Title: Worst Case Scenario
Author: Frozen88
Fandom: One Piece
Genre: Romance/Humor/Drama/Lemon
Rating: M for later chapters.
Pairings/Characters: Zoro x Robin, Luffy x Vivi, and maybe some Sanji x Nami hints. Franky, Usopp, Chopper and Kohza as well as some other familiar characters also appear.
Warning/Spoiler: Spoiler for the latest chapters after Enies Lobby and Water Seven. Warning for lemon in later chapters and OOC, which probably goes for Franky.
Timeline/Sources: Important notes like the bounties of the strawhats or Franky being in the crew are based on facts in the manga, and aren't made up. But everything involved with Vivi here is pure fiction, as well as the name of the ship. Set after Water Seven and Enies Lobby.
Disclaimer: I don't own One Piece, I wish I would but the characters, and the story belong only to Oda-sensei.
Claimer: The island Majesty Row belongs to me alone. XD

My personal comment:
Well, what should I say? I had this idea for ages now because I find it damn interesting what Vivis reaction at Robin and the fact that she's now a memeber of Luffys crew would be like. Just in case they'll ever meet up again, of course. Well, and then this came out. It will be a rather long story, 15 chapters or more, let's see. ;)
I can tell you one thing: it'll be a huge mess of jealousy. XD Almost everyone will get jealous here at some point. XD
But I'll just stop my babbling here, don't wanna say no more. Just read it. XD I hope, you'll like the story. If you do, review! . Heh, that rhymed! XD

Frozen

Worst-Case-Scenario
Written by Frozen

Chapter 1
Royal Duties

"Good god," Igaram choked out, while he stared down at the piece of paper in his hands, behind which other seven papers began to show. He leafed through them, his eyes wide, he read downright horrified what was written beneath the picture of the first paper. "These are damn huge amounts. I can't believe what I'm seeing." He held the papers firmly in his hands, his eyes focused on the picture of a grinning boy wearing a strawhat and waving into the camera. "Good god," he repeated.

Kohza who stood next to him nodded wordlessly, he had fairly recovered from the shock as the bearer of those news. Though his own reaction had turned out to be almost exactly the same like the one of the bodyguard of the princess of Arabasta, as he had catched a glimpse on the enormous bounties that were on the heads of the saviors of their country. After a while in which Igaram kept on murmuring words of disbelief, Kohza finally started speaking, "It's intangible." Igaram put the wanted posters down on the only table in the cabin in which they were, and thereupon the former rebel leader spread them out on it to read them aloud. "Nami the Burglar Cat, 16 million Beri. Sogeking, 30 million Beri. Sanji the Black Leg, 77 million Beri. Roronoa Zoro, 120 million Beri." Kohza paused for a moment, eyeing the picture of the boy with the strawhat and not knowing if he should be impressed or rather horrified, however as he read the amount out loud an icecold shiver ran down his spine. "Monkey D. Luffy, 300 million Beri," he murmured with a flamboyant emphasis of the sum.

Igaram brought a hand to his forehead, and shook his head dumbfounded. "This is very bad. Every good bounty hunter in Grand Line will be chasing our friends from now on." His gaze dropped down to a wanted poster that a little cute reindeer with a blue nose. "Though I've got to admit that I'm a bit disappointed of Chopper's bounty. 50 Beri, that's gotta be a joke."

"This has to be the lowest bounty of all time. Maybe the marine think of him as some kind of pet," Kohza presumed with a small smile. His stare went to the other two wanted posters that had been with them. He had never seen the man on one of them before. "I wonder who that 'Cyborg Franky' freak is."

"He must be new in Luffy-kun's crew or something. And for a good reason too. He's got the substantial amount of 47 million Beri on his head after all." Igaram let a strained sigh out, while gazing at a wanted poster that freezed his veins. He couldn't explain himself how this wanted poster could have slipped between the ones of the strawhat crew. The woman that was displayed on it couldn't possibly be a part of the strawhats, it was just unthinkable. He was sure that it was just some kind of mistake the marine made.

As if Kohza read his mind, he said, "This wanted poster really concerns me, though." With that he picked said poster up, and read it out loud. "Nico Robin the Demon Child, 80 million Beri."

"This is really surprising, but in a bad way," Igaram murmured, and brought a hand under his chin. "What's her wanted poster doing inbetween the ones of Luffy-kun and the others?"

An uttermost bad feeling occured to the former rebel leader and present co-bodyguard of Arabasta's princess. "You don't think Mugiwara let her join his crew, do you?" he voiced his current suspicion out loud.

This thought seemed absolutely absurd to Igaram. Luffy knew well enough that this woman was dangerous like no other. What she had done to Arabasta couldn't be ever forgiven. Luffy wouldn't let such a monster join his crew, that he was sure of. But he couldn't rule it out yet. "That would be horrible," he said, his voice trembling slightly. "If the demon of Ohara's in Luffy-kun's crew... No, that's just impossible. It can't be."

