After arriving in the world of One Piece, Kaguya did many things that were well-received by the public—supposedly meaningful things.
Things like punishing the wicked, upholding justice, and protecting the people.
Yeah... none of that happened.
If anything, it would be more accurate to say she spent most of her time bullying people.
But then again, what's the point of having such overwhelming power if you're not going to use it as you please?
Once you possess great power, of course you do whatever you want.
So it was only natural that with Kaguya's reckless interference, the world's storylines began to twist in unpredictable ways.
The biggest changes occurred in the fates of many characters and the development of major plotlines.
Take Crocodile for example. Her plan to seize Alabasta and gather information about Pluton was something she had been planning for years. Originally, she shouldn't have executed it for another seven or eight years.
But now, not only had she taken over Alabasta early, she'd already become its ruler. This surprised Kaguya, as it was unlike Crocodile's usual methodical, slow-to-act nature. She typically executed her plans only after careful preparation.
Regardless, the wealth and Devil Fruits Crocodile plundered from Alabasta were now in Kaguya's possession, and she had no intention of giving them back.
I mean, have you ever seen anyone cough up meat they've already swallowed?
Impossible.
In fact, Kaguya felt a bit grateful to Crocodile. If she hadn't preemptively seized control of Alabasta, Kaguya wouldn't have so easily gotten her hands on the kingdom's treasury.
Kaguya also discovered a secret: after defeating Crocodile, she realized during treatment that she could use Yin-Yang Release to absorb the essence of her Devil Fruit. Naturally, after the absorption, Crocodile lost her Devil Fruit ability.
Crocodile was probably cursing her to the heavens right now.
But hey, might makes right. Let her come try and take it back if she dares.
At that moment, Kaguya suddenly had a bold idea.
She spread her arms, her eyes narrowing. Blobs of white, sticky, unknown material began to ooze from her body, gathering in the air to form massive shapes that crashed down onto the ground—revealing grotesque, beastly figures. They were Tailed Beasts.
However, they appeared a bit dull and lifeless, as if lacking any sentience. This was intentional on Kaguya's part.
She didn't like having living things parasitizing her body. It felt weird, like she was being spied on. She wasn't some kind of exhibitionist, so she had naturally stripped them of their consciousness for the time being.
But once their consciousness returned, they immediately started bickering.
"Finally out! I thought I was going to suffocate."
"Yeah! At least let us out for some fresh air once in a while."
"I was bored out of my mind."
"Don't be so cruel! Animal abuse is illegal, you know."
"Are we even your real children?"
"Ugh, probably not."
"Then where did we come from?"
"Probably a phone plan promotion—buy one, get nine free."
The Tailed Beasts looked pitiful and resentful, as if Kaguya had committed some unforgivable sin. Their expressions were reminiscent of pets that hadn't been let outside in ages.
A vein throbbed on Kaguya's forehead. She couldn't help but say, "If you keep whining, I'll lock you all up again."
The Tailed Beasts immediately fell silent, staring at her with wide, pitiful eyes.
Kaguya cleared her throat and said, "Now, I have a mission for you."
Initially lethargic and unmotivated, the Tailed Beasts perked up at her words. Their eyes sparkled like twin searchlights, brimming with excitement, barely able to hold back their cheers.
"Alright, do you remember what I told you to do?" Kaguya pointed at them.
"Got it!" the Tailed Beasts shouted enthusiastically.
"Good. Off you go, and remember what I said. Anyone who slacks off..." Kaguya raised her fist threateningly, "...don't blame me for being rough."
"Don't worry, we've got this!"
"Leave it to us!"
"Mission guaranteed complete!"
"Finally, we get to go out and have fun! This is great!"
As soon as the words left their mouths, the Tailed Beasts shot into the sky, transforming into nine brilliant streaks of light that vanished over the horizon.
Kaguya had a bead of sweat on her temple. For some reason, watching them bolt off so excitedly made her feel… uneasy.
Oh well. Since she had already made the decision, there was no point in regretting it. Besides, after being locked up for so long, letting them stretch their legs was only fair.
