Those Who Stand at the Top • Project complete!

an upcoming charity fanzine celebrating our favourite shichibukai (and blackbeard)!

[opwarlordzine]

🎊 greetings my beloved warlord devotees. we were able to make our donation to our charity today!

i cant express enough how happy we were with the amount we are able to donate to this awesome organization and we couldnt have done it without all of you! thank you again and forever for choosing to take part in and support this project!

[opwarlordzine]

🎊 greetings my beloved warlord devotees. we were able to make our donation to our charity today!

i cant express enough how happy we were with the amount we are able to donate to this awesome organization and we couldnt have done it without all of you! thank you again and forever for choosing to take part in and support this project!

[opwarlordzine]

Only six hours until we sail away for good! Shop closes at Midnight, PST! [SHOP HERE]

[opwarlordzine]

Only twelve hours left! At Midnight PST, the Leftover Sales will close for good! If you want anything at all, get it quick! [SHOP HERE]

[omegatown]

Here’s my piece for the @opwarlordzine!  Leftover sales still open until Wednesday, June 14th at midnight PST

[opwarlordzine]

FLASH SALE

June 7th, today, until Midnight PST! Everything at 15% off!

BlackEagleZineForce - Etsy

Shop items by BlackEagleZineForce.

[slentcheryart]

I’m a bit late, but here’s my piece and my sticikers for @opwarlordzine   

The leftovers sales are open until June 14th, so go check it out if you’re interested !

[chenziee]

For Better or Worse

Second of the two pieces I did for the charity @opwarlordzine!! Leftover sales are open right now, so do check it out for more shichibukai content :D

This one is quite short but I love how it came out :) It's a companion piece to the Doffy-centric piece I did for the zine (because I obviously do not write enough Law on the regular <3)

[ Read on AO3 ]

—————

A hundred pirates, a hundred bodies, a hundred beating hearts.

A single box, a boring port, a screaming crowd.

It was almost laughable how easy becoming the World Government’s dog was—if it was even right to call them that. After all, none of the pirates donning the title of Warlord were doing it out of the goodness of their hearts; they all wanted something, something only the Government could give them.

Even Bartholomew Kuma, the so-called 'Loyal Puppy', had to be driven by an ulterior motive. It was simple logic; after all, what kind of pirate would bend over backwards for the Government? They didn’t follow the law. They didn’t follow orders. If they did, there was always a reason.

Peace and quiet. A throne to sit on. The key to the Gates of Justice. Information.

And Trafalgar Law was no exception.

“Captain, we’re getting close to the island.”

Slowly opening his eyes, Law gazed up at the ceiling above his bed on the Polar Tang. He wondered… when would he get to sleep in his own room again?

There was a timid, uncertain knock on his door before his first mate called out to him again, “Captain?”

“I’ll be right there.” Law heaved a deep sigh before he finally got up. 

He grabbed his hat from the nightstand, placing it on his head carefully and pulling it low over his eyes. Next, he grabbed his coat—heavy and too warm for the tiny submarine—and threw it over his shoulders before his fingers closed around Kikoku’s scabbard. The lacquered wood was smooth and cold to the touch; always cold, always hungry for something, yet somehow… 

The cursed blade brought Law comfort.

He closed his eyes momentarily, then took a deep breath. He held it in for a second before slowly, slowly… he let it out. 

He felt his heartbeat slow down, his swirling thoughts coming to a stop.

This was it.

Resting Kikoku against his shoulder, Law turned around and walked out of his room, not looking back.

“Prepare to surface,” he ordered as soon as he walked into the control room. “Bepo, how long until we reach the shore?”

“About ten minutes, Captain!” Bepo replied immediately.

“Good.” Law nodded, turning to Penguin who was manning the periscope. “Anything going on out there?”

Penguin hummed thoughtfully as he moved around to see as much of the outside as he could. “Nothing. Just a lot of icebergs and a fucking volcano going off somewhere.”

“Wonderful.” Law groaned. This island was going to be a real bitch.

Ignoring Bepo's intent gaze—the mink no doubt begging Law in his mind to change his plans while he could—Law focused on the motions of the submarine surfacing as he prepared to disembark. It wouldn’t be long now; despite what Bepo thought, the gears were already in motion and there was no stopping it.

—————

Kikoku on his shoulder, Law stepped out of the submarine, taking in the frozen landscape. The admirals really did a number on this place.

But that was what made it perfect.

Right under the Government’s nose, yet hidden. State-of-the-art equipment in top condition, yet abandoned. Everyone knew about it, yet no one would look.

Perfect for the black market, perfect for Caesar Clown, perfect for Joker.

