[Veyron's POV]
"Your problem is not that you're unable to fly; the problem is you have been focusing on 'flight' the wrong way".
On our way to Whitebeard, Isabel opened herself up to me in many ways. It is amazing how much a kiss can do for a frustrated milf with over a thousand years of age.
Albeit reluctantly, she explained to me that her power allowed her to control lines, which she used for different purposes.
In truth, it was more than mere lines. She could control vectors, as I thought.
For example, The movement of her body from point A to B, she could not only control the points A and B (start and destination), but also the time that it took to go from A to B, the distance in between, and so on and so forth.
On top of that, she was awakened, so the control of vectors was not limited only to her own body, but also to anything outside of her body that moved.
She had developed a variety of powers by using this concept. The first one and the one she used the most was teleportation, her capability to walk in the air by controlling the length of the vectors, her capability to control the orientation of space, which allowed her to reverse gravity... and most importantly... control, albeit limited, of timelines.
I could think for myself of a lot more ways that this power could be used. Thankfully, she was ignorant of most of them, but since she was going to be my ally, I didn't mind giving her some classes. I thought it was amazing and funny that after having this power for a millennium, she could come up with all sorts of intricate uses to it despite the lack of science in this world, and yet... she couldn't come up with a way to fly. It was just because she was looking at it wrong, and she did not know aeronautics. Nevertheless, there is no doubt that Saint Isabel Esquivel is a very smart woman. I think most characters in this world wouldn't have gone so far with a devil fruit this complicated.
"It's like this. Since we're already flying anyway, I am going to explain to you many ways you can use to fly with your powers. Let me ask you first, how do you think I can fly?".
"By controlling your body, of course", She said with a lot of security.
"True, right now I am doing that. But to achieve insane speeds, that's not what I do. Rather, I control the air".
"Air...?"
Before I became a Lightning Human, what I would do would be create a vacuum and when I am travelling with other people and not by myself, this is also what I do. Then after creating a vacuum, I manipulate the air to glide within it seamlessly.
"Air moves in lines as well, wind currents. At the same time, gravity is also a vector that pulls down towards the Earth, if you can control both simultaneously..."
"Gravity...? Gravity!" She had an eureka.
"That's right. In your case, I dare say... if you can decrease your own weight with gravity while manipulating the wind currents around you, you should be able to achieve flight...how fast you can go depends on you though".
!!!
I said very casual words, but her words shattered as if she hadn't been seeing the real picture. Immediately, she wanted to test it and look and behold, she could fly.
"I can fly!"
She glided around the air by herself with speeds inferior to a hundred kilometres per hour, but for her first time, that was quite impressive.
"Veyron!"
Soon she flew to me and crashed on my chest, laughing, happy. Her clear countenance stared at me with newfound glee. Soon she also realised how close she was as I smiled awkwardly. But rather than turn around, she took both my cheeks.
"You're one clever brat, aren't you? How could you come up with that conclusion so easily?"
"I am more surprised that you didn't... how can you know about teleportation but not about flight?"
"It was a natural conclusion. Thinking about movement... wouldn't it be the simplest thing to just go from A to B without any time consumption? When I learned the truth of my powers, that's the first use that came to mind".
"I guess it makes sense".
"Good boys like you, clever boys like you... they should be rewarded, don't they?" She whispered suggestively, "Mihawk raised such a great son. No wonder she couldn't hold herself back and fell into this abyss".
"I had to push her down a bit too, she's very prideful and stubborn", I complained... if I hadn't been so adamant in getting closer to my mom, we wouldn't be in this relationship we have today.
"I wonder if I will be the same? Will I also give you a lot of trouble, boy?~" Her mellow purple eyes stared deep into mine as she approached. But then, I put a finger on her lips. She stared at me in shock, wondering why I stopped her.
"If you move forward... do it knowing I am a very wilful person. I don't love you... But I wouldn't just casually involve myself with someone. I think you're charming, interesting... you interest me... but I don't know where this is leading–" I faltered, this time she placed her finger on my lips, a sweet tulip scent.