The mission she assigned them was actually simple: pillage—wait, no—gather Devil Fruits. Anyone in possession of a Devil Fruit was to be beaten within an inch of their life, and their Devil Fruit essence extracted.
This way, the collection process would be much faster. And with the Tailed Beasts' power, she wasn't worried about them facing any real danger. They weren't afraid of water, nor of seastone. Even if they couldn't win, they could always run away.
Besides, these guys had always been the type to take on whole groups alone. They were a little dumb, sure, but their strength was no joke—far stronger than any Sea King.
Time flew by in the blink of an eye. A year passed without anyone realizing.
Dark clouds blanketed the sky. Heavy snowflakes drifted down like feathers, and the howling wind carried a biting chill.
This winter was particularly cold—much colder than previous years. The streets were sparsely populated and seemed desolate, with only the occasional pedestrian passing by in a hurry.
Compared to the icy outdoors, people naturally preferred the warmth of indoor hearths.
In a corner of the street, a pair of girls—one big, one small—were huddled beside a utility pole, breathing into their cupped hands for warmth. Their clothes were in tatters, and all they had to protect themselves was a thin, patched-up, worn-out blanket. The older girl with green hair held the smaller one tightly, trying to share whatever warmth she had.
"Big sister, I'm hungry."
A faint voice broke the silence.
The older sister instinctively tightened her embrace, softly replying, "Just hold on a bit longer. Just a little longer, okay?"
"But... we haven't eaten in days," the little girl curled up further and looked up weakly. "I'm so hungry."
"Be good, okay? Just hang in there a bit more," the older sister said gently with a smile as she softly stroked her sister's hair. But her lips were pressed tightly together.
"Sis… are we going to die?" the little one asked, her face pale, her voice quiet.
"No. I won't let you die." The green-haired girl gave a small, comforting smile and unconsciously clenched her fists. She turned her head and stared at a bakery in the distance, glowing warmly under the streetlights, its inviting aroma filling the air.
"Filthy beggar! How dare you steal my bread—and even scratch me? I'll beat you to death!" The overweight bakery owner shouted furiously, swinging a stick down hard on the green-haired girl curled up on the ground. "Steal from me? I'll teach you a lesson!"
The green-haired girl said nothing, lips tightly pressed together, as she clung desperately to the loaf of bread in her arms.
Seeing the girl stubbornly hold onto the bread, the shop owner grew even more furious and struck her several more times, cursing, "You lowly little beggars—why don't you just die?! I'd rather feed this bread to dogs than give it to you filthy scavengers!"
Hearing such cruel words, the girl bit down harder on her lip, but still clung to the bread with all her strength. Her arms were already covered in bruises, her legs scraped and battered.
The woman, still not satisfied, kicked her several more times.
Though a number of people gathered to watch on the street, not one stepped in to help. Judging by their amused expressions, they were merely there for the show.
The pain coursing through her body was unbearable. Wave after wave seared through her brain, but she made no sound. She was far too weak—starving, freezing, and now beaten. Her vision blurred, and her consciousness began to fade.
But then, the pain suddenly vanished. The cold in her body began to recede, replaced by a warm, soothing sensation. She had never felt anything so comforting.
Am I dying?
Maybe dying wouldn't be so bad—it wouldn't hurt anymore.
That thought drifted through the girl's mind.
But just then, she suddenly remembered something, and her awareness sharpened.
No—she still had a little sister.
If she died, her sister wouldn't survive either. She couldn't die—not yet.
She struggled to open her eyes, but her eyelids felt impossibly heavy. Through a tiny slit, she could barely make out a white figure and a gentle glow. The figure seemed to be smiling down at her.
"Don't worry. Your sister is fine. Just rest easy."
The soft, soothing voice held an inexplicable magic. The girl instantly believed it, her heart settling. Her head tilted to the side as she fell into a deep sleep.
Her face was as pale as paper. Though she was taller than most girls her age, she was alarmingly thin—so light in Kaguya's arms that it was as if she weighed nothing at all.
"Hey, who do you think you are?! Mind your own business!" the bakery owner shouted in rage.
