Chapter 18:

The Isle D family - they're not easy to deal with

(On the main island of Runny Rum, a tavern)

Whitey ducked underneath another thrown chair, hearing it crash against the wall and showering her and her underlings in splinters, dust and debris.

"Come out and play Whitey!" Amadob roared furiously from somewhere on the other side of the flipped table "I know you talked to them! You warned those good for nothing, snivelling Strawhat babies, didn't you?!"

Whitey pouted a little behind the makeshift barricade. If it hadn't been because she was one of the warring parties, she'd have used the time to pour herself a drink (preferably one in a tall glass with bright colours and a little happy umbrella (even better if served by a shirtless hottie with a bowtie)).

"And so what if I did? They haven't done me anything" she called back as she ripped a sleeve off her underling for a makeshift bandage.

"They lazed around when we fought Blackbeard! Some brother that little turd were for Ace!" Amadob continued to shout, his rage more akin to that of a volcano than a man's.

Not good Whitey thought, if that idiot bruiser keeps shouting like a madman, he'll alert the marines, and I don't want my vacation to turn into a freaking circus!

While Whitey had promised to help the Strawhats (admittedly on a whim), she hadn't intended for it to be immediately, and even if she'd just made some friendly chatting with Jinbe, Amadob had to be a jerk about it! And because of that, a perfectly good tavern had paid the prize: Marineford had been littered with less beaten bodies and broken furniture! (the majority of the fallen had been dead afterall) Most of her crew present had been hammered down, beaten to a pulp, save herself and a few others who still held their ground against their opponent (albeit behind a barricade).

Amadob in turn, had simply left his men outside (Which was embarrassing for Whitey's pride to be honest, it almost hurt as much as seeing her friends get beaten like this).

"I'm going to say this once Amadob: STOP YOUR FREAKING TANTRUM, OR I'M GOING TO FLOOR YOU!"

A moment passed, then her former ally and colleague responded with a sound of thunder stuck in a bucket, which she could only recognise it as mocking laughter. He wasn't taking her seriously at all!

She wasn't surprised when Amadob then started to shoot at their cover, filling the tavern with the snaps of his dual-pistols and blowing big holes in the table, splinters flying left and right, like little wooden shrapnel.

Much to Whitey's relief, it didn't appear anyone had been hit, yet. Her crew still needed to get to a doctor though, especially the ones her loud and rambunctious colleague had smashed into (and through!) the brick wall.

Drawing her rapier, she hoped to finish this as soon as possible, though she didn't fancy killing a former ally, but when he was like this, she was certain she could live with it. And that their other old friends would understand, eventually.

The sound of the door bursting open, literally snapping off its' hinges and slamming into to opposing wall, made her stop.

Crap, it's the marines!

When no shouting was heard, at least beside the angry outburst of Amadob, Whitey reconsidered.

Marines liked to shout about justice or scream "Stop where you are!" and such other nonsense whenever and whereever they went, but the newcomers, they were silent,

and it irked her.

A bunch of shot were fired, which she assumed was by Amadob.

Not cries of pain were heard, only small cracks and the ting of bullets feebly hitting the ground.

Then battle erupted.

A bunch of blows were dealt in swift succession, odd hollow thuds, and by a strange muffled, yet obviously mortified screaming, which sometimes sounded like it came from pain rather than fear (or a heavy mixture of both).

Amadob grunted gruffly, shouted and cried out in protest, which evaporated the last of Whitey's reluctance and made her curiosity win. She turned and took a peek out from behind the cover.

What she saw surprised her.

In the middle of the room, Amadob had been forced to his knees, arms crossed above his curly maned head in a feeble attempt to avoid being pummelled to the ground by a large cloaked figure, towering over the crowned rotund man and only armed with a huge solid bottle…

with a screaming face in it!

Amadob had become practically defenceless against the onslaught of blows that rained down on him relentlessly, each strike sending him further to his knees, leaving him in more pain and bruises than was normal for a battle, making the whole scene resemble a torture session more than a skirmish. It was enough for Whitey to feel a tad sympathy for him, yet not as much as whatever was trapped in the bottle.

Whatever it was was slammed into the sides of the glass with each blow. If the figure had pummelled the two people with each other, the result would've been the same.

When at last she realised it was the face of Caesar Clown, battered, beaten and bruised from being slammed into the inside of the bottle, that pity quickly evaporated.

Slimy dirtbag… Whitey thought, knowing the scientist by both vile reputation and handiwork, But who the heck was the new guy?

Finally stomping down a heavy foot on Amadobs' face and knocking his lights out, the figure turned towards her, making a chill run down the length of her spine. Meeting someone clad in a black huge coat and heavy hood that revealed nothing had that effect on jittery people. But Whitey wasn't a scaredycat, she was a veteran of the Grand Line. On the other hand, the person had just beaten another veteran to a pulp in no time at all. That was cause for concern.

That... and something about the person before her... felt wrong.

Not unnatural, but she could feel danger emanating off the man like heat from the sun.

"Whitey Bay…" the figure began with a voice like gravel shattering and being ground to dust, pointing at her with the huge bottle, Caesar still moaning within, tears streaming from the mad scientists' face forming a small lake pink lake at the bottom of the flask, which his face inevitably ended up in "…you apparently had a chat with that imbecile to Strawhat… I'd like to know about what?"

As polite as the tone managed to be, it did nothing to make the deep voice sound any less threatening, especially when Caesar started to complain, and the figure shook the bottle vigorously, turning the scientist into a giant makeshift-maracas (and emit a cacophony of thuds and screams and the occasional squick).

It only stopped when the scumbag within had lost consciousness (in fact 5-6 blows after that).

"We just got acquainted… didn't really have much time for that at Marineford…" Whitey smiled disarmingly at the figure (as much as she was able to, given the circumstances), while she motioned for her men behind her to get their wounded, and fast, the figure was unlikely to be stalled for long,

she was terribly right.

"No, that is not it" the figure began, voice slow and more certain than the passage of time "Your man Bering said you'd spoken with them" his deep rumbling tone made an almost unnatural shiver run down Whitey's back.

"If you've harmed him!" she threatened, anger rising, the same with the gnawing feeling in the pit of her stomach.

