea. Exhilarated by the wind, the lightning and the swell, Lucia started to explode with laughter, hysterical. The adventure started finally.

Chapter Text

The rain fell heavily, the waves were huge, Lucia clung to the rope that stretched the sails like a madwoman to maintain the course. They finally arrived in sight of a completely inflamed island, on which a volcano was erupting and whose lava was flowing into the ocean. Lucia frowned... That sounds familiar... Why do I have this feeling of déjà vu... Luffy started to say that he wanted to land on this island:

“Lucia, can you smother the flames?”

“No”, Lucia answered, “I'm sorry but I have the feeling that this fire could even burn me because of its intensity.”

A fire which burns the sea... which burns water... She felt a deep uneasiness which continued to amplify while the heat of the flames irradiated her skin. She nervously rubbed her scar on her chest without even realizing it.

Then a sobbing noise caught their attention and they discovered with astonishment that the snail phone in the kitchen was sobbing loudly. It was an emergency call. Despite Robin and Usopp's warnings, Luffy had already picked up the phone and was addressing the caller.

“Yes hello, this is Monkey D. Luffy speaking and very soon I will become the king of the pirates!”

In the same movement Lucia and Usopp hit the captain on the back of the head:

“IT'S REALLY NOT A TICK TO SAY THAT!” yelled Lucia

“You shouldn't have answered and you talk too much!” continued Usopp

The one on the other end of the line started by telling them that he was cold and then that he was going to be sliced by a samurai. He finished his diatribe by saying that he was on the island of Punk Hazard before being executed live. Lucia was speechless. Punk Hazard ?? Why does that tell me something too... She was pulled out of her reflection by Brook who explained to them that the samurai mentioned by the one who was at the end of the snail phone was certainly originating from the Wano country, the isolated region of the world government, which held between its ranks the greatest swordsmen in the world.

“But we're far from Wano country...” noticed Lucia.

Listening only to his instinct, Luffy decided that they would save the one who had made the call. The idea turned the stomach of Lucia, decidedly, this island put her in a state that she did not understand. To decide who would go to the burning island, they decided to draw straws. She looked at the pieces of paper with an anxious look. She moved an uncertain hand towards one of them but Luffy stopped her:

“You stay here!”

“What?" exclaimed Lucia.

“Since earlier I can see that there is something wrong when you look at this island”, Luffy explained. “And then if ever the sparks get too close to Sunny you can give him some time before he burns with your power.”

“WAIT WHY CAN SHE STAY AND NOT ME?" shouted Usopp dejectedly.

Lucia swallowed before sighing:

“Ok... it'd be a lie to say I'm not relieved. Thanks Luffy !”

“You're welcome”, answered the captain with a smile.

They watched as Luffy, Robin, Usopp and Zoro rode away from Sunny in the Mini-Merry while they stayed on the ship, away from the flames. Nami looked at her:

“Is everything okay Lucia? It is true that you are a little pale since a while ago...”

“Huh? Yes... yes... it is just that the strong heats do not put me at ease”, she improvised, “the water badly supports the strong temperatures...”

“I will concoct you a small fresh cocktail”, answered Sanji. "That will refresh you!"

“Thank you”, she blew.

The glance lost towards the flames which always danced on the surface of the horizon, Lucia tapped her finger on the railing of Sunny, perplexed. Why... why am I so uncomfortable here... what is happening on this island...

As promised, Sanji brought her a glass with ice cubes which, from the first sip, soothed her. Nami made them think that, on the other side of the island, the clouds had a particular formation that corresponded to that of a winter sky. Lucia sipped her drink while thinking. Punk Hazard... Punk Hazard... Punk Hazard... aaaargh damn think Lucia! But this heat is infernal, it prevents me from thinking correctly. It would almost put me to sleep... Then she realized, the heat could not put her to sleep, it was not a logical physiological reaction. She didn't have time to really think about it as her knees buckled. Her head suddenly felt very heavy, her vision blurred and her mind fogged. She saw herself falling in slow motion, hitting the ground heavily as her eyes closed and everything went black.

When she came to, she was first struck by the icy ground beneath her skin. She squeezed her eyelids and opened them several times to get her eyes open. She sat up painfully, one hand on her head:

“Damn, that makes twice in barely 24 hours that I pass out, my head will not hold the shock at this rate...”

“How do you feel?" asked the little voice of Chopper who had approached her, worried.

“Not really good but it’s going to be okay...” she mumbled. “Where are we now?”

She turned to survey her surroundings and saw that Nami, Sanji and Franky were also with her, awake and quite upset.

“We're locked in," Sanji ranted. “In a big metal box!”

He kicked at the door to try to break it. Lucia got up, her limbs aching. A shiver ran down her spine and she inhaled deeply.

“Calm down... calm down... calm down...”

“Is everything okay, Lucia?" asked Nami.

“Yeah," she giggled nervously. “Let's just say it doesn't bring back good memories...”

They took stock of the situation, the five of them were here but Brook was missing and they had no idea how to get out. Then a voice caught their attention. They turned around and found what appeared to be a face cut into pieces. The mouth in question asked them if they would put all the pieces together to put it back together. After several unsuccessful attempts, some bullying and screaming from the face, they came up with something quite satisfying. Then they realized something:

“BUT IT'S A HEAD WITHOUT A BODY TALKING!!!”

The head explained to them that someone had cut him up, that he was a dishonored samurai. A samurai here? Nami tried to get information from him to see if he knew how to get out of here but it appeared that he was as lost as they were. He turned out to be an unpleasant and misogynistic character who did nothing but yell and scream. After several kicks, Sanji revealed to him that they were pirates, which had the effect of triggering a black anger in their mysterious head without a body. He then mentioned an ice island. Lucia ticked, Nami was right, there was an ice face on this island. An icy face... and a flaming face... wait a minute... Lucia screamed and fell backwards.

“Hey miss, are you ok ?” asked Franky.

Lucia didn't answer immediately, her eyes wide with horror, her mouth open, and a visceral fear in her pupils. She raised her hand to her chest once more and dug her fingers into the scar that protruded from her cleavage, on which the two perforations caused by her confrontation two years ago were still visible.

“I know ...” she stammered, “I know why I feel so bad since I'm here ... it's because I know this island ... and I know these flames ... I know these flames ...”

In shock, it took him several seconds before he could explain:

“The island of Punk Hazard is the island that hosted the huge battle between Aokiji and Akainu, that's why the island is divided in two and neither climate manages to dominate the other. It is the fruit of their confrontation, they literally modified the climate of the island.”

“WHAT?! You can't be serious!" exclaimed Chopper.

“I am...” Lucia mumbled, “and that's why the flames and the lava that we saw from the Sunny bothered me so much...”

“It's because they are the same ones that inflicted those wounds on you, right?” answered Sanji.

Lucia nodded:

“That's why I immediately felt that I could not do anything against this heat... because it has already defeated me two years ago and believe me I am sure that I could not face the fire of Akainu...”

“I understand better...” Nami breathed. “Their power are insane...”

Tired of being held prisoner here, Franky used his radical beam to blow the door of their cell to let them out. Lucia got up and went out with them. In a move that they did not understand, Sanji decided to take the samurai's head with them as some people came towards them to get them back, having heard the sound of the explosion. The head explained that he had come to save his son and immediately afterwards the pirates ran away while Sanji was still carrying the head of the one they had come to assume was the mad swordsman who had killed their mysterious distress caller. They fled without seeing where they were going and landed in a huge colorful room filled with children... and giant children. Lucia felt like her jaw was going to drop.

“Children? Here?

“But where did we end up?" asked Franky.

**

Lucia was running alongside Sanji, towards the only source of light that could represent the slightest hope of escape. Behind her, the heavy footsteps of the giant children shook the ground. Suddenly deciding to help them may not have been their best plan, but Nami seemed to want to so they followed. The children had begged them for help, asking for their parents, telling them they wanted to get out of here and find their families. If this was indeed a child abduction, it was necessary to solve the problem at all costs. They all stopped as they went through the door. Lucia was stunned by the spectacle that was unfolding before her.

“THE NAVY?" shouted Chopper, completely panicked.

The G-5 unit, that's another thing now. The snowy gusts of wind whipped Lucia's face, making her shiver. Mechanically, she brought back her hands on her arms to rub them, without great conviction. Then she felt an insistent glance weighing on her and turned the head to finally meet a glance which she had not seen since 2 long years.

Trafalgar Law. His grey irises stared at her coldly, devoid of any emotion, while she herself was feeling the blow. Beyond the surprise to find him here, in such conditions, she was stunned to see how much he had changed. Not so much physically. But something had transformed him. She didn't detect anything anymore, not a single ounce of humanity behind this hard and methodical look, behind this closed and cold expression. Since the fact that from the beginning, it was necessary well to seek to find a human being in this body. At least at the time he looked better. Leaning against the door, the only expression that emanated from his person was the deep boredom as well as the certain annoyance to see this group of braying people disembarking while he was trying to contain the Navy.

“I recognize you”, exclaimed Nami who had finally recognized the pirate. “We already met at the Sabaody archipelago two years ago.”

“Law...” murmured Lucia, completely lost.

She was pulled out of her state by a Navy soldier who recognized her:

“She is the Elementalist, Gol D. Lucia, presumed dead during the Summit War and whose bounty amounts to 650 million berry.”

The news stunned Lucia who turned around, oscillating between fury and despair:

“EXCUSE ME?! Tell me it's not true, what have I done to you? Pirates who have killed more people than me have fewer numbers on their bounty, please make an effort... STOP GONZING THAT NUMBER FOR NO REASON AT ALL!!!”

She ran her hand over her face in dejection, making a dejected pout.

“Your bounty has gone up since your real name was revealed and you joined Straw Hat Luffy's crew”, Smoker explained to her.

“What?! But I never joined-“

Smoker gave her a doubtful look and she looked at the scene around her, watching Nami who was still shivering, Sanji who was holding the samurai's head in his hands, Franky who was entertaining the children and Chopper who was trying to reassure them, then looked at him again, admitting she was defeated:

“Yes, well, certainly... I give you the benefit of the doubt...”

Sanji then took her by the arm:

“We have to find another way out, with the kids we can't risk facing the Navy. Come on, let's go!”

“But-“

She turned again towards Law but he had turned away and his face was now hidden under the shadow of his hat. Lucia sighed before she was carried away. As they turned back, she heard Chopper continuing to talk with Nami:

“If that guy is responsible for kidnapping the kids, count me in for a party!”

“I wouldn't be surprised," replied the sailor, "he always gave me the creeps.”

Yet, as her companions continued to run away from the door, Lucia gradually slowed her stride, letting herself be overtaken by the children. Little by little, only the echo of the wind that was howling outside reached her ears, coupled with the sound of her own heartbeat following this frantic race. Unconsciously, she had come to a complete stop. It was as if she didn't understand anything. And God knows she hated not understanding. She couldn't help but glance behind her and was surprised to see that Law had already turned around and was facing the hallway. She was sure he couldn't see her expression from here but despite herself, her face tensed and contorted as she contained a grimace of pain. Why was she getting into such a state for so little?

She felt the sphere being created and saw clearly the blue veil surrounding her, going as far as where the small group of children and crew members still were. It had to be. He wasn't going to let them go like that. With a dark face, she lowered her head and made up her mind. Waiting to be probably cut in half in the next few seconds.

Nothing happened. The sphere disappeared and Law turned and walked back outside. Interdicted, Lucia palpated her body several times before realizing that, no, nothing had moved, everything was in place. Howls of horror caught her attention and she was surprised to find that Law had simply switched the personalities of the four members of the Straw Hat crew. They were completely panicked.

Why... why hasn't he done something to me...

Realizing that there was something really fishy going on here, she decided to temporarily leave the small group, not without warning her friends, to go and watch the fight between Law and Smoker. When she reached the door again, she was stunned by the image before her. Law was standing in front of Smoker, lying face down, and holding a still-beating heart in his left hand. For the first time in two years, the Surgeon of Death’s menacing figure terrified her. She felt cheated, unable to believe that he was capable of such cruelty. Then she remembered what she had heard when she returned to Sabaody to find Rayleigh. Law had delivered the hearts of 100 pirates to secure his status as a Warlord. At the time, she refused to believe it. At that moment, she was terrified. Aware of his presence, Law glanced at her and saw the panic and fear he inspired. He slowly walked towards her without taking his eyes off her.

I can't move.

Calmly, he reached her level and stopped next to her:

“Stay out of this...”

It was as much a warning as a threat, but these words managed to wake her up and she turned to him, an angry look in her eyes:

“Tell me it's not true...” she whispered. “TELL ME IT'S NOT TRUE?!” she repeated louder, her voice full of revulsion and disgust, grabbing his wrist with force.

“Stop yelling, I hate melodrama. What is not true?” he asked calmly, detaching himself from his grip of a gesture of the arm.

“That you are not this kind of heartless monster that you pretend to be...” she hissed.

He had a small unhealthy rictus before sneering:

“Oh, poor little Lucia, you are still so naive...”

At these words he tightened his grip on his weapon, Lucia stretched a hand backwards, projecting a few drops of water from her fingertips, ready to attack too. However they were both stopped by the exalted cries of Luffy who was trying to thank the doctor for having saved him two years before. Lucia couldn't believe her eyes, the small reconnaissance team they had sent to the fiery face of the island was now warmly dressed and riding a half-man, half-alligator creature. She blinked several times to make sure this vision was real while Law himself tried to figure out what was going on.

“Could at least anything coherent happend on this island?" muttered Lucia, dismayed.

“Thank you for saving me!" shouted Luffy.

The captain of the crew finally realized that Lucia was also part of the picture:

“Oh, Lucia, you too came to thank Tra-guy for saving your life! How did you manage to find him so quickly?”

Enthusiastic, the young pirate got off his makeshift steed and ran to meet them.

“It's a little more complicated...” Lucia began. “But wait a minute, at the risk of asking an absurd question: are you aware that you have someone else's legs grafted to your back?”

“It would take too long to explain," Usopp moaned, making a small gesture with his head. “Just pretend everything is normal, I beg you.”

During this exchange, Law was flashing back to his intervention in Marineford, then to the catastrophic state of the Straw Hat when he woke up, to the deal he made with Rayleigh for Lucia, to the few weeks she had spent on board his submarine.

“Look, I'm surprised to see you here, but you don't owe me anything, so don't make a big deal about it," he said in his usual monotone. “What I did for you was only for fun, you and I are still pirates after all.”

Lucia tickled at the use of the words "for fun", she was not convinced that he had kept her with his crew for his own personal pleasure. Or then they definitely did not have the same definition of the amusement.

Law concluded his little intervention by knocking down Tashigi again, who had rushed in without thinking to confront the Warlord after seeing Vice Admiral Smoker's lifeless body. Usopp urged Luffy to leave, and he took Lucia's arm to lead her away while Law pointed them in the right direction. She didn't have the strength to resist and let herself be dragged along, looking away.

Chapter Text

“Wait Lucia, you never told me that you were friends with Tra-guy??” asked Luffy, perched on a huge snowball created by the children. “Lucia ? Lucia?”

The young woman did not answer, lost in her thoughts, her eyes fixed on the incessant ballet of snowflakes in the air. The whole crew stopped talking and turned their attention to the Elementalist, who sat motionless on the ground, her head supported by one hand. Since they had been behind the laboratory on Punk Hazard Island, Lucia had said nothing, done nothing. She had just sat there, completely closed to everything that was happening around her. The fate of the children, Chopper's anger, Nami's resolve. Nothing was getting through to her. Without warning, Luffy approached her and crouched down to be at her height before putting his forehead against Lucia's.

“I don't know what happens in there but it works hard”, he noted by pushing his index finger on Lucia's skull.

She had a small sad smile before resigning herself to answer his first question:

“No, I never told you that I was friends with Law. Simply because we are not friends, it is indeed him who looked after me after Marineford and I stayed with his crew for 2 months afterwards, so I know them a little. At least I thought I did...”

“Spit it out," Franky urged her.

“I don't know," she sighed. “There's just something wrong here.”

“I think we all noticed that," said Nami.

“No, you don't understand...” Lucia murmured.

They couldn't understand. Not that she didn't want to explain herself, she just wasn't able to do it. That unpleasant feeling that turned her stomach wouldn't go away ever since she had settled down, when she had seen Law. His cold gaze couldn't leave her mind. She was convinced that something was wrong and not being able to put her finger on it was driving her crazy.

“Listen," said Luffy, "if you're worried about Tra-guy, don't be, he's strong and he can defend himself. And if he's really in trouble, well, we'll just help him.”

“NEVER IN A LIFETIME!" shouted Chopper and Usopp in unison.

Lucia let out a small laugh:

“I love how simple things are with you!”

With an air of concern, she then looked down at her forearm, Luffy followed this gesture and discovered the blue symbol that adorned it and that glowed weakly.

“Oh but it's-“

She nodded:

“Yes, a life link that I put on him earlier without him realizing it. I don't need to have a long contact with the person to install it, I can create them faster. Just like the one I put on you before the events of Impel Down and Marineford, it allows me to see the approximate state of health of the person I have bound. The more the light weakens, the worse the wearer is, even close to death.”

“Its color does not look very bright”, noted Robin.

“No indeed, it is another element which pushes me to think that something does not go straight in the behavior of Law.”

She passed her thumb gently over the small mark that was pulsing at a regular rhythm.

“I'll come with you to the lab to see this 'Master,'" she announced.

They divided again. The head of the samurai - who had found his legs hooked to Luffy's back - had dashed outside to get his torso that Brook had fought earlier, followed by the skeleton, Sanji - who felt responsible for him - and Zoro. Chopper, on his side, had discovered that the children were drugged and was anxious to free them from the hold of the "Master" who held them in the hollow of his hand with those few chemical treats. Therefore, Nami and Usopp wanted to stay with the children while Luffy, Lucia, Franky and Robin would go to the scientist's laboratory to find out who it was.

**

“Damn it, this yeti is agile, for such a big bug it walks us too easily, that annoys me. And for God’s sake LUFFY MOVE, YOU’RE CRUSHING ME!” Lucia shouted by pushing her friend who had fallen on her.

“Oh sorry, but it was a hell of a fall.”

“Yes I think I had already notice it thank you, I remind you that you dragged me with you.”

“Not my fault if you were behind me.”

“Are you kidding me??” Lucia straightened up by dusting the snow which had fallen on her arms. “Seriously, it's freezing.”

“Well, why don't you have a warm coat too?”

“BECAUSE I DIDN'T HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE ONE YOU IDIOT! I wasn't with you when you stole the centaurs' and then Kin'emon cut himself before he could make one for me so I've been freezing my ass off ever since.”

“Oh, that's unlucky for sure.”

“Okay well that's enough now I'm going to-“

A deafening crash interrupted the young woman who was reaching out to strangle Luffy and her both looked up at the summit from which a cloud of snow and smoke was emanating. They had rushed after the killer yeti without thinking, with the sole purpose of saving Nami. In reality, Luffy had left without thinking, Franky too, and Lucia had followed them for fear of what might happen to them. Luffy was a hothead, but so was his crew. The carpenter, trapped in the body of the little reindeer, had turned into a monster without a second thought, and not only did they have to calm down the two mad killers, but they had to put down their ally who was out of control. Now one of the yetis was on the ground, Franky-Chopper too, and the other assassin, holding Nami-Franky in one hand, had just slid them off the wall that Luffy was climbing. She followed as best she could behind, having dematerialized her lower body into water and thus able to fly. But she had not paid attention and when Luffy had fallen, he had dragged her.

Without consulting each other, they jumped in the same movement and easily reached the top of the mountain. What was not their surprise to see the yeti on the ground, unconscious and cut in two, Nami-Franky face against the snow, unharmed and Law, his cold look and his usual impassive pout on his face.

“Why, every time I land somewhere on this island, things literally don't make sense...” Lucia grumbled. “It's enough to drive you crazy.”

She was on the defensive, not knowing on which foot to dance with Law. However, the speech he gave them was the last one she expected. In a very solemn tone, he proposed to Luffy to form an alliance between their respective crews in order to take down one of the four Emperors.

“An alliance...” Luffy repeated. “And can I know which Emperor you have in your sights?”

“It's not this question that you have to ask, you moron!” yelled Nami. “Just refuse, we can't trust this guy.”

Law revealed to them the name of the one he intended to make fall. Kaido. Kaido of the Beasts. Nami was horrified while Luffy and Lucia listened without revealing their emotions.

“Okay, I got it," answered Luffy.

He turned to Lucia:

“What do you say?”

“WHY DO YOU ASK HER WHEN I KEEP TELLING YOU TO REFUSE ??” exclaimed Nami at the height of exasperation.

Lucia, who had not said anything yet, was staring at Law from the beginning, looking for a sign, something that should warn her. But he was damn good at not letting anything out. Oscillating between her instinct and the rational vision of the thing, she shook her head:

“For me it's ok.”

“You're not serious, Lucia?”

Nami turned her eyes. They were going to kill them all by taking decisions like that.

“But shouldn't you ask the opinion of your whole crew first? Even if it’s only by form?”

“I have yours, that's enough for me.”

“Nice for the others!” vociferated Nami.

“It's okay Tra-guy, let's make an alliance”, concluded Luffy, a huge smile on his face.

Lucia had thus chosen to trust her instinct. At the moment when she turned away, she always felt the insistent glance of Law to weigh between her shoulder blades. Obviously, she was not the only one to cogitate. A small smile stretched her lips. Thinking about it, I don't know who will find a real interest in this compromise.

Lucia's reflection was quickly proven, as soon as Law spent a few moments with the Straw Hat crew, he had to face the fact that everything would not go according to his ideas. He was seriously wondering if he had done the right thing in proposing this alliance to this crew with this captain. Now he was being used as a means of transportation to carry a raccoon (a reindeer) tied to his head while the rest of the crew was laughing behind his back.

“I'm sorry to laugh," Nami laughed, "but this is too much!”

“You're super cute like that," Franky taunted him.

“Sorry," apologized the reindeer, "but I can't move so...”

Frozen, Law felt all his determination and his common sense leaving him as the seconds passed. Lucia had decided to repress her bad feeling in order to better apprehend their future collaboration. And she had to admit that the image that the Surgeon of Death offered to her with Chopper perched on his head was what chased away her black ideas.

“Welcome to the Straw Hat crew!" Lucia said with a mocking smile. “You don't know what you've gotten yourself into, believe me.”

Law sighed and addressed to him a black glance:

“Rather than making fun of me, come with us. At least I'll have someone able to think about this whole thing.”

She raised her hands in surrender:

“Fine, if it makes you happy to have my charming company...”

“That's a great idea," Chopper agreed, "I might need your power if I have to prepare something in a hurry.”

“No worries doc.”

Law then proceeded to untie Chopper from his headgear so he could attach it to his sword. The doctor watched him, slightly anxious:

"Say? What's the matter? You look a little upset, don't you?”

“Don't worry Chopper”, Lucia answered, it's his best day face believe me.”

New black look from the Surgeon of Death towards the Elementalist who contented herself with shrugging her shoulders and crossing her arms, while waiting for them to start towards the laboratory. She took a deep breath, staying calm and trusting. Hopefully she was the one who was fooling herself.

“You remember well our plan, right?”

“Yes”, sighed Lucia. “You create a diversion for Cesar and the winged woman, and with Chopper we find everything we can about the drug. You know, contrary to what our captain let’s think, there are people who know how to follow instructions in this crew.”

“Well, as I recall, you were more of a rebel," Law grumbled.

“Shut up Trafalgar or I promise you that you will find my fist in your sulky face”, replied Lucia in a dry tone.

Once in the lab, Law took care of luring Monet away from Caesar's workroom, leaving Chopper and Lucia to deal with the drug and the antidote. Clearly, it was mostly Chopper who was browsing through the scientist's books while the Elementalist kept an eye on the surroundings.

“Do you have anything to treat them with?” she asked him after a few minutes.

“Yes, Cesar may be very dangerous, but he's still a methodical scientist who records all his experiments, so I should be able to find out the exact composition of the drug and deduce an antidote. But... Lucia?”

“Yes?”

“The mark you have on your forearm... “

Lucia looked down at the symbol of the bond of life she had placed on Law and was stunned to see it glow so dimly, with long dark intervals.

“But what's going on over there, he told us he would take care of them without any problem..."

She met Chopper's equally worried gaze, then shook her head and forced herself to stay put. She didn't have to go and see what was going on, Chopper had only just regained his motor skills, if anything happened to him he couldn't fight alone. The children's lives depended on him, and therefore on her as well. She gritted her teeth, clenching her hand on the symbol that was barely glowing. Then suddenly she heard it. The scream. His scream. It made her blood run cold. She knew she was the only one who could hear it from this distance; Chopper had not heard it. But the sound waves reverberated off every little water molecule in the air, bringing the unbearable echo of that scream of pure pain.

“Please, Chopper, hurry!”

Surprised, the reindeer turned his head and the look on his friend's face worried him to no end. Lucia was frighteningly pale, clutching her arm so tightly that her veins showed around it, her eyes wide, her jaw clenched. Whatever she perceived, she took on herself not to act. He redoubled his vigilance and speed to continue his research.

A scream. Another one. She knew that their intensity was not really increasing, that it was her who could not bear to hear them. Who couldn't stand to do nothing. After what had happened in Marineford, she had promised herself that she would never again stand idly by, helpless in the face of other people's suffering and despair. She was breaking that promise to herself. But she had to protect the doctor.

“Go!”

She turned around in surprise, Chopper had put his paw on her arm.

“Whatever's going on out there, if you think you can make a difference and help him, go ahead, don't worry about me.”

“But-“

“I can defend myself, and I trust you.”

Touched, Lucia nodded before leaving Caesar's room. She followed the vibrations in the air, in the corridors that went on and on. Finally, the screams reached her ears. She made herself as invisible as possible, breaking her body into a few thousand particles of water scattered in the air so that she could approach without being seen.

Law was on the ground, blood pouring from his mouth, panting, suffering. Facing him, Monet was enjoying the spectacle, a carnivorous smile on his face. Lucia did not recognize the man who was also present, but he did not give off anything good. Behind his dark glasses and his austere appearance, one guessed without difficulty a background of cruelty. The climax of this deduction came when he took out his hand from his back, in which he held what looked like a human heart imprisoned in a translucent cube. Without showing any emotion, he simply squeezed the organ violently, which caused Law to scream again in pain and clutch his hand to his chest. The connection was obvious now: this heart was Law's. For some reason she didn't understand, it was this man who had it in his possession and was using it to torture him. In order to make Law feel her presence, she moved some water particles around him, making him understand that she was there. He opened his eyes with difficulty and stared at the ceiling, knowing full well that she was watching him. He could almost have guessed her face, but that would have been a pure figment of his imagination. He simply stretched his lips into a small grin and said with difficulty in a low voice "I can take it". She was the only one to hear this message before the surgeon fainted completely. Stunned, Lucia took a few seconds before realizing that her opponents were certainly going to take Law to Caesar's room, where Chopper was still. She then turned back, as quickly as she could, to warn the doctor and tell him to hide.

