One Piece: Strawhat Theater
"Our Mrs. Monkey"
Disclaimer: This is a non-profit fan-based work of prose. One Piece is the property of Toei Animation, Funimation, and Eiichiro Oda. Please support the official release.
Dressrosa arc continues as things continue to escalate.
Written with UnknownAnon.
Over the Ocean near Green Bit
The kid had grown, DoFlamingo would give him that. Law fought furiously, swapping them around, trying to drive him into the sea. He would catch himself with a string from a cloud, and Law would strike with his sword. Or he would try to take advantage of DoFlamingo's brief moment of vulnerability and strike him directly, swapping himself out with objects he threw.
On and on it went, a deadly dance of death in the air. It had been a while since DoFlamingo had had to really push himself in combat- he was almost actually enjoying it.
Almost.
The shards of seastone embedded in the side of his head and face gnawed at him. The pain and numbness screamed every time he made strings. Employing Haki only made the pain abate for a few moments-Moments Law wasn't giving him.
Add to this... The rage that burned inside of him. Some pathetic human had actually managed to injure him! HIM!
DoFlamingo poured his hatred and rage into his Haki, letting it fuel his Armament to try and puncture through Law's body, to protect himself from Law's strikes, to anticipate his attacks and keep moving to avoid ambush and feint...
But still. That damn little insect had hurt him.
It was impossible to ignore it completely. Not when those damn shards dug into his face every. Single. SECOND.
I'll kill him, he swore, Usopp will die first. I'll slice him a piece at a time, I'll make sure Law fixes him up every time. I want him to suffer, SUFFER, for a good long time before I kill him. I want to savor THAT hatred! I want to-!
Some of his feathers were separated by a sword swing from Law, just before DoFlamingo let loose a volley of razor strings. The Doctor of Death again vanished, and DoFlamingo's teeth grew tense.
Damnit... I can't let this distract me, he thought, I need to find the Strawhat ship... I need to get some leverage...!
He yanked down strings from the nearest cloud into a tangled web, and threw it in Law's way. The doctor's Observation Haki let him evade it, but he had to keep his distance as DoFlamingo tore down more and more razor sharp webs to keep Law occupied.
DoFlamingo tapped his earpiece Den-Den Mushi. They were a very pretty penny, but worth every beri.
"Dellinger... Get me the girl, now," he ordered.
"SHAMBLES!"
Law got around the webbing and thrust right for DoFlamingo's head. DoFlamingo grinned as he threw a mass of strings right back, swinging away. He extended his Haki: He could just make out Giolla's signature. She was alive, but unconscious.
She'd failed. Pity. But it did mean he was going to have some fun with the Strawhat crew, at least.
Dressrosa
"That way! We're close!"
"Are you sure?" Zoro asked, slowing his pace as he glanced down the road the dwarf riding on his shoulder pointed at. "'Cause the road over there looks like it'd be faster to-"
"For the last time YES!" Wicca cried. "Just like your last five suggested directions, those roads lead in the complete OPPOSITE direction of the colosseum! Why do you keep questioning me when I'm the one who knows the roads best?!"
Zoro yelped when the blue haired dwarf slapped his shoulder in frustration, which very nearly dislocated it due to Wicca's great strength. "Okay, okay! Don't throw a tantrum and start hitting me!"
"I'm NOT throwing a tantrum! I just don't understand where your confidence in navigating comes from when you've barely been in this city for a day!"
"Geez, it's no wonder we were asked to tag along with this guy." Cotton sighed, tugging on Zoro's earlobe from his other shoulder.
"Seriously, it wouldn't surprise me if he wound up in a completely different city without us to guide him." Inhel added from where he was perched on top of one of Zoro's swords. "Is this why the lady wanted us to go with him? Because he's an idiot?"
"A very dim man." Cotton confirmed with a nod.
"Zoroland is an idiot! A stupid, dumb idiot!" Wicca proclaimed loudly.
Zoro growled as the midgets threw insults at him. "Hey, I don't want to hear it from-"
"Zoro!"
Hearing Kin'emon's voice momentarily defused Zoro's anger at the commentary of the tagalong dwarves, making him come to a complete stop as he noticed the swordsman waving him over from an alleyway nearby.
"Zoroland, someone suspicious appears to be calling out to you." Cotton informed him.
"Now Zoroland, I know you're an idiot, but you should know that you should never talk to strangers." Inhel cautioned.
