.:Chapter 17 - Chateau:.
There was too much to process in Sanji's heart. Even as his memory whirled farther along on his trek to Whole Cake Chateau, his thoughts never calmed. He had been trying exceptionally hard to convince himself that he was making the right choices here, and Luffy had to go and throw a wrench in his resolve with a few choice words. It was just like him.
Luffy's eyes scrunched closed as his grin grew too big for his face, regretting absolutely nothing.
Sanji hadn't expected he was worthy enough to be something the future King of the Pirates would reach out for.
"He knows now, though!" Chopper quipped happily, eyes still watery from the previous memory. It was such a harsh reunion, but in a way maybe it was the catalyst to get Sanji to hear what he needed to from Luffy, and that eased the little doctor's distress a bit.
But no matter what Luffy promised, Sanji thought. Surely, he wouldn't wait for him. He had to know a lost cause when he saw one.
"Kyaah!" Chopper screeched, all previous thoughts vanishing. "You mean he doesn't even believe it?!"
"After all that?!" Franky all but shouted in dismay. "And he said Luffy had a thick skull…"
"Maybe," Robin said. "Or he might just need time to process it."
Zoro had to agree. "A lot happened there. Curly's mind's in overdrive."
"How long did you go without eating, exactly?" Usopp asked their captain, diverting from the sadness that was Sanji. "Did you really not eat anything that Sanji didn't cook?"
Luffy nodded proudly. "Yep. Not a single thing."
"He even turned onto his stomach so the syrup rain wouldn't get in his mouth," Nami mentioned with a frown.
"That's dedication," several Straw Hats said together as a bead of sweat dropped down the back of Usopp's head.
"Um…I don't think enough of us are concerned about the concept of syrup rain," the sniper muttered.
While the Vinsmoke family traveled on – thankfully in silence as Sanji tried to collect himself – the clear sky clouded into a swift darkness, pink lightning electrifying the air.
The Straw Hats knew that was Big Mom's doing.
However, the rumbling approaching the carriage wasn't thunder.
It was footsteps.
Appearing in the thousands, Big Mom's pirates — soldiers and generals alike, all different shapes, sizes, and species — were marching down the road in the opposite direction as the Vinsmokes. They paid Germa 66 no mind as they maneuvered around them without so much as a glance.
"That's, like, the entirety of Big Mom's fleet right there!" Usopp yelped.
"A whole army!" Yonji exclaimed excitedly as Sanji wiped at his wet, burning eyes to look out among the vast crowd hoarding the street.
"They're hunting down Strawhat, no doubt," Niji said, glancing at Sanji. "The rat's as good as dead now."
Franky whistled. "Big Mom doesn't play around."
"Wah? She sent all of them just for Luffy?" Chopper's eyes popped out of his head.
Usopp glanced at him. "Hey, why are you surprised? Where were you during all this anyway?"
"In the mirror world with Carrot," the reindeer answered seriously, brows furled.
Mirror world?! The hell was wrong with this place? Usopp was so glad he went on ahead to Wano.
"Wow, that's funny," Yonji added toward his blonde brother. "He won't run because he's waiting for his old pal Sanji. Good thing you said your goodbyes!"
"Please tell me you didn't try to fight all of them," Usopp said, but the look Luffy gave him wasn't promising.
Fear raked through Sanji as his brothers named off all the famed warriors they noticed with large bounties. Big Mom's children, all powerful in their own rights.
"Who am I kidding," Yonji was still saying. "Even Strawhat wouldn't be stupid enough to sit around after getting a load of that army. Hahaha!"
"~Haha, joke's on you, I am stupid enough!"
Nami groaned. "I don't want to remember that, either. That was terrifying!"
Sanji knew Luffy – knew that stubborn bastard wouldn't stray even if faced with this magnitude of opponents. But there was no way even Luffy could hope to defeat an emperor's entire army by himself! The Straw Hat captain was incredible and could defy great odds, but he wasn't invincible!
"What is he talkin' about? We did pretty good – right, Nami?"
"We were captured, you rubber moron!"
