I do not own One Piece plot and characters. But I do own my OCs as well as plot twist. Directed by me and written by the amazing Aiikawarazu! Please read and leave a review!
Some short moments after, Leia and Chiffon had settled on the wooden bench near the docks, a sense of tranquility enveloped them. The night had cast its enchantment over Funwari Island, turning the surroundings into a picturesque scene straight out of a fairy tale. Above, the twinkling stars adorned the velvet canvas of the sky, their light casting a soft glow on the shimmering sea below. The gentle lapping of waves on the beach provided a soothing soundtrack, harmonizing with the cool breeze that brushed against their cheeks.
The quaint atmosphere of the island seemed to cradle them in its embrace, creating a serene and peaceful ambiance. Leia glanced at Chiffon, whose eyes were still puffy from crying, but a newfound calmness had settled upon her features. The young woman's gaze seemed to drift towards the distant horizon, as if seeking solace from the vastness of the sea.
"Thank you again… for saving me," said Chiffon. She wasn't looking directly at Leia when she said that, but Leia could feel her heartfelt gratitude. "I didn't know what would have happened if you were not there. Thank you."
"You don't have to thank me," Leia said softly, her voice filled with empathy. "I just couldn't stand by and watch you go through that alone. No one should have to face such despair on their own."
Chiffon turned her gaze towards Leia, her eyes expressing gratitude and vulnerability. "I know," she replied, her voice carrying a hint of sincerity. "But you still saved me. You reached out to me when no one else did."
Chiffon did not say anything after that, but Leia waited patiently, looking around the night scenery around her and enjoying them in silence. Leia knew from Chiffon's tone that the pink-haired girl was probably going to share something rather serious – a kind of deep talk – and Leia did not want to rush her.
"You see – after Lola ran away from home…," Chiffon started, and Leia's focus drifted back to her. "Things haven't been so good for me. My twin sister is somewhere out there, exploring the great seas and fulfilling her dreams, while I –" Chiffon sighed, rather bitterly, "I had to put up with all the things going on at home. Rather selfish of her to run away and leave everything to me, don't you think?"
Leia did not answer the question because she was distracted by the name. She knew she had heard that name somewhere… Lola… Charlotte Lola? Where and under what occasion had she heard that name before? Leia's brows furrowed as she tried hard to think, and after a few moments, she was suddenly hit with a wave of realization.
Of course. That name had been mentioned several times by Jo-Jo. Sometimes in longing, sometimes in sadness. She was Jo-Jo's most loyal customer. Big Mom's daughter. The person who refused to be married to the ruler of the giants and instead ran away from Tottoland to carve her own fate. Her name was… Charlotte Lola.
"Wait, so… Lola is your sister? Your twin sister?" Leia asked before she could stop herself, standing up in surprise at the revelation.
"Yes," Chiffon replied simply, but then she frowned. She turned her face, and looked at Leia more closely. "I thought… everyone in Tottoland was somewhat familiar with me and Lola being twin sisters," she said. "Perhaps the knowledge is not as common as I thought."
"Oh no," said Leia, realizing that she again had just given away her identity as a newcomer. She was always too obvious when it came to things like these, but she couldn't really help herself, for her mouth was often faster than her thoughts. "Well, you're not mistaken," Leia continued. "You see – I am not really from around here. I arrived in Tottoland just… a little over a month ago."
"Did you?" asked Chiffon, eyebrows raised. She was now looking at Leia with more interest. "No wonder. I've never seen you from around here."
"Yeah. Now I work as a delivery girl in Mabel's business."
"Ah," Chiffon's frown gave away to reveal a faint smile – the first one Leia saw that night. And Chiffon did look positively lovely when she smiled. "Mabel – I know her. She is a nice girl."
"Yes she is," said Leia, happy to hear nice things about her friend. "But – let's just pick up from where we were before. You were saying something about things being hard at home…?" Leia tried to stir the conversation back, but regretted it a little when she saw Chiffon's expression turning sour at the question. The pink-haired girl turned her face away from Leia before she answered, in a bitter tone.
"Yes," she replied, rather curtly. "Things are… rather hard after Lola left. Especially with Big Mom." Chiffon was being rather vague with her replies, and Leia could sense that she was still hiding something. But she knew it was better not to push her to tell the stories. Leia too, would rather not spill everything about her life to a stranger she just met. So Leia sat back beside Chiffon, and talked in a gentle manner.
