And we are back! Sorry for the delay, this last month has been an absolute bastard to me and I needed a break. Let me quick explain what happened in one month to me; Covid, Family Problem, My dog got cancer and I was forced to put him to sleep, Car Hijacked, and attempted theft on my bank account...TWICE!
So yeah, I need a break. Which is why I feel that this chapter is...weak, so I'm sorry in advance for this.
Hope is not too boring.
Vivi Nefertari has lived quite an interesting life.
Born a princess of a kingdom, getting herself into fights with kids, learning of the Devil Fruits, experiencing the bad-mouthing of her father's name and reputation, and even going on a three-year mission to discover the man who was trying to destroy her country.
Incredible things that have slowly become part of 'it's normal' tradition.
She was confident, with a 'so-so' level, that there was nothing in the world that could surprise her so much anymore.
Today, she ate those words.
Tastes like sand.
"And that's all you need to know about me." Mario finished as Starlow shrunk the magical screen.
Vivi's jaw was already broken two minutes into the story of the plumber. "...S-So let me get this straight," She snapped her fallen bone into her face, "You…are a being from another world. A place the same but different…and you are a plumber turned Hero. And you are here to collect a star that grants incredible power to anyone who uses it." She gulped. "And…Crocodile has one of them?"
"I believe so. Yes."
"...I…I don't have anything." Vivi breath. "This is too much."
Sanji zips to her post with a cup of tea. "Here, my dear. You will need this."
"T-Thanks." Vivi thanked him as she took the cup and sipped on it.
"Please, take-a your time to digest this information." Mario said. "Something like this is never easy to believe, even with evidence."
"Hey, Mario!" Luffy suddenly calls him out. "Tell us another story of your adventures!"
"Hmm…I guess I could tell you about my adventure with my paper self." He said as he left, Luffy and Usopp shouting 'paper self' in eagerness.
"...Paper self." Nami sighs. "Of course he has a paper self, what's next? He has his own planet?"
"Galaxy, actually."
…
…
…
"...Sanji! Get me the strongest sake you have!"
"I…will do that." For the first time, Sanji was too dumbfounded to go into lover mode.
Vivi was already drinking a barrel. An entire barrel.
"I want a Galaxy!" Luffy and Usopp screamed.
"Save the universe and you both might."
*BANG!*
Vivi now slammed her head on the ship floor, cracking it and making Carue, who was staring at the small man in shock, snap out of his daze and quickly went to her in panic.
"We are going on a small break now." Zoro said as he closed his eyes and fell asleep, immediately leaving this mind-blowing conversation.
( Time skip to a few…something)
"He's alive?!"
After everyone calmed down, and Mario finished his storytelling to Luffy and Usopp, the Red Plumber began to tell everyone about what he found in Miss All-Sunday's mind.
"Yep!" Mario nodded. "Igaram is well and alive. Ms All-Sunday missed purposely in case things go south in her business with Crocodile."
"Huh, psychological blackmail." Nami murmured.
"B-But he's okay? R-Right?" Vivi ignored the mind's morality by asking the question that matters.
"Yep. In fact, I went back to Whiskey Peak and checked on him."
"...What?!"
"How did-"
Mario simply took out his cape and began to float in front of them. "I can fly."
"He can fly!"
"And I have an item that stops time. Allowing me to fly back to the island and check on him. I also made sure to heal him properly."
"...I'm sorry, my mind died at 'stop time'. What did you say?"
Vivi was already in tears, choosing to believe that her caretaker and trusted servant was alive and healthy. She suddenly launches herself at the floating Mario and hugs him tight. "Thank you! God, thank you so much!"
"No problem-o."
"Damn you!" Sanji was on the ground, slamming his fist while tears fell. "You lucky bastard, Mario!"
"Alright, everyone calm down!" Nami took the reins of the conversation. "Before we break into another meltdown, we need to focus on where we are heading." She looks at Mario, with all her might to NOT freak out anymore. "Where are we going again?"
"According to her, this island is a prehistoric one." Mario said, as Vivi let him down, "Is called Little Garden, is a little island that is a jungle habitat by big creatures, reason for the name."
"Oh! So it's just a big jungle!"
"Luffy, he just said that."
"Yeah. The Grand Line has many islands that are stuck or have slow timelines." Vivi affirmed.
"Does that include the giant Dolphin floating over us?" Zoro said casually as he pointed at the sky, where everyone saw a giant Dolphin heading their way.
"Yeah, something like that is normal."
…
…
…
"HOLY SH-!"
( Another thirty minutes later)
Everyone, including Zoro and excluding Mario, was once again breathing heavily.