"Ooooh, but that alleyway is a shortcut to the arena." Wicca said. "Nothing for it, we'll have to take the other way. Now, if you just turn over there and-"
"He's an ally." Zoro interrupted, flicking the back of Inhel's head for his comment in particular before hurrying over to the Wano swordsman.
"I hoped that we'd run into each other if I lingered by the arena." Kin'emon smiled before blinking when he noticed the dwarves attached to the green haired man. "Oh, are these the dwarves that were spoken of earlier?"
"Yep, this is them." Zoro sighed. "Meet Dressrosa's resistance army."
"Just part of it!" Wicca corrected. "We're the reconnaissance team! We're making sure Zoroland gets to the arena safely!"
"Well met, all of you." Kin'emon inclined his head to the dwarves before he turned to address Zoro again. "I assume you heard Sanji's call?"
"I did." Zoro confirmed. "Did you manage to meet up with him before?"
"Indeed. He delivered these to me before racing back to the ship." Kin'emon replied, reaching into his kimono sleeves and pulling out the maps to the city Sanji had left with him. "I'm not sure if I'm reading these lines right, because from what I can tell it seems as though the factory is-"
"Right below the Corrida Colosseum!" Wicca declared as she and her fellow dwarves also looked at the map Kin'emon displayed to them.
"Well, it's nice to confirm that our information was correct." Cotton said. "Maybe there's an even better way to get into the factory."
"Wow! Wish we had these maps for ourselves earlier! We really owe whoever gave 'em to Sanjiland!" Inhel exclaimed.
"Works out for us then. Our objective is just below our actual destination." Zoro smirked. "Let's get to the colosseum, grab Ace, get her somewhere safe, then do what we came here to do."
"About that…" Kin'emon hesitated. "Before your arrival I did some reconnaissance of my own. The marines have created a blockade around the arena. No matter how hard I tried, I couldn't find a way in."
Zoro frowned at that. "Don't those maps have a way for us to get in?"
"They do, but they're much more roundabout." Wicca spoke up. "It would get us inside, but it would take us much longer given where we're at now."
That was no good. While Zoro wouldn't have minded taking a longer route if it was deemed necessary, they had Ace waiting for them in the arena somewhere. They didn't know when exactly Doflamingo was gonna make his big move or how whatever waves Law made would ripple into affecting their mission to take down the factory… and so Zoro wasn't sure if they could necessarily afford a longer detour to get into the arena.
Zoro's hand fell onto the hilt of his sword.
"Guess we have no choice but to cut our way through the marines then…"
"D-Don't be ridiculous!" Kin'emon sputtered.
"Gonna have to go with topknot on this one. No need to plow through a platoon of marines when you can avoid the hassle.
Zoro and Kin'emon dropped down into a ready stance when an unknown female voice spoke up. Both swordsmen tensed when a woman neither of them had seen stepped out of the shadows with her hands raised in a gesture of surrender.
"Whoa, whoa! Hands off the swords, guys! I'm on your side!" The woman smiled. "Name's Koala! I'm with Hack! He's with your captain in the arena!"
Zoro's eyes narrowed. He did remember Nami mentioning that some fishman named Hack had apparently met up and allied with Luffy, and it was thanks to him that Luffy was able to confirm Acenath's safety and that she was currently under the protection of that Bartolomeo pirate.
That didn't mean he wasn't suspicious of the brown haired woman who had suddenly appeared in front of them though.
"Look, I've been sneaking around here for quite a while, long enough to spot gaps in the blockade. I can get you into the arena and to Ace-chan! I promise!"
"She seems trustworthy!" Inhel said cheerfully, with Wicca and Cotton nodding in assent to his words.
Zoro rolled his eyes. Given how gullible the dwarves had proven to be, their vote of confidence meant nothing.
Still, the longer it took to get to Acenath that meant the longer she was left alone with some stranger… and Zoro wasn't going to be able to rest easy until he had his captain's daughter actually in his line of sight.
"You try anything funny with us…" Zoro warned, trailing off as he left the consequences of what he would do if Koala was trying to trick them to her imagination.
The threat didn't seem to intimidate the woman, who didn't drop her friendly smile. "Please, like I'd do anything that would put my brother-in-law's friends in danger! Not to mention my cute little niece!"
Zoro's jaw dropped at that.
"Y-Your what?"
"Answers for what I'm sure are many questions will have to wait for later!" Koala giggled as she gestured for the group to follow her. "This way!"
Corrida Colosseum
"Bart! Look, look! It's daddy!"
"Luffy-senpai?!"
