Chapter 435 | Princess Vivi

435 | Princess Vivi

Luffy blinked. He blinked again, jaw hanging open.

The marines that were in the training room were looking at the blue-haired beauty with stunned expression. Well, most of the men at least. The female marines eyed her with a bit of jealousy. She looked like someone important, but they weren't sure. 

"Hey, why is a civillain doing here?" One of them asked.

"I… think that's the princess of Alabasta?" 

"Wait? Really?" Someone asked, "Is she single…" 

Hearing the last one Sinbad snapped his head at the marine who said, making man shrink in on himself. 

But Luffy wasn't paying attention, nor was Vivi. Each had their eyes for each other. 

Luffy was the first one to look away at first, not wanting to reveal anything to the public. He was happy and worried at the same time. This was enemy territory after all. 

"Huh, Vivi… that's surprising," Luffy said with a smile, "If I knew you were here I would have brought the other members of the crew… shishishi…" Indirectly asking her why she was here. He didn't know wether to be worried or excited to see his wife.

Vivi coughed, "Well, I'm actually here for diplomatic reasons," She said, "Even Papa is here…"

Luffy blinked, now understanding the situation. She did brush over this, in their previous call. But he didn't know she would come here personally. Luffy also noticed Pell, and Igaram behind Vivi, he gave them a curt nod. At least she didn't come here alone.

"Vivi-chawn! I'm happy to see you again!" Sanji said noodling about. She chuckled when Sanji asked if he wanted anything to eat or not. 

Sanji might have been the only one who could openly flirt/simp on girls without raising eyebrows. The reason, simply that, he did it with every woman he saw.

Of course, Vivi didn't decline the offer and the chief was running towards the kitchen flame on his way. Even though it was outside the subject, Sanji had built quite a reputation in Marineford. 

When he first came here, no one wanted him to enter the kitchen. Mainly due to security reasons, he was a pirate after all. But surprisingly enough Admiral Kizaru vouched for him. 

There was still some hesitance, so in Sanji way fashion he challenged the chiefs in a food battle. And that is to say, Luffy really had a fun time that day. Eating all the different kinds of food. 

But at the end, Sanji won by a unanimous decision. Now he even had a new tittle, King of Kitchen. Which really was a reputation boost for him. 

As the match between Zoro and Sinbad started, both man locked their arms in an arm-wrestling match. The focus shifted from Vivi to them, loud cheers came for the Marines side. And even though Luffy didn't want to admit it, Zoro was on the losing end. 

Which was surprising and interesting at the same time. Though, his swordsman was joke. Involuntarily using his green flames forcing Sinbad to use his own devil fruit powers. The match was intense with cheers growing louder. 

But while that was happening, Vivi had came onto Luffy's side giving him a small letter, without anyone noticing. 

The princess frowned, "Wait… did you get taller?" 

Luffy's lips twitch, an amused smile on his face, "Hm… maybe. I mean, I did say, I can make things bigger." he said with a wink, making her cheeks heat up. 

She coughed, before moving around as she started cheering for Zoro, much to Sinbad's dismay. 

And, soon Sanji came back with her order. A cup of specially made ice cream. 

"Here's your order my lady!" 

"Oh, thanks Sanji!" She said, taking the cup before turning towards Luffy and the others, "I have to go guys. You know princess work, so I will be busy… see you soon!" she said, giving a wink towards Luffy. 

Right then Sinbad managed to beat Zoro, promptly gaining cheers from the marines all around. It seemed they weren't interested in the princess anymore. The green-haired swordsman was annoyed at his loss, but accepted it. 

"Oh, also don't be sad, if you lose Sinny… my pirate friends are super strong!" Vivi said.

"Oh, you are still here…" Sinbad gave her a stink eye, "Go bother someone else, Vivi…" he said with a shooing motion. Vivi cutely stuck out her tongue before she left. A skip in her steps. 

