Chapter 1: The Encounter

I stared at the glowing, rainbow colored fruit with swirly patterns, and gulped. I was nervous. I have seen the effects that devil fruits have had on people and all of them can't swim. It is my greatest nightmare, not being able to swim, for I hated that feeling of powerlessness. It was a fear that I had gained over the past couple days. Not only that, but everyone that has ever eaten this devil fruit has disappeared, and a couple days later, the fruit reincarnated. In other words, everyone that has eaten this fruit has died in a couple days for unknown reasons

Four Days Earlier

I was walking down the streets of Sabaody, the people all prostrating as I walked by. A man with a suit on my right, a pretty girl in a slave collar on my left, and a man holding many more collars of similar design. I was currently indulging myself in my favorite past time, gathering slaves. I had been holding back on doing it for a couple months. After all, everyone needs a bit of self control no matter how high their status is. That's what my father taught me. Different from other celestial dragons, he always taught me that everyone, including celestial dragons, had desires, and controlling it would lead to a happier life.

(Yes I'm referencing one of the 3 poisons from Buddhist texts. Sue me.)

That's why I did my best to refrain from getting too many slaves, and it always made me different. All the other celestials would love to prance around, picking up people from the street, but I was more reserved, more controlled. It did lead to a happier lifestyle but everyone must sate their desires every once in a while, hence my trip down to Sabaody.

I was looking around at the people surrounding me but none of them caught my interest, after all, most were just common folks. As I was looking around, one woman caught my eye. She was standing in an alleyway watching the procession. She had a cigarrette in one hand and a smirk played across her lips. A man with a white beard and round glasses stood next to her, also watching. He was on the taller side, and had a cape over his shoulders. He was decent slave material, as he looked in good health, but what interested me more was the woman standing next to him.

I thought she was pretty and would make a good slave, so I walked over to her and the old man.

"Excuse me, but I couldn't help but notice that you two weren't bowing, and as compensation I would like the woman to come with me." I said to the pair.

Now, you'll do well to remember that I thought of myself as a polite person and what I asked was completely reasonable, but apparently they disagreed.

"Oh, I'm sorry Celestial-kun but I am not willing to be your slave, no matter how nicely you ask." The woman replied with a polite tone, but her refusal made her position towards me and the other World Nobles adamant.

My smile twitched, and ticks appeared on my forehead. "I don't want to use my status, but you will come with me as an order from a world noble."

The man with the white beard stepped forward, "You heard the lady, Shakky obviously doesn't want to go with you so we shall be taking our leave."

He turned away, along with the woman.

"Get her!" I yelled to the man in the suit.

He immediately disappeared and reappeared in front of the lady in an instant, but he wasn't fast enough, for in that moment, an oppressive feeling came over me. It felt like a mountain was on my shoulders, and I fainted.

I woke up in a lavish bed with a marines surrounding me and a plate full of food sitting of a dresser to my left. It was a familiar sight, for I woke up to it everyday, but the marines around the bed weren't.

I sat up, and as I did so I remembered the events that occurred before my loss of consciousness. At that moment, I decided to rid myself of all desires except for strength, and set my resolve for the long journey ahead, because my position wouldn't change the fact that I was weak.