Perfect for Law.

“Captain, are you really going?” Shachi asked uncertainly as he handed Law his bag.

“Yes,” Law sighed. He’d lost count how many times he had answered that question just in the past ten minutes. “You guys head to Zou immediately. No loitering around, understand?” He glared at his crew one by one until he saw each of them deflate, all arguments leaving them.

“Aye aye, sir,” they all echoed, their voices painfully dejected.

Law huffed, the corners of his mouth twitching upwards as a smile threatened to take over his face. Of course they were planning on staying within reach. Idiots…

He really hoped they would get to the elephant quickly and safely.

He nodded at Bepo one last time before he finally turned around, creating a Room—

“See you soon.”

As he switched places with some snow from the island’s ground, Law couldn’t help but wonder whether his final words to the crew weren’t a lie. Would he ever see them again?

He supposed it didn’t matter now.

The moment he placed the first heart out of one hundred into the box, it was already too late. Everything he did past that point, the title of Warlord… it was all for a single goal.

To make Cora-san’s dream come true. To avenge his death.

Snow crunching under his feet, Law took his first step on Punk Hazard’s soil.

A single step, a single goal, a single death.

Soon, everything would be over.

For better or worse.

[geckomoria]

My piece for the Warlord Zine @opwarlordzine ! The shop link is here ! 

It’s been a fantastic experience working with everyone! 

[dingbatsy]

Some jail birdies told me @opwarlordzine leftover sales are open! ;)

[chenziee]

Corazon

Alternate summary: Tsuru is definitely not getting paid enough for this

First of the two pieces I did for @opwarlordzine!! Leftover sales are open right now, so do check it out for more deranged evil flamingo man & co. :D I also did a short Law-centric companion piece that I will post soon too so look forward to that~

[ Read on AO3 ]

—————

Waiting for the transponder snail to ring was agonising. Doflamingo had no idea what Law was thinking; he had wormed his way onto Punk Hazard, living in Caesar’s lab like a little rat, waiting for an opportunity to chew up the cables that connected the SAD tanks with Doflamingo himself—and Doflamingo let him.

After all, what could one brat going through his rebellious phase do?

But picking a fight like this, going so far as to put up such a ridiculous ultimatum… that was way past a little rebellion. Way past what Doflamingo was willing to forgive.

Two years ago, Doflamingo had thought Law was finally coming back to him. Two years ago, he had started building his deck of cards once more.

In two years… the hearts have crumbled into dust.

—————

Dressrosa, the country of passion. With a name like that, one would think there would be something exciting going on at all times, but reality often falls short of fantasies.

Not that it was necessarily a bad thing; if he wanted some action, or a show… there was nothing easier for Donquixote Doflamingo than to create it. Right now, however, he just wanted to sip on his cocktail and relax.

“Hey, hey! Doffy!”

“Hm?” Doflamingo hummed, turning his head slightly to look at Trebol as he slid towards the pool.

Trebol only stopped once he had reached the couch, leaning over the side of it to shove his face far into Doflamingo’s personal space—and covering Baby 5 next to him in slime. “Hey, Doffy, hey,” he rambled on, completely ignoring Baby 5’s disgusted protests.

“What is it? And you’re too close,” Doflamingo said, shooting his supreme officer a look.

At that, Trebol finally moved back a little, though not nearly far enough. “A carrier bat came for you,” he explained, waving the envelope with a government seal in front of Doflamingo’s face.

“Throw it out,” Doflamingo dismissed it immediately.

“You’re not even going to read it?!” Baby 5 asked in alarm.

Raising an eyebrow, Doflamingo took a long sip of his cocktail before responding, “Why should I care what those idiots want?”

“Your blood type is X! Bad things will happen if you’re not open to people’s requests this week!” the girl scolded while slapping the magazine on her lap.

“Baby 5, did you get another subscription?” Buffalo asked slowly, obviously struggling not to laugh.

“They needed me,” Baby 5 muttered while covering her face with the magazine; no doubt to hide her blush.

Doflamingo rolled his eyes. This was getting ridiculous. When would this kid learn?

“Hey, Doffy, hey. I think it could be interesting this time. It’s about the brats who have been rampaging in the first half of the Grand Line,” Trebol announced, shoving the letter back in his face.

Doflamingo paused at that. “Probably just that Straw Hat,” he said, but he reached for the paper anyway, his curiosity piqued.

As he read the words written in an entirely too fancy script, a chuckle bubbled out of his chest, the sound of his laughter soon echoing around the castle courtyard. This was honestly hilarious. As if it wasn’t enough they had allowed Crocodile to get beaten by Straw Hat, now they were basically admitting they were scared enough of him to call on the Seven Warlords.

