Blood ties like Iron Binds chapter 7
What's going on and where are we going?
(Within the rocky archiepelago)
Viola watched the slavers with growing dread bubbling away at the bottom of her throat.
She didn't need her devilfruit to know that those three pirates meant to sell them off, and to Big Mom no less.
although she had never met the Queen of Totto Land, she knew enough of her to dread meeting the older monster-of-a-woman. Doflamingo hadn't messed with her and that in itself spoke volumes. If they got under her thrall, there wasn't a shadow of doubt that they'd be married off to some horrid monster son of hers... And while Viola didn't doubt it'd be a beautiful ceremony, dress and food (one thing Big Mom was unlikely to skimp upon), imagining herself, or Rebecca walk down the aisle with a son of Big Mom, was beyond horrifying!
There had to be some sort of way out!
but behind them there were the Figthing fish, swimming in a semicircle preventing any escape, and in front of them, were the fishs' masters. The bleak reality was, that their little group were cornered and outmatched.
The fishmen slavers looked down on the women expectantly, until their leader opened his mouth again
"WELL? Get in the freaking tank, or do you want a Please Your Highness?" he asked sarcastically, leaning over the railing of his boat while glaring down at the women, adressing the huge mermaid in particular.
"But.. You're fishmen!" Shirahoshi stammered, the stress and panic getting to her and bringing tears to her eyes.
"So?" the slaver captain barked impatiently "Reality is we gotta eat. And it ain't easy raiding any of those fat merchants, and why should we, when the Big Guns in these waters pay good money?"
An angry motion from the captain and one of his underlings, the one that wasn't the idiot (Tansui or something), who raised a horn to his mouth, blowing a series of tunes.
The Figthing Fish responded by tigthening the semicircle, pushing the group of women towards the slavers' boat.
the lesser the disatnce became the more the captains' smile broadened, no doubt at the prospect of the great prize that the women would fetch.
Viola could see it too, the smile of that monstrously obese pirate woman, as a trio of princesses fell in her lap, each one bringing a kingdom, not to mention the Kuja and Viola's own beloved niece Rebecca.
As the notes of the horn started to die down, after being bounced back between the mistobscured cliffs in the archiepelago, another sound made itself known; the crash and breaking of rocks.
And it was getting closer!
Looking at the other women, Viola could see they'd noticed too, turning their heads in this and that direction, trying to locate the source of the crashing.
Eventually the slavers turned around and looked behind them into the mist they had come from.
And as a storm of gravel erupted alongside a particularly large crash, it seemed they were right.
as the rocks and stones started to hit home on top of the group of women, VIola rushed to Rebeccas' side, to shield her niece as best she could.
But in her rush, she didn't manage to block a stone that hit her in the temple, making her world go black, all to the sound of her nieces' voice;
"Viola! VIOLA! VIOLA!"
(On the Sunny)
Nami looked across the waters, at the wind blowing up sprays of brine, at the clouds that spoke of misty weather somewhere in the distance, and even further away from the skies, the islands that Sanji described from his perv-vision.
Only time would tell if it was true, which part of Nami hoped it was, since it'd give them a lead on where to look for their friends.
Another part of her dearly hoped that Sanji hadn't develloped some kind of Super Observance haki that'd allow him to peek at her in the shower...
Shuddering at the thought, Nami rested her forehead against the wheel with a sigh.
When she raised her head again, She smiled as she saw Robin coming up the stairs to rejoin her at the bridge.
"Hey Robin, how are the other's doing?"
"Jinbe-san is resting in the workshop, talking with Franky and Usopp about what could be done to improve the Sunny..."
Nami smiled to herself, despite the situation "That fishman... He really needs to calm down a little don't you think?"
"Perhaps, so far the... spirited discussion those three were having hasn't turned heated, yet" Robin smiled mysteriously "Hopefully we won't have to scrape their remains off the walls anytime soon"
Nami cringed a little at the thought. She doubted that it'd turn that bad, even when the proud Franky was confronted with questions of how to improve his masterpiece. Usopp would problably alert them if things got serious, and he'd do it by running all over the ship in a panic. Not that it'd help him, If Jinbe got serious the entire surrounding sea would be involved, And then Nami wouldn't need to see Usopp to know something was wrong (she was smart enough to compare the patterns of weather and ocean currents and conclude that a tsunami hadn't anything too do with either).
"So... why did you come up here?" Nami tried to change the subject and adress the elephant in the room once more, she didn't feel their previous discussion had been concluded, and she doubted Robin thought otherwise.
Sighing, Robin rested against the railing, the wind tugging at her black mane.
"I thought about what you said... and I agree, to an extent at least" she said, tugging a stray lock of hair behind her ear "Sanji stepped out of line, even more so than Usopp did back in Water 7, but this time, an excuse and begging for forgiveness isn't enough, not really..." taking a deep breath for the next thing she was going to say, Nami took the opportunity to study her friend:
head bowed downwards, the wind filtering her hair and not giving it a care, eyes bathed in the shadow of the afternoon sun, the archaeologist looked like a cross between Brooke and a woman abbandoned (like from a cheesy romantic tragedy) Robin wasn't happy about the situation, and truth be told Nami understood that all too well, she'd rather be able to let it go, but she couldn't, not now atleast.
"But it's going to take a long time for Luffy's punishment to take hold..." Robin continued, folding her arms across her chest, before straigthening her back and looking directly at Nami "However, treating Sanji like... well; crap, like he can't do anything right, is going to be too cruel, not just to him, but yourself as well, so maybe, ease it up a little, that's all" the last part had been spoken with enough pleading that Nami would almost have shared money with Robin (and if she'd been a little homeless girl, it definetly would have worked).
