(In the back of your head as you read this I want you to picture me fighting for my life in the trenches of my notes 😭😭 cause that’s exactly what happened. Anyways enjoy)
It was a beautiful night.
The stars danced high in the sky and the moon was bright and full. Everyone was winding down (as much as they could really) from the post-fight party and were just focusing on stuffing their faces. This is usually when Roger strikes in an effort to ward off the exhaustion that was bound to set in.
His genius solution? A pirate captain speech.
“NOW, BACK IN OLDEN DAYS OF SEAMEN-!”
A chorus of boos from his crew echoed against trees.
“Captain, please don’t.” Was what everyone was pretty sure the red-headed cabin boy was saying through a mouthful of pasta.
The man gasped, truly affronted.
“I'M JUST TRYING TO TELL YOU ABOUT CLASSIC SEAFARERS AND THEIR MEALTIME TRADITIONS! WHERE IS ALL THIS COMING FROM?!”
Before an argument could properly break out, a new voice cut in.
“Do you mean the Cardinal 5 Salutes?”
Roger beamed his signature beam. “Indeed I am Mrs Toki. Glad to know SOMEONE here understands.”
Toki smiled while her husband looked on at her with appreciation before that familiar hunger for more took over.
“What are the Cardinal 5 Salutes dear?”
In a flash Toki settled into ‘story-teller’ mode and with one small clearing of her throat the camp hushed.
“To give thanks after a journey, the people of old offered meals and treasure to the heavenly beings. If you were lucky they’d accept and grant you blessings beyond mortal comprehension.”
Rayleigh arched an eyebrow as he caught his captain's gaze.
“We have literally never done that.”
“No time like the present to start! I’m feeling lucky tonight!”
Roger's grin never faded as he cleared his throat and began to shout.
“OIIIIIIIIII! RAIN AVATAR, COME GET SOME FOODDDDDDDDD!”
“THAT'S HOW YOU'RE ASKING?!”
“OHO~ I DIDN'T REALIZE YOU WERE ALL SUCH MEN OF FAITH! ASKING IS ASKING! I'M SURE THEY DON'T MIND! FOREST AVATAR, GOT SOME TREASURE WITH YOUR NAME ON IT!”
Gaban chuckled with a practiced ease that did not match the tight grip he had on his mug of ale. He leaned over to the teal haired woman.
“He’s not gonna get us in any trouble with all this hooting and hollering right? He ain’t even using their names.”
“Oh no that’s completely fine. In some cases they would take offence to such casual treatment.”
“MOON AVATAR!! WE GOT SOME SEA-KING WITH YOUR NAME ON IT!! DON'T BE SHY NOW!!”
Whitebeard grumbled while pinching the bridge of his nose causing Roger spun around with a drunken swagger.
“What’s your damage Eddy? Not a fan of divine intervention?”
“..Just not a fan of messing with things that shouldn’t be messed with.”
“Pshhh! What’s the worst that could happen-.”
Just as the last syllable leaves Roger's moustachioed lips, the moon blinks.
The inky night sky slid down to the island floor, splitting into two and stretching itself into fingers. The space-speckled hands bent slightly as the face of a woman looms over the pirates, her cloud hair swaying in a non-existent breeze and orange crescent eyes shining down a spotlight. Her lips parted and what could only be described as the sound of wind rushing in your ears was heard.
Roger, now very sober but by no means any wiser for it, could only tilt his head in confusion.
The woman paused and tilted her head in return. Her form swirled into a cosmic cyclone before revealing a much smaller and more human form (human being the operative word here of course). Her hair still swayed but was littered with small braids and cuffs. Her skin dark and melded to the night sky. Giant wings that displayed the constellations. And..cracks that seem to overtake her whole body, starry or otherwise. She opened her mouth again as everyone watched with bated breathe as she…
Long and almost cat-like before her face returned to a more impassive expression. She stared before finally speaking.
“I have forgotten how easily you mortals are spooked. Forgive me for it has been centuries since I have last been in transient company. In any case I am here to accept your offering.”
Roger's shocked expression quickly changed to one of smug glee as he loudly announced how happy (and totally not scared) everyone was that she answered his call! He'd go grab that sea king right now!
The Moon nodded in response before taking in the shocked and fearful faces of two pirates crews before her eyes settled on one. She lackadaisically pointed.
“Are you not supposed to be dead?”
Toki quickly had to settle her husband as he reached for his twin blades.
“Because you saw me 800 years ago yes? I posses the ability to travel through time.”
The Moon raised an eyebrow but seemed to accept the answer. The camp loosed a breath in relief.
“Got your grub right here Miss Moon!”
Roger hauled a large Sea-King (cooked to perfection he would say) before the avatar with grand gestures and smiles.
“Hope everyone’s been making you feel welcome!”
“They are too preoccupied with their terror to be proper hosts. I can understand that and hold no ill will or discontentment.”
