Coco: I'm on a roll, guys. Two chapters back-to-back? I'm on fire XD
Anyway, hope you enjoy this one. Soon we'll be getting ready for the really exciting stuff as the Straw Hats will soon be preparing to fight Crocodile~
A few days passed since Ace left the Straw Hats in Alabasta's desert, Wren was walking behind the group to keep an eye on all of them since she didn't want them to be separated again like yesterday. Luffy, Zoro, and Chopper had gotten separated when Luffy started freaking out, and Wren didn't want anything like that happening again. Rattle was helping her look after the group as he slithered behind her to give her shade though before long the sun would be completely set.
"Hey, Luffy." Usopp, who looked completely worn out, called out. "What was that thing your brother gave you?"
It's been bothering Usopp for a while, and he finally just had to ask to get some kind of answer.
"I don't really know." Luffy said as he pulled the paper out. "It just looks like a scrap of paper."
"It's a Vivre Card." Wren said from the back.
The group paused to look back at Wren, and she came to a stop as well to look back at them.
"A Vivre Card?" Chopper asked. "What's that?"
"A Vivre Card—also known as the "paper of life"—is a piece of paper made of a person's fingernail." Wren said. "It may sound odd, but this paper will point you back to the person it was made from."
"It will point me back to Ace?" Luffy asked.
Wren nodded her head then moved forward to stand in front of Luffy. She had him hold out his hand flat before placing the Vivre Card down. She stepped away with the others gathering around. They watched in amazement as the card moved across Luffy's hand without him touching it, and there was no breeze to move it either.
"Whoa, that's so cool!" Luffy exclaimed.
"So no matter where Ace is this card with point Luffy in his direction?" Nami asked.
"That's correct." Wren said nodding. "And Luffy won't have to worry about the paper getting wet or catching fire since it is both water and fire proof. He can also rip it into pieces to give to others if he so wishes, and the paper will still work as it is now."
Nami couldn't believe such a paper existed in this world, but she's learned recently that the Grand Line has all sorts of new things to discover.
"Moreover, this paper represents Ace's life force." Wren added.
"His life force? What do you mean?" Sanji asked.
"As long as Ace is in good health, the paper remains whole." Wren said. "However, if he were ever to be gravely injured and/or on the brink of death, the paper would start to burn away…and if he were to die, the paper would crumble away completely."
It was silent for a moment as Luffy looked down at the paper in his hand as it continued to move in the direction, they had left Ace in.
"Then this paper really is important." Luffy said. "I can't lose it."
So, to keep it safe Nami sewed it into the inside of Luffy's hat ribbon since that was the safest place to keep it.
"Where do you get something like a Vivre Card?" Usopp asked.
"In the second half of the Grand Line." Wren replied as the group resumed their trek across the desert.
"Hey, you guys, we're close now." Vivi cut in. "Yuba's just beyond those rocks there. One last push, and I'm sure we'll make it!"
Luffy cheered then ran forward with the others quickly following. Wren followed at a slower pace. Soon it would be time to make her final decision. Stay with these troublemaking rookie pirates or go off on her own. She was sure that Crocodile was getting ready to make his next move as well. Which means the officers should be coming back to the country soon if they weren't here already.
Lorelei let out a sigh as she walked ahead of Bon Clay and four of their subordinates. The four men were dancing and singing an annoying tune that Lorelei was trying to block out. Lorelei saw the Spider Café in view, which meant she soon would be relieved of this song. She made it to the door while opening it and stepping to the side so Bon Clay could make his grand bow. He'd kick up a fuss if he wasn't allowed to do it.
"Hello, to all," He began as he bowed. "And how are you today?"
He came out of his bow while smiling grandly as Lorelei let out yet another sigh.
"You're a freak." Paula said breaking the silence.
"I am not a freak, Paula!" Bon Clay snapped then danced over to her. "I am merely a talented dancer practicing my craft. One sparkling water for me, please, and sweets for my precious partner."
Lorelei frowned at being called precious, but she said nothing as she sat down in the seat beside Bon Clay. Paula set out some pastries and tea for Lorelei who welcomed herself to them.
"And I don't have any sparkling water." Paul said to Bon Clay.
"Don't have any?!" He asked. "Give me a break! That's what all the high-class ballerinas drink!"
He then gave an obnoxious laugh as Paula walked away to get him some regular water.
"Oh, you're still here?" He asked his subordinates. "You guys can leave now."
"Right!" They said as they saluted Bon Clay.
"And don't forget to practice those new dance moves like we talked about." Bon Clay added.
"Right!" they said again.