Bartolomeo eagerly leaned forward as the Block C fighters stepped into the arena. Following Acenath's finger, his eyes fell upon a gladiator with a white beard wearing a cape and a bronze helmet on his head… but the open jacket showing off the X-shaped scar on his chest was a dead giveaway to anyone who knew about the captain of the Strawhat Pirates!"
Bartoloemo burst into tears of joy at the sight.
"WOW! It's really Luffy-senpai in the flesh!" The green haired man squealed, barely hearing the commentator for the tournament begin to introduce the C Block fighters to the audience. And who gave a crap about those extras anyway when his senpai was right there? "I-I can't believe I actually get to see him fight for real! This really IS the best day ever!"
"Go, daddy, go! Beat them all up!" Acenath cheered happily, before pausing. "Hey Bart, that guy speaking said Daddy's name wrong."
"O-Oh, that's because he's disguised right now, Ace-chan." Bartolomeo said, so caught up in seeing his idol in person that he'd nearly forgotten the current situation. "Remember, it's not enough to dress up like someone different, he's also gotta go by a different name. So we gotta cheer for 'Lucy' and not senpai."
"Oh, okay… but daddy will still know we're cheering for him even though we're calling him something different, right?"
"Definitely!"
"Okay!" Acenath chirped, pumping her fist in the air. "Go, Lucy! Win!"
"Yeah, Lucy's the best!" Bartolomeo shouted happily, throwing his hands up in the air.
"Hey there!"
Bartolomeo jolted when he heard a greeting from his left, turning and freezing when he saw standing a few feet away was that blonde teenager from earlier.
"The hell?! When did he sneak up on us?! And how did he do it in heels?!" Bartolomeo thought.
He supposed that he couldn't help being distracted what with seeing Luffy in person for the first time, but that wasn't any excuse to be so careless!
"Name's Dellinger, and I couldn't help but notice that you've brought a child with you to the arena." The blonde said with a smile, pointing at Acenath who sat in Bartolomeo's lap. "While we're all here for a good time, it isn't very responsible to have someone so underage witness such violent fights. But we understand that parents and guardians want to enjoy the fights without their kids holding them back, so we've actually got a daycare set up a little ways inside for adults to drop 'em off at. I can show you the way there if you want."
Bartolomeo only glared at him, scooting away from Dellinger while wrapping his arms protectively around Acenath, who sniffled a bit when the guy's red eyes focused on her.
"He's scary… I don't like him…" Acenath whispered.
While "scary" wasn't the word Bartolomeo would've used to describe the blonde, he wouldn't deny the way he looked was extremely unnerving somehow. That smile of his looked so plastic, and coupled with the red tint of his eyes and the expression on his face, it only doubled the bad vibes Bartolomeo was getting from him.
"Geez, it almost feels like a shark trying to smile at me before it tries gobbling me up." Bartolomeo thought to himself with a frown.
"Or if you REALLY can't stand the thought of missing even a second of the action, I can deliver your child to our daycare personally!" Dellinger grinned, holding out his hands generously. "You'll be able to pick up the girl later once the tournament is finished."
Bartolomeo only wrapped his arms tighter around Acenath, hiding her in his jacket. "…Screw off. She's fine where she is."
"Sir, I really must insist! Rules exist for a reason, and since I'm helping out with the tournament security for the day I must make sure these rules are enforced!" Dellinger smiled as he stepped forward, the clack of his heels echoing on the concrete as he moved.
Only to stop short when a barrier suddenly flew up between him and the green haired man.
"Maybe I wasn't clear enough, jackass." Bartolomeo growled. "You'll leave us the hell alone if you know what's good for you."
Dellinger glanced around, noticing some of the other spectators pointing and whispering at them. Clicking his tongue, the blonde shrugged his shoulders as he loosened his stance and tapped the tip of one heel against the ground.
"I'm being polite here, sir… but if YOU know what's good for you, you'll hand over the brat and we won't have any problems."
Bartolomeo got to his feet.
"Well, looks like we have a pretty big fucking problem then, punk."
Dellinger stared at him for a few seconds before he barked a laugh… then shot forward and slammed a roundhouse kick into Bartolomeo's domed shield.
"To be honest, I was hoping you'd say that!" Dellinger snarled with a manic smile on his face, the impact of his kick against the barrier causing a loud bang to echo throughout their seating area.
From the private room only Donquixotes had access to that was situated high above the arena seats, Diamante watched as the Block C fight began. Behind him, Gladius and Baby 5 were lounging, the talking through a transponder snail while the latter was enjoying an afternoon snack. The only other member of the group was Bellamy, who was stood near the entrance of the room after having entered following his victory in Block B.
