Original Characters © Eiichiro Oda. Cover Art & Creative Story © shipfiend.

"Lessons" (Hysterism Remix) – SOHN

Sanji smoked as Zoro paced around the hotel room. "What is taking them so long?"

"Look, you need to relax," Sanji spoke as the smoke left his lips. Perona nodded along.

"Yeah, Zoro. We sent Usopp and Brook because they wouldn't be noticed as much as your stubborn lost ass. You think Arlong wouldn't take precautionary measures?"

"Arlong thinks I'm fucking dead!" he coughed.

Perona pinched his nose, "Then let's keep it that way. Geez, don't you know how to make a dramatic entrance? Save it for the damsel in distress."

Perona's phone chimed and she picked it up with annoyance, "Yes, you old pervert, what do- what?" Concern rose in Perona's voice as she looked at Sanji. "Oh my. Where is he?"

"What happened?" Zoro shouted as he gripped his chest, the wound still not fully healed.

Perona hung up and grimaced, "Usopp has been beaten up…and the money…"

The afternoon sun was high and though the air was warm, the feeling that crept into their skin was cold. It was quick work finding where they left Usopp's body. They had not even moved it far, his twisted appendages soaked in blood. As Perona tended to his wounds, Zoro turned to Brook. "Who did it?"

Brook shook his head, "Unfortunately, young fighter…I believe it was the Franky Family." He nodded his chin forward.

They looked ahead at the blatant sign attached to the rickety house. Zoro's hands crumpled into tight, hard fists.

"Are you kidding me? We were coming here for their help and they did this?" Sanji yelled.

Zoro cracked his knuckles. "Brook, they in there?"

Brook nodded as he straightened his jacket and took out his blade. Sanji stuck a cigarette in his mouth as he unbuttoned his jacket.

"Oi, Zoro- don't think-" But Perona stopped short as Sanji kissed her forehead and followed the other two men. "Fuck it."

"Iceburg…" the tired voice croaked over the phone.

"Madam Kokoro?" The Mayor of Water 7 spoke unsure of himself. It had been years since he heard her voice. Was it a dream?

"Madam? Are you trying to call me old, you stupid boy?" No, it was definitely her.

"Uh, uh-um." Iceburg cleared his throat, "No, of course not…Ms. Kokoro. It just…is unbelievable I am speaking to you."

"Well, I needed to call…because I believe you have been lying to me this entire time…."

"I would never-"

She cut him off sharply. "He's alive, isn't he? Cutty Flam?"

Iceburg's grip on the phone tightened. "Kokoro…you know I can't-"

"Losing the formalities now? Iceburg. You may be the president of the Galley-La company and the mayor of Water 7…but to me…you will always be one of Tom's Workers."

"You don't understand…I can't-"

Suddenly he heard a squeak and went on high alert. "Kokoro. I'm sorry. I'll talk later…wait. Rob-" But before he could hang up and address his intruder fully, a gunshot resounded.

Meanwhile, Sanji yelled at Zoro in their tiny hotel room. "You couldn't leave a single one of them conscious?"

Perona quickly grabbed the blonde man's arm and shook her head. "Sanji, now is not the time to blame people. You guys destroyed their whole house anyway…Franky is bound to come back."

"Will he? Our only lead will want to kill us! Why is he our only lead?" Sanji tossed the paper at Zoro, "The fucking Mayor got shot! In his damn house. This city is going to hell and we can't find a fucking clue about where Nami went."

Brook mused, "Maybe so, but at least we're alive…"

Sanji was about to rebuttal when Usopp awoke with a groan on the bed. Zoro sat on the windowsill and watched the birds flock to the shore, while the others crowded around the broken man. As Usopp grew aware of his surrounding, within a few minutes, he began sobbing. "I'm sorry, Nami…I'm sorry." He chuckled as snot and tears dripped into his fresh bandages, "If you were here…you'd kill me for losing so much cash."

"You're right," Zoro finally spoke. "But you know what she'd do right after?"

The group looked at him, Usopp sat up even though his entire body felt like it was on fire. Zoro smirked into the rising sun, "Sell our services to the highest bidder."

