Rouge has been hearing about legendary jewel that she's really wanting to have, so decides to invade someone's manor, during a masquerade ball, because there is a rumour that they have it.

Also I hope everyone had a great Christmas. Times are difficult, so it's good to try enjoy what we can, and I hope you all managed to. I doubt there will be another update for this story collection until 2021, so if there is not, have a Happy New Year when it comes! xx

(Pirate AU)

Rouge slipped off her heels, walking deeper into the private study. It was empty, the manor's owner was downstairs, entertaining his guests, which gave her plenty of time to search for her prize.

There was meant to be a golden diamond that had fallen from the sky itself, with a fire sealed within it that still flickered, in the manor. The guard she had coaxed the information from, with a generous helping of alcohol and sweet talk, had told her his master kept it in his private study.

"Big place," Rouge murmured, glancing about.

The study was huge, with golden carved walls and highly detailed painted ceiling. There were jewels everywhere, all within their own cases, and it was making Rouge's hands twitch in the need to admire them, to stroke her fingers over their smooth surfaces, to watch the twinkle in their colours as the light hit them.

If she had time, she would collect them too, but first, was the true prize. Because she hungered for that golden diamond with a fire within it. The tale of the falling diamond had made her itch, in the need to have it.

It sat right on the desk, held up with some kind of metal structure. She went in close to examine it but found there was no traps. Something nagged in the back of her head, her senses felt off, and Rouge took off her mask, because it had been a masquerade party, and tossed it at the diamond.

The mask went straight through it.

The room around her shimmered and she froze when a clap echoed throughout the room. The golden carved walls and the painted ceilings disappeared, revealing a plain white room, with thick, heavy walls that surrounded her in all sides.

The door was gone.

There was a glass window high up on the wall, and a man stood there, the nobleman from the ball. He had a smug smirk on his face and it really gave Rouge the urge to punch it clean off. Especially because there was obviously no jewels here for her.

"You caught on rather quickly. I was hoping you'd reach for that jewel, it would have automatically unleashed the shackles I wanted to trap you in," the nobleman said, smiling pleasantly.

Rouge raised a brow. "Uh huh, so, you're an illusionist then?"

"Indeed," the man bowed his head. "You may call me Troxen, and I am here to acquire a certain subjects of interests."

Rouge snorted. "Certain subjects of interest? That narrows it down. So, bounty hunter or slaver?"

The man's nose wrinkled. "Both titles sound rather... Brutish. I prefer to simply remain an attendant, and there is a price on your head. You see many have heard of your beauty-"

Rouge couldn't help but grin. She did like being complimented, that was for sure.

"And I can see why, considering you came here, all dressed up like a noblewoman herself, and not some thuggish pirate."

She had tried to look the part. So she had brought out a fancy dress for the masquerade ball. Apparently it hadn't been worth the time and effort though.

"As much as I enjoy being complimented," Rouge drawled. "I do wonder if there was any jewels at all? Not even that lovely diamond I've been searching for?"

"I have heard of the legends but alas, I have never seen such a diamond," the man said. "My apologises for the trickery. I had to lure you here somehow."

"Fair enough," Rouge sighed, walking towards a wall. "But that does rather annoy me though, I was meant to be meeting up with some friends after all."

Her and Eddy where supposed to be meeting up for drinks.

"You have no swords on you, so there is no escape. I wanted to enjoy a chat with you before I had you rendered incapable of speech or movement, and I believe since you're growing restless that time is now."

"No swords?" Rouge hummed, bracing her feet and throwing her fist back.

She darkened it with haki and grinned, throwing all her strength into the punch. Immediately the wall shattered into pieces, crumbling into the hallway now before her. She heard a screech of horror and laughed as she stepped out.

.::.

Whitebeard snorted into his drink. "They always forget that you got into a fist fight with Linlin."

She had, of course, told Whitebeard of her little adventure, and he looked completely amused. His eyes bright, and his grin wide. They had met up straight after her failed robbery, at an island where Whitebeard's sons were currently roaming about, partying and drinking.

"I don't think anyone even knows about that except you!" Rouge laughed. "I don't think she's even told any of her kids, it was great fun."

"Then you found out she was pregnant and went off in a huff," he reminded her.

Rouge scowled. "Urgh, don't remind me. I went through so many territories and ate all their supplies in revenge for that, and when she went on that rampage afterwards I knocked her out for a week. That dumbass."

"Yes, but then you had to fight Pespero and he pissed you off for 'being a creepy little shit', right?"

"I prefer Katakuri," Rouge huffed, crossing her arms over her chest.

"I think most people do."

Rouge grinned. "But still, the guy was so horrified, I thought he shat himself!"

"So what happened next? Did he try and fight you?"

"Nope, just kept screeching and panicking. I hate slavers though so I found him, and crushed his neck."

"Charming," Whitebeard snorted.

"I didn't have my swords," Rouge sighed. "I had to use my hands!"

"Guararara, you look so offended!"

"I took the time to get into a fancy, uppity dress and he wastes it all!" Rouge complained, slouching in her chair. "The bastard."

"You should have taken a photo. Roger would have paid you for it."

Crap. He would have too.

"Dammit!" Rouge cursed. "Why didn't I think of that?"

sairakanzaki, I'll hopefully get to update that soon. Just depends what I write next for this story collection :) Don't worry though, the Marineford AU will have quite a few more parts to it :D

WhiteyWolf26, I know right? What they did at Baterilla was horrible, and it makes my blood boil whenever I read about it. I was trying to picture what Baterilla's people were doing during that time, and I the thought of those guys who have just lost everything, charging at the ship came to mind. I'm glad you enjoyed it. And oh yes, Whitebeard is not going to be happy, he's bound to be furious o.o And I cannot wait to write it :D