Monkey D. Luffy looked across the back-lawn of the Galley-Ra building. It was full of townspeople and friends. Chairs that had been set out the night before were now filled. The general hum of low-volume chatter was heard. The future pirate king was currently sitting on a wooden stool, barely restraining himself from going crazy from excitement. He shook his leg in anticipation. All around him, the day was bright and birds chirped. Behind him stood Iceburg-san, setting up a waist-high podium.
The ceremonial stage was set three feet off the ground and decorated with large trellises entwined with the white lilies Nami had chosen. Large arches made up the sides and back of the flat stage, and the arches held up the blooming blue sea lilies, which was the flower most liked by the bride. The stage itself was covered in pale red carpeting and had a three-step boost in the middle. Those steps were situated in front of the low podium. The podium held the spool of red and blue ribbon that would bind the couple in marriage as per tradition of Water-7.
The pirate captain slid out of his seat and paced the red-carpeted step, looking down the grassy aisle to the back doors of the Galley-Ra building. They were currently shut and waiting to be opened for the wedding procession. Wearing his black jacket suit and pants; the red undershirt matched his straw-hat ribbon. Luffy was not getting married without his trademark Mugiwara, but was allowing Zoro to hold during the binding, but the swordsman was not outside yet.
"Hhmmmm…" Luffy bit his lip and looked slightly lost.
"Nmaaa." The mayor of Water-7 hummed.
"When's it gonna start?" Luffy asked the blue-haired man. Being out here by himself, Luffy was feeling rather clueless on how to proceed with a wedding. The multitudes of chairs were now filled and the people in them were waiting for the ceremony to begin.
"I believe you were meant to be inside before now." Iceburg commented, pointing across the aisle to the now half-opened doors where a tall shipwright was urgently waving at them. "Franky is trying to get your attention. Nmaaa."
"Ah! Franky!" Luffy's face lit up as he stretched his arms out; reaching for the door standing eighteen yards away. People gave startled yelps as the pirate captain flew down the red-carpeted grass, an action that required him to relax his planted feet at the foot-taller stage's steps.
"Wait, no! LUFFY!" Several voices called out, trying to stop Luffy's inevitable crash landing through the ten-foot tall backdoors. It was useless as the rubbery captain – having latched onto Franky with his outstretched arms – came barreling through the door; landing in a tangled mess of male bodies and crisp suits.
"Damn it, you idiot, couldn't you just WAIT!" Zoro growled harshly. "You are such a clueless moron."
Usoppu, Zoro, Sanji and Brooke all were in a tangle mess, with the captain grinning sheepishly at the standing survivors. Franky stood there, looking down at the humanistic mess, shaking his head.
"Oops sorry, Zoro." Luffy chuckled. "I guess I was distracted."
"Luffy being distracted is nothing new." Chopper said as he helped Usoppu and Luffy onto their feet. "Always acting first before thinking."
"Chopper, I didn't knoooow everybody was behind the doors." Luffy whined. "I was waiting for the wedding to start out there."
"Of course, you idiot." Sanji, now on his dangerous feet, hit his captain in the head. "The wedding entourage is meant to exit in pairs, so we are all inside."
"I said I was sorry." Luffy frowned in consternation.
"Forget it, Luffy, we're ready to start." Zoro growled again, making it up to his feet. The samurai smoothed out his kimono and growled under his breath.
"Don't tell me you already completely forgot the rehearsal from last night, Luffy. Chaaa…" Usoppu rolled his dark eyes and turned to Chopper. "He's forgotten all of it."
"Ah, no problems, Usoppu-san." Brooke stood up and adjusted his attire. "We shall proceed without worry." The skeleton's speech was missing his normal bone jokes because Brooke felt it wasn't at all appropriate – his vestal heart wasn't into it. He removed the time-piece that went with the custom tailored suit, opened it to look with his vestal eyes. "I believe it is time to begin the ceremony." The Yomi-Yomi no mi User nodded once to his nakama adjusted his red gentleman's neck bow after shutting and replacing the time-watch back into his breast pocket. "I shall cue the music."
