Disclaimer: We don't own One Piece.

The royal kingdom of One-Piecae has never been this busy and crowded. Every citizen was preparing food, decorations, stands and clothing. Music could be heard from everywhere and laughter too. The kingdom hasn't been this busy in years. Every cobblestone road, every stonewall and every house got cleaned. The plaza before the castles entrance got decorated with every kind of flower available.

Inside the castle, people were running around too. Cleaning every spot, decorating and taking care for everyone's clothes. It was a chaos. Through the chaos of running people, a certain person walked around too, looking for her father – the king. Even though she told it a thousand times to her father, she didn't want to get married to a prince she hardly knew. All the servants were busy and didn't even notice her.

The chaos was inside, but not outside the garden. Two people were smart enough to not get inside. They didn't have any orders, because no one spend any time on noticing those two. Which wasn't rare, because they were the lowest of the lowest inside the whole castle.

The slaves.

The differences between the slaves and the servants, is the servants do have family. They have children, a spouse, a house and pets. They get paid for their chores. The slaves had no one. They were bought in the orphanage. The garden shed was their small bedroom and they didn't get much food. They didn't get paid and they had the hardest chores. They were not allowed to talk with the royals and only the boss of the servants was allowed to talk with them. They didn't complain though. They rather wanted this than rot away in the small orphanage. The king and queen were nice too. The boss of the servants… Not that much. They didn't know anything about the princess because they weren't allowed to get close to her.

One slave was cuddling with the horses in the stable, while the other was relaxing in the hay. They heard a crash and a lot of yelling coming from the kitchen. A servant probably dropped a few plates and someone else got mad. They already could guess who did get mad. While hugging the horse, the slave looked around.

"What's going on?" The black haired slave asked, petting the brown horse's nose.

The green haired slave opened one eye, shrugging his shoulders. "I dunno…"

The black haired, scarred slave giggled, already forgetting the topic as the horse began biting his gray shirt. The slaves had quite ugly outfits. A gray cheap shirt and pants with sandals as footwear. The servants are wearing beautiful maids and butler costumes. The royal clothes always were ridiculously beautiful with golden buttons and the most expensive silk fabric and laces.

The boss was indeed yelling at the servant, who was begging for forgiveness. The princess looked around, getting more irritated with the minute. Not only because of the chaos and the noise, but also because she still couldn't find her father and mother. Were they at a meeting she didn't know off?

"Princess!" The beauty turned around, looking at her own personal servant "You should stay in your room before something happens." Her servant grabbed her by her wrist, and the princess just accepted to walk with her with a sigh. They reached her room and the servant closed the door behind her. "Princess, I don't wa-"

"Robin!" The princess turned around with a slight mad pout, looking at her servant named Robin. "I have told you many times to call me Nami!"

Robin smiled gently. The same smile she was known for. "My apologies." Nami pouted but still nodded, accepting her apology. The princess walked to her mirror and she sat down in front of it. The room of Nami was large. Her bed was big and fluffy enough to place four people into it. A huge closet was placed against the wall, containing all her clothes. Her room didn't have any corners, since it was only round. After checking her hair in the mirror, Nami stood up. She opened the french doors leading to the big balcony. She looked over the railing, seeing everyone preparing for tomorrow.

Walking back inside with a pout and falling into her bed, Robin could deduct something was wrong with her princess. She, of course, already knew what it was.

"I wish I could help you." Robin said with a smile filled with pity. Nami looked at her with one eye from in between her blankets. The princess appreciated her servants feelings, but they indeed haven't helped her. Nami turned on her back, looking at her ceiling.

"Why, even when I have told my father a thousand times, do I have to get married to a guy I don't even know…" Nami muttered softly. Her hand reached to the pillow next to her, as it was inviting her to scream into it.

"I am sorry, Nami-sama… It is a royal law to marry one of the richess. And unfortunately… That's a prince." Robin explained, sitting on her highnesses bed. She played with her beautiful orange hair while she sighed.

