The prison beneath Whole Cake Château was quiet.
No music. No laughter. No singing homies echoing through the walls like the rest of Totto Land.
Just silence… and the faint, suffocating sweetness of sugar baked into the very stone.
At the center of it
Chains.
Thick, reinforced bindings wrapped tightly around a figure seated against the cold wall.
Tenjin.
His Marine coat hung off his shoulders, torn and dirtied. His green hair shadowed his face, strands falling over his eyes as he sat still.
Unmoving.
Unyielding.
A tray of food sat in front of him.
Untouched.
Minutes passed.
Then—
Footsteps.
Slow.
Measured.
A door creaked open.
Light spilled into the darkness as a page opened and someone stepped in, humming casually.
Charlotte Mont-d'Or.
He held another tray in his hands, adjusting his glasses slightly as his eyes landed on Tenjin.
"Still not eating, hm?"
No response.
Tenjin didn't even look up.
Mont-d'Or clicked his tongue.
"How stubborn."
He stepped closer, placing the tray down beside the untouched one.
"Three days," he continued, voice light. "Three whole days, and not a single bite."
Still nothing.
Mont-d'Or tilted his head slightly, observing him.
"You're going to die at this rate, you know."
Silence.
Then—
Tenjin spoke.
"I don't need food."
Mont-d'Or smiled faintly.
"Is that so?"
Tenjin slowly lifted his head.
His eyes were sharp.
Focused.
Unbroken.
"I'm getting out of here."
A pause.
Mont-d'Or chuckled.
"Of course you are."
He adjusted his stance, hands behind his back.
"But tell me, Captain… do you even understand your situation?"
Tenjin said nothing.
Mont-d'Or continued.
"You attacked Mama."
A beat.
"You were captured."
Another step forward.
"And now… your life hangs on the whims of someone else."
Tenjin's eyes narrowed slightly.
Mont-d'Or's smile widened.
"My sister Pudding."
Silence.
Mont-d'Or leaned slightly closer.
"She's been working quite hard, you know."
Tenjin's gaze flickered.
Barely.
But Mont-d'Or caught it.
"Ah… so you didn't know?"
He straightened.
"For three days straight, she hasn't rested properly."
"Trying everything she can to awaken that little third eye of hers."
A pause.
"All for you."
The air shifted.
Tenjin's fingers twitched slightly against the chains.
Mont-d'Or watched with interest.
"How touching, isn't it?"
He let the words linger.
Then—
His tone sharpened.
"So go on."
He gestured toward the food.
"Eat."
Tenjin didn't move.
Mont-d'Or's smile thinned.
"If you die here…"
A pause.
"She'll stop trying."
Silence.
Tenjin's head lowered slightly.
His expression unreadable.
Mont-d'Or turned, already walking toward the exit.
"I'd hate for all her effort to go to waste."
He stopped at the door, glancing back over his shoulder.
"Or perhaps… you don't care?"
The door creaked open.
Light spilled out again.
And then—
"Oi."
Mont-d'Or paused.
Tenjin's voice rang out.
Calm.
Cold.
"Take these chains off."
A beat.
Mont-d'Or turned slightly.
"And why would I do that?"
Tenjin lifted his head fully now.
Eyes burning.
"So I can beat the hell out of you."
Silence.
Then—
Mont-d'Or laughed.
Loud and amused.
"Fufufu…!"
He shook his head.
"In your current state?"
He tapped his glasses.
"You can barely stand."
Tenjin didn't respond.
Mont-d'Or's laughter slowly died down.
But the smirk remained.
"I admire the spirit."
He stepped out.
"But spirit alone won't break you out of a book."
The book shut.
CLACK.
Darkness returned.
Silence followed.
Tenjin exhaled slowly.
His gaze drifted to the trays beside him.
Unmoved.
Then upward.
To the ceiling.
'Three days…'
His jaw tightened.
'Idiot… what are you doing…'
A pause.
His eyes closed briefly.
Then—
Opened again.
Sharp and resolute.
---
Elsewhere — Whole Cake Château
The room was a mess.
Broken plates.
Melted chocolate.
Scattered tools and books.
And at the center—
Pudding.
