Chapter 2: Strange Events
Dialogue "sample"
Thoughts 'sample'
Author notes -sample-
Disclaimer: One piece and all of its characters belong to Eiichiro Oda.
Chapter 2: Strange events
She told Chopper that she wanted some fresh air and left the cabin.
After passing the kitchen and what she assumed was the boy's cabin, She found the door that lead outside. As soon as she opened it she was hit by a strong hot breeze and the smell of seawater and sunlight.
"Ugg.." She was not ready for that.
"Lady Vivi!" Sanji was the first one to notice her.
"Quack.!" Karoo was the second.
"Sanji, Karoo. Is good to see you." She greeted them with a smile.
"Lady Vivi, you remember me!." He started crying again.
She looked around the deck and spotted Zoro doing push-ups at one side and Luffy sitting at his favorite spot. They both turned their heads after hearing the commotion. Luffy jumped and arrived at her side in a second.
"Vivi! I'm glad you didn't die." Said Luffy with a wide smile.
"Luffy, don't be so crass!." Admonished Sanji.
"umm. I'm also glad I didn't die." She said with genuine relief.
'I can't see Usopp, He must be driving the ship while Nami sleeps. Wow, the crew was really small at this point, that's all of them. The full Strawhat crew. Is very surreal to see them like this.' Thought Vivi.
"How long do we have until we arrive in Arabasta?." She asked.
Luffy shrugged, obviously not having an idea.
"According to Nami, there are still around three days to arrive." Answered Sanji.
"I see, then-". She was interrupted by the sound of her belly.
'That's embarrassing…'
"Of course, you must be hungry. Worry not, I will prepare you a delicious meal!." Said Sanji with enthusiasm before rushing to the kitchen.
"Thank you, I can't wait." She said with great expectations.
'I get to try a meal prepared by the legendary cook. This is so exciting!'
She then processed the rest of the information.
'Three days. There is no time to prepare for what we are going to face there… It should be okay. As long as Luffy can beat Crocodile we should be fine…but I can't help but worry. That was a very close fight and if my presence here changes even one tiny thing….everything could collapse and we all die…I need to do something, but I still don't know what…'
Luffy must have noticed her worried expression.
"Hey!, Vivi, don't worry. Everything is going to be okay, shishishi" He gave her a thumbs up and laughed. She could not help but chuckle.
"Thanks, Luffy."
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Nami had woken up and was sitting next to her now in a relaxed manner when Sanji came outside carrying several trays of food.
'It smells so good!.' She thought.
"There you go, my beautiful lady. Enjoy it. I also prepared a cocktail for you, Nami."He placed the food on a little table in front of them.
"Thank you, Sanji. It smells great!." Said, Vivi.
"Don't praise him too much or He won't stop chasing you." Advised Nami.
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After going back to her room, she decided to take a look at her belongings.
'Wow, she kept those weird clothes from when she was going as Miss Wednesday… oh! this may be useful.'
She found the weapon that Vivi used back then. Sharp jewels on a wire that resembles the tail of a peacock.
There was a ring on one end of the weapon, so she put it on.
'Let's see…'
She made a quick hand movement and the string carried the jewels along, ending in a slashing motion. She then practiced by doing a few more slashes.
'It seems like I have some muscle memory of fighting with this thing. It doesn't seem like a very good weapon but I don't have time to learn anything else right now. It should be good enough to defend myself against normal enemies. Maybe I will ask Zoro to give me a few tips tomorrow.'
She then stored the weapon and lay in bed, feeling still very tired.
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Images started appearing in her mind again. A few flashes of her mother, who died when she was very young.
More images of her growing up in the palace, playing hide and seek, and discovering its secrets. In the deepest part of the palace, there are two locked doors that no one but her father is allowed in. One is black and the other one is…blue.
Vivi woke up the next morning with a mild headache.
'Those doors… what's behind them?. I'm sure that one must be where the Poneglyph is, but what about the other one?.' She felt very curious about that.
She looked around and noticed that Nami was now sleeping in her bed.
'Last night she stood driving the ship until late, she must be exhausted. I never thought about it, but It has to be difficult to handle a ship through the Grand Line with such a small crew. Especially when Luffy and Zoro barely do anything and Sanji is mostly occupied with the meals.'
She decided to visit the bridge and bring Usopp something to eat.
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"Vivi?." The sniper said in surprise.
"I got you some breakfast. Sanji has told me you haven't eaten yet."
"Thanks." He smiled while taking the plate. He then looked at her bandaged head.
"How is that going?."
"Not bad. I get some headaches but nothing serious. Chopper said I got lucky."
Usopp made a complicated expression.
"I don't know about lucky…"
"What do you mean?." She asked.
Usopp put the plate down and looked thoughtful for a moment.
"I don't know how to explain it. I was close by when those rocks started to fall. I managed to get out of the way while falling to the ground, it was then that I saw it. One of the rocks changed directions and went straight to you…I tried to warn you but you didn't hear me…it was very strange."
"Changed directions? are you sure about that?."
He shook his head.
"It was probably pushed by another rock. It just looked like that to me. Anyways, I would say that you had pretty bad luck, Vivi. But at least you are fine now."
'This confirms it. Something was changed so Vivi would die…and I took her place…' She felt her blood run cold at the thought.
'Who would be able to do something like that?'