Chapter Text
After being saved by Mr. 2, Sugar sleeps soundly.
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Dreams
Sugar dreamed of dogs barking, and toys laughing. Of endless grapes falling down from the heavens. It's so warm and comfortable, so many people smiling, lively streets yet not too crowded. She hears choice words she can't make out, she smells delicious foods she can't quite place. Part of her knows that something is wrong, the sky is too perfect, the ground is too soft, but then she sees that familiar green hair, a color she’d recognize anywhere, she calls out to her, she runs to her sister, and as the missing sibling turned around
Sugar stared at the broken gray ceiling.
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Looking around the room, it was not immediately apparent where exactly she was. The walls were rocky and cavernous, though the room was quite spacious, it was clear she was in a cave, on a very big, very comfy bed. Sugar was used to living with oversized furniture, but when she turned to look at her pillow, she did not expect it to be four times her size. “Did a giant live here?”, she thought, but quickly threw out the theory, her bed was large, but rather unaccommodating for someone over 30 ft tall. There was a wooden door on the wall in front of her, it looked heavy, she did not remember who brought her here, or why, but finally getting a good night's sleep gave her a clarity she hadn't felt in a long time. As Sugar began contemplating what she should do, she heard a knock at the door.
“Helllllooooooo~ Bear-girl, are you awake yet?”
She recognises the voice, the strange man that saved her! But with his voice more memories start flooding in, who was he? Was he dangerous? It began to dawn on her just how many things were unknown to her, all the factors she has yet to consider. This freak was locked in Impel Down, he could've been anything from a blood thirsty serial killer, to a disgraced mad scientist, or even the fourth in command of a mafia syndicate. She didn't really get all that good of a look at him, and what's with this room, and what's with this pillow, and where is she?
“I’ll take your silence as an invitation! Bears your age need to eat, so I’m coming in with food!”
And with that the door swung open, revealing her savior, a notably unattractive, makeup adorned, male ballerina in what looked to be his early thirties. An okama named Bentham, but known as Bon clay, was the new Miracle Worker of Impel down, and the current head of the 5.5 level, Sugar was not aware of any of this though, and before coming to learn it, she noticed he appeared to be carrying food. Sugar considered whether or not it was poisoned, before remembering the quality of the food she had been eating not but days prior. Poison might add some flavor.
“Ah, you’re awake! I have brought you bread and brisket, with a side of asparagus, eat up now, you look quite starved. I have a couple of questions to ask you, I’m sure you have a couple of questions to ask me, but do not worry, you are safe here!”
Looking at the incredible food, clearly out of place in this hole, Sugar was quick to devour the precious meal. She was not given a fork or knife, but she didn't care, it was the best meal she had had in ages. The meat was salty and juicy and easy to chew, warm and fatty, she had forgotten this flavor. The bread was soft and fluffy, a tad spoungey and not the freshest, but the asparagus, Sugar had never had asparagus before! In her old life she wouldn't have touched a vegetable with her life on the line, but needing to finish the ensemble before her, she scarfed it down too, it was a tad crunchy, and slightly bitter, but with a lemon zest, she would not soon forget the taste of these delicacies.
“It seems you are enjoying your meal, I am happy to see that! You know, I recommended it two the chef. I thought the prison food they make us eat is sorely lacking in protein, but we steal from the guard rooms and living quarters so we can eat like queens!”
Sugar looked at him in an acknowledgment, before continuing to eat .
“You may be wondering where we are, or perhaps the great food and wonderful bed have given it away, you're in Paradise! Or the closest thing to paradise in this old prison. My name is Mr. Two Bon Clay, and I am the leader of the O-kamas, and we are a group of people who have transcended the shackles of gender and the government that enforces it, so as to express ourselves the way we want, whenever we want, I’m certain you are impressed, but once you see the rest of us, you'll be... awestruck.”
Sugar had finished eating, and listened skeptically to Mr. 2, as he rambled on about how much she would love everyone here, and how cool and interesting okamas are. It was a lot to take in, he didn't seem to be slowing down.
“...and we get around through the many cracks and stairways of this place, corridors, trap doors, a labyrinth within the maze, but never mind that, our ways of getting from one place to another may interest you, but you must tell me the truth. We have our own ways of finding information in this prison too, but there is mystery surrounding your existence Bear-girl, or should I say, Don Quixote Sugar?”
