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Chapter Text

Deuce pov

"Of course it's a good idea !" Ace exclaimed.

The snow and wind were slowing their progression, the island was particularly inhospitable, and as much as Deuce trusted his Captain, he was a tad worried about making their way to an Emperor's remote territory right after entering the New World.

The whole crew knew Ace had grown up in the New World despite having started to sail in the East Blue, so they all trusted him to know the dangers of the area better than most new pirates. But Akagami no Shanks was not a man Deuce would take the risk of visiting unannounced without a very good reason, and the masked man had a hard time believing his cheerful and slightly stupid Captain had one.

Through the snowstorm and harsh terrain, they finally made their way to the entrance of a cave hidden in one of the mountains, where light barely reached further than a few steps in, but the overwhelming presence Deuce could suddenly feel inside was unmistakable.

Yet Ace walked forward without hesitation and so they followed, which had the advantage to at least get them out of the storm. Deuce's eyes adjusted quickly enough to the dim light to discern a man with red hair sitting on a crate, surrounded by his crew, and they were all watching them.

"Spade Pirates, eh ?" the Emperor asked knowingly. "The infamous super rookie came to say hello to me ?"

The tension rose instantly, and Deuce had to force himself to stay where he was instead of bolting out of the cave at the very real threat. Hopefully his Captain knew what he was doing by leading them here, especially since he had not said anything about fighting.

"In your dreams, asshole," Ace snorted and turned to look at them while pointing at Akagami. "Guys, that shithead is an Emperor, so you know what that means ? It means we can totally be better than him."

For about half a second, Deuce was absolutely sure he had heard wrong.

Why why why did I ever follow that crazy idiot who thinks it's smart to insult an Emperor with his back turned shit we're all gonna die-

Before Deuce could drop on his knees or grab his insane friend and make a run for it, Akagami smirked.

"At least call me a motherfucker, it's more accurate."

The masked man was seriously considering running away as a valid option, but at least the Emperor did not seem to have taken offense for some reason, which meant they might still get out of it alive.

"YOU LEAVE MOM OUT OF THIS !!" Ace yelled.

He jumped toward Akagami who had started laughing, and Deuce prepared himself to help his Captain however he could before another pirate on the Red-Haired crew spoke.

"Chill out, kids. Shanks is your Captain's stepdad, you're good."

Stepdad.

Stepdad.

"EEEEEEEEEEHHHHH !??"

Screw running, Deuce felt like he was going to faint as a hundred memories slammed back in his mind.

-o-o-o-

"I want to explore the world, but I come from a family of doctors," Deuce explained on Sixis when Ace and him first met.

"So what ? If you want to explore the world, go for it ! My mom always says we should follow our dreams !" the freckled teenager grinned.

Deuce had been surprised to hear that, and he averted his eyes in a bittersweet feeling.

"Must be nice to have supportive parents."

"Gonna stop you there, my mom is awesome, my stepdad's an asshole who doesn't deserve her," Ace snorted. "If they hadn't met on my dad's ship before he met my mother, I sure she would have never chosen him."

-o-o-o-

"I miss my mom's cooking," Ace grumbled. "Should have asked for her recipes before I left."

"Which mom ?" Skull asked. "You always speak like you have a million parents, not our fault it's complicated."

"Duh, the one who's not dead," their Captain snorted. "My mother died in childbirth and my dad was dead even before that. My mom adopted me and my brothers when I was eleven, and she married the dumbass that I have to call stepdad a few years after."

"You really don't like your stepdad, eh ?" Deuce asked.

"He's an asshole who tried to kill my mom, of course I don't like him ! The only good thing about their marriage is that I got a little sister who's the cutest angel in the whole world," Ace grinned proudly.

"Wait what !?"

-o-o-o-

"So Captain's the son of the Pirate King ?" Saber asked with his eyes wide. "Damn. Never would have guessed."

"Yeah but it's not a big deal to him," Mihar shrugged. "Look, what you really need to know is that he loves his adoptive mom and his siblings but he will curse his stepdad at every opportunity."

"Uh, okay ?"

"Don't worry, you'll get used to it," Deuce sighed. "He talks about one of them at least twice a week."

-o-o-o-

Deuce stared in shock at his Captain trying to attack an Emperor without using his Devil Fruit or even appearing to really go all out, while said Emperor was laughing and blocking every blow, clearly not serious about it either. The masked man heard several thump sounds behind him, which he absentmindedly assumed to be crewmembers falling on their ass or straight-up fainting.

Ace's stepdad that he cursed at every turn and claimed to be unworthy of his – according to him – absolutely wonderful mom was Akagami no Shanks.

Ace's stepdad was a fucking Emperor of the Sea.

"What the fuck !?" Skull blurted out next to him. "CAPTAIN ! Why did you never tell us your stepdad was an Emperor !?"

"Huh ?" Ace said as he blinked and stopped fighting. "Pretty sure I told you about my stepdad."

"Aww, you told your crew about me ?" Akagami cooed with a hand on his heart.

"Shut up," their Captain grumbled. "I told them you're an asshole who doesn't deserve mom."

"Ace, no one deserves your mom," a Red-Haired pirate that Deuce finally identified as Benn Beckman huffed.

"That woman's out of everyone's league," another nodded wisely.

Both Captains walked back to the center of the cave together like nothing had happened, while the whole Spade Pirates were attempting to collect the remnants of their mental health.

"Ace, don't you think telling us that your stepdad is an Emperor was kind of important ?" Deuce asked while pinching his nose.

"Slipped my mind," his Captain grinned. "Sorry guys !"

"So you're the ones who've been taking care of my boy, eh ?" the Emperor grinned as well while staring at them and putting a hand on their Captain's shoulder. "Keep up the good work, kiddos ! Ace, you're staying for a banquet, right ?"

"Depends, mom's around ?"

"No but Lucky still got her recipes," Akagami smirked.

The freckled man's eyes sparkled and Deuce instantly knew what the answer was going to be.

"Oh hell yeah !"

And so, they spent the rest of the day in the surreal situation that was a banquet with an Emperor's crew acting extra friendly toward them all, and mostly toward Ace. Deuce could confidently say that was not what he had been expected from that visit.

They left the next morning with the first rays of sunlight, and Akagami smiled brightly at Ace after hugging him.

"I'll tell her you made it to the New World, expect a visit soon. Oh and the rest of you, my wife is a very special woman who wants to lay low for a little while longer," the Emperor added with his smile taking a dangerous edge. "So don't do anything stupid and keep your mouths shut about her identity, alright ?"

"AYE SIR !" Deuce and the whole crew replied at once as a shudder ran through their spine.

"Good lads," the red-haired pirate grinned.

"OI ! Don't give orders to my crew !" Ace protested.

"Ace."

The serious tone seemed to stop him momentarily, and the stern expression was almost weird on the Emperor who had been so cheerful and smiling the whole night.

"Yeah, I know," the freckled man replied with a nod. "Don't worry, mom's secret will stay secret until Luffy's out too."

"Good. Now go have fun and spread chaos, kiddo," Akagami grinned.

"Shut up, asshole,"

The Emperor's crew laughed at that, and soon the Spade Pirates were making their way back to their ship, with one hell of an experience.

"Ace, seriously, what the fuck ?" Deuce asked one more time when they started to sail away. "Your dad's the Pirate King, your stepdad is Akagami, what's next !?"

"Next is gonna be my mom," his Captain smiled widely, looking even more excited. "If we're really really lucky she'll even bring my sister with her ! I haven't seen Kida since she was a baby !"

Deuce sighed. It seemed they were not going to have more answers until Ace's adoptive mother found them, which was a little weird since navigating in the New World was impossible without a log pose, nevermind reaching one person in particular. But at this point, Deuce was almost a bit afraid to ask.

-o-oOo-o-

Ace pov

It took almost two weeks after they stopped to see Shanks, but one afternoon when they were at sea, Ace finally heard Banshee scream.

"Captain ! There's something flying right to us, I think it's a Zoan !"

Ace immediately jumped to the railing to watch the direction his crewmember was pointing toward, and as soon as he spotted the black wings, he shouted in joy.

"MOOOOOOM !!!"

"MOM !?" his crew screamed.

"Hey no, that's my mom, go get your own !" the freckled teenager frowned.

It took longer than usual for his mom to make the distance, but when she was finally close enough, Ace noticed the other much smaller person in her arms, and he jumped excitedly on the railing. It had been more than a year since he had seen his little sister, and he was sure she had already grown up a lot.

His mom flew above him to step on deck with a smile, and Ace immediately turned around to jump toward her.

"Mom !" he exclaimed before hugging her, but stopped as soon as he saw the little girl turn her head curiously to him.

"Wow," Ace breathed. "You're even cuter than when I left."

His mom chuckled, and the Captain managed to blink and look back at her.

"It's good to see you again, my little angel."

Ace felt his lips wobble a minute and then he threw caution to the wind and went for a hug anayway, just not as tight as he could in order to protect his sister's little wings.

"I missed you," he said just as his mom's feathers covered his back.

"And I you," Y/N replied softly, then untangled them to speak to the tiny little person in her arms. "Kida, this is your brother Ace, you remember him ?"

"Ace ?" Kida asked with a blink, her voice sounding like little chimes, then she smiled widely, her red eyes sparkling. "Brother !"

Ace melted instantly and started to sob at her big smile and adorable face and shining white hair and fluttering little feathers. She had barely started to talk when he had left, so to hear her say his name and call him brother was pretty much melting his heart on the spot.

"Yeah, I'm your big brother," he sniffed loudly. "And I love you very very very very much."

Kida giggled, and that was it, Ace was going to die from sheer cuteness and he was not even going to regret it.

"Oh my seas she's the cutest little thing I've seen in my entire life," Skull mumbled at some point.

Which reminded Ace that his crew was here too since he was on his ship and he probably needed to make some introductions.

"Oh right, mom, Kida, that's my awesome crew ! Guys, that's my mom and my little sister !"

His mom laughed at that, and smiled brightly before handing him his sister.

"There, hold her a moment, you remember how ?"

"Yeah of course," Ace beamed as he very carefully took his sister in his arms, who instantly snuggled against him.

"Mom ! Warm !"

"Yes my darling, your brother is warm, that's because he ate a very special fruit," Y/N explained gently before looking at him more seriously. "Be careful with your flames, alright ? Kida's feathers are still developping, they're not as sturdy as mine yet."

"Yes mom," Ace replied instantly and focused to keep his fire under control. The last thing he wanted was to accidentally hurt his precious baby sister.

"For more proper introductions," his mom said in her extra elegant way, "I am indeed Ace's adoptive mother, as well as Shanks' wife, and the last crown princess of Lunaria. You can call me Y/N, it's a pleasure to make your acquaintance."

"Lu- Lunaria !?" Deuce exclaimed. "But that's impossible !"

"Don't tell me you're surprised to hear the World Government lied about something," his mother smirked. "My kingdom was destroyed around two decades ago, and I'm the last survivor of the royal bloodline. Well, now it's me and my daughter, but you see what I mean."

Ace snorted at the gobsmacked expressions of his crew, but his attention was still mostly on the adorable little girl in his arms and her happy nonsensical babbling about warmth and nice.

"You didn't tell them, did you ?" his mom asked him with a knowing look after several seconds spent in complete silence.

"I told them you were the best mom to ever exist," Ace grinned proudly.

"Wait, ma'am, I mean, uh, milady, no," Mihar fumbled, "shit how do I address a princess-"

"I told you Y/N was fine," his mom chuckled as her beautiful wings fluttered. "But if calling me by name makes you uncomfortable, the proper way to address a princess is your highness."

"Right, your highness, uh, Captain said Akagami tried to kill you but you could also kick his ass ?"

"Both claims are correct," she confirmed. "Though you should know Shanks' attempt on my life was… not exactly an accident, but very much a misunderstanding that we both cleared early on and that I forgave him for."

"I didn't !" Ace yelled, but his outburst seemed to scare his sister and he instantly shut his mouth. "Sorry Kida."

"Yeah but like, you're as strong as an Emperor ?" Skull asked incredulously.

"Most of my spars with my husband end in a draw, do with this information as you wish," his mom smiled knowingly.

"Great seas, what kind of crazy family is that ?" Deuce mumbled.

"Well, my adopted fathers are respectively Ace's biological father and my youngest adopted son's grandfather, while my husband is also one of Ace's biological father's adopted children, and my second adopted son has started his own adventures along my youngest adopted son's biological father who is basically my estranged but reliable adoptive brother," Y/N explained briefly, to which Ace nodded.

He had learned that Sabo had chosen to go with the Revolutionaries in the end, they had met briefly at Sabaody. Well, more like his brother had ambushed him at some point. Sabo had explained he wanted to create a world where their mom and sister would be free to live without being hidden or hunted for being Lunarians, which Ace honestly thought was fair.

And pretty cool, since it meant Sabo was basically a spy doing secret missions.

"I… nope, I don't get it," Skull said with a hand scratching his hair.

"Anyway," his mom smiled and clapped her hands. "I really only just wanted to stop by and meet the people sailing with my son. I know my little angel can be a bit of a handful at times-"

"Hey !" Ace protested.

"- but he's also a wonderful young man with a heart of gold, who will go to the end of the world for those he loves, and I'm very proud of him. So thank you for taking care of him."

And that was it, the warm feeling in his chest rose again without having anything to do with his Devil Fruit. It never mattered how many times she had reassured or praised him, Ace still felt like the most special person on earth when he received Y/N's approval.

"Ace warm !" Kida repeated next.

"Yep !" he confirmed, then grinned. "Wanna see a cool trick, little sis ?"

Her red eyes turned to him, and Ace managed to free one hand to put it away and make a little flame dance in his palm. His sister gasped, her gaze glued to the fire, but as soon as she tried to reach for it, the Devil Fruit user made it disappear.

Kida frowned, then stared very hard at his hand, and Ace made the flame reappear. Then when she tried to grab it again, he turn it off.

"Fire is dangerous for you," the freckled pirate stated seriously.

"But fire," she insisted and pointed at his palm.

"Yes," their mom intervened with a gentle voice, "but your brother is made of fire, he cannot burn. If you touch fire, you will burn, and it will hurt."

Kida still looked like she had a hard time understanding the difference, and Ace made an I'm-sorry-I-thought-it-was-cool face when his mom gave him a light reproachful look.

"So uh, you're staying for dinner, right ?"

In the end, his mom only left the next morning with Kida in her arms, and after Ace made sure to hug two of his most precious people a long while before they left again. He was a bit sad to see them leave, but their visit had given him a new objective to reach. It was a bit crazy, but after a few more months, Ace was sure he and his crew would be strong enough to do it.

And then he turned around to see Deuce bring a big board in the middle of the deck, followed by Kotatsu who was holding a basket with writing stuff and red string, and Mihar and Skull who were holding what looked like enough tankards for the whole crew.

"Okay everyone, it's time to get serious," Deuce declared. "If we work together, we can do this."

"Uh, guys ? What are you doing ?" Ace asked, feeling very much confused.

"We're going to make your family make sense. We got the names, now we have to work out how everyone is related," his first mate stated. "Because I've never seen a clusterfuck like that."

"Oh come on !"

Chapter Text

Law pov

It had been years since the Revolutionary Army's headquarters had become his home, and while Law would never go as far as to say he loved the people living there, he would reluctantly admit that it was a pretty acceptable group of individuals. At least Dragon was smart, Kuma was quiet, and Iva's Devil Fruit was interesting.

But most importantly, Cora-san was safe. Law had expected the people to distrust them and be mean to him and his guardian, but apparently, having the Lunarian woman vouching for them to Dragon had been all that was required to be granted at least some measure of respect and decency.

After a while, Cora-san had even started to make friends with other people, and once he had heard all their stories, about how they had lost everything to Celestial Dragons, he had ultimately joined the ranks of the Revolutionaries for good.

Law was still unsure whether he was going to do the same. He was still furious at the World Government, enough so to give him common ground with most people in the base, but he also had a much more pragmatic objective in mind.

Doflamingo had to disappear from the map. As long as that bastard roamed free, Cora-san would never be completely safe, and after learning what he had done to Dressrosa, Law's hatred had only grown.

And the only way to attack the Warlord directly would be to leave the Revolutionaries and become a pirate. Which was something the surgeon thought about more and more these days. Not all pirates were assholes like Doflamingo or monsters like Kaido, after all. Some, like Jinbei or Akagami, could even be considered relatively good people, who actually protected the people they claimed to protect instead of exploiting them.

In the meantime, however, Law was honing his skills and knowledge as doctor and fighter among the Revolutionaries, where there was never a lack of injuries or diseases for him to heal. Not with the new recruits from desperate countries or the more experienced fighters coming back from missions.

"Law-boy !" Iva said one day as they rushed inside the infirmary's stockroom.

Law instantly looked at the ceiling and prayed for patience. The Queen of Okama Land was a very exuberant person, which was not a trait the surgeon enjoyed in people. Not in normal times, and definitely not when he was quietly doing an inventory.

"What is it, Iva-ya ?"

"There's a new boy who arrived !"

"Then he'll get his check-up done by whoever's on shift."

Before Law could send the purple-haired – man today, apparently – away, however, a blond teenager joined them with a grin that screamed mischief from a mile away.

"Nope, my mom said you're the doctor I should trust most while you're here !" he said cheerfully. "Name's Sabo, pleasure to meet you, Law."

The doctor's guard went up instantly, all annoyance at Iva forgotten to be replaced by instant suspicion.

"How do you know who I am ?"

"Well there were at least three people talking about the grumpy surgeon on the corridor and five more gushing about doctor tall dark and handsome," the blond teenager – Sabo – snickered. "And also my mom told me you should still be here and what kind of job you'd be doing, so really, it was pretty easy."

"Sabo," the stern voice of Dragon echoed from outside as he walked through the door as well. "What is the meaning of this ?"

"I'm making a friend !" Sabo grinned.

The stockroom was starting to get cramped, but Law was still stuck on a weird part of the teenager's sentence, something he had mentioned twice but not explained.

"Who is your mother and what does she know about me ?" Law asked with narrowed eyes.

The blond's smile turned more knowing, and he pulled a leather string from under his shirt, something that looked like a makeshift necklace.

"Does this ring a bell ? You met my mom on a winter island, if that helps."

The second Law saw the black feather, he was instantly sent back to a cold night on Minion island, where he and Cora-san would have died without the intervention of a mysterious Lunarian woman. His body froze in shock for half a second, his eyes wide, and when he finally managed to look back up at Sabo, it was to see him wear a confident expression.

"Adoption ?" the doctor asked without thinking, the lack of wings being the first thing he registered.

"Yep."

"I see. Iva-ya, Dragon-ya, get out, I have a patient to give a check-up to," Law said instantly.

Dragon seemed to understand quickly, and took Iva out of the stockroom and infirmary. However, before Law could start the check-up, Cora-san burst inside the room as well.

"Law, I heard you made a frie- ah !"

"Room," the doctor said almost without thinking. "Shambles."

Once he sent his guardian to another bed rather than let him fall on his face again, he turned his attention back to his patient.

"You've got to be Rosinante," Sabo said. "My mom says hi ! She hopes you're both doing well."

"Uh. Your mom ?" Cora-san asked confusedly.

"The woman who rescued us on Minion island adopted him, apparently," Law explained plainly.

Cora-san gasped and his eyes fell on the teenager.

"She's alright ? Still alive and well ?"

"Alive, alright, healthy, happy, the whole shebang," Sabo confirmed, then turned to the doctor again. "Oh and she said you should start in North Blue, and stay on the lookout for polar bears and penguins for your crew."

"How did she- nevermind," Law sighed loudly and pinched his nose.

He still had no idea how she had known all that stuff about him and Cora-san years ago, so asking how she knew he was thinking about becoming a pirate was a pointless question at this point. And despite how much of a little shit her son seemed to be, there was something in his expression that told Law he was far from stupid.

Maybe this strange and almost absurd advice was what Law needed to make his decision. Besides, if he went out in the world and made a name for himself as a pirate Captain, there was a chance he could meet her again, perhaps even ask for her help against Doflamingo, or at the very least thank her properly for saving his and Cora-san's lives back then.

"Law ? What's this about ?" Cora-san asked him.

"Oh, I forgot to tell you my stepdad's doc gave me this to give you before I left," the teenager said and pulled a file from his top hat to put it on the nearest desk. "My medical file, plus check-up done last month, so there's no need for me to stay any longer. Bye !"

In the next second, Sabo was out of the infirmary, carrying a pipe that Law had somehow missed all that time, and leaving them alone. Law's impression that this one was only acting mischievous to hide a ruthlessly sharp mind was suddenly reinforced. At least it checked out with being the son, even adopted, of the Lunarian woman who had saved them.

"I'm going to become a pirate, Cora-san."

-o-oOo-o-

Sabo pov

A few months after his arrival in the Revolutionaries, Sabo could confidently say he was having a blast. He was still furious at the World Government in general and the Celestial Dragons in particular, but the whole environment of the Revolutionary Army felt right. He missed his mother and brothers and sister and grandfather and stepdad too, of course, but he felt in his guts that this was the right place for him.

There were so many other people who had lost everything or with tragic backstories, yet still determined to change the world anyway. Sabo had quickly gotten along with everyone and even found a rival-friend-partner and wow really pretty girl in Koala. Their first mission together had been a raging success, even if Sabo had left the meeting room with nothing more than got it, be back soon about two minutes after Dragon had started explaining.

It was not his fault most people were predictable and he kept himself informed of what was going on in the world. Those two things combined meant he could often anticipate what their next move would be, which made him rise through the ranks very quickly once Hack had confirmed there was not much he could teach him, aside from maybe some specific Fishman Karate moves to include in his fighting style.

"Sabo-boy !"

But mostly, what made Sabo have the most fun was watching Iva lose their mind about how exactly he could do everything he could and why Dragon was so inclined to trust him. Especially since Dragon was not saying anything on the matter, like the mysterious grumpy man he was.

If Sabo had not been warned by his mother of the stark difference between Gramps or even Luffy's boisterous personnality, and Dragon's own quiet and calculating temper, the teenager would never have believed those three were from the same family. At the very least, it had skipped a generation somehow, and Sabo had several theories about it since his mom was also on the calmer and more calculating side.

But in the meantime, it meant Sabo knew how to work with Dragon's personality. And while the leader of the Revolutionary Army had told him early on that he trusted his estranged adoptive sister to only send competent and trustworthy people to him given her own history with the World Government, Sabo was proud of the fact that Dragon had been even more uncompromising than normal when it came to his rise in the ranks.

The message had clearly been that he would only be handed more responsibilities if he proved he could handle them, and the blond teenager had risen to the challenge with everything he had and everything his mom had taught him. Which was, in all objectivity, a hell of a lot. Hence his well-earned and definitely deserved chair in a meeting reserved to elite officers of the RA that day.

"Hey Iva !" Sabo smiled brightly as the purple-haired okama joined the meeting room. "Dragon was about to ask who wants to go to Sabaody to spy on slave traders and their secret routes since there's a massive auction planned in two weeks and all the main players of the underworld will be participating in it."

There were a few groans in the room and Dragon closed his eyes before sighing a little louder than usual, but Koala was hiding a chuckle and Lindbergh was openly laughing.

"EHHH !?" Iva shrieked in shock. "Dragon, you told him ab-"

"No, he guessed on his own. Again."

Sabo grinned wider and raised his hand.

"I volunteer for the job, anyway."

"I'll go with you !" Koala instantly declared.

"Uh, maybe not this time," Sabo coughed awkwardly.

"And why is that ?" Kuma asked him in his usual calm voice.

There was a second of silence in the room during which everyone stared at him expectantly, and the seventeen year old thought about his options for a quick moment before groaning and opting for the truth.

"My brother should reach Sabaody soon, I wanted to use the opportunity to see him," he grumbled.

"Brother !?"

"You have a sibling !?"

"Wait what !?"

"Will your mother be there too ?"

Dragon's question stopped everyone in the meeting room, and they all started to stare at their leader in shock. Sabo only shook his head like it was perfectly normal, if only to spread more incomprehension.

"No, she's got her hands full at home with my sister's birthday coming up. Pretty sure my stepdad and grandfathers will be home too for a while," the teenager nodded pensively, aware that Dragon knew exactly he was talking about Shanks, Garp, and Rayleigh.

And possibly Shakky too since the former Kuja Empress had taken one look at Kida before declaring that little wonder would never have to pay for her drinks – soft or hard – in her bar. Sabo was also pretty sure the info broker had made a massive amount of calls afterwards to ensure his little sister would be as safe and protected as possible.

He would not even be surprised if the current leader of the Kuja Tribe had been informed of the existence of two very special princesses who would have to be welcomed with open arms should they ever set foot on Amazon Lily.

"Duly noted," Dragon replied with a stern nod. "I'll send a card. Concerning Sabaody, you can go, but be discreet when you meet your brother. Kuma, you will go there too, as a Warlord your presence will not raise as much suspicion."

"Understood," Kuma and Sabo replied together.

"Wait, no, what is- Dragon ! Explain !" Iva shrieked in shock. "You know Sabo-boy's family !?"

The leader of the Revolutionary Army stayed quiet, but Sabo could not help the shit-eating grin spreading on his face at the perfect build-up for some more chaos.

"Oh, he never told you ? Dragon's my uncle !"

Chapter Text

Whitebeard pov

Newgate had not planned to intervene in person when Jinbei had announced he would handle the supernova gunning for him. But when he received a second call four days later from the Sun Pirates stating Jinbei was struggling and the fight was still ongoing, he sailed the Moby to see what impressive rookie could bring such trouble to a Warlord.

He arrived a few days later, in time to see Jinbei fall on the ground, clearly unconscious rather than dead, which was already a good point for the Captain of the Spade Pirates.

"Stay here sons, I'll handle this myself."

Whitebeard jumped from the Moby Dick to face the super rookie who wanted so badly to challenge him. There was a spark in this one, something fierce and powerful, a will to conquer rather than destroy that Newgate instantly liked. Still, another test would not go amiss.

"Let's see how you handle your crew's defeat, brat," he said and raised his naginata.

But as soon as he launched the beginning of his attack in the direction of the much weaker pirates staying around their Captain, his blade was stopped by one hell of an Armament Haki. The boy had brought both forearms in front of him to block his attack before it could unfold.

Whitebeard's eyebrows shot up in surprise. Attempting to stop a direct attack from the Strongest Man In The World was either very stupid, very brave, very desperate, or all three at once. That brat was lucky Newgate had not put his full strength behind that one, but even then, his mastery of Haki at such a young age and so soon after entering the New World was impressive.

"Everyone, run !" the brat yelled.

The next second, a wall of fire separated the two of them from the rest of the brat's crew, and the kid jumped a bit further with his jaw clenched and a determined look.

"Running away now ?"

"No, I'm letting my crew escape. I'll buy them time," he replied and threw fireballs at him.

The old Emperor grinned at the exact attitude he had hoped to see and discarded the attack easily. In the background, he even heard the desperate shouts of the Spade Pirates for their Captain.

Oh, I'm going to keep you.

"Then show me what you got, brat !"

The fight was still short, but definitely longer than Whitebeard had expected, and some of the kid's attacks had been surprisingly good for a youngster. Newgate was almost curious to know who had trained the boy, because while it was obvious he was still learning to use his Devil Fruit, his fighting skills were both outstanding and the clear result of hard work and excellent training.

But the brat had finally fallen on the ground, looking one breath away from passing out, and the old Emperor stepped forward while ignoring the rest of the youngster's crew who were struck speechless.

"I can't… lose…"

To Newgate's surprise, the boy still seemed to have enough strength in him to try and stand up, though it was limited to crouching and he could clearly not do more than that no matter how stubborn he was.

"I'd hate to see you die here, kid. So if you still want to fight, then take my name and roam the seas wild and free," Whitebeard offered as he bended and extended his hand. "Become my son !"

The brat blinked, stared at his hand in clear exhaustion, blinked again.

"Uh, so you'd be my fifth parent ?"

He passed out right after that, leaving Newgate feeling confused for a moment. Then a smile stretched his face and he stood back up.

"Guarararara ! Oi Marco, get that one aboard, he's joining the family !"

"Aye Pops," his first son replied as he took flight, "do y-"

"NO !!"

Whitebeard turned toward the rest of the Spade Pirates, who looked all insanely pale and worried as they ran to their Captain.

"You're welcome to join too, boys, gurararara, I won't take you away from your Captain."

"No you don't get it," a man with a mask on his face said in a shaking voice. "You- you really, really, really don't want Ace's family coming after you because you kidnapped him !"

"Ha !" Thatch laughed as more of his sons joined them on the ground. "You think his family can pose a threat to Pops ?"

There was a moment of awkward silence on the battlefield while Marco was using his flames to heal the worst of the brat's injuries, and said brat's crew looked between them like they knew the answer but no one wanted to say it.

"Please don't kill me for saying this but yes," a man wearing a skull like a mask replied. "His mom and stepdad are people not even you want to fight, I think. Not if they're really mad."

"Who are his parents ?" Izou asked with narrowed eyes.

Whitebeard silently agreed with his son's question, since it took some major guts to tell him there were people out there who could challenge him and match his power. Only a handful of people could back up such a claim, and none of them looked like that kid. There was a collective groan among the super rookie crew at the question, however, and another pirate gestured to the one with the mask.

"Deuce, you're first mate, that's your job."

"But we can't tell Captain's secrets !" another one shouted.

"Yeah I don't wanna die because his stepdad got mad we blabbed about his mom or his dad."

"What's so hard about it ? We just asked who his parents are yoi."

The one with a mask, Deuce, apparently, stepped forward and took what looked like a very deep breath.