Luffy chuckled as Sinbad started another match with Zoro, switching arms. It was best out of three after all. As the match continued Luffy mused at the whole situation, it might be dangerous, but at least things weren't going to be boring anymore. 

.

While the boys of the crew were in the training room beating each other in simple arm wrestling matches. Kuina was testing her sword against a certain someone. 

Two women who looked similar to each other clashed blades, sparks flying everywhere. One giving her all, attacking with ferocity, while the other just casually defended against the attack. 

"You know… I'm still not sure why you are mad at me?" Kuina said, ducking a sword slash, before thrusting her blade forward. "But then again, you aren't the first marine to challenge me. You are the first one that just looks like me."

The marine quickly sidestepped the attack jumping back with a scowl on her face, "YOU… you literally used my face to steal from Logue Town. Did you really forget that…" 

"Oh, that… well, it was honestly a misunderstanding… and I used that to my advantage." Kuina shrugged. "I mean you take whatever opportunity you have? Don't you?"

Tashigi gritted her teeth, "Today, is the day. I will defeat you!"

"Hmm… maybe you should cool down a bit?" Kuina said tilting her head just in time, as Tashigi stabbed her blade forward, easily dodging the attack.

Seeing the small smirk on her opponent, Tashigi growled, attacking with fast and deadly strikes. Kuina also fought back. Their blades clashed, sparks flying with Tashigi showing remarkable skills with her technique. But against Kuina's own technique, they were unrefined.

"You have gotten stronger…" Kuina admitted, getting a small frown from Tashigi, "But so have I…" she said, while standing still.

Tashigi swiped her blade, but she was surprised when the pirate didn't block. Her blade passed through as if through an illusion made of mist. Tashigi was wide-eyed. "You... what? Devil fruit?"

"No," the marine heard the words right near her ears, making her frantically spin around with her sword. But she saw nothing. "This isn't devil fruit…" The voice came from all around.

Tashigi gritted her teeth, "Fight me, seriously damn it!" 

"I am…" Kuina said, appearing at her right side, with a fury of strikes. 

Tashigi to her credit managed to dodge and counter the attack, even if she was getting pushed back. 

Even without her powers, Kuina could have defeated her. But she didn't. She wanted to honor her opponent, unlike the others, she was actually worth it. 

The blades clashed, as the marine pushed forward, but when finally Tashigi overextended one of the strikes, Kuina took advantage of it, "Blizzard Whirlwind!" she muttered as she dragged her blade from the floor towards the ceiling, a trail of ice that attacked her target. 

Tashig was wide-eyed, quickly bringing her sword to block the ice attack. But it did nothing as she soon found herself trapped in ice. Solid ice covered her body, her expression of disbelief still visible on her face.

Kuina brought her sword and slowly sheathed it, "That was a fun battle.." she said with a smile, the ice soon shattered and the unconscious form of the marine fell on the floor. 

The ice user looked at the marine before looking at a certain someone who was looking at the whole fight. "You don't have to worry… I didn't harm her, she's just unconscious." 

For all it's worth, Marineford was big. Big enough to have multiple training grounds, some of which were free and uncrowded. This was one of them, where the look-alike marine had brought her for the challenge. So she was surprised to see someone else was here. 

Vice Admiral Gion who was standing a bit far nodded, "You better not have… or else, you would have to answer to me."

Kuina gave a small smile, a smile that would send shivers down most of her opponent, "Now, you are just encouraging me…" she said with a bit of killing intent leaking out from her, "I am bored so maybe forcing you to fight me, will be worthwhile." 

Gion narrowed her eyes, her one hand on her blade, not backing away from the marines. They held eye contact for a while, before Kuina chuckled, "Even though it would be fun. We won't be able to go all out. So it's not worth it," she said turning on her heels as she left. A small smile on her face, unlike the other marines Gion was someone strong. 

And even though she didn't want to admit it, she might be stronger than her. And that only excited her. There was still things that were worth looking forward to. 

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