Author's Note: Happy Talk Like a Pirate Day! I'm posting this chapter in the spirit of the holiday!
On a more serious note, there's a change of plans for the next arc. I've come to the realization that the Capricorns are much further from Water Seven than I initially thought. So, instead, the next arc will be the Hell Casino/Mafiya Arc, which will end out the Hell Casino/Mafiya Saga. The Water Seven Saga will be in the next saga, and the Fractured Fairy Tale Arc will open the saga.
Without further ado, let's begin the end of the Playdate Arc!
Disclaimer: Eichiiro Oda owns One Piece. Please support the official release, especially on Talk Like a Pirate Day.
Ch. 82: "The Great Chibi Escape!"
That night, as everyone slept, Sadie was awake, thinking of a plan. The entire mansion was dark, save for the moonlight streaming in through the windows.
"Blaise… If you die… Then I'll have nobody to teach me, nobody to protect me from the dangers of the Grand Line… Nobody to talk to," Sadie thought to herself with a sigh.
"Hey."
Yuki-Rin entered. Sadie squinted to get a better look at the other girl in the room.
"Oh, hey, Yuki-Rin," Sadie said.
"Mind if I join you?" Yuki-Rin asked Sadie.
"Sure," Sadie answered with a nod. Yuki-Rin smilied and sat down across from Sadie.
"So… How do you think we're going to escape and get Blaise back?" Yuki-Rin asked Sadie.
"Your crew has to distract Saint Ninamori in some way for me to get Blaise. If not… Then I'm stuck on this island," Sadie explained.
"Stuck on this island? What do you mean?" Yuki-Rin asked.
"It's a long story…" Sadie said, trailing off.
"Go ahead, tell me. We're not going to sleep anytime soon," Yuki-Rin explained. Sadie sighed.
"I don't know if you know this, but… I'm the younger sister to one of the Eleven Supernovas, Basil Hawkins. We grew up on the family farm together, but Basil had no interests in it. He was always doing odd things, like voodoo and telling people's fortunes. And, one day, he left saying that he was forming a pirate crew to look for One Piece. He wrote letters to me regularly, but the letters stopped coming two years ago, shortly after Portgas D. Ace was executed. I haven't heard about him in the news, so I ran away from the North Blue to look for him," Sadie explained.
"You're the sister to Basil Hawkins? But, you don't look like it," Yuki-Rin pointed out.
"I know. I'm nothing like him," Sadie explained. "Anyway, in order to leave the North Blue, I had to find work for food, clothing, and a boat. I found Blaise on a street corner selling swords one day, and I asked him if he needed help. He said 'yes', and I've been at his side ever since. But, it's actually lonelier than it sounds, Yuki-Rin. All of my friends are back home in the North Blue, and Blaise and I don't spend much time in a single place. Blaise is the only person I have to keep me company, and it's depressing at times. I miss having good friends who keep me company and want to have fun. I just want nakama again."
Tears began to fall from Sadie's eyes, but Yuki-Rin already had a solution.
"Don't cry. I have an idea – Will you and Blaise be my nakama?" Yuki-Rin asked Sadie.
"Your… Nakama? You mean, join your crew?" Sadie asked. Yuki-Rin nodded. Sadie smiled. "Thank… Thank you, Yuki-Rin! Even though we just officially met today, you're a good friend!"
Sadie hugged Yuki-Rin.
"Hey, a friend in need is a friend indeed," Yuki-Rin said. "Now, let's think of a way to rescue Blaise."
The next day, the Capricorns were back out of the dollhouse, awaiting Blaise's execution.
"Does anybody have a sword?" Saint Ninamori asked the Capricorns.
"I do," Kazuma said, taking a tentative step forward.
"Good. We need you to chop off this traitor's head," Saint Ninamori explained as she motioned to Blaise, whose head and arms were in wooden stocks.
"You're seriously going to kill me? Really?!" Blaise asked the seven-year old towering over him.
"Yes! You won't play with me!" Saint Ninamori cried.
"I seriously have to kill this guy? The hell?" Kazuma thought to himself.
"Stop the execution!"
Yuki-Rin and Sadie walked hand-in-hand into the playroom.
"Sadie, what do you think you're doing?!" Blaise cried.
"We have to save you! I'm your nakama!" Sadie yelled.
"Nakama? When did you –" Blaise cried before his eyes trailed to Yuki-Rin. "Oh. I see. Never knew you were friends with that captain we keep running into."
Saint Ninamori cleared her throat.
"Here ye, here ye! It is time to execute the traitor!" Saint Ninamori yelled. "Any last words?"
Blaise sighed.