"Ace's biological dad is someone very powerful but dead and his biological mother was apparently very stubborn but she's dead too, his adoptive mom is a very powerful woman who most people believe is dead and who was also kind of adopted by his biological dad and apparently that's how she met Ace's stepdad who is a very powerful man, but she's also the adopted daughter of the biological grandfather of Ace's youngest adopted brother who also is a powerful man, and his second brother is now following in the footsteps of his adoptive mom's adoptive brother who thus is the biological father of the youngest brother I mentioned and also is a powerful man."

What in all the seas is that clusterfuck.

Whitebeard blinked, certain he had been lost somewhere around the beginning.

"I call bullshit," Jozu deadpanned. "No one's family can be that complicated."

"We had to make a board and it still took us three days to get it," Deuce sighed.

"Oh and he also has a baby sister and she's the cutest little girl to ever exist !" the one with the skull added, which had the rest of the crew nodding in solemn agreement.

"Give us names and we'll figure it out yoi," Marco stated.

"No can do, we're not spilling Captain's secrets like that," another one replied firmly. "He'll tell you if he wants, but we'll never betray his trust."

"Loyalty is valued in piracy," Newgate nodded approvingly. "Well, it's settled, you're all joining the family. Come aboard boys, we're leaving."

"This is a terrible idea," the masked one muttered. "Come on guys, we're not leaving Captain alone."

-o-oOo-o-

Marco pov

Two days after getting the new addition to their family, Portgas had woken up and immediately tried to escape, then planted himself in front of Pops and demanded to be set free on threat of calling his mom, then somehow managed to sneak into the kitchen and eat a massive amount of food before they could get him out.

Marco could already tell this one was going to be a handful.

The rest of his crew was still trying to warn everyone about their Captain's supposedly dangerous family, or explain said family's dynamics which simply did not make any sense no matter how many times the phoenix heard it.

Then on the third day, the pranks started.

It turned out Ace was not just a handful, he was a menace.

Their new unwilling brother seemed to have a knack for guessing exactly where the line was, and he was being careful not to cross it. And no, Marco had not laughed with everyone else when Pops had stepped out one morning with his mustache dyed a bright pink. Not a second.

Though he had wondered how in all four Blues Ace had managed to do it without getting caught.

The only ones who were delighted by this turn of event were Thatch and Haruta, who had immediately started to retaliate and launched a prank war with their new brother. Though according to the glitter in Thatch's pompadour when he walked out on deck one cloudy afternoon, and how Haruta was still scratching random places on his clothes, Marco's guess was that they were losing.

"I swear he made a pact with a demon or something," Thatch grumbled. "There's no way he can be that good at pranks !"

"Not even the crazy family he pretends to have can give this kind of experience," Haruta groaned, then reached for his sleeve. "Fuck, where did he even find itchy powder !?"

Marco smirked, but kept looking at his clipboard. He had already gone through Pops' latest test results with him, but now he was trying to see if there was any impact or new symptoms appearing on top of it. So far, it did not appear to be the case, but the doctor knew the ungodly pain tolerance his father had, so no visible pain was a far cry from no pain being felt.

At least he had convinced Pops to use his check-up to take a nap in the infirmary so he could get some rest without having to appear strong on deck.

"Someone's falling from the sky !" Kingdew shouted out of the blue.

Marco raised his head and threw his clipboard to the side, but before he could do more than turn his arms into wings, the silhouette he had only gotten a glimpse of grabbed the extremity of a mast to slow their fall. They made two turns around it and then landed on deck, in the middle of their crew.

The phoenix barely got the time to notice the red top and black slacks with the long light blond hair and tanned skin before his instincts bristled in a clear warning.

The woman who had boarded their ship was dangerous.

"Where is my son," she growled.

There was a second of silence, where absolutely everyone on board clearly thought back on Ace's threats of calling his mother and his crew's certainty that she was someone not to piss off.

"Oi, you can't barge in on an Emperor's ship like that !" Haruta exclaimed and drew his weapon.

He threw himself toward the woman before Marco could intervene.

And then, faster than anyone could see, there were three sharp sounds, Haruta made a garbling noise, and he was thrown against the railing before falling on the floor, breathing but obviously unable to get back up.

"Where. Is. My son !?" the woman shouted, the fury in her voice intensifying.

"How dare you hurt my brother !?"

The next second, half the crew was running at her with yells, and the phoenix clenched his teeth before transforming his feet as well to join them. Whatever her reasons were and whoever she was, that woman had hurt Haruta and Marco would never stand by when someone hurt his family.

But the sheer number of people made it impossible to launch one of his attacks without risking to injure his brothers, so the phoenix took to the air and waited for an opening. People were rarely used to attacks coming from the sky, after all.

To Marco's increasing worry, however, his brothers kept falling around the woman without even appearing to land a blow on her. She was fighting like she did not even need weapons against their crew.

Vista and Thatch were sent crashing against the railing as well in less than a minute, showing not even Commanders could stop her, and Marco started to worry for real. But suddenly, he saw an opening to strike her back and rushed for it, ready to knock her out at the very least.

Instead, she swirled around at the last second and grabbed the junction between his wing and shoulder to slam him face first on the floor. Without the power of his mythical Zoan, his shoulder would have been dislocated in the movement. By the time Marco jumped back up, there was no one standing around her and she did not even look out of breath.

Her eyes, however, were still burning with anger.

Marco transformed entirely in his phoenix form, but before he could try again, the unmistakable voice of his father boomed in the air.

"WHAT IS THIS !?"

"Pops," Izou said while holding his flank. "That woman-"

"For the last time," she seethed. "Where is my son !?"

"Marco, step aside !"

The phoenix instantly flew to the railing to start healing his brothers without losing sight of Pops and the woman facing off, both of them radiating the same furious energy as they ran to each other. Their fight was like watching two titans clashing in a storm, and a terrifying realisation dawned on Marco when she jumped and landed directly on Pops' naginata, then sent a kick powerful enough that Whitebeard slid back the tiniest bit when he blocked it.

"She… she can match Pops," Izou whispered in fear.

"They were right," Vista mumbled.

Then in the chaos of the fight, Ace burst outside.

"MOM !"

The woman's head snapped to him instantly and in a blink, she abandoned the fight to rush toward their new brother.

"ACE !"

She engulfed him in a hug and in the span of a second, it was like all the tension and fury emanating from her had purely and simply vanished to be replaced by sheer relief.

"You're okay," she breathed, then took Ace's face in her hands to look at him. "I was so scared when it snapped, I thought I might have lost you for good. You're fine ? No injury ?"

"I'm good mom, sorry I worried you," the young man said with a smile.

"It's alright, my little angel. The important thing is that you're safe," she said gently before hugging him again.

Marco had to do a double take at the scene unfolding under his eyes. Ace had been snappish and borderline feral since he had been brought aboard, and now he was acting like a perfectly well-behaved young man.

"Seas help us, he's a mama's boy," Marco mumbled, then he stood up. "Oi, why did you attack us yoi ?"

"Because she's a parent who would burn the world down for her child," Pops intervened with a snort before going to sit on his chair. "I respect that."

"So do I," the woman nodded. "That's why I kept to non-lethal attacks on your sons."

"Much appreciated," Pops grinned. "A good lesson in humility every now and then can only be a good thing. Boys, everyone but commanders off deck, get everyone who needs it to the medbay."

Marco had a hard time figuring out what exactly had happened between Whitebeard and the woman in the last few seconds, but it was extremely clear they had somehow found an understanding. And since everyone was only knocked out or indeed not sporting dangerous injuries, Tate would be able to handle it on her own.

"So tell me," the woman asked with narrowed eyes as she walked in front of Pops' chair with a smug-looking Ace following her, "why did you attack my son ?"

"He's the one who attacked Pops yoi," Marco replied with a frown as he flew near his Emperor.

Surprisingly, the woman's eyes widened, then she turned toward her son with a suspicious look that Marco had seen more times than he could count on Pops.

"Ace, is that true ?"

Ace paled, then looked down at his hands and started to mumble incoherently. By the time he finally muttered a yes that was barely audible, only division commanders were on deck.

"And why, exactly, did you attack Whitebeard's crew ?" she pushed in a calm voice.

"Because… I mean… Moooooom please !" Ace whined and tried to give her puppy eyes. "Can we just go ?"

By then, every commander had joined the half circle around Pops' chair and was staring incredulously at the scene unfolding in front of them.

"Is that really the same guy who's been cursing and fighting everyone to hell and back since he arrived ?" Kingdew asked under his breath.

"No idea but Seas, his mom is hot," Thatch whispered, his eyes glued to the woman. "Do you think-"

"Look at her left hand yoi," Marco cut him off, and shook his head when his brother groaned at the sight of the wedding ring she was wearing.

Ace was still floundering and trying to avoid answering, but the woman sighed and put a hand on his shoulder.

"Ace. Why did you attack Whitebeard's crew ? Is it because of your dad ?"

"What ? No !" the freckled young man replied instantly. "It's to become an Emperor so you and Kida will sail with me instead of the asshole when Luffy leaves !"

Marco blinked, but mentally decided that Luffy and Kida had to be some of Ace's siblings, which did not clarify much but at least gave him some names.

"Oh for Moon's sake," the woman sighed and pinched her nose. "I won't join your stepdad's crew because he's powerful, I will join him because we're married, I love him, and he's your sister's father and deserves to see her grow !"

"But- but- but Mom !" Ace protested. "I would've become an Emperor younger than he did !"

Marco froze, along with the rest of the crew and even Pops. If he understood that correctly, it meant this woman was Akagami's wife, that he had spent the past years gushing about at every occasion. Which would make the red-haired Emperor Ace's stepdad.

Great fucking seas, no wonder his crew was sure we didn't want his family after us.

"So you're the brat's wife, eh ?" Pops intervened with a grin. "Gurararara ! I get why he can't shut up about you !"

"Thank you," she said with an elegant nod. "Now, about this little troublemaker of mine-"

"Hey !"

"- I assume you're trying to adopt him ?"

"Yeah, I think he'll do great here. And he lost fair and square."

Marco watched as the woman – whose name they still did not have – put a hand on her chin with a pensive expression, as if she was deep in thoughts for a moment.

"Very well," she nodded. "I can agree on joint custody."

"WHAT !?" Ace burst out, with even flames going out of him in shock. "But mom !"

"Remember what I taught you, my little angel. Actions have consequences. You attacked an Emperor and lost, which means you have to face the consequences," she stated calmly. "You know I would not stand for it if I thought it was dangerous for you, but really, you're just getting into a bigger family. Becoming his son will not change the fact that you will always be my little angel."

Marco watched as Ace grumbled but did not protest further, and really, whatever power that woman held on him, the phoenix would very much like to know the trick behind it. Getting that one to behave with nothing more than a look and a few words was an ability Marco would gladly pay for.

"Gurararara, so it's settled !"

"So it would seem. In case you haven't noticed already, Ace has a black hole for a stomach and is narcoleptic," she added seriously with a pointed look toward Marco, who nodded.

"We can handle that yoi."

"Better than you can fly, I hope," she deadpanned.

Marco's eyes widened at the reply, so much so that he barely noticed how many of his brothers had snickered or coughed to hide a laugh.

"Excuse me yoi ?"

"That attack you did earlier was sloppy and predictable. Especially for someone who's been flying as long as you have. I get that you have no proper training, but I still expected better from a pirate of your calibre and reputation," she stated blankly.

His inner phoenix bristled at the insult, and his eyes narrowed.

"I don't think you have any room to talk when you're not a flyer yourself yoi."

"HA ! Mom's a better flyer than you could ever hope to be !" Ace exclaimed smugly.

There was a moment of silence where Marco's interest was piqued at the idea of finding a fellow bird Zoan user, then the woman pinched her nose again and Ace suddenly paled.

"Oh shit no- mom I'm sorry- I didn't mean- forget I said that everyone !"

She raised her hand sharply, and when her head raised again, her gaze was on Pops and charged with a solemn intensity that had Marco straightening his spine in reflex.

"I am willing to trust you with this secret," she stated solemnly. "But no one outside of the people present here and now must hear about it until I come out publicly on my own, understood ?"

"You're asking a lot, young lady."

"With good reasons, I assure you. Do I have your word ?"

Marco watched his father think about it for a moment, then nodded.

"You do as long as it won't cause harm to my family."

"Well then, allow me to introduce myself. I am Y/N, last crown princess of Lunaria, and it's a pleasure to make your acquaintance."

Before Marco could do more than gape at the claim that she was a Lunarian, what looked like a black cloud of feathers flew down from the masts and sails to form wings on the woman's back, whose posture had changed to something that screamed royalty.

"Great fucking seas what !?" Thatch and Haruta – and possibly a few others – yelled at once.

"GURARARARARA ! That explains so much !" Pops laughed loudly and even slapped his hand on his knee.

"Indeed. Now Marco, let's see what you're worth in the air. If my eldest is staying in this crew, I need to know what you can do."

And with a powerful flap of her wings, she had left the deck to go fly high above the masts.

"You heard the princess, son," Pops grinned. "Believe me, you'll never get a better opportunity to learn new tricks in the air."

One hour later, Marco's confidence in his previous flying skills had been anihilated, and he had learned an insane amount of new techniques that he had never heard of. Which made sense, since the Winged Kingdom had been home to a flying species and the princess giving him a rushed lesson had clearly been an expert even among her own kind.

But still, his ego was severely bruised by the time she declared they could stop.

"Before we go back to the Moby, there's one more thing I need to tell you," she stated.

"What yoi ?"

Marco watched Ace's mother cross her arms on her red top, looking a different kind of serious that she had been during the lesson.

"It wasn't a common trait about Lunarians, but I sometimes have hunches about the future," she declared in a careful voice with her wings flapping slowly behind her.

"There's someone like that in Fishman Island too yoi," Marco replied pensively, Shyarly coming to his mind at once, and the princess continued.

"Well, you should know I have had a hunch about your crew. But I don't recommend talking about it to anyone but Whitebeard himself, just in case. Not even my son can know about it."

The phoenix nodded seriously, ready to listen to her prediction. It was a bit early for him to trust the Lunarian princess, but he had no doubts she cared deeply for Ace and since he had agreed to join the crew with her blessing, it was likely that she would try to protect him and them by extension.

"The man with a pompadour will bring back a Devil Fruit one day, and something terrible will happen to him almost immediately after. I don't know when or how exactly, but if he ever comes back to your ship with a Devil Fruit… be careful and keep an eye on him," she said with a hint of genuine worry in her eyes.

Marco felt his blood run cold at the threat to Thatch's safety she was predicting. If her gift was as true as Shyarly's was rumoured to be, then he could not discard the risk. At least she was describing a very specific event the phoenix would be able to identify easily.

"Got it yoi. Thank you."

"Take care of my son and we'll be even."

When she left again, several hours later, it was after a long hug and discussion with Ace, and an even longer discussion with Pops where both of them had exchanged embarrassing stories about their adoptive children, much to everyone's horror. After that, she took flight with a promise that when she would officially reveal her existence to the world, she would join Shanks for the next Emperors' meetings so they could meet Ace's baby sister.

Chapter Text

Buggy pov

So the town he controlled was a shithole, fine.

But it was still Buggy's shithole, he had complete control over it, he could have fun with the rest of his crew and make every day a circus, and so his life was perfectly fine, thank you very much.

Or at least it had been until that rubber boy came crashing down to insult him and break everything around.

To annoy Buggy further, the stupid kid even had a straw hat that looked exactly like the one Shanks used to wear all the time. And he already had Haki, who in the East Blue already mastered Armament and Observation Haki to this level at his age !?

And that rubber boy even had the gall to be smart in a stupid way.

"Nami, the chests !" the kid shouted.

Two minutes later, Buggy was reduced to almost nothing except his head and feet, and he glared at the grinning boy who was staying behind after the oranged-haired girl left the tent.

"Shishishishi, we win ! You're funny !"

"Shut up, I'm the Great Captain Buggy !" the clown yelled proudly anyway. "How dare you-"

"Oh, like my uncle !"

What.

"What !? What are you talking about ? I'm the one and only Captain Buggy ! The flashiest pirate in the world who-"

"But mom and Shanks said the Pirate King's other child was called Buggy ?" the teenager interrupted him with a confused frown.

Meanwhile Buggy's brain froze. That kid knew Shanks ? And that they were Roger's children ? And if he had mentioned a mom, then it might mean Y/N had adopted him at some point after leaving the Oro Jackson. But then if that boy knew both Shanks and Y/N, then it could imply that the two had met again already.

Buggy's head was spinning with too many thoughts to organise them all properly in seconds, and it seemed that was enough to make the kid bored, because he straightened back to grin brightly and cross his arms behind his head.

"Well, I'm off ! I'm gonna be King of the Pirates !"

"OI ! Wait !" Buggy yelled.

"Nah, I'm leaving for more adventures and find the rest of my crew !"

"Come back here and let me out ! I have questions !"

"Can't hear you, you're too small shishishishi ! Bye big red nose !"

It took two more hours before Buggy's crew finally freed the rest of his body from the chest, and as soon as he was whole again, the clown yelled at his crew to get to the ship and follow the Straw Hat boy. Once it was no longer all hands on deck, Buggy rushed to his cabin and grabbed both a den-den mushi and the black feather hidden in his hair, carefully protected by his tricorn.

The clown kind of hated he still remembered Shanks' number, but he dialed it anyway. If that asshole had somehow decided to see Y/N again and met her kid and did not even call Buggy, he was going to raise hell on the stupid red-head, Emperor or not.

Purupurupuru.

Purupurupuru.

Gatcha.

"Beckman," someone replied.

"Oi, get me the asshole !" Buggy shrieked. "He has an explanation to give me !"

"Who are you ?"

"I'm the Great Pirate Captain Buggy ! Now get me the dumbass you call Captain, we need to talk !"

There was a long sigh on the other end, then the snail was muffled for a moment, and finally a very annoying voice spoke with that same stupid cheerful tone Buggy remembered.

"Bugs ! Been a while, how're you ?"

"How I am !? I just met a kid wearing your straw hat who said he kne-"

"No way, you met Luffy ? Hey lads, my boy's already kicking ass ! Love, you heard that ?"

"Don't ignore me !" Buggy shrieked, then the last part registered. "And who are you calling love !?"

"Huh ? Oh right, you didn't come to the wedding," Shanks said as if he was not breaking the clown's mind further. "I was talking to my wonderful wife. You know, the special lady who asked me out on a date back then ?"

Buggy's brain crashed.

There was no way.

No fucking way in all the seas and skies and stars and everything, that Shanks had actually married the Lunarian princess Buggy thought of as a sister.

"Bugs ? You still there ?"

"Shut up ! There's no way you married Y/N ! She would have invited me !"

"Hey, we tried to invite you to Elbaf for the ceremony and you didn't want to come, not our fault," the asshole snickered. "Ray and Gabban were there too, it was great. Anyway, you saw my kid, how's he ? He's already found crewmates ?"

"YOU MOTHERFUCKER ! THAT'S WHY YOU WANTED ME TO GO TO ELBAF !?" Buggy shrieked.

"Yeah, we made it a surprise for everyone and- what's up babe ? Sure, no problem. Come here princess, mom's going to talk to a funny man, and that means you get awesome time with dad !" Shanks cooed at someone else.

The clown Captain even overheard the sound of what could be a very young child laughing, and the information barely managed to process through his mind before another person picked the snail.

"Buggy ? It's Y/N," a feminine voice said.

Your voice changed a bit since you left.

That was the first thought flashing through his mind when he heard the words.

"Y/N ? It's- it's really you ?" Buggy said with a perfectly clear voice and no sobbing or sniffling of any sort, not at all.

"Yes, it's been a while. I heard you met my youngest son ?" she asked.

"I, uh, maybe ? But- wait, you have sons ? And you and Shanks- what happened- what's going on !?"

There was the exact same laugh the clown remembered from the days on the Oro Jackson, and that more than anything confirmed it was really his sister on the other end. Buggy could forget a lot of things about people, but he never forgot a laugh.

"Long story short, I adopted three boys years ago, then Shanks and I met again, we got married, had a biological daughter, and after all my sons went out in the world, I joined the Red-Haired Pirates so we could raise our baby girl together," Y/N explained briefly.

"Oh that makes more sense, thank you very- wait I have a niece !?" Buggy realised mid-sentence. "And the kid with the straw hat was my nephew !?"

"Absolutely. Sorry if he went a bit hard on you, but after years training under me and Shanks, well, he has a bit of an advantage compared to most pirate rookies in East Blue," she chuckled.

Great fucking seas, it was no wonder the boy had been so insanely overpowered compared to the usual people in the area.

"HA ! As if a teenager could easily defeat the Great Captain Buggy ! It was a flashy fight and he only managed to escape because I was too generous to chase him !" the clown still commented.

"I don't doubt it. Well, it was lovely talking to you again, if you ever feel like coming back to the New World, let us know, okay ?" his sister told him in that kind voice of hers. "You might stumble upon my other boys there, and I'm sure Kida would love to meet her flashy uncle Buggy."

"Well, if it's to meet my niece and see you again, I suppose I can consider making the journey," Buggy humpfed proudly. "Who are your other kids ?"

"I'd rather not say names on the snail, just in case, but I gave each of them the same thing I gave you. It's not much, but it'll help you identify them."

"Makes sense, of course, we are way too important persons to risk spies listening to our conversation," the Captain nodded in confirmation. "Well, I suppose we'll see each other soon."

"You know how to find me," she chuckled. "Bye Buggy."

"Bye princess !"

Gatcha.

Buggy smiled happily at the den-den mushi for a moment, and made his way back on deck in much higher spirits. Then the full reality of what he had learned during that call suddenly dawned on him, and his smile fell.

"Uh, Captain ?" Cabaji asked. "Are you alright ?"

"If I'm alright !?" Buggy shrieked as tears started to roll on his face and ruin his make-up. "That asshole married my sister ! And I missed the wedding ! And- and the family reunion ! And I have a niece out there ! And- and- and-"

The clown dissolved into loud sobs and shouted cries on deck at the complete injustice that was his life. And once again, it was all Shanks' fault.

-o-oOo-o-

Nami pov

While it had taken her a while to admit it, and she still wanted to punch her Captain three times a day at the very least, following Luffy and joining his crew was the best decision Nami had made in her life. Even if Zoro was kind of a jerk, Usopp even more of a coward than she could be, and Sanji was stopping just before the line of being a pervert.

But still, their ragtag group somehow seemed to make it work and come on top every time, and for the first time in her life, Nami felt free to pursue her dream of mapping the world instead of being shackled inside.

It was another day of sailing on the Going Merry, the sky was clear, and from what Nami could tell of the weather, they were not going to meet any problem for the next hours at the very least.

"Look ! There's something on the waves !" Usopp yelled suddenly from his post on the railing. "It looks like a basket, maybe there's something in it ?"

"Like meat ?" Luffy asked excitedly.

"Sake perhaps," Zoro hummed.

"Or treasure," Nami completed with interest.

"Let's get it !" Luffy laughed. "Gomu gomu no… hook !"

It was still weird to see her Captain extend his members like rubber, but there was no denying how useful his abilities were, and the next second, the basket was brought on deck.

"Nami-swan, here, take a- wait what's this ?" Sanji said as he joined them.

But then, there was the high-pitch cry typical of a baby, and Nami froze in shock. The basket lost on the waves was a sort of craddle containing a child. Either someone had tried to kill them, or a terrible accident had happened and that child's family had to be literally or figuratively distraught.

She made a move to grab the poor thing, but to her terror, Luffy beat her to it.

"Hey look, a baby !" her dumbass Captain exclaimed.

"Luffy, you can't hold- uh," Nami stopped herself when she noticed the perfectly safe hold the teenager had on the infant and how he started to gently rock them.

The baby went back to sleep in seconds, and the navigator had a hard time believing it. No amount of fighting skills or beginner's luck could prepare someone for taking care of a child, yet Luffy acted like it was the most natural thing in the world for him.

"Hey look, there's something written on the basket," Usopp noticed. "It says Aluganda. You think that's the baby's name ?"

"No, it's an island," Nami answered automatically. "Maybe three or four days away from here."

"Then let's bring her back home !" Luffy smiled his stupid sunshine smile.

"How do you know it's a girl ?" Zoro asked bluntly.

"Ehhh ? Aren't all babies girls ?"

Nami facepalmed, then got closer and looked as carefully as she could on the baby's clothes, her fingers barely brushing the black hair falling on their neck, until she found what she was looking for.

"Aiko. It's probably a girl," the navigator said.

"See ? I was right, shishishishi !" Luffy laughed. "Sanji, you can make baby food, right ? But it has to be liquid stuff cause babies can't eat meat, you know !"

"Yes, Luffy, I know," Sanji replied while lighting a cigarette. "But I don't think you should be the one to take care of such a precious little girl."

"Ehhhh ? Of course I'm going to take care of her ! I know how a baby works ! It's just a tiny person !"

Nami took a deep breath, but with how stubborn Luffy was being, she knew her best option was to wait and jump at the first mistake he would make and would put this poor baby girl's life in danger. It would likely not even take five minutes.

Two days later, Nami could still not believe her eyes. Somehow, unexplicably, Luffy was excelling at taking care of the baby they had found, even knowing stuff the navigator herself would not have thought about. Be it burping or makeshift diapers or feeding or putting her to sleep, it was like her Captain actually knew how to take care of an infant.

They found the child's family very easily once in Aluganda, since it turned out Aiko was the daughter of the local mayor and her husband, who both burst into tears at the sight of their daughter and thanked them endlessly. Apparently there had been an accident during a journey at sea, and the couple had thought their baby lost forever.

On the plus side, their crew was welcomed in town with open arms despite their pirate flag. Nami even managed to get them free food and bedding and resupplying out of the whole event, which was always great in her books.

But as soon as they sailed away the next day, Nami cornered her Captain on deck.

"Fess up, Luffy, how did you know what to do ?" the navigator asked him with a glare.

"Ehh ? About what ?"

"That baby !" Usopp insisted. "It's like you've taken care of babies your whole life !"

"Shishishishi, just my little sister ! She's a lot younger than me, and my mom taught me how to do all the baby stuff before I left !"

"SISTER !?" Nami screeched.

"MOM !?" Usopp yelled right after.

"There's more like you ?" Sanji added worryingly.

Meanwhile Zoro just nodded approvingly, like he was pleased but not surprised. As if it just made sense to him that Luffy knew how to do random stuff, which, given how much of a dumbass the swordsman himself was, made an awful lot of sense.

"Well yeah, there's me, and mom, and my brothers, and my sister, and Gramps, and my stepdad, and my dad but I've never met him and mom says that he's not really a dad and since she adopted me I don't really have to think of him as a parent," Luffy spouted in one breath with his little finger stuck in his ear.

Oh seas even his family is a clusterfuck.

-o-oOo-o-

Zoro pov

Two days later, Zoro was still not sure what all the fuss about Luffy's family was. So their Captain had a big complicated family who taught him a lot of useful skills, there was no need to talk about it. It only meant Luffy was related to a lot of competent people who would not be enemies if the crew met them at some point.

Ergo, there was no need to make a big deal out of it.

Thankfully, the three idiots seemed to let it go after a while and they went back to sailing like usual. Until one day they received the newspapers and Usopp tried to grab it before Zoro.

"Wait let me have it ! There should be Disney's interview of this year !"

"Oh, you're a Disney fan too ?" Nami asked at the helm.

"Of course ! Kaya had all the books, they're amazing !"

"Zeff got me some too," the stupid cook said as he joined them. "Didn't read them all, but that author sure knows how to write romance. Cinderella is their best book, if you ask me."

Zoro humpfed at the ridiculous choice from his napping spot against the mast. He had read a few of those tales too and there was absolutely no doubt which story was above the others.

"Their best is obviously Mulan," he declared confidently.

"No one asked for your opinion, moss-head !"

"What did you say, stupid cook !?"

Before Zoro could draw one of his swords, Luffy fell on his back after jumping from his perch on the figurehead.

"Hey guys ! What are you talking about ?"

"Our favourite Disney fairytales," Usopp beamed while Zoro pushed his Captain off him. "I think they're all awesome !"

"Oh yeah, mom's stories are the best !"

Zoro blinked. Nami blinked. Even the stupid cook blinked. And Usopp's jaw fell on the floor.

"Waiwaiwait, your… your mom is Disney ?" the coward asked in a voice getting higher with every word.

"Yeah ! She's the best storyteller ever ! When we were kids she used to read us all her books and she even added songs and all !"

"EEEEHHHHHHHH !??"

Then Usopp fainted and Zoro tsked before taking the newspapers to check if the interview was in it, then looked at his Captain, and handed it to him.

"Your mom sounds cool. You deserve to read her interview first."

"Shishishishi, thanks Zoro !"

"WAIT !" Usopp yelled as he jumped back to consciousness and kneeled in front of Luffy before grabbing his shirt. "PLEASE ! Please let me meet her ! I'm her biggest fan ! And- and her books made Kaya smile and I learned so much about how to tell a story thanks to Disney, please please please I have to meet her ! Please let me meet your mom !"

"Nah, she's my mom !" Luffy huffed smugly.

Which, in Zoro's opinion, was fair.

Still in Zoro's opinion, Usopp's constant crying and begging became annoying in about four minutes.

Chapter Text

Mihawk pov

It was a peaceful day on Kuraigana, the weather was stormy, his encounter with Monkey D Luffy had been interesting, and the bottle Mihawk had opened to have a glass of wine as he read another book from the castle's never-ending library was excellent.

So of course, he had to be interrupted by the loud banging at the front door of his castle that was so characteristic of the annoying red-head who also happened to be his rival and best friend.

Not that Mihawk would ever say the latter out loud, less he found himself subjected to a very unpleasant and overwhelming amount of emotions, hugs, and decibels.

So the Warlord finished his glass, put a bookmark at the appropriate page, and resigned himself to host a rambouctious crew for the upcoming days. Even the perpective of asking Shanks about the curiously similar straw hat the boy had been wearing would not be worth the mess.

