Chapter XVII: Awkward Dealings
"Where do I even begin? Fufu!"
Doflamingo's robust laugh rolled throughout the large, open terrace of the Nefertaris' residence.
Vivi shuddered at all the possible implications that his jovial outburst could carry.
King Cobra, on the other hand, opted for a more bemused expression on his face.
"From the very beginning. Please have a seat. We are rather short on refreshments at the moment though."
"Ah, that's very kind of you. But it looks like-" Dolflamingo began.
Vivi reached out her hand to gently tug on the sleeve of her father's robes. Her eyes widened when she noticed the rough bandage fabric around his hands.
"Father! You're hurt! Now's not the time for this!" she panicked.
"I had it taken care of, please get some rest. You've been through more than enough already. I received Igaram's dispatch you know..." he spoke gently, patting her shoulder.
"Now where were we?" Cobra asked in an attempt to resurrect their conversation.
Doflamingo smiled as he observed the duo with mixed curiosity. Their synchronised relationship impressed him. The older man seemed to read his daughter's mind like an open book.
I wonder how he will react when he finds out what the Desert Cat agreed to; there is no way she could fool him.
Not that Vivi seemed to care about that at the moment, her worries, understandably lay elsewhere.
"How can I rest?! The rebels are about to breach our walls, Crocodile is somewhere around here, and you are injured."
The Shichibukai took her nerve-ridden tone as an intervention cue.
"You get wiser by the hour, Princess. His Majesty has done an incredible job in raising such a-" Doflamingo closed the distance between himself and Vivi, "rare gem." He finished and placed his hand on her shoulder.
Vivi gave him a reprimanding look. She could almost feel his grin widen at the fact that he could still get to her at a time like this.
"Thank you for the compliment." Vivi forced the words through her teeth.
Cobra scrutinised the pair before him. The banter, the familiarity, not to mention the physical gestures and the glances his daughter threw in Doflamingo's direction. It all hinted at a surprising revelation.
Could it be? They act like lovers.
Undeniably, in the four years that have passed since her "disappearance", Vivi has matured, not just physically, no. There was a steely hardness in her eyes that he never saw before. Sure, growing up she was always a strong-willed child, but this was something else.
He sighed. How could I let you down like this my child?
"You needn't worry so much about Crocodile. He will be taken care of."
"How?!" Vivi gasped in surprise, while the blond Shichubkai smirked.
Cobra rubbed his sore neck, before continuing.
"With the help of your...eh—unusual friends. It will destroy our entire mausoleum complex, not that it matters, its inhabitants are dead anyway ha." Cobra chuckled dryly, but there was no mirth in his keen eyes as they darted back to his uninvited "guest."
You cunning old fox. Doflamingo was beginning to see why this family has been in power for so long. They were not as guileless as the Riku family that he had dealt with back in Dressrosa.
"So there is some truth to that legend eh? No looter could ever get out of a Nefertari tomb in one piece. His Majesty certainly lives up to his shrewd reputation fufu."
"Thank you. Yes, something like that." King Cobra smiled at his compliment before continuing.
"But how could you explain what is going on here? How did you two meet each other?"
Vivi tensed up in anticipation. She could recognise her father's habit of asking multiple questions before zoning in on his "target" and diving straight into a heated argument.
"The calm before the storm." That's how Igaram called it, Vivi recalled sadly, but she hoped that her father would see the precariousness of their current situation.
What could stop Doflamingo from murdering my father and just taking me with him?
That's right, nothing. He could always paint the King of Alabasta as a tyrant as he did in Dressrosa.
But the man in question was unfazed if anything he seemed to be enjoying this.
"Your daughter and I crossed paths in Jaya, by chance of course. She was on Crocodile's hit list, and I took care of the assassins he sent for her."
Vivi exhaled in relief. Well, it is true, especially when he puts it that way.
Cobra looked surprised; his gaze returned to Vivi, she could almost read the question in his eyes.
"That is the truth, Father. -"
"Call me Doffy."
"That is highly ina-" Vivi began.
"Thank you!"
She watched in astonishment as her Father shook Doflamingo's hand.
"Words alone fail to express my gratitude. But please know that you have my undying thanks! To think that I was this close to losing you!" Cobra emphasised the tiny sliver of distance between Vivi's possible death with his thumb and forefinger before enveloping her in another embrace.
"Thank you!" he gently nodded at Doflamingo.
"Please, it is an honour. Besides, how can I not save a beauty like that?"
Cobra laughed in response as he ushered everyone inside.
"Which brings me to the purpose of my visit." Doflamingo continued.
At that moment, Cobra's smile faltered. Vivi held her father's hand.
"Let me explain this myself," she demanded.
"As you wish." The blond raised his hand in a false gesture of magnanimity.