"I don't want to get married!" Nami now said, louder than she planned "I want to marry with the man I love. Not with some guy who suddenly comes by tomorrow and who I have never met!"

"Maybe it will be love on first sight." Robin said softly, hoping to ease her.

"Or maybe it will be a creep!"

"Hmm…" hummed the green haired slave. The princess didn't realize it, but her balcony doors were still open and the conversation was quite easy to follow. Both looked towards the balcony as they slowly began to understand what the problem was.

"A prince is coming to visit tomorrow." The slaves looked up, looking at the chef of the castle's kitchen. He came outside to smoke again and to secretly give food, as he walked into the stable with a plate.

Ever since the previous chef quit, the new chef got his job very fast. The slaves were very happy with that, because the new chef befriended them quickly and he gave them food. They often talked with each other because the chef smoked a lot.

"Here. I brought something again." the chef handed them the plate and the slaves automatically drooled.

"Thank you, Sanji! You're the best!" The black haired slave said with a grin, eating the food together with the other slave. Sanji took a drag and looked towards the balcony. The blonde was busy with the preparations of the food for the prince, but he still wanted to take a break.

The kitchen was a chaos and the servants sometimes needed to clear their heads by taking a break, which Sanji did. After hearing two big burps, Sanji turned around to look at the duo. They seemed content with what they just ate.

"Don't you two have orders?" Sanji suddenly asked, dropping his cigarette on the ground and standing on it. "Luffy, I thought you needed to prepare the guestroom?"

The black haired slave looked at Sanji and nodded "I do. But I have to do it at night because I am not allowed to see the royals." Luffy answered.

Sanji nodded. He had already forgotten. It was such a stupid law, but it still happened. Only because the rich weren't allowed to see the poor. Also because the servant boss didn't quite trust the slaves. What if one of the slaves threatened a royal, or what if a slave hurt a royal? The biggest reason the slaves were here, was because they were utterly strong. No one could move a 6 meter long, hardwood table without making a sound. Or reorganize a whole room without dropping something. Maybe Sanji could, he was strong too, but he used his hands for other business.

"What about you, Zoro?" Sanji asked, as he was lightening another cigarette.

"I have to cut wood tonight." the green haired slave answered matter-of-factly, as he was burying his pinky finger in his ear. "I think I will be done in 10 minutes."

Sanji hummed and the trio now looked up, hearing more angry yelling from the princess.

"She's at it again. She sounds like a witch. A spoiled witch." Zoro muttered with half lidded eyes.

"Don't you dare call Princess Nami-swama like that again." Sanji said, taking a drag.

While Sanji and Zoro were giving each other weird name's, Luffy kept watching towards the balcony. He didn't get the situation, but he did understand she didn't like it at all. Why did her parents make her get married even if she didn't want to? And what was bad about marrying? It sounded like food.

"What is 'marry'?" The black haired slave asked, still staring towards the balcony. His eyes now landed on the chef and slave, who stopped fighting after his question.

"Euhm..." Sanji began. He didn't blame Luffy. If you're someone who didn't have any school, classes or common knowledge, it's normal to not know many stuff. But granted, Luffy is a special kind of stupid. The 'I'm living under a rock' kind of stupid. "Marrying, in case of the princess, she'll have to be together with a man the rest of her live. The prince coming tomorrow will most likely be her husband. They are expected to have children and to reign over One-Piecae." Sanji explained, clicking his tongue to still show his annoyance.

Luffy pouted a bit. That didn't sound like fun... Having to stay with a guy she just met. He got why she was annoyed. Why would people marry anyway...? Staying with someone for the rest of your life. Luffy wanted to stay with everyone for the rest of his life, not just someone.

"I gotta go back to the kitchen." Sanji said, standing on another cigarette. "I'll see when I can bring you another plate with food."

Luffy and Zoro looked at him as he walked away. Now they only have to wait for a few hours until they could do their chorus.