"I do sympathize with you. I had trouble with my stepfather too," said Leia, and Chiffon turned toward her. Beneath the dim light of the twinkling stars, Leia could see Chiffon's face bearing mild surprise. "I won't pretend I understand everything that's going on in your life," said Leia again. "But – when I saw you over there, about to jump into the water… I just knew. I have been there, once. Or… way too many times. And I felt it too. So yeah…," Leia gave a faint smile, looking over at Chiffon, "I understand what you're going through."
Chiffon sniffed, her eyes welling up with tears once more, but this time they were tears of gratitude and relief. She hadn't told Leia about the hell that she experienced at home – at the hands of her own mother, for the simple reason that she had only met Leia and she was not sure whether Leia could be trusted. Yet, this same girl she had just met, was now offering genuine understanding and empathy, making her feel seen, heard, and understood like never before.
"You do?" Chiffon's voice quivered, touched by Leia's heartfelt words. "You really understand what I'm going through?"
Leia nodded, her smile warm and reassuring. "I do," she affirmed, her voice soft but resolute. "I may not know every detail of your situation, but I know how it feels to be overwhelmed by pain and loneliness, to believe that there's no way out. And I also know that sometimes, having someone who understands can make all the difference."
Chiffon wiped away her tears, her heart swelling with a mix of emotions. She had never imagined that she would find solace in the presence of a stranger, but Leia's openness and honesty touched her deeply. In that moment, she felt a connection with Leia, as if their souls had reached out to one another and found common ground amidst their struggles.
"Thank you, Leia," Chiffon whispered, her voice filled with a blend of gratitude and awe. "I can't put into words how much it means to me that you reached out to me like this, that you understand."
Leia placed a comforting hand on Chiffon's shoulder, offering her silent support. "You don't have to thank me," she said gently. "We all need someone to lean on, someone to remind us that we're not alone. And I'm here for you, Chiffon." Chiffon gazed at Leia, her eyes shining with newfound hope. In that moment, she felt a sense of strength and resilience, knowing that she had found an unexpected ally in Leia. The weight of her struggles didn't feel as burdensome now, knowing that there was someone who genuinely cared.
"Well… It's getting late," Leia said, glancing up at the night sky. "We should probably head back to town."
Chiffon nodded in agreement, wiping away the last traces of tears from her cheeks. "Yes, you're right," she replied, her voice still tinged with emotion.
Both girls rose up from the wooden bench, their hearts lighter than before, having found solace in each other's company. "I'll walk you back to your place," Leia offered, her voice filled with warmth and sincerity. "It's not safe to be alone at night."
Chiffon smiled gratefully, touched by Leia's concern. "Thank you," she said softly. "I appreciate it."
As they began to make their way back to town, the twinkling stars above seemed to shine even brighter, casting a gentle glow upon the path before them. The gentle lapping of waves on the beach provided a soothing soundtrack to their footsteps, and a cool breeze caressed their faces, carrying with it the scent of salt and adventure. Leia and Chiffon walked side by side, sharing a comfortable silence interspersed with occasional words of reassurance and understanding. The night seemed to wrap around them like a warm embrace, creating a sense of tranquility and peace.
"So.. uhm… Chiffon?" Leia asked, trying to keep her tone from becoming too curious as she walked alongside her new friend. Chiffon's eyes drifted aside to Leia, and she raised her eyebrow, as though telling Leia to ask away. "Uhm, you said you are the 'Minister of Puff', right?" Leia continued. Chiffon nodded. "Yes I did," she replied.
"So… what exactly does that mean?" Leia asked, rather carefully. "Does that mean… you are in the pirate crew?"
Chiffon chuckled softly at Leia's curiosity. "No Dear, I'm not a pirate and not part of Big Mom's pirate crew," she said. "I mean… going to the sea for months and never coming back? Oh, I could never! I love being on solid ground!" she explained, her voice tinged with a hint of amusement.