"Sadie, if you must… Go with the girl. You'll have people who will give you more protection than me. They will help you find your brother too. Don't hesitate… Just go. Good-bye, Sadie Hawkins," Blaise said. At that moment, Sadie teared up.
"Blaise…" Sadie whispered to herself.
"Is everybody ready?" Saint Ninamori asked.
"Ready," Kazuma said as he raised his nodachi with trembling arms. "Let's get this over with…"
But, before Kazuma could even lower his arms, Blaise grew back to normal height.
"What just happened?" Blaise asked himself as he studied his hands and neck, which were freed from the wooden stocks. A few seconds later, Sadie was back to her normal height.
"Blaise! We're back to normal!" Sadie yelled.
"What about everyone else?" Blaise asked as he motioned to the Capricorns.
"We're down here, you know!" The Capricorns yelled.
"I know, I know. For right now, don't ask any questions. We're returning you to your ship," Blaise explained as he picked up some of the Capricorns and put them in his suit pocket.
"What are you doing with my dollies?!" Saint Ninamori cried.
"These are not your 'dollies'. These are human people you've been playing with," Blaise explained. "Let's get out of here, Sadie. I've had enough of this little girl and her antics."
Sadie nodded before picking up the rest of the Capricorns.
"Yuki-Rin, guide me to your ship," Sadie explained before she placed Yuki-Rin on top of her head.
"I will!" Yuki-Rin said before Sadie and Blaise began running. "Hi-ho silverfish!"
A few minutes later, the Capricorns, Blaise, and Sadie were on the deck of the Hyperion.
"Thanks for the ride," Yuki-Rin said as she climbed off of Sadie's head. "Now, it's time to keep up your end of the bargain."
"End of what bargain?" Blaise asked Sadie, who pointed down to the Capricorns. "You want us to join their crew?"
Sadie nodded.
"Of course. When you were about to be 'executed', you told me to go with them. It's been a while since I've had nakama, so why not?" Sadie asked. Blaise turned back to the Capricorns, who were all back to their original sizes.
"Well, if you say so…" Blaise said.
"What about you? What will happen to you while I'm with the Capricorns? Will you continue to sell your weapons, or will you take a different path in life?" Sadie asked Blaise, who looked her in the eye.
"I'm coming with you. Don't think that you're going to be alone on this crew," Blaise explained.
"You… Seriously want to join?" Sadie asked Blaise, who nodded. Sadie turned back to the Capricorns. "It's settled. After watching you guys from afar for so long, we would like to join your crew."
Yuki-Rin smiled.
"It's official. Welcome to our crew," Yuki-Rin said. The Capricorns cheered.
"You know what, Sadie?" Blaise asked.
"Yes, Blaise?"
"I think we're gonna like it here with the Capricorns."
Ending Note: I can't really believe that I'm saying this, but... There will be no more new members to the Capricorn Pirates. Yep, you read that right. Blaise and Sadie were the last two people to join the Capricorns. So, for the last time, here are the crew standings, in order of who joined:
- Captain: Yuki-Rin
- First Mate: Molly O'Flannigan
- Musician (Electric guitar): Heathcliffe Sarutobi
- Fisherman: Hatori Chidori
- Swordsman: Kazuma Miyafuji
- "Resident Ghost": Isabella Sarutobi
- Shipwright: Kartik Abingdon
- Tailor: Matsu Takeshima
- Sniper: Karin Kotetsu
- Sniper #2: "Blind" Drusilla
- Sniper #3: Z.G.
- Singer: Maki-chan
- Thief: Yulia Tadase
- Thief #2: Daisuke Saburo
- Navigator: Hana Yakushi
- Gunner: Aria Yakushi
- Chef: Sebastian Hozuki
- Musician #2 (Bass guitar): Holden Sarutobi
- Musician #3 (Drummer): Soren Sarutobi
- Tailor #2: Aki Chung-Feng
- Boat Rigger: Showtarou Shinohara
- Mascot: Ajax
- Chronicler: Kaoru Kimura
- Chronicler #2: Mina Nishikori
- Doctor: Ageha Midori
- Dancer: Akari Shimura
- Helmsman: Thierry Brighton
- Archaeologist: Gareth Archer
- Blacksmith: Dewey Kirihana
- Mascot #2: Alec
- Merchant: Wolfgang Katsuragi
- Merchant #2: Enlai Li
- Swordsman #2: Mikuri Matsumoto
- Cabin Girl: Sayuki Matsumoto
- Quartermaster: Rubio Lindocruz
- Blacksmith #2: Blaise Nightwing
- Blacksmith #3: Sadie Hawkins
Whew, that's a lot of people.
Review if you want to see Holden dressed in a tuxedo for the next arc!