One Piece: Strawhat Theater
"Our Mrs. Monkey"
Disclaimer: This is a non-profit fan-based work of prose. One Piece is the property of Toei Animation, Funimation, and Eiichiro Oda. Please support the official release.
The Dressrosa Arc continues as DoFlamingo's plans unwind!
A SUPER big update written with UnknownAnon for our patient readers!
Corrida Coliseum
"HEY!" Rebecca shouted, standing in front of Luffy as Chinjao loomed over them, "If you keep doing this, you'll get disqualified!"
"I have to crush any member of Garp's lineage!" The old pirate captain snarled. "They must all pay!"
"Not before I get to take down Strawhat!" Cavendish declared, pointing his blade at them.
"Why are you after him?!" Rebecca demanded.
"I'm the Pirate Prince," Cavendish said with a grin and a wink, "And to take him down would be quite the feather in my cap~!"
Luffy rested a hand on Rebecca's shoulder, and gently pulled her back behind him. He looked between the two pirates.
"You wanna fight me? Do it in the arena," he said. "I'll be there."
"Grr!" Chinjao growled. "I've waited long enough… I can wait a little longer, you whelp!"
"Hmph," Cavendish brushed his hair back over his shoulder with a sniff, "I'd prefer a proper audience when I triumph over Strawhat."
The two headed off, stomping off to their crews in various corners of the waiting area. Rebecca flushed a bit as Luffy kept his hand on her shoulder.
"Oi, Lucy!"
"Oh what now," Rebecca sighed. Luffy looked up… And up at the huge form of a tall man in a mask-like helmet, bracers, boots, shorts, an intimidating grin and nothing else. His massive muscles bulged in the light, as he rummaged in a pouch at his side. He produced a transponder snail. The snail opened its eyes, and adopted a familiar face.
Luffy sucked in a breath, his eyes narrowing.
"Zeehahahahaha… Hello there, 'Lucy'," Marshall D. Teach greeted in his harsh voice, "Jesus here won Block A! I hear you're here, too. I can guess why."
Luffy said nothing, glaring back at the grinning snail and Jesus. The Emperor continued.
"Hope you weren't aiming for the Flame Flame Fruit, because Jesus here is gonna win it for me," Blackbeard continued, "I'll have my own ace up my sleeve."
Still Luffy didn't react, he just continued to glare darkly.
"Nothing to say, eh? Oh! I almost forgot," Teach laughed, "Congrats. I heard you had a kid. Isn't she a cutie. She takes after her mama!"
The snail's eyes narrowed and its' greasy grin widened just a hair.
"Don't you worry. I'll make sure she doesn't end up like your brother. I'll take real good care of them when I become the Pirate King, and dump your corpse into the depths with the rest of your crew, zeehahahahaha!"
In an instant, Luffy had the snail in his hand. Jesus gaped in shock. Rebecca's eyes were wide too-She hadn't seen him move!
Luffy slowly took the snail's mouthpiece into his hand, and held it up to his mouth. He spoke, calmly and evenly… Yet Rebecca could feel his fury burning through the air.
"Why do guys like you always make threats like that? You think I don't know what you'll do to my loved ones if you get your hands on them? You think I'll get scared and give up over some words? Have I ever done that?"
The snail stared in some mild shock as Luffy continued, his voice low and deadly.
"I'm going to have to keep saying it, I guess, until you get it: If you threaten anyone I care about, if you try to hurt anyone I love... All those powers you've stolen and all those pirates you got working for you?"
Luffy's eyes flashed red, very briefly.
"They won't be enough to stop me from breaking your everything."
The Blackbeard snail was silent. It then grinned broadly, and laughed.
"Zeehahahahaha! Zeehahahaha! That's the spirit, Strawhat! I look forward to when we next meet…"
Luffy tossed the snail back to Jesus, who caught it with a grimace. He turned and headed off. Rebecca watched him go, before she looked over at Luffy in amazement.
"You're… Very composed, Ser Lucy," she observed. "Despite the odds against us."
"Eh, they're always against me," Luffy grinned, "Lucky I suck at math!"
Rebecca laughed hard, patting his shoulder. Luffy blinked in some confusion.
Why did people laugh when he said that? He was just being honest!
Thousand Sunny
On a whiteboard she took from Franky's workshop, Nami scribbled names onto a rough diagram she'd drawn up while Chopper followed her around, his hooves holding up the transponder snail she was speaking to Franky with.
"Okay, so Luffy, Rebecca, Hack and Gambia are in the colosseum, Ace is with this Bartolomeo person… and where did you say you were, Franky?"
"A secret base under a field of flowers that the Thunder Soldier took me to! He's got his own little army ready to help fight Doflamingo! And I mean that literally! Those fairies the people in town were talking about were dwarves, and they're all here!"
"That's…" Nami paused, scratching her head as she tried to picture that. "I mean, if they can help that's great but if they're as small as you described earlier-"
"They're small, but SUPER tough! Trust me, they're a force to be reckoned with!"
"I'll take your word for it." Nami replied as she wrote Franky's name on the board. "And you're saying that this Devil Fruit user, Sugar, is the one that's turned half of Dressrosa's population into toys?"
"That is correct." A different voice came out of the snail as its face changed to resemble that of the doll. "Anyone who is turned into a toy by her will be forgotten by everyone who knew them, as if their very existence has been erased."
"But Hack said that records of those people stick around. Her powers affect memories, but not physical remnants." Nami pointed out. "You can verify that's true, can't you?"
"It is true, but even if you find a record of someone's name or the fact they once existed, it will not make a difference. Even if someone were to look at a picture they took with someone long ago, it wouldn't jog their memories any." The Thunder Soldier informed her over the line. "I've tried attempting to convince people over the years of their missing memories, but it's been a fruitless endeavor."
"Well, the difference between us and the Dressrosa residents is that we know about Sugar and what she can do. Even if our minds forget, since we know about her power, now we'll be able to spot any discrepancies that pop up if something goes wrong." Nami interrupted the Thunder Soldier as she wrote a sentence in big bold letters across the top of the board.
EVERY NAME HERE IS A PERSON WHO EXISTS AND IS EITHER A CREWMATE OR FRIEND.