The figure didn't even change its' tone: "You will tell me"

Whitey knew, despite her reluctance, that he'd be right eventually

While his words carried no threats,

It was worse than that:

It was a statement.

Once she'd heard Whitebeard speak with the same level of gravity and finality, back when he had said his crew would attack Marineford and the rest of his allies were going to help him do it. Though that also applied to anything else, the man had said, when he was being serious.

But even as she drew her sword and charged at the newcomer, she smiled at the thought that he hadn't specified when she'd tell him.

And she was determined not to go down without a fight!

(On Dvorak)

Nami slipped out of the house, leaving the crew inside.

As soon as she'd been informed about Rindo and Marguerite being Coyle's daughters and what they needed to cure them, Fran had immediately allowed Chopper to draw the blood he needed for a cure (albeit reluctantly, not being too keen on letting lunch have medical equipment). The little reindeer had gone to work immediately, leaving the others to try come to terms with the new development.

Luffy had taken up a seat next to the kuja after hearing they were his cousins (and having a drooling Sanji explain the unfamiliar concept, which was boiled down to brothers-but-not-that-close-and-women for convenience) watching over them like a henmother (albeit an insanely dangerous rubber-pirate henmother!). Nami figured that he might be trying to make up for not being able to save Ace, and not having been there for Sabo for years. It was a quite pleasant theory really.

As for the rest of the crew: Usopp had had to be pried off the foundation and taken inside, which left Franky to be the only cyborg for the job. Sanji had joined their guide alongside Carrot (who'd be out Garchuing the entire island, if it didn't scare off the locals), Vivi and Rebecca, helping them cook up some dinner.

Fran had disappeared out of the room without anyone noticing.

Except for Nami that is.

The navigator found their host on the porch, sitting in her chair, resting, pipe held still in her mouth, blowing off a mix of embers and smoke.

Figures, donating that much blood would make anyone tired… Nami thought as she approached Luffy's mother.

The darkhaired woman had gone uncharacteristically silent after meeting her nieces. It's a lot to take in… meeting your son after years apart, being told your dead brother had two daughters and they're both dying too.

Nami didn't know what that felt like, but she knew it wasn't something to be left alone with.

And who knows… perhaps it'll soften the hardcase up a little… though Nami knew that would be wistful thinking the moment Fran discovered her, her voice tough and rough as stone "What you want?"

"Just checking up on you mrs. Fran" Nami sighed "You looked rather shaken after the whole thing… especially after you hit Luffy because you thought he'd tried flirting with them"

"I thought you'd be more concerned about what I told that blonde princey boy?"

"Sanji needs to lay off the flirting anyway" Nami responded with a wave of her hand and a small laugh, making a small smile creep over Fran's stone features (It hadn't been there when Fran said she'd forcefeed the chef his own legs seasoned with pipe ashes if he continued looking at her nieces with that lecherous smile on his face).

"I'm fine, just pissed"

"Why? Your son is home, you've met your nieces and helped save their lives…" Nami trailed off, hoping the woman would open up and fill the gaps

"Yeah and soon all three are going out the door again!" Fran scoffed, puffing angrily on her pipe and looking at the village in the afternoon sun.

"You don't' like being left alone" Nami concluded, starting to understand why Fran was so angry all the time "Do you?"

"Francis always left for this trip and that, we never knew if he'd come home or not…" Fran responded gruffly, with more than a hint of bitterness "It was bad when Dragon left too, especially since he said he'd be back in a few years…" she reminisced "And then Garp came along all of a sudden and took Luffy away, babbled about it not being safe for him with me…"

(internally Nami nodded enthusiastically, for once thinking of Garp as somewhat responsible)

"…and then I didn't see Luffy for 16 years! I got really concerned when I was shown that article about Marineford too!" Fran finished with a heavy sigh "And now I got two nieces that're at deaths' door!" Fran raised her arms in frustration "Francis never told me about 'em either! This sucks!"

"I see what you mean…. But... I think it's nice to see that you know you can't keep Luffy down…" Nami consoled her, though it didn't have the desired effect.

"I must've been told that he'd go back out on some stupid adventure a dozen different times…." Fran trailed off, lost in thought.

Nami chose not to interrupt her, even if she was starting to wonder where Fran got her info from.

"How about we go back in? I'm sure you'd like to get to know your nieces"

"I guess that wouldn't be too bad…" the woman responded with a sigh and a small smile playing on her lips, her brown eyes having an introspective look to them, then she turned to Nami with a raised eyebrow, her tone getting it's old forceful edge back, but having a inquisitive side too "How're they like anyway?"

"I…" Nami halted slightly, not sure if she should tell about Rindo's rigid stoicism, Marguerite's almost overwhelmingly chipper attitude, or the ignorance of both women, both on men or on the world outside their island (When Rind had internally called Viola a witch for having a devil fruit or when the pair had tried to bathe with Sanji and Viola being prime examples), something told Nami it'd be the men-part that Fran would be most annoyed by "…There's been so much going on, so I've barely had time to get to know them myself" she answered sheepishly, having focussed more on reuniting with her old friends (Vivi and Shirahoshi) than getting to know all the new travelling companions closely (her chat with Viola had scared her a bit off from trying to do that, lest she incite another confrontation between their guests).

"Well that's not good" Fran scoffed, blowing a mighty cone of smoke out the side of her mouth.

"It's really not so bad…" Nami began

"Of Course it is!" Fran interrupted her, almost jumping up from the chair "If those two can't make an impact, there's something wrong! Gotta teach those two how to be women!"

Frans' outburst somehow fell rather flat as she tripped, overbalanced and landed facefirst upon the porch with a resounding thud (and more than one curse on her lips).

"Perhaps you've donated too much blood Miss Fran" Nami suggested, extending a hand to Luffy's mother "How about we get some food in you?" She put one of Fran's arms over her shoulder and hoisted her up "I'm sure Sanji'll be happy to cook something for you"

"…that blondie Vinsmoke boy better not think I'll allow him near those two! They're way too young for that anyhow!"

"Sure, sure…" Nami cooed as she shouldered the woman inside, still mouthing off more than she should be capable of:

"And you better not get any ideas yourself" the middleaged woman continued " I don't want grandkids… yet!"

Nami could only sigh in response, the blush on her cheeks starting to feel permanent from all of Fran's rambling.

