Chapter 7
Good Riddance: Goodbye Punk Hazard!
"Did he just cut through fire?" Aiya asked, her voice tinged with suspicion as she peeked out from behind Brownbeard's head next to Nami. The heat of the dragon's breath still hung in the air, but the once-menacing creature was now motionless.
She took a moment to really observe the reassembled man. He stood at least seven feet tall before her, a resolute figure in a traditional kimono and top knot. Beside him, the skeletal musician Brook twirled his cane sword with a flourish, their victory over the monstrous creature clear.
"Yeah. He did that earlier, too," Zoro hummed, still lounging as if he were on the deck of the Sunny rather than amid an escape from enemy territory.
"That must be killing you." She said back to him, but her words were swallowed in the chaos as Nami's voice cut through the air, yelling at the newly appointed dragon slayers to catch up before they were left behind.
"Hey, just in time, look over there!" As they followed the orange-ette's direction, a deep, menacing growl reverberated off the metal walls.
"That doesn't sound good!" Robin yelled, her usually calm demeanor shattered at the vision of their beloved doctor, bloody and under attack from giant children.
"He's in his monster form?! Fighting the children?!" The navigator's voice pitched higher, filled with panic as Usopp sputtered beside her.
The Straw Hats' first mate finally snapped out of his relaxed state. He stood quickly next to Robin, eyes scanning the chaotic scene. "I can't even guess what's going on here." Back in the biscuit room, it was easy to forget the horrific truth of the experiments, but now, with withdrawal symptoms in full swing, it was impossible to ignore.
Everyone held their breath as Chopper's large, imposing form shrunk and collapsed to the floor, the children rushing past him. "I'm begging you! You can't eat any more candy!" he pleaded; his voice raw with desperation. They all dismounted Brownbeard and raced after the disappearing children. Aiya didn't listen as the crew reunited; her mind was focused on formulating a plan for when they reached the supercharged kids.
She saw Mocha, arms full of candy, desperately begging her fellow children not to take another bite. Logic was far from their minds, and her pleas went unheeded.
Aiya's breath hitched as a blast of arctic air filled the doorway Mocha tried to exit. "Mocha, no! She isn't your ally!" She screamed, but it was too late.
"Wait, who is she?" Zoro asked, baffled by the sudden appearance.
"It's her! She's the crazy bird lady I was telling you guys about!" Usopp added, his voice tinged with hysteria.
As Monet's icy powers filled the room, Aiya's heart pounded. She knew the danger they were in. The Straw Hats had faced many enemies, but this one was personal. With steely determination, Aiya prepared herself for the confrontation, her resolve hardened by the need to protect those who couldn't protect themselves.
"Monet! Help me, please!"
"Mocha, you shouldn't hog all the candy. Be a nice girl and share with the others, okay?" the harpy said before closing her wings around her body to conjure a harsh winter storm.
"It seems the winged woman uses sorcery!" Kin'emon exclaimed, unhelpfully.
"She's a Logia type?!" his even more unhelpful companion added.
"She works for Joker. Don't let her get the kids!" Aiya yelled over the harsh winds but didn't miss the dark chuckle that carried over them and into her frostbitten ears. "Don't trust her, Mocha!"
A dense wall of white filled the doorway behind her, blocking their only obvious exit. Aiya grit her teeth as the woman looked down on her.
"There you are little mouse."
Monet reached down, pulling Ruby harshly to her feet. The girl didn't struggle, but her grip was unyielding ever the same. "You can't hide from your lessons."
Ruby's heart pounded in her chest as she was dragged into Doflamingo's quarters. The walls seemed to close in around her as Monet shut the door behind them. The air in her lungs seemed to thicken with fear and desperation. In the center of the room stood the man of her nightmares, with a cruel smile, watching with amusement as Monet encouraged Ruby to her knees.
"Show her, Monet," Doflamingo commanded, "What happens to those who defy me."
Monet's smile widened as she extended a hand, her Devil Fruit powers activating. Ice began to form around Ruby's bare ankles, crawling up her legs like the grasp of death. The small girl bit her lip, refusing to cry out. She had learned that showing weakness only brought more pain.
"If you ever try to run from me again, my pet, this will be your future. You will learn to obey, or you will suffer." Doflamingo laughed. "I was too lenient before and look what it cost us. I had to shoot my own little brother, don't make me kill my favorite pet, too."