"Is this what happened that caused the witch to hit me?!" Zoro spat out.
"Yes!"
"I hate it!"
"Know our pain!"
"Everyone!" Mario shouted at them all. "I see an island!" That got Luffy next to him with an eager look.
"Oh boy! I can't wait to explore it!"
Minutes later(again) the Merry was sailing through the river at a slow pace, showing the crew the scenery of the jungle. "Well, they got the garden part alright." Nami said as she closed the book on this specific island.
"Well, we aren't restocking by any shop soon." Sanji commented while blowing some smoke. "Think we better hunt something."
"Oh! How about we get some of those bananas?" Luffy suggested while pointing forward.
"Luffy, bananas aren't going to be enough. Besides, where are we going to find-" Sanji turned to where Luffy was pointing and shut up for a second. "...bananas?"
Sure enough, the ship was getting close to a large trail of bananas. A huge amount of them just litter around everywhere.
"What the fuck?" Vivi couldn't help but ask. "This amount is…impossible."
Luffy stretched a hand and grabbed one. "Who cares?! Is food!" He said as he began to peel it.
Or so he would have if Mario hadn't caught his wrist.
"Hey!"
"Hold on, Luffy." Mario said, surprise in his eyes as he took the banana from him and inspected it. "...It can't be, but…could it?"
"Mario!" Starlow's voice shouted, having gone out of Mario and floating by the side while looking in surprise as well. "There's a print here!"
The plumber leaped out of the Merry and went to her, the crew going to the side of the railing to look as well. Kneeling, Mario gasps. "But how…Is this him? If so, how is he here?"
"Mario? Is there a problem?" Nami asked, concerned and worried as she had never seen him like this.
"Listen up!" Mario shouted at them. "Whatever-a you do, do not eat, step or take the bananas!"
"Eh?!" Luffy pouted. "Not even one?!"
"Sorry Luffy, but it's for your own good!" Mario said as he and Starlow ran into the forest, "I'm-a going to confirm this! I'll be back!"
"Hey! Wait!" Luffy shouted as he proceeded to leap off the Merry and went after him.
"Luffy!" Nami shouted at him, but it was too late, he and Mario were gone. "That idiot!"
"Carue!" Vivi called her pet duck, who quickly went to her side, allowing her to mount him. "Don't worry, I'll go after them!" Before anyone could say anything, she hopped off the Merry and went after Luffy.
"Vivi!? What is wrong with you all!?"
Zoro then proceeded to jump off.
"And where the fuck do you think YOU'RE going?!"
"To walk." Zoro replied, "We won't know how long we will be here, I'm going to stretch my legs."
"Perfect." Sanji called from the side. "Get something edible on your walk and bring it back."
"Sure. I'll get something you are incapable of getting."
…
…
…
This crew is a riot!
Going back to Mario and Starlow, they continue to follow the trail of bananas. The more they follow, the amount increases by a lot.
"Too many bananas! This has to be his work!" Starlow said.
"Not until I see him first!" Mario replied as he leaped over a root.
Soon enough, they reach a clearing. A mountain of bananas, so much that they reach even the tallest tree. Mario started to look around it, not seeing nor finding what he wanted.
"He must be searching for more."
"Who's searching for more?"
"Wowzers!" Mario and Starlow yelped in surprise as he looked behind and saw Luffy. "Luffy!"
"You jerk!" Starlow boops him "What are you doing scaring me like that?! Why did you follow us-Why are you eating a banana?!" Her eyes pop when she and Mario realize that Luffy is munching on a banana.
"What? I was hungry and-Wow!" Luffy was saying when he finally saw the mountain of fruit. "That's awesome!"
"Luffy! Stop!" Mario tried to stop Luffy, but the pirate had already stretched his hand to grab a banana from the pile and pulled it to himself.
*Rumble*
Followed by the mountain of bananas to lose balance and begin to fall.
"Aaaaaaah!" Mario, Starlow, and Luffy screamed before they ran away from the fruity/yellow tsunami.
"Mario! Luffy! There you are-WHAT IS THAT?!" Vivi had made it to them, only for Carue to turn around and run away from the upcoming avalanche.
"Blame Luffy!" Starlow said. "He did the one thing we told him NOT to do!"
"Less Blaming! More running!"
Five minutes later, the group finally made up a hill, just in time as the yellow fruits finally came to a stop. "D-Dear Anubis! How can a bunch of bananas do this!?" Vivi asked, still staring at the impossible amount of fruit on the path.
"I don't know, but it's awesome!" Luffy yelled as he placed his hand over his eyes. "So much yellow!"