"I hear you," said Leia. "Being a pirate does sound romantic and all, but I also cannot imagine going for months at sea…"
"It's not as glamorous as it sounds," Chiffon chuckled again. "And well… being the Minister of Puff means… I'm in charge of everything that's going on Funwari Island! Including overseeing the production of puff-based desserts and treats here on this island. You know, things like cream puffs, éclairs, and all sorts of sweet delights. I'm pretty good at baking myself. Making Chiffon Cake is my specialty. Chiffon – like my name," she finished, puffing her chest with pride as she mentioned her special talent.
"Wow," for a moment, Leia was completely awed by Chiffon's explanation. "You must be really good at baking, no doubt! But – what are you producing those desserts and treats for? Why do you need a… minister for it?"
"Ah – I keep forgetting you are new here," Chiffon smiled, rather understandingly. "All those desserts and treats are for Big Mom. We have to produce them regularly here – there's a daily quota that we need to fulfill, you see… and then we ship our production to Whole Cake Island."
"You mean she…," Leia was even more astonished as she processed this fact, "She eats everything? All by herself?"
"Oh yes. And a lot more too. All the other ministers are also supposed to send her food – daily," Chiffon laughed as she saw the shock on Leia's face. "She is called Big Mom for a reason, you know. Her appetite is really something else. Believe me, even all the food we produce daily are barely enough to satisfy her appetite. And sometimes she would have cravings for a specific type of food – a Hunger Pang, we call it – in which she would go on rampage and destroy anything in her path indiscriminately… until she could eat the food that she craves."
"Oh wow," said Leia, in lack of anything to say.
"Yeah… even the strongest of our commanders are afraid of her when she's in that state. The only way to cure her was to give her the food she wanted."
"Commander?" asked Leia, stirring the conversation away from Big Mom. "Is that some other position – like a minister?"
"Kind of, well…," Chiffon seemed to be thinking for a while, trying to find a way to best explain it to Leia. "Think about it like this. The ministers are just in charge of everyday tasks, but commanders are combatants, they are part of Big Mom's Pirate Crew. There are four strongest officers in Big Mom's Crew, and they are called the 'Four Sweet Commanders'. Their powers are unmatched in the whole fleet, except by Big Mom herself. And the strongest of them all is Big Mom's second in command – her second son, Katakuri."
"Katakuri?"
The particular name attracted Leia's interest. She had heard that name mentioned before, during her welcoming party. Charlotte Katakuri – the greatest commander to ever exist. They said his strength matched thousands of men, that he had been undefeated for as long as he was alive. Leia didn't know to which extents the rumors were true, but she knew that whenever Katakuri's name was mentioned, everybody around her started speaking about him like he was some kind of God.
Everybody – including Chiffon. Leia could see it from the way her new friend talked, full of awe and amazement at this so-called 'Commander Katakuri'. And for the love of God and everything that's holy – Leia couldn't even begin to understand it. What was the deal with Katakuri, and everyone's obsession about him?
"Well I – heard about him a lot," said Leia rather stiffly, not wanting to prolong the subject.
"Oh, there is no way to live in Tottoland and not hear about Brother Katakuri," Chiffon said, practically puffing with pride and admiration. "He is the epitome of greatness."
There we go again, Leia sighed, a little bit annoyed with the never-ending worship. What's so great about this Katakuri anyway?
"I forgot that he is your half-brother," said Leia. "How does it feel – having so many siblings? I can't even begin to imagine," she continued, hoping to stir the conversation away from Katakuri. She succeeded.
"It's not too pretty, I can tell you,"said Chiffon, her face darkened a little. "Sometimes, sibling rivalry can become very extreme among us. And you don't always know who you can trust."
"I see," Leia said, noting her friend's grim mood. It must have been a hard life, living with forty other siblings around you, all competing for Big Mom's attention. Somehow, Leia was glad that she was not born into that world.
"We're here," Chiffon interrupted her thoughts, and Leia stopped to gaze at a very beautiful cottage – resembling the shape of a giant puff – in front of her. The puff cottage was a charming and whimsical sight to behold. Its architecture mimicked the soft and fluffy texture of a cream puff, with rounded walls that seemed to embrace visitors in a warm and inviting hug. The exterior was adorned with pastel-colored icing-like patterns, creating an enchanting and dreamlike appearance. Delicate drizzles of frosting cascaded down the walls, adding to the image of a delicious, oversized puff dessert.