And Nami was with him! He would protect her, right? The cook had to calm himself. Of course. Of course he would. Even if it went to shit Luffy would protect his friends.
He didn't have to worry about them.
He didn't…have to worry.
He didn't.
"Oh." Brook nodded. "He's worrying."
Lightning flashed like an ill omen, and the rain began to pour.
Usopp narrowed his eyes. Syrup rain…
Before long, the Vinsmokes had arrived at their destination: Whole Cake Chateau.
The home of Emperor Big Mom.
The memory shifted to what appeared to be her dining hall, the room just as pink and edible as everything else in Big Mom's godforsaken territory. Big Mom herself arrived in the giant hall as the Vinsmokes — save for Sanji — stood at her arrival.
"Sorry to keep you waiting, Germa 66. I had a little hiccup to take care of. Everything should be peachy now." As Big Mom took her seat, she glanced down at Sanji, eyeing the golden cuffs on his wrist with a smirk.
"Judge said before that only Big Mom had the keys to those," Robin noted. "I assume that means the cuffs were her idea entirely, probably a common precaution among her notoriety of arranged marriages."
"You must be the infamous Black Leg Sanji," she said. "I do hope you're excited to become the husband of my dear Pudding."
Sanji only scowled, breaking eye contact.
"Look at that," Big Mom crooned. "He's shy! How cute."
Something about the exchange made Zoro sick.
That was when Pudding herself arrived, doe-eyed and lovely as ever.
"She was Sanji's fiancée?!" Franky, Usopp, and Zoro shouted together. Zoro sputtered. Why couldn't she have looked more like Big Mom or something…
"Wow, she's quite lovely," Robin commented, earning an irritated huff from the swordsman.
"Lovely, but ~devious," said Brook, as Luffy and Nami glowered at the screen. That was when Pudding was still tricking them.
Robin didn't seem surprised by the skeleton's remark. "Well, she is a pirate emperor's daughter. It would be unwise to trust her."
Among the sudden silence, there were very specific pursed lips and avoided eye-contact.
"Oh dear," Robin sighed, a fond shake of her head.
"IT WAS LUFFY'S FAULT!" Nami and Chopper shrieked.
"Haah?! When we first met her we didn't know she was the one marrying Sanji. She was just excited we liked her chocolate. Haha, remember how good it was, Chopper? We ate, like, a whole building!"
The reindeer's eyes lit up. "Actually, yeah—"
"We're not doing this!" Nami growled.
Franky and Robin were looking over at Brook, however.
"You too, huh, bro?" Franky questioned.
Brook hummed. "She was quite the actress. And I was hoping to see her panties."
Nami was livid in her embarrassment.
"I CAN'T WITH ANY OF YOU!"
It wasn't a comfortable engagement lunch. Not by a long shot. Pudding seemed to be constantly eyeing her fiancé rather shyly, while Sanji stared despondently down at his food, never even noticing.
Which was strange to see, as the crew was used to Sanji's usual demeanor around pretty women.
No matter where his mind wandered, it kept landing back on Luffy and his crew. He didn't know how his friends made it through Big Mom's security network. Didn't know how they managed to intercept Germa 66 on their way to the chateau. What he did know was that they were a resourceful bunch, that was for sure.
Stubborn, too.
But as Sanji ate, the clinking of his gold shackles reminded him why it was too late now.
The Straw Hats sighed.
"Seriously, how did you ever get through to him?" Usopp muttered.
Luffy meant well. He always did. That was the type of guy he was. And maybe…maybe he did mean what he said. Maybe he did see something in Sanji that was worth bringing him back. It did little to negate the fact that Luffy didn't have all the information, though. There was too much at play here. Too much at risk.
"Ya know," Big Mom said, interrupting Sanji's inner turmoil. "I've heard so much about Sanji already. What a coincidence that he's a chef. Why, he's the perfect match for my Pudding."
Zoro scowled further, remembering Luffy's remark about her making chocolate. A baker? Fucking perfect. They had every advantage in the book to wrap Sanji around their fingers.