Though it was quickly replaced by worry, as she noticed that had gotten Fran a thoughtful expression on her face, her eyebrows furrowed in concentration, eyes growing unnaturally focussed and panicky, the sure signs of a person starting to realise something, something bad.

"Wait a minute…." The woman mumbled, one eyebrow quivering as the wheels in her head began to turn rapidly

"Those three other girls might get ideas too!" She concluded, before she growled "Get me inside at once!"

Nami instantly pitied Vivi, Rebecca and Carrot, though a part of her felt relieved not having to bear the brunt of Frans' accusations.

(On the main island of Runny Rum Archipelago, down by the docks)

Jinbe scowled as he emerged from the chilling water.

Finding Luffy and the rest of his crew would prove difficult after the split.

From what he could gather it was a usual recurrence, the crew getting separated to deal with enemies and defeat their opponents, and then meeting up by chance take down the boss or to celebrate their victory afterwards.

While that seemed like something that Luffy (and some of the more liberal crewmembers) would definitely do, the way Zoro-san had told it, it had made it seem that it was the others that got lost and not the swordsman.

Which was in stark contrast to what Jinbe'd had to endure on the way back, and indeed while they were fighting.

The swordsman didn't seem to have anything even remotely resembling a sense of direction, or even awareness of his own handicap, leaving him to attack all the wrong Yonko ships' the pair had been left to dispatch. The sheer destruction the man had caused, had been a somewhat mitigating factor, but not the part about wanting to slash up Brownie himself, and almost suceeding (the same couldn't be said about several of Big Mom's grunts or Chess Soldiers though).

If they somehow ended up killing one of her children, Jinbe didn't doubt that they'd be in for hell on earth. Or at least the closest they could get since Whitebeards' death. (Nevermind that Big Mom would be furious, all his siblings would be livid! And While Jinbe didn't consider himself or Zoro to be slouches, he could not for the life of him imagine that they'd survive a battle with Katakuri)

Zoro didn't seem to get that simple fact, but then again, he had no idea what it meant to see a Yonko angry! Jinbe on the other hand still had a nasty ache in his body from when him and Luffy had tried to get away from Big Mom when fleeing Tottoland. (authors note, that was in the previous Story: Out of the Jaws of Death)

"What you mean we can't piss her off?" the swordsman complained "You and Luffy did that not long ago, and you turned out fine! Even shitty eyebrows-chef survived!"

Jinbe envied him his ignorance. At Marineford, Whitebeard had been terrifying, and Jinbe hadn't even been facing him! Big Mom was an entirely different sort of beast.

"What sort of person is Big Mom in combat even?"

Taking a short breath, Jinbe pondered how he best answer the question, eventually going with animalistic metaphors "Like a cross between a rabies infected bloodhound, an furious elephant and horde of crazed kindergarteners"

Jinbe almost felt like slapping Zoro when he laughed at the description "I'd like to hear how you'd say about me then. What animal do you think I fight like?"

The fishmans' answer came instantly "A lemming"

(On Dvorak)

"Speed it up chef-boy, people are waiting here!"

As soon as Fran had gotten to her seat at the end of the table, the matron of the house had started barking out orders left and right.

"Get a cloth on the table tinboy! Now set it! You, longnose, get the plates faster! Pink-hair, stop drooling over my son and do something useful!" The list went on…

The only ones that magically avoided being yelled at was Chopper, whom Fran apparently had begun to understand was necessary for her nieces' survival, and strangely (given her previous treatment of him) Luffy.

Nami was a bit envious that Luffy got to be sitting (in relative peace) at his cousins' sides (naturally, it went quadruple for Sanji, but at least he could cook alongside Vivi and Carrot so he kept his complaints to a minimum) perhaps Fran somehow, on a primal level (because Nami couldn't for the life of her imagine it to be anything else) understood that he wanted to watch over them.

"Orange-hair get those chairs!" Nami cringed a little at the woman's tone, hadn't they just been having a moment outside?

Apparently, Fran didn't think so, as the matron kept yapping at her to do this and that, far away from Luffy and somewhere Fran could keep a close eye on her every move. It was a less than subtle way to keep the two apart. Nami had given up trying to explain that she and Luffy weren't dating, especially after Fran had misunderstood and thought they'd gotten married instead! (Sanji's mortified wail still echoed out amongst the islands' hills, making more than one shepherd turn around in the evening air, thinking they were hearing things). Nami hadn't responded with joy either.

If the woman hadn't been weakened from the blood donation, Nami had no doubt she'd be pummelling Luffy into oblivion. And not for marrying someone his mother didn't approve of (which frankly seemed to be any female in sight), but because he'd have done it without her leave.

Fortunately for Luffy, that situation was hypothetical, even though neither he nor his mother seemed to understand the concept. (Fran kept referring to it as hypocritical for starters)

It was touching in a way, to see Luffy acting responsibly for a change, looking over his bedridden cousins more attentively than Sanji did (when he wasn't looking at another woman of course) and making sure they kept their spirits up with nonsensical smalltalk.

When Vivi and Rebecca began to bring in the food, Luffy actually stayed put, only getting up when Fran demanded that he either "Plant his ass or go hungry" and even then, the rubberman was hesitating!

It was almost touching, if the sight wasn't also extremely unnerving for the crew, some more than others.

Luffy talking orders was one thing, but putting something before food was in the realm of signs-of-the-apocalypse-stuff.

When Luffy finally sat down, Usopp actually breathed a sigh of relief and patted his heart to cool it down.

"Now… this feels weird…" Fran mused as she looked at the people seated around the table before her. Luffy to her side, Usopp next to him, Carrot, an empty chair for Chopper, Franky at the table end, then Rebecca, Vivi, Nami and finally a chair for Sanji much to his chargin (he'd initially reserved a seat between Rebecca and Vivi). The chef was still intimidated by Nami so he'd chosen to stay up to bring more food.

"How?" Usopp ventured, being one of the few that their host hadn't had reason to chewed out, gave him a bit of leniency

"it just… feels odd" was all their host could manage, leaning back in the chair having for once put down her pipe.

"I guess you're not used to having guests" Nami ventured, only earning her a look from Fran, thank goodness for that bloodtransfusion! Instantly ran through Nami's mind (And the distance between the two).