"Father..." Vivi began, Cobra could already feel that he was not going to like this.
She paused, struggling to retain her composure,
"You know that I would do anything for Alabasta and more importantly—our people, right?"
Cobra nodded solemnly.
Even Doflamingo, it seemed, was susceptible to the infectious solemnity that now permeated the air.
"Well, it just happens that this man-" Vivi turned to look at silent Shichibukai, "offered his help in ridding Alabasta of Crocodile and stopping our civil war."
Vivi took the liberty of adding the part about the civil war, Doflamingo went along with her ploy.
I suppose it's time to show my power.
"Under what conditions would a man of your rank extend such a generous offer to my daughter?" Cobra asked cautiously.
"My conditions? An age-old tradition really, one that I am sure you will be familiar with—marriage."
Vivi's eyes widened. He never mentioned this part before!
"What?!" Cobra exclaimed.
Doflamingo chuckled.
"Well I am sure you already have a list of suitors lined up for your daughter anyway, why not add another candidate to the pile? With guaranteed priority, of course, fufu."
Vivi gave her father a questioning look, before walking out onto the terrace.
Cobra was left dumbfounded in the background.
"This is...I don't even know what to say. How will any of this go? You're a pirate; then there's the question of your Celestial Dragon heritage, not to mention the fact that you're twice her age!"
"I see you know me well fufu." Doflamingo wasn't surprised that the King of Alabasta would know of his roots since they uninterruptedly ruled this land, there is probably an archive that catalogued all the events that took place since they came to power.
"Can we save all this for LATER?!" Vivi ran back and paused in the archway, gunshots and screams followed her reappearance.
The rebels broke into Alubarna; many crowds swarmed the city square before the palace.
Cobra rushed onto the terrace.
"Where is Carue? I need to stop them!" Vivi cried.
"Vivi it's too dangerous! Stay put. I can't afford to lose you again!" the King implored.
"But Father, I came this far I can't let them fight each other. They deserve to hear the truth, Kohza is there right? He will listen to me!"
Cobra had to admit that his daughter's public image was currently in a far more favourable position than his own but this was too reckless.
"How would they hear you?! The entire country is at war Vivi! Wait!"
But she didn't pause, heading out into the hallway, whistling for Carue along the way Vivi wanted to try to stop them again when Doflamingo cleared his throat.
Where is he?!
"Allow me. I did come here to help after all fufu."
The bluenette froze in her steps.
Doflamingo motioned for her to join him and her father on the terrace.
Reluctantly, she obliged.
The two battling sides covered the sun-drenched square below, Vivi didn't even remember when the tears began to stream down her face.
Doflamingo licked his lips; battles always excited him even when he was just part of the audience.
"I will write a new history for you today." he grinned and opened his palm, his dextrous fingers twitched forming thin, pearly white strings.
"Incredible..." Cobra whispered as he watched the white strands form a tall pillar out of Doflamingo's palm.
"What are you going to do? You can't hurt them!" Vivi furrowed her eyebrows in suspicion.
"Don't worry, for your sake I won't. I will keep your people in this little birdcage; then you can talk to them. But I am warning you—men at war are deaf to lofty speeches."
"It's worth a try, and you know it."
Doflamingo smiled at her stubbornness.
The strings shot up into the sky and began to form a dome of strings all around the palace and the square, actually closing off the area to other parts of the city.
Some people below were beginning to notice them and stopped in astonishment.
The strings broke through the ground in a crashing noise. By then they captured everyone's attention.
Alubarna Square
"What is this?"
A curious rebel fighter approached the edge of the white cage and touched one of the glowing strings.
"Ah!" he hissed pulling his fingers away as blood dripped from them.
"Don't touch that!" barked a young, blond man with a scar on his face.
"Leader! Look up over there!" a short, stout man in a blue cap, broke through the crowd with a pair of binoculars in his outstretched hand.
The blond man squinted, adjusting his glasses as he looked up in the direction of the Palace.
"Isn't that the Princess? She's back!" someone shouted.
"Kohza wasn't she a friend of yours?" the man handed the binoculars to the Rebel Leader.
"Yes, when we were still children. At least she's alive." Kohza mumbled in relief when someone else caught his attention, "but more importantly..." he moved the lenses to the side, "that tall man in pink, he looks familiar. Here, see for yourself."
He handed the binoculars back to the shorter man.
"Whoa! That's the Shichibukai Donquixote Doflamingo, King of Dressrosa!" he shouted.
"Hmm... so he allied himself with the King huh?"
This situation is getting out of hand. Vivi what are you doing there?
"Tell the men to cease fighting immediately," he ordered his right-hand man.
"What? Why? Leader, we outnumber the Royal forces."