"Well, they're getting married either way. This is strictly a political arrangement." Big Mom laughed. "But it's lovely that we can find something that works to our mutual benefit, Judge."
"Indeed," the king of Germa agreed. "Though it would make me even happier if our children could share in the joy."
"What a lying liar," Chopper groused. Even Big Mom with her real plan… Why did people have to be so shady?
Judge raised his glass. "Let's give them the perfect wedding!"
"A toast! To their future," Big Mom declared.
Everyone drank, and the memory transitioned.
Sanji was suddenly in his guest room, pacing. His mind wouldn't shut off.
Predictable, Zoro inwardly griped.
The marriage was a rose among the thorns compared to everything else involved. Even if Sanji still didn't plan to go through with it, even if he was still rummaging for a way to prevent the arrangement, there was no going back to his friends after what he put them through earlier. Luffy had to know that. Nami would tell him as much, knock some sense into that crazy captain.
"Like Luffy ever listens to me," Nami grumbled.
And if he couldn't go back to them, he couldn't rely on them, either.
Luffy frowned.
Sanji had dug his own grave and built a wall up to prevent anyone from finding it. He had no help here. The fact that it was his own fault being put aside, how could he ever hope to get out of this?
The answer was clear: he couldn't.
He wasn't strong enough on his own here. He had an emperor to deal with, and his father. That wasn't even counting their subordinates or the threats they had hanging over him.
And now Big Mom's army was actively after his friends!
Sanji paused by the tall window overlooking the hills, watching the sweet rain pour. He thought back to Nami's and Luffy's final words to him. The looks on their faces. He picked up his lighter from the windowsill and lit a cigarette. He thought of the army that went after them and tried to see beyond the glass pane to where their battle should have taken place, but it was too dark and stormy to see clearly.
He knew it couldn't have just been the two of them who had entered enemy territory. Luffy had said Zoro took a team to Wano already, so they were probably split pretty evenly.
Although, it meant the mosshead wasn't there, which was probably for the best. It was hard enough that the last visions he had of Luffy and Nami were during that awful fight. He didn't need Zoro's stare – wishing a brutal death upon him – to haunt him as well.
The cook's thoughts had Zoro narrowing his eye. He wouldn't have wished that… One knock to the head would've sufficed.
In any case, wherever the crew was out there, Big Mom knew where they were. She already had a vendetta against Luffy since Fishman Island. She would have them chased down to the end of the line even if they did escape the clearing, and Sanji knew that.
Maybe… Maybe there was a way he could protect them, too, with all this. Protect them further. If they could leave peacefully somehow…
"Sanjiiii, you've done so much already," Chopper whined as a vein in Zoro's forehead throbbed.
"Seriously, what more does he have to offer?" Usopp said.
"Complete and utter cooperation," Robin supplied, making everyone groan. "Including his soul."
Usopp lowered his head. "It was rhetorical, Robin."
Sanji was already neck deep in this crap, what more did he have to lose? It only made sense to go all in. For them.
Luffy… Everyone… Please stay safe.
"That's probably when we were captured," Luffy laughed.
"I hate you," Nami said, face stoic. "So much."
Luffy only cackled harder. "Don't worry – Jinbei found us. I was more upset they made me leave the clearing after I promised Sanji I wouldn't move." He glowered now. "They're lucky I didn't miss him."
Zoro cocked his head at Luffy's words. Did that mean...the hardheaded love-cook went back?
The memory jumped, then. It was the same room, but some time had passed. Sanji was curled up on the windowsill now, head in his hands, cigarette hanging from his frown. Being alone in that room for hours on end was doing little for his mental state.
Everyone please… Get out of here while you can.
He would handle everything else. He had to.
In fact, he already accepted it, hadn't he? That was why he had said what he did to Pudding…
With a swirl of colors, Sanji recalled a couple hours prior to his current situation, right after lunch had ended, when he had secretly met…with his fiancée.
Something inside Zoro was warning him he wasn't going to like this. But he didn't like any of it, so who the hell cared at this point?
The swordsman swallowed.
Right? Someone tell me it doesn't get worse...
Who's gonna tell him?...