Ruby's body trembled, not from the cold but from the overwhelming sense of helplessness. The ice crept higher, biting into her skin, but she forced herself to remain silent. In her mind, she clung to the one small defiance she had left—she escaped in her mind and thought of Law in a warm room, healthy and smiling. She knew the smile was a bit of a stretch based on the boy she knew, but it was her disassociation fantasy so she could think of him however she wished.
As the ice reached her chest, Monet leaned down, her face inches from her own. "Remember this pain, little mouse. Remember it every time you think of disobeying. You belong to the Young Master."
With a final, crushing grip, the ice shattered, leaving Ruby gasping on the floor. Doflamingo's laughter echoed through the chamber, a chilling sound that haunted her dreams. Monet released her hold, leaving the young teen to collapse, shivering and broken.
"Take her back to her room, Monet," Doflamingo ordered. "Clean her up and put her to bed without dinner. Let her remember this moment. It will make her stronger."
Monet nodded, always giddy to please the Young Master. She walked a stumbling Ruby back to her room on the ship, entering the adjoining bathroom and stripping her freezing clothes as they waited for the tub to fill. Ruby stood unflinching but internally curled into a ball. Phantom, invisible tears spilling down her cheeks.
Ruby made a silent vow. She would survive. She would endure. And one day, she would find a way to break free from this nightmare and break this stupid woman's stupid neck.
"Oh, I see. Have you given up on Trafalgar Law entirely and decided to latch onto the next man… men you think can advance your ambitions?" Monet mocked her.
"You're just not a girl's girl, huh, Monet?" Aiya called back as she stepped toward her. The anger burning in her stomach and years of exposure preventing even a small shudder at the wind. This was familiar, and the fight was a long time coming.
"Hey, you! What are you doing to these children?" Nami yelled as she cradled their angry doctor.
"Yeah! You better tell us and make it snappy! You don't know who you're messing' with, lady!" Usopp cheered, hiding behind Aiya as she glared at the harpy woman.
"Actually, I'm quite informed. I do my research, after all. You're the infamous Straw Hat pirate crew. The pleasure is all mine, except for the little tagalong, of course."
"You know her?" Zoro asked without a hint of emotion. "Who is she?"
"She can speak for herself. I am Monet, with the power of the snow-snow fruit." Her wings flung another arctic blast over the pirates who braced themselves against its might.
Robin snapped into gear, giving Brooke and Usopp orders that Aiya didn't bother trying to make out. She did however hope to distract their enemy from listening as well. "You really are such a blow hard. Did it ever occur to you that we could be friends? I mean, the only intelligent life on an island of stinky, stupid boys?"
"No, I can't say that it did.".
"Well, me neither because you're a total fucking cunt." Aiya sends a swathe of fabric shooting toward the woman when she felt the straw hats disperse from behind her.
"You won't catch me like that again! Try harder!" The green-ette teased as she dipped and dashed after Robin.
"I'll try to slow them down!" Robin exclaimed.
"I'd rather you not." Monet said simply, connecting her skin sword to the archaeologist's shoulder.
Zoro jumped in and held the bird woman back before she could strike again. His swords connecting with their enemy's talons. "You three! Do something to stop the children!"
"You must be pirate hunter Zoro; I hear you have a rather massive bounty." Monet licked her lips and pushed against his blades, looking him up and down.
The Straw Hat's first mate looked unimpressed at the woman he was holding back with a click of his tongue. "You better be careful. She is not gonna like that."
"Who?!" Monet screeched.
"His wife, you harpy bitch!" Aiya dives at her from the side, a
"Aiya, watch out!" Nami held out her clim-a-tact, releasing hot and melting Monet.
"Oh Nami, I knew I loved you." The redhead practically swooned, Zoro wasn't impressed.
"Hey! Enough hiding in the snow you oversized chicken! Let's get this over with!"
"Sorry, but master Caesar needs those test subjects for an important project. That's why it's my job to ensure he and the experiment are kept safe. But now you've given Mocha these rebellious ideas." Monet
"Us?! They chose to leave this awful place of their own free will!" Chopper yelled from Nami's arms.