Sugar was caught off-guard hearing her full name, “H- how did you know that?” she asked tentatively.
“We have our ways Bear-girl, and I shall warn you, I know “Oh Come My Way Karate”, and if you think you can get away with lying, then you have another think coming! We have pieced together the odds and ends of some information on you, how you were a part of the Don Quixote family, how you appear far younger than you actually are. We noticed your seastone cuffs, I have a devil fruit two, quite the powerful one! Be honest with me, tell me everything you're hiding.”
His eyes pierced into her soul, could he have a devil fruit that could tell when someone was lying? There was no way of knowing, it could all be a trick, she couldn't be sure of anything.
Her mind raced as she tried to come up with something to say, something to get him to trust her, she couldn't have him calling her bluff, but too many lies and it could all topple down, she took a gamble that she even had a way to move forward, no point in giving up now.
“Ye..yeah, I think I’m.... 16 years old, and, I was stolen from my home.. when I was 9 by D.. doflamingo.. and... I had to join him in order to survive! I think my fruit just keeps me from aging forever, but otherwise, it- it's harmless.”
Sugar feigned sincerity, but she didn't need to fake the fear in her voice. Depending on how much he knew, she could be thrown out, but waking up in such a nice bed, and being given such wonderful food made it clear, they knew nothing of the monster she was.
“That’s.... so......... SAAAAAAAAD, oh you poor girl! You were taken from your family when you were only 9 years old!! How abso-two-t-ley horrible!!! Let me take those stone shackles off right now, so I can give you the biggest Oh Come My Way hug of your entire little life!!!”
Bon Clay fished a key out of his pocket as Sugar's eyes widened, her freedom was close, she would get her devil fruit powers back, she would get her freedom back! She could leave this place behind, she could make everyone who wronged her pay! As Mr. 2 turned the key, the cuffs fell off onto the bed, and immediately Sugar touched Bons hand. The first enlisted soldier to lead her breakout.
…
…
…
But nothing happened
…
And then Bon Clay gave her the biggest Oh Come My Way hug of her entire little life.
“Ooooh Bear-girl! I’m so soo sorry you led such a haaard life! You deserve to stay here, eating sweets and chocolates and making friends with the rest of the O-kama, I promise you will love it here! If there's anything you need, just tell me! I am a miracle worker after all!”
But sugar's head was beginning to spin, her powers! What had happened to her powers? They couldn't have gone away, could they? Why wasn't he a toy, why wasn't he her slave? What was going on! she needed to breathe.
“Ox y.. g en..”
“Yes! Apologies little Bear-girl! I'll leave you to sit, getting some more rest would do you some good, especially now that those pesky shackles are off! Just push them onto the floor, I know what it's like to have them on, the queasiness oh it's dreadful what they make us go through! I'll be back for dinner, and again, don't be afraid to call, I can work miracles!”
And with that, Mr 2 scuttled off, making sure to close the door softly behind him.
Sugar sunk into the covers. No longer so tired, so heavy, and yet, her head was now exploding with thoughts. No longer clouded by haze and distortion, but by no means clear, she didn't know what she was to do next. He should have been a toy, did she do it wrong? Did she need to say a phrase, or to have all five fingers touching at once. Had she forgotten what it was that made her such an excellent tool? She needed some rest, she didn't want to think about this, her plans of escape were obliterated, she felt hopeless, She didn't want to give in to the misery, maybe she could figure out what was wrong later, maybe she just, did it wrong this time, maybe it was a fluke, she needed to lie down, she needed to take a breath.
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“Do you trust her?” asked the O-kama
“Not completely no, but she's quite the actor if she's lying” responded Bon Clay “I made sure not two remove the pin in her neck, don't tell anyone about it, if they went through all that trouble to make sure her devil fruit isn't in use, it must be deux something quite nasty.”
“If it's so deadly, then why'd you take the cuffs off?”
“Don't be so heartless Kenny! She's a sad little girl, locked away in the closest thing there is to hell, and don't underestimate our strength either, we are the New-Kama of Impel Down! I'm sure we can handle one little kid.”
“I guess I don't have a choice but to trust you on this, so you want us to treat her like she's just some unlucky sap? Like she isn't a threat.”
“Of course, make sure she's well fed and well cared for, I'll be showing her the ropes myself, but deux see if you can find out more about her. She is certainly hiding something I won't deny it, but aren't we all? I think she's got a great sadness inside of her, a sadness only a miracle worker can fix!”