Biting her lower lip, the navigator was forced to concede to her point with a lowered head.
a moment of silence followed between the two women, the wind and distant spalsh of brine being the only sound present.
Then Robin spoke "By the way... I found something in the library..."
Nami turned her head in confusion, before noticing the brochure that Robin was holding in her hands, she immediatly knew what was up, blushing slightly.
"The Great Pirate Museum" Robin recited "See the great legends vanquished by the marines..." She went on, her voice cracking a little as she skimmed the words, though the smile playing on her lips showed that it wasn't in anger.
"You have a chance to meet'n'greet..." Robin continued
"OK! OK!" Nami squealed with a blush creeping across her cheeks "You got me, but in my defence, it was supposed to be a surprise for you guys"
Robin laughed, unable to contain the smile on her face, despite years of practice "You sure surprised me! I didn't even think something like this was possible! Does any of the others know about it yet?"
Nami doubled over, trying to contain her embarassed laughter "Nope!" she cackled "I want it to be a surprice remember!"
"Oh this is going to be good!" Robin smiled while looking at Nami who was trying to contain her laughter "When did you find out about this?"
Nami stiffled another laugh and smiled warmly "During our separation period, Weatheria gets mail too, however sporadically, I thought it'd be a good idea for some of us; Luffy especially, then me, you, Brook and Franky too, and now Jinbe as well..." she paused smiling at the thought of her little idea "We could all use that..." Nami added, blinking the sting that had crept into her eyes, the very idea of going to the museum bringing back a thousand fond memories...
"You're right Nami" Robin admitted, her smile returning to its usual lopsidedness "But tell me, what's so funny about it?"
"Oh, that." Nami said, looking at the approaching isles with an anticipating smile "Just think about how they'll react to hearing about this, Luffy especially..."
"You're right, this'll be a high point on our trip"
"Yeah" Nami said, the stinging feeling returning to her eyes momentarily
"For everyone..."
(The rocky archiepelago)
Shirahoshi shivered in the water,
It wasn't from the cold of the water, she was used to that, this surface water was pretty warm compared to the frigid temperatures on the ocean floor, the mermaid princess trembled at the sight in front of her.
there hidden within a huge cloud of debris and mist, she could make out the outline of a ship, far larger than the slavers' boat that had cornered their small group before. Shirahoshi bit herslf in the lip at the thought of them, three fishmen, willingly engaging in slavery, and former members of the sun pirates no less!
If only Boss Jinbe-sama was here! or Luffy-sama...
clenching a fist, Shirahoshi tried to steel her resolve, neither of her two idols would look well at her if they knew how frigthened she was right now! (Luffy would most definetly laugh and call her a crybaby!).
Shirahoshi was vaguely aware of some screams comming from the boat, but she could not bring herself to turn and investigate further, afterall, her friends depended on her! Or rather, her peers and equals depended on her, Shirahoshi had wanted to tell them all about what had happened on Fishman Island, but dared not, lest they were against Luffy-sama and the other -samas.
It all made her feel terribly alone, a feeling she wasn't much familiar with, even in captivity she'd at least had Megalo for company and frequent visits from her family and the castle staff.
All the Mermaid princess could do was stare in dread as the worst of the dust settled, though the larger ship was still shrouded, preventing her from seeing any detail of the mysterious newly arrived ship, or it's crew.
Said crew didn't have the same problem with her
"OI! I told ya didn't I? WE'D FIND THAT MERMAID TODAY!"
the roar was elevated, boisterous, triumphant, happy even, all to the rising dread of Shirahoshi.
"AND THE OTHER PRINCESSES AS WELL! PERFECT DAY EH?" the voice continued to whoop, in the wake of exclamation, Shirahoshi was faintly aware of the sound of more than one person laughing at the remark, not the fun-laugh, not the jolly-laugh either, it was the sort of laugh that one had when winning at the roulette, after having shot all the other players.
"Ther's another ship captain!" another voice called out, not as loud as the captains', but clear enough for everyone to hear.
Peering through the mist, Shirahoshi could begin to make out shapes, darker forms in the fog, a few forms appeared on the deck of the other ship, looking down on the slavers.
"Get lost!" the fishman captain bellowed angrily as he shook a fist above his head "WE GOT THEM FIRST!"
"Sure you did, and that was great work..." the other captain responded "and it gives me a great idea..."
Shirahoshi didn't need to see the man to know that he was smiling in a consipering way.
The only thing she could make out in the fog was a large figure (atleast Shirahoshi assumed it was large for a landdweller (in all fairness everyone is smaller than Shirahoshi)), two huge spikes protruiding from his shoulders and something comming out from the back of his head (Shirahoshi could only assume it was a horn of some sort), the whole appearance of the other captain made her shiver, in her mind it could only be some sort of vile demon from Hell!
"How'd you like to join my crew? Fishmen are strong, and we'd be even stronger together..."
the question hung loosly in the air, allowing the slaver captain Macro to consider it to its full potential.
"Mighty fine offer, but how bout we sell these off first and see how it goes?" While Shirahoshi couldn't see the fishmans' face, she was certain he was smiling.
Whomever the other captain was, weren't.
"Sell?" he said in a tone that was almost inaudible for Shirahoshi
"You said sell, didn't you?" the captain continued, his voice turning from deep to highpitched, bordering on roaring.