"That's enough! Out of my way!" Zoro took the opportunity to slash at the ice closing the doorway, allowing his cremates to escape.
"That's not very nice." Monet solidified and stood in front of the duo, "Since the first day they came to live on the island with us, we've treated those children to every comfort and kindness they could ever want. And yet you're trying to steal these beloved treasures away from their adoring foster parents. But I suppose you are pirates."
"If you expect it, you must be fine with it." Zoro said haughtily, Aiya rolled her eyes.
"I said it's not nice!" Monet soured, "You know I've noticed that the only thing you've been doing is defending yourself. So, is there some reason you haven't tried to attack me at all?" She didn't pause long enough for a response, "Oh, my. I think I know what it is. That's funny. At first, I thought there was no way I could defeat you. How about that? I guess I was mistaken."
"There's another room back here!" A group of male voices sounded from the front room. "Find the children and get them out as fast as you can!"
"The navy?" Zoro questioned as he looked past their opponent.
"Come on, let's bust the door open!" A sort of familiar voice called out, leading the charge of unseen men.
"Was that… Sanji?" Aiya sputtered, looking curiously toward her Straw Hat companion.
"It doesn't matter how many of you come to take those children away. I'll stop you." Monet said, mostly to herself.
"This way! SAVE THOSE KIDS!" Just as she thought, Sanji led a group of determined Marines into the Biscuit room behind the hovering harpy.
"Why are all those Marines answering to you?!" Zoro spat.
"They're not here! The only people I see are Pirate Hunter Zoro and… a GoRgEoUs redhead! Hello, miss!" A random soldier with hearts in his eyes stopped next to her, folding in half in a deep bow.
"Of course, that pain in the ass is here, but at least he has the beautiful Aiya-swan with him!! Hello, my precious adorable red angel!" The woman loving Cook called out to Zoro's dismay.
"Fuck off, cook!" The swordsman growled in response.
"Fuck you, Shitty-Swordsman! Everybody, make dumb faces at Mosshead!" He ordered his newly acquired soldiers, fulfilling a dream he never knew he had.
"I hope they all fall in the ice and crack their stupid skulls open." The green headed man grouched to a giggling Aiya. "Jackass, listen to me. Take Aiya and go after Robin and Nami. They went that way."
"Absolutely! I knew one day you'd be useful to me!! I'll protect her with my life! Come here, Aiya- my sweet!" Sanji danced.
"Absolutely not! I'm not leaving." Aiya scoffed, her face falling into anger.
"I can handle this." Zoro insisted.
"I'm sure you can, but I have a score to settle and it's not fair for you to get to have all the fun without me!" Aiya stopped and thought for a second, "I guess if you think you're so weak that I'm actually in danger..."
"She's got you there, Mosshead." Sanji sang.
"You're such a pain! Can't you just let me protect you?!" He snapped again.
"No, and this isn't new information!" Aiya insisted.
"Maybe you two are perfect for each other." Sanji blew out a puff of unimpressed smoke. But then his eyes locked on Monet. "Oh my god, there's another hottie here!"
Aiya sighed as the marines gushed over the beauty of their enemy. Her patience wore thin as she watched, irritation bubbling beneath the surface. Suddenly, one of the marines formed a coherent thought, pointing out the snow swirling around them inside the lab.
"That would be my doing," Monet said, her voice laced with icy malice. The wind picked up, transforming the snow into a fierce blizzard. "It is my duty, after all. I don't care who you are. It'll be a cold day in hell before I let you take those children." With a swift motion, she lashed out at the men, sending them sprawling.
Aiya was about to act when she heard urgent footsteps from the other room. Monet had already formed a towering ice statue with a grotesque, gaping mouth, ready to attack. Just as it lunged forward, a sword cut through Monet's body with a splat of blood, the blade infused with Haki.
"Someone is using Haki on me," Monet hissed, her voice filled with venom as she struggled to recover from the blow.
The pink coat of the attacker was unmistakable even before she spoke. "It's Captain Tashigi!" a marine exclaimed.
"We sealed off the doors to keep the gas from getting in this room, but we don't know that it won't leak in from another spot. We don't have much time! So do whatever it takes to rescue all the children!" Tashigi yelled, her voice commanding and urgent.
"What? But what about you?"
"I'm going to stay right here." Tashigi declared.