"There!" Nami smirked. "With this, if we suddenly forget or don't recognize a name on this board, we'll know something has gone wrong and this Sugar character got to one of us!"
"And with the transponder snails, we'll be able to let someone know!" Chopper cheered.
"An excellent plan, Nami! Very clever!" Brook praised, clapping his hands as he sat on top of their captive. When Giolla started to groan, the skeleton man dug his heel into her face and knocked her out again. Momonosuke also gave the woman a few smacks with Acenath's toy sword.
"I see… that may be a viable countermeasure when our attack begins." The Thunder Soldier mused.
"Franky, you get any word on any of the others?" Nami asked.
The snail's face changed again as Franky started talking. "I called Usopp a while ago and his group should be at Green Bit by now… but it was kinda hard to hear over all the screaming and explosions."
Nami bit her lip at that. She knew Law had a plan and all, but would it survive first contact with whatever they found there? Sure, all knew about Doflamingo's trap and would be better prepared against anything the man would throw at them, but they were still going up against a dangerous Warlord. Crocodile and Gecko Moria had been bad, but from everything she'd learned about the String String fruit user from Law and others painted an even worse picture than those two…
"…It'll be fine. Robin and Usopp can handle themselves if things get dicey." Nami assured herself. She knew how clever Robin was, and in spite of how he acted Nami knew how well Usopp could perform in a pinch. Together with Law, she trusted that they'd all be fine.
"Oh hey! Zoro found his way here!"
Nami snapped out of her thoughts when Franky's voice announced that.
"Well, that's one problem solved. I'm surprised he found you all without help."
"He had a dwarf with him to show him the way."
Nami snorted. She should have known better than to give Zoro's sense of direction any credit. "Is Sanji or Kin'emon with him?"
"That's a negative!"
The navigator growled under her breath. "Hopefully Sanji's on his way back here at least. Tell Zoro to go back and find Kin'emon then head to the colosseum! Find that Bartolomeo guy and find my daughter! I want you guys to get her to a safe place before things start blowing up!"
"Why do you assume things will be blowing up at some point?"
"You're seriously asking me that? With how things usually go for us whenever we fight another pirate group?"
"…Fair enough!"
"At this point we're in a race with Doflamingo to see who can spring their trap first. Either he springs his on us or we strike before he gets his chance to. Either way, I don't want my little girl to be in the center of all that if I can help it! Make sure Zoro gets to her and he can protect her with Bartolomeo!"
"Roger! I'll let him know and send him on his way!"
"Thank you, Franky." Nami smiled before a thought occurred. "Hey, those dwarves must know the city pretty well, right? Could any of them maybe guide Zoro to the colosseum? With his sense of direction I'm worried he'll never make it to where he actually needs to be."
"I heard that!" Zoro's voice shouted angrily from the transponder snail.
Nami wasn't having any of it. "Then you'll go where the dwarves tell you to and slice anything and anyone who comes near Ace into tiny little pieces! ARE WE CLEAR?!"
"Alright, alright, geez! Soon as I get there, nobody'll touch the kid." Zoro assured her.
"We can afford to send a few of our own with him. It would also help to have extra eyes within the colosseum." The Thunder Soldier's voice added. "The rest of us must remain here for now and wait for our allies from Green Bit to arrive."
"Alright. Just call if there are any updates, got it?"
"You got it, Nami!" Franky confirmed.
"Great. Good luck!" Nami smiled as she hung up, though she sank to her knees and let out a big sigh after the line cut out.
"Nami? What's wrong?" Chopper asked, expression concerned as he crouched next to the navigator.
"Just everything seems to be going as well as it can so far." Nami muttered. "Luffy found allies in the colosseum, Franky found an entire rebel force to help us out, we KNOW Doflamingo's using the Flame Flame fruit to bait us so we're prepared for his plan to trap us somewhat, and Law's got his plan that'll hopefully go smoothly. The only real snags are that Sanji got distracted flirting around and… my daughter is in Dressrosa when Doflamingo and his crew are actively trying to hunt us all down."
"But Ace-chan is fine! She's got that Bartolomeo guy watching her!" Chopper assured her. "Plus she'll be even safer when Zoro meets up with them!"
"How sure can we be that she'll be okay until Zoro gets there?" Nami demanded, making Chopper flinch. "It's not like we know this Bartolomeo person. How am I supposed to know if he's capable of protecting Ace by himself?"
"I understand it is difficult to have faith in a man you've never met, especially when it concerns your daughter's safety." Brook spoke up. "However, Ace-chan is Luffy's daughter too. She's strong. Have faith that she'll be able to look after herself somewhat until Zoro arrives."
Nami smiled at that. "Thanks, Brook."
"Think nothing of it." Brook chuckled. "And another positive you missed out on, we managed to acquire a hostage!"
Brook punctuated his statement by grinding the tip of his cane into Giolla's face.
"At the very least, we'll have a bargaining chip if something untoward happens!"
"Is this Doflamingo really the kind of guy who'd do something like a hostage exchange though?" Momonosuke asked.
"He does seem like the type that would leave his underlings in the lurch." Chopper mused.
Nami groaned, biting her lip worriedly as the others discussed the man they were planning to take down. She glanced up at the whiteboard that she'd written everyone's names on, feeling relieved when she could recall the faces of everyone listed. She couldn't imagine how she could ever forget anyone in her crew… but given that there was a devil fruit user involved…
Taking her marker, Nami scribbled a few words directly onto her arm.
Luffy: Husband
Acenath: Daughter
Seeing the words and associated titles comforted her. She didn't know how extensive Sugar's devil fruit powers were, but if by some chance Luffy or Acenath got affected she would know who her family was, even if she couldn't remember them.
"Everything will be okay…" Nami told herself. "When it's all over, this is something we'll be able to laugh about together later…"
Though her daughter would certainly be in for an earful when she got back to the ship.
Corrida Colosseum
From one of the open windows on Corrida Colosseum's upper floors, Luffy and Rebecca spectated the Block B fight. Rebecca did her best to keep an eye on Hack and Gambia as they fought other gladiators in the arena together, while Luffy alternated between watching the battle royale and scanning the seating area for his daughter… while also scarfing down a lunchbox meal Rebecca had gotten him from one of the vendors in the waiting area.
