Princess of Alabasta

(I had over 20 chapters written for this fic, but they vanished like your father. The frustration almost made me drop the whole project. Sorry for the delay.)

After getting everything ready and dealing with any potential problems, Toshiro ensured that Nami didn't get bitten by the insect as she did in the original story. He took extra precautions, double-checking their surroundings and keeping a close watch for any signs of danger. With everything secure, the crew boarded the ship and prepared to set sail.

As the ship cut through the waves, Toshiro summoned both Sanji and Kuro to continue his rigorous training regimen, aiming to progress further in mastering his Observation Haki. This session was particularly significant, as Toshiro was determined to push his limits. Nami, as always, was watching the training from a distance. She had a peculiar enjoyment in seeing Toshiro get beaten up during these sessions, finding some amusement in his struggles. However, this time she had company. Vivi had joined her, intrigued by what she might witness.

To everyone's astonishment, Toshiro did not get beaten up like he usually did. Instead, he was effortlessly dodging Sanji's and Kuro's attacks, almost magically, as if he wasn't blindfolded. His movements were fluid and precise, indicating a new level of mastery and awareness. It was as though he had developed a sixth sense, allowing him to anticipate and evade their strikes with uncanny accuracy.

"Is this really Toshiro? How is he dodging every single attack? He's usually getting pummeled by now!" Nami said, her eyes widening in disbelief.

"What the hell happened?" Sanji said, stopping mid-kick, his jaw dropping. "He was struggling just yesterday. How did he make such a leap overnight?"

"This is... unprecedented," Kuro added, adjusting his glasses, clearly astonished.

Vivi, leaning in, was equally impressed despite her reservations about Toshiro. "Wow, I had no idea you all trained like this. Toshiro is amazing! It's like he can see everything coming."

Toshiro removed the blindfold with a smirk on his face, his hair partially covering his eyes as he stood there in an arrogant pose. He lifted his finger, inviting them to come at him, clearly ready to take his petty revenge.

"Come on," Toshiro said, his voice dripping with confidence. "Let's see if you can touch me now."

Sanji, Kuro exchanged wary glances before reluctantly stepping forward. Sanji was the first to attack, launching a rapid series of kicks. Toshiro moved with fluid precision, dodging each strike with ease. His smirk widened as he effortlessly avoided every attack.

"You're too slow, Sanji," Toshiro taunted, his voice calm and mocking. Every word dripped with a quiet, unsettling confidence that cut deeper than any physical blow.

Kuro followed with a swift, calculated strike, his movements a blur of precision. However, Toshiro parried it with minimal effort, his reaction almost lazy, sending Kuro stumbling back in disbelief. "Predictable," Toshiro said, his tone filled with disdain and an unshakable arrogance.

Even though Sanji and Kuro had been diligently following Toshiro's commands, enduring grueling training sessions, and secretly pushing their limits to improve, they were disheartened to see that the gap between their skills and Toshiro's had not only remained but seemed to have widened further. Their combined efforts felt futile in the face of Toshiro's overwhelming prowess.

Toshiro's smirk grew wider, a cruel glint in his eyes as he decided to take things further. With sudden, precise movements, he struck both Sanji and Kuro with a speed and force that left them helpless. Sanji was sent flying into a nearby wall, the impact leaving him dazed and breathless, while Kuro crashed into the ship's railing, the wood splintering under the force of his collision. The brutal impact left them both struggling to get back on their feet, the pain a stark reminder of their inferiority.

"Why...?" Sanji groaned, struggling to get back up. "What the hell, Toshiro?"

Kuro wiped a trickle of blood from his mouth, glaring at Toshiro. "That was unnecessary."

Toshiro's expression remained cold and emotionless. "You two needed a reminder of where you stand. You think you're strong? You're weak."

Toshiro's eyes narrowed and with a straight face said. "How did you feel when beating me up in the previous trainings? It must have felt good, right? Bullying me and damaging my emotions, making me cry every day. Do you have no heart, you monsters?"

?

"…"

"…"

"…"

"Ahh, forget it. It's pointless to argue with him now," Sanji said, grabbing a pack of cigarettes from his clothes. He lit one with a sigh, the smoke curling around his face.

