The orange haired boy looked down into the room, where he spotted Urika working on her next invention. He gazed at him from over her shoulder. It took a few moments for Urika to notice the new pretense, and when she did, she jerked backwards and fell on the ground. "WHAT WAS THAT FOR?!"
"I knocked." He gave a light shrug. It wasn't his fault the black haired girl didn't hear it. The boy turned around and gazed around the room. Now that this room was liveable once again, Urika imminently took her things and moved right inside. As for the other three, Niko didn't know where they were planning to sleep. For the last few nights ever since they left his home island, everyone has been napping in the boy's room; with the exception of Urika and Luffy, who slept on the deck on the first night.
The girl in front of him rather slept on a couch than in a room with boys instead; even though there were two other girls in the same room.
She picked herself up from the ground and started pushing her work back into the drawers, away from Niko's peeking eyes. "What was that for?" he questioned with distaste. He only came down here to ask a favor.
"N-Nothing," she turned around and leaned her body on the desk; like she was trying to block his view of the containers.
"What's wrong? Writing a letter to your boyfriend?" He raised his eyebrow, "Or better yet, you are drawing some pictures of your crush."
Her cheeks reddened and she looked away from the orange haired. "N-None of your business."
He waved as if he didn't care for the matter anymore. "Well you see...I need a stronger weapon!"
"Stronger weapon?" she repeated as a question. "Why do you need a stronger weapon? Usually Zora and Savi take care of them before we can."
He looked down at the ground. "I may have good looks and a crafty min-"
"What does that have to do with anything?"
He looked up into Urika's eyes. "What type of man am I if I'm letting two girls take the punches for me? You saw what happened in Arlong Park! Instead of harming others, I just injured myself." He patted his shoulder that bore a new tattoo.
At this moment, Zora opened the hatch and looked inside. When she saw Niko and Urika inside, she shrugged and closed it back up. Whatever those two were doing, she didn't want to be a part of it.
"I'm not a fighter; I don't even have my own weapon. I had a staff, ax, and a knife, yet I never harmed anyone!"
Urika nodded at her words and glanced back at her desk. On top of it was a crossbow with pieces missing. Instead of firing arrows, she was changing the machinations so it was in other words, a slingshot with direct aiming instead of a slope downwards.
"You should understand the most, Urika. We aren't like those other three. Why Luffy chose us...I still don't know."
"He chose us because we're friends, right?" Urika tried to get Niko to smile, but instead he was gazing at the ground. He was remembering all of the times he had to be protected by the crew. Luffy even took care of Alvida for him without him even asking the rubber boy to do so.
"Isn't that why you have been rebooting that crossbow? In hopes of getting stronger?"
Her eyes widened as she tried to shuffle all it out of view. She hasn't told anyone of it. It was her father's first weapon that he treasured; even though it was his, she still cared about his teachings. It was one of the things she brought along to the ship, along with the rabbit-foot necklace she wore and the box of letters she got from her father before her mother died. "H-How did you know about the crossbow?"
"Unlike them, we need weapons to get stronger. Will you please make me a weapon, Urika-chan?"
She looked down at the ground. Her lips were puckered together, "What would it be then, staff, ax, or sword?"
"You're so wonderful, Urika-chan!" He held onto her hands and smiled fondly at her.
"And the prick-"
"Now I know I can get stronger!" He interrupted him as he walked over to the ladder.
"The costs will b-"
"Thanks!" he climbed up to the deck.
Urika's head fell over. She was moments away from following the orange haired. Instead she sat back down at her desk and looked at the oak crossbow. Not only did she have to design this old ragged thing, but she had to create a new weapon for the navigator. She didn't even know what to base the weapon on, a staff, ax, or even a sword. Couldn't Niko settle on one idea for her? She wasn't a magical worker, not that she doesn't try to be.
...
When Niko reached the deck, he looked around. Zora was napping along the wooden wall of the lounge room; the scar across her chest was in view with her new crop top. While Luffy was sitting on his favorite seat, gazing into the sea. The blonde chef exited the lounge room, rolled her eyes at Zora, and lighted her cigarette. "Aren't you modest..." she uttered under her breath before going over to the railings. She leaned on them and looked out into the distance.
Niko stepped to her side and looked at the direction where the ship was heading. "We should be at Whiskey Peak soon," he commented as if to start a conversation with the blonde.
