Blood ties like iron chains
Somethings You never, ever choose... Mostly because fate does it for you.
Multible point of view characters, but Nami has the majority
(On the Thousand Sunny, about a week after escaping Tottoland)
The Strawhat crew had reunited with the rest of the crew and were celebrating the new inclusion of the fishman Jinbe as Helmsman of the Thousand Sunny.
The week the Sanji retrieval team had travelled from their adventure in Tottoland had been used recuperating, mostly for Luffy and Jinbe as they had taken the greater amount of the beatings Big mom had graced to give the Strawhats as a parting gift.
Sanji had been wounded too, but his were mild scrapings at best. His mental scars of the eventual prospect of being forced to return to Kamabakka Kingdom were far more severe. Not to mention that Nami was now bearing a grudge against him. And then, there was what the rest of the crew had wanted to do to him. Zoro had been in favour of cutting him in several places over his actions. Franky was a little cold over it too but more concerned that he was back with the crew again. Robin hadn't been the most positive about the situation either and had chosen to be rather distant from him (which for Sanji had been like a kick to the groin). Usopp had been the only one that had been supportive of him, knowing the feeling of being outsider after acting out against the crew. The two sat on the edge of the party drinking and laughing.
Near the center of the deck, Luffy and Jinbe were drinking and talking, the fishman being a little anxious to get properly acquainted with all his new nakama and so far, everyone had been supportive of him being part of the crew, although Franky had complained that he had to change the ships design to accommodate their newest member. But with the possibility of them getting more members, that was hurdle he'd be forced to jump eventually. He already had the prospect of resizing the girls room due to unforeseen circumstances.
After they had dropped off Pedro at Zou, Carrot had snuck back on the ship, wanting to see more of the wonderland that was the sea. So far the only minus to this was that they were running low on….. carrots, though Sanji's cooking was getting her more used to a different diet.
Sanji and Chopper had been in favour of going back and drop her off again. Both for their own reasons , the chef being more than a little obsessed with the Minks tradition of garchu (female minks ONLY), while Chopper said he wanted to make sure Nekomamushi and Inuarashi followed his instructions (a good reason considering the cat minks stubborn attitude, though the attention Chopper had given one of the members of the musketeer squad spoke of something else, despite his rejections of such ideas).
Luffy had also been interested in returning, if not for another banquet.
Brook had called in a veto for returning however for a number of quite valid reasons:
1. They were actually having a bit of a war with Kaido
2. Big Moms children was likely to retaliate soon
3. They had to get to Wano country!
(4. Brook didn't want to be assaulted by an army of Dog mink again!)
In the end the skeleton had won the debate. And the crew was now sailing towards Runny Rum archipelago, a wellknown travel hub that could be their next stop towards Wano country. If they were lucky they could even gather some allies while they were at it.
The party stopped abrubtly however, as soon as Nami received and read the days' newspaper.
On the frontpage it read in huge letters: Reverie attacked! Princesses disappeared!
Beneath the headline was a picture of several Kings, some of whom Nami unfortunately knew personally. Nefeltari Cobra, Neptune and one old man in a cloak. Despite their high position, most were showing signs of being highly concerned for their daughters.
The entire crew had gathered around Nami as she read the article out loud:
Reverie in Mariejois had been attacked by the criminal Revolution and in the commotion a number of VIP's have disappeared into the New World, the majority of which were princesses from various countries.
Reading the list, Nami went white as a ghost, the names all too familiar to her
Princess Vivi of Alabasta in Paradice
Princess Shirahoshi of Fishman Island
Princess Viola of Dressrosa in the New World
Besides these esteemed women, there were also 2 bodyguards that had accompanied the ambassador of Amazon Lily, whom had most graciously been sent by the Pirate Empress as a sign of diplomatic relations to the World Governemt in the hopes that it would bring the world closer together (those were the exact words). A Lady-in-waiting accompanying Princess Viola, also went missing.