A small pathway made of candy-colored stones led to the front door, which was shaped like a giant sugar-coated éclair. Two large windows on either side of the entrance were framed by frosting-like trims, and through the glass, warm light spilled out, illuminating the path and casting a soft glow on the surrounding.
Leia couldn't help but marvel at the exquisite craftsmanship and attention to detail that went into creating the puff cottage. It was evident that Chiffon's passion for baking extended beyond just the flavors and into the very design of her home. The cottage exuded an air of cozy comfort, inviting anyone to step inside and experience the sweetness of its atmosphere.
"Wow, Chiffon, your home is absolutely incredible!" Leia exclaimed, her eyes still wide with awe. "It's like a dream come true for anyone with a sweet tooth."
Chiffon blushed, a hint of pride evident in her expression. "Thank you," she said humbly. "I wanted my home to reflect my love for baking and the joy it brings me. It's my little sanctuary, a place where I can find peace and happiness."
Leia nodded, understanding the significance of having a place to call one's own in a world filled with uncertainty. "You've truly made it into something special," she said warmly.
As they approached the front door, Chiffon turned to Leia with a grateful smile. "I'm glad you think so," she said. "Speaking of which, would you care to join me for tea this weekend? I shall send an invitation card soon to your residence."
"Umm…," Leia hesitated for a while. She didn't want to be involved too much with Big Mom or her children – she was afraid she might get noticed by them. But Chiffon seemed to have kept a low profile, and plus… she's a really nice person. Leia genuinely wanted to be friends with her. After a moment of contemplation, she finally nodded – and Chiffon smiled, about as happy as Leia had seen her that night.
"Great!" she replied enthusiastically. "I'll send the invitation your way soon! And do bring your friends with you, if you want!"
"Thank you, I will," said Leia, smiling back warmly at her new friend. As she turned and walked back toward her own accommodation though, she made a mental note to scold Mabel and Jasper for failing to mention anything about Chiffon – and the whole Minister of Puff business.
A couple of days later, in a rather lazy afternoon when the sun gently bathed Funwari Island in its golden rays, Leia was engrossed in her task of cleaning her closet inside her quaint little room. The soft rustling of clothes and the occasional clinking of hangers filled the air as she meticulously arranged her belongings.
Outside, a faint murmur of voices and playful laughter began to drift through the open windows. Leia paused for a moment, her curiosity piqued. She wondered what could be causing such commotion but quickly dismissed it, assuming it was probably just some lively banter between Mabel and Jasper. After all, the two of them had become friends probably since the day they met.
As she continued her cleaning, the commotion outside her room seemed to grow louder and more animated. Amidst the joyful laughter, she could hear Mabel's unmistakable squeals of excitement, accompanied by a not-so-subtle grunt from Jasper. Her curiosity finally getting the better of her, Leia decided to put her cleaning on hold and stepped out of her room. The scene that greeted her as she stepped into the common room was both amusing and intriguing. Mabel was jumping up and down with glee, while Jasper stood nearby, rubbing his temples as if trying to fend off an impending headache.
"Guys, what's going on?" Leia called out, her voice carrying a mixture of amusement and confusion.
Mabel, barely containing her excitement, turned towards Leia with a wide grin. "Leia, you won't believe it! The great Katakuri, the Minister of Flour from Komugi Island and one of the Sweet Commanders of Big Mom's crew, is here on Funwari Island!"
Leia's eyes widened, but instead of sharing Mabel's enthusiasm, she felt a sense of annoyance bubbling up within her. For the past several days, it seemed like all she had heard about was "The Great Katakuri." People on the island had been talking non-stop about his impressive strength and feared reputation as one of Big Mom's most formidable commanders. As if that wasn't enough – there were a plethora of urban legends floating around about him, ranging from somewhat more sensible ones to utterly ridiculous ones that she couldn't help rolling her eyes when she heard them.
Back at her welcoming party, she recalled Mizu telling a story he used to hear from others in Whole Cake Island. They said Katakuri could already stand from the moment he was born. Back then, Leia nearly snorted in laughter at the absurdity of the claim, but when she glanced around, she noticed that everyone had been hanging onto the story with rapt attention, believing it wholeheartedly. Leia had found it hard to process. How did they believe such preposterous lie – Leia couldn't even begin to fathom. If Katakuri could already stand from the moment he was born, did that mean he basically walk out of the womb? Even a kid would know that it couldn't be true, but Leia had been rather amused at the way everyone genuinely believed the story.