However, she arrived too late, when she reached the room, a cage had already been set up in which Luffy, Robin, Franky, Smoker and Tashigi were lying unconscious and chained. Clearly, Law's plan had failed miserably. No trace of the little reindeer. Lucia decided to wait, positioning herself in a corner of the room, far from the cage, and watched Monet and the second man bring Law. They all regained consciousness little by little, finally meeting their adversaries. Lucia could thus put a name on the torturer of Law: Vergo. A whiff of hatred came over her when she understood that it was another one of those corrupt cogs who pretended to make the machine of "Justice" work under the banner of the Navy when in reality they were only serving their own interests. And here, the interests were a so-called "Joker" who turned out to be none other than the Warlord Doflamingo. Lucia paled, she was beginning to understand the magnitude of this whole story, which went far beyond a simple little pirate conflict. Out of the corner of her eye, she caught sight of Chopper, who was leaving Caesar's laboratory with a book on his head and who rushed to take refuge behind a recess in the wall. In the greatest of discretion, she joined him. He stifled a cry of surprise when he saw her materialize under his nose without warning.

“It is necessary that one makes something to help them...” he whispered of the end of the lips.

“I know”, she answered in the same tone. “But we don't know anything about these two except that they are Caesar's minions...”

Lucia kept well to mention the heart of Law that Vergo had in his possession and that he could maltreat to his liking to make him suffer. If they intervened without thinking and that they did not manage to deliver their friends, there was strong chance that he would release himself on this organ, going perhaps even until killing Law if it was possible. Trying to think as quickly and efficiently as possible, Lucia put her back against the wall that led to the room and continued to listen to the discussions, waiting for an opportunity, a favorable moment...

Caesar finally returned to his room, joining Vergo and Monet. Lucia had to use all her self-control to hold back from intervening and to put an end to the provocations that he led. She had only one desire, to make him swallow his sardonic laugh. He began to evoke the contract which had pushed Law to entrust his heart to him, which explained how it had been able to be in Vergo's hands.

At the moment when Vergo pressed again strongly on the organ of the Surgeon, he pushed an umpteenth howl and twisted of pain. Lucia tightened the fabric of his pants with all her strength and bit her lip to remain master of herself and not to intervene. Chopper shook her slightly, a veil of absolute horror in his eyes:

“Lucia... what do we do... Lucia...?”

Lucia dared to stick her head out of their hiding place. Law saw her. They exchanged a look, his was hard, almost threatening. He nodded, telling her not to do anything. When she dared to look again at Cesar and then back at him, he frowned more and continued to nod to prevent her from intervening. He was then again shaken of spasms and twisted under the blow that Cesar gave in his heart.

Folding again behind the metallic wall and biting a little more the lips, Lucia managed to recover herself. In a corner of her mind, images of Marineford threatened to resurface and it was not long before Law's screams brought out those of Luffy when Ace died. The wound was still alive for the young woman, she knew it. The events on Fishman Island had proved it enough, she had to keep her calm and not let herself be carried away by her emotions. In an almost desperate gesture, she grabbed the reindeer's little paw and gently squeezed it in her hand.

“We wait... for the moment we can only wait... to launch out in front of these three at the present time would be suicide...”

Chapter Text

Lucia and Chopper observed then impotently the projection which took place under their eyes, contemplating with horror the immense chemical weapon created by Caesar, Morteterre, to descend along the slopes of the island, statufying all on its passage, annihilating any trace of life. Chopper clung to the young woman's leg, shaking and sweating. Suddenly, a trap door mechanism activated, opening to the outside, and the cage in which Caesar's prisoners were trapped tipped over, exposing them to the deadly gas. Chopper was stunned, convinced that he had to do something and at the same time that there was no way he could free his friends safely. All his thoughts were interrupted by a paper pellet that ricocheted off his nose. He grabbed it and was stunned to read the order on it, "Do nothing!" He reached out with his left paw to pat Lucia's arm.

“Say... did you see that Lu.... Cia?”

He waved his paw in the air for a few seconds before turning around in horror, noticing that she was already gone. He barely had time to look back at the cage, which was disappearing a little more each second, when he saw a slight distortion in the air, as the water particles moved as Lucia sped across the room to join them.

“But... but... but.... BUT WHAT THE HELL AM I GOING TO DO NOW??.." shouted Chopper, desperate to be alone now.

Lucia slipped through the opening and managed to stabilize herself behind the cage that went lower and lower outside the laboratory, so as not to be seen by the videophones that were transmitting the image to Caesar. In front of them stood the cloud of deadly gas and below them the soldiers of the Navy. She vaguely heard the pirates' words coming from the cage and smiled, pleased to see that they had not lost their resolve. Law's words came clearly to her ears, "we're preparing the counterattack.” She didn't know if he was addressing her as well, was he even aware that she had followed them despite the order he had given her not to intervene a few minutes earlier. But he would learn the hard way that he should never give her such an order.

Below them, the bow of the Navy warship exploded noisily. The fire quickly grew out of proportion and the smoke completely surrounded the cage. Understanding the idea behind this seemingly ridiculous act, Lucia took advantage of the confusion and the lack of visibility to approach the cage's gate. Seeing that it was only classic metal, she managed to enter without any problem, her body being only made of water. The prisoners looked at her with astonishment, Law frowned and Luffy, on the contrary, gave her his best smile.

“Lucia! You came to help us!”

“Of course," she answered, "don't move, I'm going to untie Franky and Tashigi, their chains are not made of seastone I think, they will be able to free you afterwards and-“

“Don't bother," Law cut her off.

He barely spread his arms when his chains fell to the ground under the stunned eyes of the others.

“What?" Lucia was astonished.

“It was only an ordinary chain”, he explained. “How long do you think I've been here? It's precisely to avoid this kind of problem that I exchanged a lot of chains in the laboratory. That way I knew that if I ever got caught, it would be easier than with seastone. I just had to use my power to get rid of it.”

“Not stupid”, she commented.

“What are you doing here anyway? I thought I have said to you and to the reindeer not to make a move, wasn’t I clear enough?”

Lucia lowered her head, her hair masking her face.

“When I give an order I like that we follow it I remind you, then the next time content yourself to obey wisely”, continued Law, of a dry tone.

Without warning, Lucia seized Law by the collar of his jacket and raised him to his height, bringing his face closer to hers. He was surprised to find himself confronted with a face sweating anger and pain as her mouth stretched to let out all that was in her heart:

“Don't ever ask me that again! Don't ever ask me to stand by and do nothing while someone is being tortured in front of my eyes! Do you hear me? NEVER AGAIN!”

Her hands were shaking but her eyes were fixed.

“I don't care about your orders Law, I don't care what your goal or plan is. If someone is suffering needlessly in front of my eyes and I want to help them, I'll do it, is that clear?”

“Stop acting for five minutes, if you think like that you will want to save everyone and you know very well that you can't!”

“I did not seek to save everyone,” vociferated her, “actually I sought only to help you, you kind of moron!”

“I do not need your help!”

“Need or not I do not care! To hear you howl like that is a sufficient reason in my eyes!”

She abruptly released him without taking her eyes off him, she was really angry. He was too. The tension that reigned between the two individuals weighed heavily on the other occupants of their makeshift prison, who were still waiting to be released.

“I don't want to interrupt your little battle," Franky said, "but could you at least take off our chains? So that we can prevent you from killing each other right away. “

“Especially since the gas is getting dangerously close”, reminded Robin, in a legendary calm.

In one motion Law retrieved his sword and cut the chains that held the pirates captive. He then hesitated but decided to free the two Navy officers as well. While Luffy decided to live his life as he saw fit, Law and Lucia continued to glare at each other. Damn, she had a way of getting on his nerves.

“All right, let me be clear Law. I'm not going to let go of you for a second, you're going to snap your fingers at any second until you get your heart back.”

“I don't need a nanny thank you very much.”

“Think of it as a debt I owe you, I'll help you get your heart back no matter what. This is to thank you for saving my life two years ago.”

“You don't owe me anything," he protested wearily.

“That's not up to you to decide. If you're not happy, it's the same thing.”

She punctuated her sentence by pressing her index finger against his jacket, at the level of his chest:

“As long as this organ has not found its initial place, it is out of the question that I let you go one second. And that's not negotiable.”

He had a backward movement to get rid of this contact and sighed, defeated:

“If it's fun for you, fine, but don't get in my way. Just follow me if you want.”

Law passed her without looking at her. Lucia held back an insane desire to strike him. They then all took refuge inside Caesar's laboratory. The gas smashed against the armored doors.

Led by Luffy, the crew and the G5 forces dispersed with the R-building leading outside as their meeting point. As she had announced, Lucia scrupulously followed Law. Neither of them exchanged a single word about the pirate captain's objective. He was seriously annoyed by the young woman's behavior. Not only was she annoying, but she was starting to play the meddler by interfering in things that were none of her business. From the corner of his eye he saw her shadow standing out next to his. He sighed again.

Lucia had no idea where Law was really going. In any case one moved away from the building R she was certain of it, and he would have adored to be able to make alone if she did not endeavor to follow him. They arrived in front of a huge armored door on which was displayed the sign of radioactive danger. Three guards tried to stop the Surgeon of Death, but he sliced them in half without batting an eye.

“Do you ever settle conflicts without cutting people?" Lucia asked him, annoyed.

“Does it happen to you to remain silent more than two minutes? Your sarcasm is painful.”

“From the one who gratifies us with his black look every second, I take it as a compliment.”

He rolled his eyes. No sooner had he opened the door than an alarm sounded throughout the lab, warning everyone that Warlord and her were about to enter this section.

“I don't want to get ahead of myself," she continued, "but I don't think we're supposed to go in there.”

“I didn't force you to follow me, I remind you.”

“I know...

Her voice fell as she discovered the huge tank on which were inscribed the three letters "S.A.D.". All her irony vanished then, understanding that what was being played here was far from being a little joke. Law's concerned look only reinforced this impression.

“This is what will finally shake the New World," he said.

He punctuated his sentence with another disturbing smile and a sneer that made Lucia shudder. She swallowed:

“I take back what I said, please content yourself with the dark look, now you're seriously freaking me out. What is this exactly?”

He didn't answer, continuing to stare at the huge container that was smoking on all sides.

“But what's going on on this island?” Lucia whispered.

Law drew his sword, ready to slice through the tank when Vergo's deep voice interrupted him. Immediately, Lucia turned around and prepared to attack if necessary. Since she knew that this guy was a traitor in the Navy as well as a torturer, she had only one desire, to swallow his portrait. Without warning, Joker's subordinate armored his weapon with armament Haki and struck Law's head with a violent blow before the Warlord could even react. Furious, Lucia lunged but Vergo dodged her in a split second and met her with a violent punch in the stomach. Stunned, the young woman fell on all fours on the ground, the sight blurred and the short breath. Boy, his Haki is incredibly powerful. Rayleigh was able to hurt me, but this is something else entirely. Without waiting for the second blow, she turned her body into water and flew through space to attempt another attack, but he managed to dodge it a second time and her bamboo weapon met her face with incredible force, sending her flying a few feet. When he wasn't attacking her, he was concentrating on Law who was wiping his blows with as much violence, tearing him several howls of pain. Furiously, Lucia got up once again and set out again to the attack. This time, she anticipated the movement of her adversary and managed to dodge his counter-attack before striking her first blow. Her foot, filled with armament Haki, struck Vergo's head, sending him reeling backwards. However, Vergo grabbed the young woman's ankle with his left hand and sent her crashing to the ground. From the corner of her eye she saw him raise his bamboo stick to strike Law again. At the last moment, Lucia interposed herself, having drawn her sword and stopped the movement of her opponent. Nevertheless she only gained a few seconds, Vergo's strength was such that she could not stabilize her grip, shaking all the time and quickly he broke her guard before she took the impact of the shock in her face. She staggered and fell to the ground, a trickle of blood running from the top of her skull. He raised his weapon again for another attack. I'm not ready.

“Room. Shambles.”

Lucia was instantly teleported to the other end of the room by Law's powers, and Vergo's blow landed on a piece of the room's railing. Law met Lucia's eyes. Without further ado, Vergo came back on him and bludgeoned him to the ground. He got up nevertheless but was quickly interrupted by a sharp pain when Vergo started again to press his heart with force.

“Stop it!" Lucia shouted.

Jumping up again, she managed to punch him in the chest, felt the bones of her right hand break under the impact and was then propelled backwards when Vergo replied.

“Didn't you understand, little unconscious girl, that you can't do anything?”

“That, I would not be so sure”, answered Lucia, a sarcastic smile on the face. “As powerful and reinforced as you are, you remain a human being. And the human being is composed of 75% of water. Any living being is only a big mass of water. So if I can't hit you from the outside... let's try the inside.”

Vergo then felt something vibrate inside him, with more and more strength.

“Fishmen Karate...” Lucia articulated. “Shockwave”

Vergo was shaken by an internal deflagration which made him move back of several steps, spitting in his turn of blood. He felt all his body slamming and his heart missed even some beats. Law was amazed, since when did she know how to do that.

Slowly, Vergo stood up, stoic:

“Surprising... but what are you going to do now that you've lost a hand?”

He looked inexpressively at Lucia's right hand hanging miserably in front of her. Lucia didn't even try to move a finger, knowing full well that every bone in it was shattered. This guy was stronger than any metal, nothing seemed to be able to really reach him. With a smile, Vergo turned away from her:

“No need to linger on an insect unable to defend itself.”

But whereas he was about to return account to Law, Lucia transformed herself into water, slalomed in the space, recovered her sword and posted herself in front of him, obstacle on his way towards Law, solid on his legs, tending his blade horizontally in front of her. Vergo stopped. She had a ferocious look, did not blink, her hand did not weaken on the guard of her weapon and he understood then. She was ambidextrous. She could fight with her left hand without worry.

“It would be very bad of me, she said, to be unable to fight with a simple broken hand, while Luffy has all his confidence in me. I forbid you to underestimate me.”

“If you want to suffer so much...”

A fight of surprising strength and speed ensued. Law could hardly follow them. The two adversaries were fiercely confronting each other, with armament Haki. Lucia had the control on all the surrounding air thanks to her power, sneaking in the blind spots of her opponent without worries. She dodged each attack, using her observation Haki to know where her opponent was going to strike, relying on his breath in the air and as soon as she had a small opening, she struck with remarkable power. The power of her aquatic attacks as well as her Haki armored blows had at least the merit of stopping Vergo in his tracks, of slowing him down sometimes, and even of making him move back. But he was not left out, he parried the least of her offensives with an ease as annoying as disconcerting. Little by little, Lucia began to weaken, in a tiny way but Vergo felt it immediately and took advantage of the opportunity. He managed to seize the young woman by the arm and, of an iron fist, broke the rest of her bones. She could not hold back a howl of pain this time, before putting a knee on the ground. When she raised her head, Vergo was no longer in front of her.

Without saying a word more, he had teleported behind Lucia and the last image that she saw before sinking in the unconsciousness was her own reflection in the black glasses of her adversary as well as his weapon which crushed once again on her temple. The shock weakened the ground which sank under the impact, leaving the young woman, the eyes closed, blood flowing out more and more from her skull.

The screams. Law's screams. That was what brought her back. These cries made her mad with rage. She struggled to open her eyes, struggled to her feet, silencing the pain in her shattered arm, her life now motivated only by hatred as Vergo worked to torture Law under her nose. All around them, the machines went wild, steam filled the room, the vats began to bubble, liquids rattled against the glass walls. She was about to retaliate when a shadow caught her eye in the doorway. At the same time, Vergo released his grip on Law and turned around, discovering Smoker standing in the doorway, cigars in his teeth, and a fierce hatred on his face.

Chapter Text

Smoker looked at Law, then at Lucia, then back at Vergo.

“Deal with Law”, muttered the Vice-Admiral, “I have a score to settle with this scum.”

Not having the strength to protest Lucia nodded and started to move to join the Warlord. However Vergo interposed himself in front of her, his fist raised, ready to stop her:

“As if I'm going to let you do that!”

Smoker stepped in and blocked the pirate's blow before pushing him away as best he could.

“It is between you and me Vergo!”

Lucia arrived at Law's side and helped him to stand up, sitting him against the metallic railing. Against all expectation, he let himself make, too wounded to protest. Lucia put her hand on his coat before suddenly realizing :

“Shit!”

“What?” he asked, worried.

“I can't do anything... without your heart I can't do anything...”

She bit her lips, annoyed. She could regenerate a person's strength, but for that she had to have its heart in order for the blood to circulate properly. She had never imagined that anyone could live without it. She couldn't help him the way she wanted to. She would have to stay and watch the fight between Smoker and Vergo without saying anything. The Vice-Admiral was in great difficulty, he was being pushed around by his opponent. In spite of his armament Haki, in spite of his devil fruit, in spite of his many years of experience in the Navy, Smoker was not able to overcome it. A final punch from Vergo knocked Smoker to the ground and he could not get up. Vergo then turned around to find Law, who despite Lucia's warnings, had bravely stood up and faced the pirate. Impatient, Vergo used his best weapon against the Warlord and began to squeeze his heart with all the grip he could muster, triggering again that unbearable pain for Law. Lucia glanced at the symbol that was still inked on his forearm and that pulsed more and more weakly while the screams redoubled in intensity. Disregarding her broken bones, Lucia took it upon herself to get back on her legs under Vergo's indecipherable gaze. She was really in bad shape. She stretched her arms out to either side, palms towards the walls. Law thought for a second that she was going to use the same technique she had used at Sabaody the first time he had seen her. But in reality, he saw all the little drops of moisture in the atmosphere swirl in the air and melt towards her, immediately absorbed by her skin. She straightened up, a victorious smile on her face:

“Much better”, she breathed.

Smoker also got up and ran towards Vergo. In the same stride, Lucia did the same and liquefied her body to become invisible to her adversary. She disappeared and reappeared to give blows to Vergo, at the same time that Smoker multiplied his attempts on his side. But nothing could be done, he was still too strong and with his armament Haki, the two Logia fruit holders could not get any advantage out of their condition. On the contrary, the more they extended their body surface, the easier they were to fall prey to. But contrary to what Vergo thought, they had the same idea in mind. Smoker sent his fists to meet Vergo's face one last time, and Vergo still avoided them, while Lucia tried to kick him in the back of the head. He dodged, again, and of a massive blow, he hit the young woman in the abdomen, cutting off her breath momentarily. Then in a final attack, he destroyed Smoker's jitte and his ribs at the same time. He was going to finish him when the noises of steps of Law pushed him to turn around.

“Smoker, Lucia, it is good, thanks to you, I could recover my heart”, says simply the Warlord.

Kneeling on the ground, Lucia showed a big satisfied smile, a hand on her chest as she tried to recover herself.

“You made diversion?!” exclaimed Vergo.

“We are perhaps less strong than you, but we do have something in our brain you see”, mocked Lucia, straightening up with difficulty on her legs.

She staggered then bent the knees.

“Stay quiet”, hissed Law, “you are going to kill you if you continue.”

“Oh stop, I will finish by believing that my life counts for you”, she laughed.

She therefor complied and let herself fall against the cold floor of room D. She was too exhausted for the moment.

“That way we're even...” Smoker said.

“I don't know what's wrong with you two, is owing me so unbearable?”

“It's a dishonor... for a soldier...” Smoker replied.

“It's a matter of honor," concluded Lucia. “And a touch of pride too I suppose.”

Law sighed, they were unrecoverable. Yet he quickly refocused, his biggest problem was still Vergo, who was now in a rage. He had discarded his coat, and had covered himself entirely in Fluid. Lucia could not hold back a hiccup of surprise and fear. This is not good, please Law finishes him in a blow otherwise the three of us are dead.

It was cut cleanly. Not a cry, not a drop of blood. Law's precise sword cut him at the waist, splitting Vergo's body in two. On one side the bust, on the other the legs. Lucia relaxed, letting escape a sigh of relief. Then she realized. He had not only cut Vergo... he had literally cut the whole laboratory, the very mountain was cut in two. And I dared to doubted him.

Law moved closer to her and crouched down to inspect her arm. Using his power, he managed to reassemble the bones in the right position.

“I'll need some material to heal this more effectively, until I can do that, try to move it as little as possible.”

“Don't worry about it... “

He sighed before getting up and then held out his hand to help her do the same, she looked at him forcibly:

“Wait a minute, am I dreaming or does the famous and cold great pirate Trafalgar Law offer me his help, and of his own free will.”

“Doesn't it ever happen to you to keep quiet?!” he replied, irritated.

“Oh never”, she answered with a small laugh.

She seized her hand and rose, she also recovered her sword which had remained in a corner during all the fight and undertook to follow Law towards the exit. He threw an eye to the ceiling:

“It's going to explode at any moment...”

“You've let yourself go a little, do I need to remind it to you?," hissed Lucia.

“Shut up”

“Yes Trafalgar.”

She had a little chuckle, certain to have seen a tiny glint of amusement in Law's eyes. So Law, Smoker and herself slowly made their way back to the R-building. On the way, Law told them they should use one of the old S.A.D cars. So she found herself alone behind that car, pushing it with all her might while the other two pulled it forward. They finally arrived at the R building and joined the rest of the people on the island. After a long and bumpy journey, the children, the G5 forces, the straw hat crew and Trafalgar Law finally made it out of the lab, all safe and sound. The Don Quixote Family henchmen who had arrived in the meantime were destroyed and Caesar was captured. By now the crew had almost unanimously decided to recharge their batteries and give everyone a chance to get back to work.

Lucia remained in her corner, a blanket on her back, shivering with cold. Of course, she was the one they had sent to rescue Caesar, Buffalo and Baby 5. She sneezed. Getting into the water didn't bother her, getting out was another matter, especially when the temperature outside was around minus forty. Surprisingly, it was Smoker who approached her with a coat in his hand. She grabbed it and thanked him before putting it on, hoping to warm up as soon as possible.

“So you can handle sea water now?” he asked.

“What's the good answer that won't raise my bounty, Vice Admiral?”

“Look," he huffed, "I can't help it, okay? The Navy is afraid of you, especially now that we know you're with that straw hat jerk. And from what I saw today, they're kind of right to be scared.”

“Are you kidding?! I got my ass kicked, it's been a long time since I've been that humiliated so hard.”

“Vergo wasn't just anyone, you stood up to him. Very few men and women in this world would have been able to stand up after even one of his blows. You continued to stand up to him even when you were down.”

“You know what it is, the energy of despair...” she said with a laugh.

“Stop it. What was shining in your eyes was not desperation. I don't know why you went to such lengths to save Law, but he owes you his life.”

“It was only a loan for a return, don't jump to conclusions Vice Admiral.”

“Your alliance... how do you know he won't betray it... nothing tells you that he didn't save you and the straw hat two years ago by trying to play on a possible debt.”

“Luffy ignores the very concept of debt, from the moment he says "thank you" everything is settled. He's a bird that can't be put in a cage for long, Law knows that. But he has this strength, this altruism that makes us all respect him, even for a pirate like Trafalgar Law. So no, I don't think he will betray us... that would be foolish of him.”

“It's true that the Straw Hat is amazing... and has multiple resources.”

“Unlike others, Luffy acts out of pure altruism, out of pure desire to help others. And it's infectious, as you saw today. You can fight with all your might Vice-Admiral, but whether we are pirates or soldiers, we are all just men after all. What differentiates us are our values and the use we make of our power, that's all.”

Smoker did not know what to answer, at that moment, Lucia's words awakened something in him. A well buried feeling that had never really been silenced, this deep desire for a just and equitable justice that had pushed him to engage and fight. Where was the limit between good and evil after all? His men had fought alongside pirates, he himself had entrusted his life into their hands...

“You would have made a good soldier...”

“With my genetic code? Stop making fun of me, it would never have passed. Besides, the Navy is not free of corruption and barbarism, as Vergo testifies today. I'd rather go my own way, for now, alongside the Straw Hats, and see where it takes me.”

They stood side by side for a moment, watching the soldiers and pirates take each other's noses in disbelief. Chopper's mortified cry brought Lucia out of her reverie.

“LUCIAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!”

She turned around, intrigued:

“What's going on?”

“It's... it's Law”, Chopper confessed on the verge of tears, “he's a murderer!!!”

Lucia frowned:

“A murderer?”

“Yeeeeeeeeeees.... he... HE CUT THE CHILDREN!!!”

“Ah yes, it is one of his dirty manias, it is necessary that he slices all that he sees”, declared she in the biggest of the calm while shrugging the shoulders. “It is compulsive for him. No restraint.”

“WHAT?!”

Seeing that Chopper threatened to turn of the eye she hastened to put an end to her small joke:

“Chopper calm down, it's a joke, don't worry, he knows what he's doing.”

“COME AND SEE FOR YOURSELF!" he shouted, in the height of despair.

“Very well, very well, I’m coming!”

She took a few steps before stopping to say her last words to Smoker:

“To answer your question... no, I can't control the sea water. Let's just say it's all about balance.”

She then followed Chopper, an amused smile on her face as the reindeer mustered up all his courage and puffed up his chest. When Law's silhouette appeared in the doorway, the reindeer took a deep breath before calling out to him:

“LAW! We need to talk! I want to know what you did to the children and I warn you, if you hurt them you'll have to deal with me!”

“So you couldn't stop looking, huh?" Law asked menacingly. “Do you really want to know what I did? I cut them into pieces!”

Chopper let out another howl before hiding behind Lucia's leg as she struggled to contain her giggles.

“LUCIA DO SOMETHING PLEASE! WE CAN'T LET HIM GET AWAY WITH THIS!”

“Oh, it's okay, he just said he cut them up, not that he killed them. I remind you that the bodies he cuts up live on after all.”

Chopper broke down and started to walk slowly away from Lucia, shaking, his eyes filled with tears. Then he ran to the room where the children were kept.

“Because of the drug, they will have to undergo heavy treatment for a long time,” the surgeon said.