Next to the horned captain a taller figure stepped forward and nodded his consent "Ay, I heard it too!"
Neither of the two sounded happy at this, a fact to which Macro was oblious
"Sure I said sell! We'll get rich of what Big Mom or one of the other big guns'll pay, more than enouggh for everyone!" he said, amrs wide, bragging about his future fortune.
"You guys are slavers!" the horned-spiked captain said with disgust, the railing his hand was on shattering into splinters with a loud crack.
Macro wasn't so presumptious that he wouldn't pick up on it, taking a step abck alongside his men and resuming a figthing stance "You don't like that? You better be ready to fight!"
The laughter that echoed from the other ship was nothing if not confident, the horned captain didn't need to say that he accepted the challenge, even if it was against fishmen, and their pets, the terrifying and ferocious Fighting Fish.
"ATTACK!" the order rang out from the newcommers "Crack 'em and take the dames! (other variants included: girls, babes and dolls)"
(On the seas somewhere)
Pudding paced around the spacious cabin, anxious about her situation.
She hadn't been able to call her family for days.
Her damn host just didn't seem willing to leave her alone!
The only reason she was alone now was because Pudding had declined to use the bath with her. A shiver ran down her spine at the thought. Pudding was naturally shy as it was, and bathing with the older woman was just to push her boundaries a bit too much.
Stussy had left pudding to her own devices but had also put her under guard.
Specifically, her butler Belliworth, old and grumpy (she'd heard him complain to his mistress more than once about the extravagant costs of some exhibit….?), but somehow the butler could sneak up on her like a cat. A two meter tall, hunchbacked, wrinkled, balding, white and grey-haired cat that sounded like Frankenstein's monster just before speaking, which was usually asking her if she wanted more tea and a biscuit. The look and the behaviour she could stomach, but when it came to his raspy stone-grinding-on-stone voice, Pudding was certain that it would take a lot more time getting used to.
Another thing that would take time to get used to was her hosts' manners
Looking around, Stussy's messiness never ceased to amaze her. The piles of clothing left over from just choosing a towel, stood in stark contrast to the woman's social behaviour, depicting a prim and proper woman, the very paragon of a lady.
But tables, the back of chairs, the dressing screen, and even the butler had been covered with a discarded towels, dresses, hats (and in one case a mannequin) in a hundred different colours, fabrics, patterns and styles (not sizes, which lead Pudding to believe that Stussy had some tailor hired to make all of her clothes a perfect fit for her under any circumstance).
And it didn't stop with clothes. Stacks of books and envelopes covered a round dark brown coffee table set before a spacious, peach coloured couch bedecked with soft pillows.
Out of sheer boredom and frustration, Pudding pick up one of the books titled, Clues and Threads and started flipping through its pages.
Suddenly, Pudding stopped.
One of the pages had a file attached to it.
Opening the container, all she found was an old newspaper folded to reveal a small article:
"False Strawhat Pirates apprehended by the Marines"
Pudding folded the newspaper to see the front page, which read a remarkably different tale "The Strawhats have entered the New World"
That was by far more important than some little imposter crew, so why was it interesting for her host?
While Pudding pondered the small oddity, a door swung open, its' oiled hinges preventing it from making even the smallest creak.
Pudding didn't know anyone had entered the room until a faint, warm breeze hit her ear "What have you got there my dear?"
Pudding gave a small shriek and turned around, her eyes wide in shock and a shiver travelling up and down her spine like rollercoaster.
In front of Pudding, stood her host, Stussy, whom, aside from a faintly amused smile, wore nothing but a long scarlett bathing gown and a matching towel around her head. Naturally her make-up was gone and Pudding briefly thought how does she look this good, being that old?
There was still coming little whiffs of steam of the hand the older woman reached out towards Pudding.
"Give it here, I promise I won't be mad" she said in soothing words, her breath calm and even, her eyes even more tranquil, like two forest pools reflecting sunlight in the morning. Pudding concluded that it was brought on by the woman's recent bath, putting her at ease and lightening her spirits.
Handing the newspaper over, Pudding watched as Stussy looked down at it and neatly folded it back to the old page from before, giving it a scrutinizing look in the process.
"You're problably wondering why I'm saving this, aren't you? She said, while giving Pudding a little smile. Part conspiration and part secretive, her tone and mannerism beckoned Pudding to nod, the same way a cake would demand Big Mom's slobber.
"After the marines had captured them, they interrogated them, and they heard such interesting things…." Stussy trailed off, walking over to the book and putting the newspaper back into the envelope.
"…But how do you know about that?" Pudding gave her host an inquisitive look "it doesn't say that in a newspaper" You know from an official report, don't you?
"Many marines talk to my girls, and you'd be surprised, how much more they tell them than they write down for Marine Headquarters" Stussy said with a knowing smile, as she sat down on the couch, letting herself sink into soft pillows.
"Very interesting story, I must say…" she continued "Apparently, Demalo Black, the imposter Monkey D. Luffy, had been told that he could impersonate the little supernova at that exact date, and when he entered the New World he'd be rewarded handsomely, in addition to all the spoils his little cohorts could gather for him"
Pudding gave her host yet another puzzled look "But who told him? And why that exact date?"