Needless to say, that only pushed her to form a bad impression on this so-called Commander Katakuri. And now, looking at Mabel who enthusiastically bobbed up and down in front of her, Leia couldn't help but let out a soft sigh.
"Oh, him again," Leia said with a hint of sarcasm, trying to brush off her irritation. "Seems like everyone is going crazy over The Mighty and Great Commander Katakuri these days." Mabel's excitement, however, was undeterred by Leia's less-than-enthusiastic attitude. "But Leia, he's a legend!"
Leia sighed again inwardly. Mabel's fascination with Katakuri seemed to be at an all-time high, and. while she appreciated her friend's excitement, Leia couldn't help but feel a bit weary of hearing about The Great Katakuri every five minutes.
"Well, I'm glad everyone's excited," Leia said, trying to sound enthusiastic. "I still don't understand the hype about him though."
"Oh, Leia," said Mabel, looking at her friend with a mixture of pity and amusement. "Don't worry – you'll understand it soon enough. Let me tell you all about Commander Katakuri."
"No, I really don't –"
Too late. Mabel had decided she would fill Leia with everything she knew about Katakuri, despite the latter's protests. As Mabel continued to gush about The Great Katakuri, Leia struggled more and more to hide her annoyance, finding it hard to share in her friend's excitement. The image of Katakuri, a pompous and self-aggrandizing figure, began to merge in her mind with that of a popular but annoying girl she had known back at school. The two seemed to share the same air of superiority, and every mention of Katakuri only served to remind Leia of the girl's haughty demeanor.
Stories of Katakuri's relentless pursuit of perfection, how he demanded nothing less than excellence from those around him put Leia off even further, especially by the notion of such rigid and inflexible standards. While some admired his commitment to discipline, to Leia, it seemed like he cared more about maintaining an image of strength and invincibility rather than genuine human connection. Leia's mind wandered back to her school days. She had disliked the popular girl for her arrogance and the way she made others feel inferior. In Katakuri, she saw echoes of that same behavior – someone who seemed more interested in feeding their own ego than in uplifting others.
"I get it – I get it," said Leia finally after about fifteen minutes of Mabel telling her how awesome Katakuri was. She felt her ears started to twitch at all the tales of Katakuri's greatness, and there was nothing she wanted more than to go back to the quaint solitude inside her room and continue sorting through her clothes. "He's awesome, I get it."
"Sure you do," said Mabel. "So – would you like to go out with us?"
Leia blinked, not sure what her friend meant. "Out where?" she asked. "Or rather – for what?"
Mabel's eyes sparkled with excitement as she explained, "We're going to watch Katakuri and his crew walk through town! It's not every day that we get to see someone like him up close. Plus, it'll be fun! Come on, Leia, it'll be an adventure!"
"Uhm…," Leia replied vaguely, starting to feel a sense of dread at the prospect of joining the crowd to watch Katakuri. She really didn't care about seeing him or his crew, and the thought of being surrounded by people who couldn't stop praising him made her feel less eager to be there
"Thanks, Mabel, but I think I'll pass," Leia replied with a gentle smile, trying not to sound too dismissive. "I'm… really focused on cleaning my closet right now, and I prefer to have some quiet time to myself."
Mabel's expression fell slightly, but she didn't give up so easily. "Come on, Leia, you don't want to miss this chance! Katakuri is a legend! You'll regret it if you don't come. It's not every day that we get to see him, you know? We don't even see him once a year! It's a really rare occasion and trust me, if you miss it this time – you won't know the next time you're going to be able to see him again!"
Leia shook her head, standing firm in her decision despite Mabel's strong attempts to persuade her. "I appreciate the invitation, Mabel, but I'm just not… interested. I, well… " she wanted to say I don't care for Katakuri, and I really don't need to see him or his crew but she stopped, thinking that such strong words might hurt Mabel. "I feel rather tired today, so I'm not really eager to go out there and mingle with the crowd," she decided to let out a little white lie. "You all can enjoy the excitement, and I'll be fine right here."
