54..
The next morning, the four of them were having breakfast. Robin held up a newspaper.
"By the way, are you still an admiral?" she asked.
The bold headline declared: 'Marine's Rebellion! Sengoku's Grandson Killed a Celestial Dragon in Public!'
"Hm? Ah, about that," Shun said, pausing to sip his tea. "We just resolved all that yesterday. The new edition should be out by now."
He then stood up and left the house, moving swiftly under their surprised gazes.
Once outside, he took to the air. Using his Observation Haki, he quickly located a newspaper delivery bird employed by Big News Morgans.
"Hey, give me one," Shun said, materializing in front of the startled creature and offering a hundred-Beri coin.
The bird nearly choked in shock but quickly regained its composure, snatching the coin first. 'Business before panic, huh?' Shun thought with amusement as he took the paper and headed back.
"Here you go," he said, handing Robin the fresh edition less than five minutes later.
That he'd gone to such trouble for a casual question warmed her. Seeing Robin's smile brighten, Nami and Nojiko exchanged a knowing sigh; they had probably worn that same look when falling for his schemes.
"Marine's New Hero?" Robin read aloud. "Honorary Admiral Shun Saw Through Fake Celestial Dragon's Mask and Executed Them On the Spot?!"
Silence hung in the air for a moment.
"They were fakes?!" Nami blurted out, her surprise mirrored in Robin's curious expression.
"No, they were the real ones"Shun said casually. "Fakes couldn't be that genuinely disgusting."
"But the newspaper… It's from the World Economic Journal," Nami pressed. "It can't be false."
"I did kill the genuine ones. Afterwards, I… negotiated with the highest-ranking Celestial Dragons."
His casual tone did nothing to ease the sudden tension. Nami and Robin grew visibly nervous. "What did you do?" Robin asked.
"I…" he began, but Nojiko cut in.
"He just threatened to kill more if they didn't follow his plan," she explained. "The plan being that 'the ones he killed were actually fakes pretending to be Celestial Dragons.'"
"!!"
"You did what?!" Nami exclaimed.
"Well, you heard her," Shun shrugged. "When I mentioned I had Whitebeard's Devil Fruit ability… they became remarkably willing to cooperate."
Another heavy silence followed.
Nami and Robin considered themselves seasoned to Shun's unique methods, but this was different. 'Even the crazy Celestial Dragons must be having trouble figuring out how to handle him,' they both thought, somewhat amused as they recalled the arrogant World Noble they'd seen at Sabaody.
"Well, enough about that," Shun said, shifting the topic to what truly interested him. "Robin."
"Mm?" She turned to him.
"Why did you decide to stay on this particular island? Was there something like a Poneglyph here?"
"…Not at all," Robin answered after a thoughtful pause. "This island simply seemed beyond the World Government's immediate reach. If I stayed somewhere more prominent, you wouldn't be at ease. You'd feel obligated to stay with me constantly, right? So, I chose to remain here and train with Nami."
She had spoken more than usual, explaining her reasoning with an uncharacteristic openness. It touched Shun.
"Robin… you really shouldn't worry about things like that anymore." He reached over and took her hand, his smile gentle and reassuring.
"Mm." She nodded, returning his smile.
The harmonious atmosphere that settled between them made the two sisters feel like outsiders.
"Ahem," Nami cleared her throat. "Sorry to interrupt, but what's the plan now?"
"Plan? I'm currently on a honeymoon with Nojiko at Gran Tesoro. Once it's over, I might travel somewhere else," Shun said, ending his statement with vague mystery.
Nami, however, latched onto the beginning. "Honeymoon? Gran Tesoro?!" Her interest and Robin's was instantly captured.
"How come we never had a honeymoon, but the third wife is already having one?" Nami's voice was deceptively calm, her smile turning frightening enough to make Nojiko flinch.
"I-I was just dragged along by this guy!" Nojiko protested, throwing him under the fire.
"Yes… about that," Shun said, maintaining a placid facade. "I actually came here to take you both to Gran Tesoro. Consider it our collective honeymoon, and a reward for your dedicated training."
"Really? Then let's go now!" Nami grabbed his other arm, the one not holding Robin's hand. Despite her lingering doubts, the thief in her was thrilled at the prospect of visiting the legendary entertainment country.
