"A fool is dull, a Wiseman sharp, and a Deadman both. Remember, Dollie. There is only one thing needed to fully master Alabasta... And it's that you must be dead. We holders of the Bastard Curse are fools who fight for the impossible, and Wisemen who tame destruction. We are one thing... and yet... we are not. Remember, Dollie. You are not we. You are not us.... You are alive. Remember, Dollie. You are not a bastard, but a Promise. You are the Blessing of the Powerless. Remember. You live. We and I and them... do not."
***
'Father...'
Dolffie groaned as he slowly flickered his eyes open.
'How long have I been out?' He pondered as every inch of his body ached. He felt stiff and heavy; it felt as if his own body was a separate entity of rigid deadweight he was being forced to carry.
"Nmm," He groaned as he sat upright on the plush bed. He yawned and briefly closed his eyes before he opened them and abruptly smacked his face.
'Onto business.'
***
"Where do we head now?" Carrot asked as he stood on Dolffie's right, notebook and quill in hand as he leaned against the desk. He wore his usual form-fitting, carrot-patterned scarlet corset and dark pants.
To no one else's surprise but his own, the rotting wooden planks Dolffie had nailed together and decided to call a boat were unable to carry the combined weight of three grown men and had quickly sunk to the bottom of the sea to the young man's dismay.
In their tired state, they had luckily managed to steal a decent oak ship from an old, blind pirate and now leisurely sailed in the Boarder Waters- the sea between Dolly Domain Waters and Bobby Neutral Waters.
It had taken only a week for Bellium to fully recover. To Carrot's surprise and amusement, the Knight Marshel had only needed a cup of milk tea mixed with a few rose petals and a tablespoon of raw honey every evening to return to full health. Dolffie had needed an extra week due to his more severe internal injuries and refusal to consume any of the herbs provided for his recovery. Every evening had been a battle against Carrot and the medicine- which always ended with his defeat.
Currently, the Court gathered in the ship's old office room. It was dingy and spacious, with large but cheap furniture that had seen many years of use. Rickety fixtures filled the low-ceilinged space and gave the spacious room a cluttered and outdated look Dolffie passionately disliked.
The only thing His Majesty seemed to like about the entire ship were the massive desk and chair in the middle of the office. Beautiful summer dark wood with intricate sea carvings and patterns rimmed with gleaming, flowing, liquid gold along the edges.
Dolffie sat and leisurely swayed in the golden chair. He wore a tight, jet-black thong bodysuit paired with loose, low-cut, pearl-white micro shorts and chunky boots. His hair was styled into two large space buns each carefully secured with a gleaming palm-sized dagger.
He briefly looked at the oak ceiling and rolled his eyes before he turned his face to the side and looked at Carrot.
"What do you want?" He coarsely asked.
A chilling silence filled the room as, with the stealth of an insect, Bellium, dressed in baggy grey pants and a loose blue shirt, manoeuvred next to Dolffie, his glare pinning Carrot in place.
Carrot felt as though the weight of the ship shifted with Bellium's movement as the beast of a man pierced him with his frightening stare. On the other hand, Dolffie's gaze appeared rather bored than furious or amused as he leaned back further into his chair and twisted it side to side. Over and over.
They wanted answers. It was what they had agreed upon after all.
Carrot took a calm and quick breath before speaking, "My name. My identity. And my aim. I..." He shifted uncomfortably-- was it just him, or was this ship swaying a little too much?
"You are strangers to me." He looked Dolffie straight in the eyes, "You two share a bond that transcends words. He heard your shadows-- saw them... and chose to accept them. You are not strangers. But we are. I respect you Dolly B. Dolffie. I do. And I wish only for the same from you-"
"You just said it yourself," Bellium suddenly interrupted, looking the least bit moved, "You are a stranger. You helped us, yes. But for what purpose? My Crown may respect you, but respect doesn't warrant trust. Now answer his question. What do you want?"
Carrot clenched his fists and resisted the urge to bite his lip as he forced a response, "What I want is power, Bellium. What I want is destruction. What I want is Dolly B. Dolffie! I want Alabasta!"
Bellium's eyes widened in shock as a paralysing chill swept across the room.
"What?" He exclaimed.
Carrot glared back, hands fisted as his chest rose and fell furiously.
"Are you dead?" Dolffie suddenly spoke, silencing the room.
"Huh?" They both looked at him in confusion.
"You need only achieve one thing in order to fully master Alabasta... And it's that you must be dead," Dolffie shifted his gaze from the ceiling to Carrot and pinned the young man with his serene, dark glare as he repeated, "Tell me, Stranger… Are you dead?"
"To complete my revenge... I must live. So, no. No. I live."
"And I exist. I have never lived. That has allowed me to have partial control of Alabasta. But partial isn't good enough." Dolffie furrowed his brows, "I lost to a piece of paper because I'm decent. Not the best. But decent. A broken Crown is none but a tampered Jewel. And I do not want to be a Jewel. To be the Crown I must be everything. I must be the best. And I am not. Right now, I am only as strong as you are. Whatever power you were hoping to take from me. I do not have."
