OP78: Those we Lost, Those we Met.

Veyron's arms weren't big enough to hug all of his sobbing lovers. It was a cold and depressing atmosphere in this world. He had to use his powers to cast the rainy clouds aside as they threatened to make this nightly sight even more depressing.

In front of him, in the now cleared region of the Upperyard, hundreds of corpses burned... standing next to him were two of the leaders of two factions in Skypea, the Skypeans and the Shandians.

Shawty's wasn't the only one whose body was burning, the invasion of Enel brought along a huge loss for this civilisation. Sobbings and sings of lullabies were the farewell to those lost souls while he grieved not having taken this world seriously.

This was not the fictional world of One Piece. This was the real world.

Primrose was the one sobbing the most, Shawty was her best friend and if that wasn't enough he learned recently that the vice chief was also Gloriosa's granddaughter. The two of them had been together since very little, trained, rivalled each other and eventually became the captain and vice-captain of the Kuja Pirate ship after Primrose defeated her for the spot of Hebihime.

Both of them had Ancestors who were Empresses of Amazon Lily in the past, in Shawty's case, Gloriosa. In Primrose's case, her mother who was the Empress of Amazon Lily before Shakky, Boa Paletulip.

With that precedent, the competition for the throne had been fierce but eventually Primrose's Conqueror Haki determined the winner. Even then, the honourable Shawty didn't grieve and instead gave her all as the vice chief, becoming an essential and dependable figure in the ship.

Having lost such a figure in her life, Primrose felt a shock like never before.

To the side stood Tsuru and Gion, their heads down in shame as they had done nothing to stop this catastrophe from taking place. What was the worst was that the organisation they were tasked to protect was the main cause of this, the world government.

Stussy's face couldn't even be seen around the area, she didn't dare show herself in front of the Shandians and Skypeans. Her hands hadn't ended a single one of their lives, but her presence would forever be associated with the ones that caused this disaster.

"No words can convey how thankful we are, if not for your presence here, I don't know how dark our future could have been" The old man whose body was all bandaged, Gan Fall... was the first to express his gratitude, followed by the opposite party from the Shandians, Wyper.

"Both our tribes have been enemies for hundreds of years. We joined against a common foe and failed miserably".

"You don't need to thank me. Our friend was kidnapped and taken here against her will. The only reason we came was to save her... if there is anyone you should express your gratitude to, it is her".

Veyron stated, that it was his intention to get Enel's fruit as well, but that was beyond the point, the moment he knew Shawty was here, that became his main goal.

The ritual proceeded until late at night before the defeated souls of the Skypeans retreated to their camps, any important matter could be dealt with tomorrow, tonight they needed to rest and grieve their losses.

"I hope you will allow us to show some hospitality, please don't leave right away".

"We won't, we will explore the island for a while before retreating, have a good night".

"You too..."

Gan Fall and Wyper retreated to their tribes with the promise of returning tomorrow to address important topics. Veyron was left with his sobbing girls whom he levitated back to the ship.

"I'm sorry I couldn't be of help" Robin evaded his gaze.

"It wasn't your fault, Robin... let's rest for now, it was a long and difficult day".

"That scar..." Robin saw the side of his torso from his shoulder to his waist had a deep black burning scar that wasn't there before, she imagined it had been the threatening explosion that took place deep into the skies.

"Don't worry about it, it doesn't hurt anymore".

**

**

The Kuja Pirate ship was adrift at the edge of the southern upper yard where Veyron had previously left it. Stussy was already there together with Gion and Tsuru who departed earlier. When he reached it, he entered the main quarters and put the beauties to sleep.

"Baby..." Primrose grabbed his wrist before he could leave.

"Hmn?"

"Thank you for being there for us".

"Always... love you all, tomorrow will be a better day".

He gave each one of them a kiss and covered them with a couple of quilts since the atmosphere was cold, nothing could happen to them, they were too precious.

When he came out to meet Tsuru, Gion and Stussy, his expression was completely different.

"You look like you have made up your mind, kid".

"I'll shatter the world government, from the outside and the inside".

