Ch. 26- Goodbye
One Piece © Oda
Blizzard and Monkey D. Aika © Me
Rokuji © Gakuto1991
"HAHAHAHAHA~!" laughed Mont d'Or, along with his siblings, as he pointed mockingly at Luffy. "Is this guy for real?!"
"What foolishness, indeed!" Perospero cackled. "Kukukuku!"
"He's actually picking a fight with Mama in her own castle!" exclaimed Opera. "Fwahfwahfwahfwah!"
"SHUT UP!" Luffy yelled as he tried to break free. "LET ME OUT SO I CAN KICK YOUR ASSES!"
Nami, however, was quiet with contemplation...and worry.
'Lola...' she thought. 'I don't know what you were thinking, but...you were wrong about your mother.'
"Well, this is a fine mess we're in," Blizzard muttered.
"Yeah, tell me about it," Nami agreed...but then, after about 5 interrupted seconds, both the navigator and guard dog bawked before they glanced at each other, then shrieked in comical shock, eyes bugging out, tongues wiggling, and everything.
"BLIZZARD, YOU CAN TALK?!" Nami questioned.
"YOU CAN UNDERSTAND ME?!" Blizzard questioned right back.
"L-Luffy...I-I can understand what Blizzard's saying, now!" Nami cried.
"You can?!" Luffy asked in surprise. "Hey! That means you've got Observation Haki!"
"I do?!" Nami asked in disbelief. "H-how did that happen?!"
"I-I dunno!" Luffy replied.
"Hold up!" Blizzard spoke up. "Rayleigh said that Observation Haki sometimes awakens in times of stress...Nami, did you feel stressed out at all, recently? Like to the point where it felt like you were at your limit?"
"...Wait...!" Nami realized. "Back when Sanji was beating up Luffy...that must have been it!"
"And when we were fighting with Big Mom's army," said Blizzard. "That might have added to that, too."
"...Maybe," Nami muttered.
"At any rate," Blizzard began, "it looks like we'll have to get comfortable. Looks like we're gonna be here a while..."
"Dammit, I can't stay here!" Luffy cursed. "I gotta get back to the place I said I'd wait for Sanji!"
Just then, what sounded like a motorcycle filled the room, and soon after, a little boy with his hair styled in a pompadour, a black leather jacket with golden buttons, as well as black pants, a light rose shirt, and a fin-like protrusion on his back, came riding in on a metallic caterpillar with its antennae shaped like handle bars.
"Comin' through!" Charlotte Anglais called as he entered the room.
"Anglais?" asked Galette as she approached him. "What is it?"
"We got us a ninfilnator in the treasure room!" Anglais shouted.
"You mean an infiltrator?" Galette repeated as she crouched down to her younger brother's height level.
"Yeah, that!" Anglais answered. "Oh, and I ain't brushin' my teeth, neither!"
XXX
In the Queen's Chamber, Big Mom was sitting in her room, laughing her head while all the Sweets Homies danced and laughed around her.
"But Mama," said Zeus, "aren't you angry?"
"Mamamamama!" laughed Big Mom. "Angry over what? Some loudmouthed rookie who's just looking for a fight! Don't be a fool, Zeus! Think about it! By this time tomorrow, I'll have Germa's power and the Tamate Box! Not to mention I'll be having me some of that delicious wedding cake that one could ever imagine! How could I be angry at a time like this?!"
"I guess you're right, Mama," said Zeus.
"I can overlook anything with all of THAT waiting for me tomorrow!" Big Mom exclaimed. "Me, angry?! Tomorrow is going to be the greatest day in my life!"
Just then, Napoleon, Big Mom's bicorne hat, glanced up.
"Huh? That's strange," he said. "I'm getting a signal!"
"Hmm?" Big Mom hummed. "What is it, Napoleon?"
"Mama...I hate to be the bearer of bad news," Napoleon began, "but there seems to be an infiltrator causing a ruckus near the treasure room!"
"...An infiltrator?" asked Big Mom, casuing the Homies around her to freeze in fear. "They'd better not be after my Tamate Box! WHO IS IT?!"
"YIKES!" Zeus yelped in fright. "I thought you said nothing could make you angry, Mama?!"
XXX
Concurrently, in Sanji's guest room...the cook was pacing the floor, beside himself with anguish.