It didn't say anything about where they might have disappeared to or even whom of the Revolution that had attacked.
Nami had to reread the article several times, her fear of her friends growing each time. In the end she handed the paper to Jinbe with a shaking hand. The fishman flipped through the paper, trying to find anything, anything that might be of use. As Nami let herself fall down on the grasscovered deck, Jinbe had found a picture of the disappeared Princesses, which he promptly handed to Sanji, who naturally turned to stone at the sight of all those beauties on the same page, allowing Carrot to snatch it from his petrified hands and gush at the picture herself. Behind her Franky and Brook quickly lined up, neither being familiar with all the faces.
Nami wanted to scream, putting her hands on her head, she tried to think straight. They were their friends (and that counted Viola too, as, even though she hadn't met her personally, Sanji's repeated and vivid description of her was enough to make Nami feel like she knew her already).
Luffy was uncharacteristically silent as he stood next to Jinbe as the large fishman examined the rest of the paper for any clues as to what had transpired.
Eventually, the former shichibukai had to give up his search, shaking his head in dismay.
Nami could guess what that meant:
there was nothing that spoke of where the Princesses had gone to specifically, or even how they'd left! They had practically no idea of where to look! Not to mention, with their pictures in the paper, the seas would be swarming with Pirates, Marines and Bounty hunters, all eager to capture the women and do gods-knew-what to them!
"OI!" the word (or rather sound) rang out clearly across the deck
She knew the voice and shouldn't be surprised why it was him that had spoken.
Looking at him made her feel a twinge of pride at sailing under him,
Luffy stood with his fist on his sides, looking at the ocean as if he was ruling it already, the captain looked like he had a plan.
At that, Nami stopped herself,
Luffy with a plan would be less likely than seeing Arlong in a dress, dating Sanji!
"We gotta find them!" he said "They're our friends!"
For once Luffy was right, and the crew began to give supportive howls of "Yeah! YES!", not surpicingly Sanji and Brook were the most enthusiastic about saving women in distress. The two were in fact already gathering ammunition for the Coup de burst, ready for launch. The chef was moving like a man possesed, the thought of three princesses and two Kuja pirates being somewhere within reach (or at least sailing distance) making him burst with energi.
Jinbe swiftly moved to Nami's side and helped her up "Would You help me set a course Nami-san?"
Nodding at him, Nami looked at her Logpose, for once the three arrows were calm and no place seemed particularly more dangerous than others, meaning every route could be taken. Looking at Luffy, Nami saw that he was still looking at the sea, his arms now folded and a big grin spreading on his face.
"It's gonna be so good seeing those guys again!" he laughed
Typical... Nami thought, even as she was giving Jinbe acourse to follow, straight back towards the red Line,
he hasn't got a clue what's going on...
Although it would be nice to see them again
(On an unknown beach)
She knew she should be frigthened,
she knew she should be panicing,
anything else would be unnatural.
But she couldn't help herself,
Vivi was just so happy to have gotten out of that boring meeting!
She had missed the breeze of sea air and the sound of waves, and the brief voyage to Mariejois hadn't been nearly enough to settle her cravings for the great vastness of the ocean and the adventures awaiting behind every storm or Island. All was possible for those who were brave and daring enough to sail upon it.
Still, considering the situation, she really should be worrying!
Out in the middle of the New World, she was stuck on a tiny island with practically nothing on it (rocks and shrubs didn't exactly count as tourist attractions) along with five other women, none of whom she knew from earlier (although she had heard rumours about the Mermaid princess (she was much larger than Vivi had expected, but then Again Vivi had met actual giants whom were far larger (and braver) than her, so no need for alarm) and had read about the recent return of the old royal family in Dressrosa), and all having their personal ideas about what should happen.
The giant Mermaid had proven to be greatest source of panic and worry in the lot, Rocking back and forth on the beach, commenting (but not really complayning) on how dry the surface world was and how warm the sun, shielding her large orbs with a humongous hand (or with locks of her pink hair).
