The shock of magma and thunder was felt across the whole region. Tottoland was an archipelago composed of 15 islands; it belonged to the Yonko, Big Mom... and after the incident in the country of Wano, this active hub of piracy and contraband had never been quieter.
Cacao Island was one of the southernmost islands in the archipelago. Veyron and Saki landed in the closest island within sight, precisely this Cacao Island, now dressed in weird colour-mismatching attire that they stole away from the Big Mom Pirates.
The woman looked at him, blushing and irritated, while donning her saggy clothes. She couldn't believe they were interrupted right when things were going to a climax... when things were getting good, and she finally saw the opportunity to control this person, only for it to slip away.
For his part, Veyron felt her heated gaze and didn't pay her any mind. He felt frustrated too, but the day was long; there would be chances in the future... for now, it was better to deal with what he came here to do.
"What are we going to do now…?" Saki asked.
"Since we're here, I'll just do what I came here to do and then we will hop off. It is convenient… I don't have an eternal log pose or a vibre card that leads here, I was just hoping to find this island en-route to Wano" He said, looking around the odd-looking island filled with mountains of chocolate, moving trees and singing bushes.
"And why did you save them…? They know our secret... I thought we said we'd leave no witnesses" She looked back at the piles of soaked bodies belonging to all the crewmates that had been in that ship.
"It won't leave their mouths, trust me. I'll make sure Big Mom handles them properly. I am intending to use her as a side force, it doesn't make sense for me to weaken her up by eliminating a ship from her fleet," He declared... they did happen to see something they shouldn't, but for him it was no big deal so long as he could control Big Mom.
'Pekoms, Baron Tamago and Bishop Bobbin, they're officers…' He recognised some of the faces from wanted posters that Mihawk used to check daily.
He levitated all of the survivors to safety. At the very least, those with devil fruits wouldn't perish.
"Let's go… There is no time to lose; we're going straight to the centre"
After leaving the survivors, Veyron decided to head to the main island right from the outset. The Whole Cake Island at the centre of the archipelago was Big Mom's home; he knew that much.
Sakazuki followed him silently, always aware that they were carelessly stepping into a Yonko's territory, only the two of them.
'Only you would do something this reckless, Veyron'.
**
**
At Whole Cake Island, within the main chateau.
Big Mom was sitting on a huge throne, her head and arms bandaged still while looking at the distance with a grim expression.
"He's here…" She mumbled loud enough for some of her children to hear. The ones taking care of her were the ones who hadn't been present in Wano. Not only her, her children Smoothie and Katakuri had also both been severely injured, with Katakuri being one step into the grave.
When they arrived after the fateful day, the family couldn't believe it.
Who could have done this? The answer was right before them.
"Mama!? Who is here?!" Charlotte Citron asked; all of those present got on guard, and began calling their siblings to the main chateau.
"Dracule Veyron just came… but… why is he with her? To think they have that kind of relationship, that naughty boy" Although her words sounded hilarious, they knew better than to think she wasn't angry and ready to bet it all in one last battle.
"Should we prepare our defences…"
"Stop it. Let him come… we can't tolerate any more losses, besides… he looks like he comes with good intentions. Rather than that, hurry up and settle up this place; we will have a small tea party just for him!"
*CHAA!!*
The lightning strikes began to loom around before she even finished her train of thought.
"It wouldn't do you wrong to come a bit later… do some tourism around" Big Mom joked towards the young man who landed in front of the castle alongside a gorgeous lady. Only... they were dressed a bit odd.
The massive doors opened, allowing both inside.
"You must be Dracule Veyron" The one who received them was a gorgeous lady with grey skin, a massive bob hat, a long neck and fluent cyan hair. Veyron measured her up; she had a voluptuous body wrapped in a slim celestial dress with a red bandana around her waist.
At the same time, she had a long Katana with a green-scaled handle.
While Veyron measured her up, she did the same to him.
"Where is Kokutō Youbi?" She asked off-handedly.
"Left it at home".
"A swordsman should never go out without his sword; didn't your mother teach you that?" The lady's words were shrouded in poison; she took the handle of her sword, but didn't make any other move.
"I am afraid my sword is too dangerous to just carry around. Don't worry, Charlotte Amande... My mother educated me very well".
Without even waiting to be allowed inside, Veyron brushed his sight past her and walked in. Sakazuki followed, but Amande's sword stopped her.
"Only Dracule Veyron is allowed in, Akainu".
"She's my guest... come, Sakazuki", Veyron spoke lightly and the admiral smiled. She walked forward towards the sword, daring Amande to keep it in place, blocking her way.