With that she grabbed the tail of the beast and swallowed it in one fell swoop. A brief moment before the cracking and splitting of bones being chewed were heard. She eventually swallowed before noticing the quizzical stares.
“Do mortals not eat the bones of their catches anymore?”
“I…don’t think we ever did.”
No embarrassment crossed her face but she did begin to mutter about letting ‘Him’ fool her even after all this time.
Roger whistled lowly, impressed (and slightly off kilter) at that monstrous display of appetite. He began motioning for the Moon to follow.
“Come on, stay a while! Grab a bite by the fire! We can totally squeeze you in!”
The celestial took a single step. The sound of metal snapping and twisting filled the air as she paused, looked down and picked up a ruined dagger.
The two cabin boys of the Oro Jackson turned to each other with palpable fear as they furiously began to whisper argue.
“You said you picked up all my daggers! What do I pay you for anyway?!”
“And I thought I did! Maybe if you weren’t so lazy-!”
“That’s it: I want my money back! With interest!”
Shanks's next retort died on his lips as he saw what stood behind his friend. He immediately ran behind Rayleigh who had one hand on the pommel of his sword. Slowly and shakily Buggy turned around only to be met eye-to-eye with the moon deity. His dagger lay broken in her nebula-like hands.
“Is this yours little one?”
“I had no intention of breaking it. Nevertheless I shall make it right.”
Starry palms enclosed the broken weapon and soft light spilled through the cracks. A couple seconds later the hand opened and the dagger was reborn. It was offered back to the owner handle first.
“It shall never break again.”
The little clown shakily retrieved his property and because he clearly cannot leave well enough alone, he opened his mouth.
“That’s good to hear, I was really ‘cut-up’ about the situation!”
Awkward showman smile, weird posing, truly one of the child's worst jokes ever. He was mentally begging this divine woman to smite him.
She didn’t however. She just stared at him for what felt like eternity before her lip began to twitch.
The twitching turned into a smile.
That smile turned into joyous laughter.
Actual, genuine laughter that seemed to echo against the trees and shake the tides.
It was nice, melodic laughter that makes you want to join in and when she finished her smile didn’t fade. It was a beautiful smile, the kind that makes you wonder why she doesn’t do it more often.
She patted the blue-haired boy's beanie covered head.
“I cannot remember when I was last able to laugh so..freely. Thank you Buggy.”
Straightened up and wings ready, The Moon stares at the sky.
“It is time for me to return. I appreciate letting me enjoy this evening with you but I must return to my slumber.”
She closed her hands together and reopened them to show stars spilling over from her palms. She quickly crushed them into shimmering stardust
“These are your blessings. Use them well. And let us meet again someday.”
Without further discussion she blew the powder over them. Sleep took them over instantly and one by one they drifted off…
The next morning came and with it no hangovers, nor aches and pains of any kind. It was the most restful sleep most had had in years. The rival pirate crews began packing up to leave but each held this feeling that something had occurred last night, something tickling at the edge of their memories.
They stared up at the sky looking for answers and received none in return.
PARI, YOU HAVE BROUGHT ME A FEAST FOR WHICH I AM ETERNALLY GRATEFUL!!! 🥹🥹🥹🥹🥹
I knew what was coming the second Roger shouted "SEAMEN!". Probably the pirate equivalent of a knock-knock joke by this point.
Love how Toki is universally recognized as a fantastic storyteller, and the Cardinal 5 Salutes is such a unique concept that fits the world of One Piece like a glove! As does Roger essentially going pspsps to the rain god and the forest god with some chicken. 😆
"Moon goddess, come and get y'all jui-OH MY GOD SHE ACTUALLY SHOWED UP TO GET HER JUICE!! 😱😱😱"
Her appearing in the literal blink of an eye and sliding up out of the water? Top Twenty Anime Entrances, Number One is courtesy of Pari.
That was such a Roger reaction. Well, might as well get some sea king for the beautiful lady since she came all this way. Pirates can be polite now and then.
I thought she was doing some clairvoyant shit when she went "girl, aren't you dead?" to Toki before I remembered oh yeah, Toki's from the Void Century. Even in the story, she says that so casually like one time and the Whitebeards just nod along with it like she was listing her favorite color.
Yeees, girl, eat those bones! Good source of calcium. Which I'm not sure is essential for a moon goddess but always welcome regardless.
Awww, she fixed Buggy's dagger! 🥹 And he made a Moon Goddess laugh, is there no end to this clown's legendary accomplishments?!?!
I knew she erased their memories and all, but I'd like to think it would all come rushing back to Buggy when (not if, it is a very definite when!) they meet again. The Seraphim are anxiously clinging to his red onesie as they look up at the pretty Moon Lady. It makes her break out into a teary smile because it's been so long since her winged children have looked upon her. And with eyes of pure starlight too.
