The heavy, formerly grand doors to the cathedral swing open. The streets are silent other than some fire and rescue teams some ways down the streets. Luffy and the man walk down the silent streets without speaking a word. Suddenly the man speaks as they walk, "The town has been the way it is for as long as I remember. I was born and raised here but I constantly felt like an outsider." he says. Luffy doesn't say anything but acknowledges it. The man continues, "I was the half-blood and the son of the outsider. They killed her to 'cleanse the town of impurity'. They only kept me alive as a mercy and because I was half 'pure blood'" He says. Luffy's fists clenched tighter upon hearing the injustices. "You shouldn't have had to endure that. It's not fair. You were just a kid" Luffy says quietly. The man nods and they walk silently for some longer. They arrive in the town square at last. Luffy stops and the man looks at him "Go. Speak your truth." Luffy says, The man turns back and goes toward the center of the square. The people turn and stare at the man as he walks. They don't recognize him at all from his face to the gun around his waist.
The man reaches the bell and rings it, loud clear, and powerful, getting the attention of all of the people in the town center. GONG, GONG, GONG,The bell sounds as it echoes across the town and valleys and cuts through the silence. "Who are you?" Someone shouts from the crowd. Every eye in the town was on the man. "Who am I?" He says and then chuckles low. He reaches up and takes off his hat, revealing a head covered with dark hair and a handsome, rugged looking face with scars going down his face and two brown eyes that are haunted, and dark and full of ghosts and devils.
He smirks at the crowd, his gaze filled with anger, hate even and then he spoke. He speaks with the conviction of someone who was hurt, was treated with iniquity, cruelty and the righteous anger of someone who returned to burn the people who did it. The conviction to render justice he was never given. He raises his fist in defiance and conviction then speaks his truth.
"I am the righteous hand God!
I am the Devil you forgot!
I told you one day you would see I'll be back i guarantee,
and Hell's comin' with me.
And I did bring hell with me! Your preacher is hangin' by a rope, your town burns around you and I, have returned!" He shouts. The townsfolk boo him and shout angrily, and begin throwing stuff at him. Suddenly Luffy appears and catches the rock before it hits him. "Let him speak." Luffy says, low but powerful. Instinctively the other straw hats also move toward defensive positions. Luffy is never this intense which shows how meaningful this is. The man nods slightly grsteful but continues. The town watches in silence as he speaks again,
"My mother came here to bear her child after losing everything. She endured all the hardships and slander that came from this town. I was born and raised in thos town, but I never have or will be part of this town with its "Purity" and shit. I'll never forget how you abandoned us. How you left us to die. How you let that false prophet you call a preacher play god. You let him kill, manipulate, extort and rule this town with fear all the while listening to him preach. You damn hypocrites!" He says. The town is silent and he continues, "You should be ashamed! You watched a boy who lost everything get whipped til he bled. You watched and not once, did anyone lift a god damn finger to help a neighbor." He says, voice trembling with anger, then takes a breath and opens his arms, a satisfied, evil grin spreading across his face as he continues, "And now, now you watch as your town burns. Burns with the preacher, with that church, with your dignity, pride and honor. Watch it burn and go to hell! Just like you watched a helpless woman, my mother, die at the hands of your false prophet." He says grin of satisfaction as he gestures to the burning town. The flames rise slightly as in response to this and the mans grin is wicked but then it slowly stops and he looks at Luffy. "I've done my part. I've spoken my truth. I brought hell and I hope you all rot... but i'll admit. What these people have done for this town... You worship angels and saints? They are. They defended you, they feed you, shelter you, care for you at your worst. That's... that's more than anything I've ever received! And you know what? They do this even after everything you've done to them. Die in hell, all of you. You should be ashamed about this." He says and then puts his hat back on and walks out. Nobody stops him, the crowd parting as he walks off and disappears, expression unreadable.
Luffy then steps up, raising his voice so they can hear, "Your destiny is in your hands. Its not too late to change if we all work together." He says and the crew nod, "Yeah, we need all the help we can get to put these fires out and help each other. Its not to late to change." Nami says. Murmurs spread across the town and a woman stands up, "What can I do?" she asks. Nami beams and soon they are organizing the people and people, rich and poor and of all kinds help one another alike, setting aside differences and working together. Gigi and Franky lead a group to go put out the fires and the makeshift kitchen buzzes with activity as Sanji leads them, orchestrating them in a way similar to how Brook orchestrates the bar musicians, lively music and the smell of great food filling the air.
Soon, the Straw Hats are leading the efforts to reform the town, firefighting, recovery and everything in between and a sense of camaraderie and community, never seen fills the town along with the smell of food and sounds of laughter, community and music as time passes.