Dragon's Heart [One Piece]

Chapter Twenty

~Lily's POV~

The World Government released an article announcing my death to the world. I was struck with a vision of a familiar man with a big bright red nose and long teal hair that he currently had pulled back in a ponytail. He was pouring over what appeared to be a treasure map at a tavern with some interesting looking circus performers sitting with him.

"The Queen of the Pirates is dead!" A man burst into the tavern with a newspaper in his hand.

Buggy choked on his drink, spilling it across the map, but he didn't appear to care as his gaze was drawn to the man who'd loudly announced the Queen's downfall to the tavern. "W-what was that?" He asked as all the color drained from his face.

"The Queen of the Pirates is dead." The man repeated with a laugh, "good riddance, to the lot of the-." He cut off as a gloved hand encircled his neck, it wasn't attached to anything but was choking the life from the man.

The newspaper was pulled from his meaty paws by another disembodied gloved hand that flew back to Buggy. He scanned the article, his face growing paler.

"Hey! What the hell do you think you're doing, let him go!" One of the other patrons roared.

Buggy ignored them as he stared in horror at the article in front of him. Tears welled in his eyes. "...no...it can't be..."

"Captain?" The circus performers tensed as the tavern goers looked as if they were going to turn on them.

Buggy didn't seem to be able to hear them as he kept looking at the article, "...not my Lily..." A single tear slipped down his cheek. He gripped the newspaper tightly in his hand and got up without a word, leaving the treasure map on the table. He left the tavern, a broken man.

His crew scrambled to follow him.

"Captain, what about the treasure?!" One of them called.

"What does it matter now..." Buggy mumbled morosely to himself as he choked on another wave of tears, "I only wanted treasure for her...so I could make her a true queen bathed in riches..." He wiped at his eyes smearing his face paint as more tears spilled down his cheeks.

"Captain?" His crew looked to him worried.

I woke with a start to find myself in an unfamiliar room. From the faint rocking motion, I knew I was on a ship. Memories from the day before spilled into my mind, I'd gone to Marineford. I struggled to remember what had happened and how I lost consciousness. I remembered getting to see my beautiful son, he was safe, with Law. Ace was safe too. A memory of Shanks striking me in the gut crossed my mind as I'd been about to destroy the island.

I clenched my fists as I sat up and glanced around the room. I appeared to be in a messy cabin that smelled heavily of liquor. The bed was comfy and the room was larger than the standard room, I assumed these were Shanks' quarters. One of the walls was littered with maps and posters. I noticed my wanted poster prominently displayed along with a few of his old crew members from the old days. Luffy's wanted poster was hung next to mine. It was touching enough I almost forgot I was angry with him for interfering with my plan to wipe out everyone at Marineford for daring to harm my son.

"Where is she, damn Shanks?!" I heard Buggy yell from somewhere outside the door.

I crawled out of bed, smoothed out my loose black dress and headed for the door. It swung open just as I reached for the handle and Buggy and Shanks stepped through the door. Buggy was fuming and looked ready to take a swing at the very aloof and nonchalant Shanks. Their dynamic hadn't seemed to change a bit.