He reached the top of the stairs just in time to see the Red-Haired Pirates walk inside, with the notable exception of their Captain, which made Mihawk frown ever so slightly. Shanks was always the first to step inside his castle, so to have him absent was unusual.

"He's staying outside for a while," Beckman informed him plainly.

"Why ?"

"His wife and daughter are having fun with the weather," Yasopp snorted.

A pinch of surprise and curiousity took hold of the swordsman at those words. While his best friend had talked at length about the woman he had married, their biological daughter, and his stepsons – three boys his wife had adopted before their marriage and had already left home if he remembered correctly –  Mihawk had yet to meet either of them. Moreso, it had been his understanding Shanks' family was staying hidden for their own safety.

Kuraigana was not the safest place for civilians, and the peculiar affirmation about the weather intrigued the Warlord enough to push him to go outside and see for himself who were the two persons so dear to his friend's heart, and what entertainement they could possibly find in Kuraigana's stormy weather.

When he stepped outside, however, only Shanks was standing in front of his castle with his back turned, and Mihawk joined him in a few steps.

"Hey Mimi !" his best friend said happily without turning away. "How's it going ?"

"Your first mate claimed you came with your wife and daughter this time," the swordsman replied evenly.

"Oh yeah, they're up there, Y/N wanted to show Kida how to handle small storms. Look how great my baby girl is doing already !" the red-head cooed while pointing at the sky.

Mihawk raised his gaze upward, and his eyes widened in shock at the sight. Against the black and purple clouds spiraling in the ever-dark sky of Kuraigana, two winged silhouettes were flying, one significantly smaller than the other. They were too high up to distinguish any clear features, yet the ease and grace with which the bigger one moved was unmistakable.

Most importantly though, the identical pairs of black wings were impossible to miss even at this distance. Bird Zoan Devil Fruits were rare enough as it was, but two different ones that would give such similar wings growing in the back rather than replacing the arms was something Mihawk had never heard of in all his travels.

In fact, the only explanation that could make sense was a mere rumour he had heard a couple times, a legend about a long-lost species that had gone extinct for mysterious reasons centuries ago. But the possibility was so absurdly remote that it might as well be discarded.

"Shanks," Mihawk said sternly, a statement and a question in once.

"Aren't they beautiful ?" his air-headed friend swooned. "I'll never get tired of watching them fly."

Mihawk took a calming breath, and resigned himself to wait for the woman and young girl to come back on the ground to have answers. Thankfully it did not take long, which seemed logical since as far as he remembered, Shanks' daughter was not even four years old yet.

The woman landed gracefully in front of them after a few minutes, her wings resting proudly on her back, and the impressive sight distracted Mihawk enough to make him miss the little girl instantly hiding behind her mother's feathers. The Warlord was temporarily stunned by the impressive but wholly unexpected regal posture of the woman. Her body language and expression were displaying a natural elegance and calm confidence, with just a touch of charm and genuine happiness.

The black slacks and long-sleeved backless red shirt she wore only reinforced her aura, her white hair flowing freely around her face giving her a hint of wilderness to break what could have otherwise given a rather uptight impression.

If not for the wedding ring matching Shanks' own on her finger, Mihawk would have categorically refused to believe such a woman could be the one who had married his best friend. They looked as different as sky and sea could be, and while the swordsman could easily picture Shanks falling head over heels for her, he had a hard time fathoming why she would choose him back.

"Looks like you had fun up there," the red-head grinned and stepped forward to give a brief kiss to the woman.

"We did, this island is a remarkable training place," she replied after kissing him back, then turned to Hawkeyes with a smile and extended her hand. "You must be Dracule Mihawk, I've heard a lot about you. It's a pleasure to finally be introduced to my husband's best friend."

"The pleasure is all mine," Mihawk replied after a brief polite kiss on her knuckles. "Shanks spoke a lot about you as well. If you do not mind my asking, are you perchance a descendant of the people of Lunaria ?"

"Not just a descendant," Shanks replied proudly. "My wonderful Y/N right here is the last crown princess of Lunaria."

The statement meant a lot, and the fact that she did not deny it both explained her poise and implied a rather tragic past for a woman who had gone from royalty to marrying a pirate. But Mihawk was not one to pry, no matter how curious he was about this princess and what her story could be.

"And the little one who is suddenly shy about meeting someone new," Y/N said with a smile as she turned her head and moved her wing, "is our daughter Kida. My little star, come meet the Greatest Swordsman in the World, Dracule Mihawk."

The second Hawkeyes saw the little girl fly into her mother's arms to rest on her hip, the instant he noticed her white hair and vibrant ruby eyes, the moment he watched her fluttering wings and the sheer adorable way she had to look at him and blink curiously, he was gone.

How could you ever trust Shanks with such a treasure.

"Your eyes are pretty," the young Lunarian said as soon as Hawkeyes moved closer to her, and her genuine praise went straight to his heart.

This child was the most precious being Mihawk had ever met in his entire life, and when she smiled tentatively before extending a hand toward him, the Warlord knew he would destroy empires to protect her.

"Most people find my eyes unsettling."

"Unsett- mom ?"

"It means most people do not like his eyes very much," her mother explained gently.

"But they're pretty !" Kida insisted.

"A compliment I greatly appreciate," Mihawk replied with a small smile at her affirmation, then raised his head and composed himself. "The two of you are most welcome in my home, your highness."

"Thank you, but I assure you Y/N is just fine. You're as good as Kida's uncle, after all," the princess chuckled while holding her daughter.

"Can I hug you ?" the little girl asked with wide hopeful eyes.

Mihawk was not particularly comfortable with physical demonstrations of affection, that was a fact. He had already broken arms or taken lives for touching him, and only very reluctantly accepted an occasional embrace when Shanks was being too insistent or ambushed him. Everyone knew it.

Yet he opened his arms right away and the little girl was put against his chest the next moment. His left arm went under her legs to provide support, and his right arm settled on her back, where the Warlord very carefully ensured he would not press on her delicate feathers. Kida settled her little arms around his neck to the best of her abilities, her wings extended to cover his shoulders, and she hid her face against his neck before yawning, her warm little body radiating contentement against his.

Shanks snorted like the undignified ruffian he was, which startled Mihawk out of his incredulous and honoured trance to glare at his rival, who was grinning like a smug little shit.

"Knew it. Not even you can resist my baby girl."

"Our daughter has a way to wrap everyone around her finger," Y/N sighed goodheartedly. "But right now, I think this little princess needs a nap."

"Of course, follow me."

Several hours later, the Warlord had joined the parents to assist them with Kida's bedtime and ensure his niece's room was as babyproof as it could get on such short notice. They left the door ajar just in case, then joined the party happening downstairs in one of the living rooms.

"It will be fine, I left enough feathers with her, if something happens, I'll know it," Y/N assured.

"I'm more surprised she didn't ask for a story," Shanks laughed with his hand holding his wife's.

"After all the flying and exploring the castle ? Honey, Kida is a Lunarian and your daughter, but she's still only three, of course she was exhausted."

"I take it Lunarians have a sturdier metabolism," Mihawk intervened in the conversation.

"We do," the princess confirmed as all three of them walked down the stairs. "It comes in handy in case of injury."

"I would assume so, the scar on your back shows you survived quite the deadly attack," Hawkeyes commented as they joined the rest of the pirate crew.

To his surprise, his words made everyone stop talking and wince before averting their eyes, with the exception of the Lunarian princess herself. Yet the most unexpected reaction came from Shanks, who paled and looked at the ground with an expression that appeared shameful.

"I did that," his friend admitted in a whisper with guilt lacing his voice.

Mihawk froze for a second, and stared at the couple in pure incredulity.

"Shanks, love, you know I don't blame you for it. Your reaction was understandable and I-"

"And I told you I'll never forgive myself for trying to kill you," the red-head interrupted his wife in what appeared to be an old argument.

"If you are amenable to it, I would like to hear this story," the swordsman said as he picked a bottle of wine and poured three glasses. "I assume you did not want to discuss the most gruesome parts of your past with your daughter around, but I must admit I am curious about you."

The couple settled on a loveseat and the princess sent her feathers flying away to rest more comfortably against Shanks, which was an impressive display, and they both picked the drinks Hawkeyes handed them.

"Your choice, babe," the Emperor told his wife. "You know I'm fine keeping your secrets or screaming how amazing you are to the world."

The white-haired woman seemed to ponder about it for a moment, and Mihawk sat in a chair nearby, ready to respect her privacy if she chose to keep her story to herself. Seas knew he was not one to share much about himself in the first place either.

"Well," she ultimately stated, "if you wish to hear about my past, I have no objection to it, but I will warn you that while I did find my happy ending, the beginning of my life is a far cry from a happy story."

Mihawk nodded in silence and made a gesture with his hand to let her know he was fine with it. He had heard, witnessed, or caused his lot of tragedies as well, after all.

When she was done retelling her story, including the secret of her sons' identities and legacy after Mihawk vowed not to divulge it, the swordsman was feeling a whole new level of respect for the Lunarian princess, and a whole new level of contempt for the World Government at large.

"And so after Luffy set sail, I joined Shanks' crew with Kida so we could raise her together, while hiding my feathers whenever we were on land to buy myself a little more time being considered a regular woman. And here we are," she finished calmly with her head resting on her husband's shoulder.

"I see," the World's Greatest Swordsman replied.

There was a pause for a moment, where the entire room was mostly silent, then Mihawk decided it was as good a time as any to mention something not entirely unrelated, but would change the solemn mood that had settled in the air.

"I encountered your youngest son not long ago."

"Wait really ?" Shanks perked up while still hugging his wife tight against him. "How's he doing ?"

"Quite well for a rookie," Mihawk acknowledged honestly. "His swordsman has potential."

"High praise coming from you," Beckman intervened with a grin.

"Luffy's greatest strength has always been the way he has to draw remarkable people to him," the princess smiled knowingly. "I wouldn't be surprised if every single member of his crew ended up being both extremely competent in their field and an impressive fighter."

There was a collective round of agreement in the room at that, and Hawkeyes found himself nodding along. He had felt a similar spark in that boy, and there was something about the way Y/N spoke that made it sound like it was less of a guess and more of a prediction.

-o-oOo-o-

Beckman pov

It did not even take a full day to confirm that Hawkeyes was completely under Kida's charm. That little girl had that adorable way to simply exist that made absolutely everyone want to love and protect her, as if she had taken the combined charisma of her parents and turned it into a deadly weapon.

Beckman almost dreaded to see what it would turn into once she would reach adulthood, but until then, the whole crew was handling her unfathomable cuteness one day at a time, mostly trying not to turn the sweet little princess into a spoiled brat by caving to her every whim.

Shanks and Mihawk had left for their usual duel the day after they arrived on Kuraigana, and Y/N had taken her daughter flying above the fight so they could watch the swordsmen going at it without risking getting hurt. Beckman was fairly confident both his Captain and Hawkeyes would go harder than usual just to try and impress the little lass.

It ended in their usual draw anyway, to no one's surprise, but the intense look the Lunarian princess was giving her husband told Beckman that had they not decided to stop at one biological child, Kida would definitely have gotten a sibling within the year.

The couple came back a little before dinner, but due to the not-even-four-year-old little girl playing on the carpet, no one made a single comment about the ruffled feathers or the hickeys visible under Shanks' shirt.

"Dad !" Kida exclaimed and flew in her father's arms.

"What's up, my pretty little princess ?" the red-head asked with a bright smile. "Did you have fun this afternoon ?"

"Yes ! And we played, and, and, the snack was all red ! And uncle Mimi says he has music !"

Beckman snorted at the nickname and the pinched look on Hawkeyes' face, while most of the room snickered since it was obvious the World's Greatest Swordsman was not going to correct his niece.

"No way, you still have some of those old recording snails ?" Shanks asked his best friend before turning back to his daughter. "Sounds like you had a great time, sweetie ! What do you say we listen to some music before dinner, mhh ?"

"Yay !" the little girl approved, her wings flapping happily with her emotions.

While Hawkeyes left to go search the snails he was talking about earlier, Beckman spent a moment wondering how much of a master Y/N had been by Lunarian standards. There had been no one to compare her to except perhaps Kaido's second, but he was from the other tribe and clearly could not hold a candle to her skills.

But watching Kida grow and start to learn how to fly or detach her feathers put into perspective just how incredible was the control the last Crown Princess of Lunaria had on her own wings. Had she been even three years older when the war started, Beckman was not sure the World Government would still have managed to win.

Hawkeyes came back with three snails in hands, and put them on a table. In the meantime, Kida had taken a seat between her parents on a sofa, and was very happily grooming her feathers with the patient help of her mother. Shanks was working on doing the same on his wife's wings, and he looked absolutely delighted to do so. Which made sense since Y/N had explained touching a Lunarian's wings outside of fighting situations was only done between close family members or lovers.

The whole scene was disgustingly sweet and full of enough soft domestic intimacy to give Beckman cavities just by witnessing it.

"Dang it that's just too adorable," Yasopp muttered from the next chair. "No one should be allowed to be as powerful as they are and so… ugh."

"So much like the poster picture for the perfect loving family ?" Beckman completed knowingly. "At least the boys aren't here, you know how they get when Kida is around."

Yasopp snorted and downed his drink. Kida's brothers were worse than guard dogs when it came to their baby sister. Even Luffy could get disturbingly serious about the little Lunarian and who was allowed to take care of her outside of his mother, stepfather, and brothers.

The first notes of a melody echoed in the air, something airy and old, rather classy with a regular rhythm, but definitely not the type of music that would usually be heard among their crew. Yet Y/N's head snapped up at soon as it started with a surprised expression.

"Oh my, I haven't heard that one in twenty years," she said with a smile spreading on her lips, which soon turned into a soft chuckle. "That brings back memories."

"You know uncle Mimi's music ?" Kida asked with her eyes wide.

"I first learned how to dance on that one," the princess said with a nostalgic smile.

"I want to dance too !"

"I will teach you when you are a bit older, my little star," Y/N replied with a kiss on her head. "Promise."

Kida beamed and turned to hug her mother, while Shanks was looking at his wife with a weird sparkle in his eyes that Beckman knew meant he had an idea in mind.

"Didn't know you could dance, love," he hummed innocently.

"It was traditional for Lunarian nobility and royalty," the white-haired woman replied with a chuckle while she caressed her daughter's hair. "And waltzing is like flying, once you've mastered it, you never forget it. Even if I haven't exactly had an occasion to dance since Lunaria fell."

"Then I would gla-" Hawkeyes started just as the music silently came to an end.

"Hey talking about Lunaria," Shanks interrupted instantly with a bright smile, "do you think you could cook one of your traditional dishes while we're here ? I'm sure Mimi will love it !"

Two minutes later, Y/N had left the room with Lucky to see what kind of typical Lunarian dinner they could prepare with what they had in the kitchen, and Shanks turned to his sword rival with a bright conspiratorial grin.

"Mimi, my best friend in the whole wide world-"

"No."

"Oh come on, I just need a teeny tiny favour !"

"My answer remains no."

"But-"

"No."

The two men stared at each other for a while, Shanks pouting, the Warlord as impassive as usual, but then Kida giggled and the red-head started grinning. Then he picked up his daughter to put her in his lap with her wings tucked again his chest, so they were both facing Hawkeyes.

"Mimi, please teach me how to dance so I can surprise my wife for our anniversary," Shanks stated with a bright smile, then clearly kept going for the sole interest of getting Kida to join his side. "That way I'll be able to dance with her just like princes and princesses do in fairytales."

Kida gasped, looked at her dad with a surprised expression for one second before beaming and clapping her hands while her feathers fluttered happily.

"Yes ! Please say yes uncle Mimi !" she exclaimed while turning hopeful eyes toward Hawkeyes.

And the World's Greatest Swordsman crumbled like a house of cards in the next second, as weak to that little girl's devastating puppy eyes as everyone else had been so far.

"I suppose I can teach you the basics," the Warlord granted before glaring at Shanks for daring to weaponise Kida's cuteness.

"Thanks Mimi !" the red-head grinned happily, obviously unrepentant.

Beckman shook his head with a knowing smirk. He could already tell Hawkeyes would make the lessons hell as payback, but with how stubborn his Captain could be with the proper motivation, there was little doubt the results would be good enough to match a royal upbringing.

-o-oOo-o-

Mihawk pov

It took two weeks and a lot of creativity to get Shanks to learn how to waltz properly without Y/N noticing anything or Kida blabbing happily about it, but through some miracle, they managed. Mihawk unrepentantly used the opportunity to be as unforgiving in his lessons as he would be with an apprentice, and his rival clearly took it as a challenge.

Which, obviously, meant Shanks reached a more than decent level in record time.

Hawkeyes had no idea how his best friend managed to get his wife to wear a gown instead of her usual slacks without her suspecting anything amiss, on their wedding anniversary no less. Yet he somehow did it, and Kida very enthusiastically led her mother to the castle's ballroom without spoiling the surprise.

Mihawk observed discreetly from one of the balconies as the winged woman's eyes widened at the sight of the cleaned and functional ballroom, with plenty of space for a couple to dance, and Shanks waiting for her in the middle. The winged little girl took both her parents' hand in hers and put then together before giggling something uncomprehensible.

It only took a few more moments before the princess' expression lit up with joy in understanding, and Shanks moved to start the recording snail while Kida flew to the balcony, right in Mihawk's arms.

"Careful, my dear niece," the swordsman murmured as he cushioned her landing on him.

The little angel only giggled happily again and turned around to sit on his lap and watch the scene unfolding under them. Shanks and his wife had respectively bowed and curtsied to each other, and started dancing and turning to the rhythm of the melody with surprising grace, much to their daughter's obvious delight.

They kept the pace simple and elegant until the end, and Mihawk almost let a proud little smile stretch a corner of his lips when the music stopped and the couple kissed rather than bowed to each other again. There truly was nothing his best friend would not do for the ones he loved.

Chapter Text

Garling pov

Saint Garling Figarland, Supreme Commander of the God's Knights of Marie Geoise, and next in line for the Council of Elders, had taken the news of his disowned and deadbeat son's wedding with heavy skepticism at first.

Not only did it seem very unlikely that a pirate like Shanks would have suddenly stopped his lousy habit of one-night-stands with filthy commoners to settle down, the idea that he would make such a monumental mistake as leaving his wife unattended and unprotected away from him was simply preposterous.

As much as a failure that his youngest son had turned out to be, he was still of his line and had proven he possessed the skill, power, and at least some of the brains inherent to their godly blood.

So Garling had scoffed and ignored the ridiculous claim, even with the pictures showing the wedding ring on Shanks' left hand.

Years passed, with Shanks allegedly talking about his wife to anyone who would listen, and not once being spotted spending a night with a woman at port. Eventually, it reached a point where Garling decided to dedicate one afternoon of his busy life to investigate the matter. The reports provided by Cipher Pol about official searches for said wife – and less official tracking pursuits engaged by various individuals – were enough to make him frown.

Every single attempt to find someone as valuable as the Pirate Emperor's wife had ended in failure, either by the bounty hunters and agents not finding her, or not coming back. Including agents belonging to CP-9 and CP-0. Garling felt a regain of consideration for his youngest son once he was done perusing the various files. It appeared Shanks had not left his wife as unattended and unprotected as he let it believe all those years, which demonstrated a shroudness befitting the blood in his veins.

Yet, the reality of Saint Figarland's youngest son taking a spouse highlighted the fact that his oldest had not.

As such, Garling quikly summoned Shamrock to his office.

"Father," his son greeted formally as soon as he entered, his posture straight.

"You have one year to select a suitable match in Marie Geoise and get engaged, after which I will contact your brother and have him come here with his spouse," Garling stated while putting the reports on the side of his desk. "Shanks getting married before you did was shameful enough, but it will be corrected if we publicly demonstrate his wife is inferior to your intended."

There was a brief instant of silence, then Garling raised his head and his son bowed obediently.

"Yes father."

"You may go. I expect a list of potential prospects within three months."

Shamrock nodded in silence and left his office. Once the door was closed, Garling looked one more time at the reports concluding in the death of Cipher Pol's elite agents, then discarded them entirely. What mattered now was to maintain the natural order of things, which meant it was time for his oldest son to marry.

Not to mention it was also time to start thinking of the next generation of Figarlands, something only a productive marriage with a worthy partner would provide.

It took almost the entire year for Shamrock to decide on a fiancée, to the point Garling had to pick one for him in the list his son had prepared. As soon as the engagement contract was signed between his eldest and the Manmayer girl, Garling sent them away and ordered to be brought a den-den mushi. Getting his youngest son's number had not proven to be particularly difficult, and as such, the Supreme Commander of the God's Knights made the call.

Purupurupuru.

Purupurupuru.

Purupurupuru.

Purupurupuru.

Just as Garling was starting to get offended at the time it took for someone to answer, it finally connected.

Gatcha.

"Beckman."

"Get me Shanks," Garling ordered.

"Who's askin' ?"

"His father."

There was silence for a moment, then the sound of muffled exclamations.

"Shanks," his son's annoyed voice came next. "Look, whoever you are, I don't appreciate that kind of bullshit, so cut the crap and tell me who you are and what you want or fuck off."

"You will address me properly, Shanks," Garling ordered sternly. "This is no way to speak to the man who fathered you."

"Wait. Garling !?" Shanks asked incredulously. "What the fuck !?"

"You will come to Marie Geoise with your wife at once to introduce her properly to high society," Saint Figarland stated. "It is time for you to stop-"

"Counter offer," his son cut him off, "go fuck yourself with your sword, pommel included."

"Enough. This is not a request, you will-"

"Oh fuck you, I don't- wait what ?" Shanks replied, clearly speaking to someone else in a lack of respect that made Garling's frown deepen. "No, nothing important love, I- yes, I know, but- look, the old fart wants you and me to go to Marie Geoise and- babe you're not serious ! …right, good point. But still- well you're not wrong- oh. Oh. You think ?"

Then there was a loud laugh on the other side of the line, to the point the snail showed it as well. Saint Figarland waited anyway, and ultimately heard his son's voice again.

"Okay, you know what ? I'll come and introduce you to my wife. But the second someone tries to attack or capture her, we'll both fight back with everything we have," Shanks said in a clear threat despite the smirk audible in his voice. "So make sure whoever's around when we arrive gets the memo if you want to avoid a bloodbath, cause my lady's got more reasons than most to hate Celestial Dragons and she won't hold back. That's my condition."

"This is acceptable," Garling nodded. "Be there within a week."

"Mmh, nah, don't think so. Best I can do is next month. Take it or leave it."

"In a month, then. Do not be late."

"Yeah yeah, punctuality is the politeness of princes, I know, fuck you too."

Gatcha.

Saint Figarland stared at the snail in mild surprise, not having expected his ruffian of a son to know this old nobility adage, or imply that his wife possessed some combat abilities. Still, they were going to come, and the month before it happened meant there was time to ensure there would be one social event or another ready to properly make a public statement.

It would be a thin line to walk on to put emphasis on the difference of class and status between his sons and their partners without letting Shanks and whatever commoner he had married put shame on their family name, but Garling was confident it was doable.

The end goal would be to show that even disgraced and disowned, his youngest son held power and influence in the lower world, while his eldest was the golden son of Marie Geoise and upholded the right values. Their partners would reflect that difference and reinforce the impression accordingly.

-o-oOo-o-

Shamrock pov

Shamrock had known since childhood that he would have to marry for political interest one day, to further his father's goals and conceive the next generation of Figarlands. Yet he had not expected the time to come because of his good-for-nothing twin's own marriage to some random commoner in the belows.

And so he had made a list of female World Nobles of appropriate age, respectable bloodline, acceptable upbringing, and at least passable looks within the allotted time his father had given him. Then he went back to his duties as Commander of the God's Knights, and promptly forgot about it since he saw no interest in getting to know several women when the marriage would be nothing more than a contract.

His father selected a candidate for him, and the engagement was signed with Ikara Manmayer, after which Shamrock and his intended were promptly dismissed from Garling's office. The God's Knight looked at the brown-haired woman clinging to his arm, and decided it would be better to immediately make the terms of this arrangement clear.

"I expect you to uphold the manners befitting your status as my intended. You will not interfere with my work, and I will leave you alone," he stated plainly in the corridor.

"But I'm your fiancée !" she protested. "We're supposed to-"

"This engagement is a contract benefitting our families, nothing more," Shamrock cut her off. "You are to prove yourself a superior prospect for the Figarland name than whoever my disgraced brother married. I will notify you of their arrival, dress and act appropriately when the time comes."

Shamrock then left her and walked to his office to make some progress on the never-ending paperwork that came with his position, and promptly relegated to the back of his mind the woman he was engaged to and would probably spend the rest of his life with. As long as she showed proper manners and did nothing to tarnish their prestigious family, the Commander saw no reason to interact with his future wife.

A month later, Shamrock and his intended joined Garling at the Bondola station to ensure no one would attempt any reprehensive action against Shanks and his spouse. It appeared his sleaze of a twin had agreed to come on the condition that no one would try to attack his wife, with threats of retaliation should it happen.

Yet when the Bondola stopped and the doors opened, Shamrock frowned. His brother still looked as much of a lowly pirate as before, unkept and wearing clothes that truly were one step above rags, but there was no one by his side.

Shanks took one look at them, noticed the woman holding Shamrock's arm, and immediately erupted into laughter before grinning brightly and stepping forward to join their group.

"Can't believe she was right again," his twin chuckled. "You're Shammy's wife ?"

"His fiancée. I am Saint Ikara of house Manmayer," Shamrock's intended introduced herself proudly.

"Cool, good luck with that. Try not to piss off my lovely lady, okay ?" Shanks added with a wink.

"Shanks, what is the meaning of this ?" Garling asked sternly. "You were to bring your wife."

"Oh, she's coming, she's just using a different method to make her way up here," his brother hummed knowingly. "Come on, let's go, she'll find us when she arrives."

"You asked for her safety to be guaranteed in the Holy Lands," Shamrock reminded curtly.

"Nope, I said that if anyone attacked her there'd be a bloodbath. Very different," Shanks countered smugly. "Don't worry, no one will get her before she joins us."

Garling humpfed, but turned away and they all followed suit to make their way to the Figarland estate, everyone making room for their group as they progressed in the city. Shanks was looking around nonchalantly, completely unbothered by the shocked looks he received from passers-by and inhabitants of Marie Geoise.

"She's here," his twin said suddenly, and Shamrock turned to see his brother had stopped walking and was smiling brightly with a hand on his heart.

"How are we supposed to know who-" Ikara asked.

"Oh, you can't miss her," Shanks grinned wider, then started to look at the sky.

Shamrock sent a questionning look to his father, who was impassible but also seemed to look upward. Before the Commander could do the same, his father took a sharp breath and several people in the street started to shout and point at the sky.

The red-head finally did the same, and his next breath caught in his throat. High in the sky and puffy white clouds scattered above Marie Geoise, a feminine silhouette with majestic black wings, white hair, and red and black clothes appeared to be executing aerial figures with impossible grace.

The show only lasted a few minutes, during which Shamrock felt impressed at the ease with which the woman was performing increasingly complicated moves in the air. She was executing tight loopings and spins at what had to be great speed despite the notoriously powerful winds surrounding the Holy Lands, like nature itself was no match for her skills.

Then the woman flew higher up in the sky, and without warning, her wings exploded in hundreds of feathers around her body and she started to fall head first.

"Oh my god !"

"Someone do something !"

"She's going to die !"

Shamrock clenched his teeth, and freed his arm from the grip his intended had on it to prepare himself to intervene and grab the woman before she could crash on the ground.

"Everything's fine !" Shanks shouted clearly, his hands in the pockets of his pants.

"She's falling !" Ikara shrieked.

"No one move !" Garling ordered curtly, and Shamrock froze.

The woman kept falling even faster, among the shouts and screams, and no matter his father's orders or Shanks' apparent confidence, Shamrock felt tension build in him at the imminent death the woman was heading to. If they did not act now, she would die.

Then suddenly, in the brief fraction of second before she reached the ground, a black line rushed from the sky straight to her back to reform wings and the woman shot throught the streets like a bullet, too fast for Shamrock to see more than a flash of colour passing next to him and feel more than a powerful burst of wind making his hair fly.

Shouts and yells kept echoing through the streets, this time of shock and admiration rather than fear, and in a minute, the woman was back above the portion of the city their group was standing in. She took a straighter position in the sky, and twirled on herself with her black wings gracefully accompanying the movement. She used the slower spin to descend toward the ground at a perfectly controlled pace, until her feet touched the pavement of Marie Geoise, right in front of him.

I want you.

The thought imposed itself in Shamrock's mind the second he could take her in fully. The woman was stunning, a perfect balance of regal posture and barely tamed wilderness, her eyes shining like gemstones on her tanned skin, her expression the picture of calm confidence displaying the natural elegance all World Nobles were told to aim for. And her wings were a thing of beauty, resting proudly on her back and almost glistening under the sun, a visual proof of her power and magnificence.

"Looks like you had fun, babe," Shanks grinned as he took her hand and kissed her square on the lips.

The mesmerising vision Shamrock had been entranced by suddenly shattered, and the desire pooling in his chest was instantly replaced by the green flames of jealousy. Shanks was unworthy of a treasure like this woman. Her place was at the side of someone who could match her superior aura, someone who exuded the same noble magnetism she did. Certainly not a vulgar pirate like his twin.

"The air currents are stronger at this altitude, it changes from the ones above the sea," the woman replied with a smile. "I hope I didn't make you wait too long."

"Nah, you arrived like ten minutes after I did," his twin said. "And it's not like we need to stay with them until dinner anyway."

Then Garling coughed loudly, which made Shamrock straighten his back in reflex, most people in the street scatter, and Shanks sigh dramatically before rolling his eyes.

"Ugh, fine, introductions. Love, that's the people I'm unwillingly related to. Garling, Shammy, and Shammy's fiancée, this wonderful, beautiful, amazing woman is my wife that I love and adore with all my heart."