"Yep…I-a haven't confirmed it, but this proves my theory." Mario said.
"About what?"
"The one who did this is my friend." Mario looked around from his high-ground advantage. "Unless there's another being in this world that could eat that amount of bananas like a gluttonous." He then looked at Luffy, "No offense."
"None taken." Luffy laughed out, knowing that he was a glutton as well.
"But how did your friend get here? I thought you said you came through a portal?" Vivi asked, still trying to believe that she was talking to, technically, an alien.
"That's-a why I wanted to find him." Mario said as he continued to look around, suddenly noticing something. "Hey, Starlow! There's something over there!"
"Alright! I'll try to float there!" Starlow said as she began to float to where Mario pointed. Moments later, she came back in surprise, "You won't believe it, but there are giants!"
"Eh?!" They all shouted in surprise before following.
Thankfully, the destination wasn't far. When they got close, Starlow was right at what she found; two GIANTS with weapons fighting each other.
"Gabagabagabagaba! Still hanging there, Dorry?!"
Gyehehehehehehe! Same to you, Broggy!"
"Wow! Giants!" Luffy quickly went into exciting boy mode. "Look, Mario! Giants like you!
"Wait, what?" Vivi felt like something hit her brain, while Carue's beak dropped.
"Yes, Luffy. I-am seeing them. And I'm not a giant; I just can't make myself bigger." Mario said before humming. "I wonder why they are fighting?"
"Maybe because they want a giant piece of meat?" Luffy suggested, making Vivi, Carue, and Starlow raise an eyebrow at him.
"Not my first option, but it's a possibility." Mario said.
*Clang!*
(Meanwhile)
On another part of the island, a tyrannosaurus rex was in the ground, his teeth broken to pieces and his face caved deep in a hole. Not far away was a white, rectangular structure, with a door in it. Inside were four individuals, two of them being Mr. 5 and Ms. Valentine.
"So…I thank you both for not cowering away and acknowledging you both made embarrassing actions." The duo grimaces at those words of their superior, a fancy-dressed man with a haircut in the form of a 3, drinking tea. "Now then, I have a way to make all four of us be on the Boss's good mind and make you redeem for that mistake in Whiskey Peak." He snapped his finger and a girl, who looked to be around 7 or 8 and dressed in a painting/traveling outfit, came with wanted posters. "You see, I discovered that on this island are two pirates with bounties. The Captains of the Former Giant Pirates."
"..."
"..."
"...While the silence of you both is welcome and appreciated, why do you both look uncertain of this?"
"...Red Cap." Mr. 5 spoke up. "I get you have a plan to get the giants and finish off the princess and the pirates. But what is the plan for that mustachio, Mr. 3?"
"Ah, the enigmatic, self-proclaimed plumber." Mr. 3 chuckled. "He won't be a problem. After all, no matter how strong and fast he is, he is still a human, and they can be killed."
"And how do you plan to do this?" Ms. Valentine asked, no joy in her tone.
"Just that we have something for that. For now, we need to take care of those pirates first." Mr. 3 brought his cup to his lips. "They will all pay for making an enemy of Baroque Works."
"Now then, let us start the plan."
( Meanwhile)
"Gyehehehehehehe! To think we had guests watching us! It's been a few years since anyone came here!" Dorry, Warrior of Elbaf, laughed as he and his fellow friend/warrior/rival, Broggy, finished their usual fight and went back to their resting place.
Color him surprised when he met three humans, a duck, and a fairy("Star Sprite!")on his way there. He welcomes them, because a warrior always shows hospitality to guests, and even brings food for them, in the form of a Long-neck dinosaur that he killed. "And there we go!" He had finished cooking the meat and placed it in front of them.
"Oh boy! Thanks a lot, giant man!" Luffy didn't bother to wait as he jumped to the meat and began to eat it.
"Wow. And I-a thought Pac-Man was the only one that ate like that." Mario said as he grabbed a knife and cut a piece of himself and Starlow. "Would you like some, Vivi? Carue?"
"I'm…fine." She said, her duck shaking his head while drinking some water from the barrel on his neck.
Mario nodded before looking at the giant, "Thank you so much for the food, Mr. Dorry."
"Ha! Please, I may be a giant with many years of life, but I'm not that old." Dorry waved. "And please! It's the least I can offer, being on the island for over 300 years and so little time does anybody come here!"
"Three hundred?!" Starlow, having her face covered in sloppy crumbs, looked at the giant with shock. "Why are you both still here?! Better yet, why are you fighting?!"
