First of all, I want to say for the nth time: Thank you! While this story was something for myself, to read about this beautiful pairing, you all made it all the more worth.

60 Followers, 48 Favorites, 27 Reviews, over 2.6k Views... I wasn't honestly expecting so much, considering this couple isn't rightly appreciated and our fandom is really little. I hope this story has left a mark in your mind and mostly on your heart. I won't be able to answer reviews with an update anymore but I'll use PM, so let me know what you think, and if you want to simply talk to me, feel free to PM me, I dont mind at all :)

Thank you for reading, for the support, for the beautiful words, for laughing and "awww"ing at the story xD These all mean the world to me. Thank you for putting up with my mistakes, too ahaha I hate them but English isn't my mother language so it's hard. And sorry for any mistakes here.

I'll answer your reviews now :)

blackfairy30: Oh yep, crazy little Luffy will make such messes XP

12ReiRei: Thank you again for the praises :) Oh, so I've found myself a stalker? ahahahah! I'm joking ;P Your mom? Seriously? Make her read the entire story then xD Lol, this was unexpected and flutteriing :D Thank you so much, stop taking me on the verge of crying out of joy :P

Xarxion: Oh, I hadn't thought about that, the couple-hen? ahahah, I can see them continue to fight for him with Marco when he is far enough xD Tatch always faints, weak sweetheart ahahah I prefer ending this soon and flawlessly, stretching it would ruin the flow and I think it's long anyway xD The longest story I ever wrote and finished :) Thanks!

Akemi: Hey there :D Well, see here :) For the sequel, everything is possible, but, if I effectively write more, it won't be out soon :) Thanks!

This is officially finished, my mind is a mess for writing so much in so little time and I consider this a Christmas gift for all of you :) Also, it doesn't mean I won't write little one-shot sequels ;P Stay tuned!

Words: 1748.

Enjoy!

07 – The ritual

The Sabaody Archipelago was a massive mangrove forest in the middle of the ocean made up of 79 separate trees known as Yarukiman Mangrove, the largest mangroves in the world strong enough to grow from the bottom of the ocean to the top and that resembled large candy canes. Each tree was called a grove, it was numbered and served as an island. People could get from one to another via the various bridges built connecting around the many tree roots.

On Groove One, the Human Auctioning House was the center of slave trade and a bidding house for selling living beings. Grooves 1 to 29 were lawless areas where pirates and bounty hunters ran amok. This was about to change.

Luffy was currently hiding his face and hat with a hoodie and wore his usual clothes, visible under the black cape. He was looking at the wall of the Wanted Posters. The Government had put rewards on every member of his crew, even Robin had a new one.

His own had been raised to 400,000,000 Bery, maybe after the news of joining Whitebeard. He did carry his tattoo now, on his wrist and plainly visible. Zoro, Pirate Hunter, had a reward of 200,000,000 Bery, Cat Burglar Nami and Sogeking were wanted for 50,000,000 Bery each while Sanji's one, Black Leg, was of 100,000,000 Bery. Cotton Candy Lover Chopper's one was hilarious, 100 Bery. Devil Child Nico Robin had a bounty of 80,000,000 Bery, like Iron Man Franky and Soul King Brook.

Luffy took two posters for each member of his crew, divided them into two piles and folded one into his pocket while going to take his position on the backstage of the Human Auctioning House. Entering wasn't a problem, taking care of the few security present was piece of cake. Inside, there were six low cages with few children locked in, they all had the explosive collar on their neck. There was a giant, too, and an old man sleeping.

He had round glasses and white facial hair, which is arranged embattled across his lower jaw. He also had a scar over his right eye and wore a plain dirty t-shirt, brown shorts, and black sandals. His white hair was combed back and long to brush the shoulders. He was covered in a white cape, hoodie shadowing a bit his features.

Luffy approached him, curious. "Hey, old man, have I already seen you somewhere?"

The other opened one eye to look at him with a smirk. "Aren't you the marine that had been abducted by Marco the Phoenix?"

He nodded while scanning his mind. Then it clicked. Oh. Oh. And he grinned.

"What an interesting development…" He mused.

"Indeed. What are you doing here?" His eyes were now both open and glinting.

"Creating a mess and declaring war."

Luffy looked around and found the door to Disco's office. He was the man running things.

"I'll be back in a bit." He said, running there and sliding inside.

The bastard wasn't there yet so he lost no time in finding the keys to cages and collars. He replaced them with fake ones, left the papers for his own information and returned to the old man, that was trying to keep his laughter low.

The auction was to begin in an hour or so. He waited for Franky and, in a few minutes, he entered from the rear door with a brown bag.

"Here, Luffy. You don't need any keys." He said in a hushed tone.

"Okay, now help me."

The pirate opened one cage and coaxed the three children in trusting him with a true smile and few comforting words. He used the stolen keys to free them of the collar and put in its place a fake one, assuring them it wasn't harmful. He proceeded in doing the same with the other cages.

"May I?" Luffy asked the old man.

"Go on."

Franky went back to the Sunny with a wave after Luffy replaced the last collar and the cuffs, taking them with him. The giant's one wasn't expected so he had to look out for it when the moment came.

"What was your plan?" Luffy asked, placing a collar around his neck and sitting next to the old man.

"I wanted to be bought and take the amount for myself."