The long-necked lady groaned and moved her sword aside, following behind them.
"Do you even know where you are going?" She asked; it was obviously his first time in this castle.
"Of course... your mother's Conqueror Haki has been calling for me since I arrived" Veyron smirked. The silence remained as every step echoed, only to be shrouded by the lightning strikes crashing outside of the castle.
Amande looked at Veyron with her sword held tightly, and although his wrath was not directed at her, she couldn't help but feel apprehension.
'How can this kid be so scary...?'
"Do you plan to stay for long?" She asked, trying to keep the conversation going, trying to learn more.
"I don't have the leisure. I left my fiancé behind, and I have to go pick her up soon".
"Fiancé..." Her gaze flickered between Veyron and Akainu.
'What is a Marine Admiral doing here with him?'.
...
They reached the main palace where all of Big Mom's retainers and most of her children awaited, although at that moment, Veyron didn't know he was staring at Big Mom's family.
"Long time no see, Linlin".
From the outset, he was disrespectful, going as far as to call her by name.
"Mamamama, take a seat, brat... let's talk for a bit. I have prepared a tea party for you".
"Oh really? So happy... I'll just have to be careful in case you poisoned it".
The noise of cracked teeth reverberated; Veyron laughed out loud and sat down, but his comment passed through the atmosphere like a droplet of water sliding on lava.
"What would be the use of poisoning it? mamama, such a thing can't possibly kill you".
A biscuit-looking maid came to deliver the tea and cookies.
Veyron tasted them and beckoned Sakazuki to have some too. The woman frowned at him, silently asking him if he was crazy. Yet he insisted, and in the end she left the biscuits but had the tea.
"You know why I am here…?" He mumbled, loud enough for mosquitoes to hear. But she heard that very well.
"Are you interested in buying our products? We have the best sweets in this world~" Big Mom laughed, talking about their endless factories, but Veyron didn't laugh. In fact, he had his tea rather quickly and looked up at her.
"… I won't beat around the bush. Big Mom, from now on you and your crew are subordinated to me".
"…"
Silence, dead silence mixed with outrage. Sakazuki nearly spat her tea and stared at her new boytoy-*cough!* lover, in shock.
As if it wasn't enough, he carried on.
"You will all do everything I say. If I tell you to walk, you walk; if I tell you to die, you die... I'll take one or more of your daughters with me if necessary. Don't ever think about raising your sword against me again" His glaring eyes released conqueror haki, subtle at first... but strong enough to make the weakest biscuit soldiers fall down.
*CHAA!!*
A Lightning strike impacted the top of the castle, shocking the world. A storm had descended in Tottoland; it wouldn't go until it was happy.
"Brat..."
"Otherwise there won't be any Tottoland to speak of... You pissed me off, and you should know I don't like to be pissed off for long. I will completely obliterate you, just like I did with Kaido, and you should know by now, it won't be as difficult".
*RUMBLE!!*
"Whitebeard and Rayleigh are not here with you right now, kiddo! Do you think just one Admiral is enough to hold me down, ALL MY PEOPLE!?"
Two wills of conqueror clashed, but Linlin was easily overwhelmed. She backed off in shock.
*BOOMMM!!*
The shockwave knocked Big Mom off her throne.
"Mama!" One of her daughters went to aid her, while the rest of the children didn't know what to do. They looked at Katakuri, Smoothie and Cracker instinctively... they were the strongest siblings... but none seemed willing to step forward.
There was no choice; it wasn't a suggestion.
It was an absolute order. Follow it, or die.
"Who do you think you're talking to, you piece of shit!"
Charlotte Cracker, one of the commanders, shot forth before Big Mom could even say anything. He didn't know if he could win or lose, but he knew he couldn't allow his family to be stepped on like this, in their turf!
"Stop, Cracker!" Big Mom finally spoke with worry
He had a shield and a pointy sword coated in Haki. Sadly, before he could even approach enough to meet Saki's magma, his body stopped.
*WHOOSH*
*BOOOOMMM!*
His body shot like a rocket towards the ceiling, shattered it and flew away, and out of the hall, he wouldn't be coming back any time soon. The rain started pouring down into the castle from that hole, and the light from the lightning strikes outside started to shine into the eerie halls.
"I am not here to play games, Big Mom... last chance", Veyron was still sitting there with his legs crossed, his head resting on his palm boringly.
"The first thing I want you to do is to send resources to Wano. You understand what I mean, right?"
"Dracule Veyron… do you think I am afraid of you?"
