"Seeing as I'd like to continue to be welcomed in your country and I don't want you to worry unnecessarily, I would like your permission to 'kidnap' Princess Vivi and Carue for a few days and go to Little Garden," Karmen says to King Cobra, voice echoing around the marble throne room. Catching Igaram's wary eye she raises her hands and smiles. "I'm talking four to seven days, tops. At the first sign of trouble she will be back on Parvati headed for home."

Vivi stands beside her, batting her eyes at her father in a way that Karmen knows he won't be able to refuse. "They say taking vacations is a good way to boost productivity," she adds in. If Karmen could high five her discreetly without fading she would have.

Cobra smiles in his warm, concerned, fatherly way. "Well, I do think it's important for you to have some time with your friends, but I remember you describing that island as a dangerous place. Didn't Nami almost die from a bug bite?"

"If that happens then we know how to find Drum Island and Parvati and Raja swim faster than any ship can sail. They have all their doctors back now and we know exactly who to talk to. And this time there won't be Baroque agents trying to kill us," Karmen says. She hooks her arm through Vivi's elbow and bats her own eyelashes. "If anything delays us I'll send Carue with a note explaining everything. We'll be really careful, so please, Your Majesty?"

Chaka chuckles and Igaram can't help but smile along with the king. "Well, it sounds like your backup plans are backed up," he says, stroking his beard. "You have my permission to go." Karmen and Vivi rush him for a hug, laughing through their thanks and excite chatter.

Pierce smiles from near the doorway and waits patiently for Karmen to approach. "Have fun on your visit. I'll look forward to your return."

Karmen smiles at Pell who stands next to him. "Try not to bruise him up too badly. I'd like to take him home in one piece."

"I'll do my best, Karmen," he says with a friendly smile of his own. "But ultimately that's up to him."

She holds her chin in thought for a moment. "If you find he's needing motivation, threaten to rip this to shreds," she says, giving him her veil.

"Mistress, I wouldn't make offers such as that so lightly," Pierce says, looking paler than usual. "You love your veil."

"Which is why I know you won't let him tear one stitch in it." She gives Pell a wink. "I have faith in you." She turns back to Vivi excitedly, eyes sparkling. "Let's go pack." She grabs the princess' hand and they rush from the room.

Half an hour later Karmen has all the large crates she'd brought in on Serket loaded in a cart pulled by Lashes and two ducks. Pierce sighs from the shadowed palace doorway. "Women. They never pack light," he jokes.

"Oh please," Karmen says. "I won't come back with any of this stuff. All this is going home to Camilla. She'll have it in the garden three days after I send it out."

"Are your stingrays really that fast?" Vivi asks as she settles onto Carue's back.

Karmen pats her own duck's neck. "Imagine if these guys could run on water," she says. "They're one of the fastest stingray species in the ocean."

With a few hugs and a wave goodbye they set out for the Eastern coast, arriving just after the sun's position begins its mid-afternoon descent towards the watery horizon far behind them. The water is a welcome sight after the hours of desert heat. Vivi had barely even broken a sweat and Karmen watches her from the corner of her eye, wondering what sort of desert princess sorcery she wielded to make this possible. They dismount and step to the tide line. No convoy of fish are in sight and nothing but driftwood floats on the surface. The secretary doesn't look worried. "How do they know where to meet you?" Vivi asks.

Karmen kneels by the water, her flat palm flat against the surface. "Stingrays are related to sharks and both species have electromagnetic sensors in their noses and around their eyes. I can send out bursts of Haki into the water to let them know where I am and they know what I want them to do when I give them an order, like this." She slaps the water three times. Within thirty seconds Parvati, Raja, and five of their children surface, the dark stripes on their back mimicking the water rolling off them. "Meet my aquatic friends," she says. "Rays, this is my friend Vivi." They breech and slap down noisily into the water in greeting, effectively splashing them both.

Vivi giggles and holds up her hands to protect her face. "They sure are energetic."