The Commander clenched his teeth at the disrespect, but no one got the time to speak before his intended did.

"Humpf, no wonder a freak like you married the disgraced son of such a prestigious family !" she said haughtily.

"What the fuck did you call my-"

Shanks' furious growl was stopped by his wife extending her arm to put a hand on his chest. The woman's smile disappeared as she turned her gaze to Ikara with an expression that Shamrock identified easily since he displayed it often himself. Haughty disdain for someone inferior to her.

"It's your Royal Highness Y/N, Crown Princess of Lunaria to you. I will also answer to Brightest Star of Lunaria, youngest Flying Master in Lunarian History, and if the titles of my kingdom and culture are not something you are willing to respect, then I will accept the moniker given to me by the Marines during the war and answer to Night Fury."

There was a beat during which not a single sound was heard and Shamrock felt his head spin lightly under the implications of her claims. Should they be true, then this woman was not a talented Zoan Devil Fruit user but the last living member of the royal bloodline of Lunaria.

A kingdom that had been destroyed on order of the Gorosei when Shamrock was only a teenager.

"If this is still out of your reach, I will also answer to my pen name, since Disney fairytales have become rather famous and this name is a part of me," she continued like she was not dropping another bomb. "But if even this is too complicated for you, then I will consent to be called Shanks' wife or our daughter Kida's mother."

Shamrock barely got the time to process the fact that the most popular, secretive, and acclaimed writer of their time might be a Lunarian princess before her last words registered.

A daughter.

Shanks had not just married this woman, they had conceived a child together.

"You know," the princess pursued while taking a step toward Ikara and arboring a smile that was more threatening than anything, "Lunarians were called gods long before your ancestors claimed that title. But even among gods, there was royalty. And even among royalty, I stood aside. That is why the only God's Knight killed during the war died by my hand, his eyes gouged out and his throat slit after he dared to kill my mentor and then insult her to my face. And keep in mind, my dear little dragon, that I was only twelve at the time. So tell me, do you truly think even your fiancé could protect you now if I decided to take your life ?"

The cold ruthlessness emanating from Y/N ignited a fire in Shamrock's own darker instincts, something telling him this was a woman who could stand beside him on a battlefield and kill just as much as he would, without the slightest hint of remorse.

Her poised expression and composed voice also showed she was not being arrogant, but confident in her skills and conscious of her worth as an experimented fighter.

Shamrock only managed to detach his eyes from the enthralling vision in front of him when he felt the person at his left start to shake and exude fear in waves. When he looked aside, the Commander saw a weak and pathetic excuse of a noblewoman, whiter than a ghost and trembling in terror, completely crushed by her better.

Disgust filled him at the idea that this was supposed to be standing by his side to enhance his prestige.

"I thought so," Y/N said knowingly, then took a step back and her attitude changed as soon as she turned toward Shanks. "Since we have some time before dinner, what do you say we explore the city a little bit ? There's a flavour of ice cream I've been dying to taste again, maybe we can find it here."

"Works for me, honey," his twin grinned, his eyes dark as he grabbed her waist and pulled her against him. "Did I ever mention how hot you are when you go full warrior princess ?"

Shamrock watched the lust build between the couple, something intense and intimate at once, a casual display of the bond between them, something running deeper than every relationship Shamrock had ever witnessed among World Nobles. Shanks had sneaked an arm on her lower back, just below her wings, and she had a hand on the skin revealed by his twin's mostly open shirt.

"Keep it for tonight," she replied before kissing him.

Shamrock clenched his teeth and averted his eyes when it became clear this kiss was getting heavier than their first one.

Then they left their group to start walking further in the street, likely in search of an ice cream parlour. Shamrock addressed one last disdainful look to his intended before turning to face Saint Figarland, with the firm intention to ask him to reconsider his betrothal to the Manmayer girl.

"Your engagement is cancelled," his father stated harshly before Shamrock could say a word. "I will not have you settle for… this," he added with clear disgust.

"Wha- what ?" she protested. "But you can't ! I'm the best !"

"You dare to claim yourself the best after failing to even stand straight in front of a woman who is both royalty from a species once called our equals, a fighter rivaling God's Knights before she reached adulthood, a writer publishing the most popular books of the past decade, and a mother who already gave birth to a child bearing Figarland blood ?" Shamrock asked with a raised eyebrow.

"I- I can be better ! If you just-"

"You cannot," Garling cut her off. "Dismissed, your family will receive the annulment by sunset."

Neither of them bothered to watch the pathetic excuse for a World Noble run away in tears, and when Saint Figarland started walking toward their estate, Shamrock followed suit with a touch of satisfaction at the confirmation he would not have to marry this woman in the end.

The walk was spent in absolute silence, but Garling motioned to follow him to his office, and to Shamrock's absolute shock, instructed him to sit in the sofa facing the one his father sat in before ordering two stiff drinks to be brought to them. Garling took a hearty gulp, something that only shocked Shamrock further, before talking.

"We will have to confirm whether she truly is the mind behind Disney and if they have actually produced an heiress," Garling ultimately stated. "But she is the Night Fury."

Shamrock waited cautiously for his father to say more, but when nothing came, he took a sip of his alcohol and carefully asked a question.

"Is her claim to have killed a God's Knight at twelve years old true ?"

"Yes. His name was Irven of house Roswald, and he was found dead with the exact injuries she described. The three surviving witnesses of that fight confirmed the Night Fury had been the one to take his life."

Saint Figarland became silent again after that, but Shamrock felt the tension build in his father, and so he said nothing. Then Garling frowned, took off his glasses, and downed his drink before standing up and pacing in front of his desk.

"You were too young to participate in the war in Lunaria, but I was there. Lunarians were good opponents, worthy of their reputation. And one of them was said to surpass the entirety of her people. A prodigy born of the royal couple, rumoured to be the most powerful member of her kind despite her young age. A nightmare made of shadow and darkness, faster than the wind, deadly and ruthless."

"Princess Y/N ?" Shamrock asked in a cautious voice, while inwardly noting the unusually high praise Saint Figarland was bestowing this species in general and this woman in particular.

"Indeed. I never faced her during my time in Lunaria," his father admitted while continuing to pace, "but I did see her in action once from afar, and the sight is not one I have forgotten. Few who saw the Night Fury lived to talk about it, Shamrock. After Cipher Pol successfully got rid of her parents, we expected the whole kingdom to collapse in days since it was deprived of leadership. Instead, she rose to guide her people until the end, and it took several more weeks and considerable ressources to claim victory."

Shamrock's eyes went wide at the story his father painted, and what his brother's wife had endured. His admiration for her rose despite his confidence in Celestial Dragon's superiority, if only for her achievments and tenacity.

"How did she survive ?"

"She wasn't supposed to have survived !" Garling snapped. "Every single report we received confirmed all Lunarians had perished by the end of the war ! No one could escape the trap around the island !"

Shamrock kept to himself that obviously, the princess had found a way to do so.

"To think she was alive all this time and married Shanks of all people," his father grumbled, then snapped his fingers and a servant refilled his glass as he sat again. "What does a woman of such prestige even see in this failure."

Shamrock took another sip of his drink, silently agreeing with his father's incomprehension on that point. He could simply not fathom how someone whom even Saint Figarland spoke of so highly could consider his deadbeat twin like a potential prospect, much less marry him.

Chapter Text

Shanks pov

Shanks was having more fun than he expected.

With Kida staying with Ray and Shakky, the Emperor could enjoy a weekend getaway in a shitty city with his wonderful wife without feeling anxious for his little girl's safety.

In the end, they had not walked around for long, not so much because of people staring at his wife – not a single World Noble had tried to pull shit after Shanks smiled at them with a look daring them to piss him off – but because the sight of slaves being mistreated and abused was quickly making him tense and sending his beloved wife in a fury.

Dinner with Garling and Shamrock had been awkward, but after a quick call to her editor to confirm she was indeed the mind behind Disney fairytales, there seemed to be a weird sort of status quo found between the four of them.

Shanks was still relieved to retreat to the rooms they had been given, and absolutely delighted to let his wife take out all the built-up tension on him in the form of some rough fucking, until both of them were too sensitive to keep going.

The Emperor found himself roped into trying fancy clothes in the morning, because apparently there was a gala they were supposed to attend in the evening and it meant he could not just go in his very comfortable shirt, pants, and sandals.

Or rather, he could, but then his wife would be all dressed up and pretty and it might look like she was there as Shamrock's partner, which was not something Shanks was willing to risk. He had not missed the way his brother looked at his wife, and while the Emperor trusted her completely, a small part of him could not help but notice the obvious similarities between the woman he loved and his twin.

"Don't," Y/N told him out of the blue.

She was being measured as well, looking completely at ease among the tailors, maids, and all the fabrics, cuts, accessories, and overall fancy chaos happening around them.

"Don't what ?" Shanks asked her while a guy measured his shoulders or something on his back.

"Don't start thinking I'll choose someone else over you because of some similarities in our upbringing."

"I wasn't thinking that !" the red-head immediately protested, then grumbled and averted his eyes. "I just… noticed, that's all."

"The same way you noticed the similarities with Alber ?"

"Kinda ?" Shanks winced. "I know you won't, babe, I trust you."

"But ?" his wife prompted him knowingly.

"But he looks like me with the same power and pretty much same fighting skills but he's got the fancy manners and-"

 "And the arrogance to think himself an actual god, daddy issues the size of a sea king, and no problem whatsoever with the idea of committing genocides to preserve the World Nobles' supremacy or just for fun," she cut him off.

Shanks blinked, then grinned, his worries completely gone at her assured tone.

"But if you want to make a statement," Y/N continued with a mischievous sparkle in her eyes, "I might have an idea. How do you feel about matching outfits inspired by Lunarian fashion ?"

The whole group of people working around them stopped moving at her words, and Shanks felt his smile widen.

"Oh hell yeah. You guys think you can do that for tonight ?"

"Erm, well, I mean of course, but-"

"Give me some pen and paper and I'll show you what typical Lunarian nobility outfits looked like," his wife chuckled. "Then you can tell us whether it's doable, and if it's not, we'll see what can be done in the time you have."

The instant relief among the workers was almost palpable. To Shanks' surprise, the next hours passed faster than he thought they would when being stuck acting like a human doll. Though he had to admit, watching his wife take control of the whirlwind around them and help befuddled tailors with her feathers was most of the fun.

The faces of Garling and Shamrock when they watched them appear on top of the stairs at the gala might have been the single most amazing memory Shanks would ever keep of his biological family. The rest of the room full of haughty assholes looking gobsmacked at their appearance was just the icing on the cake.

Shanks knew he looked good on any random day, but tonight, he was in another league. Bright gold shirt tailored to hug his chest, white pants tight enough to make his ass look amazing, black high boots just to piss off his brother, and a black cloak on one shoulder, the Emperor was aware people were so used to see him in comfy clothes that the difference alone would make heads turn.

And yet, he would not be surprised if all the eyes remained on his wife for the entire evening. Her dress was the same bright, almost sparkling gold as his shirt, but it had a very low back going even lower than her wings – with make-up to hide her scar after Shanks had begged her to not display the proof of his greatest shame – and a nice heart neckline supported by straps joining behind her neck. The flowy skirt was also stopping just below her knees in the front and falling at her feet in the back, revealing the white heels she had chosen.

And of course, she had a gold crown – circlet, she had told him how it was called – in her hair with a red gemstone at the center of her forehead to mark her rank and mimick her ring.

Between that and the way her beautiful wings looked after a grooming session during the tailoring, she looked every bit the royal goddess she was in Shanks' opinion.

"The Emperor of the Sea Akagami no Shanks, of house Figarland, and her Royal Highness Y/N, Crown Princess of Lunaria," the guy at the side announced clearly.

Shanks raised an eyebrow at the addition of him being a member of the Figarland family, since last he knew, he had been removed from the official register when he rejected his birthright years ago. But it did not really matter when his beloved wife was holding his hand and they made their way down the stairs looking every bit the power couple they were.

"Good thing we didn't bring Kida," he whispered in his princess' ear once they were at the bottom of the stairs and the staring had yet to stop. "They'd all be fighting to hug her first."

"As if I would ever bring my daughter to Marie Geoise," his wife replied with a roll of her eyes. "Ready to face another kind of battlefield, love ?"

"Remind me what the rules are ?" the red-head grimaced, ready to make some efforts for her despite his dislike for all this fakeness.

"Do whatever the hell you want and let me handle the hypocritical shmoozing," she grinned knowingly, and Shanks fell in love all over again.

"You're the absolute best and I love you. Come on, let's find something to drink, I want to try all the fancy booze they have here to decide which convoy we'll steal next," Shanks laughed.

Unfortunately, they only made five steps before Shamrock came in their way, with a glass in his hand and a constipated look on his face. Shanks was pretty sure his twin was wearing a fancier version of his usual outfit, but since he always wore fancy and very uncomfortable looking clothes, it was hard to tell.

"So you did make an effort for tonight," his twin commented after a brief appraising check.

"Excuse you, I made an effort because I wanted to match the most stunning woman in attendance," Shanks grinned smugly. "I can dress up, you know ?"

"Since when ?"

"Since our wedding, I would say," Y/N intervened with a smile the Emperor knew was more of a friendly warning than genuinely amused. "Which reminds me, I suppose apologies are in order for not inviting you. I'm afraid the location and guests were not the kind Celestial Dragons would willingly associate themselves with."

"Had you informed us in advance, Father and I would have made an exception to make it happen in Marie Geoise," Shamrock replied.

"Hard pass," Shanks snorted. "We wanted to have a happy wedding with the people we love, not a contest of which guest has the biggest stick up their ass."

His twin glared at him, but his wife was biting her lips to avoid laughing, so Shanks considered it a win.

"We were on our way to get drinks, is there anything you would recommend trying ?" his Lunarian princess asked next.

"Certainly," Shamrock nodded.

Thankfully, they got glasses in seconds, and Shanks downed his first whiskey in one go before getting a refill, while his wife opted for a flute of something much lighter, with a light pink colour and bubbles in it. The Emperor loved even more that she was ostensibly holding it with her left hand to show off her ring.

They talked with Shamrock a moment, then something Shanks had expected to see at some point happened and he moved in a flash. In a second, the Emperor had put himself between his wife's left wing and the asshole who had extended a hand toward her feathers, sword drawn and pointed to the would-be offender while he was still holding his glass.

"Don't you fucking dare," he warned the shithead who had fallen on his ass with a scream. "Only the lover and close family members of a Lunarian are allowed to touch their wings outside of a fight. So unless you're trying to challenge my wife to a duel, keep your dirty hands away from her feathers."

"Wha- wha- GUARDS ! KILL THIS-"

"What is the meaning of this ?" Garling intervened curtly as he stepped from somewhere behind the guy.

"This miscreant attempted to kill me and prevent me from taking this woman as my-"

"Be silent," Garling interrupted before the last word.

Which Shanks personnally thought was a shame, since it would have been exactly what he needed to hear to kill the guy without breaking the rule he had imposed for their presence.

His beautiful Lunarian princess turned around, the movement of her wings revealing Shamrock who stepped forward as well. The guy on the floor finally looked around and seemed to realise who was being pretty annoyed at him.

"I suggest you express your gratitude to the Supreme Commander of the God's Knights," his wife stated lightly while looking at the bubbles in her glass. "He just saved your life, no matter how little worth it holds."

"How dare you-"

"How dare you try to touch me ?" she cut him off with fire in her eyes. "Your kind ordered the anihilation of my kingdom and race for the sake of your overinflated ego. The simple fact that I came to this city without slaughtering every single Celestial Dragon I came across is proof of my restraint and magnanimity. But my patience is not unlimited, and I suggest you refrain from pushing it if you value your existence."

"You're only a-"

"Enough," Garling snapped. "Either properly challenge my daughter-in-law to a duel, or leave now."

Shanks' eyes snapped to Garling in shock. Announcing him as a member of the Figarland family was one thing, but to hear his hard-ass, stuck-up, elitist, arrogant birth father publicly claim Y/N as his daughter-in-law was something the red-head had not seen coming. The brief glance he exchanged with his beloved wife showed she had not expected it either.

At least it seemed to terrify the asshole enough to make him scram and leave with his tail between his legs. Shanks sheathed his sword and raised an eyebrow at Garling, who only nodded briefly in their direction before turning around and going back to his talks with whoever else he was tolerating at the moment.

"Well, I think the message was heard," his wife said with irony lacing her voice.

Shanks snorted and sneaked his right hand around his wonderful princess' waist, her wing instantly covering his back as he did.

"Pity the old fart stopped him."

"Mmh, quite," she agreed after taking a sip of her drink. "I was looking forward to repaying some of the tragedies bestowed on my people."

"Your uppity manners are showing, babe," Shanks grinned at the posh elocution and words she had used.

"Old habits die hard," she chuckled.

"If I may," a guy sporting the same kind of uniform Shamrock was wearing said as he joined their group. "I am quite curious to finally meet the Night Fury in person."

Shanks felt his wife tense suddenly next to him, and briefly squeezed her hand to keep her grounded.

"Sommers, this is princess Y/N, my sister-in-law," Shamrock introduced. "Princess Y/N, this is Saint Sommers of the Shepherd family, he is-"

"One of the God's Knights who participated in the war of Lunaria and used what I assume is a thorns related Devil Fruit to commit atrocities on my people," his wife cut off in a furious whisper. "Garling at least had the decency to only kill them. You'll understand why I refrain from any kind of pleasantries with someone who tortured civilians for the sake of watching them suffer."

Shanks froze for a second, then glared at the man, who only looked at his wife with an appraising gaze.

"I greatly admired your people's dedication to sacrifice themselves for the rest of their kind. There was an undisputable beauty about the love shared through your race and their willingness to die for each other," the asshole said, and Shanks saw red.

"Get the fuck out of here before I kill you," the Emperor seethed.

"And who are you to order me to go ?"

"Shanks is an Emperor of the Sea, your Commander's brother, your Supreme Commander's son, and most of all, my husband," Y/N whispered furiously. "Do not make the mistake of thinking my presence in Marie Geoise means I forgave your wrongs. I never forgot, and I will never forgive."

"Sommers, leave us," Shamrock said curtly.

The man hummed and left, but Shanks felt his wife stay tense and borderline trembling in rage.

"Hey, babe," he whispered. "I'm here. We can go right now if you want. You don't have to stay if it triggers you."

"I did not expect another God's Knight to upset you," Shamrock said. "Should anyone else's presence offend you, let me know."

Y/N nodded briefly, then took a deep breath.

"I knew coming here meant I would have to face the traumas of my past to some extent," she declared with a tight smile. "It will be fine."

Shanks squeezed her hand in the best show of support he could give her at the moment. Save from brutally murdering every World Noble in sight, that was, and unfortunately they had promised to behave unless someone attacked them in one way or another.

Then the same guy who had announced the names and titles of everyone hit the ground with a cane in what looked like a ridiculous way to call for attention, but still somehow worked.

"As per the tradition of Marie Geoise, the first dance of the Autumn Ball will be a tribute to the sacred bond uniting fathers and daughters. May the ball begins !"

Shanks rolled his eyes at the stupid proclamation. Sacred bond, his ass. Every single guy having fathered a daughter in Marie Geoise only ever saw their girls as ways to get into more powerful families. Not that they were acting very differently with their sons, but as the proud dad of three amazing boys and one adorable girl, the hypocrisy behind this statement left a bad taste in his mouth.

Still, a lot of old dudes started to get on the dance floor with their daughters, and the Emperor wondered how many drinks he would need to get through this without just barging in and ruining their posh and ridiculous tradition.

Suddenly, Garling made his way to them and Shanks blinked curiously, wondering what could possibly bring the old fart to them right before this boring show of who belonged to what family.

"Y/N, as my daughter-in-law, you are part of my family. I will therefore dance with you."

-o-oOo-o-

Reader pov

You watched Shanks' father extend a hand to you, and barely got the time to blink before you realised how little time you had to give a response. Unfortunately, it meant the manners ingraved into your mind during the first twelve years of your second life took over.

You put your hand into the gloved one he had extended, handed your glass to your husband, and nodded politely.

"Very well."

"Wait wha-" Shanks started, and you turned your head toward him.

"Tradition, my love. I was raised to respect the customs of the land and people I reside in, and at the moment, it means I will dance with your father," you reminded your husband.

Said husband just gaped like a goldfish and you could not refrain a little amused smile before turning back to let Garling lead you to the center of the circle made by various dancers.

"I assume no one here is used to dancing with winged partners," you said, then snapped the fingers of your free hand.

All your feathers twirled upward elegantly from your back, giving the impression of disappearing into thin air while you merely stacked them on the various hidden places in the intricate designs of the ceilings.

"A correct assumption," Garling nodded approvingly.

The music started and you curtsied in pure muscle memory while your father-in-law bowed, then you both stepped closer and started waltzing. Your position at the center meant your range was limited and everyone was looking at you to keep the proper rhythm, but you simply followed the old man's lead. Any mistake happening during this dance would be his fault, not yours.

The first minute was spent in complete silence, which suited you just fine, but then the man who had contributed to half the genetic material of your husband spoke.

"What do you see in Shanks ?"

"He makes me happy," you replied honestly.

Garling made a weird expression for a moment, then humpfed.

"Out of the two sons I have, you had to choose the wrong one," the man muttered. "Marrying into a proper family befitting your rank is good enough, but you could do better. Shamrock's engagement was cancelled yesterday, so if you-"

"Say the word divorce and I will leave in the middle of the dance," you smiled threateningly. "I didn't marry Shanks because of his bloodline, but despite it. After what you did to my people, you cannot expect me to accept you like nothing happened even if you were to apologise, which I doubt you intend to do."

"I will do no such thing," the Supreme Commander of the God's Knights huffed. "I dedicated my life to the supremacy of Celestial Dragons over the world, and doing whatever was necessary to uphold our godly right to rule."

"At least you have the honesty to admit it, I guess," you said with no small amount of irony as you kept waltzing.

The next steps proved to be a little more technical and neither of you spoke for a moment, but when the music started to slow down, he spoke again.

"I want to meet my grand-daughter."

You almost missed a step at his unexpected request, but quickly corrected it and nothing looked amiss despite your split-second of shock.

"Why would I let the man who participated in the extermination of my people meet any of my children ?" you asked without thinking.

"Children ?" Garling pounced on the plural, and you clenched your jaw at your mistake.

"Kida is my only biological child, but I adopted three boys before my wedding with Shanks. I didn't mention them earlier because World Nobles seem to value blood relations more than anything else. They are my sons in all the ways that matter to me," you stated unequivocally, "but I doubt you see it in the same light."

"Indeed," your least favourite father-in-law sneered. "But I still want to meet my grand-daughter. You have my word as patriarch of the Figarland family that I will not harm her in any way. That girl bears my blood, and the future of my line. Nothing will happen to her on my watch."

You gauged the old man for the remaining dancing time you shared, and as the last notes echoed in the room, you followed protocol to curtsy again before tilting your head once you had respected tradition.

"I will think about it and let you know before Shanks and I leave Marie Geoise."

"Acceptable."

You both nodded sternly, then turned away from each other and you sighed discreetly before leaving the dancefloor. As much as the idea of letting your precious little girl anywhere near the man who had led the destruction of your kingdom horrified you, you could not deny part of your mind argued that your daughter deserved to meet all of her family at least once.

And with the importance Garling accorded to blood, you were reluctantly forced to admit the likeliness of him hurting the only grandchild he would acknowledge as such was rather low.

You were still lost in reflections when you found yourself surrounded by women, all of them wearing various over-the-top dresses making them look like tacky ornaments and glaring at you, with Shamrock's former fiancée at the center.

Oh great, the whole henhouse came to squawck at me.

You quickly glanced around, barely hearing the next dance starting behind you. This was something you had expected to see during the evening no matter what, but after Garling informed you the engagement between Shamrock and his fiancée had been cancelled, you would have been more surprised if it had not happened.

So you plastered a disinterested and slightly disdainful expression on your face.

"Ladies," you said plainly without adding anything.

Many of them gasped in outrage, and you let the beginning of a smirk stretch your lips. By ackowledging their presence without asking for their names or introducing yourself, and borderline ignoring their rank, you had stepped on the very thin line between insult and politeness.

"How dare you parade here !" a blond one exclaimed haughtily.

"Are you insinuating the invitation given by my father-in-law is not enough to justify my presence at this ball ?" you challenged her with a raised eyebrow.

She paled instantly before taking a step back, and you knew that one would not push further.

"You are not our equal," Shamrock's former fiancée seethed.

"Oh, I wholeheartedly agree," you smirked, and barely refrained a snort when you saw most of them go from pride to doubt and then offense when they realised what you truly meant with these words.

"It's your fault that Shamrock broke up with me !" she insisted. "Everything was perfect between us, and then you ruined everything !"

"I'm sure she was just waiting to get his attention to marry even higher in the Figarland family," another sneered.

"Clearly, I think we all know here that you will divorce as soon as you can to remarry-"

"Shut up."

Your voice was even, but cold enough to give Aokiji's ice a run for its money, and imbued with enough fury that all women took a sudden step back in fear.

"You lost a contract that held no affection because your fiancé and his father esteemed you were not good enough to join their family after comparing you to me," you declared calmly. "The difference between all of you and I is that if you were to lose the title you hold so dearly, you would not even survive a week. Meanwhile I lost everything once, and yet I found a way to rebuild a thriving life for myself, with a successful carreer, a happy marriage I have no intention to terminate, and a family of people dear to my heart that I possess the skill and power to protect if need be."

There was a moment of silence as you glared them all down, and every single woman avoided your gaze.

"If any of you wishes to pursue my brother-in-law, then by all means, be my guest," you huffed. "But you better start building up some skills that will hold the comparison to mine, because I doubt his superiority complex or his father will allow him to select a partner he perceives as lesser than the woman who married his brother."

And on those words, you turned on your right with the firm intention to get another glass of that light fizzling peach-flavoured wine and join your husband for some much needed positive social interaction. Instead, you did not get to make two steps before you found yourself facing Shamrock, whose expression showed he had heard most of your discussion with the group of noblewomen.

"I will not take those words back," you informed him plainly.

"I would not expect you to, moreso when your assumptions are founded," he replied with a brief look to the group behind you.

You heard several gasps and rolled your eyes at the disappointed and shocked reactions. Seriously, it was as if these women had never spent a day in court in their life. Even Lunaria had had its nobility meddling and political drama, and in Marie Geoise, everyone was so obnubilated with power and appearances that what would happen after you had joined the picture was simply obvious.

"Would you care for a dance ?" your brother-in-law asked suddenly with his hand extended toward you.

Chapter Text

Reader pov

You blinked in surprise at the unespected offer. Etiquette required you to accept it, since you had joined his family through marriage and already danced with your father-in-law earlier. Though you suspected it was also a way for Shamrock to both show his support to your presence, and most importantly, avoid dancing with one of the women staring longingly at him behind you.

"Certainly," you replied with a polite smile and put your hand in his.

You waited for the current song to end, and tried to look for your husband in the meantime. When you finally found him, he was ignoring his father as hard as humanly possible and obviously looking for a way to get another refill. Yet his eyes found yours quickly, a bare second before he clocked in the fact that Shamrock was holding your hand.

With your free hand, you pointed to the group of women at the side, then at yourself and then Shamrock, before making two circling motions with your index toward the dancefloor, and ultimately pointed at him discreetly as you tilted your head with a raise of your eyebrows. Shanks' eyes widened a moment, then he nodded, and you smiled.

"What did you do ?" your husband's brother asked you with what sounded like confusion.

On the other side of the dancefloor, you could see Garling asking something to Shanks, probably along the same lines, and your smile turned into a chuckle.

"I just let Shanks know that I was going to dance with you to avoid having to spend more time than necessary with much less pleasant people, and asked him whether he was fine with it," you explained.

"And you think he understood all that ?" Shamrock asked with a consequent amount of doubt in his voice.

"Absolutely. Shanks is very intuitive, and he's always had an incredible talent to understand what my gestures meant, even when we were younger," you smiled at the fond memories of your days on the Oro Jackson.

The music finished, leaving a few seconds before the next one started, and Shamrock used that interlude to lead you at the center of the dancefloor. You were relieved to not have called your feathers back since you doubted Shanks' twin knew how to dance with a winged partner any more than his father did.

The song starting next was a bit faster, not quite a polka, but still higher-paced than a waltz, and you had to focus a little more on the steps.

"What do you see in my brother ?" Shamrock asked you at some point, and you chuckled.

"Your father asked me exactly the same question," you smiled knowingly. "I will give you the same answer, he makes me happy."

Your reply seemed to make your brother-in-law frown, as if he had a hard time picturing how that could be a valid response.

"And that is all you wanted out of your marriage ?" the red-head asked you before leading you into a twirl.

"Well, watching him be a good stepdad to the sons I adopted was a plus, of course, and it is a great relief to be married to someone who can protect themselves since I'm not exactly any random woman," you said with no small amount of irony. "But mostly, yes. Shanks and I have known each other for a long time, we have similar worldviews, he makes me happy, I do my best to do the same, and we both want to make our relationship work with healthy bases like genuine feelings, mutual respect, and honest communication."

Your explanation took a bit longer to be said since it was between various steps requiring you to twirl again or not face Shamrock directly, but at least you had made your point. Your brother-in-law was looking at you with a surprised expression, like the things you listed were not among what he had ever considered important for a relationship.

"Your respective status and the reinforced prestige you could bring to each other was not part of your decision ?" he ultimately asked you.

You could not help it, you laughed at his question, and it almost made you miss the next figure.

"Not in the slightest," you chuckled once your hilarity came back under control. "In Lunaria, loveless marriages contracted for political or financial interest were quite frowned upon, we put much more importance on the compatibility between two potential mates. As Crown Princess, I would have been encouraged to marry someone who felt right to me, regardless of their social status."

