You remained in bed for the rest of the day after your declaration, your anger exhausting you terribly. After you said those words, Luffy was beyond shaken. The others were more or less aware of your condition. Those who were observant enough could tell right away there was something wrong with you, even if you were putting that usual bored facade of yours.
However, nobody could dwell too long on the matter since you were all approaching Zou. Law thought you would eventually reach the island in a few hours. Your crew were restless about reuniting with the others, thinking that with everyone gathered together, they could maybe come out with something to help you. That's when Luffy and his friends were confronted with the Three Poisons on the deck, without you in the picture of course.
Arms folded across their chest, they gazed at your comrades silently. It was impossible to even guess what they were thinking at the moment, with faces that showed no evident expressions.
"I thank you all for coming. There's urgent matter to speak about. As you can guess, it is about (y/n)-" started Raga, but was interrupted by the sudden shout of Luffy.
"If you are telling us to leave her, then I refuse!" the captain snapped.
"Straw Hat Luffy" spoke firmly the bird. "You have witnessed something that no mortals like you should have...Moreover, our existences should remain in the stories of legends and myths. The vessel of the Wheel isn't supposed to leave the territory of the ancient realm where all worlds merged to form only one...We, as its guides, must keep on check the balance of the Universe"
"What difference would it make?" asked Robin inquisitively.
"A vessel must remain serene, both body and mind. Emotions are unstable, and the consequences could bring the world you know to change into another completely deviant from your beliefs..." explained Moha. "A world where your laws don't apply and only the strong can survive"
"That doesn't sound too bad..." said stupidly Zoro, causing Usopp to release a startled cry.
"WHAT DO YOU MEAN "Not so bad"?! I WOULD DIE STRAIGHT AWAY!"
"But more importantly, there isss sssomething..." Dvesha trailed, but cut himself at the look Raja sent at him. He cleared his throat, and quickly changed the subject. "In any cassse, the vessssssel mussst return to usss-"
"I refuse" retorted Luffy, crossing his arms in front of his chest.
The Three Poisons blinked, their expressions revealing no emotions or whatsoever. However, it soon changed to anger and irritation, a sight that took everyone aback. Their bodies took a slightly disturbing form, with Raja's beak growing longer and split in two to reveal rows of sharp teeth. Dvesha's arms and tail transformed into blades that he shot down on the ground as a form of intimidation. Moha's skin was now covered in blisters and warts, the tone changing to a sick green color.
Eyes turning into a strange shade of blue, that looked almost out of this world, and two, thin circles surrounding the pupils. Luffy's friends took a step back, hands on their weapons or preparing their attacks with their Devil Fruit. All except for their captain, who stood his ground and narrowed his eyes at the Three Poisons.
"Straw Hat Luffy. I will make myself clear: you will not interfere in our matters concerning the vessel" spoke darkly Raja, a purple mist escaping his split beak and the eyes glowing.
"And you will not interfere either between us and (y/n)" responded Luffy, using the same tone.
"Oh? Thisss mortal wisshesss to die? Very well" spat venomously Dvesha. "I didn't have a proper meal since centuries"
"O-Oi! Wait a damn minute!" shrieked Usopp in panic. "Aren't you supposed to be on our side?!"
"We do not 'side' with mortals. The balance of the Universe comes first, as always" explained Moha, his grip on his staff tightening. "If needed, we will dispose of you"
This was the cue for Luffy and his friends to take an attacking stance, sensing the hostility emanating from the Three Poisons. They were beyond serious. Unfortunately, they knew little of their powers, and yet they faced the challenge head on. Just for you. Dvesha and Rage were about to make the first step, until the door of the medical bay shut open violently.
"Three Poisons. Step. Back" came your statement cold and empty of emotions. They whipped around, staring in disbelief at you.
"B-But..." stammered Raga, but with the look you were giving them, they quickly backed off.
The Three Poisons returned in their normal forms, taking a few steps back from Luffy's group. They were hanging their heads down, almost in shame. You walked pass them, all the while glaring at Luffy with no evident signs of what you could be thinking about.
"Our apologies, o' deity of the Wheel..." spoke the bird. "We-"
"Enough. I don't want to hear anything" you interrupted with a snarl. "My decision is final. I stay"
"What?!" cried out in unison the Three Poisons.
"Really?!" beamed Luffy, but the stare you sent at him quickly shut him up, and erased the smile on his face.
"Certainly ssshe isss joking?! And after everything that happened?!" hissed Dvesha.