"Neither do I... neither do I, Veyron. But you said the right word... interesting, that's right, you're interesting~".
Without further ado, she evaded by finger, struck her lips against mine in a slow dance. I embraced her, and she embraced me, allowing myself to float in her powers... it is the first time in this world I have flown relying on somebody else.
Isabel took me against her body, squishing her breasts against my chest and kissing me with a fervour that made me believe she was so pent up, so thirsty for love after centuries of living.
It seemed as if a kiss was not enough to get her satisfied, so I decided to kick things up for a bit as we flew. I stuck my tongue inside her mouth.
!!!
Her reaction was immediate, arousal, a heavy blush. Her eyes opened and saw mine, I realised she had never done this before. Her tongue was awkward at first, but she picked up very quickly. This new mode of kissing seemed like it would be able to satisfy her.
Isabel's eyes closed, she opened her mouth to take a good mouthful of my lips, embracing me tight, not letting go.
And just like that, we savoured each other's tongues with a slow passing dusk. It wasn't until she was satisfied that a trail of saliva separated us. She cleaned her mouth and mine embarrassingly.
"You're a naughty, hopeless brat, what did you make me do?".
"You're blaming me...?" I deadpanned.
"Y-You stuck your tongue inside my mouth first".
"It seemed to me that's what you wanted~".
"N-No! I had never done it before! H-how could I want that?!"
"But you're going to do it a lot more now, won't you?".
Her countenance faltered as I smiled, her brows furrowed as she took my chin and kissed me again, this time she sucked my tongue out of the cave to give it a light bite.
"Oi, Isabel!!".
"Stop acting like a grown-up man in front of me, brat... think you can just tease me all the time, don't try to play with fire, She harrumphed with a mild blush, couldn't handle the fact that I was the one leading this all the way.
She may be a hag with a lot of experience and intelligence, but it is easy to see she has no experience with relationships.
Kinda reminds me of me a few years ago.
I smiled salaciously at the fact that, despite her harrumphing, she was still entwining our hands.
'You're too obvious, Isabel'.
I will have some fun with her, as for mom... it is better she doesn't know for now, but I will definitely tell her if anything does develop. Regardless of how much I am interested in her, the fact that she's a world noble hasn't left my mind.
"By the way, Veyron".
"Hum?".
"This... not a word to your mother, alright?".
"Hehe~"
"What?"
"Nothing~".
**
**
After following the vibrecard to the end, towards the South Blue, they reached their destination, visible in the distance. An imposing whale soaring above the sea.
Isabel recognised that ship as a harrowing flashback.
"Whitebeard..."
Her whole body tensed, her hand that was grasping his, clenched tightly.
"I hope you don't make drama. Let me deal with him. I am here, so there is no reason why either of you should get emotional".
Isabel glared at him for two seconds before nodding, "Very well, I won't get in your way".
They both landed on the deck, the eyes of the pirate immediately focused on the flawless beauty with silver hair who was grasping Veyron's hand. They couldn't recognise her... but they were instantly jealous. After all, who doesn't know how many pretty flowers the bastard kid has? It seems he added another one.
"Oh, Veyron-oi!" Marco came flying in a gust of flames.
"Good to see you, Marco", Veyron said casually, then placing his sight on the old man at the deck who was connected to all sorts of vials.
*RUMBLE!*
Conqueror Haki crashed forth in the ship. Isabel frowned, and Veyron had to counter it. The clouds spread in disarray, and high tide waves resurfaced.
*CHAA!*
Red Lightning Sparks took over the skies before Whitebeard's Haki was finally shattered.
*BOOMM!*
A shockwave spread along the sea, and the weaker among Whitebeard's crew fell down hopelessly in front of Haki capable of shattering their brains at the very least.
The old man with a white moustache stared at Veyron in utter shock. In front of him, the boy seemed to be able to carry the world with his mere thought.
'When did he get so strong...? So quickly...? Roger, I don't know if he is the one you were looking for... he doesn't have the D., but his power has no equal'.
