Work Text:
The kingdom of Higeshiro is one of familiarity. One where all are welcome under the permission of King Newgate. All except one. One being that the whole kingdom turned their back on. It just so happened to be you. You wouldn't say it was your fault, at least, that’s what you have deluded to believe in. Freak of nature. The Gods’ tossed experiment. Hideous to the eye. You were called many names, slurs and anything under Helheim’s thesaurus for describing terrifying beings.
You were born with many…quirks. Your face was morphed to two different faces. One of a human, one of a demon. Hair styled like that of Medusa, multiple snakes ranging from colours of forest green to ocean blue decorated your scalp. Though from the neck down, it looked like you had the basic formation of the human body: torso and lower abdomen under the neck, arms by the shoulder blades, and legs under the pelvic area, what occupied it was quite bizarre. You had a pair of clawed, furry arms that one would compare to those of a common werewolf, and below them, you had a pair of tentacles, akin to those of an octopus. Instead of “normal” human legs, you had to walk with the hind legs of a horse.
Yeah, to the normal eye, you are the literal definition of a beast, and it wasn’t your fault. A few years back, strolling carefree in the kingdom, a bunch of sorcerers swiped you clean from the street to conduct human experiments on you, without your consent. Every day was torture. Day in, day out, you were fed countless liquids and foods laced with chemicals so foul you’d wonder how on the gods green earth they were able to make it past the gates. When they felt that their lab rat was no longer intriguing to test on, they tossed you out into the back bins for you to continue on your normal life as if those horrendous days never occurred.
Unsure of how you appear, you creep out into the empty streets, the sky painted with stars as you wonder about, trying to reach home. Only a corner away did you get spotted by a woman with her children who screeched screams that discombobulated your being. Once you shake your head back to reality, you try to approach them to question what scared them. She stumbled against her own feet, grabbed her kids and ran off, leaving you confused. All until you gazed upon the windows of your local bookstore did you see the monster she saw. Only it wasn’t beside, behind nor in front of you. It was you. Distraught by the view, tears started brimming around your eyes as you ran all the way up to your room, disregarding the galloping noise your legs did against the wooden staircase. Locking yourself up, you cry yourself until you couldn’t anymore, forever cursing the heinous sorcerers that had their malevolent way with you.
Fast forward to today’s times, you could truly only do dumpster diving for a decent meal, and if push came to shove, you’d head out to the unknown dangerous forest for some unpredictable, delectable foods you could scavenge. You would run into the occasional hunter and they’d chase you down until the sun came down to award your head to the king for some cash prize you didn’t know was on your head in the first place. The landlord even forced you out your humble abode with pitchforks and fire for you to find “home” upon the various roofs of the kingdom. Everyday was a hassle, you accepted that. What you couldnt accept was that you would find love. Behind these monstrous ligaments laid a human heart with human emotions. You wanted to laugh, befriend, share a pint, love. All of these human desires you’ve wanted your whole life were stripped away from you along with your original being years ago, now being labelled nothing but a savage beast by the kingdom.
or so you thought….
Out on a chilly autumn afternoon you sneak out the kingdom to go hunt for some reindeer and find any unoccupied farms to snag any vegetable they had. After ransacking a nearby farm for some carrots and turnips, you manage to spot a bison grazing near a field. Perfect. You drop your bag of vegetables and carefully sneak up to the beast when suddenly a flamed arrow strikes it right in the skull. Aware of the sudden attak, it starts rampaging, causng you to retreat to a nearby bush to see who shot it and how they would handle it. A young man, roughly around their 20s, jumps out the bush witha whimsical cheer as he lands on the bison and finishes it off with a powerful blow to the noggin, causing it to collapse go its death. Awed by the man’s strength, you carefully tread around the area to get a better view of him. After a few times of finding the perfect spot, you settle for a sturdy tree branch high enough that he cant see you but close enough for you to inspect him. Tall, tanned, quite built for his age, shoulder-length black wavy hair and what appears to be freckled splattered across his shoulders up to his cheeks. For the first time in what felt like an eternity, your heart thumped. Not out of fear. But out of admiration. You have developed a crush on the man. As he laughed heartedly, you accidently misstep, causing a branch to snap before your hooved foot, catching his attention as he quickly pulls back another flamed arrow in your direction.
“Who goes there?!”
You go silent. You’re not sure if he’s going to treat you as the rest of the kingdom has or if he could possibly be different. Blinded by fear, you decide to retreat, hastily hopping through the trees as you head for your veggie bag. Once retrieved, you almost start your trek back when you feel a sudden heat from behind you. Shivers cover your body as you gulped as peered back to see the same young man from earlier, except he isn’t with haste to shoot at you, though he keeps his guard up.