"Robin, could you leave me alone?" Nami whispered softly. Her personal servant smiled and nodded.

"I will." Robin answered. The weight that went off of her bed indicated she indeed walked away. Robin closed the door behind her and Nami peeked in between her blankets again.

Robin actually also was a slave. She didn't have any family left and she was also picked from the same orphanage as Luffy and Zoro. Robin didn't have much contact with those two, but she always had time for a little chat when they coincidentally saw each other.

The boss servant only thought Robin was one of the most trustful of the slaves, and Nami befriended her quickly even though they weren't allowed to see each other. So the boss made Robin Nami's personal servant. They were like sisters to each other and Robin always tried to support her. But this case was tough to support...

Nami went out of her bed and she walked to her balcony again. She looked over the castle's garden. The huge fishpond with fountain, the garden maze with roses and the huge gazebo on the tiled plaza. She sighed depressed.

Now she was twenty, she had to get married for the royal family and look over One-Piecae. But only thinking already about needing to be with someone she didn't know... Getting children with someone she might not even have feelings about... It tore her apart.

Still a few hours to go before she does what she always does when she needed to clear her head... Go to the woods and watch the stars...

.oOo.

Nighttime fell over One-Piecae and every citizen had found their bed. The only animals making sounds were crickets in the high grass. The stars were watching the town and castle.

The only persons being active right now were Zoro and Luffy. Zoro was chopping wood for the fireplaces for in the castle and Luffy nonchalantly walked through the castle halls, going towards the guestroom. The servants boss wanted to be sure the guest - the prince - would have enough room for his clothes and personal stuff. So Luffy had to move some closets from one room to the other.

As he was walking around, he looked at the scenery. Paintings of the previous kings and Queens. Marble walls and ground. He could even see his own reflection. Small lightening of candles illuminated the hallway. The servant must have worked their butts off...

He stopped walking as soon as he heard something in the hallway. Swiftly, he hid around a corner and waited for the person to walk by. With his hands in his pockets, he waited patiently, but he got surprised as he saw a person with a brown leather cloak. He would have thought a servant would walk by, but not a mystery person. It smelled like adventure...

To do the guestroom, or not to do...? Which is a question and Luffy was not good in answering questions because his attention span was 10 seconds. One thing he did ask himself, and it was actually a surprisingly good question. What if it was the princess?

Without thinking, he slowly walked behind her. Not to stalk her, not at all. That was not even his intention. But what if she went somewhere, she got recognized and she'd get attacked? It was his real intention to protect her, even though he didn't actually have to.

The person walked towards the kitchen, making Luffy drool immediately. As slave, he didn't get much food. Just a regular amount, but Luffy was a real glutton. Sanji was his biggest hero for bringing more food even though it was more than the allowed amount. The mystery person went outside via the kitchen door. Luffy didn't even know that door was unlocked.

As the person walked outside, Luffy couldn't help but steal a bunch of grapes. Luffy stopped and looked behind him, looking at the castle. What if it wasn't the person but just a servant going home? He would be ignoring his orders and Luffy might get a few whippings again from the boss. The current scars on his back suddenly began to itch.

Because Luffy and Zoro don't have any family, they could easily be beaten. It happened sometimes. Luffy because he mostly forgot to do orders or got distracted (like now) and Zoro because he often just couldn't hold back his remarks...

Luffy shrugged. If it was the princess and something would happen to her, he would never forgive himself.

The slave walked casually behind the person, while the person looked tense walking here. He swiftly hid again behind a tree after the person looked behind to see if it was being followed. The person walked further and Luffy followed.

As soon as the mystery person stopped and sit on the grass, Luffy hid behind a tree. He still peeked to look who he has been following.

While all this happened, Zoro had been carrying the pieces of chopped wood to the stable. He put it down and took a deep breath. Zoro turned around, but made a small gasping sound as the boss suddenly stood in front of him.

