Lazuli and Katakuri took opposing sides of the room, facing each other. They also adopted stances that signified their readiness for battle and stared into each other's eyes before a thunderous stomp could be heard becoming louder outside the room, as though what or whoever it was had shortened their distance from the room with each step. Big Mom revealed herself in opening the door to the room and smiled at Lazuli and Marquetta.

"This is my mother," Katakuri said.

"You must be Lazuli and Marquetta," Big Mom said.

"We are," Marquetta replied. "Nice to meet you."

"The pleasure is all mine. I have to know all the members of my own crew after all."

The last sentence was enough to widen Lazuli and Marquetta's eyes, the latter letting out a small chuckle as though to play along with Big Mom's mood.

"Did something happen while you met with the other members of our group?" Marquetta asked.

"Your friend Justin agreed to join my crew," Big Mom said. "It's going to be so much fun getting to know you guys."

"He did?" Lazuli asked to which Big Mom nodded her head. "I'll have to check with him on that one. He should have told me first."

"Don't be too upset with him. I only told him that he had no choice."

"That might have influenced his choice."

Big Mom let out a laugh that made the room shake, Lazuli being moved during its commotion and Katakuri helping Marquetta to remain standing.

"Thank you," Marquetta said to Katakuri.

"What manners you have," Big Mom said, eyeing Marquetta with a smile. "You must be the oldest of the group."

"No that would be our friend End. She's 21. I haven't seen her since we got here."

"She was with Justin and a young lady with a bun."

"Ty Lee."

Big Mom nodded her head and took Lazuli and Marquetta's hands with just a finger.

"Let's go back to my bouffet room," Big Mom said. "The rest of your team should be waiting for us there."

"Um, okay," Marquetta said, looking at Lazuli with a great discomfort.

Big Mom, Marquetta, and Lazuli arrived in her buffett room, where Pudding was already present and eating a piece of cake. Pudding looked at the three with a smile while chewing and shook their hands after they came into the room.

"Your friends are in their ship, apparently trying to leave," Pudding said.

"That's the joke of the season," Big Mom replied. "Why would they leave when they both agreed to join my crew and two of their friends are right here with me?"

"I overheard them talking about how scared they were of you and how they would get these two to come with them without you noticing."

Big Mom leaned back in her chair, her smirk changing to an expression of realization and dread. She bawled her fist and it was as though life was being sucked out of the very parts of the air with which her hands made contact.

"I was thinking I could send your group to Fishman Island," Big Mom said. "I've been missing some sweets from there for a while. Can your group swim?"

"Some of us can," Marquetta replied. "Would we just be picking some candy up and bringing it back here?"

"Well if they didn't have the candy I would like you to bring a few bodies back."

Marquetta's eyes widened at the same time Ty Lee, Justin, Ava, and End came into the room.

"Well if it isn't the rest of my new crew members," Big Mom said with a laugh that caused the four to stumble while reaching seats. "I was just getting to know these other two members of your group. What lovely ladies they are."

"I concur," Justin said.

Ava sat on Justin's left and End on his right, Ty Lee on the other side of End. Lazuli and Marquetta were on the other side of the table with Pudding, who had a difficult time not eyeing the other six people at the table that were not her mother.

"I was gonna ask you something," Justin said to Big Mom, pointing at Pudding. "Your beautiful daughter here was once engaged to Sanji of the Straw Hat Pirates. I'm wondering if we'd ever be expected to fight them while on your crew."

"It would be a lovely prospect, but their captain is mine to worry about," Big Mom said. "At most, I'd want you to capture him so I could end him personally. Would that be a problem?"

Justin hesitated.

"No," Justin answered.

Ava placed her hand around his shoulder and smiled at Big Mom, as though to convince the latter that she was just being friendly.

"Have you lost your mind?" Ava asked Justin. "Luffy's the only captain besides Shanks that has any right being Pirate King. We can't be against him."

Big Mom erupted in laughter and then grinned an evil grin.

"I didn't hear you Ava, speak up," Big Mom said.

"I said that we might have a problem...with getting the Straw Hats for you soon," Ava said.

The rest of Ava's crew had a gallery of concerned expressions.

"That's fine. I don't expect you to defeat them so soon."

Big Mom walked to the room door, smiling at the group and Pudding.

"I'm gonna let you guys talk with Pudding while I bring some of the others to come see you," Big Mom said, closing the door behind her.

The six stared at Pudding, who waved at them.

"Are you single?" End asked.

"I'm supposed to marry Sanji," Pudding replied.

"Well I don't think he's gonna come back here. Maybe you can come with us."

"I'm a Big Mom Pirate, and Sanji was gonna stay here after our wedding."

"You could travel with us until we find him."

Pudding looked away as though to consider the proposal and Ava stood to tap End on the shoulder.

"Have you lost your mind?" Ava asked.

"Are you trying to make that your catchphrase?" End asked.

"We can't have a Big Mom Pirate on our ship, especially one that we're not even friends with."

Ty Lee pulled out her cell phone and dialed a number.

"Ty Lee," James called out. "Can you tell me what Germa 66 is?"

"It's the group of Sanji's siblings and father," Ty Lee answered.

"One of them is outside my house right now, pink-haired. I'm thinking of letting her in."