AUTHORS NOTE: Sorry this update took a whole 7 years to come out! I've actually been in the U.S. Navy the last 7 years. I wanted to give part 3 as much authenticity as possible considering the whole story takes place on a ship. Fun fact: this story was written while I was out at sea onboard an aircraft carrier! Part 3 has many chapters that will all be posted within the next week or so. It is also the last part of this story. I hope you enjoy and thanks so much for your continued support and for reading!

CHAPTER 29

Fluttering Swordswoman First Mate is Alive? The Rescue Mission Begins!

Momonga's hands shake with anger as he bellows to his incompetent subordinate, "DOES THIS LOOK LIKE THE FLUTTERING SWORDSWOMAN TO YOU? YOU NUMBSKULL, THIS ISN'T THE FLUTTERING SWORDSWOMAN! IT'S HER FIRST MATE!"

Momonga's words cut through Ari's mind with a burning fervor. First mate… Pheo… i-it can't be… can it? Ari freezes, her gaze fixed on the Navy ship ahead.

"B-but," Marin shakes her head, "I don't understand. It was supposed to be her!" Marin's disbelief turns into anger. In her frustration, she rips the cape off of Tori's back and turns to her with rage in her eyes.

Ari gasps. Sure enough, on the girl's back is a tattooed pair of phoenix wings. Suddenly, Ari's vision becomes blurred with tears. So… it really is her. But… how?

Marin frantically thinks this over in her head. I can't believe this! This was supposed to be my way out! This was supposed to be how I proved myself. All I've done is just prove that I'm as expendable as they believed. Marin's rage is ever-building as she screams at Pheonix, "Wh-why would you go along with it?! You stupid pirate!" She slaps her hard across the face, the force of it knocking her out of Vice Admiral Momonga's grip and she tumbles to the floor.

Vice Admiral Momonga turns to a group of marines and commands, "Take her to the brig. I'll be down there shortly to ensure she's comfortable."

"Yes, sir!" The group lifts Pheonix to her feet and drags her down a nearby ladderwell.

"And you," Vice Admiral Momonga barks to Marin, "you're coming with me."

Marin gulps.

"As for everyone else," he continues, "Prepare to break from the pier."

"Yes, sir," they respond in unison and snap to the task at hand. Momonga grabs Marin by her arm, digging his fingers into her skin as he marches her across the deck. Before they get very far, a higher-ranking marine strides to walk with him, asking, "Sir, are you sure you want to head out so soon? I thought we were planning on capturing the Strawhats as well?"

"We'll be back for them," he scowls, clearly annoyed at the interruption. "Right now, this takes priority. Her first mate is just as dangerous and just as high profile a target. Of course I would have to do, for now." He faces the marine again and orders, "Contact headquarters to make preparations."

"Preparations, sir?"

"Preparations for the public execution of Pheonix, the Fluttering Swordswoman's first mate. We shall head there at once!"

"Understood, sir!" he salutes and runs to the task.

Ari panics and jumps to her feet. "I just got her back, there's no way I'm losing her now!"

Before Ari can take so much as a step toward the ship, Zoro extends his arm, blocking her path and says, "We can't just go rushing in, we need a plan." Ari blushes, taken aback that he would think to include himself in ehr fight. She's also mildly offended at him implying towards her weakness, especially when her friend and crewmember is in mortal danger. She turns to interject, but sees some movement through the trees. Marguerite is leading a group of women to the ship, all of them carrying or rolling loads of cargo. In a moment of clarity, Ari points to the group and says to Zoro, "I think I found our plan." She smiles mischievously as Zoro turns to nod at her.

A group of marines meet Marguerite and the others halfway and one orders, "What's this for?"

"The Empress thought you might be here to restock your supplies," Marguerite explains, "as a paid member of the government she felt it was her duty to provide you with such supplies."
"What is it?"
"Food and a few other necessary accommodations."

The marine looks over to his superior, who nods, and the women set down the cargo for the marines to load it.

Zoro and Ari glance at each other once more before creeping through the forest to the closest group of barrels. Still under the cover of the trees, Zoro looks to either side on the path to confirm that they are out of sight of the marines. Satisfied, he waves Ari over and they scurry out of the trees over to the barrels. Zoro easily lifts off two of the barrel tops, revealing the fruit inside. As quietly and as quickly as they can, Ari and Zoro empty out the barrels and hide the fruit under some bushes nearby as to not arouse suspicion.

Ari is emptying out the last of the fruit when she hears, "Wait, there's some more over here!" She looks through the trees and sure enough there's a marine gesturing around the bend to a group of barrels near them.

"Zoro," she whispers, "we have to hurry, they're on their way over here!"

"Hop in," he says, gesturing to the barrel. Ari climbs inside and Zoro seals her barrel shut. She listens from inside and lets out a sigh of relief at the sound of Zoro's barrel shutting as well. Just in time too, since marine footsteps follow soon after. Ari braces herself against the cramped walls of the barrel as it tips and rolls along the path. With the barrel still on its side, she comes to an abrupt stop, and as prepared as she was, her head still slams into the side of the barrel and she digs her teeth into her lower lip to trap the grunt that nearly escaped.

She presses her ear against the side and hears a muffled marine voice, "This looks to be the last of it, Sir."

"Good," another marine answers, "take it all below decks. The rest of you, continue undocking from the pier."
"Yes, sir!"

Ari hears the shuffling of feet as the marines race to their tasks and her barrel starts to roll once more. Finally, after a bumpy ride along the deck and down multiple ladderwells, Ari stops rolling. THe barrel is lifted upright and the sound of footsteps recede, followed by a hatch closing. THe tiniest bit of light filters through the cracks in the barrel, giving her false hope of seeing anything on the outside. Still, she presses her eye to the side, but her only sense is her hearing. Ari holds her breath and waits, listening. She hears more footsteps and is immediately glad she waited to come out of hiding. The footsteps approach closer and closer and she is sure that whoever it is must be right in front her barrel. She waits. Suddenly, the top of her barrel is lifted up and she's momentarily blinded by the light and shocked from being found. In that moment, her pirate instincts kick in and she springs up to sock whoever it was who found her, but her tiny fist is caught in Zoro's large palm and her battle cry is muffled by his other hand clapping over her mouth. She's proud to see that even with her out of shape, his palm still falls back a bit at the force of her punch.

"Calm down, it's just me," he orders.

She looks down to the hand on her mouth and the urge for her to kiss it is strong. A fiery blush alights her fae. Luckily, Zoro doesn't seem to notice. ONce he is sure that she's calmed down, he lets go of her face and her fist. Maybe it was Ari's imagination, but she felt his hand might have brushed along hers in a purposeful lingering touch. Suddenly, she feels a shift in her footing, causing her to lose her balance and fall into Zoro, barrel and all. He catches her so luckily they remain standing. Ari is grateful for it too. She doesn't know if she could handle her face getting any redder than it already is. He helps her out of the barrel and they both take notice of the gentle rocking.

"Looks like they undocked already," Ari comments.

Zoro nods and asks, "So, do you have a plan?"
"Umm…" she says, mulling it over. She feels the hair on her neck rise in alarm and Zoro tilts his sword so it's peeking above the sheath and firmly, but gently nudges her to the side with his hand.

"What's wrong?" She peeks over her shoulder and her question is answered. On the other end of the store room is a couple other barrels and the lids are all coming off from the inside.