"Dammit, dammit, dammit!" he cursed. "I can't be so indecisive! Not now! I made a deal with Big Mom...as long as I do what she says, she'll let Luffy and the others go, and the Baratie will be spared, too! I mean...yes, it hurts me to leave Luffy and the others...but at least nobody will die, right? That's all that really matters! What's there to be so upset about?!"
He then sighed as he sat on the sofa.
"...I can't believe Aika would just leave, like that," he whispered. "...Who am I kidding? Of course she would, and I don't blame her...I've put her through too much. I mean...I beat up her brother, her hero, right in front of her eyes for god's sake! She probably hates me..."
He then shook his head.
"No, come on, get it together, Sanji!" he scolded himself. "You can't keep being so tense! What would Pudding say if she saw you, right now? She's your only hope, and you'd only make her feel worse if she saw your face, right now!"
That's when he started putting on his old lovey-dovey act.
"I can't let that happen to my sweet Pudding~!" he exclaimed with hearts in his eyes, twirling around as if everything was right with the world. "Just be your usual self, Sanji! You'll make a great husband for your sweet, darling Pudding~!"
A pause...but then he sighed as he dropped to his knees. Then he reached into his pocket and pulled out his picture of him and Vivi together...which caused him to take on a somber expression.
"...I'm sorry, Vivi," he whispered before he kissed the picture, lightly. "I...I guess maybe you and I don't have a future together, after all...it's probably for the best..."
On that...he dropped the photo...and walked away.
XXX
In Pudding's room...
"What?!" Pudding asked the maid who was ironing her clothes. "From Sister Lola?!"
"Yes," the maid said as she continued to iron her dress. "Apparently, Cat Burglar had your sister's Vivre Card and used it to overpower the Homies in the Seducing Woods."
"...I see," Pudding whispered.
"Also, Lady Pudding," the maid continued, "I regret to inform you that Mama has rejected the dress you chose, yesterday. You'll have to wear the one that she picked out for you, tomorrow, if you don't mind."
"...No," Pudding answered. "I don't mind at all."
"She has also put together your post-ceremony plans," the maid went on. "After that, you will..."
As she went on, Pudding just walked out to her garden balcony, where she let the rain fall down on her.
"Everything will go smoothly for you, Pudding," Big Mom's voice said in her mind, "as long as you do what I tell you...that's my cute little doll."
"Lady Pudding, what are you doing?!" asked the maid. "Come back inside or you'll be sticky from the candy rain!"
But Pudding didn't come back in. She just kept looking out at the sky with this thoughtful expression. She could see herself when she was at least 10...staring up at an older woman who had a backpack on her back.
"But Lola...aren't you worried Mama will kill you?"
"Kill me? Ha! That's ridiculous! Why would Mama wanna kill me? I'm her daughter, after all! I'm not gonna let her pick who I'm gonna marry! I'll go find my own husband!"
"...Okay...just be safe...please?"
"Aww, Pudding...you're so sweet, lookin' out for your big sis, but I promise, I'll be happier this way! Who knows? Maybe you might decide to do the same thing!"
Pudding just stood at the balcony...staring down at the grass...before she turned and headed back inside, and at first, the made was about to hand her a towel to dry off with...but then, Pudding opened the door to her room...and she left without a single word.
"L-Lady Pudding?" the maid asked. "Where are you going?!"
XXX
At the same time...
"Was there anything stolen?!" asked one of the guards.
"No! At least, I don't think so!" answered another. "I-I don't really know, so-"
"What do you mean you don't know?!" questioned the commanding guard. "The whole treasure room's security has been wiped out!"
"Look out! Here he comes!" shouted a fourth guard as he pointed down the corridor, causing the other guards to turn and see that it was none other than Pedro...who had dynamite strapped around his waist!
"Get outta the way, or I'll blow you all to bits!" the Jaguar Mink yelled as he charged at the guards.
"Watch it!" cried one of the guards. "He's wearing explosives!"
"Rush him!" yelled the commanding guard as he charged at Pedro with a shield...but he easily cut it apart with his broadsword, and then proceeded to cut the guards with his lightning fast speed!
"It's no use!" cried one of the guards. "He's just too fast- GUH!" He was soon cut down before he could swing his axe at Pedro, who jumped up onto the ceiling and ran along it, upside-down. The guards tried to shoot him down, but due to his quick feet, they only managed to shoot behind him. That's when the Jaguar Mink dropped a stick of dynamite...and the fuse was lit!