"I hope either Hack or Gambia are able to win." Rebecca commented, wincing when she spotted Gambia take a kick from Blue Gilly, once of the favorites to win Block B.
"Huh, Bellamy's gotten stronger." Luffy noted as he watched the blonde pirate spring through the arena using Armament Haki in conjunction with his Devil Fruit powers, the blonde laughing loudly as he punched and kicked at the other fighters.
"Ser Lucy, er, Luffy… you sure seem to know a lot of people in this tournament. Or rather, a lot of people seem to know you..."
"I only know Bellamy and that muscle guy from that Blackbeard jerk's crew. Everyone else picking fights with me is someone I've never met." Luffy replied. "Seriously, I don't have time for petty guys like them. That old man's got a problem with my grandpa so I don't know why he's coming after me."
"I can relate." Rebecca sighed, genuine with her sympathy given everything Dressrosa's citizens blamed her for despite her complete uninvolvement in the events from a decade ago. "And I'm surprised Cavendish wants to kill you just for allegedly being more popular than him…"
"Eh, people have tried killing me for stupider reasons than Cabbage. I'll take care of it if we fight later." Luffy waved off, making Rebecca giggle at how the prince's name was butchered.
"Well, at least Hack and Gambia were friendly." Rebecca murmured, a soft smile coming to her lips. "I can't tell you how encouraging it feels to have allies to stand up against Doflamingo with."
"Definitely! I got lucky meeting you guys! It'll make fooling Mingo a lot easier!" Luffy grinned happily. He gestured down to his lunchbox. "You sure you don't want to share?"
"Ah, I couldn't. For me, being hungry-"
"C'mon, you shouldn't be fighting on an empty stomach! Feels a little bad if I'm the only one eating after you went and paid for everything yourself. Besides, your dad wouldn't want you to starve."
Rebecca paused, clenching her fists a bit when Luffy mentioned that. "Don't say that… I'm still not sure if the Thunder Soldier is really my father."
"I'm pretty sure he is."
"E-Even so, I don't have time to think about that right now." Rebecca insisted before she forcibly changed the subject. "A-Anyway, Ser Luffy, about the Flame Flame fruit… have you given any thought about who you'd like to receive it?"
"What do you mean?"
"Well, I understand why you want to take it for yourself. It was your brother's fruit, after all." Rebecca said. She and Luffy had briefly exchanged stories earlier when the B Block fight started. "However, you already have Devil Fruit powers. You can't make use of the Flame Flame fruit yourself, so I wondered if there was someone on your crew who you planned on giving it to if you were to acquire it?"
"...I hadn't really thought about it." Luffy admitted.
His plan was to fight in the tournament, make Mingo think he'd fallen for his trap, and get Ace's Devil Fruit once he won the tournament… or just steal it if an opportunity came up before the tournament was finished. He didn't actually have a solid plan about what to do with Ace's fruit once he had it.
"Robin, Chopper and Brook are out since they all have Devil Fruit powers already like me. Franky said he didn't want it, and I don't think Zoro would want it either." Luffy thought as he went over his options. "Sanji could probably use it pretty well. He's kinda got flame powers already with his feet, so Ace's powers would give him even more kick, and I'll bet he could use them for cooking too. Usopp could probably do some pretty cool things with Ace's powers if he had practice. Or maybe even Nami could use it! I could totally trust my wife to use Ace's Devil Fruit the right way!"
Pictures of the three of them using Ace's Devil Fruit powers in various ways popped into Luffy's head, and each option was appealing in its own way.
"Guess it's something I'll need to discuss later with my crew!" Luffy said with a shrug.
"If… If you don't have anyone specific in mind, could I have it?" Rebecca asked.
"Huh?" Luffy turned his head toward the princess when she suddenly presented herself as a fourth option. "You want Ace's fruit?"
"I mean, it's the whole reason I participated in this tournament originally." Rebecca reminded him. "Logia type Devil Fruits are said to be among the most powerful, and I believe the properties of the Flame Flame fruit would be ideal to help take down Doflamingo given his own Devil Fruit powers."
"Right… he does stuff with strings or something." Luffy muttered, remembering what Law had told them all about Doflamingo and his powers before they'd arrived at Dressrosa.
"Yes. I-I know we haven't known each other that long. We met barely a few hours ago, and even if we're allies against Doflamingo, giving the fruit to someone who's practically a stranger isn't-"
"I actually wouldn't mind giving you Ace's fruit."
That statement stopped Rebecca short. "Really?"
"Yeah! If none of my crew want it, I'd say you'd be at the top of my list for who else would get Ace's fruit." Luffy smiled. "You're nice, and you're a princess, so I know you'd use Ace's powers the right way."
"...What does my being a princess have to do with anything?" Rebecca asked, a tad confused that was apparently a merit in her favor for receiving Ace's fruit.
"All the princesses I've met so far have been good people. Good friends, in fact!" Luffy grinned. "Plus, you wanna take down Mingo with us, you gave me food, helped me out when that old beardy and Cabbage tried attacking me, you wanna help everyone who Mingo's crew have hurt and imprisoned here… so yeah, I think I could trust you with it if none of my crew want to eat it!"
Rebecca was shocked at the amount of trust Luffy was showing her. She knew how much getting Ace's fruit meant to the man, so the fact that he was open to the idea of her getting it without her even having to persuade him was quite shocking.
Really, it was just one shock after another since she'd met Luffy.
"...No matter who wins this tournament, I'll let you discuss it with your crew first." Rebecca decided.
As much as she wanted the Flame Flame fruit for herself, given the courtesy Luffy had shown her so far, both with his defense of her when he learned about the people's vitriol for her as well as bringing her into his alliance to take out Doflamingo, Rebecca didn't want take advantage of his trust. She would show Luffy and his crew through action that she could be trusted with his brother's Devil Fruit before accepting it.
As he was the first ally she'd ever had besides the Thunder Soldier, Rebecca promised herself she'd show him how reliable she could be.
"Yeah, gotta win it in the tournament first before deciding who it goes to." Luffy nodded. "Though Mingo might pull something before then…"
Luffy's eyes widened when he noticed one of the fighters, a big guy with wearing a crown and boxing gloves, wind his arm back. Even at a distance he could see the power the guy was packing in his fist, and even the spectators in the stands were starting the clear out when they noticed the king's wind up.