"That, and I've got two sick nieces on my couch!" Fran pointed at Rindo and Marguerite and then at Luffy "And my son, my stupid, forgetful, peabrained Pirate son…" she grumbled

"Technically….." a feeble voice came from the couches, causing the table to fall silent, Chopper moving out of the way to reveal Rindo looking towards the table with tired eyes, peeking up from beneath a red heavy blanket "…We're pirates too" she motioned a weak hand towards Marguerite, who gave a little smile at the mention of her name, similarly to her half-sister, she too was under wraps.

Nami surmised they served a dual purpose, warmth and shielding from any male gaze (who'd have known sweaty young female bodies in bikinis could draw that much attention) even though their aunts' presence should be enough to dissuade anyone from looking too intently at the pair, the rest of the women were fair game however, leaving Sanji to focus on Vivi, Rebecca or Carrot (he hadn't had the courage to look too closely at Nami, at least when she was watching).

"Is this family cursed? Everyone got a bounty on their heads…" Fran grumbled in disapproval as she rubbed her eyes.

"I don't' think they have a bounty mrs." Franky responded calmly "They're working under a Shichibukai so they should be super safe and sound from all that" the cyborg reassured her "Too bad it's part of the fun to get a new bounty" he ended wistfully, still peeved he hadn't hit the 100 million beli mark (Unlike Usopp who'd done it twice).

"…Which one?"

Even Luffy looked at Fran in surprise, it should be impossible to be that ignorant, but she managed it without a problem. Nami was starting to see where Luffy got some of his traits from.

"They're Hancocks' crew" the captain blurted out, unconcerned about his mother's potential reaction.

"And who's that?" his mother looked at him expectantly "And how the heck do you know him?"

"Luffy-san ended up on our island a while back" Marguerite added from the couch, a broad smile on her face "The queen got to be good friends with him Mrs. Fran"

"Awww, you don't have to call me that, call me aunt, or aunty…" Fran said with a smile, before the wheels in her head clicked "So this Hancock fella's a Queen eh?" Fran responded with puzzlement "I think Francis once told me of that place once… Momomiro-bo…island or something"

"NO! Not that hellhole!" Sanji responded with a shrill cry from the kitchen, before entering with his arms full of steaming bowls of food. The scent was enough to cause both Luffy and Fran to drool their eyes turn glassy at the sight.

"Amazon Lily, the island of women!" the chef droned on happily, hearts for eyes while he imagined the place "Led by the most beautiful woman of them all!"

"Boa Hancock" both of the Kuja chimed in with a mixture of pride, adoration and reverence, Marguerite looking particularly proud and happy at saying the name "the strongest woman in our tribe"

Nami had heard it all before, either from Sanji or from the two Kuja (or somewhere else, the woman was world famous after all, even Weatheria had heard of her), She didn't recall at this point. The tone of the two bedridden women had improved significantly, it was almost as if they'd been cured by simply thinking of their leader.

"You cult members?"

Naturally both Kuja were shocked at their aunts' question, staring at her aghast, while Fran looked inquisitively back at them from her seat. If the weight of the blankets hadn't been holding them down (if not Chopper could've stepped in), Nami was sure they'd have assaulted their clueless aunt.

"Hey how was their dad like anyway? You knew him, you got to be able to tell something right?"

Nami looked at Luffy, had the numbskull suddenly become able to sense the mood?

The look on his face told her no, he was as oblivious and inquisitive as always (never mind he'd met Coyle's echo and his question was therefore utterly redundant, the man had practically been as chaotic as any adventure the crew had stumbled into).

But as Fran began to regale with tales of Francis' youth, Nami concluded that Luffy was also as lucky as ever, though it was perhaps the first instance where his mother was involved.

"… so when Francis didn't want to follow in fathers' footsteps either, he went off to sea, fourteen years old! Father and mother were furious! It stopped when he began to send money back half a year later though, father didn't like working that much anyway, and mother had gambling debts to pay…"

Fran spoke about how Francis had sent back letters and weird object for years, mesmerising her audience with odd stories, a surprising amount of wealth or exotic objects from even odder lands, all of which were supported by a plethora of letters and photographs Fran had received from her brother when he was out at seas. Most of them depicted valuable objects and exotic faraway places (including one from Tottoland, Fishman Island and a place that could only be Kamabakka kingdom, given Sanji's strong response), but a fair number showed Francis smiling and waving either holding some sort of treasure, a devilfruit or with a backdrop of some idyllic place, looking like a man without a care in the world, and in a peculiar set of different outfits (more than one including an over-the-top afro).

Nami did look them all over (especially the ones with gold or mention of treasure) and, despite Coyles', or Francis', flippant attitude towards them when they'd met his echo, did he appear to have a caring side, he'd sent all those letters to his little sister afterall, for years without fail. Thinking of that, made Nami understand how Fran could treat Luffy the way she did, never hearing about how he was for years on end and then find out he'd gotten wanted by the World Government (and a plethora of other things!). Nami mentally slapped herself for not writing to Nojiko back home either, she really had to look into that soon. The same went for the rest of the crew too. Usopp had Kaya and those three boys back on his home island, Sanji the Baratie, Franky his old friends in Water 7…

Nami snapped out of it just as Fran prattled happily about Francis coming home to visit the family make sure they were okay before he set out on his next run, but her words and mood turned from sparkles and confetti, to cold ashes in an instant: "And then one day… he didn't come back…"

The navigator almost couldn't believe her eyes as Luffy's mother looked down at the table, speaking in low tone, her words strangely brittle. To Nami, it felt like Fran was reciting a-a rumour, so much hiding in the darkness and shadows on some amazing past filled with danger, daring, adventure and ultimately tragedy. The sounds of a legendary and long abandoned dungeon given voice and soul and heart.

The second Sanji put down food in front of her however, Fran smirked and forgot all about her stories.

Naturally Luffy followed suit a moment later grabbing a juicy steak from his overflowing plate (Sanji knew (along with everybody else) what Luffy would be screaming for within 3 seconds) towards his waiting maw.

When it was halfway in, His mother started to complain, stopping him in his tracks

"What the hell are you doing? Use a fork you dunderhead!"

It was a bit scary to see Luffy take food out of his mouth and put a fork in the meat before resuming to eat it. What was really terrifying was to see him obey any one!