Karmen holds a hand to her cheek in mock embarrassment. "They don't get to meet my friends often, so when they do they like to show off a little." She lets the rays splash around a little longer. "Ok, ok. You're just making a scene now. Settle down. We're on a time crunch here. His Royal Majesty will have my head if I don't get his daughter back at a decent hour so let's load up and show her what you can really do."

Parvati flips a playful jet of water at Karmen who ducks it and gives her a jesting finger of warning as they settle down and rest peacefully on the surface. Karmen divides the boxes between the four younger rays, all the while telling them what an important job they're to perform in assisting with transportation. They all seem pleased to assist their mother's bond partner. Vivi smiles as she watches them. "It's obvious that you really care about them," she says warmly.

Karmen rubs Parvati's back fondly. "Parvati and her family are my family and ranked just under Pierce in my chain of command. I'd do anything for her and I know I can rely on her at all times. She's the best sea pancake companion a girl could ask for." Parvati tackles Karmen in a sudden show of affection, submerging her under the water as she's nuzzled. Her rider comes up sputtering but laughing. She'd never minded being sopping wet. She'd needed to wash some of the sweat out of her clothes anyway. "Love you too, Par." She climbs from the water and extends her dripping hand to Vivi to help her board. "Would you like the honor of riding her to Little Garden?"

Vivi looks pleasantly surprised and accepts her hand. "I thought for sure you'd be riding her," she says, taking the reins to the ray's harness.

Karmen steps over to Raja and gathers his reigns in her hands. "I get to ride Parvati all the time. You're an honorary guest amongst our ranks," she says. "Besides, I can't let Raja here feel left out. With him being Parvati's life-mate it practically makes us in-laws."

"Your family is certainly diverse," Vivi says with a laugh.

Karmen grins at her. "I grew up with racists. I do my best to disappoint them every day." She turns to Carue who is on the fifth juvenile stingray. "Are you ready to go?" Carue quacks and salutes, indicating his preparedness. Karmen slips Sherryl into a protective jar and tucks her securely into her clothing. Desert spiders and the ocean don't get along too well. She sets her feet in Raja's harness and tests the straps. "Then what do you say we turn this into a race?"

Parvati and Raja instantly become serious, eyeing each other competitively as their tails swish through the water in anticipation. Vivi seems just as eager as them. "I'm not experienced in fish riding, but I'll give it my best shot."

Karmen meets her eye. "I'll give you a handicap. I won't even synchronize with him. That will give you some advantage." Vivi bends her knees like Karmen to prepare herself for a burst of speed. "Three, two, one, go!"

Vivi yells as the rays take off, Raja and Karmen easily outpacing them. "You said you weren't going to synchronize with him," she yells over the rushing waves.

"Oh, I'm not, dear," Karmen calls. "If I was I wouldn't even need the reigns. Just wait though. Par has some tricks up her sleeve."

Sure enough, Parvati gets a sly expression in her eyes and she slides on over towards them. Raja tries to edge away, knowing what she's planning, but she puts on a burst of speed and catches up. She slips ahead of him slightly, sliding her tail across his fins. Raja begins to buck, fins desynchronizing as he's tickled. Karmen drops to her knees to stay upright. "Is that cheating?" Vivi calls with a laugh.

"The only rule in a fish race is 'try not to get eaten.' Or, the good ones at least," Karmen says. "I was in one where my eel was rammed by a bull frog and I was thrown thirty feet across the water like a stone. I was so jealous that Julia Ellsworth was bitten on the leg. She nearly lost it and it left the coolest scar. It was jagged and it spiraled down her thigh where the skin had torn."

Vivi gives a nervous laugh. "Let's just keep this a speed contest."

Karmen winks at her. "Don't worry. These two are head over fins for each other and the life-bond policy includes friends. You're under my protection, physically." Karmen gets a sly look on her face. "Emotionally, you're about to get stomped."