“Alright Bentham, I'll acquiesce. I’ll make sure everyone gives her a warm O-kama welcome, I'm sure most of them would’ve done so anyways, just stay safe. I don't want to lose another good man.”
“Oh Kenny-boy, don't be soo DramAtic~”
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Strangers
Strangers filled the horizon from wall to wall as Sugar peeked out of her room. While she made her way across the cleaner-than-one-might-expect-for-a-cave floor, some people would turn to look at her. There were many that felt pity for the tiny child, only imagining the horrors she had gone through, and knowing nothing of the horrors she had caused. Some looked at her like she was a good friend, offering hi-fives and fistbumps she didnt feel the need to reciprocate. Sugar rarely ever touched someone unless she wanted them gone, high fives were something she only really did with family, and even then it was quite the rarity for any greeting closer than a short “hey”, to be offered or asked of.
In spite of the large amount of new and mysterious faces, Sugar was less worried the longer she looked around. Everyone was smiling and chatting, it was clear these people weren’t the type to mangle little girls, if there weren't so many missing teeth and skull tattoos, one would hardly assume the population was fully made up of high bounty felons. When she reached the bar at the end of the room, she tried to get the attention of the server. Failing that, she tapped the leg of a man who looked like he bench pressed rhinos almost as often as he practiced his eyeliner.
“Aren’t you a little young to be having yourself a glass” The man said with a smile that he was hoping appeared inviting, but was anything but
“Well, I wanted to ask Mr. 2 something, but I couldn't see him when I looked out, and he told me to tell the bartender if I needed anything,” Sugar said, eyes as wide as she could make them in the hopes it would make anyone forget their previous plans to eat her.
The man apologized and, after politely asking, picked her up and sat her next to him at the bar, before calling the bartender back.
“Ai, and you must be the little Sugar I’ve heard so much about, I take it you need something?” asked the Bartender
“Oh, yes, I was wondering if you could get me a glass of water? Usually Mr. 2 brings me some, but he hasn't today. My throat is quite parched, sorry.”
“Suure, sure, no need for apologies, I man the bar after all, it’s my job to serve water to little girls, and I take pride in it! Quick question, and I don't mean to be intrusive, but what was Doflamingo like? I’ve heard so many things, I always loved his outfits, so fash!”
Sugar's heart stopped for a moment. People knew about her connections to the Don quixote family, she never asked Mr. 2 to keep it a secret and she's regretting it now, but it would’ve been too suspicious had she. She doesn't know what to say, what route to go. Should she act like she hated him, that he was abusive and uncaring and she doesn't want to talk about it, but that would feel like a lie, maybe a small amount of truth would be better, he was bad to the world but a great father, two sides of a complex man, but that would just breed interest, she could tell the man to her side was listening as well, though he was trying to hide his excitement. Sugar couldn't reach the floor, her legs were too short for the long bar stool, she couldn't run, her heart beat faster, she had to say something, or risk being found out.
“I.. well he.. he ”
but she couldn't do it, she was breathing too heavily, she couldn't get the words out of her mouth, she was scared. If she said the wrong thing, if they looked into her past, she would be thrown back out, back into the cold, and she was powerless, without her devil fruit she was just a nine year old that couldn't swim. She couldn't run, she couldn't answer, she wanted to scream, she wanted to fight, but they would beat her, they could kill her, her hands started shaking.
“Hey,” said the bartender “Hey hey, it's ok it's ok, you don't need to worry about answering. I'm sorry for asking, I guess, I didn't think it would be so hard on you, that's on me I'm kind of an idiot, I.. I apologize.”
Sugar kept her eyes lowered, but she nodded in understanding, her heart was still racing, but the crisis had been averted, she tried to relax herself, and her breathing slowly steadied, but her hands wouldn't stop shaking.
“Let me get you that water you asked for, and maybe some strawberries, I think I have some in the pantry somewhere.”
The bartender left for a moment, but came back quickly with a glass of ice water, and a small plate of strawberries. With shaky hands, sugar drank the cool water, and picked at the strawberries. They were good, sweet, but Sugar's heart still beat quickly. She thanked the bartender, before asking the man to her left, who now carried a similar expression of pity, to let her down from the chair. She walked over to her room with her head down, she wanted to rest, to forget where she was, she pushed the door behind her, and it closed silently, as the rest of the prisoners chattered on into the night.