"They didn't know really…." Stussy said with a small pout "Stupid men, never knowing all of the story before rushing off to be foolish, thinking everything'll be allright in the end" the last comment had been made with a frown coming over her face and a bitterness etching into the corners of her voice, and Pudding could briefly see past the regular appearance of the Queen of the Pleasure Quarter and glimpse the womans' true age. Despite normally looking youthful, perhaps in her twenties, Stussys' face briefly showed both crowsfeet and wrinkles, not to mention a tired gleam in her eyes, the result of many memories flooding in and taking charge, but, unlike Pudding's own Mama, it did nothing to make her unattractive. It actually gave her a distinct patina and experience that Pudding couldn't help herself gravitate towards.
It almost felt like being with an unmarried aunt (Pudding assumed that it was like that at least, never even having met her father and certainly not anyone on his side of the family).
"….But since they didn't know, neither could I!" Stussy continued, her youthful appearance restored in an instant, her frown disappearing into a disappointed pout as the woman ignored her own previous comment, as if it had never happened.
"But….why would that be interesting for you?" Pudding asked after a brief silence, wanting her host to continue the tale.
"Knowledge, and sharing it, is also a part of pleasure my dear, and I've been the queen of that subject for... some time" she gave Pudding at smile, which eventually turned into a laugh as the young woman began to blush at the implications, not just the obvious lewdness, but also at her own lack of forethought. Stussy was rumoured to be in league with the CP, and Pudding couldn't afford to underestimate her by letting her own guard down.
"But, whomever it was that gave the instructions, is quite smart, figuring out when the Strawhats would return, and planned accordingly…." Stussy continued, beckoning Pudding to join her on the couch.
Obeying the silent command, Pudding sat down, near enough to listen, but not so close as if they were friends.
"How'd they know when the Strawhats returned?"
Picking up the ledger again, Stussy pulled out another envelope, which contained another newspaper, this one showing the front page.
"What do you see on Strawhats' arm dear?"
Pudding looked at the newspaper, the frontpage being dominated by a picture of Strawhat from two years ago, when the Battle of Marineford had ended, and the little upstart had rung the oxbell.
"Bandages and wounds?" Pudding tried, not certain what her host had in mind
"There's letters on his arm" Stussy said, her voice pleasant and even, indicating with a finger where it was Pudding should've looked "the 3D is scratched over, instead saying 2Y" she explained "It was a message to his crew that they'd meet up in 2 years, not 3 days"
Pudding looked at her host, visibly impressed
"But you don't…."
"Know who did it?" Stussy finished for her "No. All I know for certain is that it's someone who is protecting the Strawhats for some reason"
Pudding blinked "How'd you?" (at this point Pudding knew better than to bother finishing her sentences)
"If they're smart enough to figure out when the Strawhats would come back, but choose to send some second-rate backwater pirate crew to Sabaody, then it's clearly a smokescreen, or rather an advert: here we are come get us, and it worked perfectly! An army of marines dealing with a, larger than normal, horde of pirates, it is a quite decent cover-up" Stussy finished, and, despite her reluctance, Pudding was impressed. Not just at whomever the Strawhats mysterious benefactor was capable of, but her host as well, all those little threads that could be combined seemingly out of nowhere…..
"but do you have any ideas?" Pudding said after a while
"As to whom it could be?" Stussy said as she waved her hand in front of her face as she looked down at the messy coffee table "Oh, Plenty! So many infact, that it devolves into singling out who it couldn't be" Stussy sighed and let her robed body sink a little further down into the pillows, making her resemble a sulking teenager rather than a young proud woman.
Turning her head towards Pudding, Stussy's smile returned "But that makes it all the more fun, doesn't it?"
Leaning forward and standing up in one swift motion, the towel fell from her hair and left her blonde locks a near tangled mess "I think I'll have a word with my hairdresser, I really can't walk around like this can I now?" She said while pointing to her hedgerow hair with a smile.
Pudding couldn't help but put a hand over her mouth to stifle a giggle.
While she started to leave, Stussy spoke to udding again "oh, you simply must accompany me, 9999 would do wonders with your locks!"
"B-but I... mama" Pudding began in surprice Mama'd be angry (not outhright kill) with her if she changed something about herself wothout permission.
"Oh it'd be fine" Stussy reassuered her while pulling the younger womman to her feet "Linlin will approve once she sees you, I'm certain of it!"
seeing Pudding's reluctance, she added "We won't change too much, I promise" getting behind Pudding, Stussy began to push her gently (yet somehow firmly) towards the door.
Pudding caved at that, afterall, she had to placate her host's sudden irrational whims.
Doing so would likely yield more secrets that the Queen of the Pleasure quarter was privy to...
In order to succeed in her mission as spy, Pudding had to comply...
(besides she was curious about that haircut...)
(In the rocky archiepelago)
The first to attack was the horned captain, seizing something on his ship and throwing it down at the fishmen, whom dodged the large barrel, letting it crash into the deck in a shock of splinters and the wie that had been within.
A moment later, another of the newcomers made a move leaping down on the other ships' deck, attacking, not the pirates, like his captain, but the ship itself. A kick from the pirate was enough to shake the vessel, sending up waves on the seas' surface and making another gust of sea spray and brine explode into the air, masking the two ships in a deeper cover of fog than before.
Shirahoshi could only watch from without it, seeing the silhouette of two others jumped down on the deck of the Slavers' ship, weapons drawn as the men charged at the fishmen, howling with glee.
The former Sun pirates took the assault head one, two of them engaging the boarders, with the last of the fishmen raising something to his mouth (looked a little like a conch), a moment later, three short deep notes went through the air, bouncing off the cliffs and through the crannies of the archipelago.