"That sounds very unreasonable," Shamrock frowned.

"On the contrary. Happy marriages meant happier people, which in turn made for more productivity and overall a more harmonious society," you developped. "Not to mention a lot of high-society skills can be learned, which traditionally happened during the betrothal period."

The dance came to an end, you curtsied as Shamrock bowed, and you both made your way to where Shanks and Garling were obviously waiting for you to join them. As you walked out of the dancefloor, you called your feathers back to form your wings again, and brushed the right one on Shanks' arm in a familiar gesture of affection. However, you instantly noticed the mix of worry, guilt, and jealousy in your husband's eyes, while your father-in-law looked smugly pleased, and you frowned.

"You seem to have enjoyed yourselves," Garling commented.

"I would say so, Y/N is an excellent dance partner," Shamrock complimented you. "Our discussion was quite… enlightening."

"Yeah yeah my wife is amazing, I know," Shanks grumbled before downing his glass.

"We talked about you, actually," you said as you walked closer to your husband and grabbed his hand to make him look at you in the eyes. "Why I had married you, how happy you made me, and a few Lunarian traditions like the fact that my people valued healthy and balanced relationships much more than emotionless alliances made to further a person or family's interest."

Shanks blinked, then you watched as jealousy and worry left his gaze, but guilt was still there as he gave you a crooked smile and ran a hand through his hair. You knew he had picked up on what you had said between the lines, and so had Garling according to the pinched expression he wore once Shamrock nodded to confirm this had indeed been the subject of your discussion.

"Sorry babe," your husband apologised softly. "I just…"

"Don't like it ?" you completed just as softly. "Don't worry, one dance each was as far as I was willing to go for the sake of good manners," you told him with a wink.

That made Shanks' grin come back, and you even exchanged a quick kiss, the lingering taste of the alcohol on his lips making you wonder whether he had found one he liked more than the others yet.

"Well someone had to invite you to dance, and I doubt it would have been Shanks," Shamrock noted with a hint of haughtiness in his tone.

"Excuse you, I can totally dance !" your husband protested immediately.

"Right," his twin dismissed.

You could not say you were surprised when Shanks put his empty glass on the nearest platter he saw and looked at you with a gaze more expressive than a thousand words.

"Of course," you smiled. "I would be delighted."

Your husband beamed at your confirmation, and kissed your cheek before rushing to the musicians. In the meantime, you used your wings to gently fly to the center of the dancefloor, which had remained unoccupied during the current dance.

It ended quickly, and Shanks joined you with a grin, which widened when he saw everyone vacating the dancing area to avoid being seen dancing with the two of you.

"Ready to blow their mind, my love ?" you asked with a mischievous grin.

"Hell yeah," your beloved Emperor replied. "Can't let my amazing wife dance with every Figarland but me."

The music started, and you immediately identified the one with which he had surprised you in Kuraigana a couple weeks ago, that you had mentioned in passing having learned to dance on. You curtsied with your wings spreading in a Lunarian version of the proper salute.

Then you moved closer to each other and started to waltz on time with the melody, not bothering to mind your immediate surroundings since you were the only ones on the dancefloor.

"This is a very romantic choice," you smiled fondly.

"I'll have you know that I am a very romantic man," your husband grinned.

"Believe me, I'm well aware of that," you chuckled.

He dipped you briefly, and you twirled on yourself as you went back up, Shanks adjusting his steps and the distance between you to let your wings follow your body without disrupting your rhythm. Between the gold of your flowing dress echoing his shirt, your black wings echoing the way his black cloak flew when you turned, and how obviously attuned you were to each other, you knew the two of you alone on the dancefloor were a sight to behold.

Yet you wanted more. A proof of magnificence and power no one in Marie Geoise could ever dream to witness again after this night, much less replicate. Right now, you and Shanks were showing greatness.

But you wanted more than greatness.

You wanted divine.

"What do you say we make this a show they won't forget ?" you suggested when you realised the highest point of the music was near.

"You know I'm down for anything, babe," your husband grinned.

"Trust me ?"

"With my life."

You waited for the very moment where the melody exploded in power, and your wings exploded in time with it just as you sent feathers under both your clothes. Shanks and you instantly started to get higher in the ballroom, until every single person in attendance gasped as they could see the two of you dancing on what appeared to be nothing but air. The shouts and admiring reactions only grew more numerous when you made the rest of your feathers create a twirling pattern in a wide sphere around you.

You only made sure not to get high enough that people would manage to see under your dress, and kept your attention firmly on your husband. Shanks was looking absolutely elated as he grinned wildly, and he adapted to the change seamlessly with the help of your feathers.

"This is the coolest way to dance I've ever seen," your handsome pirate Emperor told you.

"Why thank you," you chuckled.

The music slowed down again, and you gently brought the two of you back toward the ground. Shanks still led you during the last familiar steps of the waltz, and you progressively brought your feathers on your back. You touched the ground right before the last of your feathers joined their rightful place among your wings and the last notes of the melody echoed in complete silence.

Still, instead of stepping appart, Shanks and you moved closer, until you were completely against each other. Your hands reached around his neck and his own wrapped around your waist, but the only thing you could focus on was the way his eyes were sparkling with happiness.

"I love you," you whispered before moving your head to reach his lips.

"And I love you," Shanks said back and joined you mid-way.

His lips were just as eager as always, and you kissed him back with the same love and affection you had done the first time it had happened after an amazing spar on your island. You still broke the kiss sooner than you wanted it, if only to vacate the dancefloor and let other people go back to it.

Shanks grinned and winked at you as he held your hand, and you made your way back to the mingling area. The envious looks and jealous gazes you could feel on the two of you only made you smirk smugly. Among a society built on hypocrisy and obsession for power, genuine love was the one thing those shitheads could covet yet never obtain, and you knew it was radiating from Shanks and you at the moment.

The second you reached a more peaceful place and managed to get another drink – maybe you would manage to actually finish this one – Shamrock and Garling joined you. You could tell both of them were staring at Shanks with what was a mix of disbelief and reluctant approval.

"Since when do you know how to dance ?" your brother-in-law asked bluntly.

"What's the matter, Shammy ? I can be classy if I want," your husband replied like the smug little shit he could be. "Fancy stuff might be your thing, but it doesn't mean I can't learn it. I just need a good reason," your roguish pirate said with a fond look toward you, and your heart melted.

You kissed him briefly, then turned a happy and possibly exaggerated swooning expression toward the two men staring at you.

"Shanks learned how to waltz to surprise me after I mentioned I had not had an occasion to dance since Lunaria had fallen," you said happily in a very clear and unnecessarily loud voice. "My wonderful husband even timed it so our first dance would happen in an actual ballroom, with proper waltzing music I had first heard in my kingdom, and on our wedding anniversary to boot."

There was a fleeting instant of shocked silence around you, during which Shanks was clearly grinning and puffing out proudly, and you could tell a lot of World Nobles around your little group were chewing on envy and jealousy after shamelessly eavesdropping on your conversation. And fine, maybe you were using the opportunity to brag about your thoughtful, loving, considerate, wonderful husband.

Seriously, how could anyone even entertain the idea that you would leave a man who could make you smile, laugh, moan, melt, bring you to the highest crest of pleasure and the softest cloud of affection, who was taking his responsibilities as your children's father, and even learned skills he had no previous interest in just to make you happy.

-o-oOo-o-

Shanks pov

Shanks made his way back down to Sabaody the next afternoon with Garling and Shamrock in tow.

He was not particularly happy about that fact, and neither was his wife. However, after a long discussion once they had come back from the gala, they had both agreed that Kida deserved to meet them at least once.

But both him and Y/N had categorically refused to bring their sweet, innocent, fragile baby girl to Marie Geoise. Garling and Shamrock had agreed to come to Sabaody, more or less incognito, and meet their niece and grand-daughter in one of the mangroves in Grove Thirteen.

Which may or may not be so Shanks knew the last man alive he was willing to actually consider his father and said father's wife would be there in a heartbeat in case things went south. That was a big part of why Y/N had left first, so she could get Kida, pick a location, and warn Ray and Shakky about the meeting.

With how protective the old pirate power couple was of both Lunarian princesses, Shanks had no doubt even the worst case scenario would end up with his daughter being safe.

So he led the two arrogant assholes he was related to until they were all in the correct Grove, then picked up one of the two feathers in his shirt, and followed the direction.

"Is it-" Shamrock started after a while, but was interrupted by a soft giggling sound.

Shanks smiled instantly as the unique laughter of the most precious little lady in the world reached his ears, and he put the feather back in his pocket before dashing forward to turn around the nearest massive tree.

"Found you !" the Emperor grinned as he grabbed the winged little girl who had obviously tried to stay hidden to surprise him. "You can't hide from me, princess !"

He gave his daughter a big smooch on the cheek, which made her laugh harder, and hugged her tightly while being mindful of her little wings.

"Give her a few more years," his wife smiled as she stepped next to them. "She'll get you one day, right Kida ?"

"Yes !" his daughter exclaimed.

There was a cough behind him, and Shanks' happiness at holding his daughter again faded a bit. He exchanged a quick look with the love of his life, who nodded briefly to confirm Ray and Shakky were around. The Emperor took a deep breath, and looked at his little girl, who was still hidden against his chest for the time being and looking at him curiously.

"Mom told you about the people you're going to meet ?" he asked her.

"Mh-hm," his daughter nodded and her wings fluttered excitedly. "Mom says it's your family, not like you and mom are for my brothers but like you and mom are for me !"

"Yeah, those men are my brother and father by blood," Shanks admitted reluctantly, "and they want to meet you. You're okay with that, sweetie ?"

"Yes !"

The Emperor took a deep breath, and once his wife was by his side and he could feel Ray and Shakky nearby, he turned around with Kida in his arms to make introductions, while getting ready to move in a flash if need be.

"Kida, this is your uncle Shamrock and your grandfather Garling. You two, this precious angel is our daughter Kida," Shanks said with as much politeness as he could muster, and only in order to spare his darling baby girl's ears.

There was a second of silence, during which his twin's eyes widened at the little girl in his arms, and Garling kept standing there, eyes hidden behind his sunglasses but looking frozen in his spot as well.

"Hi !" Kida smiled with a wave of her hand and her wings flapping so she could turn around and face them, then she gasped. "You look like dad !"

Shamrock tensed at once, but Kida was apparently not done, and Shanks watched his daughter turn her head between his twin and himself several times, before frowning at him.

"Why is your hair not long ?"

"Because I cut it," Shanks chuckled.

"Why ?"

"Because I prefer it like that."

"Why ? His hair is pretty !" she pouted, and Shanks laughed at her adorable protest until she turned to look at Shamrock with a hopeful look. "Can I touch your hair ? And hug you ?"

"My little star," Y/N intervened, "I don't think-"

"Of course," Shamrock replied immediately and stepped forward.

Shanks watched his daughter all but jump from his arms to fly into his twin's, her little wings wrapping themselves around the cloak above his shoulders. Shamrock looked shocked, and the way he hugged her back made Shanks' jaw drop. His brother was acting like the little girl hugging him was made of cristal and might break if he was not extremely cautious in the way he held her.

"Wow it's soft," Kida breathed as her hand touched the strands of hair Shanks knew his twin was extremely protective of.

"You've got to be kidding me," his wife muttered next to him. "Even them ?"

"Looks like it," Shanks laughed incredulously.

He knew his daughter was insanely cute and could wrap everyone around her little finger with nothing more than a smile and a flap of her wings, but to see her adorableness work on Shamrock was a whole new level.

"Can I touch your feathers ?" his twin asked gently, which in itself was baffling since Shanks knew his brother never asked for permission when he wanted something, he took it and that was that.

"Mom says it's only for close family," Kida replied in a small voice.

"I'm your father's brother, that makes us close family," Shamrock replied instantly.

His daughter gasped and turned her head back toward them with a hopeful smile.

"Mom ? He can, right ?"

"If- if you want it, then yes," Y/N replied with a smile that was clearly forced, and Shanks took her hand in his.

He knew Kida had no idea how hard seeing her bonding with Shamrock was for her mother, which was why he did not intervene or prevented his little girl to do something that would make her happy. They had agreed Kida was still too young to learn about what had happened to her mom's kingdom, but it did not make the sight easier to watch.

At least Shamrock was careful about the way he put his gloved hand on her left wing, and Shanks even had to blink when he saw what looked like a genuine smile on his twin's face.

"I will protect you until the end of time," Shamrock murmured at some point, when it looked like Kida had adopted him like another person to cuddle and her head was nuzzling the fluffy white cravat he wore above his jacket.

"Good to hear, now can I get my daughter back ?" Shanks said with a raised eyebrow.

His twin's relaxed expression turned into a glare in half a second.

"Not until my niece asks me to let her go."

"Oh come on that's ridiculous," the Emperor snorted. "My little princess is a cuddle monster, if you wait for her to let you go, we'll still be here tomorrow !"

"Fine by me."

"Absolutely not," Garling intervened, and right, Shanks had almost forgotten his high and mighty ass was there too. "This young lady is the future of the Figarland line, and needs proper nutrition, rest, and care."

"Which I assure you, we provide her," Y/N stated in her no-nonsense voice.

"I would certainly hope so," Garling huffed.

"You're a grumpy grandpa !" Kida exclaimed suddenly.

Shanks blinked, then exploded in laughter at the remark and Garling's offended expression, to the point he almost fell on his ass and had to hit his leg with his hand several times. It took an awfully long while for the Emperor to calm down, after which he even had to wipe tears from his eyes.

"Yep, that's exactly it, you got Grumpy Grandpa and Uncle Shammy," Shanks chuckled breathlessly as he grinned to his daughter.

"Don't you da-" his twin started.

"Uncle Shammy !" Kida repeated with a big smile.

Shamrock shut his mouth and the Emperor had a blast watching all five steps of grief flash in a second on his brother's face, until he seemed to reach acceptance.

"I suppose you can address me like this if you wish," his twin sighed.

"Well, it was nice to hold this meeting," Y/N intervened with a clipped smile, "but my little star needs her afternoon nap."

"I'm not ti-ired," Kida protested, which would have been more credible if she had not yawned in the middle of the word.

"Come on sweetie, time to rest," Shanks grinned and stepped forward.

After a second yawn, his daughter let go of Shamrock to almost fall on his chest, then the Emperor stepped back while giving a kiss on her white hair and tightening his arms around her lax little body as she fell asleep in seconds.

"There, you met our daughter, now you can go back to Marie Geoise and be assholes to the rest of the world," Shanks declared with a warning look. "My beautiful wife and myself have a life to live happily and a wonderful little girl to raise on the sea."

For a second, the Emperor wondered whether the two God's Knights were going to protest, but they ultimately turned around and left. It was only once they were out of view that his wife finally seemed to relax, and Ray and Shakky jumped down from the trees to join them on the ground.

"Went pretty well if you ask me," Ray hummed.

"This little lady is certainly a charmer," Shakky added with a knowing smile.

Shanks grinned proudly as he kept holding his sleeping baby girl, and he heard his wife sigh good-heartedly next to him.

"At least they seemed disposed to protect her," Y/N huffed with a tired smile. "But I would still rather avoid letting them meet her again."

"Don't worry babe, I can't think of a single situation where that would happen," Shanks laughed.

Three days later, a very official looking package reached the Red Force, with the seal of Celestial Dragons on it, and addressed to Shanks himself, which confused him. The Emperor opened the letter attached to it first, to get an idea of what the hell was going on.

The longer he read, the wider his eyes became, until he reached the end and could no longer hold it in.

"THAT FUCKING SON OF A BITCH !"

"Shanks, language," his wife reproached him from her chair nearby where she was teaching Kida how to read.

"No but- babe- you don't- LOOK !" the Emperor gave the letter to his wife and frantically opened the package as she read.

"Are they serious !?" she seethed as soon as she finished reading. "They dare to-"

"Yep," Shanks confirmed in a groan as soon as he got it opened and could see the content. "Those fu- frea- damn it !"

"What's in the box, dad ?" his daughter asked curiously with her wings flapping on her back.

"Something you'll never need as long as I'm alive, sweetie," Shanks grumbled and then joined his wife and daughter at the table. "Mind if I borrow something to write on, babe ? And someone get me tape to close that sea-damned package again, I'm sending it back to Garling !"

To Saint Shanks Figarland,

By the grace of the Council of Elders, you have hereby been granted your birthright back as a Celestial Dragon of house Figarland. Your name is now reinstated in the register of your family, and you shall be granted the rights and privileges befitting your rank.

As per the laws of Marie Geoise, your wife, Crown Princess Y/N of Lunaria, will therefore be granted the appropriate protection and privileges befitting the spouse of a Celestial Dragon.

In accordance with the rule of transmission, your progeny will receive the title befitting her status as an heiress by blood of house Figarland, and be acknowledged as Saint Kida Figarland. This status can be cumulated with any title she will inherit from her mother.

In addition, due to remarkable fighting abilities confirmed by Saint Garling Figarland, Supreme Commander of the God's Knights of Marie Geoise, you and your wife are granted a permanent invitation to join the ranks of the God's Knights. Should Princess Y/N accept, she will be granted the status of Celestial Dragon.

You will find with the present letter the government-issued identification chips confirming both your and your daughter's status.

 T he Council of Elders

Chapter Text

Buggy pov

The time in Alabasta had been very chaotic and very weird, but Buggy had somehow managed to stay out of all the dangerous fights, and that meant all was well. He was not even truly surprised that Mugiwara had managed to kick Crocodile's ass, not if his nephew had spent half his life being trained by Y/N.

Seas knew the Lunarian princess had been the most amazing trainer Buggy had ever met in his entire life, even when she was just twelve. But unfortunately, it also meant the clown had one hell of a hard time finding her kid, which meant he could not catch up and learn everything he could about his sister and the family and life she had built for herself after leaving the Oro Jackson.

Which was annoying.

"But Captain, we don't know where Mugiwara is !"

"We'll find him !" Buggy affirmed confidently.

"Oh, you're looking for Luffy ? I know where he's going, I can tell you if you want."

"See ?" the clown said triumphantly. "He can tell us where- HEY WHO ARE YOU AND WHAT ARE YOU DOING ON MY SHIP !?"

Buggy only realised as he turned around that the guy who had spoken was not a member of his crew, but a young man with black hair who was not even wearing a shirt, and whose back was covered by a tattoo of Whitebeard's mark. The blue-haired man instantly started to sweat bullets as the guy stood up and turned as well to bow.

"Ah, sorry, I smelled food and came aboard. My name is Portgas D Ace, pleasure to meet you."

"Oh no it's fine, no need to be so formal- wait. Portgas D Ace, as in, Firefist Ace ? The Commander of Whitebeard's second division !?" Buggy shrieked.

"Yep !" he confirmed with a laugh. "Who're you guys ?"

"I'm the flashy, only, unique Great Captain Buggy !" the clown said and struck as confident a pose as he could in front of that powerhouse.

"Oh, like my uncle !"

Great seas not again.

"Wait what ? You- you're one of Y/N's kids ?" Buggy asked with his jaw slack.

"You know my mom !?" the guy beamed.

The idea that Firefist Ace, former super rookie, and youngest division Commander of the Whitebeard Pirates, had also grew up with Y/N as a mother and trainer was both terrifying and making an awful lot of sense.

But still, Buggy was not going to take any risk, and to check, he picked the feather in his hair.

"She gave me this before leaving, if you truly are her son, then-"

"Oh yeah look !" the young man with freckles said as he excitedly put a similar feather out of his hat. "So you're really my uncle Buggy !"

"And you're really one of my nephews !" Buggy exclaimed happily.

Next second, he was hugging the kid and sitting next to him so they could chat, and Buggy finally noticed the gobsmacked faces of his crew.

"What's the matter, everyone !? That's my nephew here ! Let's welcome him flashily !" he shouted.

A couple hours later, Buggy had managed to properly catch up with at least one of his niblings, and even gotten to learn more about what his little sister had been up to. The clown may or may not have cried after learning that she was the author of the fairytales Roger had loved so much until he died.

But the best news and bonding moment was definitely when Ace had started to talk about Shanks.

"Look, he might be my stepdad and an Emperor and a great guy, but he's still an asshole," the freckled young man grumbled.

"FINALLY !" Buggy exclaimed. "Someone gets it ! He's an asshole who ruins people's lives !"

"EXACTLY !" Ace yelled back with meat in his hand. "I mean fine, he makes my mom happy and I have a little sister who's amazing thanks to him, but I'll never forgive him for what he did to my mom. I don't even know why she forgave him."

"Well I'll never forgive him either for what he did to me. That asshole made me eat this Devil Fruit and lose a treasure map when we were kids, you know ?" Buggy grumbled. "And he keeps saying it was an accident but I know it was totally on purpose !"

"What an asshole," his nephew confirmed, and that was it, Buggy definitely had a favourite now. "At least he didn't try to kill you like he tried to kill mom."

Buggy spat his drink in shock.

"HE WHAT !??"

-o-oOo-o-

Whitebeard pov

It had been months since Ace had left to hunt Teach, and the news had apparently reached Akagami, who had snailed to set up a meeting. Newgate was a bit more worried at the thought of explaining to the brat's wife what her boy was doing than he was concerned about his fellow Emperor's reaction.

Not to mention he had yet to properly thank her for the warning she had secretely given Marco when she had come the last time. If the Lunarian princess had not shared that hunch of hers with his first son, Thatch would likely have died instead of ultimately recovering after a couple weeks spent in the infirmary.

This certainly put Newgate in her debt to some extent, even if the actual tragedy had been avoided thanks to Marco's quick reaction.

Though on a more joyous side, that meeting was also likely going to be the occasion to meet Ace's much younger sister that he gushed about all the time. From what the old Emperor had understood, the little lass should be three or four years old, and according to his son, almost impossibly cute.

When the Red Force was spotted on the horizon, Whitebeard straightened a little in his chair despite the bothering IVs stuck into him, and spoke clearly.

"I want only the Commanders on deck for this one."

"Aye Pops !"

By the time Akagami stepped up on the deck of the Moby alone, he had already sent a solid wave of Haki to announce his presence, but once in front of him, the brat sighed and ran a hand over his face.

"Look, fair warning, my wife doesn't know yet what happened, but I can already tell you she's not going to like it," Shanks told him seriously. "I hope you have a plan to bring Ace back, because as good as the kid is, I don't think he's strong enough to face Blackbeard yet, not with that Devil Fruit, and definitely not alone."

"You think you get a say in how we deal with traitors yoi ?" Marco intervened.

"I think I get a say in what might get one of my kids killed," the brat retorted with a glare.

Which, Newgate had to admit, was a fair point. But it still did not give Shanks any authority to prevent Ace from going after a traitor in his division if he wanted to, moreso when the old Emperor had always made sure that everyone would know attacking a member of his family meant suffering the consequences.

"That boy is stubborn," Whitebeard huffed, "I don't think anything could have stopped him from leaving once he had an explanation and a name, not even his mother."

As if summoned, a feminine silhouette with black wings suddenly rose above the railing, quickly followed by a much smaller one with smaller wings, and everyone's attention turned to them.

"Three !" the voice of a young child exclaimed in proud happiness. "Dad ! I only did three flaps to get here !"

Newgate watched a white-haired little girl fly straight into Akagami's arms, whose Haki disappeared and attitude changed instantly to display a beaming smile.

"That's amazing Kida ! I'm so proud of you, sweetie !" the red-head congratulated her with a hug. "Soon you're going to be as fast as your mom !"

A happy giggle followed, and by the time Y/N had joined the duo on deck, the little girl turned and seemed to notice him.

Bright red eyes widened in awe, black wings fluttered for a second, and Newgate felt his heart jump with the need to adopt this precious treasure of a child and protect her with everything he had.

"Dad look !" she exclaimed and pointed at Newgate. "He's a huge man !"

"Yep, he is," Shanks grinned. "His name is Edward Newgate."

"Why is your mustache looking like that ?" she asked next with her head tilted curiously.

"That's how it grows, guarararara," Whitebeard grinned and bent forward. "You're one curious little lass, aren't you ?"

The adorable little girl looked expectantly at her mother, who nodded with a smile, and then she flew from Shanks' arms to come closer to Newgate, her small wings flapping until she was at face level. She adressed him a beaming smile, and the old Emperor felt ready to melt.

"My name is Kida ! Mom says you're my big brother Ace's Captain and a good person !"

"Your mom's absolutely right, little Kida," Whitebeard smiled.

"Talking about Ace, where is he ?" Y/N asked. "With all the Commanders here, I thought he would be on deck as well, especially if he knew we were on our way to pay you a visit."

The atmosphere turned tense again at once, and Newgate raised a hand to let the winged little girl sit in it with another beaming smile, then brought her closer to his chest. Shanks raised an eyebrow and smirked knowingly at his movement, which Whitebeard chose to ignore.

"He's on a mission."

"Mission ?" the Lunarian princess repeated with narrowed eyes. "What kind of mission ?"

"He's looking for a traitor, but-"

"No," she cut him off in a whisper, and the way her tanned skin seemed to pale drastically worried the old Emperor more than an angry scream would have. "No no no no, he can't- I specifically- if he ever- no, not this time, it can't be- he would have-"

"Babe ? Sweetheart, love, breathe, what is going on ?" Akagami asked in concern, his hand reaching for her shoulder immediately.

"If he faces Teach alone, he will lose," the woman mumbled. "He'll be captured. And the Marines will realise he's the son of- that he didn't really die ten years ago-"

She was staring at the wood of the deck without seeing it, her eyes clearly lost in a future that had yet to happen, but her words sent a ripple of fear through Newgate and his children.

Worse than anything, however, her terrified whispers about Ace's parentage sent Whitebeard's mind right back to the evening where his newly adopted son had told him his biological father was Roger. The kid had survived a first assassination order after his mom faked his death and raised him in secrecy, to ensure his existence would have been buried deep in decade-old reports by the time he started to sail.

But if the Marines got their hands on Ace and did their usual background check on him, there was not a single doubt they would dig up those reports, connect the dots, and order his execution.

"We have to bring him back," Y/N said urgently, then her gaze met Newgate's. "You must have a way to contact him, right ? I'll talk him into coming back, or at least waiting for me to join him, but there has to be something you can do !"

"You, uh, you're not mad at us for letting him leave ?" Thatch asked her incredulously.

The princess' laugh was bittersweet, and her smile did not reach her eyes.

"Believe me, I know how stubborn my son can be. If he really wanted to leave and kill that guy himself, he would have managed to give you the slip at one point," she declared with no small amount of irony.

"I'm afraid he left without a den-den mushi," Whitebeard told her.

"Ace is not here ?" a little voice asked from his hand, sounding sad and disappointed.

"No, little one. He left to find and punish someone who did something very wrong," the old pirate replied solemnly as he looked to the white-haired girl.

There was a moment of silence on deck, where Akagami kept whispering things to his wife, probably reassurances, and Kida unfortunately left his palm to fly back to her parents and hug her mother.

"Thank you, my little star," Y/N replied after engulfing her daugher in both her arms and her wings. "It will be alright, I promise. I'll get your brother back one way or another. It won't be the first time."

"We're saving Ace ! I can help !" the girl declared proudly.

"You definitely can," Shanks smiled. "How about you go tell uncle Beck what we learned here ? Mom and I need to do some boring adult talk with Whitebeard but we'll join yo-"

"Who's Whitebeard ?"

There was a collective blink, then Shanks laughed.

"Sorry sweetie, I forgot to tell you. Whitebeard is the nickname people give to Edward Newgate, just like people call me Akagami or Red-Hair, you see ?"

"But he doesn't have a white beard," she frowned and turned around. "You have a white mustache ! Your nickname should be Whitemustache !"

Newgate felt his smile widen at her adorable pout, then erupted in laughter along with his sons.

"GURARARARARA ! You're right, child, I should change my name one of these days !" he laughed and hit the ground with his naginata. "But your parents are right, we've got some adult stuff to talk about."

"I'll go tell uncle Beck !" the little girl nodded in determination, and spread her cute little wings. "Bye mister Newgate !"

"Just call me Pops, little one !"

"Oh hell no, you're not adopting my daughter !" Akagami protested. "Kida, you can't call him that ! And he's too old anyway !"

The little girl blinked, seemed to hesitate, then turned mid-air to look at her mother. The Lunarian princess made a little smile with a mischievous sparkle in her eyes that instantly reminded Newgate of Ace's expression before he prepared a prank. It seemed the boy had taken after his mother more than most of them gave him credit for.

The winged woman murmured a few words to her daughter, who beamed afterwards and turned to wave at Newgate.

"Bye Grandpops !"

The old Emperor laughed again as she disappeared behind the railing, and grinned happily. That cute little lass was definitely an adorable child to protect at any cost.

"Sweetheart, you can't be serious !" Akagami protested. "He's already snatched Ace, and you're letting him claim Kida too ?"

"Absolutely not," she countered with a shake of her head, "I'm just accepting the fact that our daughter will have a fourth grandfather out there."

"Fourth ?" Newgate asked with a raised eyebrow.

"Well she already has a Gramps, a Grandpa Ray, a Grumpy Grandpa, and now you get to be her Grandpops," Y/N shrugged, her winds following the movement.

Whitebeard grinned proudly at the official aknowledgement that the little girl was his to claim as a grandchild, even as he heard several of his sons snicker and badly hide their laughter. There was no doubt both the Grandpops and Whitemustache nickname would be heard by every single one of his children by sunset, but the old Emperor found he did not mind it. Not when it meant his adorable grand-daughter had officially become part of his family.

"Now, about Ace's hunt, I will not lie to you," the princess said seriously. "I have a bad, very bad feeling about it. I will try to see if I can get him to come back or at least get reinforcements, but in the event that I failed to reach him…"

Newgate watched as she put a hand on her chin and her eyes took a glassy shade as she seemed to no longer be with them, almost like she was retreating within her own mind to a dangerous extent. But when he bent forward with the intention to speak, Akagami raised a hand and shook his head in silence, in what Whitebeard instantly understood as an instruction to let his wife think through whatever plan she was concocting according to her knowledge and hunches about the future.