And in the chaos of fighting, Luffy noticed that his friends were ignorant of the upcoming strike.
Leaning out the window, Luffy bellowed as loud as he could. "HACK! GAMBIA! BELLAMY! JUMP AND GET OUT OF THE WAY!"
Right after he yelled that, King Elizabello's fist came down and the arena exploded, kicking up a cloud of concrete and dust that engulfed the arena from view.
"Yeeesh! Even through my barrier I felt the impact from that!" Bartolomeo said, eyebrows raised in surprise as some stray pebbles and plaster from the arena below bounced off of his barrier.
"Is the fight over? Did someone win?" Acenath asked from where she sat securely in the green haired man's lap.
"As soon as the dust settles we'll find out." Bartolomeo said, squinting through the dust cloud to see who was still standing after that punch.
A few seconds passed and the dust cleared away enough to see the arena… and what remained were a bunch of unconscious fighters scattered about while Elizabello stood panting in the center of it all.
"Aw dammit! Gambia's out cold!" Bartolomeo complained, slapping his forehead when he saw his staff officer lying motionless near the edge of the arena. Acenath patted his knee sympathetically.
"Sorry about your friend, Bart."
"Nah, it's fine. Least this way he won't have to fight your dad later on. Hopefully the colosseum staff can get him patched up. Guess that means Elizabello's the winner for-"
"Hey, someone's flying!"
Bartolomeo followed Acenath's finger that she suddenly pointed in the air, and while the pirate captain had to shield his eyes a bit from the sun, he could indeed make out a figure floating in the air…
…Who quickly began to descend right on top of Elizabello's head with a fist that was coated in Armament Haki.
The impact was shattering, with the crack of the fighter's fist on the king's head echoing throughout the colosseum. Elizabello coughed up blood and his eyes rolled back into his head, falling completely unconscious before he wobbled and tipped over onto the ruined arena floor.
The last man standing touched back down on the ground after kicking off the fallen king's shoulders, raising his hands up in victory as the announcer's voice punctuated the fight's conclusion.
"AND WE HAVE OUR WINNER FOR THE B BLOCK! HE'S THE MAN MOST OF US WERE BETTING ON, AND WITH THIS VICTORY HE'S ONE STEP CLOSER TO PROVING HIMSELF TO OUR KING! THE VICTOR IS BELLAMY THE HYENA!"
"His springy parts look funny." Acenath giggled as she pointed at the winner of the round.
"Blondie must've used his powers to jump up high in the air before that king threw his big punch. Everyone else got taken out and then all he had to do was give the big guy a good knock on the head." Bartolomeo commented. "He already had the advantage being a Devil Fruit user and all, but he's got some good instincts."
"How many more blocks are there?" Acenath asked.
"Just two others."
"Which one is daddy in?"
"Sorry Ace-chan, that I couldn't tell you. In hindsight one of us probably should've asked Senpai what fighting block he was in when he called us." Bartolomeo sighed. "Hopefully he's in the next one. The anticipation is killing me!"
Acenath opened her mouth to respond, but froze when she felt like she was being watched. The girl looked around, frowning when she spotted a figure that was starting to become familiar. Nervously, she tugged on her babysitter's jacket.
"Bart… he's back…" Acenath whispered, pointing her finger backward while she pulled up the green haired man's jacket to hide herself from view.
Bartolomeo snarled and grinded his teeth together when Acenath informed him of that, peering back over his shoulder and immediately spotted that blonde guy in the cap and heels from earlier standing a few rows behind them.
"This fucking guy…!" Bartolomeo seethed furiously in his head as he confirmed that the guy was indeed staring in their direction. "He's still following us? We've switched seats like three times already! The hell is his problem?!"
Of course, given Bartolomeo knew about what was going on between the Strawhat crew and Doflamingo's group, he felt pretty safe guessing that the effeminate looking blonde that was apparently stalking them was one of the Warlord's guys. Why else would he be so focused on them and not what was happening in the arena? Bartolomeo would've loved to walk over and knock the guy's block off himself, but he couldn't draw the attention of the arena officials or the rest of Doflamingo's cronies by starting something himself. Especially not when he had to look after Acenath.
"Can't do anything unless blondie makes a move first…" Bartolomeo grumbled under his breath in frustration, wrapping Acenath up in his jacket as he picked her up and stood to his feet.
"We're moving again?" Acenath asked.
"Yeah. I see some better seats over on that side, AWAY from the blonde prick eyeballing us." Bartolomeo replied. "We'll be able to see your dad's fight better from there."
Acenath nodded against Bartolomeo's chest, huddling closer as she hid from the blonde teenager's line of sight.
"Tch, wish I had a disguise or something for myself. Maybe if I had a hat too, blondie would have a harder time spotting us." Bartolomeo thought in annoyance as he hurried away. "And maybe it'd be better to just leave after Senpai's fight. Getting away from here and finding one of Senpai's crew members might be our best bet instead of remaining here…"
Much as he wanted to stay and watch Luffy-senpai sweep the entire tournament, Ace-chan's safety took priority above all else, and if this guy kept up his harassment Bartolomeo wasn't sure how much longer he wanted to chance sticking around in the colosseum.
Bellamy let out heavy pants as he stepped off the arena. He'd done it. He'd won the battle royale block, now it would just be the finals left.
And while he was happy he won, Bellamy clicked his tongue when he remembered what had been the key to his victory.
"HACK! GAMBIA! BELLAMY! JUMP AND GET OUT OF THE WAY!"
He'd been in the zone. Laughing as he plowed through the other gladiators. Completely sure of his victory until he'd heard Strawhat's voice shout out his name and then, for whatever reason, he'd followed the rubber captain's advice and without thinking about it sprang up to the sky right as Elizabello threw his punch.
Bellamy had seen the power of that strike from the sky, and he acknowledged that for all his speed and strength, the force of that blow would've knocked him out just like it had all the other fighters.
But he'd avoided it, because for whatever reason Strawhat had seen fit to include him in his warning along with his other buddies. What was with that?
"Moron. I work for Doflamingo… doesn't he get that we're enemies?" Bellamy scoffed under his breath.