She was more focused on what was behind the ship than what was in front of it. "I wonder how long those two have been following us..." she uttered under her breath. Savi didn't notice Niko's presence as she gazed at the fishing boat following the Going Merry. The two weirdos were sitting inside of the small boat and rowing it, surprisingly matching Merry's speed.
The orange haired glanced to her side and his mouth widened. "They have been following us? They aren't getting their log post back, that's out of the question."
The cigarette, smeared with lipstick, fell into the sea as Savi glanced over. "Niko-swan?" she squealed with heart-shaped eyes. "You were here?"
He gave a slight chuckle, calming down from the shock of the two followers. "Been behind you the whole time," he tried to joke, but the blonde girl took it a different way than he intended.
"You have been...admiring me from afar?" she blinked her eyes with hopefulness.
"...If you would call it that...then yeah."
Behind the two, Luffy pointed ahead. In front of the ship was an island, full of giant cacti. "We're here!" he shouted in delight. His mood was reflected by those living on the island, which surprised a few members on the ship.
"They are welcoming us?" the green haired swordswoman questioned as she stood up from her nap. She rubbed her eyes and looked at the incoming island. The citizens shouted in triumph at their entrance.
"I would have thought they would run us out..." Niko uttered under his breath as he gazed at the island from the lower deck.
The two strangers in the rowboat fastened their speed until they were in front of the Going Merry, and turned as it came to the shoreline. He faced the boat with a crooked smile planted on his face. "This is our home," the man with nines spread throughout his body stated.
"And you are our guests!" said the woman with blue hair. Her arms were spread out as she gave a sly smile to those on the ship, which didn't set right with a few of them.
"Oh great, they followed us..." Urika mumbled under her breath as she lifted herself out of the hatch.
"I can always kick them over the reverse mountain," Savi promised as she planted her foot on the railing, giving a view of what was underneath her skirt. She was looking down at the blue haired with a nasty gaze in her eyes.
"Oh, no please!" Mr. Nine raised his hands as if to guard against an attack. "We are only welcoming you!"
Luffy turned around and looked at his crew with cheery eyes. "Come on! It's a party!" He declared as he raised his hand to the air.
...
The five friends stood in front of an opened door as Mr. Nine showed them the way. Inside was a bar with citizens drinking and partying for the newcomers. Igaram stood at the opening as he greeted the young pirates, "Everything is in the house!"
"I thought your island was starving," Savi remarked as she sat down in a wooden chair. She looked over at the blue haired woman with sour feelings.
Neither one of them replied to her. Instead they turned around and looked at the others within the bar. With a click of his fingers, the blonde chef was surrounded by young escorts. They leaned against her pale skin and took a hold of her hands. She blushed imminently at the contact with the young men.
Urika was shoved into a chair, "Hey!" she squealed as her chair was pushed against the table.
Niko and Zora walked behind them and took a seat at a table.
Luffy leaned forward and laughed at Urika's fragile attempts of standing up. "This is a trap! Isn't it?" she questioned those around her. Luffy placed his arms around Vivi and Mr. Nine, who glanced over their shoulders at the rubber boy.
"Just enjoy it~!" Savi uttered in response as a man with shiny blue eyes looked up at her.
He brushed her arm, "What pretty skin you have, gorgeous."
Savi touched her cheek with the palm of her hand and squealed in delight. Vivi shifted over, trying to get Luffy from pulling her closer to him. "This is great!" he grinned and stared into her blue eyes, "So where's the food?"
She picked up his rubber skin; she shivered at the touch of his smooth plastic skin, and took a few steps away from him. "The food will be out soon, until then, enjoy your time here."
"You are our guests!" Mr. Nine patted Luffy's back and also pulled away from his grip. He glanced over at his partner, "Isn't that right, Ms. Wednesday?" The blue haired girl nodded as the two had their backs together. Igaram stepped in front of them, in which they exited the building. The large blond stretched out his arms and looked at the pirates. His blond curls brushed against his jacket.
Luffy's shoulders slumped as Vivi was out of sight. He sighed and took a seat next to Urika, who was now getting handed a cup after cup. "I can't possibly drink this much!" she squealed as they handed her another.
Niko lifted one of Urika's cups, "I surely can."
"You think so?" Zora uttered as she took another cup from Urika. Her voice was full of a challenge. Others surrounded the table and tried their hand at the sake drinking challenge. All of them lifted their drinks to their lips and Niko took the first gulp.