Kaguya's brow furrowed slightly. The guard nearby immediately got the message and stepped forward, barking, "Are you blind, you mangy mutt? How dare you act so arrogantly in front of my lady?"
"Lady...?" The bakery owner was momentarily stunned. Seeing Kaguya's noble appearance and demeanor, she felt a pang of unease. But her anger flared again when she noticed the beggar girl in Kaguya's arms—and the fresh scratches still stinging on her own face.
"So what if she is?" she shouted indignantly. "Since when is it a crime to beat a thief?"
"I don't know if hitting a beggar is illegal," the guard sneered. "But what I do know is—you've broken the law. Do you even know who stands before you right now?"
"What law did I break?!" the woman snapped, chin raised. "She stole from me! Am I not allowed to discipline her?!"
The guard opened his mouth to say more, but then noticed the irritated expression on Kaguya's face. Alarmed, he cut to the point.
"Guards! Arrest her and throw her in the dungeon!"
"Yes, sir!"
Suddenly, several guards appeared from either side. They seized the bakery woman, pinned her to the ground, and tied her up tightly.
"Hey! What do you think you're doing? How dare you treat me like this?!" the bakery owner struggled furiously, screaming in rage. "My nephew is the mayor of this town!"
"The mayor?" the guard sneered. "You must be blind. Do you even know who's standing in front of you? This is a Celestial Dragon, our Lady!"
Celestial Dragon.
The woman froze. Her expression changed drastically.
What did it mean to be a Celestial Dragon? They stood at the pinnacle of power, with terrifying authority over life and death.
Celestial Dragons were notorious for their cruelty, never seeing others as equals. Anyone who dared offend them was executed without hesitation.
If this woman was really a Celestial Dragon, then her fate was already sealed.
Clinging to one last shred of hope, the bakery owner tried to bluff, her voice shaking, "You're lying! You must be impostors! A real Celestial Dragon wouldn't dress like that. You're trying to fool me!"
"You think you're worth lying to?" the guard scoffed.
Suddenly realizing the full extent of her mistake, the woman went pale and collapsed to the ground.
"Take her away. Drag her off."
"Yes, sir!"
At the guard's command, several soldiers dragged the woman off like a dead dog.
Kaguya watched the dramatic scene unfold and couldn't help but sigh in admiration. Power really was convenient. A single look and someone would handle everything for you. No wonder so many people fought tooth and nail to become civil servants.
...
Mary Geoise.
Charloss' sister, Shalria, walked proudly down the street with her chin high in the air, looking as smug as ever. Her metaphorical tail was practically wagging behind her.
Even among Celestial Dragons, there were different ranks. In the past, many of them looked down on Shalria's family. Especially after the downfall of the Rosward Saint family, the snide remarks only increased—so much that Shalria, proud as she was, nearly exploded from rage.
But after Kaguya was appointed a Navy Admiral—hailed as the strongest person in the world—her popularity soared. And since she was also a Celestial Dragon, her status in Mary Geoise had become red hot, with droves of other Celestial Dragons vying to curry favor.
Naturally, Shalria's own status rose with the tide. Every day, countless people came to flatter her, bring her gifts, and try to get on her good side.
Watching those groveling fools with fake smiles made Shalria feel like she had regained her former glory. Her heart was full of smug satisfaction.
Even Kaguya, whom she used to despise, now looked much more agreeable in her eyes.
After all, she was a noble Celestial Dragon.
But the moment she spotted Kaguya, this noble Celestial Dragon dashed over eagerly—bringing tea, fluffing cushions, even offering a warm towel, more attentive than a maid.
"What's wrong with you? Are you running a fever again?" Kaguya asked, raising an eyebrow.
Shalria forced a dry laugh, secretly grinding her teeth. "This lady pampering you is a blessing you don't deserve... I must be insane to expect this woman to show me kindness. Next time, I swear I won't do it."
"Oh right, pour me a cup of tea," Kaguya said offhandedly.
"Yes!" Shalria responded sweetly.
And the very same Shalria who had just been cursing Kaguya in her heart ran off without a shred of dignity to brew tea—like a loyal little puppy.
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