"Where is Luffy?"

Zoro cocked an eyebrow. Where was Luffy? He went to the guestroom for his order. Or did he get distracted again? "I told Luffy to find the most beautiful closets he could find for the guestroom, so I guess he is still busy with that." Zoro lied with a shrug.

"Who told you to give him orders?"

"I just want the guest to feel welcome in the castle. And if Luffy does his job well, you'll get all the compliments." Zoro lied again. He knew this was most likely going to be 10 whippings. Somehow Zoro just couldn't trust that guy. Was it his pointy nose, weird teeth or untrustworthy eyes?

"If Luffy isn't done by tomorrow, he will get 50 whippings. Be sure to tell him." He said as he turned away and left Zoro alone in the stable.

"I will... Arlong..."

It was too dark to even see something, but Luffy tried and kept peeking from behind the tree. He pinched his eyes and they slowly widened when he saw who was wearing the cloak. He saw orange hair coming from under it, so he was right!

The princess was looking at the stars in the night sky, relaxing as she did. She always got into some kind of trance when she looked up. But still, she couldn't help but feel emotional.

Tears slowly rolled from her cheeks as she felt her life would be over tomorrow when the prince came. A few sobs left her pink lips and Luffy noticed. He wasn't sure what to do. Leave her or say something...

He began to fidget with the hem of his gray shirt, thinking on what to do. He shifted a bit and a small branch under his foot suddenly snapped. A sound came out of his throat out of surprise and Nami turned around fast with angst.

"Who is there!?" She asked mad. She grabbed a big stick from the ground and she held it like a baseball bat. "Come out!"

Luffy pouted and he showed up from behind the tree. He saw her stick and he held his hands up out of defense "Sorry..." he muttered.

The princess pinched her eyes, trying to see who was standing in front of her, but it was rough with the darkness. "W-Who are you!?"

The slave blinked. Didn't she recognize him at all? "I'm Luffy. The slave of your castle..." he muttered "I won't do anything to you."

Nami gulped. She was alone in the woods with a castle slave. Someone she didn't know if she could trust. Her frown deepened. "Why are you here." She demanded the answer.

Even though she meant to be sounding bossy, the shiver in her voice gave her weakness away. Luffy stared at her with his owlish eyes, seeing her eyes and cheeks seemed to be glistening. Only now he remembered she had been crying a second ago.

"I saw you walk through the hallway in the castle, so I wanted to protect you for if something happens." Luffy explained truthfully. The princess pinched her eyes. Was he telling the truth...? "So you don't wanna get married, huh..." he suddenly began.

Nami was taken aback at his sudden remark. "H-How do you know that!"

"You were talking loud in your room about not wanting to get married. I heard. And I heard you cry just now."

A blush crept over Nami's cheeks. A slave saw the princess cry? The princess had to take control over the town. The princess had to be mature and tough, but she didn't look like that. No, Nami looked like a scared crybaby and someone had seen her cry. While she was deep in thought, she bit her underlip and stared at the man in front of her.

"Are you going to tell?" Nami suddenly asked, causing confusion to Luffy

"What?"

Nami rolled her eyes "Are you going to tell someone you saw me cry?" Nami said with a frown, looking at him now.

Luffy cocked an eyebrow. Such a weird question "No... Why would I?"

"If you tell someone we met here and you saw me cry, I will tell Arlong you didn't do your chores and you'll be in trouble." Nami said. She slowly dropped her stick on the ground and Luffy watched her. His face didn't show any emotion but he still felt confused. "Deal?"

As he was thinking, he just couldn't think about an added value in telling someone he met her and he saw her cry. Why did it even matter? Sure, they had the law the royals weren't supposed to see the slaves, but at one point it would still happen accidently. Now it wasn't an accident, but it still happened. Luffy also didn't want whippings from the boss, so he shrugged without care.

"Sure. Deal."

They made a deal! Which means they have a secret they share together. Bonding time 3