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“Did you find anything this time?”
“We couldn't find anything concrete, it seems like they got all their info on her devil fruit under lock and key, through rumors we’ve been able to confirm there's a lot more to it than pseudo-immortality, but we don't even know the name.“
“So we've learned nothing, is what you're telling me.”
“Hey, it's not our fault! Her files have so much redacted information, it's like she has no history, like she was born yesterday! We have no options for a mother, no relationship status with any of the Donquixote family of pirates, to whom we know aren't actually related by blood. She might have even been an officer, but her crimes aren't even listed! By all accounts she’s a no one from nowhere that's done nothing, that belongs in the greatest prison in the world! It's insanity!”
“You're right you're right, I shouldn't be blaming you, I'm sorry Kenny-boy. I'm just worked up, it's clear you are too.”
“Huff… it's fine, I'm sorry I couldn't find more information. We do have a couple theories though, it could be the Age-Age fruit, we’ve heard it allows you to change how old you are, it doesn't fit her condition exactly, but maybe the seastone pin is affecting her.”
“It’s possible, but if all the age-age fruit allows you to do is change your age, there's no reason to hide the information. “
“Yeah, we considered that. Our next theory was some sort of mythical zoan fruit, maybe a relatively unknown one, like a human-human fruit, model Klabautermann. That would explain the strange age property, and might explain why it's being kept under wraps.”
“It’s possible, but that still leaves a lot of unanswered questions. Even if she does have some sort of rare fruit like that, we have no idea what else that rare fruit can do. It being a mythical zoan type doesn't change the fact we still don't know exactly how dangerous she is, or what power it grants her to make her worth being hidden.”
“...”
“...”
“Well, we know she did something to get sent here though, right? The world government may be crazy, but, they didn't just lock her in some tower, they brought her to jail, she's being punished. We may not know what exactly her fruit can do, but we know it's more than what she's telling us, I trust her less and less every day, she may look like a little girl, but we don't even know her real age, everything about her is indecipherable!”
“Well what do you suggest we do, Kenny? Leave her to die back in her cell? Feed her to the literal wolves in Level 5? I may not know anything about her, maybe she's been lying about everything! What I do know is she's polite, and she's cute, and she hasn't betrayed us yet, based on what you've found, it doesn't sound like she can run to the government even if she wanted to sell us out. I know as my second in command it’s your job to account for things like this, to protect me, and I appreciate that, I really do, but you must not worry so much about this, I can protect myself! Just find more information about her, see if you can steal level 6 credentials, it's quite possible her history is hidden because it involves plans Doflamingo had, I know you can find out more, and we can't make any rash decisions before we know more, do you trust me Kenny?”
“.............Fine! Fine. Okay I trust you, but if we have to keep her, can she at least help out. She's small, and getting stronger every day, can you at least send her on some supply runs. We’re running a little low on a few basic necessities, and she can get into places a lot of the men can't.”
“Sure Kenny-boy, that sounds like a great idea! It will strengthen the bonds between us and Sugar, and it may take her mind off this situation she's found herself in, she always goes to bed early, I'm a little worried. And you're not wrong to not trust her, I know i'm being a little foolish, seeing how she handles missions will allow us to judge her character better, I’m happy to have you Ken-boy ”
“I just hope things go well”
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Return
Returning from another successful supply run, Sugar found it hard not to smile. In just over the first month she got here to the paradise level, she's already finished 3 supply runs, and all 3 went great! She was super nervous at first, but when she realized what Mr. 2s power was, her fears started to disappear. Every time someone got caught, a guard would happen to appear right next to them, apparently “escorting them to the next level” and all suspicions of foul play would evaporate. There were many times sugar got away with hiding in a bag, while men would follow single file behind Mr. 2, while he hid in plain sight, looking like just another servant of justice, sometimes the hardest part was holding in her laughter. It felt good to be useful again, to be doing something important. Sure she wasn't taking over a country, but people cheered her name, and she got juicy strawberries! It was nice, it was exhilarating, but it was also a break.