They then danced away to do as they were instructed. Lorelei shook her head before taking a bite out of the tart she picked up.
"Oh, how nice." Bon Clay said sarcastically. "The fatty and the old hag are here with us."
Lorelei glanced back at Ms. Merry Christmas and Mr. 4 as the latter was giving the prior a back massage.
"Why don't you just such your fat mouth, you weirdo-ballet dancing-swan brain-freak of nature?!" Ms. Merry Christmas snapped.
"Well, nice to see you!" Bon Clay said sarcastically and in a sassy high-pitched voice.
"You both should shut your mouths." Lorelei grumbled.
She then took a sip of tea as Bon Clay started gossiping with Paula about Mr. 1 and his partner being deployed as well for this mission. Lorelei didn't really care about Mr. 1 or his partner Ms. Doublefinger. She already knows their identities. One of them happens to be directly in front of her at the moment. The other should be making his way here by now. As Lorelei sat there, she knew the time was getting closer to when she'll be meeting Wren once more. When they cross paths it won't be as friends.
—FLASHBACK—
"I'm trusting you with this assignment, Lorelei," Wren said as the girl followed behind her. "Get as close as you can to Crocodile. I want to know everything."
Lorelei felt her heart pick up in pace because this was a big assignment. Her first one without any of the others to back her up. But Wren was trusting her to take care of it. She couldn't fail the older woman. Not after everything Wren has done for her.
"Of course, Big sis." Lorelei said with a nod. "You can count on me. I won't let you down."
Wren paused to look back at Lorelei. Though the shorter girl couldn't see Wren's face as her mask was in place. She always wore the mask when outside the castle. Or whenever guests were around. Never letting anyone outside of the family see her true face. At least not when she was working. No one new that Magier B. Wren and Corazon were the same person. Lorelei never understood Wren's reasoning behind having two personas. But she didn't question it either.
"You'll do fine, Lorelei." Wren assured the girl while reaching out to give her shoulder a reassuring squeeze. "You've trained for this. You know what to do."
Lorelei nodded once more with her tense posture not relaxing. She was the second youngest in the family…the youngest member of Corazon's Army. She didn't want to hold anyone back. She didn't want to fail the family.
"Just do your best," Wren continued. "And no matter how things turn out, I'll be proud of you."
—END OF FLASHBACK—
'Did she mean any of that?' Lorelei wondered. 'Or was it a lie? Was everything just like that too…a lie?'
Lorelei was brought out of her thoughts by a loud crashing noise, which hard her looking up to see that her and Bon Clay's subordinates had been thrown through the door and partially the wall. She was on her feet in an instant ready to fight along with all the others in the café. She narrowed her eyes when seeing that Mr. 1 was at the door, and he had been the one to throw the men. As Bon Clay demanded to know what the four men were doing beaten up and back here on the ground, Lorelei kept her eyes trained on Mr. 1.
"I believe the person you should be yelling at, Bonbon, is him." Lorelei said as she pointed to Mr. 1.
Bon Clay looked up at Mr. 1 will hatred burning in his eyes for what Mr. 1 had done to his subordinates.
"Oh, so these men are acquaintances of yours?" Mr. 1 asked. "You see, I found them acting suspiciously out in the desert. Don't worry…I doubt they'll die."
Lorelei narrowed her eyes while actually feeling a bit angry at Mr. 1 for hurting their subordinates. Even if she has been just spying on Baroque Works, she has grown the teeny, tiniest bit attached to Bon Clay and the men that serve under them.
"You seem unnecessarily concerned about them." Mr. 1 said. "Fostering friendships will only make you weaker."
"Those men are mine! They don't belong to you!" Bon Clay snapped.
He went to attack Mr. 1, which caused Lorelei to sigh as she shook her head at the pair.
"This is going to be a long night." She said.
Ms. Merry Christmas yelled for Bon Clay to stop, but he didn't listen as he attacked Mr. 1. The man managed to dodge most of Bon Clay's ballet kenpo, which was a bit impressive. Bon Clay might be eccentric, but he was a very skilled martial artist. However, they really didn't have the time for this.
"Bonbon, just drop it," Lorelei said. "If you're that concerned help the men."
The men currently bleeding out on the floor. However, she was ignored as Bon Clay switched up his stance. It only took a few more kicks before he finally landed a hit on Mr. 1. The man went flying backwards towards the wall, and though it was only for a split second, Lorelei noticed he activated his devil fruit power to cut through the wall behind him to minimize the damage as he flew outside.
"What the hell?!" Ms. Merry Christmas exclaimed. "He went straight through the wall. He barely seemed to notice it was happening!"
