Chapter 130: Ancient Starlight
Chapter 130: Ancient Starlight
The dock they’d been guided to really was private. As in the cove that it was built into was actively concealed via a massive, fake rock wall that had been raised into hidden housing at a signal from the cutter ahead of them. The construction was impressive, given that the Discovery was not as small ship, yet the hidden dock was able to handle her. Not, admittedly, with a great deal of room to spare, but she did fit.
Had Luffy not been able to sense the emotions of their guide, he might well have been reluctant to trust taking the ship into an enclosed, potentially trapped space like this. For that matter, even with the guide seemingly radiating nothing but professionalism and respect, he’d never have risked in on the Grand Line. Here in the South Blue, the chances an individual island had the firepower to deal with their entire crew was…low. Not completely impossible, given the massive barrier marking the island as a clear outlier. Yet, with no sense of deceit or any feeling of aggression coming from those within the dock, Luffy had gone along with the request. It was obvious the locals were serious about their crew being spotted here being problematic, and Luffy didn’t know the why of that yet, so proceeding with caution was only good sense.
Now, after mooring to the dock and actually lowering their seldom-used ramp, he was stepping off the Discovery with Yamato. Strictly speaking, it should have been Kuina with him, as the ship’s First Mate. Yet it was blatantly obvious that the locals wanted something to do with, or at least had an interest in, Yamato. Something that was only made more readily apparent when virtually all of those that greeted them when they stepped off the ramp shared the same sort of physical looks as the guide. A few were clearly guards of some sort, with the main three present who weren’t such being two women and a man. The two women, in particular, were radiating a feeling much like Kaya or the Priestess of Asuka Island did.
The man was near enough nine feet tall, with salt-and-pepper hair and a walking stick. While both women in turn favored the same general height, pale skin, similar horns, and even…certain generous proportions (if not quite as dramatic)…as Yamato did. Something which very clearly had his companion interested. One of them, the older of the two women, who had grey in her hair but still showed off a body many women would cheerfully murder for, stepped forward and spoke.
“Greetings Bearer of the Sun, Captain Monkey D. Luffy. I suspect you have questions for us, as I sense only confusion and interest from you. Perhaps it is fate that led you here? If you did not come to Starfall already knowing why the World Government would cheerfully have sent every assassin they had and entire battle fleets to stop you from coming here?”
You could practically hear the blink of confusion from both Luffy and Yamato, complete with an adorable head-title from the later that made the older woman laugh. It was a pleasant, tinkling sound despite the woman being roughly of a height with Yamato. One that said she was amused and delighted, but hardly put out or insulted.
“Fate, indeed. Well, perhaps if you did not know yourselves, the World Government will not guess. Certainly, none here will tell them, though you might choose to be cautious about visiting Starlight. Still, you are free to do so, if the risk does not bother you. For now, I believe you have a large and building number of questions, the longer we talk. Would you like your crew to be present? We will have a meal prepared, either way. But we can talk in private to The Bearer of the Sun alone, or her and you Captain, if you would prefer?”
Luffy was increasingly concerned that he had no fucking clue what these people were talking about. There were…religious or near religious tones to the way they said that title, just for starters. The mystery of just why Yamato seemed to have a ludicrous amount of spiritual energy that felt like the sun was another point. Thankfully, he knew that Yamato wouldn’t shut him out. He was, in fact, unsurprised when she looked to him to answer. He pursed his lips and considered carefully.
He easily dismissed bringing the entire crew, who were all now present due to him quietly sending Vivi below as they were guided in, to retrieve those back on Torino or elsewhere. The crew contained a few too many people these days to hold potentially complicated talks with, and several of them would only likely be interested in the most abstract of ways anyway. He could leave it at just himself and Yamato, in case something said was private to his largest lover. On the other hand, there were those on the crew that might have valuable input. Biting his lip for a moment, he eventually made a ‘suggestion’ to Yamato, which he knew she would likely take as closer to a de facto order.
“Perhaps just you, myself, and Robin? This may be a bit private, but she is the best of us at asking the right questions.”
He was sorely tempted to include Kaya, since he had suspicions this would brush on her areas of expertise. Likewise, he was extremely tempted to include Vivi as well, as she was by far the most diplomatic member of the crew. He was getting the sense from all three of these people that they would prefer a degree of discretion though. Thankfully, he was right about Yamato, who instantly accepted with a nod and a bright smile. Luffy didn’t miss that some tension bled out of their hosts at the confirmation of a smaller group, though at least the younger woman had grimaced at the inclusion of Robin. The older was apparently firmly in charge, however, and clapped her hands with a genuine smile.
“Excellent! I admit, we had hoped to keep the number of those that heard the details small, as we very rarely share certain things with outsiders at all. To the point that we suspect the World Government believes we don’t remember anything. My grandson, Ossamen, who guided your ship in, will take the rest of your crew to a larger feast we’ve had prepared for them. If you would call Nico Robin down, I and the others will take you somewhere we can better, or at least more safely, answer your questions.”