And from their wording, it didn’t sound like it was just about him either. A few names that he imagined would make the government shit itself came to mind—Eustass Kid, Jewelry Bonney, X. Drake, and…

“The world is getting fun,” he mumbled to himself in between his bouts of laughter.

Getting up from the couch, he took the magazine out of Baby 5’s hands, tossing it at Trebol. “This place better not exist by the time I get back.”

“Aye aye, Doffy!” Trebol laughed.

Baby 5’s enraged scream was the last thing Doflamingo heard as he left the Dressrosa castle behind.

—————

A finger twitching, a smile widening, a sword swinging wildly; confused, terrified screams resounding around the spacious meeting room—puppets who didn't even realise they were just props for his amusement. Moving only as the puppet master commanded.

How Doflamingo enjoyed watching the despair take over once they realised they were powerless, only doomed to watch themselves slay their own friends. Granted, no pathetic navy soldier could be as entertaining as King Riku on the night Doflamingo had finally made it to Dressrosa but he would take it anyway.

“Doflamingo, I told you to be a good boy and behave,” Tsuru said, her voice quiet but stern, like a grandmother reprimanding her grandchild.

“Aw, but Tsuru, aren’t you bored of this pointless chatter?” Doflamingo replied, shooting her his best grin.

“Why did you come if you didn’t want to hear what we have to say anyway?”

Doflamingo paused at her words. Why was he there? All they’ve talked about was Straw Hat and this Blackbeard guy who had invited himself—or his crewmember—over. He had really thought there would be something more fun to be heard.

Yet, he couldn’t bring himself to regret coming.

And he couldn’t help but laugh. “I missed your loving scolding, Tsuru.”

Tsuru sighed but then shook her head and looked away. “Never mind.”

Doflamigo’s chuckle slowly grew into a full laugh. Ah, he really liked her. Was this the bond you get when you get chased by the same person for years and years?

Now if only she and Sengoku would talk about the people he really wanted to know about.

—————

"Well, this really is unusual," Tsuru noted, one eyebrow raised as she regarded Doflamingo. “This is the third Warlord meeting in a row that you’ve attended.”

Doflamingo chuckled. “Ah, but Tsuru, you didn’t give me much choice last time. Not to mention how fun the war was, you know I couldn’t have missed that one.”

“Don’t give me that, boy,” Tsuru said with a roll of her eyes.

“You don’t trust me, after all these years? That hurts,” Doflamingo said in his best mock-upset tone.

“I don’t trust you being so cooperative.” She made a face, distaste at what she was going to say clear in her expression. “But I do trust you thought the war was fun. You’ve always been like that.”

Loud laughter bubbled out of Doflamingo’s chest. Leave it to Tsuru to say things so bluntly—and to understand him so well. After all, he had always loved dramatic events that affected… everything. And if he got to play with a few pathetic bugs while at it, all the better. The war was perfect. He didn’t care about victors or losers; he didn’t care about Portgas, Whitebeard, or the navy. He didn’t care about any of it.

But watching history unfold before his very eyes… that was worth going out of his way to do what the idiots at Mariejois wanted.

And now…

“I hear the Warlord replacements have been decided?” Doflamingo asked.

Tsuru stayed silent, simply studying Doflamingo as he stared back at her, his usual grin not showing a single hint of his thoughts. She looked like she was trying to cut his brain open with her eyes and read his mind.

Doflamingo didn’t hate the look.

Honestly, it was fun.

Who would win? Tsuru and her calm, stoic gaze, or Doflamingo and his wide, ever-present grin? Her wise, experienced mind, or Doflamingo’s madness?

He couldn’t wait to see.

—————

Walking around the Pangea castle, Doflamingo couldn’t help but marvel at how different it felt now compared to when he was a kid. Back then, he was one of the people hiding behind the bubbles, behind the walls, behind CP0. Having every need satisfied without having to lift a finger—endless supply of slaves, unconditional protection from the navy headquarters below.

A little brat, he couldn’t see how weak and pathetic the Celestial Dragons really were.

How fragile that power was.

Now, however, watching Charlos waddle around like a toddler crying for his daddy… Doflamingo just had to laugh—quietly at first; but soon, he was cackling loudly without restraint.

What was the point of people like this ruling the world? They didn’t have what it took. They were so below him; if he didn’t have a use for them, they wouldn’t be worth a single spec of his attention. But luckily for them… even an otherwise worthless human served its purpose.