Diamante himself was in a stellar mood. Everything so far was going exactly according to the young master's plans. Soon they'd weed out the Strawhat rats who thought they could mess with Doflamingo's kingdom, and they could get back to focusing on production at the factory.
"…So, just got word. Violet's betrayed us."
Diamante swung around when Gladius spoke up. "What was that?"
"Got a call from some of our guys. She let Black Leg go." Gladius informed him, and even though the man was lazily reclining on a couch Diamante could hear the undercurrent of anger in his associate's tone. "Now she's disappeared to who knows where and the ONE Strawhat we managed to capture is running around free once again. That backstabbing BITCH."
Diamante frowned at the news. Now that didn't make any sense. Violet should have been very clear on the consequences of betraying them, so why she'd suddenly decided to do something so foolish baffled him.
"…It doesn't matter right now." Diamante said.
"The HELL it doesn't."
"For now, it doesn't. She'll get hers soon enough." Diamante stressed to Gladius, silently hoping the man wouldn't go off in the middle of their VIP room. "For now we have other things to focus on. You call Trebol and tell him to beef up security at the factory. I wouldn't have put it past Violet to have let slip the factory's location to Black Leg. Who do we have on call?"
"Senor Pink and Machvise are waiting in the wings." Baby 5 answered. "Lao G and Dellinger should still be patroling the arena."
"Then send Pink and Machvise over to reinforce the entrances to the factory." Diamante ordered. "Dellinger and Lao G can handle tournament security on their own… or Lao G can. Dellinger should be back any minute with our meal ticket."
"…Strawhat's daughter, yeah?"
Diamante grinned and nodded at Bellamy who voiced that question, the spring man crossing his arms over his chest as he leaned against the far side wall as he pondered over that.
"Is it really necessary to grab Strawhat's brat?" Bellamy asked.
"It is entirely necessary!" Diamante proclaimed, wondering why it was a question that Bellamy even considered asking. "Getting our hands on that girl is an instant win condition for us! The Strawhats will immediately surrender to us if we have her as a bargaining chip. Dellinger called a while ago and said he's got a bead on her!"
"You sure he's not mixing her up with some random kid and he isn't just making up stories to try and impress Doffy?" Gladius asked. "Why would the Strawhat bring his brat here at all? That's the height of stupidity… unless he's just severely underestimating us and is arrogant enough to think he can protect the girl from all of us at once."
"Wasn't that the reason Giolla was sent to attack their ship? To try and see if she could nab the kid or take out Strawhat's wife? You'd think that he would've made sure his wife and daugther stayed back on his ship, right?" Baby 5 added as another question.
"And if Dellinger really spotted the girl here, why didn't he tell Lao G? They're supposed to be searching the audience together." Gladius continued. "If the girl's a spectator both of them should move together to grab her…"
"If Dellinger didn't call for backup, then it's because it's an easy job! We shouldn't doubt the capacity of our own associates!" Diamante scolded them all. "Hell, even Bellamy proved himself surprisingly capable by coming out on top in the B Block fight!"
Bellamy frowned a little at Diamante's words. He couldn't feel happy about that compliment when it sounded so backhanded.
"And when we force Strawhat and his crew to surrender once we have his daughter, Law won't have anyone left to support him!" Diamante chuckled. "To be so foolish as to expose their greatest weakpoint to us! That idiot Law chose to ally with some real morons!"
Before Diamante's laughter could really get going, the Den Den Mushi in Gladius's hand started to ring. The spikey haired man answered, speaking quietly with the caller for a few moments, before the line disconnected. Everyone looked at the man expectantly as he set the snail down on the table.
"That was Lao G. He said something about how Dellinger is causing a ruckus in the stands." Gladius announced.
Hearing that, Diamante rushed back over to the windows and gazed down at the arena stands. Squinting his eyes, he could make out some kind of commotion near one of the left side wings. Though what on earth could be the reason for that?
How hard was it to kidnap a toddler?
Thousand Sunny
Nami frowned deeply at the transponder snail now wearing Zoro's face.
"And you're sure we can trust this Koala person?" She asked.
"Can't afford not to," Zoro grunted. "Besides, considering how well our normal operations go, this is going positively brilliantly."
"That you're the one pointing that out is supremely depressing," Nami sighed, "But you're probably right. What does that say about us?"
"Good things! We win and survive, after all," Zoro said confidently.
"So far," Nami muttered.