As soon as Chopper disappeared, Lucia finally let out a laugh. Law watched her laugh, looking dejected. She even wiped away a small tear from the corner of her eye.

“Okay, that was worth driving back and forth just for that scene! Phew, that feels good!”

Law sighed and then got off the boat alongside Lucia.

“So the kids will get better?” she asked.

“With the right treatment and time, yes, they should be fine.”

“Well, thank you for them”

“I'm a doctor, it's my job. By the way, is it your turn now?”

“Is it? But I'm fine!” she said.

“Show me your fracture instead of saying nonsense at all times”, he ordered her

“Pfffff, stops lying to yourself, the day when I would be dumb you will regret me”, she pestered while showing him her right hand.

It examined one moment the articulations and the breaks in the bones. It was the first time that Lucia had the opportunity to see him at work since these two years, she had already passed on his operating table a few times. He knew where to look, his gestures were precise. Some of his manipulations made Lucia grimace with pain and she noticed that immediately, the pressure of his fingers decreased slightly. She had a tenderized smile. He ended up repairing her bones completely and put a bandage around her hand to protect the skin which was still blue and marked by bruises.

“It should be fine, just don't push it too hard for a few days. But you can move it normally.”

“Okay, thanks a lot!”

He also took care to examine the wound on her head, looking for any head trauma, but she was fine. Even if she suspected that he was only doing his job, Lucia was touched by his attention. Once this was over, Law called Luffy to warn him that they must leave as soon as possible to avoid trouble. His tone was very serious and concerned, Lucia felt very sorry for him, anticipating what was really going to happen. And it didn't help, Luffy decreed that because of the potential danger that might happen, they would hurry, not to run away, but to party. Law was speechless and Lucia had her second giggle in a few minutes. She returned to his side and patted him affectionately on the shoulder:

“You'll have to get used to it…”

“Why it is not someone reasonable like you who is the captain of this damned crew?” he mumbled while putting back his cap on his nose.

“Well, thank you for the compliment! It's so rare from you! Put away that black look Trafalgar! It's Luffy who made this crew and who continues to weld it a little more each day. Yes, he's a selfish jerk sometimes, but he's a captain with integrity and loyalty to his crew. He would risk his life for all of us... and I think he might even risk his life for yours.”

“ Well, if that's not devotion," he quipped.

She smiled at him for all answer:

“Didn't Usopp tell you? If you thought you were in charge of this alliance, you're wrong. Nobody can control Luffy, he is free.”

“He is especially completely unconscious.”

“Yes also, a little sometimes, she admitted. But I must admit, nothing makes me happier than to see so many smiles gathered in one place, especially after the hell we all just went through.”

Heavy footsteps made them turn around. Chopper and Mocha, finally awake, were coming toward them.

“Law, I wanted to apologize for not trusting you," Chopper admitted, holding out a bowl of soup.

The Surgeon of Death stared at the container for a long time before Lucia sighed:

“Come on, he's not going to jump in your face for God's sake! You need to take forces too.”

He then seized the bowl and left without saying a word more. Lucia shrugged her shoulders:

“And don't say thank you. My God, all his education must be revised.”

“This is for you too," said Mocha, handing her a second bowl.

“Thank you so much my dear, I'm glad to see you in good shape”, Lucia answered, a radiant smile on her face.

“Lucia?" asked Chopper in a small voice.

"Yes?”

“Do you think Law is offended that I didn't trust him?”

“It would be the last straw for him to be offended by that, since he doesn't trust anyone. Don't worry, he won't hold it against you and it won't change our alliance.”

“Okay, I'm reassured, thank you!" exclaimed the smiling reindeer.

Then came the departure of the children, for the officers of the Navy it was the occasion to put the points on the "i" and to remind the children and the pirates, who was really the incarnation of the good. They set up a barrier of banners to hide the Straw Hat Pirates from the children. They ordered the children to avert their eyes from these criminals, even as the children clamored for Nami, Chopper and Franky. However Lucia, felt well that for these soldiers of the G5, the stake was not only to restore this Manichean border of the good against the evil, but rather to try to convince themselves that they remained the only and unique incarnation of the justice and that the pirates were only vulgar criminals without faith nor law.

For the children, hearing this speech was hard, it was a mockery of the image of those who had helped them without a second's hesitation. In Lucia's mind, the speech of Fukabaushi, the prince of the island of the fish-men, resurfaced. He had said that Hody was only the child of a hatred brought by the previous generations, that the discrimination towards the humans had no more foundation except in the convictions of the elders, which they passed on to the younger ones in spite of themselves. Ultimately, this phenomenon extended beyond the borders of the underwater kingdom. Here too, contempt for the other was inculcated in spite of his real values. Lucia was not fooled, she was aware that many pirates were not saints and that there were real scum among them, but there were also more generous and altruistic ones... so why insist on making a generalization when they had seen with their own eyes that this speech did not hold water.

The soldiers continued to chant "Down with the pirates! Long live the navy!" without stopping as the children cried out of fear and sadness. Not saying goodbye to those who had helped them caused them great sorrow. These people did not realize that their behavior went completely against everything they claimed to stand for. At that very moment, it was not the pirates who were hurting civilians, but the Navy soldiers. It was Tashigi who spoke up and ordered them to stop. This was enough to bring down all the feigned conviction of these soldiers, who broke down in tears, revealing their true motives behind this speech:

“But, Colonel Tashigi, if we don't denigrate the Straw Hats, then we might have a big problem of conscience because we start to like these bandits!”

“It's wrong," another sobbed, "because they are pirates...”

Smoker was overwhelmed by so much whining, while both the children and the pirates were stunned. Lucia smiled a little before daring to speak:

“What if you saw it differently?”

Everyone turned to her in awe.

“For the first time in many years, you are beginning to break away from the labels you have been asked to place on the world. You see us all as what we fundamentally are, human beings. We have proven that in the face of a common cause we are not only capable of helping each other, but above all of having the same values.”

The soldiers of the G5 said nothing more, their gaze fixed on the young woman who was staring at the ocean.

“It is far more admirable and honorable to be willing to see the world through your own experience, than through the lessons you have been taught. Right now, you're thinking a way that wouldn't even occur to the highest ranking Navy officers. Not bad for pariahs, eh?”

She punctuated her sentence with a smile that upset the soldiers once again. All the pirates in Luffy's crew were smiling, as were Tashigi and the children. Smoker blew out a cloud of smoke, pondering these words. With that thought, the children set sail with smiles on their faces, waving enthusiastically to the pirates, who themselves decided it was time to weigh anchor.

Chapter Text

Back on the Sunny, sitting against the mast, a sandwich prepared by Sanji in the hands, Lucia looked at the one who had embarked on the boat with them. At this precise moment, the words that Nami addressed to him reached her ears with difficulty.

She was intrigued by his sullen expression and his closed air. There was no more trace of the amused, arrogant, pretentious rictus, that he sometimes raised two years ago. While she had found some humanity behind that cold look, she now was completely helpless. She sighed, did she really want to fight to understand. Yes, of course she did. Stop lying to yourself Lucia. It is always necessary that you meddle in the affairs of others. She nervously ran her hand over her arm, where the life link she had shared with Law a few hours ago has been. Now she had erased it, but it lingered in her memory. So did the screams. She wasn't sure how their alliance would end... this whole thing was beyond her.

Once he had boarded the ship, Law had explained to the rest of the crew that he was working on his plan and would let them know in due course. Many had winced when they heard this, hard to believe that they were allies if one of them was doing his own thing. Law was a loner obsessed with control, Lucia knew that. Joining forces with the most unpredictable crew in the world was going to cost him a lot of self-control, so he was going to want to plan and solidify everything so that things didn't get too out of hand. This was already a bit the case. In any case, things were as they were and it was also at this point that those who didn't know about their alliance had finally learned about it:

“So now we're buddies with him?” Zoro asked as seriously as he could.

“Yeah”, replied Luffy, with his usual smile on his lips

“Not at all!” Responded Law

“I already told you I don't trust this guy," hissed Usopp, pointing at the pirate.

“Same thing," added Nami, "what makes us think that he won't betray us at the first opportunity?”

“Let's be clear”, Law intervened exhausted, “I have as much to lose as you, even more. And nothing tells me that you're not going to let me down too, especially considering your inability to follow orders and a simple plan. The only one here that I would trust with my life without a second thought is Lucia, that's all.”

The heads of all the crew members turned at the same time towards the Elementalist who blinked, a little surprised. Then she frowned, how dared him? She approached him and grabbed him by the sleeve before whispering to him:

“Come by there you, need to talk.”

They isolated themselves at the front of the boat. Law leaned against the railing, a little annoyed to have been removed in this way:

“Can I know what you are playing at?” He asked her annoyed.

“I beg your pardon? Can I know what you're playing at? What was the purpose of your little act there?”

“What act? I'm just saying what is.”

“What right do you have to say it like that?”

“Is that what's bothering you? That I trust you in some way?”

“No, what bothers me is that you act as if nothing had changed in two years.”

He listened to her without saying anything.

“The last time we saw each other, we were on good terms, it's true, because I thought I had a pretty good idea of who you were. That you weren't a bad person. And now I find you in the middle of a story about kidnapped children, scientific experiments to annihilate an island, you are a Warlord and you steal the hearts of your enemies. I have no idea what happened in those two years, nor what your current goals are, but don't act like we are exactly the same as we were two years ago.”

“But we're not the same anymore”, he replied without blinking, “two years ago I would never have entrusted you with my life. On the contrary.”

With these words he turned away and went back to watch Caesar. Lucia took a moment before realizing that he had ended their conversation while she had not yet said all that she wanted to say. She clenched her fists and took it upon herself to calmly return to the rest of the crew. When she sat down next to them, they all looked at her curiously.

“Is everything okay?” Franky asked.

“I'm not responsible if he falls overboard. And don't count on me to go get him.”

With that, she angrily bit into one of the skewers prepared by Sanji, a black look towards the pirate who had decided to go it alone on the bridge.

Since then, Law had come back to their side to share the meal and his mood was very bad. He hadn't said a single word, completely ignoring Lucia. What's the use of coming with us if it is to impose to us his figure as cold as a prison’s door! The young woman was on the nerves, torn between her anger, her frustration and a point of disappointment.

“The Earth calls Lucia”, called Nami by waving a hand in front of the empty look of the young woman.

“Yes? What?”

She turned her gaze away from Law to return to the young redheaded woman sitting next to her, who had a small smile on her face.

“You kept staring at Law…”

“So what?”

“I had no idea you'de be interested-”

“Oh please Nami!”

Lucia loudly sighed while Nami started giggling.

“It's just..." she continued, "I wonder if he's really still human…”

Nami frowned and looked at Law as well:

“Why are you telling yourself that?”

“His face... his gaze...”

Law was beginning to feel the weight of the looks weighing on him and finally looked up to find himself facing the inquisitive looks of the two young women. Incredulous, he swallowed and supported this exchange, wondering what he had done again. Lucia and Nami turned away and faced each other to exchange again some words, this time Law was certain that they spoke about him. And that annoyed him. He hated it when people talked behind his back, when they whispered. And it bothered him even more because it was Lucia and her inquisitive and nosy look had the gift of getting on his nerves.

“He's really different from us, it's true," agreed Nami. “I still don't trust him but Luffy does. And you too if I've a good memory. After all, Luffy asked you how you felt about it, the alliance. Do you need me to remind you that you said you trust him ?”

“I never said that I trusted him, I said that I agreed”, she corrected. “But don't worry, I stand by my position on this. "Tra-guy" will not betray us, he is intelligent he knows that it would not be a good idea.”

Nami smiled as she felt a certain tenderness in Lucia's voice. She denied it, but it was clear that she was attached to the pirate, as far as she could tell, but something intrigued her for sure.

**

The days passed slowly on the Sunny and the whole crew got used to the presence of this unusual passenger. He was less unpleasant than some might have thought. He spent most of his time on deck with a book in his hands. Sometimes he had interesting conversations, he had already spoken with Robin but also with Nami or Chopper. He was an intelligent man, a very talented doctor and a brilliant mind. His tone was often the same, monotonous, accompanied by his dark look and his scowl, but he was interesting.

He and Lucia had ignored each other for the first few days, still reeling from their altercation the day before and their exchange about Punk Hazard, mostly motivated by anger, surprise and incomprehension. Finally, little by little, they had started to exchange a few words, then real discussions. It turned out that the young woman spent every night on the deck to lie on the ground and study the sky, taking notes on the movements of the stars and mapping out new things. As Law spent his nights in the same place, sitting on the grass of the deck, he had become accustomed to seeing her come down and do her little trick. She was the one who broke the ice again one evening, as she dutifully drew a few lines in her research notebook:

“Remember to blink once in a while Trafalgar, otherwise you'll destroy your retina.”

Caught on the spot, he did not show any emotion when she turned her head towards him. Without giving up his bad air, he asked:

“You know how to locate yourself thanks to the sky ?”

Lucia had a small smile:

“Oh I see that the gentleman has a good memory, yes I can do it.”

Law did not raise his attack and raised the head towards the sky also:

“It is only a mass of points in the sky…”

The young woman sighed before tapping the ground beside her with one hand:

“And you're the one claiming to be interested in science without even having the slightest astronomical knowledge, I swear... come on…”

He raised an eyebrow.

“I'm not going to eat you”, Lucia spat. “First, if you lie down your back will thank me and, then it will be simpler if your glance is at the same level as mine... after perhaps that my presence is too unbearable for you”, she let go with disdain.

Without saying a word, Law got up to come to lie down at his level, the eyes resolutely turned towards the sky not to cross his glance. Lucia laughed before laying too and extending her hand to make an "L" with her thumb and index finger.

“Well, my hand is the point of reference, I am going to show you two-three tricks.”

During several minutes, Lucia described to him the sky which was spread out above their heads, pointing out constellations, stars, telling sometimes the myth which surrounded them, the places where they had been discovered, what they meant. After a while, she stopped, intrigued by the sound of deep breathing. She turned her head and recoiled as she saw Law's face very close to hers, eyes closed, mouth ajar, looking almost placated. She made a vexed pout:

“Well go ahead, say it if I annoy you that much!”

She raised the hand, ready to strike him to wake him up, but interrupted her gesture. She remembered. She could see clearly those dark circles despite the dark night. He has always had trouble sleeping and it was clear that this had not improved in the last two years. She sighed before getting up:

“I'm really too nice, not only do I serve you as a sleeping pill, but I let you sleep in. You owe me one Trafalgar, I won't forget.”

She pushed the pirate's hat a little deeper on his face, to avoid the light of the dawn which could take him by surprise the next day, and went to bed too, warning the guard team on the way.

Neither of them had ever alluded to this episode since but they had found a semblance of cordial agreement. They talked in the evening, after dark, while she mapped. He slept on the deck of the Sunny every night to keep an eye on Caesar. And sometimes the naturalness came back between the two of them, she became more teasing and incisive, trying to provoke him. Attempts which ended in the disillusioned and annoyed air of the pirate who put on his grey eyes tired by her behavior. But it was not like before. She was less spontaneous, more cautious. And he almost had to admit that he missed the ardor of the young woman today.

**

This evening, it was Lucia and Chopper who were also on guard to watch the scientist.

The Elementalist finally found him in his usual spot on the deck, leaning against the railing, his sword in hand. How can anyone sleep in this very position, it's normal that he falls like a stump as soon as he is lying down. The question did not arise since the Captain of the Heart Pirates was well and truly awake.

“Lucia…”

“Law…”, she said, imitating his disillusioned tone.

He would never have admitted it out loud, but he really enjoyed her company. He still didn't know if he really enjoyed being in front of her usual sarcasm or if he preferred their more serious and quiet conversations, in any case she remained an intelligent woman who had matured greatly since their last meeting. Still a bit stubborn and bossy, but intelligent.

She gave him her usual smile and he raised his head to look at her with the same neutral expression. My God, Luffy would swim the day he makes another face than this one...

“Have you come to continue our conversation from yesterday?” asked Law

His gray irises met the two dark pupils of Lucia in which seemed to be reflected the immensity of the starry sky. The wind gently blew a few strands of her blue hair, momentarily darkening the picture.

“Well, if that's what you want, why not. But, in fact, I came to tell you that you can use one of our beds, you know? I'm sure you don't really want to stay with the rest of the crew in the crowded dormitory and the single cabins are often reserved for girls. I suggest you to use mine tonight since I'm on guard. My cabin is single, so you could sleep without being bothered. And it would still be more comfortable than this railing.”

Lucia sat down next to Law, following Chopper's eyes as he made his rounds in a very concerned and focused manner.

“As a doctor, you should know that it's not good for your back to be in that position every night…”

“Thank you, but I'm fine.”

“Well, we'll talk about it tomorrow when you'll be cracking like a grandfather with every step you take. Oh I know you won't complain about it, your pride is much too big for that, but believe me, I'll see it…”

She punctuated her sentence with a little mischievous look, both threatening and amused. She liked to talk to him, she couldn't help it, his affable air made her want to provoke him with these little retorts. Each time she told herself that she would take it upon herself not to do it, and each time she cracked. After all, when they were facing with a wall, someone had to lighten the mood. Law was a straightforward, to-the-point person, and while he remained very quiet when the crew was around, once she was alone with him, he talked a bit more and his company was not the least bit unpleasant.

“I can't believe you're offering to let me sleep in your room…”

“What?! Would you rather sleep in the kitchen?”

She couldn't suppress a sly smile. It was just too tempting. Law closed his eyes, trying to stay calm. She couldn't help it, she had to spend her time teasing him like that. He knew that it was not only him who was entitled to it, but felt nevertheless often targeted by the young woman.

Her attention to his health was commendable and almost pleasant but also a little heavy, he did not know on what foot to dance with her after the events on Punk Hazard. She had had this very protective behavior that he was not used to and to which he could not make sense. It had annoyed and surprised him. What had she been meddling with? He had been afraid that she would be like that all the time since then, thinking that maybe she hadn't gotten over the trauma of Ace's death after all. But in reality it was not so, she treated him like the others. He could see the genuine concern in her attitude and her eyes.

“I am very well where I am Lucia …”

“Say the one who avoid us as much as he can and yelled at us because he didn't like the bread," she muttered.

Again, it was easy and too tempting. Law had heard of course, that was always the point.

“So what? Why do you care?”

“It's just... strange?”

“I just don't like bread.”

There she goes again, being insufferable. Was he dealing with an adult or a child, he wasn't sure.

“Lucia”, he warned her, trying to move her cheek away from her gaze, without success while she was still smiling.

“Law”, she answered on the same tone.

A small moment passed, during which they contented themselves to look at each other, one fleeing desperately the other. Law threw to him his most icy glance but she did not care about it. Finally, he realized at that very moment that he was feeling good. Despite her constant teasing, despite the exasperation she could arouse in him, he felt good. No more stress. No more oppressive weight on his chest. Just this light feeling. He really enjoyed the company of the Elementalist. That evening, at that precise moment, he had the impression to go back two years, in this control room, when she provoked him every second, and that he answered, in a small futile and childish game which had annoyed him but which he was almost happy to find again now.

Finally Lucia made something to which he did not expect at all, quickly as silver Lucia's hand come to raise his hat that she withdrew from his head to come to put it on her.

“Hop, mine!”

Law remained stunned for a few seconds. Had she really done that? She winked at him and stuck out her tongue as she held his headdress firmly over her blue hair. She was really acting like a child, she was aware of that too, but at that moment she was loving it. She dared to act the way she wanted to, stopping to wonder. Her anxieties had not subsided, but she was repressing them, trying to ignore them.

Law sighed, shaking her head with a slight smile, as if to accept her defeat. Lucia immediately stopped blustering.

“Wait, did I just walk into an alternate dimension or did I get an amused smile from the coldest pirate in the whole New World?”

Her eyes were wide open and she stared at him with a wonder that surprised him.

“What?”

“You're smiling. You are smiling SINCERELY!”

She leaned back, hand over heart in an overly dramatic position. Law frowned, the smile disappeared. Yes he was smiling... so what?

“Everyone smiles”, he replied.

“Yes, everyone. Not you.”

“I do.”

“Nooooooooooooope. I had NEVER seen you smile in the last two years, in a genuine way, let's say. I had come to believe that your emotional cortex only knew one emotion. Two at best: angry and annoyed.”

“You forgot: bored”, he completed by taking back his hat, stretching a new small smile in the corner.

Lucia laughed. That's why she spent her time looking for trouble, for those moments when he dropped his role of serious captain to be a little more natural, a little more relaxed.

“Okay, go for bored, I'll update my encyclopedia right away. More seriously, the only smiles I've seen you make lately were some kind of damn creepy mimics that would have given chills to the zombies of Moria.”

She hesitated before continuing, he let her do, looking at her in the corner of his eyes.

“Especially since you've been with us. Something has changed in two years, I don't know…”

She could not go any further. Law was taken aback, so she had really been paying attention to that?

“So that's what you were talking about with the sailor the other night? To know if my smile was worth seeing?”

She raised an eyebrow:

“Well sir, you are quite egocentric to think that all the conversations of the female gender revolve only around you.”

“I'm not saying it's every women's, just that it's yours and that you should be more discreet when you're watching someone.”

She bites her lip:

“Ouch, touchée!”

Lucia let escape a new laugh. Then she stood up, dusting her pants:

“Alright I'm putting the guns down, I'm done, sorry to have bothered you. I'll go join Chopper. I still say you should really go rest in a real bed if you want to have any vertebrae left by the time we get to Dressrosa. And don't tell me you want to keep an eye on Caesar... where do you want him to go anyway? He's handcuffed with seastone, he's not going to throw himself into the sea he's too chicken for that... and he thinks his miserable life isn't worth such a lousy suicide.”

Law sighed, what a stubborn girl. He decided to surrender too:

“Fine.”

She smiled again as he got up and headed to her cabin to rest.

“Ah, and to answer your question…” she continued as he walked away.

“Hm?”

What question? He had already forgotten.

“Yes, your smile is worth seeing. You should try to do it more often, it suits you.”

She punctuated her sentence with another light smile before walking towards Chopper. Law, on the other hand, was frozen in place. Something had gone wrong in his brain. It took him a few seconds to realize that she had just paid him a compliment... and a sincere one. There was not the slightest trace of sarcasm in her voice, just a lot of softness and tenderness. It awakened a very old impression that had already worked on him when she was on board his submarine, an impression that he didn't want to listen to.

He pushed the door that led to the Elementalist's room. Without knowing why, he suddenly felt very intimidated. He turned on the light and discovered a clean, tidy and uncluttered room. There were a few books stacked on a small table, a card or two rolled up in the corner, a half-opened bag with T-shirts sticking out. Law rested his sword against the chair in front of the desk and noticed an eternal pose on what appeared to be a folded letter. Without searching, he managed to decipher the inscription that was engraved on the base of the log "Sabaody". He placed his hat on the small bedside table, on which he discovered a clumsy drawing of four children, three of whom he recognized: Luffy, Ace and Lucia. The fourth was unknown. Remembering Lucia's story of her childhood to her crew, he assumed that the little blond boy was Sabo. For a moment he stared at the smile of the blue-haired child who knew nothing about the world of piracy at that moment. In his mind, the smile she had given him before she turned away on that bridge was superimposed. He sighed and lay down on the bed, right on the covers. The fabrics carried the smell of the young woman, this slightly acidulous floral fragrance which usually floated in the air when the wind made her hair play. He surprised himself once again to feel good, to feel soothed. The mattress was comfortable, he had to admit. Why did she always have to be right? Brat.

The next day, at breakfast, she sat on the bench behind his chair, since there wasn't enough room for the whole crew and their guest around the table.

“So?” she asked.

“So what?”

“Does your back hurt?”

Swallowing his pride, he kept his eyes riveted on his plate:

“No.”

Indeed, he had slept well. He really had. But it was only after fighting all those thoughts. Her last words had looped in his mind like a broken record playing the same notes over and over.

Yes, your smile is worth seeing. You should try to do it more often, it suits you.

Being in her room with that damn perfume in the air and on the sheets hadn't helped either. Ignoring all that, Lucia just smiled a satisfied smile:

“You see. And we are all here, unharmed, and Caesar is still on the bridge... unharmed too unfortunately. In short, I was right. You were wrong. Period.”

Law didn't answer, just smiled again, so lightly that nobody saw it this time.

**

From that day on, Lucia came every night to keep the Death Surgeon company and, when she was on duty, she let him have his room so that he could sleep comfortably at least once in a while. If in the past, her nocturnal outings were primarily intended to allow her to update her maps, now it was only a small step before the real purpose of her escapade: to chat a little with the pirate. This little ritual was pleasant for both of them, as they had conversations about everything and nothing. Important subjects such as the tensions between pirates and government, alliances and speculations about the New World, but also more trivial and uninteresting things. As usual, Lucia kept teasing the pirate, helped by her usual repartee and sarcasm. Law had finally gotten used to it and he could almost admit that he liked it. She had some answers but it was never mean.

However, for a few days now, the pirate's affable air had grown stronger. Nobody seemed to have really noticed it except Lucia, who thought she understood where this reticence came from. One evening, while he was simply leaning against the railing, standing with his sword in his hand, she walked towards him. The air was cool, they were alone. She approached, without saying a word. He looked up at her:

“Lucia.”

She did not answer. On the other hand, she gently took his sword from his hands before putting it down a little further, then she took off his hat and put it aside as well. He was so surprised that he didn't even think of stopping her, just watching her with a bewildered look. Then she positioned herself in front of him, her hands on the wood of the banister, on either side of him, preventing him from running away.

“Do you trust me?” she asked him as seriously as possible.

“I beg your pardon?”

“The other time you said that I was the only person on this boat to whom you would entrust your life without hesitation. Is that still the case?”

“I- well yes I guess so but I don't see much-”

“A word of advice, take a deep breath.”

He didn't have time to reply as she placed her hands flat on his chest before pushing him. He felt his body tilt back. He had hardly time to think of using his power to get out of this situation that his back met brutally the cold surface of the sea. All his strength disappeared instantly as he sank like a stone into the salt water.

When he came to, he felt weak but was surprised to be able to open his eyes and... breathe. Law was floating in a small air bubble that allowed him to breathe. He put a hand on the wall of this surprising protection and saw that it resembled those provided when a ship was preparing to submerge to the depths. Confused, he turned around to see what was going on, but he could see nothing. At night, the water was black, he could not even make out the light of the moon.