He laughed. "Well, be in for a surprise. Though, can you take care of the giant's collar and cuffs?"

"It would be a pleasure."

They fell into silence as people began roaming around the back stage, setting everything up for the auction. Disco, a thin, eccentric man who had long silver hair, a cleft chin, stubble beard and moustache, walked in his office. He wore a purple coat, pink scarf, a tall yellow hat with flower patterns around the bottom, and his trademark star-shaped glasses.

Less than an hour later, he exited his room and pointed one finger to Luffy. One of the gorilla guy grabbed him from the cape and yanked him on the front stage as Disco made his welcome speech. There were nobles and common people, but less of the latter category. It was planned, of course. Brook did have his wide range of fans and he had programmed an underground concert in Sabao Dome, attracting almost everyone. The fact that surprised him was seeing pirates in the audience.

Luffy faked weakness, dropping on the floor face-first. The gorilla lifted him on his feet and brought down his hoodie. Disco seemed satisfied by the reaction of people in front of him, not even trying to grasp the reason.

"Ladies and gentlemen, today's first article is a young devil fruit user." Everyone gasped, but again he thought it was because of amazement and not because he didn't have any handcuffs. "His ability is to transform into a black dragon!" He almost snorted as people began to pale. "He can also breath black fire!"

Disco arched a brow at the yelps and finally looked at the article. He backed away, colour draining from his face.

Luffy had a wide smirk on his face and was gripping the damn gorilla wrist to be freed. The man lost his grasp with a hiss of pain. He then discarded his cape.

"Ladies and gentlemen!" He said in the same fashion. "If you don't want to die, please leave."

That phrase was enough to make almost everyone jump to his feet and start running. Moments later, the only ones remaining were the Nobles, some buyers and the pirates, that he now recognized.

In the meanwhile, Disco was able to regain his composure and picked the remote control of the collars from his back pocket. He pressed one of the red buttons, expecting an explosion, but nothing happened, making him blink.

"Your devices won't work." Luffy said, taking his own off. "None of them."

"We'll see about that." Disco pressed one of the bigger button, the one used to blow every collar.

This time, the wall that separated the front from the back stage exploded and was destroyed.

Luffy smirked more and grabbed the auctioneer's shirt, lifting him up despite the height difference. He then looked at the unmoving Nobles, still in their thinking that no one can touch them. He recognized in the front rows of plush chairs Saint Roswald, Saint Shalulia and Saint Charloss. From the various entrances, Zoro Sanji and Usopp were entering and blocking the doors.

Luffy gazed over the pirates and said: "Surgeon of Death Trafalgar Law, you're not among my targets."

The fur-hat wearer smirked. "I only want to watch, Straw Hat-ya."

"As you wish."

Luffy kicked Disco out of his sight, making him lose consciousness, and Franky appeared to apprehend him. They needed information, after all. The Captain then regarded the Nobles and smirked evilly.

"Now, scum of the world, are you prepared for a nice beating?" He asked, cracking his fingers.

"You cannot do anything to us, ex-marine." Roswald said in a secure tone, looking at him from the top to bottom.

"You take too much for granted, pieces of shit." He flared his rage towards them, and they gasped. "You see, you're already dead. You simply don't know. Yet."

Zoro and Sanji approached respectively Shalulia and Charloss.

"I'll take care of that."

In no time, the three Nobles were at their feet, bleeding profusely.

"You were right, this surely is a surprise." The old man from before said, gaining their attention.

The children and the giant were at his side.

"Luffy, who's that?" Sanji asked, suspicious.

"Don't worry, he isn't an enemy." He shrugged, then grinned. "He is Dark King Rayleigh."

"Interesting." Zoro commented.

"Are the others ready?" Luffy asked, looking around.

"They're on the ship, Brook included." The cook answered, still gazing at the legend in flesh in front of him. "The other grooves are already in ruin."

"Ok, join them, I'll take care of the rest." Sanji, Zoro and Usopp disappeared outside the building. "Can you take them away?" He then asked Rayleigh.

"That was the plan." The old man nodded. "I'll wait to read about your new achievements." And went outside.

Luffy nodded and regarded the pirate. "Go away, this place is going to be burned down."

Trafalgar Law laughed, standing and making his way out. "I'll see you in the New World, Punisher."

The ex-marine scoffed and, once everyone was far enough, blew his flames, engulfing the entire building. It crumbled and disappeared in mere minutes. He observed his efforts being repaid and smiled broadly. This was only the beginning.

Luffy took one pile of posters and scattered them on the ground. He then looked at the other buildings and took a deep breath. There was a lot to destroy before setting sail again, and Kizaru was rapidly approaching. It was a nice way to begin his new adventure… Perfect.

"Oyaji!"

Whitebeard and Marco turned to see Ace running with a newspaper.

"He did it!"

On the front page, Luffy's photo was surrounded by huge capital letters: 'SABAODY AUCTION HOUSE EATEN BY BLACK FLAMES'.

Newgate laughed. "What a way to declare war. Good job, son."

Marco smiled reading the details of what happened. His lover had rid the world of three big shots and fought Kizaru before retiring. He was surely on Fishmen Island by then.

The Phoenix looked at the horizon behind the Moby Dick. It was strange to find out that his new dream would be as simple as waiting to meet someone again.

Now, back to my damn exams... See you soon and thanks for reading!