The princess of Dressrosa, seemingly the eldest woman on the island, was busy tending to her young pinkhaired lady-in-waitings' wellbeing and was less concerned about where they were at the moment or the fact she had almost drowned when the six of them had landed in the water. She had only survived because the mermaid had picked her up afterwards. Strangely, Vivi could've sworn she heard the younger girl refer to princess Viola as aunt...
The two Kuja Pirates, the only definite non-royalty on the beach were the least shaken ones, even less than Vivi herself. She reasoned, that they, being pirates, were more experienced than herself at the rough life at seas. Studying the two, Vivi reckoned that they could've been sisters, despite their multitude of differences, one of which was different hair and skin colour, but the eyes looking so similar it was eerie, same for the nose and, to a lesser degree, the mouth, and in general, the figure. not to mention their clothes. Both wore skimpy revelaing outfits that could've made Nami blush, open shirts that left little to the imagination and tight pants with floral decorations in a dozen clashing colours and shapes. One had dark hair put in a bun and was smoking a cigarette, while the other had blonde and unruly hair, but cut short at around chin lenght.
but while one was clamly ligthing her cigarette (the dark one), the other (the blonde) was looking at her sorrounding wth a rapt faschination, like a child that'd been introduced to a circus. Vivi could scarcely recall that she'd acted in a similar way during the Reverie, where her and her comrade had been touching and pinching several of the men present (none of whom had protested in the least, some like her father had even encouraged it (but, to his chagrin, hadn't been graced with the touch of the young women)) something which Vivi hadn't been able to make sense of.
If it was some sort of cultural trait, shared by their fellow Kuja tribeswomen, it hadn't been one shared by the diplomat, a rather short elderly woman, whom, as far as Vivi could gather, had once been the Empress or Queen of the during the Reverie everyone had been more obsessed with her bodyguards than her. Vivi included.
The runt of a woman hadn't cared however and proceeded to be the most productive attendee at the Reverie. At least amongst the women, the majority of the men being preoccupied with something else.
The meeting had run along smoothly, except for some squabbling between the rulers of the Sakura Kingdom and the Black Drum Kingdom. Not surprising, Vivi had met either of the rulers, Dalton and Wapol, briefly, and it was enough to see that their emnity ran deep.
Fortunately it was averted quickly (it was amazing what a rearanging of seats could do),
yet it wasn't the end of the problems:
an event took place that seemed to be a returning problem, it was almost like a ritual: some one asked if The ruler of Tottoland should be recognised as an actual kingdom. most were outraged by this returning question, yet some found it absolutely hilarious, enough for some royal joker to bring it up at each meeting.
but then the real trouble started.
A Group of men had entered, dressed as waiters, but instead of dishes with savoury treats and offering them to the guests, they had carried guns and demanded they all get on the ground.
Naturally, the assembled royalty did not obey the demands of anyone and some had even laughed it off, thinking it a joke.
The king of... Prodence Vivi assumed, hadn't been one of them and had floored the armed men with a punch, which while impressive, didn't help against the other Group, or the third that entered the great dining halls' other end, boxing the royals in like fish in a can. And the other Groups opened fire!
They had fired into the air, so no one got hurt, only seeking the full cooperation and attention of the crowd.
Their commander, a man wearing a White cloak, had demanded that they sit still and awaited the Words of Dragon the revolutionary.
The mention of the name made several Kings grit their teeth and more than one queen or princess faint (for Vivi it conjured the image of Dragons' son Luffy, yet it still made her nervous).
Before they could hear the ominous Words of the Worlds most wanted, The marines and the guards arrived, no doubt attracted by the shooting
Panic and Chaos was the result of that volatile combination.
screamning, smoke, gunfire, sword clashing and bodies of guard or revolutionary flying around separated Vivi from her fahter and friends. Before she knew it, Vivi was standing next to the other five women and a man so tall he oculd be mistaken for a giant. A coincidence that made the behemoth the perfect target for the bullets that were flying in their direction. Bullets which came far too close for comfort to Vivi and the other women.