Luffy started at each of his crew members, even Urika tried joining the challenge and ended up drunk off her horses. She took a hold of her glass and swirled it around in her hand. Luffy raised his eyebrow at the girl as she gestured to him to lean closer. "Hey, Luf~ You wanna know something?" she hiccupped.
"Hm?"
"Y-You are like my best fairy friend!" she raised her glass over her head. "So don't change nuthin' bout that, alright?" With her other hand, she raised a finger to his lips as he tried to speak. "Alright?" With his lips puckered out, he slowly nodded at her request. "Goodie!" she cheered and wrapped her arms around him. Her full lips came closer to him, and smooch him on the cheeks. She leaned back in her chair, with a drunken blush, and raised her glass again and took a larger slip.
"Strange," he uttered under his breath with a raised eyebrow. "Urika, you drunk?"
She snickered and leaned her head on the table.
Before he could do anything else, a plate was set in front of him and drool dripped out from between his lips. Without waiting for anyone else, he started digging into the pile of food.
The dark skinned girl closed her and hiccupped again. She blinked when a man sat on her other side. "Hey! Have you heard about the island of the giant goldfishes? Cause it was awesome!" she slammed her fist into the table, "I, the Great Snippy Usopp! No...wait, my name's Urika! Yeah, the great Skipper Urika~! And I was on this land of poo! It seemed like rotten eggs. Good grief no one was around."
Zora lay her glass on the table and looked at Niko with one eye. "How the hell?" she moaned as Niko finished his glass.
"Are you going down now?" he smirked as a drool escaped from his opened lips. "If so, then your debt's gonna rise, girlie!"
"What was that, knave?" Zora questioned through her teeth. Savi didn't even notice as she was being allured by the handsome gentlemen.
He leaned over the table as his glass was being refilled. "Can't you hear, wench?"
Their drinks were refilled and the green haired fell onto the table as there was only a slip left in her cup. Niko lifted up his empty glance and cheered. He looked at the others who tried to join in. "You all butter pay up!" he slurred and leaned his head on the table. His eyes swirled in front of him and the world spun.
Savi lay in a man's lap as he brushed back her hair. She shifted her head when he tried to touch her blonde strands, her bangs and brush them back. Her eyes were filled with hearts as the men questioned her about her life and gave her compliments. She was delighted as she heard each one. This was like sweet heaven in her eyes.
Another plate was piled on top, while the citizens stood back in fear. All of the rubberbones were strange in their eyes, but their captain just consumed all of the goods for the next three months. They thought they were in trouble before, when they needed to hunt Laboon down, but now with this fool eating it all, they could only watch as the cartons empty. Luffy bumped his chest and a large belch escaped from the bottom of his gut. It blew Igaram backwards into the wall. The rubber captain smiled, "Heh, excuse me!"
The blonde giant took out his napkin and wiped the spit away from his face, then tuckered it back in his jacket pocket. His face stayed emotionless as he stared at the strawhat boy. "That was certainly a burp, mi~mi~mi~" He gave a slight nod and exited the room.
"Thut wuss strunge," the black haired boy said bluntly. His body leaned to one side and lay the plate on the pile. His stomach turned into a sphere from all of the food he consumed. He leaned backwards and lay on the ground. He gave a big heave as a yawn escaped from his lips.
...
Zora stuck her sword into the hay covered roof as she looked down at the assassins. Her eyebrows shifted as one of them finally found one there was a pirate missing and nowhere to be found. "She's right here," she addressed them, "You really think I would fall for a poor trick like that? Barque Works?"
Igaram blinked as he looked up at the green haired. "You knew?"
"Certainly. I'm guessing you haven't heard about me?"
He glanced down, "Roronoa Zoro, correct? There were a few speculations about your identity, but it seems the marines have botched up their information once again."
"Surprise I'm not a demon?" she taunted as she pulled her sword out of the hay.
"Surprise that a well known swordsman suddenly turned female is more like it."
"Still, that's only half of it. That doesn't explain how I know of your company. Though, I'm not surprised you don't know a lot."
"Our number one principle is everything must be a secret, not even our pasts or identities are known between our agents. But one way or the other, you will still have the same outcome." He pulled out a gun and aimed, "KILL HER!"
As soon as they pulled out their weapons, she wasn't there on the roof. Instead she stood in between the crowd.