"Ah! See, our village has a tradition; if there's a dispute, we must sort it out in a one-on-one fight." Dorry explained. "So here I am, going in an honor fight."
"But, this long! What is the reason for it?!"
"Gyehehehe! Sorry, little girl! But it's been years already! I don't know why we do it!"
"That's not something to laugh at!"
Not soon, everyone had their fill in the stomach department, including Luffy after he ate the entire meat. That's where Mario asked Dorry about the Log Pose.
"Those newly navigating things? Yeah, I know of them. I regret to inform you all that it takes one-year to recharge on this island." Dorry said.
"What?! One year!" Luffy, Vivi, and Starlow shouted in horror. "We can't be here for a year!"
"Hmm. Guess we're just going to have to take a risk." Mario said, not liking the situation they got themselves into. "Let us discuss this with Nami once we get back to the ship."
"Yeah! Nami will know what to do! She's my navigator after all!" Such confidence in her just proves how much Luffy values her.
"Speaking of," Mario turned to Dorry, "Out of curiosity, but besides you and your friend, is there anyone else on this island?"
Dorry hummed for a moment, "Well…I would say we are the only giants here, but!" He grinned, "We do have a creature that came out of nowhere not too long ago! It suddenly appeared and started to collect a lot of bananas."
Mario perked up. "Would you be able to describe him?"
"Sure! So, it was a big gorilla with brown fur and very strong muscles, and had a red tie around him."
Mario clapped his hands. "Fantastico! Do you know where they are?"
"...To be honest, I haven't seen him for a while." Dorry said, concerned in his tone. "And it's weird. He usually watches our fights. We would call him from time to time as he is good company, but we don't know his name as they simply say "ook" all the time."
*Boom!*
A volcano erupted. "Ah! It's time for the battle!" Dorry began to stand up, grabbing his shield and sword. "We made a vow that every time the volcano erupted, we would fight. Please, stay as long as you want!"
"Wait a minute!" Starlow quickly flew to his face, "Look! I understand your honor and answering the battle, but what even is the point?! What did you guys argue so much that you are willing to go at each other's throat-" She was asking when suddenly, Luffy's hand stretched and pulled her out of the way. "HEY!"
"Quiet, Starlow." Luffy spoke in a serious tone, surprising her, Mario, Vivi and Carue. "That doesn't matter anymore."
"Gyehehehehehehe! The boy is right." Dorry said with a grin as he could see Broggy heading to him. "This battle is about honor!"
"The reason we started is long forgotten!"
And like that, he charges forward to face his friend.
Luffy proceeds to fall back on the ground, his hat falling off while he stares at the sky. "So…awesome."
"Awesome?" Vivi, Carue and Starlow sweatdrop. "I don't see what's awesome about two friends going at it to the death."
"To each their own, Starlow." Mario said, clearly not having a proper explanation. "But for now. We must-a go back to the others and tell them about the Log pose."
"Eh? But what about your friend?" Luffy recovers and asks.
"He's strong." Mario nodded. "He will be fine. I can search later for him."
"But still, how did he get here?" Starlow asks.
"We will ask once we get-"
*Woosh!*Boom!*
Before they knew it, something landed in front of them and exploded. "Woah!" A smoke covered them, "Cough! What is…this…" Mario was asking before feeling so sleepy.
"Going…down." Starlow fluttered like a spinning helicopter and landed on the grass.
"Is this…It can't…" Vivi was saying before falling asleep, her duck followed through.
Luffy had already fallen to the ground face-first. Snoring immediately.
Mario fell to his knee, getting hard to see. But he was sure of one thing, "We…got ambushed…" was the last thing he thought before falling asleep…but not the last thing he did.
…
…
…
"...It was successful." Mr. 5 called through his wrist communication, which was a small snail.
"What did I say?" the snail spoke. "Even with strength, he was nothing but human."
"I guess. Proceed as planned?"
"Used my special restraint cuffs to trap them, Red Cap and Straw Hat's bounties will be quite the plus. I have already captured Roronoa and that red-haired girl, Ms. Valentine is dragging them back here. All we need now is to trap those giants and eliminate the rest of the pirates."
"Alright. I will be there in three."
"Hmm…Be sure to. *Clashak*" The snail closes its eyes and sleeps off.
Mr. 5 simply nods and when the smoke clears up, he gets out of his hidden place. "...I must say that I hate this. But getting back at the humiliation is enough." He said as he grabbed something from his pocket and threw it at the team. No later, they all were captured in a white ball. "Let's get this over with." With that said, he moved away with the captured prisoners.
Good thing he was away as he didn't notice a certain movement in a bush.