…In the end, it didn't matter. A victory was a victory, and with it he was well on his way to finally proving himself to his hero.
Though there was no doubt in Bellamy's mind that Strawhat Luffy would make it into the finals with him.
"...Guess I'll pay him back when we have our rematch." Bellamy vowed to himself, smiling excitedly as he thought about fighting Luffy again.
It was high time he got the opportunity to show everyone how strong he REALLY was.
Green Bit
Trafalgar D. Law had known in the back of his head that this was all too good to be true. He didn't know how DoFlamingo had gotten the papers to announce he had stepped down from his Warlord Title and his Kingship when it wasn't true. Only World Nobles could do that.
It had seemed inconceivable, and yet… What could stop that man's ambitions?
What had Corazon not told him? There was so much left unsaid. Ultimately it just came down to a simple truth:
If it was too good to be true, it was. Law should have known.
Any time he got his hopes up, the world found a way to dash them to pieces.
That was the way of the world. It always had been. Why would it change now?
They had made it across the bridge, Robin and Usopp (and the reluctant Cesar) taking the hits for him. They'd even used the protesting mad scientist's gas abilities to float over the gap in the bridge onto Green Bit.
There, they'd spied a crashed Marine ship on the rocks, and seen a few Marine Patrols via Robin's abilities. They'd headed to a cliff covered in trees overlooking the meeting beach. From the ferns and bushes that provided them camouflage, they checked out the beach where the exchange was supposed to take place.
Usopp had scanned it with his goggles, and after pushing them up from his eyes, he shook his head glumly.
"I don't like this," Usopp muttered, "Too many open areas of fire. No sign of DoFlamingo. With those Marines all over the place…"
He looked at Law, working his jaw.
"If he's still a King of a nation allied to the World Government-"
"I know," Law said softly, looking down at the beach. "The Marines will be working with him, and given our threat level, they'll send an admiral."
Cesar Clown was covered in bruises, yet he still cackled mockingly.
"Shurororo! What happened to your confidence? Here you find you're just playing at being a pirate, boy. So what are you going to do? Charge in like an impetuous child who thinks he can do anything? You're really such a waste-!"
"Green Star: Maui Wowie," Usopp muttered, jamming a green seed pod into Cesar's mouth. The mad scientist swallowed automatically, and sputtered.
"What the hell was that?! Why are you… You…" Cesar wobbled, and smiled dreamily.
"Why always with the yelling? I'm a cloud… A pretty, fluffy cloud…"
Cesar stared intently at his manacled hands, and giggled. Law and Robin looked over at Usopp with almost identical questioning looks. Usopp grinned and shrugged.
"What? Not all the plants on those island plants were carnivores! Some just made you really, really mellow… Before eating you. So! What's the plan?"
Law grit his teeth and glared at the beach.
"We don't have a lot of choice," he admitted. "He knows we're coming. We don't show up, he'll enact some kind of counterattack we can't predict."
"What is he after though? Aside from our destruction," Robin said, staring intently at Law.
She was extremely perceptive. Law shook his head slightly.
"He wants me, simple as that," Law said quietly.
"Eliminating the Strawhats and getting his hands on a brilliant doctor with one of the most coveted Devil Fruits imaginable is reason enough," Robin said, "But this entire exercise has been far too…"
She pushed closer to Law, her large breasts squeezed against his arm. He fought a blush.
"Intimate for that," Robin said softly, "There's a personal history between you two. I know it."
Law grit his teeth. He glared at that damn beach. He could picture it all in his mind, every moment forever burned into his memory. Rocinante's dying smile. DoFlamingo's fucking laugh…
Usopp looked uncomfortable, before the long nosed man snapped his fingers.
"Whatever the history you two have," Usopp said, "He's probably expecting you to charge right in for a chance to kill him, right? So… Let's throw him off balance."
Law glanced over at the sniper, eyes narrowing.
"How?"
"Well," Usopp chuckled, "It turns out you're sailing with a master of deception. Who happens to have a beautiful assistant who can help with selling said deception."
He winked at Robin.
"What do you say, Robin? How do you feel about making an army out of thin air?"
"Hmhm," Robin chuckled, her breasts brushing Law's arm again, "I know what you're getting at. It's not exactly going to be easy, but… I think I can be convincing, if you are."
"Right," Usopp said with a nod, looking at Law, and jerking a thumb at the still giggling Cesar. "You go in with Clownie here. We'll make it look like you've outmaneuvered ol' Doffy. I'll draw even more attention, and then, when I give the signal… You strike, and I'll supply a shot to even the odds!"
"Of what?" Law asked. Usopp pulled out some blueish spheres from one of the many bags hanging off his belt. Law's eyes widened.
"Seastone rounds?"
"In my slingshot, they'll hit harder than bullets," Usopp chuckled. "If you can do something to distract them, I can get a shot or two in on Doffy or anyone else he's got with him! Enough for us to get away, and come up with something else while they're reeling!"
"It's going to be dangerous," Law pointed out. Robin and Usopp snorted.
"Yeah, we knew that," Usopp stated.
"If you're willing to go ahead with it though," Robin said softly, "We'll be with you. All the way. I would hate to lose such a wonderful conversationalist."
Her smile became a bit impish.
"With such a lovely blush."
Law's cheeks flared red again. He regained his composure quickly.
"... It seems we have a plan," he said.
"We'll set up back here," Usopp said, giving Law a thumbs up, "We've got fifteen minutes, plenty of time. You show up first, make it look like we don't suspect a thing!"
"All that said... It is still a trap though." Robin leaned in closer to Law, their noses almost touching. Normally, she'd be doing this to fluster him. And his cheeks still went red at the proximity. The tone in her voice was very serious though.
"Whatever drives you... I understand it," she said, "Even if I don't know all the details. I will support you in it... But don't let it destroy you."
Law very slowly nodded.
"I won't..."
This infuriating, brilliant, beautiful woman. He was happy to have met her and even her flirtations were not unwelcome. A childish desire to pay her back, just before things might go bad, arose in his mind.
A lesser man might try to kiss her. But Trafalgar Law was not that kind of man.
Strawhat was able to fluster his fearsome wife with just one action. It always worked. He'd seen Nico Robin enjoy it, giggling behind her hand.
With that in mind...