Bon Clay went to follow after the man who managed to catch himself and skid across the ground. Both men looked pissed and ready to keep fighting, but Lorelei had enough. She went after her partner to stop him as everyone else went outside. Paula went to Mr. 1 as Lorelei had Mr. 4 grab onto Bon Clay.
"Do you want to die that badly?" Mr. 1 growled as he stood up.
Though Lorelei didn't want to continue a fight, she stepped in front of her partner who was trying to break away from Mr. 4.
"I'm sorry for his behavior, but if you take another step towards him, I'll kill you." Lorelei threatened.
Mr. 1 narrowed his eyes at the young girl. Besides being the youngest one here, he felt as if her presence was the most dangerous, which meant he knew she'd try to carry out her threat without fail. However, he wasn't about to backdown from a child.
"That so?" Mr. 1 asked while about to move forward.
However, he was stopped by Paula, who put her arm out in front of him, which caused him to frown. Though he didn't take his eyes off the two agents he planned on killing.
"Hold it," Paula told him. "That's enough playing around Mr. 1."
"I'm not done," He retorted. "Move, Ms. Doublefinger. I still haven't killed him yet and the little girl is next."
Lorelei didn't seem too worried because she had an advantage over those here. She knew haki and they didn't. It gave her the edge.
"Stop it!" Bon Clay cried from next to her feet as Mr. 4 continued to hold him down. "Just get off of me, Fatty! Oh, you're killing me!"
He would have kept shouting at and hitting the larger man if Paula—or rather Ms. Doublefinger—didn't cut him off.
"Mr. 2, it's time for you to calm down as well. It's 8 o'clock. All the agents that should be here are here. Once more is that a letter containing our orders has arrived at the Spiders Café." Ms. Doublefinger told them as she dropped her disguise as Paula. "So, we're instructed to go to Rainbase the City of Dreams. In that city, we'll meet someone. A man we know but face we have never seen. We're heading to meet the boss."
As her companions looked on in surprise, Lorelei contained her expression though inside she was growing excited.
'Finally,' She thought. 'Once I get my next orders from him, it'll be time. To follow through with my true mission. Even if I have to kill the one who gave it to me in the first place.'
Wren, who felt a small shudder travel through her, stood with the others as they looked around Yuba. Wren was glad to have finally gotten here, but it didn't seem as if they found an oasis. The entire town was dried up. Not that Wren was surprised since when she and the others first spotted Yuba about half a mile away it had been getting hit by a sandstorm.
"It can't be." Vivi murmured dejectedly.
Wren supposed they would be finding no water here, so it was good they still had a bit left over thanks to Ace getting more supplies from Edo.
"This doesn't look good." Zoro said. "This place doesn't look much different than that Erumalu place from before."
Wren would bet that Crocodile was the cause to this place drying up as well. He does control sand, and it seemed as if that sandstorm from earlier was a tad unnatural. Wren wondered if she had been closer if she would have felt the same presence she felt back in the former city of green. Wren then blinked when she sensed someone. She looked down seeing a man digging in the large hole below them. He didn't seem to notice them or didn't seem the care they were there.
"Mmm, water." Luffy whined.
"Vivi, I thought this city was supposed to be some sort of oasis." Sanji said.
"It looks as if the oasis has disappeared." Vivi said. "It's been swallowed up by all the sand. How could this have happened?"
"Why not ask him?" Wren asked.
Everyone looked at her in confusion, so she pointed down. Everyone followed her gaze seeing that there was an old man digging a hole.
"I'm assuming that you're travelers." The man said as he finally acknowledged them while he kept digging. "You must be exhausted from all the time spent in that heat. Sorry but this town is a bit dried up too, so it doesn't have much relief to offer."
He then finally looked back at the group of pirates, and Vivi tried to cover her face, so not to be recognized.
"But still, you are free to rest here for a while." He said. "We may not have much water, but there are plenty of inns here in the town. It's what we prided ourselves on after all."
"Thank-you." Vivi said. "But we came here because we thought the Rebel Army was in this town."
The man didn't seem to like the Rebel Army since he reacted violently when Vivi mentioned it. He started shouting and telling them to get lost as he threw whatever he could get his hands on at them. Wren calmly stood still as the man's aim wasn't that good. Her companions, however, panicked as they tried to avoid being hit. It took a few minutes, but the man finally calmed down enough to stop throwing things.
"If you're looking for those fools, look elsewhere." He said as he returned to digging. "They're no longer in this town."
As Vivi and the Straw Hats started freaking out, Wren sighed. It would seem the information that Reggie gave her was accurate. They had moved on, which meant they wasted time coming here. This irked her beyond belief though her blank expression didn't give anything away.