Luffy nodded and turned to call orders to those still on the ship. He was dying a bit of curiosity at this point, but it wouldn’t do to forget the rest of the crew…
… … …
Luffy, Yamato, and Robin sat across from the trio that had guided them in. Said trio had finally introduced themselves as High Priestess Brightstar, Elder Northstar, and Senior Priestess Dusklight. Luffy was, in fact, sensing a bit of a theme with the names, and wondered if it carried through the entire island or if it was just…whoever this group was. The High Priestess seemed to be the one in charge, though her was pretty sure Dusklight was the next person down the totem pole, which made a bit of sense given she’d been introduced as Brightstar’s successor.
Elder Northstar was treated with respect, but had said little as they moved from the dock to a modest but obviously secure room, one deep within what he suspected was a hidden section of a noble estate. Overall, he’d given Luffy the impression that he was perhaps a political leader for the island, deferring to a religious one? Or something of the sort was currently his best guess, at least. Tea had been waiting for them, along with platters of various types of snacks, which they’d all politely taken a few of. The tea, in particular, was quite good…and spiritually infused. Though Luffy didn’t get a sense it was anything dangerous. More that the herbs used in it had been grown somewhere soaked in spiritual energy. Of course, with that giant Spear thing out there radiating so much of it, it might be a case of the whole island being soaked in enough of it for such a thing to be more or less natural.
“Right. I must admit, I never imagined that The Bearer of the Sun would come to Starfall, let alone that she would do so unintentionally, so I’m a bit at a loss as to where to start.”
Ever reliable Robin didn’t hesitate to offer a suggestion. Which, of course, was one of the reasons Luffy had wanted her present.
“Perhaps with that title? You call Yamato ‘The Bearer of the Sun,’ but what does that mean?”
The High Priestess hummed, then surprisingly nodded toward Luffy.
“I suspect your Captain has at least some idea, but I won’t make you guess. To be blunt, your companion has eaten the Hito Hito no Mi, Model: Nika. More importantly, she’s compatible with the Devil Fruit in question. Such is not always the case, which is how the World Government was able to get away with giving it the false label of the ‘Gomu Gomu no Mi.’ For most users, it never does anything more than let their body act like rubber.”
High Priestess Brightstar’s eyes narrowed as none of them reacted to the reveal. Luffy had long ago told them what little his System had to say about Yamato’s Devil Fruit. Though he’d restricted that information to only those who knew about the System at all. Something that now made him somewhat grateful he’d decided not to bring Vivi and Kaya after all. Vivi knew at least more than the rest of the crew at this point, but he hadn’t sat down to walk her through everything yet. Kaya knew nothing more than the crew at large, which was basically only that Luffy could use the Inventory. Not that they even knew it was called that.
“You already knew then, the true name of the Nika fruit. Yet seemingly know nothing of it otherwise. What an utterly curious combination.”
The woman shook her head, an odd smile having formed on her face as she said that. Sipping her tea, she hummed for a moment, then nodded.
“Very well. As you undoubtedly know, Mythical Zoan fruit are something beyond even the already extraordinary of typical Devil Fruit, or as they are more accurately called, Spirit Fruit. While every Spirit Fruit contains…call it a technique, if you will…Mythical Zaon fruit are more. They contain not just a single ability, but a concept, specifically the conceptual weight of their Myth. No one, to my knowledge, knows for sure and certain if any of the myths were true, though the physical evidence of the Starlight Spear suggests they may well have been. At least in the ancient past.”
Seeing questing looks spread across their faces, she shook her head.
“Everything in it’s time. Now that I have a starting point at all, let us stick to it. It all ties together, somewhat, anyway. Now, where was I…ah, yes. Nika. You’ll find very few references to him, as the World Government did their best to wipe them away, but Nika was either a legendary warrior or a sun god, depending on which legend you give the most weight too. Either way, he was known as a Warrior of Liberation and symbol of freedom, and the Hito Hito no Mi: Model: Nika contains the concept of his existence. Last known Awakened wielder…Joy Boy.”
Robin sat bolt upright at that, with Luffy stiffening as well. He didn’t know much about Joy Boy, but knew the figure was important. Clearly, Robin was aware of something as well, and the three locals were eyeing her carefully. After a moment, the High Priestess contiuned.
“Joy Boy. The first Pirate. Someone who fought in the Great War against those who would later become the World Government. Even we, despite attempts to retain knowledge, know little more of him than that. We know two additional things of great importance, however. One, that the World Government greatly fears the return of Joy Boy via another Awakened Wielder of the Nika Fruit. Two…that whatever Nika was, he wasn’t the only one of his kind. Another, an ally of his, drove the Starlight Spear into an ancient enemy right off the coast of Starfall…but died to the death throes of that same foe.”
Luffy swallowed, abruptly beginning to form a picture of why the World Government would very badly not want them here. As well as beginning to form uncomfortable suspicions about the larger picture of the world that he’d only slowly been seeing pieces of until now.
“The barrier let off by the Starlight Spear, it is the remnants of this other Nika-like entity’s power, isn’t it?”