"Of course." 'Good. The pivot worked,' Shun thought, discreetly wiping imaginary sweat from his brow before teleporting all three women away with him.
---
When they returned to Shun's suite at the Leoro Hotel, Baccarat and her subordinates were already waiting to attend to them.
"You're here again?" Shun remarked.
"It is our duty to ensure our VIP members have an exceptional experience in Gran Tesoro," Baccarat replied smoothly.
She promptly led Nami and Robin to a boutique for a wardrobe fitting, much like she had for Nojiko. This time, however, her team's demeanor held a distinct layer of profound respect. 'After all,' Baccarat thought, stealing a fearful glance at Shun's profile as he chatted with the women, 'this is the madman who killed Celestial Dragons in broad daylight and somehow ended up a hero of the World Government.'
——
Time passed swiftly.
A year later in the One Piece world, the calendar now read 1521. Shun had split his time, occasionally visiting the Fairy Tail world, but his focus remained here. In his original world, most of his friends were still children.
'And that big black dragon is still nowhere to be found…' he mused, observing Luffy's Haki training from a distance. His guidance had made the young pirate's progress far smoother than in the original timeline.
Shun hadn't idled the year away. He dedicated considerable effort to mastering his newly acquired abilities, like the More-More Fruit. Initially, using its hundred-fold boost risked tearing his body apart, a painful reminder of a certain green-haired hero from another world.
While using Haki mitigated the damage, Shun was determined to perfect his control. His recklessness was fueled by his unparalleled healing; he could even use his Arc of Time magic on himself, a self-created skill that made recovery instantaneous.
Rayleigh was an intermittent presence on the island, often disappearing for stretches of time on his own mysterious errands.
The bulk of Shun's personal focus, however, had been on winning over Boa Hancock. He gifted her homemade food and desserts, performed numerous services for Amazon Lily, and earned the overwhelming favor of the Kuja Pirates, though none dared voice their approval to their proud queen. The most significant gesture was removing the hated slave marks from her and her sisters.
When Hancock had first demanded to know how he'd discovered their secret, Shun deployed his ultimate deflection.
'Do you know who my grandfather is?' That single question had sufficed. The effortless removal of the marks with his repelling ability cemented her trust. They grew close, becoming genuine friends. Her sisters, Marigold and Sandersonia, adored him.
'But they aren't my type,' Shun sighed inwardly. His friendship with Hancock, while valuable, was a plateau he couldn't seem to transcend.
'So, today is the day. Time to move to the next step, or risk undoing everything built over this past year.'
He waited, watching Luffy train, until her voice broke his contemplation.
"Shun…"
Hancock approached, a soft sigh escaping her lips as she looked at him. If only he had come into my life a little sooner… But her heart, stubborn and loyal, was already pledged elsewhere.
"Hancock." He turned to face her fully.
"You probably know what I'm going to say." He paused, letting the moment stretch.
"Today's the last time I'll ask this." His expression was open, earnest, stripped of all his usual guile.
"I love you. Marry me."
Over the past year, he had asked her on countless dates. Each time, she had refused. And each time, that mischievous old recluse, Rayleigh, would inevitably emerge from hiding just to smirk at his failure.
"Shun…"
Hancock was deeply troubled. She knew, with a sinking certainty, that this could be the last day she would ever see him. A silence stretched between them, feeling like an eternity to Shun, before she finally gave her answer.
"…I'm sorry. There is already someone I like."
She steeled herself, drawing upon the unshakeable strength of the Pirate Empress. Her voice was firm, regal, and final.
The world around them fell utterly silent. They simply stared at one another, the only sound a soft, passing gust of wind that stirred the leaves.
"I see."
Shun's reply came after a long moment, his voice quiet and low.
'I expected this. But I guess Shakky was right… a Kuja woman's heart is loyal until death.'
He looked at her one last time. The sight of her—the proud Queen of Amazon Lily—gazing down at the ground, was profoundly uncharacteristic. It made his chest ache.
"Hancock."
She lifted her head at the sound of her name, meeting his eyes. Her mind raced with anxious possibilities. Would he be angry? Would he demand to know who it was?
His next words cut through all her fears.
"Live a happy life."
POP—!
"…"
He was gone. Without waiting for a reply, without another second's hesitation, Shun vanished into thin air.
He left behind only a sudden, crushing emptiness in the queen's heart.