Her powers still hadn’t come back yet, and she didn't want to think about it. When she was alone with her thoughts, she got depressed quickly. The reality of her situation dawned on her every second she spent thinking. She was under the sea, in a cave, in the body of a toddler, who cannot swim, in an unbreakable prison, n the middle of a hundred navy ships, and a thousand navy men, with no devil fruit powers, to say things looked hopeless, would be a ridiculous understatement. Sugar didn't want to think about the fact she was probably never gonna feel the sun on her skin again, or that she was probably never gonna wear a new non-hand-me-down shirt again, or that she was probably never going to get the chance to eat another candied grape again, it all broke her heart. But worst of all, the thought she always tried to push as far away from the front of her mind as possible, she was probably never gonna get to see her sister again. Sugar didn't really care too much about the sun, and she didn't really care too much about her clothes. And while she loved candide grapes, she didn't love them as much as her sister. But she didn't want to think about it. So Sugar spent most of her days complaining about the lack of grapes, or well fitting clothing. The annoying guards that sneered at them when they walked, the twisting pathways that were safe, but ever so confusing. She complained about how none of the guards in the prison ate grapes, what were the odds of that? Not a single guard ever brought grapes, “what a pain!”, she would cry, but she never complained about her sister. She didn't want to speak it into reality, she didn't want to acknowledge it, so she didn't
The days that followed her latest expeditions were full of talking to the residents of 5.5, everyone had a story. One guy punched a rear admiral in the face for harassing some lady, another guy stole 40 million berries in snail food, one girl even kidnapped 6 navy sailors just for the fun of it! There were a ton of wild people, and a ton of stories that came with them. Something Sugar liked about the new kamas was how flamboyant they dressed, it reminded her of Doflamingo, it just felt right. Sugar wasn't sure if she would call any person here her friend, but she was happy to be a part of something, happy to pretend to be someone else. Sugar was spending more time out of her room, which apparently was actually Benthams, and started partying with the people during the night. Her small size did make her worry, but people were generally careful. When Bentham went on stage to perform, that was when Sugar usually went to bed, it always felt like a good time to leave. She didn't want to say it, but Bentham's constant talks about how great Level 5.5 was, started getting to her. Her situation wasn't that bad, compared to what it could've been, being stuck in a freezing cage, with barely enough food, at least here there was a bathroom. But when she acknowledged how good it was here, she still was acknowledging she was here, in Impel Down, she didn't want to think about it, and she was always so tired, she slept a full twelve hours a day, so she went to bed early, like usual
But one night, something unlikely happened. While the lights were dimmed to get ready for Bon Clay's literal swan song, someone tripped over Sugar, kneeing her neck on accident. She felt a surge of pain and yelped, but wasn't heard over Bentham's singing, she felt a knife in her neck as the seastone pin pushed farther than it should have, hitting a nerve. She struggled to pull the pin out, but she tore and scraped at her flesh to reach it. When she finally managed to rip it out and drop it to the floor, it was as if a weight lifted off her shoulders. Suddenly she wasn't very tired, and it was like her eyes could focus, like she hadn't been before. She went to pick up the pin, and she recognized the feeling immediately. It was sea stone, she had a pin inside her body. Who had placed it there? Was it, Mr. 2? Did he do it? Was that why he took other cuffs so easily, because he had put the pin there. Sugar was mad, and confused, and she needed answers, so like normal she went to her room, but she made sure to tell the bartender to get Bon Clay after his performance. And while sugar waited in her bed, her bed far to big for her, she thought over every conversation she had, all the fear and sadness that came with the loss of her power, all the lies and things he had hidden from her, Sugar could feel it, her power was back, she didn't need to practice on anyone, she knew exactly who her first target would be, and two hours later he walked in.
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“Oh hello, Bear-girl, is there something you wanted to tell me?”
“Yeah, but could you shut my door please, it's a secret.”
“A secret? Now that's exciting! Well it's safe with me, I'll get the door!”
“Thanks! Now come close, onto the bed, I don't want anyone to hear.”
“Oh this room is soundproof, sometimes the O-kamas want to party into the night, but I need my beauty sleep! But I'll join you on the bed if that's what you want, we can be two queens having a sleepover!”
“Thanks Bon Clay, you've been so kind to me ever since I woke up in your bed, I just thought you would want to know more about my devil fruit!”
“Oh! I thought all your devil fruit does is keep you at nine, is there something else two?”
“Well, a small thing, could you give me your hand?”
“Well sure Bear-girl, I hope this doesn't hurt!”
“It doesn't hurt at all Mr. 2, not one bit.”
And when their fingers touched, the man who was known as Mr. 2 by some, Bon Clay by others, and Bentham by most, ceased to be known as anything at all.