For whatever reason the huge bear of a man shielded them with his body (Even the huge Shirahoshi) while bullets were hitting him in the back and head. (It made a really strange ping sound, like rain on a tin roof)
Looking at them through his glasses, the man had spoken, with a voice that could have been made by a radio in a blender "Where do you want to go?"
Before Vivi could answer the man had raised his palm at the Group of women (Vivi noticed that it had the imprint of a paw on it) and then she had heard a wuush!
Next thing Vivi knew, she, and the other five women, were flying over the SEA!
Taking a Deep breath,
Vivi gazed at her companions, contemplating her next move...
might as well get to know these Guys...
(Elsewhere, on a heavily modified ship in the new World)
Laughing, a man threw the days' newspaper down on the table, puzzling the other man occupying the cabin
"What'd you do that for?" he asked confused
"Haven't you read it yet? The Mermaid Princess is in the New World, unguarded!" the ecstatic response came back, the man laughed and rubbed his hands in anticipation
"What of it? There's going to be a thousand ships searching for her already, not to mention the other princesses that went missing"
"As if that'd stop us from snatching them from under their noses! Besides it's not the first time we've gone against worse odds!"
"True, and whomever gets them can demand pretty much anything from their fathers', but why the Mermaid specifically?" his companion continued, and thinking of the possible implications, followed up in a teasing tone "You know, for some reason, you don't stike me as the type to be into merfolk..."
Even though he snickered, his companion didn't join him, but still smiled in an extremely scheming way
"That's not it. You said it yourself, ask their fathers anything right? The merfolk king can give us something we need."
"Which iiiiis?" his companion asked with a puzzled look "Kelp and seafood? Help at salvaging if we run aground?"
"Fishmen or merfolk, either one could be of great use to us" his comrade corrected him.
Finally understanding his friends' plan, the companion stood up, standing a head taller than his friend, he did a mock salute, smiling at the future of their Little pirate crew
"Ready to set the course Cap'n"
(On a ship, fresh out of Mariejois)
Pell looked into the Horizon, the waves before him speaking of untold dangers and adventure. The latter part, he knew, would fit Princess Vivi perfectly. She'd been so bored in the last two years that she'd gotten reckless. He knew she was perfectly capable of taking care of herself, but something about the Whole situation was naggin him.
that something being in part from an increasingly sick King Cobra, coughing in his wheelchair, right next to him.
Despite Pells protests, not to mention every doctors' at Mariejois, his liege had insisted on searching for his daughter.
The other part was whom else had decided to accompany them. The king of Dressrosa, Riku Dold III and the Merfold King Neptune, he could understand, theri daughters (and in Riku's case also a granddaguhter!) were missing, it made sense for them to join forces and search.
it was the others that didn't make much sense to him. The Kuja ambassador had decided to stay behind, reasoning that her bodyguards could take care of themselves, which Pell could readily agree with if even half the Things he'd heard about the Kuja were true (though their unfitting behaviour at the reverie spoke a different story).
Why? just Why the King of Prodence, the oversized lunk of meat and muscle that was Elizabello II, had decided to tag along was a decidedly frustrating question? As far as Pell was concerned he was partially to blame for the situation, his punch making a bad situation worse, though the huge man didn't appear to see it that way, instead, it appeared to Pell that the man was eyeing an opportunity to dish out some more hits. Pell had even heard he'd treated the entire Reverie as a giant festival (Although he was not alone with that flaw, far too many members of the royal houses had begun to focus more on their own fun, than on their peoples problems (The queen of Goa Kingdom in East Blue had been a very good example of that tendency))
The rest of the blame for the situation fell squarely on the Shichibukai Bartholomew Kumas' oversized shoulders.