"Yes, that might be the best option," she muttered after a few minutes.

"What's your idea yoi ?" Marco asked her seriously.

Newgate did not refrain his grin at the polite tone his first son was using when addressing the Lunarian princess. Between her flying lesson, how protective she was of Ace, Newgate's own kinship with her as a fellow adoptive parent, and her correct prediction that had saved Thatch's life, Marco was clearly ready to trust her blindly, or at the very least show the woman the respect she was due.

"I'm going to make a few calls," she stated, then looked Newgate straight in the eyes with a solemn expression he had not expected. "Make your way toward Sabaody. Should I succeed to convince him, you will get the visit of a supernova soon. You can't adopt him, and he will likely have the manners of a hissy alley cat and ask for a future favour in exchange of his help, but there is a chance he could heal you."

Newgate's heart missed a beat in yearning hope. He had mostly renounced to ever be healed and made his peace with death lurking at the corner, ready to take him sooner rather than later. The winged woman was not the first one to claim she had a solution for the mysterious disease plaguing him, but she was the first one Whitebeard would consider believing.

"Wait what ?" the brat said, looking as taken aback as Newgate felt. "You know someone who can heal the old man ?"

"Long story," she replied with a little smile. "I'm not completely sure he can do it, but his medical skills are unmatched and I'm on good terms with him. Even if he can't solve the problem, he will be able to rule out several possibilities and possibly offer some relief."

"We'll take it yoi," Marco replied instantly.

The princess nodded, while Newgate was still trying to process her offer, and she grabbed Akagami's hand.

"Let's go back, honey, I need to call my son."

"We told you he didn't-" Izou started.

"She didn't mean that one," the brat snickered. "My wonderful wife adopted three boys before our marriage, and believe me, Ace might be the most stubborn, but he isn't the smartest or the most chaotic of the bunch."

There was a second where Whitebeard could feel the shiver running through his sons at the idea of two more boys having been raised by the same woman and being possibly worse than their brother. Which meant, of course, that the Emperor grinned widely at the prospect of two new sons joining his family soon.

"Don't even think of it," the Lunarian princess smiled knowingly. "One of them is chaos and freedom incarnate, he won't sail under anyone's flag but his own. And the other is way too determined to change the world to join a pirate crew."

"Doesn't mean they can't be family," Newgate laughed.

"Nope, our family tree is already complicated as hell, you don't get to add to it," Akagami snorted. "Come on babe, let's go back."

"We'll stay in contact," she said with a determined look. "Let me know if my eldest called you at any point."

"Joint custody," Whitebeard reminded her with a grin. "Let me know how your own calls go."

The Lunarian princess smiled and nodded, then she and Akagami left and the Red Force sailed away from the Moby while the rest of his sons trickled back on deck.

Had she not married Roger's brat, Whitebeard had no doubt the Lunarian princess could have become an Emperor in her own right. In a different lifetime, he knew he would have taken her in as his own daughter. That woman had definitely been a lost little girl once, and had grown to be fiercely protective of her family in a way that echoed with Newgate's own beliefs.

"Pops ?" Thatch asked. "Do you really think we can trust her ?"

The old Emperor smiled reassuringly at his son. After a serious and private discussion, Marco and Newgate had decided not to tell how and why Thatch had been saved, in order to protect Y/N's incredibly rare gift to tell the future. As far as his children were aware, only Marco's actions had saved their brother. But the fact that she had been willing to share such a powerful ability for the sake of his family meant Whitebeard was willing to repay her kindness with equal trust.

"I think this woman and her husband will do everything in their power to save their child," Newgate declared confidently. "Including helping us."

His answer clearly was what his son needed to hear, and the old Emperor did not miss how several of his Commanders relaxed at his words.

Even if the worst came to happen, Newgate knew they would not be alone to face it. Not when this woman had promised to show him the photo albums of her family with a smile bright enough to rival the moon and stars after she agreed to let Ace join his crew.

There was more to family than blood, after all, and bonds forged in true love and respect were unbreakable. Teach might have shown his true colours and broken his ties with them after years of pretending, but Ace was part of his family in all the ways that mattered, just like he was his mother's son.

Chapter Text

Beckman pov

The screaming had been going on for at least an hour.

On deck.

With everyone watching.

Breaking the most important rules of the Red-Haired Pirates' crew.

Rule number one, Kida's safety is to be prioritised at all costs.

Rule number two, Shanks' word is absolute.

Rule number three, in case of emergency, Y/N's word takes precedence.

But now, and for the past hour since the newspaper had arrived, Shanks and his wife had been shouting at each other. Not about whether they would intervene, since they agreed they would. Not about how, since they agreed they had to kick Kaido's ass again before joining forces with Whitebeard to save Ace at Marineford. Not about when, since they agreed time was of the essence.

But about Kida's babysitters in the meantime.

Thankfully, the little winged princess was taking a morning nap in Shanks' quarters and thus was spared the sight of her parents fighting seriously about her.

And for the first time since he had met his Captain's wife, Beckman had to begrudgingly admit he was siding with him rather than with her.

"HOW DARE YO-"

"IT'S THE SAFEST PLACE SHE'LL EV-"

The screaming had been going on about how to ensure their daughter's safety during the upcoming war, and who would be best suited to protect her during this chaotic time.

She could not stay on the Red Force, since her presence was a massive risk on a battlefield. But the people who could babysit her, who were both strong and close enough, were more than limited.

Shanks and Y/N would be fighting to save Ace. Sabo and Luffy were definitely going to get involved as well. Rayleigh and Shakky had already left for Amazon Lily. Elbaf was too far away for even Y/N to reach it with Kida and come back in time. Whitebeard and all his fleet would be at the frontlines. Garp's hands were tied with his role in the Marines. Dragon's stronghold was too far. Mihawk would participate in the war to maintain his rank of Warlord.

Beckman would be the first – maybe third after Y/N and Shanks – to admit he hated the only option left.

The little girl's biological family.

Garling and Shamrock Figarland.

Her grandfather and uncle on her father's side.

Shanks was arguing the two Celestial Dragons loved his daughter and would never hurt the youngest member of their house in any way, moreso since she was the only heiress to their bloodline.

Y/N was categorically against it and argued Garling had participated in the Lunarian war, had not even apologised for her people's extermination, and therefore could not be trusted with her offspring.

Which was a valid counterpoint.

If not for the fact that even the Dark King had confirmed the two men had been bewitched by the little girl, more than himself had been by Y/N when she had been brought by Roger on the Oro Jackson. There was not much in this world that could get Beckman to reconsider his opinion, but Silvers Rayleigh and Shakuyaku agreeing on something made the list.

Not to mention the letter sent by the Gorosei to give Kida the status of Celestial Dragon, ensuring she would be considered a legal citizen of Marie Geoise in the event she ever went there.

So if Shanks said his twin and father would keep his daughter safe while the rest of them would fight to rescue Ace, then Beckman believed him.

Unfortunately, his wife had a different opinion.

Hence the screaming match.

"I WILL NOT LEAVE MY DAUGHTER WITH THEM !"

"YOU GOT A BETTER IDEA !?"

The princess clenched her teeth, and the next second, she flapped her wings and left the deck to go fly in the clouds. Shanks' shoulders slumped and he ran both hands over his face with a heavy sigh.

"Captain ?" Yasopp asked cautiously.

"It's fine. She needs a moment to cool off, but she agrees."

"Didn't sound like it," Beckman deadpanned.

"She wouldn't have left if she had a valid counter argument," Shanks said with a wry smile. "I think she knows I'm right, she just… really hates the idea."

"Can't blame her," Limejuice muttered.

Five minutes later, Y/N came back on the ship, her wings instantly coming to a resting position and her fists clenched at her side, but her teary eyes showed fear rather than anger.

"I don't want to, Shanks. If anything happened to her-"

"Love, they're assholes, but you've seen the way they looked at Kida and what they did to protect her," his Captain cut her off gently. "You know they won't let anything happen to our baby."

"I… I'm sorry, I can't trust them, not with this. Not with her."

"Then trust me," Shanks said as he took her hand in both of his. "You know I would never risk Kida's life. If I had the slightest doubt about it, I would not even have suggested the idea. And it's only for a few days, a week at most."

Beckman saw the moment Y/N caved, but the obvious pain in her eyes and the tears running on her face made his heart clench, to the point he knew Shanks had to feel his own heart break at the sight.

"I'll pack her bag," she whispered. "Call your brother. I'll get her to Sabaody for sunset, Grove two, next to the sea."

"Thank you love," Shanks breathed, then hugged his wife tightly.

Before she got inside, Beckman briefly put his own hand on the white-haired woman's shoulder to exchange a look with her. After all those years, the princess was his friend before being his Captain's wife, and he would support her as much as he could.

"She'll be safe."

"I hope so," the Lunarian woman whispered, then walked past him to start packing her daughter's stuff.

-o-oOo-o-

Shamrock pov

Shamrock was in his office, reading Gunko's report of her last mission, when the snail on his desk started ringing.

Purupurupuru.

Gatcha.

"Shamrock Figarland."

"I got a favour to ask," his twin's voice said immediately, and the Commander felt his eyebrows rise in surprise.

"You must be desperate if you come to me for help," Shamrock replied with a small smirk at the idea that Shanks would soon be in his debt.

"Believe me when I say you're my last resort and I'm not happy about it," his brother said, and the unusual serious in his voice was enough to intrigue Shamrock. "I need you to be in Sabaody by sunset, Grove Two, the part facing the sea. My wife will join you there."

The prospect of seeing the bewitching Lunarian princess again was almost enough to make Shamrock agree immediately, but he refrained since he had a feeling there was more to what Shanks wanted from him than a simple trip to Sabaody and meeting his sister-in-law.

"That is the favour you ask from me ?"

"No, but I'd rather not say the rest through snail. You'll understand when you get there. And for the record, it was hard enough to get her to agree, so really, don't fuck it up."

"I suppose I could make the trip. But you will owe me for this, and I might refuse whatever she asks of me," the Commander hummed with a smirk.

"I don't owe you shit, if anything, you'll thank me for giving you that chance," his twin snorted. "Sabaody, Grove Two, near the sea by sunset. I mean it, Shamrock, don't miss it."

Gatcha.

The use of his actual name rather than the infuriating nickname his twin usually called him by was enough to actually surprise Shamrock. The Commander frowned lightly at the very unexpected call and fell back on the back of his chair with his fingers tapping his desk. Shanks snailing him, sounding so serious all along, to ask him a favour that implied his wife and a trip to Sabaody…

Had it been anyone else, the red-head would have suspected a trap, and a badly hidden one at that. But traps were neither Shanks nor Y/N's type, they were both more direct than that and faced their enemies head-on.

And Shamrock was curious about what could possibly push his twin to ask for his help.

The Commander of the God's Knights made his way to the rendez-vous point his brother had given him, hidden by his cloak to not attract any attention as he walked through the various Groves of Sabaody. He arrived in Grove Two just before sunset, and kept his eyes on the sea, more specifically on the sky above it. He did not have to wait long before a small moving silhouette appeared among the clouds, and in a matter of minutes, his sister-in-law landed in front of him.

But what made Shamrock's eyes widen immediately was the sleeping little girl she was holding against her chest.

His niece, the most perfect and precious child in the world.

The one being he would give his life for in a heartbeat.

"Shamrock," his sister-in-law nodded.

Her greetings snapped him out of the instant elation he had felt at the sight of Kida, and the Commander looked back at the Lunarian princess. The first thing he noticed was how tense she was, and the hard look in her eyes.

"Y/N," he greeted in kind. "I assume the favour you are here to ask me is linked to my niece ?"

"Yes. We…" she took a deep breath and briefly closed her eyes, as if her next words were requiring a strength she had rarely needed. "We need someone to take care of Kida for a few days, a week at most. Can you-"

"Yes," Shamrock replied instantly, any suspicion of manipulation leaving his mind as soon as he understood what she wanted from him.

The Commander even felt a smile stretch his lips at the thought that he would get to spend several days with his adorable niece, and his eyes fell back on the winged little girl. It seemed his brother had been right in the end.

If anything, you'll thank me for giving you that chance.

"I will be honest with you," his sister-in-law continued with a glare, "I don't want to trust the men who participated in the destruction of my kingdom with my daughter. But Shanks thinks you will protect her, and there is no one else powerful or close enough to do it," she said through gritted teeth.

"You have my word as Commander of the God's Knights and heir to the Figarland name that no harm will befall her on my watch," Shamrock vowed seriously, meaning every word.

The mere idea of this absolute treasure getting hurt or injured was utterly revolting. His sister-in-law nodded curtly, then some of her feathers detached from her wings to make a small duffel bag float to him.

"I put her favourite plushie and a few things for her in there, including a fairytale I never published. Don't let that one fall into other hands either," the princess informed him sternly.

Shamrock nodded and grabbed the small bag, then put it over his shoulder and took a step forward so he would have an easier time taking his niece off her hands. Y/N looked like the prospect of leaving her daughter was akin to carving her heart out of her chest, but she still changed her stern and hard expression to something softer when she started to brush her daughter's white hair.

"Kida ? Can you wake up, my little star ?"

It took a moment and an adorable little yawn before Shamrock's niece woke up, and she blinked tiredly at her mother.

"Do you remember your uncle Shammy ?"

"Uncle Shammy ?" his niece asked, then turned her head and addressed him a wide smile with happyness shining in her ruby red eyes that instantly melted the Commander's heart. "Hi !"

"Hello, Kida," Shamrock smiled back, not even taking offense at the childish nickname.

"My princess, listen to me. You're going to stay with your uncle for a little while, but mom and dad will come back to get you as fast as possible," his sister-in-law explained gently. "If someone is mean to you, fly away from them and go to your uncle, alright ? And no matter what, keep my feather with you."

"Okay mom," the little girl nodded, then yawned again. "I'm tired."

"You can rest in my arms," the Commander offered immediately.

In a matter of moments, Y/N had gently transferred the winged little girl to him, and Shamrock was elated at the feeling of his niece sleeping against him and her soft feathers brushing against his clothes.

"She insisted to fly part of the distance," her mother explained as she carefully repositionned the little wings with a tender smile and kissed the white hair of the Lunarian heiress.

For a fleeting second, Shamrock's mind conjured this scene as what could have been, had Y/N married him instead of Shanks. This could be his perfect family he would have made a little trip to Sabaody with. His adorable daughter who had fallen asleep in his arms after an exhausting day. His powerful wife smiling softly as she arranged Kida's position so she would not hurt herself.

 "I need to go back to Shanks," the princess said, and the illusion shattered at the reminder that she had chosen his twin. "Take care of my daughter, Shamrock."

"I will," the Commander of the God's Knight nodded solemnly.

His sister-in-law sent one last pained look to the little girl napping in his arms, then spread her wings and shot through the sky again. In a matter of seconds, she was but a small point in the distance, and Shamrock turned his gaze back down to the precious child sleeping in his arms.

He smiled anyway at the reminder that he had days to spend with his niece. And with how little time that was, the red-head fully intended to put his work for the God's Knights on the back burner. As long as this precious little girl would be with him, she would be his first and absolute priority.

Kida woke up again when they were in the Bondola Shamrock had requisitionned for only himself and his niece, in order to ensure no one would make her uncomfortable in any way.

"Did you sleep well ?"

"Mh-hm," his niece hummed as she nuzzled against his neck. "Are we going to see Grumpy Grandpa ?"

"… yes," Shamrock replied while attempting to maintain his composure at her chosen nickname for Saint Figarland, then changed the subject. "Do you know why your parents are going to be busy ?"

"Yes, Mom said my big brother Ace is in trouble, and they are going to help him, and even Grandpops will help ! I wanted to help too but but Mom and Dad said no," she pouted.

Shamrock froze.

The amount of critical information he had just learned in the time it took his niece to speak was massive. An alliance between who he suspected to be Whitebeard and his twin to rescue Firefist was already problematic, but the most worrying part was the implication that the Pirate King's son was one of the Night Fury's adopted children.

"Is your brother's full name Portgas D Ace ?" Shamrock asked carefully.

"Yeah ! He's my big brother ! You're going to help him too, Uncle Shammy ?"

"Kida, he has been condemned to death."

The adorable little girl in his arms went from smiling to look shocked in an instant, then her lips started to wobble and her eyes took a watery aspect, like tears were only a second away. The sad expression on her adorable face broke Shamrock's heart in a second, and before he could think sensibly, he spoke again.

"But I am certain your parents will rescue him before that happens."

"You… you're sure ?" she asked him in a small voice. "What if, if, if they can't, or there are too many people, or, or-"

"Your parents are very protective and very powerful," the Commander stated matter-of-factly. "I have no doubt they will succeed."

"Okay," she mumbled sadly.

Shamrock took a deep breath at the catastrophe he had just barely avoided, then steeled his nerves. This was a matter that needed to be brought to his father's attention at once.

-o-oOo-o-

Garling pov

Garling was in his office, the current matter important enough for him to delay the time he usually took his dinner at. The execution of Portgas D Ace was going to be a turning point of history, doubly so when there was a serious chance Whitebeard would fall too, thus eliminating two powerful symbols of piracy in one day.

However, despite the amount of troops and high-ranked Marines who would be there, even with the presence of the Warlords, Garling was considering sending a couple of God's Knights as well to ensure the fight would unfold as it needed to. It would be in the World Nobles' interest to show the power wielded by gods, after all, and prove to be enough to ensure at least several major deaths amongst the criminals.

His reflexion was however interrupted by a series of knocks on his door, which made Saint Figarland frown since he had explicitely instructed not to be interrupted.

Even more shocking, the door opened without his autorisation, and Garling watched his son walk in with a tense expression-

While holding Garling's grand-daughter in his arms.

All annoyance disappeared instantly at the sight of the winged little girl carrying his blood and family name, and the Supreme Commander of the God's Knights stood up from his chair immediately.

"Father, we have a situation," Shamrock told him urgently.

But Kida turned her head, her ruby eyes finding his instantly, and she gave him a hopeful smile.

"Grumpy Grandpa ! You can help Ace, right ?"

Her disastrous choice of nickname barely registered in Garling's mind given the next ridiculous words she had pronounced.

"I will do no-"

"Firefist is one of Y/N's adopted sons and thus Kida's adoptive brother," Shamrock cut him off before he could finish his sentence. "Shanks and Y/N are going to get involved, they left Kida under our care in the meantime."

Garling blinked behind his sunglasses.

This changed a lot of things.

"Ace… Ace is not going to die, right Grandpa ?" his grand-daughter asked in a small and frightened voice.

And truly, all things considered, the execution of Portgas D Ace was a problem of the lower world, so there was no reason to send God's Knights there. But it also meant Garling's grand-daughter might spend the entire day of the execution feeling anxious and stressed, and that was simply unacceptable. Kida was a Celestial Dragon, a Figarland, and his only grandchild, which meant she would be treated as such for as long as she would be in his care.

"I will give orders to have emitting snails put in place in Marineford," Garling decreeted. "You will see in real time what happens."

"Really ? Thank you Grandpa !" she exclaimed with a bright smile.

The adorable white-haired girl even flew from his son's arms to his own and hugged him, which Garling allowed to happen and even let the little wings wrap around his shoulders.

Yes, you will be protected at all costs, my precious heiress.

"Did you have dinner yet ?"

"No, Uncle Shammy said it was more important to see you first," she replied and her wings flapped several times as she looked at him proudly. "But I'm a bit hungry, I flew almost all the way here with Mom ! And we saw a lot of really really big fishes in the sea ! And they looked funny !"

Garling sent a reproachful look to his son for letting this precious angel get hungry, but since it had been to address an admittedly urgent matter and inform him of her presence under their roof, Saint Figarland would make an exception and not berate Shamrock for it.

Instead, he left his office with his grand-daughter in his arms, who was still happily chatting about everything she had seen during the journey she had made with her mother to come to Sabaody, and he only interrupted her to snap his fingers at the nearest servant.

"Have dinner served immediately, I expect something suiting my grand-daughter's age," Garling ordered. "And get a room ready for her while we eat, she will need her rest."

"Yes, Saint Figarland."

The Supreme Commander of the God's Knights turned his attention back to the only heiress of his line and her curious expression.

"Why did he call you Saint Figarland ?"

"Because this is his title and name," Shamrock replied.

"Why ?"

"Because I am the head of the Figarland family," Garling told her.

"Why ?"

"Because I was born superior."

"Why ?"

"Because my family belongs to those who created the world."

"Why ?"

"What part confused you ?"

The exchange kept going, and while Garling would usually never let anyone ask him so many annoying questions, he found himself approving his grand-daughter's curiousity. Knowledge was power, or at least part of it, and Kida's interest was therefore a good thing. Especially since it was more than time for the heiress of his house to learn about her superior nature.

If they only had a few days to take care of the little wonder born of two royal godly bloodlines, then by all his ancestors, Garling was going to make sure she would be given the care and attention befitting her actual rank.

Chapter Text

Reader pov

You flew back to the Red Force as fast as you could, your stomach feeling like there was a brick in it that had somehow managed to create a knot. Leaving behind your daughter, your darling Kida, the bright little star you had carried for nine months and who was still looking at the world with the pure innocence of childhood, had been harder than you had anticipated.

And you had not been particularly optimistic on that side to begin with.

The thought that you were trusting Shamrock and Garling with your baby was almost enough to make you turn around and grab her back. Marie Geoise was a landmine for anyone living in it, and with your daughter being born a Lunarian, the risk was much higher than if she had been born human.

But Shanks was sure his twin and father would keep Kida safe, and Shamrock had given you his word while looking genuinely happy at the idea of taking care of her.

And there was no one else who could have protected her on such short notice.

Part of you was furious at yourself for not having planned better. You knew how the original story went, you knew what would happen if Ace went after Blackbeard, and yet you had not moved fast enough. Had you have even a few more days, you would have been able to fly to Elbaf and let Kida in the care of Gabban and his family.

Instead, all you had actually managed to do fast enough was contacting Sabo before the capture had happened, and ask him to send Law to Whitebeard as a favour for you. From what you had heard, the supernova had gone and managed to actually find both the root of the Old Emperor's disease, and a way to heal him in time.

So at least Whitebeard would be in top form for the war instead of being close to death. Hopefully, along with Luffy's involvement, Sabo's presence – you knew your little spy had infiltrated Marineford already – and your own help to ensure Shanks would get there faster, it would tip the scales enough for everyone to live.

Except Akainu.

That particular piece of shit was going to meet his end if you had any say about it.

But in the meantime, it still meant Kida would be away from you for the longest amount of time since she had been born, in the heart of Marie Geoise, the home of the people who had decided to exterminate the species you had been reborn into.

You made your way to the Red Force before the ship met Kaido's fleet, and only had to nod to your husband for him to understand all had gone well, but you needed some sleep before you could make the sea run red with the blood of your enemies.

-o-oOo-o-

Shanks pov

The fight against Kaido was handled even quicker than Shanks had expected it to. Though to be fair, the fact that himself and his beloved wife had rushed forward to sink and kill everything and everyone on their path, using the most ruthless attacks they had in their arsenal in order to show the overgrown lizard they fucking would end him right here and now if he pushed them to that length, might have played a role.

Probably.

And Shanks would never get enough of seeing his incredible lady prove she was the undisputed queen of the sky, no matter how many flyers Kaido had sent to back up his right-hand man this time.

"We have places to be," Shanks warned the overgrown lizard with a serious look after adding to the scars on his chest. "You leave or you die."

Kaido glared at him, but his ship turned around after a moment and Shanks sighed in relief. They had already lost too much time there, when Ace was being brought to Marineford. His boy was in danger, and as much as he trusted Whitebeard to raise hell for his sons, Shanks hated that he had needed to ensure that scaly pest would stay away from the main battlefield instead of going there directly.

Though his own concern was clearly not holding a candle to his wife's anxiety.

His princess had only taken the time to sleep and eat since she had come back from Sabaody, and was the living definition of a nervous wreck.

With Kida staying with the very people who upholded the beliefs behind the extermination of Lunarians and Ace being condemned to death, Shanks could not blame his wife for being worried beyond her mind. In fact, he had made sure his crew remembered Y/N was the only one aboard whose authority could equal his, and that in critical times, they were to obey her as they did him.

So when Kaido retreated with Alber looking furious but subdued again, no doubt after Y/N had reminded him he would always be second to her in the sky, Shanks made sure to look at her not as his wife, not as the mother of his children, not as his childhood friend and sweetheart, not as the woman he loved with all his heart, but as the smart and competent warrior she was at the moment.

Even more so when he had an inkling about what her next move would be. So before she could talk once she landed back on deck, Shanks raised his left hand with a determined expression.

"You will rest for an hour, then eat enough for you to keep flying and fighting. Then I'll listen to your suggestions. Non-negotiable."

His Lunarian princess glared and her wings flared, but Shanks raised an eyebrow and spoke again before she could do more than open her mouth.

"Do you want to be at the best of your form to save your son or not ?"

Her sudden horrified expression was enough to make guilt settle heavily in his chest, but Shanks held his position despite the low blow.

"Get some rest, love. If you're still sleeping in an hour, I'll wake you up."

The pain and torn expression on her face almost broke Shanks' resolve, but he stood his ground and watched the love of his life slump and nod before she walked to their shared quarters without a word.

"Babe," he stopped her softly. "We'll save him."

"I-" she started, then turned her eyes down and stumbled in obvious exhaustion for a moment. "We have to. I can't lose him. I can't," she whispered brokenly.

Shanks' own heart broke at the raw pain in her voice.

The woman he had married had lived two lives, had been through death, grief, horror, war, loss, all the pains of two different worlds, and somehow retained the ability to love. But the Emperor could feel in his bones that this might push her past her breaking point.

And so Shanks tried his best to be the pillar of assurance she needed him to be at the moment, and put aside how much it mattered to him that the boy sentenced to death was both his Captain's son, his wife's son, and as far as he was concerned, his own son as well.

Because Ace was one of his boys.

Ace was a freckled, protective, stubborn, wonderful little shit.

Ace was a dreamer, a brother, a son, a grandson, a mama's boy, a prankster, a fighter, a navigator, a Captain, a glutton, an adventurer, a pirate.

Ace was so much more than Roger's biological son.

And Shanks would do everything in his power to save him from a fate he did not deserve.

So when Y/N walked back on deck with a very familiar circlet in her hair, Shanks waited until she had eaten her sandwich. Then he walked to her, fully aware of what would happen next and ready to support it.

"I'm sorry love," she started, "I have to-"

"I know," Shanks cut her off gently, then smiled. "If you have a way to get us there faster, it'd be awesome. I'll join you as fast as I can. And if I can't, save him for us. All of us."

His wife's eyes widened, then watered with tears, and the next thing he knew, Shanks was engulfed in a winged hug, black feathers surrounding his entire upper body.

"Thank you," Y/N whispered. "I love you."

"I love you too," Shanks vowed sincerely as he hugged her back tightly for a brief instant. "Now go, I'll be there as soon as I can."

His wife looked at him, and the raw love and trust in her eyes were almost enough to make Shanks change his mind to make him ask for her to bring him to Marineford with her.

"I might be able to help with that," she said with a determined expression.

Shanks could only blink in confusion, but his beloved wife kissed him fiercely, her lips full of passion and trust, and any question temporarily left his mind to reply in kind. When they get apart, she caressed his cheek and left his ship in the next second with a powerful blow of wind, leaving the Emperor to protect his eyes at the blast.

Then he looked up, and watched the last Crown Princess of Lunaria with her wings spread wide in the sky, radiating a powerful pulse he had never felt from her.

"Friends of the Sky !" she shouted in a clear yet strangely vibrating voice. "I call for your help !"

Shanks blinked incredulously, unsure what she was doing.

But then a little black point appeared in the horizon.

Then many other little black points.

And Shanks realised dozens, if not hundreds of birds of all sizes were reaching the Red Force at Y/N's command.

"Answer my call, children of the Sky !" Y/N shouted as she turned on herself and all the birds joined her in a massive column. "Lend your wings to the Red Force until she reaches Marineford !"

The Emperor barely got the time to gape before his wife flew behind his ship and hundreds of birds joined her, following her wings when they slowly went backward and then forward to create a massive burst of wind to give the Red Force one hell of a speed bonus toward their next goal.

Shanks did not spend more than a fleeting incredulous moment realising what was happening. In the next hearbeat, he jumped to the helm while his wife disappeared toward the horizon with the speed her wings allowed her to reach, and the birds stayed to flap their wings and create the wind his ship needed.

"What are you waiting for ?" the Emperor shouted above the noise of hundreds of birds keeping the air current strong behind his sails. "To your stations, lads ! The winds are on our side, what more do you need !?"

-o-oOo-o-

Shamrock pov

Portgas D Ace, soon to be known as Gol D Ace, biological son of the former Pirate King, adopted son of the last Crown Princess of Lunaria, stepson of the Emperor of the Sea Akagami no Shanks, Commander of the Second Division of the Emperor of the Sea Whitebeard, had been sentenced to death for only one of those facts.

And for being Saint Kida Figarland's adoptive brother, he would be granted an actual chance to survive it.

But until the day of the supposed execution, Shamrock would ensure his precious niece, the adorable little girl his twin had somehow fathered, the heiress of Lunaria's royal bloodline, the only grandchild his father would acknowledged as such, would not think about it.

So when Kida looked at him expectantly during breakfast, with excitement shining in her ruby red eyes and her small wings fluttering on her back, Shamrock already knew he would grant whatever she might ask of him.

"Uncle Shammy ! Mom and Dad say you're really strong !"

Shamrock smirked at the realistic yet flattering admission, and hummed while holding his cup of tea.