“What are you? What is your business in this forest?”
Afraid for your life, your body wants to retreat, on the contrary, your heart wants to try hear this man out. For an organ that is absolutely vital in keeping me alive, it sure is taking a high risk on putting my life on the line for this. With a defeated sigh, you hesitantly answer.
“To scavenge food. I only wish to survive. I wish no harm onto the people of Higeshiro.”
You prepare yourself for any harsh remark, any “yeah right you beast!” or “wish no harm my ass, you look like youd kill us for jester” or even just straight arrows and shotgun pellets. Only…none of those had happened within the 5 second silence. Instead, something the most unexpected came from the young man’s mouth.
“Wait a second you got snakes as hair?! That’s so awesome!”
You blink, still weary of turning around to face him.
“Y-yeah, only they turn people into stone if I command them to”
“Woahhh you got powers?! Care to show me more?” his voiced was laced with nothing but curious excitement, only making my guard tighter with each passing second. How can a personsuddenly be interested in me? Last time this happened i almost got beheaded mid-interrogation…
You could hear his footsteps get closer so you only did what you could. What would keep you safe.
“Stay back!” His footsteps halt. “Don’t get closer!” your eyes felt warm at the feeling of tears nearing.
“Why? Can’t a cool guy like me explore the unknown?” the man teases as he dropped his bow & arrow to his sides. “I promise I won’t shoot. May I atleast know of your name?”
You kept silent for a moment before begrudgingly revealing your name, back still faced to the boy.
“That’s a cute name, I’m Portgas D. Ace, second prince of Higeshiro” he cheekily announced as silence once again returns between us. “Can I…” he hesitates, “at least know wha-”
Before he could continue, you quickly leap off, headed back to your scum of a home without even a goodbye.
Upon arrival, the night sky as beautiful as it always has, finished with a new moon. Seated on a discarded bucket with a semi-operational pot, you slowly boil the food you managed to find, staring at the dish with sadness yet, with a hint of…curiosity.
“I’m Portgas D Ace, second prince of Higeshiro” what on earth would a prince like him want with me, a ghastly beast?
Was he with good intentions?
Is it all a trap to get me locked up or beheaded?
Too many questions, not enough answers. You shook off the thoughts, drank your share of the soup before tucking in to the single rag under a box formed as shelter for the night.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
It seemed you unlocked a new character in your everyday life,with every visit you pay the dangerous forest for food, you stumble upon the prince. He stubbornly follows you on his horse until you disappear, pitching new questions with every encounter.
“How powerful are your legs? Are they akin to those of my stead, Ember?”
“When you use your arms, are the similar to how we humans use our two arms?”
“What’s it like having tentacle arms? Are the slippery? Can i touch them?!”
“Since you have that demon horn, could that mean you have demon powers too? I wanna see them!!”
You cannot seem to shake this guy off. With every venomous threat you shoot his way, he comes sprinting back tenfold. The problem is…you dont want it to end. For once someone is actually wanting to know you for you. Not what atrocities you could perform. Not some presumtuous allegations of possibly overthrowing the kingdom. He wants to know you.
On your way back from another successful hunt of three reindeer, you stumble upon a note stabbed on a tree by a dagger. Dropping the animals, you pull out the note along with the knife. Studying the weapon, you see it’s engraved with a flame at what appears to be King Newgate’s flag. Moving to the letter, it read:
“Meet at the river by the kingdom walls when the moon is at its peak tonight. I wish to show you something ____
~A”
Confused and wary of the sudden invitation (which you figured was from that persisten prince), you stuffed it in your sash along with the dagger and dragged your dinner back home.
Licking the final bits of the venison you finished eating, you turn your thoughts to the letter in your sash. Looking up at the sky, the moon is near its peak. It’s now a half moon. Looking out into the now bustling nightlife of the city, you contemplate on whether you should risk it and visit the prince, possibly ending in ways you don’t want to think of or, you silently ignore the invite, leaving him hanging at the river all night and continue this one-sided chase everyday until either you give in or he gives up. Your mind sides with ignorance yet your heart sides with curiosity. Fed up with the stalemate laid in front of you, you decide to flip a rusty penny; heads says to stay, tails is to go. Flicking the coin up in the air, it lands and spins, leaving you with an anxious feeling. After what felt like an eternity of it spinning, you make out that it reads tails, signifying you to go meet with the prince. Still weary of his true intentions, you sharpen your claws and keep your snakes on high guard as you leap off the roof and into the night.
The prince, now waiting out by the river for what, to him, felt like an eternity, finally spots you upon the kingdom wall, scoping the area for any guards or people to try turn you in. Ace waves and yells for you attention, being now met with blood-red demon eye and your human eye glowing in the night. You leap down toward him, creating a small dust cloud as you land. Not confident to face him upfront, you turn your back to him, as you did with every other encounter.