"Honestly…" Fran sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose "What manners did I ever teach you?"

Luffy looked down in shame, a lip stuck out at his mothers' words.

Then his head shot up angrily

"Hey, stop taking my food!"

"Why?" Fran responded after she swallowed half a slap of meat "I'm hungry!" another steak disappeared from Luffy's plate and down her gullet "Don't complain just because you're not fast enough!"

This time Luffy managed to remove his plate so Fran couldn't steal more food.

"Hold Still!" Fran commanded as she tried to skewer another morsel on her fork.

"You got your own plate!"

"That's my plate too dummy! I paid for 'em!"

"I'm starting to see the resemblance…"

Both captain and his mother looked at Vivi, making the princess blush after realising she'd spoken out loud. Rebecca was snickering next to her, holding a hand over her mouth to hide her mirth. Nami noted that the pinkhaired girl luckily hadn't attracted their hosts' attention, which was divided between the bluenette, her son and the food she was still trying to snatch.

"What you mean bluehair?" evidently, Fran hadn't' bothered to learn all of their names, which was as infuriating as oddly endearing.

Vivi's hands rose up, trying feebly to avoid the lady of the house having anther violent episode "you just…" She began, which to Nami was Vivi's second mistake (the first was to open her mouth in the first place, Fran might've gotten more lenient with the whole royals don't talk in my house after the bloodtransfusion, but it was still risky business, Sanji only got a pass because he was cooking) "…act a lot alike when eating dinner…"

After giving her another look, Fran raised an eyebrow and asked aloud "…. Why've you had a dinner with my boy? You two dating? I don't want grandkids that I share with some kingtype"

After many exasperated gasps, looks, stares and jaw dropping (and laughter, Franky and Usopp couldn't control themselves) Vivi tried to defend herself, arguing that it wasn't like that and Luffy wasn't the type to do that anyway. Fran was not convinced in the least:

"How can you be so sure if you haven't tried to inebriate something?"

While Nami closed her eyes (nevermind Fran's gross misuse of slightly long words), trying to block out the barrage of voices that inevitably begun to rise after this minor exchange: Sanji led the charge by alternating between denying that anything had happened between Luffy and Vivi (or anyone for that matter (Fran didn't believe him) as Luffy wasn't romantically sentient), trying to distract their host with more meat on her plate or giving Vivi compliments (which quickly extended to the rest of ladies in the room as well). Rebecca also joined in, being personally slighted after Frans' aversion to having royalty as in-laws. Luffy was looking back and forth from his mother to his friends, not sure if he was the one being yelled at and seemingly a bit afraid that Fran would hit him again (there also remained the distinct possibility that he was wondering what romance was and what grandkids had to do with his food). At this point the only ones seemingly able to enjoy their food was Franky and Usopp, since neither of them were daft enough to raise their voices in the middle of the cacophony that had filled the room.

In the end Sanji managed to convince their host that it had been a banquet and they had all been present (sans Franky and Carrot neither of whom had joined the crew at the time (and to Sanji's chagrin Zoro had been there too (Nami was too tired of it all to wonder why Fran didn't ask about Zoro's gender))).

After this the meal cooled down a little, allowing Nami to sneak a quick glance at Chopper.

The little reindeer was starting to twitch a little after the exchange at the table, but otherwise he was fast at work with his patients, administering this and that medicament while taking their temperature and heartbeat.

As she turned back to her own plate, she hoped there wouldn't be anymore troubles in the small house.

(On the main Island of Runny Rum Archipelago, within the Marine Base)

Gion pinched the bridge of her nose breathing slowly to try and bring her temper under control.

Aside from the usual two dozen reports she had to With a number of pirate crews, one of them belonging to a Yonko and another being led by a member of the worst generation, which not only had managed to get their hands on the missing princesses (of all things!) but also begun to search for something of Coyle's (perhaps the most wretched smuggler on the seas), the last thing Gion needed was to deal with a royal family.

Specifically when the royal family in question, was the Vinsmokes of Germa Kingdom.

Every single higher up in the marines knew that the stories about them were true, that they were the leaders of the underground mercenary army called Germa 66. That their king was once the helper of Dr. Vegapunk and thus privy to a thousand different secrets, none of which were safe in the hands of anyone! That they were about as trustworthy as a clowder of alleycats!

In all those regards they were scarcely above pirates (especially given Buggy of the Shichibukai's business) so to deal with the heir apparent of the kingdom was a challenge in and of itself.

That the redhaired prince was also an utter twat to boot, didn't help her mood in the slightest. (No one could ignore, that he paid more attention to her chest or legs than to what she said)

"So you see miss vice-admiral…" the prince continued his lengthy introduction, which GIon hoped was at an end soon "We just can't let this sort of situation stand!"

The whole rant of Prince Ichiji had unleashed on her could be summarized with:

1. We want the missing princesses and we know Strawhat has them (because of reasons).

2. On the way someone angered us, we're still mad about it, but are willing to let someone else pay for it (Strawhat fits the bill, or you if you don't hurry up).

3. You're kinda in the way here lil' miss marine (It'll definitely be you, if you don't obey everything I say).

"The communications blockade will be kept in place, Prince Ichiji" she replied as calmly as possible, trying out her diplomatic tone (which sounded more like she was tired than anything else)

The smile of the princes' face fell instantly "Oi, I just told you that…"

"Yes, I was paying attention" Gion interrupted him, causing a vein to bulge in the princes' forehead, but she carried on anyway "The marines cannot and will not step aside for the Kingdom of Germa to conduct their own operations"

"I'm talking here!" the prince continued protesting, but to no avail

"The marines duty is to maintain justice and uphold the law, naturally saving Princesss Vivi and the three other girls from the Strawhat crew falls under that" Although after having shortly spoken to Princess Viola, it didn't seem to Gion that they were in any hurry to get saved "It is our duty to do this, we will not step aside and the information blockade will be kept in place"

She noted with a tad of satisfaction that the prince was too incensed to respond, his anger forming a small halo around his body.

"That being said, naturally we would accept any help that Germa can provide…" Gions' words, though cordial (to an extent) carried the note that the marines could just as well seize the military that Ichiji had brought along with him.