Then there was a glimmer... a small spark that flashed to his right. Then another to his left. A myriad of light points lit up one after the other around his little bubble. He noticed that he was moving, that the darkness that had engulfed him a few seconds before was due to the shadow of the ship. Now, every little air bubble that floated in the ocean reflected the rays of the moon. With his breath taken away, he had the impression of being in the middle of a galaxy of stars. And the show began, luminescent fish started to flock around him, manta rays, some turtles too, the colored corals lit up slowly. A festival of lights was playing all around him. Turning his head, he finally saw her. She had almost melted into the sea water, hardly discernible at this stage, but it was her. Lucia was there, in the hollow of a bubble also, eyes closed, shaping with her hands spheres of water in which she imprisoned the air and which captured the light of the star on the surface. It was her, the conductor of this enchantment. The whole aquatic fauna turned around her, as if she was the one who ruled their world. He could not detach his glance from her. She finally noticed it and went towards him smiling. Without warning, she passed her hands through the thin protection of the bubble, merging their two protections, then it was her whole body that toppled and she found herself thrown against him. Not knowing what to do, he just helped her to stand up. He plunged his eyes into those of the young woman, who had not stopped smiling.

“How... why…”

He had so many questions, he didn't understand. Lucia laughed again before speaking up:

“Let's just say that I figured that, for a man used to traveling under the ocean in a submarine, being constantly on the surface must have been confusing. You must have missed the ocean floor a bit, so I decided to try to give you a little taste of the sea we all love so much. I learned how to materialize the structure of the bubbles that can be found in Sabaody and that are used for the coating of ships, so I can even make a devil fruit user dive.”

She had done this... to cheer him up... Law was unable to express himself. Lucia had turned away from him, gazing back at the ocean, her eyes riveted to the iridescent surface. Law let his own glance run along her profile, detailing her intriguing eyes, where mixed the blue and the gray, where reflected all these pearls of light. Then without warning, she decided to go back to the ocean, where she felt good:

“Don't worry", she said to him before leaving, "you won't drift far. I'm around, so enjoy, and when you want to go back up, let me know. The bubble is resistant and I manage to bring up oxygen bubbles regularly. If I ever feel tired I'll bring you up too, don't worry.”

With these words, she untied a new bubble in which she wrapped herself and melted into the salty immensity. Law found himself alone in his little bubble, alone in a world that made him dizzy. Well, he didn't really feel alone. He knew that she was indeed there, all around him. He lay down, contemplating the undulations of the surface, enjoying the fish that continued to pass over him. There was not a sound, nothing came to pierce this moment out of time. Without realizing it, lulled by the light current, he began to doze off.

When he opened his eyes again, he was in a room he was beginning to know. Lying on Lucia's bed, he saw that she had also brought his hat and sword to a corner of the room. There was a small note that had been left for her next to him.

I brought you back when you started snoring seriously. You should know that you weigh your weight on the surface, I had some trouble carrying you. If you have a few bruises it's normal, you fell a few times and I didn't need to take care of you for that. I hope you feel better anyway. You're welcome!

He grumbled, his usual pout back on his face as he cursed himself for falling asleep. He passed his hand over his eyes when he felt that his arm did indeed hurt slightly. She hadn't lied, he had bumped himself, several times. Sighing heavily, it came to him the idea to get up to see where she was and to thank her. Then he changed his mind, she already knew what he was thinking. It was one of her greatest qualities but which posed the most problem to him, she managed to read in him. She knew that he was grateful to her. So he just stared at the ceiling, the little note still in his hand, his mind at ease.

Chapter Text

The days passed quietly and they were only a few miles from Dressrosa. Law still hadn't told them anything concrete about his plan. They knew that their final target was Kaido, that their intermediate enemy would be Doflamingo. The coming night would certainly be the last one they would spend on the Sunny before starting their fight on Dressrosa. As usual, Lucia came to perform her little nightly ritual. Chopper and Usopp were on guard tonight, they were back to back on the deck, hands clutching makeshift weapons, watching the sky for any trace of Doflamingo if he came to attack them. Law was sitting on the bench that surrounded the main mast of the boat. Lucia came to sit beside him to be more comfortable, her papers on her knees, a pencil between her fingers and began to draw, regularly raising her eyes towards the sky. She did not speak to him, understanding that he was certainly trying to sleep a little before the next day which would certainly be eventful.

After a few minutes, a slight movement in the open sea caught her attention and she turned away from her work to squint a little, trying to see what could have caused it but she saw nothing. She shook her head and giggled, she was imagining things. But the second she thought that, the boat was assaulted by a volley of projectiles that fell from the sky. Lucia got up hastily before a fist crossed her face brutally. The fight then started between these creatures and the pirates, who had no idea who their opponents were because of the darkness. The clouds had suddenly covered the moon and prevented them from discerning their surroundings properly. Using her sword and her powers, Lucia defended herself as best she could, but she still felt overwhelmed by her attackers. But what are these things?

A hissing sound was heard and suddenly everything stopped. Then a voice pierced the silence, the light returned, and they saw a man standing on the top of the ship's mast. Lucia squinted her eyes to see him better. He announced that his name was Breed and that he had the powers of the trainer's fruit. At his side, a sea rabbit carried Caesar. Without warning, their mysterious attacker escaped with Caesar. Franky ordered Luffy to take the Shark sumberge, their submarine, to follow their trail and retrieve Caesar. Chopper grabbed Luffy's neck to accompany him, and without thinking Lucia did the same. The carpenter called out to them:

“EH! I remind you that the submarine can only hold three people! If Tra-guy comes with you it will be a problem.”

“No”, replied Lucia. “I don't take space, I am made of water, I remind you.”

“Ah yes...” thought Franky. “Well, it's great, so go ahead.”

Lucia smiled before going down by the trapdoor which led to the submarine and taking place on one of the seats, Chopper on her knees, the rudder between her legs. They shot underwater, easily spotting their mysterious assailants. Chopper remarked that the creatures looked like rabbits and Law explained that they were indeed sea rabbits, but that they didn't belong here in the New World. Chopper then described what he had heard during their fight, which one of the animals had yelled that it didn't want to do this. Lucia frowned:

“Do you think they were forced into it? You think they were forced to do that by that man?”

“That's what I'd like to find out” Chopper explained.

They then managed to disembark in the enemy ship by going underneath and discovered a huge natural cave. If Lucia, Chopper and Law tried to be as discreet as possible, it only took a few seconds for Luffy to start screaming. Law immediately tensed up:

“Damn it we said we were trying to stay undetected!”

“Everything is in the verb Trafalgar, everything is in the verb... "trying"”, sighed Lucia.

They followed a corridor and ended up in the center of an immense aquatic dome, dominated on all sides by water, surrounded by glittering fish. Amazed Lucia could not hold back a huge smile, captivated by the architecture of the structure which gave her to see her favorite spectacle. However, after a few steps, they were again attacked by these strange animals which jumped on them. They then launched into battle, dominating their opponents quite easily. Nevertheless, one of them resisted them more, mastering the Haki but it was not enough to resist Luffy for long. The sea animal had a most surprising reaction afterwards, it threw itself at Luffy's neck. In fact, the strange animal had already met the pirate captain when he was in the Alabasta kingdom. Chopper told them that he had become his disciple after the pirate had defeated him the first time. Lucia scratched her head:

“I'm going to pretend everything is normal... but if this Dugong is from Alabasta... what is he doing here?”

The answer came faster than expected, in fact this Dugong was the head of a pirate crew of sea animals that had been captured by the famous Breed who had subjugated them like slaves. Now they were obliged to obey him at will, without being able to retaliate or challenge his orders. Breed's voice suddenly pierced the air through loudspeakers scattered throughout the space and ordered the animals to line up, which they did despite themselves. Breed then appeared and strolled among the animals like a circus master, cracking his whip on the ground. He then turned his attention to the three humans present.

“I know you, you are Trafalgar Law, the Warlord, Straw Hat Luffy, whose head has a bounty of 400 million berries, and the pretty Lucia, the Elementalist, whose bounty is 650 million. I'm surprised you've made it this far, you human scum.”

He held out his hand and a green goo began to ooze from his fingers. Luffy dared him to try to touch them, but in reality, Breed's attack was aimed at Chopper. The green substance surrounded the little reindeer's neck as the pirates watched in amazement. He ordered the doctor to attack them and knock him down. Without being able to control himself, he swallowed a rumble ball, which gave him the power to take his gigantic form. He then began to attack them, no longer in control of his body. Law prepared to disable him with his power, but Luffy stepped in, forbidding him to touch his friend. This second of inattention allowed Breed to pass two collars to them as well, subjecting them to his power. He then turned an unhealthy look on Lucia:

“I know I won't be able to reach you... your Logia fruit would make my attacks ineffective so I'll just ask you to let me do it... otherwise I'll have to use a much less pleasant way, believe me...”

Lucia looked back at him with eyes full of hatred before rushing towards him:

“I'd rather die than bend to a coward like you, free them now!”

She deployed a huge wave that was about to fall on Breed but he did not move and smiled.

“Poor little idiot...”

He took an object out of his pocket and immediately, a violent electric discharge spread in the water and came to electrify the body of Lucia. Taken of convulsions, she let escape a cry of pain before falling down on the ground, her body numb, breath short.

“Bastard...” she spat.

“Water is an excellent conductor of electricity my dear and one of the side effects of a discharge such as the which you have just undergone is not to be able to move the least muscle during some seconds.”

He approached slowly, savoring his victory, then, without the slightest effort or difficulty, he placed a collar around the young woman's neck. He approached her and placed a finger on her jaw:

“Oh that's such a shame, I must admit that if I find humans of an absolute ugliness in normal times, some women have a charm it is true.”

He laughed and his finger went down a little more, brushing Lucia's neck, then plunging along the collar of her blouse, brushing her breast. She had a movement of retreat, moved by anger and a bottom of fear.

“DON’T MOVE! AND NO USE OF YOUR POWER!" he shouted.

Immediately, she felt her body go limp, she was unable to make the slightest movement. Whereas the glance of the pirate slipped in her cleavage, she mobilized the last muscles which were still under her control and she spat in his face. In response, he hammered her body with lashes. Each of the blows slammed in the air and she clenched her teeth, refusing to give him the pleasure of showing any sign of pain.

“DON'T TOUCH HER!" belched Luffy.

“Oh, but he'd be jealous," Breed sneered, panting after taking his anger out on her. “Don't worry straw hat, I'll leave her to you, she's much less interesting than I thought.”

He pushed her with the tip of his foot and she ended up falling to the ground, her chest and back marked by the red lacerations, her face tensed by the burn of the leather on her skin. He laughed again:

“Don't think you're entitled to anything, you little fool, you only have your face to save you, and once I've disfigured it, you'll be worth nothing at all!”

He laughed even louder and raised his whip again.

“STOP!" shouted Luffy.

“That's enough!" said Law.

“STOP!” Chopper shouted.

He brought it down a few more times on Lucia's body who took more and more blows, without letting out a single sound, and he only stopped when his arm was sufficiently sore from this energetic back and forth movement. Facing the ground, Lucia was breathing heavily, spitting a little blood and gave a last hateful look to Breed before he turned his attention back to Law and Luffy.

“You'll see...” he muttered, “how scary it can be to be my pets!”

The three of them were led into a seastone cell with handcuffs on their wrists. Breed had decided to keep Chopper, obviously taken with the look of the little reindeer. After being thrown to the ground, Lucia struggled to her feet, every muscle protesting as she moved. She grimaced, which did not escape Law:

“Are you okay?”

“Yeah”, she articulated, “don't worry I knew worse...”

She glanced at Luffy who was struggling against the bars of the cell while ordering their enemy to give them back Chopper. She sighed and leaned against the bars at her back. The contact with the seastone didn't make her feel weaker or dizzier, but feeling the cold metal against her raw skin made her squeal in shock and she gritted her teeth.

“Damn”, she growled, “I swear that if I have him in front of me it's going to be bad!”

They then discovered that right next to their cage was actually Caesar, their own prisoner, also subjected to Breed by one of those collars. He told them that this man was not working for Doflamingo and that he was obviously stealing creatures to create an animal kingdom. His diatribe was interrupted by the voice of the trainer who came once again from the loudspeakers posted in the corner and he ordered Caesar twice to lie down, which the scientist was obliged to do. Lucia nodded. He had to repeat it... so that Caesar... Her mouth opened as she realized something important and was about to say it before understanding that they were probably bugged. She bit her lip as she held back her words, but her eyes met Law's and it seemed to her that the pirate was thinking the same thing she was.

She didn't get a chance to ask him, however, as the trainer appeared in the cell himself. He entered the room accompanied by Chopper, who was fine but was now dressed in a funny pink dress with lots of ribbons and frills. When Breed brought him against him to hug his face, Chopper unintentionally scratched him as he struggled. The pirate's reaction was swift, the whip snapped once more, this time on the reindeer's small body. Despite Luffy's protests, Bredd continued to abuse the pirate, explaining that he didn't need "companions" but simple slaves who would obey his every wish without retaliating or finding fault with him. This is why he preferred animals to humans. This also explained why he wanted Caesar, he wanted the scientist to produce Smiles for him, these artificial fruits that allowed those who ingested them to obtain Zoan-like powers, animal powers. He wanted to create a kingdom, a world only composed of animals, without any human, kingdom of which he would be the uncontested master. Lucia shuddered and clenched her fists. Without blinking, Luffy declared that he would never submit.

“I am a pirate”, Luffy spat, “no one can give me orders. Pirates are free and unsubmissive.”

This speech increased Breed's hatred and he decided to put the three pirates to death. He then raised the cage in which they were locked and discovered a new room, a gigantic metal dome in the middle of which sat a column on which Breed and Caesar were seated. Chopper was with the other sea animals, slaves of Breed, still on the ground, suffering the aftermath of his transformation earlier. Dozens of spotlights lit up the room, which looked like a real fighting arena. The next moment, the seastone handcuffs of Luffy, Law and Lucia fell off.

“Let the show begin," Breed thundered. “I'm going to show you the full power of the Tamer's Fruit. Okay, now Trafalgar, here's what I want you to do: I want you to take out the Straw Hat! As for you Straw Hat, I order you to kill Trafalgar Law. Now, fight without using your powers, fight with your bare hands until you die with your mouth open!”

“NO!" screamed Lucia.

“Forbidden to use your power also the Elementalist and forbidden to hit one of them. You remain spectator. And forbidden to raise your hand on me.”

Lucia's eyes widened in horror. She wasn't going to have to watch this, was she?

“The moment has come, let's make way for the spectacle of the great massacre!” spat Breed in a victorious tone.

Lucia could not do anything, she saw the two men facing each other, completely helpless. We have to do something... we can't let them kill each other like that... However, with a scream, Luffy rushed at Law and started hitting the Surgeon of Death. Without waiting, Law retaliated and also used all his strength against the straw hatted captain. Each blow was phenomenally powerful.

She hadn't really thought about it. She realized what she had just done once her breath stopped under the impact. Was it the screams of pain and rage that made her react? Seeing the blood flow? Law's fist slammed into her abdomen as Luffy's crashed into her back. Drops of red blood came crashing to the ground.

“LUCE!" shouted Luffy.

“But what are you doing, don't stay there, you stupid!” said Law.

Bent over, Lucia gasped, trying to catch her breath. Breed gritted his teeth:

“STOP! What are you doing, the Elementalist?! You were supposed to be a spectator!”

“Yeah," Lucia spat. “Except you just ordered me not to hit them... you didn't tell me... that I couldn't stand in their way, that I couldn't take the blows for them.”

Breed took in his words before smiling broadly:

“Oh oh... but she's smart too... I like you after all, I'll keep you with me. But you deserve a little lesson, to remember that you must always follow my orders. So Lucia, I ORDER YOU to do everything you can to get between Trafalgar and the Straw Hat until you're at death's door. It'll put your mind at ease!”

Lucia giggled as she wiped the blood that was still running down her chin:

“Death? I've already been there, you idiot, it doesn't scare me.”

Breed gritted his teeth:

“TRAFALGAR! STRAW HAT! RESUME THE FIGHT!”

Lucia smiled weakly and planted her gaze in Law's:

“I'm sorry, I can't inflict Luffy with my face so I'm going to make sure you're the one who attacks me from the back... I'm counting on you not to hit where it hurts too much.”

It took him a moment to understand what she was talking about. She was mentioning her heart, if she ever took a shock too violent, nothing said that she would survive it. He tensed his face:

“You're really unbearable and on top of that I'm the one who does the dirty work? Why couldn't you stop yourself from intervening? “

“You know me”, she laughed, “following orders is not really my thing. And I hate to see blood being spilled... especially when it's the blood of people I care about or at least respect deeply.”

“LUCIA GET OUT!" shouted Luffy as he came back to the attack, fists in front.

“Sorry”, Lucia breathed.

For long minutes, Luffy and Law continued to try to reach each other but each time, Lucia's body came between them, taking all the blows instead. As she had predicted, she did her best to make sure that Law was the one who hit her from the front and thus avoid a potential fatal injury. Her blood began to flow quickly, from her head, from her mouth, to come crashing to the ground. One of Law's blows was more violent than the previous ones and she bent in two, falling half on him. She felt his hands which rested on her arms to prevent her from falling and he crossed her glance. He saw tired and wounded eyes but in which shone an incredible lucidity. She then carried her face close to his and whispered some words in his ear which made him shiver. Then, in a slow movement, her eyes closed and she felt her strength leave her. She fell to the ground, her body bruised, but the order did not stop. Despite the pain and fatigue, her body continued to move without her control, taking more and more blows.

“STOP!" cried Luffy in desperation. “STOP! LEAVE HER ALONE!”

Breed finally clapped his hands:

“That's enough, break for everyone.”

Immediately the two boys stopped their fight and Lucia's body fell heavily to the ground.

“LUCIA!" shouted Chopper.

“Are we still alive the Elementalist?" asked Breed.

Lucia turned on the ground and stood up to stare at him:

“Of course... I'm indestructible...”

Still, her breathing was wheezy and she had to admit that the pain was getting worse every second. Breed smiled a satisfied smile:

“Well, Trafalgar, Straw Hat, get back to the fight. Elementalist, sit and don't move. And you won’t close or eyes or look away.”

Lucia felt her body rise despite the pain and sit on her knees before freezing, leaving her, this time, simply a spectator of the confrontation. The confrontation between Law and Luffy started again, with always so much force and violence. Luffy delivered a blow so powerful that it destroyed the column on which Breed was perched, allowing Caesar to take advantage of the chaos to escape. The trainer noticed him but decided to let him do it, preferring to enjoy the show before his eyes for the moment.

After a while, the seal Dugong, Luffy's friend, had a similar gesture to Lucia's and interposed himself between Law and Luffy then stood up to Breed, trying to prevent him from continuing his cruel manipulation. What followed was a series of lashes and tears that revolted Chopper as much as Lucia. Breed was tired, this was the second individual to thwart his plans. Finally he ordered the two pirates to stop fighting, Lucia breathed a sigh of relief before she realized what was coming next. In facts, Breed had stopped the fight so he could simply order the seal to slaughter the two humans himself. Without being able to do anything about it, the seal's body slid right past the two men. With tears streaming down its face, the animal couldn't hold back its arm as it struck Luffy in the chest. Lucia clamped her hands over her mouth to stop herself from screaming as the seal's fists struck the pirates without stopping, tears streaming down its face.

“Now throw them both into the sea!”

In one final blow, the animal threw the two pirates, who broke the glass in their fall before disappearing over the cliff.

“LUFFY! LAW!" screamed Lucia and Chopper simultaneously, terrified.

Chapter Text

It can’t be… it can’t be! Lucia could not move, she tried to move her body, it refused to act. Breed then began to applaud the Dugong, congratulating him to have sent these humans to the carpet. The animal did not give up and stepped in, but was quickly called back to order. It was Chopper's turn not to be able to contain himself anymore, he slapped Breed hard and exploded.

“I AM A PIRATE! WE ARE FREE BEINGS AND BELONG TO NO ONE!”

“Chopper..." gasped Lucia.

Breed threw the reindeer to the curb, calling him crazy, throwing back in his face his lack of compassion and empathy that will make him a loner who will never find what he needs. The lashes came again. He then ordered his animals to get rid of Chopper, Dugong and Lucia right away. The army of sea rabbits threw themselves at them but they were stopped short by a discharge of Conqueror Haki that Lucia knew all too well. Overcome with relief, she smiled and a tear rolled down her cheek as the silhouettes of Luffy and Law came back towards them.

“Your power no longer has any effect on us," said Law.

With a cry of anger, Breed tried to order the pirates around, but they didn't move an inch, just stared at him. Law smirked.

“If we don't hear your orders... your power has no effect on us.” He put his hand to his ear and pulled out a plug that blocked the sound. “You can only control those who hear you.”

“When did you figure that out?”

“When you gave Caesar an order earlier, you had to repeat it to make him obey you. Then the kid told me the same thing earlier right before falling unconscious. That only confirmed my idea.”

“So that fight? Was it a fake?”

“As far as I'm concerned: yes. Only Straw Hat was under your control.”

Breed then lost all self-control, perched on his pedestal, he created a new collar and gave a command to himself. His body distorted, deploying 100% of his strength, normally impossible to summon. With her hands over her ears to escape Breed's control, Lucia was horrified. Breed sent the sea bunnies, still unconscious but under the power of the Trainer's Fruit, after them, who could only obey him. Law, who was still holding Caesar's leash after picking him up from a spell, also went to pick up Chopper so he wouldn't get hit too hard. The Dugong then decided to rebel, followed by all the sea animals who stood up with an angry look in their eyes. Together they managed to immobilize Breed and create an opening for Luffy and the Dugong to hit him together. Their combined power hit Breed in the stomach and sent him tumbling through the ceiling. Immediately, the necklaces that always adorned their necks shattered. Lucia sighed with relief, but as soon as Breed's command disappeared, her body failed her completely and she collapsed to the ground.

“Lucia !”

Without wasting a second, Luffy rushed to her side:

“hey… you okay?”

“At the top...” she mumbled, “really I never felt so good !”

She had a nervous laugh that Luffy followed before taking her under the arm to help her get up and walk:

“Come on, let's get out of here!”

“With pleasure”, she breathed.

They returned to the Sunny as the sun was rising and the sea bunnies even did them the honor of bringing the boat back on its initial trajectory, straight towards Dressrosa. They said their goodbyes to the crew of the underwater creatures and then Nami, catastrophized, took Lucia to the infirmary.

“Oh my, but what happened there, look in which state you are...”

“I’m okay Nami, I assure you...”

“Stop talking”, Law intervened. “The raccoon needs to rest too, so I'll examine you.”

Lucia knew immediately that this excuse was only half true, Law wanted above all to make sure himself that she was not going to die in the near future and that her heart did not undergo too much damage. Even if he wasn't really under Breed's influence during his fight against Luffy, the blows he had inflicted on her were real, and they were not fake. All with Armament Haki. She nodded and began to unbutton her blouse without flinching.

The glance of Law slipped on her body as she removed her top to be in underwear and that he sees the wounds.

“L... Lucia...” Nami stammered... “at least have a little reserve no?”

Lucia had a smile in corner:

“From the one who walks around in a bathing suit I find it rather ironic, no? And it's not like Law never laid eyes on me...”

“WHAT?!” screamed the sailor, ready to hit the pirate.

“To heal me Nami, to heal me. After the Summit War it was necessary to remove my clothes to operate me...”

“Ah... yes...” admitted Nami. “Well... I'll leave you then...”

She left, quite disturbed. Lucia raised her eyes to the sky before turning to Law:

“Are you going to spend the night there or can we go? I'm freezing...”

He sighed before examining her minutely. Once again, she couldn't help but admire the precision of his gestures and their certain gentleness when he was treating her. He finally broke the silence:

“I must admit that you are amazingly relevant when you want to...”

“Compared to what I said? I know I don't look like I do but I know the difference between a man's and a doctor's look on my body.”

She laughed a little before continuing:

“ I'm certainly not as attractive as Nami or even Robin but I've already experienced the perverted eyes that follow you and won't let you go... like the one Breed put on me last night. You never forget that.”

Their eyes met and she smiled mischievously:

“And then, if you ever had the pleasure to look at me while I was unconscious, it's between your conscience and yourself. Period.”

He frowned before picking up where he left off.

“I don't like fussy kids who just yell all day long.”

“Ouch, I thought I still had a chance," she whined in a falsely hurt tone. “I'm going to have to give up on the most unpleasant pirate in the New World, what a shame!”

A light laugh escaped her lips as Law finished his examination.

“Well, it's nothing serious. You don't have any apparent fractures, just a few bruises of varying degrees. I'll put bandages where you need them most. No medicine. You will suffer in silence.”

“Believe it or not, I've been doing this since you set foot on this ship Trafalgar”, she replied.

“The feeling is shared I thank you”, he continued.

Lucia repressed a satisfied smile. That's it, she was there, at this moment when he began to take himself in her little game and that he answered her piques otherwise than by black looks and laconic sentences.

“And indeed you are not as attractive as the navigator or Nico Robin”, he resumed, a rictus on the lips.

“Well I thank you, remind me to call you the day when I need to shoot my self-esteem.”

She let pass a small time before resuming:

“I must admit that at first it felt strange... I didn't realize, in two years, how much I had changed... how much my body had changed... I lost some shape for sure...”

“I may be a doctor but you didn't pay me to be your therapist kid...”

“You'd be the worst psychologist I've ever known," laughed Lucia, “imagining the scene. What would you say if a patient told you "I often have this dream where I fall from an endless cliff"?”

“That I have no idea what you're talking about, in my dreams I'm the one who pushes people off the cliff”, he replied with his predatory air.

“Wait, first news: you're dreaming? So you're really able to sleep? What a scoop!”

“Better to sleep than to live the waking nightmare that is to support your voice every second.”

“You're the one who needs a therapy Trafalgar”, Lucia answered.

He finished to auscultate her in the silence, she was content to look elsewhere, the eyes fixed on an imaginary point. Only the pressures of the doctor on her body brought her brutally back to the reality sometimes, pulling her a few giggles or tensions of the face because of a small pain. Law would never have admitted it out loud (like many other things) but the silence was strange now that she was silent.

“Doesn't anyone else know?" he asked abruptly.

“No...” Lucia admitted with her lips, “I never felt the need to say it... so for the moment it's still between you and me.”

“What did you say last time, that it was better to warn the others of the risks involved rather than wait for the catastrophe in silence?”

“First of all, I never said that word for word, and secondly, when I touched on this subject, it was because YOU were playing mysterious when it was MY life and MY body. Difference.”