"Guararara! This Haki... it is something else" Whitebeard laughed it off, "What is this woman doing on my ship, Veyron?"
He called him by name rather than just saying 'boy' as he would usually do. Whitebeard was on guard, he even stood up.
"Old man, calm down. She is here, but I am also here... so whatever you think she's going to do, she's going to think twice... fighting both you and me, do you think she can?".
Whitebeard's crewmates were confused; they didn't know who the woman was, they thought she was just Veyron's lover that he was taking on vacation, but apparently, Whitebeard was more concerned with her than with him!
"You're young and naive. I am not worried that she's here to cause trouble. I am worried... that her kind may have brainwashed you".
Isabel wanted to speak, but she recalled her promise, so she remained silent. Rather, she approached Veyron and took his hand as a clear signal of affection that entered Whitebeard's eyes like a billion volts. The old man couldn't help but caress his forehead.
'Can't be what I am thinking... this damn womaniser...'
The gossiping started, Isabel realised what she did and blushed, tried to separate but it was too late, Veyron's fingers were hooked around hers like a hawk, not letting go.
"Oi oi... another one, as expected of the Lightning God sir~. Pops, who is she exactly?" Marco asked with intrigue.
"Someone very strong... and also very evil", The strongest man answered slowly.
His words made Isabel flinch. Once more, she wanted to talk, but she bit her lips and remained silent. For her, a promise was a promise.
"The reason I came here today is not to talk about her".
Veyron threw something to him, a dial.
"This is...?"
"The cure to your disease, just like I promised".
!!!
"F-For real, Veyron!?" Marco caught it mid-air, disbelieving... but the other party is Dracule Veyron, he's not only strong... he's also a genius.
"Yes, it wasn't difficult to create. My knowledge of medicine is not small and also, I got some help from Vegapunk".
'Vegapunk? To think he even has ties to that geezer' Whitebeard frowned.
Whitebeard looked at him, then at Isabel, and lastly... the dial.
"Do you trust me?" Veyron asked, knowing exactly what was going through his mind.
"I trust you. But I don't trust the world nobles... never will".
Seeing that Isabel seemed to want to bite her tongue until it bled, Veyron sighed and allowed her to talk.
"I understand you and I may have our animosities, Newgate".
"Calling it 'animosity' is a bit far-fetched, Saint Esquivel"
"S-Saint...?" The crewmates stared at the woman with flickery eyes, and the word 'Saint', they knew exactly what it meant.
"Indeed, but you and I have nothing to do with you and him... I have matters to settle with Veyron; these are his and mine concerns, I am here merely as a guest... I am not plotting anything, of that, you have my word... and you know what the value of my word is".
"And those matters you two are going to discuss... I assume you wouldn't say those matters to the old me, guararara!"
"I will".
!!!
Isabel stared at him in shock while Veyron stared at Whitebeard's eyes with deadly intent.
"The old geezer is my friend, my ally, and I trust him. The world is about to take a huge turn... I will use all the hands I can use... so yes, I will explain to you everything that's going on and what my connection with Isabel is, Whitebeard".
The old man's eyes relaxed visually, and he laughed out loud, "Guararara! Listen well, Marco, that's what a real ally is!"
Seeing their dynamic, Whitebeard smirked and told their medic to prepare to inject the dial.
He had full trust in the boy, 'Who am I kidding...? He probably domesticated her already... this is the same boy who is bedding his own mother,'
"To be able to dominate this woman, I wouldn't expect anything less of you, Dracule Veyron" Whitebeard sat back down no longer with a restless mind.
"D-Domesticate... it seems you have forgotten your disease or whatever is not yet healed" Isabel took insult to that, but she didn't escalate it.
"We can give it a go if you please, just like sweet old times, guararara!".
"It would do you well to remember your demise–"
"Granny, stop".
!!!!
"G-Granny...?" Marco stuttered.
Even Isabel blushed and had no option but to rub her cheeks in embarrassment and settle down, just as Whitebeard stared aghast.