"She's not there!" they shouted as they stared at the roof.
She snickered, "So? Shall we begin?"
The agents surrounded her, but she held them off with her three swords. They were slashed and thrown on the ground. Her sword touched his cold skin. "Is one gravestone enough?"
His eyebrows came together and he placed the horn of his trumpet on his lips, and blew. Bullets spread out, Zora's eyes widened and she pulled back.
...
Urika opened her eyes and blinked until her vision cleared, and when it did, she jerked backwards. She was in the middle of Savi's heaven, lying on top of several guys. Her cheeks blushed and then her head thumped. "A...hangover...?" she questioned out loud as she rubbed her skull. She stood up and quietly tiptoed away from the dozen boys, but something was strange. She leaned down and looked at the nearest one. With her thumb, she lifted up his eyelid.
He just stared ahead with terrified eyes.
He wasn't sleeping.
He was unconscious.
"Luffy!" she squealed in fright. "Come on!" She turned around and looked at her gluttony captain, who was sleeping in the middle of the floor. Her eyes gazed over the citizens on the ground; all of them fell there, beaten up by an unknown monster.
Zora was nowhere around.
"Luffy!" she shook her captain, "Come on and wake up! Zora isn't here! Maybe she's an angry drunk and beaten everyone up! Are they all alive?!" All of these thoughts raced through her head, yet Luffy stayed on the ground sleeping. She tried the blonde, but she was having a wonderful dream that Urika couldn't pull her away from.
She didn't even chance it and woke up Niko. Last time that guy was woken up, the devil shivered.
She took a short quick breath and took a hold of Luffy's wrist. There was no way she was going out there unguarded, and Luffy was the closest thing she had to a knight that she had on hand.
And if it was Zora who was doing this...then she and her crossbow had no chance.
The door, wide open, allowed the cold breeze inside. She shivered under her overalls. Her feet stepped out of the building, and tugged on Luffy's rubber arm. His giant body was stuck in the doorframe. She took a deep breath and started heaving forward. She took two dozen steps, pulling his arm, but he was still in the door. Her eyebrows came together and she took another step forward.
SNAP
His body came flying forward and slammed her right into the building. Luffy bounced off and slammed into the opposite building. Her eyes widened as his body came back flying at her eyes. She jumped out of the way before he could pound her into a jam.
He bounced into the wall again. If she didn't do anything, then he would be stuck there as a bouncing ball all day. "I'm going to regret this..." she uttered before jumping into him. Their bodies' clashes and he got off course, and rolled. She was standing on top of him and ran as his body spun. "I'M REGRETTING THIS!"
Urika raced on top of Luffy's body, which crashed into the nearby buildings and rolled on top of the fainted citizens. It was as if she was in a game of pinball.
A bird and an otter stood on the rooftop, looking down at the city.
Her foot slammed into his face, and he finally opened his eyes. "Why is everything spinning?" he asked.
Urika jumped as she stared down. They were rolling down the hill, right into a clearing with a cactus on the other side. The two of them glanced at each other and shouted as they came to the clearing. "STOP!" Luffy shouted as he tried to halt himself, but instead something else stopped him.
The two of them lay on the ground, and the sniper lifted herself up and glanced around the clearing. Luffy took a big breath as his limbs stretched; his large stomach disappeared within seconds. "Isn't that...Ms. Wednesday?"
Vivi lay on the ground, smashed into the dirt. Her duck, Carue, stepped by her and touched her shoulder.
"Vivi!" Luffy exclaimed as he jumped up.
The girl gasped as she turned to the sound of her name, but recoiled once she saw it was only Rubberbones Luffy. She then turned her gaze when she heard someone crack his knuckles. A man, in a long red jacket, stepped out of the shadows. "Is this your backup, Ms. Wednesday? I was expecting someone...flaming unlike that last guy." He pointed behind him where Igaram laid on the ground with his face slammed into the ground. The ground was in cracks all around him.
"Luffy! Let's run!" Urika squealed as she leaned on Luffy's side.
"Princess...Vivi..." the man mumbled in a weak voice.
Luffy cracked his shoulders and looked at the man. "Aren't you Boogers?"
"Boogers?!" the man's jaw dropped. "I would rather be called the flaming Mr. 6."
Luffy, not paying attention, took a step forward and glanced at the ground to Vivi. "What are you doing here, Boogers?"