For him, the situation was very strange. He had the impression of being close to her, already knowing her from his little stay in her ship, their stormy and yet enriching exchanges, and yet she remained elusive. There was something he could not put his finger on. He thought to himself as he walked away after putting on some bandages and she was getting dressed.

“Everything’s okay?”

Lucia's voice pulled him out of his reverie and he noticed that she was standing in front of him, her hands on her hips, her head tilted and her eyes worried. He moved back of a step.

“Give me my space, kid!”

“Oooooook, everything’s okay”, concluded Lucia with a small laugh. “Come on, relax Trafalgar, we still have Caesar and your plan is going well. Besides it would be cool to tell us more precisely what you expect from us at a time, to make an alliance and then remain solo does not work very well", she pointed out to him.

“I am not solo there”, he answered with his smile.

“And my presence makes you suffer the martyr, I know Trafalgar, I know!”

“Seems that you begin to learn things.”

“It is especially that you are worse than a parrot which always repeats everything”, she replied by pulling out her tongue.

She left without saying anything else, without apparent animosity. He remained alone a small moment before rubbing the bridge of his nose with the fingers. She was terrible.

When he walked out of the infirmary, he saw that everyone was waiting for him, having picked up the morning paper. He squinted. Without saying a word, everyone gathered around the paper that Luffy slowly unrolled. The news was on the front page: Don Quixote Doflamingo had renounced his Warlord title. And right next to it, the news of the alliance between Law and Luffy was also on the front page. A second alliance of the terrible generation was also revealed: Kidd, Hawkins and Apoo had joined forces. Law dismissed this news without further explanation and declared that they had to concentrate on Doflamingo, for whom getting Caesar back was vital. Lucia understood that when Law had contacted Doflamingo, it was to ask him to give up his Warlord title, and obviously he had gotten what he wanted. But if Doflamingo is just a step to get to Kaido... why is Law so involved and determined to harm him... Law then tried to contact Doflamingo from the Sunny, the pirate picked up the phone and said that he had indeed resigned. Luffy immediately got excited and grabbed the snail phone handset from Law's hands in order to unleash his usual diatribe and scream that he would be the future king of the pirates.

“But idoes it ever happens to you to think before speaking you moron?” sighed Lucia. “I understand why you always get into trouble, you are a real phenomenon.”

“The Elementalist Lucia, the information was thus true you are still alive...” said Doflamingo, not without a certain admiration.

“The information must have been published in the newspaper, right? Don't act surprised," Lucia said harshly.

“You'd be surprised to know all the lies you can get in the papers these days, kid, but obviously the sources were reliable this time. I saw you die two years ago. You and the Straw Hat disappeared for all those years and now you're back, where were you? And what were you doing?”

“Why do you care?" spat Luffy.

A chuckle was heard, Doflamingo was laughing on the other side of the snail phone:

“Never mind, I have something here that would be of particular interest to you. I think you'd even kill to get it. Yes Lucia, even you.”

“What are you talking about?” Luffy was surprised. “Ready to kill to get what?” He swallowed and a trickle of drool ran from his lower lip. “Oh yes, tell me what kind of meat it is, where does it come from?”

By pure reflex, Lucia hit him on the head - once again - furious:

“Dumbass, he said that this interested us both and to what I know I am not just a belly on a pair of legs instead of you!”

Law took back the snail phone to regain control of the discussion. Lucia let Usopp take care of Luffy while listening carefully to the rest of their conversation. Law explained that in 8 hours, they would land Caesar on the island of Green Bit, at 3pm precisely. Then they hung up. Law explained that delivering Caesar was only a diversion to destroy the Smile factory, Doflamingo's business with the Emperor Kaido. Then he wanted to expose his plan to Luffy but the captain rushed into the kitchen without waiting for more, followed by the rest of the crew, leaving Law distraught, furious, alone on the deck. Lucia stifled a laugh and simply patted him on the shoulder by way of moral support. They continued their discussion in the galley where Kin'emon the samurai revealed that their destination was first Dressrosa to recover one of their companions and then the island of Zo, where Law's crew was also, by a strange and happy coincidence. Luffy committed himself to helping the samurai, despite Law's attempt to refocus the discussion on their future landing on Dressrosa and their current mission. He sank back into his seat with a sigh and glanced at Lucia, who was standing next to Brook on the bench behind him. She smiled ruefully, shrugged her shoulders and shook her head, indicating that she would not engage in this debate.

It took them only a few hours to reach the island of Dressrosa. They disembarked in an isolated cove, bordered of immense ochre cliffs. Lucia smelled a deep odor of flower and sugar which could not but raise a smile to her. She went down with the others and stretched. Law unfolded a map of the island and they split into teams before discovering that some members of the crew were already missing. Law looked at Lucia for a moment, she sighed:

“I got it, I'm joining the team to go destroy the factory, we need someone to handle Luffy...”

She moved away from them while making a small sign of the hand:

“We'll meet up later guys, avoid dying on the way.”

“COULDN'T YOU SAY ANYTHING ELSE?!” yelled Usopp, Chopper and Brook in terror.

A few feet away, Lucia easily found the small group that had left them. She had to admit that there were some delicious smells in the air, but she didn't have time to enjoy them when a movement caught her attention. Stunned, they discovered a dog, pursued by a rag doll. Interested, Lucia looked around the place where they were and understood that there was not only one rag doll but dozens of toys that were walking around, talking and interacting naturally with human beings. Dressrosa was inhabited by living toys. They were then challenged by a puppet who told them that he had already seen their faces, in the newspaper precisely. Lucia bit her lip and they agreed to find disguises. Sunglasses, white shirt tied under her chest, long pink skirt slit on the side and black boots, she sketched a satisfied smile. That was better. She finalized her paraphernalia by attaching the left side of her hair to the back of her head with two red sticks. Then, by tying her skirt she realized something. Damn, when Law examined me earlier this morning, I took my sword off my waist and forgot to take it back. She nervously put her hand on her waist and tightened her fingers on the cloth. Even though she had only had Vela for a few weeks, she missed having it by her side terribly. She had to make up her mind. It’s on the Sunny, everything is fine.

They found themselves then in a restaurant, around a table, to collect some information. They made the strange observation that despite the resignation of their sovereign a little earlier, the inhabitants of the island did not seem more panicked than that. They were then served food. The waiter told them about the customs of the kingdom, saying that the inhabitants believed in the fairies who were supposed to guard Dressrosa. Lucia chewed her salad while pondering what they had just learned.

Their meal was then interrupted by a movement in the back of the room, at a gambling table where a blind man seemed to be making a fortune. This obviously displeased the owner of the room, who proceeded to rob the player by lying about the color that came up on each spin of the wheel. Even though the blind man kept announcing the right color, the master of the game was lying by announcing the opposite color. A sharp blow of teeth cut the wand that Lucia still had in her mouth. She was about to intervene when she saw that Luffy had already beaten her to it. He announced to the blind player that he had in fact won and congratulated him. Lucia could not hold back a smile. Then followed a disconcerting duel, the blind man, in spite of his apparent handicap, put down the cheaters without even having to move. In precise and controlled gestures, he passed his sword between their bodies then sheathed it. Lucia felt then the water getting heavier in the air, she frowned, not being sure to understand. She followed with her eyes the blind man who continued his way and, as he walked, an immeasurable pressure fell on his opponents, tackling them to the ground, going so far as to make crack the floor which completely broke open, creating a gigantic hole in the restaurant. Lucia was frozen on her chair, taken of shivers. Such a power... this guy is not normal... He calmly left the establishment, without revealing his identity even if Luffy had asked him to.

A crowd movement started in the restaurant, all the customers started to scream when they discovered that they had been robbed of their belongings, even Zoro noticed that he was missing a sword now. A toy calmly told them that it was the fairies who had taken their things, that it was normal. Zoro didn't give up and rushed to get his weapon back without thinking, followed by Sanji who didn't want to let it get lost, and Kin'emon who was far too worried about losing the legendary Shusui sword. Luffy was about to follow them when Franky held him back with one hand.

“I don't have the choice”, he sighed, “with clowns like you it's me who will have to keep my head on my shoulders.”

“Thank you for the compliment”, growled Lucia.

“Oops sorry”, laughed the cyborg. “Shall we take things in hand miss?”

“It seems that it is going to be necessary”, agreed Lucia.

They left the restaurant and managed to catch the one who had cheated the blind man. He was indeed working for Doflamingo. They began to question him about the samurai and the SMILE. Franky didn't give up, but he kept saying he didn't know anything.

“Well then, tell us where we can find the big guys," said Franky. “In the hierarchy you must be the last of the stooges.”

“Uh, today's a special game and no one's at their usual job, I was myself supposed to be at the Coliseum, right here.”

He pointed to the building before continuing. He explained that the entire population would be at the Corrida Colosseum today. There would be an amazing prize at stake.

“It's something everyone would want to have!”

“Oh yeah?” asked Lucia, not very convinced. “And what is it about?”

“I think you're going to be surprised," laughed the subordinate, "that's what's at stake.”

Lucia was not even sure of having heard well. The syllables had echoed in her ears and sounded like they were coming from this guy's mouth, but she felt like the two things didn't fit together. Her mouth went dry. Damn it... but how did Doflamingo get his hand on it! Lucia clenched her fists, clenched her jaw, her mind clouded with rage. Beside her, Luffy swallowed and removed his glasses:

“The Mera Mera no Mi of Ace...” he breathed

Chapter Text

“How could they have it?” Luffy was surprised.

“There cannot be two devil fruits of the same type at the same time”, Lucia explained. “But when the bearer of a fruit dies, that same fruit is immediately reincarnated somewhere in this world and can be consumed by someone else.”

She had answered without thinking, remembering what she had read in those books she had accumulated in the archives of the Polar Tang, Law's ship, and somewhat guided by a deeper memory she couldn't put her finger on. Then she pondered what she had said. "Somewhere in this world”, if my memory is good, when we saw Caesar's acid Axolotl species swallow the giant candy on Punk Hazard, something moved in the bag that was sitting on the satire team's sled. What if the devil fruits were reincarnated in the first receptacle they found? It would have been enough for Doflamingo to bring an apple or any other ordinary fruit to Marineford and wait patiently for Ace to die. She was angry, instrumentalizing her brother's death in this way, she was nauseated. Luffy also showed his anger, his eyes burning. Without hesitation, Lucia and Luffy did not have to consult each other to know that they wanted to recover this fruit no matter what it took.

“I have already eaten the Gomu Gomu no Mi fruit, I can't take Ace's too," Luffy recalled. “But I refuse to let anyone take it.”

“The same for me”, Lucia continued, her voice swollen with rage. “Even if it is only a fruit among many others, I can't dissociate it from Ace... we have to get it back at all costs.”

“For you it is like a memory of him,” understood Franky. “But remember what Doflamingo said, it may be a trap. But I'm sure of one thing, you can't let this chance pass, so let's go!”

Lucia smiled and the three of them started running towards the Coliseum, determined to get the precious fruit. They quickly arrived at the bottom of the huge stone building.

“The crowd is going crazy, all this excitement makes me want to sign up," Franky admitted.

Gunshots turned their heads and they saw two soldiers shooting at a toy, a soldier on wheels who kept dodging their bullets.

“They're not very good...” Lucia muttered.

The toy then reminded his pursuers that they could do nothing in the Coliseum, that here only the law of Doflamingo prevailed. He then went down to talk to them but they were interrupted by a woman at the entrance of the Coliseum who announced that the entries for today's fight would soon close. Immediately Luffy shouted that he wanted to participate, while the toy looked on in bewilderment, thinking he was dealing with an old man because of the pirate's pastiche beard. Franky exchanged a knowing look with Lucia who nodded, it was their best option.

“Luffy, we don't have to find out who you are, okay?”

“Yeah, don't worry”, answered the pirate.

“Write your name down," said the young woman who was taking the inscriptions.

“Luff-“

“IDIOT!” shouted Franky and Lucia while hitting him in the back of the head.

“Oh boy, if no one find who he is by the end of the tournament we'll have had a hell of a run”, sighed Lucia once they had entered the Coliseum.

They let Luffy enter the arena, in the area reserved for the participants, not without having encouraged him to remain discreet. He had promised Lucia to come back with the Mera Mera No Mi no matter what. Guided by the toy soldier, Franky and her then headed to the stands to watch the tournament. The cyborg had obviously decided that the tin toy could provide the information they needed.

They took their seats among the other spectators, and the commentator promptly started the first scrimmage, the block A one. The rules were simple, you had to be the last one standing, in fighting condition, in the ring. There would be only one qualifier for the finals at the end of this fight. Lucia sighed and put her head on her hand in a dejected gesture:

“Why the only source of entertainment for men is to beat you up?”

“Oh stop it," mocked Franky. “You wouldn't hesitate to enter the arena either, I know you by now.”

“You bet!” she replied. “This has nothing of a simple traditional fight, people are there to see the blood flow... they want to see a real spectacle... it is disgusting...”

One of the competitors stood out from the others, he was disguised by a paper bag that served as a mask of fortune. His strength was disproportionate, he swept the other gladiators with a gesture of the hand without effort. He concluded this fight in just a few minutes, easily winning his round. Then, in a furious gesture, he tore off his mask and revealed his face to the rest of the world. Lucia immediately stepped forward, leaning more towards the arena, her eyes wide, her mouth open.

“But what is he doing here?" Franky was astonished.

“Tell me it's not true!" shouted Lucia.

Their winner was actually Burgess, the captain of Blackbeard's first fleet.

“Blackbeard," growled Lucia, her teeth clenched.

After hearing what the emperor of the seas had done to Whitebeard, she was in a rage.

“Things are looking more complicated than expected”, Lucia muttered.

“Yes...” Franky confirmed, “but as long as Luffy doesn't reveal his identity, everything will be fine. In the meantime, let's get to work!”

The cyborg got up and headed for the exit. Lucia hailed him:

“I'm going to stay here to watch the fights, I'm going to post myself a little higher. Contact me if need, I have a snail phone.”

“Very well, I count on you to warn me of the outcome of the fights.”

Lucia waved to Franky who disappeared from her field of vision, the toy soldier still clinging to his leg. She glanced at the arena before getting up and climbing the steps that led her to the top of the Coliseum. Checking that no one around her was paying attention to what she was doing, she used her devil fruit to fly up and stand on the very rampart of the stone building, out of reach of the last row. She sat cross-legged and rested her elbows on her knees, looking out over the arena.

“Well, here we go...”

The fight of the block B was about to begin, after seeing Burgess in this arena, Lucia was much more nervous. She naively thought at first that this would all be just a game where blood might be spilled but no noticeable damage. She was mistaken. The men who clashed here were ready to kill. A worm-haired pirate stepped into the light of the Colosseum, announced by the announcer in the worst possible way, and immediately the bleachers began to boo. The mouth of the young woman was deformed in a grimace of disgust. Bartholomeo? Never heard of him... but he doesn't look very nice. Afterwards, is there really any strength behind this easy provocation? We'll see. Without warning, the fighter took out a black spherical object from his pocket and threw it in the air. Panicked, the spectators began to run in all directions, seeking at all costs to flee the stadium, thinking that it was a bomb. Lucia sighed and raised her eyes to the sky. It is only a toy, stay calm... Indeed, the ball fell gently on the ground without triggering any explosion except the thunder of whistles and booings professed by the public, furious to have been so duped and mocked. A last competitor was announced, Bellamy the hyena. This time Lucia knew perfectly well who it was about, she had already heard about him and not in good. She squinted when she saw Doflamingo's jolly roger tattooed on his chest. The audience below her became excited and started chanting the candidate's name with amazing energy.

Soon the fight was on and the combatants were at each other's throats. It was a real free-for-all, fists, feet, elbows, knees, rained down on the bodies, hitting each other violently. The blood flowed over the stone of the ring and the metallic sound of the weapons clashing was the only sound that predominated. All those who fell out of the stone platform sank directly into the water and were taken over by the fighting fish. Lucia repositioned her glasses on her nose and put her hand in her visor to try to counter the sun's rays that were making a false light in her field of vision. The wall of the arena shook under her as one of the fighters sent an opponent waltzing against the stone. Lucia was surprised to see that it was actually a fish-man, a man named "Hack". This tournament is not subject to any ethnic or racial rule, everyone can participate. There was no need to say, this arena was full of good fighters, all those who threw themselves body and soul into the fight knew how to fight. And almost all of them were cruel without a name. Many attacked without respite, using the worst stratagems to bring down their enemies. Few were those who were content to defend themselves or retaliate when attacked. Lucia made a disgusted pout. If it wasn't for you Luffy, I would have left long ago...

Then a movement drew her attention to one side of the ring and she stifled a nervous laugh, in a compulsive movement that mixed repulsion and giggling. Batholomeo was literally peeing in the water that surrounded the ring. Hack was about to hit him to put an end to his behavior with a powerful punch. The smell of blood filled Lucia's nostrils and she recoiled at the sight of what had just happened. This guy... has a devil fruit... We better not take him lightly obviously. The fish-man was on the ground, dominated by the insolent pirate. The fighting continued to rage and the warrior fell, one after another, spilling more and more blood, breaking bones and armor. The atmosphere suddenly grew heavier, focusing on King Elisabello III of the kingdom of Prodence, who seemed ready to show his legendary strength. In a movement of a rare intensity, he unleashed a punch that devastated the ring and made all the Colosseum tremble. Lucia clung to the stone to try to resist the blast of the impact. With one punch, the king had emptied the entire arena. And yet... and yet... only one fighter was still standing. This Bartholomew had created a barrier with his devil fruit. He knocked down King Elisabello in a matter of seconds, becoming the undisputed winner of the block B fight. The public booed him, insulted him, threw garbage in his face. Lucia was pensive. I don't really understand who this guy is... but does he really have a bad back?

She barely had a few minutes to think and take in the outcome of this fight as the next fighters entered the Coliseum. Block C was getting ready to fight. Lucia leaned over to see the competitors and, perhaps, discern some familiar faces. She easily spotted Luffy's body, much smaller than all these men full of muscles, and smiled. She also discerned, a little more unexpectedly, a massive figure of a warrior whose fame she knew more than his true history and bit her lip. This is going to be tough... come on Luffy, you can do it. At the very moment when the commentator launched the fight, Lucia did not let go her brother of only one second. She followed him with her eyes without stopping, fearing to see him disappear at any moment. However, Luffy was far from being in trouble, on the contrary, he was walking on this ring, putting down his enemies without any problem. His first mistake was made when, by reflex, Luffy stretched his arm to give an attack. Lucia hit her forehead with the flat of her hand, depressed. Oh damn, he’s going to get undercovered this moron... She then saw him become aware of his actions and start to give more classical blows without using his devil fruit and had a little laugh. Even without using his power, he remained surprisingly powerful, which had the effect of attracting the attention of his enemies that he continued to put down without any problem. Subjugated by the fervor that he deployed in the fight and the shouts of encouragement that the spectators pushed, Lucia got up and began to shout to encourage him too, arms in the air, looking radiant. Luffy met her eyes by accident and gave her his most radiant smile, to which she answered with joy.

But he quickly turned away to face a huge bull that was about to charge him. But thanks to the Observation Haki and Conquerors Haki, he managed to dodge it without any difficulty and to submit it in a few seconds. And neither one nor two, he climbed on the back of the animal to fight at its side. Lucia was ecstatic, shouting and jumping on the spot, transported by the excitement and the euphoria. Luffy had just knocked down a giant with a single punch, what could be more important than that? The fighting was not over yet, but she already had the impression that he had won this battle.

A discharge of conquerors Haki brought her back down to earth and she directed her gaze to the one who had just created her. Don Chin-jao, the pirate who was worth 500 million... There were still 40 gladiators in the arena, everything was still possible. Then Luffy had his helmet stolen and was close to being unmasked by other competitors. Lucia bit her lip, these gladiators were smarter and more savvy than she expected. She reached out and stretched her Observation Haki to try to catch the words Don Chin-jao was saying... "Garp's grandson"? Wait a minute, is he mad at her because the old man beat him up? But will be they done falsely accusing children of their parents' crimes one day? She clenched her fist, moved by anger but didn't have time to think too much as Luffy started his fight with the old pirate. As their fists collided, a powerful charge of Conquerors Haki filled the arena and all the fighters still in the ring flew away, blown away by the force of the shock. Again the Conqueror’s? Guys, that's three times in fifteen minutes now, you're going to destroy half of the assembly... The smoke cleared... there were only two men left on the stone plaza: Don Chin-jao and Luffy.

Without missing a beat, the two pirates threw themselves at each other. There was no doubt that Don Chin-jao was trying to kill the young man. Lucia flickered her eyes in disbelief, unable to understand where such resentment and anger came from. Is this even a fight? Or an execution? The two opponents were of an indescribable power and it was impossible to know who would finally win. It seemed to her that Luffy had a slight advantage, but maybe it was just a figment of her imagination... she wasn't very partial after all. She was jumping up and down nervously, her hands clasped together. She was so focused on Luffy's fight that she didn't hear her snail phone beeping in her skirt pocket, signaling that someone was desperately trying to contact her. And little did she know that the person calling her was none other than Law, who was being chased by Doflamingo, and who was trying to reach someone.

In the ring, the fight continued to take place with more and more fervor and anger, neither of the two men would let go. They had been chasing and pushing each other for many minutes now. The energy which was released from their confrontation made tremble at the same time the stone and the ambient air. Lucia was in shock, completely subjugated by the shockwaves that were constantly reverberating around her and that made every part of her body and her soul vibrate.

“By winning this fight I will eat the Mera Mera No Mi, and then I’ll be the King of the Pirate!”

Lucia had a small moment of absence before realizing that she had indeed heard these words from Luffy's mouth. She nervously rubbed the bridge of her nose. Oh dear, everything's wrong with what he's saying, not only can't you eat two devil fruits, but the fact that you want to be king of the pirates has NOTHING to do with the rest. I swear this kid is out of control... Luckily she was the only one who heard him, along with maybe her opponent. She didn't even dare to imagine what the crowd's reaction would be if they learned that the famous "Lucy" was actually Straw hat Luffy.

In a final attack, Don Chin-Jao threw himself at Luffy who countered with the strength of his fists and, at the end of a Dantean confrontation, deformed the skull of the old pirate, giving him back his original drill bit. As he fell, the old man literally broke the arena in two and sank to the bottom, leaving Luffy as the sole victor of Block C. Once the shock wore off, a smile stretched Lucia's lips and she began to howl with joy with the crowd. Strutting, Luffy turned to face her and raised his arms in the air, proud of himself. Lucia jumped up and down, fists in the air, chanting "Lucy" with the rest of the crowd. She was so proud, so proud of him.

Once the fighters were out Lucia dropped to the stone, short of breath, heart pounding, a bit of sweat on the back of her neck, her throat slightly sore from screaming. She removed her glasses to rub her eyes and had a last nervous laugh.

“Well," she mumbled, "this day was supposed to be athletic and emotional, but I wasn't thinking about that when I imagined it.”

She looked up to the sky, dipping her eyes in the azure immensity and could not take her smile away. We're going to do it Ace... I promise you, look at him, he's going to do it...

Chapter Text

After the Coliseum organization had set up an arena to accommodate the next fights, the fighters from block D, the last one, finally entered the arena. Lucia stretched her back, cracking her vertebrae, then redirected her gaze to the ring. So, are there any more familiar faces here? A unanimous movement of the crowd drew her attention. The moment a young woman entered the arena, everyone began to shout, boo and insult her, threatening her. Lucia managed to catch the words of the spectators who were shouting at her to die. By dint of listening, Lucia put together the pieces of the puzzle and understood that the young girl was in fact the princess of the kingdom of Dressrosa, visibly repudiated by her people. But wait a minute, Doflamingo is the king of this kingdom... and all those around him proudly wear his emblem and he is adored by the population... so if she is a princess... Lucia frowned even more, stumbling on a situation she did not understand. For her, the tyrant in this whole story could only be Doflamingo, having seen him in Marineford, she knew that this man was not a good person. She was even still amazed that he was able to make himself appreciated here. Who are you really... Rebecca?

As the onlookers continued to boo her, Lucia finally realized that the little girl was certainly part of the old dynasty that ruled Dressrosa before the Don Quixote family, and obviously their reign had ended pretty badly. A whinny drew her out of her reflection and a new fighter entered the arena with a spectacular display.

“Enough!" a voice shouted. “You're all just rude jerks, it's intolerable! You should be ashamed of yourselves.”

A blond man dressed in a long white coat and black hat entered the ring, riding a magnificent white stallion and drawing his sword in a conquering stance. His blue eyes were sharp and piercing, showing a real rage and determination. Lucia had a small smile. The commentator finally announced the identity of this famous newcomer: the pirate Cavendish of the White Horse. Cavendish... Cavendish... yes, that sounds vaguely familiar, but he's been famous for several years now... what is he doing here? All the women in the stands suddenly started to squeal and giggle nervously, spellbound, swooning over the pirate's famous beauty. Yes, well, he has a fine face and a certain charm, but let's not make a big deal of it either...

“SILENCE YOU PEOPLE” he shouted.

At once the clamors died out and the laughter also, all looked at the pirate, astonished.

“I don't know what you have against her," he began. “But this girl you're booing is willing to risk her life in the ring, while you... you're safe in the stands! You have no right to boo her like that! Since you all want her dead so badly, why don't you grab a sword and get in the ring!”

A smile stretched Lucia's lips, she was surprised to say the least and in a good way. This pirate had a speech which pleased her enormously.

“I have my reasons to be here but know that I have this tournament in horror... to see a warrior die should not be a spectacle!”

The silence that followed her statements was heavy and thick, suffocating all the spectators suddenly called to order. Calmly, Lucia stood up and, without really knowing why or thinking about her act, began to applaud. Warriors and civilians alike turned to her. Her eyes were fixed on the pirate, looking grim and dignified, and she continued to clap her hands, saluting his courage and his stand. Then she made a simple bow, without saying a word, bowing. The gesture was simple but meaningful. The spectators then began to shout, cheering their favorite personality, complimenting him and encouraging him to win. The pirate remained fixed on Lucia, whom he could see despite the height at which she was. When she straightened up, her eyes met Cavendish's. The space of one second, he saw the two blue ocean irises which were hidden behind the smoked glasses of his sunglasses. It was love at first sight for the pirate. He was taken of a shiver of the head to the foot, his heart was packed and the red went up to his cheeks. A sharp heat took possession of his body, he could not detach his glance of the young woman who overhung him since his promontory. He coughed to regain composure and sent his horse backstage before greeting his audience, delighted with the reaction he had triggered and the passion of the crowd that was now turning entirely in his favor. Then he turned one last time towards Lucia, offering her a kiss that he deposited on the end of his fingers before sending it to her with a charming smile. The young woman had a movement of retreat, surprised and disconcerted. Wait... what? But he ended up quickly turning away from her, looking for journalists and enjoying his current glory. Lucia blinked several times... But what did he do to me there... oh my god what kind of trouble am I in again? I shouldn't have been noticed like that, it's going to fall on me... well done Luce, once again you act before thinking...