"Why would you do that?" Zoro asked, completely put out at one more woman standing between him and a good fight.
"If you ask me, you could use some help around here." Tashigi announced without an ounce of shame.
"What?!" The couple exclaimed, simultaneously.
"OH. I get it! You're trying to get rid of me so you can have alone time with your little sword girlfriend." She narrowed her glare at him.
"Wow, I didn't think you had it in you, shitty swordsman." The blond cook commented at the green haired swordsman's expense, "But that is low, even for you."
"No, I'm not- she's not-THAT'S NOT WHAT I'M DOING!" Zoro yelled. "All of you get out of here!"
"If you two can't stop fighting long enough to face your enemy, all of us are at risk!" Tashigi stated, coolly, as if she knew exactly what was going on.
"We're not fighting, she's leaving!" Zoro yelled before adding, "And you should go with your soldiers."
"I'll do as I please!" The naval captain stood strong as her men filed out behind Black Leg safely.
"I said I don't need your help."
"You're entitled to your opinion."
"Is that sexual tension? Right in front of me?!" Aiya gasped.
"No! Stop saying shit like that and get out of here!" Zoro paused, "Before I chop both of you up into little pieces!"
"Oh, please! You won't put a scratch on any of us." Tashigi said matter-of-factly.
"You think so, huh? Well, what do you know?!" Zoro grouched but sheathed his swords. "Whatever. You two can have at her. I'm going to sit right over here. Stay focused, Copycat. One mistake and you're dead meat."
Monet and Tashigi clashed with explosive force, the naval captain's black blade locking with Monet's fanged ice mouth. "Cute trick. You can use Haki to force a power user like me back to their normal state. That said, you have to be fast enough to catch me! Sorry, dear!"
"Oh my, you are colder than I thought," Monet quipped at Zoro, completely ignoring Aiya. The oversight felt like an insult, but Aiya saw it as an advantage. Her mind raced, strategizing as the battle unfolded.
"Oh, I'm cold? You're the snow woman," Zoro retorted, lounging nearby with an almost bored expression. He didn't let on to the tightening in his stomach as he watched the forgotten
Tashigi didn't let the banter distract her, launching a fierce swing at Monet and pushing her back. "Perhaps I underestimated you. You are Smoker's right-hand girl. I wonder how he's holding up. He's a talented fighter, but Vergo clearly outmatches him."
"I wouldn't worry about Admiral Smoker. He's strong! He could never be defeated by you or your thugs! Not in a million years! Believe me!" Tashigi yelled, her voice filled with unwavering conviction. "No one knows him like I do!"
"That's enough. Snowstorm." Monet's voice was icy as the room's temperature plummeted. The wind howled, and snow swirled, reducing visibility to almost nothing. Aiya stood back, watching the chaos with calculated patience. Monet's form grew, becoming a massive snow creature with vicious ice fangs.
In a swift move, the fangs sank deeply into Tashigi's shoulder, drawing a pained cry. Zoro tensed, ready to intervene, but Aiya held him back for another moment.
Not yet…
Aiya's sharp eyes caught a fleeting opportunity—Tashigi gained an inch, creating an opening. She nodded at Zoro, and before Monet could react, Zoro moved like lightning, his blade cutting through the blizzard. Monet was thrown back, blood oozing from a fresh wound on her cheek.
"If you hadn't been running your mouth, you'd already be done with her by now. But you're out of time," Zoro called out, his voice dripping with disdain. "So, you misjudged me. How 'bout that? You two were so worried about whether or not I was holding back because you're a woman that you ignored the most obvious, and dangerous, reason in the room." Zoro almost laughed, a dark edge to his amusement.
"And what is that?" Monet snarled, struggling to regain her composure.
"That he left you for me!" Aiya shouted, charging forward with lethal precision. Her blade gleamed as it sliced through the air, striking Monet down the middle.
Monet's eyes widened in shock, a gasp escaping her lips as Aiya's attack cut deeply. The room seemed to still for a moment, the snowstorm pausing in its fury. The redhead stood next to her, breathing heavily. "I can't believe you fell for my half assed sneak attack. Twice."
"You, disgusting whore!" Monet shrieked as she re-solidified, her form appearing from the swirling snow with a malevolent glare. "I'm not afraid of you! You should've let your husband finish me off when you had the chance!"