Her Observation Haki screamed. She ventured out of the Den-Den Mushi relay room. She looked up into the sky, and her eyes widened as a pink form grew in size.
"Oh shit-!"
A horrific grin gleamed down upon them.
"Well, well... If it isn't the infamous Strawhat Pirates," DoFlamingo laughed.
"Don't try anything!" Nami shouted. She nodded to Brook, who held up Giolla. "We have a hostage!"
DoFlamingo chuckled, stroking his chin with a considering expression on his face.
"Why... So you do! Whatever shall I do?"
DoFlamingo snapped his fingers.
"Oh right!"
A horrific Conqueror's Haki fell upon them all, driving them all to the deck. It made Nami feel physically ill like she wanted to throw all her entire internal organs up.
No... No... Focus... FOCUS...!
She called up all her memories, all her precious moments.
I did it once... I can do it again...!
She unleashed her Conqueror's Haki, pushing back the horrific power of DoFlamingo. While his eyes were shielded behind sunglasses, she could tell that the tyrant's eyes went wide as her Conqueror's Haki drove his away.
"Wha...?!"
Sanji knew he was pushing his luck by using Diable Jambe to boost his speed, but it was the only way to get out to Thousand Sunny as fast as possible. Every kick sent out sonic booms behind him as he raced across the sky.
In a matter of minutes, he was able to put eyes on his ship. Something was wrong though.
A pink-feather-clad man was hanging from a cloud over them, laughing about something.
"NAMI!"
Nami was glaring hard up at DoFlamingo, and he could sense Conqueror's Haki. His Nami-swan was fighting back! It was perfect timing!
Sanji swung himself, sending a kick right at DoFlamingo's shoulder.
"Flambage Shot!"
He landed the hit on his shoulder. He felt something break. He broke off, wound up for another strike.
He swung another kick for DoFlamingo's head... But a layer of strings blocked him.
DoFlamingo looked over at him, and his grin didn't falter.
"Ah... I see," DoFlamingo stated, almost flippantly. "Looks like I'll have to take this seriously."
The Conqueror's Haki exploded, blasting Sanji back. Below, Nami, Brook, Chopper, and Momonosuke were driven back to the deck. Strings emerged from the cloud above and seized Sanji's limbs.
"URK!"
"I haven't been hurt in a while. It's nice to be reminded of how to enkindle hatred," DoFlamingo hissed.
"NAMI!" Sanji shouted.
Nami was still on her knees below, struggling to push herself back up onto her feet.
"And Mrs. Monkey's Conqueror's Haki is barely passable," DoFlamingo chuckled, "I think I'll have you kill her first."
Sanji's eyes widened, as his pupils shrank. DoFlamingo's grin widened just a hint. He leaned in, and licked Sanji's cheek. He shuddered, as DoFlamingo whispered into his ear.
"How will Strawhat react, I wonder? To hear her screams as you tear her apart from the inside?"
Rage filled Sanji's heart, and he struggled as hard as he could against the strings.
"You... Sick...!"
DoFlamingo turned him around. He pointed him at the ship.
"Let's find out," DoFlamingo chuckled, as he sent Sanji down at the crew.
Omake: Buggy Stream
Buggy grins out at the camera happily. He's outside on the deck of his ship for once, but he moved his couchs out there.
"Heyah, boys and girls! Today we have a very special guest! One we've been chomping at the bit to get! She's been in isolation for ten years, but has finally agreed to talk to us! Give it up for... PRINCESS SHIRAHOSHIIII! With her bodyguard, MEGALO!"
The camera pulls back... And back... To show the gigantic pink haired mermaid princess. She beams happily as her pet giant shark, Megalo, swims around in the backround.
"Thank you for having me, Buggy! I was afraid to come on at first, but my father told me you're basically harmless."
Buggy twitched.
"OI! I AM NOT HARMLESS!" He shouted, shaking his fists. "I'M A WARLORD OF THE SEA, DAMNIT!"
"Aw... But you're so cute!" Shirahoshi giggled. Buggy flushed deeply.
"Er, uh, w-well... Eheh... Thank you...?"
"Can I boop your nose?"
Buggy's eyes crossed. His face went red. He opened his mouth.
Alvida skated right up to him and whispered loudly in his ear.
"She's just a child, don't blow it..."
Buggy sagged and sighed.
"Sure," he said. Shirahoshi reached out, and very lightly tapped his nose with the tip of her huge finger.
"Boop," Buggy sighed. Shirahoshi giggled.
"Hee! That's so cute!"