Brooke: Musician
The skeleton bowed once to his nakama and turned to face the doors. Pushing on the blue-painted doors with his skeletal hands forcing them open with dramatic flair; the skeleton stepped out into the sunlight, causing a general murmur of excitement. Brooke knew the rest of the Mugiwaras fully remembered the rehearsal and would help the pirate captain. But for now, the musician focused on his part: which was the musical aspect of the ceremony. Having figuratively pulled strings to call upon his old musically-talented band, the boney 'Soul King' gave a vestal smile to the seven individuals who all stood in a marked section that belonged to the music. The Humming Swordsman had reunited with the musicians the night before, during the rehearsal. It had been a spectacular reunion, but now it was time to be focused, and begin the ceremony.
Brooke used his long legs and strode down the red-carpet and turned left to take his place on the grand piano that was set out that morning. Within the section marked for the musicians, his seven band members stood at attention with their various instruments.
"Here are you music sheets, Soul King-sama." Lucass, the lead guitarist, shuffled up to the skeleton and handed the suited bones the sheets. "We have reviewed the notes and have it memorized in our heads, right guys?" The brown-haired male spoke in low tones to the Soul King.
The six other musicians nodded fervently and grinned.
"Ah, yes, excellent." Brooke replied. "Let us begin."
The skeletal musician sat on the piano bench and reached out his skinless fingers to sit lightly on the ivory and ebony keys. It had been forever and a day since he performed on a piano, but in reality he went through last night's rehearsal flawlessly. Pressing down with his right lead finger, Brooke cued the music.
Usoppu: Best Man
Luffy: Groom
The sniper peered out the inch-cracked door in excitement. The first musical notes were already floating into his ears.
"Alright, that's our cue, Luffy." Usoppu stepped back from the door and turned to his captain. "Let's go."
"Yes!" Luffy grinned back and put his body into movement, pushing open the door to go back outside. Usoppu was right behind him. The two pirates walked normally down the red-carpeted grass, watching as the seated attendees turned to watch them.
Luffy grinned like the carefree soul he felt like as his strides took him down the aisle. He looked over the crowd as he passed by and felt his smile grow even bigger; so many of his friends were here for this event. The pirate captain recognized faces from Cocoyashi villages, Drum Island, Alabasta, Water-7, Thriller Bark and Shaboady Island.
On Luffy's left, the once-allied pirate captain Trafalgar Law was on the other side, with his crew of four. The next rows on both sides hosted the various people from Galley-Ra and Franky Family. Most of the familiar pirates from Thriller Bark Victims Group were sitting on the left side, along with the villagers from Cocoyashi and a few from Drum Island.
The right side was filled with Water-7 people, along with Galley-Ra friends and more of the Franky Family. Hachi and Camie were already sitting in the front row, next to Raleigh and Shakky and old lady Koroko. Mozu and Kiwi were in the second row, pestering Paulie and Duval was next to them, winking horribly. The men with Duval were the Fish-riders who helped them out years back.
"Wow, Luffy, did we really invite all these people?" Usoppu chuckled behind his captain as the pair came to a stop at the end of the carpet and ascended the steps. "It looks like a huge turnout. It's a shame my eight thousand loyal followers couldn't make it."
"Shishishishishishi." Luffy grinned to his best friend and today's Best-man. "I think they'll all be at the after-party tonight."
"Indeed." The Sniper grinned as he and Luffy turned around to face the way they came. "Everybody and their friends' friend will be there. We're going to make this party even bigger than our last."
"I'm looking forward to it, Usoppu." Luffy grinned and pushed his straw hat back, letting it lie on his shoulders.
Chimeny: Flower Girl
Chimeny peered around the corner, barely containing her excitement. The rest of the womanly entourage was behind her. Nami, her sister Nojiko, the sky-haired princess Vivi, the dark-haired tall woman Robin and Chimeny's good friend, the bride Jiru.
"Luffy-sama is gone, Nami-san." The straw-blonde girl giggled in a sing-song voice over her shoulder. "We can go out now." Nami had made Chimeny wait and spy on the males crowded around the door. It was bad luck to have the groom see the bride before she walked down the aisle. But that problem was solved, and Chimeny informed the red-headed pirate-woman.
Unknown to Chimeny, another watchful eye was sprouted above the door, as Robin's age old habit of 'keeping an eye on things' was in effect. The Hana-Hana User helped out the young flower girl by using an eye.
"Nyaa!" Beside her, her pet cat (rabbit) Gonbe nodded in agreement.
"Great, let's go!" Nami bustled out from behind the hallway's corner turn and, within a hesitant pause, the rest of the females followed. Nami, Nojiko, Robin, Vivi, Chimeny and finally, the bride all swept out from the hallway's bend and strode towards the male group and the door.
