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Vivi’s been under a lot of pressure. That the death of her father thrust her into the spotlight as de facto ruler of Alabasta weighs heavily on her mind as she traverses her days. Nevermind the kidnapping, the escape, and general unease around the world as Dr. Vegapunk revealed the secrets long hidden by the World Government with his demise.
The one thing she knows is that she wants to join up with her friends again. Nami and Luffy, Usopp, Sanji, Chopper, and Zoro, plus all of the companions they’ve gathered since she left. It’s been a long two years, and even though she’s been changed by circumstance, she knows they’ll welcome her with open arms.
So she makes a plan. Hearing through the grapevine of the Straw Hats’ sights set on Elbaph, she arranges transport. Turns out being a Queen on the run has its perks, though the breadth of her influence is still mostly unknown to her. Every time she gets referred to as Alabasta’s monarch her heart pangs with sorrow, wishing that her father were still around to bear the responsibility. It would make what she wants to do so much easier if she didn’t have the weight of an entire country on her back.
Saying goodbye to Karoo was difficult. She knew that the duck would be unable to accompany her on this dangerous journey. The tears she shed as they parted ways, unknowing if it would be the last time they saw each other, broke Vivi into miniscule pieces. Unable to stand being shattered anymore, she left with her head held high, throwing a righteous fist in the air as a mimic of what the Straw Hats did for her all those years ago. Karoo wailed as he saluted back, and Vivi knew she had made the correct decision.
Leaving Karoo to the care of some friendly islanders, she boarded the merchant vessel in disguise, destination: Elbaph. She couldn’t regret her decision now. Not knowing that her friends were waiting for her on the other side of this journey.
When the ship docks in Elbaph, the first thing Vivi notices is how big everything is. She supposes it makes sense, considering that this is the land of the giants, but to see it in person is another thing entirely. Trees the size of skyscrapers tower over the port, dwarfing the large merchant ship with their branches. These trees are but the smallest ones that Vivi can see, craning her neck up to the horizon. Even the gold and red flower blooms could swallow her whole. She wonders what it might feel like to lay across one like it’s a bed. Usopp would surely attempt it.
Leaving her disguise on the pier, Vivi moves with purpose, keeping her eyes peeled for any sign of the Straw Hats’ ship. With a port this huge, she imagines she’ll walk for quite some distance before she comes across it. Gearing herself up for a hike, she stretches her long limbs, feeling limber and ready to move. She’s grateful that she decided on sensible boots for this journey, as opposed to her usual sandals. Something in her told her that she should be prepared for anything.
She’s been walking for over an hour when she spots something in the distance. It’s a large ship with a pirate flag and what looks like a lion as the figurehead. Excitement thrums through her veins as her hopes ratchet up. It’s not Merry, but with the state the ship had been in with their small crew she can’t be too surprised. The Straw Hats have doubled in number anyway, so whether Merry was retired or sunk she imagines this new ship must be fit to accommodate the crew’s antics. All of this is speculation of course, as she can’t confirm from this distance whether the ship truly belongs to the Straw Hats.
Moving closer to the pirate ship, she begins to make out what looks like a straw hat perched on the jolly roger’s head. Squealing in delight, she picks up the pace, willing herself to reach her destination faster.
After a few more solid minutes of running, Vivi finds herself in front of the ship. She marvels at the name engraved on the side: Thousand Sunny. What a beautiful name for a beautiful ship, she thinks. Mind made up, she circles the vessel looking for a ladder. Finding one on the rear, she climbs up, anticipation flowing through her body. What will they say? How will they feel? Will they take her back?
She pauses at the top, peering over the edge to see if she can see any crew members. It appears empty, much to her dismay. Sadly, she clambers up, finding herself in a beautiful tangerine grove, just like the one on the Merry. It smells like Nami, she thinks, caressing the bright orange fruits with gentle hands. She can’t wait to see her again.
Weaving through the trees she finds herself peering down over the large deck. A large expanse of grass sprawls across the deck, looking soft and inviting. She can just see Zoro taking a nap there, blending in with the landscape. Chopper would be asleep in his lap, making an adorable picture. Nami and Vivi would be lounging in the lawn chairs, being served ice cold refreshments by Sanji. Usopp and Luffy would be chasing each other around the deck, playing a game of keep away with one of Usopp’s inventions.