"Look, I don't know who you people are-" he shouted before Persona covered his mouth again with duct tape.

"Paulie, right?" she said with a twirl of her hair, a firm gloved hand across his nose and mouth. The pressure and lack of air brought tears to his eyes. "Let's get straight to the point…my crazy lover and his passion project must speak to the mayor. And I'm told that you're the man who can get me an audience with him."

He let go as Paulie exhaled loudly through his nostrils. He mumbled so Perona ripped off the tape as fiercely as she had put it on. He moaned once more in pain but as he got his breath back, he looked at the light that barely entered the kitchen from the night sky. It was too late for anyone to be near here, which was why Paulie got ambushed and tied to a chair.

"Look, I-" The tan blonde haired man said with a blush as Perona leaned in closer.

"You know…you actually remind me of my lover…what a coincidence," her red stained lips pursed to a smile. "Mmm…if we had more time, I'd tie you up just right…and have my way."

Paulie turned the color of beet when a voice down the hall called for him. Before Paulie could warn anyone, Perona clamped a hand over the man's mouth and released the safety on her gun.

"Mr. Mayor. So nice to formally meet you."

Iceburg took in the scene of a bound Paulie frantically trying to move. He wiggled towards the hall as if telling Iceburg to run. However, that was not going to happen and so Iceburg slowly moved to draw his own weapon, one he kept on him since it was only the night before that he was shot.

"I don't think that is so smart, Sir Mayor," a voice sang from the shadows as Brook came out like a phantom. His cane-blade at the mayor's throat.

"Who are you people? Are you with the other one? After Pluton?"

"I don't give a fuck about any of that," Zoro said as he stepped forward, the moonlight cast dangerous shadows across his tan face. "I'm looking for Franky…and any information you have on Arlong, the Fishman Crew, or Nami."

"You act like I should know any of those names-" Iceburg said calmly, even with the sliver of a blade at his throat.

Usopp came from the other end of the hall, laptop in hand, "I've found the shipping manifest and it looks like if Arlong passed through, he went through unofficial channels."

"I'm the mayor," Iceburg said with frustration, "Why would I know anything about illegal activity?"

Zoro was quick to cross the room and grab Iceburg by his collar. Even with the sling, the man did put up a fight. Perona watched one wounded man intimidate another and so she took over as she smacked them both. "Listen, all we need to know is if you have seen a criminally inclined annoying woman around here or not…and if so, we need to get to her. If not, I would like you to kindly introduce us to Franky. Otherwise…" she cracked her wrists with a simple flick and showcased her talons, "I'm going to shove my hand up your goddamn ass and rip out your throat."

Paulie nearly fainted from his nosebleed.

In the Galley-La headquarters, Iceburg entertained his captors as he addressed his right hand. "Look, Paulie, I think we're being targeted. I thought it was something new…but someone has betrayed us."

"Iceburg…Ice…just tell me what to do." Paulie looked at his friend with concern. "I agree with you, but I think trusting these new faces…"

"Who you calling a new face?" Perona said as she pinched his butt and Paulie jumped nearly out of his skin. "You forgetting me so easily, Paulie?"

"How could he?" Sanji said as he twirled around. "Such a beautiful woman and so sexy and smart, too!"

Zoro rolled his eye and glanced at the blueprints before him, "So this is the thing they are looking for? Pluto?"

"Pluton," Iceburg emphasized. "If Paulie had not been here, I'm sure Ro-" Iceburg thought for a moment but then rubbed his weary eyes and continued, "Nico Robin would have killed me."

"Nico Robin? Why does that name sound familiar?" Usopp said as he scratched his bandaged head.

Brook smirked, "How can it not? Light of the Revolution?"

"A Russian spy, more like," Iceberg said with contempt. "I am not sure how she got this far, but I do know that she's after Pluton. Why CP9 is involved…I'm not sure."

Usopp stuttered, "Woah. Wait. CP9? As in Cipher Pol Number 9? The secret organization formed of people able to use highly advanced killing techniques…for the primary goal of getting information?" He grew into a panic after each word.