Intrigued, Lucia decided nevertheless to watch closely the fight of the little Rebecca. Women were rare in this tournament and she was far from having the physique of a gladiator, the Elementalist was curious to see how she would fare. The men in the arena had no mercy and no ethics, they would go four on four against her without hesitation. They were throwing blows at her, which she avoided without attacking back. Then there was a dodge that sent one of her opponents into the water. Then a second one. And it was two more bodies that fell into the water surrounding the platform. Is she seriously counting on... winning without a single sword stroke? Lucia was blown away, the girl was as agile as a feline, supple and lively, not taking a single blow, knowing where to position her feet to keep her balance, where to place her blade to simply destabilize her opponent. She moved, as graceful as a dancer, and all those who confronted her ended up in the water. Lucia was impressed, not only the show was magnificent but she had more and more empathy for this little girl. She uses Observation Haki, is she even aware of it? You are a great person Rebecca, no matter what your story is, you are a great person.

Loud crying then drew her attention. Intrigued, she walked outside the coliseum to look at the source of the noise. She leaned forward and squinted to see what was going on and was stunned to recognize two figures she knew all too well. Zoro and Kin'emon were standing at the entrance to the Coliseum. She took one last look around the arena, watching the fights that continued to rage in Block D. Cavendish, the famous pirate she had noticed earlier, wielded a sword with great dexterity. He managed to defeat a last opponent without the slightest effort with a loving look towards the arena, turning once again to Lucia with a wink, his rose in his hands. Lucia had a grimace. Yeah come on, the choice is quickly made. She passed her legs over the top of the Colosseum and, in a supple movement, let herself slide towards the ground. She made a silent and discreet fall by making herself intangible, using the water to move calmly. Eventually she materialized not far from the two men she knew and walked towards them. Zoro was the first to notice her;

“Lucia?! What are you doing here? You also take part in this tournament it is that?”

“No”, she calmed him down, and lowered a tone, “do not shout my name like that moron!”

“Who are you calling a moron?!” screamed Zoro.

“Tell me Lady Lucia," interrupted Kin'emon, "is Sir Luffy in this arena right now?”

“But you didn't understand my word, stop talking so loud and pronouncing my name like that! No Luffy is not fighting anymore, he must be in the part reserved for the fighters of the Coliseum. And I was just a spectator of these fights until now.”

“Do you know how we can find him?" asked Zoro.

“No, no one is allowed to enter the Colosseum except the gladiators once the fights have started. I don't even think I've seen anyone come out of there... “

She slowly approached the bars that blocked the main door and put her hand on the cold metal.

“Seastone...” she muttered. “Considering the space between the bars, I could maybe try to sneak in and hope not to touch the stone... but if it doesn't work we won't be very far...”

“It's kind of our only option, isn't it?" said Zoro.

A new voice attracted Lucia's attention and she raised her head towards a window a little higher on the facade. She was surprised to recognize Bartholomew, whom she had seen fighting less than an hour before, in tears.

“Not only do I have the opportunity to meet Mr. Zoro, but I also have the honor to admire the beauty of miss Lucia, the legendary childhood friend of Mr. Luffy. It is said that she is even the equivalent of his sister, having grown up with Ace and him.”

“Uh... okaaaay”, Lucia began. “Listen, if you ever unpack my complete biography, I might not know how to react between being impressed or terrified.”

For any answer, the pirate turned away and disappeared from their field of vision, not without shedding some more tears.

“Hey you up there! We'd like to ask you a little question if you don't mind", Zoro hailed him. "Eh you hear me? I speak to you who is on the second floor!”

He continued to scream desperately while Bartholomew still didn't answer but was talking to himself, continuing to cry loudly. Zoro asked him if he knew a way into the Colosseum. The pirate continued to cry more and more while raving about Luffy's fight. What the hell is happening to him…

“But wait, I think I heard him say Luffy's name as well, could it be someone you know?”

“That's strange...” Zoro muttered.

“You... you... you're the first mate!" Bartholomew finally shouted. “You are indeed Mr. Zoro, Luffy's right-hand man in the Straw Hat crew!”

Catastrophized, Zoro tried to keep his cover but it was clear that they were both uncovered, as well as Luffy. Lucia did not say a word, completely lost. Finally, Bartholomew offered to go and get Luffy inside to bring him back to them. Continuing to cry his eyes out, he finally ran and disappeared from the window.

“I.... I don't know what to think now...” Lucia mumbled.

“There are two of us, don't worry," Zoro reassured her.

“But why the hell is he still screaming so much?" said Kin'emon.

“Do you have news of the others?” asked Lucia while turning towards the swordsman of the crew.

The pirate just nodded:

“Mmh, but I'm waiting for Luffy to be here to explain everything.”

Lucia crossed her arms and started to tap her foot on the ground, making the dry sound of her heel hitting the paving stone. She had a very bad feeling.

“Is everything all right, Lady Lucia?" worried Kin'emon.

“Yeah... no," mumbled Lucia. “I don't know, there's something strange in the air... a strange feeling...”

She was interrupted in her thoughts by the shout of Luffy who was coming towards them from inside the Coliseum.

“Ahoy Zoro ! Kin'emon ! Oh, you're here too Lucia, it's great ! Did you see I won !”

“I'm not sure that “great” is the most appropriate adjective”, said the young woman. “Eh, what are you doing Kin'emon?”

The samurai had taken out a snail phone from his pocket and turned it on, waiting for a communication:

“Sir Sanji asked that we contact him once we find Sir Luffy.”

“Ah, right," nodded Zoro. “By the way Luffy, you should know that the Colosseum is surrounded by the Navy.”

Lucia almost choked on the news:

“What? And you couldn't say it before?” she spat while looking around with a suspicious air.

For his part, the Straw hat pirate merely picked his nose, looking vaguely interested.

“This is serious!" shouted Kin'emon.

On the other end of the line, they heard Sanji's voice, and then a new communication was established with Usopp. They were all on the line, except for Law. Lucia frowned. In reality, Usopp, Franky and Robin were at the headquarters of a dwarf army that was plotting against Doflamingo, in favor of the former king of Dressrosa. The cyborg then explained that the toy soldier they had met earlier was actually the leader of this rebellion, a rebellion that had decided to rise up against Doflamingo today.

“Oh, talking about timing," Lucia whined.

“The toy-soldier... but yes, it's him that Rebecca wanted to stop, Franky you have to stop them!” ordered Luffy.

“No, you didn't understand”, the carpenter said, “we have to help them, these little guys on the contrary. By the way, did you meet this Rebecca ?”

“Yeah, she's really nice but she was booed by the crowd when she entered the arena, it's not fair!”

“Yeah it's not fair,” confirmed Franky. “Listen Luffy, Tra-guy's plan doesn't ring a bell... to summarize what he wanted is this: that we reduce the SMILE factory to pieces and that we keep Doflamingo alive so that he's another weapon against Kaido. But if we do that, what will happen to this army of little guys who want to overthrow this tyrant Doflamingo, can you tell me? They've been waiting for this for so long, we can't stop them... there's big trouble in this country and these little guys are willing to give up their skin to show this darkness. They won't back down. I can't give up on them. Luffy... even if you formally ordered me to give it up... I'd still go!”

Luffy grabbed the snail phone:

“Franky... don't hold back, go for it! We'll join you as soon as we can !”

“OK ! THANKS !”

On the Sunny, Sanji decided to turn back. Lucia sighed:

“Well, we're off again to go crunch the face of a Warlord. Anyway I agree with Franky on one point, Law's plan leaves a bitter taste in my mouth and that for a long time.”

“What do you mean?" asked Usopp.

“I don't know exactly," answered Lucia. “But there's something I don't get, why Law is struggling so much against Doflamingo, I mean, we could do things a lot simpler right? I have the feeling that from the beginning his goal is to get Doflamingo... while he insists that his main target is Kaido.”

“Are you implying that he lied to us? That would be serious," said Brook.

“No," said Lucia, "what I'm saying is that he's making it personal. Really.”

“Yes, I thought I saw that too”, confirmed Sanji. “For him, this confrontation goes beyond a simple strategy to bring Kaido down. There is something else.”

Lucia was about to follow up when a blast resounded and a violent tremor made the ground tremble. Lucia staggered but finally recovered her balance. What's going on there...

“What was that? There is a noise on your side!” shouted Usopp.

Lucia turned her head in all directions without knowing where to look:

“Oh Lucia, why are you acting like a weathervane?”

“I don't know where it's coming from...” the Elementalist breathed, “but the water... the water is cut in the atmosphere... clear, precise... it's scary....”

“Cut?" Kin'emon asked.

“It's more precise than a sword blade, believe me," shivered Lucia. “And it comes from a moving point, I can't go back up the chain to find the origin...”

Clouds of dust rose in the air and they felt the danger approaching. Then a projectile struck with force the place which was in front of them, breaking the paving stones, raising an umpteenth gust of earth which made Lucia cough. The sleeve in front of her face to filter the air a minimum she removed her sunglasses to try to discern what it happened under their nose. When the cloud finally dissipated, she was stunned by the vision which was offered to them.

Doflamingo was there and on the ground, exhausted, bleeding... Law was breathing heavily. Luffy started to scream without understanding:

“Hey Tra-guy, what is Doflamingo doing here… you were not supposed to-“

He was interrupted by the sharp sound of a bullet as the Warlord pointed his gun at Law and fired. Lucia's heart missed a beat. The sounds. The smells. The light. Everything began to fade.

A bullet. Then another. Doflamingo fired two more shots into Law's lifeless body, which recoiled with each impact. The air filled with the pungent smell of gunpowder. Doflamingo licked the blood that had splattered on his face with a toothy grin. The young woman shook, a drop of cold sweat ran down her spine as her brain painfully registered the information.

“LAAAAAAAAAAAW!” shouted Luffy, revolted.

This scream brought Lucia back to reality, everything hit her full force. She closed her mouth, tightening her jaw while her lips stretched in an enraged pout. Tears beaded at the corner of her eyelids, fiery tears. She looked up at Doflamingo who met her gaze and his smile disappeared. He knew that look. It was the one she had given to Akainu two years earlier. The one in which shone this murderous madness, this uncontrollable rage. The rage of the Elementalist Lucia.

Chapter Text

Around them, the civilians were terrified. At the other end of the snail phone, the rest of the crew was screaming, ordering Luffy and the others to give them an explanation of what had just happened. Lucia moved a foot forward but she felt a hand holding her firmly by the arm. She turned and met Zoro's gaze, who was nodding "no".

“Let me go”, Lucia belched.

Doflamingo then put on his best smile and reassured the people, telling them that it was Law who had spread the rumor, the false news of his abdication. The false news... Lucia felt her blood freeze in her veins. Everything was false since the beginning? But it takes titanic means to circulate false information in such a newspaper just to fool a few pirates... Doflamingo must have high ranking contacts... very high ranking... Suddenly the words that Vergo had pronounced on Punk Hazard, just before they left the D room with Smoker and Law, came back to her mind:

“There's a lot you don't know about Joker's past... it'll play tricks on you...”

Oh no, don't tell me that this guy is... that this guy is... She looked down at Law's body, whose face she could barely make out. In her head, the information was jostling and feeding an anger that kept swelling.

“EH SAY SO, MINGO!!!" shouted Luffy, unable to hold back any longer. “What right did you have to do that to Tra-guy?”

“Listen, Straw Hat, you don't have a say in this story, it's between me and him. Initially Law was one of my men and he deserved... that I teach him a lesson...”

It was the word too much, Lucia felt the pressure around her arm disappear and in the same impulse, Kin'emon, Zoro and her dashed on the Warlord.

“Kin', recover Tra-guy !” ordered Zoro, the hand on his weapons. “Lucia, the Navy!”

“FORGET IT, I'M GOING TO GET DOFLAMINGO!” yelled Lucia.

With the same sneer on his lips, Doflamingo sneered:

“The Pirate Hunter, FoxFire Kin'emon and The Elementalist, what a nice picture...”

Zoro drew his sword and was about to bring it down on Doflamingo when he was stopped by a massive stature that stood between him and the Warlord. Lucia had a movement backwards by recognizing the one who carried his weapon in front of them, making barrier. And she was even more stunned when she saw the cloak that covered his shoulders.

“I see...” she muttered, “so the blind man from the restaurant... was one of the new admirals of the Navy.”

Immediately a huge pressure fell on Zoro, making the ground crack under his feet and sending him directly to the bottom of a huge hole in the ground. Kin'emon, who had reached Law's side, was thrown backwards when Doflamingo struck him in the face. The Warlord stood in front of the pirate's inert body and gave Lucia a nasty look:

“So kid, do you want to come and play too?”

Lucia clenched her teeth and launched herself on him:

« DOFLAMINGOOO! »

With a nonchalant gesture, the Warlord brought down on her threads sharper than knife blades which passed through her body without causing her the least damage. He had a surprised pout but did not have the time to question himself as a punch covered with armament Haki hit him in the abdomen, making him bend under the shock and move back several meters. He breathed and stood up, looking furious, but a new offensive hit him from behind. Two blades of water that came directly from the arms of the young woman, made him arch under the strength and speed of the attack. Doflamingo straightened up and looked at Lucia, with a bad look, facing her incandescent look. On the other side of the square, the admiral faced Zoro and Kin'emon, under the stunned eyes of Luffy, prisoner of the Coliseum.

“Since when does an admiral defend Doflamingo? What's the point of all this?”

The latter did not take the trouble to answer her. Taking advantage of this moment of inattention, Doflamingo bent down to grab Law's still inert body by the collar of his coat and lift him up.

“Damned!" shouted Kin'emon.

The Warlord approached the admiral and whispered a few words in his ear. Immediately, the latter cut a piece of the ground and levitated himself at Doflamingo's side.

“And now they're flying," spat Zoro.

"There are not the only one", muttered Lucia, ready to follow them.

“Let's finish this little discussion at the Palace, Fujitora", declared the Warlord. “If you agree to collaborate with me you will be able to do what you want with the brats.”

“I agree to listen to your proposal, I will announce you my decision as soon as possible after, Celestial Demon”, answered calmly the admiral.

“Don't leave here!" ordered Zoro, ready to attack the two fugitives.

However, the Navy troops around the Colosseum decided otherwise and started shooting at the two swordsmen who had no choice but to flee. Lucia did not move, did not take her eyes off Law's inert body and Doflamingo's unhealthy smile, barely feeling the bullets passing through her aquatic body.

“"Celestial Demon” huh," she articulated, her voice distorted with anger. “So that's it...”

“You thus understand easily that you will never be able to anything against me small silly”, sneered Doflamingo.

Lucia threw on him her most murderous glance:

“On the contrary”, she answered with a murderous voice, “another reason not to spare you.”

And without adding anything she took off and flew towards them, a determined air on her face.

“LUCIA!" shouted Zoro.

“Lady Lucia, where are you going like that ?” Kin'emon was surprised.

“The Elementalist..." muttered the admiral.

Within seconds, Lucia was at Doflamingo's level and had grabbed Law's arm. She planted her eyes in those of the Warlord, seeking to detect the pupils which were hidden behind the pink glasses of his glasses. He did not loose his smile without making the least gesture. Lucia pulled on the body of Law to attract him to her and to take him out of the claws of his aggressor when a titanic pressure fell down on her body and ineluctably attracted her towards the ground. Her face tightened under the pain and the effort she had to make to maintain her position in the air, refusing to let go. Yet the pressure was stronger than her will and she was quickly pinned to the ground, her body compressed by the heaviness of the air that was bearing down on her. She clenched her teeth, feeling a trickle of blood running down her throat from her lips. Damn it... this is too powerful, I can't even make myself intangible... The ground crunched under her body and she let out a frustrated cry as Doflamingo and the Admiral flew away, away from there. The pressure eased as they disappeared from her view. Zoro and Kin'emon, who had managed to run around the Coliseum to escape the Navy, returned to her and Luffy's level. Kin'emon, who was still holding the snail phone in connection with Sanji and the others, approached Luffy and Zoro explained to him that he absolutely had to get out of the Coliseum and that they would continue to run until he did.

“We have to do something for Tra-guy, I heard him talking, he's not dead!” declared Luffy, out of his mind.

“Yeah”, articulated Lucia who had risen and returned painfully to their level by grimacing with each movement.

“Lucia, are you all right?" worried Zoro.

“Wonderful”, she answered, “nothing's better than to have the impression to have passed under a steamroller to wake up. Luffy is right", she resumed, "Law is still alive.”

She held out her forearm, on which Zoro and Luffy easily recognized the mark that shone on her forearm. She exchanged a knowing look with the pirate captain, who had a determined look on his face. The soldiers immediately returned to the charge and began to run towards them again to catch them. On the other side of the snail phone, they heard Brook and Chopper screaming in terror, and amidst their cries, one name came out easily, "Big Mom!”

“Big Mom?!" Lucia gasped as she created a typhoon of water to repel the Navy soldiers.

To escape the soldiers, they started running again, Zoro, Kin'emon and Lucia outside the Coliseum, Luffy inside, still in communication with the rest of the crew.

“By the way”, Luffy was surprised, “how come Caesar is on the Sunny ?”

Lucia clenched her teeth, every second that passed brought her pieces of the puzzle that was unfolding before her eyes and that drew the picture of the immense trap in which they had fallen with their eyes closed.

“Caesar's delivery must have failed”, Zoro explained, “otherwise Tra-guy would be safe and sound with us.”

They then heard Nami take the direction of the events, explaining that the Sunny's team should better leave the island and not return to Dressrosa. She summarized the situation in a few words: Doflamingo's business was based on three assets: the de Smiles factory on Dressrosa, Caesar, and Momonosuke, although they still don't know why he was after the young samurai. At that moment, two of these three were on the Sunny and Law had probably sacrificed himself by playing bait to allow them to keep two of their assets safe: Caesar and Momonosuke, then trusting them to destroy the factory, the last asset still in Doflamingo's hands. While she avoided him over the ground and multiplied the water surges on the Navy soldiers, Lucia meditated on the words of the navigator and came to the same conclusion.

“She is right Luffy”, she declared. “If the Sunny's team turns back now, our advantage will fall into the hands of the enemy and all Law's efforts will have been useless.”

Her voice broke at the words as she saw Law's closed-eyed face again, blood running down his dark skin, the open wounds on his body.

“I understand," Luffy said, "we will save Tra-guy, I promise you that!”

He then ordered his crew on the Sunny to go to Zo's island which was their next destination. Sanji then asked permission to respond to Big Mom's attacks, which Luffy did without hesitation. Lucia suppressed a small laugh, things were underway. Franky's team, Usopp and Robin would take on the dwarf army's plan and destroy the factory. The team of Sanji, Nami, Chopper, Brook and Momonosuke would go to Zo avoiding Big Mom to get Caesar away from Doflamingo. As for Luffy, Zoro, Kin'emon and Lucia, they would confront Doflamingo as soon as possible.

“Let's go to the palace!" spat Luffy. “And once there, I'm going to kick Doflamingo’s ass!”

“Count me in!” answered Lucia.

Eyes fixed on her forearm, she saw the blue symbol still pulsing. She had a piece of Law's life embedded in her skin. You'd better not snap...

“Luffy!" shouted Zoro. “You've got to get out of this Coliseum!”

“Yeah, I'm going to look for an exit”, replied the captain.

“Wait”, Lucia called out.

She dematerialized and managed to slip through the bars that blocked the openings, brushing against the seastone. She reconstituted her body on the other side, in front of Luffy.

“Two brains are better than one”, she gave as a simple explanation to his questioning look.

“Okay”, Zoro agreed. “Listen we will continue to turn a little in the corner while waiting for you, make as soon as possible.”

“Count on us!” confirmed Luffy.

The pirate captain and Lucia began to walk around the Colosseum, desperately looking for a way out. The corridors were winding and all looked the same, offering no clue to any door that would lead them outside.

“Damn... I don't even know where we are," Luffy grumbled.

As they passed, they passed Bartholomew again, who was carrying another badly wounded Coliseum fighter. Luffy also recognized him, it was Bellamy the Hyena.

“Aaaaaaaah mister Luffy and miss Lucia are in front of me in flesh and blood, the light that you give off dazzles me too much I can't look at you in the face", the pirate was ecstatic while turning away, tears in his eyes.

“You are not going to put that again!” irritated Lucia. “We don't have time now!”

“By the way Mr. Luffy”, resumed Bartholomeo by ignoring Lucia, “you were able to find Mr. Zoro since our last meeting.”

“Yes I could find him, thank you very much ! It is not all that but we have an urgent business to settle, we must leave from here but I don't find the exit.”

“It’s over”, answered Bellamy in a weary tone, “there is no exit here.”

The news fell in the stomach of Lucia. I suspected it a little, but it hurts to hear. She was already thinking while Luffy was surprised to see the pirate so hurt. She paid a little more attention to his face and noticed that indeed, his face was bloody and he had many wounds that were not present at the end of his defeat during the melee of block B.

“Once the competitors enter the Colosseum they can't leave," Bellamy explained. “No need to look out...”

“Really?! There is none?” panicked Luffy. “But wait, you're one of Doflamingo's men, right? Then you must know something, right?”

“We have a friend in danger”, Lucia explained.

“As far as I'm concerned, I'm going to leave the Coliseum”, Bellamy finally said. “If you follow me, perhaps you will have a chance to leave from here. I'm not taking you, I'm not going to betray Doflamingo! I have too much respect for him you know?”

“It works, we'll follow you”, declared Luffy.

“Wait, mister Luffy, miss Lucia, what are you doing with Mera Mera No Mi.”

“I don't want it to fall in someone else's hands but we have no choice”, grumbled Luffy.

“Shit, I had almost forgotten this detail”, muttered Lucia. “If you're not in the arena, anyone will be able to take it. We could try to trust the little gladiator, but who knows if she'll pass the melee test in block D?”

“In that case, let me take care of it, I was planning to give it to you if I won! It's a precious souvenir from mister Ace and I wanted to give it back to mister Luffy! “declared Bartholomew, still without daring to look at them.

“It's true?” exclaimed Luffy.

“Thank you”, Lucia whispered. “I still don't know who you really are but thank you!”

She looked at Luffy then her attention was diverted by noises of steps. A long silhouette advanced towards them from the darkness of the corridor and stopped.

“I won't let you get your hands on the Mera Mera No Mi," said a male voice, "Straw Hat...”

He chuckled and his lips stretched into a smile. Lucia frowned, and removed her glasses, caught in a feeling of deja vu. Luffy turned around and Bartholomew came between this stranger and them, asking him to respect his interlocutors:

“Do you know at least who you are talking to?” he belched. “It's mister Luffy and miss Lucia, they are both brothers and sisters of mister Ace, so a little respect.”

“I know it since a long time”, blew the young man, “you do not teach me anything.”

With the flat of his hand, he pushed Bartholomew away before turning again to Luffy and Lucia who had not said anything yet. Luffy then started to get angry. Without giving up his smile, the stranger brought his hands to his head and removed his hat, revealing a head with blond hair and blue eyes. Lucia froze on the spot, opened big eyes and could not sketch any gesture. She ended up putting her hands to her mouth to hold back a cry and tears ran down her cheeks. Luffy was much less restrained and literally started to scream before throwing himself at the neck of their mystery interlocutor. Lucia began to sob on the spot, not being able to really believe it. She felt then hands to be posed on her arms, she raised the head and could not help smiling. She put her hands on both sides of the face of the one who was facing her, as if to persuade herself that everything was real. Then she threw herself at his neck while he tightened her with all his forces against his chest. She let her tears flow, tears of joy, of relief and a deep feeling of liberation invaded her. Everything will be okay...

Once Bellamy had guided them to the exit, Lucia and Luffy found Zoro and Kin'emon. Thanks to his devil fruit, the samurai created toy costumes for them so that they could go unnoticed by the Navy soldiers. Under his carp disguise, Luffy continued to sob with tears. Despite all the questions he asked, Zoro could not get a clear answer as to the origin of so much sentimental effusion. Lucia, hidden under a fox disguise, also continued to sniffle, a smile on her lips.

“Stop crying both of you, do you want to save Tra-guy or not?”

“I'm going to save Tra-guy”, stammered Luffy, “while Mingo I'm going to kill him. And we don't need to worry about the Mera Mera No Mi anymore, it's settled”.

“But what are you talking about”, Zoro gasped. “Lucia enlighten me because I don't understand anything.”

“It's unbelievable, I didn't think he was still alive...” cried luffy. “I was so sure, that he had been killed that day... since all this time, we believed him dead!”

“But once again, WHO ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT?" shouted Zoro.

“Lady Lucia, please tell us something...”

But Lucia didn't answer, she just held back her own tears, still in shock, her eternal smile on her lips, trying to keep the warmth of this embrace a little longer, as if it could disappear at any moment. As if it could once again escape them and vanish, never to return.

And far from here, on a well-known island, on a grave stamped "PORTGAS D ACE" Lucia's brooch was no longer alone, around it sat three red cups and a bottle of sake, as well as two sheets of newspaper. The first one announced the return of the Straw Hat crew, the second one displayed Lucia's face and the new wanted notice, with the title "Roger's heiress is alive - the Elementalist Lucia joins Straw Hat Luffy".

Chapter Text

Finally, Luffy managed to give some answers to Zoro's many questions.

“Are you going to keep on crying for a long time?”

“You can't understand...”

“Judging by the tears that you and Lady Lucia have been shedding continuously for the past few minutes, you must be extremely happy to know that this person is still alive...” Kin'emon concluded.

“who is this guy at the end?” shouted Zoro, exhausted

“It's... it's our brother”, Luffy finally confessed.

“What? Your brother?” Zoro was surprised. “You want to talk about Fire Fist Ace, he's... ALIVE???!”

“It brought back memories to me”, marveled Luffy.

“ANSWER MY QUESTION !” shouted Zoro.

Lucia then began to laugh, the head also full of memories of her 10 small months that she had spent in the Mount Corvo. The laughter, the tears, the cries, the dreams. They were reckless and silly, but they were brothers and sisters.