"Please, you have to rethink about your decision!" enriched Moha.
"There's still things to be done here. I thought I made myself clear two years ago?" you turned to them, crossing your arms. "This will not trigger again. Anita's...death opened my eyes about who I am really. And yet, I will not quit this crew until I help them reach their goals. I hope...you understand?"
Your comrades couldn't see the expression you were making, but it seemed enough to scare shitless the Three Poisons. They momentarily took a step back, eyes wide in shock. The thing is, they didn't saw what the others did. Luffy thought it was another form of intimidation, but Robin eyed carefully your demeanor. Your posture...The aura you were releasing...All looked different.
She didn't know if it was because of Anita's death on your mind, or if it was something else. She suspected it was the latter.
"...Very well" sighed Raga. "However, we will accompany you until we see fit to leave. Your powers are still fragile for the overuse of the Realm"
"Do as you want" you shrugged. "Now, how long before we reach Zou?"
"We are still following the Vivre Card" told Law, checking down to see the white piece of paper moving forward. "Maybe in one or two days?"
"Hm. Then I will return in my bed. There's nothing for me to do here" you growled, walking to the medical bay and slamming the door close.
There was a long moment of silence. Nobody knew what to do about your condition, watching sadly as you closed on yourself, letting no one in.
Back at you, you were sitting on the bed with your legs curled up to your chest. You were gripping tightly Anita's necklace.
"It's last thing I have of you...I can't forgive myself, Anita. I let you get captured. I let you get caught in my existence as the enemy of the world. A demon, a monster, a calamity...To the price of what? This fucking balance of everything" you mused darkly. "They are a bunch of fools. Thinking of me as their silly Nakama. Because once they reach their goals, they will see who I am really"
It was beyond foggy. The ship passed through the tick smoke, checking once and a while the Vivre Card if they were going in the good direction.
"You guys are getting seasick too often!" grunted Zoro as he watched Bartolomeo's crew falling down like flies. "How could you call yourselves pirates?!"
"Chewing gum...Chewing gum..." struggled to say Bartolomeo, bringing a piece to his lips.
"Chewing gum?" echoed Franky, staring at the captain in disbelief.
"It'll make it a little better, Grandma said"
"That's why there is gum stuck everywhere on this ship?!" shouted Usopp.
"What a riot!" laughed Luffy.
"Boss! I see something at two o'clock!" shouted the lookout at the top of the mast, before he let out a sound similar to a barf. "There's a mountain or a monster..."
"I hope there's no monster that can be mistaken for a mountain!" sweatdropped Bartolomeo.
"It looks like it's moving..."
"If it's a mountain that moves, let's go!" cheered your captain stupidly.
"N-No, idiot!" the sniper interjected, grabbing Luffy's cheeks and tugging on them. "Anyway, what we gotta do now is get out of this foggy maze as soon as possible! Ohterwise, we'll hit a reef and capsize!"
"Wait, God" stated Law, earning a blush from Usopp who turned to him with sparkles around him.
"Did you call me 'God'? I'm flattered! I'm a man of 200 million and I'm flattered!" he said, oblivious to the pissed aura of Franky right behind him. That guy was still under 100 million after all.
"I'm sure the Marine Admirals are aware of you now. Look. The Vivre Card is pointing towards that"
"Tra-guy? Is Zou literally an elephant?" you questioned, staring at the dark mass in the fog.
"Indeed. Why?"
"Then there's no need to search longer..."
The fog dissipated a little to reveal the huge form of an elephant walking slowly in the ocean. Attached to one of its legs was the Thousand Sunny, drifting along the waves with the beast.
This earned a few shocked looks from your comrades, who gazed at this gigantic entity that seemed out of this world.
"I-I-Is it alive?!" asked Usopp.
"It keeps moving so it'll never be at the same location; a Phantom Island. It's not actually an island so Log Poses won't get out here. I've never been here before either" told Law. "Black Foot and the others could've gotten here much earlier"
"So we were chasing an elephant that was walking away" mused Robin, staring up at the elephant.
"Get ready to make landfall. Can you give us some food?" the surgeon demanded to Bartolomeo who scowled at him.
"For you?!" he pointed accusingly.
"Can you give Straw Hat-ya some food?"
"TAKE EVERYTHING IN THE FOOD STORAGE!" the fanboy's persona did a 180 at the mention of Luffy.