"IT'S MR. 6! And it's none of your business..." he looked back where his partner stood.
"Rubberbones Luffy." She informed as she leaned on her umbrella, "30,000,000 on his head."
He snickered, "Someone with a bounty like that and he's challenging me? Puff! Now, get out of my way. We are on a mission to kill the princess, and we don't need you in our way."
Luffy stuck his finger in his nose, "Nope."
"WHAT?!" Mr. 6 screeched. His face reddens as he stomps on the ground. He did the same action as Luffy.
"THIS ISN'T THE TIME TO BE PICKING YOUR NOSES!" Urika shouted. She backed away from the two insane guys, and almost stepped on Vivi, who was standing on all fours. She turned around and quickly lifted the girl onto the duck; she didn't know why she was helping, but she didn't want to risk the chance that this girl wasn't their ally that Luffy made her seem. 'She did try to blow up Laboon...' Urika had second thoughts, but the girl was already on top of the duck, who decided at that moment to sit on the ground.
"Thank you," she said in a hush voice then shouted at her duck, "WHO SAID TO SIT?!" Her eyes turned and looked at the blonde man. "Igaram...we have to get him."
"Go on, Lady Vivi." He placed his hands on the ground and pulled his head out of the ground. "I can handle myself!" He stood up and whipped barrels out of his blond curls. His finger lingered on his necktie, ready to pull and strike.
"He can do that...?!" Urika's eyebrow twitched. She was meeting one weirdo after the other.
"Oh, no, no, no. That won't do." A girl appeared behind the two of them and wrapped her arms around each of them. Urika felt like a heavy collar chain had just wrapped around her neck. "Tsk, tsk, tsk. Getting away is a big no no."
"Taking Lady Vivi as a hostage...How dear you..." he let go of the neck tie, and cleared his voice, "Mi~mi~mi~"
Sweat dripped from the dark skinned woman's face. Her body shook as she stood there. In front of her, the man flicked his booger at Luffy and it exploded. She was waiting for Luffy to mimic it, but instead he only jumped out of the way. The sniper reached down and tried to undo the crossbow from her straps.
Vivi, who saw her attempt, brushed her foot against Carue's side. The duck's head spun and tried to squirm. "Hey!" Ms. Valentine squealed. She turned her attention from the two girls onto Vivi and her retreating duck. The crossbow was unsheathed and Urika quickly aimed it at the blonde girl. She placed a pellet into the pocket and pressed the trigger.
It headed toward the girl and ejected. She reached around to see what landed onto her, but she only felt something sticky. Jam covered her back, and it ran down her thighs. "Yuck!" she jerked her hand back and tried to rub it off on a napkin. The slimy substance stayed. "You made me all dirty!" she screeched. Her shoulder twitched as the jaw touched her skin. She felt sticky and icky.
"Booyah!" she raised her hand in the air. Her crossbow worked! "Do you want to see more of my powers?" she smirked as she brushed her crossbow, bragging to the blond chick.
"You disgusting girl!" she whimpered. "I will never get this out of my clothes!"
...
Zora's eyes narrowed when she heard those footsteps. She turned around and glared into the shadows as a foot appeared on the edge.
Clap.
Clap.
Clap.
"Times have changed you," the voice whispered, "Zora."
She unsheathes her sword; ready to attack if the times called for it. "I'm not going back."
His tongue clicked against his lips, "What a bothersome choice you have chosen, but I'm afraid I cannot follow through on that."
"You will," she stated firmly.
"Do you not know of the problems that have arisen because of your absence?"
"That never stopped you before."
He gave a slight chuckle and clapped his hands again, "That may be right, but to stay in our positions, you have to rejoin."
"I quit a long time ag-"
"A year ago," he corrected, "You quit being with me, but you did not quit this group."
"What the hell does that have to do with anything?" she growled. Two swords were curled in her hands as she took a step closer to the man in the shadows.
"You are still a part of us even if you deny that fact, Ms. Halloween."
...
Savi's heart died when she saw the scene in front of her. Luffy was in the middle of the clearing laughing as two strangers were piled up behind him. Urika wiped her forehead as she dropped onto the ground. A man with blonde hair gave Luffy his thanks for saving her.
Ms. Wednesday, or as Luffy likes to call her, Vivi was petting her duck as she thanked Savi's captain once again.