"I don't need a man to fight my battles, contrary to your opinions of me!" Aiya shouted back, her voice cutting through the howling blizzard. Monet laughed, her sinister chuckle blending with the wind as she disappeared into the swirling white. "Your cold powers won't work on me. I'm too well taught."
The double agent practically preened with a dangerous mixture of sincerity and cunning as she addressed Aiya from the shadows. "You know, Vergo was telling the truth. The Young Master has always been interested in those with power and influence. The Silk Bridge has made quite a name in the underworld, and he sees potential in an alliance." She paused, her voice carrying an almost seductive quality. "He offers a chance to rise even higher. With the Donquixote family, you wouldn't just be an intel broker—you'd be part of something greater. Think about it. With his love and support, you two could reshape the world. What do you say?"
"Love?!" Aiya called out to the snowy drifts, her voice echoing in the eerie silence that followed. "You think I'd ever believe a man like that does anything out of love for others?!"
A palpable tension filled the air. Zoro stood protectively over the still-recovering Tashigi, his hand gripping the hilt of his sheathed sword, eyes scanning the white landscape for any sign of Monet. The cold bit at his skin, but his focus remained unbroken.
"Men like him call it love, sure," Her voice dripped with contempt as she sent out a pulse of Observation Haki, searching for Monet's hidden presence. "But if there's one thing I know for certain, it's that men like Doflamingo aren't capable of loving anyone but themselves."
Aiya braced herself as her opponent lunged, the blizzard intensifying around them. The two clashed with ferocious energy, their powers colliding in a storm of ice and determination. The air crackled with tension, each strike resonating with the force of their convictions.
Zoro watched, his muscles tensed and ready to intervene. He knew Aiya could handle herself, but the stakes were high, and he couldn't afford to underestimate Monet's ruthlessness. His eyes flicked to Tashigi, who was slowly regaining her strength, then back to the battle unfolding before him.
In a sudden, swift movement, Aiya turned and ensnared Monet with black Haki-infused fabric, yanking her close with a force that made Monet yowl in pain. Aiya's grip was unyielding, her eyes burning with fierce determination. "Love is feeding an entire town with the remnants of your pirate career after making it all the way to Wano, only to shipwreck and lose everything. Love is marching alone into almost certain death to protect the men who have sworn their lives to serve you because you can't leave it up to some foolish pirate. Love is taking all the pain from someone tenfold just because you want to see them live their dreams."
Zoro, startled by her words, listened intently, his usual stoic demeanor softened by her impassioned declaration. Aiya continued, her voice resolute and unwavering. "I pity you, Monet. He's charming, he whispers promises in your ear, and you want them to be true. Just one more thing. One more favor. One more job. You want to earn his love. But if love is anything, it's selfless. It's given freely and without conditions. I got out, and I've seen real love firsthand. I've gotten to… be in love. And if I've learned one thing since I left Ruby behind, it's that what Donquixote Doflamingo calls love could never truly be."
She paused, letting the weight of her words sink in, her gaze never leaving Monet's. "You see, Monet, there's a reason you don't like me, even if you're not smart enough to figure it out. It's because I'm a reminder that no matter what you've done, it'll never be enough. He'll never love you. At least not like he told you he loved me. You can keep chasing his empty promises but know this: real love will always elude you as long as you serve a man who knows nothing of it."
Aiya let the disguise of her Devil Fruit powers retract, the black Haki-infused fabric holding firm around Monet, giving her no chance of escape. The threads slowly reabsorbed from around her hair, revealing light, rich blonde locks that gleamed under the dim, flickering lights of the lab. Her upturned, cat-like purple eyes shifted, transforming into wide, doe-like orbs of a striking, clear blue. Her body subtly reshaped, becoming less voluptuous, while her face softened into a more child-like and round appearance, exuding an innocent, almost ethereal quality.
"Ru… Lady Ruby?" Monet stammered, her eyes widening with shock as recognition dawned upon her. The horror of what she had done settled over her like a suffocating shroud as her stomach fell to her feet. She looked now at the cherished pet she had unknowingly mistreated over the last few months. Her arrogance had pushed Ruby further away, a bitter reminder of her own unworthiness.
