The mist clung to Nami's skin as her small boat finally scraped against the rocky shore of Amazon Lily. Exhausted, she collapsed onto the sand, her body aching from the relentless journey. Every muscle protested as she sat up, clutching her satchel tightly. Her once-pristine sky-blue tunic was frayed and damp, its hem torn from scaling cliffs and dodging sea monsters. The golden sash tied around her waist was caked in dirt, and her sandals barely held together.

She leaned back, catching her breath, her gaze shifting to the endless jungle ahead. "I made it," she whispered, her voice resolute despite the weariness weighing her down.

Her journey to Amazon Lily hadn't been easy. The Calm Belt was everything the legends warned about and worse. The air hung heavy and stagnant, the water eerily still, creating an unsettling silence that made every ripple seem deafening. For the first time in her life, Nami found herself in the infamous region, her maps and tools offering only partial guidance against its relentless dangers. The Sea Kings were massive shadows beneath her boat, their monstrous shapes circling with predatory intent, and the lack of wind left her at the mercy of their whims. But where her navigation skills faltered, her raw instinct took over. Every decision—every sharp turn of the rudder, every whispered command to the sea—felt like a gamble, yet it worked as if the water itself bent to her will. Her heart pounded as she steered clear of snapping jaws and rising waves, her weather-worn hands gripping the helm as if her life depended on it. This was her first time venturing beyond the relative safety of the East Blue since her journey to the sky islands, and now, surrounded by this unnatural stillness, she realized the true magnitude of her raw talent. It wasn't just skill—it was something deeper, something primal that carried her through when logic and maps couldn't.

Nami had leveled up, and she knew it. But now, as she stood on the cusp of her greatest challenge, she couldn't help but feel the weight of her mission pressing down on her.

"I'm coming, Nojiko," she muttered, pushing herself to her feet. "I'm going to get that golden berri - even if I have to drag the Monkey King out by his ears!"

Suddenly, rustling from the jungle, she was frozen in place. Realizing she had no other weapons, she lifted her hands and hoped she knew how to defend herself again. Her powers seemed sporadic at best. Her heart raced as several tall, imposing figures emerged from the foliage. The Kuja warriors, with their fierce eyes and snake-like grace, moved as one, their weapons drawn.

Sandersonia and Marigold, Boa Hancock's sisters, moved with an air of practiced grace, their piercing gazes fixed on Nami as if trying to peel away her very soul. Sandersonia, the taller of the two, had a serpentine elegance about her, her long green hair braided neatly down her back. Her sharp, slitted eyes carried suspicion, and her painted lips curled into a faint scowl as she observed the intruder. Beside her, Marigold's broad, muscular frame seemed to radiate an almost tangible power. Her golden snake companion coiled around her arm like a living weapon, its glowing eyes mirroring her wariness.

"An outsider," Sandersonia hissed, her voice low and laced with menace. Her grip tightened on the blade at her side, the hilt gleaming with intricate carvings. "What business does she have on this island? No one crosses the Calm Belt without a reason."

Marigold nodded, her expression hard. "And judging by that satchel," she said, her deep voice tinged with suspicion, "she's carrying more than just a passing interest in Amazon Lily."

Before Nami could answer, Salome, the massive serpent that rarely left Boa Hancock's side, slithered into view. Its shimmering scales caught the dim light filtering through the trees, each movement as hypnotic as it was intimidating. The snake's glowing yellow eyes locked onto Nami, its tongue flicking out to taste the air. A deep hiss rumbled from its throat as it swayed closer, towering over the group with an almost regal presence.

Sandersonia and Marigold exchanged a glance. Salome rarely acted without purpose, and the way it leaned toward Nami, coiling protectively near her, was unusual. "Salome senses something," Sandersonia murmured, her tone shifting to a mix of curiosity and unease.

The snake let out another hiss, this time sharper, to which the sisters gasped. "She's here to steal The Monkey King?"

The weapons came closer, but before Nami could protest and clarify her mission, Salome's massive head tilted toward the path leading deeper into the jungle. Its intent was unmistakable—it wanted Nami taken to the Snake Empress.