“Still met with the back, huh?” he defeatedly jokes, a sigh following the statement.
“I’m sorry, but I still don’t trust you Ace” you reply sternly.
“Yet you still came.”
You felt the blood rush to your cheeks as you quickly fire back, “what is it that you wanted to show me?”
A cheeky giggle leaves his lips as he brings forth his bag and takes out something.
“I can only show you, if you let me see your face,” he teases as you feel that annoyingly cute yet smug look facing you as you hesitate to turn.
“You…you promise not to look upon me in fear?” a small crack escapes from your question. It’s only fair that you require your condition met, many times before it has lead to bad endings.
“Cross my heart and hope to die, i promise to not look upon you in fear.” Ace proclaims.
With a steady intake of breath, you slowly turn around to meet eyes with the man who has chased you around the forest for days, shooting not arrows or bullets but questions. Sneakingly opening your eyes, you see him staring at you. Not out of fear, but rather…out of awe. He doesnt look at you as though you are the beast that instills fear into the villagers, not as the beast outcasted by the kingdom, but as an equal. This reaction leaves you distraught as you don’t know whether to run away or quetsion what he’s expereincing.
“Well…now you see me…I’m hideous I know, just get the teasing, jokes and remarks out and spare me the awkward silence that fills this spa-”
“You’re spectacular.”
You couldnt finish your dismissive sentence before actually registering what he said.
“I-uhh…huh?”
“You’re spectacular! Oh my lords wow! Everything about you is way more majestic than i’ve imagined!”
Stop..
“I mean your furred arms look so silky and your tentacled ones are coated in beautiful patterns…”
Stop please…
“And your legs! These are some astonishingly powerful hinds you have, i couldn’t imagine how hard you trained the to look this powe-”
“Stop!”
Ace stops rambling about you at your sudden outburst.
“Ace please… you’re just saying that to make me feel happy. Just…stop”
He slowly walks back, creating a small space between us. His face not alter to any negative or fearful reaction.
“But what I speak is not blasphemy. I’ve been told by many that I speak honest truths because I do. I don’t think you’re ugly or beastly.”
“That’s what you’ve been told because you’re a prince. Any opposing comment towards you ends with an execution. I shouldn’t have come here. I’ll be on my way now.” You turn with tears brimming in your eyes as you ready yourself to leave him when he grabs one of your arms in desperation.
“Wait! Please just, “ he grunts out as he rushes in front of you with the object he wanted to show you. It was a handmade doll that, you could make out, resembled yourself. You thoroughly inspected the object, noticing details that you didn’t think he’d be able to catch.
“I know it’s kind of messy but you honestly gave me something to look forward to everytime i tread to the forest. I hope you like it, a token of our new bond” he scratches his hair as he looks at the doll in your hands, which you hold so delicately to not accidentally tear open.
“Ace…” The tears that brimmed started falling down your face, and you brought one of your tentacled arms up to your face. “But...why?”
“Because, “ he reaches for one of your available arms, tilting your morphed face to face his, “I like you.”
You blink. That was the last answer you expected to leave his mouth. Let alone one that tugged at your heartstrings that you thought staled out years ago.
“Yeah right,” you sniffle, “and what exactly do you like about me, huh? Because last I checked, no one in this bloody kingdom sees me for me. Only as some gnarly beast that decorated the walls in bounty posters and false tall tales to be told to children to beware of my existence. There are dozens of women that you could love, heck, I’d gamble that King Newgate has a betrothed for you waiting back at the castle.”
“Because I don't like those women. I like that you're extraordinarily strong, I like how agile you are, the powers you possess. Plus, I believe that everyone should have a chance at friendship, at love, no matter what you may appear to be.”
This can’t be happening. This can’t be happening. The handsome second prince of Higeshiro has confessed that he has liked me. I have to be dreaming…
He sees you doubting him and proceeds to plant a soft kiss against your cheek, causing you to freeze up. Your face feels a lot hotter before, maybe even hot enough to set ablaze. He sees your reaction and chuckles.
“I really do like you, infinitely more than what you assume I do. Just give me a chance to show that.”
“How Ace? The whole kingdom hates me; I would never be welcomed into your world. Heck, I’d be turned away at the castle entrance at the mere sight of me.”
“And so?” he grabs my other hand, leaving my tentacled hand to continue holding the doll, “I’ll do what it takes to give you the proper recognition and love you deserve from everybody. To make them see what i see. What I saw from our first encounter.” he looks into my eyes, mind set on a plan he concucted in his head, “I just need you to believe in me. Trust in me.”