From the way he was gnashing his teeth, Gion saw that he got the message. Germa Kingdom and the Vinsmokes were the black sheep of the World Government, so Gion didn't doubt she could boss the little princeling around, at least beneath a cloak of politeness.

The red haired fob didn't respond, only seething away, a stove of a man.

"If there's nothing else, I'll have Commodore Durkey show you out" She motioned to the weasly looking marine in his green suit. The one thing that so far seemed to be going according to plan that day, was that he was moving wiht surprising eagerness to the side of the prince.

As the small delegation left the room, Gion once again thought about what Coyle's echo had said … Face it girly, you may have eaten a fruit, but you know nothing about its' potential ….(authors note: see chapter 16) The memory made her grit her teeth, it was true her devil fruit was more beautiful than most, but it lacked somewhat in offensive abilities, which had made her appear more like a figurehead to the marines under her command or the people under her protection, than a frontline fighter, like the way she had gained her rank…

…the Hasu-Hasu is more than a few pretty petals in the air… Coyles' words shot through her mind again, clear as a whistle, and with the power of a foghorn.

She knew he'd been baiting her at that time, just like Big Moms' daughters had been, but those exact words the smuggler had used haunted her more than anything.

What was her fruits' potential, and just why hadn't Coyle written more about it?

Had he written a more extensive journal about his findings?

And if so where was it?

From Director Falco, she knew that Coyle had a relative on one of the islands of the archipelago, could the journal be with them? Or some of Coyle's lost treasures?

And what about that relative anyway? What would they be able to give the Strawhats, if the pirates found them?

Or, since his journal spoke of this The Radiant one (whatever that was?!) wouldn't be pleased with it, had it been a thought that he'd never gotten around to write down? Or had he given his findings over to that entity (or cult, organistation or whatever)?

She eventually forced her thousands of questions aside and focussed on planning to locate and capture the Strawhats. One question she did have the answer for, were what the strawhats needed the relative for, a bloodtransfusion so Coyle's daughters could be saved, Falco had told her as much, though he couldn't provide information on whom the daughters were. Even though Gion didn't know how the Strawhats had encountered them, or how many they were, it did warm her heart to know that that pirate crew weren't all bad. It reminded her a little about the Red Hair crew in fact.

Later,

when thinking of her chat with Vinsmoke,

Gion would regret not paying more attention to the present than pondering the past and future….

(On the Marine ship, The Vigilant Vanquisher, outside of Runny Rum waters)

Viola Shivered and coughed.

Even in the warmth of the captains' cabin, the disease managed to give her chills.

Wrapping herself in a blue woollen, and wonderfully thick, blanket, Viola took comfort in the fact that she'd soon see her father again… and get a cure for that wretched disease!

Her company was not the worst either, The female rear Admiral Malta might not be the best conversationalist, but Viola could feel the honesty emanating off of her like light from a lamb.

The other person in the cabin, aside from the chef bringing in the warm refreshments, was Falco, or Falco-chan as she'd begun calling him. The mans' devotion to her, and indeed anyone in distress (as several poor fishermen they'd encountered on their voyage could attest), was both admirable and considering the times, refreshing.

Presently the three had been busy with talking about the state of the new world, the peculiar scribblings on the ships' hull (authors note: see chapter 3 for reference), Malta had made several remarks about how wrong it was for the (male) marines to frequent the Pleasure District and not only waste all of their money but also fraternize with villains, Falco speaking of the increased pirate activity in the last few years, while Viola herself championed the opinion, that the Shichibukai were an outdated and corrupt establishment.

Perhaps unsurprisingly, the three agreed on all points (though Viola didn't see the wrong in men having a little fun once in a while, though it shouldn't be the kind of fun that was bought and sold like cattle).

A knock on the door interrupted their chatter however

"Enter" Malta called out

The marine did as told, bowing deeply for Viola and his superior officer (Nevermind he ignored Falco completely) "I'm sorry for disturbing you Rear Admiral, but the helmsman and navigator would like a word with you about the course"

After apologizing for her leave, Malta left Falco and Viola in the cosiness of the cabin.

Viola was silent for a moment, then deciding to address Falco on different matters than the world.

"Falco-chan, I'm most grateful that you've escorted me all this way…" She began, softening him up before getting to the point "But shouldn't you be organizing the restoration of your museum?"

Although he smiled Viola could guess from the small beads of sweat on his forehead that something made him nervous "Well, the curators and the other staff will go through all of the artifacts in the exhibit first and that shouldn't be too hard, nothing I need to worry about…"

"And yet you are" Viola let the question hang in the air, both allowing Falco to consider his answer and she to gauge his response (after her ordeal with Coyle, she'd opted not to read people's minds with her powers (deep in the back of her mind, Viola reckoned that that navigator was right too)).

"Well… I'm not certain, but…" the Director began, wiping his brow with a trembling hand before stuttering "…the Ho-ho-ho-hoodie fa-family won't be too ha-appy with what's happened to the…erhm… Smugglers wing…"

"The family of that Vice Admiral who defeated Coyle?" Viola ventured soothingly, patting the directors' hand gently "how angry can they get?"

Falco turned to her, face even paler than Violas own, his eyeswide and unfocussed "You have no idea!"

Looking down into his own lap the director explained "The family is deeply connected with the World Government, and very grateful to the late Vice Admiral for it" he continued barely pausing for breath "the whole wing is intended as a memento to his achievements…"

"Forgive me for saying so" Viola began, hoping no to upset him "But It looked more like a shrine to Coyle than to Hoodie"

To her surprise, Falco merely brushed it off "I wholeheartedly agree! And the previous director said exactly the same thing! But then… well I'm not completely certain, but allegedly the family representative almost tore off her ears afterwards" he shook his head sadly at the memory "Turns out the whole wing is designed to show however much a criminal do, they can't defeat a marine! Build up the opposition so as to make the winner seem all the mightier"

"Aaaahhh…." Viola nodded, recognising the logic from debates or rhetoric, but deciding to leave it be.

"the family really isn't that bad…" Falco bumbled on, fidgeting with his fingers "But it's really most upsetting to be the bearer of bad news, especially to such august individuals… though of course not as respectable as you Viola-chan-sama" he responded, smiling at little to Viola before he continued "But they just get so angry when it's about that exhibit, the wound is still very fresh for them I'm afraid"

Viola nodded as she gave Falco a sympathetic look, poor guy is more scarred than he lets on, better give him something else to think about

"By the way, about reporting what has happened…" She began, her response making the director turn towards her with inquisitive eyes, his distress partially expelled from his mind "Why didn you not tell who Coyle's daughters were?"