"You are…"
Staring at him straight in the eye, Big Mom realised… all she could see were those two lightning goddesses, each carrying a spark strong enough to shatter everything she built with effort.
"You messed with the wrong people".
"It was Kaido who did it, not me–" she began to make excuses.
"I don't give a fuck. You kidnapped my women. I am letting you off lightly, Linlin... it is precisely because Kaido orchestrated it and you only helped, that he is dead and you're not; don't make me change my mind".
"..."
She hadn't been called by her name for a long time, much less by a brat. But she was apprehended being Yonko; her children were downright terrified. Only Katakuri who was still covered in bandages, seemed like he had the will to fight.
But he was certain of his defeat.
'There is nothing to do... he is holding all the cards. I can't defeat him... he can easily kill all my children; the only option here is...' Big Mom clenched her fists.
'Obey...'
Saki looked at Veyron, and once more she was assured of her choice. Who else could have a Yonko like this?
"It will be done…" Linlin said with gritted teeth, "You just need to tell me what resources- money, ships, food... anything... it will be fetched".
Veyron smiled and just as quickly the storm outside stopped. All of her daughters stared at the boy, awed... all it took was a smile, and the weather changed completely.
'Is this a God?!'
"I like it when people cooperate, Linlin... that's right, we will need all those precious resources to repair the damage your friend caused in Wano... not only in Wano, Dressrosa as well. Until both Wano and Dressrosa can recover, I'll be counting on you to protect them. In the unexpected situation that you need my help, I'll send my mom or I'll come over myself; is that clear?"
"I understand..."
It was all she could do, become a subordinate. In a way, it wasn't as painful as she expected. Dracule Veyron was publicly acknowledged as a Yonko, but they all knew the title was small for him.
He had long transcended even the likes of Gol D. Roger in terms of power.
"Which of my daughters are you planning to take as a slave?" She asked the other important question that had her filled with apprehension.
"Slave…? Who said anything about slaves?" Veyron tilted his head.
Once more, silence permeated.
"Eh…? You said... you'd take one or more with you"
"I meant I will be marrying one or more of your daughters, depending on my mood".
!!!
Saki spat her tea, her neck twisted like a rusted mechanism to look at her new 'lover' publicly acknowledge he was taking even more Fiances, and without even asking for her opinion!
"What do you mean, Veyron!?" She jumped in outrage, Veyron looked at her with squinted brows and she realised her reaction and sat back down in anger.
'We are not…'
"Ma…mamamamama! Are you serious?" Big Mom couldn't believe it. She thought it was hopeless... that her family was now fated to be slaves of this Emperor, but no!
"You are a woman that loves family second only to sweets. Am I not correct? If I take any of you as slaves… I know you will plot against me. If I become your family… you will at least think twice" Veyron mumbled, "Besides, as I said... your punishment for helping Kaido will be to follow my orders during this junction... after that, everything will be repaid, and you can go and do whatever you want so long as you don't antagonise me and so long as you are cooperative with my plans".
She couldn't believe what she was hearing; they were being let off...
"Mamamama! You're right! So… does that mean I am forgiven?"
"Of course not".
Linlin's face soured.
"I'll be your son in law, but you will do everything I say. No questions asked… am I understood?"
"How can my whole cake island win?" She meant what benefit was there for them in following his orders even after their debt was repaid.
"You will win so long as you follow my instructions; you will remain a Queen in this world, but you follow my orders, that's all".
"What is your goal…?"
"To erase the redline…"
!!!
"And everything on top of it included", He growled, thinking of only one woman whom he wanted to survive the onslaught.
Hearing him, Sakazuki felt her earlier grievances flush out. After all, they had a plan. And he was doing what was necessary to ensure that plan came to fruition.
"Mamamamama!! Very well, my beloved son-in-law. Mama is at your service!" Big Mom was more than eager.
"…"
"By the way…" She asked as he turned around. The atmosphere turned eerie.
"The One Piece…"
"…"
"Do you want it?"
*RUMBLE*
Conqueror Haki trashed about between the two once more. This time he noticed she was even more focused. Veyron turned around and stared into her eyes with a piercing glare that made her stand back once.
"I'll know if I want it or not the moment I see it. For the moment, I am not interested in it. But if I ever want it… do you think there is anyone in this world who can stop me from getting it?"
"Mamamama! I don't think so… to be honest, not even that brat Roger was this overbearing".
"Good".
"Why don't you stay for dinner…? You have yet to tell me which of my daughters you're going to marry… you can take as many as you want!~".
"Very well, we will stay for dinner… bring all your daughters here".