"MELLORIINNNEEE!" Sanji's voice echoed from the tiled floor. The sight of so many gorgeous women dressed in such lovely dresses sent the cook ever so much closer to death by view of feminine beauty. The suited pirate fell to his knees and held out his arms in benediction. "I've died and truly gone to heaven to see so many lovely angels…"
The cook's uncovered eye was hazed over by the view of the four bridesmaids. His heart picked up its rhythm, beating a tattoo against his ribs.
Robin, in her strapless powder blue evening gown, was a complete knockout. Her skirt flared out at the knees and the sewn black beads remained silent along the trim. A dark blue ribbon belt sat around Robin's trim waist, adding color to the pale blue. Her elbow length gloves matched the dress, as did her braided flowered hair – the tiny white lilies standing stark against her dark black hair. White tear-drop shaped earrings dangled from Robin's ears as a white with a black-jewel choker sat on her neck.
Nojiko looked stunning in the same thing; only with minor differences. A thin strap held up the bust and looped around her neck, complimenting the thin choker and its sapphire jewel. The woman's indigo hair was upswept, and in a braided coil with pearls. Her skirt, like Robin's flared at the knees; but also had slits starting from mid-thigh going down, showing off Nojiko's fabulous legs and white strap-shoes, complete with white round beads. Her arms were uncovered, except for the pale blue wrist gloves.
Princess Vivi wore the same slim-fitting pale blue dress; but had more of a fuller skirt, since the dress-designer – Pappug – had altered the bridesmaid dress from the princess's own wedding. The short sleeve top was low-cut, showing off Vivi's slender neck and creamy skin. The desert princess also wore elbow-length white gloves and her pale blue hair was pinned back with pearls. Her shoes were open-toed sandals with white leather straps winding up to her knees. The sandal straps were decorated with white and blue beads, matching the princess's gauzy skirt over-layer. Pale yellow citrine drops hung from her ears, complimenting her pale blue rouge on her cheeks.
Nami's dress came straight from T-Bark, since she had opted to keep the outfit from her own 'wedding misadventure'. Pappug had taken the dress, broke it down and remade it powder blue. Nami's tangerine hair was coiled up and pinned with a large white silk flower; her neck was adorned with a simple pale-blue diamond necklace that she had plundered years before. A set of white pearl earrings were in her ears. Her powder blue gloved hands reached back to land a hit on the grounded cook.
"Get up you fool!" Nami hissed in annoyance. "Now's not the time to be acting like this."
"I love Nami-swan when she's in charge!" Sanji murmured from his face-planted position on the floor.
"I said get up!" Nami huffed again as Chopper helped the cook to his feet. The reindeer, like the other males gathered around the door, was stunned by how nicely their female nakama cleaned up.
"Wow, Nico Robin." Franky removed his shades and gave a low whistle. "Looking Supa!"
"Robin-chan…" Sanji sighed.
"Wow, Nami-san, you girls all look absolutely perfect." Chopper grinned in his reindeerish grin and shook his head.
"Nojiko-chwan…Nami-saaann…Vivi-swwan!" Sanji continued to sigh bonelessly. "My angelssss…"
"Yes, yes, of course, Sanji-kun, we're all so pretty." Nami huffed again. "There's no time for this, people; get in your places!"
"SUUPPPPAA AWSOME, Chibi-Sis-chan." Franky had turned away from admiring Robin to view the shorter bride. The group, as one, turned to face the treasure hunter. Sanji slumped to the floor again, sighing in helplessness.
"My angel of angelsss…" He breathed. Franky, Zoro and Chopper glanced at her also, finally seeing her in the wedding dress for the first time.
Jiru stood there, looking at the ground like it was made of something interesting. Being the attention of so many people still made the slender treasure hunter socially shy. Zoro, whose bridesmaid to escort down the aisle was Nojiko, stepped over to Jiru and looked pointedly at her face.
"You clean up very nicely, Chibi." His gruff tone brought an annoyed look into the Nami's eyes.
"Zoro, you asshole. I'm fining you for saying stupid things to the bride." The navigator yelled at him.
Zoro either didn't hear Nami's threat or did, and didn't care. The samurai brought his hand to Jiru's pinned short hair and pushed a strand of bangs out of her eye. The gesture was thoroughly romantic and caused Jiru to blush. Chimeny broke the quiet tension and spoke up.