She can’t wait for that to be her reality once more.
As she’s daydreaming, she falls completely oblivious to her surroundings. So much so that when a green ghost appears before her eyes, she shrieks, tumbling forward over the railing. Strong arms catch her body before she hits the deck.
“Aren’t you the Princess Vivi of Alabasta?” a gruff voice asks from above her. Vivi looks up at her savior and nearly faints.
Jinbe, former Warlord and current helmsman of the Straw Hat pirates peers down at her with a curious expression. Vivi yelps, scrambling out of the fish-man’s arms to look at him face-to-face.
“Queen, actually. Though I guess I haven’t been crowned yet. So, princess is still technically accurate. Hi,” Vivi catches herself, extending a hand. “I’m Vivi. I’m looking for Luffy and the others.”
“Our captain is elsewhere on the island. May I ask what you are doing on our ship?” Jinbe asks politely, shaking her hand.
“I guess it was so long ago now that they might not talk about me anymore,” Vivi says, feeling a sting through her heart. “I was–am–an honorary member of the Straw Hats. As for why I need Luffy, I’m afraid that’s private for now.”
“I see. Well, I’d be happy to accompany you to where the crew is gathered. Brook and I were just collecting a few bits and bobs for the party,” Jinbe says with a soft smile.
“Brook? And a party? Oh how fantastic, I’ve missed the excitement of a Straw Hat party!” Vivi exclaims, clapping her hands together in delight. Such luck! And here she thought she’d be intruding on some grand fighting adventure. She’s been training up for two years in anticipation of this reunion. The thought of being a slouch compared to the rest of the crew served as a great motivator. But a party? That sounds right up Vivi’s alley.
“Brook?” Jinbe calls, gazing up at the railing above him.
“Yohohohoho, I am here!” A musical voice responds. Vivi turns to look. A giant skeleton with an afro looms over the railing, perched with his chin in his hands. “What a beautiful lady! I don’t suppose you’d show me your panties, would you?”
Vivi blushes scarlet, gripping her pants to feel them firmly in place. She recognizes the man. Soul King Brook. She’d purchased his album a year back. “I’m a princess, you know. That’s highly untoward.”
“Royal panties!?” Brook responds, jumping over the railing to land on the deck with a thud. “A rare sight! Oh please, won’t you show me? Your magnificence is blinding! Look, see?” He says, gesturing towards his eye sockets, “I have no eyes!”
Vivi chuckles, surprising herself. Perverted he may be, the skeleton man has a certain charm. Channeling her inner Nami, she places a hand on her hip and beckons him closer. “It’ll cost you,” Vivi whispers into the space his ear should be.
“Name your price, your majesty,” Brook says, flourishing the sentence with a neat twirl.
“Oh, nothing much. Just…,” Vivi starts, rearing back.
“Just what, my darling?” Brook asks, making as though he’s fluttering his eyelashes.
“A knuckle sandwich!” Vivi cries, slamming a Haki-coated fist into the man’s ribs. The impact makes her cringe. Hitting pure bone is decidedly unpleasant, she thinks, shaking out her fist.
“I’ve been shot!” Brook exclaims, splaying out across the deck.
Jinbe pipes up then, reminding Vivi of the fish-man’s presence. “Many apologies for him, your highness. He deserved that and more.”
Vivi smiles, cradling her hand. “It was worth the pain. Now, would you kindly show me to Luffy? I can help you carry whatever it is you’ve been tasked with along the way.”
“I couldn’t possibly ask a princess to—“
“Nonsense. I am a Straw Hat through and through. Lead the way, Jinbe,” Vivi says, gesturing him forward.
The fish-man nods, leading her further into the ship. Were it another time, Vivi would stop to marvel at the beautifully crafted vessel. The aquarium in the kitchen is to die for, and she’s sure Sanji finds it most thrilling. It’s like his own little slice of the All Blue.
She wonders how the crew are faring on their individual dreams. Nami’s map must be fleshing out wonderfully, and the tales she’s heard of Usopp and Zoro lend credence to their respective goals. How soon will Zoro challenge Mihawk again? Is the crew close to finding the One Piece?