"LOOK OUT!" cried one of the guards before they were all blown up, and Pedro just kept running behind them.
XXX
"Where is he now?!" asked Baron Tamago as he hurried to where the commotion was, holding a Mini Transponder Snail in his hand.
"He's descending the stairs! He's near the courtyard, on the 3rd floor of the Red-Bean Baum Cake layer!"
"Corner him in the garden, s'il vous plait!" answered Tamago.
"Yes, sir!"
"Hey, Tamago! This is Smoothie!"
"Yes, Commander Smoothie?" asked Tamago.
XXX
Near the Treasure Repository, Smoothie stood in the corridor...over many defeated Peacekeepers. Not only that, but part of the hall was in flames!
"You were right!" said Smoothie. "There was another one! That Mink you were talking about is just a decoy!"
"I thought so! Pedro, you scoundrel!"
"They slipped passed us," Smoothie began, "and went into the Treasure Repository, and even locked the doors on us! We got careless!"
"Hey! Open up in there!" shouted one of the guards.
"We need water, quick!" cried another guard.
"I see...well, the Chambre de Treasure only has one door in or out!" Tamago exlaimed. "As long as you hold your position there, nothing is ruiné!"
"Good point," said Smoothie. "We'll do that! If he manages to defeat the guards inside and then come out through the door, we'll kill him...sound good?"
"If it's who I think it is," Tamago started, "then the intruder must be le bones! One of the freaks that Mama desires! So...only half-kill him!"
"Very well," Smoothie answered.
XXX
Aika whimpered as she stood behind Brook...who found himself staring down even more guards, and behind them were not, not two, but three Poneglyphs, locked away behind a set of bars!
"Brook?" Aika asked, worriedly. "What are we gonna do?!"
"Worry not, Young Miss Aika!" Brook answered. "There are fewer guards here than there were, before. Pedro has already done his job!"
"Well," said a tall, burly man with pigtails and flowery tattoos, "here's a really odd creature...even for this country."
"Yes, I do concur," Brook agreed.
"Get them both!" shouted one of the Peacekeepers.
"Mama will be delighted with the skeleton!" exclaimed another.
"Aika, stay behind me, understand?" Brook asked.
"O-okay!" Aika answered.
"Pedro has told me all about you 'Peacekeepers'," Brook said as he reached inside his robe and pulled out his guitar. "You're all just chess pieces with human souls infused into them through the use of Big Mom's powers. Therefore, you are all moved by your souls!"
CHESS PEACEKEEPER RANKS
PAWN
KNIGHT
BISHOP
ROOK
KING AND QUEEN
"Brook, what are you doing?!" Aika questioned. "Now's not the time for music!" She then gasped as a Rook Peacekeeper prepared to skewer them both with his sword. "Look out!"
"Whoa!" Brook cried as he blocked with Soul Solid, and already, it seemed he was having trouble keeping him at bay. "My, but you're strong! Hang on a minute!" He then handed Aika his guitar. "Tune that for me, Aika, won't you please?!"
"Uh...o-okay!" Aika answered as she tried to tune the guitar. "Uhh...C chord...A chord...G chord is good...E chord...ooh, E sounds bad..."
"Hurry, please!" Brook urged as he kept trying to hold the Peacekeepers back.
"Sorry!" Aika replied as she kept tuning the guitar. "Okay, E's all tuned...F chord...good...A minor...D minor...and E minor! Okay, all tuned!"
"Thank you!" Brook said as he grabbed the guitar before he began to play a tune on his guitar, and then began to wail out. "W-W-Wait for me baby~!"
As those loud chords rang out...the Peacekeepers suddenly fell to their knees!
"W-what the-?!" questioned a Pawn Peacekeeper. "What just happened?!"
"Whoa...!" Aika whispered in awe. "All right, Brook!"
"You aren't really familiar with my moniker, are you?" Brook asked. "They call me...THE SOUL KING~!"
Behind Brook...there was an image of a huge, skeletal apparition with a crown on its head, wailing an eerie wail.
"W-what the hell?!" questioned the guards.
"Your slapped-on, lazy souls cannot stay on their feet," Brook began, "in the presence of my Soul Scream!"
XXX
Meanwhile, down in the Prison Library, someone had just entered the room: Pudding, herself.
"Hmm?" Opera hummed. "Pudding, what are you doing here?"