"So this is Zou?! There are such unusual things outside our country!" breathed in shock Kin'emon. "I wonder if Momonosuke is okay"
"I heard there is a tribe that hates humans" stated Kanjuro.
"Yes, it's the Mink Tribe. They hold off humans and people say the history of their country goes back nearly a thousand years" answered Law.
"A thousand years?!" cried out Luffy. "On the elephant's back?! Does that mean that elephant has been alive for a thousand years?!"
As you got closer to the Sunny, you prepared yourself to debark and changed your clothes ( A/N: With a white shirt instead of, well, that sort of crop top? aka jacket? aka something that you are sure you do not have a bra under?). Bartolomeo and his crew were practically crying at the sight of your ship, already worshiping it on their knees. With no sign of major damage, you guessed they were able to escape Big Mom's ship safely.
"Oi, Sanji! Nami! Chopper! Brook! Momo! And...what was the gas guy's name?" Luffy called them, obviously receiving no answer.
"We don't care about him" you pointed out. "And there's no sign of them on the ship. They probably went ahead and climbed the elephant"
"Are you sure?"
"No auras"
Bartolomeo used his Devil Fruit to built a staircase that led to the Thousand Sunny, and your crew along with Law, Kin'emon and Kanjuro crossed it to get on the other side. Next came the food that Barto Club generously gave with all their love poured in it. You questioned if it was still edible after that.
"Is there anything else we can do?"
"No, we're fine!" answered Franky. "Luffy, we're ready"
"All right! Let's go!"
Ignoring completely Bartolomeo's tearful monologue, Kanjuro began to pain on the deck a long dragon. Well, you supposed it was a dragon. Robin thought it was an earthworm and Usopp a snake. Since it had legs, Franky immediately guessed it was some kind of lizard.
"It's a dragon, you idiots" you sighed, causing the others to let out a sound of understanding.
"Okay, it's finished!" stated Kanjuro.
"What is this thing?" muttered Luffy, gazing at the artwork in disbelief.
"I still think it's a snake" muttered the sniper.
"Appear, Rising Dragon!"
The drawing filled with colors, and the pink dragon rose from its 2D state. It looked...quite pathetic, to be honest. Dizzy, the art breathed heavily as it stared up at the sky. Sounds were bubbling from its throat, incomprehensible.
"It's gonna say something?" the cyborg raised a brow.
"Dra....Dragon..." it said, pitifully. "D-Dragon..."
"Some kind of pathetic creature appeared!!!" shouted Usopp and Luffy simply chuckled.
"It looks like it's about to collapse at any moment..." you sweatdropped, even more at the sight of Robin's blush.
"It's cute..." you could clearly hear her think.
"Let's go now, Dragon!" spoke Kanjuro, the drawing completely ignoring him. "Dragon!"
"Ryū?!" it squeaked cutely, and this time it was your turn to blush.
"Cute" you thought in unison with the archaeologist.
"Well, if we can fly on the dragon, we can get there quickly" the sniper smiled, watching as the dragon walked on its two feet and pressed itself on the elephant's leg.
"All right, everyone, cling to its back! It's gonna climb up!" the samurai stated, earning a slap from Usopp.
"ISN'T IT GONNA FLY?!"
"Okay! Let's go!" laughed loudly Luffy.
"Realm of God and everything alike. Are we going to do this?" you cursed.
You were seated between Zoro and Usopp, the latter clutching to your back as if his life was depending on it. You stared ahead of you, unamused, while the dragon started to climb the leg. Slowly, but surely. Luffy was encouraging the artwork, cheering up for it.
You avoided any given chance to look down, knowing that if you did you would faint. Sensing your unease, the swordsman didn't hesitate to play with your nerves with it.
"Oi, stupid mummy. You're fine back there?" he asked over his shoulder. "Don't want you to fall in the middle"
"I will be fine, thank you for your concern, Zoro" you gritted your teeth. "The worst that could happen is me throwing up"
"GYEEH! DO IT ON ZORO" screeched Usopp.
"Hey, Luffy. They are yelling something downstairs" Franky earned the captain's attention who faced the same direction as him.
"Oh, Lome-o, huh? I forgot to even thank him!" grinned Luffy.
"Not Lome-o, it's Lomeo!"
"Lome-o and everybody! Thank you for bringing us here!"
"Y-You too! Thank you very much! Please take care on your journey!!" Bartolomeo yelled loud and clear.
"You too! See ya!" your captain waved. "Zou, here we come!"