"I'm sure you noticed the town was just hit by a sandstorm." The elderly man said. "That one certainly wasn't the first. After three years of no rain, the land has become increasingly dry. Sandstorms became a regular occurrence here. Little by little the oasis that we knew was swallowed up. Until the town became what you see now—a dying wasteland. When the flow of supplies to the town ended, the Rebel Army couldn't maintain their drawn-out struggle, so they packed up. They moved on. The Rebel Base is now located in Katorea."
Wren frowned remembering that Katorea was back from where they had come. They didn't have the time to make it all the way back there to the Rebel Army before Crocodile pulled something.
'Meaning my decision has been made,' Wren thought. 'Whether they come along or not, my next destination is Rainbase.'
Havel, who was still resting in her shadow, let her sense his unhappiness, but she ignored it.
"Katorea?!" Vivi exclaimed.
"Uh, where's that?" Luffy asked. "Is Katorea close to here, Vivi?"
"It's near Nanohana back the way we came." Vivi explained.
The others' mouths fell open in shock since they had just come a long way for nothing.
"Katorea that's where I got separated from Sanji and met Eyelash!" Chopper exclaimed.
Eyelash seemed to start talking, so Chopper turned to the camel to give him his full attention.
"That's right when you helped me get away." Chopper said as Eyelash kept talking. "Wait a second, Eyelash is saying he was carrying Rebel Army goods to Katorea."
This new piece of information led to Luffy, Usopp, and Sanji being violent towards Eyelash. Though Wren felt a bit annoyed with the camel, she still wished the boys wouldn't use violence on the poor animal. Eyelash then tried to brush off their anger, which only made them hit him more.
"Well great, coming all this way was just a waste of time." Zoro said.
Wren was about to comment, however, she sensed the man approaching, so she turned to look at him. Her movement caused the others to look back at him.
"Vivi." He murmured, which had the group—minus Wren—stiffening. "Is your name really…?"
He trailed off looking completely shocked and unsure what to really say at the moment.
"Hold on, she's definitely not a princess!" Luffy exclaimed.
Zoro punched Luffy over the head a second later as Wren sweat-dropped at how horrible Luffy is at lying.
"Nice one, Luffy!" Zoro said sarcastically.
The man then completely climbed out of the hole while looking at Vivi as if he was looking at a ghost.
"Princess Vivi, is that really you?" He asked as he grasped her shoulders. "You're alive! I can't believe it. Thank-goodness. It's me, Vivi! Don't you recognize me?! I look different. I lost some weight I suppose."
Vivi gasped in shock seeming to finally realize just who this man was in front of her.
"Toto, is it really you?" Vivi asked.
The man nodded his head as large tears started to well up in his eyes at a fast pace.
"That's right." Toto said.
"It can't be." Vivi said.
She couldn't believe what the last few hard years has done to her dear friend Toto.
"Toto? That's this guy?" Luffy asked.
Despite not completely listening to Viv's story the other day, Luffy had heard bits and pieces like who Toto and Koza were.
"For whatever it's worth, Vivi dear, I have faith in you and the king." Toto said. "He's a good man. A true king who would never betray his country. I know it!"
Wren watched as Toto fell to his knees crying. Vivi knelt down in front of the man as he continued to cry with his tears momentarily giving water to the dry sand that greedily soaked them up.
"This rebellion is ridiculous!" Toto said. "A bunch of faithless fools! True our country hasn't seen a drop of rain in three years, but I still put my trust in the king as I've always had. Most of the country still has faith in him actually…So many times…I tried to stop them so many times, but they won't listen to anything I say. The rebellion isn't stopping. Their strength, supplies, and men have reached the limit, however. Their intention is to settle everything with their next attack. Their backs are against the wall—they're stuck in a corner. Prepared for death!"
Vivi stiffened when hearing this, but Wren wasn't all that surprised. They were angry and wanted justice. Apparently enough to kill and to die for it. Crocodile planned this well. The kingdom would tear itself apart to nearly the point of no return, and then who shall appear to stop that from happening? Why Crocodile, of course, the gallant hero of Alabasta. And when he sits on the throne, he will find himself in a position of power…power that will grant him nearly anything and everything he'd ever want. He'd become almost untouchable.
It was almost as if Doflamingo coached Crocodile on how to take over a country. Though Doflamingo took over Dressrosa in much less time. Though still, it was impressive everything the man's been able to accomplish. He wouldn't be doing well for long though. Wren wouldn't stop until he was toppled and she had her hands on all his supplies and resources. Not to mention, she couldn't allow him to even set eyes on this mystery weapon he's after.