Like puppets on strings, simply dangling his knowledge in front of their noses had them dancing in Doflamingo’s palm, all their assumed power—gone.

He wondered, once he got bored of Dressrosa, how much effort would it really take to sit on the ‘Empty’ Throne?

“What’s so funny, Doflamingo? Don’t you have anything better to do?”

“You don’t think the world is funny, Tsuru?” Doflamingo asked, shooting a wide grin at the Great Advisor.

“No,” Tsuru said coldly and her annoyed voice only made Doflamingo chuckle again.

Comfortable silence settled between them, one born of the bond between a mouse and a cat who’d been playing tag for a few years too long. Who was the mouse and who was the cat?

It didn’t really matter anymore.

But then Tsuru spoke up. “Trafalgar Law,” she said quietly and Doflamingo’s ever-present grin dropped.

“Oh? What about him?” Doflamingo finally asked after a beat of silence.

The old woman sighed, “From North Blue. Has the power of the stolen Op Op Fruit. Started making a name for himself around the same time Straw Hat Luffy had. It doesn’t take a genius to figure it out.” She paused, taking a deep breath, her eyes rising to look at the brilliant blue sky. Possibly wondering why she was even bringing this up herself. “What is your connection to him? To have you care enough to show up here of all places four times.”

The silence came back for a moment… but then Doflamingo’s lips stretched into his usual grin once more. And soon, his laughter was ringing around them.

“You’re really nosy. Aren’t you, Tsuru?” he asked, his hand coming to rest against his forehead, just above his glasses. Shielding them. He wasn’t sure why.

Tsuru still wasn’t looking at him when she replied, “You don’t have to tell me, I don’t really care that much.”

Doflamingo huffed at her words. “Now, that’s just mean.”

“What, you want a hot cocoa and a bedtime story?” Tsuru asked with a voice full of sarcasm.

“I’d certainly want to see you do that.” Doflamingo stopped laughing then. “Law is… the one that got away.”

At that, Tsuru finally looked at him; it was a look that Doflamingo could only describe as annoyed and completely, utterly done. Ah, what a great expression to put on that old face. Well worth coming to Mariejois just for this reaction.

“Do you have to always say things in the creepiest way possible?” she asked, exasperated. Before Doflamingo could so much as lick his lips, however, Tsuru sighed and shook her head. “Don’t answer that. Glad at least one of the kids you picked up had enough sense to run away while he could.”

“Now you’re just hurting me on purpose,” Doflamingo teased just before he turned to leave.

“As if you need me to baby you,” Tsuru shot back and Doflamingo could just hear her eyes rolling.

Doflamingo huffed, simply waving back at her lazilly as he walked away, not looking back.

—————

Outside Dressrosa’s royal palace, there was a crowd of people, shouting; they wanted answers, voiced their worry, demanded to see their king.

On the floor, an army of transponder snails was ringing incessantly, their owners in panic.

But Doflamingo didn’t care, not about a single one of them. He was waiting for a single person to speak up, a single snail to wake up.

At the centre of the room, four thrones sat empty without their Officers. The last time he had talked to Tsuru, all four of them had an owner. There was still a Corazon.

But now—

Purururu… Purururu…

Now, the Heart seat sat empty.

[stjarnskrik]

My piece for the @opwarlordzine!

They have aftersales currently open so go check it out on their page.

[opwarlordzine]

LEFTOVER SALES ARE OPEN!

Missed your chance the first time? Fell in love with the merch after you had it in your arms and needed more?

No matter the case, all items physical and digital are now available on Etsy for all your wants and needs!

The shop will be open until June 14th, and for every $15 USD spent on merch, you'll receive one of two lovely bookmarks, or a print, (chosen randomly) as a bonus! At $30 USD, you'll get all three!

SHOP HERE!

[opwarlordzine]

ALL BUNDLES HAVE BEEN SHIPPED!

if you did not receive a tracking email, please check your spam and reach out to us! we cant wait for the zine to get to you! ps. if you missed it the first time around, we'll be sharing leftover sales info soon!

[opwarlordzine]

SHIPPING HAS BEGUN! the first batch of our bundles have been shipped! if your bundle was one of them you should have received an email with your tracking number. if you havent fear not bc the rest of the bundles will be shipped out this week!

[opwarlordzine]

PRODUCTION UPDATE

our zine is READY and being ordered this weekend!! we’re so excited to start shipping out bundles asap!!

in the meantime look how cute the charm episodeofdee created for us came out!

[opwarlordzine]

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!

we’re sharing the love with another sneak peek of the amazing merch thats come in! no one better to celebrate vday w than the most beautiful woman ever (courtesy of @kingycrow !)