"They're clearly up to something. Send word to all the other divisions."
"I see. Alright then!"
Kohza proceeded to make his way towards the palace.
There was a sudden commotion among the crowd when they witnessed Doflamingo taking to the sky with their Princess on his back.
It was as though the entire both sides of the opposing forces held their collective breath in strained apprehension.
Doflamingo swooped past their heads and swiftly landed onto the stone-paved ground of Alubarna's famed square.
Vivi, covered in her Father's cloak to cover her tattered dress, gracefully slid off her unusual "perch."
King Cobra, having sent Pell out earlier to the Royal tombs to keep an eye on Crocodile, was left standing with Chaka on the terrace. Pell's prolonged absence was beginning to alarm the duo, but all he could do now was watch his daughter and his potential son-in-law below.
They were now surrounded by a circle of armed forces from opposing sides.
"I came here on behalf of the Princess, Nefertari Vivi...to save this kingdom!" Doflamingo's voice boomed across the area.
"What?"
"He can't be serious?"
A rumble of whispers went through the crowd. Curious onlookers carefully peeped out of the locked up buildings.
"Vivi, what is the meaning of this?" Kohza shouted.
Doflamingo frowned at the familiarity with which this commoner addressed the Princess.
"Leader!" Vivi ran up to him.
"I have something important to tell you all. I need your help to convey this message! After that, I will need you to evacuate this square at once!"
"What is it? Why is another Shichibukai helping you?" Kohza nodded in Doflamingo's direction.
"I will get to that in a minute. Hand me a speaker there's not much time left!"
"Everyone! I beg you to stop this needless bloodshed! We have all been duped by Sir Crocodile!" Vivi began. Her voice echoed through the loudspeaker.
"Liar! He is a national hero!" someone shouted from the crowd.
An alarmed royal soldier pulled out a transponder snail with a Baroque Works insignia on it.
"Your father is the true culprit here!" another voice picked up.
"Shut up! Don't you dare insult the Princess!" a royal soldier retaliated.
Some men began to trade blows. Random fights broke out in different parts of the square. The situation was about to escalate.
"Wait! Please hear me out!" Vivi screamed, she turned to Kohza.
A gunshot rang through the air, and it was thought it signalled the start of an impending battle.
"Leader! A royal soldier shot one of our men!"
"Kohza, this is not how it looks like!" Vivi tried to plead with him.
"You can't even control your men, leave Alabasta and take your Father with you." Kohza pushed past her.
"No! Please believe me!" she called after him.
Standing in the middle of the square, behind Vivi, Doflamingo lost his patience.
"That's enough! How can you let them speak to you like this?!"
He forcefully pulled her back by the shoulder.
"Watch and learn girl," he growled extending his finger.
"Parasite."
Vivi gulped in fear.
I can't let any more people die here.
Shocked gasps and screams pierced the air.
"I can't move!"
"Somebody help!"
Doflamingo laughed when he saw Vivi's fear-stricken expression.
"Look around you Desert Cat; I kept my promise. I didn't hurt anyone, and soon you will have to keep your end of the deal fufu."
"We don't know about Crocodile yet." she quipped narrowing her eyes.
"That's nothing, now look around you."
Vivi was stunned.
The myriad of soldiers, Royal and Rebel, were holding their weapons up in the air. Unable to move while Doflamingo effortlessly pulled their invisible strings.
"That Crocodile could only dream of having this sort of power."
Vivi had an inkling that the other Shichibukai couldn't care less about other people, Pluton being his sole goal right now. It was just a distraction for the masses, but it still impressed her.
"Unbelievable, I didn't think it could be possible to control so many people with your strings at the same time!"
"I can do a lot more than that you know fufu. But I'm afraid this alone won't be enough to stop them, they will get back to their fight as soon as I set them free, so I will have to-" Doflamingo furrowed his brows, veins popped out on his broad forehead.
"What are you doing?!"
"Something that only a real King can do."
With a manic smile on his face, he stretched his powerful arms into the air.
A shockwave of invisible energy burst forth, toppling virtually every fighter down to the ground.
Let's test your will Desert Cat.
Once he let his arms down, he turned to see Vivi attending to some of the fallen men.
Just like I thought, perfect.
There was only a handful of people left standing on their feet.
Kohza, Vivi and a few soldiers from both of the opposing factions although the latter swayed from side to side.
Vivi strode towards the laughing Shichibukai who was now dissolving his birdcage.
"What have you done? You promised you wouldn't kill anybody."
"Relax, they're merely unconscious. Now then, take me to the mausoleum."
But before Vivi could even respond a loud wail from above caught their attention.
Vivi could recognise that familiar cry from among a myriad of sounds.
"Pell! Over here!" she waved her arms.