Luffy becoming an Emperor was not shocking, save for the appearance the boy displays on the poster. It must be some sort of new power-up. Last she saw him, Luffy struggled to defeat Crocodile. She has no doubt that the boy could beat that bastard twenty times over now. So, no, with how closely she’s watched their growth from afar, she’s not surprised at their rapid rise to fame.
Jinbe leads her into the pantry, wherein he starts handing her various bottles of alcohol and snacks of different kinds. She takes them all graciously, glad for her strength and dexterity training over the past few years.
“That should be enough for you,” Jinbe says, beginning to fill his own much larger arms with goods. Vivi beams at him, happy to be of service. It’s little things like this that she has been missing so dearly.
Brook appears behind them and starts gathering his own pile. The man looks quite humbled, if Vivi has anything to say about it. She’s rather pleased with her ability to knock a larger man down a few pegs. Serves him right, the pervert.
Arms all full, the trio head to the ramp that Vivi missed in her first assessment of the ship. Jinbe keeps his strides short so as not to leave Vivi behind, and the woman can’t help but feel grateful. Jinbe really is as good as the rumors made him out to be.
They walk through the giant forests for a few minutes, the sounds of raucous voices growing louder and louder with each step. Vivi admires the flora and fauna she catches brief glimpses of on their trek, making note to write down her observations in her notebook when she has time. She’s missed the thrill of exploring a new place. Her time with the Straw Hats may have been brief, but she developed a taste for adventure that can’t quite be quenched in the castle walls of Alabasta.
When Jinbe breaks through the clearing, a celebratory cheer erupts from the crowd. Vivi lifts her pile of items to cover her face, wanting to maintain a further element of surprise. Sensing this, Brook steps around her, walking forward to place his items down and start addressing the crowd. Vivi can’t see who’s there from behind her cover, but she can hear the voices of Luffy, Nami, and Usopp clearly. She smiles, thrumming with excitement.
“Brook! Play a song! I want to dance with the giants!” Luffy requests, the thumping sounds suggesting that he’s bouncing on his feet.
“But of course,” Brook replies, followed by the singing of a violin. A jaunty tune soars over the clearing, a recognizable sea shanty that Vivi herself knows the words to. Hearing the rustling of fabric and stomping of feet that implies the dancing has begun, Vivi makes her move.
Swiftly placing the party items down, she rushes towards the dancing circle, taking a moment to gasp at the sheer size of some of the participants. Real giants dance along with the Straw Hats, moving around a massive bonfire. Seeing the people in their homeland, where everything is proportioned to their size, is truly magnificent to behold. Finding an opening, Vivi slips in, moving in step with everyone else.
She giggles as she sings along, feeling light in the chest for the first time in a while. Across the circle she can see Nami and Usopp, their four left feet having them bump into each other with joyous laughter at every turn. Chopper twirls adorably, physically incapable of looking anything other than the pinnacle of cuteness. Luffy dances perfectly and fluidly next to them, his rubber body swishing about like he was made to spread the language of dance. Zoro and Sanji are not dancing, peculiarly sitting together off to the side with drinks in their hands.
Vivi’s heart soars as she realizes where she is and what she’s doing. The Straw Hats, her family, are here. She’s dancing alongside them. Everything feels right.
“Vivi!?” She hears Nami’s voice call from across the circle. The music stops, that bastard Brook feeding into the dramatic moment, and everybody turns to look at her.
She smiles sheepishly, raising her hand in a small wave. “Hi, guys.”
Rubber arms wrap around her body in an instant, sending her flying to the floor with an ‘oof’.
“Vivi! You came home!” Luffy says into her neck, tears streaming down his childish face. She can’t even bring herself to be bothered by the wetness, feeling her own eyes start to well up with tears as well.
“I did, Luffy,” she whispers, squeezing him tight. He’s right. This is home.
After a moment, Luffy stands, hoisting Vivi’s body up in the air for all to see. Vivi blushes from the height, looking down at the crowd below with nervous energy. Apart from the giants, she recognizes every face, having religiously followed the crew for years. She knows all too well about Nico Robin (a story she’d love to hear), the cyborg Franky, about Brook and Jinbe and the new additions of Yamato and Carrot.
They all gaze up at her with grins on their faces, though she can tell that a few of them don’t quite recognize her. She welcomes the smiles nonetheless, giving another shy wave from atop the skyscraper of Luffy’s arms. Waving up at the giants too, she feels the warmth of celebration settle in her gut. Vivi is home.