Iceburg nodded, "They are in town. It is hard to miss the warning signs, and I am not sure how they could have known Tom gave me the blueprints, but…"

Zoro glowered, "But what? You said you'd take us to Franky, remember? You said he would know how to get us to Nami."

Iceburg nodded and cleared his throat. "Look, I know this sounds strange…but I need you to take Franky."

"Take him where?" Sanji asked half in anger and half out of curiosity.

"Out of this city. CP9 will eventually figure out."

Perona waved a manicured finger. "Look here. We're not doing shit until you tell us the whole damn truth. If the news tells us anything, and the fact that CP9 is even here means that you really don't have anyone else. So, unless you want us to hang you to dry, or get successfully assassinated, start talking."

Usopp nodded emphatically, his fingers quivered over the artillery in his bandaged arms. Iceburg sighed as he looked to Paulie wearily. "Look, all you need to know is that I need to protect Franky…but I also need to protect this city. The unfortunate thing about CP9 is that they can commit the most serious of crimes…destroy entire communities…and the government will not even give it a second look. If it is for the sake of 'global security'. Especially if they kill whoever could possible speak on it. Without their actions in the public eye, no one would know that a city even existed here. That's the power of Pluton and CP9."

"Hell, CP9 and the building of Pluton are the government's own creations," Paulie added.

Iceberg took in the worried look Sanji and Perona exchanged with Usopp. It was not like Iceburg could tell who hurt the younger man, but their weariness to work with Franky meant that they were not going to trust him enough to take him. "Look…I know you will have issues with Franky…even if there have been some altercations-"

"Altercations? Him and his stupid family nearly killed Usopp!" Sanji shouted.

Usopp hung his head low, angry at himself but also embarrassed about having to relive it. Zoro took notice and quickly spat at the chef, "Look, the past is in the past. We're going to-"

"My god, Zoro. Have you lost it? You can't even protect Usopp, how do you think you are ever going to keep Nami safe-"

And with that, Zoro lunged at the blonde man and dragged him to the ground. As they spared or at least rolled around on the carpet, the others around them shouted and yelled. It was not until Perona aimed her gun and shot perfectly between them that the two broke away.

"You could have killed them!" Paulie shouted, flabbergasted at the nature of their new-found associates.

"Only if I wanted to," Perona said as she blew the smoke off. "Look, dumb ass and dumber ass…we need to catch up quickly because it has been at least four months since Nami was taken. Whether we like it or not…we are going to need to trust some people that perhaps have wronged us."

She crouched down by Zoro and Sanji and pinched their cheeks. "If you two assholes don't start thinking clearly…I'm gonna have to save that sorry excuse of a cat burglar myself. And for what? I'm not even into her like that."

Paulie and Iceburg watched the exchange like it was a strange ritual. Paulie glanced over while Iceburg was lost once again in thought. His eyes glanced over the plans on the desk, but he kept replaying the gunshot that tore through him. Nico Robin pulled the trigger, but she was not the one that gave the order. I've heard that voice before…

"Do we really know what we are getting ourselves into, Ice?" Paulie whispered through the side of his mouth.

Iceburg broke away from his darkened thought and furrowed brows. He took in the comical array of saviors, but he had no other option. He needed to get Franky out of the town, forcefully if need be. Iceburg frowned but shrugged his shoulders. "They did say they came here with the full intention of selling their services…might as well take them up on their offer."

"Hey, did you find it?" a woman voice spoke through the static of a radio.

The raven-haired woman smiled as her eyes scanned the shoreline from her perch. "Yes and no…"

"Robin, I only agreed to be part of this mission, because you said this was bigger than us…I need to believe that…or else…"

"Don't worry, Miss Navigator. I'll keep my end of the deal. Do as I say…and we'll really hurt them."

"If you say so…but I think you may be getting ahead of yourself. If CP9 or even Croc-"

"This channel is not secure. You know that. Besides, there is where you need to be. Go find the ship."

Nami sighed. "Don't you think the name is a bit…"

"Why? What's wrong with it?" she inquired.