Marigold's grip tightened on her weapon as she turned her sharp gaze back to Nami. "Salome's never wrong," she said, her tone edged with distrust. "Whatever you are, the Empress will decide your fate."

The Kuja warriors stepped forward, binding her wrists with practiced efficiency. Nami struggled against the restraints, her voice rising in indignation, but the sisters ignored her protests. Salome slithered ahead, its massive form cutting a path through the foliage, and the warriors followed, dragging Nami with them toward the palace and her unknown fate.

Golden snake statues coiled around the massive pillars, their jeweled eyes gleaming in the torchlight. At the center of the room, Boa Hancock reclined on her throne, her dark hair flowing like a silken river over her shoulders. Her piercing eyes locked onto Nami, her lips curling into a smirk as the warriors threw her to the floor. Salome slithered towards Boa, curling around her.

"So...you want to steal him?" Boa's voice was sharp yet smooth and dripping with authority.

Nami struggled against her restraints. "I'm not here to steal anything! I just need to see the Monkey King."

However, the Snake Empress's expression darkened. It seemed when it came to the Monkey King that reason did not exist for her. "You've come to take him from me?" She descended the throne, her movements fluid and commanding. "Do you know what happens to thieves on this island?"

Before Nami could answer, the throne room doors burst open with a deafening crash.

"Hey, Boa! I'm starving!"

Nami turned her head to see a man with wild, stark-white hair and a grin that stretched from ear to ear. Smoke and steam coiled around him, giving him an almost ethereal glow. His pink eyes sparkled with mischief as he strode into the room, a chaotic force of nature personified.

"Monkey D. Luffy!" Boa's icy demeanor melted instantly, replaced by a giddy, lovestruck expression.

Luffy waved cheerfully. "Hey! Didn't I tell you to call me Luffy?" He said it with a cocky tilt of his head and a smirk on his face. An index finger gently pushed up Boa's chin to look into his eyes. She and Salome nearly melted, and her sisters rushed to catch her as she mumbled about meat in her lovestruck unconsciousness.

Luffy laughed and continued, "What's for dinner?"

Nami blinked, dumbfounded. "This is the Monkey King?" she muttered.

Luffy turned his attention to her, tilting his head curiously. "Who's the angry lady on the floor?"

Boa snapped awake again, simultaneously ushering the food into the throne room as she maintained her glare at Nami. "She's here to steal you!"

"I'm not!" Nami snapped, exasperated. Still bound, she directed herself to Luffy, hoping reason would work with him. "I need your help to get the golden berri—for my sister."

Luffy's grin widened. "Golden berri, huh?"

The throne room was quiet for a moment, save for the flickering of torches and the faint rustling of Salome's coiling form as it rested beside Boa Hancock's throne. Nami stood, hands still bound, her sharp eyes darting between the Empress and the grinning figure of the Monkey King. Luffy's wide, carefree smile made her uneasy—there was something about him, a barely contained chaos that was impossible to predict. He leaned forward, his pink eyes gleaming with mischief as if he were trying to see through her.

"So," Luffy began, tilting his head to one side like a curious child, "what's your favorite food?"

"What?" Nami asked, her confusion evident. "What does that have to do with anything?"

"Just answer," he said with a grin, waving a hand dismissively. "Come on, it's important!"

Nami frowned but decided to humor him. "Mikans," she replied curtly, her voice steady despite her irritation. "Why?"

Luffy's grin widened, and he let out a low hum as he tapped his chin with a finger. "Mikans, huh? That's a good choice. Sweet, but not too sweet. Tangy." He leaned closer, his eyes narrowing as he studied her face. "You don't like chocolate, do you?"

"What are you talking about?" Nami snapped, taking a step back instinctively. "I didn't come here to answer your weird questions!"

He ignored her protest, straightening up and circling her like a predator sizing up its prey. He floated around her, his bare feet never touching the cool stone floor, his movements fluid and unhurried. "You're good at maps, right?" he asked suddenly, gesturing to her satchel. "Did you make all those?"

"H-how do you. I mean. Yes," Nami said, her tone defensive. "Why do you care?"