“Three cheers for Straw Hat Vivi! Hip, hip, hooray!” Luffy exclaims from below, bouncing the princess up and down with each cheer. The chant echoes through the clearing, joy reverberating around the gathering like this is what the party was meant to be for.
Vivi beams, tears breaking the edge of her waterline. She’s never felt so loved.
After a few rounds of happy introductions to the new crew members and reunions with the old, Vivi stands off to the side, nursing a beer in her cold hands. She doesn’t quite know why she’s shivering; maybe her body is still accustomed to the desert, or maybe it’s the thrill of social interaction. Either way, she’s cold, and she’s starting to feel overwhelmed.
Did she make a mistake? It’s not like she could return home right now, after just escaping from the Five Elders’ clutches. Her people need her, but it just isn’t safe. For her or for them. No, she made the right choice. She belongs here, with the Straw Hats.
A warm presence sneaks up behind her and drapes fabric over her bare shoulders, the familiar scent of spicy cologne and cigarette smoke wafting through her nose.
“Cold, m’lady?” Sanji asks, placing a warm hand on her shoulder and walking around to her front.
Vivi smiles. The blond looks good, the years transforming him from a certified pretty boy to a debonair man. He exudes a gentle grace to him that seems almost feminine, leaving behind the heart-eyes for something softer, more genuine. He looks actually happy. “Thank you kindly, Sanji. I was feeling a tad chilly.”
“A gentleman always knows,” Sanji says with a wink, taking a quick drag of his cigarette. “We’re glad to see you.”
“Likewise. My heart never left the Merry, you know,” Vivi responds, tugging the jacket closer around her.
“And you took our hearts with you. Can we hope to see you sail with us again?”
“A woman never tells,” Vivi says, echoing the man’s earlier statement. He grins, a sly thing, his blue eyes lighting up wonderfully.
They stand in companionable silence for a moment, just enjoying each other’s company. Vivi feels relieved at how relaxed she feels in the man’s presence. Part of her worried that he hadn’t changed, that he’d still be doing the most at all hours of the day. What could’ve caused this shift, she wonders.
“You seem different,” Vivi says honestly. She tilts her head curiously, trying to get a clear picture on the man.
“A lot can happen in two years, I suppose,” Sanji responds vaguely.
“It suits you, whatever happened,” Vivi says with a smile.
“You’ll find out soon enough,” the man says, waving his hand cryptically. “Actually, I–”
“Oi, love-cook!” Zoro calls from nearby, his gruff voice booming over the crowd with ease.
Vivi watches as Sanji blushes and takes another drag of his smoke. Oh?
“I’ve got to go. I’ll see you later, darling Vivi.” The man spins around fluidly, walking off in the swordsman’s direction.
She chuckles under her hand as he leaves, not quite believing what she just witnessed. Now there’s a story she’d pay a heavy price to read.
Turning her attention back to the party, Vivi feels a renewed sense of calm. Privy to a friend’s secret, she feels even warmer than the warmth provided by said friend’s jacket. She downs the rest of her drink, the cool liquid shifting warm as the alcohol floods her veins.
She’s watching Nami and Zoro compete in a drinking contest with one of the giants when Usopp sidles up next to her. Smiling, she turns to her old friend, admiring how the years have changed his youthful face. His once soft chin has sharpened along with his skills, cutting a striking shape at the bottom of his jaw. His previously round, fearful eyes have a sense of confidence to them, hardened by the years of training and sailing. Long curls brush past his shoulders, giving him a regal, stately air.
“It’s nice to see you, Vivi,” Usopp says with a lopsided grin, bringing his drink to his lips. She can smell the apple juice from here. Some things don’t change much.
“I’ve missed this,” she says earnestly, looking out at the commotion. Zoro seems close to tapping out. He sways with the gentlest of breezes as his cheeks flush ruby red. A striking eye begs to slip closed, the owner fighting a vicious battle against its blinks. Vivi can see Sanji looking on in the background, concern clear across his features.
“Nami drinking Zoro under the table?” Usopp asks, amused.
“Everything. You have no idea how lonely I was up in that palace.”