"Well then," Law stated calmly, reaching up to pull off Robin's hat, "I'll need to ask you for another favor."
"Huh?" Robin asked... Just before Law pulled his leopard-spotted hat off, and pushed it down on her head.
"Hang onto this for me, will you?" Law asked, looking ahead towards the beach. "Come on, Clown."
He tugged on the rope and led his prisoner down the cliff face. He slid down easily, keeping his balance easily.
"Okay Leopard Seal man," Cesar said dreamily as he floated after him.
He glanced back slightly over his shoulder, and locked onto his allies out of the corner of his eye. He saw Nico Robin flushing bright red. He could hear Usopp biting back a snort of laughter.
He allowed the tiniest hint of a smirk on his face. It had been childish, perhaps, but deeply satisfying.
Damn Strawhats.
Dressrosa
Sanji slowly came to, laying on a stone floor and bound with some heavy duty chains. He sniffed the air, while keeping his head down and eyes shut.
Sherry vinegar, he thought to himself, smells like it's only a few years into the aging process, and there's a lot of it. Based on how dry and cool it is here…
He opened one eye to peek through his bangs. There were stacks of oak barrels around him-A warehouse then. That could give him an idea of where to go from here-
He heard soft sobbing. He tilted his head, and saw Violet on her knees. Several unconscious goons were scattered around the warehouse. She had covered her mouth and was crying.. Her sobs were choked and harsh, her makeup was running. Her shoulders slumped as she tried to hold herself up off the stone floor in her despair.
Sanji, of course, still thought she looked beautiful. Even more so.
"Why are you crying?" Sanji asked quietly. Violet looked up, eyes red from her tears.
She wiped her eyes, and looked intently at him.
"Can… Can you and your crew defeat Doflamingo?"
"Isn't he your king?" Sanji asked softly. Viola sneered.
"He's no king, no captain of mine," she growled. "I… I had to join his crew to spare my father's life. To spare my entire family, after he ordered the massacre of so many of our citizens…"
A princess?! That explains some things, Sanji thought. Out loud, he stayed on task:
"You still loved him, despite that huh?" Sanji asked. Viola scoffed.
"He did it… DoFlamingo," she stated. "His strings… He used them to make my father and his troops attack the people so he could gain the throne! I had to…"
She shuddered, clutching at her arms tightly. She squeezed her eyes, as though trying to erase the images she saw behind her eyelids.
"You were supposed to lure me out and kill me, I take it," Sanji said. Viola nodded stiffly.
"I was… My Devil Fruit though… It allows me to see into your mind. Into your true nature."
Viola shook her head, eyes still not meeting Sanji's.
"I saw who you are… Your memories…" She wiped her eyes again, smearing her makeup further.
"What did you see?" Sanji asked softly.
Viola made a face.
"You have that depth of erotic thoughts about me?!" She demanded, her face struggling between a blush and a pale pallor.
"Even if the entire world denounced you, I would stand by you," Sanji said firmly, "When you asked me to kill a man… Your tears were genuine. They're genuine now. You cannot hide the truth of your tears, and I will never doubt their sincerity."
He smiled softly at her.
"A woman is most beautiful when she is sincere… And from my perspective? Those tears make you the most beautiful woman in the world."
Viola's face turned red. She formed a circle with the fingers of her right hand, and stared at him in wonder.
"How could it be… You have no ulterior motives with me?" Viola said softly.
"Well… A gentleman should be upfront with his desires," Sanji observed. Viola smiled, just a little. Her eyes were far more genuine than with her previous smiles.
"You're a little too upfront," she stated, as she bent over to look him more directly in the eyes. Sanji's face went red, and he panted.
"Ahh… Can you blame me, mi amor?"
He was already sitting up to plunge his face into her heavenly bosom… And her fist in his face stopped him cold.
"I… I'm truly flattered, but we have no time for that," Viola said quickly, a light blush on her cheeks.
"Will we have time later-?"
"Sanji!" She hissed. "Your ship and crew is under attack! Now… I will find your other crewmates. Give me a moment."
She made a circle with her fingers, and stood up into a graceful spin. She froze, as perfectly as a mechanical ballerina on a music box.
"There," she pinpointed, "Your friends are with the One-Legged Thunder Soldier in the flower field," she reported. She rummaged around in a nearby bag, and pulled out some maps and Sanji's Den-Den Mushi. She snapped her fingers, and the bindings around Sanji vanished. He was up in a flash and took the maps and snail.
"These are maps of the city, and various networks underneath it," Violet said, "You can use this to find the SMILE Factory, destroy it, and escape."
"This will be very dangerous for you," Sanji said, "Betraying your crew like this?"
Viola snorted.
"They will know the moment you leave this building alive," she explained, "You… You must take him down. Please. Nothing else matters, not even my life-"
"The HELL it does!" Sanji declared, taking her hands in his own.
"I'll get to my ship, and direct it towards the western shore," Sanji swore, "Get there, and I'll get you out! I won't leave you behind!"
Viola stared at him… And let out a soft chuckle.
"You really are a fool," she said, with a soft fondness in her voice.
"Your fool," Sanji returned with a grin.
Viola shook her head, and shoved him away.
"Get going, you silly ass!"
"At once, mi amor~!" Sanji sighed, his eyes lovestruck. He held up his snail mouthpiece to his mouth as he ran out the doors, kicking them open with a flourish.
"Franky! Mosshead! Usopp! Anyone! EVERYONE! Listen up! We've got problems!"
Green Bit
Admiral Fujitora had dressed in his uniform, and taken his ship out to the island known as Green Bit. DoFlamingo DonQuixote had given them a map of a clear way to the island around the Fighting Fish, and this had proven effective. Save for one other ship, which had wandered too far out of the safe zone and been attacked. Still, it had beached on the island with few casualties, and Fujitora had ordered his men to begin patrolling for Trafalgar Law and his allies.
That left him with the least enviable duty: Standing alongside DoFlamingo himself as they waited in the forest near the beach to spring their trap.
"I must say," the feather clad dictator grinned, "I truly appreciate the aid of the Marines in bringing these criminals to justice."
Fujitora said nothing. He scanned out, away from the still grinning Warlord. Even in Haki though, DoFlamingo was a horrific presence. Like an endless series of knives on strings, arranged in a horrific grin.