Nami paused and sighed, "Nothing. I just feel…like I can never get away."

Robin smiled softly, "After this, Nami…you'll never need to run again. Neither of us will."

Nami switched gears, her first love always money. "Yes, but…how exactly have you financed this all?"

Robin chuckled, "I have friends in high…and low places. I'll send some more funds soon, so start rounding up a crew. You'll need the firepower."

Nami snorted, "That's all I need." A silence broke her comical quip. "Just…be careful. You're lucky I'm good at navigating…a storm passed, but I feel like another is on the way."

"Which is why I'm sending you out to the safe dark and ominous sea." With that final statement, Robin shut off the radio and gently pushed it off the railing.

As it smashed into a million pieces below, she heard the clamor of Galley-La foremen running to the noise. With a smile, she turned, pushed the mask back on her face, and left the dark room and its beeping red lights.

"Paulie!" The group gathered together, as the tan blonde turned on his screaming walkie.

"Yeah?"

"We're under attack! I don't know who it is but- ah!" The crack cut the sound off and Paulie pushed the buttons frantically to get the signal back.

He looked over at Iceburg. "You think they've come back?"

Iceburg's face darkened as he looked down at the table, "They must be here for the plans."

Suddenly, Zoro turned to the door and grabbed Usopp and Perona as he shouted for everyone to duck. The blast was powerful as the door flew across and splintered against the opposite wall. Through the smoke, four masked figures crossed into the broken office as the group coughed against the floor.

"Iceberg…let's try this again," the man in the leopard mask said roughly.

Brook sliced through the fog and barely missed the suited man as the individuals on either side of him took to the defense. Zoro rose from the ground and charged but he was quickly flipped back by the leader.

Paulie grabbed his gun and aimed, but a womanly figure in a sheep mask cut him off and laughed. "I don't think so."

In his attempt to back away from her attacks, he recognized her voice and it through him in a stupor. The battle is not lost as Perona and Sanji scrambled to gather the remaining people, Sanji pulled Iceburg's good arm across his shoulders and yelled for the others to follow. Zoro was frustrated that he could not get another fight in, but the wound at his chest and his weary eye already took a toll on him as the smoke expanded in his lungs.

Perona coughed, "My…ugh…are they trying to smoke us out?"

Usopp whispered back harshly, "No…this place is going to blow."

The leopard masked man lifted his hand from his suit pants and pointed to the table. His other associates gathered the papers. "Consider it retribution." They set fire to the table, plans and all. "I do not like being lied to."

Iceburg shouted between coughs, "You're going to destroy the thing you were after?"

The giraffe masked man responded, "If only it was what we were after."

Paulie suddenly charged for the man, Perona held him back and tossed him out of the window to a semi-soft bedding of overgrown foliage that broke his fall. Brook helped Perona out, while Sanji pulled alone Iceburg. Before he was out, the leopard masked man said, "I'll find Cutty Flam, Iceberg. And once I have what I need…I wipe him from existence, too."

Usopp shot a bullet that exploded like firecrackers between them and the masked assailants. Zoro followed with Usopp back, their backs to the wall. Usopp yelled for Zoro to go as the largest of the menacing figures in a bull mask came closer, as if the fire before him was nothing to fear. Zoro shook his head but glanced at Usopp's nervous hands. They were surprising still as he aimed his strange gun. "Zoro, go. Trust me. I want to show off Kabuto."

Zoro looked at Usopp's scared expression to his still, trigger ready fingers and nodded. As soon as Zoro dove out of the window, Usopp released his shot and fell back. It whizzed past the leader and took his mask with it. Usopp caught his expression, furious yet cold.

He said a quick, "You missed", but Usopp simply crawled out of the window with a chuckle. As his bullet reached the fire behind the assassins, an explosion blasted the entire floor sky high.

Franky saw the burning Galley-La headquarters from his dark alley. The fire matched the rising sun and he could hear the shouts and sirens as they went towards the blaze. He was about to follow suit when a force held him by the speedo and threw him against a wall.

A smooth white mask did not hide the azure blue eyes. "You did not follow my directions," she said.