"Oh no…" Cappy pops his eyes out. "What do I do?" He asked himself in concern and fear.
Before passing out, Mario had thrown his bandana away. Being a ghost hat, it's pretty much impossible to put him to sleep. He guessed that Mario wanted him to be safe and do something…but what?
"...!" Cappy widened in realization. "They said that they got Nami and Zoro…but not Usopp or Sanji!" He could get them both and save the others! "Yeah! I can do that, I just had to find them! Alright, I better move fast-" He turned around to leave.
And immediately froze at what he turned to.
"...Oh."
"...Mrgh."
"Hey! Mario! Wake up!"
"Wah!" Mario jolted awake from his slumber, immediately finding that he was frozen. Blinking, he looked down to see his body frozen in some sort of white hardened rock. "...Okay. Not my weirdest wake up place."
"About time you wake up!" He twitched when he heard Nami's voice. Looking around, he saw that he was in a clearing, where Vivi, Zoro, and Nami were standing on top of some sort of…cake(?) and both Dorry and Broggy were stuck to the ground by the same substance.
"Release us immediately, you scoundrel!"
"You dare interfere in a battle between Elbaf's greatest?!"
"What?"
"Zzzzzzzz!"
"Quack!"
"Mmmm!"
Hearing noise to his side, he saw Luffy, asleep and trapped as well, Caure, who was muffled and cuffed into a big white thing, and a small sphere that had a yellow light bouncing around, it was probably Starlow.
"Ah. The man of the hour has awoken."
Mario looked to the other side, where the agents were, with Mr. 3 and Ms. Goldenweek having a tea party…for some reason. "Red Cap Mario…it's nice to meet the pirate that has made quite the commotion for the past month."
"...Hello. I take it you are an Agent of Baroque Work?" Mario deduced. "Mr. 3, I believe?"
"Heh. It's good to see my reputation is well-known, even though it's supposed to be a secret." Mr. 3 smugly bragged, drinking his tea.
"Your hair is literally exposing you. Even an idiot can see that." Ms. Goldenweek casually said, making his partner spit his drink out of shock.
"Quiet! My hair is art!"
"Yeah…the art of disaster." Zoro said, making everyone snicker, even Mr. 3's partners.
"Silence, prisoners!" Mr. 3 barks out before calming down and focusing on Mario yet again. "Now then. I do believe I have some business to speak of, and you, Mr Red Cap. How about we make a deal."
"What deal?" Mario asked.
"You see, our boss had gotten a…item recently. One that has made him quite interested in his hidden goal." The plumber could only grumble at the information. "And it so happens that he got word that one individual has the same item in his personnel…So here is the deal; you relinquish the item into my hands, and I won't kill you or your friends and you can leave this Island. I'll even go as far as to twist my words for the Boss so that you can leave and never come back."
"You sick bastard!" Vivi yelled.
"It's called being intelligent." Mr. 3 spoke, looking at her. "After all, when it comes to survival, sacrifices are made sometimes-"
"No thank you!"
…
…
…
Mr. 3 blinked as he turned to Mario, sporting no anger on his face. "...Excuse me?"
"I said no."
"...Do you understand what you are-"
"Absolutely."
"For what reason? Why would you risk your life for someone you don't know? And for these pirates?"
"She's my friend-a." Mario looked at the crew, "They all are. I don't need-a reason to risk my life for them."
"...Hmph! Very well," Mr. 3 waved his hand as the head on the cake began to move. "It seems that you are just another foolish idiot to add to my collection."
"Yawn!" It was at that moment that Luffy decided to wake up, "Man! I slept great-"
"Luffy! Wake the fuck up!"
"Eh?" He finally realized the situation. "Oh hey guys! What are you all doing there?"
"They got captured." Mario answered.
"What?! They got captured!?" Luffy shouted before laughing, "Hahahahaha! What are you guys?! Morons?!"
"YOU GOT CAPTURE TOO, DUMBASS!"
"Eh?" Luffy looked confused before looking down. "Oh shoot! I'm captured too! Shishishishi! I'm an idiot!"
"DON'T SOUND PROUD OF IT!"
"You two really must suck if you get beaten by this guy." Ms. Goldenweek burned the other two, who simply twitched their eyes.
"Hello, Straw Hat." Mr. 3 began to say, "So nice of you to-"
"Wow! Your hair looks stupid!" Luffy commented.
*Crack!*
Making everyone, aside from Mario and Ms. Goldenweek, tense.
"Yeah. I keep telling him that but he doesn't listen." The girl said.
Crack!*
"Ha! What a moron?!"