Almost instantly, the fighting fish broke their formation, the huge bull fish, took the lead, jumping upwards towards both of the ships, mouth split in a victorious, fanged grin.
The mermaid princess was stricken with fear, her usual timidity being only being amplified by the presence of, not only Pirates, but slavers and ferocious, giant, unfamiliar fish.
She almost didn't feel the tap at the back of her head. She did feel the next one as a crate grazed her shoulder from behind, the sudden feeling sending another shiver down her spine, causing her to cringe and almost scream in shock.
Turning towards the boat she had been pulling, Shirahoshi could hear a reassuring voice
"Shirahoshi-san, please" the huge princesss took heart to see that it was only the alabastan Princess Vivi-sama, standing in the stern of the boat while holding a hand to her mouth as if she was trying to whisper (which really wasn't easy given the circumstances, a fight going on and Shirahoshi being more than a few meters away from the small boat)
"This is our chance!" she urged, her eyes wide and pleading
"while they're fighting, we can get away! We might even get to hide and recover!"
Looking at the women in the boat, Shirahoshi could see what she meant, Viola-sama was out cold, both shirahoshi's fellow pinkette (Rebecca-sama) and the Blonde Kuja (Marguerite-sama)being next to her, trying to fan the Dressrosan princess back to consciousness. The other Kuja had was eyeing the battle intensely, watching for any new development.
Taking a quick glance at the fighting on the ships: it was a chaos of angry shouts in the mist, though she could occasionally see a bod be carried off by one of the fighting fish into the depths below. Blood followed a moment later from the deeps.
Then one of the Fighting fish jumped out of the water and into the mist, seemingly intent to devour one of the combatants. Shirahoshi was barely able to recognise the horned captain on his shoulder spikes, before he struck.
With a blast like a cannon, the black scaled fish flew out of the mist like a rocket and slammed into the cliffs at the opposite end of the lagoon, landing in the water where it went belly up as part of the cliff collapsed on top of it.
The only response from the combatants, was a loud laughter "Bokusususususu!" as the captain of the newcomers turned to engage his next opponent.
Pulling hard at the rope she held, Shirahoshi made for the way she had come in as swiftly as possible, finding her strength in both fear and a dear hope that she'd never get to see the horrible slavers or the ferocious horned captain again.
Leaving the lagoon behind them, the women attempted to escape into the maze of waterways of the archipelago.
(amongst the Germa)
Not for the first time, their host, Vinsmoke Judge proudly showed Cobra and the other monarchs the military might of his kingdom, although it had obviously seen better days (which the Vinsmoke repeatedly blamed on (bravely and selfishly) fighting the forces of the Yonko Big Mom).
Cobra found it dreadfully boring, but it took his and his colleagues minds off of their missing daughters (and granddaughter (although thinking of the women that had also disappeared, Cobra lecherously didn't know if that was a bad thing)) so it was good for something atleast.
Looking at his colleagues, Cobra noted that while both the humongous king Neptune and the older (and to Cobra's envy more fit and decidedly more healthy) King Riku shared his opinion (at least on the subject being so horribly boring) their seconds, the bulky Tank Lepanto and his own bodyguard Pell took extensive mental notes of every movement either Judge of his (eerily) similar guards made.
Cobra was at half a mind to share his retainers suspicions about Judge, but his daughters safety came first, for her he was more than willing to accept any help he could get, from a country with a dread reputation to a demon of hell!
He was almost willing to accept the aid of the Shichibukai at this point, even after his experiences with Crocodile!
Then he felt it!
The cribbly feeling of a cough, sneaking its way up his chest and throat and out his mouth.
The force of it exploded out his mouth like a trumpet, surprising his companions with its suddenness.
Pell was at his side a moment later, kneeling like a henmother over its chick. Gods He loved that mans' loyalty at times! What did he ever do to deserve that sort of commitment and care?
"If You desire, King Cobra" Judge began, his tone calm and slow, in stark contrast to his boasting a mere moment before "We can leave you on an island with some of my personal doctors while we find your daughter"
The sentence was phrased as both an offer and a question, with just enough pity in it to make Judge sound sincere, although Cobra couldn't judge that, his coughing was hurting his throat and his eyes sting with small bitter tears.
"With your permission , your highness I'd like to offer my council on that" Pell said, his voice even, but his face could be mistaken for a monolith
Judge merely waved a hand, showing both his disregard for Pell and that the permission was granted
"My king is currently under the weather and it would be unwise to respond to your offer at the moment, at least until he is feeling a little better" Pell bowed before Judge, gaining the silent approval of the other two kings.
But as Cobra noted inbetween his coughs, Pell also gained their esteemed hosts displeasure
"Understandable" Judge said, voice even, but his annoyance showed at the corners of his mouth "If you should change your mind, be ssure to inform me soon, I intend to increase the pace and too much stress of the search might not be good for your constitution, king of Alabasta" Pausing momentarily, allowing Cobra's cough to receede and get better "If you're worried about not being there when we find your daughter, I'd be more than happy to let one of my own sons accompany you while your... bodyguard tags along" although Judge smiled, Cobra could almost sense his scheeming, but he didn't have the strenght to argue the point at the moment.
"I'll accept a quick checkup at those doctors of yours for the time being Judge-dono" Cobra looked at the ground as he spoke before fixing his eyes at Judge "Then I promise you that I'll respond to your generous offer"
Judge couldn't hide his glee at this response (no doubt already planning to tell his doctors to pressure Cobra into thinking he was more sick than he was) but his joy was shortlived.