Her heels were tiny, but she was only a foot shorter than Franky. He tried to take in every detail, but she was a moving picture, too quick to capture. Her voice was much softer yet sterner than he thought it would be. His throat felt dry, but his large hands found her hips, or so he thought until a hand reached for his lower body and squeezed.

Franky saw stars and the tears streamed from his large eyes, caught on his long lower lashes. She covered his mouth of his yelp, essentially a screech as she suffocated his testicles in a vice.

She spoke coolly and slowly, "Consider it retribution."

He did not know to what she was referring to, but he did not have the ability to think as she strengthened her hold. He was practically foaming at the mouth when she released, and he fell to the ground, limp and in excruciating pain.

She bent down and grabbed the suitcase from his lifeless hand. He tried to grab for it again, but she was too quick for him. "This time I'll do things differently." She rose and threw down a flip phone. "Follow the directions that are sent to you."

She walked away, heels clacked against the stone. He reached out, his hoarse throat asked for her to wait. As he blinked, she was gone. The muffled sirens and shouts came back to his ears and the blood flowed back down his body.

He slowly picked himself up, his poor body strangely elicited a pulsing sensation but still in terrible discomfort. Franky flipped open the phone as a text message came through with an address and room number.

He laid out the possibilities, but his inflamed balls screamed back that whatever was needed of him, he was tired of playing a game he did not know the rules to. "Fuck this shit…" he tossed the phone into the watery avenue and made his way back home. "This time…I'll keep away from you."

A/N: Fun Fact, I legit heard this song recently and this chapter was sort of weakly fleshed out before it, so when I got this song…it fit so well. I love that deep bass and then the percussions. I'm here for dramatics.

Okay, this got a little more fun to write as I edited it. Cause fact: Lucci can get it and I'm here for it. Like, imagine that silhouette though…fire and smoke behind him, in that blue suit, hands in his pocket.

Also, fun fact, I did not mean for Robin and Lucci to say the same line…but as much as he's a psychopathic murder…he can get it, and technically they are both 28 at this point, so I'm just gonna toss in some crack ships for story sake. *crosses heart*

Usopp being a bad*butt* and nicking him. Ugh, so good! I'm here for it. So, I know Water 7 is also the infamous Luffy-Usopp fight and the emergence of Sogeking, but with Luffy out…I wanted to see where I would go with it. Usopp still got beat up, but I think (what I understood from the original) – Zoro is rightfully standing by his captain and their thoughts are aligned that if Usopp is not going to listen, then he needs to go. But I think for them…they understand that it is a thing that needs to be done, for honor, pride…idk, you can't just excuse yourself from this crew and not get strong-armed back into it. With love, of course.

Also, Sanji and Nami are the ones most devastated with it all, so I tried to tie that into Perona and Sanji's personalities here.

Also, I had to Google back and remember that Rob Lucci did not speak as he was undercover, and so then I found this line of questioning that he was indeed a ventriloquist and that he was throwing his voice which is why Iceberg may have recognized it. *trying to tie my plots in clean here* BUT THEN someone was like, "Nah, Rob isn't the ventriloquist. It's Hattori. And Rob is just a puppet." THE FREAKING PIGEON. I can't even. So, for the sake of plot, I removed this genius pigeon that has made it to CP0 - just like Rob, Kaku…and like Spandam, but like. F Spandam? Like F him so much? Hahaha.

Other fun things I tossed in here later, Perona and her games with Paulie. Franky and, you guessed it, Robin. #thatforeplaytho Ugh, I LOVE LOVE FroBin, not just as a couple, but when you realize that they are the two members who were first "villains" or against the Straw Hats in some way…and then…for Robin to be the one that essentially brings Franky in when Franky is the one that essentially tells Robin she should value herself. Ugh. That chemistry, that history. Also…like…Pluton connects them. The fact that Franky has it and Robin is after it…come on guys! This ship sails itself.

BUT – ZoNa is first and foremost, and as I said, Nami is just…elsewhere, and I am super excited to introduce her back in…cause clearly, she's not some side character. It's all coming together, kiddos. I'm so doggone excited!