Faloc got a strange look on his face, a mix of both embarrassment, shame and pride "well, Some of What Coyle said does ring true… it's not like the world government would let it slide that a child of a criminal was out and about, even if they were underlings of a shichibukai…" he then looked up, trying to look determined and dignified, which was undermined by his light blush "I don't want people to die simply because of their parents".

Viola couldn't help herself and gave the man a tight hug "Glad to see you've got principles"

When the Rear Admiral returned, it took Viola awhile to explain the directors' lack of breath, the deep purple blush and the odd smile on his face.

(On Dvorak)

The dinner was still on its way, which allowed the assembled pirates, princesses and members of the Isle family to socialize, although tentatively, conversation had so far revolved around family, the blood related kind, not extremely good friends, which not all of the Strawhats could say they had.

It didn't deter their travelling companions though.

"Cousins must be wonderful Lucy-san, I can't wait for Viola-san to get married and give me some of my own" Rebecca smiled innocently at Luffy, but while giving Sanji a suggestive and hopeful look. Neither of which the chef noticed, as he'd swiftly begun to froth at the mouth, no doubt in Nami's mind that he was imagining Viola in a wedding dress walking down the aisle (that he'd be the one waiting at the altar was a given, though it was equally likely that he didn't think about the groom at all, giving more attention to the bridesmaids and all the female guests in his little rose-tinted fantasy-setting).

"If she's smart, she gets one that won't stray, they can be a hell of a headache" Fran grumbled knowingly, wolfing down another large steak.

Franky cocked an eyebrow at her "Mrs. Fran, when you say stray…" the cyborg began, looking slightly nervous at Luffy's mother from across the table, small beads of sweat (which should be possible for a metal-man) emerging on his brow.

"One that won't go out and travel all over the place for years!" Fran scoffed "Damn trouble they are! Look at my husband! Goes out and get himself a wanted poster and all such nonsense!"

Hoping to get their host in a better mood, Vivi smiled at her as endearingly as she could "by the way Fran-san, How'd you meet Dragon? And found out he was the right one for you?"

Seemingly distracted the middleaged woman scratched her chin with a greasy finger "Well it started out years ago" she eventually said, a rare smile grazing her face "Dragon was looking for shelter during a storm, and fell over my house, and, nice woman I am,-" Nami gave their host an odd look at this, fortunately she didn't notice "-I gave the sourpuss a place to be by the fire"

"Why was he out in the storm?"

"Well bluehair" Fran began alternating between stuffing her mouth and talking "Numbskull said he'd had an argument with Garp, thas' his dad, and would rather take his chances with the weather" as the woman wolfed down another steak, both Nami and Luffy gave an understanding nod, Garp was a bit of a trial simply by being (which was starting to seem like a family trait at this point).

"And I liked the fact that he listened to me…" their host looking down at her empty plate (which Sanji was quick to fill with more meat, hoping to keep the harridan content) while a lopsided smile played at the edges of her mouth, face softening up considerably, making most of the women around the table look at her with satisfaction (and a bit envy) "…and then he said he wasn't going to do all that! Because he wasn't a servant… or something like that, I wasn't paying much attention to be honest... he might've said washerwoman, now that I think about it… but then he definitely said I could do all that myself" taking a small break Fran shovelled another steak into her mouth, ignoring the surprised stares and cocked eyebrows her guests were sending her way "And so I did! But for some reason he changed his mind before I'd started mopping the floor for real…" Fran simply stated, before musing "Perhaps it was to protect me from the walls that turned all gooey… and caught fire…"

Most of the table didn't doubt that turn of event, some even having sympathy for Dragon at that very moment.

"He ran off again the next day…" Fran continued, before smiling viciously "…But I tracked him down when it was time for the laundry to be taken in and he'd learned to follow a few simple orders by then, but…" she scoffed "…Not all, he's still trying to follow some halfassed dream about some revolution or whatever" she ended her tale with a shrug,

"So…" Vivi began "is Francis-san your only…"

"Francis to family only bluehair" Fran corrected her with a scoff, in between bites of steak, her mouth so full she was starting to resemble an overstuffed trashcan "You can call him Cohille, or cobb, or whatever it was Orangehair called him" she said, waving a hand at Nami.

The navigator in question, decided to let it slide, they were the guests after all.

"…Is Coyle-san your only brother?"

"Nope, I mentioned Fortunato and Fernando before didn't I?"

"Wo'bu aaa D?" Luffy managed with a mouth full of food, and it was only due to a lot of practice that Nami faintly understood he was saying who're they? How he could be that dense was beyond her. Fran understood too, given the scowl that flashed across her face. Another miracle was that she didn't punch Luffy for it.

"…My oldest, Fortunato, and my little brother, Fernando." Something in Fran's tone made it very apparent that no one, especially not if they were within reach, should ask anymore about her siblings. Usopp just managed to stop Luffy from asking any questions about the pair.

Fran seemed like she was just about to ask to be forcefed like that too, but Carrot interrupted her.

"Hi Cho-niki what's up?" Looking at tehe reindeer, Nami initially didn't see anything but Chopper walk up slowly towards his seat from the couches. It was the slow kind of walk that showed the person had the weight of the world on their shoulders and were stubbornly willing themselves forward in an attempt not to be smothered underneath. The sight of it was far more upsetting than it should be.

"Chopper…?" she began, as the Reindeer sat up on his chair a heavy look on his face

"he's just super tired" Franky offered with a smile and a laugh "I'd be tired too if I had to save lives left and right all the time!"

"that's not it…" the small doctor began with a feeble voice "the disease is too widespread… the blood ain't enough…." He whimpered, tears starting to form in the corners of his eyes

Silence followed, it was rare to hear a member of the crew say something was impossible or indicate that they'd give up in any way. At least in their chosen field of expertise.

"Ok, you can tap some more then" Fran said, her face deadest, while stretching out her arm towards the reindeer.