Suddenly, one of Judge's numerous soldiers came running, and even when hidden beneath the inhuman gasmask, Cobra could see the mans' nervousness, his fear.
Judge wasn't as perceptive when he turned to the soldier, expecting a salute as his attention turned to the soldier.
He didn't get it
instead
what he got was bad news.
"Your highness, general, there has been a distress message from the nearby Island"
"So what?" Judge responded with a shrug "Niji is there, he's more than capable of dealing with some minor disturbance" the last part was as much directed at the soldier as it was to brag about his second son in front of the other kings.
"But..." the soldier began to stammer, and despite the glare his king sent him for interrupting HIS narcicistic bragging "... it's Prince Niji's group that is sending the distress call your Highness... General"
for the briefest of seconds, Judge stood immobile and silence reigned supreme over the group of kings
"WHAAAAAAAAAAAAAT?!" Judge howled in shock, his lowerjaw sinking so low that the Germa kings body coul've looked like a peculiar statue, especially with the grey teint his skin had adopted.
"HOW COULD THIS HAPPEN?" the Garuda continued, leaving the smaller soldier to cower at his furious response "WHAT DID NIJI SAY?"
"Well, the caller is actually King ELizabello II..." the soldier began, before another of Judge's children interrupted, the red haired one this time
"What woudl that brute do with our equipment? What happened to Niji?"
"According to king Elizabello, commander Prince Niji was... beaten to a pulp..." the soldier rapidy responded, following up his answer with another "the King didn't say what had happened, just that it was the way he found commander Prince Niji, and that were blood everywhere"
the news weren't taken well by the Vinsmokes, or their army.
swift rush of people and orders followed, Judge being mainly concerned with securing his injured son and finding the culprit, only giving the other kings the minimum of attention during the crisis, leaving them to their own devices.
An opportunity which Pell used to get Cobra to the doctor ahead of Niji's return, since most of the medical attention was bound to go to him at arrival.
Cobra wasn't too happy about going about it that way, but his health had deteriorated over tha last few months and despite his reluctance he was willing to act a little selfish.
HIs sickness was getting worse, there was no denying it, and being out searching for his daughter wasn't dooing anything too help with his condition,
but he had to be out with the search parties, he wanted desparately to see Vivi one last time before he died,
even if it was for the briefest of moments.
(on Runny Rum Archiepelago)
Galette looked at Amande as if she'd grown three heads with a mohawk, an afro and a hime haircut, all of which were attacking would have made more sense if she was still drunk from the night before, but her elder sisters' proclamation had ended any and all symptoms of anyhting that eve remotely resembled intoxication or a hangover.
"You did what?" she said, not for the first time since she woke up, which seemingly was somewhere in the afternoon.
Sighing, the third daughter of the Charlotte family looked down at her (about 14'th) younger sister, while slowly smoking her 34'th cigarette that day
"I called Mama to see if we should get reassigned"
"WHY?" her words were slow, trembling with panic and threatening to crack, but Galette didn't care that it made her appear like a whiny little brat, she just wanted answers.
"Because I'm tired of this! Flirting with small time captains all day and night might bring Mama more power, but we also need to consolidate our home territories" Amande stressed the last few words, hoping Galette would see some reason
"Big sis..." The redhead began slowly "...you want to stop our working vacation because you're homesick?"
"I'll admit it's part of the reason..." Amande blinked beneath her huge sun hat, looking down at her younger sibling in her bed and ruffled clothes "But it's alsp because of you"
"Me?"
"Yes, all of this partying and drinking isn't good for you in the long run, I nearly lost you when you were out on the dancefloor lastnight and in this town it could prove lethal, what if you got caught?"
"By the marines? those justice pushers don't have what it takes to capture me!"
"Wheen you're durnk they might. besides I'm not just talking about marines, there is alot of young spirited men on this island right now, and they're all used to taking what they want!" She left the implications hang in the air, leaving Galette to shiver at the very idea.
Amande wasn't happy about reminding her little sister about her previous marriage, but she had to reason with her somehow. But seeing Galette holding onto her knees and begin to rock a little back and forth was taking thing stoo far, way too far.
Embracing the smaller woman in a gently hug, Amande's voice turned soothing "There there... I'm sorry I mentioned it, but you need to see the danger you could be putting yourself in"
afrer a while the tremblings subsided and GAlette managed to stammer something
"Huh? what did you say Galette?" Amande released her sister to look her in the eyes
"Wha-what did Smoothie say?"
"She wanted to consult Mama on the matter... she'd call back"
"Has she?"
Amande grew silent and looked down at the floor
"Big Sister?" Galette said in a voice that was both awaiting an accusing
"Mama responded about an hour ago... we're to ignore the marines and stay put, Mama is sending Brownie with some reinforcements, just incase things get hairy" Amande puffed at her cigarette, clearly not happy about the situation.
"What reinforcements?"
"None of our brothers, so we still have control of the situation..." Amande began
"Why does it sound like you're trying to butter me up?" fixing her sibling with a serious glare Galette continued "Who is the reinforcements?"
"Durum, Kabo and Dacquise" Amande responded rapidly, knowing her sister would not be happy about most of them.
for a moment Galette was silent, when she spoke her voice had hints of ice, poison and something flamable "a humongous idiot, a homie... and perhaps the more sexistic man in the crew... that's what's coming?"
"Well... technically speaking Kato is a special homie made from one of the worlds best swordsmen, at the time... and Dacquise is only a creep around..."