"I am, my darling."

"Really ?"

"Absolutely."

"So you can teach me ! Right ? So Mom and Dad will see I'm super strong and I can help !"

Shamrock's breath caught in his throat when he realised what this precious angel was asking of him.

"You… wish me to teach you how to fight ?"

"Yes !" his niece beamed, then looked bummed. "I mean Mom is the only one who can fly and teach me about feather stuff, but… but… but you can show me the rest, right ? Right, Uncle Shammy ?"

"I most certainly can, my darling," Shamrock found himself smiling, his mind already conjuring dozens of safe training ideas for his Lunarian niece.

And so, less than an hour later, Shamrock made his way to the training grounds reserved to God's Knights with Kida in tow. The little girl was wearing a charming child-sized version of their classic knight uniform, and a circlet in her braided hair to mark her rank as princess of Lunaria. As soon as they arrived, she started to awe at the various equipment put in place. The Commander barely spared more than a glance at the rest of his subordinates while his niece was flying around and looking at everything.

"Sparring session, one versus two," Shamrock ordered curtly. "Switch after thirty minutes, face everyone, Devil Fruits allowed."

"Yes Commander," Gunko replied instantly along with everyone else, then she looked at the winged four year old currently blinking curiously in front of a particular part of the training grounds. "But, erm, who-"

"Get to it," Shamrock cut off, then walked quickly to his niece to prevent her from hurting herself with the dangerous equipment. "Kida, be careful. This is for people further along in their training than you are."

"What is it ?"

"An obstacle course."

"So it's fun !"

"No, my darling, it's to developp Observation Haki."

"What's Observation Haki ?"

"A skill allowing you to be more aware of your surroundings."

"What does that mean ?"

Shamrock smiled approvingly at her curiousity, and started to explain in as simple words as he could what Haki was, the various types, and why it was important to train it.

-o-oOo-o-

Gunko pov

Gunko moved to take position against Sommers and Killingham, while being fully aware all three of them were actually staring incredulously at their Commander answering all the questions and acting so patiently toward a little girl with black wings, red eyes, and a silver circlet in her white hair.

"What is going on ?" Killingham asked in a befuddled voice.

"Who is that girl ?" Gunko asked as she kept looking at the… damn it, adorable child listening to Shamrock with rapt attention.

"She almost looks like…" Sommers trailed pensively, then shook his head. "No, that's impossible. We would have been informed."

Then the girl flew into their Commander's arms with a happy laugh, and Gunko felt her jaw drop under her mask when Shamrock hugged the winged child back with a smile. Never, in all her time in the God's Knights, had she ever seen her Commander show any kind of physical affection to anyone, or willingly spend time with children.

All around them, Gunko could see the rest of the God's Knights looking just as floored as she felt.

"We will start with something simple, did you ever practice any form of physical activity ?" Shamrock asked with the girl still in his arms.

"Yes ! I fly with Mom all the time, and Dad showed me how to push tall people away with my hands, and and and, and I even help with ropes and sails !" the girl – Kida, if she had heard right – replied excitedly.

"Mmh, good enough," their Commander nodded. "Then how about you start flying five times around the training ground as a warm up ? Then I will show you basic offensive and defensive postures to use without your wings."

"Yay !" the young child exclaimed.

The next second, the white-haired girl spread her adorable little wings and flew up above them to start her first circle in the sky. Gunko was not ashamed to say she was staring at her little silhouette like everyone else. The obvious delight this Kida was radiating as she moved in her element was almost putting a smile on her face under the mask the Knight was wearing.

"What are you all doing ?" Shamrock suddenly said in a stern voice.

Every single member of the God's Knights turned to their Commander, who was back to looking like the no-nonsense person they knew.

"Do you think you are allowed to slack off simply because my niece is here ?"

"Your niece !?"

Killingham's dragon jaw had dropped in shock after his outburst, and Gunko was not blaming him. She had never dared ask about her Commander's disgraced brother, only vaguely learned that he had come to Marie Geoise a couple weeks ago with his wife, who was-

The last Crown Princess of Lunaria.

Which meant this little girl was half Lunarian royalty, half World Noble.

"Yes, my niece. Kida is a Figarland by blood and a Celestial Dragon by law," Shamrock warned them all with a glare. "You will treat her as such. Now start training, and make it one hour for each spar."

Gunko paled at the clear punishment, but got into position against Sommers and Killingham. With luck, her Commander's niece would distract him again and perhaps make him stop the session sooner. One hour in two versus one matches, with the added order to face everyone, was going to leave all of them on their knees if he did not change his mind.

-o-oOo-o-

Garling pov

Garling finalised the remaining orders about Marineford, which consisted of calling the Fleet Admiral to tell him he was expected to put several emitting snails in Marineford. He also informed the man that pirate Emperor or not, Shanks was a Celestial Dragon and therefore had to be treated as such by any and all Marines crossing his path.

And lastly, Garling ordered a screen to be put in place in his estate, along with stern commands about getting any furniture, food, drink, and comforting items his grand-daughter might require to watch the event. Once the clock got closer to lunchtime, Garling decided to go see how his heiress was faring, and a servant quickly informed him she had joined his son for the God's Knights training session.

Had it not been at her request, Saint Figarland would have berated Shamrock for putting Kida in danger. Four years old was still too young for her to do more than rudimentary self-defense lesson, moreso when it was obvious her wings were still developping and she was not controlling her feathers as well as her mother.

So Garling ordered the meal to be ready for his return, and made his way to the training grounds. Instead of the clash of weapons or the noise of actual training, however, the Supreme Commander of the God's Knights heard soft giggles, excited exclamations, and what almost sounded like cooing sounds.

When he finally entered the training grounds, it was to see what could only have been described as a complete disgrace had the reason for it not been the heiress of his line.

The entirety of the elite force of Marie Geoise was in a circle around Shamrock, who was holding Kida in his arms, and all of them were trying to get the little girl's attention. A brief glance around the grounds showed rainbow-coloured unicorns invoked by Killingham's Devil Fruit, replicas of various objects made of thorns, and arrows moving along feathers in the air.

Garling's left eyebrow twitched.

"Is this what you call training ?" he asked darkly.

The instant fear and obedience in his subordinates' attitude was enough to show him they realised their mistake, though the worst error committed this day was undoubtedly Shamrock's.

"Father-"

"You will all train until sunset to compensate for this unacceptable behaviour. Kida, come here," Garling requested next, this time without any animosity.

"Okay," the little girl replied and flew from Shamrock's arms to come next to him, then turned around with a bright smile and a wave of her hand. "Bye Uncle Shammy, bye everyone ! It was fun !"

Garling glared at all the God's Knights until they waved back and said their own goodbyes to his grand-daughter, then he took her little hand in his and they made their way back to the Figarland estate.

To think his own son had forgotten it was lunchtime and this precious angel needed regular and appropriate nutrition to stay in good health. With how the rest of his foolish subordinates had acted, next thing he knew, they would have made her skip her afternoon nap.

Chapter Text

Shamrock pov

On the day of the execution, both Shamrock and his father ensured Kida would get to see what happened in the best conditions possible. Which meant her favourite snacks and drinks were ready to be served, she was sitting on a comfortable mattress brought to the living room for the exact purpose of providing her with a seating arrangement that would not hurt her wings, and she had a soft blanket on her lap.

And of course, there was a red griffin plushie in her hands, the very one included in the bag Y/N had given him and was obviously something the little girl loved a lot. Garling had frowned upon seeing the reminder of Shanks' theft in Kida's arms, but there was not much they could do about it.

As the moment approached and Ace was brought on the platform, Kida looked more and more distressed, to the point Shamrock exchanged a look with his father and ultimately left his own chair to go sit with his niece and provide any reassurance she might need.

Which seemed to be holding his hand in her own smaller one, while the other squished her plushie against her chest.

"Why do they want to kill Ace ?" she sniffled when Sengoku started to talk.

"Because he's the son of a criminal," Garling replied.

"But that's not fair !" she protested.

"Life is not fair, Kida," Saint Figarland huffed. "But you are above it."

"I don't want them to kill my brother," the little girl insisted.

"Just watch, my darling," Shamrock told her. "I have a feeling they will not succeed."

And indeed, the emitting snails started to show what looked like Whitebeard's arrival and the beginning of an intense battle. The Commander straightened his spine, and divided his focus between what was happening on the screen and his precious niece next to him.

And for the first time in his life, Shamrock found himself cursing his brother not for making a mess in the lower world, but for staying out of it. His twin better have a good excuse for not being in Marineford with Whitebeard at the beginning of the war.

-o-oOo-o-

Sengoku pov

This battle was starting terribly for the Marines.

Someone had deactivated all the protective walls around the stronghold from inside Marineford, allowing pirates to come through since there were no ramparts to stop them.

Whitebeard had appeared in perfect health somehow, instead of the weakened state he was supposed to be in, and one use of his Devil Fruit had broken most of their stronghold on top of breaking their formations.

And then for some reason, Straw Hat Luffy had fallen from the sky with an entire ship full of escapees from Impel Down, who all appeared to follow him and what seemed to be a blue-haired pirate yelling furiously about saving his favourite nephew, along with Crocodile and some of his former subordinates.

To top it off, Hawkeyes and Boa were barely even fighting off the Whitebeard Pirates.

But it would still not be enough to stop the execution, not with Kizaru keeping Marco away from the platform and both Akainu, Garp, and himself to guard the prisonner.

"You cannot stop Justice. Watch, Whitebeard !" the Fleet Admiral ordered as he moved his arm to give the go-ahead to the executioners.

Angry yells and desperate shouts echoed all around the battlefield while both men rose their blades to cut the boy's head clean.

This was the end of Roger's bloodline.

Then Sengoku heard a hissing noise among the battlefield, something high-pitched and typical of extreme speed.

He did not get to blink before the impossible happened in front of his eyes.

Both executionners flew against the wall, their blades broken in half, and in the next second, a silhouette appeared in the air above the middle of the battlefield with a sound of thunder and a massive burst of wind. For a brief instant, despite the war going on, there was absolute silence among Marines and Pirates alike.

A single moment frozen in time where they all took in the white-haired woman with black wings and a circlet on her head, who was looking down on every single person in Marineford with pure rage in her eyes.

This was a vision Sengoku had never witnessed personally, but heard too much about to not identify instantly.

The Night Fury.

The thought imposed itself in cold horror in Sengoku's mind at the sight of a demon of the past, a nightmare supposed to have left this world more than two decades ago.

And who had come to the help of Roger's son after what had to have been years spent in hiding. The dots connected at once in the Fleet Admiral's mind to create a hypothesis, the only theory making any sense. Roger must have found the Demonic Princess of Lunaria at the end of the war and saved her somehow, hence her presence today to repay her debt.

"The- the- THE NIGHT FURY !!" a Commodore suddenly screamed in absolute terror. "RUN FOR YOUR LIFE !"

"HOLD YOUR POSITIONS !" Sengoku yelled.

They could not give in to panic, no matter the terrifying legend who had joined the battlefield.

"You destroyed my kingdom. Exterminated my people. Murdered my parents. Executed my adoptive father. And now you want to take my son ?" the Lunarian princess seethed in a furious voice.

"Portgas D Ace is the son of Gol D Roger and Portgas D Rouge, he is not related t-" Sengoku started.

"MOM !" Firefist shouted at the same time and started to thrash in his chains.

"MOM ! YOU'RE HERE !" Straw Hat yelled happily.

Sengoku's head started spinning.

Portgas D Ace, Monkey D Luffy, two names that had been put together with a third one in an alarming report more than a decade ago, right before being declared dead. Firefist's arrest had made Cipher Pol dig up the report, but with the urgency of the situation, they had not had the time to consider that if he had survived, the other two might have as well.

But it seemed they had survived, and been hidden by a nightmare of the past, a demon who had the means and motive to raise them as her own. Someone who owed Roger a debt, who could fake their deaths and spend a decade training them in secret. The Night Fury fit the bill to an obvious extent, but there was no way she could have known-

Garp.

An explanation flashed in Sengoku's mind.

Garp had started to mention an adoptive daughter less than a year after the fall of Lunaria, which he had witnessed since he had accidentally ended nearby after a fight with Roger. An adoptive daughter who could run Kuzan into the ground at only fourteen years old. An adoptive daughter whom no one at Headquarters had ever seen a picture of. An adoptive daughter whose name Garp never even mentioned. An adoptive daughter who had adopted a few kids around the time those children had been declared dead.

Garp's adoptive daughter was the Demonic Princess of Lunaria, who had chosen to live in peaceful hiding after the destruction of her kingdom.

Until we gave her a reason to come back.

And now, the Night Fury had returned.

Sengoku clenched his fists and glared at his old friend.

"GARP ! IT'S YOUR FAMILY AGAIN !!"

 But before he could do anything else, the winged woman spread her wings and the Fleet Admiral realised the pause in battle had ended.

"KIZARU !"

The Admiral flashed in front of Firefist, just in time to block the Lunarian princess, but she instantly flipped above him and kicked his back to send him downward, hard enough for her to get the time to somehow free Firefist of his cuffs despite not having the key.

"Go to Whitebeard, don't stop, don't look back," she instructed briefly.

"But mom-"

In the brief moment of hesitation from the boy, Akainu threw a wave of magma at both of them, which the Night Fury shockingly parried with her own wings and redirected toward a group of Marines.

"Now, Ace !" she shouted.

The next second, Roger's son had shot down from the platform in a column of fire and was instantly joined by Straw Hat, while Kizaru was blocked by Marco. The Fleet Admiral clenched his jaw, aware the priority of the battle had changed.

In terms of threats for the World Government, the Night Fury ranked higher than Gol D Roger's son.

Sengoku activated his Devil Fruit.

-o-oOo-o-

Garling pov

The battle was going as poorly as Saint Figarland had expected it to go, but he could not deny there was a certain entertainment value in it. Enough so to have him enjoy his glass while he watched, even if a good portion of his attention was directed to his grand-daughter.

Though watching the Night Fury in action again, over two decades after he had first had the opportunity to witness her fighting skills, was certainly interesting in its own right. Garling's daughter-in-law was currently facing a rather bad match-up in the lava Admiral and the Fleet Admiral, but she was holding her ground admirably.

Any good or even great fighter relying on feathers and speed would have died within a minute against two powerful opponents whose main weapons could burn through her wings and whose fighting style forced her to parry their brute force with equal strength.

But not the Night Fury.

Even at a disadvantage, even at one versus two, even forced to fight in a style that was the opposite of her own, she was matching the seasonned fighters blow for blow and it was obvious neither of them could afford to get distracted for so much as a single second.

Most impressively, to anyone trained in military tactics, it was plain as day that her actual objective was to keep both men busy on the platform and use her own infamous reputation to force them to focus on her rather than on the boys she had adopted. An exceedingly simple strategy that only worked when the one using it was exceptionally powerful.

"Look ! Mom's fighting !" Kida exclaimed, her little wings folding and unfolding. "And Ace is saved ! And Luffy is there ! Do you think Sabo is there too ? And Dad is going to be there soon ?"

Garling narrowed his eyes at the third name his grand-daughter had pronounced. Given the potential and raw power of the first two boys she claimed to be her brothers, Saint Figarland had little doubt the third one had to be equally promising, maybe even the one who had taken the ramparts down before the battle.

His daughter-in-law truly had raised her children well. A little too well, actually, if they could already spread so much chaos at such a young age. Garling could feel in his bones those boys were going to be trouble in the future, doubly so if Shanks and Y/N used their status to protect and support them.

"Probably, my darling," Shamrock answered both questions at once.

The fighting kept going on screen, with the Night Fury showing she had not usurped her reputation as a warrior of legend, up to the point where even another Admiral had to join the first two on the platform. However, the way she bluntly punched through his ice appeared to shock the man.

"With great power comes great responsibilities, Kuzan. Is killing a boy for his father's identity really why you became a Marine ?"

The Admiral reeled back at this, and Garling suspected instantly there was more to it than just the words themselves. Within the next moment, she had used his split-second of shock to send him crashing away from the fight, which made Kida spread her wings wide and raise her hands high, one of them still holding her plushie.

"Yes ! Mom's the best !"

So it would seem, my little heiress. It truly is a pity she chose the lesser of my sons.

-o-oOo-o-

Garp pov

Garp watched his daughter turn into the furious nightmare she had been dubbed as two decades ago, and felt proud of her. Doubly so when she opted to kick his pupil away after a good reality check instead of killing him. So Garp jumped toward the platform where she was still keeping his old friend and an uptight asshole too busy to go after his grandsons.

You did what I couldn't, again. Thanks kiddo.

He made to punch her, and grinned when she dodged. He fit in with Senny's fighting style seamlessly while doing his best to keep Akainu on the wrong side of Marineford, and though the Vice-Admiral would never say it out loud, he was not going at full force.

Because Garp had seen that determined face before.

He had seen it on a desperate twelve-year-old girl back then in a burning city.

He had seen that exhausted face trying to fight just a little longer, just one more minute to protect those she loved, even at the cost of her own life.

He had seen that pair of wings spread wide, and those eyes burning with an unshakable will to do whatever it took to buy as much time as she could for the people she felt responsible of.

He had seen a girl who had lost everything but her will to protect others.

He had seen a child who had decided to write fairytales despite having seen the worst the world had to offer. He had seen a teenager who had saved a Marine born among the World Nobles despite what both groups had done to her. He had seen a young woman who had taken in three boys overnight and loved them unconditionally.

This was his girl, his daughter, his little princess he had walked down the aisle and joined for the birth of her own daughter. This terrifying monster that even legends were scared to speak of was a woman who would have lived in peace if only the world had let her do so.

By forcing him to face her when she was fighting to save her children, Garp knew he had finally reached the limit of his loyalty to the Marines.

Guess the time has come.

After a couple minutes of lukewarm fighting at best, the Vice-Admiral gave her an opening, and did not even try to stop the – rather light, what a considerate daughter he had – kick in his chest.

He fell on his back a good distance away with a flourish, and stayed there.

"Oh no, I can't get back up," he laughed. "Oi Senny, I'm retiring !"

"GARP !" his old friend shouted. "THIS IS-"

"Oh shut up, she's the reason your family's still alive !"

Garp grinned when his superior officer froze for a second, which was more than enough for his daughter to take advantage of it and send a series of punches in his golden chest.

Buddha belly or not, his old friend went flying next to him with a pained groan and the air obviously punched from his lungs by the power contained in Y/N's fists. Garp knew first-hand how strong those were.

He had been the one to teach her, after all.

To his surprise, however, Senny stayed down and shrank back to his regular size instead of getting back up to fight more. Then he turned his head toward him with a long-suffering expression.

"I'm putting in my retirement paperwork tomorrow along with yours," his old friend grumbled. "Can you get me in contact with my son and grandson after that ?"

"Nah, but she can," Garp laughed.

"You really have the most problematic family I've ever seen."

"Wait 'til you meet my son-in-law," the Vice-Admiral snorted. "Wonder what's taking that brat so long."

-o-oOo-o-

Reader pov

You were a bit confused by Sengoku not standing back up after you sent him crashing on the ground near your adoptive father, but you kept your mind on your last opponent anyway. If the Fleet Admiral was not in the mood to fight more than that, then fine by you, Akainu was being enough of a pain in the ass as things were.

And while you were doing your best not to show it, his magma was really starting to put a strain on your abilities. Your feathers might be resistant to fire to some extent since your father had been a Solarian, but Akainu's Devil Fruit required you to keep a constant layer of Armament Haki on your entire wings on top of whatever body part might be in contact with his lava.

And after all the previous flying and fighting of the past days, you had to admit even your trained Lunarian body was starting to reach its limits.

Screw it, I'll rest once the boys are safe.

"DIE, MONSTER !"

"Don't you have anything more original to insult me with, Admiral Magmutt ?" you smirked to exasperate him further.

Which worked, even if it was not entirely obvious since the man was already fuming and burning in anger fueled by what he no doubt perceived to be righteous justice. That made you almost curious to see what would happen if you taunted him with the fact that you legally were – much to your displeasure, but still – the spouse of a World Noble, the mother of another, and had a permanent offer to join the God's Knights.

You dodged his column of magma while making sure it would land in a direction that was not the one your sons were heading for, and sent some of your feathers to cut him where you could. One way or another, you needed this man to die, if only for Ace's safety.

But then you heard your third son's shout, and your attention snapped at the same time your wings spread to leave in the direction of Sabo's voice.

You flew just in time to force Kizaru to stop his attack to block yours instead, and did not spare more than a brief glance at the blond teenager behind you. Your son looked insanely relieved to have help and there were a few burns and scratches on his clothes, nothing serious as far as you could tell with a glance, but enough to confirm he was not strong enough yet to face an Admiral on his own.

"Get out of here !" you ordered.

"Got it Mom !" Sabo replied instantly. "I'll be with Ace and Lu !" he added as he started to run and jump in direction of his brothers.

Ace and Luffy were making their way toward the Moby Dick, where you could see the whole Emperor's crew getting ready to depart with Whitebeard and his Commanders fighting off the various Warlords and Marines, including Kuzan who had apparently decided he was better off facing an Emperor instead of you.

"So you are the dark legend of Lunaria, hmmm ?" Kizaru told you in his slow way of speaking as Sabo rushed through the destroyed stronghold to join his brothers.

"The very one," you smiled tensely as you both got higher in the air and started to exchange high-speed blows made of light and feathers, while more birds started to appear above the battlefield.

"How interesting. You are not like the stories I heard," he hummed pensively just as his light flashed at impossible speed toward you.

"I can be when those I love are threatened," you replied firmly with a spin on the side before creating a small cloud of feathers that he dodged as well.

"Like… now ?" the Admiral said with a look downward.

Just as you heard Sabo scream a warning.

From the corner of your eyes, you saw Luffy start to crouch to grab something.

With Sabo at his right.

And Ace at his back.

While Akainu was running toward them with his fist coated in magma.

"NO !"

You did not even think and dashed to the ground.

You put yourself in front of your children, your wings forming a shield behind you with the strongest Armament Haki you could muster in your state. You had been ready to give up your life to protect Luffy years ago, you were damn well ready to do it again for all of them now.

"Wha-"

"Mom-"

"No-"

You braced yourself for the overwhelming heat and potential death.

Instead, you heard a clashing sound in your back and the heat stopped a short distance before it reached your feathers. You suddenly felt a familiar presence behind you and turned your head in shock, only to see the black cloak and red hair of your husband, blocking Akainu's fist with his sword.

I'll get stronger, until no one can ever hurt you because I'll be there to stop them !

The memory of a childhood promise slammed into your mind suddenly, while you could do nothing else but stare at Shanks as understanding dawned on you. The only way he could have been there in time when you had barely been fast enough was if he had used Future Sight. And with the rage emanating from your husband in waves, you had little doubt he had not seen you surviving the attack.

"How fucking dare you try to kill my wife !?" Shanks growled in barely contained fury.

"WIFE !?"

The cry had echoed through the whole Marine side of the battlefield. Since it had been less than six months since you had joined Shanks on the Red Force without openly showing your feathers to outsiders, and not even a full month since you had been to Marie Geoise, your existence and marriage were not widely known yet.

Though you had a feeling that was about to change.

Then Sengoku suddenly jumped back up from his spot near Garp with a panicked expression on his face, much to your surprise.

"EVERYONE STAND DOWN AND STOP FIGHTING NOW ! AKAINU, RETREAT AT ONCE !"

You did not stop to question the unexpected order from the Fleet Admiral, and turned around just in time to watch Shanks unleash his fury on the man who had dared to attack you and your sons.

Your wings flared wide and you flapped them once to get yourself above the ground, before turning a third of them into a smaller version of your Black Cloud attack swirling protectively around yourself and your children. One glance down showed all three of your sons had taken battle stances as well, and were glaring at Akainu with sheer rage in their eyes.

Luffy's smile was nowhere to be seen as he crouched on the stone and his blood turned his skin red as he pushed his body into Gear 2. Sabo had adjusted his top hat and was twirling his pipe in his hand as he adopted a posture you recognised as his famous Ryusoken attack. Ace was almost shaking as he put his right fist back and covered it in flames so hot they were closer to white than their usual red-orange.

You stayed where you were while the battlefield shook in thunder at the sudden deafening noise of your husband pushing back the Admiral you hated most, until Akainu was forced to stay on the defensive no matter whether he wanted to follow Sengoku's orders or not. Then Shanks ramped up his Conqueror's Haki, to the point the entirety of Marineford was either fainting, falling on their knees, or struggling to stand.

You only stayed upright in the air thanks to the years of sparring and resistance you had built to his incredible power, and probably his own intention to spare his family the worst of it.

The full might of Shanks' Haki was crushing Sakazuki on the ground, the pressure so immense that even the pavement underneath the man was cracking and digging a hole in the stone.

Damn you're hot when you're furious.

You pushed the thought away and watched your husband walk to the suffocating man in front of him, who could not even maintain his Devil Fruit activated anymore. Your Emperor's sword was drawn and progressively coated in black energy, but while you expected him to finish Akainu right away, he turned his head toward you with a serious look.

You understood his implied question at once, and felt love swell in your heart at the trust and respect Shanks was putting in you with that gesture. Without saying a word, the man who knew you held the key to the future was asking whether he could kill your enemy or if you thought his life had to be spared for the time being.

You schooled your face in an equally serious expression, and glanced once more at your precious sons standing under you. The risk of a change in the future was an acceptable price to pay for the certainty this man would never be able to kill Ace. You looked back up at your husband, your decision made.

"Do it," you said without a hint of remorse.

Shanks turned back toward Akainu.

And without saying a word, decapitated the Admiral.

-o-oOo-o-

Shamrock pov

Shamrock watched his little brother behead a man with a dark expression and not a hint of hesitation once his wife had given her approval. Despite himself, the Commander felt impressed by Shanks' darker side, something his twin had rarely, if ever, displayed in public.

But it seemed he could be pushed to it when those he loved were in danger.

"Is he dead ?" Kida asked in a whisper from where she was almost hidden in his lap and under her blanket.

"Yes, my darling. He will not be able to hurt your mother or brothers ever again," Shamrock reassured her as he carefully stroke her hair.

All things considered, Akainu's death was not even that big a deal, especially since the absolute rule of Marines having to protect Celestial Dragons had been upholded by the Fleet Admiral.

Most importantly, an Admiral could be replaced, but making Kida go through the pain of grief was unacceptable. The red-head watched as the Fleet Admiral stepped forward, right as Whitebeard's ship looked ready to depart and Shanks' officers joined the couple-

Who was now kissing in the middle of the battlefield, right in front of the Admiral's corpse and their adoptive sons.

It seemed even marrying a woman of royal blood had not erased all the ruffian manners of his brother, despite the clear miracles she had pulled off to occasionally make him display some class. Though Shamrock had to admit the adrenaline of battle could be quite intense, so he was willing to give them a pass for exceptional circumstances.

"Kida, look aside, you are too young for this," Garling stated sternly.

Inwardly, Shamrock wondered whether a kiss was really supposed to shock a four-year-old more than gruesome death, but he was certainly not about to voice his opinion aloud.

"But Mom and Dad kiss all the time ?" his niece asked in a confused voice. "Uncle Beck says it's something people do when they're in love and Mom and Dad are very very very in love !"

Shamrock smiled at the confused little girl who sat back next to him but kept holding his hand. Clearly, this was not something Shanks and Y/N had considered taboo in front of her, and as far as the Commander was concerned, he agreed.

"Then let it be acknowledged," the Fleet Admiral's voice echoed through Marineford as he bowed to the demand of a Celestial Dragon, even if said Celestial Dragon was a pirate. "This war has ended !"

The red-head exchanged a look with his father, who nodded briefly. Where the World Government was concerned, this battle had been an utter and absolute disaster, since not only the Marines failed to execute Roger's son or any major pirate among Whitebeard's crew, they had lost an Admiral and seen the resurgence of a warrior of legend thought dead years ago.

But when it came to the Figarland family, the result was acceptable since the young heiress of their house was happy to see her parents and adoptive brothers safe.

The only downside was that it meant Kida would soon go back to her mother and father, with no way to know when they would have the opportunity to see her again. Even if Shamrock was not above using his future missions in the lower world to stop by his twin's ship and spend some time with his niece.

Chapter Text

Shamrock pov

The day after the battle in Marineford, Shamrock took his adorable niece along for a walk – or rather flight in her case – around Marie Geoise, so she would get a better idea of the land gods deserved to live in and everything it had to offer.

So far, the fountains and endless sky surrounding the city seemed to be Kida's favourite parts.

It apparently reminded her of her mother's home island, which comported a big house – probably a decent-sized palace given the comparisons Kida made – and a fountain in the gardens around it. The red-head briefly wondered whether he could convince his sister-in-law to invite him there one day.

If it was as remote and hidden as Shamrock suspected it was, since a Lunarian princess had lived there for almost two decades without ever being found, then it might make for a decent enough neutral ground for Kida's next birthdays.

The Commander was certainly not above bribing his twin with unlimited alcohol supply if that was what it took to get him to back up the idea.

"Uncle Shammy, can we get ice cream ?" Kida asked him excitedly at some point.

"Of course, my darling," Shamrock agreed at once. "What flavour would you like ?"

It was mid-afternoon, after all, so a snack would not go amiss. And if his niece was in the mood for ice cream, then ice cream she would get.

"Chocolate !" she beamed with an excited flap of her wings, then blinked and added a quick please to her instinctive reply.

Shamrock nodded, and they made their way toward the next street, where he knew they would find an ice cream parlour. However, right before they turned, the snail he kept on him at all time started ringing. The Commander frowned darkly at the interruption when he had specified he was not to be disrupted for as long as he would be out with his darling niece.

Which, unfortunately, meant the only person who could bypass his order was snailing him, and Shamrock knew better than not to answer his father's call.