She taps her foot and puts her weight on the balls of her feet. At this signal Raja races forward. While he is faster, Parvati has experience on her side. She prompts Vivi to bend low with one foot forward to reduce air friction, leg helping to cut the water and reduce water resistance on the rest of her body. Karmen remains standing and her legs get battered by the waves that swell around them. Despite this, Raja makes large waves and Parvati has to swerve to keep Vivi upright. This allows Raja to keep his lead by a wide margin. He slows a little to conserve energy and his mate slowly inches forward, closing the gap. Parvati is right on their tail when Raja catches a current and shoots ahead once again. Vivi and Par jump in quickly but are already trailing. They stay ahead until Vivi urges her ray forward. Par gracefully cuts through the water. Soon her nose is level with her mate's. They stay neck and neck for several minutes until a large rock appears on the horizon.

"Let's make that the finish line!" Karmen calls. Vivi nods and her face grows determined. Raja is ahead, but just barely. Karmen adjusts her feet to put her weight on her heels. At the last moment Parvati gains the lead. They pass the rock and slow to a stop. "Aww," Karmen moans. "Beaten by a nose."

Vivi laughs, exhilarated. "That was amazing! She's faster than Carue!" In the distance, her duck gives an indignant quack.

Karmen nods. "They're the fastest in the pod." She pulls Raja closer to them. "Let's go slow for a while to let them rest a little, then try for two out of three."

Vivi grins at her. "You're on."

Winston pokes his head cautiously around the corner, trying his best to see anything, or anyone, that might be hidden. He's nowhere near the gardens, but he still doesn't want to risk a knife between his ribs by upsetting someone he doesn't know is there. Why Karmen had seen it fit to train the girl in reverse observation Haki is beyond him. She was reclusive enough without it and now she just uses it to bully him. Well, she'd have to try a might harder if she wanted to best him. She could just make herself harder to notice for the time being, but he had some observation Haki of his own. He'd never been frightened away by any female form and by Godwin he wasn't going to let it start now, especially with a twiggy little brat like her. He takes a deep breath and continues towards her favored garden. "Camilla?" he calls in a strong voice. "I've got a few sets of clothes ready for you if you'd like to try them on. If you feel any changes need to be made I'd be glad to listen." He gets no reply. "Please keep in mind that Karmen asked you to train with me while she's gone. Remember? She said she'd be evaluating you? You do want to go on missions with her, don't you?" He peeks into the garden. "Hello?"

Camilla steps into his line of sight, frowning distastefully. She waves her hands at him. -Leave them and go. I'll be sure to drop kick you later.-

Winston squares his shoulders. "I neither speak Ancient Elbafian nor do I sign. If you have something you wish to say to me, you can use your words like an adult lest we end up running in circles. I for one, am growing tired of this routine." He holds the clothes out to her and after a few tense seconds she steps forward to take them. She makes a gesture that he interprets could either mean "thank you" or a ruder version of "get lost." He makes no inclination of leaving. "I'll let you try them on at your own leisure. Please inform me if anything needs to be adjusted or changed. While I have pride in my product you are the one who is to wear it. I do try to be accommodating when my clients give their opinions." He gestures towards the stack in her hands. "I've included a workout set. I'll be in the training room at three this afternoon. Please feel free to join me."

Nodding with satisfaction, he turns and goes down to the medical ward. If he's going to be bouncing around the training room he'll need to rebind his foot. While it's true that the claw that had sprouted from Pierce's ribs hadn't cut him deeply, it had managed to slice through the soft flesh of the inside of his foot. They'd had trouble keeping it closed without stitches until Saaresto had coated it in some kind of powder that smells suspiciously of seaweed. The wrapping had been tight and efficient and he'd felt relief immediately. His own, fresh wrappings aren't as precise, but they'll work well enough to train with. He goes down to the workout room and stretches while he waits. Sure enough, the girl shows up thirty minutes later. He's pleasantly surprised to find that she changed into the workout clothing he provided. He squares up to her and bows respectfully. "I'm pleased you took me up on my offer," he says as she purses her lips and makes a sign that he'd figured meant "whatever." Still, she inclines her head a few centimeters in return.