"Then I'll wait until you do have it. In due time, I will need you to destroy. I helped you destroy Heaven. When the time comes, you will help me destroy Hell," Carrot looked at him with that admirable certainty and determination.
"Whatever you decide. I am beside you," Bellium softly whispered.
Dolffie nodded before contemplating. It felt as though centuries had passed when he finally answered, " The stranger, I do not know or trust. But Carrot D. Snow, my Advisor, I do. You kept your end of the bargain and I will keep mine. I will give you Hell and all its spoils. In due time."
Carrot smiled, "Thank you, truly. From both the stranger and your Advisor, Highness, Dolly B. Dolffie."
"Eh, stop with the formal titles." Dolffie chuckled before Carrot inquired once more, "So, where are we headed now?"
"Dolly Thorne Island," Dolffie crossed his legs on the golden chair, "I need to get stronger, meaning I must return to the roots of it all." He solemnly glanced at his marked hands, "Alabasta Original, or as he liked to call it, La Bastard. I'll get stronger by learning from Alabasta's true owner."
"What do you mean 'true owner? A Gift cannot be shared, even with offspring. It's a unique ability specific to the person who manifested it." Bellium remarked as he took a curt step back and leaned against the desk.
"He's right. It's impossible to steal or give a Gift, even with those of your own bloodline." Carrot added, jumping and sitting on the desk with his legs crossed.
"Yes, that is true. But Alabasta-- La Bastard, is special. It is both a Gift and a living entity. A century ago, one very special being ascended from the depths of the unknown and merged with a powerless man with a dormant Gift of destruction. So was the Curse of the Bastards and Powerless born. That is why and how Alabasta can be shared, even with those who are not blood related. If the entity living within wills it, practically anyone can take Alabasta away from me and wield it as their own."
"If Alabasta is... some entity and the Gift of another Kinsmen.... Doesn't that technically mean it is not your true Gift? That you have another power which is unique to you? Not the Bastards or the entity. Just you." Bellium questioned.
"I do." Sweat dripped down Dolffie's spine as he began fidgeting in his chair, "I do have a separate-- other Gift, La Mort. It's... it's complicated. I don't use it. I promised I wouldn't…"
"Before we head for Thorne Island, can we swiftly head East, for Thrago Bogo Island?" Bellium interrupted.
Dolffie was thankful for the change in topic as Carrot looked at Bellium and asked, "What for?"
"La-Luca T. Loca. A friend of mine. And also, an amazing Weapon-Smith, the best Thrago has to offer. I need to get a new weapon."
"Hmm, we'll probably be stuck on Thorne for a while, so I guess it's reasonable going to Bog first. I'm on board. Carrot?"
"You're the boss." Carrot jumped off the desk and headed for door, saying, "I'll set us for East."
"Thanks!" Dolffie yelled as the door closed in Carrot's wake. The duo remained silent for a little while longer after Carrot's departure before Bellium finally asked, "Choosing to help him with his... revenge. Are you certain it is what you want?"
"Yes," Dolffie stretched his feet before resting them on the desk and leaning his head back, "The non-living are best at smelling lies. He told me no lies."
"He still could have told you half or clipped truths. They are just as dangerous as lies, if not worse." Bellium countered.
"You're right, but a truth is still a truth. And anyways, another reason I agreed was because he reminded me of you."
"Oh. How so?"
"One heck of a vengeful spirit."
"Is that so?" Bellium sat on the desk and continued, "I see him differently. What I see is a child. A boy playing with forces he cannot even dream of comprehending, all in the hopes that one of them will bring him salvation. I see someone in need. A child lost and broken."
"Maybe." Dolffie swayed in his chair, "How old do you think he actually is? He told me he's 20, but I'm not buying it."
"He's a child." Bellium replied.
"That's not an age." Dolffie grimaced
"How old to you think he is, then?"
"19. 18. He tries to look and act older, but it's obvious he's young."
"Hmm," Bellium nodded before finally bringing it up, "About the Heaven and Angels."
"They're probably at the scene now, maybe even already after us. You'll get your chance to skin an Arch Angel." Dolffie knowingly smiled at him.
"Hopefully it's that Justice zealot-cuck Denzo Falcon." Bellium scoffed.
"Isn't he the one who captured you?" Dolffie played with the loose strands of his hair.
"No, it was another Arch Angel, one with an oath to jurisdiction."
"A Custodian Arch Angel captured you." Dolffie genuinely looked surprised, "Where and how?" He questioned.
"Long story I'd rather not share." Bellium averted his gaze.
"We're always allowed our secrets." Dolffie's gaze softened.
"Thank you." The corners of Bellium's lips tilted upward.
"All good. We'll pick up your weapon and immediately head for Thorne."
"Hmm."