"You never know with him. Vivi told me enough about him for me to know that he's always good for some kind of surprise," Kohza commented and crossed his arms over his strong chest.

Igaram gulped. "I've got to admit that's true. But still I'm absolutely sure that he'd never do something like that to Vivi-sama. With such a decision he'd spit on her pride."

After that was said, both fell silent, and so it was completely quiet for a while. All that was heard were the scroop of the shelves of the huge ship on which they were, the Queen Arabasta II, and the waves of the Grand Line washing against it.

And in that minute's silence an exclamation resounded from the deck, "Land ahead! The Royal Island of Majesty Row's within the range of vision!"

"We're almost there," Kohza stated and then threw a glance over at Igaram who seemingly still didn't quite trust his eyes yet. The younger blonde knitted his brows. "Should we show Vivi the wanted posters?" he asked insecurely.

He picked Niko Robin's wanted poster out of the rest, then crumpled it up, and threw it into the garbage can nearby. Then stared at the confused Kohza with an indifferent look, and commented his action, "I'm sure that she wouldn't want to see that wanted poster."

"You want to keep it a secret from her?" Kohza asked sceptically.

Vivi Nefertair's bodyguard smirked. "There is nothing to hide. Nico Robin's not part of Luffy-kun's crew, it's just some stupid mistake by the marine, that's all." He paused for a moment. "So why should I distress Vivi-sama if there's probably nothing to it anyway?"

Kohza somehow got the feeling that Igaram, just like himself, knew deep down inside that the marine never messed up the wanted posters or made any mistakes with pirate crews. But he didn't want to ponder over it any longer. Igaram was right. It was better for everyone who was involved in this to just pretend they hadn't seen anything at all. "You've got a point," he hence only murmured, shrugging it off. "I'm gonna go show them to Vivi."

"All right, Kohza." Igaram plopped almost exhausted down on a nearby chair. "That was quite too much information for today, since it's gonna be such a hard day."

Kohza smiled wryly. "True. I'm curious about how Vivi will do," he said, and then stared outside the porthole.

"Oh yes, me too," Igaram sighed. "A lot of people – and I'm one of them, by the way – think that Vivi-sama's way too young to face the examination of the King Council. King Kobra-sama however is truly convinced that she'll cope with the situation well. I've tried to talk him out of this crazy idea, and told him to wait until Vivi-sama turns eighteen, but I guess he's just too pigheaded to listen to me." He narrowed his eyebrows. "I think he doesn't quite get the gravity of this kind of situation. If Vivi-sama doesn't pass the examination of the council she'll gonna be dispossessed of her right to the crown with immediate effect, and a new heir will be chosen."

"I think she'll do a good job," Kohza said confidently. "She's a good princess. I think the council will think so too. Arabasta couldn't wish for a better queen. Besides, Captain, she's prepared well."

"I just hope that's enough in front of the council." Igaram straightened up again. "Well then, I'll go check on the soldiers and prepare our arrival." He looked at Kohza. "Tell Vivi-sama and my wife that we'll arrive any minute now, and that they should hurry up a bit."

"All right." Kohza grinned swiftly, exiting the cabin.

X X X X X

"I hate corsets!" Princess Vivi gasped heavily while Igaram's wife Terracotta corded up the white corset. She was almost completely out of air, and had to pant for breath hard, holding onto her chest.

Terracotta laughed quietly behind her. "Bear it, Vivi-sama. Stop complaining that much," she said, tying the laces tight, whereon the princess gasped once more. "You know the saying, who wants to be beautiful has to suffer."

Vivi knitted her brows, and bit her lower lip as she felt the sharp pain of other laces being tied hard. "Then I'd rather be ugly," she pressed out from gritted teeth, gasping hastily for breath afterwards. "Gods!" escaped from her lips. She couldn't stand it. Who invented those useless, dumb corsets? And why were women stupid enough to wear them? Igaram's wife tied with a jerk the next laces together. Vivi groaned in pain. "You know, it'd be really nice to face the council alive. But you seem to forget that I've got to breath for that," she hissed at her motherly friend.

Terracotta laughed melodically. "If you'd just stay still I'd surely be faster, plus it'd be less painful." Then something came to her mind. "Speaking of the council, are you already nervous because of the Royal Examination?"

Vivi bit her lower lip, instantly forgetting the pain the corset caused for a moment. The Royal Examination. She had prepared herself for it for months, a was scared stiff at the same time. If she failed she wouldn't just disappoint her father, but her friends too, as well as everyone who trusted her, which meant the whole people of Arabasta. She knew she was prepared well, but the pressure that weighed heavily on her shoulders made it hard for her to be confident. Of course she was nervous. She was so nervous like she hardly had been before. This wasn't just about her own future, it was about the future of her whole country. But she forced a tormented smile to her lips nevertheless. "I'm okay. Actually I'm looking forward to it," she lied.