"You don't like me, do you Admiral?" DoFlamingo asked.
"No. I do not."
"No no… It's far more than that," DoFlamingo said, "It's hatred. I know the feeling. I am a connoisseur of hatred."
"That right," Fujitora deadpanned.
"Yours is… Somewhat interesting," DoFlamingo said, "Disgust, anger, mixed with empathy. Concern for those who are powerless. But detached and guarded."
The Warlord snorted.
"It's a dull sort of hatred. Bound up in honor and duty. How disappointing."
"Good," Fujitora stated.
DoFlamingo sniffed the air theatrically. The knives gleamed in Fujitora's mind, like a predator hungry for a meal.
"Ah… Now there's some proper hatred," He hissed, "Raw. Visceral. Aged to perfection with bitterness, rage, and grief."
The dictator chuckled under his breath.
"It has been too long… Too long, indeed."
Fujitora held his sword cane in both hands, as he sensed another step out onto the beach. DoFlamingo walked out ahead of them, a grin in his voice as he spoke.
"Ah… Trafalgar Law. I see you've brought Cesar."
"DoFlamingo," Law growled. Yes, Fujitora sensed what DoFlamingo had described: That single word carried depths of hatred in that young man's voice.
"Is that any way to greet your old captain?" DoFlamingo laughed. "All you have to say? I'm very disappointed. I doubt Corazon would be very impressed-"
Hatred spiked through the Haki, a strong burst of Conqueror's. Fujitora grit his teeth. Working with a Warlord was a foolhardy endeavor at the best of times, but one who was deliberately trying to provoke such a powerful pirate?
"Keep. His name. Out of your mouth," Law seethed.
"Oho~! Touch a nerve, did I?" DoFlamingo asked. "Well… I'll get more out of you later. We're going to have plenty of time for that."
Fujitora walked out onto the beach, out of the foliage. His other Marines joined him, pointing their guns at the captain of the Heart Pirates with machine-like precision.
"As you may have guessed," Fujitora spoke, "This was all a trap. I suggest you surrender. You won't be harmed."
"Speak for yourself," DoFlamingo hissed.
"I THINK NOT!"
Another person stepped out onto the beach-Bold and vibrant was his voice, as he stood atop a pile of boulders near Law. Judging from the voice…
"Who the hell are you?" DoFlamingo sneered.
"Captain Usopp, of the Usopp Pirates!" Usopp declared. "Ally to the Heart and Strawhat Pirates!"
Fujitora scanned the young man with his Haki. Behind the bravado was a churning, bubbling cauldron of fear and anxiety… Yet held in place by iron-clad courage and determination. The contrast brought a smile to his face.
"You'll forgive me, Captain Usopp," Fujitora greeted the young man politely, "But we do not have any intelligence on you or your gallant crew."
"That's the point!" Usopp declared. "We've fooled you so completely! You especially, Mingo!"
"What the hell is this?!" DoFlamingo snarled. "What are you playing at, you idiot?!"
"HA!" There was a cocky grin in Usopp's voice. "Did you think your amateurish little trap would really work on us? How pathetic! We've been onto you from the beginning! We know all about your dirty deals! The SMILE factory! And the Devil Fruit Toy Slaves!"
Fujitora felt DoFlamingo's anxiety and anger spike. His arrogance from before was still there, but there was some fear behind it.
Very interesting, Fujitora thought. Interesting enough that he held up a hand to keep his troops from firing.
"You don't know anything!" DoFlamingo growled.
"We've turned your elaborate little trap in on itself!" Usopp laughed. "COME ON, BOYS!"
Through Fujitora's Observation Haki, he could sense dozens of flags being raised in the trees behind Law, and heard several firearms being cocked. His troops were murmuring in confusion at the apparent reinforcements.
"How did he-?"
"Where did they come from?"
"I can't get a bead on any of them!"
Fujitora swept the area with his Observation Haki more thoroughly… And held back a laugh. Dozens of hands had sprouted across the forest floor, all holding up various weapons and hastily constructed flags, courtesy of one young lady hanging back. Most likely Nico Robin, if Fujitora remembered her Devil Fruit correctly.
He could also sense Trafalgar Law's emotional state: Surprise, gratitude… And an enormous amount of exasperation.
Cesar Clown's emotional state was blissed out, but that hardly mattered.
"We have hundreds of men and resistance fighters, all ready to blow your head off!" Usopp shouted. "Surrender, Mingo! And maybe we'll go easy on ya!"
DoFlamingo… Laughed. A laugh punctuated by acidic anger and scorn.
"You really think a cheap trick like that is gonna WORK ON ME?!" He roared, and unleashed a torrent of Armament Haki-covered strings like a thousand furious arrows. His Conqueror's Haki filled the area, and Fujitora girded his will to resist that terrible power.
Usopp leaped out of the way of the strike, the impact of the strings casting up an enormous cloud of dust.
"ROOM! SHAMBLES!" Law shouted, and Fujitora sensed the dust cloud switch places to surround DoFlamingo and pelt him with debris. In this instant, as he rolled back up to his feet, Usopp pulled back on his slingshot and shouted:
"BLUE STAR!"
He let loose a barrage of stone projectiles, at DoFlamingo, and at him. Fujitora quickly drew his blade and rapidly deflected every pellet. His instincts served him well-He could smell seastone in the projectiles.
"AH!"
DoFlamingo roared and lashed out with more strings coated in Armament. From how he held the side of his head, one of Usopp's projectiles had struck his protective strings, shattered, and then hit the side of his forehead.
Trafalgar Law switched places with a rock thrown up in the dust cloud, unsheathing his sword for a fatal strike at the back of DoFlamingo's head.
For a moment, Fujitora was sorely tempted to let the blow land. The depth of DoFlamingo's evil was horrific, vile.
Yet his duty remained.
A burst of Soru let him parry Law's strike, sparks flying off their blades. Fujitora focused on his Devil Fruit power, and some preparations he had made before rocketed down from the sky.
The meteors struck with deafening booms, blasting the three fighters apart. Fujitora summoned more, as DoFlamingo and Law flashed about the battlefield, using their abilities to try and get in a strike on the other.