"The ice cream parlour is on the right side of the street," he informed the little winged girl next to him. "Stay on the sidewalk and start looking at the menu, tell me if you see another flavour you would like to try. I will join you in a moment."

"Okay !" Kida smiled widely and flew around the corner.

Her little dress was flowing with the movement, and it made Shamrock grateful he had insisted to make her wear leggings underneath. He had been quick to realise why his sister-in-law favoured slacks over skirts outside of formal events. Still, his attention quickly went back to the snail in his hand.

Gatcha.

"Shamrock," he announced clearly.

"Shanks called," Garling told him at once. "Their alliance is going after another pirate."

The God's Knight felt the implications of this information flash in his mind at once.

"Will they come get Kida before this or will they leave her in our care for longer ?" he asked right back.

"She will remain in Marie Geoise until the threat is dealt with, which should take at least a week by their estimation."

Shamrock let a smug smile stretch his lips.

"This is good news."

"Good news indeed. Now, where are you ?"

"Kida asked for ice cream, I will get her some and then we will make our way home," the red-head replied briefly, since the implied order to come back to the Figarland estate was obvious.

"Very well. When do yo-"

But his father's next question was suddenly interrupted by a scared high-pitched scream coming from the nearby street that turned Shamrock's blood to ice.

"UNCLE !"

The Commander did not even think before he dashed forward, conversation with his father entirely forgotten at the terrifying idea that his precious niece was in danger.

"KIDA !"

Shamrock ran around the corner just in time to see a winged little girl reassemble the feathers on her left wing and fly as fast as she could toward him. Her small body slammed into his chest, her wings folding against her back and her frame trembling. Worse than that, in the split second before she completely hid in his embrace with her little hands clutching his clothes, the Commander noticed tears on her face.

And he saw red.

Whoever had dared to hurt his niece, his adorable Kida, the darling heiress of house Figarland, was going to be anihilated by his hand as soon as their identity was known.

His Haki was barely kept in check to avoid scaring the winged little girl further as he glared at the crowd around the ice cream parlour. It appeared to be mostly composed of Celestial Dragons and their slaves, since the commoners had clearly stepped away from the scene before Shamrock arrived.

"What happened here ?" the red-head asked darkly.

"Ah, Commander," a purple-haired man from house Hasgurb coughed. "Nothing worth your intervention, I assure you. I was merely-"

The rest of the God's Knights suddenly ran or jumped in the street to stand near him as well, but Shamrock paid no mind to his subordinates or the way they all instantly surrounded him to ensure no one would dare come closer to Kida.

"What. Happened," the Commander of the God's Knights repeated through gritted teeth, his Haki darkening the air and only sparing his niece as everyone else in the street fell on their knees or struggled to stand.

"I- well- nothing illegal or- I assure you everything was-" the man sputtered as he started sweating bullets.

Kida was still trembling in his arms, though less than before, and the absolute need to protect her was the only reason Shamrock had not exploded yet.

Then his father landed in the middle of the street with a glare, which partially replaced the red-head's fury with fear.

-o-oOo-o-

Garling pov

The second he heard his grand-daughter's terrified scream through the snail, Garling sprung from his chair and opened his office's window, not even bothering to hang up the snail. This was an emergency that required speed over protocol, and the Supreme Commander used the life of training and years of participation in the Native Hunting Competition he had under his belt to dash over the roofs of Marie Geoise.

The sight of three of his subordinates doing the same toward a specific part of town gave him a direction, and Garling followed suit with the firm intention to ensure his grand-daughter's safety and brutally murder adequately punish whoever was responsible for her distress.

He landed in the middle of a street flooded by his son's Haki, as if he no longer knew how to control himself in public.

"Shamrock ! What is the meaning of this ?" Saint Figarland asked harshly.

"I was about to find out," Shamrock replied, but his Haki receded anyway.

"Saint Figarland !" a random noble from house Hasgurb greeted him in obvious relief, which instantly made him suspicious. "As I was saying, this is a very trivial matter, surely there isn't-"

Garling raised a hand to make the man shut up, and he had the common sense to stop talking. Then he walked closer to his grand-daughter, who was clinging to Shamrock for dear life, and raised an expectant eyebrow to be informed whether Kida was hurt in any way.

"No physical injury," Shamrock stated immediately, which was a first concern assuaged. "But…"

Before his son could articulate what was wrong with the heiress of their house, the little girl seemed to push against the hand he had kept above her hair, and she turned her head to look at Garling with scared and teary eyes.

"The mean man said I- I- I was going to be his slave ! And he grabbed my wing ! And and and I told him he can't do that but he said I'm stupid and I said Mom said no and Dad and Uncle Shammy and you say no one can make me a slave," she sobbed loudly, "and then- and then he said he will kill my family because he's better ! But he can't, right ? Right, Grandpa ?"

Garling felt his own rage soar at the sight of his grand-daughter's tears, along with fury at the disrespect thrown at his family and a child who possessed more godly blood than anyone in the whole of Marie Geoise could hope to claim.

And then Shamrock laughed, his smile wild and dark in a way that reminded Garling of his own a few decades ago, or the uncontrollable fury Shanks had displayed the previous day.

"He absolutely cannot," his eldest said before carefully handing the winged little girl to Garling. "Stay with your grandfather, my darling, I will take care of this."

Saint Figarland let his only grand-child curl against him without a word, and even took care to protectively tuck her head against his mantle with a hand on her hair to appease her distress.

"WAIT !" the Hasgurb protested. "I DID NOTHING WRONG !"

"You attacked my niece, insulted and disrespected both her and the Figarland name, made her cry, and you dare to claim innocence ?" Shamrock growled as he drew his sword.

Garling briefly snapped his fingers at the nearest government lackey who was watching nearby, and the man jumped forward with a bow.

"Saint Figarland ?"

"Attempting to enslave another Celestial Dragon is a crime. This man will die for it and my son will carry the sentence. Everything happening here is perfectly legal," Garling stated curtly. "Make sure it will be recorded as such and that every Celestial Dragon is notified of my grand-daughter's official status at once."

"Yes, Saint Figarland," the worker replied with a deeper bow.

Garling barely bothered to supervise the spectacle of his eldest unleashing his anger on the pathetic trash who thought he had a right to claim Kida Figarland as his property. Instead, he turned to the rest of the God's Knights who were still hovering nearby and either staring at the little girl in his arms or the Hasgurb in the process of being properly disposed of.

"Don't just stand there," he snapped. "My grand-daughter is upset. Give her some room and go get her some ice cream. Make sure it's not too cold for her teeth."

"Yes Sir," they all replied and left immediately, which Garling humpfed at.

Then he focused back on the execution going on in front of him, while keeping an eye on his heiress who seemed to have finally started to stop crying and shaking once the threat had passed and she was feeling safe again. Saint Figarland also planned to have a stern word with his son about leaving Kida unprotected, though the appropriate cruelty Shamrock was exerting on her offender decided Garling to deal a lighter sanction.

In the meantime, his eldest was certainly not going to hold Kida again as long as he was covered in blood.

-o-oOo-o-

Reader pov

It took over a week to find Blackbeard and his crew, but once it was done, not even his group of sadistic assholes and his overpowered Devil Fruit were enough against two pissed-off Emperors' crews and help from the Revolutionary Army. Whitebeard was the one to ultimately deal the killing blow, which you found pretty poetic in a way.

Or maybe it was vicious satisfaction at the sight of seeing another monster you had hated so much being impaled, then cut in pieces courtesy of Shanks and you, and ultimately burned to ashes by Ace's flames.

And the victory banquet after that allowed you to spend more time with people you had been reunited with after Marineford.

You had briefly seen Law after the war, since he had his own objectives in mind for the future, and thanked him for healing Whitebeard. The Surgeon of Death had almost smiled, and told you he was only paying back the debt for the new life you had offered Rosinante and himself years ago.

He had left with Sengoku's personal den-den number and a promise to call him soon, along with passing it to Rosinante. You expected quite the chaotic family reunion on that side as well.

Buggy had cried a lot, hugged you a lot, yelled at Shanks a lot, and ultimately cried again once he realised Kida was not there and he would have to wait another occasion to meet his niece. You had still given him a few family pictures that he cooed over for a long while before screaming at Shanks some more and then moving to see Rayleigh.

At the moment, the clown was talking animatedly with Ace, and with the stink eye they both kept sending to Shanks regularly, you had little doubt what kind of common ground they had found. However, you had also seen Ace rush to hug and thank Shanks for saving your life first thing after the battle, so you were pretty sure your oldest son had finally started to let go of his grudge.

Or maybe it was due to the possibly terrifying lecture you had given your eldest once everyone was safe, with a very disappointed reminder that he had a massive extended family to back him up and going alone on a suicide mission was the kind of reckless behaviour costing more lives than it saved. You had concluded it with a grounding sanction that Shanks had backed up with a suggestion to increase his chores on the Moby for a while, and Whitebeard had enforced both of those with a stern nod.

The only reprieve you had given your son was a blazing glare when other Commanders had tried to make fun of him, and a stern reminder that you were always up for special training sessions. It had done the trick and no one – except Luffy and Sabo – had snickered much longer at Ace's chastised puppy attitude.

And now, you were chatting with Ivankov, who appeared to have a hard time believing how sweet and well-behaved Sabo was near you, since your son seemed to have delighted in being a mischievous mastermind since his arrival in the RA. Apparently, Dragon had never mentioned having an estranged adoptive sister, much less a Lunarian princess who had adopted three boys, one of which being his biological son.

You were pretty sure a few people had taken out boards at some point to explain your family tree, complete with red string and pictures.

Rayleigh and Shakky were talking with Luffy, and you knew you would have to chat with your youngest son as well to reinforce the fact that while you had taught him most of what he would need about Armament and Observation Haki, intense training on those skills and developping his Conqueror's Haki for the next two years would be crucial, along with giving his crew the time to progress and hone their own skills as well.

But as the night and party died down, while you moved away from your sons and friends to get closer to your husband, you felt anguish coming back to your heart. Shanks took one look at you, and even in his drunken state, he caught on to your distress instantly and made his way to you in more or less assured steps.

"You alright babe ?"

"Yes, but… Shanks, I need to get my daughter back."

"Yeah, I miss my little star too," your Emperor sighed, then perked up. "But we can sail to Sabaody first thin' tomorrow to pick her up !"

"I'm fine going there on my own," you reminded him.

"Yeah but ya got a bounty now, babe, it's safer if we're both there. Y'know, just in case. Don't want assholes to attack you," Shanks frowned. "And we ain't that far anyway !"

Your eyes widened for a moment, then your shoulders and wings slumped in defeat, and you forced a smile on your lips.

"How come you make better arguments when you're drunk ?" you huffed.

"Uh, cause booze is awesome ?"

"It was a rethorical question, honey," you chuckled. "Now come on, let's get you to bed. You can barely stand straight and if we're leaving tomorrow, you need to go to sleep before dawn. Everyone's pretty much passed out already, anyway."

Your red-head blinked a couple times, then looked around him only to notice that indeed, almost all the pirates around you were snoring.

"When did that happen ?" Shanks asked in a baffled voice.

"Among the last hours," you replied while shaking your head goodheartedly, and grabbed his hand. "Now come on, you'll be better off in bed."

"Mmh, depends if you'll be there with me," your roguish pirate said with a lecherous grin as he put a hand on your ass.

"I will, but don't count on me to do all the work, my dear husband," you told him with a wink, since you had yet to find a better distraction than your lover's passion.

Shanks' answering grin was a promise, and you flew the two of you straight to your shared quarters to spend a moment lost in lust before going to sleep.

-o-oOo-o-

Your second appearance in Marie Geoise went with much more apprehension from its inhabitants than the first one. Which was not that surprising since the Marines had gone pretty far to reinstate your infamous reputation as Night Fury, and even put an unprecedently high first bounty on your head. Although you suspected the impressive total to be a combination of your latest actions, and the unreleased bounty you had been given during the war in Lunaria.

Whatever the reason, it was pretty flattering to have instantly broken the legendary threshold of five billion berries that only Whitebeard and Roger had attained so far. Shanks had laughed his ass off at the fact that he was the first Captain to not have the highest bounty of his crew, before bragging to everyone around that he was married to the most powerful woman on the seas.

And so you made your way to the Figarland estate under half the population's weary glances, then were escorted to an indoor garden with open roof you had no idea even existed in the mansion. Shanks and you stopped at the door, however, when you realised what was happening on the grass-covered floor with several fountains nearby – including a massive chocolate fountain complete with fresh fruit sculptures, what in the Sky – and several flower bushes blooming here and there.

In your defense, you could not have anticipated the sight of your father-in-law reading your unpublished fairytale to your daughter, while your brother-in-law was in the process of finishing what you recognised to be the last part of a four or five-steps hair care routine on Kida's white locks.

"Uh, babe, are you seeing the same thing I'm seeing or did I somehow get drunk without realising it ?" Shanks asked you in a befuddled voice.

"If I didn't love my daughter so much," you replied in the same astonished tone, "this level of charisma might genuinely scare me a bit."

"She totally took it from you. Remember the Oro Jackson ? You had everyone wrapped around your little finger in two days !" your husband argued when you turned to him with an incredulous expression.

"I'm sorry, have you met yourself ? You get anyone to join your crew within an hour and free drinks with a smile !" you retorted.

"Well I did get you to marry me, so you're not wrong," Shanks replied with a smirk. "How about shared responsibility ?"

"Deal. Now let's get her back before they completely spoil her rotten," you sighed, and stepped inside the garden.

Shanks laughed next to you, and it somehow attracted Kida's attention, whose head turned toward the two of you instantly.

"Mom ! Dad !"

"Come here my princess !" Shanks exclaimed happily with his arms spread wide.

Your little girl instantly left Garling and Shamrock to fly toward her father and hug him with a happy laugh, and you joined them to complete the hug and surround two of your most precious people with your wings. Having your wonderful daughter back with you was finally lifting the last weight you had been carrying those past days.

The embrace lasted a long moment, then Shanks and you moved slightly so you would both be able to face Kida.

"How was your time with your uncle and grandfather, my little star ?" you asked her softly.

"It was great ! I tried all the ice creams and Grandpa got all your stories with pictures and Uncle Shammy showed me the fight room and they put snails to see you and Dad save Ace and they punished the mean man who grabbed my wing and-"

"I'm sorry what ?" you interrupted her excited blabbing with ice in your voice as you turned toward your in-laws, both at the idea that someone had attacked Kida and the completely irresponsible decision to let a child watch the livestream of a war where her family was risking death at every corner.

"Someone hurt my daughter ?" Shanks asked slowly with a furious undertone as well.

"A member of house Hasgurb attempted to take her as slave when I answered a call," Shamrock informed you plainly. "He was adequatly punished for his crime."

"Which means ?"

"I killed him."

Your eyebrows rose minutely in surprise, but a quick look toward Garling and the curt but decisive nod he made confirmed the truth of that fact, and you tilted your head in careful consideration. While you could tell both men had developped a soft spot for Kida, you had not believed they would go as far as to kill a Celestial Dragon to protect her.

And your daughter did appear as healthy as could be even after almost two weeks in Marie Geoise. Yet, this was nowhere near enough to make you forgive them for what they did to your kingdom. Not even close to make you appreciate them.

But it was enough to make you reconsider whether you would allow them to have a place in Kida's life.

"Good," Shanks nodded with a darker grin, that vanished as soon as he turned his attention back to your little girl. "I'm glad you had a good time, sweetie. Now we're going back to the Red Force and new adventures on the sea and in the sky !"

"Yay !" Kida exclaimed.

"The very least you could do is staying for dinner," Garling said disapprovingly.

"Not happening," Shanks deadpanned.

Both God's Knights looked supremely displeased at the rebuttal, so before they could insist, you decided to intervene as well.

"The rest of the crew is waiting for us, and we do have quite the journey ahead to sail back to our usual territories," you stated calmly. "With the chaos of the past weeks, it will be better and safer for us and Kida to leave an area belonging to the World Government."

"See, Kida ?" your husband grinned. "That's why no one can say no to your mom."

Your daughter giggled, and you smiled softly at her happiness before turning your attention back to the God's Knights. Father and son exchanged a look, then Shamrock tsked and crossed his arms on his chest.

"Very well. Her belongings will be in the hall in a moment."

"There was only a duffel bag with essentials," you reminded with a raised eyebrow. "As long as her plushie and special fairytale are there, it's fine."

You started to make your way back to the entrance of the estate, but Garling and Shamrock joined your little group while Kida kept chatting about everything she had seen, done, eaten, and so on during her stay in Marie Geoise. As much as it warmed your heart to know she had had a great time, it was still hard to hear it knowing what the World Nobles had done to your people and so many other kingdoms.

Still, you were brought out of your thoughts when you saw the two massive suitcases beside the little duffel bag near the main door.

"What's that ?" Shanks asked before you could.

"You did not think I would let my grand-daughter leave without some decent clothes and care products, did you ?" Garling huffed haughtily.

"This is the bare essentials required to maintain her skin and hair healthy in the lower world, plus a few accessories," Shamrock developped like it was obvious. "Had there been specific products necessary for the upkeep of her feathers, we would have added them as well."

"You- ugh, nevermind," your husband groaned and shook his head.

Meanwhile you had to admit the attention was rather thoughtful. Life on a pirate ship meant any kind of self-care could be complicated to maintain or even put in place, so those gifts were ones you were willing to accept. Even if any kind of fragile or frilly clothes would probably not survive longer than a day on board with how curious and active your daughter was.

"My little star, what do you say when you receive a gift ?" you reminded her gently.

"Thank you Uncle Shammy and Grumpy Grandpa !" Kida beamed.

"You are most welcome, my darling."

"This is nothing, Kida."

You looked once more at the soft expression on the two Celestial Dragons' face as they watched your little girl, then took a deep breath before kissing your daughter's forehead and caressing your husband's arm.

"Go ahead, love, I'll join you quickly with the suitcases."

Shanks raised an eyebrow, and you looked at him, then at Kida, then made a quick head motion toward Garling and Shamrock, and your Emperor chuckled.

"See you soon, babe. Say goodbye, sweetie ?"

"Bye Grumpy Grandpa, bye Uncle Shammy !" your little angel said with a happy flap of wings.

"Goodbye, Kida," both men replied.

You waited until the door was closed behind your husband and youngest child to turn a stern look toward your in-laws, and waited a few seconds before speaking, just to drive that what you were about to say was important.

"I don't trust you, I hate what you stand for, and my forgiveness is out of your reach. I did not even believe the murderers of my people would really protect my daughter," you declared slowly. "But I'm happy you proved me wrong on that last point. I will not bring her back to Marie Geoise again unless it is the only option left, but I will not prevent you from writing letters every now and then. Do not make me regret it."

"What about calls and visits in the lower world ?" Garling asked you with a calculating expression.

"Don't push your luck," you glared, then detached a few feathers to make them grab the suitcases' handles. "And if you hurt my sons in any way, you can forget about letters."

"Understood," Shamrock nodded.

Nothing more was exchanged, and you left the estate to join Shanks and Kida on the way back to Sabaody.

As soon as you saw their happy grins and warm expressions, as soon as you were back with two of the people you loved most in this world, you relaxed anew. Right before joining them, you briefly closed your eyes and focused on the five other feathers belonging to people dear to your heart. Once you could feel the various direction each of them was in, you smiled and flew to your husband and daughter.

Your sons may be training far away, causing chaos, or planning a prank, Buggy may be trying to make his way in life through reputation alone, and Garp may be enjoying his retirement, but they were still connected to you.

You pressed a kiss on Kida's white hair, another on Shanks' cheek just to watch his happy grin widen, and felt your heart burst with joy. No matter the amount of pain this new life had made you go through, the happiness it had brought you more than made up for it.

Chapter Text

• Buggy does get to meet his niece one day when Y/N finally flies all the way to his ship with her. He cries a lot at how cute she is, then tries to juggle and make her laugh, and almost dies of happiness when he succeeds and Kida calls him her funny Uncle Buggy.
• Dragon resists a grand total of five minutes when meeting his niece for the first time before hugging her. His efforts are ruined by Iva instantly screaming about the little Lunarian princess and how adorable she is. Koala melts even faster. Sabo is very smug. Shanks cackles all along.
• Mihawk and Perona low-key try to kidnapp Kida every single time Shanks and his family come to Kuraigana, with countless excuses about little gowns and princess-y tea times and good storm training for her flying skills and anything they can come up with.
• Zoro ends up wrapped around her little finger as well and respects both Shanks and Y/N for being his Captain's parents and extremely strong warriors, especially after sparring with them.
• Sengoku finds a way to sneak on the Polar Tang to finally get some bonding time with his grandson, much to Law's grumpy (dis)pleasure. Bepo is a bit worried about the goat at first but they end up getting along.
• Sengoku and Garp start an exclusive club for high-ranked retired Marines who have a family made of pirates and revolutionaries. It's only the two of them at the moment, but they agree it's enough to spend entire evenings bragging complaining about their respective family.
• Garling and Shamrock keep sending princess packages to the Red Force once a month to ensure the heiress of house Figarland has the high-class necessities she deserves. They always send way too much and half the crew is getting used to top-tier bathroom products.
• During the two years gap, Shanks and Y/N decide to go visit Luffy on Amazon Lily (and leave Kida with Ace and Whitebeard in the meantime). The crew stays on the Red Force so only Shanks and his wife are going. Y/N is welcomed with honours, but Hancock tries to send Shanks away and ultimately uses her Devil Fruit on him. It fails and Shanks laughs before asking how he is supposed to feel attracted to another woman when he is married to the most wonderful, beautiful, insert very long list of adjectives including how masterfully she can kick his ass woman in the world, and he looks at his wife the whole time with a besotted smile. He becomes another exception on Amazon Lily with Rayleigh and Luffy after that. Hancock is both impressed and a bit worried because clearly making a good impression on Luffy's parents is not going to be easy.
• At some point during the time skip, a very-extra-supra-top-secret meeting dubbed the Council of Grandfathers happens in Sabaody. Monkey D Garp, Silvers Rayleigh, Edward Newgate and Figarland Garling meet in a deserted part of a Grove to agree they might hate/despise/mildly tolerate each other, but will always present a united front when their common and only grand-daughter's safety is concerned (they end up fighting anyway when the question of who is her favourite grandfather is brought to the table, the damages are… consequent).
• Doflamingo is destroyed under the combined alliance of Law, Luffy, help of the RA (mostly Sabo and Koala), a few of Whitebeard's Commanders repaying the debt their crew owed the Surgeon of Death (including Ace and Marco), and two men whose identities are a complete mystery but may or may not be Rosinante and Sengoku wearing fake mustaches. The prize in the Colosseum games was Akainu's Devil Fruit with the selling point being that it's the only one who almost managed to kill the Night Fury. Sabo eats it just to make sure no one will use it against his mom ever again. Hajrudin recognises the ASL trio and is much quicker to suggest an alliance this time around.
• Big Mom starts sending marriage proposals for Kida as soon as she learns of her existence. Y/N smiles and tells Shanks not to do anything about it aside from rejecting them as they come. When Luffy snails to say he's going against her to get Sanji back, Y/N smiles wider and calls Garling to inform him of the (many) proposals sent to his grand-daughter by Charlotte Linlin.
• The Big Mom Pirates get half the God's Knights on their asses before the battle is done and their fleet is utterly destroyed, allowing the Mugiwaras to leave without needing the Germa's assistance. Big Mom is given a very stern-worded letter ordering her to stop considering Saint Kida Figarland as a potential prospect for her offsprings.
• At some point around the end of the time skip, a six-year-old Kida is left to the Whitebeard Pirates for a few days. Being the fairytale addict she was raised to be, she attempts to set up her big brother Ace and the nice blue flaming bird named Marco together after her GrandPops told her he suspects them to be interested in each other. It works. Whitebeard wins the betting pool about it. Marco gets invited to a very terrifying dinner with his boyfriend's parents soon afterwards and it's the most traumatising event of his life.
• Sabo waits until that dinner happened to snail Marco and ask everything that was said and done, so he can prepare and give Koala some psychological advantage before he tells his parents about their relationship. The dinner goes a tad better but Koala is still traumatised by the end of it and strikes a friendship with Marco over it. Ace is a bit mad when he realises that his brother has been dating his girlfriend for longer but waited until Ace's boyfriend went throught the family dinner to announce it.
• Shanks and Y/N are actually completely fine with their sons' choice in partner, but it's way too much fun to traumatise their significant others, and a good way to gauge whether they'll be able to handle the inherent chaos of their family.
• Kizaru becomes Fleet Admiral because Kuzan resigns from the Marines after a long talk with Garp, during which his retired mentor finally reveals the truth about Lunaria and the rest of his family. Kuzan finds himself unwillingly adopted by Whitebeard shortly after, attends one meeting with Shanks where he gets to chat with Y/N again, learns about Saul's survival, meets Kida who shyly asks him to make an ice slide with stars in her eyes, and the ex-Marine just decides that fuck it, the other side of the law might actually be better.
• Kaido is confident about his victory in Wano until he realises he is facing one of the Night Fury's boys and said Night Fury and her husband might not be far to give their kid some help. Zoro unintentionally insults King's wings by comparing them to Y/N's, and then again by saying he's faced a better flyer in the past. Queen just plain refuses to fight Luffy himself by saying his mom is terrifying and he doesn't want to have her on his ass for hurting her son.
• Yamato instantly adores Ace and Luffy's family when he learns they're the one who kicked Kaido's ass in the past, and he has a hard time resisting the idea of asking if Shanks and Y/N can adopt him too when he finally meets them.
• The terrorist attack during the Reverie succeeds with no arrest among the RA members because the entire squad of God's Knights was busy taking care of Kida on the other side of the world (Sabo shamelessly asked his mom if she could send his little sister to distract them, which she only agreed to because Shamrock's ship coincidentally ran into them when Shanks and Y/N were sailing to Wano and they needed an emergency babysitter for Kida again).
• The Mugiwaras get to meet Luffy's mom, stepdad, and little sister after Wano (Y/N flies to get Kida back during her boys' recovery, much to Shamrock, Garling, and the rest of the God's Knights disappointement). There is a lot of laughing, shrieking, and hugging involved. Usopp shyly asks for an autograph from his favourite author Disney with trembling hands and faints when he gets it, which makes the entire Red-Haired crew state that he definitely is Yasopp's son.
• Sanji gets madly jealous when he sees that Zoro gives a handshake to Shanks and Y/N and even hugs Kida before revealing that he met them during his training with Hawkeyes. Sanji's jealous fit is entirely forgotten the second Y/N gives him a small notebook with all the recipes Luffy kept asking him for, mostly because the idea of getting recipes of a lost kingdom from a beautiful princess makes him faint on the spot. Shanks glares at the cook before he can even try to go all heart eyes on his wife. Kida thinks all her brother' friends are very funny.
• Law finds himself into a relationship with Luffy almost without realising it and since he's slightly less grumpy than in canon, he's happy about it. But after a warning from Marco about the upcoming terrifying family dinner he'll have to attend, the doctor resigns himself to death. Even Ace just grins wickedly and wishes him luck. Law ends up traumatised as well because it appears the dumber their kids are, the more protective the power couple becomes.
• Garp laughs himself to tears when he learns his grandson is dating Sengoku's grandson, Sengoku wonders how his own grandson can be crazy enough to date Garp's grandson, and Rosinante almost sets himself on fire just from sheer happiness at his son's happy love life. Everyone agrees it makes the family tree much more complicated and they are going to run out of red string and space on the boards.
• Bartolomeo makes a mess of the island under Shanks' protection, but nothing actually serious and no flag is put on fire. When the Red Force arrives to demand explanations, he and his crew faint and then ask for pictures and autographs from Luffy's parents and family, then decide to create the Precious Princess Kida's Protection Squad.
• As soon as Buggy is declared Emperor, he calls Shanks to set up a meeting, and Mihawk backs up the decision. Crocodile is increasingly confused about his business partners' enthusiasm at the upcoming visit of such a powerful man and his no less powerful wife. The second the mafia man sees the white-haired winged six year old princess smiling brightly and awing at his control over sand, he's done for. He may or may not remove the poison from his hook to let her hang off of it because she thinks it's fun and build her a giant sandcastle to play in.
• There is a constant betting pool on the Red Force about who will be next to fall prey to the little girl's sheer adorableness.
• Vegapunk tries to ask for a sample of the Night Fury's blood, but quickly renounces when Luffy starts looking furious at the idea. Luffy also really dislikes the Seraphims because they remind him of King and what he tried to do to his mom.
• A little later, Vegapunk theorises that the combined exceptional genetics of Y/N and Shanks created an individual able to manifest an entirely new variation of Conqueror's Haki consisting of sheer charisma and magnetism drawing people in. Luffy thinks it's a funny idea. The rest of his crew thinks it's a very plausible theory.
• Some of the Seraphims are sent after the Red-Haired Pirates, and Kida takes an instant liking to S-Hawk. Therefore, Y/N and Shanks force threaten convince Vegapunk to undo the mental shackles forcing this Seraphim to obey orders, and they let the boy stay with them on the Red Force for a while before handing him over to Mihawk. Mihawk raises an eyebrow and accepts he now has a son who is both powerful and possesses the great taste to like Kida. They organise play dates regularly no matter how much Shanks grumbles about letting his baby girl near a boy who looks at her with stars in his eyes.
• The whole island of Elbaf welcomes Luffy and his crew with open arms since he's both one of the Lunarian Princess' sons and Joyboy/Nika. Luffy's crew gets to meet Gaban, and they also get increasingly done with their Captain's crazy family (he had already shocked them with Grandpa Rayleigh in Sabaody and they still haven't forgiven him for that).
• Shamrock seriously considers defecting when he realises he might have to face one of his sister-in-law's sons in Elbaf, which would definitely mean no longer being allowed to see his niece right after he only just successfully convinced Shanks and Y/N to let him attend her next birthday on her mother's home island.