“Ace was right, our fraternal bonds will never disappear, we will be united for life, right Lucia?”

“Yes”, she answered with a laugh. “For life.”

“BUT YOU WILL ANSWER BOTH? YOU BEGIN TO HIT MY NERVES“

Lucia began to laugh even more to the words of Zoro who was really desperate in front of their mutism and their dialogue of deaf persons. She definitely dried her tears and concentrated on the objective of her race: Law and Doflamingo.

“I sincerely hope that Tra-guy holds up”, declared Luffy.

Lucia could neither see, nor touch the symbol which was in her arm but she felt in the bottom of her heart that it always pulsed, that Law was always alive, that he clung and that he would survive.

“Excuse me but, Sir Luffy, Lady Lucia...”

The two turned around.

“Sir Zoro has disappeared," exclaimed the samurai.

“AGAIN?!” the two pirates were surprised.

“He does that every time," sighed Luffy.

“But we went straight”, Lucia whined, “I want to believe that he has a bad sense of direction but he does it on purpose, it's not possible otherwise...”

After a quick consultation, they decided that they didn't have time to go and look for the swordsman who was perhaps already at the other end of the city. They continued towards the palace, hoping that he would catch up with them by then. As if he had heard them, Zoro joined them a few minutes later, a strange being emerging from his suit. She introduced herself as Wilka, member of the army that defended king Riku. Lucia immediately made the connection between what Franky had told them and the small size of the girl, she was part of the dwarf army that aimed to overthrow Doflamingo. The little Wilka said that she was going to guide them to the palace and that the operation had already begun.

“The operation?” Lucia questioned her.

“In the basement of the kingdom", the dwarf explained, "a large-scale operation is taking place to destroy the domination of the Don Quixote family.”

She then explained that they were going to infiltrate the underground cargo port where the rest of the army was already located in order to carry out the SOP operation. For now, they would have to take the elevator to the palace in order to get back down to the SMILE factory, which was also underground. They arrived in sight of the elevator and were challenged by a woman on the back of a toy.

“You, you must be Luffy!” she declared.

“Yeah, in person," confirmed the pirate by reflex.

“SHUT UP!" shouted the other three, completely overwhelmed by his lack of caution.

The young woman dropped her hood and revealed her face to them:

“I'm here to get you into the palace."

“Eh well, what a sense of timing”, hissed Lucia, “I’m impressed, that’s clean.”

“It is REALLY not the thing to say Lucia!” spat Zoro.

Following this unknown mysterious individual, the four costumed took refuge behind a house to discuss in the peace. The young woman explained to them that she had in her possession the famous pass which would allow them to reach the palace but she estimated that it was not a good idea to pass by the elevator. She explained that if they were spotted and locked up in the elevator, it would all be over. Besides, their disguises were not very discreet. It turned out that in reality, the young woman was under the orders of Doflamingo in the past and that it was she who had given information to Sanji about the fate of the ship and the plans of the toy house. The dwarf, Wilka, who had remained silent until then, finally explained to them that their benefactress had pretended to be under the yoke of Doflamingo for years but that in fact she was none other than the former princess of Dressrosa, Princess Viola. Lucia was speechless. That for a news... it is a news...

“Rebecca is my niece," Viola revealed. “She is my sister's daughter.”

She pressed a mechanism hidden in the stone and revealed a secret entrance.

“We can reach the entrance of the palace by avoiding the elevator through this passage, follow me, she explained. This is an emergency tunnel for the Riku family in case of an emergency, Doflamingo's family is unaware of its existence. By taking this staircase we reach the ramparts where the entrance of the palace is.”

Zoro, Kin'emon and Lucia took place in the basket which was usually used to bring up the goods by a pulley system. By serving as a counterweight, Luffy made them climb to the top. They easily reached the ramparts and entered the inner courtyard. Still dressed in their ridiculous costumes, they moved forward carefully so as not to alert the guards. Well, as long as Luffy avoided talking too loudly. Viola explained to them that they still had to climb to really enter the palace. She made sure to tell them how vital it was for them not to be spotted, otherwise everything would be ruined. She was guiding them to the second entrance when they noticed that Luffy was no longer following them. Oh no... oooooooh no...

“But where did he go?” Kin'emon was surprised.

“Oh please, don't tell me that he- “

Wilka interrupted Lucia:

“Look over there!”

They turned to the direction the dwarf was pointing and saw a trail of smoke rising as Luffy ran towards the guards.

“Don't tell me he's running into the crowd...” Lucia mumbled while finishing her sentence with a dejected look while the others showed catastrophized faces.

With a titanic punch, Luffy destroyed the door that led to the palace, the wall and the guards with it.

“WHAT THE HELL IS HE DOING???!” shouted Zoro and Kin'emon.

“It's open”, Luffy laughed.

Without warning Lucia appeared behind him and gave him a monumental kick to the head.

“AND YOU'RE PROUD OF IT ?”

She was shaking with rage while Luffy was groaning on the ground:

“Ouch, ouch, ouch, it hurts...”

“But who put such an idiot in my way, do you ever connect two neurons to think or at least LISTEN to what you're told instead of doing what you want?”

“There's no need to go on and on," said Viola, "what's done is done, so let's go! The good thing is that it will be faster this way.”

Luffy immediately took off his costume to be more comfortable, followed by Zoro, Kin'emon and Lucia. Once their faces were exposed, there was no need to pretend to be discreet. They set off on their race to the palace, eliminating any soldiers who got in their way. Blades, fists and feet made short work of the men who tried to oppose them.

Kin'emon and Wilka then decided to leave to find the House of Toys, the samurai wanted to free his friend Kanjuro, the little one wanted to participate in the SOP operation. They left behind Zoro, Lucia, Viola and Luffy who continued their ascent towards the palace. Suddenly, the walls and the floor began to shake.

“What's that?" said Luffy.

Before their astonished eyes, the wall distorted, revealing what looked like a face, then a body, human.

“Am I dreaming or is there a whole body coming out of the wall right here?” shouted Lucia.

“Oh no it is Pica, the chief of the commando unit of the family, it is a man who ate a devil fruit, he can melt in the stone and to control it", explained Viola to them.

“This guy is not human at all”, Luffy whispered. “Hey what's-his-name, you've got the face of a statue, you know?”

“WON’T YOU STOP PROVOKING PEOPLE EVERY TIME WHITHOUT A REASON??!” yelled Lucia. “IT IS A DIRTY MANIA THAT YOU HAVE!”

While the colossus blocked their passage, Luffy used his second gear to destroy the stone and allow them to pass but hardly had they made some step that it materialized again in front of them.

“By now, this man already controls the entire palace”, Viola declared.

She had barely finished speaking when their adversary took control of the two walls on either side of them and then suddenly brought them closer, trying to crush them alive. At the last moment, Luffy was able to inflate his body to absorb the shock and protect his friends, Zoro levered his swords to clear the debris and the Capitain counterattacked their opponent, followed by Zoro. Quick as lightning, Lucia split in two an immense blade of rock that the titan threw on them. Her fingers still wet, she got back into fighting position, with a hard look in her eyes.

”It's useless to beat him without thinking, he's going to reuse the stone that surrounds him as he pleases and as nobody had the brilliant idea to remake the architecture with wood, he's all-powerful !”

Each time they destroyed a part of his body to be able to move forward, it kept rematerializing. Finally, Zoro ordered Luffy, Viola and Lucia to continue, preferring to settle his account with Picca alone.

“Luffy, go and settle his account with Doflamingo ! And Lucia, I count on you to get Tra-guy back for us! With both of you, you can do it!”

They nodded and fled, leaving the swordsman behind. However Picca did not hear it this way and tried to catch them but Zoro was faster and managed to keep him busy to prevent him from pursuing his friends. Lucia continued to use her water whip to destroy the blocks that were still coming towards them. She levitated above the ground in an aerial race alongside Luffy and Viola. The ground was swaying under their feet, they were spinning in circles with no way out, completely trapped by Picca and her absolute control over the palace stone.

“It's endless”, Lucia whimpered, “we have to find a way to calm down this colossus because otherwise we won't get anywhere at all!”

They advanced still before discerning a form far in the corridor. Without bothering to think, Luffy acted. In a monumental kick, he hit the man who was standing in front of them and released what he was holding in his hands.

“Soldier! Where are Franky and the others?”

“Wait a minute - are you the soldier from this morning? You're pretty banged up.”

“We can't hang around here, let's run!" ordered Viola.

“But it's... Straw Hat Luffy, and the Elementalist Lucia, Violette...” growled the man that Luffy had just shot.

The latter turned around and was shocked to recognize him:

“It's Gladius!”

The man called Gladius got angry and Viola grabbed Luffy and Lucia to order them to run away and not to face the member of the Don Quixote Family. Lucia turned around:

“I DON'T WANT TO MAKE YOU PANIC BUT HIS HEAD IS SWELLING !”

Without them being able to do anything about it, they underwent the explosion of full force. The debris of rock and glass went through Lucia's body without damage, also went into Luffy's body without him feeling any pain, and ricocheted on the tin one of the toy soldier. On the other hand, they sheared Viola's skin, making blood flow. Stopping her from falling, Luffy grabbed her under his arm and carried her, apologizing for not protecting her. They had to go up to the second floor, but instead of taking the stairs, Luffy and Lucia went through the window and climbed up without worrying. Luffy used his extensible limbs to reach the window, Lucia flew safely to the same point. They took refuge in a corridor, under a window which gave on the room in which was Doflamingo. Luffy and Lucia were about to intervene but Viola ordered them to keep quiet so as not to disturb the SOP operation held in the basement. Lucia couldn't help but look up and grit her teeth as she saw Law, alive but chained to a seat, his fists bound with seastone. She had a movement of anger when a woman of the Don Quixote Family hit him. Oh you little...

“Luce”, whispered Luffy, “can you hear anything?”

“No”, Lucia answered frustrated. “Nothing at all.”

She rubbed her arm, on which was always the link of life of Law, trying to stay patient to prevent herself from intervening. They then discerned a figure sitting at the back of the room, Viola identified him as her father: King Riku.

“Tra-guy seems to be holding on”, noted Luffy. “Well now I'm fed up, let's go!”

“No”, refrained Viola, “you did not understand, we must wait!”

“But what is exactly this operation at the end?!” spat Lucia. “can I know what we are waiting for?”

Viola did not answer him, but she froze on the spot. She had closed her eyes to see what was happening in the basement thanks to her gift of double vision and reopened them, terrified.

“Is everything okay?" asked Luffy.

“The members of the Tontatta tribe, the dwarves, have just been defeated by Trebol, one of the family's lieutenants.”

“Huh?!” the other three were surprised.

“One of my companions is with them, right?” said Luffy. “So let's wait and see, if he's with them everything will be fine. We can count on him, Usopp is a real resourceful person.”

Lucia frowned. I don't know why I feel like I'm missing something... like I'm forgetting something important...

Exhausted, Viola sat down on the floor, telling them that King Riku had fought in the Coliseum that very morning, after the announcement of Doflamingo's false resignation. Lucia had a flash of lucidity:

“But yes! I remember now, the guy with a helmet on his head and a skull printed on his cape was him!”

She looked at the former monarch with compassion:

“It takes courage to go down in such an arena... and a lot of self-sacrifice to be capable of such a self-sacrifice... self-sacrifice or despair...”

“Mister Soldier, Mister Soldier!" called out Viola. “Are you all right?”

“You look weird," commented Luffy.

“Yes, yes, everything is fine”, confirmed the toy.

Viola announced then that the members of the family were going up towards them. Lucia turned one last time to the glass window that overlooked the room where Doflamingo was still and clenched her hands on the stone ledge. Come on, Usopp... get a move on...

A movement on her right caught her attention, she turned her head and what she saw stunned her. She barely had time to open her mouth, stunned, and to open her eyes, that everything was already over. A golden glow surrounded the toy soldier as it began to metamorphose. But wait... the toys... were all humans?! She barely heard Viola articulate the saving phrase:

“Sugar passed out! The SOP operation is a success!”

Without wasting a second, Lucia got up, ignoring all discretion. Everything was going to be played out now, in a few seconds. Dressrosa is upside down at the moment, it will be necessary to play it fine. Next to her, the soldier was also transforming into a human, taking on the appearance he had always had. That of a formidable warrior. He was still a one-legged man, but his build was impressive. He got up and opened the window without hesitation, dashing straight at Doflamingo. Lucia followed him immediately. She heard Viola say the toy soldier's real name: Kyros, the former commander of the royal army, Rebecca's father, the best gladiator in the Colosseum. All those who had been turned into a toy had been erased from human memory, but he had continued to watch over his daughter, despite his tin body.

Kyros brought his blade down on Doflamingo. Lucia went around the soldiers and swung a blade of water at the two minions standing next to the Warlord, sending them flying several feet into the opposite wall.

“Kyros it's you!" shouted King Riku.

“Lucia!" cried Law, incredulous.

“I warn you soldier”, growled Lucia, “if ever you screw up I take care of the pink flamingo myself, understood?”

“I won't fail twice!” shouted the former gladiator. “Trust me.”

And in a precise and powerful gesture, the sword of Kyros decapitated Doflamingo, sending his head crashing to the ground. Lucia stood up and kept her fighting stance, fists clenched, water dancing around her body, eyes sharp. In the process, the pin that held her hair in place flew out and her blue locks returned to their original place around her face. Seeing Doflamingo's head roll to the ground, Baby 5, whom Lucia had already defeated, screamed. The other member of the family who was still there was about to attack but Kyros put his blade under his throat, stopping him immediately. Lucia then turned to Law, unable to hide her relief at seeing him alive - even though he looked angry... again. She put her hands on the seastone handcuffs and grinned:

“This is not going to be easy again!”

“GET THE FUCK OUT!" the pirate yelled at her.

“No," Lucia answered in a cold tone. “I arrived until there I will certainly not leave without you!”

She tried to examine the chains that held him prisoner but he became agitated and continued to shout at her:

“I SAID TO YOU TO GO AWAY LUCIA, ALL THIS DOES NOT CONCERN YOU!”

“Continue to speak I’m not interested”... growled Lucia, concentrated.

He shook his hands to get rid of her hold:

“Stop getting excited”, grumbled Lucia.

“Are you at least listening to me?” spat Law.

“No, I'm not.”

Behind her, Kyros was definitely sending the members of the family and all the soldiers flying. Lucia started to spin thin blades of water in her hands to try to saw the chains but without success.

“TRA-GUY!" shouted Luffy.

“Both of you don't belong here!" spat Law. “The factory, is it at least destroyed?”

“Here," articulated Viola while holding out her hand to Luffy, "here's the key to his handcuffs.”

“But it's great you thought of everything !"

“Stop, straw hat, Violette, The Elementalist, you will not touch the young master!” shouted Gladius who had finally joined them.

Kyros sawed off the chains that were binding King Riku with a blow of his blade. Luffy reached Lucia and Law's side:

“You'll see, we'll get you out of there!”

“It's nice of you but the alliance we made doesn't exist anymore, so GET OUT!”

“It's very selfish of you”, Luffy said. “If we want to save you then we do it, period.”

“Who's the selfish one here?!” replied Law.

“Oh you're not going to start”, spat Lucia, “you both have a lot of it anyway!”

“I include you in the package too”, Law answered.

“Straw hat, Lucia, the key!” reminded them Viola, worried. “Hurry up!”

“The alliance being broken, we are enemies. If you release me, I will kill you!”

It was too much for Lucia, she straightened up and without saying a word slapped the chained pirate under the amazed eyes of Luffy and Viola:

“BUT LUCIA WE ARE HERE TO SAVE HIM NOT TO HURT HIM MORE!!!” shouted Luffy.

“YES, WELL THEN HE HAS TO STOP SAYING THINGS AS WELL!” replied the young woman out of her mind. “AND HURRY UP WITH THAT KEY!”

“I DO WHAT I CAN BUT I CAN'T TOUCH THE SEASTONE!”

Their childish dispute was nevertheless interrupted by a laugh that they knew too well and that resounded in all the palace. Lucia was taken of shivers. Oh shit. Instinctively she looked at the head that was still on the floor, wearing the same devilish smile.

“AND DAMN DOFLAMINGO IS STILL ALIVE!" she screamed.

“I didn't think I'd be tricked like that," admitted the Warlord. “The toys have been released, members of the revolutionary army have managed to infiltrate the basement, my palace is in bad shape. The situation is a real problem. I will have to install the birdcage. What do you think... Law?”

Lucia looked back at the pirate and was struck by the flash of pure terror in Law's eyes. What is this "bird cage" and especially... what did you really endure Law... A gust of anger rose up inside her, bringing back the hunch that had led her to believe that Law was making this a purely personal matter. Picca then reentered the room, turning the floor and walls upside down, sending Luffy, Viola, Law who was still tied up and Lucia flying. Kyros threw himself on Doflamingo's body to finish him off but a shadow appeared behind him and immediately the young woman understood. It was a double, the head he just cut off was the one of a double of Doflamingo, that was the real one. At the last moment, Luffy interposed himself and tackled the soldier to the ground to prevent him from being sawed off by the attack of the Warlord.

“Luffy!" shouted Lucia.

As Doflamingo and his doppelganger prepared to slam their murderous wires into the pirate's body, he dodged at the last moment and Lucia also prepared to fight as a battle began between the two pirates. Doflamingo's doppelganger struck at Luffy's back, taking advantage of the fact that he was facing the real Warlord. Lucia screamed in horror and, unable to resist, threw herself at the pirate.

“DOFLAMINGOOO!”

With an unhealthy smile, her opponent split the air with his hand and brought it down on the body of the Elementalist. She expected the attack to go through her unhindered, but was surprised when the threads sliced through the fabric of her shirt and attacked her skin. She opened her mouth in shock and slumped to the ground, her hand resting on her skin, now bare beneath the shreds of fabric, blood slowly seeping from the wounds. He armored his attack with Haki, what a swine.

“Picca..." ordered Doflamingo, "I want you to throw all of these troublemakers out of here!”

Chapter Text

Once again, the ground shifted under their feet and they could not keep their balance. Gigantic hands grabbed them and threw them out of the palace. It was a long free fall from the ramparts to the ground. Luffy inflated his body to break the fall of Viola, Kyros, Law and Riku while Lucia crashed to the ground a little further. Lying on her back, she squinted to see what was really happening. She saw long wires rising from the palace and saw Law shaking.

“It's starting...” he shuddered, “it's the cage!”

I've never seen him so scared in my life. She turned her attention back to the sky and saw with amazement that the wires were falling in an arc to encircle the whole city, the whole island certainly.

“That damned Doflamingo... will never let the truth come out... he's going to go ahead and slaughter the whole population”, Law told them.

Blood. The smell of blood hit Lucia's nostrils with an unsuspected strength. With a gag refelx she bent in two, the hand on the mouth and the nose to avoid breathing this metallic air. Luffy noticed her uneasiness:

“Lucia ? Are you alright?”

Everyone turned their eyes to her as she trembled, eyes wide:

“It's a massacre... a real massacre... the people in town... they're all killing each other...”

She clenched her hands on the stone, tears in her eyes, unable to contain herself any longer. Doflamingo you scum... you'll pay. The ground began to move again.

“Again?!” exclaimed Lucia, on the ground. “Will it ever stop?”

Before their eyes, the palace broke away from the plateau they were on and began to rise out of reach. The entire city was reshaped in a particularly amazing pattern. The SMILE factory rose from the ground as well.

Once the earthquake was over, everything seemed very quiet. Doflamingo's voice echoed around the island:

“To all the inhabitants of Dressrosa... and to the visitors. Know one thing, I could have been a bully all along.”

Lucia stood up while a giant screen was projected in the sky, on which appeared the face of the Warlord.

“Now that the truth burst, I suspect that many of you dream to kill me.”

“Congrats champion, you found that all alone?” mumbled Lucia.

“I thus prepared you a small game”, continued the pirate. “The goal of this game is simply to kill me. Don't look for me, I am in the palace. You can come, I'm waiting for you. If you succeed in killing me, then obviously the game will end. But don't be so quick, this is not the only way to win this game. I will give you a list of names, bring me their heads and you will have won. For each head I will also offer a very comfortable bounty. That's how it is, kill or be killed. Now you have all become hunters! You have only one way to save yourselves, you have to kill someone else.”

“What a bastard," spat Lucia, "he's involving civilians now!”

“We're talking about Doflamingo," Law reminded her.

“Wiggle all you want," sneered the Warlord, "no one is going to help you! You can't escape the cage! All contact with the outside world has been cut off, you are going to die in total indifference, no one will be aware of your disappearance. Whether it is your family, close friends, or simple citizens that you are supposed to protect... you will not be able to stop killing them.”

The water in the atmosphere began to shake around Lucia and bubbles appeared on her body, as if she was boiling from the inside.

“You can always try to hide, you will not escape my cage! The terror will fall during several days!”

“It sounds everywhere...” Lucia muttered. “All over the city... I can hear the civilians screaming, screaming to be killed so they will stop slaughtering others... I can smell the blood in the air... “

A tear rolled down her cheek.

“I swear on my life, I will exterminate this scum once and for all!”

“Think carefully, will you be one of those who will come to kill me or will you join the ranks of the Don Quixote Family? Will you decide to hunt down and render account to the thirteen morons who had the audacity to challenge me?”

Gritting her teeth, Lucia then decided to move to try to calm her nerves. While Viola was helping her father to get up, and Zoro was talking to Luffy, she bent down and started to slide Law's chains over the back of the seat he had taken with him in his fall. He watched her do it, mute in the face of the anger that her eyes betrayed.

“Each star will bring you a hundred million berries," said the Warlord. “Let me introduce you to the real criminals of Dressrosa.”

Before the eyes of all the citizens, pirates, soldiers, gladiators and dwarves, the wanted posters were paraded in ascending order. The ones with one star: Rebecca, Robin, Kin'emon, Viola, Franky. Those with two stars: Kyros, Zoro. At three stars there were Sabo, Luffy, Law, Riku. At four stars, it was Lucia's face that was displayed. Then at five stars, surprisingly, Usopp.

“Why is your face worth more than mine?!” lamented Luffy while holding onto Lucia's arm.

“I don't know," grunted the young woman, "and I'm not proud of it, so get off my back, we have to move. If we remain here we are going to be shoot.”

“Come on, let our little game begin!” declared Doflamingo.

Zoro took the initiative to call Robin to try to centralize their information. Rebecca was with them, but Kyros had disappeared from their own group. Luffy revealed to the young gladiator that the toy soldier had been her own father all along. He then promised her that he would be the one to take care of Doflamingo:

“This stupid little game, we'll finish it quickly! Swear to me to stay alive Rebecca!”

“Promise !”

“You'll regret it Mingo !” yelled Luffy.

“Do you even know what you're doing ?” intervened Law. “That wasn't the plan, the plan was to destroy the SMILE factory and then create a rift between Doflamingo and Kaido. If we take out Doflamingo now, Kaido will blame us for the loss of SMILE and we will be the object of his wrath. And believe me, I don't want to take on an enraged emperor!”

“That's not the problem right now, there are much more serious things”, answered Luffy. “No but look around you, we're not going to stay with our arms crossed while the country is suffering!”

“Well spoken”, validated Lucia. “As for you Trafalgar, you'll lecture us another time, I'll point out that you haven't been sincere about your intentions, so your plan will be right there where I think it is!”

“Do you hear yourself speaking?” replied Law with a bad look.

“Perfectly”, confirmed Lucia, “and I will not change any word! Now you buckle it or I promise you that you are going to eat you the return of the slap of earlier!”

Luffy then took Law and Zoro under his arms to get ready to leave. Viola explained to them that she was going to do everything she could to find the key to Law's handcuffs but she didn't have time to finish her sentence as Luffy had already dashed off.

“I'm going to kill him...” Lucia muttered.

“I suppose you have a plan?” asked Zoro calmly.

“WE'RE GOING STRAIGHT!" answered Luffy.

“He wants to jump from the top!”

“It's madness!” completed Riku.

Lucia took a deep breath:

“Well, listen princess, try to find us this key and to send it to us as you can. I have three idiots to go to supervise otherwise that's going to be even worse.”

Then she started to run to catch up with Luffy who had already made the big jump. She received her fall gently. They landed in the middle of a group of soldiers in Doflamingo's pay, including some of his highest ranking officers.

“Damn one could not fall more badly than that”, noted Luffy.

“At the same time, at the risk of repeating myself Luffy, if you had REFLECTED, maybe we would have done things a little better, no?” growled Lucia.

“Straw Hat-ya, Lucia, from the moment when they remove me the handcuffs I take care of your case!” threatened Law.

“Well then in this case we are going to leave you them still a little moment”, concluded Lucia. “Shut up Trafalgar!”

They began then to slalom in the streets of the city to avoid the members of the family and the soldiers who ran them unceasingly. Machvise, Dellinger, Senor Pink, all tried to block their way but were routed. Luffy fought carrying Law, flanked by Zoro and Lucia who defended him tooth and nail. Finally, they were confronted by a crowd of civilians who wanted to collect the bounty on their heads. Zoro refrained from attacking, refusing to hurt innocent people. Luffy was about to use his Haki to disable them without killing them when the crowd suddenly split to let an opponent of a different caliber advance.

“Oh no”, Lucia whimpered, “why are we trouble magnets like that, huh?”

Facing them, Issho Fujitora, the new admiral of the Navy, the blind man of the restaurant, the one who had defended the Warlord earlier in the day, was now standing.

“We have to go and beat up Doflamingo, Luffy shouted, so get out of the way!”

“You've got guts, I must admit," replied the admiral.

“Do you want to fight?” threatened the pirate.

“I don't," Lucia answered with a little disappointed pout, "but I doubt that anyone will really ask my opinion in this story.”

“I won't take any pleasure in it”, declared the admiral.

Luffy let Law fall and hit the ground heavily, then covered his arm with Haki to throw himself on the Marine. Making a strategic choice, Lucia gave up interfering in the fight and crouched beside Law to help him sit down and put her hands flat on his chest.

“Hey, what are you doing here?!" the pirate shouted.

“Stay quiet Trafalgar, let me work!” muttered Lucia.

Incredulous, Law felt something running through his veins and in the same strange sensation, he began to feel both tired and energized. It was then Zoro's turn to launch himself into a fight against the admiral, making the sound of blades clashing.