If he got ahold of it, and Lorelei fulfilled her mission, which would ultimately giving Doflamingo this new weapon and all of Crocodile's fruits of labor, it'd be nearly impossible for her and Law to complete their own goal of taking down their former captain.
"Please, Vivi, you have to stop these fools from tearing our country apart!" Toto begged.
He then cried some more with most of the Straw Hats looking at the man in sympathy. Vivi silently pulled out a handkerchief from her cloak to hold out to Toto who looked up.
"Toto, old friend, please don't be worried." Vivi said.
"Vivi dear." Toto murmured.
"We'll succeed." Vivi said. "We're going to stop this."
As Toto bowed his head to thank Vivi, Wren sighed and turned away. This girl was just too naïve if she thought she'd stop things before they get out of hand. This country will fall if its princess can't start thinking straight and taking risks.
'But it's not really my problem,' Wren thought. 'It wouldn't be the first time I watch an entire country fall. If what I do saves them, so be it. But if it doesn't, I'll just move along as I've always done. Nothing is going to stop me from reaching my goal. Not even these pirates…even if I have grown partially attached to them.'
Wren sat in the corner of the room that Toto have given them to rest in. The others were fast asleep around her after wearing themselves out by having a pillow fight. Nothing was ever simple with these pirates.
'I might actually miss them,' She thought as she glanced away from the paper she was writing on.
She watched them sleep peacefully. Luffy, who had been brought in by Toto not that long ago, was snoring loudly and Wren found herself smiling almost fondly at the boy. She shook her head though to focus on task as she returned to writing her letter.
"You know you don't want to leave them." Havel said as he finally climbed from her shadow. "You like these pirates."
"Whether I like them or not, I can't let them get in my way." Wren replied. "You really don't want to know what happens to the things and people who get in my way."
Havel sighed shaking his head at the stubborn halfling as she was writing her goodbye note to the Straw Hats. She kept writing until she finally finished by signing her name. She gave a moment for the ink to dry before she started folding up the paper.
"So, you'll be leaving tonight?" He asked. "Isn't it dangerous to cross the desert at night? You sent your new snake friend away before we came into Yuba, so it won't be easy to travel."
"We'll be fine," Wren assured her familiar as she stood.
He frowned though said no more as she was obviously set on her path. Though perhaps he could try another method. He looked over at a certain sleeping cook as Wren went over the bunks Nami and Vivi were sleeping in. Wren climbed up the ladder to Nami's bunk while knowing it was best to leave her note with the responsible navigator.
She placed the note in Nami's hand, which even in sleep, the ginger-haired girl grabbed onto instinctively. Wren pulled the girl's blanket farther up to her shoulders before moving back down. She then grabbed her bag while heading for the door.
"…Wren-chan…" A sleepy Sanji murmured as he partially sat up in bed.
Wren paused to look back at the blonde before giving Havel, who had purposely jumped on his bed as he was 'following' Wren, a look. The feline looked back innocently as he moved off of Sanji's torso, which he had walked on.
"Where are you going, my dear?" He asked.
Wren sighed as she moved over to the blonde's bed. She sat down on the edge of it.
"Nowhere of importance," Wren said. "You should go back to sleep, Sanji. You all have a lot of hard work ahead of you tomorrow."
Sanji looked confused by her words as he noticed she had her bag slung over her shoulder.
"Wren-chan, are you leaving us?" He asked. "Why?"
He looked hurt by her actions, which had Wren feeling a slight twinge of guilt. However, she squashed it down as she reached inside of her cloak. She pulled out a familiar pouch that contained a certain powder and before Sanji knew what was happening, she blew the powder into his face. He instantly started feeling drowsy.
"I need to move on alone." Wren said as she gently lowered him down to his mattress. "Believe it or not, I enjoyed traveling with you all. In another life, I might have even joined all of you on your adventure. However, for your own safety, it's best you all never see me again. Goodbye, Sanji."
The blonde tried to reply but the pull of sleep was stronger, and he was soon out. Wren sighed as she watched him sleep a moment before standing. Havel huffed at failing once more before he finally gave up and headed out the door, which Wren opened.
"Goodbye, Straw Hats," Wren said as she paused at the door. "It was a pleasure."
She was then gone in a blink with none of the pirates the wiser.
Coco: And there you have it, Wren decided to split off from the crew. She doesn't have much of a head start, but I wonder what kind of advantage it'll give her in the end anyway. And I wonder how the crew is going to react once they realize she left. Tune in next time to find out!
Until then stay safe and keep being your beautiful selves!