He was the one that had sent the girls flying to gods knew where! And all he could give in response to where they went was: Where they felt safe....?! (Pell couldn't figure out whether being an indifferent arrogant bastard was part of the requirements for being a Shichibukai, but it seemed likely, even the Pirate Empress had only sent an ambasador instead of showing up herself to the Reverie!)
An even greater mystery was why the King of the hazard kingdom of Germa had decided to join in the hunt, even if he argued that he merely wanted to help his Fellow Kings. looking over his children and soldiers that were on the ship with them, their ramshackle and heavily damaged navy of sea snail vessels fanning out behind their own, Pell couldn't help but feel a knot in his stomach.
King Judge Vinsmoke was bound to have ultirior motives, which would lead to some heavy Price to be paid for his aid later...
Even though their numbers could help them cvover more ground, Judge Couldn't be trusted,
Pell Gritted his teeth and looked back at the Horizon, trying to swallow his frustrations and focus on the matter at hand,
he supposed he'd cross those bridges, when he came to them.
(Across the new World)
"Three princesses missing! let's get 'em!"
that phrase was ringing out from every harbour and ship that had recieved a newspaper, soon the sea would be swarming with Hunters of fortune (be they Pirates or Marines) and possibly, more than a few suitors...
(On one of Runny Rum Archipelago's beaches)
Sipping her drink while reading the newspaper, Charlotte Galette, the 16'th daughter of Big Mom, frowned.
Three princesses missing and in the new World somewhere... Great she thought, the seas will be in Chaos until they're found. Looking back at the Beach and at her sister Amande, whom, at the moment, was getting a much needed tan (although that was hard to do, wearing what at best resembled a dark blue Burkini and with her ridiculously wide hat acting as a parasol for both women) Galette contemplated the news.
With all those idiots out to sea looking for some spoiled rotten princesses that were most likely dead already, it really didn't make any sense to remain on the Archiepelago... but then Again, that they would get a little breather from all the oggling men that had swarmed them for the past several days, was almost too good an opportunity to pass up.
And if Smoothie called to send them on some wild goosechase or to get back to Tottoland, Galette could claim that it was reasonable thatn soneone would come to the archiepelago to search for them. Giving her and Amande all the reason to stay. If no one showed up they could at least enjoy the sun and the drinks, the latter being Galette's favorite passtime in between bathing and tanning.
Calling the busboy over for another Daquiri, she decided that life was good sometimes.
(On another of Runny Rum Archiepelago's islands)
"Idiot!" the man sighed as he read the newspaper "It's no mystery where Strawhat gets his inteligence from..."
Taking a moment to look over the top of the newspaper at the tranquil waves as they beat against his little private cove, the setting sun reflecting it's rays across the crests of the surf, creating a panorama of copper, gold, blues and greens and covering everything deeper within the cove with deep shadows, obscuring anything from view, even if someone stood right next to him, it would be hard to see the huge man, sitting in a Beach chair at a little table, upon which stood a glass of his favorite expensive vintage. And yet the sight and the situation did little to improve his mood.
"... Definetly not from his mother..." he continued bitterly, looking at another article absentmindedly while muttering to himself "... and the moron will be out searching for them like a puppy for a treat it doesn't know what smells like!"
"DID YOU SAY SOMETHING?" the call came out like a foghorn through the nooks and cranies of the cove, making the man grind his teeth together at the interruption of his alone time "NOT TO YOU!" he shouted back, a vein beginning to throb at the edge of his forehead.
"No need to shout, I'm standing right here you know!" the slightly feminine voice shot back, clearly agitated
The man slumped back into his seat, not deeming it fit to turn and greet her, instead figuring out his next order of buisness.