Breathing heavily.
Sweat lined her forehead as she stared into a mirror.
Her hands trembled slightly.
Her bangs were pulled back.
Revealing it.
Her third eye.
Closed, silent and unresponsive.
Pudding gritted her teeth.
"Come on…"
Her voice was quiet.
Strained.
"Just… work already…!"
Nothing.
She clenched her fists.
Frustration building.
"I have to…"
A step forward.
Closer to the mirror.
"I have to do it…!"
Her breathing grew uneven.
Her shoulders shaking slightly.
"Or else…"
Her voice faltered.
For just a moment.
An image flashed in her mind.
Chains.
A dark room.
A stubborn Marine refusing to eat.
Her eyes widened slightly.
Then hardened.
"I'm not doing this for him…!"
She snapped.
Her reflection stared back at her.
Unconvinced.
"I just—"
She stopped.
Silence filled the room.
Her fists tightened.
Her head lowered.
"...I just need to do it."
A whisper now.
Barely audible.
Her shoulders rose and fell with each breath.
Then—
She straightened.
Wiping her face.
Composing herself.
Determined.
"I'll awaken it."
Her voice steadied.
Firm.
No hesitation now.
"No matter what it takes."
She looked directly at her reflection.
At the hidden eye.
"I'll do it."
Silence.
Heavy.
Then—
A faint tremor.
So subtle it could have been imagined.
Pudding froze.
Her breath caught.
"...!"
But—
Nothing followed.
The moment passed.
Her shoulders dropped slightly.
But her resolve didn't.
If anything—
It burned brighter.
Back in the Prison
Tenjin sat in silence.
Chains rattling softly as he shifted slightly.
His gaze moved once more to the food.
A long pause.
Then—
Slowly—
He reached out.
His fingers brushed against the tray.
He picked up a piece.
Stared at it.
'…Don't die, huh…'
A faint scoff escaped him.
Then—
He took a bite.
Silence returned.
But something had changed in him.
His eyes sharpened.
Focused.
Burning with quiet intensity.
'I'm getting out of here…'
A pause.
His grip tightened slightly.
'And when I do…'
A faint smirk showed.
Just barely.
'I'm tearing this whole place apart.'
The chains rattled softly.
As if in response.
---
Totto Land — Outer Waters
The sea was calm.
Bright sunlight shimmered across candy-colored waves, the scent of sugar lingering faintly in the air as ships of all shapes and sizes drifted between islands made of sweets.
Then—
A lookout froze.
High atop a Tart ship's mast, a Big Mom Pirate squinted toward the horizon.
"...Huh?"
He rubbed his eyes.
Looked again.
And then—
His expression twisted.
"Oi… OI!"
He grabbed his Den Den Mushi, fumbling slightly as panic crept into his voice.
"We've got a problem! I repeat, we've got a problem!"
The snail blinked awake.
"What is it?" a voice answered lazily.
The lookout swallowed.
"A Marine warship!"
Silence followed.
Then—
"...Say that again."
"A Marine warship!" he shouted. "Heading straight through Totto Land waters!"
A beat passed.
Then the voice sharpened instantly.
"Are you blind?! No Marine would be stupid enough to—"
"I'm telling you what I see!"
The lookout's voice cracked slightly.
"It's flying the Marine flag! And it's not slowing down!"
Silence again.
Heavier this time.
Then—
"Stay where you are."
The voice returned, now cold.
"We'll intercept."
Click.
---
Totto Land — Patrol Route
A fleet moved.
Not one.
Not two.
But dozens.
Thirty-five Tart ships cut through the sea in perfect formation, their candy-coated hulls glistening under the sun.
At the front stood a towering figure. One of Big Mom's pirates assigned to patrol these waters.
His coat fluttered slightly as he stared ahead, arms crossed.
"A Marine warship…"
He clicked his tongue.
"Bold."
A subordinate stepped forward.
"Commander, should we alert Whole Cake Château?"
The man shook his head.
"No need."
His lips curled into a faint smirk.
"We'll handle it."
The fleet surged forward.
Cutting through the waves.
Closing in.
---
The Marine ship didn't slow.
Didn't hesitate.