*CRACK!*
"You…! Insufferable brats!" Mr. 3's hair, the fire part, burst bigger while his face turned red. "My hair is a piece of art! You morons could never appreciate the exquisite, fine architecture of my talent!"
"I mean…I would call it five out of ten." Mario said.
"What would you know?! Are you an artist?!"
"Yes."
…
…
…
"...Y-You are?" For the first time in all his life, Mr. 3 was left surprised.
"I have a degree in Fine Art, Theater Art, and Cinematography."
"...W-What is Cinematography?" Mr 3 sounded interested in it.
"Well, it involves in-"
"Mr. 3!" Ms Valentine shouted, catching his attention. "Don't talk with the enemy! Focus!"
"R-Right!" He coughed a little, hiding his blush, "H-How shameful of me to fall for such trickery. I didn't expect for a pirate to use my fascination on art to make me drop my guard. Very cunning of him."
('But you were the one that started it!') Everyone thought.
"Now then, behold!" Mr. 3 returns to his evil mode as he dramatically shows his 'machine'. "My magnificent Special Candle Jack! This device, created by you truly, has helped me in collecting bounties and making beautiful living sculptures! As I'm demonstrating right now as your three friends are currently being frozen by my wax!"
"Shit…I can't move!" Nami said, her entire body had gone frozen, and the others too.
"That's correct, my dear! In a few minutes, you three will be nothing short of beautiful wax figures for my collection!" Mr. 3 bragged.
"So wait." Zoro suddenly spoke up, "You are a Devil Fruit user?"
"Why of course!" Mr. 3 replied, his arm going goopy in white mass. "I ate the Wax-Wax Devil Fruit! Making me into a wax man! It may sound pathetic, but my wax can become harder than steel!"
"Huh…T-that's very useful, I must admit." Vivi said
"Che! Sounds very weak to me!" Broggy shouted.
"Agreed! The only hardened we accept is muscles and weapons!" Dorry agreed.
"Hmph! Brutes, you lot will never understand."
"...Mr. 3." Mr. 5 spoke up, confused about something. "Are you sure you should be talking to them about your ability? I thought you said that secrecy was our motto." Ms. Valentine nodded at his words.
"There's nothing wrong with telling dead people some nice stories." Mr. 3 shrugged. "Besides, there's nothing to save them except for fire!"
"Yeah. I figured as much-a." Mario said, standing next to him. "Wax is weak-a to fire after all."
"I know."
…
…
…
The flamboyant agent blinked several times before cracking his head to the side, shock in his eyes. "Huh?"
"Hello!" Mario greeted before hitting him in the stomach with a straight punch.
"Augh!" Mr. 3 was sent flying into his machine, crashing into it.
"What the?!" The other agents gasp before turning to where Mario was supposed to be, only to be left in horror at seeing not only him but the captured ones were gone as well. "How did you escape?!" They position themselves to fight.
"Gum-Gum…Bazooka!"
Only for Luffy to come out of nowhere and give them his trademark twin attack, sending them both flying high into the forest. "Take that, you jerks!" He turned to Mario with a big grin. "Thanks for the escape, Mario!" The plumber nodded.
What had happened was simple, since the beginning, Mario was using his Fire Brand ability, melting the wax. Once he was free, he helped Luffy, Carue and Starlow be free. Simple.
"Carue! Stop hitting it, your beak will break!" Vivi shouted at him, but the duck was stubborn as he continued to peck the wax as hard as he could.
"Guys, quick! Get us out of here!" Nami said, Starlow tried to get her off by pulling.
"Okie dokie-"
"Naw. I don't want to."
Mario turned to Luffy in disbelief. Seeing him standing still while sporting a neutral look.
"Luffy?! What are you saying?! Aren't these your friends?!" Starlow asked.
"Yeah, they are…But I don't wanna." Luffy replied again.
Mario is shocked by this until he notices something below Luffy. A strange black mark beneath his feet. Suspicious, Mario quickly ran and pushed Luffy out of it.
The rubber man bounced on the ground before snapping into focus. "Eh?! What the heck?!" he turned to Mario, who was standing still and his shadow by his hair. "Hey, Mario! What did you do that for?!"
"..." He didn't reply.
"It's no use." Everyone turned to look at Ms. Golden Week, still in her small tea party and eating crackers. "My Special Color Trap Black makes anyone with it betray their allies." She stood up with an art pallet and a brush and proceeded to draw a red circle before sending it to Luffy, who felt his back hair tense as he jumped out of the way, the red circle hitting the tree and breaking it. "You all will not interfere."
"Hmph. A small miscalculation from my side."