“We missed you too. There are so many grand tales I have to tell you. Say, did you hear about the time I wrestled with a man-eating flower and won? I’m sure you have, since the Great Captain Usopp’s exploits are shared widely around the world!” Usopp gallivants, puffing out his chest like a pigeon.
Vivi breaks into a fit of giggles, unable to restrain herself. “Tell me more, Usopp the Great.”
“Ah, well, you see, there I was–in the belly of the beast. This whole story takes place in the stomach of a huge fire-breathing dragon, I’ll have you know,” Usopp informs, gesticulating wildly as he gets into the zone.
“A dragon!?” Vivi exclaims, grabbing his forearm. “How frightening.”
“Not for me! I bravely dove down the neck of the ferocious creature, dodging the fireballs as I went, in search of a, hmm. A princess!” He says with sparkling eyes.
“A damsel in distress!” Vivi annotates, staring at the man with rapt attention.
“Precisely! And as a brave warrior of the sea, who was I to let her be digested? So I dove inside, and what do I find but a twenty foot flower with enormous teeth, the princess wrapped up in its vines!”
“No!”
“Yes! So, I did what any knight would do, and shot the monster in the head with an exploding star, dazing it enough to release its hold on the princess. I then punched a hole in the dragon’s belly with my fist, allowing the princess to climb out.”
“So brave, Usopp,” Vivi says, grinning.
“Indeed. As I made my way out, however, the flower woke up and latched on to me! Using my mighty strength I wrestled with the monster, killing it with my bare hands. The king awarded me with a medal of honor for my bravery,” he finishes with a nod.
Clapping, Vivi feels the warmth of delight rush through her veins. She loves Usopp’s tall tales. The man has only gotten better at telling them, and that makes her feel so happy. Despite everything they’ve gone through, everyone really is still the same at heart.
A loud thud breaks her out of her reverie. Both Zoro and the giant have collapsed to the floor, leaving Nami victorious in the center. The woman stands, waving her arms above her head in celebration.
Usopp whistles, taking a swig of his apple juice. “That woman is a mighty beast of her own.”
Vivi feels her cheeks warm as she continues staring. “She really is.”
Chopper finds her at some point, the small boy coming up and tugging at her pant leg lightly. She’s a couple drinks in at this point, feeling nice and loose.
“Hi, Chopper,” Vivi says, reaching down to scoop the reindeer up in her arms. Chopper blushes, wiggling in her hold as he comes face to face with her.
“I’m not happy that you picked me up at all!” Chopper says, placing his hooves over his eyes. He peeks out slightly, and seeing Vivi’s smiling face, he blushes further, hiding once more.
“How have you been, my little doctor friend?” Vivi asks, reaching under his hat to pet the fluffy tuft of hair at the top of his head.
“I’ve been great! I’ve learned so much, and I feel like I’m becoming a better doctor every day!”
“That’s wonderful. How has the sea been treating you?” Vivi asks, watching as the boy unshields his eyes, moving to cup his own cheeks.
“It’s everything I could’ve ever dreamed of and more! I get to spend my days studying medicine and playing games with Luffy, Usopp, Yamato, and Carrot! Being a pirate is so fun,” Chopper says dreamily, snuggling against Vivi’s chest.
“How would you like it if I played with you?” Vivi asks, sending the boy’s gaze flying up to meet hers.
“That would be amazing!” he exclaims, eyes shining exuberantly.
“Can you keep a secret, Chopper?”
“Of course, Vivi! My lips are sealed!”
Vivi chuckles, the adorable reindeer filling her with glee. “If Luffy allows it, I’m going to be sailing with you ‘til the end.”
“Really?” Chopper asks, his eyes growing impossibly wider.
Nodding, Vivi places Chopper back down on the ground. He does a little dance, his tail wagging in excitement. Turning around, he makes a zipping gesture across his mouth, locking it and throwing away the key.
“I’m totally not happy to have a secret,” Chopper says, beaming at her.
The princess laughs, kneeling down to pat Chopper on the head. “I’m totally not happy either.”
Chopper squeals and runs off, a skip in his step. Vivi feels impossibly warm now, the promise of adventures to come swelling up inside her and threatening to burst.
Sanji’s off preparing some food, leaving Zoro alone. Figuring that now’s her chance to talk, Vivi fills up her mug of beer and approaches the loser of the drinking competition.