"There she is! Cutie-chan!" another familiar voice followed suit.
"Bon-san!"
The Falcon zoan descended into the square, leaving clouds of dust in its wake.
"A falcon zoan eh? Interesting..."
I wonder if Caesar could recreate something similar, Doflamingo folded his arms.
"Vivi-sama! Please hurry, you must leave this area at once. Crocodile is on his way!"
"But what about Ni-"
"Sunday-chan is missing. She went in with our Boss into the tombs, but he came out by himself." Bon Clay interrupted, his voice laced with sadness.
"He killed her?!"
"We destroyed your family's tombs, followed the King's instructions precisely but when the building toppled he-"
Vivi didn't need to hear anymore she patted Pell's wing.
"Please keep Father safe; I will go look for Nico Robin. We owe her that much."
"Vivi-sama, we prepared a ship for you and your His Majesty in Nanohana, you have to leave now. Crocodile is still somewhere out there."
But Vivi just shook her head in refusal.
"I will not run from that man anymore."
She could feel her "saviour" approach her from behind.
"Surely you won't leave me here all by myself Desert Cat?"
With a dangerous glint in her eyes, Vivi turned to face him, looking up directly into his face, she smirked.
"You're right. I won't. You will join me."
"How possessive fufu!"
Bon Clay's jaw dropped at Vivi's gutsiness and the Shichibukai's clear appreciation of her attitude.
"Don't push it." she snapped, "Pell, Bon-san, I will be okay. Please help Father and stay safe."
"But-"
"This is not a request Pell. It's my final order; please honour it."
"Your word is my command, Your Highness." the falcon bowed his head and took off.
"Cutie-sama you are a real Queen! I am so proud of you!" Bon Clay hollered from above.
Vivi smiled and waved back.
"Stay safe!" came a voice from the side.
"Leader!" Vivi smiled as Kohza approached her.
"I don't know what is going on here, but whatever happens know that I will take care of the people here in your stead. And if you ever need my help, use this." He handed her a pocket transponder.
"I am sorry for ever doubting you." Kohza placed an arm on his chest as he performed a formal bow.
"Thank you Kohza." She hugged him.
Doflamingo frowned but didn't say anything, Vivi walked back to him, the fallen fighters were slowly beginning to regain their consciousnesses as groans echoed throughout the square. Silently Vivi approached his impressive form, placing both hands on his chest, she whispered plainly: "I will take you to Crocodile."
Doflamingo knew very well what it meant, she acquiesced. She was his at that moment.
"There is no going back, you do realise this Princess?" he asked her calmly as he led them along the sky path.
"I realised that the moment I saw you standing back in Crocodile's office." she murmured.
He inhaled sharply.
"Careful there Desert Cat, or I might think that you're in love with me already fufu."
He felt her body stiffen in response.
"I am not! I choose to accept my fate...for now, that is."
"Good. I taught you well."
I want you to erase Crocodile. But Vivi wasn't sure that this was what Doflamingo had in mind, she knew that notorious pirates, especially of their calibre, could not be trusted. What if they made some secret deal to get Pluton together?
I still don't know what happened between them in Rainbase. I only have Doflamingo's word for it, and he can't be trusted completely.
So she decided to take a more emotionally strategic approach.
"When the time comes, please kill that man for me and..." she paused in embarrassment hoping Doflamingo would take that for shyness.
I have to say this.
"And?" he echoed.
"And your heir." she practically breathed the words just above a whisper.
"Certainly." Doflamingo only nodded in response.
You little manipulative snake! What other tricks are you planning to use on me?
He smiled at his line of thought. Frankly, he loved the scheming and ambitious side of the Princess.
Now this will be entertaining fufu.
Vivi mistook it as him falling for her bait.
Suddenly Doflamingo turned his head back; he sensed someone below them.
"Looks like our target is a lot closer to the Palace than I thought. Nico Robin will have to wait, that is if she's still around. Knowing Croco-man, she is probably dead just like your relatives in the Mausoleum fufu."
Vivi didn't humour him this time and looked down instead. She couldn't see anyone out in the streets below them.
"How do you know he's here?"
"I have a sense of these things. There. Look." Doflamingo pointed to the dried up fountain on a deserted street corner.
As if on cue, Crocodile's body materialised out of the sand.
Vivi could feel her blood boil in rage seeing how the man just got away with everything he did so far.
"Make him pay!" she hissed in Doflamingo's ear.
The blond Shichibukai's face broke into a broad smile.
A/N:I am not sure I can say that I like how this chapter turned out but I wasn't sure how to set the stage for ensuing events which I plan to complete by chapter 20. This story will take a darker direction after that and really diverge from canon. Just thought I would give you guys a heads up on that!:)