"Hang on a moment...wait, I said!" Monet growled, cradling her wobbling chest with one arm as she dashed ahead to position herself ahead of the Kuma clone. "Tell me more! I want to know about this returning to life business!"
"You aren't going to like-" Kuma started to repeat.
"I don't care!" Monet snapped, eyes flashing with rage and impatience. "If it is for the sake of the young master, I will do whatever I must! I don't care about hardships that I have to endure- one way or another, I WILL see him become the Pirate King!"
The Kuma look-alike stood with his permanent impassive stare for several long moments, before finally speaking again.
"There are conditions that you must abide by...and no matter the method you choose, there is always a cost."
"Yes, and I already said that I'm fine with that! What are my options!?" Monet asked, impatiently tapping her foot.
"First, the conditions of the return- know that whichever path you choose to take, you will be returned in the form you have now. It is much simpler to make your spiritual representation body into a flesh and blood copy than it is to do the reverse. This will also mean not having the harpy form or the powers of the Devil Fruit as you did before."
Monet gulped, but steeled her gaze. "I...can live with that. I survived for quite long in the New World without a Devil Fruit and I can certainly do it again...as for this form...well, if I can learn to move as a harpy in a matter of weeks, then a human body shouldn't be a challenge...even one as ridiculous as this."
"As for the methods..." the Kuma clone continued. "There is really no real difference between the methods of resurrection...where they really differ is the cost. Each would exact a different price from you, one that you must then accept until the end of your new life."
Monet's glare went even sharper. "How many times must I repeat to you that I don't care? Spit them out, already!"
"The first method would take your memories as a price- you'd be returned to full life and in perfect health, at the exact age you were upon your original death, but all of your personal memories would be gone, save for your own name."
Monet blinked, taken aback by this. "But...but how in the world does that help me!? If I am to support the young master, I must remember who he is, and my connection to-!"
"You were warned many times that the prices were extreme. If you are that set against it, perhaps we should resume our journey to the afterlife now?"
Monet growled, biting her lip, but steeled herself again. "N-nevermind! Just tell me the rest!"
"The second method will take a degree of your freedom, leaving your mind, form, and even your very actions at the whim of anybody who is able to determine the nature of your curse- in essence, they will be able to alter you at will, based on a trigger that will be decided from your own behavioral patterns."
Monet considered that one; it didn't sound entirely bad, especially if she could get an ally to use it- it might almost be like having a Devil Fruit ability, without the curse of not being able to swim. But should an enemy discover such an affliction, and how to work it...
She shivered. "And, the next?"
"The third method will take away your fighting ability, rendering you too weak to properly handle a weapon, and too clumsy to adopt any other sort of fighting method. In a dangerous era such as the one you live in, you can appreciate what a grave risk that would be."
Monet gulped again. She certainly could...but maybe she could still be useful even if she didn't fight? "And...anything else? Other methods?" she asked, dreading the answers already.
"The last method will take...nothing."
She looked up, eyes wide. "Wha- Seriously!?"
"Because it will not return you to life."
Her hopeful expression shattered into one of anger. "Will you start making sense?!"
"The final method allows you to return as a spirit- what you mortals call a 'ghost'. In that form you would have no ability to touch or manipulate anything of the material world without first getting assistance- that is, to take over a living body. If you were to do this and convince your host to contribute some of their life force, you could be brought back to full life yourself."
Monet hesitated. Compared to the others, this sounded too good to be true. "What's the catch?"
"The 'catch' is that you would be unable to do this with anyone whom you were allied with in life. The trusting nature of companions would result in their life force all being pulled out at once, and then the both of you would die from such a rushed job. Additionally, there will always be side-effects from returning to life by using an amalgamation of the life energy of others."
Monet nodded, believing she at least halfway understood. "Are those...the only choices?" she asked.
"I have listed the only permitted methods to you. If you would prefer not to take any of them, we may move on now. You would not be alone in that decision. Very few are willing to trade away that which is most important, even for a return to life."
Monet stood still, thinking for a long time. When she next spoke, her eyes were determined. She'd made up her mind.
"I choose..."
Thu Mar 20 01:30:57 2014