"Hmm," Luffy murmured, stopping directly in front of her. His expression shifted slightly, a flicker of something sharper beneath his carefree facade. "And you got here through the Calm Belt all on your own?"

Nami's heart skipped a beat. He wasn't asking—it was a statement. She squared her shoulders, refusing to let his scrutiny intimidate her. "I've been through worse," she said.

Luffy let out a soft laugh, scratching the back of his head as he turned away. "Yeah, I figured you'd say something like that." He plopped down onto the edge of Boa's throne, resting his chin in his hand as he continued to watch her with that infuriatingly unreadable expression. "You're strong," he said suddenly, his voice light but carrying an undertone of certainty.

"What?" Nami blinked, caught off guard by the statement.

"You've got to be," he continued, his grin widening again. "Anyone who makes it through the Calm Belt alone and survives Amazon Lily? Yeah, they've got guts. I like that..."

At this, Nami could clearly see that the Snake Empress was ready to eat her alive or at least have Salome do it.

She tried to clarify, "Look. I can't stay here forever. I have someone waiting back home for me-"

"A lover?"

Nami blushed furiously, "W-what? No. I mean. I love her. She's my sister."

Luffy's eyes seemed to twinkle, "Perfect."

Nami attempted to cross her arms, but she was still bound. However, her irritation still bubbled to the surface. "What is with you? Are all of you monsters just here to play with the lives of mortals."

He floated above her, looking down on her, but Nami did not feel the same type of disdain and hatred she felt when demons or other creatures peered at her kind: the shaman. Luffy seemed, in all sense of the word, innocent and good. "If it's a boring adventure, I don't want to do it."

He said it so nonchalantly but proudly, but Nami did not understand what it had to do with her. Luffy watched her confusion and doubt and then laughed—the sound echoing through the room. "You're funny, too! I like that." He stood abruptly, his energy almost too much for the space to contain. "Okay, I've decided! I'll give you the golden berri."

Nami's eyes widened in surprise. "You will?" she asked cautiously, her disbelief evident.

"Yup!" he said cheerfully, but then he held up a single finger, his grin turning mischievous as did he, spinning around in the air until he was upside down. "On one condition."

Nami's stomach sank. Of course, there was a catch. "What condition?" she asked warily, narrowing her eyes at him.

Luffy leaned in close, his grin nearly splitting his face. "I need you to deliver something for me," he said, his voice dripping with mischief. Then, without giving her a chance to argue, he spun in the air like a tornado and strode toward the throne's exit, his laughter trailing behind him like a mischievous melody.

"Wait—what?!" Nami shouted, taking a step forward despite the guards surrounding her. "What kind of answer is that?!"

But Luffy didn't respond, his silhouette disappearing into the shadows of the hallway. Left standing in the center of the throne room, her hands still bound and her mind racing, Nami felt the weight of his cryptic words settle over her like a storm cloud. Whatever game he was playing, she wasn't going to lose.

He rushed back with a gust of wind, pulled out a small box, and flipped it open, revealing a devil fruit. Its swirling skin pulsed faintly. "Deliver this to my brother."

Nami's eyes lingered on the Devil Fruit in Luffy's hand, the swirling patterns almost hypnotic. Her mind raced as she considered its worth. Devil Fruits weren't just relics of ancient power—they were treasures that could fetch unimaginable prices. Entire kingdoms had been toppled for them. Wars had been waged for far less.

She swallowed hard, her instincts as a negotiator and opportunist flaring to life. With this fruit, she could trade for anything: gold enough to build an empire, ships to rival a fleet, or even the favor of kings. The golden berri she needed for Nojiko could be hers without the wild chase. All she'd have to do was find the right buyer, someone desperate enough to give her whatever she asked.

And yet…

Her gaze shifted to Luffy. His carefree grin, the way he casually tossed the fruit as though it was nothing more than a piece of ripe fruit plucked from an ordinary tree—it unsettled her. Did he not understand what he was holding? Or worse, did he know perfectly and simply not care? The weight of the fruit's significance pressed against her chest, even as he spun it in his hand like it was meaningless.