Her shoulders slumped as the blue haired spoke with Luffy. The captain acted like she was an old friend of his, while the girl could only stand there bewildered. Savi stomped the ground and grumbled under her breath. What was this? Jealousy that played in her chest? All she knew was there were already two too many girls on the ship as it were; not counting herself of course.
The chef could only curse her under her breath. She strolled along the path with Niko curled in her hands; Savi held him bridal style as the man did not want to be woken any time soon. When Urika saw the blonde chef, she hopped back onto her feet. "Savi! You missed it! You should have seen my moves!" She beamed at the jealous-filled girl. Her smile turned upside down as she stared at the blonde, "What's wrong with you?"
Igaram bowed his head down once more, "I can only ask this of you as a favor. You have saved the princess twice before, and with no other help in sight, I have another favor to ask of you. Mi~mi~mi... Will you please escort Lady Vivi to her home island?"
"Igaram?" Vivi gasped at her loyal servant.
"Please, my lady, these people have saved us. The others on this island will awaken soon, and will strike us once they hear about our deeds. If you can escort her, we will repay you with a great reward!" He declared, which caused Niko to stir in Savi's hands, "I cannot stress this enough, but you have to return to Alabasta before Mr. 0 begins his plan."
"Oh, you mean Crocodile?" Luffy leaned his head forward with a huge grin.
The other two gasped. Their eyes widened. "HOW DID YOU KNOW?!"
"YOU SAID HIS NAME?!" Vivi's eyes darted through the sky as she searched for the unluckies at any moment. Mr. 13 stood there in the clearing and drew their faces on his sketchpad. As soon as her eyes made contact with his, she gulped. "O-Oh no!" her eyes widened as the animal hopped onto his partner's back and took off.
"W-What just happened?!" Urika gulped as the two animals disappeared into the sky. She pulled on Vivi's shirt, "WHAT IS THAT VULTURE AND OTTER?! DIDN'T THEY GO TO REPORT TO YOUR BOSS THAT WE KNOW ABOUT HIS SECRET?!"
"It's not that bad," Luffy chuckled.
"Y-You..." she closed her eyes while her head was tilted to the ground, "are now on a hit list for knowing Mr. 0's identity..." Her fist squeezed.
"I DON'T KNOW IT!" Urika shouted into the skies, "COME BACK!"
"You two don't?" Luffy tilted his head. "It's Croco-"
Urika covered his mouth with her hands. "See, we don't know it," she gave a cocked smile.
"So, we are on a hit list now...this should be exciting," Savi giggled as she took a puff of her cigarette.
"I guess now there is no choice. Even if we didn't mean to, we have gotten your group into our problems..." Vivi stared at the ground.
"Don't worry!" Luffy chuckled, "I will take ya to Alabasta!"
"That's my line!" Igaram stated. All of them turned around to look at the servant, who was now dressed up like Vivi. "Princess, please give me an eternal post."
She stood there and stared at her loyal servant. "What are you planning?"
"I'm disguising myself as you and took these dummies with me to Alabasta. When BQ is chasing me, please leave with these pirates and get there by using the regular route. They will not think to look for you if you went the longer route." He looked at the captain, "Please take care of Princess Vivi for me."
"That dress suits you," Luffy stated as he scratched his head.
He nodded his head and turned around, "I will be leaving first."
...
Vivi stood there as Igaram stood on a different ship. She didn't know what happened, but somehow she caught others into her mess. They could be killed at any moment, and it would be her fault. Her shoulders slumped as Igaram took on a disguise as her.
Luffy went to her side and tilted his head. "What's wrong Vivi?"
"How...how do you know my name?"
"I know all of my nakama's names!" His lips puckered out as he thought of something else, "Did Zoro get lost again?" He wondered out loud.
"But...we never meant before."
"A nakama is a nakama," he shrugged, but she continued to stand there leaning against the railings. He bit the inside of his mouth until he got an idea. He brushed his hair where it stood up and stretched out his chin. He raised his forearms together over his head and posed. "SUPER!"
Her eyebrow twitched at his action.
He blinked and his arms swayed back down at his sides. He was hoping that imitate would cheer her up, which it didn't. "Oh yeah, that's because you don't know Franky," he snickered at his own inside joke.
Before Vivi could say anything, she heard explosions off into the distance. Her eyes widened as she raced to the front of the ship and stared at the sight behind her. Igaram's ship was floating on the sea in pieces. Wooden boards were scattered throughout, as it was on fire. Her pupils dilated; she could only think what happened to Igaram. Her nails crawled into the railing.