"Nya! Jiru-sis-chan, I'm going to be the flower girl now." The straw-blonde girl smiled brightly as she and Gonbe moved towards the doors. "Time is ticking, Mugiwaras, let's go!"
"Smart girl." Nojiko smiled as she exchanged a glance with her red-headed sister. "She's right."
"Indeed." Nami was too busy standing over a floored Sanji to say or do much else. "Sanji, would you PLEASE stand up and get your idiot-self into gear, Chimeny-chan is already out the door."
"Yes, my angel!" Sanji snapped to attention and turned away from the visionary beauty of the bride.
"Let's do this right, people, and try not to embarrass the bride, Sanji-kun." Nami, still in command, hooked her arm around Sanji's; using the connection to steer the love-sick cook to the doors.
"Come on Lover-boy, let's get a move on." Nojiko chuckled as she stepped over to Zoro and Jiru, wrapping an arm around the samurai's akimbo-ed arm.
"What the hell is wrong with you, woman?" Zoro growled as the indigo-haired sister pulled him away from the bride. "I was just talking to her."
"You'll have time to talk to her later, lover-boy." Nojiko chuckled and maneuvered to their standing position in front of the doors.
Jiru had to refrain from slapping her white-gloved palm onto her makeup covered face. It had been a mistake to expose herself to the males before Sanji could get out the door. Now they all wanted to oogle at her in the wedding dress. She just followed Nami and the others, turning the corner before thinking. Now she stood with Princess Vivi and Chopper; trying not to pass out from nervousness.
"Doubt worry, Jiru." Vivi's voice pulled her out of a shallow fugue. "Just remember that everyone is in their underwear."
"HAHAHAHA, thanks, Vivi-chan." Jiru smiled to the blue-haired princess and snapped out of her embarrassed-fugue. "I'll try not to be too overwhelmed."
"Ok, people, time to do this." Nami's voice again took command and finally – finally – the procession was in place and ready to roll.
The doors swung outward as the Mugiwara's double-file line moved. Chimeny and Gonbe were in the front, already walking out the door, her arms filled with the lily and rose petal filled basket. Gonbe jumped along behind her, pulling along a miniature Thousand Sunny Gou boat.
"What the?" Jiru muttered to herself; doing a double-take visually.
The girl's pet was pulling on a string that was attached to an accurately small-scaled Thousand Sunny. Being the smart, clever bride she was, Jiru looked to Franky as the hulking cyborg paired up with Robin. Her brother-figure most likely built the moveable boat during the night, because it was not in the rehearsal the evening before.
"Isn't it Suuuppa!" His voice called back to her as he looked over his black-clad shoulder and down to her. "Built it last night to help Gonbe-chan carry the rings in style."
"It's uh…" Jiru looked up at the cyborg's back. "Very nice, I'm sure Luffy-chan will love it."
"Yyeeaa!" Franky answered her and turned to face forward.
All this happened within a mere minute and Jiru watched with growing stomach-flutters as Zoro and Nojiko followed the petal tossing Chimeny. Sanji and Nami went next, timing their building exit to Brooke's music. Princess Vivi and Chopper went third, with Vivi placing a hand on Chopper's broad back. It had been decided that Chopper's natural, four-footed form was the most appropriate form for the ceremony. His other stages were too tall or too confusing for the rest of the crowd. It also was decided to let Vivi pair up with Chopper, even though the princess's husband, Kohza, was there. Kohza and Carue were already in their seats, outside in the nice day.
In no time to blink, Franky and Robin were out the door, walking down the red-carpeted aisle; which meant she, the bride, was alone in the building's hallway.
"No worries…none at all." Jiru muttered to herself as she stepped up to the closed doors; clutching tighter to her bouquet of white sea lilies. There was nothing so easy about walking down the stupid aisle to get to Luffy. It was a breeze to do it at the rehearsal, when nobody was there, but with everyone sitting and waiting for her to reveal herself, the pressure was rather annoying.
Outside, she could hear the music change; pausing a moment before moving into the bridal song. Stiffening her resolve and her backbone, Jiru shoved the nervousness away and placed a smile on her face, stepping up to the door.
"Halt right where you are, by orders of the Marines!" A commanding voice stated from behind her. "You won't get away from me this time, Silver Queen!"
Chapter 6: Bride & GroomNext up, who is giving away the bride to Luffy! How does the person know the bride is the Silver Queen!