Camilla stares Winston down. Even after living with the girl for these few months he's amazed by the level of contempt that can shine in her dark eyes. There is dirt under her short nails from where she'd been working in the gardens. He can tell she's focused on her Haki. If he hadn't seen her come in he probably wouldn't be able to tell where she was. She's no Karmen, that's for sure. Not yet anyway. All she can do at the moment is make herself look fuzzy. He knows her feelings towards him are irrational projections from her past experiences with his royal deadness, but he can't seem to feel that he might enjoy teaching her that she's not the most dangerous creature to walk this island, no matter what Karmen chooses to teach her. One thing's for sure. Karmen hadn't taught her how to reverse and use her observation Haki at the same time. He waits for her to go slightly fuzzy again and makes his move.

"You've got a lot more to learn than just how to go unseen," he says as his foot connects with her right shin, off balancing her before hooking his foot around her left ankle and pulling it out from under her. She falls hard on her back, but rolls up into a crouching position. She makes a few signs that he's sure translates to words that shouldn't come out of anybody's mouth. "One being how to control your temper. If you lose your focus on a mission someone will get hurt, whether by you or to protect you is yet to be seen. Focus that anger into your attacks or get rid of it completely." She gives a little growl that reminds him of a disgruntled puppy and launches at him, pushing hard off the cave floor with her feet. He steps aside easily and she dives past him, rolling into a crouch and sweeping around to face him again, staying low. "Better. Now try to actually make contact." She makes a fist and lunges a jab at his stomach. Again, she's off balanced herself. He both dodges and attacks her by performing a roundhouse kick into her shoulder and she topples. While his back is still turned she leaps up and swings at his head. He ducks the blow and instead of letting it sail past him, turns to catch it. His hands grasp her forearm and his shoulder rests against her elbow, effectively locking her in an arm bar. "Unless you plan to simply incapacitate someone, it is dishonorable to attack them from behind. We'll be sure to work on etiquette later." She makes a few desperate one-handed signs. "What was that, Camilla? I could neither see nor hear that."

She gives another growl. "I said let go of me you tasteless old man!"

Something ignites in the tailor's eye right before he throws her across the room, using her arm as leverage. She lands hard and rolls to a stop, ribs aching as she tries to replace the air that had been knocked out of her. "I've made clothes for royalty and world nobles," he growls.

Camilla spits out dirt and rubs some off her cheek with the back of her hand while she sits up. "Like I said. Tasteless."

Winston straightens his tunic. "I'll have you know that each piece I make is sewn with a braided backstitch of my own design. No matter how hard I throw you or how much grappling is done, the seams on your outfit will not come apart."

Camilla finds the amount of pride wafting off him as he speaks of his work nauseating. -I'll take that as a challenge then, old man.-

Two hours later Camilla, tired and sore, stalks out of the training room, past the waiting, and now cold, food that Saaresto had brought down for them. She hadn't been able to land a single foot on him. She takes a key from around her neck and goes up to the poison garden, locking the gate firmly behind her. The ground is empty, but good. Karmen would be growing things here soon. Even if she can't fight well enough to go on missions, there were other things Camilla could do. Things that weren't as helpful as fighting by her side, but still important… right? Her other gardens would be overrun with other people, but this one, this empty, barren room with the open ceiling, high walls, and bubbling spring in the corner that drained under the gate and off into the caves, this would be just for her and Karmen. She kicks a clump of dirt anyway. It flies to the wall and explodes on impact. The motion reminds her of how sore she is and she lays flat in the tilled soil, hoping with all her might that her new workout clothes get soiled and ruined. Stupid tailor. She can still feel where his hands had been on her forearms and shins. She grits her teeth as realization hits her. He never once placed a hand near the center of her body. If he hit her upper arms or back or stomach it had been with his legs. In his own way he had been respectful towards her during the training session, other than when he threw her, and that made her even more frustrated.