"ANYWAY!" Buggy growled, shaking off his thousand yard stare, "You're out of isolation! That's good."
"Oh yes," Shirahoshi agreed, "It took me a while but I owe it all to my friends, the Strawhat Pirates! They defeated Hordy Jones... And that... That..."
Her lip wobbled as she struggled to get the words out.
"... Creep Vander Decken IX!" She managed. Megalo patted her on the back. "Thanks Megalo."
"Eesh! Yeah, we heard all about that guy," Buggy sneered, "What an incel! I mean, obsessing over a girl like that from when she was underaged! Trying to kill her!"
"Wha... Then you think he was... No good too?" Shirahoshi asked, blinking. Alvida patted the mermaid princess's huge palm.
"Honey, you deserve a lot better than some creep who can't take a hint," Alvida said, "I mean, if Buggy here looked at another woman, I'd murder him."
"YOU DO CARE ABOUT ME!"
"No I don't," Alvida deadpanned. Buggy fell to pieces.
"HURK! You... You got me... Again..."
"Is he okay?" Shirahoshi asked, deeply concerned. Alvida chuckled as Buggy pulled himself together.
"He's fine. Just a bit melodramatic."
"I am NOT melodramatic!" Buggy grumbled. "ANYWAY! Now that you're out and about in the world, what have you been doing?"
"There's just so much to see and do!" Shirahoshi gasped happily, putting her hands together. "So many different kinds of foods, people, cities-It's all so overwhelming! I wanted to go on this show because I've never been on one before!"
She frowned.
"Am I supposed to get upset and wreck things? I've seen other guests do that. It seems a strange custom."
"Please don't," Buggy begged, "Please."
"Since you're out and about," Alvida grinned, "Have you thought about romance?"
Shirahoshi turned bright red. She tapped her fingers together nervously, as Melago made concerned noises.
"Ah... Um... W-Well... There is one... Person... I do like..."
She sighed and bowed her head.
"He's uh... Already taken though," she admitted.
"Oho~?" Alvida asked, grinning.
"DAMNIT WOMAN STOP TURNING MY STREAM INTO A GOSSIP CHANNEL!" Buggy shouted, shaking his fists. "I'M TRYING TO DO REAL JOURNALISM HERE!"
"Since when are you a journalist?"
"SINCE I GOT TOLD I WAS ONE IN THE COMMENTS, OF COURSE!" Buggy turned back to the still blushing Shirahoshi. "It's good that you've realized you can do better than some obsessive freak though, Princess! Gotta respect yourself! Not put up with someone like that!"
Buggy shrugged.
"As for your crush... Eh! You're a princess! Why not seize the prize for yourself?"
"Oh, I couldn't do that," Shirahoshi said, "His wife and daughter are also so nice! And really cute!"
Buggy's jaw dropped.
"Are... Are you talking about Strawhat?" Buggy asked dully.
Shirahoshi blushed bright red, hid her cheeks, and looked aside. Buggy groaned.
"What is WITH this kid?! Why are taken men all the more enticing for women?!"
He paused for a moment.
"Wait, is that why I've been getting so many love letters? Because I'm with Alvida?"
"We're not together," Alvida repeated, her eyebrow twitching. Buggy puffed up his chest.
"Nah! Must be my raw animal magnetism!"
Alvida rolled her eyes.
"Yes, that must be it."
"ANYWAY!" Buggy declared. "You're going to the Levely later this month, are you not?"
Shirahoshi broke out of her blush, and nodded eagerly.
"Oh yes! I'm very glad I'll be participating!"
"Well, just watch out," Buggy said, "A certain World Noble has a taste for mermaids and that punch to his face he got hasn't done anything for his disposition."
"Why thank you!" Shirahoshi gushed, patting Buggy on the head gently, "You're very sweet!"
Buggy growled.
"I AM NOT SWEET!"
"And funny too! Especially your nose!"
Buggy again began to twitch and turn red. Alvida handed him a paper bag, into which he breathed harshly. Shirahoshi frowned.
"Is... He okay?"
"Oh yes, he just does that," Alvida said cheerfully. "While you're on, Princess, would you be interested in learning more about a romance novel series?"
"Romance novel series?" Shirahoshi asked. "What's that?"
Alvida grinned, and handed over an extra large copy.
"It's all about Strawhat Luffy and his wife..."
Shirahoshi read through the first few pages... And went bright red.
She slowly looked up from the pages.
"... How many of these do you have?"
"Many-"
"I'LL TAKE THEM ALL!"