Terracotta raised her eyebrows, and then shook her head with a smile. "Honey, when are you gonna stop trying to lie to me? I helped raise you up after your loving mother died – mercy on her soul -, gave you to eat, and bathed you. I probably know you better than yourself," she said, tying another pair of laces together. "I know when you're lying."

Vivi sighed deeply. That speech again. Well, it had been worth a try. "I'm afraid as hell of the exam," she finally confessed.

"It would've been outstanding surprising if you weren't." Terracotta tied the last laces together tightly, and then tied a loop to finish her work off. "Finished," she announced, and moved in front of the princess to take her hands in her own. "You'll make it, Vivi-sama. We all believe in you."

Vivi closed her eyes for a brief second, and as she reopened them, she looked at her friend with a crestfallen expression. "That's exactly it, Terracotta. You're all putting so much trust into me. And then if I should fail, and lose the throne... I'd never forgive myself," she explained.

Terracotta squeazed Vivi's hands, and smiled ecouraging at her, her eyes shimmering with pure confident. "That's not gonna happen. You won't fail. I know it."

Even though this words were meant nice, they didn't really encourage Vivi quite a lot, but she smiled slightly either way. Terracotta tried really hard, and she appreciated it a lot. Vivi hadn't really been herself in the past few days. She had been in an outstanding bad mood. Of course she hadn't been mean to anyone – because she was never mean – but they all had noticed that something was very wrong. It had gotten awfully hard to push through to her. "I hope so," she said quietly.

Two knocks could be heard at the door of her pretty equipped cabin, and shortly after that Kohzas voice could be heard, "Vivi? I'm coming in." Without waiting for an answer he opened the door, and stepped into the room, a small pile of papers in his hands. Typical of Kohza.

"Oh, hey, Kohza. What is it?" Vivi smiled at him.

Terracotta on the other hand seemed everthing aside happy about his visit, because she grabbed for the hairbrush, and threw it at Vivi's childhood friend. "What's gotten into you, Kohza-san? The princess is half naked! Get out! Right now!"

Kohza catched the hairbrush with ease, smiling pacifying. "Don't worry, I'm not here to pester Vivi," he said. "I've got to talk to her. Could you leave us alone for a second?"

Igaram's wife raised her eybrows critically, glancing at Vivi who nodded with a smile and said, "It's all right, Terracotta."

The older woman sighed, and shrugged. "If you say so." After she said that, she walked over to the door, and left the room.

Kohza closed the door behind him, and stared at Vivi, who sat down on a chair. Then he held up the wanted posters. "I've got something that you might find interesting."

Vivi glanced curiously at the papers. "What's that?"

"Wanted posters," Kohza explained, and went over to her. "The marine just hung them out. They're the new bounties of the Mugiwara Pirates." He held them out to her.

Vivi instantly beamed at him. "New bounties?" she repeated excitedly, taking them from his hand. She eagerly looked them through. The first wanted poster she catched a glimpse of was Nami's. As she read the name underneath the picture, she bursted out laughing. "The Burglar Cat? That sure's fitting! I'd really like to know what Nami-san said when she saw this. She looks beautiful! So different from then." She grinned.

Kohza had to smile too. It was really great to see Vivi happy again. She had been very tense the past few days, but it had been obvious to him that news about her friends would cheer her up again. Though he still didn't quite get why Vivi was so happy that they had a higher bounty now, and thus everyone of them was wanted now, but he guessed it had to be some kind of honor for a pirate. He knew nothing of pirates, Vivi on the other hand did. He feared that she was deep inside her heart one herself.

"Who's that supposed to be?" Vivi laughed as she saw Sanji's photofit picture on his wanted poster. "What a pity, I would've really liked to know if Sanji-san changed." She chuckled. "Of course I mean Sanji the Black Leg." Next was Zoro. At his wanted poster, her eyes widened a little, and she called up astonished, "120 million Beri? That's actually more than Luffy-san!"

Just wait until you've seen his bounty, Kohza thought with a smirk.

Next she had Usopp's wanted poster in her hands, or rather the one of Sogeking. "Sogeking? That's clearly Usopp-san! 30 million... Not bad," said, then raised her eyebrows as she saw the next one. "Huh? Tony-kun's just got 50 Beri? How did that happen?" She out the two posters aside, and Franky's wanted poster surfaced. "Cyborg Franky? A new memer?" She was surprised, but laughed. "He looks funny. He fits with them."

Now it was Luffy's turn. Kohza wondered what her reaction would be like. He smiled. She would certainly be thrilled.