A crushing sense of inadequacy enveloped Monet, a stark reminder of the vast chasm she still needed to bridge to even glimpse the love she so desperately sought after.
"I'm not a little mouse anymore, Monet," Aiya declared, her voice strong and unyielding.
With one final, decisive strike, Aiya incapacitated Monet, who collapsed to the ground, her body limp and defeated. The effort drained Aiya, and she too fell unconscious, her body succumbing to exhaustion.
Her husband walked over, his expression a mixture of admiration and concern. He knelt beside Aiya, gently lifting her into his arms. "So, this is what you really look like, huh?" he muttered, securing her over his back with care.
As he carried her, Zoro's thoughts lingered on her words and the strength she had shown. He felt a newfound respect for Aiya, not just as a fighter, but as someone who had endured and overcome incredible hardship. The battle was over, but the weight of her revelation hung in the air, a testament to the real love and resilience that had brought her this far.
They left the biscuit room, their mission to find the others. Predictably, Zoro veered off in the wrong direction, prompting Tashigi to yell at him.
"This way, you idiot!" she snapped, exasperation in her voice.
As they corrected course, Tashigi's expression softened, her thoughts evidently elsewhere. "I owe her an apology, you know," she admitted quietly.
He grunted. "She did save your ass."
"No! Not that." She paused as a pink flush highlighted her cheeks in a way the man following her did not find adorable in anyway, "I didn't think a criminal could ever understand the loyalty and love I feel for my marines, but she articulated it perfectly," Tashigi confessed, her voice tinged with an unexpected respect.
Zoro smirked. "Oh, starting to come around to the idea that maybe the world isn't as black and white as you thought it was?"
Tashigi's pink darkened to red, her temper flaring. "Shut up!"
"She got one thing wrong, though," he added, undeterred, his tone turning introspective.
"What?" Tashigi demanded, clearly curious despite herself.
"Real love isn't always so pretty and selfless," Zoro said, his eyes reflecting a deep, hidden wisdom. "But that doesn't make it any less real."
Before Tashigi could respond, her eyes widened, catching sight of something. "Wait, is that Shusui?" she exclaimed, completely ignoring his profound words.
Zoro's grip tightened on the hilt. "Hands off, sword geek!"
One piece!
"Straw Hat," Law called out as he and the White Hunter, rolled the cart into the opening next to R-66. He finally made it but couldn't relax yet.
"Traffy! Smokey!" Luffy cheered, his post-battle high clear in his wide grin and bright eyes.
"Where is my crew mate?" Law demanded first, a hint of urgency in his voice. Aiya noted the concern from her place on Zoro's back and hoped it was a sign that he might forgive her for both her past transgressions and the one he was about to discover.
"Calm down. She's right here. Pushed too hard fighting Monet. Lost too much blood," Zoro explained, his tone steady. When Law's gaze finally fell upon Aiya, his stomach clenched. He hadn't seen her like this in years. She looked…
She looked like Ruby. Beaten and bloodied, all pale and ghostly, a haunting echo of their shared past. She coughed, a harsh sound that seemed to scrape her throat. As the bile rising from her stomach cleared from her throat, she admitted to playing a bit against his sympathies. "She's dead," she announced, her voice strained but resolute.
Law's lips curled into that charming, demonic smile that only the Surgeon of Death could muster. "So is he."
"Good. Fuck Vergo," Aiya spat, her defiance shining through the pain.
"Agreed," Law said, almost allowing himself a genuine smile before his expression sharpened with sudden realization. "Where's Caesar?"
The urgency in his voice cut through the moment, bringing everyone back to the pressing reality of their situation.
"Let's be rational about this." She started but Luffy quickly jumped in.
"You see that hole over there? I blasted him that way. The door kinda got busted." He pointed to the large gaping crater carved into the lab wall, unabashedly.
"What? No! The plan was to kidnap him!" Law struggled to keep himself from strangling the stupid kid.
"Why?! He sucks! C'mon, we should just leave him behind." The Straw Hat captain rebutted.
"That is NOT what we both agreed on! If he escapes from here the plan is ruined." The Hearts captain tried to formulate a plan B but as far as he could figure, they were screwed.
"I don't care. I'm done. Good riddance." His tone was childish at best, petulant at worst.