"By the way, I'll be leaving in a few days..." He began, stopping for what he knew was comming
"But you just got here! It's been almost a year since last time you visited! And a years since we actually got back in touch! And before that it was over 20 years since last we even spoke! Taking a pen and writing a letter isn't impossible for someone in your condition you know! And..." The woman yapped before the sitting man stopped her
"I've got buisness to attend to" he said as he rose, handing the woman the newspaper "And they cannot wait forever Fran"
and with that, he left, walking deeper into the cove, pondering how he should best leave the area unseen. Just as he was about to enter thew hidden caves at the very end of the cove, he heard the telltale sign of Fran reading the article, her voice muffled amongst the crash of waves and wind against the cove, yet still maintaining a steel edge, that would give most men (not him of course) pause:
"DRAGON, YOU IDIOT!"
(On a secret location)
Dragon shivered and looked around, sligthly nervous, he could have sworned something horrible had happened!
Which was true he figured, something horrible was always happening. Especially now where his special forces had botched their assignment at the Reverie.
Looking over his desk as reports flooded in that said special forces had evaded capture and was masking their movements as best they could.
At least that was good, and their debacle could still be turned to the Revolutions advantage.
He just needed the right man ofr the task.
And he knew just whom...
Picking up a Den den Mushi, he called one of his men to summon that particular man
"Get me Ivankov!"
(aboard the Sunny)
Nami looked at the sea from the crowsnest, though in truth there was Little that could be seen at this time of day, the last rays of the sun casting their light on the waves of the sea.
She could however look Down on the deck of the Sunny, most people had gone indoors, Usopp and Franky to their respective workshops, Sanji to his kitchen, Robin helping Carrot to settle in, Brook and Chopper chatting in the Medical wing.
which only left Jinbe at the Helm, his massive form standing contently behind the Wheel, a small smile playing at the edges of his fanged mouth. Zoro was soundly asleep at the other end of the crowsnest, not being terrbily engaged in looking for any glimpse on the Horizon.
Luffy was sitting on the Sunny's figurehead, unable to contain his excitement for the adventure to come.
He was problably the only one that wasn't doing anything that would help in their search, although that wasn't a surprise, the man couldn't do much aside from figthing and eating like a pig.
It might appear like he wasn't the only one but that wasn't true, Usopp and Franky was bussy trying to figure out where they would keep their friends as soon as they found them (there was a certain Space problem if Shirahoshi was to be transported on their ship), Robin and Carrot were reorganising the women's bedroom for the same reason, Sanji was looking over their inventory figuring out how much food they would need and Brok and Chopper were going over their Medical supplies, just in case something bad happened.
Nami had decided to be on lookout duty. A task which, up until then, hadn't proved particularly eventful. All she had managed to figure out was that they were in for some smooth sailing for the night.
Looking back at the sea, Nami hoped they would be Lucky to even get a sniff of where their friends were,
before somebody else did...
First chapter in a new story, which is intended as a sequel to my previous Out of the jaws of death
This is off course just the setup for the story, it'll be more streamlined within the next few chapters, where the genre of this Little tale will be made more clear, aswell, basically it'll go from adventure/mystery to family/mystery, not to mention exactly whose Family it'll be mostly about, even though ALOT of families are going to get involved eventually, some with a minor role, others with a major one.
Be warned there's a lot of individual strands for this one, plenty of Groups that're going to make an appearance
Identified players in this story so far:
1. The Strawhats (obviously)
2. The missing women (Vivi, Viola, Rebecca, Shirahoshi and two, as of yet, unrevealed Kuja pirates)
3. The royal houses (of Alabasta, Dressrosa, Prodence, Fishman Island and Germa)
4. The revolutionaries (represented by Ivankov)
5. The Big Mom Pirates (Galette and Amande mainly, but more will show up)
And some unidentified:
6. An undisclosed number of independent and unrevealed Groups that are searching for the missing women. (They'll play a minor role and will mostly serve as cameos and easter eggs to be honest)
7. An unrevealed party not interested in the wild goose chase for the missing women... okay maybe a Little.
not every Group will make it into every chapter.
hope you enjoyed it so far, read and review if you please