"Me and Poire" Galette finished for her, the gingers' face showing full well her attitude towards that particular mans' attention. Taking a deep breath, an eyebrow still twitching at the news, the eighteenth daughter of Big Mom tried to controll herself for the natural followup:
"When do they arrive?"
"Brownie will arrive tomorrow morning" Amande looked at the smaller woman infront of her, noting that her eyes were already searching for the minibar "So no drinking tonight" she added with a lifted finger, hoping that her words would sink in "... and just to be on the safe side, we're not visiting Hannibals either, can't harm to be a bit discreet"
Galette gave her sister yet another hard and defiant glare "What are we then going to do? Partying and having nice dinners are the best chances at meeting potential brother-in-laws on this island"
"There's always the museum, that's where the better pirate captains go, I recall that the wing dedicated to that smuggler was quite interesting"
"That fruit stand guy? I guess, guy sure had some impressive feats to him... but not much we could use since the marines censored most of his journal"
Amande smiled at this and held up a flyer "they've just unveiled the original version"
"Oh! Well that might be interesting" Galette admitted, her interst piqued slightly.
"Glad to hear it, shall we get going?" Amande rose up and corrected the position of her hat.
"But perhaps you should get some food first Galette, you've slept most it away already"
leaving her sibling, Amande strode out onto the balcony, taking in the view, while taking a deep puff on her cigarette
"hopefully..." she said to herself "This whole thing'll be over soon"
(on the seas
The small island didn't look like much, infact it didn't look like anything other than a few dunes of sand, some foliage and a little thrash here and there, but that might just be flotsam.
In short, the island had absolutely nothing to offer anyone, except perhaps Sanji, who was sniffing around the beach like a bloodhound.
The rest of the crew had also left the sunny, except for Franky who didin't see the need to leave his dear Sunny alone and Usopp who was having a bad feeling about the Island (even though it didn't look that scary at all).
Nami took a look at the beach,but all she could see that was remotely out of place was the flotsam, and some strange marking in the sand, as if someone had sat there, not to mention a deep gouge in the beach where a boat might've been pulled up. Both Luffy and Jinbe were checking out the nearby flotsam, which consisted of small, relatively intact crates and discarded cans (though the captain seemed far more interested in searching for any leftover meat than in searching for clues)
"What do you make of this Jinbe-chan?"
"All of these crates have had foodstuffs in them, and the tracks definitely belongs to six individuals, all with different weights, one of which is so large that it definitely could belong to Princess Shirahoshi"
"WHEERE?!" Sanji howled from the other end of the island kicking up a sand cloud as he sprinted towards their location. If Zoro hadn't stopped the chef with a Lariat, he might have erased all of the clues that remained.
"Why'd you do that you stinking Marimo?"
"You're hysterical, ya shitty chef!"
And their usual fight was on, all thoughts of the missing princesses banished from their minds. Robin getting in between the pair was all that prevented them from coming to blows.
Meanwhile, sniffing around the crates, Chopper nodded his head enthusiastically "They've definitely been here, I can recognise Shirahoshis' scent, and Vivi's, and a bunch of others"
"Heeeey Sanji was right! Great! WE'll find them in no time!"
"Luffy, it's not that simple, we have to have a setting, an idea of where they've gone!" Nami said, directed at her over ecstatic captain, and the amorous chef.
"Doesn't that mean….." Sanji began, tongue rolling out of his mouth like a dogs, eyes turning into pumping hearts "…..that I'll have to guide Nami-schwann to all of the Princess-chans and Kuja-chans?"
The very idea was making the chef glow red with amorous energies.
The very sight was making Zoro nauseous and Nami annoyed, while Luffy tried to fry a scrap of meat on the heat coming off him (he stopped almost immediately as the morsel caught fire and he decided to gobble the charred scrap instead).
"We might be able to predict where they've gone if we think logically"
"Or..." Nami began, mentally chasstising herself for what she was about to say "...We follow up on Sanji's previous vision and go where he and Luffy sensed something last time"
Nodding his acceptance, Jinbe ushered the others back on the ship.
Nami smiled as she returned herself.
They had a lead and their friends would soon be safe in their hands.
(Outside of the Rocky archepelago)
Rebecca looked back at the place they'd just left, the crash of the waves being the most dominant sound at the moment.
The Viola woman was still out cold, and would remain so for a while if Marguerite were to guess.
The merwoman that pulled their small craft was doing so with an unforeseen vigour, in truth it was impressive, towing the boat behind her and picking up speed rapidly. If they had been back on Amazon Lily the pink haired princess would have been considered almost as beautiful as her very own empress Boa Hancock, Marguerite was sure of it!
But right now there were more important matters to attend to,
1. they'd almost been caught by some strange men, which Shirahoshi had identified as fishmen, but not elaborated much on (perhaps there was a race of people consisting exclusively of men?)
2. They'd almost been captured by some other men, whom they didn't know who were or where they came from.
3. One of rthem had gotten injured and the other women on the boat were fuzzing over her like she was a littel baby (compared to the mermaid princess, the one from Dressrosa wouldn't be considered as beautiful as many most of the Kuja Pirates)
when suddenly a distant crash rang out from within the Archiepelago, Marguerite turned around and looked at the huge cliffs, even as they grew smaller in the distance.
what didn't grow smaller were the huge piieces of rock and stone the flew in all directions from within the maze of water and cliffs.
a few fell into the water aournd them, posing no threat to their small boat.