'Not only his mother but even his grandmother, this brat... Roger, he's too dangerous for this world. This degenerate is definitely not the man you're waiting for'.
"O-Okay..." Isabel answered meekly. Whitebeard couldn't believe this was the same killing machine he once knew.
'Completely domesticated!'
...
The doctor did as asked and placed the vial into Whitebeard's body through the intravenous. At this point, there was no going back. It could be poison, it could be something else. Only his trust would determine if he was victorious or not.
"It is going to work, Veyron?" Marco asked with concern.
"Don't worry, you won't see the results immediately, but his recovery will speed up over time. Who knows? He may even go past his previous peak".
"Thanks, Veyron" Whitebeard said meaningfully, he had no doubt in his mind that Veyron's medicine was going to work.
"No, thanks to you, Whitebeard. I am conscious of most of your good deeds. You are someone who deserves to live a bit longer".
Although the knowledge was a bit shallow, he did know a thing or two about Whitebeard from the anime. Instinctively, he thought about Ace, wondering where he would be at this point in the story. Lastly, he also... he thought about someone else.
!!!
And his gaze shifted towards that man who was in the middle of having some sake.
'Blackbeard...'
One of the main antagonists of One Piece, right in front of him.
"Hmph, I wonder about that. No one related to Xebec could ever be anything good" Isabel sat on the deck with a cup of sake, ignoring Veyron's concerns as she talked with Whitebeard.
"You're right, that man was evil, but he had a vision... at the end of the day, no one should know more about good and evil than you world nobles, selling a story to the world that you know is fake".
"We certainly have no room to criticise you, pirates, after how things turned out. All I want you to know is that I didn't plan for this to happen. All I wanted to do was protect my home. As a Knight, that was my duty".
"And what is your duty now?"
"... I have no duty, I am a failed knight who will face death for treason".
"T-Treason?"
Whitebeard understood at that moment, when he saw her vulnerable side, why they were together. Why had Isabel sought Veyron of all people?
Veyron was prepared to go, but Whitebeard declined.
"Let's have a banquet... it is not always that two emperors meet each other like this".
"I am not a Yonko, though".
"Not in name... but have no doubt; Whether it be those five geezers on top of the red line, Big Mom, Fleet Admiral Kong from the Marine, Dragon the Revolutionary, Big Mom and myself... even the Fallen Emperors like Roger and Xebec... you qualify as one of us, no, you may have already surpassed us... Don't you think?" Whitebeard asked Isabel, who also nodded.
"He's right, whether you like it or not, you're one of the top powerhouses of this world. The sea is huge, and one never knows when the path of two men will once more cross. That's why, now that you're here with your friend, shouldn't you enjoy it?
The boy smirked and sat down. He was given a cup of sake, then Whitebeard took another one.
"Of course, I know I already surpassed you old geezers from God Valley".
Isabel sat down next to him, smirking.
Whitebeard laughed as well, not taking offence upon hearing the truth, "Humble one, huh? I hope you're ready. The moment I recover... you're the first person I will be coming to fight. Unlike now, you'd better have your sword ready".
"Youbi is ready to fight you any time you want. I am going to be the strongest man alive... that's a title I have to take from you".
"Guararararara! Very well, it is a promise".
The banquet continued for a whole day, during which the whole tripulation listened to Isabel and Whitebeard's stories about God Valley. The more they listened, the more they couldn't believe that very woman was just sitting there casually having sake with them.
"S-So she... defeated Kaido?".
"She didn't only defeat Kaido, she left him in a near-death state... although, he wasn't as strong as he was during his time as a Yonko, but that monster was not any less terrifying".
"But in the end, she was defeated by Captain Xebec, wasn't she?"
A voice crept up from the darkness to eradicate the peaceful atmosphere.
Veyron's sight fluttered to the side, and he frowned alongside Isabel.
"Teach..."
"Oh, you know me? Incredibly, the lightning god himself knows my name, zehahahaha!".
"..."