"The point of having a plan is to follow through with it. I should've known better than to trust you with anything. We gotta get him back, now! Get in the cart, it's time to move out!"
Aiya went to stand, Zoro helped her up instead of insisting she stay down. "Save your breath, Captain. They won't leave without their crew mates."
"Wait. Who are you?" Luffy looked at the woman in his first mates arms with confusion.
"Shut up, no time." She stood in front of the closing door with her eyes shut, listening to the commotion running down the hall. Her hands shot out and with her last dregs of consciousness, and blood, she wrapped her silk around the struggling group, pulling them through the door right before it closed.
"Good."
One piece!
As they appeared from the cave into the open air, the scene before them was tense and chaotic.
"Buffalo? Baby 5? What are you doing here?" Law demanded; his voice edged with annoyance.
"Us? What do you think you're doing helping the Straw Hats and those kids escape?" Baby 5 retorted, her eyes narrowing. But then she stopped, sucking in a breath as a blond head she hadn't seen in years popped up from where it had been laying against a green haired swordsman.
"Because Law's turned traitor," Buffalo growled, not noticing Baby 5's strange reaction, or the woman in question. "Joker saved the heart seat and all that comes with it for you, and you betray him?"
"Are they your friends or something?" Luffy asked, unimpressed by the new arrivals.
"Negative, they're my enemies," Law grouched, already feeling the weight of the situation. The last thing they needed was Ruby's identity being revealed. He threw off his coat over her, glaring at Baby 5 who seemed fixated on the spot he'd just covered.
"All of the Straw Hats and the Navy G-5 against us? Those are losing odds. We gotta split," Buffalo said, sensing the unfavorable situation. Baby 5 seemed to shake herself free from something but then sprang into action.
"They grabbed Caesar and made a run for it. You know what that means! It's a sniper's job to take them down!" Usopp called out, his eyes gleaming with determination.
"Those bastards!" Law snarled, ready to attack.
"Hold up, Law," Luffy caught his arm, his tone firm but calm. "Usopp said he's got a handle on the situation, didn't he?"
"First-class sniper. Don't underestimate him just because his schnoz is giant," Zoro added, trying to lighten the mood. He felt the woman beneath the coat stiffen against his chest.
"That last part wasn't necessary, Zoro!" Usopp yelled, but the swordsman was too focused on why Aiya was hiding to notice.
"You're crazy. What if he misses? If we lose Caesar, the whole plan is ruined. They'll sell Aiya out!" Law shouted, inadvertently revealing the secret they had been keeping.
"Are we in an alliance, or aren't we? If we're going to work together, how about showing a little trust? I don't know what you mean about Aiya, but she means a lot to Zoro, so we won't let anything happen to her," Nami spoke up, her voice steady and reassuring, grateful for the woman who had saved her life multiple times since their meeting.
"What alliance? Hold on," Zoro quipped, but his focus remained on the situation at hand.
"Don't think so. I'm done waiting. I want to go on the offense." Nami smirked, her confidence radiating. "Think you got away? Think again, cowards! You're all going down!"
"That's right! Especially when they're wounded, and their backs are to us. Too easy!" Usopp exclaimed, his determination clear.
"Yeah, any day," Zoro conceded, smirking at his crew's resolve. He felt a little face poke out from under the coat and looked down at sparkling blue eyes. Still a little startled by her transformation but not unhappy about it.
Nami raised her Clima-Tact, conjuring a thunderstorm with a fierce intensity. "Weather Egg: Lightning Storm!"
Usopp took aim, his eyes sharp and focused. "Green Star: Devil! Chomping Grass!" He released the attack, the sea prism stone handcuffs glinting as they flew through the air.
The thunder roared, and the chompers snapped shut, capturing Baby 5 and Buffalo with precision. The pair struggled, but it was clear the battle had turned in the Straw Hats' favor.
"Fine. Looks like the initial phase is accomplished." Law succeeded.
"Told ya. Pretty strong, aren't they?" Luffy smiled.
As the dust settled, Zoro tightened his grip on the woman in front of him as she came out from under the coat, red curls flying in the wind. He felt a sense of pride in his crew's strength and unity. His gaze meeting the up turned purple eyes he was used to. "Heh. I'll explain on the Sunny."
"Wait, what?"