"Huh?" Luffy muttered as he looked up. "Pudding, it's you!"
"Brother Opera," Pudding began, "would you mind letting me into the book so I can speak with Straw Hat, Cat Burglar, and White Wolf?"
"Pudding! Get us outta here!" Luffy shouted. "We got caught- OOF!" He was quickly silenced when Nami kicked him in the mouth.
"Will you shut up...?!" the navigator whispered. "You'll get her in trouble, too, and then who's gonna get us outta here...?!"
Blizzard just remained silent, intently eyeing Pudding as she walked in.
"Huh?" Opera muttered. "Uhh...sure, I guess."
"Inserting bookmark!" said one of the Pawn Peacekeepers as he used a bookmark to bend the bars back, allowing Pudding to slip through into the page.
"Luffy, Nami..." Pudding said.
"Pudding!" Luffy exclaimed. "Hey, where the hell were you, anyways?! We went to the shore, like you told us, but you weren't there-UGH!"
"I said keep your voice down!" Nami shouted as she kicked Luffy again. "Don't you know the meaning of subtlety?!"
"Stop kicking me!" Luffy barked.
"...So it's true," said Pudding. "They really captured you." She looked over at Luffy and Blizzard. "Look at what my brothers and sisters did to you...I'm so sorry about this...!" She then covered her face with her hands. "I...I'm so sorry I couldn't keep my promise...!"
"Pudding, don't blame yourself," Nami whispered. "We should've just waited for you to show up...!"
"Yeah, we're not mad at you...!" Luffy whispered.
"It wouldn't have mattered," Pudding answered, softly. "They would've caught you, one way or another."
"Huh?" Opera muttered. "What are they whispering about?"
XXX
In the garden room, where the Vinsmokes had their lunch with Big Mom, Sanji was seen, picking some roses.
"Pudding and I will live in a nice house," he said, "have so much money, selling food off the market, and we'll have so many kids, running around. 2...4...8? It doesn't matter. I'll give her millions of kids if she wants! I'll cater to her every whim! And we'll both be happy..." He then trailed off as he stood up. "...We...we will...won't we?"
XXX
"Listen," Pudding whispered, "there's something that you all should know. Sanji...he proposed to me, earlier."
"Say what?!" Luffy questioned.
"You're kidding!" Nami gasped.
"...It was wonderful feeling," Pudding replied, "but...I know he's just being considerate of me. My presence here...is just causing pain for everyone...so you don't have to worry, because I'm not going to marry Sanji."
"You're not?" Luffy asked. "Why?"
"...Listen, closely," Pudding said, causing Luffy and Nami to lean toward her, while Blizzard pricked up his ears while Pudding whispered something to them...and as she did, the three Straw Hats' faces soon had expressions of horror written on them.
"...What...?!" Luffy whispered.
"Pudding...?!" Nami asked. "W-what are you saying?!"
'...I knew it...!' thought Blizzard in shock as Pudding turned and walked away.
"Wait! Pudding, stop!" Luffy shouted. "What did you just say?!"
A pause...but then Pudding turned to the trio with tears in her eyes and said...
"...Goodbye."
TO BE CONTINUED...
Next time on One Piece: The Whole Cake Island Arc!
Yonji: Hey, anyone seen Reiju?
Niji: She went out with Rokuji earlier.
*In the Mirror World*
Brulee: Time to drop the little bunny into the pot!
Carrot: NO~! Ribbit! SAVE ME, CHOBRO!
Chopper: Carrot! Now!
Brulee: Huh?!
*In the kitchen*
Guard: Sir Sanji! I think you should know that Straw Hat Luffy, Cat Burglar Nami, and White Wolf Blizzard have all been captured!
Sanji: Enough, already! Did you bring the stuff I asked for?!
Aika: Brook! I got the keys!
Brook: Well done, Aika!
Big Mom: Ooh! What's this? A strange creature?!
Brook: Uh-oh...Aika! Run for it!
Aika: Okay! Be careful, Brook! Try not to get captured!
*In the garden*
Tamago: So...we meet again, Pedro.
Pedro: Come at me all you like...I don't plan on going back home, anyway!
*Back in the Whole Cake Chateau*
Aika: *pants* I can't believe I left Brook behind...
?: ...Help...me...
Aika: AAAAAH! M-Miss Reiju?! What happened to you?!
Next time: Chobro in the Land of Mirrors
Review, please!