It sailed forward like it had every right to be there.
At the bow
A man stood.
Laughing.
"HAHAHAHAHAHA!!"
Monkey D. Garp.
The Hero of the Marines.
His massive frame leaned forward slightly, hands on his hips as the wind whipped his coat behind him.
"Big Mom's territory, huh?!"
He grinned wide.
"It's been a while since I've come this far in!"
Behind him—
Bogard stood calmly, arms folded, eyes scanning the horizon.
Gion stood nearby as well, her gaze sharp, focused.
"There," she said.
Ahead—
The sea darkened.
Shadows grew.
And then—
Ships.
Dozens of them.
Blocking the path entirely.
Bogard adjusted his stance slightly.
"Thirty… no… thirty-five ships."
A pause.
"Efficient formation."
Garp cracked his knuckles.
"HAHA! Looks like they came to greet us!"
The Marine ship slowed slightly as the Tart fleet closed in, surrounding them in a wide arc.
Cannons turned.
Aimed.
Tension filled the air.
At the front of the Tart fleet, the leader stepped forward, his voice booming across the sea.
"MARINES!"
Silence fell.
All eyes turned.
"You've got guts sailing into Totto Land like this."
His gaze hardened.
"But guts alone won't save you."
A pause.
"Surrender yourselves immediately."
The wind howled softly between them.
"You are in the territory of an Emperor."
His voice dropped.
"Charlotte Linlin."
Another pause.
"And trespassers…"
A faint smirk.
"Don't leave alive."
Silence followed.
Heavy.
Then—
Garp laughed.
Loud.
Unrestrained.
"HAHAHAHAHAHA!!"
The Commander's brow twitched slightly.
Garp stepped forward.
"Sorry, but I don't have time to play pirates with you lot."
He rolled his shoulders.
"I've got someone to pick up."
Bogard glanced at him.
"Vice Admiral."
Garp didn't turn.
"Yeah?"
"Shall I handle this?"
A beat.
The sea stilled.
Then—
Garp grinned.
"No need."
He took a step forward.
"I'll take care of it."
Gion's eyes narrowed slightly.
"Try not to sink everything."
Garp cracked his neck.
"No promises."
And then—
He moved.
BOOM.
The deck shattered beneath his feet as he launched himself into the air.
The Marines behind him barely had time to react.
The pirates—
Even less.
"What—?!"
"HE JUMPED?!"
Garp soared.
A massive shadow against the sky.
His fist pulled back.
The air around him trembled.
Raw and overwhelming pressure.
The leader's eyes widened.
"Brace—!!"
Too late.
Garp's grin stretched.
"HAHAHAHA!!"
His fist came down.
"—GALAXY DIVIDE!!!"
Impact.
—
The world split.
The sea cracked open like glass.
A massive shockwave erupted outward, tearing through the Tart fleet with unstoppable force.
Ships—
Shattered.
Snapped.
Launched into the air like toys.
The ocean itself parted beneath the blow, a deep chasm forming where Garp's fist struck, water forced violently to either side.
Cannons exploded.
Masts snapped.
Pirates screamed as they were hurled across the battlefield.
The leader barely raised his guard—
BOOM.
He was blown clean off his ship, crashing through the wreckage as the force swallowed everything.
Silence followed.
Then—
The sea rushed back.
CRASH.
Water slammed together again, swallowing what remained of the fleet.
Debris floated.
Broken.
Scattered.
The once-organized formation—
Gone.
Reduced to ruin in a single strike.
At the center of it—
Garp stood.
Balanced atop a fragment of a destroyed ship.
Completely fine.
He scratched his cheek.
"Hm?"
He looked around casually.
"That was weaker than I thought."
Behind him, the Marine warship sailed forward again, untouched.
Bogard adjusted his glasses slightly.
"...As expected."
Gion exhaled softly.
"Honestly…"
She shook her head.
"Unbelievable."
Garp turned back toward them, grinning.
"Oi!"
He cupped his hands around his mouth, shouting out toward the scattered survivors in the water.
"If you want to stop me—!!"
A pause.
His grin sharpened.
"Bring Big Mom herself!!!"
The wind carried his voice across the sea.
---
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