The voice of Mr. 3 made Luffy turn and…had his eyes fly bright as the wax man was now in a wax armor/machine. "It seems that Red Cap was prepared for such an outcome, but it won't happen again. Ms. Goldenweek!" The little(looking)girl quickly drew on his armor, giving it a bright life. "Hahahaha! Candle Champion!"
"Wow! So awesome!" Luffy and Usopp yelled at seeing the armor.
"Hahahaha! Impressed? This is the beauty of…" The assassin was saying before snapping his head to his wax device, seeing someone he didn't recognize. "Who the heck are you?!"
Usopp flinched when he accidentally revealed his location, "Uhm…Nobody important! I'm just a hallucination!"
"As if!" Mr. 3 yelled with a tick mark before seeing the boy throwing some liquid. "What are you doing to my Candle Jack?! Is that oil?!"
"Uh…No?"
"You brat!" Mr. 3 charges forward, only for Luffy to appear and stop him.
"Oh no! You are fighting me, candle weirdo!" Luffy bumps his fists together.
"Grrrr! Ms. Goldenweek!"
The little girl sighs as she draws once again-
*SPLOSH!*
"Mgya!" Only for her to squeak in shock when a massive water attack hits her, smashing her into a tree and making her wet… ( AU: I feel dirty writing this, don't know why.)
"Huh?!" Mr. 3 stared in horror at his partner, her being unconscious and her paint useless by the water.
"Excellent job, F.L.U.U.D."
"Happy to serve."
The agent snaps his head to Mario, seeing the short man moving out of the trap willingly and having some sort of yellow device on his back.
"H-How?! You were supposed to be hypnotized?!"
"That won't work for me." Mario replied, "Being a Star Child has its perks, you know?"
Mr. 3 now began to panic. His plan has taken a deep hit. The duo and his partner were taken care of by Straw Hat and Red Cap. But he can still manage this, as long as he beat them and takes care of-
"Oy, Mario!" Usopp called the plumber, having come down with Carue. "It's done! I need fire!"
Mario nodded and summoned fire from his hand.
"Fire?!" Mr. 3 fear became a nightmare. "I-Impossible! How can you make fire?! You don't have the Flame-Flame fruit!
"I don't need a devil fruit." Mario replied before throwing the fireball at the wax instantaneously burning it and the bodies of the giants.
"Ah, man!" Luffy suddenly whined, his hand having stretched to somewhere, "And I was planning to use the guy's fire to light it."
"Eh?" It took the man quite some time to realize that a hand was on his hair. "Ehhhhhhhhhhh?!"
"Oh, you can throw it there!" Usopp suggested. "It'll speed it up!"
"Really? Okay!"
"Waitwaitwait-!" Mr. 3's cries were dead as Luffy pulled and threw him to the burning wax, his armor instantly melting. "Augh! Too hot!" Thankfully for him, he managed to get out intact. "Curses! My plan is doom!"
With no other option, he ran away.
"Hey!" Luffy yelled as he went after him.
"Ugh/Augh/Finally!"
Nami, Vivi and Zoro breathe in relief as they get free from their wax prison.
"You guys okay?!" Usopp asked. Carue quickly went to Vivi's side to help her stand.
"Other than my shirt getting burned off, I'm peachy." Nami grumbled, her curvaceous upper body being shown and being protected only by her bra.
"Oh…shoot." Mario blushes at her body, not expecting his fire to be that potent. "Sorry about that." He quickly dug on his overalls and took out a white shirt. "Here, it should cover you until we get to the ship." He said, looking away while extending his arm at her.
"Thank you, Mario." Nami thanked him, before making a teasing smile. "And why are you looking away? Trying to be chivalrous?~"
Mario simply stood silent. His Ma didn't raise a pervert.
"You know, I wouldn't mind if you -ouch!" Any teasing she wanted to do vanished when she felt a small sting near her stomach. Looking down, she saw a red mark on her left side. "Damn mosquito."
"Master Broggy! I'm so glad you and Master Dorry are okay!" Usopp's tears of joy echoed in the place.
"Gabababa! Thank you for the concern, Usopp!"
"Master Broggy? Is there something I haven't heard of yet?" Dorry looked confused.
"Hah! You better believe it, Dorry! This human wishes to be like us!"
"...A giant?"
"Gabababa! I asked the same thing!"
"No! I want to be a brave warrior of the sea! I want to be able to put my life at risk for honor!"
"Oh! Gyehehe! That's what you mean!"
"No idea how he's becoming a warrior when he didn't do any 'warrior' thing while the rest of us were captured." Starlow deadpanned.