Now that she gets a better look at him, it’s clear how much he has changed. Not only has he filled out (massively) but he’s far more serious than he used to be. It’s like something broke him, and he rebuilt himself from the ground up. Gone is the easyt smirk and free laughter, replaced with a roiling, dangerous energy that seeps out of him and draws you in. His very presence has changed.
“Hello, Zoro,” she greets, sliding down next to the man.
“Oh, Vivi. You’ve been making the rounds, I noticed. Figured you’d come to me eventually,” Zoro says dispassionately, though he does shift so that he’s no longer slumped against a rock, instead sitting up straight.
“Is that okay?” Vivi asks, raising an eyebrow at the man.
“Course it is. Though if you’ve come to express your pity at my loss, save it. I don’t need that shit from you–sorry, crap,” he says, politely correcting himself.
“I may be a princess, but I’m still a pirate,” Vivi reminds gently, smirking into her beer.
“S’pose that’s true. Anyway, what did you want to talk about?” Zoro asks in a moment of genuine courtesy. In the short time she knew the man, she never knew him as the curious or courteous type. That’s new.
“Life, I guess. How have you been? Why are you… different?” Vivi asks, unable to stop herself.
“Life, I guess,” he repeats, a small smirk finding his face. “Nah, I think shit just got real.”
“You can say that again,” Vivi sighs, wrapping her arms around her thighs.
“You’re doing that thing the cook does when he wants me to ask him a question. What is it?” Zoro asks, propping an elbow up on his knee.
Vivi blinks, surprised at the casual mention of Sanji. “So, you and Sanji?”
Zoro smirks again, blushing a bit. “Yeah. Nevermind that, what do you want me to ask?”
“I think I want you to ask if I’m making the right choice.”
“Are you?” Zoro asks, looking off in the distance.
“I hope so,” Vivi says, curling tighter around herself. She wants to believe it, anyway.
“Then you are. Stop doubting yourself so much. You’re too smart and too capable for that bullshit,” Zoro says plainly.
Vivi nods, unfurling to place her hands on her knees. He’s right. She needs to stop doubting herself. She is Nefertari Vivi, and she’s her own person who can make her own decisions. It’s time to buckle up. Swallowing down the rest of her beer in one fell swoop, she belches, earning a barked laugh from Zoro. She smiles at the man, wipes her lips, and stands up tall.
Armed with liquid courage, she weaves through the crowd, seeking the person that can satisfy her selfish desires.
Luffy is off in a corner, laughing loudly at a story that a giant is telling. As Vivi inches closer, she can hear parts of the tale being spun by the large man.
“--and I grabbed the fish by the tail, dangled it above her mouth, and dropped it inside!”
“She ate it whole?” Luffy asks, leaning forward in delight.
“Wholer than the roast chickens we’re serving tonight! I’m talkin’ bones and all!”
“Wow…” Luffy says dreamily, melting back against his seat.
“Hi Luffy,” Vivi says timidly, not wanting to intrude.
“Vivi! Come here, Jorbos was telling a funny story about his big dog!”
“It’s alright, I was actually seeing if I could talk to you really quick?” Vivi asks, wringing her fingers together.
Luffy’s face morphs into something serious, and he hops up from his seat readily. “I’ll be back for the rest of the story, Jorbos.”
“But I already finished it,” Jorbos says, but Luffy ignores him, striding towards Vivi and grabbing her hand.
Luffy leads them to a quiet part of the clearing, away from drunken pirates and prying giant eyes. Vivi smiles at the gesture, feeling the buzz of alcohol center her body.
“What did you want to ask, Vivi?” Luffy stares deep into her eyes, probably searching for any sign of hurt or discomfort from her. To the best of her ability, she projects an aura of safety and comfort, despite the nerves curling in her belly.
“I wanted to ask if it would be okay if…” she trails off, looking at her boots.
“If?”
“If I could sail, no. If I could stay–not that, um.” Vivi bites her lip, meeting Luffy’s eye again. Why is she so nervous? This is Luffy. Her friend. Her family.
Luffy just blinks at her, waiting patiently for her question.
Vivi takes a deep breath, steeling herself. Luffy will say yes. This is ridiculous. “I wanted to ask if I could rejoin your–”
“Don’t even ask it,” Luffy says, eyes narrowing.