"Yeah you can take some of mine too!" Luffy added with a confident grin "You can take as much as you need"

While the two's actions were certainly touching, Nami knew it wasn't what Chopper meant, just like with Viola, Rebecca's blood hadn't been enough because her blood was too different from Viola's own. And as Chopper explained it to the pair, the navigator was proven right. Even while Fran and Luffy questioned some of the words Chopper used, like mutation or inflammation (mispronouncing both words) the message appeared to get across.

Luffy's grin disappeared, while his mother cocked an eyebrow, seemingly deep in thought (Nami felt that, while it was oddly touching, Fran shouldn't appear that similar in character to Rindo right then and there).

"So we got all this way for nothing?!" Vivi began, her eyes fearful

"This is super unfair"

"I don't' want them to die! Can't you do something Cho-niki?"

"What about your other brothers?" Rebecca blurted out suddenly "Fernet-Branca and…Fortune…"

"I ain't looking for those two bastards to stave off the apocalypse!"

Nami's mouth dropped while looking at Fran, the woman simply stared straight ahead, face set in stone, stuffing her pipe.

The room almost immediately erupted into shouts, outbursts, comments and demands: "You can't be serious!" "They're your nieces!" "You were super okay with donating your own blood!" "it's for a good cause!" "Your are by far the worst person I've ever met Doflamingo!" "Why, what did they do?" "You're worse than…"

The word stream was stopped abruptly by Fran slamming a hand down on the table, cracking the plate and making the cutlery tremble. The look she gave Usopp for his question, could've cracked stone and make a truly fearsome pirate or a marine back down in an instant. The sniper lacked their type of courage however and he simply shut up.

"What they did…." Fran started out, bitterness emanating from the very core of her being "It all started once Francis didn't have luck with him on a run, so he didn't send money back home for a while, only that silly wanted poster" she pointed at the old one with the 8 million bely bounty "And since my other brothers, those bastards, used money almost as fast as Francis earned 'em, we kinda had to eat dirt for a while…" she took a deep breath from her pipe, a massive tick appearing at the corner of her eye and a vein bulged on her forehead "So When Francis dropped by the next time, Fernando called in some bounty hunters, lots of armed, triggerhappy, nasty bountyhunters! We were lucky to get away in time!" the smouldering rage in Fran's eyes made most people around the table lean back in their chairs, trying to get as far away from their host as possible.

"okay…" Usopp said, a small tremble in his voice, a tint of sympathy creeping in.

"And what did For-Tomato do?" Luffy asked after a while, still not remembering his other uncles' name. for some reason Fran didn't correct him.

"That… happened after Francis'… accident" she shivered and looked more than a little frightened at the memory, her eyes turning pleading as she looked at her son, her words fast, low and forceful "I really don't want to talk about that one…"

While the people in the room backed off after this, it didn't solve the problem before them.

"But what else can we do?" Nami said, turning to Chopper, hoping the little reindeer had some idea

"Could we make them into cyborgs like Franky?" Usopp offered hopefully, only earning a shake on the head from the resident shipwright "Nope, we lack the parts for that on the Sunny, but it'd be a super idea if it worked!" (either ignored the desperate pleas of the two Kuja (coolness seemed to override respecting the wishes of others)).

"Stronger magic?"

"For the last time Luffy, medicine isn't magic!" Chopper groaned in-between sobs at Rindo and Marguerites grim fate (and his own failure at saving them).

"Garchu?"

"It didn't cure the others before, I don't' think it'll work this time either" Chopper moaned tiredly, his face still flat against the table

"What if it's a man doing it?!"

"Vinsmoke, If you as much as smell in the direction of my nieces I'm gonna girdle you!"

Despite Fran's misuse of words Sanji understood perfectly, swiftly getting a chair in front of his shaky body.

"Do we have something serious we can do?" Nami finally ventured, looking around at the assembled people in desperation. No one said a word. Usopp and Franky were also looking around, hoping to get ideas or spur others into contributing. Carrot was patting an inconsolable Chopper on the back. Rebecca was alternating between looking at the table and the two sick Kuja. Luffy didn't look like any thought had occurred to him at all, but Nami knew he'd jump to action the moment they had even a semblance of a plan. Fran was puffing diligently on her pipe, which did not sit well with everyone:

"Your nieces are dying!" Vivi finally blurted out furiously, pointing an accusing finger at Fran "Why aren't you more upset?!"

"Whats' that supposed to mean bluehair?"

"You haven't even moved a muscle since hearing about Rindo and Marguerite, you've just been smoking on your pipe and-and barking orders left and right! Don't you care?!" Nami was mentally preparing to split up the catfight that was brewing, but fate was merciful this time around, as Fran miraculously didn't lose her head.

"I really don't care what you think Bluehair" she began, her voice devoid of anykind of diplomacy or politeness, eyeing Vivi through a slowly dispersing cloud of dark smoke "But you don't raise your voice with me and definitely not in my own house"

Vivi blinked, not understanding the woman's attitude, at all (along with everybody else for that matter).

"You mena you're not going to do anything?!" the Alabastan princess asked again, still in shock

"I didn't say I wasn't gonna do anything bluehair" Fran responded, getting up from her seat and walking over to a cupboard.

Opening it, she pulled out a small Den Den Mushi.

"I'm going to call Francis and make him do something about this damn disease" she fidgeted with the snail trying to figure out how to turn it on "Big Brother was here a few days ago, he can't have gotten that far!"

The rest of the room looked at her in stunned silence,

Before erupting in a loud unified, confused and very surprised:

"WUUUAAAAHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAT?!"

That's it for chapter 18

I'd like to welcome new readers and subscribers, glad you seem to enjoy my little tale so far.

I know I said it'd be a week, so I'm terribly sorry it took almost 2 before I updated.

January is a bit busy for me, so I think that it'll be about later this month for an update, but that is at its absolute earliest. It's far too likely that it'll be in February that chapter 19 hits this page.

That is if I choose to have it be a long chapter and not just a small

But regardless: I'm happy to show a bit more of Luffy's maternal family, though I'll hopefully diminish the use and references to Luffy's uncle. In this chapter I've refenced him in almost every section/micro-chapter, so it's getting a bit old.

Threads this chapter

I'll do a quick recap in the beginning of next chapter instead of in the ending of the chapters from here on out.

Hope you don't mind.

RnR if you'd be so kind