"I'm with you..." Gion approached him and extended her hand forward.

"Are you going to be my ally or just another marine?".

Gion frowned and took his hand by herself, shaking it.

"You are not a pirate, not like the ones I know at least. I'll never allow my sense of justice to stop my morals again. I'll become a marine admiral and change things... we marines are a sign of justice that must exist in this world, I hope you understand that".

Stussy then approached and did much the same, he frowned profusely at her with complex emotions.

"I understand you must be angry at me. But I hand on this, direct or indirect... my orders were not to kill any skypeans or shandians. My job as a member of the CP0 is to remain an Empress of the Underworld. From the beginning, my job was to deal the Skypean goods in this market and produce benefits from the world government. I couldn't stop them... I know I can't excuse my inaction, but you must realise that I'd never commit such an inhuman act!".

"It will take me a lot of time to trust you. But for the time being, you will be my tool".

Stussy knelt down in front of him.

"I don't mind being your tool... as long as you understand that Dr. Vegapunk is my creator and the one my loyalty belongs to. If I have to choose between you or him, I'll choose him... but in any other scenario, I'll do whatever you order me to".

"If I told you to betray the CP0, would you do it?".

"I wouldn't... Dr. Vegapunk's only order to me has been to infiltrate the world government and send him information. Therefore, I can't accept this order from yours as it would clash directly with his" She bit her lips, being completely honest.

"Then if I order you to give me key information on the world government's movements? or even Vegapunk's movements".

"I naturally can do this for you... not only that but if you ever need anything, I can get it for you... as an Empress in the underworld, there is nothing that I can't get my hands on. A devil fruit, a weapon, a material... anything that you need just say the word, master".

"M-Master...?!"

Stussy looked up at him and found the boy blushing, who knows what he was thinking? She giggled and took the back of his palm before kissing it.

"That is right. Since you have pardoned my pitiful life, I now consider you my master".

Veyron sighed and rubbed her chin, even his thumb moved along her lower lips covered in lipstick.

"So you are loyal to two masters? How naughty".

"I'm sorry, master".

"Very well. I don't know what I'm going to ask you of you yet but for now..." He took out one devil fruit, it was the white and black fruit with sparks of white lightning in it.

He handed it to a surprised Gion.

"You want to be an admiral, don't you? Although I don't doubt you are strong and can train your Haki to a great degree... I'll feel more confident about you if you take this".

"Mythological zoan, Neko Neko no Mi, Model: Byakko... are you sure you want to give this to me?".

Gion took the fruit with complicated feelings, accepting this gift from him was no less than accepting to be his subordinate as well, just like Stussy. Contrary to her expectations, she didn't feel averse to the thought.

'Perhaps if it is him... helping me, he's not a bad child'.

On his part, Veyron knew she was strong but he also knew how strong Aokiji, Kizaru and Akainu would be in the future. If she wanted to become an admiral, she'd have to defeat either of those three.

"You can have it... If the Grandma has such high hopes for you, then I'll believe in you, Gion".

"Who are you calling grandma, brat!?" Tsuru snorted to the side, watching how a new 'triumvirate' was being formed.

'This boy now has a key member in the marine and a key member in the CP0... Garp, I can feel waves forming'.

...

Gion nodded, "Then I accept this gift from you. But don't expect me to kneel down like her. I'm your partner, not your slave".

"Partner, huh?~"

"Perverted brat you know what I mean!"

She took a good munch of that fruit in irritation only to end up spitting it and resisting the urge to vomit, "Gross!".

The feeling of eating a devil fruit was as disgusting as tales said, no, worse. Even then she ate all of the fruit just in case and fell on her knees.

"Ugh!".

*CHA!*

*ROAARR!!!*

A spark of white lightning revered from her body and the growl of a new deity shook the Upperyard. Gion's long black hair grew several white strands and her eyes turned yellow and slit. She'd never be the same again.

'In Japanese mythology, Byakko is a deity beast that represents wisdom. It would have been good to give this fruit to Noir or any of my pets, but I know Gion can make better use of it'.