Vivi’s heart drops. “What? Why?”
“It’s a stupid question.”
Anger floods Vivi’s veins, followed quickly by betrayal. “What do you mean, a stupid question? You’re hurting my feelings, Luffy.”
Luffy rolls his eyes, placing his hand on Vivi’s head. “You don’t need to ask for something you already have, stupid. You never stopped being a member of my crew. I’m so happy to have you back.”
Vivi wants to throttle him. She wants to punch him and throw him into the ground for hurting her so deeply like that. Instead, she just cries, letting the emotions of the day catch up to her. Arms wrap around her back gently as a straw hat brushes her cheek.
“That was mean, Luffy,” Vivi sobs, crying into the boy’s shoulder.
“Sorry, shishishishi,” Luffy responds, squeezing her tighter. “I wanted to see if you’d punch me again.”
“You’re incorrigible,” Vivi says, feeling the love waft from Luffy’s frame.
“Is that like porridge? Now I’m hungry,” Luffy complains, pulling back as his stomach growls loudly.
Vivi shakes her head in disbelief, the flip of the mood easily turning off the faucet behind her eyes. “I’m sure Sanji still has some food stashed away from you,” Vivi says fondly, poking the boy in the stomach. He recoils, a devious look spreading across his face.
“He probably hid it with Zoro! Come on, let’s go find it!” Luffy exclaims, grabbing Vivi’s hand and pulling her along behind him.
This is what being around Luffy is like, she reminisces. He makes you cry, cheers you up, and leads you on an adventure. Vivi laughs freely as they sip through the crowd, making a b-line for the swordsman and the cook. She forgot what freedom tasted like.
Nami is her last stop of the night. The woman is perched on a throne made out of a giant treasure chest, smiling as she counts her berries. There must’ve been a betting pool going on for the drinking contest. Anyone who bet against Nami was sure to lose, anyway.
As Vivi approaches, Nami’s countenance shifts. The orange-haired woman tucks away her money, spreading her long legs and shifting forward to lean on her elbows. A smile breaks across her stunning face as Vivi walks up to her.
“I was beginning to think you forgot about me,” Nami says with a pout, reaching out to grab Vivi’s hand. The woman’s hand is warm, her skin buzzing with the pulse of alcohol in her veins.
“As if I ever could,” Vivi responds, squeezing her hand.
They stay like this for a moment before Nami springs to her feet, wrapping Vivi up in a glorious hug. Nami’s hair tickles her shoulder, the feathery waves draping across both of them like a blanket. She’s wearing a tight tank top and shorts, which means that Vivi gets access to a criminal amount of skin in the embrace. The scent of tangerines sweetly sifts through her nose, feeling like coming home.
“I missed you so much,” Vivi says into Nami’s shoulder, squeezing the woman as tightly as she dares.
“Same here,” Nami replies, reaching up a hand to caress the back of Vivi’s head.
They pull apart, gazing at each other with mirth. Vivi could live in this moment, in their reunion. She sits on the treasure chest, cringing at the feeling of cold metal through her pants. Nami follows suit, draping her bare legs across Vivi’s lap. The princess doesn’t hesitate to rest her hands on Nami’s silky legs, running her fingers up and down the bare expanse in exploration.
“Two years is a long time,“ Nami says, peeking up through long eyelashes. “What have you been up to?”
“This and that. I was kidnapped, you know,” Vivi says, raising an eyebrow as she waves a hand in gesticulation.
“I heard. That must have been scary,” Nami says, a concerned look furrowing on her face.
“Nothing I couldn’t handle. I’m here, aren’t I?” Vivi says with a smile.
Nami grins back, “You are. You’ve gotten stronger. I can feel it.”
“And you’ve grown wiser. Very astute of you to notice,” Vivi flirts, a blush betraying her confidence in the act.
Fingers catch and twine with Vivi’s own. Vivi looks down, seeing their tangled hands across Nami’s thighs. Her breath hitches as she glances back up, recognizing the look in Nami’s eye.
“It’s been a long time,” Nami purrs, rubbing circles along the back of Vivi’s hand. Vivi flushes deeper, up to the tips of her ears, feeling suddenly on display.