"Guh! I-I will have you know that I'm more of a thinker than a muscle. B-But just wait! I will become a Brave Warrior of the Sea!"
"That's the spirit!"
"Heh." Zoro chuckled. "What do you know? We were almost at death's door and now we are watching a show."
"Please don't say it like that." Vivi sweatdrop.
*PUM!*
"AYEEEEEEEEEEEEeeeeeeeeeeee……!"
Everyone jumped when they heard a feminine voice echoing the jungle loudly, scaring several birds as it slowly began to tune down before vanishing.
"...What was that?"
"Sounded like someone getting hit hard by something…and then whoever got it was sent flying?" Nami suggested as she put the shirt on.
"Mario!"
The voice of a certain ghost hat made everyone look up, seeing Cappy quickly making his way to Mario, embracing him. "I'm so glad you are okay!" He looked at the rest, "And you all too!"
"Is that a floating hat?" Broggy asked, surprised by it.
"Yes. It is."
"I'm glad you are okay, Cappy."
"Not to sound like a jerk, but where were you in all this, hat?" Starlow asked.
"Oh! That's right," Cappy stopped hugging and moved back, an eager look on his face. "I found him!
At that moment, Luffy came back, with an eager smile on his face. "Hey guys! You won't believe what I found!" He turned around and placed his hands around his mouth to shout, "Hey! Over here!"
*Thud!*
The earth was shaking by the sounds of footsteps getting close to them, making everyone tense. From the path that Luffy came, a big shadow began to come out.
"!" Everyone reacted differently, but Zoro was the only one to quickly take his sword out, his instincts going wild. ('What the Hell?!') This thing was strong…seriously Strong!
"Eh! There he is! I was worried something would happen to him!!" Dorry said in joy, along with Broggy.
"W-Wait! This is the one who you were talking about?!" Vivi questions in shock and fear. "I-what…is this feeling?!"
"I-I-I-I don't know!" Usopp was already shaking, hugging Carue tight as he was the same.
Walking in his 4 limbs and out of the shadows was a big gorilla, covered in brown fur, and wearing a red tie with the initials 'DK' in it. "Ook?" It said, looking confused.
"...Eh?" Everyone was left baffled by how goofy he looked.
"It's a gorilla with a tie!" Luffy said in eagerness. "How cool is that!"
"...Of all the things he could say, a red tie in a gorilla is what he chose to focus on?" Vivi sweatdrop.
"That's our captain alright." Nami nodded while still sweating. "Still, I don't think I have seen this kind of species before." She turned to Mario, perhaps he knew about it. "Say Mario-"
She stopped when the plumber began to walk forward.
The gorilla noticed it and started to move as well.
The air around the place suddenly turned cold. Nobody could even say anything. Luffy was suddenly looking between the two of them with suspension and excitement.
Not too soon, Mario and the gorilla stood in front of each other staring at each other…before they both smirked and clapped their hands together. "I knew it was you when I saw that large amount of bananas. How have you been, DK?"
"Ook! Ook!" DK grunted as they both began to do a Bro shake. "Ook? Hoooh?"
"It's-a long story and I will explain to you later," Mario said as he finished their greeting. "For now, tell me, what have you been doing?"
"...Can someone please tell me what I'm seeing?" Nami asked, trying to understand what she was seeing.
"Seems that Mario knows the gorilla…does that mean that it's an alien too?" Vivi asked.
"Aliens?!" The giants shouted in shock before looking at DK, "That gorilla is an alien!?"
"I mean, Mario is the same." Usopp said, shocking the giants even more. "But that sure makes me wonder, if he's a friend of his; how did he get here?"
Zoro pointed forward while putting back his sword on its sheath. "Why don't you ask him?"
Mario walks back to them, Luffy and DK right behind him. "Everyone. Allow me to introduce you to one of my universe's greatest fighters, Donkey Kong."
"Ook!" DK waved.
"Hi DK!" Luffy greeted, surprising everyone, including Mario.
"You understood him?!"
"Yeah!"
"So the Monkey in your name isn't just for show?"
"What? No! Why would my name have anything to do with understanding him? You guys are being stupid!"
"DON'T YOU DARE CALL US STUPID!"
"Then don't say stupid stuff! Shishishi-gack!"
Mario and DK watch with a sweatdrop as everyone, except the giants, who are laughing, and Vivi, begins to beat on their captain, making a comical dust cloud.
"Is…this how pirates usually are?" The princess asked.
DK looked at Mario with a raised eyebrow, as if, asking about something with his stare.
"It's-a long story." Mario sighs.