Vivi's hands started shaking a little. There was only one wanted poster left, and that was the one of Monkey D. Luffy. She was so anxious to know Luffy's bounty, but she was even more anxious to know if there was a new picture of him. It had been a few months since she last saw him after all. Though Zoro didn't get a new one, she hoped that Luffy was different. She put Franky's wanted poster aside, and then stared directly into Luffy's grinning face, what made her heart beat a little faster. It was indeed the picture she already knew, but whatever. "Pity," she whispered quietly, but Kohza heared it anyway.

"What's a pity?" he immediately asked.

Vivi smiled slightly embarrassed at him. "That there isn't a new picture of Luffy-san," she answered, and then glanced back on the wanted poster, whereas finally noticing the amount of his bounty. Her eyes widened dumbfounded. "What the heck? 300 million Beri?" she cried disbelieving. "That's huge!"

"Amazing, isn't it? That's a whole damn lot of money," the former rebel leader said, leaning against Vivi's dressing table.

The princess grinned widely. "It sure is. Luffy-san must be so proud of it! I can practically see him dancing across the deck!" she giggled.

Kohza shook his head with a smile. He was happy that he got Vivi's thoughts away from the examination for a few moments.

Suddenly it knocked at the door again.

"Come in," Vivi said.

Thereupon the door opened, and a soldier of the royal guard entered the room, instantly bowing in front of the princess. "Your highness, we've arrived at the harbor Majesty Row's capital city, and plan to let the anchor down anytime now. Captain Igaram asks you to come up to the deck," he said politely.

"Thank you," the princess smiled. "Tell him we'll be up in a moment." The soldier nodded thereupon, bowed once more, and left the cabin.

Vivi stood up with a sigh, walking over to her bed where Terracotta prepared a beautiful white dress with golden embroideries and expensive jewel garnishments on it. She threw a glance on it, smiled slightly, and then picked it up to put it on. "Well then," she murmured quietly.

Kohza raised his eyebrows, while he lifted the wanted posters up to a pile again, placing them on her dressing table after. "You're afraid," he noticed. Of course she was afraid. He woud have been afraid also if he was her.

Vivi paused while dressing, though not turning around to him. Kohza knew her damn too well, of course he would notice. And she guessed it was easier talking with him about it than with Terracotta, since he was her best oldest friend. "You can't even imagine how much," she admitted quietly, while slipping into the dress, and pulling it down, smoothing it out after.

"Vivi, you need more self-confidence." Kohza stared at her back with a serious expression on his face, then watched her turn around, move over to her make-up desk where he was still leaning on, and getting out a pair of earrings and a necklace out of her jewelry box to put them on.

The princess looked into the mirror, and glanced through it at Kohza. "You know," she sighed, "it's hard to trust yourself when so many other people are doing it already."

Kohza raised his eyebrows in an understanding way. "But shouldn't that get you motivated a bit?" he asked. "I mean, that only shows that Arabasta's citizen stand behind you no matter what."

"I know, but..." Vivi bit her lower lip, and grabbed for the hairbrush Terracotta had thrown after Kohza who had brought it back to her desk, then started brushing her breast long hair – she had cut it a bit in the meanwhile. "If I fail... What do you think what their reaction will be like? And my father..." She closed her eyes as if it would cost her quite an effort to keep talking. "I don't even want to start about how ashamed he'd feel... If I fail I won't be able to return ever again."

"Bullshit. You won't fail. And even if, what's clearly unlikely, you'll always be able to return. Your father and your country will always love you, not matter if you'll ascend the throne or not," Kohza said firmly, putting a hand on her shoulder, whereon she raised her chin to look up at him. He gave her a small smile. "You'll make it. You're a great girl, and an even better princess. The coucil will love you just like Arabasta does, I'm sure of it."

The blue haired girl placed a hand over his, and smiled back. "Thanks, Kohza," she said softly. It felt good hearing such words – it had been exactly what she had needed.

The former rebel leader squeazed her shoulder once more, and the straightened up. "I'll see you on deck then," he said, walking to the door.

Vivi watched him for a brief moment, and then said quietly, "If I fail... I won't go back with you to Arabasta." She focused her eyes on the wooden floor, waiting for Kohza tp reply something at that. Would he be mad at her, yelling how immature she acted roght now? However she wouldn't blame him for it. But what should she return for when she would lose her country? Of course, Arabasta needed her in a way, but when they had found a new heir of the throne, everything would be fine, wouldn't it? The council certainly would chose a very qualificated heir after all. Besides, there still was another dream...

Kohza refused to turn around and face her, but she heard a quiet chuckle. "Didn't think so in the first place."

To Be Continued...

So, what do you think? Good? Bad? Keep on writing? Stop? Delete it? Just tell me, I can handle it! XD