Mabel sighed. She pouted a little, but eventually accepted Leia's decision. "Alright then, guess it can't be helped if you're not feeling healthy. But you're missing out on something incredible!" Leia chuckled softly, patting Mabel's shoulder. "I'm sure you'll tell me all about it later," she said. "For now, I'll enjoy my quiet time here. Have fun, okay?"
With that, Mabel finally relented and joined Jasper and the crowd outside to witness the spectacle of Katakuri and his crew passing through town. Leia returned to her closet cleaning, glad to have a moment of solitude to herself. She didn't care for Katakuri's fame or reputation, and she was content to simply be by herself, far away from the hype surrounding the Sweet Commander.
Truth was, she realized that her preconceived notions about Katakuri might not be entirely fair. After all, she had never actually met him in person, and her judgments were based solely on the stories she had heard. Perhaps there was more to him than the tales of his supposed greatness. Still, she couldn't shake the feeling that he was the kind of person she would prefer to avoid.
"Maybe I'm being unfair," Leia thought to herself, trying to be more open-minded. "But he just reminds me so much of that girl from school."
As the crowd's excitement echoed from outside, Leia hummed a soft tune to herself, finding solace in the familiarity of her own little world. She knew she might have missed out on a grand event in the eyes of others, but to her, the peace and quiet of her room were far more valuable than any encounter with a famous pirate.
Later that night, as Leia's hands brushed off the last speck of dust from her newly organized closet, a distinct sound filled the room – "PURURURURU." Her eyes immediately darted towards the source of the noise, and she smiled at the sight of her baby Den-Den Mushi, perched on a nearby shelf, ringing with a sense of urgency.
"PURURURURURU"
The Den-Den Mushi, a fascinating creature that served as a communication device in this strange new world, had a rather… striking appearance that Leia found both peculiar and charming. First of all, they were snails. Second of all… they were used as communication devices.
Leia silently recalled her shock when she had first seen them, and Jasper's explanation about the Den-Den Mushis that followed afterwards. They were living creatures that had been modified through technological means to serve as communication devices. They could transmit voices and messages to other Den-Den Mushis across vast distances, anywhere else in the world.
"It's fascinating, really," Jasper had said with a smile. "And don't worry, they're not harmed in any way. They're just like regular snails, except with a little extra tech inside."
Leia had nodded at the reassurance, still finding it hard to wrap her head around the idea. Jasper had also said that having a business in this world had its perks, and one of them was owning their very own Den-Den Mushis. They were also status symbol of sorts, as civilians rarely had access to such advanced technology – though they were a bit more common here in the New World compared to anywhere else.
Despite the novelty though, Leia couldn't help but feel a tinge of nostalgia for her old life. She missed the convenience of her iPhone (which she still had, even though it was now nothing more than a useless relic in this strange world). Still, she had to admit that the Den-Den Mushi was quite charming in its own way, and she appreciated the fact that it allowed her to stay connected with her friends and allies. She watched as her own Den-Den Mushi, the tiny blue snail with a yellow shell and a painted blue bird on it, continued to ring, summoning her attention. After another ring, Leia finally picked it up.
"Hey Leia!"
Leia smiled as she heard Mabel's voice on the other end of the Den-Den Mushi.
"Hey Mabel," she replied, rather cheerily.
"Listen, I just got an urgent delivery request for a package that needs to be delivered to one of the workers at Chiffon's factory. Can you handle it for me? It is addressed to Mr. William. You can pick up the package at my delivery office."
Leia hesitated for a moment, thinking about her plans for the day. But Mabel sounded rather urgent, and seeing that the whole parade for Katakuri was finally over, Leia figured it was finally safe to head outside.
"Sure thing, Mabel! Consider it done," Leia replied cheerfully. After all, delivering a package seemed like a straightforward task. "Where can I pick up the package?"
Mabel quickly gave her the details, explaining that the package was waiting for her at the delivery office. "I won't be there, but you can use your key to get in. Mr. William is expecting it soon, so just give it to him when you arrive at the factory."
"Got it," Leia said, mentally noting the instructions. "I'll take care of it."
After saying their goodbyes, Leia ended the call and put the Den-Den Mushi back on its shelf. She quickly got ready, slipping into a comfortable outfit and grabbing her bag before heading out of her house. Little did she know, her small trip that night to Mabel's office to pick up the small delivery package was just the beginning to a string of events that would further turn her world upside-down.