Nodding, Vivi feels her mouth go dry in wanting. She’s in the desert, and Nami is a fresh oasis full of delicious spring water. Vivi leans forward, watching as Nami does the same, pulled together by the electricity between them.
Their lips are just about touching when a loud boom shakes the clearing. Nami and Vivi jump apart, springing to their feet and glancing towards the noise.
“Buster Call!” Someone shouts, sending the Straw Hats into a frenzy.
Vivi stands stunned, not knowing how to react. What do they do? Where do they go? The crew members start to mobilize, gathering things in their arms and waving goodbye to the giants. The giants themselves appear to be collecting their weapons, readying for a fight.
“Come on!” Nami says, grabbing Vivi’s hand and starting to run. Vivi stumbles after her, confusion and fear gripping her body.
“Where are we going?” Vivi asks, the pounding of her feet against the grass echoing the slamming of her heart in her chest.
“To the Sunny, of course! It’s time to make a hot exit!” Nami laughs, picking up the pace.
The race to the Sunny is accentuated by loud booms as cannon fire strikes the island, the large trees catching the weapons handily. The trees shake but do not fall as the Straw Hats run, making their way toward their ship.
Thankfully it seems that at some point during the evening, Franky had returned to the ship, where he currently loads up her cannons in preparation of a strike back. Reaching the ship in record time, Nami and Vivi nearly collapse onto the deck, heaving breaths for a moment as the sounds of cannons pick up.
Kicked into gear, Vivi heads over to Franky and asks, “What can I do to help?”
“You’re super okay, Vivi! Just be prepared for any unexpected boardings. I’m gonna head down to the cola engine, and Usopp’ll take care of the cannons,” the large man says, flashing a huge thumbs up. As if on cue, Usopp shows up, taking over Franky’s job and setting to work. He lines up a blast and shoots, cheering as it strikes his target.
Vivi smiles, turning around to find Nami again. The woman is twirling her baton in the air, summoning enormous thunderclouds at her command that she sends hurling towards the approaching ships. Vivi watches in awe as a few start to sink at the lightning’s impact, emphasizing just how much stronger Nami has grown.
Sanji lands on the deck, carrying a sleeping Zoro in his arms. The blond drops the swordsman unceremoniously to the deck, kicking at him as Zoro blinks awake. Pointing at the swarm of ships, Sanji yanks Zoro to his feet. The man yawns, unsheathing his swords. Accepting a boost up from the cook, Zoro leaps into the air, sending a comically large slash hurling towards some of the ships. Sundered in two, the ships sink into the sea.
Luffy appears on the ship then, shifting into his white colored form. Vivi’s jaw drops as he grows hundreds of times larger, stretching into the sky, larger than the largest giants. Luffy scoops up a handful of ships in his giant fist, rears back, and pitches them across the ocean, disappearing like a speck of dust in the distance.
“This is crazy!” Vivi shouts, grasping at her heart as the Sunny starts to move. There’s a huge burst of speed, sending the Sunny rocketing forward through the path carved by the captain and the swordsman.
Luffy shrinks and laughs hysterically, the sound infecting Vivi with its utter joy. She laughs too, looking around at the gathered crew. Yamato and Chopper are skipping around in a circle, the two boys in a fierce battle for the title of cutest crew member. Carrot comes a close third, her little nose twitching with delight as she spins around herself. Robin is calmly reading a book, acting as though nothing happened at all, and Brook is playing an adventurous romp on his violin, the plucky notes making this feel like a true pirate escape. Jinbe is of course at the helm, expertly steering them away from danger.
The cannon fire dies off as the Sunny sails into the distance, heading far away from Elbaph and onto the next adventure. Everyone cheers at their easy victory, a Buster Call no match for an Emperor and his trusty crew. Vivi’s heart soars as she realizes that she’s here, that she finally made it home. Tears spring to her eyes, the promise of a new life sending her full speed ahead into the unknown.
“So, how do you feel, Straw Hat Vivi?” Nami says, slotting beside her and wrapping an arm around her waist. Grinning, Vivi swivels around to face her and plants a big kiss on her cheek.
“Like I never left,” Vivi says honestly, glancing at the celebrating crew.
She’s back with the Straw Hats and she feels alive, alight with energy and a renewed purpose. Here, in Nami’s arms, surrounded by her chosen family? This is where she belongs. So, it’s where she’ll stay.