"I DID THAT!" Usopp shouted. "SUMMONED METEORS! ALL ME!"
DoFlamingo cast his hands and sent another mass of razor sharp strings at Usopp. Law intervened again.
"SHAMBLES!"
The two of them vanished, the lack of Conqueror's Haki letting Fujitora breathe properly again. The dust began to clear, as the pirate flags and guns all fell.
Cesar Clown floated off, bumping into a tree trunk and giggling.
"Secure the prisoner, then after the rest!" Fujitora ordered, and his Marines rushed into the forest. "Take Captain Usopp and his crew alive!"
"SIR!"
Fujitora scanned the devastation, and shook his head.
"Damn you DoFlamingo," he muttered. Of course this had to escalate and get out of control.
Still… There was something to admire in the plucky spirit of Trafalgar and his allies. Garp's grandson and granddaughter-in-law had found some exceptional people to follow them.
Usopp ran as fast as he could, Nico Robin right on his heels as they rushed through the forest.
"That was your plan?!" Robin demanded.
"It might have worked if that guy didn't summon meteors!" Usopp cried.
"I suppose that's fair!" Robin conceded. Usopp looked over his shoulder, wide eyed.
"Fair?! You should have talked me out of it!"
"Maybe if we'd-!"
Usopp tripped over a log and fell onto the ground… That abruptly vanished. He fell into darkness.
"ROBINNN!"
"USOPP!" Robin cried. A hard projectile hit the back of her head, and she tumbled into darkness after him.
Strange… It almost felt like a tiny fist…
Omake: Buggy Stream
Buggy is sitting back on his couch, much more relaxed than last we saw him. He grins and waves.
"Hey Kids! Buggy's back! Sorry about that delay, there was an... Incident... With our last couple of guests, but we're back on the snail!"
Buggy sighed, drooping a bit.
"And thanks to some orders from the World Government, I have to try to be a bit more... Classy. As though I wasn't classy! I'm a flashing Warlord of the Sea, after all!"
Buggy coughed, and then plastered a smile onto his face.
"And now, I am very pleased to introduce our very special, very classy, guest: Princess Nefertiti Vivi of Alabasta! And her giant duck, Karoo!"
The camera zooms out to canned applause, as Vivi sits on the other couch. Karoo is busily slurping a drink down with a straw in the background. Vivi beams and waves to the camera.
"Hello all!"
"Well, Your Highness," Buggy began, "First off, thanks for joining the stream!"
"I didn't have a choice!" Vivi said, smiling like the sun, "I'm a hostage!"
"CUT THAT OUT! YOU ARE NOT!" Buggy cried. He cleared his throat, and smiled nervously as Vivi chuckled.
"Sorry. Old joke," she admitted. "You're welcome. I'm glad to be here."
"Wonderful," Buggy said, "So! You were a bit of a pirate yourself for a time, correct?"
"It's more accurate to say I allied myself with some pirates for a time," Vivi stated, though there was a hint of sadness in her eyes, "To defeat Crocodile, the former Warlord of the Sea. He was engineering a coup of my kingdom."
"Yes, and the Strawhat Pirates defeated him. Or so you say," Buggy said, "The Marines said they stopped it."
Vivi scowled. Karoo quacked angrily behind her.
"They can say whatever they want, I know the truth and so do the people of Alabasta," she stated firmly. "Without the Strawhats, I would not be here and my people would be under a monstrous psychopath. The Marines were not the ones who saved my people."
"Uh, er, getting away from politics and history," Buggy said quickly, "What can you tell us about the romance between Strawhat himself and his navigator?"
Vivi flushed a bit, but her smile grew.
"I've read a few romance novels and articles on them," she said, "None of them get it right. Luffy is... Well, he's a very pure soul. Sometimes he is an idiot, but I never doubted for a second he cared for Nami. Nami herself? It took her a while to accept her feelings for him... But she did manage it, in the end. I'm very glad they're so happy together, and have a child!"
Vivi grinned at the camera.
"Hope I'm in the running to be godmother, Nami!"
Alvida slid into the view of the camera, and slapped Buggy, sending him careening off screen.
"UwahwahAAAHHH?!"
A loud crash issued from offscreen, as Alvida sat down with the Princess wearing a wide grin.
"That sounds so... Wholesome, and mushy," Alvida said, "Surely you can relate some saucy details? Mm?"
Vivi blushed even more brightly. Karoo quacked and frowned deeply at Alvida.
"Well... I-I mean... I wouldn't want to give anything away-"
"So you do know some juicy bits!" Alvida cried happily. She took Vivi's hands between hers. "Come on! Dish! Romance novels aren't enough, we need ALL the nitty, gritty details! After all, he's a rubber man! Doesn't everything... Stretch?"
Vivi's face could boil an egg.
"Ah... Um... W-Well... I-I really don't want to give anything away and-and I didn't peep on them or-or anything-On purpose-!"
"HEY!" Buggy cried, stomping back onscreen behind the couches. "COME ON! THIS IS MY SHOW, ALVIDA! NOT YOUR SALACIOUS GOSSIP CHANNEL!"
Alvida held up a small barrel and looked to Karoo.
"This will all be yours if you beat him up," Alvida said.
Karoo took all of a second to think it over... Then chomped on Buggy's head.
"AHHH! AAHHH! GET HIM OFF ME! GET HIM OFF MEEEE!"
Buggy wailed as Karoo charged, pecking the hapless Warlord. Alvida beamed at the camera snail, putting a gaudy romance novel into Vivi's hands and making the princess hold it up for the audience.
"All these and even more salacious, sensuous sins will be available in my upcoming authentic tell all book, 'The Strawhat Pirate Chronicles: The Erotic Adventures of the Rubber Villain and his Female Navigator'! I'm getting it right from actual eyewitnesses, the whole truth... And then spicing it up properly!"
"How is that remotely authentic?!" Vivi complained... Even as she flipped through some pages. Her blush grew deeper.
"O-Oh... My," she murmured. "He can stretch-?"
"A good story deserves to be embellished, darling," Alvida chuckled, "So, starting from the top~?"
Vivi flushed, considered.
"W-Well..."
"Thattagirl!"
"ISN'T ANYONE GONNA HELP MEEEE?!" Buggy wailed from offscreen.