After a while she scans the caves below her with her Haki. He was still down there, talking with the doctor while he continued to train. His movements on the wood and straw dummies are far harsher and aimed with the core as the objective target. She can barely track him from this distance and her stomach is growling. There had been food down there. She could go to the pantry instead, but she had been a dancing slave, not a kitchen rat, as Jade used to call them, scampering around looking for scraps just to survive. She focuses all her mental energy on reversing her Haki and leaves the poison garden. She stops in the other garden to grab her cloak and wraps it securely around her before returning to the workout room.

Watching the old man reminds her of Karmen's stories of the cook Sanji. Most of his strikes are devised to protect his hands so he can continue his craft even if he gets injured. He strikes with his forearms, elbows, and legs most of the time, but he's not above a few punches here and there. She grabs some of the rice balls that had been left out and a bowl of steamed vegetables and sits in a dark corner to eat.

Winston shakes out his hands and steps away from the combat dummy. She thinks he's about to kick it again. Instead he takes a deep breath and forms a low stance in the center of the room. He walks through some forms, slow punches and kicks, and a few turns. He goes through these a few times, speeding them up as he goes. "It's not like you to run drills at this point in your workout, or at all for that matter," Saaresto comments.

"My form was off, so I thought I'd go through the fundamentals and see where I was making my mistake," Winston says. He begins moving across the room and she feels power beginning to well up within him. She can't sense it exactly, but his muscles seem to expand in minute ways and his overall presence weighs heavier on her focus. He works his way over to a boulder, sweating heavily, face a mask of concentration. When he reaches it, he focuses a punch towards it but at the last moment he plunges two fingers against it, barely even tapping the stone. A few seconds pass. There is a sudden shockwave and the boulder shatters into shards, causing Camilla to choke on rice. She'd seen armament Haki before, but she'd never expected Winston to be able to use it. His personality was as padded as the bolts of fabric in his workroom. Her eyes wander over to Saaresto. If Karmen brought him here, what could he do? Winston dusts off his shoulder. His whole front is awash with gray dust. "It looks like I have some laundry to do. I'll be down in the first reservoir to take a bath. If anyone would like to add to the pile they only need to leave their clothing at that particular cave's entrance."

Saaresto collects his things. "You sure are acting oddly today." Both men leave the room. A few tunnels away Saaresto peers up at him with his good eye. "She forgot to keep herself cloaked there towards the middle. Think she picked up on any of that?"

Winston shrugs. "She likes silent communication. As Karmen said, what she picks up is up to her."

Back in the workout room Camilla finishes her food and sits quietly for a long time. Slowly, she climbs off her perch and moves to the center of the room. She puts her feet in the footprints Winston had left in the dust. They're nearly twice as big as her feet, straighter in the toes. She trails hers across the paths his left, slowly moving her arms the way he had. She mimics his movements as if she were learning a choreographed dance. Her muscles, despite her years of active living, aren't used to this kind of motion. She goes through the drill again and again, just as he had. She moves forward, following his trails in the dust, and swings her fist at the wall. She taps it with her finger tips, effectively jamming them against the rough stone. She signs a loud curse and hops in place for a minute, shaking her hand furiously. She knew it wouldn't happen for her. She hadn't felt anything, but still she wanted to try.

Sweating, dirty, sore, and tired, she decides that having the stupid tailor wash his stupidly sturdy handiwork would be the perfect punishment for the torture he'd put her through today. He'd even made her speak, the jerk. She'd get changed and go swim with the rays to wash off. After that she would go make sure the poison gardens had extra fertilizer. She wants to see how many outfits she can dirty up before the old man does laundry. Maybe she could watch him do that too and see what that kind of labor was involved. She'd kept her back turned when Karmen had washed her clothes the other day. Like she'd told herself before, she'd been a dancer, not a worker. Even if she isn't able to go on the first mission, she wants Karmen to find her beneficial.