Someone willingly going out of their way to make you feel seen for who you are? Finally ridding the hideous feeling you’ve carried for years…what those sorcerers did to you was unforgivable. But now, you could possibly gain a second chance in life. One that wasn’t granted to you after becoming this being…
Taking a deep breath in, you hesitantly yet finally breathe out, “Okay, Ace. I’ll…I’ll go along with it.”
A large smile spread across his face as he pulled me into a hug, one full of warmth and welcome. One you haven’t felt in years. Registering what is happening, you slowly bring your arms down to embrace him as well, completing the hug as you lean your head down to his neck. For once, you felt…safe. Like there was someone to turn to. Someone you could be yourself with.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
You should’ve asked Ace what his idea was because now you’re feeling super anxious. Hiding under a big cloth, you’re being carried in a cart, being taken by Ember, Ace’s horse, into the castle, under the impression that you were just another regular kill found in the forest. Upon arrival, you hear the booming voice of the king. While Ace does his talking, you decide to cautiously peek out to see the inside of the castle, only to notice 15 other princes seated at their respective thrones, which only exponentially increases your anxiety.
“...and that’s why I lied!______ you can come out!” Ace turns to the cart, waiting for you to unveil yourself. Taking a shaky breath, you slowly unsheathe the cloth to reveal yourself to the royal family, garnering a lot of gasps and fearful reactions. I knew this wasn’t going to turn out well. Ace walks up to you and grabs one of your arms tightly as a sign of reassurance that he’s there to protect you.
“Son, what is this being you bring forth to me?”
“This, pops, is the person I accept into my world,” Ace proclaims to the room of royals, King Newgate’s expression not faltering.
“So…this is the being you’ve been rambling to me about? Why them?” he’s been talking about me? To the king?! Now this has DEFINITELY got to be an illusion…
“Because like every person in this kingdom, they deserves a chance at love, not all the hatred and fear that has been thrown at them for their looks. I know they're a good person within, regardless of how they look,” he turns his gaze to you, “so I wish to choose them as my partner, pops.”
The large man then turns his attention to me.
“You,” his voice booms in the spacious throneroom, “what intentions do you have with my son?”
“Oh-uhmm….” This kind of question has never been addressed to you; then again, you’ve never been in a situation where you confront your loved one’s parental figures. “I wish nothing but happiness and joy from him. The mere fact that he continuously chased after me, not for my head to be delivered to you on a stake, but to only know more of me, I can assure you I wish no harm unto him. Ace was the first person not to attack me on first view of me. He gives me some hope that there are possibly more like him that want to know more of me for me, and not of what potential danger I could pose for the kingdom.” he listens wholeheartedly, “I swear to my life, sire, I am not a dangerous being. I only wish to continue a normal life where I am not ostracized by society, where I won’t feel lonely for the rest of my life, so please. Allow me to accept your son, Ace, as my partner too.”
Ace’s face lights up at your sudden confidence in that request, squeezing your hand tighter as he looks up at the king.
Though lots of murmuring occurs in the room as King Newgate comes to a conclusion, he grumbles to signify silence to be upon all of us.
“I can see the bond with you has potential. To showcase that love has no boundaries. I’ll allow it.” he leans back on his gigantic throne as the rest of the princes erupt in various reactions, some of intrigue and joy for their fellow brother, others of outrage and denial in their brother loving someone like you. Nonetheless, Ace turns to you and lifts you in a tight hug, spinning you around.
“You hear that?! The king approves of your existence!! You got Pop’s approval!” he cheers out as he puts you down and lays a peck on your lips. You don't even get the time to react when he suddenly drags you to the top tower of the castle, gazing on the beautiful sunset-lit kingdom before both of you.
Ace lets out a breathily sigh as he looks out at his kingdom, then at you, “You’ll be living in this castle with me, no longer scavenging for food. No longer living on the musty roofs of the civilians, can you believe it?”
“Honstly I can’t. If you told me that the most handsome prince of Higeshiro had fallen for someone like me and gained the approval of the king to stay in the castle a few weeks ago, I would've scoffed in your face,” you sigh out, another tear runs down your face. “Ace, “ you turn to him and hold both his hands in yours, a warm smile plastered on your face, “thank you for loving me, even when the world hated me for existing.”
He looked up at you, brought one of his hands up to your face, caressed it as he brought it close for a soft kiss on your lips, “of course. I know what it’s like to be hated by what you possess, believe it or not, but nonetheless, I will continue to shower you with all the love you’ve missed out on, okay?”
You nod as you both embrace each other in a hug, knowing that you two would live a path that could open many eyes to the civilians and royalty who saw you once as a beastly monster,
to seeing you as an equal.