The ground distorted once again under their feet, turning over the houses and the streets, distorting the whole city itself to give birth to the immense silhouette of Pica which dominated them entirely. Lucia was stunned, it was a real colossus of stone that blocked their way, that made obstacle on the street that led to the royal palace where was still Doflamingo. A high pitched voice resounded then. Lucia put some seconds before understanding that this sound really came from the mouth of the colossus which terrified them some seconds before. It did not take more to trigger the hilarity of Luffy who did not retain neither his bursts of laughter, nor his tears, literally rolling on the ground. This reaction had the effect of triggering the anger of the lieutenant who razed part of the city with a simple sweep of his hand and then prepared to bring down his gigantic fist on them. Luffy recovered Law and started to run alongside Zoro and Lucia.

“Luffy could you stop provoking our enemies”, the swordsman pestered.

“You won't get away with it," said Pica in the same rattle voice.

Zoro had to put his hand over his mouth to stifle a laugh. Luffy turned to him victoriously:

“Ah, you see? It makes you laugh too!”

“It makes you laugh?!” spat Law excitedly.

“You see that yes”, answered Lucia, “stop asking stupid questions.”

She had a look back and saw with horror the stone fist that was heading towards them. Luffy was pulled back by Law's chains which caught in the rubble and made him fall. Zoro and Lucia turned around in horror:

“LUFFY !!!”

Under their eyes, the rocky mass crushed the silhouettes of the two pirates, triggering a huge shock wave that swept everything on its way. Zoro couldn't resist it and saw himself carried away in the air by the wind and the dust while Lucia, arms in front of her face, felt her body being literally blown away by the shock. Disintegrating into water particles, she was disintegrated under the impact, disappearing purely and simply.

Fortunately for her, she easily managed to reconstitute herself and was joined by Zoro in a few minutes.

“Lucia ? Are you alright?”

“Yeah," the young woman whispered.

“Only one blow was enough to make so much damage...” noted the swordsman by looking around him.

“It is terrifying”, admitted Lucia. “With all the stones that make the architecture of the city, this guy is all-powerful.”

They then began to walk through the rubble, calling out to the two pirates who had disappeared from their field of vision:

“LUFFY!" shouted Zoro.

“LAW!" continued Lucia.

“Where are you ?” asked the swordsman.

“Answer !”

“EH OH ZORO ! LUCIA !!” called out a voice above them.

They discovered stunned Luffy, hung to a section of roof of house by his shirt, holding Law between his legs, the air completely delighted to have been spared by the attack:

“We're hanging on, you see, it's funny!”

“Of all the possible and imaginable adjectives, I would never have chosen "funny" to characterize our situation Luffy”, resumed Lucia.

Still laughing, the straw hatted pirate let himself fall to the ground in a big crash, raising a new cloud of dust. Lucia waved her hand to dissipate it and grimaced while imagining the shock that Law had just undergone, crushed by the pirate captain. Law was exhausted:

“You're totally unconscious Straw Hat," he said. “When people laugh at Pica's voice he sees red, and he's ready to kill.”

For all answer Luffy started to laugh again:

“Do you know where we are?”

“We're away from the palace, that's all I know," said Law.

They were still talking when they were joined by a voice that caused Lucia to spasm:

“Straw hat ~ “

She turned to face a pirate she recognized all too easily.

“CABBAGE !” shouted Luffy.

“Cavendish..." muttered the young woman.

The blond pirate looked around:

“Zoro the pirate hunter and...”

He stopped on Lucia. His cheeks reddened at the speed of light and before he knew it he was bending over backwards with his hand over his heart:

“Oh Lord I fail, here is that the destiny puts back on my road the face of the one who knew to ravish my heart.”

He rushed then to the feet of Lucia, a knee to the ground, took one of his hands in his that he brought to his lips to touch his skin before offering her a red rose:

“Miss, you whose beauty has no equal, you who knew how to see me as I am. I cannot remain insensitive to these eyes which remind me of the most beautiful seas of the world, and to this graceful and slender silhouette which seems to claim a thousand caresses and kisses. Lucia, lady of my life, let me be the one who will protect you and will love you until the end of my days.”

Lucia blinked twice, forbidden before screaming:

“WHAT???!”

Faced with her total idleness, Luffy and Zoro started to howl with laughter, Law said nothing.

“Hahahaha, cabbage, you're so funny”, laughs Luffy. “And Lucia you should see your face !”

Panicked, the young woman withdrew her hand of that of the pirate by stammering:

“Erm I don't think it's really the right time...”

Immediately the blond pirate straightened up, with a conqueror's face:

“Indeed my darling you are right, we are in war and there is no place for such moods.”

His glance fell then on Law who was always on the ground:

“Here but it is... TRAFALGAR LAW!”

He concluded his sentence by bringing down his sword heavily on the ground, where the pirate was. With surprising speed, Luffy managed to remove the pirate before he was injured and threw him further away.

“Because of the worst generation, I lost my popularity! Do what you want, but make sure I get it back!" shouted Cavendish.

“But what's wrong with you?" said Luffy, still holding Law by the collar of his jacket. “Tra-guy and I are allies, all right...”

“OH NO ONCE!” shouted Law.

“What do you mean?" said Lucia with a furious look.

She stepped in between the pirates to try to calm things down:

“Ok everybody relax, nobody kill anybody, I remind you that we have a common goal: Doflamingo, so the first one who tries to attack the other one... I'll make mincemeat out of him, she finished on a threatening air.”

“Oh my sweetheart you are even more beautiful when you get angry”, Cavendish marveled.

“Okay you’re crazy!” exclaimed the Elementalist. “Anyway, never mind, but Cavendish: don't touch Law or Luffy.”

“I don't intend to mess with the Straw Hat anymore," Cavendish explained, "because his companion Usopp saved my miserable life! I'll never forget it!”

“By the way," continued the pirate, "look at Trafalgar, that's your hat, right?”

He took out of his jacket Law's eternal hat, which had indeed disappeared since his confrontation with Doflamingo.

“I found it near the Coliseum," Cavendish explained, "so you want me to put it on you, right?”

His sword poorly concealed behind his back, he wore a threatening air that did not deceive the pirate:

“DO YOU REALLY THINK I'M GOING TO TRUST YOU??!” shouted Law.

“Well, if that's the way you feel...” Cavendish sulked, carelessly throwing the hat on the ground. “I have better things to do anyway.”

He then began to argue with Luffy. Hands blocked by his chains, Law struggled to recover his precious hat and could not put it on his head. Gently Lucia took it from his hands:

“Wait...” she murmured.

She put it on the head of the pirate by checking that it held well this time then smiled:

“Here, it is good you can breathe.”

He looked at her, astonished, before turning away:

“Thank you...”

Cavendish then reappeared above Law, the blade ready to cut him into pieces:

“SO YOU WANT TO STEAL MY FIANCEE TOO??!”

Not being able to hold it any more, Lucia assailed him a violent blow of heel to the face:

“First: I said "don’t touch to Law" and, second: I AM NOT THE PRIZE OF A LOTERY AND I DO NOT BELONG TO YOU!”

“Beautiful”, Cavendish managed to articulate, face down. “The subtle alliance of the beauty and the power, we are made one for the other Lucia.”

Lucia massaged the temples of an annoyed air:

“Oh misery of misery it is going to be long... very very long...”

Luffy and Cavendish started to argue about which one of them would kill Doflamingo:

“If I were to kill someone as powerful as him, all the newspapers would be talking about me, and I could easily win my girl's heart!”

“Oooh... no”, Lucia mumbled. “A-bsolutely not.”

Luffy bent down to get Law back, then he, Zoro and Lucia resumed their race towards the palace, leaving the pirate to rave alone in his corner.

“Well, Lucia, you've attracted quite a guy”, Zoro charred her.

“Shut up”, she moans. “I didn't ask for anything...”

“That's success”, he joked.

“I am going to give you some success!” shouted Lucia.

“Calm down you two!” resumed Luffy.

“But where did you meet this madman ?”

“At the Coliseum”, Lucia answered. “He fought in the block D.”

Their way was once again interrupted by civilians who tried to stop them to benefit from their bounty. They defended themselves as best they could and decided to flee so as not to waste time, but were interrupted by cries that called them. They turned around to see three figures running towards them that Luffy and Lucia recognized immediately.

“It's Don-Chin Jao ! And his grandsons!!” cried Lucia. “No way?!”

“Let's run away!” ordered Luffy.

They then started to run to escape all their adversaries but the veteran caught up with them without difficulty and stood in front of them:

“Garp's grandson, I've already asked you several times to wait for me. Let's be clear, I have had no animosity towards you and your family for a long time. We don't want the bounty on your heads.”

Lucia was speechless. Ah... well, everything's fine actually. The veteran then announced that he was also going to kill Doflamingo to pay his debt to the Straw Hat. Then intervened Hajrudin the giant of the Colosseum who also wanted to defeat Doflamingo, for the same reason. Then it was King Isabello II of Prodence, all the fighters of the Collosseum came to tell them that they wanted to kill Doflamingo themselves in order to thank the "God Usopp" for having saved their lives.

“But they passed the word!” Lucia shouted. “Listen, we'll take care of Doflamingo and you take care of us... how about that?”

“IT'S NOT OK!” shouted the gladiators.

Lucia sighed, they had a huge ego. She stepped back, grimacing. They all glared at each other to see which one could eliminate Doflamingo. They were interrupted one last time by citizens who tried to kill Luffy, Law, Lucia and Zoro, but were repelled by the gladiators. The four fugitives took the opportunity to flee and found the bull that Luffy had tamed during his fight at the Colosseum. Luffy had the brilliant idea of getting them on his back to run to the palace. He perched on his head, laying Law down behind him, with Zoro taking the back seat. Lucia stood right next to Law, resting her hands on his chest as before, trying to operate as best she could despite all the commotion around her. Indeed, the gladiators had returned to the charge and were following them closely to go and take care of Doflamingo. Two of them had even climbed on the bull and were oppressing him, she was literally caught in a vice between these annoyances, Luffy who was trying to push them back as best he could, and Law whom she was dealing with with difficulty. She even ended up pressed against him, a grimace on her face:

“They're so tiring, I swear!” she growled. “Sorry, normally it is less constraining to do.”

“But what are you doing exactly?”

“The circulation of your blood... you took three bullets, right? I'm trying to heal that while stimulating the circulation of your blood in your veins. You need energy to deploy your power: I'm giving it to you.”

“But... since when can you do that?”

“I've been working for two years," replied the young woman with a mischievous smile. “Don't worry, when we've found a way to remove these handcuffs, you can give Doflamingo the defeat of his life.”

“Thank you...” repeated the pirate.

“You're welcome, GOOD YOU'RE GOING TO GET OUT!!!” she shouted at Abdullah who was falling a little more on her.

“TRAFALGAR I FORBID YOU TO STICK YOURSELF TO MY FIANCEE LIKE THIS!” shouted Cavendish who quoted them on the back of his horse.

“I AM NOT YOUR FIANCEE!" replied the young woman.

“I'M THE ONE WHO'S GOING TO FINISH DOFLAMINGO!" shouted Luffy.

Lucia looked up and saw Pica preparing to attack again. When the stone giant threatened them again, they all burst out laughing, not being able to stop themselves from making fun of the high-pitched lieutenant. Immediately, Isabello II and Don Chin-Jao intercepted the titan's attack and prevented him from crushing those below. Their counterattack literally destroyed the whole left arm of Pica. Lucia had a small smile:

“Well, when they want they are useful...”

Chapter Text

Pica's arm shattered, momentarily scattering all the pursuers of Luffy and his friends, who avoided as best they could the debris that fell on their heads. Only Luffy, Zoro, Lucia, Law and the two mercenaries, Abdullah and Jett, remained on the bull, desperately clinging to the animal's horns despite Luffy's efforts to make them leave. A little more at ease, Lucia sighed and straightened up, still keeping Law's blood flowing through her veins, focused on her task. Framed by the gladiators of the Colosseum, they continued to advance without encumbrance. They cleared the way for them as they dealt with Doflamingo's men. Cavendish also appeared again, doing a pirouette that landed him on the bull's back, and then he did his usual monologue before being pushed back by an irritated Luffy and Lucia. While all the fighters were taking the head and arguing about their future confrontation against Doflamingo, Lucia felt a new pressure in the air... it's as if... we were being watched... As soon as she made this observation, a noise shook the stone colossus of Pica, resounding in the whole city. The lieutenant took his momentum to give them a second punch. When he brought it down, all the soldiers and fighters were swept away. Buildings, marines, gladiators, soldiers, all flew through the air.
And yet, on that same arm that was now embedded in the ground, a cloud of smoke rose. The bull, led by Luffy, was climbing the gigantic arm, a virtual shortcut to the palace. Lucia laughed and turned around to see that Abdullah and Jett were still there:
“GET OUT!” she shouted.
She clenched her teeth and turned her attention back to Law, who didn't let anything show. Beside them, they saw Pica rebuilding the arm that had been destroyed earlier. And shit. In one motion, she and Luffy leapt from the back of their mount.
“GEAR THIRD. Armament Haki. Grizzly magnum!”
“NEPTUNE'S SPEAR!”
Pica's head was disintegrated by Luffy's and Lucia's super-powered attacks, raising cries of terror and admiration from those who had stayed below. Luffy started to laugh:
“Haha it's been a long time since we worked together Luce, it's so cool!”
She smiled in response:
“Do you remember that on Fishmen Island I helped you for Noah ?”
“Did you?”
“Oh please, you’ll never change!”
They landed gently and contemplated the damage. It's not going to last... Zoro came back to the same conclusion, explaining to them that all they were facing was a stone statue and that the head they had destroyed was not really the lieutenant's. Lucia bit her lips, it meant that he was certainly going to return.
Indeed, in front of them, Pica came out of the stone to interpose itself between them and the palace. Lucia swallowed and tightened her hands on the chest of Law to whom she had returned to continue her work. Drawing a giant sword, Pica prepared her blade to cut them in two but they avoided the blow thanks to Luffy who managed to carry the bull on his shoulders and Zoro chose to stay behind to take care of their enemy.
“LUFFY ! LUCIA ! It's up to you !” shouted the swordsman.
“I count on you Zoro”, declared Luffy.
« Of course, captain ! »
A sharp pain seized Lucia suddenly in the chest. She stifled a cry of pain but her air froze. Her nails planted themselves in the skin of Law who grimaced:
“Eh, if the goal is to help me avoid-“
He stopped when he saw the drop of sweat that beaded on her temple and her dilated pupils that trembled on her blue irises. She was pale and he could make out the tremor that surreptitiously agitated her lips. Yet she kept her hands on him, gritting her teeth, letting the energy flow into him as his blood circulated through his body.
“Lucia stop immediately-“
“Shut up," she cut him off. “Do you hear me? Not a word.”
She had lowered her voice, making sure that only he could hear her. She looked up at Luffy who had not understood anything. Neither did Abdullah and Jett, who were too ecstatic after Zoro's heroic act against Pica. Law frowned, the Straw Hat didn't know about Lucia's disability.
“I'll hold you," she muttered, "I have to. So you shut up and let me do it. “
The bull slid down Pica's arm, heading straight for the palace. It was only a matter of time before they reached Doflamingo.
“And when we get there... you'll be in full control... I promise.”
She finished her thought aloud as she stared straight into Law's eyes. He was startled and nodded.
“Hey straw hat," the pirate called out, "I know that our only chance of survival is to kill Doflamingo. So I made a decision. The strategy I took earlier was a roundabout way to finish off this tyrant. But the truth is... I also want to face him personally. He humiliated me but it won't happen again.”
Luffy and Lucia looked at him with a serious, worried look.
“Thirteen years ago... Doflamingo killed a friend of mine... more than a friend... a brother. His name was... Corazon. Chief Lieutenant of the Don Quixote family.”
“Oh... was he one of your companions?” asked Luffy in a soft voice.
“Exactly... this man I owe my life to”, confirmed Law. “He was in fact, Doflamingo's younger brother.”
Lucia was speechless, lost in Law's sad look and words. The premonition she had had all day concerning Law and his relationship with Doflamingo had just been sadly confirmed, creating in her a deep hole. A new heartbeat made her grind her teeth. She bowed her head as the veins in her arms and chest became more and more prominent. She gasped but held it in. She didn't have time to complain. She frowned. They reached the first landing that led to the royal palace. A real welcoming committee was waiting for them; she still had to hold on.
“Luffy !” she hailed him. “Do you have a strategy in mind?”
“WE’RE GOING STRAIGHT FORWARD!!!” answered the captain while shouting.
Lucia had a weak smile. Why do I even ask? Her breathing was more and more difficult, the pain took the step on her concentration. Each inspiration made her the effect of a blow of saw in the chest, each beat of her heart like a knife blow. Her torso was sheared on all sides. Her sight was more and more blurred every second, she felt her forces leaving her dangerously. Yet she remained focused on her task. She let Luffy and the two gladiators deal with the Don Quixote Family soldiers who were blocking their way while all her strength was directed to Law's blood circulation. The circuit was simple, she knew it by heart. And she knew that it was working, Law was regaining strength every second. He looked at her, then frowned, worried:
“Lucia... you are killing yourself...”
“You bet”, she laughed, “I already came back from the dead didn’t I?”
She took a breath:
“Trust me...”
He sighed:
“But what a stubborn I swear...”
“Yeah well, remember that when you put Doflamingo out of harm's way, it will be partly thanks to the stubborn one, eh," she articulated.
She knew however that he was right, the pain was submerging her. She lost her forces with each second, her body did not absorb any more surrounding water, the energy which she transmitted to Law was hers, the forces which her recovered were those which left her.
On their way, they met again the fighters of the Coliseum which they had left behind them after the attack of Pica. And in particular Kelly Funk, one of those who had fought in the block C. He declared to them to know a better shortcut, which led directly to the field of sunflowers in front of the palace. Lucia's vision was becoming increasingly blurred, her breathing more and more wheezy. Law began to get angry at Luffy who had completely forgotten the keys that were supposed to free him. Neither of them paid any attention to the young woman who was leaning more and more forward as her strength disappeared. They entered the tunnel indicated by Kelly Funk and which was to lead them to the palace, Abdullah and Jett fell from the mount and the three of them found themselves in the humid darkness of the tunnel. Law's snail phone rang, it was Robin telling them that Viola had retrieved Law's keys and that it would be Rebecca, Bartholomew and Robin who would take the keys back to the sunflower field.
“Well... a good thing done...” Lucia whispered at the end of her strength.
“Lucia, are you all right?" said Luffy, finally aware of his friend's condition.
“If you want her to survive, stop her”, ordered Law. “That is enough Lucia.”
“NO!” she growled.
She raised her eyes, an indecipherable expression on her face:
“Luffy... the tunnel... “
She wanted to protest but was unable to do so and a new painful pulsation shot through her chest, this time tearing a scream from her. The pain reverberated throughout her body, from her torso to her skull, and before their stunned eyes, she fell into unconsciousness. Luffy caught her awkwardly, panicked.
“Water...” managed to pronounce Lucia in a last breath.
“LUCE ! EH LUCE ! “
“Stop shaking her like a plum tree you moron” replied Law.
“But what happens to her?!”
Law hesitated before answering:
“She's doing too much... like every time...”
Without adding anything, Luffy laid him across the body of the bull, between Law and him, then turned around to face the tunnel that never ended.
“I'll let you watch over her.”
“I'M HANDCUFFED, WHAT EXACTLY DO YOU WANT ME TO DO?”
“I trust you”, Luffy simply replied.
Law turned his face towards Lucia's, her head tilted back, her mouth slightly ajar, her eyes closed in an expression of suffering, her skin furrowed with blue streaks.
“Hey Straw Hat... this tunnel takes us deeper underground," said Law.
“It's true, it's weird...”
The bull's hooves then met a large quantity of water in which he immersed himself before Law ordered Luffy to stop.
“I don't understand... I thought it was a shortcut to the sunflower but... it's a dead end!” the pirate realized.
Behind them, footsteps were heard, the sound reverberating off the walls of this cave, and before their eyes finally took shape a figure that left them speechless. A figure they knew too well.
“Amazing this sloping well, isn't it? Did you really think it was a shortcut?”
“YOU! DOFLAMINGO!" spat Luffy.
Law was stunned, his hands still shackled.
“The weak with the weak... these handcuffs seem to bother you Law...”
With a single finger, Doflamingo sent out wires that pierced the bull's body, piercing it through and through like bullets. The animal toppled over and landed on its side, half submerged in water. Luffy also fell into the water, instantly losing his strength. Lucia's body slipped slowly from the body of the beast and sank. The water swallowed her completely under the catastrophized and furious eyes of Luffy.
“Fate is definitely not with you, Straw Hat. If the Elementalist had been conscious, this place would have been a playground for her, but unfortunately... I think it's over this time. Any devil fruit user will sink like a stone in the water, and that goes for her too. Anyone can get rid of you in this state, it's ridiculous!”
Lucia's body gently touched the slab at the bottom of the tunnel, completely submerged. From her mouth came out the few air bubbles that remained in her lungs.

“Why to have chosen these incapable Law? You were much more ruthless as a kid... and much more cunning... am I right? You've gone soft over the years. I wonder who made you such a coward?”
“SHUT UP!" shouted the pirate. “It's nothing to do with me, I'll never become like you... because I was saved.”
“By my dear little brother Corazon," sneered Doflamingo. “If you haven't lost any of your guts, why did you choose to die like that? In a place like this with those fools?”
The sounds hardly reached her ears, yet she heard the voices. Just before she lost all the oxygen she had left. The words were indistinct, muffled by the water around her.
With his hand outstretched towards Law, Doflamingo was about to shoot him on the spot as he had done with the bull, but he didn't have time to carry out his threat. At the same time, three silhouettes pierced him. First there were Abdullah and Jett, sword and trident in hand, who threw themselves at the Warlord from behind after running through the tunnel. Then there was Lucia who suddenly emerged from the water in which she had sunk, with an incandescent look in her eyes, who transformed her arms into two sharp water blades covered with Armament Haki and which she planted in the pirate's torso, opening him in two.
“Scorpio's blades.”
Short of breath, hair soaked, water dripping on her skin and clothes, she stood straight, a tsunami in her eyes, her arms returning to their normal consistency. In front of her, Doflamingo's body was being deconstructed into dozens of threads.
“I knew it, it was just a double”, Law explained. “A doll made of threads.”
“Luce... guys... “ articulated with difficulty Luffy still in the water.
The three individuals rushed towards them to help them to leave there. Abdullah and Jett took care of Luffy while Lucia carefully raised Law and stabilized him out of the water.
“How... how do you feel?" said the pirate.
“I already told you Trafalgar, trust me,” she answered with an amused grin.
“STOP IT YOU IDIOT YOU COULD HAVE DIED!" he shouted.
She had a small laugh:
“It’s true, this time I was lucky.”
“Besides, how did you manage to get out of it?”
“A magician never reveals all her secrets”, laughed the young woman.
“ANSWER THE QUESTION FOR ONCE!”
She was nevertheless surprised when she saw the relief on his face. He was really worried about her. She was very touched.
“Finally”, she resumed, “everything is not done yet... “
“Why did Doflamingo take the trouble to come here?”
The two mercenaries explained then that Kelly Funk, the one who had indicated them the tunnel had played of them and wanted in first place to capture them to have their bouty. But he didn't have the opportunity because this double of Doflamingo had intervened and had literally slashed them on the spot.
“Wait but what's the point?" Lucia was astonished.
The two men continued to describe the situation outside, the gladiators of the Colosseum had probably all arrived at the second level by now, ahead of Luffy, Law and Lucia. Frustrated, Luffy decided that if there was no shortcut, then he would create one. Lucia laughed:
“When you're at the bottom, you have to go up anyway.”

At the second level, the ground suddenly began to shake and it literally exploded under the feet of the fighters, destroyed by a giant fist that rose into the sky, surrounded by a huge whirlpool of water.
“ELEPHANT GUN !”
“AQUA NEBULA!”
Reconstituting her body in the air from the water, Lucia emerged above them, a victorious smile on her face.
“The way is clear Luffy!” she shouted.
From the hole emerged a hand that clung to the ground and Luffy propelled himself into the open air, holding Law on his shoulder. He landed gently, Lucia at his side. We are on the second level it's good.

Lucia and Luffy were running in the same direction going straight without hesitation. They dodged the blows, defended themselves tooth and nail against the men of Doflamingo. Finally Cavendish offered them a ride on his horse so he could take them to the Warlord. They were joined by Kyros who had followed them. An even more astonishing spectacle unfolded before them. All the gladiators who until then had been walking all over each other, arguing over who would get Doflamingo's head first, were now all joining forces and fighting together. They had finally agreed to lead the way for Luffy, Cavendish and the others.
“THANK YOU GUYS!" shouted Lucia. “WE'RE COUNTING ON YOU!”
She then turned her attention back to Cavendish and cursed herself for what she was about to do. It's not cool, but if it will motivate him. She put her hands around his waist and rested her head on his shoulder:
“Take us to the palace please...”
It seemed to the pirate that heaven was coming to him as Lucia's sweet voice echoed in his ears.
“Anything you say, sweetheart!”
Lucia turned away and made a grimace, sticking out her tongue. She met Law's eyes:
“It is low...” he mumbled.
“As long as you have your handcuffs I forbid you to lecture me Trafalgar, for the moment I am more useful than you!”
“Well, you're back in shape, Luce," Luffy exclaimed. “It's good to see!”
“TRAFALGAR DON'T EVEN TALK TO THE LOVE OF MY LIFE!" shouted Cavendish.
They set off down the path that led them directly to the third floor, leaving behind the fighters who were defending them at the risk of their lives. Using their blades and fists, Cavendish and Luffy continued to take down those who dared to oppose them. Kyros had taken the Straw Hat on his shoulders, leaving Lucia to take up her position in the middle. Cavendish then explained what was really going on on the island: Doflamingo would never let them or the civilians live. The cage that surrounded the island was there to prove it. The Warlord was enjoying the general confusion. Then he ended his diatribe by declaring that he would be the one to cut off Doflamingo's head, to which Luffy replied that it would be him, then Law stepped in and finally Kyros himself positioned himself as a candidate to bring down the tyrant. They were staring at each other when Lucia cleared her throat:
“Hum hum, at the risk of looking like the party pooper... CONTINUE TO WAR FOR THIS AND I'LL DROWN YOU ALL ON THE SPOT IS IT CLEAR???”
They finally arrived at the third level and were greeted by a thick mist that soon surrounded them. The horse refused to go any further. Then, with a disturbing metallic clatter, real giant iron dolls stood around them.
“What are these giant soldiers?” Lucia shivered.