But that wasn't the problem.
The problem was that it had managed to reach this far!
At least a mile had been put between the women in the boat and the Rocky archipelago where they'd left those would be captors!
Since the fishmen hadn't broken down rocks on their arrival it left only one option as to whom were the source of the destruction and odd weather phenomenon.
Hopefully neither of the two sides had tired of the battel just yet, Marguerite really didn't fancy facing either, a bunch of animal men and their ppets or a group that could take them out during a short skirmish.
Looking at her Kuja comrade, Marguerite noted that Rindo had a grim look on her normally stoic face. It scared Marguerite more than it should.
this whole situation was horrible, it was like when she'd found Luffy-san back home along Sweet Pea and Aphelandra and tey all had to stand trial before her Highness.
If only she had her bow-snake things would've been different, same if Rindo had her Bazooka.
But either had been lost or left behind at that odd castle that Elder Nyon had been sent to by the Empress.
All the two pirates had were a group of princesses that didn't look like they knew much about fighting, and a boat with far less food than before (being they only projectile they'd had against the fish, naturally they'd used them).
Looking at Rindo again, Marguerite saw that the senior Kuja had made her way to join the other in the back of their small vessel.
"Seeing anything?"
"No, I don't" MArguerite didn't get it, Rindo was smart enough to see that there wasn't much to see other than the obvious: water, cliffs and rainig stones.
"hmmhmm" Rindo continued, her voice dropping to nearly a whisper "We might have to be ready for another confrontation"
"You think they'll catch onto us that fast?"
"No, not yet I don't... not with the speed that the mermaid is putting on..." Rindo's answer waas accompanied by a finger to the lips, showing that Marguerite should be more quiet when she was speaking, and a suspicious leer directed at the other women in the boat as they tried to make it as comfortable for the stricken Viola as posssible.
"Sooooo..." the blonde continued, unsure of what was going on, but obeying the call for subtlety
"While me and the blue one were on that ship, stealing supplies... We heard something"
"What?" Marguerite's voice had droopped so low it could be drowned out by the sound of the waves against the boat, rocking it from side to side as it was pulled faster and faster away from the archiepelago.
"There's some big shot pirate in these waters, and he seemingly knows some of us, here on this boat!"
The blonde Kuja nearly slapped a hand over her mouth as she contemplated the words, her eyes growing wider as all the different ideas, plots and implications dawned to her.
"But you don't know who it is? It migth be L..." A serious glare from Rindo made Marguerite stop talking immediatly
"No we don't know who it is... only that the person knows some of the women on this ship, we don't know if it's an enemy or a friend of them either..."
the silence that followed between the two kuja was a tense one, but none of the other women on the boat noticed, too focussed on nursing and pulling respectively.
"But if it's friend..." the dark haired kuja continued "we don't know if it counts' for all of us"
Marguerite didn't need help understanding what she meant if we're caught we could die unless...
"If need be..." Rindo whispered again, this time through grited teeth "...get a hostage! it's our best chance of survival!"
"But... What about the others? won't they be in danger too?"
"We're already in danger Marguerite, all of us! If we don't do this if the situation calls for it, then everyone else is in danger too!" Rindo spoke in the whisper like equivalent of shouting, when you're not not in doubt of what's being said, as long as you stand within armslength of the speaker, outside of that, nothing could've been heard, keeping their conversation private.
"The words were phrased as if the Pirate knew multible of us, so my guess is that it's the Dressrosa Princess and her handmaiden"
"Are you sure?"
"Yes, the one who said it used the term princesses and those are the only ones that arrived here as a group"
"But are you sure Rindo? Only one fo them has that title"
"Yes I'm sure, they're far too close for them not to be family! If anything happens, go for the stricken one, she's more vulnerable, the other one has Haki, I'm sure of it"
With that Rindo left Marguerite, to try and make some more room on the boat, and look at the compass that had been amongst the crates, setting somehting that resmebled a course.
Marguerite took a quick look at the other women, not reallly wanting to do something against the others, even if Rindo said so.
The others had been quite nice to her as far as Marguerite was concerned, but the possiblity that they'd turn enemies, she had to consider the worst case scenario, which involved betrayal against the other women on the boat, even if some of them would benefit from it in the long run.
Swallowing hardly, Marguerite tried to stem the rising bile in her throat, her fear making her feel sick and worried that she might have to doo something she'd regret.
hopefully that wouldn't come too soon.
she hoped it'd never come at all!
And that's it for the seventh chapter
(and it took a long bloody while to finish!)
with this the fic has passed the 50.000 word mark (there's going to be far more in the future).
they're getting closer
I'd like to thank the new readers the have decided to follow this fic and hope that you'll find the next chapters to you liking.
Active threads this tiem around:
Strawhats: could finally confirm that Sanji's perv-voyancy is reliable! And has picked up the pace at finding their friends.
The Big Mom Pirates: Pudding mingles and Galette is not pleased with Amande's actions.
the Missing Princesses: escape by the skin of their teeth. Also a little scheeming amongst the dames.
The Marines: (or rather th CP0) Stussy shows just how much she works and with what; the hidden agendas of an as of yet unidentified party taht hastheir eyes on the Strawhat Pirates.
the Royals: (some of them) picked a fight they definetly couldn't win and Cobra's condition is getting worse.
Princess hunters/assorted Pirates: the Macro Pirates shows up with new pets and are immediatly challenged by a crew that has been active since back in chapter 1 (they will return).
RnR if you'd be so kind.