The High Priestess smirked, and Luffy abruptly felt like a child about to be praised by a doting grandmother, something made all the more real by her action of holding up a particular plate to him.
“Very good, Captain! Have a cookie!”
Snorting, but taking the cookie nevertheless, appreciating the break in tension, he still waited for an answer. Which he got a moment later.
“You are right, of course. While few still know the legend, the Starlight Spear was said to be the weapon of Asteria, and the very island of Starfall to be her body turned to stone in her death. Whatever the truth is, both the island and the Spear radiate a protective barrier against curses, as well as keep sealed the final curse of the monster she slew. The ‘unnatural’ Night Sky is merely a manifestation of her primary domain, which was said to be that of the ‘Starry Sky.’”
Luffy got the distinct impression that the High Priestess knew far more than she was saying about Asteria specifically. Yet, he wasn’t stupid enough to press the point, given he also got the impression that even this much was virtually never shared with Outsiders. Most likely, only Yamato and the presence of the Nika fruit, whose originator was linked to this Asteria as an ally of some sort, was making the locals willing to say as much as they did. Though that, at least, got a partial correction a moment later as High Priestess Brightstar locked eyes with him.
“While it is unknown if they were allied or not, your own Spirit Fruit belonged to great beast whose name was known to us as well. Had you come alone, with your fruit Awakened as it is now, we might well have spoken with you regardless, but the Nika fruit takes precedence.”
Oh. Well, Luffy was vaguely aware that his own fruit was named after something somewhere between a divine beast and a force of nature, so he supposed that made a degree of sense. Though, more important than that in some ways, was the fact the High Priestess had just admitted she could tell his fruit had fully Awakened. Silence fell for a moment, before Robin once again proved he was right to bring her along, as she asked another critical question.
“Takes precedence in what, exactly? Why would the World Government fear the Nika Fruit wielder coming here?”
The High Priestess smiled, and there was something cold, yet fiery in her eyes. Like looking into the night sky and knowing what stars really were.
“Why, my dear, the answer to that is quite simple. After all, Starfall is one of the very few places in the world where it is possible to speed up the Awakening of certain Spirit Fruits, using the very energy the island and Starlight Spear give off. Including, as it happens, igniting the power of an old ally of Asteria herself. Something which I very much suspect the World Government would be horrified to see happen.”
Even Robin was left speechless as the enormity of that statement caught up to them all, Yamato most of all. Luffy had tried to describe to her how Awakening worked, and mostly failed. Yamato’s control of her fruit had shot up a fair bit from what little he had been able to pass on, but had still landed far short of the sort of revelation required to bridge the gap. Abruptly, Yamato moved, prostrating herself before the High Priestess without a second thought.
“Please, teach me. There are things I must do that I have not the strength for.”
The High Priestess looked startled for a moment, then smiled and reached down to tug Yamato up.
“No need for that, dear. I said Asteria and Nika were allies, did I not? You needed only to step onto our island and ask and the knowledge and help was there for you to have. Though I warn you, the process will be neither quick, nor safe. Are you prepared for the risk?”
Yamato’s stare as she looked into the eyes of the High Priestess was unflinching as she replied.
“Yes. While I do not pretend to understand the larger picture, there are those in my home that require liberation, and I will not be found wanting.”
A frisson of power to the words shot down through Luffy’s spine, something underlying them screaming to the Awakened part of his own fruit. The High Priestess’s smile widened.
“Oh ho, perhaps it is already closer to the surface then I thought. Well then, that will only make things easier, and side effects much less likely to be dangerous. Come, there are things you must learn. Captain, you may come as well, as you may learn something yourself. I am afraid, Miss Nico Robin, that it would be unsafe for you to follow. Elder Northstar will see you back to the rest of your companions, and answer the many questions you no doubt have regarding our island. What he can of them, anyway. The poor man is the unfortunate fellow that is forced to deal with the eclectic residents of our home, rather than dabbling in things beyond mortal comprehension. The latter of which is truly much easier. If perhaps, a touch less safe.”
Smiling, the Elder spoke for the first time since they’d entered the room.
“Only a little safer. We do have a rather eclectic set of residents, as you said. Such as our own people, who you didn’t even let me talk about. Ah, well, I supposed I will merely have to tell the history of the Oni to miss Robin, so that she may share it with the Sun Bearer later. I get the feeling that, despite the obvious interest of young Yamato, Nico Robin may be a more rapt listener to more than the basics, anyway.”
Yamato actually looked torn for a moment, but only a moment, before firmly nodding. The Elder only chuckled at that and stood. He held out a hand in a gentlemanly gesture to Robin, who took it with a smile. Thankfully, it seemed only a polite gesture, from the ring on the man’s finger and the feel of his emotions, so Luffy didn’t feel the need to introduce his insides to his outsides for the presumption. Besides, Robin was quite capable of doing that herself, if required. Standing himself, Luffy quickly joined Yamato and the two Priestesses as they left the room and headed in the opposite direction from the Elder and Robin.
This, he thought, should prove interesting…