Niko sat up from the deck at the explosions and looked around. His eyelids were covered in dust from his sleep. He didn't know what happened, but all he knew there were explosions going off on the side. Savi sat across from him, but her focus was on the fire that started to cool down.
"His ship..." Urika's voice faded away as she took in the sight.
"It was a nice one as well," a cold voice uttered.
All of them jerked around and stared at the source of the voice. On the railing of the upper deck sat a man with an unbuttoned black vest and a cowboy hat. His black smooth hair reached his buffed shoulders. His jean shorts were rimmed with white fur. "I have just greeted Mr. 8 over there, Ms. Wednesday."
"M-Mr. 1!" Vivi shuttered.
Luffy looked at the man in front of him, "Robin?" He started as a question, because this person was different from what he was used to. Instead of a slender woman, Robin was a buffed man with scars spread at the upper area of his chest. His boots were placed between the wooden posts of the railings.
Robin leaned forward and gazed at the rubber boy from under his hat. "Rubberbones Luffy," he stated in a cold manner.
"WHAT DO YOU WANT FROM ME?!" Vivi shouted.
"I'd only stopped by to give my best regards. As well as reciting a message from your dear friend, Roronoa Zora."
"You have her?" Urika gulped.
"Why did you take that shitty swordsman instead of me~?" Savi questioned.
"Z-Zora's gone?" Niko's eyes widened, "But she hasn't paid back her debt."
"Where's Zoro?" Luffy narrowed his eyes at the black haired man.
"Don't worry about her; you will never see her again. She is in safe hands for now, but I can't say the same for your group."
Urika aimed her crossbow at him, "Give us back Zora!" While Savi raised a gun to Robin's head. The dark skinned girl lifted her eyebrow, "Isn't this against your teachings?"
"No one threatens my Prince Charmings," she stated as her finger moved over the trigger. She didn't even remark about Zora's kidnap.
Robin blinked and the two were thrown over the railing and back onto the lower deck. "Don't point them at me, please."
"A-A devil fruit?" Niko shuttered.
"All top five pairs of BQ have devil fruit powers."
"Not exactly," Robin corrected, "There are a few who disregard the after and wish to live without the use of a devil fruit."
Luffy grabbed onto his straw hat, but hands appeared at his sides and he snickered, leaving his hat open to get taken. The hat spun on Robin's finger as he mocked the pirates. "I'm surprised you heard of my name, Rubberbones Luffy, but that will not be for long. Your next destination is Little Garden. Maybe we will see each other again, but for now, this will be our last conversation."
"Give me back my hat," the captain uttered with puckered lips.
"That isn't what you should be worrying about," the blue haired girl said, "This man's position is to take orders straight from Mr. 0. He's probably the one who ratted on us."
"My, I did no such thing, little girl," he flicked his fingers and the hat flew back to Luffy, "You only knew so much information that you know now because of my bidding."
"What?"
"Nevermind," he looked elsewhere. "I have other businesses to tend to, so maybe fate will intervene and allow us to meet once again." He stood up from the railings and hopped over the deck.
"He's going to sink!" Savi squealed as she ran to the side.
Instead, there was a turtle stationed at the side of the ship, as well as a woman with bandages restricting her movements.
"Zora!" Urika followed Robin overboard, and landed on the ship.
"Oh dear," the man murmured.
The turtle rode forward, leaving Merry behind.
"GIVE ME BACK ZORO! URIKA!" Luffy shouted through the air. His face, redden from madness, stormed to the side of the ship. He was moments away from stretching across the ocean to get back his crew members, but Savi held him there as his foot went over the railings.
"They are too far," she stated.
"Niko! Turn back the ship!"
A bomb flew through the air and landed right behind the ship. It exploded.
Behind them were ships of the millions of Baroque Works.
Luffy growled with his teeth showing.
The princess looked at the ground, "I'm sorry...if it wasn't for me...then your crew would still be here..."
"Dammit!" he shouted over the waves of the ocean.
Guest1: What fun would it be copying down the same story? Plus, Alabasta's saga is probably the boring part for me, so I have to add my own things to keep it interesting. Yes, Savi is starting to become a favorite character to write (since she's more jealous and catty than Sanji). I will give you a slight hint, his sleeping mystery has something to do with the number 13.