Kuro, still silent, walked over to Sanji and gestured for a cigarette. Sanji handed him one, lighting it for him. They stood there, smoking in silence, both lost in their thoughts.

Nami, clearly exasperated, rolled her eyes. "Men," she muttered under her breath before turning and heading towards her room. The sound of her footsteps faded as she disappeared into the ship.

Vivi remained, her expression conflicted. She glanced between Toshiro, Sanji, and Kuro, unsure of what to say. "Toshiro... if you need to talk, I'm here," she offered gently.

"…"

Toshiro didn't respond, his gaze still fixed on the horizon, lost in thought. Vivi stood there for a moment, feeling the weight of her own words. She wasn't sure why she had offered her support so openly, especially given the tension that hung in the air. Embarrassment flushed her cheeks as she realized the awkwardness of the situation.

"Can I try pineapple pizza in this world?" Toshiro wondered to himself, his thoughts drifting to the idea of such a culinary experiment.

Feeling out of place, she quickly turned and left, her footsteps echoing on the deck as she hurried away. ( She believed Toshiro's earlier words)

...…..

...........

...............…

Toshiro leaned back in his chair, casually observing the ship's activity. "Where are we going now, Nami?" he asked, his tone nonchalant.

"I don't know," Nami replied, glancing at the Log Pose. "I'm just following the Log Pose."

Suddenly, Vivi interrupted, her voice filled with urgency. "Can you please take me to Alabasta? If you have nowhere to go, of course."

Toshiro raised an eyebrow, clearly intrigued by the request. "Hmm, why would I do that?" he asked.

Vivi, feeling the intensity of Toshiro's gaze, started to sweat nervously. "Don't worry, I won't escape or anything, hehe. I just want to send a message to a friend there."

Toshiro studied her for a moment, the corners of his mouth twitching in a faint smirk. "A message, huh? And why should I help you with that?"

Vivi shifted uncomfortably, her eyes darting around. "Well, it's important. And... if you're interested, it might be beneficial for you to have some good relations with Alabasta."

Toshiro's lips curled into a mocking smile. "Good relations, you say? With that vast, desolate country full of nothing but sand? I've heard there's barely any water there. I think NASA's even found water on Mars. It's already 1-0 for Mars in that department, haha."

Vivi's face flushed with frustration. Her nostrils flared as she clenched her teeth, her voice trembling with barely contained anger. "Alabasta may be a desert, but it's my home. And it's a country with a rich history and people who are fighting to protect it. You might not understand or care about it now, but it's important to me, and it should be to you too if you're looking to make any kind of meaningful impact in this world."

Toshiro's smirk grew wider, his eyes glinting with a mixture of amusement and mockery. "Oh, so it's your home? Haha, sorry if I didn't offend you enough." He tilted his head, feigning surprise. "I didn't realize that Alabasta's citizens loved their country so much. I thought they were all trying to kill their king. So why do you love it so much? Who exactly are you, Vivi?"

Vivi's eyes widened in shock at Toshiro's knowledge of Alabasta's internal struggles. She sighed, her frustration evident, but her resolve remained steadfast. "My name is Nefertari Vivi, and I'm the princess of Alabasta. Toshiro, if you could help me and my country, I'll give you anything you desire from my homeland."

Toshiro's smirk wavered for a moment, replaced by a contemplative expression. He studied Vivi with a mixture of curiosity and skepticism. "Princess Vivi, huh? That's quite a title. I suppose that makes you somewhat important."

Sanji's jaw dropped as he absorbed the information. "A princess? Of Alabasta? Damn, I didn't see that coming." His eyes softened slightly as he looked at Vivi with newfound respect. "Princess Vivi, huh? Well, if you need help, we'll give it to you. After all, a lady in need is a lady we'll stand by."

Nami's eyes widened in surprise. "A princess? You're not just some random person we picked up?" Her skepticism turned to curiosity. "So, what's the real story behind all this? Why are you traveling with us instead of, I don't know, commanding armies or something, ARE YOU RICH THOUGH?"

Kuro adjusted his glasses, his expression a mix of surprise and intrigue. "A princess... That explains a lot, actually. But why is someone of your stature so involved with this mess?"

Toshiro's smirk widened, his eyes glinting with amusement. "Anything you say, huh? So, what exactly are you offering in return for our assistance? Your royal promises might not mean much to us right now."