Her thoughts darkened. If she took this fruit, would she be any different from the kings and tyrants who fought for such power? Would she become like Arlong, exploiting strength at the expense of others?

Nami shook her head. No. She wasn't like them. This wasn't about power or riches—this was about saving Nojiko. Still, the allure whispered in the back of her mind, seductive and dangerous. With this fruit, she could trade for more than just Nojiko's cure. She could reshape her entire life, finally rise above the desperation and scrabbling survival that had marked her past.

But as quickly as the thought came, she crushed it. Her hands tightened into fists. No. This wasn't hers to barter with. Nojiko had raised her to fight for what was right, not to take shortcuts. Her sister's sacrifice deserved more than a quick deal brokered in greed. If this were the price for the golden berri, she'd earn it honestly—even if it meant navigating a storm far greater than the one she'd already endured.

She exhaled sharply, clearing her mind. There was no room for hesitation. Whatever this fruit meant, whatever value it held, it wasn't hers to exploit. Not yet. Not until she understood exactly what she was getting into.

Luffy spoke as if reading her mind, "If you try to steal this fruit...before delivering it to my brother, then I promise you...I can be a monster."

He said it firmly, without malice, but it still sent a shiver down Nami's spine. He released her hands and feet with a snap of his fingers, and Nami was about to reach for it before Luffy pulled it away and closer to the box.

"As assurance and also because he is my right hand - Fire Fist Ace's Devil Fruit will go with the Demon Lord."

"The Demon Lord?"

Luffy nodded knowingly, "He will accompany you on your journey. Besides...this fruit is too tempting for any mortal."

Nami scoffed as she rubbed her wrists, "I'm not any mortal."

"This is true," Luffy said with a grin.

"Where is this going anyway?"

Luffy spun, headed to Boa, who sweetly fed him some meat. As he chewed, he spoke, "To my brother, Flame Emperor Sabo, of the Revolutionary Army."

Nami's jaw dropped. "That's impossible! They're just a myth."

Luffy chuckled, getting another piece from Boa. "Nope! My father hides them really well."

"Your… father?"

"Yeah, Monkey D. Dragon!" Luffy said casually.

Nami pinched the bridge of her nose. "Why can't you deliver it yourself?"

"Boa makes amazing food!" he said, pointing to the plate of meat she'd just handed him. She gushed and nearly fainted once again.

Nami groaned. "I don't even have a map for this place!"

Luffy laughed, grabbed her by the ankle, and swung her around. Her maps flew out of her satchel, scattering around the room. "These are good maps! You'll figure it out."

"Put me down!" Nami shrieked, her face red as she tried to keep her dress down.

Luffy set her down with a grin. "Don't worry. I told you...I've got someone to go with you. He's strong."

"And he knows the way?"

"Nope! But he'll be a good match for you!"

Before Nami could protest, Boa clapped her hands, summoning the warriors.

"I'll prepare the catapult," Boa announced.

"Catapult?!" Nami exclaimed.

Minutes later, Nami, despite all her flailing, found herself strapped into an oversized contraption, her satchel barely secured.

Luffy gave her a thumbs-up. "Good luck, Nami! And try to have fun!"

Nami was delirious. This entire side quest was insane. She just wanted to save her sister, and so she tried to protest once more, "I can't have fun-"

And that was all she managed as Boa's warriors pulled the lever, and with a deafening whoosh, Nami was launched into the sky.

"Nooooo!"

Luffy leaned back, grinning as he watched her disappear into the clouds. "She'll be fine," he said confidently.

Boa was pouting, and Luffy flew around her with a grin. "Are you upset?"

She tried not to show it, but Luffy wrapped his rubber arms around her as she blushed furiously again. "Don't worry, Boa. Nami is the perfect person to help Zoro, and you know how he is. He is someone...like her. I believe Nami can save him."

Boa nodded, "Of course, my King..."

He released her and floated above her, tilting her head to lock eyes, "What did I say you should call me?"

It seemed everyone could sense the energy in the room; even Salome blushed and slithered out.

Boa meekly whispered, so unlike her intense and demanding presence, "Lu-Luffy."

Luffy smirked and licked his lips, "Now, about that dessert…"